Alex Gallagher
@alexgallagher.bsky.social
Retired Jack of no trades. UK/Scottish politics, other politics, Football, Cricket (UK), almost any sport, Science, History and other random stuff.
Views my own. Inc the above view from my upstairs window.
Views my own. Inc the above view from my upstairs window.
Pinned
Reposted by Alex Gallagher
Reform UK Leicestershire are crooks.
They announced consultants Newton would do a £1.4m savings review.
That’s ballooned to £30m in 6 just days.
Leader Dan Harrison is a con man.
Leicestershire you’ve been had.
leicestermercury.co.uk/news/local-n...
#ReformLies
They announced consultants Newton would do a £1.4m savings review.
That’s ballooned to £30m in 6 just days.
Leader Dan Harrison is a con man.
Leicestershire you’ve been had.
leicestermercury.co.uk/news/local-n...
#ReformLies
Firm leading council savings review could receive £30m
The county council currently needs to plug an expected £90 million gap in its day-to-day spending
leicestermercury.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 8:48 PM
Reform UK Leicestershire are crooks.
They announced consultants Newton would do a £1.4m savings review.
That’s ballooned to £30m in 6 just days.
Leader Dan Harrison is a con man.
Leicestershire you’ve been had.
leicestermercury.co.uk/news/local-n...
#ReformLies
They announced consultants Newton would do a £1.4m savings review.
That’s ballooned to £30m in 6 just days.
Leader Dan Harrison is a con man.
Leicestershire you’ve been had.
leicestermercury.co.uk/news/local-n...
#ReformLies
Reposted by Alex Gallagher
A welcome intervention by the PM, calling out the "toxic division of Reform & others."
He says:
"Some of the racist & divisive rhetoric we're hearing, I thought we had dealt with decades ago is returning to politics. It makes people feel very scared. We have to stand up to that racism."
He says:
"Some of the racist & divisive rhetoric we're hearing, I thought we had dealt with decades ago is returning to politics. It makes people feel very scared. We have to stand up to that racism."
November 11, 2025 at 3:19 PM
A welcome intervention by the PM, calling out the "toxic division of Reform & others."
He says:
"Some of the racist & divisive rhetoric we're hearing, I thought we had dealt with decades ago is returning to politics. It makes people feel very scared. We have to stand up to that racism."
He says:
"Some of the racist & divisive rhetoric we're hearing, I thought we had dealt with decades ago is returning to politics. It makes people feel very scared. We have to stand up to that racism."
Reposted by Alex Gallagher
can't think of a headline that better sums up the BBC at present
www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpo...
www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpo...
BBC slammed for asking Kelvin Mackenzie about journalism standards
Liverpool fans and others staggered by choice to invite former S*n editor to discuss ongoing issues at the BBC
www.liverpoolecho.co.uk
November 11, 2025 at 9:13 AM
can't think of a headline that better sums up the BBC at present
www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpo...
www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpo...
Reposted by Alex Gallagher
Average healthcare costs in the US:
Giving birth? $18,000
Cancer treatment? $150,000
One month ICU stay? Between 30k and 150k.
That’s not including copays, deductibles, interest and all the other hoops you have to jump through.
Cost in Canada? $0.
Cost in the UK? $0.
Cost in Australia? $0.
Giving birth? $18,000
Cancer treatment? $150,000
One month ICU stay? Between 30k and 150k.
That’s not including copays, deductibles, interest and all the other hoops you have to jump through.
Cost in Canada? $0.
Cost in the UK? $0.
Cost in Australia? $0.
November 11, 2025 at 4:41 AM
Average healthcare costs in the US:
Giving birth? $18,000
Cancer treatment? $150,000
One month ICU stay? Between 30k and 150k.
That’s not including copays, deductibles, interest and all the other hoops you have to jump through.
Cost in Canada? $0.
Cost in the UK? $0.
Cost in Australia? $0.
Giving birth? $18,000
Cancer treatment? $150,000
One month ICU stay? Between 30k and 150k.
That’s not including copays, deductibles, interest and all the other hoops you have to jump through.
Cost in Canada? $0.
Cost in the UK? $0.
Cost in Australia? $0.
Reposted by Alex Gallagher
"This entire saga has a smell hanging over it. The people of Teesside, Hartlepool and Darlington are no fools. That smell will not go away until there is a full, transparent and independent inquiry."
Teesworks scandal: a dark tale of public wealth lost and private gain
Teesworks - a story that reads like a screenplay for a dark political drama
northeastbylines.co.uk
November 11, 2025 at 10:07 AM
"This entire saga has a smell hanging over it. The people of Teesside, Hartlepool and Darlington are no fools. That smell will not go away until there is a full, transparent and independent inquiry."
Reposted by Alex Gallagher
Good.
Exclusive: UK suspends some intelligence sharing with US over boat strike concerns in major break | CNN Politics
The United Kingdom is no longer sharing intelligence with the US about suspected drug trafficking vessels in the Caribbean because it does not want to be complicit in US military strikes and believes ...
www.cnn.com
November 11, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Good.
Reposted by Alex Gallagher
I gotta say that it’s a very weird thing that a government just shuts down on when a money bill can’t get passed. This is not a reasonable way to go about things.
November 10, 2025 at 9:40 PM
I gotta say that it’s a very weird thing that a government just shuts down on when a money bill can’t get passed. This is not a reasonable way to go about things.
Reposted by Alex Gallagher
Love being reminded to do this every year. It's a win/win all round
November 11, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Love being reminded to do this every year. It's a win/win all round
Reposted by Alex Gallagher
The existence of the BBC and BBC News is good and deserves to be defended as a concept.
The current iteration of BBC News has been warped by 15 years of Tory board appointments and become obsessed top-down with placating those interests. That needs radical reform to return to its real purpose.
The current iteration of BBC News has been warped by 15 years of Tory board appointments and become obsessed top-down with placating those interests. That needs radical reform to return to its real purpose.
Quick thread on the BBC and the political and societal significance of recent developments:
One of the main reasons the UK has historically been so much less polarised than the US, is that Britain has a shared source of information, consumed and trusted by most people regardless of their politics.
One of the main reasons the UK has historically been so much less polarised than the US, is that Britain has a shared source of information, consumed and trusted by most people regardless of their politics.
November 11, 2025 at 12:34 PM
The existence of the BBC and BBC News is good and deserves to be defended as a concept.
The current iteration of BBC News has been warped by 15 years of Tory board appointments and become obsessed top-down with placating those interests. That needs radical reform to return to its real purpose.
The current iteration of BBC News has been warped by 15 years of Tory board appointments and become obsessed top-down with placating those interests. That needs radical reform to return to its real purpose.
Reposted by Alex Gallagher
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
So - where is the campaign to take the BBC out of the hands of the RW populists?
Why can’t all the party leaders of the centre and left back this?
So - where is the campaign to take the BBC out of the hands of the RW populists?
Why can’t all the party leaders of the centre and left back this?
If you care about the BBC, stand up and defend it: this could be the beginning of the end | Polly Toynbee
Replacing the TV licence with a means-tested alternative may help disarm the right of one of its most effective weapons, says Guardian columnist Polly Toynbee
www.theguardian.com
November 10, 2025 at 11:02 PM
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
So - where is the campaign to take the BBC out of the hands of the RW populists?
Why can’t all the party leaders of the centre and left back this?
So - where is the campaign to take the BBC out of the hands of the RW populists?
Why can’t all the party leaders of the centre and left back this?
Reposted by Alex Gallagher
"Coming soon."
Did you vote for this too?
Did you vote for this too?
November 11, 2025 at 8:17 AM
"Coming soon."
Did you vote for this too?
Did you vote for this too?
Reposted by Alex Gallagher
Lovely story about the last England Ashes squad to travel to Australia by sea, in 1962. First class cruising, a grumpy Fred Trueman, and a bittersweet experience for the young David Larter.
www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricke...
www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricke...
November 11, 2025 at 1:48 PM
Lovely story about the last England Ashes squad to travel to Australia by sea, in 1962. First class cruising, a grumpy Fred Trueman, and a bittersweet experience for the young David Larter.
www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricke...
www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricke...
Reposted by Alex Gallagher
Worth noting that the U.S. has a specific law (the SPEECH Act) that means foreign libel judgments are unenforceable in U.S. courts.
They do like a bit of hypocrisy.
They do like a bit of hypocrisy.
November 11, 2025 at 10:02 AM
Worth noting that the U.S. has a specific law (the SPEECH Act) that means foreign libel judgments are unenforceable in U.S. courts.
They do like a bit of hypocrisy.
They do like a bit of hypocrisy.
Reposted by Alex Gallagher
It’s a co-ordinated hatchet job on the BBC by people and organisations who hate it and wish to see it dead.
November 11, 2025 at 1:51 PM
It’s a co-ordinated hatchet job on the BBC by people and organisations who hate it and wish to see it dead.
I've been calling for Robby Gibb to resign or be sacked by the BBC.
My apologies.
Apparently it's not "Robby", it's "Robbie".
Sorry Robbie, please resign.
My apologies.
Apparently it's not "Robby", it's "Robbie".
Sorry Robbie, please resign.
November 11, 2025 at 1:51 PM
I've been calling for Robby Gibb to resign or be sacked by the BBC.
My apologies.
Apparently it's not "Robby", it's "Robbie".
Sorry Robbie, please resign.
My apologies.
Apparently it's not "Robby", it's "Robbie".
Sorry Robbie, please resign.
Reposted by Alex Gallagher
"The Heritage Foundation is partnering with European nationalist far-right movements to export its playbook. Heritage and its allies have everything to gain from stronger nationalist parties in Europe ... hollowing out the EU, and undermining the Commission and European Court of Justice."
The Heritage Foundation goes from MAGA to MEGA — Make Europe Great Again
On the agenda: pro-natalism, freedom of expression, opposing trans rights and fighting Chinese influence.
www.politico.eu
November 11, 2025 at 1:13 PM
"The Heritage Foundation is partnering with European nationalist far-right movements to export its playbook. Heritage and its allies have everything to gain from stronger nationalist parties in Europe ... hollowing out the EU, and undermining the Commission and European Court of Justice."
Reposted by Alex Gallagher
Dear rest of the UK, what you're seeing with the far right, "get out of our country", "close the BBC", "you're educating our kids the wrong way", etc etc etc we've had it in Scotland for years, difference is it was drip fed and became the norm over 10-15 years not over a 2-3 yr period.
November 11, 2025 at 12:36 PM
Dear rest of the UK, what you're seeing with the far right, "get out of our country", "close the BBC", "you're educating our kids the wrong way", etc etc etc we've had it in Scotland for years, difference is it was drip fed and became the norm over 10-15 years not over a 2-3 yr period.
Reposted by Alex Gallagher
This a big deal: "China’s carbon dioxide emissions have been flat or falling for 18 months"
China's economy has grown by ~5% in the last year, so this comprehensively debunks the idea (again) that emissions are tied to growth. So yes, faster progress needed, but this is how you turn the corner.
China's economy has grown by ~5% in the last year, so this comprehensively debunks the idea (again) that emissions are tied to growth. So yes, faster progress needed, but this is how you turn the corner.
China’s CO2 emissions have been flat or falling for past 18 months, analysis finds
World’s biggest polluter on track to hit peak emissions target early but miss goal for cutting carbon intensity
www.theguardian.com
November 11, 2025 at 9:20 AM
This a big deal: "China’s carbon dioxide emissions have been flat or falling for 18 months"
China's economy has grown by ~5% in the last year, so this comprehensively debunks the idea (again) that emissions are tied to growth. So yes, faster progress needed, but this is how you turn the corner.
China's economy has grown by ~5% in the last year, so this comprehensively debunks the idea (again) that emissions are tied to growth. So yes, faster progress needed, but this is how you turn the corner.
Reposted by Alex Gallagher
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 Alex Gallagher
Animal testing to be phased out faster
Working towards another manifesto promise, the Labour government will today reveal its strategy to phase out animal testing more quickly.
It will include dates for gradual bans and support researchers to use alternative methods, along with additional funding.
Working towards another manifesto promise, the Labour government will today reveal its strategy to phase out animal testing more quickly.
It will include dates for gradual bans and support researchers to use alternative methods, along with additional funding.
Animal testing to be phased out faster as UK unveils roadmap for alternative methods
New plan backs researchers to seize on new and developing opportunities to phase out animal tests with specific commitments for the coming years.
www.gov.uk
November 11, 2025 at 9:23 AM
Animal testing to be phased out faster
Working towards another manifesto promise, the Labour government will today reveal its strategy to phase out animal testing more quickly.
It will include dates for gradual bans and support researchers to use alternative methods, along with additional funding.
Working towards another manifesto promise, the Labour government will today reveal its strategy to phase out animal testing more quickly.
It will include dates for gradual bans and support researchers to use alternative methods, along with additional funding.
Reposted by Alex Gallagher
I love the BBC. I would pay the licence fee for access just to CBeebies, CBBC & Radio 2/3/4.
It is a national broadcaster, not a state broadcaster, & its editorial decisions should not be made by politicians.
Its journalists make 1000s of editorial decisions every week & get most of them right.
It is a national broadcaster, not a state broadcaster, & its editorial decisions should not be made by politicians.
Its journalists make 1000s of editorial decisions every week & get most of them right.
November 10, 2025 at 5:51 PM
I love the BBC. I would pay the licence fee for access just to CBeebies, CBBC & Radio 2/3/4.
It is a national broadcaster, not a state broadcaster, & its editorial decisions should not be made by politicians.
Its journalists make 1000s of editorial decisions every week & get most of them right.
It is a national broadcaster, not a state broadcaster, & its editorial decisions should not be made by politicians.
Its journalists make 1000s of editorial decisions every week & get most of them right.
Reposted by Alex Gallagher
Thanks for the tip.
Just off to post about it on X....
More details here:
www.euractiv.com/news/belgian...
Just off to post about it on X....
More details here:
www.euractiv.com/news/belgian...
Belgian court convicts two for EU funds misuse linked to Nigel Farage's Brexit group | Euractiv
Verdict ends decade-long probe into alleged misuse of EU funds by associates of top Brexit campaigner
www.euractiv.com
November 8, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Thanks for the tip.
Just off to post about it on X....
More details here:
www.euractiv.com/news/belgian...
Just off to post about it on X....
More details here:
www.euractiv.com/news/belgian...
Emily Maitlis warned us of a Tory fifth column in the BBC 3 years ago.
She was right then and it's becoming clearer now ...
www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/emily-...
She was right then and it's becoming clearer now ...
www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/emily-...
www.huffingtonpost.co.uk
November 11, 2025 at 9:41 AM
Emily Maitlis warned us of a Tory fifth column in the BBC 3 years ago.
She was right then and it's becoming clearer now ...
www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/emily-...
She was right then and it's becoming clearer now ...
www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/emily-...
Reposted by Alex Gallagher