Thomas I-G
@thomasig.bsky.social
Incoherent views expressed are my own
He/Him 🏴🏳️🌈
Слава Україні🇺🇦
My photo alt 📸: @afilmphotographer
https://bsky.app/profile/afilmphotographer.bsky.social
My substack: Notes and Rambles
https://open.substack.com/pub/notesandrambles?r=1ix0um&utm_medium=ios
He/Him 🏴🏳️🌈
Слава Україні🇺🇦
My photo alt 📸: @afilmphotographer
https://bsky.app/profile/afilmphotographer.bsky.social
My substack: Notes and Rambles
https://open.substack.com/pub/notesandrambles?r=1ix0um&utm_medium=ios
Pinned
Thomas I-G
@thomasig.bsky.social
· Nov 21
Me showing everyone my mediocre posts when one of them gets over 10 likes.
Reposted by Thomas I-G
It doesn’t say much about Dubai that so many of the people living there are currently inside obsessing over Bangor uni
February 10, 2026 at 12:41 PM
It doesn’t say much about Dubai that so many of the people living there are currently inside obsessing over Bangor uni
My top tip for presenting large presentations on Teams is to preserve some vague will to live before and during, then collapse into a heap once it’s over.
February 10, 2026 at 12:10 PM
My top tip for presenting large presentations on Teams is to preserve some vague will to live before and during, then collapse into a heap once it’s over.
Reposted by Thomas I-G
It was a very good interview but boy can you hear the frustration from a minister who’s actually delivering on his brief but has had to spend all his airtime over the past 18 months on the latest crisis of the government’s own making.
Energy secretary Ed Miliband has told Sky News that he is ruling out a leadership bid:
He is ‘interested in supporting Keir Starmer’. ‘I did the job before… it inoculated me against this’.
He admits the party ‘we've made mistakes in policy which have drowned out the many good things we're doing'.
He is ‘interested in supporting Keir Starmer’. ‘I did the job before… it inoculated me against this’.
He admits the party ‘we've made mistakes in policy which have drowned out the many good things we're doing'.
February 10, 2026 at 11:54 AM
It was a very good interview but boy can you hear the frustration from a minister who’s actually delivering on his brief but has had to spend all his airtime over the past 18 months on the latest crisis of the government’s own making.
Reposted by Thomas I-G
Something compelled me to make this
February 10, 2026 at 10:57 AM
Something compelled me to make this
The market is clearly throwing its weight behind our imminent national renewal under Chaos with Ed.
Woof - record demand today at an auction of conventional gilts.
Investors placed bids worth 3.94 times the £3.75 billion pounds of gilts due in 2031 offered today.
Highest such ratio since Debt Management Office records began in 1998.
DMO staff said to be considering half pint of shandy at lunch.
Investors placed bids worth 3.94 times the £3.75 billion pounds of gilts due in 2031 offered today.
Highest such ratio since Debt Management Office records began in 1998.
DMO staff said to be considering half pint of shandy at lunch.
February 10, 2026 at 11:23 AM
The market is clearly throwing its weight behind our imminent national renewal under Chaos with Ed.
Reposted by Thomas I-G
Woof - record demand today at an auction of conventional gilts.
Investors placed bids worth 3.94 times the £3.75 billion pounds of gilts due in 2031 offered today.
Highest such ratio since Debt Management Office records began in 1998.
DMO staff said to be considering half pint of shandy at lunch.
Investors placed bids worth 3.94 times the £3.75 billion pounds of gilts due in 2031 offered today.
Highest such ratio since Debt Management Office records began in 1998.
DMO staff said to be considering half pint of shandy at lunch.
February 10, 2026 at 10:50 AM
Woof - record demand today at an auction of conventional gilts.
Investors placed bids worth 3.94 times the £3.75 billion pounds of gilts due in 2031 offered today.
Highest such ratio since Debt Management Office records began in 1998.
DMO staff said to be considering half pint of shandy at lunch.
Investors placed bids worth 3.94 times the £3.75 billion pounds of gilts due in 2031 offered today.
Highest such ratio since Debt Management Office records began in 1998.
DMO staff said to be considering half pint of shandy at lunch.
The far right are such whiny bastards - pt.482
Reform is threatening Bangor University over a student society’s decision. The society isn’t Bangor University—but this is a neat preview of how a Reform government would work: public money for supporters only. Trump-style politics, UK edition.
Authoritarian reflex is already working just fine.👇
Authoritarian reflex is already working just fine.👇
February 10, 2026 at 10:58 AM
The far right are such whiny bastards - pt.482
Reposted by Thomas I-G
I guess we can thank Bangor’s Debating & Political Society for prompting Reform to reveal that they intend to govern in the same Trumpian, thin-skinned way that would cause them to tank the economy of a small city because some students were mean to them.
Reform is threatening Bangor University over a student society’s decision. The society isn’t Bangor University—but this is a neat preview of how a Reform government would work: public money for supporters only. Trump-style politics, UK edition.
Authoritarian reflex is already working just fine.👇
Authoritarian reflex is already working just fine.👇
February 10, 2026 at 10:56 AM
I guess we can thank Bangor’s Debating & Political Society for prompting Reform to reveal that they intend to govern in the same Trumpian, thin-skinned way that would cause them to tank the economy of a small city because some students were mean to them.
Reposted by Thomas I-G
What makes the juxtaposition even funnier is *he* published those WhatsApp exchanges around the same time this column landed
This is the funniest headline I seen in a long time. And bravo to whoever underlined the desperation with the juxtaposed link.
February 10, 2026 at 9:46 AM
What makes the juxtaposition even funnier is *he* published those WhatsApp exchanges around the same time this column landed
Reposted by Thomas I-G
UK public now split one third positive v one third negative on economics and culture of immigration, after a dramatic softening after 2016.
Contributors include
- dominance of boats/asylum over free movement/visas
- starker political polarisation
- shifting media and online fragmentation
Contributors include
- dominance of boats/asylum over free movement/visas
- starker political polarisation
- shifting media and online fragmentation
February 10, 2026 at 9:30 AM
UK public now split one third positive v one third negative on economics and culture of immigration, after a dramatic softening after 2016.
Contributors include
- dominance of boats/asylum over free movement/visas
- starker political polarisation
- shifting media and online fragmentation
Contributors include
- dominance of boats/asylum over free movement/visas
- starker political polarisation
- shifting media and online fragmentation
Reposted by Thomas I-G
We're at the stage of "IfG colleagues posting slightly exasperated explainer threads before dawn" of the political crisis, if anyone is counting
Times (and apparently Cabinet Ministers) apparently confusing Labour Party rules with U.K. constitution
Labour Party rules set out what happens if LEADER of party is ‘permanently unavailable’. But they dont match up the principles, precedents and expectations about what happens fo replace a PM. 1/
Labour Party rules set out what happens if LEADER of party is ‘permanently unavailable’. But they dont match up the principles, precedents and expectations about what happens fo replace a PM. 1/
February 10, 2026 at 9:16 AM
We're at the stage of "IfG colleagues posting slightly exasperated explainer threads before dawn" of the political crisis, if anyone is counting
Reposted by Thomas I-G
Meet the 1591 cat man. I am counting 7 cats on and near him. #catcontent
February 10, 2026 at 7:59 AM
Meet the 1591 cat man. I am counting 7 cats on and near him. #catcontent
Reposted by Thomas I-G
Getting really tired of "this is all a media concoction"...
Starmer has the lowest approval rating of any PM in history bar Truss. Senior ministers are openly and unsubtly positioning. His Chief of Staff, Director of Comms and Cab Sec have all resigned on the same day.
I mean come on...
Starmer has the lowest approval rating of any PM in history bar Truss. Senior ministers are openly and unsubtly positioning. His Chief of Staff, Director of Comms and Cab Sec have all resigned on the same day.
I mean come on...
February 9, 2026 at 10:32 PM
Getting really tired of "this is all a media concoction"...
Starmer has the lowest approval rating of any PM in history bar Truss. Senior ministers are openly and unsubtly positioning. His Chief of Staff, Director of Comms and Cab Sec have all resigned on the same day.
I mean come on...
Starmer has the lowest approval rating of any PM in history bar Truss. Senior ministers are openly and unsubtly positioning. His Chief of Staff, Director of Comms and Cab Sec have all resigned on the same day.
I mean come on...
Douglas Ross 🤝 Anas Sarwar
Accidentally keeping an ailing PM in place for 6 months longer.
Accidentally keeping an ailing PM in place for 6 months longer.
So if Sarwar ever claims a footnote in history it will be as the politician who saved Keir Starmer
February 9, 2026 at 10:14 PM
Douglas Ross 🤝 Anas Sarwar
Accidentally keeping an ailing PM in place for 6 months longer.
Accidentally keeping an ailing PM in place for 6 months longer.
I think this skating sequence is the campest yet
February 9, 2026 at 9:26 PM
I think this skating sequence is the campest yet
Reposted by Thomas I-G
This Vogue routine is FUCKING AMAZING
February 9, 2026 at 8:52 PM
This Vogue routine is FUCKING AMAZING
This has been touted for some time but to make it imminent just adds to *gesticulates* everything.
EXCL: Chris Wormald, the most senior civil servant in Downing Street, is negotiating his exit as part of a wider shakeup of Keir Starmer’s operation after dramatic day - @kiranstacey.bsky.social
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Top civil servant could become third key No 10 departure in days
Exclusive: Cabinet secretary Chris Wormald is expected to follow Morgan McSweeney and Tim Allan out the door
www.theguardian.com
February 9, 2026 at 8:13 PM
This has been touted for some time but to make it imminent just adds to *gesticulates* everything.
Reposted by Thomas I-G
Worst squanderings of a massive election victory*
1. Lord Palmerston (1858) 330 days after winning a majority of 100
2. Earl Grey (1834) 582 days after winning a majority of 224
3. Keir Starmer (????) - currently 584 days after winning a majority of 174
1. Lord Palmerston (1858) 330 days after winning a majority of 100
2. Earl Grey (1834) 582 days after winning a majority of 224
3. Keir Starmer (????) - currently 584 days after winning a majority of 174
February 9, 2026 at 3:47 PM
Worst squanderings of a massive election victory*
1. Lord Palmerston (1858) 330 days after winning a majority of 100
2. Earl Grey (1834) 582 days after winning a majority of 224
3. Keir Starmer (????) - currently 584 days after winning a majority of 174
1. Lord Palmerston (1858) 330 days after winning a majority of 100
2. Earl Grey (1834) 582 days after winning a majority of 224
3. Keir Starmer (????) - currently 584 days after winning a majority of 174
How can anyone look at the delays when they entered office, lack of ambition, lack of any tangible reforms being implemented within DHSC and think "Wes is the man".
February 9, 2026 at 7:07 PM
How can anyone look at the delays when they entered office, lack of ambition, lack of any tangible reforms being implemented within DHSC and think "Wes is the man".
"I back the PM. Also, unrelatedly here are my WhatsApp messages viscerally criticising my government and dubiously 'exonerating' me."
:: suggested govt had "no growth strategy at all" after Mandelson complained about econ philosophy.
:: agreed with M’s comment that “govt problems do not stem from comms”, inferring PM was issue.
:: said Israel was "committing war crimes before our eyes" & UK needed to recognise Palestinian state
:: agreed with M’s comment that “govt problems do not stem from comms”, inferring PM was issue.
:: said Israel was "committing war crimes before our eyes" & UK needed to recognise Palestinian state
February 9, 2026 at 6:31 PM
"I back the PM. Also, unrelatedly here are my WhatsApp messages viscerally criticising my government and dubiously 'exonerating' me."
Just come back from playing football. Have we had any more PMs whilst I've been away?
February 9, 2026 at 6:14 PM
Just come back from playing football. Have we had any more PMs whilst I've been away?
Reposted by Thomas I-G
From Ons and this RF report www.resolutionfoundation.org/publications...
February 9, 2026 at 5:27 PM
From Ons and this RF report www.resolutionfoundation.org/publications...
Reposted by Thomas I-G
