LonWon
@lonwon.bsky.social
Curious about politics. Hoping for more than slogans.
Reposted by LonWon
A £240m defence contract without tender.
Their fingerprints all over our health care data.
A meeting in the USA but without any minutes.
Everything around Palantir stinks.
www.thenational.scot/news/2584192...
Their fingerprints all over our health care data.
A meeting in the USA but without any minutes.
Everything around Palantir stinks.
www.thenational.scot/news/2584192...
Zack Polanski pressures Wes Streeting over Palantir after Mandelson texts released
ZACK Polanski has piled fresh pressure on Wes Streeting over Palantir’s NHS contracts after the Health Secretary’s newly-released text messages…
www.thenational.scot
February 10, 2026 at 1:55 PM
A £240m defence contract without tender.
Their fingerprints all over our health care data.
A meeting in the USA but without any minutes.
Everything around Palantir stinks.
www.thenational.scot/news/2584192...
Their fingerprints all over our health care data.
A meeting in the USA but without any minutes.
Everything around Palantir stinks.
www.thenational.scot/news/2584192...
The United States has imprisoned an Irish man for six months in inhumane conditions. He's committed no crime
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
Irish man held in ICE detention says he fears for his life and asks Ireland for help
Seamus Culleton describes conditions as ‘torture’ as he pleads with taoiseach to raise his case with Donald Trump
www.theguardian.com
February 10, 2026 at 2:58 PM
The United States has imprisoned an Irish man for six months in inhumane conditions. He's committed no crime
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
Desperate by Labour.
But on the upside, they actually included the "evidence", which turns out to be nothing like the claims. And a source "Via The Telegraph".
A more shameless party might just assert. (Or they're just bad at dirty tricks)
But on the upside, they actually included the "evidence", which turns out to be nothing like the claims. And a source "Via The Telegraph".
A more shameless party might just assert. (Or they're just bad at dirty tricks)
February 9, 2026 at 9:44 AM
Desperate by Labour.
But on the upside, they actually included the "evidence", which turns out to be nothing like the claims. And a source "Via The Telegraph".
A more shameless party might just assert. (Or they're just bad at dirty tricks)
But on the upside, they actually included the "evidence", which turns out to be nothing like the claims. And a source "Via The Telegraph".
A more shameless party might just assert. (Or they're just bad at dirty tricks)
Channel Four is belatedly making the final season of "The Good Fight" available in the UK.
A frustrating 3½ years late.
Just as prescient and as politically insightful as the previous seasons, but even when it is illuminating the US's dangerously polarised society, S6 seems uncharacteristically...
A frustrating 3½ years late.
Just as prescient and as politically insightful as the previous seasons, but even when it is illuminating the US's dangerously polarised society, S6 seems uncharacteristically...
February 8, 2026 at 6:50 PM
Channel Four is belatedly making the final season of "The Good Fight" available in the UK.
A frustrating 3½ years late.
Just as prescient and as politically insightful as the previous seasons, but even when it is illuminating the US's dangerously polarised society, S6 seems uncharacteristically...
A frustrating 3½ years late.
Just as prescient and as politically insightful as the previous seasons, but even when it is illuminating the US's dangerously polarised society, S6 seems uncharacteristically...
Reposted by LonWon
Like Dominic Cummings, Morgan McSweeney helped deliver electoral victory but, in doing so, debased and subverted everything his party claimed to stand for.
February 8, 2026 at 4:01 PM
Like Dominic Cummings, Morgan McSweeney helped deliver electoral victory but, in doing so, debased and subverted everything his party claimed to stand for.
Reposted by LonWon
This type of X comms from the Home Office seems a political gift to Reform, and fuel for overt racists, while repelling progressives at the same time
February 8, 2026 at 1:23 PM
This type of X comms from the Home Office seems a political gift to Reform, and fuel for overt racists, while repelling progressives at the same time
Great post by Devon councillor @chulmleighed.bsky.social
The only thing I'd quibble with is that I think the UK *is* currently in a disgraceful state.
But I agree with Ed that our problems are not caused by people fleeing war. The cause is decades of governments pandering to vulture capitalists.
The only thing I'd quibble with is that I think the UK *is* currently in a disgraceful state.
But I agree with Ed that our problems are not caused by people fleeing war. The cause is decades of governments pandering to vulture capitalists.
February 7, 2026 at 3:17 PM
Great post by Devon councillor @chulmleighed.bsky.social
The only thing I'd quibble with is that I think the UK *is* currently in a disgraceful state.
But I agree with Ed that our problems are not caused by people fleeing war. The cause is decades of governments pandering to vulture capitalists.
The only thing I'd quibble with is that I think the UK *is* currently in a disgraceful state.
But I agree with Ed that our problems are not caused by people fleeing war. The cause is decades of governments pandering to vulture capitalists.
Reposted by LonWon
Reposted by LonWon
No joke: I got angry hate mail today for writing an obituary of a Black woman scientist—because the person felt she did didn’t deserve the recognition.
Which just makes me want to share it again: www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Which just makes me want to share it again: www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Gladys Mae West obituary: mathematician who pioneered GPS technology
She made key contributions to US cold-war science despite facing huge barriers as a Black woman.
www.nature.com
February 6, 2026 at 9:09 AM
No joke: I got angry hate mail today for writing an obituary of a Black woman scientist—because the person felt she did didn’t deserve the recognition.
Which just makes me want to share it again: www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Which just makes me want to share it again: www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Reposted by LonWon
We gotta come up with a better system than “everything rests on whether these twelve billionnaires are nice”
February 4, 2026 at 7:41 PM
We gotta come up with a better system than “everything rests on whether these twelve billionnaires are nice”
Opinion polls suggest British politics has splintered into a multi-party contest, but Prof Tim Bale argues that polarization into two blocs is still occurring, if not intensifying
blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandp...
blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandp...
The two bloc polarisation of Britain’s voters and Party members | LSE British Politics
In the past elections were won when Labour or the Conservatives managed to attract floating voters from the other Party. But as Tim Bale argues, new research reveals that Britain's voters and Party me...
blogs.lse.ac.uk
February 5, 2026 at 11:37 AM
Opinion polls suggest British politics has splintered into a multi-party contest, but Prof Tim Bale argues that polarization into two blocs is still occurring, if not intensifying
blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandp...
blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandp...
Reposted by LonWon
Reminder that the Washington Post lost 250,000 subscribers, more than most outlets will ever have, after its decision not to publish an endorsement in the last election. www.npr.org/2024/10/29/n...
That kind of cowardice, not AI or whatever, is what's "drastically reshaping" readers' expectations.
That kind of cowardice, not AI or whatever, is what's "drastically reshaping" readers' expectations.
February 4, 2026 at 6:41 PM
Reminder that the Washington Post lost 250,000 subscribers, more than most outlets will ever have, after its decision not to publish an endorsement in the last election. www.npr.org/2024/10/29/n...
That kind of cowardice, not AI or whatever, is what's "drastically reshaping" readers' expectations.
That kind of cowardice, not AI or whatever, is what's "drastically reshaping" readers' expectations.
Powerful case made by @georgemonbiot.bsky.social that Labour's sole election strategy at this point is "Vote for us or you'll let Reform in" and that strategy depends entirely on keeping the current desperately unfair electoral system in place.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
If Reform ever wins power in Westminster, it will be because of Labour’s cowardice | George Monbiot
Starmer could improve our unfair electoral system to stop the hard right, but he won’t. All the party has left are threats about ‘splitting the vote’, says Guardian columnist George Monbiot
www.theguardian.com
February 4, 2026 at 1:18 PM
Powerful case made by @georgemonbiot.bsky.social that Labour's sole election strategy at this point is "Vote for us or you'll let Reform in" and that strategy depends entirely on keeping the current desperately unfair electoral system in place.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by LonWon
This @bostonreview.bsky.social piece by @adambonica.bsky.social and @jakemgrumbach.bsky.social is an absolute must-read, as are many of the responses to it.
Spread this one far and wide.
Spread this one far and wide.
How Not to Defeat Authoritarianism
Moderation used to help Democrats win, but its advantages now have been greatly exaggerated.
www.bostonreview.net
February 3, 2026 at 4:31 PM
This @bostonreview.bsky.social piece by @adambonica.bsky.social and @jakemgrumbach.bsky.social is an absolute must-read, as are many of the responses to it.
Spread this one far and wide.
Spread this one far and wide.
Richard Murphy has discovered that his "politics of care" gets little traction on YouTube.
ChatGPT says it's because the YouTube algorithm has learned that "care" is "overused by low-engagement content". It sounds worthy not emotionally arousing.
www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2026/02...
ChatGPT says it's because the YouTube algorithm has learned that "care" is "overused by low-engagement content". It sounds worthy not emotionally arousing.
www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2026/02...
YouTube does not like “care”
Over the last few days, we have put out videos with the word
www.taxresearch.org.uk
February 4, 2026 at 2:05 AM
Richard Murphy has discovered that his "politics of care" gets little traction on YouTube.
ChatGPT says it's because the YouTube algorithm has learned that "care" is "overused by low-engagement content". It sounds worthy not emotionally arousing.
www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2026/02...
ChatGPT says it's because the YouTube algorithm has learned that "care" is "overused by low-engagement content". It sounds worthy not emotionally arousing.
www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2026/02...
Reposted by LonWon
Most women under 30 prior to the turn of the 20th century will remember being shouted at in the street at least once a week by oiky blokes along the lines of ‘Oi, blondie, give us a smile.’ But I don’t remember a world leader ever doing this on camera before. What an utter disgrace this man is.
KAITLAN COLLINS: What would say to Epstein survivo---
TRUMP: You are so bad. You are the worst report. No wonder CNN has no ratings. She's a young woman. I don't think I've ever seen you smile. They should be ashamed of you.
TRUMP: You are so bad. You are the worst report. No wonder CNN has no ratings. She's a young woman. I don't think I've ever seen you smile. They should be ashamed of you.
February 3, 2026 at 11:45 PM
Most women under 30 prior to the turn of the 20th century will remember being shouted at in the street at least once a week by oiky blokes along the lines of ‘Oi, blondie, give us a smile.’ But I don’t remember a world leader ever doing this on camera before. What an utter disgrace this man is.
Reposted by LonWon
This is shameful. 😡
Muslims are welcome in Exeter, and the community rallied round to remove the graffiti.
Unfortunately Devon Live is failing to moderate its Facebook comments, and hate speech is proliferating on its pages from bigots and bots that have nothing to do with Exeter.
Muslims are welcome in Exeter, and the community rallied round to remove the graffiti.
Unfortunately Devon Live is failing to moderate its Facebook comments, and hate speech is proliferating on its pages from bigots and bots that have nothing to do with Exeter.
February 3, 2026 at 11:51 PM
This is shameful. 😡
Muslims are welcome in Exeter, and the community rallied round to remove the graffiti.
Unfortunately Devon Live is failing to moderate its Facebook comments, and hate speech is proliferating on its pages from bigots and bots that have nothing to do with Exeter.
Muslims are welcome in Exeter, and the community rallied round to remove the graffiti.
Unfortunately Devon Live is failing to moderate its Facebook comments, and hate speech is proliferating on its pages from bigots and bots that have nothing to do with Exeter.
Here's my prediction for Gorton and Denton:
Over 50% of the vote for the Greens. Reform a distant second, Labour a close third. Everyone else almost nothing.
Over 50% of the vote for the Greens. Reform a distant second, Labour a close third. Everyone else almost nothing.
February 2, 2026 at 12:01 PM
Here's my prediction for Gorton and Denton:
Over 50% of the vote for the Greens. Reform a distant second, Labour a close third. Everyone else almost nothing.
Over 50% of the vote for the Greens. Reform a distant second, Labour a close third. Everyone else almost nothing.
Reposted by LonWon
Mandelson leaked sensitive UK government tax plans to Epstein ft.trib.al/UgTxZVm
Mandelson leaked sensitive UK government tax plans to Epstein
Former ambassador forwarded memo from special adviser to Gordon Brown to late sex offender in 2009
ft.trib.al
February 2, 2026 at 11:26 AM
Mandelson leaked sensitive UK government tax plans to Epstein ft.trib.al/UgTxZVm
Reposted by LonWon
These moments will be crucial - not just in establishing who can provide a viable electoral vehicle to progressive voters, but also in aggressively demonstrating to Labour the danger of adopting a Reform position on immigration.
Betting market now suggesting Hannah Spencer, Green, more likely to win Gorton & Denton than not, 51% probability; Matthew Goodwin, Reform, 32%; Angeliki Stogia, Labour, 18% www.oddschecker.com/politics/bri...
February 2, 2026 at 11:09 AM
These moments will be crucial - not just in establishing who can provide a viable electoral vehicle to progressive voters, but also in aggressively demonstrating to Labour the danger of adopting a Reform position on immigration.
Reposted by LonWon
If you think Starmer's Labour candidate
for Gorton & Denton might have some
socialist values, read her PR splurge for yet more
public private partnership - which saddled so many hospitals with massive debts ...
Angeliki Stogia is a paid privatiser
www.arup.com/insights/dri...
#SocialistSunday
for Gorton & Denton might have some
socialist values, read her PR splurge for yet more
public private partnership - which saddled so many hospitals with massive debts ...
Angeliki Stogia is a paid privatiser
www.arup.com/insights/dri...
#SocialistSunday
February 2, 2026 at 11:05 AM
Reposted by LonWon
What's that? Peter Mandelson resigning from something again? FIRE UP THE (OLD) SKETCH! thecritic.co.uk/oh-m...
February 1, 2026 at 10:50 PM
What's that? Peter Mandelson resigning from something again? FIRE UP THE (OLD) SKETCH! thecritic.co.uk/oh-m...
The companies reaping a profit from racism
www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2026/01...
www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2026/01...
Guess who wins from racism?
As the FT noted yesterday:
Companies including Palantir and Deloitte have collectively reaped more than $22bn from contracts linked to Donald Trump’s aggressive immigration crackdown.
Consultants, te...
www.taxresearch.org.uk
January 31, 2026 at 2:25 PM
The companies reaping a profit from racism
www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2026/01...
www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2026/01...
Reposted by LonWon
COMMENT // Exeter City Council leader Phil Bialyk hides behind flimsy CEO capacity claims to contrive local elections cancellation
exeterobserver.org/2026/01/31/m...
exeterobserver.org/2026/01/31/m...
Exeter City Council leader Phil Bialyk hides behind flimsy CEO capacity claims to contrive local elections cancellation - Exeter Observer
Labour councillors plumb new depths to cling to power – and personal financial gain – as government-backed contempt for democracy enables seven of eight executive members to avoid ballots in their war...
exeterobserver.org
January 31, 2026 at 9:48 AM
COMMENT // Exeter City Council leader Phil Bialyk hides behind flimsy CEO capacity claims to contrive local elections cancellation
exeterobserver.org/2026/01/31/m...
exeterobserver.org/2026/01/31/m...
Reposted by LonWon
The Greens have received a boost in their bid to win the Gorton and Denton by-election
The Muslim vote, a pressure group focused on who Muslims should support in elections, has endorsed Zack Polanski's party over Labour and George Galloway's Workers' Party, reports Tom Scotson
The Muslim vote, a pressure group focused on who Muslims should support in elections, has endorsed Zack Polanski's party over Labour and George Galloway's Workers' Party, reports Tom Scotson
Muslim Voter Group To Endorse Greens In Gorton And Denton By-Election
Exclusive: A pressure group focused on who Muslims should support in elections will endorse the Green Party in Gorton and Denton.
www.politicshome.com
January 27, 2026 at 9:56 AM
The Greens have received a boost in their bid to win the Gorton and Denton by-election
The Muslim vote, a pressure group focused on who Muslims should support in elections, has endorsed Zack Polanski's party over Labour and George Galloway's Workers' Party, reports Tom Scotson
The Muslim vote, a pressure group focused on who Muslims should support in elections, has endorsed Zack Polanski's party over Labour and George Galloway's Workers' Party, reports Tom Scotson