Richard
@rtruscott.bsky.social
Architect, work for a London Borough in Planning, Urban Design, Housing, Policy etc, like politics, culture & history, cycling…
Reposted by Richard
I have today written to the Chair of Labour’s National Executive Committee seeking permission to enter the selection process for a candidate for the forthcoming Gorton and Denton by-election.
Read my letter here.👇🏻
Read my letter here.👇🏻
January 24, 2026 at 5:02 PM
I have today written to the Chair of Labour’s National Executive Committee seeking permission to enter the selection process for a candidate for the forthcoming Gorton and Denton by-election.
Read my letter here.👇🏻
Read my letter here.👇🏻
Then Keir Starmer could manufacture a managed handover to Andy Burnham as Labour Leader & Prime Minister in a year-or-so’s time, with Burnham’s contribution as a reasonably radical & effective minister helping give Starmer a better legacy than he’s achieved so far!
I also think Keir Starmer should SUPPORT getting Andy Burnham into Parliament & straight into government, probably as Deputy Prime Minister with all John Prescott’s responsibilities, which would be a good match, as 1 of the most talented Labour politicians today (possibly THE most)!
Is this Andy Burnham's moment? - @PronouncedAlva.bsky.social in @NewStatesman1913.bsky.social suggests costs of holding a Mayoral By-election are a hurdle. www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-...
January 23, 2026 at 11:17 PM
Then Keir Starmer could manufacture a managed handover to Andy Burnham as Labour Leader & Prime Minister in a year-or-so’s time, with Burnham’s contribution as a reasonably radical & effective minister helping give Starmer a better legacy than he’s achieved so far!
I also think Keir Starmer should SUPPORT getting Andy Burnham into Parliament & straight into government, probably as Deputy Prime Minister with all John Prescott’s responsibilities, which would be a good match, as 1 of the most talented Labour politicians today (possibly THE most)!
Is this Andy Burnham's moment? - @PronouncedAlva.bsky.social in @NewStatesman1913.bsky.social suggests costs of holding a Mayoral By-election are a hurdle. www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-...
Is this Andy Burnham's moment?
There are several hurdles between the Manchester mayor and Westminster
www.newstatesman.com
January 23, 2026 at 10:50 PM
I also think Keir Starmer should SUPPORT getting Andy Burnham into Parliament & straight into government, probably as Deputy Prime Minister with all John Prescott’s responsibilities, which would be a good match, as 1 of the most talented Labour politicians today (possibly THE most)!
Reposted by Richard
SPOILERS
The deadly combination of the smartest ever traitors and the dumbest ever faithfuls
Honestly, I give faithfuls *huge* leeway because it's *so* much harder in there than watching in full knowledge, and I can see how Stephen slithered out - but not getting Red Flag Rachel??? Jesus wept.
The deadly combination of the smartest ever traitors and the dumbest ever faithfuls
Honestly, I give faithfuls *huge* leeway because it's *so* much harder in there than watching in full knowledge, and I can see how Stephen slithered out - but not getting Red Flag Rachel??? Jesus wept.
January 23, 2026 at 9:54 PM
SPOILERS
The deadly combination of the smartest ever traitors and the dumbest ever faithfuls
Honestly, I give faithfuls *huge* leeway because it's *so* much harder in there than watching in full knowledge, and I can see how Stephen slithered out - but not getting Red Flag Rachel??? Jesus wept.
The deadly combination of the smartest ever traitors and the dumbest ever faithfuls
Honestly, I give faithfuls *huge* leeway because it's *so* much harder in there than watching in full knowledge, and I can see how Stephen slithered out - but not getting Red Flag Rachel??? Jesus wept.
Reposted by Richard
"Slavery was real"
Tiny sign at the base of a brick wall that, until yesterday, held panels about the people enslaved by George Washington.
Presidents House, Philadelphia.
Tiny sign at the base of a brick wall that, until yesterday, held panels about the people enslaved by George Washington.
Presidents House, Philadelphia.
January 23, 2026 at 3:22 PM
"Slavery was real"
Tiny sign at the base of a brick wall that, until yesterday, held panels about the people enslaved by George Washington.
Presidents House, Philadelphia.
Tiny sign at the base of a brick wall that, until yesterday, held panels about the people enslaved by George Washington.
Presidents House, Philadelphia.
Reposted by Richard
What we need is a campaign to retain the seat & return a Labour MP
Labour members in Gorton & Denton must be able to pick their candidate from a full shortlist
We do not need factionalism before party - excluding Andy Burnham if he wants to stand would be a mistake & very weak
Labour members in Gorton & Denton must be able to pick their candidate from a full shortlist
We do not need factionalism before party - excluding Andy Burnham if he wants to stand would be a mistake & very weak
January 23, 2026 at 9:02 PM
What we need is a campaign to retain the seat & return a Labour MP
Labour members in Gorton & Denton must be able to pick their candidate from a full shortlist
We do not need factionalism before party - excluding Andy Burnham if he wants to stand would be a mistake & very weak
Labour members in Gorton & Denton must be able to pick their candidate from a full shortlist
We do not need factionalism before party - excluding Andy Burnham if he wants to stand would be a mistake & very weak
Reposted by Richard
It’s being increased by 3.99%.
That’s despite Reform UK criticising councils for raising it and implying they would freeze or reduce its
One of Reform’s is being increased by 10%.
So no Jaymey, this isn’t a win, it’s an administrative of guilt.
That’s despite Reform UK criticising councils for raising it and implying they would freeze or reduce its
One of Reform’s is being increased by 10%.
So no Jaymey, this isn’t a win, it’s an administrative of guilt.
January 22, 2026 at 5:50 PM
It’s being increased by 3.99%.
That’s despite Reform UK criticising councils for raising it and implying they would freeze or reduce its
One of Reform’s is being increased by 10%.
So no Jaymey, this isn’t a win, it’s an administrative of guilt.
That’s despite Reform UK criticising councils for raising it and implying they would freeze or reduce its
One of Reform’s is being increased by 10%.
So no Jaymey, this isn’t a win, it’s an administrative of guilt.
Is this Andy Burnham's moment? - @PronouncedAlva.bsky.social in @NewStatesman1913.bsky.social suggests costs of holding a Mayoral By-election are a hurdle. www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-...
Is this Andy Burnham's moment?
There are several hurdles between the Manchester mayor and Westminster
www.newstatesman.com
January 23, 2026 at 11:00 AM
Is this Andy Burnham's moment? - @PronouncedAlva.bsky.social in @NewStatesman1913.bsky.social suggests costs of holding a Mayoral By-election are a hurdle. www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-...
Reposted by Richard
On Isherwood posts:
Cabaret is a great film and an outstanding play, but to get a real feel about early 1930s read the Isherwood source material: the Berlin stories and diaries.
Like Zone of Interest the menace and horror is what you can sense off-page/off-screen.
And it was written at the time.
Cabaret is a great film and an outstanding play, but to get a real feel about early 1930s read the Isherwood source material: the Berlin stories and diaries.
Like Zone of Interest the menace and horror is what you can sense off-page/off-screen.
And it was written at the time.
January 23, 2026 at 8:28 AM
On Isherwood posts:
Cabaret is a great film and an outstanding play, but to get a real feel about early 1930s read the Isherwood source material: the Berlin stories and diaries.
Like Zone of Interest the menace and horror is what you can sense off-page/off-screen.
And it was written at the time.
Cabaret is a great film and an outstanding play, but to get a real feel about early 1930s read the Isherwood source material: the Berlin stories and diaries.
Like Zone of Interest the menace and horror is what you can sense off-page/off-screen.
And it was written at the time.
Reposted by Richard
Trump had five deferments during the height of the Vietnam War. Four were for his education. The fifth was a medical waiver for bone spurs after college.
Dodging draft was not unusual among influential and affluent families and Vietnam was a pointless war but he's got no right to cast aspersions.
Dodging draft was not unusual among influential and affluent families and Vietnam was a pointless war but he's got no right to cast aspersions.
Trump sparks anger over claim Nato troops avoided Afghanistan front line
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
457 Brits died in this conflict, many more wounded
The draft dodging President insults thier sacrifice with his claim.
FFS Americans get rid of him before the World loses all respect for you.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
457 Brits died in this conflict, many more wounded
The draft dodging President insults thier sacrifice with his claim.
FFS Americans get rid of him before the World loses all respect for you.
Trump sparks anger with claim Nato troops avoided Afghanistan front line
The US president said allied troops had
www.bbc.co.uk
January 23, 2026 at 8:25 AM
Trump had five deferments during the height of the Vietnam War. Four were for his education. The fifth was a medical waiver for bone spurs after college.
Dodging draft was not unusual among influential and affluent families and Vietnam was a pointless war but he's got no right to cast aspersions.
Dodging draft was not unusual among influential and affluent families and Vietnam was a pointless war but he's got no right to cast aspersions.
Reposted by Richard
.
The Tangerine Tyrant dodged the draft claiming he had "bone spurs"...
How dare he claim soldiers from NATO allies didn't play their part when so many were killed in Afghanistan - only for trump to give it to the taliban...
#r4today #bbcbreakfast #GMB #C4News #toriesgone567 #TACOTrump #bbcqt
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The Tangerine Tyrant dodged the draft claiming he had "bone spurs"...
How dare he claim soldiers from NATO allies didn't play their part when so many were killed in Afghanistan - only for trump to give it to the taliban...
#r4today #bbcbreakfast #GMB #C4News #toriesgone567 #TACOTrump #bbcqt
.
January 23, 2026 at 12:01 AM
.
The Tangerine Tyrant dodged the draft claiming he had "bone spurs"...
How dare he claim soldiers from NATO allies didn't play their part when so many were killed in Afghanistan - only for trump to give it to the taliban...
#r4today #bbcbreakfast #GMB #C4News #toriesgone567 #TACOTrump #bbcqt
.
The Tangerine Tyrant dodged the draft claiming he had "bone spurs"...
How dare he claim soldiers from NATO allies didn't play their part when so many were killed in Afghanistan - only for trump to give it to the taliban...
#r4today #bbcbreakfast #GMB #C4News #toriesgone567 #TACOTrump #bbcqt
.
Trump paints himself as great white hope in racism-drenched Davos speech - all the initial analysis focussed on his demand to annex of Greenland & sundry insults to allies, missing all this dangerous white-supremacy nonsense! www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Trump paints himself as great white hope in racism-drenched Davos speech
President’s anti-Somalia tirade and insults to European leaders were in line with aide Stephen Miller’s worldview
www.theguardian.com
January 23, 2026 at 8:31 AM
Trump paints himself as great white hope in racism-drenched Davos speech - all the initial analysis focussed on his demand to annex of Greenland & sundry insults to allies, missing all this dangerous white-supremacy nonsense! www.theguardian.com/business/202...
This is SO confusing; Trump declaration of Greenland framework deal met with scepticism amid relief there won’t, it sounds, be invasion, punitive tariffs, or annexation, but what does that leave?!? TACO? Or is it just vague? www.theguardian.com/world/2026/j...
Trump declaration of Greenland framework deal met with scepticism amid tariff relief
Nato chief Mark Rutte says there is ‘a lot of work to be done’, as some Danish MPs voice concern at Greenland apparently being sidelined in US president’s talks
www.theguardian.com
January 22, 2026 at 8:11 AM
This is SO confusing; Trump declaration of Greenland framework deal met with scepticism amid relief there won’t, it sounds, be invasion, punitive tariffs, or annexation, but what does that leave?!? TACO? Or is it just vague? www.theguardian.com/world/2026/j...
The thing about this series of #Traitors is that all the surviving Faithfuls are such idiots! I’m not sure this is a good outcome! Also, it’s deadly to be older!
January 21, 2026 at 8:42 PM
The thing about this series of #Traitors is that all the surviving Faithfuls are such idiots! I’m not sure this is a good outcome! Also, it’s deadly to be older!
Reposted by Richard
This is (1) disgraceful at a moment of national danger, (2) laughably unserious and (3) deeply unwise when the President is obviously becoming incapacitated and the most unpopular person in the whole UK. Utterly disqualifying.
January 20, 2026 at 9:21 AM
This is (1) disgraceful at a moment of national danger, (2) laughably unserious and (3) deeply unwise when the President is obviously becoming incapacitated and the most unpopular person in the whole UK. Utterly disqualifying.
Excellent by @anderspucknielsen.dk, my favourite Danish military strategy expert; Trump's obsession with Greenland can only be explained by a mix of all of the following: a) military control of North America under assumption NATO & other alliances will fall appart; b) he needs to decide who wins…
January 20, 2026 at 3:00 PM
Excellent by @anderspucknielsen.dk, my favourite Danish military strategy expert; Trump's obsession with Greenland can only be explained by a mix of all of the following: a) military control of North America under assumption NATO & other alliances will fall appart; b) he needs to decide who wins…
Greenland; great piece from early last year by CBS, on alleged wealth of minerals, especially #RareEarths, that might allegedly be a reason for Donald Trump to demand its annexation by the USA, though they’ve always been able to mine there, but found it too expensive, & it’s not mining,…
Geologist warns prospect of a mineral bonanza in Greenland is a mirage
Geologist Minik Rosing refutes claims from the Trump administration about untapped mineral riches in Greenland. The U.S. should look closer to home to secure the future.
www.cbsnews.com
January 20, 2026 at 2:43 PM
Greenland; great piece from early last year by CBS, on alleged wealth of minerals, especially #RareEarths, that might allegedly be a reason for Donald Trump to demand its annexation by the USA, though they’ve always been able to mine there, but found it too expensive, & it’s not mining,…
Reposted by Richard
Letter in Times today
January 20, 2026 at 11:54 AM
Letter in Times today
So if the Chagos deal, that primarily benefits the US military, is so disliked by the US President, should the UK just wash our hands of it, end our military commitment there (which I believe is very small & not our area) & let the US see if they can get a deal with Mauritius for Diego Garcia base?
January 20, 2026 at 1:22 PM
So if the Chagos deal, that primarily benefits the US military, is so disliked by the US President, should the UK just wash our hands of it, end our military commitment there (which I believe is very small & not our area) & let the US see if they can get a deal with Mauritius for Diego Garcia base?
Out of sight: spectacular HS2 tunnels offer glimmer of hope for stalling project - completely agree, & I think the consistent teams & design review panels have helped come up with such good designs for bridges, viaducts, tunnel portals & vent shaft head houses www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Out of sight: spectacular HS2 tunnels offer glimmer of hope for stalling project
Despite much soul-searching over UK’s inability to build infrastructure, two sections of HS2 under Chilterns are being hailed for their engineering
www.theguardian.com
January 19, 2026 at 1:30 PM
Out of sight: spectacular HS2 tunnels offer glimmer of hope for stalling project - completely agree, & I think the consistent teams & design review panels have helped come up with such good designs for bridges, viaducts, tunnel portals & vent shaft head houses www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Reposted by Richard
Romford voters talk of little else other than the Chagos Islands.
In every pub, parents outside schools, on every bus, it's Chagos Islands this and Chagos Islands that....
In every pub, parents outside schools, on every bus, it's Chagos Islands this and Chagos Islands that....
January 19, 2026 at 12:56 PM
Romford voters talk of little else other than the Chagos Islands.
In every pub, parents outside schools, on every bus, it's Chagos Islands this and Chagos Islands that....
In every pub, parents outside schools, on every bus, it's Chagos Islands this and Chagos Islands that....
Well this would really bang the final nail into the coffin - Kremlin says Putin has been invited to join Trump’s Gaza ‘board of peace’! Tony Blair should make it clear if this happened, he would withdraw! www.theguardian.com/world/2026/j...
Kremlin says Putin has been invited to join Trump’s Gaza ‘board of peace’
Putin shows no signs of ending Ukraine war and claim adds weight to accusation Trump favours Russian president
www.theguardian.com
January 19, 2026 at 1:03 PM
Well this would really bang the final nail into the coffin - Kremlin says Putin has been invited to join Trump’s Gaza ‘board of peace’! Tony Blair should make it clear if this happened, he would withdraw! www.theguardian.com/world/2026/j...
UK property market ‘on the up’ amid new year bounce in asking prices - this could be really significant for housing supply & ultimately the whole economy, given that private market housebuilders have been almost completely inactive for the last year! www.theguardian.com/money/2026/j...
UK property market ‘on the up’ amid new year bounce in asking prices
Average price of a home coming up for sale rises almost £10,000, the largest monthly jump in a decade
www.theguardian.com
January 19, 2026 at 12:49 PM
UK property market ‘on the up’ amid new year bounce in asking prices - this could be really significant for housing supply & ultimately the whole economy, given that private market housebuilders have been almost completely inactive for the last year! www.theguardian.com/money/2026/j...
Romford MP Andrew Rosindell becomes latest Tory to defect to Reform; note that this quotes A Tory Party Source saying “The Conservative party supported Rosindell throughout his many troubles,” without any further explanation about ‘his many troubles’! www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Romford MP Andrew Rosindell becomes latest Tory to defect to Reform
Veteran MP says ‘time to put country before party’ citing Conservative position on Chagos Islands
www.theguardian.com
January 19, 2026 at 8:28 AM
Romford MP Andrew Rosindell becomes latest Tory to defect to Reform; note that this quotes A Tory Party Source saying “The Conservative party supported Rosindell throughout his many troubles,” without any further explanation about ‘his many troubles’! www.theguardian.com/politics/202...