Lesley McDowell
@lesleymcdowell.bsky.social
Author of LOVE AND OTHER POISONS 'enthralling, a beautifully structured tale' The Scotsman; CLAIRMONT 'Riveting...clever portrait of a fascinating woman' The Times @wildfirebooks.bsky.social Repd by @sheilland.bsky.social ExJoycean Still Glaswegian she/her
Pinned
I'mso delighted to be able to share this! My next book with Wildfire is a historical novel based on the true story of Madeleine Smith, the wealthy young socialite who in 1857 stood trial for the murder of her lover, in a case that shocked the world. But did she do it? @headlinebooks.bsky.social
Reposted by Lesley McDowell
Revealing division in my timeline between (1) my insider friends who have lived privileged lives who are very keen that we defend the BBC and think it's important it survives and (2) my outsider friends who feel (at best) ambivalent about the BBC's survival.
November 11, 2025 at 7:44 AM
Revealing division in my timeline between (1) my insider friends who have lived privileged lives who are very keen that we defend the BBC and think it's important it survives and (2) my outsider friends who feel (at best) ambivalent about the BBC's survival.
Reposted by Lesley McDowell
The Egyptian Vaults in the Glasgow Necropolis. Designed by David and James Hamilton and built in 1837, unlike the surrounding mausoleums, theses vaults were created as a temporary resting place for corpses while their graves and tombs were being prepared.
Cont./
#glasgow #necropolis #cemetery
Cont./
#glasgow #necropolis #cemetery
November 11, 2025 at 9:27 AM
The Egyptian Vaults in the Glasgow Necropolis. Designed by David and James Hamilton and built in 1837, unlike the surrounding mausoleums, theses vaults were created as a temporary resting place for corpses while their graves and tombs were being prepared.
Cont./
#glasgow #necropolis #cemetery
Cont./
#glasgow #necropolis #cemetery
Reposted by Lesley McDowell
Reposted by Lesley McDowell
"ceasefire"
Since the ceasefire took effect one month ago, Israeli attacks have killed at least 242 Palestinians and injured 622.
How many times has Israel violated the Gaza ceasefire? Here are the numbers
Since the ceasefire took effect one month ago, Israeli attacks have killed at least 242 Palestinians and injured 622.
bit.ly
November 11, 2025 at 9:31 AM
"ceasefire"
Reposted by Lesley McDowell
Nice write-up in House & Garden for the Two Roberts, novel and exhibition. You can catch both now. The exhibition is on at Charleston in Lewes till April.
November 11, 2025 at 9:33 AM
Nice write-up in House & Garden for the Two Roberts, novel and exhibition. You can catch both now. The exhibition is on at Charleston in Lewes till April.
Reposted by Lesley McDowell
Good morning to all those people who wasted the last decade saying, "there's no point tackling climate change in the UK, because China."
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
China’s CO2 emissions have been flat or falling for past 18 months, analysis finds
World’s biggest polluter on track to hit peak emissions target early but miss goal for cutting carbon intensity
www.theguardian.com
November 11, 2025 at 7:08 AM
Good morning to all those people who wasted the last decade saying, "there's no point tackling climate change in the UK, because China."
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
Reposted by Lesley McDowell
Just watched Farage talking about Trump and BBC and it makes me so miserable that his career has been so helped by an institution he is committed to destroy - I am bewildered
November 10, 2025 at 11:03 PM
Just watched Farage talking about Trump and BBC and it makes me so miserable that his career has been so helped by an institution he is committed to destroy - I am bewildered
Reposted by Lesley McDowell
The Saudi regime has executed Abdullah al-Derazi, under 18 at the time of his alleged crimes, linked to him attending demonstrations against the regime.
In August, the Saudis had executed Jabal Labbad, also arrested as a minor, in his case for attending demonstrations and funerals.
In August, the Saudis had executed Jabal Labbad, also arrested as a minor, in his case for attending demonstrations and funerals.
Saudi regime executes another child offender for attending protests
Amnesty said that the execution of Abdullah was just one of a long line of executions
northeastbylines.co.uk
November 11, 2025 at 9:43 AM
The Saudi regime has executed Abdullah al-Derazi, under 18 at the time of his alleged crimes, linked to him attending demonstrations against the regime.
In August, the Saudis had executed Jabal Labbad, also arrested as a minor, in his case for attending demonstrations and funerals.
In August, the Saudis had executed Jabal Labbad, also arrested as a minor, in his case for attending demonstrations and funerals.
Reposted by Lesley McDowell
This is a genuinely intolerable reality…
November 10, 2025 at 11:01 PM
This is a genuinely intolerable reality…
Reposted by Lesley McDowell
Alex Karp and Peter Thiel are two of the worst people on this planet running one of the most evil companies to ever exist—we should do whatever we can to make Palantir go bankrupt.
Palantir CEO Karp twice slams short sellers as stock suffers worst week since April
Palantir CEO Alex Karp twice confronted short sellers this week as the company's shares suffered a double-digit drop.
www.cnbc.com
November 8, 2025 at 4:35 AM
Alex Karp and Peter Thiel are two of the worst people on this planet running one of the most evil companies to ever exist—we should do whatever we can to make Palantir go bankrupt.
Reposted by Lesley McDowell
Donald Trump is Joe Biden now
POTUS's job approval on prices is where Biden's was during peak inflation in 2022-23. Voters say 2:1 that Trump has made the economy worse. Oh, and consumer sentiment among independents hit a new all-time low in November, www.gelliottmorris.com/p/donald-tru...
POTUS's job approval on prices is where Biden's was during peak inflation in 2022-23. Voters say 2:1 that Trump has made the economy worse. Oh, and consumer sentiment among independents hit a new all-time low in November, www.gelliottmorris.com/p/donald-tru...
Donald Trump is Joe Biden now
The president's numbers on prices are where Biden's were during peak inflation in 2022-23.
www.gelliottmorris.com
November 10, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Donald Trump is Joe Biden now
POTUS's job approval on prices is where Biden's was during peak inflation in 2022-23. Voters say 2:1 that Trump has made the economy worse. Oh, and consumer sentiment among independents hit a new all-time low in November, www.gelliottmorris.com/p/donald-tru...
POTUS's job approval on prices is where Biden's was during peak inflation in 2022-23. Voters say 2:1 that Trump has made the economy worse. Oh, and consumer sentiment among independents hit a new all-time low in November, www.gelliottmorris.com/p/donald-tru...
Reposted by Lesley McDowell
Reposted by Lesley McDowell
history will ultimately decide this but i think joyce carol oates might have just landed the most devastating burn in human history. like the death star trench run of posting
November 10, 2025 at 7:03 PM
history will ultimately decide this but i think joyce carol oates might have just landed the most devastating burn in human history. like the death star trench run of posting
Reposted by Lesley McDowell
Joyce Carol Oates owned Elon so hard he's spent the last day posting about movies he hasn't seen in 15 years
November 10, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Joyce Carol Oates owned Elon so hard he's spent the last day posting about movies he hasn't seen in 15 years
Reposted by Lesley McDowell
“His wife has shared the wonderful news that Sam woke up briefly yesterday, and she was able to speak with him for a short time. This is a truly positive step forward, though there is still a long journey ahead in his recovery.”
Excellent news. ~AA
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crim...
Excellent news. ~AA
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crim...
‘Hero’ crew member injured in train mass stabbing regains consciousness
Samir Zitouni was wounded as he protected passengers during attack on an LNER train travelling from Doncaster to London
www.independent.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 4:38 PM
“His wife has shared the wonderful news that Sam woke up briefly yesterday, and she was able to speak with him for a short time. This is a truly positive step forward, though there is still a long journey ahead in his recovery.”
Excellent news. ~AA
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crim...
Excellent news. ~AA
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crim...
Reposted by Lesley McDowell
Michael Prescott's report makes vital points about the importance of being accurate, and also how difficult that is. For instance, he describes himself as having been Political Editor of the Sunday Times for 10 years, which is not what the Guardian reported when he left the job.
November 10, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Michael Prescott's report makes vital points about the importance of being accurate, and also how difficult that is. For instance, he describes himself as having been Political Editor of the Sunday Times for 10 years, which is not what the Guardian reported when he left the job.
Reposted by Lesley McDowell
Yep. Keep capitulating to this monster. Don't worry, he'll change for you. You can change him. He's only 80, a convicted felon, and an adjudicated rapist with 67 sex-crime allegations on him. Just keep rolling over. If you roll over enough maybe we can have the whole fucking world in flames by 2028.
Trump threatens legal action against BBC as chairman apologises for 'error of judgement' on speech edit
The BBC says it will respond
www.bbc.com
November 10, 2025 at 3:11 PM
Yep. Keep capitulating to this monster. Don't worry, he'll change for you. You can change him. He's only 80, a convicted felon, and an adjudicated rapist with 67 sex-crime allegations on him. Just keep rolling over. If you roll over enough maybe we can have the whole fucking world in flames by 2028.
Reposted by Lesley McDowell
Should Gibb be sacked? yes, obviously. He's an abomination of basic journalistic standards. His GB News channel spreads conspiracy theory & disinformation. His Jewish Chronicle newspaper spreads invented stories. He is plainly trying to undermine the BBC so it's as bad as everything else he touches.
November 10, 2025 at 12:47 PM
Should Gibb be sacked? yes, obviously. He's an abomination of basic journalistic standards. His GB News channel spreads conspiracy theory & disinformation. His Jewish Chronicle newspaper spreads invented stories. He is plainly trying to undermine the BBC so it's as bad as everything else he touches.
Reposted by Lesley McDowell
Two people, including a child, have reportedly been killed in strikes on Gaza as Israel begins a three-day military exercise in the West Bank 👇
Israel carrying out three-day military exercise in West Bank as two killed in Gaza
www.thenational.scot
November 10, 2025 at 2:34 PM
Two people, including a child, have reportedly been killed in strikes on Gaza as Israel begins a three-day military exercise in the West Bank 👇
Reposted by Lesley McDowell
I cannot be f**ked engaging with BBC News today. They played a clip of a politician who owes his success to disproportionate appearances on Question Time saying the BBC were institutionally biased. I could hear the screams of pain as irony died a slow and horrible death...
November 10, 2025 at 1:29 PM
I cannot be f**ked engaging with BBC News today. They played a clip of a politician who owes his success to disproportionate appearances on Question Time saying the BBC were institutionally biased. I could hear the screams of pain as irony died a slow and horrible death...
Reposted by Lesley McDowell
The fact that the BBC has made serious culpable errors does not negate the point that there is a real and concerted right-wing media campaign to destroy it. Both points can be true at the same time and the campaign would not end even if the errors did.
November 10, 2025 at 1:08 PM
The fact that the BBC has made serious culpable errors does not negate the point that there is a real and concerted right-wing media campaign to destroy it. Both points can be true at the same time and the campaign would not end even if the errors did.
Reposted by Lesley McDowell
The chaos in the BBC is yet more proof that the pillars of the 20th century are collapsing in the 21st century. From the two-party system to the national broadcaster, the old certainties are falling apart. The decline has far to go. Is democracy itself next?
My column in @heraldscotland.bsky.social
My column in @heraldscotland.bsky.social
Crisis-hit BBC is just another casualty of the collapse of the 20th century rulebook
Like the Tory-Labour duopoly and the NHS, the BBC is a hangover from an age that’s dying. We must find how to make the media relevant again,…
www.heraldscotland.com
November 10, 2025 at 1:47 PM
The chaos in the BBC is yet more proof that the pillars of the 20th century are collapsing in the 21st century. From the two-party system to the national broadcaster, the old certainties are falling apart. The decline has far to go. Is democracy itself next?
My column in @heraldscotland.bsky.social
My column in @heraldscotland.bsky.social
Reposted by Lesley McDowell
Maybe Keir should demand the heads of major US news networks any time they imply Britain is on the brink of civil war or that we live under sharia law. Or does it not work both ways?
November 10, 2025 at 11:29 AM
Maybe Keir should demand the heads of major US news networks any time they imply Britain is on the brink of civil war or that we live under sharia law. Or does it not work both ways?
Reposted by Lesley McDowell
“Hell, yeah, she’s getting paid!” the lobbyist said."
Antonia Hitchens on the mystery of Laura Loomer's many vendettas
www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...
Antonia Hitchens on the mystery of Laura Loomer's many vendettas
www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...
Laura Loomer’s Endless Payback
The President’s self-appointed loyalty enforcer inspires fear and vexation across Washington. What’s behind her vetting crusades?
www.newyorker.com
November 10, 2025 at 1:44 PM
“Hell, yeah, she’s getting paid!” the lobbyist said."
Antonia Hitchens on the mystery of Laura Loomer's many vendettas
www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...
Antonia Hitchens on the mystery of Laura Loomer's many vendettas
www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...
Reposted by Lesley McDowell
The Real Living Wage has delivered a pay boost to 72,000 Scottish workers.
I visited Capital City Partnership to mark a record 4,000 Real Living Wage employers in Scotland - proportionately that’s around 5 times more than the rest of the UK.
I visited Capital City Partnership to mark a record 4,000 Real Living Wage employers in Scotland - proportionately that’s around 5 times more than the rest of the UK.
November 10, 2025 at 1:51 PM
The Real Living Wage has delivered a pay boost to 72,000 Scottish workers.
I visited Capital City Partnership to mark a record 4,000 Real Living Wage employers in Scotland - proportionately that’s around 5 times more than the rest of the UK.
I visited Capital City Partnership to mark a record 4,000 Real Living Wage employers in Scotland - proportionately that’s around 5 times more than the rest of the UK.