Alistair King
@alistairking.bsky.social
If you’d be my bodyguard, I can be your long-lost pal.
Yes, absolutely.
November 15, 2025 at 11:41 AM
Yes, absolutely.
Maybe. I don't know. I mean, I voted for Corbyn's Labour and even campaigned for it, even though I had reservations about how joined-up his policies were and about his character. But yeah, I know what you mean.
November 15, 2025 at 11:41 AM
Maybe. I don't know. I mean, I voted for Corbyn's Labour and even campaigned for it, even though I had reservations about how joined-up his policies were and about his character. But yeah, I know what you mean.
And yes, this analysis is plausible too! Either way, though, he seems bent on delivering a set of shitty policies and rhetoric, so what he actually believes deep down is becoming increasingly irrelevant.
yeah I mean he's not a Glasman style anti-immigration ideologue. he's an increasingly desperate poll-chaser who mistakes that for "pragmatism", and his idiot genius McSweeney reckons this is it.
but a Starmer turd is a Starmer turd no matter what he was thinking when he shat it
but a Starmer turd is a Starmer turd no matter what he was thinking when he shat it
November 15, 2025 at 11:29 AM
And yes, this analysis is plausible too! Either way, though, he seems bent on delivering a set of shitty policies and rhetoric, so what he actually believes deep down is becoming increasingly irrelevant.
it's got to the point where he's flogged this horse for SO long against SO much internal opposition that it's hard not to conclude that he DOES actually believe it. I'd love it if he proved me wrong and have been holding out that he will. But I'd no longer put money on it. He has himself to blame.
November 15, 2025 at 11:27 AM
it's got to the point where he's flogged this horse for SO long against SO much internal opposition that it's hard not to conclude that he DOES actually believe it. I'd love it if he proved me wrong and have been holding out that he will. But I'd no longer put money on it. He has himself to blame.
This might be true and it's certainly a long-standing view I've held about his politics more generally - that he has a vague sense of wanting to run a good government that does the right things. But his communications skills are so poor that all we can judge him on are his actions, and it feels like
November 15, 2025 at 11:27 AM
This might be true and it's certainly a long-standing view I've held about his politics more generally - that he has a vague sense of wanting to run a good government that does the right things. But his communications skills are so poor that all we can judge him on are his actions, and it feels like
This is really key, I think, and your post is helping the realisation dawn on me. If we accept that this is what Starmer genuinely wants, it makes it easier to want him to be ousted without feeling bad about it, and, as I think you imply, his successor will take a different and I hope better path.
November 15, 2025 at 11:08 AM
This is really key, I think, and your post is helping the realisation dawn on me. If we accept that this is what Starmer genuinely wants, it makes it easier to want him to be ousted without feeling bad about it, and, as I think you imply, his successor will take a different and I hope better path.
We're talking about it a lot, I agree. I don't see it as being 'casually' in my case. But I know what you mean.
November 15, 2025 at 11:02 AM
We're talking about it a lot, I agree. I don't see it as being 'casually' in my case. But I know what you mean.
Some are. Not most. I hope you realise my reply was satire, the implicit analogy being Labour’s position on Brexit. If you’re playing along, fine. If you didn’t realise, you now do.
November 15, 2025 at 10:21 AM
Some are. Not most. I hope you realise my reply was satire, the implicit analogy being Labour’s position on Brexit. If you’re playing along, fine. If you didn’t realise, you now do.
Agree with the general point, although, paradoxically and to his credit, I think Farage personally is against capital punishment. I’d bet my house that the bulk of Reform voters being pro, though, so it’d be ‘interesting’ to see if Farage would bow to them on this for editorial advantage.
November 15, 2025 at 10:00 AM
Agree with the general point, although, paradoxically and to his credit, I think Farage personally is against capital punishment. I’d bet my house that the bulk of Reform voters being pro, though, so it’d be ‘interesting’ to see if Farage would bow to them on this for editorial advantage.
And, you know, even if this doesn’t work out for them electorally in 2029 (although I’d suggest it would give them a better chance), at least they’d have done the right thing in government before getting booted out, rather than than the wrong thing and still getting booted out. Arseholes and idiots.
November 15, 2025 at 9:53 AM
And, you know, even if this doesn’t work out for them electorally in 2029 (although I’d suggest it would give them a better chance), at least they’d have done the right thing in government before getting booted out, rather than than the wrong thing and still getting booted out. Arseholes and idiots.
It honestly wouldn’t be worse than the government’s current position of calculating what’s SLIGHTLY less appalling than what Reform argues for in the hope that voters who like appalling things will choose LESS appalling policies, and those who don’t won’t vote for a party without appalling policies.
November 15, 2025 at 9:53 AM
It honestly wouldn’t be worse than the government’s current position of calculating what’s SLIGHTLY less appalling than what Reform argues for in the hope that voters who like appalling things will choose LESS appalling policies, and those who don’t won’t vote for a party without appalling policies.
Classic mistake, Sean. Xenophobia itself isn’t the problem. It’s what the British people want. We’ve had that debate. It’s the way the Tories *negotiated* xenophobia.
November 15, 2025 at 8:32 AM
Classic mistake, Sean. Xenophobia itself isn’t the problem. It’s what the British people want. We’ve had that debate. It’s the way the Tories *negotiated* xenophobia.
You’ve saved me posting something similar on hearing on the Radio 4 news headlines at 8 that he’s trying to get people to go after Clinton. Go on then, mate. If he’s guilty, deliver justice. What else should we want?
Also, how can it be a ‘HOAX’ and involve the Democrats? Which is it?
Also, how can it be a ‘HOAX’ and involve the Democrats? Which is it?
November 14, 2025 at 8:15 PM
You’ve saved me posting something similar on hearing on the Radio 4 news headlines at 8 that he’s trying to get people to go after Clinton. Go on then, mate. If he’s guilty, deliver justice. What else should we want?
Also, how can it be a ‘HOAX’ and involve the Democrats? Which is it?
Also, how can it be a ‘HOAX’ and involve the Democrats? Which is it?
2/2
It was probably split about 2:1 unionists to nationalists, and their usage conformed to type. I think this is when I first became properly aware of the issue. Back then, as a mainland Brit, it would've felt like you were making a political point calling it 'Derry'. At some point, that switched.
It was probably split about 2:1 unionists to nationalists, and their usage conformed to type. I think this is when I first became properly aware of the issue. Back then, as a mainland Brit, it would've felt like you were making a political point calling it 'Derry'. At some point, that switched.
November 14, 2025 at 3:30 PM
2/2
It was probably split about 2:1 unionists to nationalists, and their usage conformed to type. I think this is when I first became properly aware of the issue. Back then, as a mainland Brit, it would've felt like you were making a political point calling it 'Derry'. At some point, that switched.
It was probably split about 2:1 unionists to nationalists, and their usage conformed to type. I think this is when I first became properly aware of the issue. Back then, as a mainland Brit, it would've felt like you were making a political point calling it 'Derry'. At some point, that switched.
1/2
Interesting(ish)ly, if you type 'Londonderry' into Wikipedia's search bar, you're redirected to en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derry. I wonder how long it's been like that or whether it always has been. I was at university in Scotland in the mid/late 90s and there was a large NI contingent on my course.
Interesting(ish)ly, if you type 'Londonderry' into Wikipedia's search bar, you're redirected to en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derry. I wonder how long it's been like that or whether it always has been. I was at university in Scotland in the mid/late 90s and there was a large NI contingent on my course.
Derry - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
November 14, 2025 at 3:30 PM
1/2
Interesting(ish)ly, if you type 'Londonderry' into Wikipedia's search bar, you're redirected to en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derry. I wonder how long it's been like that or whether it always has been. I was at university in Scotland in the mid/late 90s and there was a large NI contingent on my course.
Interesting(ish)ly, if you type 'Londonderry' into Wikipedia's search bar, you're redirected to en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derry. I wonder how long it's been like that or whether it always has been. I was at university in Scotland in the mid/late 90s and there was a large NI contingent on my course.
This gets to the heart of shitty attitudes like Allsop's. I'm sure Rosen would be quite happy to not be eligible for a Freedom Pass but, given they're available, who in their right mind wouldn't use one? It's the same with tax. You can want it to be higher without volunteering extra when it's not.
November 14, 2025 at 1:47 PM
This gets to the heart of shitty attitudes like Allsop's. I'm sure Rosen would be quite happy to not be eligible for a Freedom Pass but, given they're available, who in their right mind wouldn't use one? It's the same with tax. You can want it to be higher without volunteering extra when it's not.
3/3
Surely you two don't actually disagree but you think you do because you've made wrong assumptions about what the other thinks.
In oral conversation it's fine; you can politely interject as an aside. But on here the dynamic can't operate like that and there's animosity where there needn't be.
Surely you two don't actually disagree but you think you do because you've made wrong assumptions about what the other thinks.
In oral conversation it's fine; you can politely interject as an aside. But on here the dynamic can't operate like that and there's animosity where there needn't be.
November 14, 2025 at 12:47 PM
3/3
Surely you two don't actually disagree but you think you do because you've made wrong assumptions about what the other thinks.
In oral conversation it's fine; you can politely interject as an aside. But on here the dynamic can't operate like that and there's animosity where there needn't be.
Surely you two don't actually disagree but you think you do because you've made wrong assumptions about what the other thinks.
In oral conversation it's fine; you can politely interject as an aside. But on here the dynamic can't operate like that and there's animosity where there needn't be.
2/3
... threads outlining their up-to-date views on:
- Which party they broadly support
- Caveats on policies with which they disagree
- Other views they have that provide context for their posts
It's hard to keep up with everyone's views on everything and I see so may arguments where I think:
... threads outlining their up-to-date views on:
- Which party they broadly support
- Caveats on policies with which they disagree
- Other views they have that provide context for their posts
It's hard to keep up with everyone's views on everything and I see so may arguments where I think:
November 14, 2025 at 12:47 PM
2/3
... threads outlining their up-to-date views on:
- Which party they broadly support
- Caveats on policies with which they disagree
- Other views they have that provide context for their posts
It's hard to keep up with everyone's views on everything and I see so may arguments where I think:
... threads outlining their up-to-date views on:
- Which party they broadly support
- Caveats on policies with which they disagree
- Other views they have that provide context for their posts
It's hard to keep up with everyone's views on everything and I see so may arguments where I think:
Based on the picture alone, if that's cloying, give me cloying - all 12 slices, please!
November 14, 2025 at 11:10 AM
Based on the picture alone, if that's cloying, give me cloying - all 12 slices, please!
I have to say, Peter, that I was in my mother's womb that year and had no complaints whatsoever. Maybe these people are on to something.
November 14, 2025 at 10:55 AM
I have to say, Peter, that I was in my mother's womb that year and had no complaints whatsoever. Maybe these people are on to something.