Elsa
@elsabenedict.bsky.social
Northumberland, Vegan, Books, Alpacas, Cats
Reposted by Elsa
Boris Johnson took 4 days off as NHS warned Covid could ‘overwhelm’ system
Thousands died.
Spent time walking his dog, riding motorcycle, hosting lunches/dinners.
He once said Covid was ‘nature’s way of dealing with old people’, ‘we should let the old people get it’.
Will he be held to account,?
Thousands died.
Spent time walking his dog, riding motorcycle, hosting lunches/dinners.
He once said Covid was ‘nature’s way of dealing with old people’, ‘we should let the old people get it’.
Will he be held to account,?
Boris Johnson took four days off as NHS warned Covid could ‘overwhelm’ system
Files show then PM was walking dog, riding motorbike and hosting guests as pandemic planning stalled in ‘lost month’
www.theguardian.com
November 23, 2025 at 9:07 AM
Boris Johnson took 4 days off as NHS warned Covid could ‘overwhelm’ system
Thousands died.
Spent time walking his dog, riding motorcycle, hosting lunches/dinners.
He once said Covid was ‘nature’s way of dealing with old people’, ‘we should let the old people get it’.
Will he be held to account,?
Thousands died.
Spent time walking his dog, riding motorcycle, hosting lunches/dinners.
He once said Covid was ‘nature’s way of dealing with old people’, ‘we should let the old people get it’.
Will he be held to account,?
Reposted by Elsa
This is fu*king outrageous!
The federal government on Saturday dismissed charges against a Utah plastic surgeon accused of throwing away COVID-19 vaccines, giving children saline shots instead of the vaccine and selling faked vaccination cards.
apnews.com/article/utah...
The federal government on Saturday dismissed charges against a Utah plastic surgeon accused of throwing away COVID-19 vaccines, giving children saline shots instead of the vaccine and selling faked vaccination cards.
apnews.com/article/utah...
Charges dropped against Utah doctor accused of throwing away $28,000 in COVID vaccine doses
The federal government has dismissed charges against a Utah plastic surgeon accused of throwing away COVID-19 vaccines worth thousands of dollars during the pandemic.
apnews.com
November 22, 2025 at 11:56 PM
This is fu*king outrageous!
The federal government on Saturday dismissed charges against a Utah plastic surgeon accused of throwing away COVID-19 vaccines, giving children saline shots instead of the vaccine and selling faked vaccination cards.
apnews.com/article/utah...
The federal government on Saturday dismissed charges against a Utah plastic surgeon accused of throwing away COVID-19 vaccines, giving children saline shots instead of the vaccine and selling faked vaccination cards.
apnews.com/article/utah...
Reposted by Elsa
LESS! than average
"Per 100,000 people in 2024, the UK came fifth for most applicants (156) after Spain (340), Germany (275), Italy (256) and France (191). The EU average last year was 203 per 100,000 people."
#RefugeesWelcome
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/e...
"Per 100,000 people in 2024, the UK came fifth for most applicants (156) after Spain (340), Germany (275), Italy (256) and France (191). The EU average last year was 203 per 100,000 people."
#RefugeesWelcome
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/e...
As UK imposes radical asylum rules, how do the numbers really compare to Europe?
Home secretary Shabana Mahmood is carrying out one of the largest reforms to the asylum system the UK has ever seen. But is the overhaul really proportionate to the numbers arriving on UK shores? Alex...
www.independent.co.uk
November 23, 2025 at 11:11 AM
LESS! than average
"Per 100,000 people in 2024, the UK came fifth for most applicants (156) after Spain (340), Germany (275), Italy (256) and France (191). The EU average last year was 203 per 100,000 people."
#RefugeesWelcome
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/e...
"Per 100,000 people in 2024, the UK came fifth for most applicants (156) after Spain (340), Germany (275), Italy (256) and France (191). The EU average last year was 203 per 100,000 people."
#RefugeesWelcome
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/e...
Reposted by Elsa
As Trump and Putin work to crush Ukraine and destabilise Europe and Farage’s ally gets sentenced to 10yrs for taking Russian bribes, it’s a good time to revisit this excellent report on how the British rightwing has betrayed us all.
Brexit was their weapon of choice.
bylinetimes.com/2022/03/08/p...
Brexit was their weapon of choice.
bylinetimes.com/2022/03/08/p...
Putin’s Plot Against ‘Great’ Britain – And How He Got Away With It
Peter Jukes tracks Vladimir Putin’s long war against the West and the allies he has found in the pro-Brexit establishment in the plot to derail Britain
bylinetimes.com
November 23, 2025 at 9:31 AM
As Trump and Putin work to crush Ukraine and destabilise Europe and Farage’s ally gets sentenced to 10yrs for taking Russian bribes, it’s a good time to revisit this excellent report on how the British rightwing has betrayed us all.
Brexit was their weapon of choice.
bylinetimes.com/2022/03/08/p...
Brexit was their weapon of choice.
bylinetimes.com/2022/03/08/p...
Reposted by Elsa
“My NHS colleagues and I weren’t willing to let the bodies pile high in their thousands. Johnson no longer mentions them at all.”
Hard hitting and necessary on the government’s covid complacency from @drrachelclarke.com
observer.co.uk/news/...
Hard hitting and necessary on the government’s covid complacency from @drrachelclarke.com
observer.co.uk/news/...
November 23, 2025 at 9:40 AM
“My NHS colleagues and I weren’t willing to let the bodies pile high in their thousands. Johnson no longer mentions them at all.”
Hard hitting and necessary on the government’s covid complacency from @drrachelclarke.com
observer.co.uk/news/...
Hard hitting and necessary on the government’s covid complacency from @drrachelclarke.com
observer.co.uk/news/...
Reposted by Elsa
If you're looking for a Sunday morning read, our website team spent a lot of time writing code to make the animations on this article work, so give it a look, will ya?
www.bellingcat.com/news/uk-and-...
www.bellingcat.com/news/uk-and-...
Building on Ruins: The Russification of Mariupol, One Apartment Block at a Time - bellingcat
Bellingcat has identified 23 multi-storey housing complexes being built in occupied Mariupol and advertised for sale to Russian citizens.
www.bellingcat.com
November 23, 2025 at 8:47 AM
If you're looking for a Sunday morning read, our website team spent a lot of time writing code to make the animations on this article work, so give it a look, will ya?
www.bellingcat.com/news/uk-and-...
www.bellingcat.com/news/uk-and-...
Reposted by Elsa
Covid bereaved families call for all Boris Johnson’s privileges received as a former prime minister including his ministerial pension, his place on the privy council & access to the public duty costs allowance to be withdrawn.
He should also not be made a sir!
#Covidinquiry
He should also not be made a sir!
#Covidinquiry
Covid bereaved call for Boris Johnson to lose ex-PM benefits over inquiry report
Campaign group says it will pursue all legal means to ensure personal accountability for ‘grave betrayal’
www.theguardian.com
November 22, 2025 at 10:18 PM
Covid bereaved families call for all Boris Johnson’s privileges received as a former prime minister including his ministerial pension, his place on the privy council & access to the public duty costs allowance to be withdrawn.
He should also not be made a sir!
#Covidinquiry
He should also not be made a sir!
#Covidinquiry
Reposted by Elsa
🍺 JD Wetherspoon – whose founder campaigned for the UK to leave the EU – is using Ireland as a springboard for its expansion into mainland Europe to avoid Brexit-induced red tape.
https://m.independent.ie/business/wetherspoon-uses-ireland-to-skirt-brexit-red-tape-for-eu-expansion/a1911675912.html
https://m.independent.ie/business/wetherspoon-uses-ireland-to-skirt-brexit-red-tape-for-eu-expansion/a1911675912.html
Wetherspoon uses Ireland to skirt Brexit red tape for EU expansion
UK pub and hotel group JD Wetherspoon – whose founder campaigned for the UK to leave the EU – is using Ireland as a springboard for its expansion into mainland Europe to avoid Brexit-induced red tape...
m.independent.ie
November 21, 2025 at 11:40 AM
🍺 JD Wetherspoon – whose founder campaigned for the UK to leave the EU – is using Ireland as a springboard for its expansion into mainland Europe to avoid Brexit-induced red tape.
https://m.independent.ie/business/wetherspoon-uses-ireland-to-skirt-brexit-red-tape-for-eu-expansion/a1911675912.html
https://m.independent.ie/business/wetherspoon-uses-ireland-to-skirt-brexit-red-tape-for-eu-expansion/a1911675912.html
Reposted by Elsa
Looking forward to when Farage is caught out and issues a statement saying he has no memory of meeting himself -“I go to a lot of events where I may have been but I have no memory of meeting me at any point”
leftfootforward.org/2025/10/nige...
leftfootforward.org/2025/10/nige...
Nigel Farage finally admits to knowing Nathan Gill after senior Reform figure repeatedly claimed he didn’t
Farage has admitted he knew Gill for 'a very long time' but claims he didn't know anything about his pro-Russia activities...
leftfootforward.org
November 22, 2025 at 9:12 PM
Looking forward to when Farage is caught out and issues a statement saying he has no memory of meeting himself -“I go to a lot of events where I may have been but I have no memory of meeting me at any point”
leftfootforward.org/2025/10/nige...
leftfootforward.org/2025/10/nige...
Reposted by Elsa
A tiny bit of shameless self-promotion because the gifting season is creeping up on us. If you’re after something delicious, handcrafted, and ethical, my chocolate boxes, bars, and treats make really lovely gifts. Treat yourself, treat someone else, or both, I won’t judge! Reshares appreciated! 🍫✨
November 22, 2025 at 6:51 PM
A tiny bit of shameless self-promotion because the gifting season is creeping up on us. If you’re after something delicious, handcrafted, and ethical, my chocolate boxes, bars, and treats make really lovely gifts. Treat yourself, treat someone else, or both, I won’t judge! Reshares appreciated! 🍫✨
Reposted by Elsa
The right wing elite are ruthless in protecting their own and getting what they want.
They wanted Johnson. (And what a disaster that was for us).
Now they want Farage. (Would be an off the scale catastrophe for the country).
Time we woke up to the betrayal.
www.adambienkov.co.uk/p/the-confid...
They wanted Johnson. (And what a disaster that was for us).
Now they want Farage. (Would be an off the scale catastrophe for the country).
Time we woke up to the betrayal.
www.adambienkov.co.uk/p/the-confid...
The Confidence Trick That Put Boris Johnson Into Power Is Now Being Used on Nigel Farage
The same people who convinced the British public to back a catastrophic Boris Johnson premiership are now pulling the same trick again with Nigel Farage
www.adambienkov.co.uk
November 22, 2025 at 2:33 PM
The right wing elite are ruthless in protecting their own and getting what they want.
They wanted Johnson. (And what a disaster that was for us).
Now they want Farage. (Would be an off the scale catastrophe for the country).
Time we woke up to the betrayal.
www.adambienkov.co.uk/p/the-confid...
They wanted Johnson. (And what a disaster that was for us).
Now they want Farage. (Would be an off the scale catastrophe for the country).
Time we woke up to the betrayal.
www.adambienkov.co.uk/p/the-confid...
Reposted by Elsa
FT Editorial.
“This was the week when any ambiguity surely disappeared. The true cynical, money-grabbing and self-interested nature of his world view was laid bare.”
“This was the week when any ambiguity surely disappeared. The true cynical, money-grabbing and self-interested nature of his world view was laid bare.”
Trump’s world view: cynical, self-interested and money-grabbing
[FREE TO READ] Latest Ukraine peace plan presented by the US would be a capitulation to Moscow
on.ft.com
November 22, 2025 at 3:28 PM
FT Editorial.
“This was the week when any ambiguity surely disappeared. The true cynical, money-grabbing and self-interested nature of his world view was laid bare.”
“This was the week when any ambiguity surely disappeared. The true cynical, money-grabbing and self-interested nature of his world view was laid bare.”
Reposted by Elsa
As Ukraine marks Holodomor Remembrance Day, mourning millions of victims of Stalin's genocidal famine, it feels as though the Trump administration is happy to give Putin another chance to finish off what Stalin started. Europe should do everything in its power to help Ukraine & defeat Russia.
November 22, 2025 at 2:36 PM
As Ukraine marks Holodomor Remembrance Day, mourning millions of victims of Stalin's genocidal famine, it feels as though the Trump administration is happy to give Putin another chance to finish off what Stalin started. Europe should do everything in its power to help Ukraine & defeat Russia.
Reposted by Elsa
Farage can now be easily boxed in to a corner where his only ‘defence’ becomes: “Yes I spouted Kremlin propaganda & Putin worship but, unlike Nathan Gill, I didn’t need bribes to do it.”
It is, once again, a question of whether interviewers have the temerity to shut down his whining obfuscations.
It is, once again, a question of whether interviewers have the temerity to shut down his whining obfuscations.
November 22, 2025 at 11:04 AM
Farage can now be easily boxed in to a corner where his only ‘defence’ becomes: “Yes I spouted Kremlin propaganda & Putin worship but, unlike Nathan Gill, I didn’t need bribes to do it.”
It is, once again, a question of whether interviewers have the temerity to shut down his whining obfuscations.
It is, once again, a question of whether interviewers have the temerity to shut down his whining obfuscations.
Reposted by Elsa
⬇️ Brexit has cost the country between 6% and 8% of GDP per person over the last decade, a hit of £180 billion ($235 billion) to £240 billion.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-11-21/brexit-hit-to-uk-economy-double-official-estimate-study-finds
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-11-21/brexit-hit-to-uk-economy-double-official-estimate-study-finds
Brexit Hit to UK Economy Double Official Estimate, Study Finds
Brexit has caused almost twice as much damage to the UK economy than estimated by official forecasts, according to new paper from a group of experts including a senior Bank of England economist.
www.bloomberg.com
November 22, 2025 at 10:50 AM
⬇️ Brexit has cost the country between 6% and 8% of GDP per person over the last decade, a hit of £180 billion ($235 billion) to £240 billion.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-11-21/brexit-hit-to-uk-economy-double-official-estimate-study-finds
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-11-21/brexit-hit-to-uk-economy-double-official-estimate-study-finds
Reposted by Elsa
I KNOW. “Protect women’s rights!” Just not those women. And not those rights.
I am constantly being called a ‘handmaiden’ for being trans-inclusive. And then they’re the ones water-carrying for the patriarchy…
I am constantly being called a ‘handmaiden’ for being trans-inclusive. And then they’re the ones water-carrying for the patriarchy…
November 21, 2025 at 10:58 AM
I KNOW. “Protect women’s rights!” Just not those women. And not those rights.
I am constantly being called a ‘handmaiden’ for being trans-inclusive. And then they’re the ones water-carrying for the patriarchy…
I am constantly being called a ‘handmaiden’ for being trans-inclusive. And then they’re the ones water-carrying for the patriarchy…
Reposted by Elsa
There are plenty of links between the anti-trans “women’s rights” movement & anti-feminist conservatism. And opposing abortion is a logical conclusion for a movement that says no, you should not have agency over your own body; no, you do not know best about yourself; no, you have no choice.
No way I’m sharing Stock’s UnHerd article. But I am going to point to this bit which amply demonstrates the anti-trans=>anti-women’s rights pipeline. “Abortions should only be done for a highly restricted set of reasons. They should not be just nodded through for any reason a pregnant woman likes.”
November 22, 2025 at 10:40 AM
There are plenty of links between the anti-trans “women’s rights” movement & anti-feminist conservatism. And opposing abortion is a logical conclusion for a movement that says no, you should not have agency over your own body; no, you do not know best about yourself; no, you have no choice.
Reposted by Elsa
Ukraine won’t be defeated. Ukrainian culture, Ukrainian identity, Ukrainian dignity have only increased since I last visited Kyiv just after the Euromaidan 11 years ago.
The Poles were subjugated for 200 years, and yet military might and the betrayal of allies, could not crush them either
The Poles were subjugated for 200 years, and yet military might and the betrayal of allies, could not crush them either
November 22, 2025 at 10:41 AM
Ukraine won’t be defeated. Ukrainian culture, Ukrainian identity, Ukrainian dignity have only increased since I last visited Kyiv just after the Euromaidan 11 years ago.
The Poles were subjugated for 200 years, and yet military might and the betrayal of allies, could not crush them either
The Poles were subjugated for 200 years, and yet military might and the betrayal of allies, could not crush them either
Reposted by Elsa
Nigel Farage's mega donor owns a chunk of Tether, the stablecoin laundering billions for Russia's Ukraine invasion, dodging sanctions and funding Putin's war toys. UK investigators nail it. #SanctionsEvasion
November 21, 2025 at 8:46 AM
Nigel Farage's mega donor owns a chunk of Tether, the stablecoin laundering billions for Russia's Ukraine invasion, dodging sanctions and funding Putin's war toys. UK investigators nail it. #SanctionsEvasion
Reposted by Elsa
At PMQs, Starmer avoided answering a question from Ed Davey, about whether the government would act to stop gambling companies shifting profits offshore to avoid UK tax. Davey said that online gambling firms are taking record revenues of over £7bn per year.
www.itv.com/news/2025-11...
www.itv.com/news/2025-11...
www.itv.com
November 21, 2025 at 8:25 AM
At PMQs, Starmer avoided answering a question from Ed Davey, about whether the government would act to stop gambling companies shifting profits offshore to avoid UK tax. Davey said that online gambling firms are taking record revenues of over £7bn per year.
www.itv.com/news/2025-11...
www.itv.com/news/2025-11...
Reposted by Elsa
"Humanity is 'living beyond limits'...
Exceed 1.5C...and we also approach tipping points for large Earth regulating systems...This translates to existential risks for billions of people...within decades..."
Read more for actions needed:
Exceed 1.5C...and we also approach tipping points for large Earth regulating systems...This translates to existential risks for billions of people...within decades..."
Read more for actions needed:
November 22, 2025 at 9:48 AM
"Humanity is 'living beyond limits'...
Exceed 1.5C...and we also approach tipping points for large Earth regulating systems...This translates to existential risks for billions of people...within decades..."
Read more for actions needed:
Exceed 1.5C...and we also approach tipping points for large Earth regulating systems...This translates to existential risks for billions of people...within decades..."
Read more for actions needed:
Reposted by Elsa
Ultimately, you can't demand some people's exclusion and not expect to show your "credentials" for inclusion; demand femininity be defined and policed, but only for others.
That's the thing with "safe". There's no way of locking others out that doesn't also lock you in. Your fort is also your cell.
That's the thing with "safe". There's no way of locking others out that doesn't also lock you in. Your fort is also your cell.
"Trans people could be asked about whether they should be accessing single-sex services based on their physical appearance."
No. not "trans people". ANYONE. This moral panic leads inexorably to the policing of women based on their appearance deemed to be "unfeminine".
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
No. not "trans people". ANYONE. This moral panic leads inexorably to the policing of women based on their appearance deemed to be "unfeminine".
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Trans people could be barred from services based on appearance
The new code of practice on access to single-sex services cannot gain legal force until it gets sign-off from ministers.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 22, 2025 at 12:27 AM
Ultimately, you can't demand some people's exclusion and not expect to show your "credentials" for inclusion; demand femininity be defined and policed, but only for others.
That's the thing with "safe". There's no way of locking others out that doesn't also lock you in. Your fort is also your cell.
That's the thing with "safe". There's no way of locking others out that doesn't also lock you in. Your fort is also your cell.
Reposted by Elsa
Ex-leader of Reform UK in Wales sentenced to 10.5 years in prison for taking bribes for pro-Russia interviews and speeches.
Who else was involved,?
Party can now add treason to racism, misogyny, islamaphobia, economic illiteracy as its electoral credentials.
Who else was involved,?
Party can now add treason to racism, misogyny, islamaphobia, economic illiteracy as its electoral credentials.
Former Reform in Wales leader Nathan Gill jailed for pro-Russian bribery
Nathan Gill, 52, is sentenced to 10 and a half years in prison after admitting taking bribes while an MEP.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 22, 2025 at 7:28 AM
Ex-leader of Reform UK in Wales sentenced to 10.5 years in prison for taking bribes for pro-Russia interviews and speeches.
Who else was involved,?
Party can now add treason to racism, misogyny, islamaphobia, economic illiteracy as its electoral credentials.
Who else was involved,?
Party can now add treason to racism, misogyny, islamaphobia, economic illiteracy as its electoral credentials.
Reposted by Elsa
Although my natural instinct would be to make a joke out of this, the length of the prison sentence shows it’s a very serious matter. And, I presume, given the way secret services operate, very unlikely to be an isolated case.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Reform UK’s former Wales leader jailed for taking bribes for pro-Russia speeches
Police say Nathan Gill received at least £40,000 while he was an MEP from Oleg Voloshyn, an alleged Russian asset
www.theguardian.com
November 21, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Although my natural instinct would be to make a joke out of this, the length of the prison sentence shows it’s a very serious matter. And, I presume, given the way secret services operate, very unlikely to be an isolated case.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Elsa
Massive shoutout out to whoever handles the Royal Canadian Air Force’s social media account. They responded to every single comment on their already very solid Trans Day of Remembrance post and they responded like this…
November 22, 2025 at 1:03 AM
Massive shoutout out to whoever handles the Royal Canadian Air Force’s social media account. They responded to every single comment on their already very solid Trans Day of Remembrance post and they responded like this…