Wendy 'What Now?!' McDonnell 🌱
@wendymcd.bsky.social
Green/lefty/lib/humanist walker/retired organic gardener, Sussex, UK. Here for polite politics (!?), general enlightenment and all things environmental. Trying to stay positive in the face of all the lunacy and venality🌱🦉🤞
Reposted by Wendy 'What Now?!' McDonnell 🌱
In 1974, our local Labour Party Young Socialist group invited a bloke who'd just sought asylum in Yorkshire. He was from Chile, a critic of Pinochet and had fled for his life. He opened our eyes to the world.
Not sure how he'd be treated now.
Not sure how he'd be treated now.
November 17, 2025 at 5:42 PM
In 1974, our local Labour Party Young Socialist group invited a bloke who'd just sought asylum in Yorkshire. He was from Chile, a critic of Pinochet and had fled for his life. He opened our eyes to the world.
Not sure how he'd be treated now.
Not sure how he'd be treated now.
Reposted by Wendy 'What Now?!' McDonnell 🌱
Just wilful performative cruelty that is entirely out of step with the majority of British people.
How many Labour MPs got into politics in order to vote for stealing jewellery off of people seeking refuge from war and persecution?
How many Labour MPs got into politics in order to vote for stealing jewellery off of people seeking refuge from war and persecution?
November 17, 2025 at 8:00 AM
Just wilful performative cruelty that is entirely out of step with the majority of British people.
How many Labour MPs got into politics in order to vote for stealing jewellery off of people seeking refuge from war and persecution?
How many Labour MPs got into politics in order to vote for stealing jewellery off of people seeking refuge from war and persecution?
Reposted by Wendy 'What Now?!' McDonnell 🌱
The Prime Minister said in September that we are at a fork in the road. These asylum proposals suggest we have taken the wrong turning.
The idea that recognised refugees need to be deported is wrong.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
The idea that recognised refugees need to be deported is wrong.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Asylum system in UK ‘out of control’ and dividing country, home secretary says
Shabana Mahmood to unveil new proposals modelled on Denmark’s controversial system
www.theguardian.com
November 16, 2025 at 5:45 PM
The Prime Minister said in September that we are at a fork in the road. These asylum proposals suggest we have taken the wrong turning.
The idea that recognised refugees need to be deported is wrong.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
The idea that recognised refugees need to be deported is wrong.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Reposted by Wendy 'What Now?!' McDonnell 🌱
that people use AI technologies in their work and explain that it saves them precious time that they can devote to other more urgent tasks tells me less about the wondrousness of the technologies and more about the overextension and immiseration of workers.
November 15, 2025 at 11:29 PM
that people use AI technologies in their work and explain that it saves them precious time that they can devote to other more urgent tasks tells me less about the wondrousness of the technologies and more about the overextension and immiseration of workers.
Reposted by Wendy 'What Now?!' McDonnell 🌱
Can we go back to the days when politicians said that they really wanted to help people but it’s very hard and takes time, rather than saying that they want to hurt people and can do it quickly?
November 16, 2025 at 5:53 PM
Can we go back to the days when politicians said that they really wanted to help people but it’s very hard and takes time, rather than saying that they want to hurt people and can do it quickly?
Reposted by Wendy 'What Now?!' McDonnell 🌱
What a photograph.
“Nearly two dozen arrested as faith leaders protested outside a federal immigration facility near Chicago…”
Arrested large amounts of peaceful clergy face first on pavement is a pretty good sign you’re not the good guys in the story. www.reuters.com/legal/govern...
“Nearly two dozen arrested as faith leaders protested outside a federal immigration facility near Chicago…”
Arrested large amounts of peaceful clergy face first on pavement is a pretty good sign you’re not the good guys in the story. www.reuters.com/legal/govern...
November 15, 2025 at 1:51 PM
What a photograph.
“Nearly two dozen arrested as faith leaders protested outside a federal immigration facility near Chicago…”
Arrested large amounts of peaceful clergy face first on pavement is a pretty good sign you’re not the good guys in the story. www.reuters.com/legal/govern...
“Nearly two dozen arrested as faith leaders protested outside a federal immigration facility near Chicago…”
Arrested large amounts of peaceful clergy face first on pavement is a pretty good sign you’re not the good guys in the story. www.reuters.com/legal/govern...
Reposted by Wendy 'What Now?!' McDonnell 🌱
A fascinating and revealing thread.
People from mining areas don't want the pits to reopen. Mining is hard, dangerous work.
What they want is the highly paid jobs that enable their communities to flourish.
People from mining areas don't want the pits to reopen. Mining is hard, dangerous work.
What they want is the highly paid jobs that enable their communities to flourish.
Okay, I can't let this one go. I live in Ireland, not the UK, but the use of this image by a supposedly socialist party is so stupid and offensive, I'm going to get stuck in.
Let me explain to you why any experienced illustrator/designer could have stopped you making so many miserable mistakes. 1/
Let me explain to you why any experienced illustrator/designer could have stopped you making so many miserable mistakes. 1/
November 16, 2025 at 7:14 AM
A fascinating and revealing thread.
People from mining areas don't want the pits to reopen. Mining is hard, dangerous work.
What they want is the highly paid jobs that enable their communities to flourish.
People from mining areas don't want the pits to reopen. Mining is hard, dangerous work.
What they want is the highly paid jobs that enable their communities to flourish.
Reposted by Wendy 'What Now?!' McDonnell 🌱
I will wait for what the Treasury used to call a Fiscal Event but has now been renamed as the Great Despeculation Event on 26 November after 12.30 GMT
Today’s Budget speculation is that yesterday’s Budget speculation was wrong bit.ly/3XfQmfX and will be replaced by other speculation, probably- or maybe not
Rachel Reeves scraps budget plan to increase income tax
Chancellor was considering breaking Labour’s manifesto pledge but has backed down over fears it would anger mutinous MPs and voters
bit.ly
November 14, 2025 at 8:13 AM
I will wait for what the Treasury used to call a Fiscal Event but has now been renamed as the Great Despeculation Event on 26 November after 12.30 GMT
Reposted by Wendy 'What Now?!' McDonnell 🌱
Nowhere in the hysterical pile-on against the BBC in the British press has anyone mentioned that BBC News now has 77 million viewers & listeners in the US and has established itself as the second most trusted news source there.
November 11, 2025 at 8:37 AM
Nowhere in the hysterical pile-on against the BBC in the British press has anyone mentioned that BBC News now has 77 million viewers & listeners in the US and has established itself as the second most trusted news source there.
Reposted by Wendy 'What Now?!' McDonnell 🌱
If we're talking about bias, why do BBC politics programmes, from Politics Live to the Laura Kuennsberg Show, still always begin with a look at the newspaper front pages, which are overwhelmingly biased in one direction. Helps frame the entire news agenda and debate in their favour
November 11, 2025 at 1:09 PM
If we're talking about bias, why do BBC politics programmes, from Politics Live to the Laura Kuennsberg Show, still always begin with a look at the newspaper front pages, which are overwhelmingly biased in one direction. Helps frame the entire news agenda and debate in their favour
Reposted by Wendy 'What Now?!' McDonnell 🌱
All those people who think they can dodge the effects of the climate crisis because they live in a nice developed country are about to get punched in the face. It’s coming in hard everywhere.
England facing drastic measures due to extreme drought next year
Government and water companies are devising emergency plans for worst water shortage in decades
www.theguardian.com
November 8, 2025 at 9:04 PM
All those people who think they can dodge the effects of the climate crisis because they live in a nice developed country are about to get punched in the face. It’s coming in hard everywhere.
Monster fishing vessels are hoovering up whole ecosystems in UK waters that are supposed to be protected. I just signed a petition calling on the new government to save our seas from destructive fishing, by banning supertrawlers in UK Marine Protected Areas. Will you join me? act.gp/47MTYKR
Sign the petition
Emma Reynolds: stop the industrial fishing frenzy
act.gp
November 6, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Monster fishing vessels are hoovering up whole ecosystems in UK waters that are supposed to be protected. I just signed a petition calling on the new government to save our seas from destructive fishing, by banning supertrawlers in UK Marine Protected Areas. Will you join me? act.gp/47MTYKR
Reposted by Wendy 'What Now?!' McDonnell 🌱
BBC News bulletins leading on the story of an Algerian man being mistakenly released by the prison service.
Funnily enough I don't remember these cases ever leading the bulletins when an average of ten prisoners were mistakenly released a month in the final year of the last Government
Funnily enough I don't remember these cases ever leading the bulletins when an average of ten prisoners were mistakenly released a month in the final year of the last Government
November 5, 2025 at 2:55 PM
BBC News bulletins leading on the story of an Algerian man being mistakenly released by the prison service.
Funnily enough I don't remember these cases ever leading the bulletins when an average of ten prisoners were mistakenly released a month in the final year of the last Government
Funnily enough I don't remember these cases ever leading the bulletins when an average of ten prisoners were mistakenly released a month in the final year of the last Government
Reposted by Wendy 'What Now?!' McDonnell 🌱
My new DAB radio is amazing. Can actually hear Justin Webb sobbing in the background as news of the Democrats' election success is read out.
#r4today
#r4today
November 5, 2025 at 8:04 AM
My new DAB radio is amazing. Can actually hear Justin Webb sobbing in the background as news of the Democrats' election success is read out.
#r4today
#r4today
Reposted by Wendy 'What Now?!' McDonnell 🌱
The UK Must Urgently Distance Itself From Elon Musk and Space X, Warns Parliamentary Report
The UK’s infrastructure has become far too reliant on the far-right billionaire, who could ‘politicise’ our reliance upon his companies, the report warns
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/04/t...
The UK’s infrastructure has become far too reliant on the far-right billionaire, who could ‘politicise’ our reliance upon his companies, the report warns
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/04/t...
The UK Must Urgently Distance Itself From Elon Musk and Space X, Warns Parliamentary Report
The UK's infrastructure has become far too reliant on the far-right billionaire, who could 'politicise' our reliance upon his companies, the report warns
bylinetimes.com
November 5, 2025 at 8:10 AM
The UK Must Urgently Distance Itself From Elon Musk and Space X, Warns Parliamentary Report
The UK’s infrastructure has become far too reliant on the far-right billionaire, who could ‘politicise’ our reliance upon his companies, the report warns
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/04/t...
The UK’s infrastructure has become far too reliant on the far-right billionaire, who could ‘politicise’ our reliance upon his companies, the report warns
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/04/t...
👀
Otterly fabulous trail cam footage. 🦦
🎥 David Thompson
🎥 David Thompson
November 4, 2025 at 7:44 PM
👀
😡
1/2 Hounds in the garden just now, on the trail of some poor fox.
This is still the reality of "trail hunting" in North Dorset in 2025.
I put so much effort into making this place a sanctuary for wildlife.
@angelaeagle1.bsky.social @parliamentarygoose.bsky.social
This is still the reality of "trail hunting" in North Dorset in 2025.
I put so much effort into making this place a sanctuary for wildlife.
@angelaeagle1.bsky.social @parliamentarygoose.bsky.social
November 4, 2025 at 4:17 PM
😡
Reposted by Wendy 'What Now?!' McDonnell 🌱
Dick Cheney was a mass murderer and a war criminal, who should have been tried in the Hague and put away for life.
That HE said there has never been "a greater threat to our republic [the US] than Donald Trump" speaks volumes about how dire the situation is.
share.google/FQIvAYBKFjlf...
That HE said there has never been "a greater threat to our republic [the US] than Donald Trump" speaks volumes about how dire the situation is.
share.google/FQIvAYBKFjlf...
Former US vice-president Dick Cheney dies aged 84
Former US vice-president Dick Cheney has died aged 84.
share.google
November 4, 2025 at 1:19 PM
Dick Cheney was a mass murderer and a war criminal, who should have been tried in the Hague and put away for life.
That HE said there has never been "a greater threat to our republic [the US] than Donald Trump" speaks volumes about how dire the situation is.
share.google/FQIvAYBKFjlf...
That HE said there has never been "a greater threat to our republic [the US] than Donald Trump" speaks volumes about how dire the situation is.
share.google/FQIvAYBKFjlf...
Reposted by Wendy 'What Now?!' McDonnell 🌱
The first thing Yaxley-Lennon did on leaving court was to thank Elon Musk for funding his legal costs.
That's Elon Musk who has repeatedly called for civil war in the UK.
As of typing this - all of the major politicians and platforms maintain a presence on X and it is time for them all to leave.
That's Elon Musk who has repeatedly called for civil war in the UK.
As of typing this - all of the major politicians and platforms maintain a presence on X and it is time for them all to leave.
November 4, 2025 at 11:57 AM
The first thing Yaxley-Lennon did on leaving court was to thank Elon Musk for funding his legal costs.
That's Elon Musk who has repeatedly called for civil war in the UK.
As of typing this - all of the major politicians and platforms maintain a presence on X and it is time for them all to leave.
That's Elon Musk who has repeatedly called for civil war in the UK.
As of typing this - all of the major politicians and platforms maintain a presence on X and it is time for them all to leave.
This makes me angry and sad in equal measure. What is the argument against including swift bricks on new builds? The only way it makes sense is if they're acknowledging that they're likely to be sited wrongly and/or in an insect-free environment. 🪶🪰
Last night, Peers voted against Swift bricks: rejecting a simple, proven way to help one of our fastest declining birds recover. ❌
We share @hannahbournetaylor.bsky.social's disappointment & frustration.
The vote came late, but with government refusing to back it, its fate was already sealed.
We share @hannahbournetaylor.bsky.social's disappointment & frustration.
The vote came late, but with government refusing to back it, its fate was already sealed.
November 4, 2025 at 1:22 PM
This makes me angry and sad in equal measure. What is the argument against including swift bricks on new builds? The only way it makes sense is if they're acknowledging that they're likely to be sited wrongly and/or in an insect-free environment. 🪶🪰
Reposted by Wendy 'What Now?!' McDonnell 🌱
Another 55mins of Farage carried live by BBC and Sky, in which he rambled for twice as long as briefed, and yet managed to say little of substance.
Why can broadcasters not simply give us 3mins of the low-lights after the event, as they would do with most other politicians? ~AA
Why can broadcasters not simply give us 3mins of the low-lights after the event, as they would do with most other politicians? ~AA
November 3, 2025 at 12:09 PM
Another 55mins of Farage carried live by BBC and Sky, in which he rambled for twice as long as briefed, and yet managed to say little of substance.
Why can broadcasters not simply give us 3mins of the low-lights after the event, as they would do with most other politicians? ~AA
Why can broadcasters not simply give us 3mins of the low-lights after the event, as they would do with most other politicians? ~AA
Reposted by Wendy 'What Now?!' McDonnell 🌱
A beautiful article by @freshwaterhabitats.bsky.social on the critical importance of these delicate waters, and the work the Trust is doing to support them. A really lovely read:
freshwaterhabitats.org.uk/news/start-w...
4/4
freshwaterhabitats.org.uk/news/start-w...
4/4
November 2, 2025 at 6:04 PM
A beautiful article by @freshwaterhabitats.bsky.social on the critical importance of these delicate waters, and the work the Trust is doing to support them. A really lovely read:
freshwaterhabitats.org.uk/news/start-w...
4/4
freshwaterhabitats.org.uk/news/start-w...
4/4
Reposted by Wendy 'What Now?!' McDonnell 🌱
Jesus Christ. We go mad about one bloke we wrongly released, yet hear next to nothing about this horror? www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
More than 50 child asylum seekers still missing after disappearing from Kent care
Council data obtained by the Guardian shows 345 children have gone missing in recent years, many probably taken by traffickers
www.theguardian.com
November 1, 2025 at 1:57 PM
Jesus Christ. We go mad about one bloke we wrongly released, yet hear next to nothing about this horror? www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Ha ha!
November 1, 2025 at 1:16 PM
Ha ha!
Reposted by Wendy 'What Now?!' McDonnell 🌱
Something lovely for the weekend!
Magical amber animals from the Mesolithic. Carved between 10,000-7,000 years ago.
Amber can generate static electricity⚡️ For their ancient owners, these small animals could give off sparks in the dark and make hair stand on end, as if by magic✨
📷 me
#Archaeology
Magical amber animals from the Mesolithic. Carved between 10,000-7,000 years ago.
Amber can generate static electricity⚡️ For their ancient owners, these small animals could give off sparks in the dark and make hair stand on end, as if by magic✨
📷 me
#Archaeology
November 1, 2025 at 11:01 AM
Something lovely for the weekend!
Magical amber animals from the Mesolithic. Carved between 10,000-7,000 years ago.
Amber can generate static electricity⚡️ For their ancient owners, these small animals could give off sparks in the dark and make hair stand on end, as if by magic✨
📷 me
#Archaeology
Magical amber animals from the Mesolithic. Carved between 10,000-7,000 years ago.
Amber can generate static electricity⚡️ For their ancient owners, these small animals could give off sparks in the dark and make hair stand on end, as if by magic✨
📷 me
#Archaeology