@cynic65.bsky.social
Professional cynic & europhile into good food & even better wine, Socialism, Humanism, MMT & Liverpool FC. Alter ego of Mike Cawood
Reposted
If you’d like to read the actual 33-page defamation lawsuit Donald Trump has filed “for damages not less than $5,000,000,000”, then here it is:
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Complaint – #1 in TRUMP v. BRITISH BROADCASTING CORPORATION (S.D. Fla., 1:25-cv-25894) – CourtListener.com
COMPLAINT against BBC STUDIOS DISTRIBUTION LIMITED, BBC STUDIOS PRODUCTIONS LIMITED, BRITISH BROADCASTING CORPORATION. Filing fees $ 405.00 receipt number AFLSDC-19044737, filed by DONALD J. TRUMP. (A...
storage.courtlistener.com
December 16, 2025 at 8:27 AM
If you’d like to read the actual 33-page defamation lawsuit Donald Trump has filed “for damages not less than $5,000,000,000”, then here it is:
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Reposted
Theresa Villiers on Badenoch. Oddly I hope she's right but this is the latest in the Telegraph's 'Whisper it' series. The record of this series is not good.... (thread)
December 15, 2025 at 9:40 PM
Theresa Villiers on Badenoch. Oddly I hope she's right but this is the latest in the Telegraph's 'Whisper it' series. The record of this series is not good.... (thread)
Reposted
I have been very puzzled by the behaviour expertly critiqued here.
There has been a strong reaction to the antisemitism allegations levelled at Nigel Farage - except from those you might have expected to condemn it most loudly. My piece for @jewishnews.bsky.social on a strange silence
www.jewishnews.co.uk/jonathan-fre...
www.jewishnews.co.uk/jonathan-fre...
JONATHAN FREEDLAND: Why Britain’s Jewish leaders are silent on Farage’s schoolyard antisemitism
While the Reform UK leader and his allies smear accusers as liars, the Board, JLC and HET remain mute, fearing the wrath of a rising politician
www.jewishnews.co.uk
December 13, 2025 at 11:31 AM
I have been very puzzled by the behaviour expertly critiqued here.
Reposted
My god I have respect for satirists right now. It must be the most difficult job going. This from the ever brilliant @rosieisaholt.bsky.social is effectively government policy.
Labour MP says only way to unite UK over immigration is by leaning into Reform narrative.
December 12, 2025 at 9:13 PM
My god I have respect for satirists right now. It must be the most difficult job going. This from the ever brilliant @rosieisaholt.bsky.social is effectively government policy.
Reposted
OK, strap in….
Here is part 2 of the “Tesco/(insert other brand) are cancelling Christmas” claims!
🎄🎅🤶🎄
TL:DR? Christmas is alive and well everywhere you look.
And so too, sadly, is manufactured Christmas rage baiting.
Here is just 7 day’s worth of Daily Mail Christmas Rage bait
🧵
1/31
Here is part 2 of the “Tesco/(insert other brand) are cancelling Christmas” claims!
🎄🎅🤶🎄
TL:DR? Christmas is alive and well everywhere you look.
And so too, sadly, is manufactured Christmas rage baiting.
Here is just 7 day’s worth of Daily Mail Christmas Rage bait
🧵
1/31
December 13, 2025 at 12:41 PM
OK, strap in….
Here is part 2 of the “Tesco/(insert other brand) are cancelling Christmas” claims!
🎄🎅🤶🎄
TL:DR? Christmas is alive and well everywhere you look.
And so too, sadly, is manufactured Christmas rage baiting.
Here is just 7 day’s worth of Daily Mail Christmas Rage bait
🧵
1/31
Here is part 2 of the “Tesco/(insert other brand) are cancelling Christmas” claims!
🎄🎅🤶🎄
TL:DR? Christmas is alive and well everywhere you look.
And so too, sadly, is manufactured Christmas rage baiting.
Here is just 7 day’s worth of Daily Mail Christmas Rage bait
🧵
1/31
Reposted
“It is the Brexit playbook:…
It did not work then and it will not work now. Because once you agree that rights are the real obstacle, you have already handed victory to those who want rid of them altogether.”
Important read on blaming the ECHR for govt failure.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
It did not work then and it will not work now. Because once you agree that rights are the real obstacle, you have already handed victory to those who want rid of them altogether.”
Important read on blaming the ECHR for govt failure.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Starmer is lobbying Europe to join him in watering down the ECHR. This illiberalism will harm us all | Steve Valdez-Symonds
The prime minister and his counterpart in Denmark want a concerted effort to weaken human rights across Europe. This isn’t pragmatism – it’s cruelty, says Steve Valdez-Symonds, refugee and migrant rig...
www.theguardian.com
December 11, 2025 at 8:03 AM
“It is the Brexit playbook:…
It did not work then and it will not work now. Because once you agree that rights are the real obstacle, you have already handed victory to those who want rid of them altogether.”
Important read on blaming the ECHR for govt failure.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
It did not work then and it will not work now. Because once you agree that rights are the real obstacle, you have already handed victory to those who want rid of them altogether.”
Important read on blaming the ECHR for govt failure.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted
December 2, 2025 at 8:48 AM
Reposted
Budget 2025: This is how you lose the world iandunt.substack.com/p/budget-202...
November 28, 2025 at 11:20 AM
Budget 2025: This is how you lose the world iandunt.substack.com/p/budget-202...
Reposted
New net migration figures at 930am.
Net migration fell half a million to 344,000 in 2024 from 848k in 2023
56% of people think it went up last year
17% think stayed the same
14% think it went down
2025 figure to be lower again
16% expect that
38% think it will be up
31% about the same
Net migration fell half a million to 344,000 in 2024 from 848k in 2023
56% of people think it went up last year
17% think stayed the same
14% think it went down
2025 figure to be lower again
16% expect that
38% think it will be up
31% about the same
November 27, 2025 at 7:54 AM
New net migration figures at 930am.
Net migration fell half a million to 344,000 in 2024 from 848k in 2023
56% of people think it went up last year
17% think stayed the same
14% think it went down
2025 figure to be lower again
16% expect that
38% think it will be up
31% about the same
Net migration fell half a million to 344,000 in 2024 from 848k in 2023
56% of people think it went up last year
17% think stayed the same
14% think it went down
2025 figure to be lower again
16% expect that
38% think it will be up
31% about the same
Reposted
Robbie Gibb was appointed to the BBC Board by Boris Johnson, was an editorial advisor for GB News, and worked as Theresa May's Director of Comms.
He is not impartial or neutral. The government should remove him from the Board immediately to protect the BBC's independence.
He is not impartial or neutral. The government should remove him from the Board immediately to protect the BBC's independence.
November 11, 2025 at 1:00 PM
Robbie Gibb was appointed to the BBC Board by Boris Johnson, was an editorial advisor for GB News, and worked as Theresa May's Director of Comms.
He is not impartial or neutral. The government should remove him from the Board immediately to protect the BBC's independence.
He is not impartial or neutral. The government should remove him from the Board immediately to protect the BBC's independence.
Reposted
NEW
A close look at Trump's $1 billion claim against the BBC
The litigation letter is weak, but his underlying practical position is not weak
By me:
emptycity.substack.com/p/a-close-lo... (Substack)
(Non-Substack link to follow.)
A close look at Trump's $1 billion claim against the BBC
The litigation letter is weak, but his underlying practical position is not weak
By me:
emptycity.substack.com/p/a-close-lo... (Substack)
(Non-Substack link to follow.)
A close look at Trump's $1 billion claim against the BBC
The litigation letter is weak, but his underlying practical position is not weak
emptycity.substack.com
November 11, 2025 at 1:18 PM
NEW
A close look at Trump's $1 billion claim against the BBC
The litigation letter is weak, but his underlying practical position is not weak
By me:
emptycity.substack.com/p/a-close-lo... (Substack)
(Non-Substack link to follow.)
A close look at Trump's $1 billion claim against the BBC
The litigation letter is weak, but his underlying practical position is not weak
By me:
emptycity.substack.com/p/a-close-lo... (Substack)
(Non-Substack link to follow.)
Reposted
Tice was introduced as “a local man” and a “self-made entrepreneur”, which is certainly one way to describe a man who spent 14 years as the CEO of his grandfather’s property company.
@willdunn.bsky.social's sketch: Richard Tice’s pitch to Tory Middle England
@willdunn.bsky.social's sketch: Richard Tice’s pitch to Tory Middle England
Richard Tice’s pitch to Tory Middle England
At Guildford Rugby Club, Nigel Farage’s number two goes into salesman mode to entice Reform-curious Conservatives
www.newstatesman.com
November 6, 2025 at 9:46 AM
Tice was introduced as “a local man” and a “self-made entrepreneur”, which is certainly one way to describe a man who spent 14 years as the CEO of his grandfather’s property company.
@willdunn.bsky.social's sketch: Richard Tice’s pitch to Tory Middle England
@willdunn.bsky.social's sketch: Richard Tice’s pitch to Tory Middle England
Reposted
1. In the wake on Mamdani’s win, we’ll see a lot more far right anti-urban sentiment. Here’s a thread on its roots and evolution.
The idea that the city is evil and corrupt, and the countryside innocent and pure, goes back a long way: to Theocritus in Alexandria, and to the Old Testament. 🧵
The idea that the city is evil and corrupt, and the countryside innocent and pure, goes back a long way: to Theocritus in Alexandria, and to the Old Testament. 🧵
November 5, 2025 at 7:58 AM
1. In the wake on Mamdani’s win, we’ll see a lot more far right anti-urban sentiment. Here’s a thread on its roots and evolution.
The idea that the city is evil and corrupt, and the countryside innocent and pure, goes back a long way: to Theocritus in Alexandria, and to the Old Testament. 🧵
The idea that the city is evil and corrupt, and the countryside innocent and pure, goes back a long way: to Theocritus in Alexandria, and to the Old Testament. 🧵
Reposted
“His main theme was that the country was fucked. Largely because of Brexit. Weirdly, he has no memory of being the main architect behind the Brexit vote. He seems to think it happened in a world in which he played no part.”
Farage - the foghorn of failure.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Farage - the foghorn of failure.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Nige is no longer laughing at himself as he ‘performs’ yet another big speech | John Crace
Reform leader is trying to make it as a mainstream politician – which involves contradicting himself and gaslighting voters
www.theguardian.com
November 4, 2025 at 7:51 AM
“His main theme was that the country was fucked. Largely because of Brexit. Weirdly, he has no memory of being the main architect behind the Brexit vote. He seems to think it happened in a world in which he played no part.”
Farage - the foghorn of failure.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Farage - the foghorn of failure.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Reposted
“Racism has become thoroughly detached from “serious” politics”
It has been reduced to language.
So, instead of fearing accusations of racism, politicians now exploit them as petty, name-calling distractions from what really matters.
It’s an ugly, cynical deceit.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
It has been reduced to language.
So, instead of fearing accusations of racism, politicians now exploit them as petty, name-calling distractions from what really matters.
It’s an ugly, cynical deceit.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
No shame, no opprobrium: racism is priced in now. Of all the right’s victories, this one has been critical | Jason Okundaye
In this age of Tory nativism and Faragist populism, the question isn’t ‘is this person a bigot’? Now it is ‘does that matter at all?’ says Guardian writer Jason Okundaye
www.theguardian.com
October 27, 2025 at 7:40 AM
“Racism has become thoroughly detached from “serious” politics”
It has been reduced to language.
So, instead of fearing accusations of racism, politicians now exploit them as petty, name-calling distractions from what really matters.
It’s an ugly, cynical deceit.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
It has been reduced to language.
So, instead of fearing accusations of racism, politicians now exploit them as petty, name-calling distractions from what really matters.
It’s an ugly, cynical deceit.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted
Farage: epic grifter
October 27, 2025 at 12:45 PM
Farage: epic grifter
Reposted
Reposted
NEW - UPDATE POST
Did the CPS make a fundamental mistake with the charging decision in the Chinese spying case?
How the CPS may have asked the wrong legal question and so made a wrong charging decision
By me
emptycity.substack.com/p/did-the-cp...
Did the CPS make a fundamental mistake with the charging decision in the Chinese spying case?
How the CPS may have asked the wrong legal question and so made a wrong charging decision
By me
emptycity.substack.com/p/did-the-cp...
October 16, 2025 at 3:56 PM
NEW - UPDATE POST
Did the CPS make a fundamental mistake with the charging decision in the Chinese spying case?
How the CPS may have asked the wrong legal question and so made a wrong charging decision
By me
emptycity.substack.com/p/did-the-cp...
Did the CPS make a fundamental mistake with the charging decision in the Chinese spying case?
How the CPS may have asked the wrong legal question and so made a wrong charging decision
By me
emptycity.substack.com/p/did-the-cp...
Reposted
“Here Farage is, in Gill’s office, with Voloshyn’s wife Nadia, on the day Gill makes an intervention on behalf of Medvedchuk’s channels, with an employee of one of those channels, whose husband started bribing Gill to make these statements 6 days earlier”
bylinetimes.com/2025/10/11/s...
bylinetimes.com/2025/10/11/s...
'Stunned?' Farage's Admission He Knew Nathan Gill but Not His Kremlin Associates Does Not Stand Up to Scrutiny
Insiders have told Byline Times, it is 'inconceivable' the Reform Leader did not know about his close aide's pro Russian statements
bylinetimes.com
October 11, 2025 at 9:56 AM
“Here Farage is, in Gill’s office, with Voloshyn’s wife Nadia, on the day Gill makes an intervention on behalf of Medvedchuk’s channels, with an employee of one of those channels, whose husband started bribing Gill to make these statements 6 days earlier”
bylinetimes.com/2025/10/11/s...
bylinetimes.com/2025/10/11/s...
Reposted
The thing I'm "stunned" about is why this isn't the biggest domestic news item on every flipping platform
bylinetimes.com/2025/10/11/s...
bylinetimes.com/2025/10/11/s...
'Stunned?' Farage's Admission He Knew Nathan Gill but Not His Kremlin Associates Does Not Stand Up to Scrutiny
Insiders have told Byline Times it is 'inconceivable' the Reform Leader did not know about his close aide's pro Russian statements
bylinetimes.com
October 11, 2025 at 6:45 PM
The thing I'm "stunned" about is why this isn't the biggest domestic news item on every flipping platform
bylinetimes.com/2025/10/11/s...
bylinetimes.com/2025/10/11/s...
Reposted
Owing to the wars of the previous 150 years, European countries bound together in a *union* so they would never fight again.
We do this, among other ways, by have common tariffs and standards at the border, but none within; by having a common visa waiver, but FOM within; and a single currency
1
We do this, among other ways, by have common tariffs and standards at the border, but none within; by having a common visa waiver, but FOM within; and a single currency
1
October 7, 2025 at 7:05 AM
Owing to the wars of the previous 150 years, European countries bound together in a *union* so they would never fight again.
We do this, among other ways, by have common tariffs and standards at the border, but none within; by having a common visa waiver, but FOM within; and a single currency
1
We do this, among other ways, by have common tariffs and standards at the border, but none within; by having a common visa waiver, but FOM within; and a single currency
1
Reposted
This is a lie.
There are many criticisms you might sensibly and truthfully make of the Sentencing Council and the Sentencing Guidelines. I’ve been making them for years.
But this is an outright lie. Pure fabrication. A fraud on the public.
There are many criticisms you might sensibly and truthfully make of the Sentencing Council and the Sentencing Guidelines. I’ve been making them for years.
But this is an outright lie. Pure fabrication. A fraud on the public.
October 7, 2025 at 8:03 AM
This is a lie.
There are many criticisms you might sensibly and truthfully make of the Sentencing Council and the Sentencing Guidelines. I’ve been making them for years.
But this is an outright lie. Pure fabrication. A fraud on the public.
There are many criticisms you might sensibly and truthfully make of the Sentencing Council and the Sentencing Guidelines. I’ve been making them for years.
But this is an outright lie. Pure fabrication. A fraud on the public.
Reposted
Do read all of this.
🔴NEW🔴
Thread 🧵
@bylinetimes.bsky.social can now reveal that, during the crucial period when convicted Reform leader Nathan Gill was most active, working directly with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s most senior ally in Ukraine, he was also one of Nigel Farage’s closest confidantes 1/12
Thread 🧵
@bylinetimes.bsky.social can now reveal that, during the crucial period when convicted Reform leader Nathan Gill was most active, working directly with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s most senior ally in Ukraine, he was also one of Nigel Farage’s closest confidantes 1/12
‘Thick as Thieves’: Nathan Gill and Nigel Farage’s Putin Problem
Far from being distant from the Reform UK Leader, insiders told Byline Times that the former MEP convicted of bribery was one of Farage’s closest aides, while we reveal how Gill worked on the Kremlin’...
bylinetimes.com
October 4, 2025 at 2:25 PM
Do read all of this.
Reposted
Byline Times can now reveal that, during the crucial period when Gill was most active, working directly with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s most senior ally in Ukraine, he was also one of Nigel Farage’s closest confidantes.
bylinetimes.com/2025/10/04/t...
bylinetimes.com/2025/10/04/t...
‘Thick as Thieves’: Nathan Gill and Nigel Farage’s Putin Problem
Far from being distant from the Reform UK Leader, insiders told Byline Times that the former MEP convicted of bribery was one of Farage’s closest aides, while we reveal how Gill worked on the Kremlin’...
bylinetimes.com
October 4, 2025 at 2:25 PM
Byline Times can now reveal that, during the crucial period when Gill was most active, working directly with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s most senior ally in Ukraine, he was also one of Nigel Farage’s closest confidantes.
bylinetimes.com/2025/10/04/t...
bylinetimes.com/2025/10/04/t...
Reposted
Keeping people in poverty is an expensive luxury.
My column on the false economies of austerity, which costs us all a fortune. Despite the government's claims, austerity continues under Labour. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
My column on the false economies of austerity, which costs us all a fortune. Despite the government's claims, austerity continues under Labour. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
It hurt when I crashed my bike into a pothole – and it taught me the true price of austerity | George Monbiot
Fixing that hole could have cost under £100; the cost of not doing so is limitless. My prang highlights the neoliberal folly of false economies, says Guardian columnist George Monbiot
www.theguardian.com
October 4, 2025 at 6:24 AM
Keeping people in poverty is an expensive luxury.
My column on the false economies of austerity, which costs us all a fortune. Despite the government's claims, austerity continues under Labour. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
My column on the false economies of austerity, which costs us all a fortune. Despite the government's claims, austerity continues under Labour. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...