@patdownes.bsky.social
Watching Educating Yorkshire recently I was amazed to see pupils falling asleep in GCSE exams as they, on their own admission had "been on TikTok until 2am". My granddaughter tells me that's a common thing. Lack of sleep must be a massive contributor to young people's metal health?
December 4, 2025 at 8:38 AM
Watching Educating Yorkshire recently I was amazed to see pupils falling asleep in GCSE exams as they, on their own admission had "been on TikTok until 2am". My granddaughter tells me that's a common thing. Lack of sleep must be a massive contributor to young people's metal health?
She was constantly and rudely interrupted and talked over. Contrast this with the Kemi Badenoch interview where she listened politely. The panel were also allowed to criticise what the chancellor had said, which Piers Morgan delighted in, but not asked to comment on Kemi's "contribution".
December 1, 2025 at 9:03 AM
She was constantly and rudely interrupted and talked over. Contrast this with the Kemi Badenoch interview where she listened politely. The panel were also allowed to criticise what the chancellor had said, which Piers Morgan delighted in, but not asked to comment on Kemi's "contribution".
Rachel Reeves (or any other politician) when accused of not "fulfilling manifesto promises" should simply point out in a fast changing world a government that doesn't respond to those changes is just plain stupid?
Manifestos are surely written according to the circumstances at the time?
Manifestos are surely written according to the circumstances at the time?
November 30, 2025 at 2:28 PM
Rachel Reeves (or any other politician) when accused of not "fulfilling manifesto promises" should simply point out in a fast changing world a government that doesn't respond to those changes is just plain stupid?
Manifestos are surely written according to the circumstances at the time?
Manifestos are surely written according to the circumstances at the time?
What a horrendous "interview" Laura Kunsberg subjected Rachel Reeves to this morning. This was not investigative journalism just bullying pure and simple. I'm glad she didn't walk out, she probably should have done? I think LK was hoping she would or maybe even make her cry? Disgusting haranguing.
November 30, 2025 at 11:21 AM
What a horrendous "interview" Laura Kunsberg subjected Rachel Reeves to this morning. This was not investigative journalism just bullying pure and simple. I'm glad she didn't walk out, she probably should have done? I think LK was hoping she would or maybe even make her cry? Disgusting haranguing.
Is this true? I can't get my head around it at all?
November 24, 2025 at 7:54 AM
Is this true? I can't get my head around it at all?
But wouldn’t that just serve us right for not stamping out racism? Who could blame them wanting to go somewhere their skills are valued and appreciated?
November 21, 2025 at 8:02 PM
But wouldn’t that just serve us right for not stamping out racism? Who could blame them wanting to go somewhere their skills are valued and appreciated?
She's always been my ultimate feminist heroine, although I occasionally felt a bit sorry for Kermit, but no wonder she stole his heart!
November 20, 2025 at 9:05 AM
She's always been my ultimate feminist heroine, although I occasionally felt a bit sorry for Kermit, but no wonder she stole his heart!
I'm reading this thread with interest because my third covid vaccination (Moderna) made me extremely ill and triggered an autoimmune disease called PMR. Previously I had always had any vaccination I was offered with no problems at all but now personally I am very frightened about having any more.
November 15, 2025 at 7:37 AM
I'm reading this thread with interest because my third covid vaccination (Moderna) made me extremely ill and triggered an autoimmune disease called PMR. Previously I had always had any vaccination I was offered with no problems at all but now personally I am very frightened about having any more.
Congratulations, keep up the good work! (please)
November 13, 2025 at 8:26 AM
Congratulations, keep up the good work! (please)
Wonderful summary from highly intelligent man.
Makes a lovely change!
Makes a lovely change!
November 11, 2025 at 8:23 AM
Wonderful summary from highly intelligent man.
Makes a lovely change!
Makes a lovely change!
Er not us or any other OAPs I know!
What sort of job must they have had to have a pension that pays that sort of money?
What sort of job must they have had to have a pension that pays that sort of money?
November 8, 2025 at 7:58 AM
Er not us or any other OAPs I know!
What sort of job must they have had to have a pension that pays that sort of money?
What sort of job must they have had to have a pension that pays that sort of money?
Sadly I can't see this being on the news and Labour Party comms really don't seem capable of getting any good news out there?
November 7, 2025 at 7:48 AM
Sadly I can't see this being on the news and Labour Party comms really don't seem capable of getting any good news out there?
I know. He's a politician and it's hard to actually trust what any politician says but I like what he says and have to assume (until proven otherwise!) that he means it. I liked his answer when Victoria Derbyshire challenged him on how much money a wealth tax would raise for example.
October 20, 2025 at 7:28 AM
I know. He's a politician and it's hard to actually trust what any politician says but I like what he says and have to assume (until proven otherwise!) that he means it. I liked his answer when Victoria Derbyshire challenged him on how much money a wealth tax would raise for example.
I have voted Labour all my long life, 50 years of voting at every election. Having watched Zack Polanski on Kunsberg he didn't say one thing I disagreed with. No idea how his party would cope if they were in power but I think maybe their time has come?
October 20, 2025 at 7:09 AM
I have voted Labour all my long life, 50 years of voting at every election. Having watched Zack Polanski on Kunsberg he didn't say one thing I disagreed with. No idea how his party would cope if they were in power but I think maybe their time has come?
It's such a very sad read. No wonder her brother is still fighting for justice for her?
October 17, 2025 at 7:09 AM
It's such a very sad read. No wonder her brother is still fighting for justice for her?
I was born in 1952 and would love nothing better that to pretend the internet doesn't exist and never look at a smartphone ever again but sadly it's just not possible for me to do that.
October 10, 2025 at 6:18 AM
I was born in 1952 and would love nothing better that to pretend the internet doesn't exist and never look at a smartphone ever again but sadly it's just not possible for me to do that.
I currently have covid and was made extremely ill by a vaccination during the pandemic so am relying on immunity by catching it roughly once a year since 2021. I'm 73 and covid itself just makes me unwell for a couple of days, no worse than a cold but nothing like the damage done by the vaccine.
October 9, 2025 at 2:00 PM
I currently have covid and was made extremely ill by a vaccination during the pandemic so am relying on immunity by catching it roughly once a year since 2021. I'm 73 and covid itself just makes me unwell for a couple of days, no worse than a cold but nothing like the damage done by the vaccine.
You won't miss it at all, you'll just feel like you've had a nice hot shower after being filthy!
September 29, 2025 at 6:46 AM
You won't miss it at all, you'll just feel like you've had a nice hot shower after being filthy!
These people are not Christians? Love thy neighbour? I don't think they do?
September 22, 2025 at 7:12 AM
These people are not Christians? Love thy neighbour? I don't think they do?
You do have a lot of power to shape the narrative and I hope the Labour Party soon ceases to disappoint us and you can begin to support their efforts. The alternatives are simply too terrifying to contemplate? Farage in number 10? or we "disillusioned" socialists may well help to put him there.
September 16, 2025 at 7:12 AM
You do have a lot of power to shape the narrative and I hope the Labour Party soon ceases to disappoint us and you can begin to support their efforts. The alternatives are simply too terrifying to contemplate? Farage in number 10? or we "disillusioned" socialists may well help to put him there.
Thank you Ed for writing this but you really have to try get all our MPs to leave X? The former Twitter needs to be reduced to just a right wing echo chamber?
September 15, 2025 at 7:47 AM
Thank you Ed for writing this but you really have to try get all our MPs to leave X? The former Twitter needs to be reduced to just a right wing echo chamber?
Such a good thread. I was a primary school teacher and was forced to teach a narrow curriculum by the government which was not suitable for so many, boys particularly. I'm not surprised sadly this is the end result. Children are made to feel failures if they can't jump through certain hoops.
September 14, 2025 at 6:16 AM
Such a good thread. I was a primary school teacher and was forced to teach a narrow curriculum by the government which was not suitable for so many, boys particularly. I'm not surprised sadly this is the end result. Children are made to feel failures if they can't jump through certain hoops.
I think he probably did?
September 5, 2025 at 7:16 AM
I think he probably did?