Jacqueline Riding
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jacriding.bsky.social
Jacqueline Riding
@jacriding.bsky.social
Film/TV historian #MrTurner #Peterloo #Colette Books Editor The Art Newspaper Curator/Consultant Author #Jacobites #Peterloo #Hogarth (Sunday Times Art Book of the Year) #HardStreets Working-Class Lives in Charlie Chaplin’s London out 5 Feb 2026
Reposted by Jacqueline Riding
@mrjamesob.bsky.social @lbc.co.uk The network links are further exposed. ‘The released messages also show Bannon and Epstein discussing UK politics in 2018.’ Bannon texted Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the Brexit thing this morning with Nigel, Boris and Rees Mogg." www.bbc.com/news/article...
November 15, 2025 at 5:17 AM
Reposted by Jacqueline Riding
Cracking, as per, from @chrisgrey.bsky.social . I particularly loved "[BBC] Radio Four’s Moral Maze (surely the most flatulently self-important and uninformative show in the entire history of broadcasting, but that’s by the way)." #DriveBy
Stasis, sanctimony and the liberal paradox. New post on my Brexit & Brexitism Blog with such Brexit news as there is, but mainly analysis of what 'responsible Farage' tells us about the tensions in Reform and what the BBC row tells us about Brexitism: chrisgreybrexitblog.blogspot.com/2025/11/stas...
November 15, 2025 at 7:18 AM
Reposted by Jacqueline Riding
Thames Water tried to make MP pay its legal fees of up to £1,400 an hour, he asked the Court to put TW into special administration.

Blatant attempt to silence MPs.

TW paying £200m a year to advisers, charges customers for its failures.

Abuses will continue until execs held personally liable.
Thames Water tried to make MP pay its legal fees of up to £1,400 an hour
Exclusive: Charlie Maynard accuses the utility of ‘retaliation’ over his push for government to gain control of company
www.theguardian.com
November 14, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Reposted by Jacqueline Riding
English councils plan to sell off social clubs and sports centres to balance books.

Social spaces lost forever. Libraries, community centres, school playgrounds, parks closed/sold as council funding cut in real terms to appease the rich.

Social vandalism.
English councils plan to sell off social clubs and sports centres to balance books
Survey finds 60% of key cities councils are planning to sell assets to meet costs of adult and children’s social care
www.theguardian.com
November 15, 2025 at 6:59 AM
Reposted by Jacqueline Riding
This!
"What can I, as a citizen, do to counter this descent into authoritarianism? The No Kings rallies were one answer. The 2025 elections were another. And now, the next step is coming into focus." www.thebulwark.com/p/its-time-t...
It’s Time to Pivot to 2026 Election Security
Don’t underestimate how Trump and his allies will attempt to control the outcome of the midterms.
www.thebulwark.com
November 15, 2025 at 7:04 AM
Reposted by Jacqueline Riding
Temerko, a Soviet-born oligarch and a major Conservative donor, told Belton that he and Johnson spent time… plotting the overthrow May. According to Temerko, Johnson had finally been persuaded to back Brexit in 2016 by a group of “eastern European businessmen”.

bylinetimes.com/2023/01/19/l...
Landmark Ruling in Strasbourg as MPs Challenge UK Government over Failure to Investigate Russian Interference in Brexit
'Nothing less than the future of democracy is at stake' says Caroline Lucas as a cross-party coalition and The Citizens win an unprecedented hearing over electoral safety and national security
bylinetimes.com
November 15, 2025 at 4:15 AM
Reposted by Jacqueline Riding
Buckle up - because this now amounts to a direct and deliberate attack on our country and its cultural sovereignty. Which side our politicians take - Trump's or the BBC's - over the coming days and weeks will speak volumes about their patriotism.
Trump says he will sue BBC for at least $1bn over Panorama edit
The US president confirmed he intends to sue the broadcaster for at least $1bn over the Panorama edit of a 2021 speech.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 15, 2025 at 7:10 AM
Reposted by Jacqueline Riding
NEW: Tony Hall, who Tim Davie replaced as BBC director general, leads calls for the end of political appointees to the BBC board.

PLUS - the Guardian learns Robbie Gibb has the power to unilaterally commission research on bias that worries him.

Story:

www.theguardian.com/media/2025/n...
Ex-BBC boss leads calls for end to political appointments to board
Tony Hall urges government to bolster BBC’s independence as MPs and union seek Robbie Gibb’s removal from board
www.theguardian.com
November 14, 2025 at 7:19 PM
Reposted by Jacqueline Riding
“That all means the end of agriculture in the UK and across Europe, drought and monsoon failure in Asia and Africa, lethal heat and humidity,” said Hare. “This is not a good place to be. You want to stay away from that.” www.theguardian.com/environment/...
World still on track for catastrophic 2.6C temperature rise, report finds
Fossil fuel emissions have hit a record high while many nations have done too little to avert deadly global heating
www.theguardian.com
November 13, 2025 at 1:24 PM
Reposted by Jacqueline Riding
Reform in Kent are “a threat to public safety”, the Fire Brigades Union said.

Reform haven’t signed off on fire brigade budgets, “failed to govern and lead the fire service” and haven’t even met with the fire service which is one of their responsibilities.
Reform leader branded “captain chaos” as Kent fire authority in disarray
The Fire Brigades Union has slammed the record of Reform’s ‘flagship council’ as it emerged that Kent and Medway Fire Authority was in disarray following the removal of five councillors, including its...
www.fbu.org.uk
November 12, 2025 at 8:43 PM
Reposted by Jacqueline Riding
Reform UK Ltd gets 92% of its funding from climate change deniers and fossil fuel corporate interests, provoking negative reactions | Mark Cunliffe
@markcunliffe.bsky.social @centralbylines.co.uk
A new survey reveals negative attitudes to Reform UK Ltd
Reform UK Ltd gets 92% of its funding from climate change deniers and fossil fuel corporate interests, provoking negative reactions
centralbylines.co.uk
November 12, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Reposted by Jacqueline Riding
In case you missed it: *of course* the guy who wrote the BBC memo was a paid lobbyist.
🧵On our revelations today about the BBC Coup and the Prescott Dossier.

The leaked ‘BBC Bias’ memo Trump used to attack the BBC was authored by Michael Prescott — a Hanover lobbyist paid by US tech/media giants tied to Trump. Full story: bylinetimes.com/2025/11/11/b... 1/12
'BBC Bias' Memo Was Authored by Lobbyist Tied to Pro-Trump Tech Giants
The leaked memo that fuelled Trump’s attack on the BBC was written by a lobbyist at a firm paid by US tech giants tied to the President
bylinetimes.com
November 12, 2025 at 10:42 AM
Reposted by Jacqueline Riding
The media have worked hard to make 'Starmer's position perilously close to untenable'. This is evidenced by the ample platform given to Farage, the leader of a political party consisting of 5 MPs. Look at the treatment of Farage and his property vs that of Rayner and Reeves.
I find the endless, often pointless drama that has typified UK politics coverage for a decade as draining & unedifying as anyone. But, *as of now* & by every relevant measure, Starmer’s position is perilously close to untenable. Of course people are planning for a future where he’s no longer leader.
November 12, 2025 at 8:28 AM
Reposted by Jacqueline Riding
November 11, 2025 at 6:58 AM
Reposted by Jacqueline Riding
‼️The Pro-Trump Bias of the 'Neutral' Sources in the Leaked BBC 'Prescott Dossier'

@nafeez.bsky.social’s analysis of key sources in the memo about the BBC’s alleged ‘progressive bias’ shows it relied on highly partisan right-wing, Trump-aligned organisations

bylinetimes.com/2025/11/11/p...
The Pro-Trump Bias of the 'Neutral' Sources in the Leaked BBC 'Prescott Dossier'
Byline Times’ analysis of key sources in the memo about the BBC’s alleged ‘progressive bias’ shows it relied on highly partisan right-wing, Trump-aligned organisations
bylinetimes.com
November 11, 2025 at 2:58 PM
Reposted by Jacqueline Riding
If we're talking about bias, why do BBC politics programmes, from Politics Live to the Laura Kuennsberg Show, still always begin with a look at the newspaper front pages, which are overwhelmingly biased in one direction. Helps frame the entire news agenda and debate in their favour
November 11, 2025 at 1:09 PM
Reposted by Jacqueline Riding
Nearly two years ago, I wrote about the extraordinary influence of former Tory spin doctor Sir Robbie Gibb on the BBC. It's still a helpful backgrounder for what's going on now. New readers start here: www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/media/...
How the government captured the BBC
A right-wing cabal, largely unaccountable, is waging war on the principles that made our public broadcaster great. It must not succeed
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 3:52 PM
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You might think they should have acted sooner, but it is very clear Starmer and the government are here to take on the racists and they are repeating that message very clearly.
November 11, 2025 at 12:15 PM
Reposted by Jacqueline Riding
Conservative Shadow Culture Secretary Nigel Huddleston tells GB News that the BBC should "grovel" to Trump.

Amazing how many British 'patriots' are spending their time telling our national broadcaster to prostrate itself before a hostile foreign leader
November 11, 2025 at 11:21 AM
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"The BBC belongs to Britain."

"We cant allow the Trumpification of our politics and our media landscape."

@munirawilson.bsky.social
November 10, 2025 at 1:16 PM
Reposted by Jacqueline Riding
Trump wants to destroy the BBC and take our money. And Nigel Farage is egging him on.

All true patriots should tell them both: hands off our BBC.
November 10, 2025 at 10:07 PM
Reposted by Jacqueline Riding
A look at Nathan Gill and his treasonous activities following an almost accidental interview with Polly Weston in 2020.
Contains some typical Farage hogwash smoke and mirrors denials. I really don’t understand why this hasn’t dominated the headlines.
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
Currently - From Anglesey with Love - BBC Sounds
Former MEP Nathan Gill accepted Russia-linked bribes. Then he did this interview.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 5:10 PM
Reposted by Jacqueline Riding
SUPERB and angrily unvarnished response, by former BBC chairman, Lord Patten.

"I don't think that we should allow ourselves to be bullied into thinking that the BBC is only any good, if it reflects the prejudice of the last person who shouted at it." ~AA
November 10, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Reposted by Jacqueline Riding
Went on LBC News earlier to discuss the BBC shambles.

I said the BBC has kowtowed to Trump in the US and conservative outlets here - both of which want the Beeb dead.

Two of the most senior people quit over a 10-second clip using Trump’s exact words, albeit put closer together than he’d like.
November 10, 2025 at 9:06 PM
Reposted by Jacqueline Riding
Trump and his cronies have the BBC in their sights. Leaders can’t stay silent while one of our great institutions is attacked.

We must defend its independence, end political appointments, and remove Robbie Gibb from the Board.
November 10, 2025 at 6:15 PM