Ms Lesley Smith
@mslesleysmith.bsky.social
Ex Amazon and Revolut. Brent Councillor. London, Norfolk, politics, walking, running slowly…🇺🇦
Don’t believe this nonsense either. What is the Times playing at.
Fancy a big night in? Britons go nuts for pub snacks at home
Demand for pork scratchings, real ales and Scotch eggs soar as middle-class consumers seek to recreate a ‘proper old boozer’ without going out
Demand for pork scratchings, real ales and Scotch eggs soar as middle-class consumers seek to recreate a ‘proper old boozer’ without going out
Fancy a big night in? Britons go nuts for pub snacks at home
www.thetimes.com
November 10, 2025 at 11:27 PM
Don’t believe this nonsense either. What is the Times playing at.
Reposted by Ms Lesley Smith
Bill Nighy for DG BBC. observer.co.uk/culture/inte...
November 9, 2025 at 8:25 PM
Bill Nighy for DG BBC. observer.co.uk/culture/inte...
The “I’m just going because the time is right with the Royal Charter coming up” line doesn’t quite work with Deborah Turness going at the same time.
November 9, 2025 at 7:39 PM
The “I’m just going because the time is right with the Royal Charter coming up” line doesn’t quite work with Deborah Turness going at the same time.
The Traitors Circle by @jonathanfreedland.bsky.social is really terrific. Buy now.
November 8, 2025 at 10:07 PM
The Traitors Circle by @jonathanfreedland.bsky.social is really terrific. Buy now.
Much of Kyiv had just three hours of electricity today despite temperatures of 5-7 degrees after last nights attacks of electricity infrastructure. Support United 24 to fight back here u24app.gov.ua/main?utm_sou...
United24
u24app.gov.ua
November 8, 2025 at 3:58 PM
Much of Kyiv had just three hours of electricity today despite temperatures of 5-7 degrees after last nights attacks of electricity infrastructure. Support United 24 to fight back here u24app.gov.ua/main?utm_sou...
More to the point, the issue here isn’t the voting system but the growing credence given to a simplistic far right narrative. Yes they lost this time but came very close. Centrists and the centre left need a very clear and relentless narrative based on delivering fairness and opportunity.
Even a big far-right vote couldn’t give the far-right total control, because the Dutch democracy promotes cooperation.
Here in the UK, just one-third of the vote could give Nigel Farage a huge majority of MPs.
Our democracy isn't fit for 21st-century politics. We need Proportional Representation.
Here in the UK, just one-third of the vote could give Nigel Farage a huge majority of MPs.
Our democracy isn't fit for 21st-century politics. We need Proportional Representation.
November 1, 2025 at 9:34 AM
More to the point, the issue here isn’t the voting system but the growing credence given to a simplistic far right narrative. Yes they lost this time but came very close. Centrists and the centre left need a very clear and relentless narrative based on delivering fairness and opportunity.
Reposted by Ms Lesley Smith
Gotta love Private Eye.
Always cuts through the crap.
Always cuts through the crap.
October 31, 2025 at 7:38 PM
Gotta love Private Eye.
Always cuts through the crap.
Always cuts through the crap.
Much enjoying Ken Follet reminiscing about being a local newspaper reporter in Cardiff (BBC Radio 4)
November 1, 2025 at 9:14 AM
Much enjoying Ken Follet reminiscing about being a local newspaper reporter in Cardiff (BBC Radio 4)
Reposted by Ms Lesley Smith
Won’t bang on about this indefinitely but let’s have a quick look at inner London deprivation in this fab tool.
Here’s Church St, Westminster (just outside) 5% most deprived in the country. Westbourne/Queen’s Park not far behind. Then there’s Silchester in K+C, White City, Somers Town, Vauxhall..
Here’s Church St, Westminster (just outside) 5% most deprived in the country. Westbourne/Queen’s Park not far behind. Then there’s Silchester in K+C, White City, Somers Town, Vauxhall..
October 31, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Won’t bang on about this indefinitely but let’s have a quick look at inner London deprivation in this fab tool.
Here’s Church St, Westminster (just outside) 5% most deprived in the country. Westbourne/Queen’s Park not far behind. Then there’s Silchester in K+C, White City, Somers Town, Vauxhall..
Here’s Church St, Westminster (just outside) 5% most deprived in the country. Westbourne/Queen’s Park not far behind. Then there’s Silchester in K+C, White City, Somers Town, Vauxhall..
Ha ha ha 🤣
"The sale of Telegraph Media Group is in “fresh turmoil” after the paper linked expected buyer John Thornton (Redbird Capital chair) to the suspected ringleader of an alleged Chinese spy ring. The Tele ran a 2024 photo of him with senior CCP figure Cai Qi"
Total chaos at Tele towers.
Total chaos at Tele towers.
Telegraph sale in turmoil after lead bidder linked to China’s politburo
Media group’s own paper publishes photograph of RedBird Capital chair with alleged spy ring chief
www.theguardian.com
October 30, 2025 at 8:50 PM
Ha ha ha 🤣
Reposted by Ms Lesley Smith
Some Tories now backing Rachel Reeves.
October 30, 2025 at 8:14 PM
Some Tories now backing Rachel Reeves.
Wondering what bad thing I could do to be exiled all expenses paid to Sandringham….
October 30, 2025 at 8:28 PM
Wondering what bad thing I could do to be exiled all expenses paid to Sandringham….
Reposted by Ms Lesley Smith
Kyiv.
Dnipro River.
Fishermen.
I stood there
and lived that peaceful moment.
Dnipro River.
Fishermen.
I stood there
and lived that peaceful moment.
October 26, 2025 at 12:44 PM
Kyiv.
Dnipro River.
Fishermen.
I stood there
and lived that peaceful moment.
Dnipro River.
Fishermen.
I stood there
and lived that peaceful moment.
Reposted by Ms Lesley Smith
Evening video from Kyiv,
filmed today.
Just a reminder
that this city lives
and honours those who protect it –
the flags you see at the beginning.
filmed today.
Just a reminder
that this city lives
and honours those who protect it –
the flags you see at the beginning.
October 29, 2025 at 5:17 PM
Evening video from Kyiv,
filmed today.
Just a reminder
that this city lives
and honours those who protect it –
the flags you see at the beginning.
filmed today.
Just a reminder
that this city lives
and honours those who protect it –
the flags you see at the beginning.
Reposted by Ms Lesley Smith
Even without electricity after the Russian attacks, #Kyiv gymnasts are still training.
Unbreakable children.
📹 anna_rizatdinova/Instagram
Unbreakable children.
📹 anna_rizatdinova/Instagram
October 28, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Even without electricity after the Russian attacks, #Kyiv gymnasts are still training.
Unbreakable children.
📹 anna_rizatdinova/Instagram
Unbreakable children.
📹 anna_rizatdinova/Instagram
Reposted by Ms Lesley Smith
"To say 'Zelenskyy is no friend of the working class' is an insulting, facile distraction from the fact that Sultana refuses to support the Ukrainian people’s fight for existence."
Proper cold fury and moral clarity from @paulmason.bsky.social on Sultana.
open.substack.com/pub/htsf/p/c...
Proper cold fury and moral clarity from @paulmason.bsky.social on Sultana.
open.substack.com/pub/htsf/p/c...
Coventry South needs a by-election soon
Zarah Sultana has no mandate for disarming the people of Britain and betraying Ukraine
open.substack.com
October 28, 2025 at 3:06 PM
"To say 'Zelenskyy is no friend of the working class' is an insulting, facile distraction from the fact that Sultana refuses to support the Ukrainian people’s fight for existence."
Proper cold fury and moral clarity from @paulmason.bsky.social on Sultana.
open.substack.com/pub/htsf/p/c...
Proper cold fury and moral clarity from @paulmason.bsky.social on Sultana.
open.substack.com/pub/htsf/p/c...
William Hill earnings “ahead of expectations”. So looks like you’ll survive a gambling tax after all then?
October 28, 2025 at 10:01 AM
William Hill earnings “ahead of expectations”. So looks like you’ll survive a gambling tax after all then?
Interesting tradition. Ukrainians’ national day of dictation. www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/202...
Wonder if we could get it to take off elsewhere and what would you choose as the set work to dictate?
Wonder if we could get it to take off elsewhere and what would you choose as the set work to dictate?
Ukraine's annual National Unity radio dictation reaches the Antarctic and Russia's Kursk Oblast – photos
Ukrainians across the country and beyond have been taking part in the 25th annual Radio Dictation of National Unity. This year’s text, titled The Magic of Voice, was written by author Oksana Zabuzhko ...
www.pravda.com.ua
October 28, 2025 at 12:00 AM
Interesting tradition. Ukrainians’ national day of dictation. www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/202...
Wonder if we could get it to take off elsewhere and what would you choose as the set work to dictate?
Wonder if we could get it to take off elsewhere and what would you choose as the set work to dictate?
Reposted by Ms Lesley Smith
Looking for a snap with an #inside theme for today's #BlueSkyArtShow I thought of this shot from 2018 of #Eltham Palace - a marvellous mix of art deco and medieval in SE London.
#photography #architecture #architecturephotography #artdeco #interior #elthampalace
#photography #architecture #architecturephotography #artdeco #interior #elthampalace
October 25, 2025 at 9:09 AM
Looking for a snap with an #inside theme for today's #BlueSkyArtShow I thought of this shot from 2018 of #Eltham Palace - a marvellous mix of art deco and medieval in SE London.
#photography #architecture #architecturephotography #artdeco #interior #elthampalace
#photography #architecture #architecturephotography #artdeco #interior #elthampalace
This should absolutely happen everywhere. And why don’t we offer first time voters a badge and have someone on hand to shake their hands and make a big deal of it? Ready to mark them in bold on the register. Give them a special souvenir pencil?
I really don't want to hear that this is because of some horrible budget cut or electoral malfeasance somewhere, because the idea that we just do this because it's bery obviously the best possible voting experience that has ever been devised, is too sublime to deny.
The home of the O'Donovan family is being used as a polling station in Coolmoyne, Co Tipperary. Around 250 people are eligible to vote at the house and after they cast their ballot, they will be treated to a cup of tea, a slice of apple or rhubarb tart, or a scone | More: rte.ie/b/1540324
October 25, 2025 at 9:46 AM
This should absolutely happen everywhere. And why don’t we offer first time voters a badge and have someone on hand to shake their hands and make a big deal of it? Ready to mark them in bold on the register. Give them a special souvenir pencil?
Paul McCartney: Lovely extracts from his new book on Wings and life after the Beatles. Brilliant Dustin Hoffman vignette
www.thetimes.com/article/343e...
www.thetimes.com/article/343e...
Paul McCartney: ‘I shook, unable to lift my head off the pillow’
When the Beatles split, Paul McCartney was in crisis. He escaped to Scotland and a year later started Wings. In an extract from his new book, he reveals what happened
www.thetimes.com
October 25, 2025 at 9:41 AM
Paul McCartney: Lovely extracts from his new book on Wings and life after the Beatles. Brilliant Dustin Hoffman vignette
www.thetimes.com/article/343e...
www.thetimes.com/article/343e...
Hooray! Something works. Now gambling needs to be controlled as tightly.
October 23, 2025 at 8:24 AM
Hooray! Something works. Now gambling needs to be controlled as tightly.
Reposted by Ms Lesley Smith
Useful story on the Reform + Conservative plans
- How many nurses have ILR? How many earn < £38.7k or meet ANY of the other conditions?
- How many nurses are they removing who arrived 2021-25? (There were 25,497 in the 12 months to March 2023, for example)
- How many nurses have ILR? How many earn < £38.7k or meet ANY of the other conditions?
- How many nurses are they removing who arrived 2021-25? (There were 25,497 in the 12 months to March 2023, for example)
October 22, 2025 at 5:57 AM
Useful story on the Reform + Conservative plans
- How many nurses have ILR? How many earn < £38.7k or meet ANY of the other conditions?
- How many nurses are they removing who arrived 2021-25? (There were 25,497 in the 12 months to March 2023, for example)
- How many nurses have ILR? How many earn < £38.7k or meet ANY of the other conditions?
- How many nurses are they removing who arrived 2021-25? (There were 25,497 in the 12 months to March 2023, for example)
Reposted by Ms Lesley Smith
Russia murdered more children last night
The russian attack killed a woman, a 6mo baby and a 12yo girl in the Kyiv suburbs. Their bodies were recovered from their home erased to the ground.
The WH will now probably offer putin more summits and red carpets. He's such a devoted peace-dealer.
The WH will now probably offer putin more summits and red carpets. He's such a devoted peace-dealer.
October 22, 2025 at 6:57 AM
Russia murdered more children last night