Helmsley Dan
@danfalchikov.bsky.social
Exiled Scot, now happily ensconced in Yorkshire, but still has grumpy tendencies ingrained from too long in London. Politics, geekery and (not very good) football.
Reposted by Helmsley Dan
there will prob be a global boycott of US goods by the end of his term
January 17, 2026 at 6:01 PM
there will prob be a global boycott of US goods by the end of his term
Reposted by Helmsley Dan
It will not surprise you to learn that Toby Youngs 'Free Speech Union' has obtained a High Court injunction banning the publication of a list of its donors open.substack.com/pub/democrac...
Who funds the Free Speech Union?
Toby Young’s outfit went to court to hide its donors. Today we reveal that funders include US anti-abortion groups, Brexit politicians and Tufton Street insiders.
open.substack.com
January 17, 2026 at 8:45 AM
It will not surprise you to learn that Toby Youngs 'Free Speech Union' has obtained a High Court injunction banning the publication of a list of its donors open.substack.com/pub/democrac...
Reposted by Helmsley Dan
Reposted by Helmsley Dan
A Black man was killed by ICE (off duty) in Los Angeles on New Year’s Eve. And like Renée Good, he was an American citizen. But most people have not heard about Keith Porter.
I need y’all to realize this. Black people experience this lack of visibility all the time when it comes to being victims.
I need y’all to realize this. Black people experience this lack of visibility all the time when it comes to being victims.
January 10, 2026 at 3:24 PM
A Black man was killed by ICE (off duty) in Los Angeles on New Year’s Eve. And like Renée Good, he was an American citizen. But most people have not heard about Keith Porter.
I need y’all to realize this. Black people experience this lack of visibility all the time when it comes to being victims.
I need y’all to realize this. Black people experience this lack of visibility all the time when it comes to being victims.
Reposted by Helmsley Dan
“Elon Musk admitted to his biographer that the reason the Hyperloop was announced—even though he had no intention of pursuing it—was to try to disrupt the California high-speed rail project to get in the way of that actually succeeding.” — @parismarx.com in @gizmodo.com
He’s always been this way.
He’s always been this way.
Silicon Valley's Push Into Transportation Has Been a Miserable Failure
The titans of tech brought plenty of disruption to our broken transportation system but delivered little in the way of innovation.
gizmodo.com
December 31, 2025 at 3:51 PM
“Elon Musk admitted to his biographer that the reason the Hyperloop was announced—even though he had no intention of pursuing it—was to try to disrupt the California high-speed rail project to get in the way of that actually succeeding.” — @parismarx.com in @gizmodo.com
He’s always been this way.
He’s always been this way.
Reposted by Helmsley Dan
Here's your first look at tomorrow's front page 📰
'Bad news for BBC Scotland reputation': Pacific Quay records more errors than Welsh, Northern Irish and all regional English offices combined
'Bad news for BBC Scotland reputation': Pacific Quay records more errors than Welsh, Northern Irish and all regional English offices combined
January 10, 2026 at 8:44 PM
Here's your first look at tomorrow's front page 📰
'Bad news for BBC Scotland reputation': Pacific Quay records more errors than Welsh, Northern Irish and all regional English offices combined
'Bad news for BBC Scotland reputation': Pacific Quay records more errors than Welsh, Northern Irish and all regional English offices combined
Reposted by Helmsley Dan
Well done this MP.
I'm shocked and disappointed most of them continue to post on Twitter. Hooked on their illusory and meaningless follower count from 16 years ago
Move on!
I'm shocked and disappointed most of them continue to post on Twitter. Hooked on their illusory and meaningless follower count from 16 years ago
Move on!
Yesterday I posted my last ever Tweet and called on the Government to do the same.
Read more below on why I think it’s time to leave the cesspit formerly known as Twitter.
www.politicshome.com/opinion/arti...
Read more below on why I think it’s time to leave the cesspit formerly known as Twitter.
www.politicshome.com/opinion/arti...
It is time to leave the cesspit formerly known as Twitter
Grok is just one of many reasons why Westminster should finally get off the website.
www.politicshome.com
January 10, 2026 at 10:00 AM
Well done this MP.
I'm shocked and disappointed most of them continue to post on Twitter. Hooked on their illusory and meaningless follower count from 16 years ago
Move on!
I'm shocked and disappointed most of them continue to post on Twitter. Hooked on their illusory and meaningless follower count from 16 years ago
Move on!
Reposted by Helmsley Dan
SCOOP: Zarah Sultana’s unauthorised launch of a Your Party membership portal should be referred to the police, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has advised.
Belter from
@meganekenyon.bsky.social
www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-...
Belter from
@meganekenyon.bsky.social
www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-...
Your Party advised to refer unauthorised membership launch to police
An official body told the new left-wing party it should consider referring the incident to determine whether "serious criminal activity" occurred
www.newstatesman.com
January 9, 2026 at 5:42 PM
SCOOP: Zarah Sultana’s unauthorised launch of a Your Party membership portal should be referred to the police, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has advised.
Belter from
@meganekenyon.bsky.social
www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-...
Belter from
@meganekenyon.bsky.social
www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-...
Reposted by Helmsley Dan
It's completely unacceptable in every sense, except the very literal one, in which we are going to accept it.
Keir Starmer's spokesman tells me that X and Grok's creation of sexual deepfakes of children is "completely unacceptable" but again won't commit to taking direct action against them, or to stop posting there.
Says "all options are on the table" but suggests it's a matter for Ofcom, not Government
Says "all options are on the table" but suggests it's a matter for Ofcom, not Government
January 7, 2026 at 1:21 PM
It's completely unacceptable in every sense, except the very literal one, in which we are going to accept it.
Reposted by Helmsley Dan
My thoughts today are with the security people and police officers who defended the Capitol on January 6 and have been treated with such distain since by the GOP. For them and the Democratic leadership who lived through such chaos and no doubt continue to carry the scars within. We will not forget.
January 6, 2026 at 4:57 PM
My thoughts today are with the security people and police officers who defended the Capitol on January 6 and have been treated with such distain since by the GOP. For them and the Democratic leadership who lived through such chaos and no doubt continue to carry the scars within. We will not forget.
Reposted by Helmsley Dan
All Americans, and the entire world, must remember. Robert Reich: The most shameful day in American history open.substack.com/pub/robertre...
The most shameful day in American history
We will never forget, and we will not let the nation or the world forget.
open.substack.com
January 5, 2026 at 5:01 PM
All Americans, and the entire world, must remember. Robert Reich: The most shameful day in American history open.substack.com/pub/robertre...
Reposted by Helmsley Dan
FIVE YEARS & he has not been held accountable for one of the most disgraceful events in this nation's history.
Trying to overturn a fair election in an attempted coup against his own government is the very definition of TREASON. We can never move forward until this is fully adjudicated. #ShameOnUS🇺🇸
Trying to overturn a fair election in an attempted coup against his own government is the very definition of TREASON. We can never move forward until this is fully adjudicated. #ShameOnUS🇺🇸
January 6, 2026 at 4:37 PM
FIVE YEARS & he has not been held accountable for one of the most disgraceful events in this nation's history.
Trying to overturn a fair election in an attempted coup against his own government is the very definition of TREASON. We can never move forward until this is fully adjudicated. #ShameOnUS🇺🇸
Trying to overturn a fair election in an attempted coup against his own government is the very definition of TREASON. We can never move forward until this is fully adjudicated. #ShameOnUS🇺🇸
Reposted by Helmsley Dan
that's so crazy. i'm sure you put him in prison and banned him from ever holding office again right
Five years ago today, the United States Capitol was attacked in a violent insurrection incited by the President of the United States for one purpose: to overturn a free and fair election and cling to power in clear violation of the Constitution.
January 6, 2026 at 4:12 PM
that's so crazy. i'm sure you put him in prison and banned him from ever holding office again right
Reposted by Helmsley Dan
New Swingometer post! I review the preditions I made last Christmas about politics in 2025 and try and draw some lessons from my various blunders and missteps:
swingometer.substack.com/p/my-2025-pr...
swingometer.substack.com/p/my-2025-pr...
December 18, 2025 at 12:09 PM
New Swingometer post! I review the preditions I made last Christmas about politics in 2025 and try and draw some lessons from my various blunders and missteps:
swingometer.substack.com/p/my-2025-pr...
swingometer.substack.com/p/my-2025-pr...
Reposted by Helmsley Dan
As I (and thousands of other people) predicted, Labour's non-deal with the USA wasn't worth the paper it isn't printed on.
Starmer set Britain up to be Trump's chew toy.
Absolutely catastrophic to have traded our EU membership for this turbocharged farce.
www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2025...
Starmer set Britain up to be Trump's chew toy.
Absolutely catastrophic to have traded our EU membership for this turbocharged farce.
www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2025...
December 29, 2025 at 12:35 PM
As I (and thousands of other people) predicted, Labour's non-deal with the USA wasn't worth the paper it isn't printed on.
Starmer set Britain up to be Trump's chew toy.
Absolutely catastrophic to have traded our EU membership for this turbocharged farce.
www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2025...
Starmer set Britain up to be Trump's chew toy.
Absolutely catastrophic to have traded our EU membership for this turbocharged farce.
www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2025...
Reposted by Helmsley Dan
Is it bad that nobody justifiably believes anything Putin says while the President of the United States believes everything he says?
December 30, 2025 at 1:25 AM
Is it bad that nobody justifiably believes anything Putin says while the President of the United States believes everything he says?
Reposted by Helmsley Dan
Reposted by Helmsley Dan
The CITIZENS of the COUNTRY Of GEORGIA 🇬🇪 are some of the BRAVEST PEOPLE on the PLANET. They are facing down a PUTIN PUPPET GOVERNMENT and FIGHTING FOR DEMOCRACY
It has been 395 days of continuous demonstrations in Georgia’s capital, Tbilisi. Our citizens demand the resignation of Georgia's mostly illegitimate and pro-Russian government, the release of political prisoners, and the return to a pro-European course.
December 28, 2025 at 10:14 PM
The CITIZENS of the COUNTRY Of GEORGIA 🇬🇪 are some of the BRAVEST PEOPLE on the PLANET. They are facing down a PUTIN PUPPET GOVERNMENT and FIGHTING FOR DEMOCRACY
Reposted by Helmsley Dan
We condemn the scandalous US visa ban on former EU Commisioner Breton and digital activists. Protecting democracy isn’t censorship. ✋🏼
Disinformation isn’t free speech. Europe won’t take lessons from those undermining democracy and free speech.
Here in Europe we set our own laws. 🇪🇺✊🏼
Disinformation isn’t free speech. Europe won’t take lessons from those undermining democracy and free speech.
Here in Europe we set our own laws. 🇪🇺✊🏼
December 24, 2025 at 12:45 PM
We condemn the scandalous US visa ban on former EU Commisioner Breton and digital activists. Protecting democracy isn’t censorship. ✋🏼
Disinformation isn’t free speech. Europe won’t take lessons from those undermining democracy and free speech.
Here in Europe we set our own laws. 🇪🇺✊🏼
Disinformation isn’t free speech. Europe won’t take lessons from those undermining democracy and free speech.
Here in Europe we set our own laws. 🇪🇺✊🏼
Reposted by Helmsley Dan
Happy Christmas to bollard fans across the world!
#WorldBollardAssociation
#WorldBollardAssociation
December 25, 2025 at 10:25 AM
Happy Christmas to bollard fans across the world!
#WorldBollardAssociation
#WorldBollardAssociation
Reposted by Helmsley Dan
All the flexing, the pomp, the ceremony, the gold and bluff conceals the fact that Russia is rotting from the inside out ... poke the bear, and it will crumble.
A united front and an actual American president rather than a preening buffoon would see the end of Putin
time.com/7341064/trum...
A united front and an actual American president rather than a preening buffoon would see the end of Putin
time.com/7341064/trum...
Why Trump Should Call Putin’s Bluff Now
Russia's "economy is disintegrating, and their military prowess is inferior to that of Ukraine."
time.com
December 19, 2025 at 6:42 PM
All the flexing, the pomp, the ceremony, the gold and bluff conceals the fact that Russia is rotting from the inside out ... poke the bear, and it will crumble.
A united front and an actual American president rather than a preening buffoon would see the end of Putin
time.com/7341064/trum...
A united front and an actual American president rather than a preening buffoon would see the end of Putin
time.com/7341064/trum...
Reposted by Helmsley Dan
Fifa's £45 tickets are a disingenuous, desperate attempt to save a World Cup and the regime behind it from humiliation
inews.co.uk/sport/footba...
inews.co.uk/sport/footba...
Don’t be fooled by Fifa’s £45 World Cup tickets
Yes, there are some cheap tickets now. And no, Fifa have not got any less greedy.
inews.co.uk
December 18, 2025 at 12:27 PM
Fifa's £45 tickets are a disingenuous, desperate attempt to save a World Cup and the regime behind it from humiliation
inews.co.uk/sport/footba...
inews.co.uk/sport/footba...
Reposted by Helmsley Dan
The BBC is not just any other institution. It's a core part of this country's identity. It's ours to criticise, ours to get cross with, ours to love and ours to the end.
By attacking it Trump may actually be doing us all a favour as we are obliged to remember that.
www.politico.eu/article/brit...
By attacking it Trump may actually be doing us all a favour as we are obliged to remember that.
www.politico.eu/article/brit...
British government backs the BBC as Trump sues it for billions
Stephen Kinnock said the public service broadcaster is “right to stick by their guns.”
www.politico.eu
December 16, 2025 at 4:18 PM
The BBC is not just any other institution. It's a core part of this country's identity. It's ours to criticise, ours to get cross with, ours to love and ours to the end.
By attacking it Trump may actually be doing us all a favour as we are obliged to remember that.
www.politico.eu/article/brit...
By attacking it Trump may actually be doing us all a favour as we are obliged to remember that.
www.politico.eu/article/brit...