Alison Benson
@alisonbenson2.bsky.social
Just made the move from "the other place". Specialist in FOI and GDPR, complete history geek and still writing my family history. Live in London
Went to SSEES, SOAS and Staffs Uni
Went to SSEES, SOAS and Staffs Uni
October 29, 2025 at 1:09 PM
Privacy groups criticise appointment of former Meta lobbyist to data protection watchdog
Privacy groups criticise appointment of former Meta lobbyist to data protection watchdog
Campaigners say appointment of Niamh Sweeney undermines trust in Data Protection Commission, which they say has an ‘abysmal’ record in taking on big tech companies
www.irishtimes.com
October 23, 2025 at 12:15 PM
Shabana Mahmood has admitted the Home Office is “not yet fit for purpose” after a secret report found it was dysfunctional, detached from reality and beset by a “culture of defeatism” on immigration.
The department spent two years blocking my FOI.
www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
The department spent two years blocking my FOI.
www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
Home Office ‘set up to fail’, says Shabana Mahmood after secret report
A ‘damning’ internal review has exposed a culture of defeatism, poor management and operational failures as the home secretary promises an overhaul
www.thetimes.com
October 23, 2025 at 8:03 AM
Read my two letters to the #UK:
1. Protests: I call for a review of the legal framework and the reconsideration of provisions in the Crime & Policing Bill that could restrict freedom of assembly.
2. Trans people: I warn against exclusion&zero-sum approaches
👇#HumanRights
www.coe.int/en/web/commi...
1. Protests: I call for a review of the legal framework and the reconsideration of provisions in the Crime & Policing Bill that could restrict freedom of assembly.
2. Trans people: I warn against exclusion&zero-sum approaches
👇#HumanRights
www.coe.int/en/web/commi...
United Kingdom: Commissioner addresses human rights issues in policing of protests and the situation of trans people - Commissioner for Human Rights - www.coe.int
Strasbourg 14/10/2025
www.coe.int
October 14, 2025 at 10:37 AM
Reposted by Alison Benson
A German traveller to England in 1609: "The English are courteous and civilised towards foreigners, but only because of the money involved."
February 7, 2025 at 4:58 PM
A German traveller to England in 1609: "The English are courteous and civilised towards foreigners, but only because of the money involved."
Seen in #Morrisons. I'm sure not the only one. Happy New Year
December 28, 2024 at 10:39 PM
Seen in #Morrisons. I'm sure not the only one. Happy New Year
Reposted by Alison Benson
December 27, 2024 at 8:48 AM
Reposted by Alison Benson
If you care about the future of the NHS & you see this on Boxing Day, please could you share this?
If we want privatisation to be removed from the NHS, NHS campaigners like me have a *lot* of work to do next year and…I’d just like to see if people care enough about this for our campaigning to work…
If we want privatisation to be removed from the NHS, NHS campaigners like me have a *lot* of work to do next year and…I’d just like to see if people care enough about this for our campaigning to work…
December 26, 2024 at 7:48 AM
If you care about the future of the NHS & you see this on Boxing Day, please could you share this?
If we want privatisation to be removed from the NHS, NHS campaigners like me have a *lot* of work to do next year and…I’d just like to see if people care enough about this for our campaigning to work…
If we want privatisation to be removed from the NHS, NHS campaigners like me have a *lot* of work to do next year and…I’d just like to see if people care enough about this for our campaigning to work…
December 21, 2024 at 10:10 PM
Put up 12 days ago, finished with #feltsogood flying pig tree topper. So cute
December 12, 2024 at 10:50 PM
Put up 12 days ago, finished with #feltsogood flying pig tree topper. So cute
Reposted by Alison Benson
Greenwich Council's cabinet has voted to sell the borough’s equestrian centre - agreeing to dispose of the Olympic legacy project in under a minute.
The centre opened 11 years ago, with a pledge to provide "training opportunities for many people for years to come”.
The centre opened 11 years ago, with a pledge to provide "training opportunities for many people for years to come”.
Greenwich's Olympic equestrian centre quietly put up for sale - The Greenwich Wire
Greenwich Council's cabinet has voted to sell the borough’s equestrian centre - agreeing to dispose of the Olympic legacy project in under a minute.
buff.ly
November 27, 2024 at 1:53 PM
Greenwich Council's cabinet has voted to sell the borough’s equestrian centre - agreeing to dispose of the Olympic legacy project in under a minute.
The centre opened 11 years ago, with a pledge to provide "training opportunities for many people for years to come”.
The centre opened 11 years ago, with a pledge to provide "training opportunities for many people for years to come”.
Reposted by Alison Benson
⚠️ Pontypridd has been hit by devastating floods and our wonderful independent bookshop, Storyville Books, has seen much of its stock destroyed.
If you’re able to buy a book from them, this would go such a long way to help support them rebuild in the aftermath.
👉 uk.bookshop.org/shop/Storyvi...
If you’re able to buy a book from them, this would go such a long way to help support them rebuild in the aftermath.
👉 uk.bookshop.org/shop/Storyvi...
Storyville Books Bookshop UK
Nestled in the rolling hills of the South Wales valleys, we are the only independent bookshop in Pontypridd, selling new books and more.
uk.bookshop.org
November 24, 2024 at 6:41 PM
⚠️ Pontypridd has been hit by devastating floods and our wonderful independent bookshop, Storyville Books, has seen much of its stock destroyed.
If you’re able to buy a book from them, this would go such a long way to help support them rebuild in the aftermath.
👉 uk.bookshop.org/shop/Storyvi...
If you’re able to buy a book from them, this would go such a long way to help support them rebuild in the aftermath.
👉 uk.bookshop.org/shop/Storyvi...
Reposted by Alison Benson
Tomorrow will mark 1,000 days since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The colours of Ukraine’s flag shines on our headquarters as a symbol of our firm support to those working and fighting to keep freedom's light burning.
We #StandWithUkraine.
Слава Україні!
The colours of Ukraine’s flag shines on our headquarters as a symbol of our firm support to those working and fighting to keep freedom's light burning.
We #StandWithUkraine.
Слава Україні!
November 18, 2024 at 10:47 PM
Reposted by Alison Benson
Can we take a moment to admire the extraordinary attention to detail in the costuming for #WolfHall from the incredible designer Joanna Eatwell? A flawless interpretation of Jane Seymour’s bonnet and gown from the Whitehall Mural 🙌
November 16, 2024 at 2:50 PM
Can we take a moment to admire the extraordinary attention to detail in the costuming for #WolfHall from the incredible designer Joanna Eatwell? A flawless interpretation of Jane Seymour’s bonnet and gown from the Whitehall Mural 🙌
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Not often an #EnvironmentalInformationRequest makes the news #EIR
Not often an #EnvironmentalInformationRequest makes the news #EIR
United Utilities refuses to hand over data on sewage discharges into Windermere
Water company claims information is not in the public interest despite widespread pollution of UK waters
www.theguardian.com
November 16, 2024 at 5:20 PM
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Not often an #EnvironmentalInformationRequest makes the news #EIR
Not often an #EnvironmentalInformationRequest makes the news #EIR
Reposted by Alison Benson
The Church of England is the established state religious institution in England, but is not subject to FOI, an important anomaly raised in the Commons yesterday by @pollybillington.bsky.social
November 15, 2024 at 12:18 PM
The Church of England is the established state religious institution in England, but is not subject to FOI, an important anomaly raised in the Commons yesterday by @pollybillington.bsky.social
Reposted by Alison Benson
Baby red panda dies from firework stress, says Edinburgh Zoo
Baby red panda dies from firework stress, says Edinburgh Zoo
Three-month-old Roxie choked on her own vomit as fireworks were being set off across Edinburgh on Bonfire Night.
www.bbc.com
November 14, 2024 at 2:13 AM
Baby red panda dies from firework stress, says Edinburgh Zoo
Reposted by Alison Benson
@brave.com.web.brid.gy
⚠️ Friendly reminder: Brave Talk will never ask you to download software.
Anyone, or any sites, asking you to download Brave Talk are trying to trick you into downloading malware.
Brave Talk is only available through talk.brave.com
⚠️ Friendly reminder: Brave Talk will never ask you to download software.
Anyone, or any sites, asking you to download Brave Talk are trying to trick you into downloading malware.
Brave Talk is only available through talk.brave.com
Brave Talk
Unlimited, private video calls. Right in the Brave browser.
talk.brave.com
October 24, 2024 at 6:35 PM
@brave.com.web.brid.gy
⚠️ Friendly reminder: Brave Talk will never ask you to download software.
Anyone, or any sites, asking you to download Brave Talk are trying to trick you into downloading malware.
Brave Talk is only available through talk.brave.com
⚠️ Friendly reminder: Brave Talk will never ask you to download software.
Anyone, or any sites, asking you to download Brave Talk are trying to trick you into downloading malware.
Brave Talk is only available through talk.brave.com
October 15, 2024 at 8:44 PM
Second largest synagogue in the world ##Budapest
October 13, 2024 at 7:38 PM
Second largest synagogue in the world ##Budapest