Matt Severn
@mattsevern.bsky.social
LibDem councillor, fe support staff, former bookseller, Dad, husband, Christian, non league fan x2 clubs, strategy gamer, very amateur HEMA fighter, SF&F reader, 4 x Parliamentary candidate.
Mostly found in Cumbria and North Lancashire.
Mostly found in Cumbria and North Lancashire.
Reposted by Matt Severn
BBC's Arabic radio service in Lebanon closed after 85 years as part of a £28.5m savings drive. 'Just months later, in October 2023, the Russian state-owned Sputnik news agency took over the frequency. Its news bulletin opened with “This is Moscow”, replacing the previous “This is London” intro.' 🙄
BBC warns Russia is taking over World Service radio frequencies
Russian propaganda is filling the void where the BBC has closed World Service radio services due to cuts
inews.co.uk
June 10, 2025 at 6:03 AM
BBC's Arabic radio service in Lebanon closed after 85 years as part of a £28.5m savings drive. 'Just months later, in October 2023, the Russian state-owned Sputnik news agency took over the frequency. Its news bulletin opened with “This is Moscow”, replacing the previous “This is London” intro.' 🙄
Reposted by Matt Severn
The UK will cut overseas aid spending by about 27% in 2026-27 compared with 2024-25
the US reductions are expected to be 23% lower in 2026 than in 2024, as Congress has this month blunted parts of the steep cuts proposed by President Donald Trump.
the US reductions are expected to be 23% lower in 2026 than in 2024, as Congress has this month blunted parts of the steep cuts proposed by President Donald Trump.
February 16, 2026 at 9:39 AM
The UK will cut overseas aid spending by about 27% in 2026-27 compared with 2024-25
the US reductions are expected to be 23% lower in 2026 than in 2024, as Congress has this month blunted parts of the steep cuts proposed by President Donald Trump.
the US reductions are expected to be 23% lower in 2026 than in 2024, as Congress has this month blunted parts of the steep cuts proposed by President Donald Trump.
Reposted by Matt Severn
We hear way too much about angry Britain, blue-red Britain. What about the Britain of Save the Children, Oxfam, the RSPCA, the RNLI, popular environmentalism, the Britain of London's absolute triumph since its 80s nadir, its civic universities, the Britain of volunteering, giving, hoping?
February 16, 2026 at 10:52 AM
We hear way too much about angry Britain, blue-red Britain. What about the Britain of Save the Children, Oxfam, the RSPCA, the RNLI, popular environmentalism, the Britain of London's absolute triumph since its 80s nadir, its civic universities, the Britain of volunteering, giving, hoping?
Reposted by Matt Severn
A mother whose children were taken by the family court has been vindicated after a 6 yr struggle to have evidence from an unregulated psychologist overturned. The advice of Melanie Gill led to "draconian" orders terminating her relationship with her kids. My report here 👉 tinyurl.com/ypp99rka
February 13, 2026 at 5:00 PM
A mother whose children were taken by the family court has been vindicated after a 6 yr struggle to have evidence from an unregulated psychologist overturned. The advice of Melanie Gill led to "draconian" orders terminating her relationship with her kids. My report here 👉 tinyurl.com/ypp99rka
Reposted by Matt Severn
It is absolute and utter neglect to let this come this close to the wire just as the US has let most of its overseas broadcasting shutter.
And another bites the dust?
The BBC World Service will run out of funding in just seven weeks. Its funding arrangement with the Foreign Office finishes at the end of March. There is no plan for what happens next.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
The BBC World Service will run out of funding in just seven weeks. Its funding arrangement with the Foreign Office finishes at the end of March. There is no plan for what happens next.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
The Guardian view on the BBC World Service: this is London calling | Editorial
Editorial: With just seven weeks before its funding runs out, the UK’s greatest cultural asset and most trusted international news organisation must be supported
www.theguardian.com
February 15, 2026 at 8:32 PM
It is absolute and utter neglect to let this come this close to the wire just as the US has let most of its overseas broadcasting shutter.
Essential summary of why the PM and Chancellor have put themselves in a place where they can’t afford to do what they need to do
The reason he can't? He cannot sell a tax hike. He's too afraid to do it. He doesn't know how to make such a decision and stick to it.
February 16, 2026 at 1:19 AM
Essential summary of why the PM and Chancellor have put themselves in a place where they can’t afford to do what they need to do
Reposted by Matt Severn
I simply do not understand why the PM himself is not banging on about this. Planned increases in defence expenditure are going to necessitate some hideous fiscal trade offs. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Top British and German military chiefs press ‘moral’ case for rearmament
Defence leaders write joint appeal urging public on need to be prepared for war with Russia and resulting costs
www.theguardian.com
February 15, 2026 at 7:29 PM
I simply do not understand why the PM himself is not banging on about this. Planned increases in defence expenditure are going to necessitate some hideous fiscal trade offs. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Matt Severn
Britain have won more gold medals in the last few hours than they have ever won at any single Winter Olympics going back over a century
February 15, 2026 at 6:36 PM
Britain have won more gold medals in the last few hours than they have ever won at any single Winter Olympics going back over a century
Only an incredibly stupid foreign office would let the bbc world service go under
And another bites the dust?
The BBC World Service will run out of funding in just seven weeks. Its funding arrangement with the Foreign Office finishes at the end of March. There is no plan for what happens next.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
The BBC World Service will run out of funding in just seven weeks. Its funding arrangement with the Foreign Office finishes at the end of March. There is no plan for what happens next.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
The Guardian view on the BBC World Service: this is London calling | Editorial
Editorial: With just seven weeks before its funding runs out, the UK’s greatest cultural asset and most trusted international news organisation must be supported
www.theguardian.com
February 15, 2026 at 9:36 PM
Only an incredibly stupid foreign office would let the bbc world service go under
Reposted by Matt Severn
This message from the US State Department about "not wanting allies to be shackled by guilt and shame" is a pretty direct call-out to the German far-right argument that Germany has spent too long feeling guilty about the Holocaust, and needs to move on and stop doing remembrance.
February 15, 2026 at 3:08 PM
This message from the US State Department about "not wanting allies to be shackled by guilt and shame" is a pretty direct call-out to the German far-right argument that Germany has spent too long feeling guilty about the Holocaust, and needs to move on and stop doing remembrance.
Reposted by Matt Severn
How do you want to get your #news? The #BBC public service model, keeping the largest number of people well-informed for <50p a day, or the billionaire owner one, subject to whims, prejudices, and craven kowtowing to raw, corrupt political power? Act now before you don’t have a choice.
Trump’s attack on the BBC is a harbinger of much worse to come
The BBC has its problems—but they are nothing compared to the American billionaires who control much of US media
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk
February 15, 2026 at 12:36 AM
Reposted by Matt Severn
The commander in chief telling troops who they have to vote for is itself a presidency ending impeachable scandal.
February 14, 2026 at 4:12 PM
The commander in chief telling troops who they have to vote for is itself a presidency ending impeachable scandal.
Reposted by Matt Severn
This to me fundamentally rests in a lack of security about what and who the parties stand for, and a foolhardy deference to the feelings of people who would never agree with them anyway.
February 14, 2026 at 12:29 PM
This to me fundamentally rests in a lack of security about what and who the parties stand for, and a foolhardy deference to the feelings of people who would never agree with them anyway.
Reposted by Matt Severn
Like on the summer 2024 riots and hotel protests, why legitimise the actions of a bunch of people who were often serial criminals when you could have pinned Ref as the part of hooligans.
February 14, 2026 at 12:29 PM
Like on the summer 2024 riots and hotel protests, why legitimise the actions of a bunch of people who were often serial criminals when you could have pinned Ref as the part of hooligans.
Reposted by Matt Severn
i often think about this review
February 14, 2026 at 3:13 AM
i often think about this review
Reposted by Matt Severn
Lib Dem voters: too much like the 2024 Labour voters, painful to admit the 2024 strategy didn’t really work
Green voters: painful to admit the 2017 election result happened
Tory voters: eww!!! Might have to use words like ‘aspiration’
And so…the 18 months they’ve had instead.
So
Green voters: painful to admit the 2017 election result happened
Tory voters: eww!!! Might have to use words like ‘aspiration’
And so…the 18 months they’ve had instead.
So
February 14, 2026 at 11:23 AM
Lib Dem voters: too much like the 2024 Labour voters, painful to admit the 2024 strategy didn’t really work
Green voters: painful to admit the 2017 election result happened
Tory voters: eww!!! Might have to use words like ‘aspiration’
And so…the 18 months they’ve had instead.
So
Green voters: painful to admit the 2017 election result happened
Tory voters: eww!!! Might have to use words like ‘aspiration’
And so…the 18 months they’ve had instead.
So
Reposted by Matt Severn
Fighting age man flees his homeland to seek asylum on overcrowded island.
February 14, 2026 at 9:10 AM
Fighting age man flees his homeland to seek asylum on overcrowded island.
Reposted by Matt Severn
It’s so funny to think about the fact that there’s people out there deferring every life decision to this
February 14, 2026 at 9:53 AM
It’s so funny to think about the fact that there’s people out there deferring every life decision to this
Reposted by Matt Severn
I have today been informed that, despite personal assurances to the contrary, the Green party have once again used my image and misrepresented my words on a second leaflet circulated in Gorton and Denton ahead of the by-election. I have now lodged an official complaint with the returning officer.
February 9, 2026 at 11:25 AM
I have today been informed that, despite personal assurances to the contrary, the Green party have once again used my image and misrepresented my words on a second leaflet circulated in Gorton and Denton ahead of the by-election. I have now lodged an official complaint with the returning officer.
Reposted by Matt Severn
On Thanksgiving, the immigrant children held at the Dilley detention center gathered in the gym for what they thought was a holiday feast.
The kids salivated over a spread of turkey, sandwiches, pastries and pies, a family told me.
But the food wasn’t for detainees — it was for the staff.
The kids salivated over a spread of turkey, sandwiches, pastries and pies, a family told me.
But the food wasn’t for detainees — it was for the staff.
February 13, 2026 at 7:41 PM
On Thanksgiving, the immigrant children held at the Dilley detention center gathered in the gym for what they thought was a holiday feast.
The kids salivated over a spread of turkey, sandwiches, pastries and pies, a family told me.
But the food wasn’t for detainees — it was for the staff.
The kids salivated over a spread of turkey, sandwiches, pastries and pies, a family told me.
But the food wasn’t for detainees — it was for the staff.
Reposted by Matt Severn
We should get back to that practice in journalism where, if someone makes a claim about their product, it should be up to them to prove it, rather than everyone assuming it‘s true until it’s proved wrong. And the wilder the claim, the less it should be believed without proof.
This is not hard.
This is not hard.
I'm pretty sure I know. They aren't. We're not going to really be able to make a lot of progress in dealing with the implications of this tech unless and until we get rid of all this "woo-woo" talk about LLMs. Anthropic pushing this line is PR, unserious.
February 13, 2026 at 6:43 PM
We should get back to that practice in journalism where, if someone makes a claim about their product, it should be up to them to prove it, rather than everyone assuming it‘s true until it’s proved wrong. And the wilder the claim, the less it should be believed without proof.
This is not hard.
This is not hard.
Reposted by Matt Severn
Important that nothing should reflect poorly on DP World's ultimate owner: Dubai's ruler, Sheikh Maktoum - a man who kidnapped *two* of his daughters and subjected one of his wives to a campaign of harassment and intimidation.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
Boss of P&O Ferries owner DP World leaves over Jeffrey Epstein links
Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem’s exit as group chair and CEO follows pressure after publication of emails
www.theguardian.com
February 13, 2026 at 7:53 PM
Important that nothing should reflect poorly on DP World's ultimate owner: Dubai's ruler, Sheikh Maktoum - a man who kidnapped *two* of his daughters and subjected one of his wives to a campaign of harassment and intimidation.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
Reposted by Matt Severn
And so.
The Home Secretary and the Home Office threw everything at defending the botched proscription of Palestine Action.
They failed.
They may win on appeal.
But.
Today was a useful reminder that they don’t always get their own way.
Terrorism law is important, but it should not be abused.
The Home Secretary and the Home Office threw everything at defending the botched proscription of Palestine Action.
They failed.
They may win on appeal.
But.
Today was a useful reminder that they don’t always get their own way.
Terrorism law is important, but it should not be abused.
February 13, 2026 at 9:47 PM
And so.
The Home Secretary and the Home Office threw everything at defending the botched proscription of Palestine Action.
They failed.
They may win on appeal.
But.
Today was a useful reminder that they don’t always get their own way.
Terrorism law is important, but it should not be abused.
The Home Secretary and the Home Office threw everything at defending the botched proscription of Palestine Action.
They failed.
They may win on appeal.
But.
Today was a useful reminder that they don’t always get their own way.
Terrorism law is important, but it should not be abused.
Reposted by Matt Severn
The way that American politicians have politicized fucking VACCINES is even more loathsome than their politicization of every other fucking apolitical thing.
February 12, 2026 at 7:34 PM
The way that American politicians have politicized fucking VACCINES is even more loathsome than their politicization of every other fucking apolitical thing.