Alan Hay
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alanhay68.bsky.social
Alan Hay
@alanhay68.bsky.social
Brighton. Poet. Used to play records out, now play records in. NHS lifer.
I think it’s more that people enjoyed bombing about on Raleigh Choppers and watching The Tomorrow People 50 years ago.
November 14, 2025 at 11:03 AM
The Fall - City Hobgoblins (1980)
YouTube video by Philippe Duhoux
youtu.be
November 12, 2025 at 11:08 PM
A fantastic episode. Loads of gaps in my understanding filled, side quests initiated, bar facts stored away. Bless you Andrew, this is brilliant work.
November 5, 2025 at 7:47 PM
Sometimes those records have a bit of magic to them that is really hard to explain. Another example is A Deh Pon Dem by The Soulettes (Rita Marley plus some Wailers I think) made out of The Miracles’ Choosey Beggar. There’s a tone - not melancholy, not sweet - that I don’t think we have a word for.
November 5, 2025 at 10:48 AM
No, and there will probably be further watering-down. It’s shit. I’m not campaigning for the Labour Party here. I was just pushing back a bit at the ‘they’re all the same, I don’t care if there’s a Reform govt’ which I get why people are saying it but it terrifies me
September 17, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Well, fine. I agree with you. I’m not arguing with what you are saying about how much worse it is getting, specifically under Labour, for trans people. It is worse. Let’s leave it there. Sorry if I was the cause of any harm.
September 17, 2025 at 3:58 PM
I don’t think we’re quite there yet but I can certainly foresee a point when I think they 100% can’t win. You could then, or ideally before then, work for an electoral pact G / Lab / LD, coordinated standing aside etc. But with FPTP that’s incredibly risky and complex
September 17, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Yes
September 17, 2025 at 3:31 PM
I suppose I still think those are slightly different versions of ‘worse’ that it is possible, although incredibly depressing, to choose between.
September 17, 2025 at 3:31 PM
I’m not screaming. I think the vote *is* split. It’s done, clearly. So with the Conservatives about to collapse entirely, Labour losing its natural voters (largely their own fault), Green and LD a long way from a majority, Reform ascendant, it’s bad. All I’d say is I don’t think ‘they’re all as bad’
September 17, 2025 at 3:23 PM
The thing is you can’t vote for a coalition at the election. I would love to see a progressive coalition. But that would require a three-or four-way split with no party able to form a majority. It’d be great but without electoral reform, stuck with this ludicrous FPTP system, you get one tick.
September 17, 2025 at 3:16 PM
If you expect them to *lose badly* - you are quite probably right - who do you think will be in government?
September 17, 2025 at 2:56 PM
I’m not discouraging or encouraging anyone to do or not do anything. If you can vote green with a chance to
return an MP (that will be in more places in future, good). But let’s be honest - the fight will be Labour vs Reform. If Labour vote collapses
completely that’s a Reform govt, as
I see it.
September 17, 2025 at 2:54 PM
No, I see that. Ok.
September 17, 2025 at 2:49 PM
I mean that’s not quite how I’d put it but fair enough. I think there is a chance of a progressive alliance with the greens but that’s not something you can plan for and would only be possible in very odd electoral circumstances. Vote for the least worst. So depressing, but yeah.
September 17, 2025 at 2:38 PM
It’s MPs like him that forced the government climb down on welfare cuts / winter fuel. Would I like to see more like him in the governing party? Yes. But it’s not just him. I dunno, it’s. not very convincing an argument, I get this.
September 17, 2025 at 2:34 PM
I’m gonna say it again. You are clearly lost to the Labour Party. That is on them not on you. I do not blame you. Honestly. I used to campaign for Labour and I couldn’t now. Partly because of how they have treated trans people but not just that. I just want to be clear about what is at stake here.
September 17, 2025 at 2:27 PM
What? It’s classist to be worried about 150,000 people marching behind Tommy Robinson?
September 17, 2025 at 2:23 PM