Simon Riley
@oldnewtownabbeian.bsky.social
Quinquagenarian indie kid, social democrat, gender realist, Ulster self-exile, Manchester United fan since 1973. “What would life be without music and comedy?” AI may not end well.
Good to see resignations at last at BBC over bias - but the most egregious example of it, their abject adoption of half-witted Stonewall takes on gender, will no doubt be swept under the carpet. It is the real scandal and we’ve had YEARS of it
November 9, 2025 at 11:50 PM
Good to see resignations at last at BBC over bias - but the most egregious example of it, their abject adoption of half-witted Stonewall takes on gender, will no doubt be swept under the carpet. It is the real scandal and we’ve had YEARS of it
Reposted by Simon Riley
Another nice example of centre and left votes lining up behind the best candidate to beat Reform.
Bromsgrove South (Worcestershire) Council By-Election Result:
🔶 LDM: 51.9% (+20.3)
➡️ RFM: 33.4% (-1.5)
🌳 CON: 11.3% (-5.8)
🌹 LAB: 3.4% (-4.1)
No GRN (-5.5) or Ind (-3.4) as previous.
Liberal Democrat GAIN from Reform.
Changes w/ 2025.
🔶 LDM: 51.9% (+20.3)
➡️ RFM: 33.4% (-1.5)
🌳 CON: 11.3% (-5.8)
🌹 LAB: 3.4% (-4.1)
No GRN (-5.5) or Ind (-3.4) as previous.
Liberal Democrat GAIN from Reform.
Changes w/ 2025.
October 31, 2025 at 8:03 AM
Another nice example of centre and left votes lining up behind the best candidate to beat Reform.
Reposted by Simon Riley
England among six teams to qualify for the 2026 World Cup yesterday, with Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Ivory Coast and Senegal. There are now 28 of the 48 (!) teams confirmed, with Jordan, Uzbekistan and Cape Verde as World Cup finals debutants
October 14, 2025 at 11:36 PM
England among six teams to qualify for the 2026 World Cup yesterday, with Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Ivory Coast and Senegal. There are now 28 of the 48 (!) teams confirmed, with Jordan, Uzbekistan and Cape Verde as World Cup finals debutants
Reposted by Simon Riley
Did they think that hanging up flags, spray-painting and smashing the venue windows would stop us?
#FiLiA2025 in #Brighton has started!
See you there.
Sisterhood and Solidarity!
#FiLiA2025 in #Brighton has started!
See you there.
Sisterhood and Solidarity!
October 10, 2025 at 9:48 AM
Did they think that hanging up flags, spray-painting and smashing the venue windows would stop us?
#FiLiA2025 in #Brighton has started!
See you there.
Sisterhood and Solidarity!
#FiLiA2025 in #Brighton has started!
See you there.
Sisterhood and Solidarity!
Reposted by Simon Riley
Reform voters are a bit different - on social norms, mistrust & science
Trust in vaccines (in general)
Labour 90-7 (+83)
LibDem 90-9 (+81)
Conservative 90-9 (+81)
Reform 68-27 (+41)
Trust Covid vaccines
Labour 79-18 (+61)
LibDem 82-14 (+68)
Conservative 82-17 (+65)
Reform 46-50 (-4)
Trust in vaccines (in general)
Labour 90-7 (+83)
LibDem 90-9 (+81)
Conservative 90-9 (+81)
Reform 68-27 (+41)
Trust Covid vaccines
Labour 79-18 (+61)
LibDem 82-14 (+68)
Conservative 82-17 (+65)
Reform 46-50 (-4)
September 24, 2025 at 10:01 PM
Reform voters are a bit different - on social norms, mistrust & science
Trust in vaccines (in general)
Labour 90-7 (+83)
LibDem 90-9 (+81)
Conservative 90-9 (+81)
Reform 68-27 (+41)
Trust Covid vaccines
Labour 79-18 (+61)
LibDem 82-14 (+68)
Conservative 82-17 (+65)
Reform 46-50 (-4)
Trust in vaccines (in general)
Labour 90-7 (+83)
LibDem 90-9 (+81)
Conservative 90-9 (+81)
Reform 68-27 (+41)
Trust Covid vaccines
Labour 79-18 (+61)
LibDem 82-14 (+68)
Conservative 82-17 (+65)
Reform 46-50 (-4)
Reposted by Simon Riley
Reposted by Simon Riley
I know there are good reasons why wealth taxes on assets that can be moved between countries are a bad idea.
But everytime I see a headline like this I'm just "squeeze the selfish bastards till they cry".
But everytime I see a headline like this I'm just "squeeze the selfish bastards till they cry".
September 21, 2025 at 1:30 PM
I know there are good reasons why wealth taxes on assets that can be moved between countries are a bad idea.
But everytime I see a headline like this I'm just "squeeze the selfish bastards till they cry".
But everytime I see a headline like this I'm just "squeeze the selfish bastards till they cry".
Reposted by Simon Riley
In which, remarkably, while talking about the fiscal bind, and even after Jeremy Hunt goes on about acting in the interests of the country, no one brings up the TWO NI cuts carried out largely if not solely for narrow party political ends. podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/h...
How (And When) To Topple A Leader - With Jeremy Hunt
Podcast Episode · How To Win An Election · 18/09/2025 · 41m
podcasts.apple.com
September 21, 2025 at 10:08 AM
In which, remarkably, while talking about the fiscal bind, and even after Jeremy Hunt goes on about acting in the interests of the country, no one brings up the TWO NI cuts carried out largely if not solely for narrow party political ends. podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/h...
Reposted by Simon Riley
Slowly but surely they’re saying the quiet part out loud
September 20, 2025 at 9:59 PM
Slowly but surely they’re saying the quiet part out loud
Reposted by Simon Riley
Oh, f#ck off.
"Strongly condemn"
Bet that scared the Russians pretty good..
"Strongly condemn"
Bet that scared the Russians pretty good..
September 21, 2025 at 6:15 AM
Oh, f#ck off.
"Strongly condemn"
Bet that scared the Russians pretty good..
"Strongly condemn"
Bet that scared the Russians pretty good..
Reposted by Simon Riley
Shocked and saddened to hear of the death of John Stapleton. He was a guest on @moversand.bsky.social back in February and was both inspiring and amusing about his Parkinson’s diagnosis and his long career in journalism open.substack.com/pub/rorycell...
Movers and Shakers: John Stapleton
A broadcasting legend on life with Parkinson's
open.substack.com
September 21, 2025 at 9:42 AM
Shocked and saddened to hear of the death of John Stapleton. He was a guest on @moversand.bsky.social back in February and was both inspiring and amusing about his Parkinson’s diagnosis and his long career in journalism open.substack.com/pub/rorycell...
Reposted by Simon Riley
There is no world in which it is normal for the president to publicly call upon his attorney general to hurry up and prosecute his political foes. It’s like the Watergate tapes but posted on social media. Let’s get a grip on what’s happening here.
September 21, 2025 at 12:56 AM
There is no world in which it is normal for the president to publicly call upon his attorney general to hurry up and prosecute his political foes. It’s like the Watergate tapes but posted on social media. Let’s get a grip on what’s happening here.
Reposted by Simon Riley
The UK tax paradox:
1️⃣ The tax burden is at a post-war high, and 52% of us say we're over-taxed.
2️⃣ Yet the average UK worker paid less tax on their wages in 2024 than any previous year. And less than peers in the other big European countries.
How can both be true?
🧵
1️⃣ The tax burden is at a post-war high, and 52% of us say we're over-taxed.
2️⃣ Yet the average UK worker paid less tax on their wages in 2024 than any previous year. And less than peers in the other big European countries.
How can both be true?
🧵
June 27, 2025 at 8:20 AM
The UK tax paradox:
1️⃣ The tax burden is at a post-war high, and 52% of us say we're over-taxed.
2️⃣ Yet the average UK worker paid less tax on their wages in 2024 than any previous year. And less than peers in the other big European countries.
How can both be true?
🧵
1️⃣ The tax burden is at a post-war high, and 52% of us say we're over-taxed.
2️⃣ Yet the average UK worker paid less tax on their wages in 2024 than any previous year. And less than peers in the other big European countries.
How can both be true?
🧵
Reposted by Simon Riley
New post just out:
"Three seconds"
What links Charlie Kirk, the overthrow of the Nepalese government, the US-China trade deal, and the trial of a Romanian Presidential candidate?
TikTok.
Here's why it's changing politics and what that means.
(£/free trial)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/t...
"Three seconds"
What links Charlie Kirk, the overthrow of the Nepalese government, the US-China trade deal, and the trial of a Romanian Presidential candidate?
TikTok.
Here's why it's changing politics and what that means.
(£/free trial)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/t...
Three seconds
TikTok and the future of politics
open.substack.com
September 20, 2025 at 7:58 AM
New post just out:
"Three seconds"
What links Charlie Kirk, the overthrow of the Nepalese government, the US-China trade deal, and the trial of a Romanian Presidential candidate?
TikTok.
Here's why it's changing politics and what that means.
(£/free trial)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/t...
"Three seconds"
What links Charlie Kirk, the overthrow of the Nepalese government, the US-China trade deal, and the trial of a Romanian Presidential candidate?
TikTok.
Here's why it's changing politics and what that means.
(£/free trial)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/t...
I wondered about the devolution agenda back when Labour was big on it. Takes a lot of nerve and vision to see it through - I just don’t think it’c central enough to their thinking to survive
Some of it may also be the political minefield that’s the related local govt reorganisation agenda, which was led by Jim McMahon, no longer in post
NEW: Former Bank of England chief economist Andy Haldane tells @politicshome.bsky.social he thinks the government is getting “cold feet” about strengthening regional devolution
“Two Reform mayors play into that. A Labour mayor on manoeuvres plays into that too."
“Two Reform mayors play into that. A Labour mayor on manoeuvres plays into that too."
September 20, 2025 at 8:26 AM
I wondered about the devolution agenda back when Labour was big on it. Takes a lot of nerve and vision to see it through - I just don’t think it’c central enough to their thinking to survive
not actually a bad idea
Refugees are quite often a product of our arms industry - perhaps there should be a special tax on the arms industry to go towards expenses related to refugees ?
September 20, 2025 at 8:24 AM
not actually a bad idea
Reposted by Simon Riley
Blondie with ‘ Union City Blue ‘.
Might amaze some people here but this actually my favourite Blondie song .
youtu.be/Hvqgb1D6Opw?...
Might amaze some people here but this actually my favourite Blondie song .
youtu.be/Hvqgb1D6Opw?...
Blondie - Union City Blue (Official Music Video)
YouTube video by BlondieVEVO
youtu.be
September 19, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Blondie with ‘ Union City Blue ‘.
Might amaze some people here but this actually my favourite Blondie song .
youtu.be/Hvqgb1D6Opw?...
Might amaze some people here but this actually my favourite Blondie song .
youtu.be/Hvqgb1D6Opw?...
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
September 20, 2025 at 6:46 AM
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Reposted by Simon Riley
Had to repost this. Robert Redford was one my favorite actors. R.I.P. Robert 😔💔
September 17, 2025 at 4:44 AM
Had to repost this. Robert Redford was one my favorite actors. R.I.P. Robert 😔💔
open.spotify.com/episode/06QC...
Great new podcast examining how media / journalism approaches the gender ideology problem
Great new podcast examining how media / journalism approaches the gender ideology problem
Nick Wallis talks to Seen in Journalism
open.spotify.com
September 17, 2025 at 7:22 AM
open.spotify.com/episode/06QC...
Great new podcast examining how media / journalism approaches the gender ideology problem
Great new podcast examining how media / journalism approaches the gender ideology problem
Reposted by Simon Riley
"You can be English with roots here that stretch back a thousand years. But you can also be English and look like me" - Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood in the House of Commons today
September 15, 2025 at 10:45 PM
"You can be English with roots here that stretch back a thousand years. But you can also be English and look like me" - Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood in the House of Commons today
@thehistoryguy.bsky.social I’m afraid your Troubles shows were a mess, as your “expert” took a partisan Irish nationalist view and seemed very keen to play down the extent of republican responsibility and play up unionist wrongdoing - thus failed to explain events. The reality:
September 10, 2025 at 10:38 PM
@thehistoryguy.bsky.social I’m afraid your Troubles shows were a mess, as your “expert” took a partisan Irish nationalist view and seemed very keen to play down the extent of republican responsibility and play up unionist wrongdoing - thus failed to explain events. The reality:
Reposted by Simon Riley
Kobbie Mainoo has informed #Mufc of his wish to leave on loan before Monday’s deadline.
Mainoo told the club he has no desire to sever ties but wants move for game time. United have made it clear they’re not sanctioning a temporary switch and expect him to fight for place. @David_Ornstein
Mainoo told the club he has no desire to sever ties but wants move for game time. United have made it clear they’re not sanctioning a temporary switch and expect him to fight for place. @David_Ornstein
August 28, 2025 at 10:03 PM
Kobbie Mainoo has informed #Mufc of his wish to leave on loan before Monday’s deadline.
Mainoo told the club he has no desire to sever ties but wants move for game time. United have made it clear they’re not sanctioning a temporary switch and expect him to fight for place. @David_Ornstein
Mainoo told the club he has no desire to sever ties but wants move for game time. United have made it clear they’re not sanctioning a temporary switch and expect him to fight for place. @David_Ornstein
Reposted by Simon Riley
“Dream Version Part III” by Bim Sherman & Sound Iration #nowplaying #6music
August 24, 2025 at 10:05 PM
“Dream Version Part III” by Bim Sherman & Sound Iration #nowplaying #6music
Reposted by Simon Riley
As it is, I accidentally happened across a protest against the Chinese embassy in London yesterday which I’m pretty sure was bigger than any of these individual protests and maybe them collectively. And…basically zero coverage.
August 24, 2025 at 10:16 PM
As it is, I accidentally happened across a protest against the Chinese embassy in London yesterday which I’m pretty sure was bigger than any of these individual protests and maybe them collectively. And…basically zero coverage.