Pete the Geek
@drpwest.bsky.social
Immunologist, U of Sheffield Alumnus, Cyclist, Runner, Spaniel owner, Dad.
Reposted by Pete the Geek
Very sad that I felt I had no choice but to resign from The Infinite Monkey Cage - a victory for the transphobes and other bigots - I did it because so much of the media has chosen to believe the kind and empathetic people are a fiction - they are real and so often unrepresented.
December 13, 2025 at 12:02 AM
Very sad that I felt I had no choice but to resign from The Infinite Monkey Cage - a victory for the transphobes and other bigots - I did it because so much of the media has chosen to believe the kind and empathetic people are a fiction - they are real and so often unrepresented.
Actually a good idea.
Horizon Europe applicants slam Commissioner Zaharieva’s “lottery” plan
Horizon Europe applicants slam Commissioner Zaharieva’s “lottery” plan
At a conference of the scientific community held recently in a large European city, applicants ...
eualive.net
December 12, 2025 at 6:27 AM
Actually a good idea.
Reposted by Pete the Geek
What if I told you that only 3 metropolitan borough councils in the country aren’t getting the Recovery Grant (again)?
That two of them are in Greater Manchester?
And that one of those has the most deprived community (by super-output area) in Greater Manchester.
I’d laugh if it wasn’t so tragic.
That two of them are in Greater Manchester?
And that one of those has the most deprived community (by super-output area) in Greater Manchester.
I’d laugh if it wasn’t so tragic.
December 8, 2025 at 9:37 PM
What if I told you that only 3 metropolitan borough councils in the country aren’t getting the Recovery Grant (again)?
That two of them are in Greater Manchester?
And that one of those has the most deprived community (by super-output area) in Greater Manchester.
I’d laugh if it wasn’t so tragic.
That two of them are in Greater Manchester?
And that one of those has the most deprived community (by super-output area) in Greater Manchester.
I’d laugh if it wasn’t so tragic.
Reposted by Pete the Geek
The Christmas Season is about to start… our tree and decorations are going up this weekend.
For those of us who are able, let’s do the season of giving right by donating gifts for kids in families facing tough times, and helping your local food bank.
Thanks, and Happy Holidays.
For those of us who are able, let’s do the season of giving right by donating gifts for kids in families facing tough times, and helping your local food bank.
Thanks, and Happy Holidays.
November 28, 2025 at 8:07 PM
The Christmas Season is about to start… our tree and decorations are going up this weekend.
For those of us who are able, let’s do the season of giving right by donating gifts for kids in families facing tough times, and helping your local food bank.
Thanks, and Happy Holidays.
For those of us who are able, let’s do the season of giving right by donating gifts for kids in families facing tough times, and helping your local food bank.
Thanks, and Happy Holidays.
Reposted by Pete the Geek
once more I am begging everyone to do policy based on evidence, not on vibes from the loudest-shouting pressure groups. What the NHS is leaning towards - targeted screening for those most at risk - is the right way to do this. Blanket screening with an unreliable test causes harm.
🔺UPDATED: Start prostate cancer testing regardless of advice, Wes Streeting told
Start prostate cancer testing regardless of advice, Wes Streeting told
Start prostate cancer testing regardless of advice, Wes Streeting told
www.thetimes.com
November 28, 2025 at 12:30 PM
once more I am begging everyone to do policy based on evidence, not on vibes from the loudest-shouting pressure groups. What the NHS is leaning towards - targeted screening for those most at risk - is the right way to do this. Blanket screening with an unreliable test causes harm.
Reposted by Pete the Geek
I think it’s as simple as “I don’t want to admit that my election strategy was flawed” and everything else is working backwards from that.
November 11, 2025 at 11:13 PM
I think it’s as simple as “I don’t want to admit that my election strategy was flawed” and everything else is working backwards from that.
Reposted by Pete the Geek
Loosening licensing rules will increase alcohol harm and means fewer protections for communities – especially in already‑vulnerable areas.
We encourage other organisations and individuals to share responses too.
Don’t let industry influence outweigh the needs of the public.
We encourage other organisations and individuals to share responses too.
Don’t let industry influence outweigh the needs of the public.
November 3, 2025 at 2:37 PM
Loosening licensing rules will increase alcohol harm and means fewer protections for communities – especially in already‑vulnerable areas.
We encourage other organisations and individuals to share responses too.
Don’t let industry influence outweigh the needs of the public.
We encourage other organisations and individuals to share responses too.
Don’t let industry influence outweigh the needs of the public.
It really is astonishing that government have given only 3 weeks for a response to their licensing proposals which include setting "economic growth" as a licensing objective.
Their top down micromanaging is fundamentally incompatible with public heath and protection from harm.
Their top down micromanaging is fundamentally incompatible with public heath and protection from harm.
We’ve submitted our response to the government’s call for evidence on the Licensing Reforms Programme.
Public health should be front and centre – but this process has been rushed, shaped by the alcohol industry, and risks serious harm.
www.ias.org.uk/report/ias-r...
Public health should be front and centre – but this process has been rushed, shaped by the alcohol industry, and risks serious harm.
www.ias.org.uk/report/ias-r...
IAS response to Licensing Reforms Programme - Institute of Alcohol Studies
www.ias.org.uk
November 5, 2025 at 10:26 PM
It really is astonishing that government have given only 3 weeks for a response to their licensing proposals which include setting "economic growth" as a licensing objective.
Their top down micromanaging is fundamentally incompatible with public heath and protection from harm.
Their top down micromanaging is fundamentally incompatible with public heath and protection from harm.
Reposted by Pete the Geek
Asked whether council elections next year will all go ahead and not be delayed, the Minister says the Government wants that to happen. Is that a yes? I'm not sure.
November 4, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Asked whether council elections next year will all go ahead and not be delayed, the Minister says the Government wants that to happen. Is that a yes? I'm not sure.
Reposted by Pete the Geek
Steel tycoon Lakshmi Mittal’s energy joint venture in India purchased Russian oil transported on sanctions-listed vessels, according to an analysis of satellite imagery, shipping data and customs records by the FT on.ft.com/3WZkFHh
October 29, 2025 at 5:17 AM
Steel tycoon Lakshmi Mittal’s energy joint venture in India purchased Russian oil transported on sanctions-listed vessels, according to an analysis of satellite imagery, shipping data and customs records by the FT on.ft.com/3WZkFHh
Reposted by Pete the Geek
🚨 🪪 The Government seems to have magically pulled £2 BILLION out of the hat to force through their dangerous digital ID plans...
Meanwhile, thousands of @waspicampaign.bsky.social campaigners are fighting tooth-and-nail for the compensation they are rightly owe
Meanwhile, thousands of @waspicampaign.bsky.social campaigners are fighting tooth-and-nail for the compensation they are rightly owe
October 23, 2025 at 2:42 PM
🚨 🪪 The Government seems to have magically pulled £2 BILLION out of the hat to force through their dangerous digital ID plans...
Meanwhile, thousands of @waspicampaign.bsky.social campaigners are fighting tooth-and-nail for the compensation they are rightly owe
Meanwhile, thousands of @waspicampaign.bsky.social campaigners are fighting tooth-and-nail for the compensation they are rightly owe
Reposted by Pete the Geek
🎶 There’s a hole in my budget,
Ed Davey, Ed Davey,
There’s a hole in my budget,
ED Davey, a hole…
Ed Davey, Ed Davey,
There’s a hole in my budget,
ED Davey, a hole…
October 20, 2025 at 3:27 PM
🎶 There’s a hole in my budget,
Ed Davey, Ed Davey,
There’s a hole in my budget,
ED Davey, a hole…
Ed Davey, Ed Davey,
There’s a hole in my budget,
ED Davey, a hole…
Reposted by Pete the Geek
The thing everyone said would happen has happened. Well done to the government for its complete ignorance of all things tech.
BREAKING: A catastrophic breach has impacted Discord user data including selfies and identity documents uploaded as part of the app’s verification process, email addresses, phone numbers, approximately where the user lives, and much more.
🔗 www.404media.co/the-discord-...
🔗 www.404media.co/the-discord-...
The Discord Hack is Every Users’ Worst Nightmare
A hack impacting Discord’s age verification process shows in stark terms the risk of tech companies collecting users’ ID documents. Now the hackers are posting peoples’ IDs and other sensitive informa...
www.404media.co
October 9, 2025 at 7:36 PM
The thing everyone said would happen has happened. Well done to the government for its complete ignorance of all things tech.
Reposted by Pete the Geek
Reposted by Pete the Geek
Does the 2024 Lib Dem formula still work?
Does the 2024 Lib Dem formula still work?
Welcome to the 181st edition of The Week in Polls (TWIP), which takes a look at polling about the Lib Dems and whether what worked in 2024 will work again for the party.
buff.ly
October 5, 2025 at 8:48 PM
Does the 2024 Lib Dem formula still work?
Reposted by Pete the Geek
We're here in Bournemouth at the Liberal Democrats conference. Whilst some parties are turning their back on climate action, the Lib Dems are launching new climate policy and we're looking forward to hearing more. #climateaction
September 20, 2025 at 12:22 PM
We're here in Bournemouth at the Liberal Democrats conference. Whilst some parties are turning their back on climate action, the Lib Dems are launching new climate policy and we're looking forward to hearing more. #climateaction
Reposted by Pete the Geek
Elon Musk’s dangerous rhetoric is an attack on our democracy.
No one—no matter how wealthy or powerful—should get away with using their platform to incite violence or inflame division.
No one—no matter how wealthy or powerful—should get away with using their platform to incite violence or inflame division.
September 15, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Elon Musk’s dangerous rhetoric is an attack on our democracy.
No one—no matter how wealthy or powerful—should get away with using their platform to incite violence or inflame division.
No one—no matter how wealthy or powerful—should get away with using their platform to incite violence or inflame division.
Reposted by Pete the Geek
This on the back of MSD walking away from £1B project in London and an almost completed building is pretty disastrous for UK Biomedical science.
September 12, 2025 at 8:35 PM
This on the back of MSD walking away from £1B project in London and an almost completed building is pretty disastrous for UK Biomedical science.
Can't believe what nonsense Amol Rajan is talking on Today about AI "being close to obtaining the *skills* to make biological weapons".
The theory is very different from the skills. Computers can't do CRIPR.
Not the first time I've heard this hype either.
The theory is very different from the skills. Computers can't do CRIPR.
Not the first time I've heard this hype either.
September 4, 2025 at 7:02 AM
Can't believe what nonsense Amol Rajan is talking on Today about AI "being close to obtaining the *skills* to make biological weapons".
The theory is very different from the skills. Computers can't do CRIPR.
Not the first time I've heard this hype either.
The theory is very different from the skills. Computers can't do CRIPR.
Not the first time I've heard this hype either.
Reposted by Pete the Geek
Who out there is a fun guy? Can I eat these? They're growing in my planter.
August 21, 2025 at 6:53 PM
Who out there is a fun guy? Can I eat these? They're growing in my planter.
Abolition of stamp duty would be good for mobility, but surely floating the idea as a long term goal is another way to stifle growth in the short term as people put off purchases in the hope of saving £10,000s.
Someone needs to get a grip of the government's messaging.
Someone needs to get a grip of the government's messaging.
Reeves looks at UK property tax reforms in bid to boost growth and revenue on.ft.com/4mU3Icx
Rachel Reeves looks at UK property tax reforms in bid to boost growth and revenue
Treasury officials examine range of measures as chancellor seeks to address looming gap in public finances
on.ft.com
August 19, 2025 at 7:51 AM
Abolition of stamp duty would be good for mobility, but surely floating the idea as a long term goal is another way to stifle growth in the short term as people put off purchases in the hope of saving £10,000s.
Someone needs to get a grip of the government's messaging.
Someone needs to get a grip of the government's messaging.
Reposted by Pete the Geek
This week I wrote to the Home Secretary and the Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation to challenge the Terrorism Act 2000. Peaceful protest is a fundamental pillar of any liberal democracy, and this legislation is denying people that right.
August 15, 2025 at 11:11 AM
This week I wrote to the Home Secretary and the Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation to challenge the Terrorism Act 2000. Peaceful protest is a fundamental pillar of any liberal democracy, and this legislation is denying people that right.
Reposted by Pete the Geek
Akiko Iwasaki opening this #longcovid meeting
August 11, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Akiko Iwasaki opening this #longcovid meeting
Highly sceptical of a government which u-turned on taking a few hundred pounds of winter fuel allowance from wealthy pensioners will be willing to take their cars away.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/a...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/a...
UK road safety push could see mandatory eye tests for older drivers
Ministers also considering lowering drink-drive limit among measures to reduce road deaths and injuries
www.theguardian.com
August 11, 2025 at 4:22 PM
Highly sceptical of a government which u-turned on taking a few hundred pounds of winter fuel allowance from wealthy pensioners will be willing to take their cars away.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/a...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/a...
Reposted by Pete the Geek
Needing some help from all the mouse doctors around! Does anyone know who might keep a B10.D2 mouse colony in the UK (or even mainland Europe)?
August 4, 2025 at 9:21 AM
Needing some help from all the mouse doctors around! Does anyone know who might keep a B10.D2 mouse colony in the UK (or even mainland Europe)?