Fionna O’Leary
@fascinatorfun.bsky.social
Retired Lawyer, cook, Europhile, books, music, good conversations, gardens, walking. Bird site refugee 🇬🇧 🇮🇪
Reposted by Fionna O’Leary
But then Labour has had an authoritarian streak an absolute mile wide for a long time.
November 17, 2025 at 9:46 PM
But then Labour has had an authoritarian streak an absolute mile wide for a long time.
Reposted by Fionna O’Leary
It’s either the most vacuous, pig-headed political naivety, or a genuine appetite for the cruelty. Either is appalling in a sitting government with a huge majority.
November 17, 2025 at 9:43 PM
It’s either the most vacuous, pig-headed political naivety, or a genuine appetite for the cruelty. Either is appalling in a sitting government with a huge majority.
Reposted by Fionna O’Leary
Labour has comprehensively trapped itself by agreeing to play entirely by their opponents’ rules.
The game is fixed so the only move that’s ever available is more and worse cruelty, while at the same time no level of cruelty will ever be enough to win.
A moral & political death-spiral.
The game is fixed so the only move that’s ever available is more and worse cruelty, while at the same time no level of cruelty will ever be enough to win.
A moral & political death-spiral.
Lots of Labour MPs asking Mahmood tonight to rule out child detention. She won’t rule it out. That’s because forced removals of families will mean children in detention for periods.
Home Office ruling out deportation of lone minors but the changes will certainly mean more detention of children.
Home Office ruling out deportation of lone minors but the changes will certainly mean more detention of children.
November 17, 2025 at 9:40 PM
Labour has comprehensively trapped itself by agreeing to play entirely by their opponents’ rules.
The game is fixed so the only move that’s ever available is more and worse cruelty, while at the same time no level of cruelty will ever be enough to win.
A moral & political death-spiral.
The game is fixed so the only move that’s ever available is more and worse cruelty, while at the same time no level of cruelty will ever be enough to win.
A moral & political death-spiral.
Reposted by Fionna O’Leary
President Trump's sanctions against the International Criminal Court are preventing Americans from helping the court prosecute the gravest international crimes.
Our clients are suing the Trump administration because the First Amendment protects speech that aids the ICC's work.
Our clients are suing the Trump administration because the First Amendment protects speech that aids the ICC's work.
How sanctions imposed by Trump are taking a toll on the International Criminal Court
The International Criminal Court, or ICC, only intervenes when national courts can't or won't prosecute crimes like genocide and crimes against humanity. But after the Trump administration sanctioned several members of the court this year, Americans trying to prosecute some of the world's worst crimes at the ICC are discovering those sanctions are preventing them from doing that. Kira Kay reports.
www.pbs.org
November 17, 2025 at 10:32 PM
President Trump's sanctions against the International Criminal Court are preventing Americans from helping the court prosecute the gravest international crimes.
Our clients are suing the Trump administration because the First Amendment protects speech that aids the ICC's work.
Our clients are suing the Trump administration because the First Amendment protects speech that aids the ICC's work.
Reposted by Fionna O’Leary
One of the most shameful incidents of WW2 was when the government and press scapegoated refugees, then decided to pack them off an a cramped ship, The HMT DUNERA and ship them to Australia.
As they boarded the boat they were stripped of the valuables and robbed by the guards.
Now government policy
As they boarded the boat they were stripped of the valuables and robbed by the guards.
Now government policy
November 17, 2025 at 6:17 PM
One of the most shameful incidents of WW2 was when the government and press scapegoated refugees, then decided to pack them off an a cramped ship, The HMT DUNERA and ship them to Australia.
As they boarded the boat they were stripped of the valuables and robbed by the guards.
Now government policy
As they boarded the boat they were stripped of the valuables and robbed by the guards.
Now government policy
Reposted by Fionna O’Leary
After a year of sucking up, the PM can’t even get Donald Trump on the phone as he tries to destroy one of our most important institutions, the BBC.
Was the state visit really worth this?
Was the state visit really worth this?
November 17, 2025 at 1:15 PM
After a year of sucking up, the PM can’t even get Donald Trump on the phone as he tries to destroy one of our most important institutions, the BBC.
Was the state visit really worth this?
Was the state visit really worth this?
Reposted by Fionna O’Leary
Lots of Labour MPs asking Mahmood tonight to rule out child detention. She won’t rule it out. That’s because forced removals of families will mean children in detention for periods.
Home Office ruling out deportation of lone minors but the changes will certainly mean more detention of children.
Home Office ruling out deportation of lone minors but the changes will certainly mean more detention of children.
November 17, 2025 at 8:32 PM
Lots of Labour MPs asking Mahmood tonight to rule out child detention. She won’t rule it out. That’s because forced removals of families will mean children in detention for periods.
Home Office ruling out deportation of lone minors but the changes will certainly mean more detention of children.
Home Office ruling out deportation of lone minors but the changes will certainly mean more detention of children.
Reposted by Fionna O’Leary
In the run up to the Budget, the economic impact of Brexit is becoming clearer everyday.
'GDP reduced by 8%' - Nine-year study reveals how Brexit decimated UK economy
Can't help but feel those responsible for Brexit should not, for example, be riding high in the polls with a new party...
www.thelondoneconomic.com
November 17, 2025 at 3:30 PM
In the run up to the Budget, the economic impact of Brexit is becoming clearer everyday.
Reposted by Fionna O’Leary
He’s a joke - we were never servants -but a well respected country in our own right - Shame on your ignorance
Michael Caine "I voted for Brexit... I'd rather be a poor master than a rich servant... You get lost, and then you find your way, and it will be alright."
This Brexiteer lives in LA, has never been a poor anything, and there are zero consequences for his actions on him.
This Brexiteer lives in LA, has never been a poor anything, and there are zero consequences for his actions on him.
November 17, 2025 at 9:22 PM
He’s a joke - we were never servants -but a well respected country in our own right - Shame on your ignorance
Reposted by Fionna O’Leary
Reposted by Fionna O’Leary
As Labour proposes limiting the protection of the ECHR, we must remember what it was set up to do; protect us all from abuses of power by our govts.
Be v wary then of anyone calling to do that. You may not be the target now. But why shouldn’t you be next?
bestforbritain.substack.com/p/why-we-and...
Be v wary then of anyone calling to do that. You may not be the target now. But why shouldn’t you be next?
bestforbritain.substack.com/p/why-we-and...
Why we - and the Home Secretary - disapply the ECHR at our peril
By Jessica Frank-Keyes
bestforbritain.substack.com
November 17, 2025 at 8:14 PM
As Labour proposes limiting the protection of the ECHR, we must remember what it was set up to do; protect us all from abuses of power by our govts.
Be v wary then of anyone calling to do that. You may not be the target now. But why shouldn’t you be next?
bestforbritain.substack.com/p/why-we-and...
Be v wary then of anyone calling to do that. You may not be the target now. But why shouldn’t you be next?
bestforbritain.substack.com/p/why-we-and...
Reposted by Fionna O’Leary
I really cannot see any political capital being gained from Labour's new ultra-cruel immigration policy
It is a political strategic fuck-up of epic proportions
As Sir Humphrey Appleby would have said, Shabana Mahmood is being "very brave", which was his code word for "spectacularly stupid"
It is a political strategic fuck-up of epic proportions
As Sir Humphrey Appleby would have said, Shabana Mahmood is being "very brave", which was his code word for "spectacularly stupid"
November 17, 2025 at 10:37 PM
I really cannot see any political capital being gained from Labour's new ultra-cruel immigration policy
It is a political strategic fuck-up of epic proportions
As Sir Humphrey Appleby would have said, Shabana Mahmood is being "very brave", which was his code word for "spectacularly stupid"
It is a political strategic fuck-up of epic proportions
As Sir Humphrey Appleby would have said, Shabana Mahmood is being "very brave", which was his code word for "spectacularly stupid"
Reposted by Fionna O’Leary
The quiet part is now out loud: Trump, Pam Bondi, Todd Blanche, & Emil Bove complete their demolition of the U.S. Department of Justice.
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
60 Attorneys on the Year of Chaos Inside Trump’s Justice Department
Sixty former staffers describe an environment of suspicion and intimidation within the nation’s most powerful law enforcement agency.
www.nytimes.com
November 17, 2025 at 10:38 PM
The quiet part is now out loud: Trump, Pam Bondi, Todd Blanche, & Emil Bove complete their demolition of the U.S. Department of Justice.
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Reposted by Fionna O’Leary
Hi Fionna 🌿
I’m a software engineer from Gaza, and I recently joined BlueSky to share what life is like here.
If you could help by sharing my profile or one of my posts, it would truly make a difference and help my voice reach more people.
Thank you for standing with humanity. 💙🙏
I’m a software engineer from Gaza, and I recently joined BlueSky to share what life is like here.
If you could help by sharing my profile or one of my posts, it would truly make a difference and help my voice reach more people.
Thank you for standing with humanity. 💙🙏
November 17, 2025 at 8:58 PM
Hi Fionna 🌿
I’m a software engineer from Gaza, and I recently joined BlueSky to share what life is like here.
If you could help by sharing my profile or one of my posts, it would truly make a difference and help my voice reach more people.
Thank you for standing with humanity. 💙🙏
I’m a software engineer from Gaza, and I recently joined BlueSky to share what life is like here.
If you could help by sharing my profile or one of my posts, it would truly make a difference and help my voice reach more people.
Thank you for standing with humanity. 💙🙏
“I’m sorry to find that the Reform Party is living rent-free in so many people’s heads,” Shabana Mahmood told the Commons. “I can assure you, it’s living nowhere near mine.” Much of what the new Home Secretary said on Monday evening was questionable…this line was total rubbish.
November 17, 2025 at 10:36 PM
“I’m sorry to find that the Reform Party is living rent-free in so many people’s heads,” Shabana Mahmood told the Commons. “I can assure you, it’s living nowhere near mine.” Much of what the new Home Secretary said on Monday evening was questionable…this line was total rubbish.
How can Americans possibly be unaware when us, in the U.K., are very aware?
Got to be wilful blindness and deafness.
Got to be wilful blindness and deafness.
"Normalcy bias" blinds Americans to the catastrophic dangers ahead.
Very big, very bad things are happening in America, but most Americans are unaware. Ignorance is gonna get us all killed.
Very big, very bad things are happening in America, but most Americans are unaware. Ignorance is gonna get us all killed.
"Normalcy bias" blinds Americans to the catastrophic dangers ahead.
Very big, very bad things are happening in America, but most Americans are unaware. Ignorance is gonna get us all killed.
www.malloy.rocks
November 17, 2025 at 5:33 PM
How can Americans possibly be unaware when us, in the U.K., are very aware?
Got to be wilful blindness and deafness.
Got to be wilful blindness and deafness.
Reposted by Fionna O’Leary
Another experiment was to calculate an approximate total wealth of people holding wealth of £10 million or more in the UK, from the existing, given sources. Basically calculating an area under the curve. Should be easy.
The LLM just got stuck on quoting the sources over and over again.
Pathetic.
The LLM just got stuck on quoting the sources over and over again.
Pathetic.
November 17, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Another experiment was to calculate an approximate total wealth of people holding wealth of £10 million or more in the UK, from the existing, given sources. Basically calculating an area under the curve. Should be easy.
The LLM just got stuck on quoting the sources over and over again.
Pathetic.
The LLM just got stuck on quoting the sources over and over again.
Pathetic.
Reposted by Fionna O’Leary
Recently I did an experiment with LLM model I use.
I gave it parameters for solving Septle after majority of letters were ruled out.
It went wildly illogical.
It included words longer than 7 letters. It included eliminated letters.
It didn't understand that already solved letters were immovable.
I gave it parameters for solving Septle after majority of letters were ruled out.
It went wildly illogical.
It included words longer than 7 letters. It included eliminated letters.
It didn't understand that already solved letters were immovable.
November 17, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Recently I did an experiment with LLM model I use.
I gave it parameters for solving Septle after majority of letters were ruled out.
It went wildly illogical.
It included words longer than 7 letters. It included eliminated letters.
It didn't understand that already solved letters were immovable.
I gave it parameters for solving Septle after majority of letters were ruled out.
It went wildly illogical.
It included words longer than 7 letters. It included eliminated letters.
It didn't understand that already solved letters were immovable.
Reposted by Fionna O’Leary
We then stuck with open-ends but changed the question a little.
Most pollsters ask about issues facing the country.
When we ask about people's day-to-day lives, the change is starkly different.
Immigration is only mentioned in a tenth of results. A majority mentioned the Cost of Living.
Most pollsters ask about issues facing the country.
When we ask about people's day-to-day lives, the change is starkly different.
Immigration is only mentioned in a tenth of results. A majority mentioned the Cost of Living.
November 17, 2025 at 11:41 AM
We then stuck with open-ends but changed the question a little.
Most pollsters ask about issues facing the country.
When we ask about people's day-to-day lives, the change is starkly different.
Immigration is only mentioned in a tenth of results. A majority mentioned the Cost of Living.
Most pollsters ask about issues facing the country.
When we ask about people's day-to-day lives, the change is starkly different.
Immigration is only mentioned in a tenth of results. A majority mentioned the Cost of Living.
Reposted by Fionna O’Leary
Next is open-ending.
Shown here from @ipsosintheuk.bsky.social, immigration also tops the list even when asking open-ends.
We ran our own version of this and found that responses show that mentions of immigration reflect salience rather than a fixed attitude: people raise it for different reasons.
Shown here from @ipsosintheuk.bsky.social, immigration also tops the list even when asking open-ends.
We ran our own version of this and found that responses show that mentions of immigration reflect salience rather than a fixed attitude: people raise it for different reasons.
November 17, 2025 at 11:41 AM
Next is open-ending.
Shown here from @ipsosintheuk.bsky.social, immigration also tops the list even when asking open-ends.
We ran our own version of this and found that responses show that mentions of immigration reflect salience rather than a fixed attitude: people raise it for different reasons.
Shown here from @ipsosintheuk.bsky.social, immigration also tops the list even when asking open-ends.
We ran our own version of this and found that responses show that mentions of immigration reflect salience rather than a fixed attitude: people raise it for different reasons.
Reposted by Fionna O’Leary
First is wording and options.
In an experiment we conducted with @opiniumresearch.bsky.social, when respondents were shown the 'cost of living' as an option, it drove the importance of immigration down a bit.
Immigration is salient, but unlike an issue like health, more prone to fluctuating.
In an experiment we conducted with @opiniumresearch.bsky.social, when respondents were shown the 'cost of living' as an option, it drove the importance of immigration down a bit.
Immigration is salient, but unlike an issue like health, more prone to fluctuating.
November 17, 2025 at 11:41 AM
First is wording and options.
In an experiment we conducted with @opiniumresearch.bsky.social, when respondents were shown the 'cost of living' as an option, it drove the importance of immigration down a bit.
Immigration is salient, but unlike an issue like health, more prone to fluctuating.
In an experiment we conducted with @opiniumresearch.bsky.social, when respondents were shown the 'cost of living' as an option, it drove the importance of immigration down a bit.
Immigration is salient, but unlike an issue like health, more prone to fluctuating.
Reposted by Fionna O’Leary
Yesterday, we put out a report on the most important issues to voters.
We know that immigration now tops the traditional most important issues question (see below from @yougov.co.uk).
But that doesn't tell the full story.
Here is a rundown of the experiments we did to test this out (A THREAD):
We know that immigration now tops the traditional most important issues question (see below from @yougov.co.uk).
But that doesn't tell the full story.
Here is a rundown of the experiments we did to test this out (A THREAD):
November 17, 2025 at 11:41 AM
Yesterday, we put out a report on the most important issues to voters.
We know that immigration now tops the traditional most important issues question (see below from @yougov.co.uk).
But that doesn't tell the full story.
Here is a rundown of the experiments we did to test this out (A THREAD):
We know that immigration now tops the traditional most important issues question (see below from @yougov.co.uk).
But that doesn't tell the full story.
Here is a rundown of the experiments we did to test this out (A THREAD):
Reposted by Fionna O’Leary
a really important thread digging into the nuance behind headline polling numbers on immigration.
Yesterday, we put out a report on the most important issues to voters.
We know that immigration now tops the traditional most important issues question (see below from @yougov.co.uk).
But that doesn't tell the full story.
Here is a rundown of the experiments we did to test this out (A THREAD):
We know that immigration now tops the traditional most important issues question (see below from @yougov.co.uk).
But that doesn't tell the full story.
Here is a rundown of the experiments we did to test this out (A THREAD):
November 17, 2025 at 12:24 PM
a really important thread digging into the nuance behind headline polling numbers on immigration.
Reposted by Fionna O’Leary
At the Reform press conference I asked Richard Tice about Matthew Goodwin being made the head of the party's student wing, and Goodwin's views on some minority ethnic Britons not being British.
Tice did *not* distance Reform from Goodwin or the views – feels like a significant moment.
Tice did *not* distance Reform from Goodwin or the views – feels like a significant moment.
November 17, 2025 at 12:24 PM
At the Reform press conference I asked Richard Tice about Matthew Goodwin being made the head of the party's student wing, and Goodwin's views on some minority ethnic Britons not being British.
Tice did *not* distance Reform from Goodwin or the views – feels like a significant moment.
Tice did *not* distance Reform from Goodwin or the views – feels like a significant moment.
Reposted by Fionna O’Leary
Perhaps they could also have their teeth checked for any gold fillings.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Asylum seekers’ jewellery could be seized to pay for processing costs, says Home Office minister
Idea borrowed from Denmark is latest attempt to reduce number of people seeking asylum in UK
www.theguardian.com
November 17, 2025 at 12:24 PM
Perhaps they could also have their teeth checked for any gold fillings.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...