Robert Thomson
@robertthomson54.bsky.social
Journalist. Politics nerd. Racing punter. Bad golfer.
Reposted by Robert Thomson
I knew Gill and Farage and the rest of the UKIP crew in the European Parliament
They were crooks and shysters to a man
They repeated Putin talking points and appeared on Russia Today
UKIP then and Reform now are both a threat to our democracy
www.theguardian.com/news/ng-inte...
They were crooks and shysters to a man
They repeated Putin talking points and appeared on Russia Today
UKIP then and Reform now are both a threat to our democracy
www.theguardian.com/news/ng-inte...
Reform UK, the Russian spy and rolls of Kremlin cash: the inside story of Nathan Gill
How did a former Mormon bishop end up pleading guilty to taking bribes to make statements in favour of Russia in the European parliament?
www.theguardian.com
November 2, 2025 at 8:20 AM
I knew Gill and Farage and the rest of the UKIP crew in the European Parliament
They were crooks and shysters to a man
They repeated Putin talking points and appeared on Russia Today
UKIP then and Reform now are both a threat to our democracy
www.theguardian.com/news/ng-inte...
They were crooks and shysters to a man
They repeated Putin talking points and appeared on Russia Today
UKIP then and Reform now are both a threat to our democracy
www.theguardian.com/news/ng-inte...
The “train drivers are all overpaid, lazy bastards”- “definitely a terror attack” - “got to be illegal immigrants” - “wait, they were born here” - “but Matt Goodwin says that’s not enough” - “name them both” - “wait a minute, it’s just one” - “train drivers are heroes” story arc has been some watch
November 2, 2025 at 11:17 PM
The “train drivers are all overpaid, lazy bastards”- “definitely a terror attack” - “got to be illegal immigrants” - “wait, they were born here” - “but Matt Goodwin says that’s not enough” - “name them both” - “wait a minute, it’s just one” - “train drivers are heroes” story arc has been some watch
Reposted by Robert Thomson
Fwiw, the trend towards disclosing the ethnicity/nationality of suspects in high-profile cases has not solved any problem (disinformation is still thriving) and only fuels polarisation and creates opportunities for grifters.
November 2, 2025 at 8:49 PM
Fwiw, the trend towards disclosing the ethnicity/nationality of suspects in high-profile cases has not solved any problem (disinformation is still thriving) and only fuels polarisation and creates opportunities for grifters.
Reposted by Robert Thomson
The sheer greasy desperation from these bastards that any violent crime is committed by an immigrant so they can continue their grift. Even when they know it isn't true. Foul.
Matt Goodwin attributes a crime that he now knows appears to have been committed by people born in Britain in the early 1990s to "mass uncontrolled immigration"
November 2, 2025 at 12:06 PM
The sheer greasy desperation from these bastards that any violent crime is committed by an immigrant so they can continue their grift. Even when they know it isn't true. Foul.
Reposted by Robert Thomson
I've written a couple of things over the last days about how the government and much of Westminster remaining on X as the platform becomes increasingly toxic is having consequences for our politics...
Our politics is increasingly normalised to racism – because politicians are addicted to X
The platform has quietly dragged British politics into a dark place
inews.co.uk
October 30, 2025 at 7:38 PM
I've written a couple of things over the last days about how the government and much of Westminster remaining on X as the platform becomes increasingly toxic is having consequences for our politics...
Reposted by Robert Thomson
They've tried Reform voter chasing. It hasn't worked. Why not just do the right thing? Not just on taxes btw, but on everything. On migration, higher education, Brexit.
Counterpoint: at this stage they're probably stuffed regardless, the moral imperative is to stop thinking about 2029 and just bloody well govern
There was a time Starmer/Reeves could made the argument to raise income taxes and VAT. There was even a moment they could have made the argument to break their manifesto pledge. It’s far too late. Now it would spell disaster for them and for politics. My latest👇
open.substack.com/pub/goodalla...
open.substack.com/pub/goodalla...
October 29, 2025 at 8:46 PM
They've tried Reform voter chasing. It hasn't worked. Why not just do the right thing? Not just on taxes btw, but on everything. On migration, higher education, Brexit.
Reposted by Robert Thomson
Counterpoint: at this stage they're probably stuffed regardless, the moral imperative is to stop thinking about 2029 and just bloody well govern
There was a time Starmer/Reeves could made the argument to raise income taxes and VAT. There was even a moment they could have made the argument to break their manifesto pledge. It’s far too late. Now it would spell disaster for them and for politics. My latest👇
open.substack.com/pub/goodalla...
open.substack.com/pub/goodalla...
Starmer and Reeves would destroy themselves with a manifesto break
There was a moment they could have broken their word. It's long gone.
open.substack.com
October 29, 2025 at 8:41 PM
Counterpoint: at this stage they're probably stuffed regardless, the moral imperative is to stop thinking about 2029 and just bloody well govern
Reposted by Robert Thomson
The richest man on earth owns X.
The second richest man on earth is about to acquire TikTok and his family could soon own both Paramount and Warner Bros.
The third richest man owns Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.
The fourth richest man owns The Washington Post.
See the problem here?
The second richest man on earth is about to acquire TikTok and his family could soon own both Paramount and Warner Bros.
The third richest man owns Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.
The fourth richest man owns The Washington Post.
See the problem here?
October 25, 2025 at 7:00 PM
The richest man on earth owns X.
The second richest man on earth is about to acquire TikTok and his family could soon own both Paramount and Warner Bros.
The third richest man owns Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.
The fourth richest man owns The Washington Post.
See the problem here?
The second richest man on earth is about to acquire TikTok and his family could soon own both Paramount and Warner Bros.
The third richest man owns Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.
The fourth richest man owns The Washington Post.
See the problem here?
Some Cheltenham and Kelso selections as the National Hunt season gets into full swing
youtu.be/2oU_-7uxxA8
youtu.be/2oU_-7uxxA8
The jumps are back with a bang at Cheltenham, Aintree and Kelso this weekend | The Inside Track
YouTube video by The Scottish Sun SPORT
youtu.be
October 25, 2025 at 7:45 AM
Some Cheltenham and Kelso selections as the National Hunt season gets into full swing
youtu.be/2oU_-7uxxA8
youtu.be/2oU_-7uxxA8
Reposted by Robert Thomson
This country's politicians are going completely mental. Turn off the phones!
a group of people are standing around a man wearing glasses and a hat that says ' abercrombie ' on it
ALT: a group of people are standing around a man wearing glasses and a hat that says ' abercrombie ' on it
media.tenor.com
October 17, 2025 at 5:16 PM
This country's politicians are going completely mental. Turn off the phones!
I really hope someone is keeping a list of all the crazy things people like the increasingly unhinged Andrew Griffith and his ilk are personally blaming Keir Starmer for?
In 2025 it seems the UK PM is responsible for (and involved in) every decision taken by every public body.
A nation of loons
In 2025 it seems the UK PM is responsible for (and involved in) every decision taken by every public body.
A nation of loons
October 17, 2025 at 9:53 AM
I really hope someone is keeping a list of all the crazy things people like the increasingly unhinged Andrew Griffith and his ilk are personally blaming Keir Starmer for?
In 2025 it seems the UK PM is responsible for (and involved in) every decision taken by every public body.
A nation of loons
In 2025 it seems the UK PM is responsible for (and involved in) every decision taken by every public body.
A nation of loons
Reposted by Robert Thomson
The Tory media's shift from hysterically claiming that Starmer *did* intervene in the China spy case to hysterically claiming that Starmer *should* have intervened in the China spy case is a thing to behold.
October 17, 2025 at 8:26 AM
The Tory media's shift from hysterically claiming that Starmer *did* intervene in the China spy case to hysterically claiming that Starmer *should* have intervened in the China spy case is a thing to behold.
‘How do you speak to people who can’t hear your voice?’ Should be the question every political figure on the centre left is wrestling with right now.
And they have to find answers
And they have to find answers
October 16, 2025 at 5:31 PM
‘How do you speak to people who can’t hear your voice?’ Should be the question every political figure on the centre left is wrestling with right now.
And they have to find answers
And they have to find answers
And herein lies the problem…
October 16, 2025 at 5:28 PM
And herein lies the problem…
Reposted by Robert Thomson
Conference season is such a waste of everyone's time - a month when our political system could be doing something useful spent coming up with daft announcements no one cares about.
At some point, the concept of a conference bounce will have to die.
I don't know how much more evidence of a diconnect between breathless write-ups of 'gamechanging' conference speeches and the reality you need. For the big four, not a single statistically significant change in standing.
I don't know how much more evidence of a diconnect between breathless write-ups of 'gamechanging' conference speeches and the reality you need. For the big four, not a single statistically significant change in standing.
Latest party leader net favourability ratings, October 2025
Nigel Farage: -33
Kemi Badenoch: -33
Jeremy Corbyn: -38
Keir Starmer: -51
Ed Davey: -4 (38% DK)
Zack Polanski: -4 (62% DK)
Zarah Sultana: -17 (60% DK)
yougov.co.uk/politics/art...
Nigel Farage: -33
Kemi Badenoch: -33
Jeremy Corbyn: -38
Keir Starmer: -51
Ed Davey: -4 (38% DK)
Zack Polanski: -4 (62% DK)
Zarah Sultana: -17 (60% DK)
yougov.co.uk/politics/art...
October 16, 2025 at 9:25 AM
Conference season is such a waste of everyone's time - a month when our political system could be doing something useful spent coming up with daft announcements no one cares about.
Bloody leftists
October 16, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Bloody leftists
Nah, think I’ll stick with what Dan Hodges, Christian Calgie, Peston and rest of the ladz are saying
NEW
What the Chinese spying case witness statements reveal
The Crown Prosecution Service appears to have made at least one serious error, while the government's position now makes sense
By me
emptycity.substack.com/p/what-the-c...
What the Chinese spying case witness statements reveal
The Crown Prosecution Service appears to have made at least one serious error, while the government's position now makes sense
By me
emptycity.substack.com/p/what-the-c...
October 16, 2025 at 1:26 PM
Nah, think I’ll stick with what Dan Hodges, Christian Calgie, Peston and rest of the ladz are saying
Reposted by Robert Thomson
The alternative is...? The UK doesn't engage with a global superpower?
There's a lot of folk with delusions of grandeur on behalf of their country.
There's a lot of folk with delusions of grandeur on behalf of their country.
October 16, 2025 at 10:04 AM
The alternative is...? The UK doesn't engage with a global superpower?
There's a lot of folk with delusions of grandeur on behalf of their country.
There's a lot of folk with delusions of grandeur on behalf of their country.
Are we seriously being asked to imagine that senior civil servants don’t know the position of their current Govt off by heart enough that they’d have to be directed to in order to write a few lines in a report? 😂😂😂😂
The UK is utterly insane. Social media has picked the political classes’ brains
The UK is utterly insane. Social media has picked the political classes’ brains
October 16, 2025 at 1:03 PM
Are we seriously being asked to imagine that senior civil servants don’t know the position of their current Govt off by heart enough that they’d have to be directed to in order to write a few lines in a report? 😂😂😂😂
The UK is utterly insane. Social media has picked the political classes’ brains
The UK is utterly insane. Social media has picked the political classes’ brains
Reposted by Robert Thomson
A 'Russia Hoax' or Russian Hopes? How Putin’s Troll Farms are Boosting Nigel Farage’s Campaigns – Again – Byline Times
Support this publication!
bylinetimes.com/2024/07/01/h...
Support this publication!
bylinetimes.com/2024/07/01/h...
A 'Russia Hoax' or Russian Hopes? How Putin’s Troll Farms are Boosting Nigel Farage’s Campaigns – Again
Islamophobia, the Great Replacement Theory, and GB News are key elements in the Russian propaganda networks supporting the Reform Party
bylinetimes.com
October 15, 2025 at 9:17 PM
A 'Russia Hoax' or Russian Hopes? How Putin’s Troll Farms are Boosting Nigel Farage’s Campaigns – Again – Byline Times
Support this publication!
bylinetimes.com/2024/07/01/h...
Support this publication!
bylinetimes.com/2024/07/01/h...
Not sure western society has fully accepted how imperative it is to find a way to get people off their phones before it’s too late. And the clock is ticking down rapidly.
October 15, 2025 at 11:14 AM
Not sure western society has fully accepted how imperative it is to find a way to get people off their phones before it’s too late. And the clock is ticking down rapidly.
The UK is falling under these spells too.
Unless the Govt finds a way to snap enough people out of their Facebook/TikTok/Twitter psychosis there’s a real chance the jig’s up
Facing up to the issues would be a good start…
Unless the Govt finds a way to snap enough people out of their Facebook/TikTok/Twitter psychosis there’s a real chance the jig’s up
Facing up to the issues would be a good start…
One of the things that our political class refuses to admit even though it's obviously true is that Twitter is very obviously radicalizing many American elites into full-bore white supremacy
It actually seems like Twitter made Vance into a Nazi.
October 14, 2025 at 4:41 PM
The UK is falling under these spells too.
Unless the Govt finds a way to snap enough people out of their Facebook/TikTok/Twitter psychosis there’s a real chance the jig’s up
Facing up to the issues would be a good start…
Unless the Govt finds a way to snap enough people out of their Facebook/TikTok/Twitter psychosis there’s a real chance the jig’s up
Facing up to the issues would be a good start…
Reposted by Robert Thomson
These guys weren't great before, but they weren't like THIS. But they spend nine hours a day boiling their brain in a social environment where overt race war rhetoric is how you indicate you're one of the cool kids
October 14, 2025 at 4:37 PM
These guys weren't great before, but they weren't like THIS. But they spend nine hours a day boiling their brain in a social environment where overt race war rhetoric is how you indicate you're one of the cool kids