Lou
@loueatskale.bsky.social
I like dancing, hiking and moss. Compulsively care about policy and politics. Queer in every way 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️
Reposted by Lou
“Here’s the bias of politics: leftwing policies are portrayed as unrealistic and childish, while the centre and right’s ideas are framed as sensible and all that’s possible.”
My column on a system that welcomes Reform and dismisses the Greens as fantasy. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
My column on a system that welcomes Reform and dismisses the Greens as fantasy. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Labour’s rebuttal to the Green party this week sums up the double standard that dogs our politics | Frances Ryan
Why is it that the politics of hope offered up by the left is dismissed as naive, while the policies of the centre and right are portrayed as all that is possible? asks Guardian columnist Frances Ryan
www.theguardian.com
November 12, 2025 at 6:57 PM
“Here’s the bias of politics: leftwing policies are portrayed as unrealistic and childish, while the centre and right’s ideas are framed as sensible and all that’s possible.”
My column on a system that welcomes Reform and dismisses the Greens as fantasy. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
My column on a system that welcomes Reform and dismisses the Greens as fantasy. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Lou
This is what is happening. It is cynical. It is strategic. It is organised. It is well funded.
And we need to pay attention.
The far right - and their cheerleaders, mimics, tribute acts, and handmaidens have identified two presentational frameworks that give them cut-through and traction. 1/7
And we need to pay attention.
The far right - and their cheerleaders, mimics, tribute acts, and handmaidens have identified two presentational frameworks that give them cut-through and traction. 1/7
November 6, 2025 at 1:44 PM
This is what is happening. It is cynical. It is strategic. It is organised. It is well funded.
And we need to pay attention.
The far right - and their cheerleaders, mimics, tribute acts, and handmaidens have identified two presentational frameworks that give them cut-through and traction. 1/7
And we need to pay attention.
The far right - and their cheerleaders, mimics, tribute acts, and handmaidens have identified two presentational frameworks that give them cut-through and traction. 1/7
Reposted by Lou
Voters really don't like inflation, and frankly everything else is secondary to that.
October 27, 2025 at 10:05 PM
Voters really don't like inflation, and frankly everything else is secondary to that.
Reposted by Lou
Owen Hatherley on the middle class, mid century modernism of South East London www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
Owen Hatherley · South London Modern
In the late 1960s, the critic Bevis Hillier invented the term ‘Art Deco’ for the commercial architecture of the...
www.lrb.co.uk
October 18, 2025 at 9:44 PM
Owen Hatherley on the middle class, mid century modernism of South East London www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
Reposted by Lou
If a news organisation is making -200% margin after five years, it is not a commercial operation and should be assumed to have a different purpose.
The channel lost £33 million to communicate its content to a large audience
www.business-live.co.uk/enterprise/g...
www.business-live.co.uk/enterprise/g...
GB News suffers huge loss despite doubling revenue and growing audience
The TV channel, whose well-known presenters include Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, fell to a pre-tax loss of £33.4m in the year to 31 May, 2024
www.business-live.co.uk
October 9, 2025 at 9:28 AM
If a news organisation is making -200% margin after five years, it is not a commercial operation and should be assumed to have a different purpose.
Reposted by Lou
regrettably if you try to point this out online you'll get yelled out by 79208 journalists going OH SO YOU WANT JOURNALISTS TO STARVE??? even if you're, say, a journalist yourself, and point out that while there are clearly no easy answers, the status quo isn't exactly working for society
September 29, 2025 at 7:56 AM
regrettably if you try to point this out online you'll get yelled out by 79208 journalists going OH SO YOU WANT JOURNALISTS TO STARVE??? even if you're, say, a journalist yourself, and point out that while there are clearly no easy answers, the status quo isn't exactly working for society
Reposted by Lou
“An emotional research team became tearful as they described how data shows the disease was slowed by 75% in patients.”
What an absolutely incredible, joyous achievement for everyone involved. Hurrah for science and scientists! www.bbc.com/news/article...
What an absolutely incredible, joyous achievement for everyone involved. Hurrah for science and scientists! www.bbc.com/news/article...
Huntington's disease successfully treated for first time
One of the most devastating diseases finally has a treatment that could transform lives, tearful doctors tell BBC
www.bbc.com
September 24, 2025 at 12:20 PM
“An emotional research team became tearful as they described how data shows the disease was slowed by 75% in patients.”
What an absolutely incredible, joyous achievement for everyone involved. Hurrah for science and scientists! www.bbc.com/news/article...
What an absolutely incredible, joyous achievement for everyone involved. Hurrah for science and scientists! www.bbc.com/news/article...
Reposted by Lou
Quite. McSweeney only appears able to see enemies which makes the idea of forming a Republican Front “interesting”.
September 23, 2025 at 4:08 PM
Quite. McSweeney only appears able to see enemies which makes the idea of forming a Republican Front “interesting”.
Reposted by Lou
The Labour government's response to a summer of open racism, including physical attacks and the demonisation of some of its own Cabinet, has been to hide. 'Anti-racism' is something you actually have to do, not something you are. Seriously, why can't people like this hear themselves?
Ouch. I’m talking about a general approach, not a single instance. And I think you’ll find, as a generalisation admittedly, that Labour supporters are anti-racism.
September 10, 2025 at 12:52 PM
The Labour government's response to a summer of open racism, including physical attacks and the demonisation of some of its own Cabinet, has been to hide. 'Anti-racism' is something you actually have to do, not something you are. Seriously, why can't people like this hear themselves?
I, too, experienced far more stigma and prejudice for having had long covid than I ever have for being a visibly gender queer lesbian. That's not to downplay the very real prejudice faced by queer people, but I want to highlight how many despise those with invisible illnesses /1
Derrick Kardos, a graphic designer and #LongCOVID advocate, died on July 18 at the age of 53 due to complications of Long COVID. He made props on movies including School of Rock, The Devil Wears Prada, The Manchurian Candidate, The Departed, Black Swan, and many others. bit.ly/3J6n4fO
August 9, 2025 at 3:18 PM
I, too, experienced far more stigma and prejudice for having had long covid than I ever have for being a visibly gender queer lesbian. That's not to downplay the very real prejudice faced by queer people, but I want to highlight how many despise those with invisible illnesses /1
Reposted by Lou
Defining women as "egg-producing equipment," for feminism
August 8, 2025 at 5:44 PM
Defining women as "egg-producing equipment," for feminism
Reposted by Lou
‘What is great about evidence based policy is that it has a wonderful habit of working’
The 20mph policy has reduced casualties by over 25%, paid for itself already, and reduced insurance premiums…. Win, win, win!
The 20mph policy has reduced casualties by over 25%, paid for itself already, and reduced insurance premiums…. Win, win, win!
Great piece on the Welsh government’s 20mph policy by @willhaycardiff.bsky.social
“What is great about evidence based policy is that it has a wonderful habit of working”
Inspiration for England as DfT work on the promised road safety strategy.
“What is great about evidence based policy is that it has a wonderful habit of working”
Inspiration for England as DfT work on the promised road safety strategy.
Turns out the 20mph limit was great idea!
Two years on from the controversial policy, it's becoming increasingly clear that the doubters were wrong
willhaywardwales.substack.com
August 3, 2025 at 7:13 AM
‘What is great about evidence based policy is that it has a wonderful habit of working’
The 20mph policy has reduced casualties by over 25%, paid for itself already, and reduced insurance premiums…. Win, win, win!
The 20mph policy has reduced casualties by over 25%, paid for itself already, and reduced insurance premiums…. Win, win, win!
Wind turbines are beautiful, and everyone who opposes them is an idiot with no taste
I will never not understand how a minority of people have decided that wind farms - significantly prettier than pylons, coal power plants, nuclear power plants, and almost certainly fusion power plants - are ugly. In terms of energy generation, what else are you hoping for that is better?
On holiday, I notice that there are wind turbines on the shore of Lake Garda, which very much makes me think that residents with a view of some incredibly mid Cotswold or other can put a sock in it.
July 28, 2025 at 6:19 PM
Wind turbines are beautiful, and everyone who opposes them is an idiot with no taste
Reposted by Lou
literally what does it take to get a lifetime ban from driving
Framing.
A Land Rover driver chased and deliberately drove into two people travelling on an e bike, killing one.
Headline is appalling.
A Land Rover driver chased and deliberately drove into two people travelling on an e bike, killing one.
Headline is appalling.
July 25, 2025 at 8:27 PM
literally what does it take to get a lifetime ban from driving
The fundamental reason Labour has let lobbyists shape its policies is because Keir Starmer, Rachel Reeves and others don't actually have any politics of their own. They don't have any principles guiding them.
1. Researching this week’s column, I felt that I understood at last just why, on so many issues – benefits, Gaza, environmental and planning laws, anti-protest laws, bank deregulation, fiscal rules etc - Labour is out-Torying the Tories. Why it has become so cruel, so destructive and so spineless. 🧵
July 23, 2025 at 8:04 AM
The fundamental reason Labour has let lobbyists shape its policies is because Keir Starmer, Rachel Reeves and others don't actually have any politics of their own. They don't have any principles guiding them.
Reposted by Lou
This isn't really true though. Borrowing over the quarter is completely in line with OBR's expectations. Borrowing was higher than expected in June, lower than expected in May, overall no deviation to the OBR's forecast. Economists in the city just got it wrong...
July 22, 2025 at 9:30 AM
This isn't really true though. Borrowing over the quarter is completely in line with OBR's expectations. Borrowing was higher than expected in June, lower than expected in May, overall no deviation to the OBR's forecast. Economists in the city just got it wrong...
Reposted by Lou
Another month, another media furore about government borrowing🙄But high levels of borrowing aren't automatically a cause for alarm, as long as we are investing in long-term assets for the country. 1/3
July 22, 2025 at 11:08 AM
Another month, another media furore about government borrowing🙄But high levels of borrowing aren't automatically a cause for alarm, as long as we are investing in long-term assets for the country. 1/3
Reposted by Lou
OK, I'm known to be a crypto bear (& yes, having fun staying poor etc). But if it's just a load of people YOLO-ing money - even if they are doing so in a personally unwise way - it's not a systemic issue really (tho encourages criminality etc). Banks lending against crypto collateral is different...
Keep climbing higher and higher
Contagian
You can take it or leave it
Contagion
But you'd better believe it
on.ft.com/4oiGrCD
Contagian
You can take it or leave it
Contagion
But you'd better believe it
on.ft.com/4oiGrCD
JPMorgan explores lending against clients’ crypto holdings
Bank’s chief Jamie Dimon, who once branded bitcoin a ‘fraud’, has moderated his tone
on.ft.com
July 22, 2025 at 10:57 AM
OK, I'm known to be a crypto bear (& yes, having fun staying poor etc). But if it's just a load of people YOLO-ing money - even if they are doing so in a personally unwise way - it's not a systemic issue really (tho encourages criminality etc). Banks lending against crypto collateral is different...
Overexerting myself physically is what kept me sick with long covid for 2.5 years. This advice is going to do so much damage.
The McMaster GRADE Centre and Cochrane Canada developed 100+ recommendations for #LongCOVID. Experts say they could harm people.
Read @spichaksimon.bsky.social's deep dive into how the guidelines were created — and hear from activists, advocates, and people living with Long COVID. bit.ly/4eCYGhm
Read @spichaksimon.bsky.social's deep dive into how the guidelines were created — and hear from activists, advocates, and people living with Long COVID. bit.ly/4eCYGhm
!["[When guidelines recommend exercise for people with an acute infection to prevent Long COVID], that’s when it tells you they’re literally not listening to the patients or the research." - Adriana Patiño,
Advocate with the Long COVID Canada Collaborative](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:age5xvis2s2vy5qiz2tjxoc6/bafkreiabhl75vwtej42jhr6qkiulvw5pdmtdbbzgoxp7qlajz6hw4o7aui@jpeg)
July 10, 2025 at 3:36 PM
Overexerting myself physically is what kept me sick with long covid for 2.5 years. This advice is going to do so much damage.
Reposted by Lou
1/7 One of the most important things I've learned:
Severe personality problems find *camouflage.* No one thinks "I'm a sadist" or "I'm a malignant narcissist."
They find a belief system/social group that validates their most hateful, destructive impulses & construes them as virtues.
Severe personality problems find *camouflage.* No one thinks "I'm a sadist" or "I'm a malignant narcissist."
They find a belief system/social group that validates their most hateful, destructive impulses & construes them as virtues.
July 26, 2023 at 5:30 PM
1/7 One of the most important things I've learned:
Severe personality problems find *camouflage.* No one thinks "I'm a sadist" or "I'm a malignant narcissist."
They find a belief system/social group that validates their most hateful, destructive impulses & construes them as virtues.
Severe personality problems find *camouflage.* No one thinks "I'm a sadist" or "I'm a malignant narcissist."
They find a belief system/social group that validates their most hateful, destructive impulses & construes them as virtues.
Reposted by Lou
The gerontocracy has consequences, episode one million and three.
May 22, 2025 at 11:41 AM
The gerontocracy has consequences, episode one million and three.
Reposted by Lou
“Spain’s economy expanded by 3.2% last year. This outpaced Germany’s 0.2% contraction, France’s 1.1% growth and was also ahead of Britain, whose total GDP grew by 0.9% last year”.
What was crucial to this growth?
Immigration and the movement of people.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/f...
What was crucial to this growth?
Immigration and the movement of people.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/f...
How Spain’s radically different approach to migration helped its economy soar
As immigration has increased, GDP has surged and unemployment has fallen to lowest level since 2008
www.theguardian.com
May 14, 2025 at 9:31 PM
“Spain’s economy expanded by 3.2% last year. This outpaced Germany’s 0.2% contraction, France’s 1.1% growth and was also ahead of Britain, whose total GDP grew by 0.9% last year”.
What was crucial to this growth?
Immigration and the movement of people.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/f...
What was crucial to this growth?
Immigration and the movement of people.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/f...