Ian Skidmore
@ianjskidmore.bsky.social
Writing again after a hiatus. Also practising grade 3 jazz piano, rehearsing the Nauti' Buoys set list, gardening, dog-walking, cooking…
Blog: https://ianskidmore.co.uk/
Blog: https://ianskidmore.co.uk/
Reposted by Ian Skidmore
🔴There's been a lot of coverage about David Lammy’s cuts to jury trials but relatively little - nothing! - on his plans to scrap the automatic right to appeal so I took a look for @bylinetimes.bsky.social.
bylinetimes.com/2025/12/03/d...
bylinetimes.com/2025/12/03/d...
David Lammy's Plans to Scrap Automatic Right to Appeal Risk 'Increasing Miscarriages of Justice'
Lawyers and legal campaigners say the changes risk removing "vital safeguards" and shutting out vulnerable defendants from justice
bylinetimes.com
December 3, 2025 at 7:59 PM
🔴There's been a lot of coverage about David Lammy’s cuts to jury trials but relatively little - nothing! - on his plans to scrap the automatic right to appeal so I took a look for @bylinetimes.bsky.social.
bylinetimes.com/2025/12/03/d...
bylinetimes.com/2025/12/03/d...
Reposted by Ian Skidmore
An astonishing letter published in the Times of London.
December 3, 2025 at 3:05 PM
An astonishing letter published in the Times of London.
Reposted by Ian Skidmore
2 in 3 of Nigel Farage’s current and former partners do not speak English as their first language.
December 3, 2025 at 11:03 PM
2 in 3 of Nigel Farage’s current and former partners do not speak English as their first language.
Reposted by Ian Skidmore
A prime example of how the far right can never be appeased. Give them whatever they demand and they’ll bank it, then use it as a new base camp to strike out for more and worse.
December 3, 2025 at 8:46 PM
A prime example of how the far right can never be appeased. Give them whatever they demand and they’ll bank it, then use it as a new base camp to strike out for more and worse.
Reposted by Ian Skidmore
Time to admit the truth: Brexit has been an unmitigated economic failure, says The Telegraph.
Brexit Effect:
UK GDP down 8%
Investment down 18%
Productivity down 4%
Employment down 4%
Immigration not cut
No trade benefits
No regulatory freedom
Why do some still vote for Farage?
archive.ph/L2Gqp
Brexit Effect:
UK GDP down 8%
Investment down 18%
Productivity down 4%
Employment down 4%
Immigration not cut
No trade benefits
No regulatory freedom
Why do some still vote for Farage?
archive.ph/L2Gqp
Access Restricted
www.telegraph.co.uk
December 3, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Time to admit the truth: Brexit has been an unmitigated economic failure, says The Telegraph.
Brexit Effect:
UK GDP down 8%
Investment down 18%
Productivity down 4%
Employment down 4%
Immigration not cut
No trade benefits
No regulatory freedom
Why do some still vote for Farage?
archive.ph/L2Gqp
Brexit Effect:
UK GDP down 8%
Investment down 18%
Productivity down 4%
Employment down 4%
Immigration not cut
No trade benefits
No regulatory freedom
Why do some still vote for Farage?
archive.ph/L2Gqp
Reposted by Ian Skidmore
This is vile and so so wrong. GB News is the TV version of X.
Extreme racism like this should not be platformed as ‘news.’
It is absolutely disgusting and another attempt to drag ‘debate’ to the right and destabilise our democracy.
Extreme racism like this should not be platformed as ‘news.’
It is absolutely disgusting and another attempt to drag ‘debate’ to the right and destabilise our democracy.
GB News now broadcasting calls to remove the ethnic minority MPs from parliament
December 3, 2025 at 7:53 PM
This is vile and so so wrong. GB News is the TV version of X.
Extreme racism like this should not be platformed as ‘news.’
It is absolutely disgusting and another attempt to drag ‘debate’ to the right and destabilise our democracy.
Extreme racism like this should not be platformed as ‘news.’
It is absolutely disgusting and another attempt to drag ‘debate’ to the right and destabilise our democracy.
Reposted by Ian Skidmore
Reform UK's Staffordshire council leader made series of racist posts including telling British academic to "f*** off back to Nigeria" and liking white supremacist posts saying "White Men Have The Best Lives Because We Are White & Better Than The Rest Of the World" hopenothate.org.uk/2025/12/03/r...
December 3, 2025 at 7:38 PM
Reform UK's Staffordshire council leader made series of racist posts including telling British academic to "f*** off back to Nigeria" and liking white supremacist posts saying "White Men Have The Best Lives Because We Are White & Better Than The Rest Of the World" hopenothate.org.uk/2025/12/03/r...
Reposted by Ian Skidmore
This is why it really matters that Farage is challenged on his racism, and why govt is so irresponsible to have endorsed the ‘legitimate concerns’ lie, instead of roundly rejecting intolerance and insisting on an honest and decent approach to immigration policy.
December 3, 2025 at 8:13 PM
This is why it really matters that Farage is challenged on his racism, and why govt is so irresponsible to have endorsed the ‘legitimate concerns’ lie, instead of roundly rejecting intolerance and insisting on an honest and decent approach to immigration policy.
Reposted by Ian Skidmore
Just @lbc.co.uk being full-on wankers. ⤵️
Anyone who still thinks the meeja's never ending campaign to Gotcha! Rachel Reeves isn't underpinned by misogyny is a fucking moron.
Anyone who still thinks the meeja's never ending campaign to Gotcha! Rachel Reeves isn't underpinned by misogyny is a fucking moron.
December 3, 2025 at 8:17 PM
Just @lbc.co.uk being full-on wankers. ⤵️
Anyone who still thinks the meeja's never ending campaign to Gotcha! Rachel Reeves isn't underpinned by misogyny is a fucking moron.
Anyone who still thinks the meeja's never ending campaign to Gotcha! Rachel Reeves isn't underpinned by misogyny is a fucking moron.
Reposted by Ian Skidmore
Juries are not just part of our legal system — they are vital defenders of the right to protest.
With anti-protest laws still in place, I asked the Government what risks getting rid of jury trials will have on our democracy.
#RightToProtest #Democracy
With anti-protest laws still in place, I asked the Government what risks getting rid of jury trials will have on our democracy.
#RightToProtest #Democracy
December 3, 2025 at 7:03 PM
Juries are not just part of our legal system — they are vital defenders of the right to protest.
With anti-protest laws still in place, I asked the Government what risks getting rid of jury trials will have on our democracy.
#RightToProtest #Democracy
With anti-protest laws still in place, I asked the Government what risks getting rid of jury trials will have on our democracy.
#RightToProtest #Democracy
Reposted by Ian Skidmore
That Tomlinson guy is deeply problematic
GB News now broadcasting calls to remove the ethnic minority MPs from parliament
December 3, 2025 at 7:14 PM
That Tomlinson guy is deeply problematic
Reposted by Ian Skidmore
GB News now broadcasting calls to remove the ethnic minority MPs from parliament
December 3, 2025 at 7:07 PM
GB News now broadcasting calls to remove the ethnic minority MPs from parliament
Reposted by Ian Skidmore
The war will end when Russia stops fighting. Therefore, pressure has to be put on Russia, so that they stop believing that they will win. Why is that so hard to understand?
November 27, 2025 at 1:49 AM
The war will end when Russia stops fighting. Therefore, pressure has to be put on Russia, so that they stop believing that they will win. Why is that so hard to understand?
Reposted by Ian Skidmore
Why does Marco Rubio care about our immigration policy?
the US is trying to export its nationalism to its allies.
youtube.com/shorts/CYn48...
the US is trying to export its nationalism to its allies.
youtube.com/shorts/CYn48...
Why does Marco Rubio care about your country's immigration policy?
YouTube video by Professor Christina Pagel
youtube.com
December 3, 2025 at 5:19 PM
Why does Marco Rubio care about our immigration policy?
the US is trying to export its nationalism to its allies.
youtube.com/shorts/CYn48...
the US is trying to export its nationalism to its allies.
youtube.com/shorts/CYn48...
Reposted by Ian Skidmore
Trump calls human beings “vermin,” “garbage,” “diseases,” “poison,” and “animals.”
Then, when I rightfully point out that the same dehumanizing language has been used by fascist regimes to justify humanity’s worst atrocities—Republicans lose their minds.
Give me a break.
Then, when I rightfully point out that the same dehumanizing language has been used by fascist regimes to justify humanity’s worst atrocities—Republicans lose their minds.
Give me a break.
Trump on Somalis: "We're gonna go the wrong way if we keep taking in garbage into our country. Ilhan Omar is garbage. She's garbage. Her friends are garbage."
December 3, 2025 at 5:07 PM
Trump calls human beings “vermin,” “garbage,” “diseases,” “poison,” and “animals.”
Then, when I rightfully point out that the same dehumanizing language has been used by fascist regimes to justify humanity’s worst atrocities—Republicans lose their minds.
Give me a break.
Then, when I rightfully point out that the same dehumanizing language has been used by fascist regimes to justify humanity’s worst atrocities—Republicans lose their minds.
Give me a break.
Reposted by Ian Skidmore
If we're not at war, Pete Hegseth is a murderer. If we are at war, Pete Hegseth is still a murderer. He's a murderer. And you don't need to go to The Hague to hold him accountable because there are perfectly good, American laws AGAINST MURDER.
My latest in @thenation.com
My latest in @thenation.com
Pete Hegseth Should Be Charged With Murder
No matter how you look at the strikes on alleged “drug boats”—as acts of war or attacks on civilians—Hegseth has committed a crime and should be prosecuted.
www.thenation.com
December 3, 2025 at 5:18 PM
If we're not at war, Pete Hegseth is a murderer. If we are at war, Pete Hegseth is still a murderer. He's a murderer. And you don't need to go to The Hague to hold him accountable because there are perfectly good, American laws AGAINST MURDER.
My latest in @thenation.com
My latest in @thenation.com
Reposted by Ian Skidmore
It seems that Farage’s key aide and “like a son to me” George Cottrell has been frontman for Premier League billionaire’s betting syndicate, lawsuit claims. He‘s also been in the inner circle of the Brexit Party and ReFuk despite his 🇺🇸 conviction for wire fraud
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Key aide to Nigel Farage was frontman for Premier League billionaire’s betting syndicate, lawsuit claims
Exclusive: George Cottrell ‘gave control’ of gambling accounts to syndicate headed by Tony Bloom, the owner of Brighton & Hove Albion FC
www.theguardian.com
December 3, 2025 at 8:04 AM
It seems that Farage’s key aide and “like a son to me” George Cottrell has been frontman for Premier League billionaire’s betting syndicate, lawsuit claims. He‘s also been in the inner circle of the Brexit Party and ReFuk despite his 🇺🇸 conviction for wire fraud
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Ian Skidmore
While obviously Lammy's proposal of scrapping many jury trials is getting the headlines, it seems odd how little attention his proposal to scrap the automatic right to appeal is getting. That seems like quite a big thing to be honest, especially for poorer and more marginalised defendants. #r4today
December 3, 2025 at 7:21 AM
While obviously Lammy's proposal of scrapping many jury trials is getting the headlines, it seems odd how little attention his proposal to scrap the automatic right to appeal is getting. That seems like quite a big thing to be honest, especially for poorer and more marginalised defendants. #r4today
Reposted by Ian Skidmore
No progress after talks between Steve Witkoff and Vladimir Putin in Moscow.
The negotiators discussed the substance of the proposals but did not delve into the wording of any provisions, reach any specific compromises or agree to a new summit between Putin and Trump, Yuri Ushakov told journalists.
The negotiators discussed the substance of the proposals but did not delve into the wording of any provisions, reach any specific compromises or agree to a new summit between Putin and Trump, Yuri Ushakov told journalists.
Putin Meets With Witkoff and Kushner for Nearly Five Hours
www.nytimes.com
December 3, 2025 at 7:33 AM
No progress after talks between Steve Witkoff and Vladimir Putin in Moscow.
The negotiators discussed the substance of the proposals but did not delve into the wording of any provisions, reach any specific compromises or agree to a new summit between Putin and Trump, Yuri Ushakov told journalists.
The negotiators discussed the substance of the proposals but did not delve into the wording of any provisions, reach any specific compromises or agree to a new summit between Putin and Trump, Yuri Ushakov told journalists.
Reposted by Ian Skidmore
Jury trials in England & Wales for crimes that carry a likely sentence of less than 3 years will be scrapped.
Bad move
Money may be saved but justice and trust in the system will be the biggest casualty.
Poor and minorities at the mercy of toff judges.
Bad move
Money may be saved but justice and trust in the system will be the biggest casualty.
Poor and minorities at the mercy of toff judges.
Jury trials scrapped for crimes with sentences of less than three years
The reforms are being brought in to tackle unprecedented delays in the Crown Court.
www.bbc.co.uk
December 3, 2025 at 7:59 AM
Jury trials in England & Wales for crimes that carry a likely sentence of less than 3 years will be scrapped.
Bad move
Money may be saved but justice and trust in the system will be the biggest casualty.
Poor and minorities at the mercy of toff judges.
Bad move
Money may be saved but justice and trust in the system will be the biggest casualty.
Poor and minorities at the mercy of toff judges.
Reposted by Ian Skidmore
It's all bad but hadn't seen the bit where Farage says:
"The European Union is the prototype for the New World Order."
That is a seriously, deeply problematic term that taps into Illuminati and antisemitic conspiracy theories.
How the fuck did this man direct the course of our politics?
"The European Union is the prototype for the New World Order."
That is a seriously, deeply problematic term that taps into Illuminati and antisemitic conspiracy theories.
How the fuck did this man direct the course of our politics?
We kept the receipts. These comments, taken together, paint a picture of the man he is today.
December 3, 2025 at 8:01 AM
It's all bad but hadn't seen the bit where Farage says:
"The European Union is the prototype for the New World Order."
That is a seriously, deeply problematic term that taps into Illuminati and antisemitic conspiracy theories.
How the fuck did this man direct the course of our politics?
"The European Union is the prototype for the New World Order."
That is a seriously, deeply problematic term that taps into Illuminati and antisemitic conspiracy theories.
How the fuck did this man direct the course of our politics?
Reposted by Ian Skidmore
The Girl Guide announcement.
What can I say?
I’m imagining if it was my child - the conversations and explanations, the apologies, “I’m sorry, so sorry,” trying to comfort but feeling a failure because I couldn’t protect her from GC hate.
And the child and parents - a little bit more broken.
What can I say?
I’m imagining if it was my child - the conversations and explanations, the apologies, “I’m sorry, so sorry,” trying to comfort but feeling a failure because I couldn’t protect her from GC hate.
And the child and parents - a little bit more broken.
December 2, 2025 at 6:24 PM
The Girl Guide announcement.
What can I say?
I’m imagining if it was my child - the conversations and explanations, the apologies, “I’m sorry, so sorry,” trying to comfort but feeling a failure because I couldn’t protect her from GC hate.
And the child and parents - a little bit more broken.
What can I say?
I’m imagining if it was my child - the conversations and explanations, the apologies, “I’m sorry, so sorry,” trying to comfort but feeling a failure because I couldn’t protect her from GC hate.
And the child and parents - a little bit more broken.
Reposted by Ian Skidmore
Good grief. He always goes further than I'm able to even imagine.
Trump saying all of Biden's pardons are revoked is the sort of thing that could bring down the whole house. There's clearly no legal basis for it, yet he may try to use armed force to re-arrest pardoned individuals. A total breakdown of law and order.
December 3, 2025 at 8:05 AM
Good grief. He always goes further than I'm able to even imagine.
Reposted by Ian Skidmore
looks like we're sponsoring way WAY more vet clinics in 2026 🎉 THANK YOU ❤️🩹
December 3, 2025 at 12:34 AM
looks like we're sponsoring way WAY more vet clinics in 2026 🎉 THANK YOU ❤️🩹
Reposted by Ian Skidmore
Trump has now pardoned a murderous drug lord who smuggled 400 tons of cocaine into the country, AND the guy who ran the Dark Web's biggest drug marketplace.
Former Honduran president released from US prison after Trump pardon reut.rs/3Y3ziKg
Former Honduran president released from US prison after Trump pardon
President Donald Trump, who has painted himself as a fearsome warrior against illegal drugs, pardoned former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez, who was serving a 45-year sentence after being convicted of conspiring to import tons of cocaine into the United States.
reut.rs
December 2, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Trump has now pardoned a murderous drug lord who smuggled 400 tons of cocaine into the country, AND the guy who ran the Dark Web's biggest drug marketplace.