Steve Docherty
@stevedocherty.bsky.social
Music, Cricket, Beer, Devonian Cream Teas and so much more ...
Pinned
Steve Docherty
@stevedocherty.bsky.social
· Nov 18
A memory (probably mid to late 1990s). Me on drums, at Walsall People's Festival, with my band at the tme: The Winchester Blues Band. Happy days.
Reposted by Steve Docherty
Seeing so many posts about who “Starmer and Nandy” will appoint as director general. Easy mistake but the government does not appoint the director general! The BBC board, whose members are appointed for rolling terms by the culture secretary, appoints the director general.
November 9, 2025 at 9:00 PM
Seeing so many posts about who “Starmer and Nandy” will appoint as director general. Easy mistake but the government does not appoint the director general! The BBC board, whose members are appointed for rolling terms by the culture secretary, appoints the director general.
Misty morning. Taken this morning at 8.30am:
November 8, 2025 at 11:06 AM
Misty morning. Taken this morning at 8.30am:
Picture taken yesterday afternoon from the edge of the woods in my neighbour's top field.
September 21, 2025 at 9:46 AM
Picture taken yesterday afternoon from the edge of the woods in my neighbour's top field.
Listening to 70s classic. 1971 to be precise (from my late Father's collection).
August 25, 2025 at 1:45 PM
Listening to 70s classic. 1971 to be precise (from my late Father's collection).
One of my neighbours sheep taking some shade.
August 25, 2025 at 12:04 PM
One of my neighbours sheep taking some shade.
Reposted by Steve Docherty
In a helpful coincidence, the government has today confirmed that David Dinsmore will lead the Government Communication Service, the organisation responsible for reviewing govt's use of X. This should be added to his to-do list immediately
July 30, 2025 at 3:48 PM
In a helpful coincidence, the government has today confirmed that David Dinsmore will lead the Government Communication Service, the organisation responsible for reviewing govt's use of X. This should be added to his to-do list immediately
Reposted by Steve Docherty
Proud of this pamphlet - our dysfunctional media is at the heart of so many UK policy failures from austerity to Palestine. As @hardeepmatharu.bsky.social puts it: "all too often, journalism in Britain operates as an extension of power rather than a check on it"
🚨New Pamphlet🚨
How do we improve standards in our media ecosystem?
In this new pamphlet, edited by @iggywood.bsky.social, journalists & policy experts assess the media landscape, setting out recommendations for government to protect press freedoms at home and abroad.
How do we improve standards in our media ecosystem?
In this new pamphlet, edited by @iggywood.bsky.social, journalists & policy experts assess the media landscape, setting out recommendations for government to protect press freedoms at home and abroad.
July 25, 2025 at 11:42 AM
Proud of this pamphlet - our dysfunctional media is at the heart of so many UK policy failures from austerity to Palestine. As @hardeepmatharu.bsky.social puts it: "all too often, journalism in Britain operates as an extension of power rather than a check on it"
Reposted by Steve Docherty
If your strategy has become “it’s okay to split the left-wing vote now.”
I’ve got 100 years of elections to show you.
The right wing has never received a majority of the vote.
And even though most people were voting against them.
They won absolute power 2/3rds of those hundred years.
FPTP.
I’ve got 100 years of elections to show you.
The right wing has never received a majority of the vote.
And even though most people were voting against them.
They won absolute power 2/3rds of those hundred years.
FPTP.
July 26, 2025 at 1:20 AM
If your strategy has become “it’s okay to split the left-wing vote now.”
I’ve got 100 years of elections to show you.
The right wing has never received a majority of the vote.
And even though most people were voting against them.
They won absolute power 2/3rds of those hundred years.
FPTP.
I’ve got 100 years of elections to show you.
The right wing has never received a majority of the vote.
And even though most people were voting against them.
They won absolute power 2/3rds of those hundred years.
FPTP.
Reposted by Steve Docherty
A fascinating thread on native plants and prairies and carbon sequestration. No seriously, it’s really interesting!
#NativePlants 🌿
#NativePlants 🌿
Fiiiine, apparently half my readers enjoy an info dump, so here we go!
Grasslands Sequester Carbon Too or “Why trees are not the be-all and end-all.”
Ahem. *takes a sip of water*
Grasslands Sequester Carbon Too or “Why trees are not the be-all and end-all.”
Ahem. *takes a sip of water*
I THINK they’re mad because of the hardscaping? Not entirely sure.
(One guy tried to claim it didn’t store CO2. Do you want a lecture on prairie carbon sequestration? Because this is how you get a lecture on prairie carbon sequestration.)
(One guy tried to claim it didn’t store CO2. Do you want a lecture on prairie carbon sequestration? Because this is how you get a lecture on prairie carbon sequestration.)
July 26, 2025 at 1:16 AM
A fascinating thread on native plants and prairies and carbon sequestration. No seriously, it’s really interesting!
#NativePlants 🌿
#NativePlants 🌿
A properly thought through Industrial Strategy is desperately needed and massively overdue!
www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...
www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...
‘High energy costs have held back businesses’, says Miliband as government announces industrial strategy – UK politics live
Prime minister says 10-year industrial strategy marks ‘turning point for economy’ as energy secretary says government will cut electricity costs for businesses
www.theguardian.com
June 23, 2025 at 11:24 AM
A properly thought through Industrial Strategy is desperately needed and massively overdue!
www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...
www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...
My view whilst out for a walk this morning.
June 17, 2025 at 3:02 PM
My view whilst out for a walk this morning.
If you have a mind to, please sign.
www.which.co.uk/campaigns/st...
www.which.co.uk/campaigns/st...
Stop Fleecing Fans | Which? Campaigns - Which?
Music, sports and theatre fans are at the mercy of a ticketing industry that allows greedy touts to resell tickets at outrageous prices.
www.which.co.uk
June 12, 2025 at 9:44 AM
If you have a mind to, please sign.
www.which.co.uk/campaigns/st...
www.which.co.uk/campaigns/st...
Listening, again, to an old favourite.
June 3, 2025 at 9:54 AM
Listening, again, to an old favourite.
The price British taxpayers paid for reckless handling of Covid contracts:
www.gov.uk/government/n...
www.gov.uk/government/n...
Failed Covid contracts cost British taxpayer £1.4 billion
New report commissioned by Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, reveals multibillion price British taxpayers paid for reckless handling of Covid contracts
www.gov.uk
June 3, 2025 at 9:51 AM
The price British taxpayers paid for reckless handling of Covid contracts:
www.gov.uk/government/n...
www.gov.uk/government/n...
Much about why AI is probably not the answer!
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
‘Nobody wants a robot to read them a story!’ The creatives and academics rejecting AI – at work and at home
Is artificial intelligence coming for everyone’s jobs? Not if this lot have anything to do with it
www.theguardian.com
June 3, 2025 at 5:39 AM
Much about why AI is probably not the answer!
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
Worth an interview @lewisgoodall.com ?
Very interesting read. Total Place (originally implemented by @jydenham.bsky.social when Communities Secretay in 2009/10), could be a useful tool in the Government's desire to improve efficiency. Worth an interview @newsagents.bsky.social ?
www.theoptimisticpatriot.co.uk/post/7848865...
www.theoptimisticpatriot.co.uk/post/7848865...
Total Place
I was recently interviewed by Municipal Journal about the need to revive Total Place
www.theoptimisticpatriot.co.uk
May 30, 2025 at 12:36 PM
Worth an interview @lewisgoodall.com ?
Very interesting read. Total Place (originally implemented by @jydenham.bsky.social when Communities Secretay in 2009/10), could be a useful tool in the Government's desire to improve efficiency. Worth an interview @newsagents.bsky.social ?
www.theoptimisticpatriot.co.uk/post/7848865...
www.theoptimisticpatriot.co.uk/post/7848865...
Total Place
I was recently interviewed by Municipal Journal about the need to revive Total Place
www.theoptimisticpatriot.co.uk
May 30, 2025 at 10:01 AM
Very interesting read. Total Place (originally implemented by @jydenham.bsky.social when Communities Secretay in 2009/10), could be a useful tool in the Government's desire to improve efficiency. Worth an interview @newsagents.bsky.social ?
www.theoptimisticpatriot.co.uk/post/7848865...
www.theoptimisticpatriot.co.uk/post/7848865...
As a former civil servant in DWP, I say, about time!
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Jobcentres will no longer force people into ‘any job’ available, minister says
Alison McGovern promises long-term career support in wake of Labour’s significant cuts to disability benefits
www.theguardian.com
May 29, 2025 at 10:27 AM
As a former civil servant in DWP, I say, about time!
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Wonderfully atmospheric pic from my walk this evening.
May 17, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Wonderfully atmospheric pic from my walk this evening.
Tonight's sunset. Beautiful.
May 15, 2025 at 9:22 PM
Tonight's sunset. Beautiful.
Sunset over Dartmoor this evening.
May 14, 2025 at 7:46 PM
Sunset over Dartmoor this evening.
Recent picture of a Peacock displaying in my neighbours garden. He just turned up a couple of days ago and decided to stay!
May 5, 2025 at 6:15 PM
Recent picture of a Peacock displaying in my neighbours garden. He just turned up a couple of days ago and decided to stay!
Reposted by Steve Docherty
So you can see why some in Labour are calling for aping Reform. But hold on a minute. People rarely vote in general elections like they do in locals because tactical voting comes into play. What if we make 30% of Lib Dem, Green and Labour voters vote for whichever of those parties does best? 15/n
May 5, 2025 at 7:57 AM
So you can see why some in Labour are calling for aping Reform. But hold on a minute. People rarely vote in general elections like they do in locals because tactical voting comes into play. What if we make 30% of Lib Dem, Green and Labour voters vote for whichever of those parties does best? 15/n
Reposted by Steve Docherty
Labour take West of England Mayoralty
Helen Godwin, Labour: 51,197
Arron Banks of Reform: 45,252
Mary Page, Green: 41,094
Steve Smith, Cons 34,092
Oli Henman, LibDems: 28,711
Ian Scott, Ind 4682
Helen Godwin, Labour: 51,197
Arron Banks of Reform: 45,252
Mary Page, Green: 41,094
Steve Smith, Cons 34,092
Oli Henman, LibDems: 28,711
Ian Scott, Ind 4682
May 2, 2025 at 3:52 AM
Labour take West of England Mayoralty
Helen Godwin, Labour: 51,197
Arron Banks of Reform: 45,252
Mary Page, Green: 41,094
Steve Smith, Cons 34,092
Oli Henman, LibDems: 28,711
Ian Scott, Ind 4682
Helen Godwin, Labour: 51,197
Arron Banks of Reform: 45,252
Mary Page, Green: 41,094
Steve Smith, Cons 34,092
Oli Henman, LibDems: 28,711
Ian Scott, Ind 4682