Miles King
@milesking.bsky.social
Now at tail end of a long career in UK Nature Conservation - nature reserves, SSSIs, policy work, lots of reports - and 10+ years of blogging. Currently run @poundburynatureproject. Cellist. Living with chronic vestibular migraine. Personal account.
Pinned
Burton Bradstock sea, beach and cliffs looking stunning in the winter sunshine. New Year's Eve 2025
As usual, @petergeoghegan.bsky.social cuts to the chase. open.substack.com/pub/democrac...
Trump is what happens when democracy is bought
Davos is a warning Britain can’t afford to ignore - Starmer must act now
open.substack.com
January 21, 2026 at 4:17 PM
As usual, @petergeoghegan.bsky.social cuts to the chase. open.substack.com/pub/democrac...
Trump is in full stream of consciousness mode, which for a malignant narcissist requires the words "me" or "I" at least every fourth word.
I think the audience is now in a coma.
I think the audience is now in a coma.
January 21, 2026 at 1:54 PM
Trump is in full stream of consciousness mode, which for a malignant narcissist requires the words "me" or "I" at least every fourth word.
I think the audience is now in a coma.
I think the audience is now in a coma.
Sanctions now required. Suspension from the commons.
NEW: NEW: Standards commissioner finds Nigel Farage committed seventeen breaches of MPs code of conduct.
He failed to declare £333,000 in outside interests (more than 3x MPs annual salary)…
He failed to declare £333,000 in outside interests (more than 3x MPs annual salary)…
January 21, 2026 at 11:58 AM
Sanctions now required. Suspension from the commons.
AI evangelists have moved on from "AI will make everyone happier and their lives easier" to "start paying to use AI or the AI boom will end and civilisation will collapse".
January 20, 2026 at 12:47 PM
AI evangelists have moved on from "AI will make everyone happier and their lives easier" to "start paying to use AI or the AI boom will end and civilisation will collapse".
Readers mailbag (with real bag noises) #StrongMessageHere episode, including the true story of the emergency removal of all cat's anuses from the film Cats, while the film was already in cinemas. Stewart Lee also explains why Who Dares Wins is a favourite film of his. www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
Strong Message Here - Listeners' Strong Messages (with Stewart Lee) - BBC Sounds
Stewart joins Armando as they dip into the listeners' mailbag.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 20, 2026 at 12:17 PM
Readers mailbag (with real bag noises) #StrongMessageHere episode, including the true story of the emergency removal of all cat's anuses from the film Cats, while the film was already in cinemas. Stewart Lee also explains why Who Dares Wins is a favourite film of his. www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
New Water White Paper out today, announces creation of new regulator, taking functions from other existing regulators. Ofwat and DWI abolished and EA/NE "water system functions" removed.
Focus for new regulator seems to be solely on drinking water supply by, and performance of, private water co's.
Focus for new regulator seems to be solely on drinking water supply by, and performance of, private water co's.
January 20, 2026 at 11:38 AM
New Water White Paper out today, announces creation of new regulator, taking functions from other existing regulators. Ofwat and DWI abolished and EA/NE "water system functions" removed.
Focus for new regulator seems to be solely on drinking water supply by, and performance of, private water co's.
Focus for new regulator seems to be solely on drinking water supply by, and performance of, private water co's.
Farage racist schoolboy story, combined with Tory failure defections starting to cut through Reform support.
Westminster Voting Intention:
RFM: 24% (=)
LAB: 19% (=)
CON: 18% (-2)
GRN: 17% (+3)
LDM: 14% (-2)
Via @yougov.co.uk, 18-19 Jan.
Changes w/ 11-12 Jan.
RFM: 24% (=)
LAB: 19% (=)
CON: 18% (-2)
GRN: 17% (+3)
LDM: 14% (-2)
Via @yougov.co.uk, 18-19 Jan.
Changes w/ 11-12 Jan.
January 20, 2026 at 10:46 AM
Farage racist schoolboy story, combined with Tory failure defections starting to cut through Reform support.
Reposted by Miles King
Trump sent out a batsh!t crazy letter yesterday and people once again fell for it. The real story is not the letter, its just another tactic to get what he wants. It shows how he despises Europe and is helping Putin. Yet people comfort themselves by mocking him. open.substack.com/pub/phillips...
People Are Still Not Getting Trump Right
His Letter Was Not And Is Not The Story
open.substack.com
January 20, 2026 at 6:57 AM
Trump sent out a batsh!t crazy letter yesterday and people once again fell for it. The real story is not the letter, its just another tactic to get what he wants. It shows how he despises Europe and is helping Putin. Yet people comfort themselves by mocking him. open.substack.com/pub/phillips...
Nigel's diary.
Sunday: not well enough to face softball questions from Tory Laura, in case she asked about King Trump and Greenland.
Monday: well enough to fly to Davos and mingle with potential Reform party funders from the oil industry.
Sunday: not well enough to face softball questions from Tory Laura, in case she asked about King Trump and Greenland.
Monday: well enough to fly to Davos and mingle with potential Reform party funders from the oil industry.
January 19, 2026 at 2:02 PM
Nigel's diary.
Sunday: not well enough to face softball questions from Tory Laura, in case she asked about King Trump and Greenland.
Monday: well enough to fly to Davos and mingle with potential Reform party funders from the oil industry.
Sunday: not well enough to face softball questions from Tory Laura, in case she asked about King Trump and Greenland.
Monday: well enough to fly to Davos and mingle with potential Reform party funders from the oil industry.
Full scale trade war in the offing
January 19, 2026 at 12:56 PM
Full scale trade war in the offing
Trump is off the deep end.
January 19, 2026 at 8:25 AM
Trump is off the deep end.
Naturally, Andrew Rosindell, who co-founded the Conservative Friends of Russia, should join his Russia-adjacent mates in Reform. CFOR collapsed after it was found to be closely linked to a KGB/FSB-linked "diplomat" and alleged spy, at the Russian Embassy. www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio...
January 19, 2026 at 7:56 AM
Naturally, Andrew Rosindell, who co-founded the Conservative Friends of Russia, should join his Russia-adjacent mates in Reform. CFOR collapsed after it was found to be closely linked to a KGB/FSB-linked "diplomat" and alleged spy, at the Russian Embassy. www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio...
Not sure the "braved freezing temperatures" trope really needed to be deployed. This is Greenland, after all.
More worrying if anything is mention of the rain - rain in January.
#climatechaos bringing large scale ice melting, will make Greenland much more inhospitable, for friend or foe.
More worrying if anything is mention of the rain - rain in January.
#climatechaos bringing large scale ice melting, will make Greenland much more inhospitable, for friend or foe.
For the first time since Trump renewed his campaign to take over Greenland, people across the island braved freezing temperatures in coordinated protests.
Demonstrators waved Greenlandic flags. Some openly cried in the rain.
"We will keep saying it: We are not for sale."
Demonstrators waved Greenlandic flags. Some openly cried in the rain.
"We will keep saying it: We are not for sale."
‘Yankee, Go Home’: Greenlanders Protest Trump’s Takeover Plans
www.nytimes.com
January 18, 2026 at 7:26 PM
Not sure the "braved freezing temperatures" trope really needed to be deployed. This is Greenland, after all.
More worrying if anything is mention of the rain - rain in January.
#climatechaos bringing large scale ice melting, will make Greenland much more inhospitable, for friend or foe.
More worrying if anything is mention of the rain - rain in January.
#climatechaos bringing large scale ice melting, will make Greenland much more inhospitable, for friend or foe.
Tory defectors to Reform.
From the greedy and corrupt, to the self-serving and just plain nasty.
After the catastrophes successive Tory Government brought to this country, who in their right mind would vote for them again?
From the greedy and corrupt, to the self-serving and just plain nasty.
After the catastrophes successive Tory Government brought to this country, who in their right mind would vote for them again?
January 18, 2026 at 12:18 PM
Tory defectors to Reform.
From the greedy and corrupt, to the self-serving and just plain nasty.
After the catastrophes successive Tory Government brought to this country, who in their right mind would vote for them again?
From the greedy and corrupt, to the self-serving and just plain nasty.
After the catastrophes successive Tory Government brought to this country, who in their right mind would vote for them again?
Reposted by Miles King
I wonder why Nigel Farage has pulled out of The Laura Kuenssberg TV programme this morning?
🤔
🤔
January 18, 2026 at 9:30 AM
I wonder why Nigel Farage has pulled out of The Laura Kuenssberg TV programme this morning?
🤔
🤔
Reposted by Miles King
🔴 Who Funds the Free Speech Union?
Toby Young’s outfit has gone to court to stop publication of a list of its donors
So we decided to take a dive into its funders
Watch video with me and @writesbright.bsky.social 😀
youtu.be/oP0OGYhYyaA?...
Toby Young’s outfit has gone to court to stop publication of a list of its donors
So we decided to take a dive into its funders
Watch video with me and @writesbright.bsky.social 😀
youtu.be/oP0OGYhYyaA?...
Who Really Funds the Free Speech Union?
YouTube video by Democracy for Sale
youtu.be
January 18, 2026 at 11:31 AM
🔴 Who Funds the Free Speech Union?
Toby Young’s outfit has gone to court to stop publication of a list of its donors
So we decided to take a dive into its funders
Watch video with me and @writesbright.bsky.social 😀
youtu.be/oP0OGYhYyaA?...
Toby Young’s outfit has gone to court to stop publication of a list of its donors
So we decided to take a dive into its funders
Watch video with me and @writesbright.bsky.social 😀
youtu.be/oP0OGYhYyaA?...
It's not all about you Zack.
Poor Nigel was feeling very conflicted over his Emperor's latest threats to Greenland and associated tariffs on UK goods, so decided to stay at home feeling sorry for himself.
Poor Nigel was feeling very conflicted over his Emperor's latest threats to Greenland and associated tariffs on UK goods, so decided to stay at home feeling sorry for himself.
Week by week - Laura Kuenssberg is interviewing the party leaders.
When I agreed to come on the show, I was told Nigel Farage was also doing it.
He's now pulled out - and they've sent the deputy instead.
The same Nigel Farage who's refusing to debate me.
A pattern emerging...
When I agreed to come on the show, I was told Nigel Farage was also doing it.
He's now pulled out - and they've sent the deputy instead.
The same Nigel Farage who's refusing to debate me.
A pattern emerging...
January 18, 2026 at 11:34 AM
It's not all about you Zack.
Poor Nigel was feeling very conflicted over his Emperor's latest threats to Greenland and associated tariffs on UK goods, so decided to stay at home feeling sorry for himself.
Poor Nigel was feeling very conflicted over his Emperor's latest threats to Greenland and associated tariffs on UK goods, so decided to stay at home feeling sorry for himself.
Reposted by Miles King
Donald Trump threatens 10% tariffs on UK and Nigel Farage who has positioned himself as the president's best mate in Britain drops out of a much promoted interview on the BBC.
Strange.
Almost like the two things are connected.
Strange.
Almost like the two things are connected.
January 18, 2026 at 9:49 AM
Donald Trump threatens 10% tariffs on UK and Nigel Farage who has positioned himself as the president's best mate in Britain drops out of a much promoted interview on the BBC.
Strange.
Almost like the two things are connected.
Strange.
Almost like the two things are connected.
Brave Sir Nigel ran away.
January 18, 2026 at 9:46 AM
Brave Sir Nigel ran away.
By coincidence, Farage pulled out of a planned interview with Tory Laura this morning.
Trump's tariff play for Greenland puts his acolyte Farage in a tricky position. Does he defend the UK's interests in backing our European/NATO allies, or does he call for Denmark to hand Greenland over to Trump?
My guess is he will maintain an awkward silence on the matter for as long as possible.
My guess is he will maintain an awkward silence on the matter for as long as possible.
January 18, 2026 at 9:45 AM
By coincidence, Farage pulled out of a planned interview with Tory Laura this morning.
Reposted by Miles King
Why doesn't Laura K ask Richard Tice why Farage has backed out of his planned interview? Is she not curious? Might it - hear me out sounds crazy i know - he doesn't want to criticise his best buddy in the WH? The guy wants to be PM but runs away when Trump attacks us through tariffs?
January 18, 2026 at 9:30 AM
Why doesn't Laura K ask Richard Tice why Farage has backed out of his planned interview? Is she not curious? Might it - hear me out sounds crazy i know - he doesn't want to criticise his best buddy in the WH? The guy wants to be PM but runs away when Trump attacks us through tariffs?
Reposted by Miles King
Came across this strange thing today.
I'm reasonably confident this is Rumex sanguineus (Wood Dock) & the seeds appear to have germinated while still in the inflorescence - known as vivipary. Vivipary is quite common in UK native grasses, and I have seen a few other species do it. Not Docks though
I'm reasonably confident this is Rumex sanguineus (Wood Dock) & the seeds appear to have germinated while still in the inflorescence - known as vivipary. Vivipary is quite common in UK native grasses, and I have seen a few other species do it. Not Docks though
January 17, 2026 at 5:32 PM
Came across this strange thing today.
I'm reasonably confident this is Rumex sanguineus (Wood Dock) & the seeds appear to have germinated while still in the inflorescence - known as vivipary. Vivipary is quite common in UK native grasses, and I have seen a few other species do it. Not Docks though
I'm reasonably confident this is Rumex sanguineus (Wood Dock) & the seeds appear to have germinated while still in the inflorescence - known as vivipary. Vivipary is quite common in UK native grasses, and I have seen a few other species do it. Not Docks though
Trump is still fuming over the Steele tapes. That's why he's desperate for a Golden Dome.
January 17, 2026 at 5:19 PM
Trump is still fuming over the Steele tapes. That's why he's desperate for a Golden Dome.
Trump's tariff play for Greenland puts his acolyte Farage in a tricky position. Does he defend the UK's interests in backing our European/NATO allies, or does he call for Denmark to hand Greenland over to Trump?
My guess is he will maintain an awkward silence on the matter for as long as possible.
My guess is he will maintain an awkward silence on the matter for as long as possible.
January 17, 2026 at 5:15 PM
Trump's tariff play for Greenland puts his acolyte Farage in a tricky position. Does he defend the UK's interests in backing our European/NATO allies, or does he call for Denmark to hand Greenland over to Trump?
My guess is he will maintain an awkward silence on the matter for as long as possible.
My guess is he will maintain an awkward silence on the matter for as long as possible.