Rob Massam 🔸
@rmassam.bsky.social
Former Export Sales now retired. LibDems supporter actively engaged in UK issues and challenges. #FBPE Tactical voter in 2024; actively campaigning for return to EU located in the UK of course
Reposted by Rob Massam 🔸
Our publication partner Democracy for Sale has a longer story including some background from within TBI about their lobbying on Gaza and the Board of Peace (HT
@lucasamin.bsky.social ) - find their excellent reporting here:
democracyforsale.substack.com/p/revealed-t...
@lucasamin.bsky.social ) - find their excellent reporting here:
democracyforsale.substack.com/p/revealed-t...
Revealed: Tony Blair’s Institute lobbied EU to work with Trump’s Board of Peace in Gaza
TBI pushed bloc on US plan for Palestine but internal disquiet on “taboo topic” Gaza grows
democracyforsale.substack.com
February 16, 2026 at 10:26 AM
Our publication partner Democracy for Sale has a longer story including some background from within TBI about their lobbying on Gaza and the Board of Peace (HT
@lucasamin.bsky.social ) - find their excellent reporting here:
democracyforsale.substack.com/p/revealed-t...
@lucasamin.bsky.social ) - find their excellent reporting here:
democracyforsale.substack.com/p/revealed-t...
Reposted by Rob Massam 🔸
Shilling for Trump in Brussels: A document we obtained shows how Tony Blair and his institute lobbied behind closed doors for the EU to join Trump's "Board of Peace" and put €€€ behind US- and Israeli-led Gaza reconstruction efforts.
Published with Democracy for Sale, ht @lighthousereports.com
Published with Democracy for Sale, ht @lighthousereports.com
February 16, 2026 at 6:47 AM
Shilling for Trump in Brussels: A document we obtained shows how Tony Blair and his institute lobbied behind closed doors for the EU to join Trump's "Board of Peace" and put €€€ behind US- and Israeli-led Gaza reconstruction efforts.
Published with Democracy for Sale, ht @lighthousereports.com
Published with Democracy for Sale, ht @lighthousereports.com
Reposted by Rob Massam 🔸
Privatisation:
Steal from us something we own.
Sell us back an inferior service at a higher price.
What’s not to like?
In addition to the Post Office, there is the railways, water, electricity, gas, the NHS, public services…
Steal from us something we own.
Sell us back an inferior service at a higher price.
What’s not to like?
In addition to the Post Office, there is the railways, water, electricity, gas, the NHS, public services…
Cost of Privatisation
Royal Mail letters sit undelivered 'for weeks', parcels prioritised
RM doesn't meet letter delivery targets. Urgent letters missed. Fines passed to customers
Profiteering:
Price Now: Ist class stamp £1.70; 2nd class 87p.
When privatised in 2013: 1st class 60p; 2nd class 50p.
Royal Mail letters sit undelivered 'for weeks', parcels prioritised
RM doesn't meet letter delivery targets. Urgent letters missed. Fines passed to customers
Profiteering:
Price Now: Ist class stamp £1.70; 2nd class 87p.
When privatised in 2013: 1st class 60p; 2nd class 50p.
Royal Mail staff tell BBC letters sit undelivered as firm prioritises parcels
Staff and customers tell the BBC prioritising parcels can mean missed NHS appointments and late payment fines.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 16, 2026 at 7:45 AM
Privatisation:
Steal from us something we own.
Sell us back an inferior service at a higher price.
What’s not to like?
In addition to the Post Office, there is the railways, water, electricity, gas, the NHS, public services…
Steal from us something we own.
Sell us back an inferior service at a higher price.
What’s not to like?
In addition to the Post Office, there is the railways, water, electricity, gas, the NHS, public services…
Reposted by Rob Massam 🔸
Some successful hits here especially re Brockman, but @virginiaheffernan.bsky.social overstates ideological uniformity. Trivers (whatever his other faults) is hardly a white supremacist, ditto Chomsky, there are great left-wing people at the Santa Fe institute, and Dennett was a great philosopher.
The billionaires' eugenics project: how Epstein infiltrated Harvard, muzzled the humanities and preached master-race science
Edge - Jeffrey Epstein's favourite intellectual salon - was sold to me as a gathering of the world's finest minds, writes Virginia Heffernan. The files reveal it was something far darker: a decades-lo...
www.thenerve.news
February 16, 2026 at 10:29 AM
Some successful hits here especially re Brockman, but @virginiaheffernan.bsky.social overstates ideological uniformity. Trivers (whatever his other faults) is hardly a white supremacist, ditto Chomsky, there are great left-wing people at the Santa Fe institute, and Dennett was a great philosopher.
Reposted by Rob Massam 🔸
💔🇺🇦 In 2025, the number of civilian casualties in Ukraine increased by 26% compared to 2024, — The Guardian citing Action on Armed Violence.
2,248 civilians were killed and 12,493 were injured. This indicates a global weakening of restraint in wars.
2,248 civilians were killed and 12,493 were injured. This indicates a global weakening of restraint in wars.
February 16, 2026 at 10:29 AM
💔🇺🇦 In 2025, the number of civilian casualties in Ukraine increased by 26% compared to 2024, — The Guardian citing Action on Armed Violence.
2,248 civilians were killed and 12,493 were injured. This indicates a global weakening of restraint in wars.
2,248 civilians were killed and 12,493 were injured. This indicates a global weakening of restraint in wars.
Reposted by Rob Massam 🔸
February 16, 2026 at 10:30 AM
Reposted by Rob Massam 🔸
I have signed a joint letter to the Home Office opposing proposed changes to settlement rights, which is also backed by Unison General Secretary Andrea Egan, over 50 MPs, 21 Peers, and 33 civil society organisations. (1/2)
February 16, 2026 at 9:50 AM
I have signed a joint letter to the Home Office opposing proposed changes to settlement rights, which is also backed by Unison General Secretary Andrea Egan, over 50 MPs, 21 Peers, and 33 civil society organisations. (1/2)
Reposted by Rob Massam 🔸
We have said: “The British public believe in fair play: that if you work hard, follow the rules and contribute, Government should tread lightly on your life.”
We call on the Government to “uphold its promises – we cannot simply change the rules halfway through an agreed process.” (2/2)
We call on the Government to “uphold its promises – we cannot simply change the rules halfway through an agreed process.” (2/2)
February 16, 2026 at 9:50 AM
We have said: “The British public believe in fair play: that if you work hard, follow the rules and contribute, Government should tread lightly on your life.”
We call on the Government to “uphold its promises – we cannot simply change the rules halfway through an agreed process.” (2/2)
We call on the Government to “uphold its promises – we cannot simply change the rules halfway through an agreed process.” (2/2)
Reposted by Rob Massam 🔸
Led by donkeys need to put this on some Manchester bus shelters
February 16, 2026 at 9:57 AM
Led by donkeys need to put this on some Manchester bus shelters
Reposted by Rob Massam 🔸
Always wondered what it would be like to experience fascism as it takes over. Turns out they are dead-eyed chancers like Goodwin.
February 16, 2026 at 10:13 AM
Always wondered what it would be like to experience fascism as it takes over. Turns out they are dead-eyed chancers like Goodwin.
Reposted by Rob Massam 🔸
This isn't the Overton window moving to the right. It isn't the normalisation of previously right-wing views.
It's unequivocal approval of racial hatred, xenophobic bigotry and incitement (encouraging criminality).
It's unequivocal approval of racial hatred, xenophobic bigotry and incitement (encouraging criminality).
February 16, 2026 at 10:14 AM
This isn't the Overton window moving to the right. It isn't the normalisation of previously right-wing views.
It's unequivocal approval of racial hatred, xenophobic bigotry and incitement (encouraging criminality).
It's unequivocal approval of racial hatred, xenophobic bigotry and incitement (encouraging criminality).
Reposted by Rob Massam 🔸
Similar theme to the Lucy Connolly post ("Mass deportation now, set fire to all the fucking hotels full of the bastards for all I care, while you’re at it take the treacherous government and politicians with them") though that "for all I care" had some grey areas on intent this one entirely lacks
February 16, 2026 at 10:17 AM
Similar theme to the Lucy Connolly post ("Mass deportation now, set fire to all the fucking hotels full of the bastards for all I care, while you’re at it take the treacherous government and politicians with them") though that "for all I care" had some grey areas on intent this one entirely lacks
Reposted by Rob Massam 🔸
The quote was in the article he shared. The Mail report was highlighting the limited online reach of the incitement to murder
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article...
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article...
February 16, 2026 at 10:05 AM
The quote was in the article he shared. The Mail report was highlighting the limited online reach of the incitement to murder
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article...
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Rob Massam 🔸
Reform say objecting to the prosecution is not the same thing as endorsing the views.But the challenge is that he objects to the prosecution & sentencing for incitement to murder - by misrepresenting the unlawful incitement - call for slaughter of asylum seekers & MPs - as "anti-immigration tweets"
February 16, 2026 at 9:57 AM
Reform say objecting to the prosecution is not the same thing as endorsing the views.But the challenge is that he objects to the prosecution & sentencing for incitement to murder - by misrepresenting the unlawful incitement - call for slaughter of asylum seekers & MPs - as "anti-immigration tweets"
Reposted by Rob Massam 🔸
Reform's candidate Matthew Goodwin challenged for calling it "insane" to prosecute a man for "start the slaughter. Violence & murder is the only way now. Start off burning every migrant hotel then head to MPs’ houses & Parliament, we need to take over by FORCE’
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...
February 16, 2026 at 9:54 AM
Reform's candidate Matthew Goodwin challenged for calling it "insane" to prosecute a man for "start the slaughter. Violence & murder is the only way now. Start off burning every migrant hotel then head to MPs’ houses & Parliament, we need to take over by FORCE’
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...
Reposted by Rob Massam 🔸
Re-fenstahl
So far, we’ve got Reform, Reclaim, Rebirth and Restore.
Any more?
searchlightmagazine.com/2026/02/onli...
Any more?
searchlightmagazine.com/2026/02/onli...
Online nazis hail 'Our Leader' as Rupert Lowe launches new party | Searchlight
Rupert Lowe - launches new far-right party Yesterday’s announcement by Great Yarmouth MP Rupert Lowe that he will convert his far-right, anti-migrant lobby ...
searchlightmagazine.com
February 16, 2026 at 10:18 AM
Re-fenstahl
Reposted by Rob Massam 🔸
The student loans crisis is a sign of the economic times.
A rift is emerging between what people expected their lives to look like, and the reality of life in a stagnating economy.
Will they blame themselves, or the system that's failed them?
graceblakeley.substack.com/p/the-squeez...
A rift is emerging between what people expected their lives to look like, and the reality of life in a stagnating economy.
Will they blame themselves, or the system that's failed them?
graceblakeley.substack.com/p/the-squeez...
The Squeezed Winners
Britain’s middle-earning graduates did everything right - but they're not receiving the rewards they were promised.
graceblakeley.substack.com
February 16, 2026 at 10:20 AM
The student loans crisis is a sign of the economic times.
A rift is emerging between what people expected their lives to look like, and the reality of life in a stagnating economy.
Will they blame themselves, or the system that's failed them?
graceblakeley.substack.com/p/the-squeez...
A rift is emerging between what people expected their lives to look like, and the reality of life in a stagnating economy.
Will they blame themselves, or the system that's failed them?
graceblakeley.substack.com/p/the-squeez...
Reposted by Rob Massam 🔸
The discussion beneath this post between @alasdairmackenzie.bsky.social @chaipatel.net & @sundersays.bsky.social is really worth reading - much more complex/nuanced than the article could be on this point.
We have already moved on from restricting future migration to proposing mass expulsions of people already here, so it seems optimistic to think reducing numbers will improve the standard of our political debate. All that’s likely to happen is the demands of the far right get ever more extreme
February 15, 2026 at 9:07 PM
The discussion beneath this post between @alasdairmackenzie.bsky.social @chaipatel.net & @sundersays.bsky.social is really worth reading - much more complex/nuanced than the article could be on this point.
Reposted by Rob Massam 🔸
Having just read this and its reference links, my overall thought this morning is social platforms are prime for abuses of data, of users and for ideological purposes and should be destroyed. bsky.app/profile/pete...
UPDATED: The Missing Link in the 'Monster Power' of Misogyny? Thiel and Weev in Bannon’s Gamergate Assault on Hilary Clinton
open.substack.com/pub/pdjukes/...
open.substack.com/pub/pdjukes/...
UPDATED: The Missing Link in the 'Monster Power' of Misogyny? Thiel and Weev in Bannon’s Gamergate Assault on Hilary Clinton
Cambridge Analytica and Russian troll farms weaponised migration to win the EU referendum. Six months later, the same forces used another deep-seated fear to propel Trump to power - misogyny
open.substack.com
February 16, 2026 at 7:58 AM
Having just read this and its reference links, my overall thought this morning is social platforms are prime for abuses of data, of users and for ideological purposes and should be destroyed. bsky.app/profile/pete...
Reposted by Rob Massam 🔸
Once such a ban is implemented across the world it will be impossible to access any sites without being ID'd and all the websites and apps worldwide that don't comply will be banned.
The internet will be gone replaced with billionaires online shops.
The internet will be gone replaced with billionaires online shops.
A VPN/Social Media ban for children in the UK is in the works, but what these bans are really about isn't protecting children.
They want to ID everyone on the internet all the time, so they can watch everything you do, and ban piracy so billionaires don't lose any money.
They want to ID everyone on the internet all the time, so they can watch everything you do, and ban piracy so billionaires don't lose any money.
February 16, 2026 at 10:11 AM
Once such a ban is implemented across the world it will be impossible to access any sites without being ID'd and all the websites and apps worldwide that don't comply will be banned.
The internet will be gone replaced with billionaires online shops.
The internet will be gone replaced with billionaires online shops.
Reposted by Rob Massam 🔸
A VPN/Social Media ban for children in the UK is in the works, but what these bans are really about isn't protecting children.
They want to ID everyone on the internet all the time, so they can watch everything you do, and ban piracy so billionaires don't lose any money.
They want to ID everyone on the internet all the time, so they can watch everything you do, and ban piracy so billionaires don't lose any money.
February 16, 2026 at 10:07 AM
A VPN/Social Media ban for children in the UK is in the works, but what these bans are really about isn't protecting children.
They want to ID everyone on the internet all the time, so they can watch everything you do, and ban piracy so billionaires don't lose any money.
They want to ID everyone on the internet all the time, so they can watch everything you do, and ban piracy so billionaires don't lose any money.
Reposted by Rob Massam 🔸
Immigrants to the UK pay taxes and contribute to our society.
Jim Ratcliffe runs away to avoid paying taxes and contributes nothing.
I know who I support.
Jim Ratcliffe runs away to avoid paying taxes and contributes nothing.
I know who I support.
February 15, 2026 at 1:25 PM
Immigrants to the UK pay taxes and contribute to our society.
Jim Ratcliffe runs away to avoid paying taxes and contributes nothing.
I know who I support.
Jim Ratcliffe runs away to avoid paying taxes and contributes nothing.
I know who I support.
Reposted by Rob Massam 🔸
Since we broke the Labour Together story 10 days ago we also published four new stories, breaking new news, reporting key developments and raising pretty much all the questions that are now - rightly - hitting the news agenda
February 16, 2026 at 8:40 AM
Since we broke the Labour Together story 10 days ago we also published four new stories, breaking new news, reporting key developments and raising pretty much all the questions that are now - rightly - hitting the news agenda
Reposted by Rob Massam 🔸
🇨🇿 Czech President Petr Pavel:
What we probably need in Europe is what I would call more of a Scandinavian spirit.
Russia is a weak country with a lot of nuclear weapons, and we should approach it that way.
What we probably need in Europe is what I would call more of a Scandinavian spirit.
Russia is a weak country with a lot of nuclear weapons, and we should approach it that way.
February 16, 2026 at 9:17 AM
🇨🇿 Czech President Petr Pavel:
What we probably need in Europe is what I would call more of a Scandinavian spirit.
Russia is a weak country with a lot of nuclear weapons, and we should approach it that way.
What we probably need in Europe is what I would call more of a Scandinavian spirit.
Russia is a weak country with a lot of nuclear weapons, and we should approach it that way.