Mark Walton
@mwalton33.bsky.social
Long time tech sales pro, interested in lots of things and always keen to learn more.
Reposted by Mark Walton
Reposted by Mark Walton
Making sense of the madness. New post on my Brexit & Brexitism Blog. Analysis of the international and domestic implications of the ‘Greenland crisis’, including how the ‘Carney doctrine’ could offer a way forward for post-Brexit Britain: chrisgreybrexitblog.blogspot.com/2026/01/maki...
January 23, 2026 at 7:32 AM
Making sense of the madness. New post on my Brexit & Brexitism Blog. Analysis of the international and domestic implications of the ‘Greenland crisis’, including how the ‘Carney doctrine’ could offer a way forward for post-Brexit Britain: chrisgreybrexitblog.blogspot.com/2026/01/maki...
Reposted by Mark Walton
1/ Others have pointed this out, but there are massive hidden costs in terms of effort and contingency planning to all the Trump threats that never materialize because he never meant them, TACO'd, got talked out of it, or got distracted.
I wanted to talk about why by explaining risk mitigation.
I wanted to talk about why by explaining risk mitigation.
January 24, 2026 at 1:58 PM
1/ Others have pointed this out, but there are massive hidden costs in terms of effort and contingency planning to all the Trump threats that never materialize because he never meant them, TACO'd, got talked out of it, or got distracted.
I wanted to talk about why by explaining risk mitigation.
I wanted to talk about why by explaining risk mitigation.
Reposted by Mark Walton
1970s-style debt crisis update –
UK borrowing costs fall to lowest in more than a year
www.ft.com/content/0574...
UK borrowing costs fall to lowest in more than a year
www.ft.com/content/0574...
January 14, 2026 at 3:39 PM
1970s-style debt crisis update –
UK borrowing costs fall to lowest in more than a year
www.ft.com/content/0574...
UK borrowing costs fall to lowest in more than a year
www.ft.com/content/0574...
Reposted by Mark Walton
my latest for Prospect.
Apparently the US government can kill people on the high seas, in other lands and on its own streets—and nothing will be done to stop it. The US is now a gangster state at home and a rogue state abroad, writes dag
Death in Minnesota
The significance of the reaction to the killing of Renee Nicole Good
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk
January 11, 2026 at 8:03 AM
my latest for Prospect.
Reposted by Mark Walton
Made one of them there starter packs, of people I find fun, interesting, intelligent, etc. on this site. Mostly UK pols, a smattering of geopol stuff, Georgia and Ukraine. If you're not there, it's not because I hate you; I just didn't see your name before my dinner was ready.
go.bsky.app/5z2cs4R
go.bsky.app/5z2cs4R
January 10, 2026 at 6:55 PM
Made one of them there starter packs, of people I find fun, interesting, intelligent, etc. on this site. Mostly UK pols, a smattering of geopol stuff, Georgia and Ukraine. If you're not there, it's not because I hate you; I just didn't see your name before my dinner was ready.
go.bsky.app/5z2cs4R
go.bsky.app/5z2cs4R
Reposted by Mark Walton
It's New Year, so time to look back and forward. These are 10 things I think we need to recognise in 2026. It’s a response to what I think are profoundly damaging mistaken assumptions I’ve heard and read from practitioners, journalists, and analysts in 2025. Warning: very long🧵
January 1, 2026 at 4:55 PM
It's New Year, so time to look back and forward. These are 10 things I think we need to recognise in 2026. It’s a response to what I think are profoundly damaging mistaken assumptions I’ve heard and read from practitioners, journalists, and analysts in 2025. Warning: very long🧵
Reposted by Mark Walton
Set out six months ago to investigative some dubious evictions. Ended up writing a sprawling story spread over 450 years about London property deals, the ethics of money lending, Tommy Robinson, Barbary pirates, Jacobean earls, and wealth in the capital. www.londoncentric.media/p/henry-smit...
A Tale Of One City And Two Henry Smiths
These two London landlords are separated by four centuries — but joined by a common name and business interests.
www.londoncentric.media
January 1, 2026 at 9:26 AM
Set out six months ago to investigative some dubious evictions. Ended up writing a sprawling story spread over 450 years about London property deals, the ethics of money lending, Tommy Robinson, Barbary pirates, Jacobean earls, and wealth in the capital. www.londoncentric.media/p/henry-smit...
Reposted by Mark Walton
NEW
When should social media posts have legal consequences?
Comparing and contrasting the cases of Lucy Connolly and Alaa Abd El-Fattah
By me, at @newstatesman1913.bsky.social
www.newstatesman.com/politics/soc...
When should social media posts have legal consequences?
Comparing and contrasting the cases of Lucy Connolly and Alaa Abd El-Fattah
By me, at @newstatesman1913.bsky.social
www.newstatesman.com/politics/soc...
December 31, 2025 at 1:32 PM
NEW
When should social media posts have legal consequences?
Comparing and contrasting the cases of Lucy Connolly and Alaa Abd El-Fattah
By me, at @newstatesman1913.bsky.social
www.newstatesman.com/politics/soc...
When should social media posts have legal consequences?
Comparing and contrasting the cases of Lucy Connolly and Alaa Abd El-Fattah
By me, at @newstatesman1913.bsky.social
www.newstatesman.com/politics/soc...
Reposted by Mark Walton
The MI6 agent who interviewed Coco Chanel about her wartime work for the Abwehr was Malcolm Muggeridge.
Ok folks: what is your favorite fact that you share with people (maybe a bit too) eagerly?
December 31, 2025 at 9:43 AM
The MI6 agent who interviewed Coco Chanel about her wartime work for the Abwehr was Malcolm Muggeridge.
Reposted by Mark Walton
i don't think this so much about the NHS per se but about people with a vested interest in Magic Bullet Techno-Optimism, determined to push AI/Digital as a solution to all woes
December 29, 2025 at 6:05 PM
i don't think this so much about the NHS per se but about people with a vested interest in Magic Bullet Techno-Optimism, determined to push AI/Digital as a solution to all woes
Reposted by Mark Walton
Reflections on a year of far-right mass deportation policies and the scapegoating of migrants going mainstream
(Full disclosure: I am an immigrant!)
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/politics/pol...
(Full disclosure: I am an immigrant!)
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/politics/pol...
The year of the migrant
Across the world, far-right mass deportation policies and the scapegoating of foreigners have gone mainstream
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk
December 30, 2025 at 9:48 AM
Reflections on a year of far-right mass deportation policies and the scapegoating of migrants going mainstream
(Full disclosure: I am an immigrant!)
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/politics/pol...
(Full disclosure: I am an immigrant!)
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/politics/pol...
Reposted by Mark Walton
Dean Martin, born Dino Paul Crocetti, son of Italian immigrant Gaetano Crocetti
Frank Sinatra, son of Italian immigrants Antonino Sinatra and Natalina Garavanta
Merry Christmas to everyone except Stephen Miller and his enablers and handlers
Frank Sinatra, son of Italian immigrants Antonino Sinatra and Natalina Garavanta
Merry Christmas to everyone except Stephen Miller and his enablers and handlers
December 26, 2025 at 6:49 PM
Dean Martin, born Dino Paul Crocetti, son of Italian immigrant Gaetano Crocetti
Frank Sinatra, son of Italian immigrants Antonino Sinatra and Natalina Garavanta
Merry Christmas to everyone except Stephen Miller and his enablers and handlers
Frank Sinatra, son of Italian immigrants Antonino Sinatra and Natalina Garavanta
Merry Christmas to everyone except Stephen Miller and his enablers and handlers
Reposted by Mark Walton
Don't need to imagine, Sinatra had something to say about multicultural liberal democracies 🧵
December 26, 2025 at 8:53 PM
Don't need to imagine, Sinatra had something to say about multicultural liberal democracies 🧵
Reposted by Mark Walton
Absolutely nobody asked for this BUT
English Anglican cathedrals that have burned down, fallen over, and sank into the swamp: a thread.
English Anglican cathedrals that have burned down, fallen over, and sank into the swamp: a thread.
December 18, 2025 at 7:59 PM
Absolutely nobody asked for this BUT
English Anglican cathedrals that have burned down, fallen over, and sank into the swamp: a thread.
English Anglican cathedrals that have burned down, fallen over, and sank into the swamp: a thread.
Reposted by Mark Walton
🧵 Is it a super flu year? Who knows, but I think the current reporting is stupid.
A pissed off thread using data.
Firstly - here are today's headlines and some from the last 3 years... spot the difference. 1/10
A pissed off thread using data.
Firstly - here are today's headlines and some from the last 3 years... spot the difference. 1/10
December 11, 2025 at 6:30 PM
🧵 Is it a super flu year? Who knows, but I think the current reporting is stupid.
A pissed off thread using data.
Firstly - here are today's headlines and some from the last 3 years... spot the difference. 1/10
A pissed off thread using data.
Firstly - here are today's headlines and some from the last 3 years... spot the difference. 1/10
Reposted by Mark Walton
The Labour government has released to the media more details of its asylum reforms - to be released on Monday.
Their premise: UK attracts asylum seekers because it is too generous + reducing pull factors will change that.
There is a lot of overspinning from this govt
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Their premise: UK attracts asylum seekers because it is too generous + reducing pull factors will change that.
There is a lot of overspinning from this govt
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Refugees to face 20-year wait to settle permanently under asylum reforms
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is expected to announce major reforms to the asylum system on Monday.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 16, 2025 at 9:20 AM
The Labour government has released to the media more details of its asylum reforms - to be released on Monday.
Their premise: UK attracts asylum seekers because it is too generous + reducing pull factors will change that.
There is a lot of overspinning from this govt
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Their premise: UK attracts asylum seekers because it is too generous + reducing pull factors will change that.
There is a lot of overspinning from this govt
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Love the Beetlejuice principle and "thank you for your attention to this matter" in particular
NEW
The letter the BBC could send back to Trump
A proposal for a reply to his $1bn claim
By me. Enjoy.
emptycity.substack.com/p/the-letter...
The letter the BBC could send back to Trump
A proposal for a reply to his $1bn claim
By me. Enjoy.
emptycity.substack.com/p/the-letter...
The letter the BBC could send back to Trump
A proposal for a reply to his $1bn claim
emptycity.substack.com
November 12, 2025 at 12:13 PM
Love the Beetlejuice principle and "thank you for your attention to this matter" in particular
Reposted by Mark Walton
ladies and gentlemen...we got him
October 30, 2025 at 7:10 PM
ladies and gentlemen...we got him
Reposted by Mark Walton
Honestly, a lot of people are embarrassing themselves with terminology and layout errors over the White House, and it's not new. So, seeing how I worked on the White House complex for years, let me straighten out a bit of it for you all. 🧵
October 28, 2025 at 1:48 PM
Honestly, a lot of people are embarrassing themselves with terminology and layout errors over the White House, and it's not new. So, seeing how I worked on the White House complex for years, let me straighten out a bit of it for you all. 🧵
Reposted by Mark Walton
Amazing story in The Times. Reform UK failed to pay VAT to HMRC on its sales (tickets, merchandise). About £400k in all.
Not tax avoidance. Not tax evasion. They just didn't realise when you sell stuff you have to charge VAT.
Not tax avoidance. Not tax evasion. They just didn't realise when you sell stuff you have to charge VAT.
October 20, 2025 at 9:00 AM
Amazing story in The Times. Reform UK failed to pay VAT to HMRC on its sales (tickets, merchandise). About £400k in all.
Not tax avoidance. Not tax evasion. They just didn't realise when you sell stuff you have to charge VAT.
Not tax avoidance. Not tax evasion. They just didn't realise when you sell stuff you have to charge VAT.
Reposted by Mark Walton
OK, let's take this seriously. I had an odd half an hour and via Apple Books had a quick look at the three claims I knew most about - two re the post-Brexit bilateral preferential trade agreements replicated from the EU versions and one about cheaper bananas. All are wrong or wildly implausible. 1/n
October 5, 2025 at 7:30 PM
OK, let's take this seriously. I had an odd half an hour and via Apple Books had a quick look at the three claims I knew most about - two re the post-Brexit bilateral preferential trade agreements replicated from the EU versions and one about cheaper bananas. All are wrong or wildly implausible. 1/n
Reposted by Mark Walton
🔴NEW🔴
Thread 🧵
@bylinetimes.bsky.social can now reveal that, during the crucial period when convicted Reform leader Nathan Gill was most active, working directly with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s most senior ally in Ukraine, he was also one of Nigel Farage’s closest confidantes 1/12
Thread 🧵
@bylinetimes.bsky.social can now reveal that, during the crucial period when convicted Reform leader Nathan Gill was most active, working directly with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s most senior ally in Ukraine, he was also one of Nigel Farage’s closest confidantes 1/12
‘Thick as Thieves’: Nathan Gill and Nigel Farage’s Putin Problem
Far from being distant from the Reform UK Leader, insiders told Byline Times that the former MEP convicted of bribery was one of Farage’s closest aides, while we reveal how Gill worked on the Kremlin’...
bylinetimes.com
October 4, 2025 at 1:56 PM
🔴NEW🔴
Thread 🧵
@bylinetimes.bsky.social can now reveal that, during the crucial period when convicted Reform leader Nathan Gill was most active, working directly with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s most senior ally in Ukraine, he was also one of Nigel Farage’s closest confidantes 1/12
Thread 🧵
@bylinetimes.bsky.social can now reveal that, during the crucial period when convicted Reform leader Nathan Gill was most active, working directly with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s most senior ally in Ukraine, he was also one of Nigel Farage’s closest confidantes 1/12
Reposted by Mark Walton
Today's speech was easily the best Starmer has given.
For the first time since the election, he told a compelling - & optimistic - story about what the government is trying to do; charged that story with moral purpose; & drew clear battle lines with the Right.
A few quick thoughts & a challenge...
For the first time since the election, he told a compelling - & optimistic - story about what the government is trying to do; charged that story with moral purpose; & drew clear battle lines with the Right.
A few quick thoughts & a challenge...
September 30, 2025 at 8:55 PM
Today's speech was easily the best Starmer has given.
For the first time since the election, he told a compelling - & optimistic - story about what the government is trying to do; charged that story with moral purpose; & drew clear battle lines with the Right.
A few quick thoughts & a challenge...
For the first time since the election, he told a compelling - & optimistic - story about what the government is trying to do; charged that story with moral purpose; & drew clear battle lines with the Right.
A few quick thoughts & a challenge...