Marc Smith
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marcxsmith.bsky.social
Marc Smith
@marcxsmith.bsky.social
Writer, chartered psychologist, semi-ex-teacher. Slower than average runner. Smarter: Lessons from the New Science of Learning, out now. Leeds, UK
theemotionallearner.com
Reposted by Marc Smith
Reminder:
December 31, 2025 at 8:17 AM
Not particularly surprising. Reform UK are really just MAGA lite, but like our US cousins, Reform's a cult of personality. Neither can survive without their leaders.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Third of Reform UK’s council leaders have expressed vaccine-sceptic views
Health minister decries criticism of vaccinations by heads of four authorities as ‘dangerous and utterly irresponsible’
www.theguardian.com
December 29, 2025 at 8:30 AM
No matter how many allegations there are, this won't mean much to diehard Reform voters. The best we can hope for is that it might change the minds of those who are thinking about supporting Reform.
December 28, 2025 at 8:22 AM
How Denmark (& Sweden & Norway) are preparing to defend Greenland not only from Russia, but also the US.
I never thought I'd see the day when the United States became a potential enemy.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVSe...
Trump vs Denmark: Inside the Military Effort to Protect Greenland | WSJ
YouTube video by The Wall Street Journal
www.youtube.com
December 27, 2025 at 8:58 AM
I'm rubbish at predictions, but I suspect the @greenparty.org.uk will grow in number, strength and influence in 2026 and gradually chip away at Reform, exposing them as the vacuous opportunists they really are.
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
Zack Polanski: ‘I’m going to confess I haven’t finished The Climate Book by Greta Thunberg’
The Green party leader on his ‘floordrobe’, doomscrolling, and getting arrested on Waterloo Bridge
www.theguardian.com
December 24, 2025 at 11:17 AM
I hadn't heard of Connor Tomlinson until about ten minutes ago. I now wish I could go back in time about ten minutes and make better choices.
Harry Cole of Sun interviews Connor Tomlinson - who advocates banning ethnic minority MPs from parliament

Tomlinson regrets sacrificing Suella Braverman but feels sure (on no evidence) she would sacrifice herself to remove the risk of Kemi Badenoch, Rishi Sunak, Priti Patel & Shabana Mahmood!
December 24, 2025 at 10:40 AM
Honestly, if you support Reform you are either a) a racist scumbag; b) too stupid to realise you're the above; or c) not paying attention.
YouGov have Reform on 25% in both their first poll of 2025 and their final poll before Christmas. The only significan sustained gain across 2025 was Green Party +7, at expense of Labour

Reform 25% tp 25% (-)
Labour 26% to 20% (-6)
Cons 22% to 19% (-3)
LibDems 14% to 15% (+1)
Greens 8% to 15% (+7)
December 23, 2025 at 11:11 AM
Anyone else noticed that Trumps seems to get most of policy ideas from TV and films?
Donald Trump just announced the creation of the “Patriot Games,” an “unprecedented four-day athletic event” with “one young man and one young woman from each state and territory.”
December 20, 2025 at 2:21 PM
I'd agree that there's a downturn in the quality of non-fiction, but I doubt that has much to do with we're reading less of it. We're just reading less of everything.
www.theguardian.com/books/2025/d...
Are we falling out of love with nonfiction?
In the early 2020s, readers flocked to books to explain political turbulence. But is the world now too grim to read about – and are podcasters taking the place of authors?
www.theguardian.com
December 19, 2025 at 8:39 AM
Interested to see how this will develop how it will be achieved.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Teachers to be trained to spot early signs of misogyny in boys
The measure is part of the government's strategy to tackle violence against women and girls which will be unveiled on Thursday.
www.bbc.co.uk
December 18, 2025 at 8:12 AM
It's not only Russia and China, though. The US has vowed to support right-wing parties across Europe & Farage has cosied up to Russia and Trump.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/d...
UK to hold inquiry into foreign financial interference in domestic politics
Review, which will focus on effectiveness of political finance laws, follows conviction of former Reform politician for accepting bribes
www.theguardian.com
December 16, 2025 at 4:23 PM
I love seeing bands live. I don't care if they're international superstars or local talent. You can't see an AI band live.
www.theguardian.com/music/2025/d...
Musicians are deeply concerned about AI. So why are the major labels embracing it?
Companies such as Udio, Suno and Klay will let you use AI to make new music based on existing artists’ work. It could mean more royalties – but many are worried
www.theguardian.com
December 16, 2025 at 12:49 PM
Russian is a growing threat, according to MI6.
I suspect the US isn't too far behind.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
‘The frontline is everywhere’: new MI6 head to warn of growing Russian threat
Blaise Metreweli expected to say UK faces new ‘age of uncertainty’ in speech identifying Kremlin as key threat
www.theguardian.com
December 15, 2025 at 9:13 AM
Reposted by Marc Smith
Trump’s takeover of the Kennedy Center should serve as a warning to UK arts institutions | Charlotte Higgins
Trump’s takeover of the Kennedy Center should serve as a warning to UK arts institutions | Charlotte Higgins
Art is not immune from the advances of the hard right – but it isn’t too late for resistance, says the Guardian’s chief culture writer, Charlotte Higgins
www.theguardian.com
December 15, 2025 at 8:31 AM
Reposted by Marc Smith
December 14, 2025 at 12:46 PM
Reposted by Marc Smith
Met commissioner Mark Rowley says Trump talks 'complete nonsense' about crime in London - www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...
December 12, 2025 at 11:21 AM
There's a lot of contradictory headlines in the press today about this study. Here's a balanced review.
TLDR: Plant-based diets can benefit children, but parents need to do look to supplementation as well. Balance is key.
newsroom.taylorandfrancisgroup.com/largest-stud...
Largest study of its kind highlights benefits – and risks – of plant-based diets in children - Taylor & Francis Newsroom
Vegetarian and vegan diets can support healthy growth when carefully planned with appropriate supplementation, finds a major new meta-analysis – the most comprehensive study to-date of plant-based die...
newsroom.taylorandfrancisgroup.com
December 12, 2025 at 9:13 AM
The Tate brothers are monsters, it's no wonder they have the support of the Trump regime
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/10/u...
How a Manosphere Star Accused of Rape and Trafficking Was Freed
www.nytimes.com
December 12, 2025 at 8:39 AM
This kind of appeasement will only push more Labour voters towards the @greenparty.org.uk
How many times do we need to point this out?
By appeasing the far right, you do not weaken it. You strengthen it.
While weakening your own position.
There's a vast amount of academic research showing this.
But Labour will not listen.
www.theguardian.com/law/2025/dec...
Starmer urges Europe’s leaders to curb ECHR to halt rise of far right
Exclusive: PM calls for members of European convention on human rights to allow tougher action to protect borders
www.theguardian.com
December 11, 2025 at 10:58 AM
Can we add piracy to the list now?
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cy...
Follow live: US seizes oil tanker near Venezuela, Trump says
The US president said the tanker was the
www.bbc.co.uk
December 10, 2025 at 9:44 PM
This is my fourth book. And the one I'm most anxious about!
December 10, 2025 at 3:06 PM