C John Hughes
@pen0lver.bsky.social
Retired Chartered Librarian BA (Open) Former ILM consultant. Rock, Jazz, Blues (Folk). Bolton Wanderers. Film/theatre/politics. Socialist.
Father of two and grandfather of four. I'm 82.
Reposts are lazy. No DMs pse.
Disagree but no sustained arguing.
Father of two and grandfather of four. I'm 82.
Reposts are lazy. No DMs pse.
Disagree but no sustained arguing.
A united Ireland would clinch peace for the island of Ireland and bring so many humanitarian, political and financial benefits too modernising the UK in the process.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
A united Ireland referendum must not be ‘another Brexit’, analysts say
Two leading journalists from both sides of the border warn against another ‘vague, thumbs up-thumbs down’ vote
www.theguardian.com
November 24, 2025 at 7:41 AM
A united Ireland would clinch peace for the island of Ireland and bring so many humanitarian, political and financial benefits too modernising the UK in the process.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
It is to be hope d that this updated peace plan for the illegal Russian invasion and war against Ukraine, finally serves justice for Zelenskyy. It's about time:
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
US and Ukraine promise ‘updated’ peace framework after criticism of pro-Russian points in original plan
US-Ukraine statement comes hours after European countries propose their own alternative peace
www.theguardian.com
November 24, 2025 at 7:35 AM
It is to be hope d that this updated peace plan for the illegal Russian invasion and war against Ukraine, finally serves justice for Zelenskyy. It's about time:
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
The Refugee Council thought the Tory's Rwanda scheme was the worst idea:
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
‘We thought the Rwanda scheme was the worst of it’: Enver Solomon on leading – and leaving – the Refugee Council
It has been a difficult week for those working with refugees and migrants in the UK, after Labour announced controversial new plans. Sadly, Solomon is used to such turmoil. He discusses hostility, hop...
www.theguardian.com
November 24, 2025 at 7:30 AM
The Refugee Council thought the Tory's Rwanda scheme was the worst idea:
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
I'm pushing 83 and some quite beautiful women want to follow me: why? I suspect they simply want a sharing of their charms and haven't bothered to read my profile. It won't happen with me. Is there no way motives such as self-promotion can be a refusal to allow them to join BlueSky?!
November 21, 2025 at 7:35 PM
I'm pushing 83 and some quite beautiful women want to follow me: why? I suspect they simply want a sharing of their charms and haven't bothered to read my profile. It won't happen with me. Is there no way motives such as self-promotion can be a refusal to allow them to join BlueSky?!
Totally agree with this piece. We had too many incompetent Tory PMs, and one of them was just a chaotic entertainer, including through COVID. Of course in contrast, we now have a competent PM. Some voters still want to be entertained. Go to the LibDems then!
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Vote for competent leaders, not entertainers – that’s what I wish the Covid report could say | Devi Sridhar
To prevent a future pandemic we’d need agile leadership, smart decision-making, humility and trustworthiness. How does one build those into a political system, asks Prof Devi Sridhar, chair of global ...
www.theguardian.com
November 21, 2025 at 7:22 PM
Totally agree with this piece. We had too many incompetent Tory PMs, and one of them was just a chaotic entertainer, including through COVID. Of course in contrast, we now have a competent PM. Some voters still want to be entertained. Go to the LibDems then!
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Never a fan of Bill Haley, but he was the first of the rock 'n' roll stars to visit the UK:
www.vintagerockmag.com/2025/09/bill...
www.vintagerockmag.com/2025/09/bill...
Bill Haley at 100 - A celebration of the Father Of Rock’n’Roll
Along with his daughter Gina Haley and biographer Chris Gardner, Vintage Rock raises a glass to the Father of Rock’n’Roll, Bill Haley
www.vintagerockmag.com
November 19, 2025 at 10:40 PM
Never a fan of Bill Haley, but he was the first of the rock 'n' roll stars to visit the UK:
www.vintagerockmag.com/2025/09/bill...
www.vintagerockmag.com/2025/09/bill...
It takes a lot of heartache for library workers to go on strike and I think it's right that we value them more highly. The media image of librarians doesn't help. I once went on strike while working as a librarian, and it was about terms and conditions.
www.theguardian.com/books/2025/n...
www.theguardian.com/books/2025/n...
British Library strikers deserve our support | Letters
Letters: Jane Ghosh says it’s time to value all library workers, while Keith Flett wonders if the local MP can help
www.theguardian.com
November 19, 2025 at 4:43 PM
It takes a lot of heartache for library workers to go on strike and I think it's right that we value them more highly. The media image of librarians doesn't help. I once went on strike while working as a librarian, and it was about terms and conditions.
www.theguardian.com/books/2025/n...
www.theguardian.com/books/2025/n...
Reform UK is seeing off itself I feel, but I'd listen to the Home Secretary rather than Andy Burnham:
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
How can Labour see off Reform? Both Andy Burnham and Shabana Mahmood offer clues | Julian Coman
A moral crusade won’t work. To defeat Faragism, Labour must revive a vision of social cohesion and collective responsibility, says Guardian associate editor Julian Coman
www.theguardian.com
November 19, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Reform UK is seeing off itself I feel, but I'd listen to the Home Secretary rather than Andy Burnham:
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Now Russia is threatening GB. How to deal with this robustly and effectively?
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Russian spy ship enters British waters and shines lasers at military pilots
Defence secretary reveals details of recent incursions as he warns UK is facing ‘new era of threat’ from hostile countries
www.theguardian.com
November 19, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Now Russia is threatening GB. How to deal with this robustly and effectively?
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
I agree with the points that are being made here, but what's needed is a constant reminder of what the Labour government is still doing in terms of social cohesion, alongside all the good things still being undertaken.
commission.europa.eu/document/dow...
commission.europa.eu/document/dow...
commission.europa.eu
November 19, 2025 at 12:39 PM
I agree with the points that are being made here, but what's needed is a constant reminder of what the Labour government is still doing in terms of social cohesion, alongside all the good things still being undertaken.
commission.europa.eu/document/dow...
commission.europa.eu/document/dow...
As someone deeply interested in valid information provision, this grotesque "Grokipedia" from Musk is to be condemned, and certainly avoided by everyone who values validity.
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
White nationalist talking points and racial pseudoscience: welcome to Elon Musk’s Grokipedia
World’s richest person wanted to ‘purge’ propaganda from Wikipedia, so he created a compendium of racist disinformation
www.theguardian.com
November 19, 2025 at 12:21 PM
As someone deeply interested in valid information provision, this grotesque "Grokipedia" from Musk is to be condemned, and certainly avoided by everyone who values validity.
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
It's right that this shameful history is kept alive: everyone needs to be reminded and reparations are one way of keeping the topic alive:
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
Caribbean slavery reparations body calls for ‘mutually beneficial’ restorative justice from UK
On first official visit to UK, leaders say aim is not to ‘break the British Treasury’ but to find solution to help clean up ‘mess’ left by colonialism
www.theguardian.com
November 19, 2025 at 12:12 PM
It's right that this shameful history is kept alive: everyone needs to be reminded and reparations are one way of keeping the topic alive:
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
It's just who he still is nd hardly shocking: why are the press and others still interested?
www.theguardian.com/politics/ng-...
www.theguardian.com/politics/ng-...
‘Deeply shocking’: Nigel Farage faces fresh claims of racism and antisemitism at school
Bafta-winning director among contemporaries urging contrition and apology from Reform UK leader, who denies the allegations
www.theguardian.com
November 19, 2025 at 12:09 PM
It's just who he still is nd hardly shocking: why are the press and others still interested?
www.theguardian.com/politics/ng-...
www.theguardian.com/politics/ng-...
It was tried once before with Preston Leyland and Chorley (which I named Presley when asked) but that was the wrong time. Now, I think the duplication savings could be enormous for the willing authorities:
www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/gcc-news/new...
www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/gcc-news/new...
Gloucestershire County Council signals support for single unitary proposal | Gloucestershire County Council
www.gloucestershire.gov.uk
November 13, 2025 at 5:11 PM
It was tried once before with Preston Leyland and Chorley (which I named Presley when asked) but that was the wrong time. Now, I think the duplication savings could be enormous for the willing authorities:
www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/gcc-news/new...
www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/gcc-news/new...
With the alternative PMs likely to be available at the next general election, why does The Guardian persist in going for Starmer? It feels like the issue of balanced reporting is back of the bus i.e. discriminatory.
www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...
www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...
Starmer stands by McSweeney and says he has been ‘assured no briefings against ministers done from No 10’ – UK politics live
PM says he has ‘full confidence’ in his chief of staff Morgan McSweeney amid calls for him to be sacked
www.theguardian.com
November 13, 2025 at 4:59 PM
With the alternative PMs likely to be available at the next general election, why does The Guardian persist in going for Starmer? It feels like the issue of balanced reporting is back of the bus i.e. discriminatory.
www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...
www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...
An interesting breakdown on who supports Reform UK and their reasons. This could be a basis for Labour to address all these groups individually, instead of believing that they will not be a threat at the next general election
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Who supports Reform and why? The charts that show who favours Farage’s party
Based on largest poll of supporters, these charts and maps show five distinct groups that could hand Reform a majority
www.theguardian.com
November 13, 2025 at 9:47 AM
An interesting breakdown on who supports Reform UK and their reasons. This could be a basis for Labour to address all these groups individually, instead of believing that they will not be a threat at the next general election
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
It is essential that Ukraine gains membership of the EU before 2030, although this piece doubts that will happen due to at least one far right veto.
www.theguardian.com/world/live/2...
www.theguardian.com/world/live/2...
Zelenskyy calls for Ukraine to join EU before 2030 after commission delivers warning on corruption - as it happened
EU says reforms needed ‘with regards to the fundamentals, in particular rule of law’ to have a chance to ‘provisionally close accession negotiations by the end of 2028’
www.theguardian.com
November 13, 2025 at 9:21 AM
It is essential that Ukraine gains membership of the EU before 2030, although this piece doubts that will happen due to at least one far right veto.
www.theguardian.com/world/live/2...
www.theguardian.com/world/live/2...
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) is updating its approach to presentation, in order to allow quality over quantity and create better guidance and trust in its support to government and others:
www.ons.gov.uk/news/stateme...
www.ons.gov.uk/news/stateme...
Letter from the ONS Permanent Secretary to Penny Young, Deputy Chair of the UK Statistics Authority, 12 November 2025 - Office for National Statistics
www.ons.gov.uk
November 12, 2025 at 10:58 AM
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) is updating its approach to presentation, in order to allow quality over quantity and create better guidance and trust in its support to government and others:
www.ons.gov.uk/news/stateme...
www.ons.gov.uk/news/stateme...
The New Statesman has a negative view of Keir Starmer with the strapline "What Keir won't hear". He has stated clearly that he will reject all calls for him to resign, whether from within his party or beyond That should be clear enough. Compare him to the multitude of Tory PMs forced to resign.
November 12, 2025 at 10:06 AM
The New Statesman has a negative view of Keir Starmer with the strapline "What Keir won't hear". He has stated clearly that he will reject all calls for him to resign, whether from within his party or beyond That should be clear enough. Compare him to the multitude of Tory PMs forced to resign.
This new book by a former ambassador to both the UK and the US, João Vale de Almeida, is an interesting take on current world politics and the title says it all:
thehistorypress.co.uk/publication/...
thehistorypress.co.uk/publication/...
The Divorce of Nations
Today, we find ourselves in arguably the most dangerous geopolitical situations of modern time. Outlining key moments over the last quarter century, this vital book represents the personal testimony o...
thehistorypress.co.uk
November 12, 2025 at 9:53 AM
This new book by a former ambassador to both the UK and the US, João Vale de Almeida, is an interesting take on current world politics and the title says it all:
thehistorypress.co.uk/publication/...
thehistorypress.co.uk/publication/...
@archive.org
For anyone interested in the development of scientific discovery from the early 20th C to space exploration, these NASA collection images are an excellent start, and prove the worth of libraries and archives: posterity/
archive.org/details/grea...
For anyone interested in the development of scientific discovery from the early 20th C to space exploration, these NASA collection images are an excellent start, and prove the worth of libraries and archives: posterity/
archive.org/details/grea...
Internet Archive: Digital Library of Free & Borrowable Texts, Movies, Music & Wayback Machine
archive.org
November 11, 2025 at 11:54 PM
@archive.org
For anyone interested in the development of scientific discovery from the early 20th C to space exploration, these NASA collection images are an excellent start, and prove the worth of libraries and archives: posterity/
archive.org/details/grea...
For anyone interested in the development of scientific discovery from the early 20th C to space exploration, these NASA collection images are an excellent start, and prove the worth of libraries and archives: posterity/
archive.org/details/grea...
The Gloucestershire Equipment Loan Service is remarkable in itself, and to be able to celebrate with awards to the staff delivering it, is very appropriate.
www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/gcc-news/new...
www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/gcc-news/new...
Celebrating over 560 years of dedicated service | Gloucestershire County Council
www.gloucestershire.gov.uk
November 11, 2025 at 9:56 AM
The Gloucestershire Equipment Loan Service is remarkable in itself, and to be able to celebrate with awards to the staff delivering it, is very appropriate.
www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/gcc-news/new...
www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/gcc-news/new...