Ollie Crookwood
@olliecrookwood.bsky.social
Scottish Greens candidate for Fort William & Ardnamurchan
Believer in a better future, and the politics of hope.
Believer in a better future, and the politics of hope.
“Paul Samuelson famously said that when a man marries his maid he reduces GDP. So let’s do the reverse.”
Entertaining and accurate piece by @chrisdillow.bsky.social :
Entertaining and accurate piece by @chrisdillow.bsky.social :
Increasing economic growth: some modest proposals
Commodify, enshittify, skillify.
open.substack.com
November 20, 2025 at 10:34 AM
“Paul Samuelson famously said that when a man marries his maid he reduces GDP. So let’s do the reverse.”
Entertaining and accurate piece by @chrisdillow.bsky.social :
Entertaining and accurate piece by @chrisdillow.bsky.social :
“Among the reasons cited by analysts for the Social Democrats’ decline in Copenhagen were voter fatigue over the prime minister’s hardline policies on issues such as integration and immigration”
Someone in no10 needs to get this message. Pandering to the far right doesn’t work.
Someone in no10 needs to get this message. Pandering to the far right doesn’t work.
Social Democrats in Denmark suffer sweeping election losses
PM Mette Frederiksen’s centre-left party loses control of Copenhagen for first time in more than 100 years
www.theguardian.com
November 19, 2025 at 1:40 PM
“Among the reasons cited by analysts for the Social Democrats’ decline in Copenhagen were voter fatigue over the prime minister’s hardline policies on issues such as integration and immigration”
Someone in no10 needs to get this message. Pandering to the far right doesn’t work.
Someone in no10 needs to get this message. Pandering to the far right doesn’t work.
“It’s strange for western audiences to hear about China’s problems of deflation and overproduction – because they’re almost the exact opposites of the problems our economies seem to be facing.”
Fascinating reading from @graceblakeley.substack.com - interesting parallels comparing east to west.
Fascinating reading from @graceblakeley.substack.com - interesting parallels comparing east to west.
Power or prosperity?
China's dilemma in an age of overproduction.
open.substack.com
November 18, 2025 at 3:23 PM
“It’s strange for western audiences to hear about China’s problems of deflation and overproduction – because they’re almost the exact opposites of the problems our economies seem to be facing.”
Fascinating reading from @graceblakeley.substack.com - interesting parallels comparing east to west.
Fascinating reading from @graceblakeley.substack.com - interesting parallels comparing east to west.
Nail on the head here from @robinlustig.bsky.social - this policy will only intensify an already toxic debate, without helping in any meaningful way.
Cruel, immoral, inhumane ...
For the Labour party to pander to racism instead of confronting it is a disgrace.
open.substack.com
November 18, 2025 at 12:13 PM
Nail on the head here from @robinlustig.bsky.social - this policy will only intensify an already toxic debate, without helping in any meaningful way.
Reposted by Ollie Crookwood
A little bit of context always helps. When it's omitted you know someone has an agenda.
November 17, 2025 at 1:48 PM
A little bit of context always helps. When it's omitted you know someone has an agenda.
Outrageous news from my home town - freeholds are outdated and in dire need of reform. This behaviour ought to be illegal.
“It broke my heart, that was my savings towards a new car,” one woman who paid Milne tens of thousands of pounds told us. “He has just wiped me out.”
Who is Andrew Milne - the solicitor sending "very aggressive" letters to Sheffield homeowners?
www.sheffieldtribune.co.uk/a-london-law...
Who is Andrew Milne - the solicitor sending "very aggressive" letters to Sheffield homeowners?
www.sheffieldtribune.co.uk/a-london-law...
A London lawyer bought hundreds of Sheffield freeholds. Then the ‘very aggressive’ letters arrived
Exclusive: The Tribune can reveal that Andrew Milne has threatened leaseholders with high court action. It ‘broke my heart’ one woman says
www.sheffieldtribune.co.uk
November 18, 2025 at 9:55 AM
Outrageous news from my home town - freeholds are outdated and in dire need of reform. This behaviour ought to be illegal.
As someone who has managed a waste water treatment system - yes. The fibres will not break down quickly enough, even if they do biodegrade over time, and it will cause issues.
At the very least there needs to be a ban on “flushable” labelling.
At the very least there needs to be a ban on “flushable” labelling.
Finally a ban on plastic wet wipes...
But will the non plastic wet wipes still cause sewage fatberg blockages?
Via BBC News
But will the non plastic wet wipes still cause sewage fatberg blockages?
Via BBC News
So long, plastic wet wipes - but should we be flushing the new ones?
Water companies say wet wipes containing plastic are one of the main causes of blockages in their pipes.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 18, 2025 at 9:36 AM
As someone who has managed a waste water treatment system - yes. The fibres will not break down quickly enough, even if they do biodegrade over time, and it will cause issues.
At the very least there needs to be a ban on “flushable” labelling.
At the very least there needs to be a ban on “flushable” labelling.
“We are scapegoating asylum seekers for the failures and political divisions caused by successive governments in the last 15 years – the failures of successive governments to address wealth inequality, funding for education, the cost of living and primary healthcare and infrastructure.”
Labour seems to think this further lurch to the right is a political masterstroke. On the contrary, it confirms their moral and political bankruptcy.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Anglican bishop shaken ‘to the core’ by home secretary’s asylum seeker comments
Bishop of Edmonton says people coming to UK are being ‘scapegoated’ for years of policy failures
www.theguardian.com
November 18, 2025 at 7:17 AM
“We are scapegoating asylum seekers for the failures and political divisions caused by successive governments in the last 15 years – the failures of successive governments to address wealth inequality, funding for education, the cost of living and primary healthcare and infrastructure.”
The fact that Nigel Farage is presenting Reform as a realistic party of governance is laughable, and the fact that the Daily Mail/Sun etc are cheering him on is insane.
1 in 18 Reform councillors suspended, expelled, or resigned since May
1 in 18 Reform councillors suspended, expelled, or resigned since May
Read the full rundown here
www.thelondoneconomic.com
November 17, 2025 at 5:03 PM
The fact that Nigel Farage is presenting Reform as a realistic party of governance is laughable, and the fact that the Daily Mail/Sun etc are cheering him on is insane.
The only positive thing about Starmer’s current immigration policy is that it’ll give a huge boost to the Greens, from all of the people in this country who didn’t vote for policies designed to punish some of the most marginalised people in our country.
Starmer’s anti-asylum policies show how utterly clueless he is about the right-wing media’s role in politics.
He’s trying to fix a “problem” contrived by Farage, GB News and The Telegraph. He’ll never win, because ultimately he’s fighting a ghost – he’s fighting something that doesn’t really exist
He’s trying to fix a “problem” contrived by Farage, GB News and The Telegraph. He’ll never win, because ultimately he’s fighting a ghost – he’s fighting something that doesn’t really exist
November 17, 2025 at 4:53 PM
The only positive thing about Starmer’s current immigration policy is that it’ll give a huge boost to the Greens, from all of the people in this country who didn’t vote for policies designed to punish some of the most marginalised people in our country.
Reposted by Ollie Crookwood
BBC
Bias is often in the eye of the beholder
So let’s stick to measurable facts
During 10 yrs of debate about Brexit, BBC QuestionTime had Britain’s Members of the European Parliament on the show 50 times
Every single one was from the pro Brexit minority
47 were from UKIP/BP
23 times Farage
Bias is often in the eye of the beholder
So let’s stick to measurable facts
During 10 yrs of debate about Brexit, BBC QuestionTime had Britain’s Members of the European Parliament on the show 50 times
Every single one was from the pro Brexit minority
47 were from UKIP/BP
23 times Farage
November 15, 2025 at 11:39 AM
Reposted by Ollie Crookwood
Zack Polanski is a breath of fresh air.
November 15, 2025 at 9:20 AM
Zack Polanski is a breath of fresh air.
“it is true that the licence fee presents ethical problems. I would suggest that it is scrapped and replaced by levies paid to the BBC by Netflix, Amazon, Apple, Paramount, Disney and Sky, which frequently appropriate talents nurtured by the BBC”
@thenerve.news
@thenerve.news
Stewart Lee: Traitors on the inside, Trump on the outside ... who’d want to run the BBC now? Actually, I would
I may seem like an unlikely candidate. But at least I understand that the first step to facing down the organisation’s malevolent opponents is to stop appeasing them
www.thenerve.news
November 15, 2025 at 5:44 PM
“it is true that the licence fee presents ethical problems. I would suggest that it is scrapped and replaced by levies paid to the BBC by Netflix, Amazon, Apple, Paramount, Disney and Sky, which frequently appropriate talents nurtured by the BBC”
@thenerve.news
@thenerve.news
How anyone can believe accepting donations of this size isn’t damaging to our democracy is beyond me.
Labour Party’s latest accounts reveal the party’s biggest donor was Cayman Islands-based “arms-dealing” hedge fund Quadrature Capital.
Arms dealing hedge fund was Labour's biggest ever donor
Martin Shipton Serious concerns have been expressed about the Labour Party’s finances following the publication of accounts that confirm its biggest ever donation came from a hedge fund that stood to ...
nation.cymru
November 13, 2025 at 2:08 PM
How anyone can believe accepting donations of this size isn’t damaging to our democracy is beyond me.
Big vibes from @zackpolanski.bsky.social - politics of hope are the way forward!
"This energy!!!" 👏👏👏👏
Zack Polanski joins Rizzle Kicks out on stage in Bristol
Zack Polanski joins Rizzle Kicks out on stage in Bristol
November 13, 2025 at 1:26 PM
Big vibes from @zackpolanski.bsky.social - politics of hope are the way forward!
Great to hear @sianberry.bsky.social on LBC’s Cross Question last night. A ray of clarity against some outrageous views. Glad to hear someone arguing back against the “people on benefits struggling to afford their holidays to New York”.
Siân Berry, Lord James Bethell, Lucy Harris & Matthew Stadlen
pca.st
November 11, 2025 at 5:37 PM
Great to hear @sianberry.bsky.social on LBC’s Cross Question last night. A ray of clarity against some outrageous views. Glad to hear someone arguing back against the “people on benefits struggling to afford their holidays to New York”.
It was apparent from the start that the BBC resignations were due to an attack from the right, however it wasn’t clear just how deep it went. This reporting is critical for the future of journalism in the UK, and for our democracy.
EXCLUSIVE: My @bylinetimes.bsky.social investigation reveals: 'memo' which sparked President Donald Trump to threaten a $1bn lawsuit against BBC was written by lobbyist at firm paid by pro-Trump tech giants and Trump donors bylinetimes.com/2025/11/11/b...
'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 11, 2025 at 4:13 PM
It was apparent from the start that the BBC resignations were due to an attack from the right, however it wasn’t clear just how deep it went. This reporting is critical for the future of journalism in the UK, and for our democracy.
Nigel Farage is a fundamental threat to our institutions, and must be treated as such. While I agree the license fee is outdated and other forms of funding should be considered, the idea of turning it into a Netflix style subscription service is ludicrous.
Survival of BBC licence fee under threat after Trump crisis
BBC licence fee edging towards Netflix-style subcription model
inews.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 7:38 PM
Nigel Farage is a fundamental threat to our institutions, and must be treated as such. While I agree the license fee is outdated and other forms of funding should be considered, the idea of turning it into a Netflix style subscription service is ludicrous.
The BBC has been one of the most trusted sources in the world, but the last 2 decades of politicisation has been leading us to this crisis and now the future is in jeopardy. Foreign states and the far-right press should have no influence over the board. Excellent reporting
@owenjones.bsky.social
@owenjones.bsky.social
The BBC is in crisis - for all the wrong reasons.
The BBC whitewashed Israel's genocide. Now it has capitulated to Trump
open.substack.com
November 10, 2025 at 7:32 PM
The BBC has been one of the most trusted sources in the world, but the last 2 decades of politicisation has been leading us to this crisis and now the future is in jeopardy. Foreign states and the far-right press should have no influence over the board. Excellent reporting
@owenjones.bsky.social
@owenjones.bsky.social
Excellent piece on the Bylines network by @garygilligan.bsky.social - there is a real chance that Reform might win the next general election, and it is critical that people know what it is they are voting for. Judging by their councils so far, that seems to be broken promises and rising bills.
November 10, 2025 at 6:39 PM
Excellent piece on the Bylines network by @garygilligan.bsky.social - there is a real chance that Reform might win the next general election, and it is critical that people know what it is they are voting for. Judging by their councils so far, that seems to be broken promises and rising bills.
Another fantastic article from @graceblakeley.substack.com - while America is leading the way, the current Labour government seems set on following in its wake, gambling our economy on the potential of AI without any thought to the potential damage.
The AI Boom is Fueling a New Gilded Age
The AI bubble is making the rich richer - but when it bursts, ordinary Americans will have to pick up the tab.
open.substack.com
November 10, 2025 at 2:17 PM
Another fantastic article from @graceblakeley.substack.com - while America is leading the way, the current Labour government seems set on following in its wake, gambling our economy on the potential of AI without any thought to the potential damage.
Important read - it’s not good for anyone when doctors go on strike, however people do not strike without reason. These are people that dedicate their lives to caring for others, they deserve our support and understanding.
LET'S SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT.
When those NHS doctor strikes start, I want you to be armed with some *facts*...
open.substack.com
November 9, 2025 at 8:11 PM
Important read - it’s not good for anyone when doctors go on strike, however people do not strike without reason. These are people that dedicate their lives to caring for others, they deserve our support and understanding.
Reposted by Ollie Crookwood
“A central theme of his campaign was that winning was only the beginning. This is why his team is seemingly making this two month transition process as public facing as possible.”
@premthakker.bsky.social breaks down Mamdani’s plans to make his winning agenda a reality.
🔗 zeteo.com/p/zohran-mam...
@premthakker.bsky.social breaks down Mamdani’s plans to make his winning agenda a reality.
🔗 zeteo.com/p/zohran-mam...
November 9, 2025 at 12:28 AM
“A central theme of his campaign was that winning was only the beginning. This is why his team is seemingly making this two month transition process as public facing as possible.”
@premthakker.bsky.social breaks down Mamdani’s plans to make his winning agenda a reality.
🔗 zeteo.com/p/zohran-mam...
@premthakker.bsky.social breaks down Mamdani’s plans to make his winning agenda a reality.
🔗 zeteo.com/p/zohran-mam...
We live in the 6th richest country in the world, in the most technologically advanced society that has ever existed. The fact that any children at all are still living in poverty is an outrage, and the real numbers are staggering. It is time for a radical rethinking of how our society is structured.
Every number is a life: The child poverty crisis in stats
Millions of children in the UK are going without basic essentials – how we count them matters. Claire Miller drills into the numbers behind child poverty.
open.substack.com
November 8, 2025 at 1:58 PM
We live in the 6th richest country in the world, in the most technologically advanced society that has ever existed. The fact that any children at all are still living in poverty is an outrage, and the real numbers are staggering. It is time for a radical rethinking of how our society is structured.
Reposted by Ollie Crookwood
You think it'd be in Zia Yusuf and Reform's interests to be a lot more convincing than this...
November 7, 2025 at 11:11 AM
You think it'd be in Zia Yusuf and Reform's interests to be a lot more convincing than this...