Alan Rodgers
@bi99le5.bsky.social
Recovering former Brit finally taking ownership of being Irish. Desperate to retire so I can re-engage with restoration of my first car and become a Gaeilgeoir. Guilty of confelicity
Pinned
Alan Rodgers
@bi99le5.bsky.social
· Mar 26
The West in particular and the world in general is in a parlous stare right now. The imperfect democracies that generally served the people post WW2 have been changing in degrees. Most of us haven't noticed or paid much heed. Unfortunately the forces for change have been the politicians, driven by
I did a thread, as usual a few typos but I think it is honest and true. Sadly not one of you commented, so I'm pinning it here so anyone who decides to follow me knows where I stand.
bsky.app/profile/bi99...
bsky.app/profile/bi99...
Reposted by Alan Rodgers
Reposted by Alan Rodgers
I see the Indy is also going with asylum seekers being “banned” from doing something they were being forced to do unwillingly in the first place, so presumably this is how the Home Office‘s press release is framing its own admissions of incompetence and waste
Asylum seekers banned from taking taxis in new government crackdown
Asylum seekers banned from taking taxis in new government crackdown
Asylum seekers banned from taking taxis in new government crackdown
www.independent.co.uk
November 29, 2025 at 9:25 AM
I see the Indy is also going with asylum seekers being “banned” from doing something they were being forced to do unwillingly in the first place, so presumably this is how the Home Office‘s press release is framing its own admissions of incompetence and waste
Reposted by Alan Rodgers
People like me, who live on a low income, are poorer after yesterday's budget
But the Chancellor didn't introduce measures to tax the wealthy more, or the income on their wealth
I honestly find this mystifying
But the Chancellor didn't introduce measures to tax the wealthy more, or the income on their wealth
I honestly find this mystifying
November 27, 2025 at 7:34 AM
People like me, who live on a low income, are poorer after yesterday's budget
But the Chancellor didn't introduce measures to tax the wealthy more, or the income on their wealth
I honestly find this mystifying
But the Chancellor didn't introduce measures to tax the wealthy more, or the income on their wealth
I honestly find this mystifying
Reposted by Alan Rodgers
The so called most moral army in the Middle East shows us again and again how immoral and deprived they actually are.
Israel conducts around 47 raids in the occupied West Bank every day. Palestinian towns have been bombed from the air. Tens of thousands have been forcibly evicted from their homes. The Israeli army & settlers have murdered over 1,000 Palestinians since Oct 2023.
November 28, 2025 at 11:20 AM
The so called most moral army in the Middle East shows us again and again how immoral and deprived they actually are.
Yay, a great year for my youngest, got married, passed his anaesthetics exam*, found a house and now my wonderful daughter in law has passed her radiology exam*.
Meanwhile eldest has now also got off the parasites ladder and bought a house.
Can't complain I guess.
*Both only have a 50% pass rate.
Meanwhile eldest has now also got off the parasites ladder and bought a house.
Can't complain I guess.
*Both only have a 50% pass rate.
November 28, 2025 at 11:20 AM
Yay, a great year for my youngest, got married, passed his anaesthetics exam*, found a house and now my wonderful daughter in law has passed her radiology exam*.
Meanwhile eldest has now also got off the parasites ladder and bought a house.
Can't complain I guess.
*Both only have a 50% pass rate.
Meanwhile eldest has now also got off the parasites ladder and bought a house.
Can't complain I guess.
*Both only have a 50% pass rate.
Reposted by Alan Rodgers
Sally Rooney last year: "It is difficult to avoid the conclusion that we are witnessing an unfolding genocide.. the roots of this particular tragedy are in the illegal Israeli occupation of Palestine & the apartheid system.. keep protesting.. it is the least that we can do"
November 28, 2025 at 7:16 AM
Sally Rooney last year: "It is difficult to avoid the conclusion that we are witnessing an unfolding genocide.. the roots of this particular tragedy are in the illegal Israeli occupation of Palestine & the apartheid system.. keep protesting.. it is the least that we can do"
Reposted by Alan Rodgers
Fewer workers. Fewer international students. More people leaving.
A "step in the right direction" according to the PM.
Impossible to take PM/govt seriously on growth if they are deliberately reducing it (and making the fiscal position worse) *as a matter of policy*.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
A "step in the right direction" according to the PM.
Impossible to take PM/govt seriously on growth if they are deliberately reducing it (and making the fiscal position worse) *as a matter of policy*.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
UK net migration falls sharply with drop in arrivals for work and study
Provisional figures for net migration to the UK show levels dropped to 204,000 in the year to June 2025.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 27, 2025 at 8:17 PM
Fewer workers. Fewer international students. More people leaving.
A "step in the right direction" according to the PM.
Impossible to take PM/govt seriously on growth if they are deliberately reducing it (and making the fiscal position worse) *as a matter of policy*.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
A "step in the right direction" according to the PM.
Impossible to take PM/govt seriously on growth if they are deliberately reducing it (and making the fiscal position worse) *as a matter of policy*.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Alan Rodgers
Northeastern US Thanksgiving irony and atrocities aside, Thanksgiving is a great day to share some love for the ABSOLUTELY MAGNIFICENT Choctaw people who survived the Trail Of Tears and promptly fed starving Irish people.
Another Native American moral lesson.
www.choctawnation.com/about/histor...
Another Native American moral lesson.
www.choctawnation.com/about/histor...
Choctaw and Irish History - Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma
Two ancient peoples. A modern-day connection. Nothing divides the Choctaw people from the Irish except for the ocean.
www.choctawnation.com
November 27, 2025 at 6:55 PM
Northeastern US Thanksgiving irony and atrocities aside, Thanksgiving is a great day to share some love for the ABSOLUTELY MAGNIFICENT Choctaw people who survived the Trail Of Tears and promptly fed starving Irish people.
Another Native American moral lesson.
www.choctawnation.com/about/histor...
Another Native American moral lesson.
www.choctawnation.com/about/histor...
So bluesky UK and Ireland, best sim only deal with good connection throughout Ireland north and south? Calls, text, 5-10gb data
November 27, 2025 at 8:01 PM
So bluesky UK and Ireland, best sim only deal with good connection throughout Ireland north and south? Calls, text, 5-10gb data
Woohoo, found my Batman cape 😁
November 27, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Woohoo, found my Batman cape 😁
Reposted by Alan Rodgers
There is no ceasefire. Israel is also only allowing 200 aid trucks in a day, not the 600 agreed. Gazans are dealing with floods, hunger and sickness. You would never know if you only listened to Western MSM.
What a disgrace
@lbc.co.uk
What a disgrace
@lbc.co.uk
Israeli forces target buildings in central Gaza's Bureij and eastern Khan Younis.
Israel escalates aerial assault of southern, central Gaza past yellow line
Israeli forces target buildings in central Gaza's Bureij and eastern Khan Younis.
bit.ly
November 27, 2025 at 1:21 PM
There is no ceasefire. Israel is also only allowing 200 aid trucks in a day, not the 600 agreed. Gazans are dealing with floods, hunger and sickness. You would never know if you only listened to Western MSM.
What a disgrace
@lbc.co.uk
What a disgrace
@lbc.co.uk
Reposted by Alan Rodgers
Reposted by Alan Rodgers
Today we’ll get latest net immigration figures - They’ll show immigration for work is plummeting.
Why is this not part of the discussion on Rachel Reeves balancing her books & stalled growth?
For every 100,000 drop in net immigration, the OBR adds £7bn to the deficit. #r4today
Why is this not part of the discussion on Rachel Reeves balancing her books & stalled growth?
For every 100,000 drop in net immigration, the OBR adds £7bn to the deficit. #r4today
November 27, 2025 at 8:41 AM
Today we’ll get latest net immigration figures - They’ll show immigration for work is plummeting.
Why is this not part of the discussion on Rachel Reeves balancing her books & stalled growth?
For every 100,000 drop in net immigration, the OBR adds £7bn to the deficit. #r4today
Why is this not part of the discussion on Rachel Reeves balancing her books & stalled growth?
For every 100,000 drop in net immigration, the OBR adds £7bn to the deficit. #r4today
Reposted by Alan Rodgers
Former Finnish PM Sanna Marin put it bluntly: “To end the conflict, Russia must leave Ukrainian territory.”
Just one point. Nothing more to discuss.
Just one point. Nothing more to discuss.
November 21, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Former Finnish PM Sanna Marin put it bluntly: “To end the conflict, Russia must leave Ukrainian territory.”
Just one point. Nothing more to discuss.
Just one point. Nothing more to discuss.
Reposted by Alan Rodgers
What Deflation Actually Looks Like: Lessons from China
open.substack.com/pub/allanpat...
open.substack.com/pub/allanpat...
What Deflation Actually Looks Like: Lessons from China
A Lesson In Understanding GDP
open.substack.com
November 22, 2025 at 8:40 AM
What Deflation Actually Looks Like: Lessons from China
open.substack.com/pub/allanpat...
open.substack.com/pub/allanpat...
Reposted by Alan Rodgers
😡 After the total failure of PFI in the NHS last time, the government is exploring it again!!
We can’t let history repeat itself. Here’s why PFI was abandoned — and why t’s a huge risk:
➡️ bit.ly/Why-PFI-Aban...
We can’t let history repeat itself. Here’s why PFI was abandoned — and why t’s a huge risk:
➡️ bit.ly/Why-PFI-Aban...
November 26, 2025 at 7:55 PM
😡 After the total failure of PFI in the NHS last time, the government is exploring it again!!
We can’t let history repeat itself. Here’s why PFI was abandoned — and why t’s a huge risk:
➡️ bit.ly/Why-PFI-Aban...
We can’t let history repeat itself. Here’s why PFI was abandoned — and why t’s a huge risk:
➡️ bit.ly/Why-PFI-Aban...
Reposted by Alan Rodgers
This is how we bring our energy bills down - reform our rip-off energy market, it’s impoverishes millions and holds back our economy - our new report shows. Read all about it at Babelfish.news
www.mirror.co.uk/money/labour...
www.mirror.co.uk/money/labour...
November 26, 2025 at 3:48 PM
This is how we bring our energy bills down - reform our rip-off energy market, it’s impoverishes millions and holds back our economy - our new report shows. Read all about it at Babelfish.news
www.mirror.co.uk/money/labour...
www.mirror.co.uk/money/labour...
Reposted by Alan Rodgers
November 26, 2025 at 8:54 AM
Reposted by Alan Rodgers
Albanese: Israel erased 69 years of Gaza development, triggered economic collapse - https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/albanese-israel-erased-69-years-gaza-development-unprecedented-economic
Albanese: Israel erased 69 years of Gaza development, triggered economic collapse
<article data-history-node-id="431955" about="https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/albanese-israel-erased-69-years-gaza-development-unprecedented-economic" class="live-blog-update default clearfix">
<h2>
<a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/albanese-israel-erased-69-years-gaza-development-unprecedented-economic" rel="bookmark">
<span class="field field-title">Albanese: Israel erased 69 years of Gaza development, triggered economic collapse </span>
</a>
</h2>
<div class="content">
<div class="field field-field-text"><p>UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Palestine, Francesca Albanese, on Wednesday said that the Israeli attacks on Gaza have wiped out 69 years of human development, representing the worst economic collapse ever recorded.</p>
<p>In a post on the X platform, Albanese quoted a new UN report and said that Israel's genocide in Gaza has led to the destruction of healthcare, education, infrastructure, and even the banking system.</p>
</div>
</div>
</article>
www.middleeasteye.net
November 26, 2025 at 7:42 AM
Albanese: Israel erased 69 years of Gaza development, triggered economic collapse - https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/albanese-israel-erased-69-years-gaza-development-unprecedented-economic
Reposted by Alan Rodgers
This is pretty disturbing
This is a very sinister dirty trick by the repressive UK state.
We do not live in a free nation, our civil liberties have become an inconvenience to the government.
#UKPoliceState
#UKStateRepression
#PalestineAction
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
We do not live in a free nation, our civil liberties have become an inconvenience to the government.
#UKPoliceState
#UKStateRepression
#PalestineAction
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Removal of judge in Palestine Action ban legal challenge ‘deeply concerning’
Unusual last-minute change means panel of three will now hear case rather than Mr Justice Chamberlain
www.theguardian.com
November 26, 2025 at 6:56 AM
This is pretty disturbing
Well this cheered me up...
November 25, 2025 at 10:30 PM
Well this cheered me up...
Reposted by Alan Rodgers
My attendance record in the European Parliament was the 4th worst out of 751 MEPs, yet I managed to turn up to vote AGAINST plans to tackle Russian misinformation.
Thankfully this is of no interest to the media.
Thankfully this is of no interest to the media.
November 24, 2025 at 9:20 PM
My attendance record in the European Parliament was the 4th worst out of 751 MEPs, yet I managed to turn up to vote AGAINST plans to tackle Russian misinformation.
Thankfully this is of no interest to the media.
Thankfully this is of no interest to the media.
Reposted by Alan Rodgers
“snatching suspected illegals”
The choice of words used by Philips demonstrates his ignorance, inhumanity & racism perfectly.
There is no such thing as an illegal asylum seeker. It’s just a lie that authoritarian race warriors use to illuminate their inhumanity, & to promote hate & violence.
The choice of words used by Philips demonstrates his ignorance, inhumanity & racism perfectly.
There is no such thing as an illegal asylum seeker. It’s just a lie that authoritarian race warriors use to illuminate their inhumanity, & to promote hate & violence.
November 25, 2025 at 8:41 AM
“snatching suspected illegals”
The choice of words used by Philips demonstrates his ignorance, inhumanity & racism perfectly.
There is no such thing as an illegal asylum seeker. It’s just a lie that authoritarian race warriors use to illuminate their inhumanity, & to promote hate & violence.
The choice of words used by Philips demonstrates his ignorance, inhumanity & racism perfectly.
There is no such thing as an illegal asylum seeker. It’s just a lie that authoritarian race warriors use to illuminate their inhumanity, & to promote hate & violence.
Reposted by Alan Rodgers
Irish President Catherine Connolly sends message of support on Transgender Day of Remembrance #SpéirGorm
@teni.bsky.social don't seem to use their bsky account so I'm posting this over here from their facebook because people should see it: one of the first things our new President Connolly did last week was write the community a letter for TDOR 🏳️⚧️
www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=...
www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=...
November 24, 2025 at 9:41 PM
Irish President Catherine Connolly sends message of support on Transgender Day of Remembrance #SpéirGorm
Reposted by Alan Rodgers
The university sector in the UK brings c. £265 *billion* to the economy. A sector that is struggling, and so instead of helping and contributing to growth, the plan is to fuck the sector just a tad more.
i: Reeves to unveil £600m raid on foreign student
university fees #TomorrowsPapersToday
university fees #TomorrowsPapersToday
November 23, 2025 at 11:35 PM
The university sector in the UK brings c. £265 *billion* to the economy. A sector that is struggling, and so instead of helping and contributing to growth, the plan is to fuck the sector just a tad more.