Bob Payne
@aescmann.bsky.social
Husband, father, grandfather, academic, artist, sailor, politically engaged. Pretty much a centrist dad.
The majority of Reform voters want this bill - but their current MP's are voting against every single item.... www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
It’s under fire from left and right – but Labour’s workers' rights bill is a huge achievement | Polly Toynbee
It makes no sense for union leaders to cry betrayal when it will be their members who benefit from these sorely needed reforms, says Guardian columnist Polly Toynbee
www.theguardian.com
December 2, 2025 at 4:50 PM
The majority of Reform voters want this bill - but their current MP's are voting against every single item.... www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Oh I do hope technocrats will succeed and that messaging like this will calm our adrenaline fuelled media. Please #Labour don't feed the 24hr a day outrage: www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
There are those on the left and right who offer only grievance: Labour is getting on with the job of economic renewal | Keir Starmer
Judge last week’s budget in the light of our bold plans to sweep away red tape, tackle inactivity among young people and pursue a closer trading relationship with the EU, says prime minister Keir Star...
www.theguardian.com
December 1, 2025 at 8:06 AM
Oh I do hope technocrats will succeed and that messaging like this will calm our adrenaline fuelled media. Please #Labour don't feed the 24hr a day outrage: www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Bob Payne
The Telegraph admits that Brexit has been a disaster a mere 9 years after the vote.
Very demure.
Very mindful.
Very brave.
Very demure.
Very mindful.
Very brave.
November 29, 2025 at 8:42 PM
The Telegraph admits that Brexit has been a disaster a mere 9 years after the vote.
Very demure.
Very mindful.
Very brave.
Very demure.
Very mindful.
Very brave.
But surely the publicity around this means the comment has reached a far wider audience?
“You can't make this shit up.”
“They snipped out 10 seconds of what he was going to say, and left him absolutely seething.”
Why did the BBC make the “chilling” decision to edit out Rutger Bregman’s criticism of Donald Trump when it went to broadcast?
www.thenewsagents.co.uk/article/you-...
“They snipped out 10 seconds of what he was going to say, and left him absolutely seething.”
Why did the BBC make the “chilling” decision to edit out Rutger Bregman’s criticism of Donald Trump when it went to broadcast?
www.thenewsagents.co.uk/article/you-...
‘You can't make this shit up’: BBC accused of censorship after cutting Trump criticism | The News Agents
Why did the BBC approve Rutger Bregman's description of Trump as "the most openly corrupt president in American history" in his Reith Lecture in October, but cut it from broadcast less than a month…
www.thenewsagents.co.uk
November 29, 2025 at 1:42 PM
But surely the publicity around this means the comment has reached a far wider audience?
Follow this timeline article and then tell me the UK doesn't need and inquiry into Russian, political interference: www.thenerve.news/p/nathan-gil...
Reform UK and Russian bribes: a Nathan Gill timeline
As Reform’s former leader in Wales is sentenced to ten and a half years for taking bribes from a pro-Russian actor, here's a chronology of his actions and the wider context of Putin, Ukraine and Brexi...
www.thenerve.news
November 29, 2025 at 1:37 PM
Follow this timeline article and then tell me the UK doesn't need and inquiry into Russian, political interference: www.thenerve.news/p/nathan-gil...
And of course Sir Ed Davey called for the inquiry yesterday in the HoC.
🚨BOOM! The Petition calling for a public inquiry into Russian influence on UK politics & democracy has now rocketed past 70,000 signatures! Let’s get it to 100,000 this week. If a petition is what it’s going to take let’s get this done!
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
November 27, 2025 at 1:10 PM
And of course Sir Ed Davey called for the inquiry yesterday in the HoC.
Quite brilliant ending.
🚨 BREXIT BUDGET🚨
"And Finally, Madam Deputy speaker, we are ramping up sanctions on Russia and we are freezing known Russian assets."
"But let me be clear. I don't actually mean the Honourable Member for Clacton."
"And Finally, Madam Deputy speaker, we are ramping up sanctions on Russia and we are freezing known Russian assets."
"But let me be clear. I don't actually mean the Honourable Member for Clacton."
November 26, 2025 at 5:52 PM
Quite brilliant ending.
Reposted by Bob Payne
Essential reading 👇 - The Bear’s analysis of Reform UK's budget.
It's a masterclass in brutal, forensic analysis revealing their "£25bn Plan" is one of imaginary savings and real-world cruelty. 🔥
It's a masterclass in brutal, forensic analysis revealing their "£25bn Plan" is one of imaginary savings and real-world cruelty. 🔥
The truth behind Reform UK’s reckless budget
£25bn of imagined savings, real-world cruelty and mathematics that should come with a trigger warning
eastangliabylines.co.uk
November 24, 2025 at 7:03 AM
Essential reading 👇 - The Bear’s analysis of Reform UK's budget.
It's a masterclass in brutal, forensic analysis revealing their "£25bn Plan" is one of imaginary savings and real-world cruelty. 🔥
It's a masterclass in brutal, forensic analysis revealing their "£25bn Plan" is one of imaginary savings and real-world cruelty. 🔥
There is a term for what he did. And the term for doing it, ten years. www.yahoo.com/news/article...
Former British MEP sentenced to 10 years for taking bribes to make pro-Russia statements
Gill was elected to the European Parliament in 2014 for the anti-EU UK Independence Party and later represented the Brexit Party.View on euronews
www.yahoo.com
November 21, 2025 at 2:01 PM
There is a term for what he did. And the term for doing it, ten years. www.yahoo.com/news/article...
Cryptocurrency. Enabling illegal activity, avoiding accountability and destabilising national economics. Your taxes will pay for the protections and services these people use. They are pan-national. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Cryptocurrency backed by Farage donor is used for Russian war effort, investigators say
Tether tokens found to facilitate scheme that enables sanctions evasion and launders money for the Kremlin
www.theguardian.com
November 21, 2025 at 7:29 AM
Cryptocurrency. Enabling illegal activity, avoiding accountability and destabilising national economics. Your taxes will pay for the protections and services these people use. They are pan-national. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Brexit came about because of the hubris of a PM and voters wanting to throw a brick at authority, Boris Johnson because the population were seduced. Truss was the result of too few making the decision. What we need is boring technocrats, patience and confidence in ourselves.
November 10, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Brexit came about because of the hubris of a PM and voters wanting to throw a brick at authority, Boris Johnson because the population were seduced. Truss was the result of too few making the decision. What we need is boring technocrats, patience and confidence in ourselves.
Reposted by Bob Payne
Norwich named as happiest place to live.....
Thoughts?
Article via Norwich Evening News
Thoughts?
Article via Norwich Evening News
Norwich revealed as happiest place to live in UK
A study by the online store Furniturebox has named Norwich the happiest place to live in the UK.
www.eveningnews24.co.uk
November 8, 2025 at 9:38 AM
Norwich named as happiest place to live.....
Thoughts?
Article via Norwich Evening News
Thoughts?
Article via Norwich Evening News
So Reform councillors views are in keeping with the characteristics of the authoritarian personality. Chiefly, impressed by power, socially conservative and paranoid; as described by Erich Fromm.
Reform’s rapid rise has reshaped local politics. But behind the slogans, their councillors’ views mark a clear shift to the hard right. Read the results from this academic survey ⤵️
@eastangliabylines.co.uk @theconversation.com with thanks
@eastangliabylines.co.uk @theconversation.com with thanks
Who are England’s new Reform councillors?
Reform’s surge delivered hundreds of new councillors — and their views sit sharply right of England’s political mainstream
eastangliabylines.co.uk
November 7, 2025 at 8:41 AM
So Reform councillors views are in keeping with the characteristics of the authoritarian personality. Chiefly, impressed by power, socially conservative and paranoid; as described by Erich Fromm.
Reposted by Bob Payne
🚨🚨This is stellar investigative journalism by @kaitlintosh.bsky.social and @michelleinezsimon.bsky.social on how #elonmusk is boosting the #british right. 🧵 news.sky.com/story/the-x-...
Elon Musk is boosting the British right - and this shows how
Elon Musk is boosting the British right - and this shows how
news.sky.com
November 6, 2025 at 7:51 AM
🚨🚨This is stellar investigative journalism by @kaitlintosh.bsky.social and @michelleinezsimon.bsky.social on how #elonmusk is boosting the #british right. 🧵 news.sky.com/story/the-x-...
Well, what a surprise.
Lancashire’s Reform-run council plans to close care homes and day centres to sell off land
Lancashire’s Reform-run council plans to close care homes and day centres to sell off land
Questions about potential conflict of interest as council’s Reform cabinet member for social care owns private care company
Lancashire’s Reform-run council has been accused of “selling off the family silver” with plans to save £4m a year by closing five council-run care homes and five day centres and selling off the land.
One of the care home residents, a 92-year-old woman, said she would leave only by “being forcibly removed or in a box”. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
November 5, 2025 at 5:36 PM
Well, what a surprise.
Reposted by Bob Payne
How Reform UK might threaten our NHS
Reform UK has plans for the NHS that could be the tip of a slippery slope towards the healthcare nightmares suffered by Americans
northeastbylines.co.uk/news/health/...
Reform UK has plans for the NHS that could be the tip of a slippery slope towards the healthcare nightmares suffered by Americans
northeastbylines.co.uk/news/health/...
How Reform UK might threaten our NHS
Reform UK has plans for the NHS that could be the tip of a slippery slope towards the healthcare nightmares suffered by Americans
northeastbylines.co.uk
November 3, 2025 at 7:58 AM
How Reform UK might threaten our NHS
Reform UK has plans for the NHS that could be the tip of a slippery slope towards the healthcare nightmares suffered by Americans
northeastbylines.co.uk/news/health/...
Reform UK has plans for the NHS that could be the tip of a slippery slope towards the healthcare nightmares suffered by Americans
northeastbylines.co.uk/news/health/...
A story so slow in being revealed. Would UK politics be in the mess it is now without this? 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 1, 2025 at 6:58 AM
A story so slow in being revealed. Would UK politics be in the mess it is now without this? www.theguardian.com/news/ng-inte...
Reposted by Bob Payne
Labour's Renters Rights Bill is coming into law. This is what it means ⬇️
October 28, 2025 at 10:14 AM
Labour's Renters Rights Bill is coming into law. This is what it means ⬇️
Did you watch The Hack? I can't believe papers have gotten away with destroying lives for so long. That's why I've signed the petition, set up by Hugh Grant and other phone hacking victims, to demand fair, independent regulation. Join me: you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/a-...
A Free Press, Not a Free Pass – It's Time for Fair Regulation
For too long, the UK press have bullied people, harassed grieving families, and destroyed lives, all to sell papers. We’ve all seen the heartbreaking consequences.
They’ve hacked phones, listened to ...
you.38degrees.org.uk
October 26, 2025 at 8:39 PM
Did you watch The Hack? I can't believe papers have gotten away with destroying lives for so long. That's why I've signed the petition, set up by Hugh Grant and other phone hacking victims, to demand fair, independent regulation. Join me: you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/a-...
Reposted by Bob Payne
I wonder if Sarah Pochin ever gets as worked up about the overrepresentation of multimillionaire, privately educated elites in her own party…
October 26, 2025 at 9:11 AM
I wonder if Sarah Pochin ever gets as worked up about the overrepresentation of multimillionaire, privately educated elites in her own party…
Reposted by Bob Payne
You mean that in the nearly six months that Reform’s DOGE has existed they haven’t achieved anything beyond issuing multiple angry and confused press releases about things they had now real clue about?
I am shocked - who would have expected something attached to Farage wouldn’t deliver?
I am shocked - who would have expected something attached to Farage wouldn’t deliver?
October 25, 2025 at 6:08 PM
You mean that in the nearly six months that Reform’s DOGE has existed they haven’t achieved anything beyond issuing multiple angry and confused press releases about things they had now real clue about?
I am shocked - who would have expected something attached to Farage wouldn’t deliver?
I am shocked - who would have expected something attached to Farage wouldn’t deliver?
The media seem to want me to be in a permanent state of choleric rage. I prefer wit and satire, the pricking of pomposity: "The world is a comedy to those that think; a tragedy to those that feel." Horatio Walpole, 4th Earl of Orford - or Victor Hugo if you prefer.
October 25, 2025 at 9:03 AM
The media seem to want me to be in a permanent state of choleric rage. I prefer wit and satire, the pricking of pomposity: "The world is a comedy to those that think; a tragedy to those that feel." Horatio Walpole, 4th Earl of Orford - or Victor Hugo if you prefer.
Reform UK achievements to date -
(OCT 2025) • 25-30 councillors gone (resigned,
expelled, or defected)
• 4 under criminal investigation
• 2 MPs lost (Lowe, McMurdock) • 1 Wales Leader lost (Gill - pleaded
guilty to Russian bribery)
• 35-40 total losses
Most of those left are former Tories
(OCT 2025) • 25-30 councillors gone (resigned,
expelled, or defected)
• 4 under criminal investigation
• 2 MPs lost (Lowe, McMurdock) • 1 Wales Leader lost (Gill - pleaded
guilty to Russian bribery)
• 35-40 total losses
Most of those left are former Tories
October 25, 2025 at 6:43 AM
Reform UK achievements to date -
(OCT 2025) • 25-30 councillors gone (resigned,
expelled, or defected)
• 4 under criminal investigation
• 2 MPs lost (Lowe, McMurdock) • 1 Wales Leader lost (Gill - pleaded
guilty to Russian bribery)
• 35-40 total losses
Most of those left are former Tories
(OCT 2025) • 25-30 councillors gone (resigned,
expelled, or defected)
• 4 under criminal investigation
• 2 MPs lost (Lowe, McMurdock) • 1 Wales Leader lost (Gill - pleaded
guilty to Russian bribery)
• 35-40 total losses
Most of those left are former Tories
Now, there is a very good idea: bleedingheartradicals.com
Home -
Join Us Stand Up For Democracy – Now What? Bleeding Heart Radicals (BHR) aims to be a pan-Europe popular – […]
bleedingheartradicals.com
October 25, 2025 at 6:36 AM
Now, there is a very good idea: bleedingheartradicals.com