Mike O'Brien
@mikeobrien.bsky.social
Retired civil servant; trustee at Cambridge Film Trust; photographer; writer; lapsed amateur musician
Reposted by Mike O'Brien
Just the good, friendly, morale-boosting kind of racism.
“I would never ever do it in a hurtful or insulting way”
Nigel Farage responds to allegations of racist behaviour from when he was a teenager at school
@itvnewspolitics.bsky.social
Nigel Farage responds to allegations of racist behaviour from when he was a teenager at school
@itvnewspolitics.bsky.social
November 24, 2025 at 7:19 PM
Just the good, friendly, morale-boosting kind of racism.
Reposted by Mike O'Brien
This is exactly what the recent Trump-BBC 'scandal' was designed to achieve. The BBC is now self-censoring criticisms of Trump in the name of "impartiality"
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
November 25, 2025 at 10:26 AM
This is exactly what the recent Trump-BBC 'scandal' was designed to achieve. The BBC is now self-censoring criticisms of Trump in the name of "impartiality"
Reposted by Mike O'Brien
"Over the past decade, the continent has built a big, largely invisible fortress—one that carries enormous economic and moral risks. "
Me in Time on European migration policy
time.com/7328851/euro...
Me in Time on European migration policy
time.com/7328851/euro...
The Myth of Europe's Open Borders
The continent has built a big, invisible wall. But this approach comes with enormous economic and moral risks, writes Jonathan Portes.
time.com
October 29, 2025 at 8:06 PM
"Over the past decade, the continent has built a big, largely invisible fortress—one that carries enormous economic and moral risks. "
Me in Time on European migration policy
time.com/7328851/euro...
Me in Time on European migration policy
time.com/7328851/euro...
Reposted by Mike O'Brien
Hey, look where years of scapegoating immigrants and devising punitive immigration policies gets you…
Further into debt, collapsing universities, tax rises and spending cuts.
Prejudice and govt dishonesty have high price tags.
Slow hand clap to all those responsible.
Further into debt, collapsing universities, tax rises and spending cuts.
Prejudice and govt dishonesty have high price tags.
Slow hand clap to all those responsible.
October 29, 2025 at 10:31 PM
Hey, look where years of scapegoating immigrants and devising punitive immigration policies gets you…
Further into debt, collapsing universities, tax rises and spending cuts.
Prejudice and govt dishonesty have high price tags.
Slow hand clap to all those responsible.
Further into debt, collapsing universities, tax rises and spending cuts.
Prejudice and govt dishonesty have high price tags.
Slow hand clap to all those responsible.
Reposted by Mike O'Brien
Chris is right. Some of these (eg charging for medical appts) aren't cost cuts, but cost shifts. As I wrote here, there are no magic money trees: chrisdillow.substack.com/p/no-magic-m...
October 30, 2025 at 11:25 AM
Chris is right. Some of these (eg charging for medical appts) aren't cost cuts, but cost shifts. As I wrote here, there are no magic money trees: chrisdillow.substack.com/p/no-magic-m...
Reposted by Mike O'Brien
Stan Tracey and pals are cooking up a storm with Monk's material here
October 30, 2025 at 7:39 PM
Stan Tracey and pals are cooking up a storm with Monk's material here
Reposted by Mike O'Brien
Last 2 days in Trump's America - mainly around suppressing dissent and attacking science.
All actions available on www.trumpactiontracker.info
www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGuv...
All actions available on www.trumpactiontracker.info
www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGuv...
Main authoritarian things Trump has done since Wednesday - as of Fri 10th October
YouTube video by Professor Christina Pagel
www.youtube.com
October 10, 2025 at 6:54 PM
Last 2 days in Trump's America - mainly around suppressing dissent and attacking science.
All actions available on www.trumpactiontracker.info
www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGuv...
All actions available on www.trumpactiontracker.info
www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGuv...
Reposted by Mike O'Brien
Prof. Christina Pagel @chrischirp.bsky.social has been documenting this administration's authoritarian actions on the Trump Action Tracker: www.trumpactiontracker.info
Now, Prof. Pagel is doing daily video updates of Trump's authoritarian (impeachable!) actions:
www.youtube.com/@ProfChristi...
Now, Prof. Pagel is doing daily video updates of Trump's authoritarian (impeachable!) actions:
www.youtube.com/@ProfChristi...
Professor Christina Pagel
I'm Professor Christina Pagel at University College London. My research is in health systems. I'm passionate about science, public health, supporting diversity in the sciences, and protecting liberal ...
www.youtube.com
October 4, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Prof. Christina Pagel @chrischirp.bsky.social has been documenting this administration's authoritarian actions on the Trump Action Tracker: www.trumpactiontracker.info
Now, Prof. Pagel is doing daily video updates of Trump's authoritarian (impeachable!) actions:
www.youtube.com/@ProfChristi...
Now, Prof. Pagel is doing daily video updates of Trump's authoritarian (impeachable!) actions:
www.youtube.com/@ProfChristi...
Reposted by Mike O'Brien
Was good to have a serious conversation about the rise of fascism & the Brexit dynamics that have twisted our immigration system, as well as cowardice from our media & our leaders on migration.
It’s out! I spoke to @zoejardiniere.bsky.social about migration, the realities, the challenges and how to confront the real threat of far right takeover of our country on a platform of fear and disinformation.
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/b...
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/b...
October 1, 2025 at 5:44 AM
Was good to have a serious conversation about the rise of fascism & the Brexit dynamics that have twisted our immigration system, as well as cowardice from our media & our leaders on migration.
Reposted by Mike O'Brien
No immigrant has ever sacked me, or cut my wages, or offshored my job, or closed my hospital, or stopped my mum's disability benefits, or crashed the economy.
Those things were all done by white English men who went to Oxford and wore a nice suit.
Those things were all done by white English men who went to Oxford and wore a nice suit.
September 22, 2025 at 2:33 PM
No immigrant has ever sacked me, or cut my wages, or offshored my job, or closed my hospital, or stopped my mum's disability benefits, or crashed the economy.
Those things were all done by white English men who went to Oxford and wore a nice suit.
Those things were all done by white English men who went to Oxford and wore a nice suit.
Reposted by Mike O'Brien
I’m watching and it’s astounding. We all knew something like this was going on - but the extent of it! While so many were suffering, dying, sunk into loneliness - a few were absolutely RAKING IT IN. The COVID health crisis was a very, very lucrative opportunity for some.
🚨Our upcoming documentary on the VIP Lane made the ITV news this evening.
“Waste of taxpayers' money': Whistleblower says billions wasted on unfit PPE during Covid pandemic”.
🎥Tune in to ITV Sunday 10.15pm to watch the rest of “The Covid Contracts”
www.itv.com/news/2025-09...
“Waste of taxpayers' money': Whistleblower says billions wasted on unfit PPE during Covid pandemic”.
🎥Tune in to ITV Sunday 10.15pm to watch the rest of “The Covid Contracts”
www.itv.com/news/2025-09...
September 21, 2025 at 9:32 PM
I’m watching and it’s astounding. We all knew something like this was going on - but the extent of it! While so many were suffering, dying, sunk into loneliness - a few were absolutely RAKING IT IN. The COVID health crisis was a very, very lucrative opportunity for some.
Reposted by Mike O'Brien
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The Guardian
“The Covid Contracts: Follow the Money review – a devastating picture of the biggest spending scandal ever”
www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio...
“The Covid Contracts: Follow the Money review – a devastating picture of the biggest spending scandal ever”
www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio...
The Covid Contracts: Follow the Money review – a devastating picture of the biggest spending scandal ever
This rigorous look at the Tories’ ‘VIP lane’ for PPE suppliers during Covid raises questions about the motivations of those involved – ones that are almost too disgusting to contemplate
www.theguardian.com
September 21, 2025 at 11:53 PM
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The Guardian
“The Covid Contracts: Follow the Money review – a devastating picture of the biggest spending scandal ever”
www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio...
“The Covid Contracts: Follow the Money review – a devastating picture of the biggest spending scandal ever”
www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio...
Reposted by Mike O'Brien
Appalled to see this image of Donald Trump and the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein projected onto Windsor Castle.
Please... for the love of all that is good, do not share it on all your social media channels... because it simply wouldn't be done to remind the world of the association
Please... for the love of all that is good, do not share it on all your social media channels... because it simply wouldn't be done to remind the world of the association
September 17, 2025 at 6:56 AM
Appalled to see this image of Donald Trump and the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein projected onto Windsor Castle.
Please... for the love of all that is good, do not share it on all your social media channels... because it simply wouldn't be done to remind the world of the association
Please... for the love of all that is good, do not share it on all your social media channels... because it simply wouldn't be done to remind the world of the association
Reposted by Mike O'Brien
Written by a doctor at St Thomas' Hospital, London after the Tommy Robinson march on 13/9.
September 15, 2025 at 11:15 AM
Written by a doctor at St Thomas' Hospital, London after the Tommy Robinson march on 13/9.
Reposted by Mike O'Brien
Encountering the fascists outside Waterloo iandunt.substack.com/p/encounteri...
September 14, 2025 at 9:51 AM
Encountering the fascists outside Waterloo iandunt.substack.com/p/encounteri...
Reposted by Mike O'Brien
Personal note: went to (some) of the countermarch yesterday, and then watched TV coverage of both.
@sundersays.bsky.social is right that the far-right/racists on the main march are a (small) minority whose numbers are not growing.
It's the apparent paralysis of the majority that scares me. [1/n]
@sundersays.bsky.social is right that the far-right/racists on the main march are a (small) minority whose numbers are not growing.
It's the apparent paralysis of the majority that scares me. [1/n]
September 14, 2025 at 8:59 AM
Personal note: went to (some) of the countermarch yesterday, and then watched TV coverage of both.
@sundersays.bsky.social is right that the far-right/racists on the main march are a (small) minority whose numbers are not growing.
It's the apparent paralysis of the majority that scares me. [1/n]
@sundersays.bsky.social is right that the far-right/racists on the main march are a (small) minority whose numbers are not growing.
It's the apparent paralysis of the majority that scares me. [1/n]
Reposted by Mike O'Brien
Hallelujah!
September 15, 2025 at 1:53 PM
Hallelujah!
Reposted by Mike O'Brien
For there to be no comment from the government on Musk's call for violence, let alone action against X, is unconscionable. An utter dereliction of its responsibility for national security and an affront to every member of an ethnic minority, who is being put at risk by this rhetoric.
September 14, 2025 at 9:56 AM
For there to be no comment from the government on Musk's call for violence, let alone action against X, is unconscionable. An utter dereliction of its responsibility for national security and an affront to every member of an ethnic minority, who is being put at risk by this rhetoric.
Reposted by Mike O'Brien
Every decent politician should be ‘disturbed’ by Tommy Robinson’s fascist march in London and Musk’s calls for violence on our streets.
Every decent politician should stop claiming this horror is an expression of ‘free speech’.
It’s vicious, racist incitement.
DO something about it.
Every decent politician should stop claiming this horror is an expression of ‘free speech’.
It’s vicious, racist incitement.
DO something about it.
September 14, 2025 at 10:50 AM
Every decent politician should be ‘disturbed’ by Tommy Robinson’s fascist march in London and Musk’s calls for violence on our streets.
Every decent politician should stop claiming this horror is an expression of ‘free speech’.
It’s vicious, racist incitement.
DO something about it.
Every decent politician should stop claiming this horror is an expression of ‘free speech’.
It’s vicious, racist incitement.
DO something about it.
Reposted by Mike O'Brien
A fantastic speech against the madness in Gaza from the Israeli conductor Ilan Volkov. He's speaking up for our shared humanity here. Against what's being done to innocents on both sides. But the Palestinians and Jews who want peace there are not powerful enough to stop it. They all need our help.
September 12, 2025 at 10:16 PM
A fantastic speech against the madness in Gaza from the Israeli conductor Ilan Volkov. He's speaking up for our shared humanity here. Against what's being done to innocents on both sides. But the Palestinians and Jews who want peace there are not powerful enough to stop it. They all need our help.
Reposted by Mike O'Brien
New @therestpolitics.bsky.social LEADING - however had you think things are in Gaza, they’re worse. We speak to James Elder from @unicef.org who has worked in crisis zones all his life and says he has never seen anything as bad we this “war on children”
alastaircampbell.org/2025/09/152-...
alastaircampbell.org/2025/09/152-...
152. "A War on Children": A Generation in Gaza at Risk (James Elder) - Alastair Campbell
Why is the humanitarian situation in Gaza the worst that James Elder has ever seen? What does the process of rebuilding Gaza look like? How do the people working on the ground not lose hope? UNICEF s...
alastaircampbell.org
September 8, 2025 at 5:43 AM
New @therestpolitics.bsky.social LEADING - however had you think things are in Gaza, they’re worse. We speak to James Elder from @unicef.org who has worked in crisis zones all his life and says he has never seen anything as bad we this “war on children”
alastaircampbell.org/2025/09/152-...
alastaircampbell.org/2025/09/152-...
Reposted by Mike O'Brien
Unpleasant, ignorant and error-ridden rubbish from Jenni Russell in the Times, arguing for the "remigration" agenda of Jenrick/Lowe
Below quotes nonsense numbers from the Centre for Policy studies that the CPS has itself admitted are fictional..
archive.ph/S6YuV
Below quotes nonsense numbers from the Centre for Policy studies that the CPS has itself admitted are fictional..
archive.ph/S6YuV
September 8, 2025 at 6:39 AM
Unpleasant, ignorant and error-ridden rubbish from Jenni Russell in the Times, arguing for the "remigration" agenda of Jenrick/Lowe
Below quotes nonsense numbers from the Centre for Policy studies that the CPS has itself admitted are fictional..
archive.ph/S6YuV
Below quotes nonsense numbers from the Centre for Policy studies that the CPS has itself admitted are fictional..
archive.ph/S6YuV
Reposted by Mike O'Brien
Tragic news to report - it didn't happen.
Trump looks alive & as nutso as ever at this White House briefing.
You know what that means, though?
He's still coming to the UK in just TWO WEEKS!!!! 😱😱😱😱😱😱
It's time to get organised.
Trump looks alive & as nutso as ever at this White House briefing.
You know what that means, though?
He's still coming to the UK in just TWO WEEKS!!!! 😱😱😱😱😱😱
It's time to get organised.
September 2, 2025 at 6:58 PM
Tragic news to report - it didn't happen.
Trump looks alive & as nutso as ever at this White House briefing.
You know what that means, though?
He's still coming to the UK in just TWO WEEKS!!!! 😱😱😱😱😱😱
It's time to get organised.
Trump looks alive & as nutso as ever at this White House briefing.
You know what that means, though?
He's still coming to the UK in just TWO WEEKS!!!! 😱😱😱😱😱😱
It's time to get organised.
Reposted by Mike O'Brien
Reposted by Mike O'Brien
What do politicians go into public service for? You’d hope - to act responsibly in the best interests of the country. Not to live in fear of the Daily Mail having a wettie. Honest to god, if you don’t speak out now, what’s the fucking point of you?
August 29, 2025 at 2:31 PM
What do politicians go into public service for? You’d hope - to act responsibly in the best interests of the country. Not to live in fear of the Daily Mail having a wettie. Honest to god, if you don’t speak out now, what’s the fucking point of you?