Gemma Roulston
@politicgem.bsky.social
Disabled person and carer. Exiled in S E of England, originally from Middlesbrough in the North East of England. Support Middlesbrough FC. Likes nature, bird watching, stamp collecting, politics, environment, trying to live a green lifestyle.
Reposted by Gemma Roulston
Except, and I do fully understand that this is the Telegraph so facts might not matter too much, pretty much every reliable expert agrees that the only practical way to genuinely reduce small boat crossings is to provide safer and simpler alternatives. 1/
October 7, 2025 at 11:49 AM
Except, and I do fully understand that this is the Telegraph so facts might not matter too much, pretty much every reliable expert agrees that the only practical way to genuinely reduce small boat crossings is to provide safer and simpler alternatives. 1/
Reposted by Gemma Roulston
I'm guessing Robert Jenrick might be hard-pressed to see a black face if he walked round his own constituency of Newark for 90 minutes, given the ethnic minority population of its main town looks to be smaller than the white population of Handsworth. (Source: citypopulation.de/en/uk/eastmi...)
October 7, 2025 at 11:01 AM
I'm guessing Robert Jenrick might be hard-pressed to see a black face if he walked round his own constituency of Newark for 90 minutes, given the ethnic minority population of its main town looks to be smaller than the white population of Handsworth. (Source: citypopulation.de/en/uk/eastmi...)
Reposted by Gemma Roulston
Jenrick complains that there are immigration judges (presumably he means the part-time ones) who spend the rest of their time representing immigrants.
Wait until someone tells him about Recorders (part-time Crown Court judges) who spend the rest of their time defending the accused.
Wait until someone tells him about Recorders (part-time Crown Court judges) who spend the rest of their time defending the accused.
October 7, 2025 at 1:41 PM
Jenrick complains that there are immigration judges (presumably he means the part-time ones) who spend the rest of their time representing immigrants.
Wait until someone tells him about Recorders (part-time Crown Court judges) who spend the rest of their time defending the accused.
Wait until someone tells him about Recorders (part-time Crown Court judges) who spend the rest of their time defending the accused.
Reposted by Gemma Roulston
Hmm are Reform giving “signing on” gifts for councillors defecting probs WW2 Nazi SS memorabilia..
A dozen Tory councillors defecting now is clearly carefully orchestrated to get headlines
But why doesn’t Sky headline when Reform haemorrhages councillors each time more leave or are arrested❓🤔
A dozen Tory councillors defecting now is clearly carefully orchestrated to get headlines
But why doesn’t Sky headline when Reform haemorrhages councillors each time more leave or are arrested❓🤔
Politics latest: More than a dozen Tory councillors defect to Reform
More than a dozen Tory councillors have announced they are defecting to Reform this morning. It comes ahead of day three of the Conservative's annual conference in Manchester today.
news.sky.com
October 7, 2025 at 9:47 AM
Hmm are Reform giving “signing on” gifts for councillors defecting probs WW2 Nazi SS memorabilia..
A dozen Tory councillors defecting now is clearly carefully orchestrated to get headlines
But why doesn’t Sky headline when Reform haemorrhages councillors each time more leave or are arrested❓🤔
A dozen Tory councillors defecting now is clearly carefully orchestrated to get headlines
But why doesn’t Sky headline when Reform haemorrhages councillors each time more leave or are arrested❓🤔
Reposted by Gemma Roulston
We're pleased that the loathsome comments carried by GB News, which equated being LGBT+ with being a paedophile, have been found in breach of the Ofcom code, following 71,000 complaints collected by @goodlawproject.bsky.social. pressgazette.co.uk/the-wire/new...
GB News comment about LGBTQ+ including 'paedos' in breach of Ofcom code
A GB News presenter saying “full inclusion of LGBTQ+ persons” at a church would “include paedos” breached the Broadcasting Code, Ofcom said.
pressgazette.co.uk
October 6, 2025 at 2:10 PM
We're pleased that the loathsome comments carried by GB News, which equated being LGBT+ with being a paedophile, have been found in breach of the Ofcom code, following 71,000 complaints collected by @goodlawproject.bsky.social. pressgazette.co.uk/the-wire/new...
Reposted by Gemma Roulston
Thing is, if you’re a lawyer and a Tory - maybe you’re even a Tory peer - and you fail to speak out very clearly and publicly against this stuff, you’re signalling for all to see that you’re at best comfortable with fascism and the destruction of the rule of law
We've already seen judges and lawyers being targeted as "enemies of the people". This increases risk of threats/attacks, while undermining judiciary as a whole. Couple it with Tory plans to scrap immigration tribunals and legal aid for people seeking asylum and it shows utter contempt for the law.
October 7, 2025 at 6:59 AM
Thing is, if you’re a lawyer and a Tory - maybe you’re even a Tory peer - and you fail to speak out very clearly and publicly against this stuff, you’re signalling for all to see that you’re at best comfortable with fascism and the destruction of the rule of law
Reposted by Gemma Roulston
"More than using Muslims to make these 'patriotic' shirts for his anti-Muslim supporters, Robinson has chosen to use an incredibly controversial manufacturer, [who] according to the FairWear Foundation, pays its Bangladeshi workers 36p per hour." ~AA
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article...
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article...
Sweatshop Muslims make 'patriotic' British shirts for Tommy Robinson
EXCLUSIVE: Tommy Robinson paid foreign Muslim sweatshop workers to make 'patriotic' T-shirts for anti-Muslim Unite The Kingdom march, the Daily Mail can reveal.
www.dailymail.co.uk
October 7, 2025 at 9:27 AM
"More than using Muslims to make these 'patriotic' shirts for his anti-Muslim supporters, Robinson has chosen to use an incredibly controversial manufacturer, [who] according to the FairWear Foundation, pays its Bangladeshi workers 36p per hour." ~AA
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article...
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Gemma Roulston
Today we remember the victims of the 7/10 atrocities, deadly ripples of which continue to engulf far too many innocents. As @laylamoran.bsky.social said last year, we must hold ALL the people suffering in our hearts. If Layla can do it, with loved ones in peril, can we ask any less of ourselves? ~AA
October 7, 2025 at 9:47 AM
Today we remember the victims of the 7/10 atrocities, deadly ripples of which continue to engulf far too many innocents. As @laylamoran.bsky.social said last year, we must hold ALL the people suffering in our hearts. If Layla can do it, with loved ones in peril, can we ask any less of ourselves? ~AA
Reposted by Gemma Roulston
"Netanyahu will be withdrawn to the sidelines of history for his failures, for his arrogance, for his lack of human sensitivity."
Former Israeli PM Ehud Olmert tells @krishgm.bsky.social his thoughts on what will be the current leader's legacy.
Read and watch:
www.channel4.com/news/palesti...
Former Israeli PM Ehud Olmert tells @krishgm.bsky.social his thoughts on what will be the current leader's legacy.
Read and watch:
www.channel4.com/news/palesti...
Palestinian state is in Israel’s interest, says Israeli ex-PM
We spoke to former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and asked him if Benjamin Netanyahu could be trusted to stick to the plan for Gaza.
www.channel4.com
October 7, 2025 at 10:05 AM
"Netanyahu will be withdrawn to the sidelines of history for his failures, for his arrogance, for his lack of human sensitivity."
Former Israeli PM Ehud Olmert tells @krishgm.bsky.social his thoughts on what will be the current leader's legacy.
Read and watch:
www.channel4.com/news/palesti...
Former Israeli PM Ehud Olmert tells @krishgm.bsky.social his thoughts on what will be the current leader's legacy.
Read and watch:
www.channel4.com/news/palesti...
Reposted by Gemma Roulston
"We want people to be living in mixed communities, don't we?"
Robert Jenrick's home is in Eye, Herefordshire, where 165 out of 166 residents were white at the time of the last census.
Robert Jenrick's home is in Eye, Herefordshire, where 165 out of 166 residents were white at the time of the last census.
Wow. Robert Jenrick doubles down by branding a black journalist's questions "ridiculous" and saying that the problem is not his comments, but "journalists like you who pop up and try to knock me down", adding that "this is the reason why terrorist attacks happen". ~AA
October 7, 2025 at 9:16 AM
"We want people to be living in mixed communities, don't we?"
Robert Jenrick's home is in Eye, Herefordshire, where 165 out of 166 residents were white at the time of the last census.
Robert Jenrick's home is in Eye, Herefordshire, where 165 out of 166 residents were white at the time of the last census.
Reposted by Gemma Roulston
"I would never be in a party with Nigel Farage."
Shadow Housing Secretary James Cleverly speaks to @cathynewman about the rise of Reform and any possible merger with the Conservative Party in the future.
Read and watch:
www.channel4.com/news/reforms...
Shadow Housing Secretary James Cleverly speaks to @cathynewman about the rise of Reform and any possible merger with the Conservative Party in the future.
Read and watch:
www.channel4.com/news/reforms...
Reform’s economic policies are ‘left of Corbyn’, says senior Tory
We spoke to the Shadow Secretary for Housing, Communities and Local Government James Cleverly who is also a former foreign secretary.
www.channel4.com
October 7, 2025 at 10:12 AM
"I would never be in a party with Nigel Farage."
Shadow Housing Secretary James Cleverly speaks to @cathynewman about the rise of Reform and any possible merger with the Conservative Party in the future.
Read and watch:
www.channel4.com/news/reforms...
Shadow Housing Secretary James Cleverly speaks to @cathynewman about the rise of Reform and any possible merger with the Conservative Party in the future.
Read and watch:
www.channel4.com/news/reforms...
Reposted by Gemma Roulston
WOW! This Mail column about diversity in adverts is wild.
Click for subs
open.substack.com/pub/mrhenrym...
Click for subs
open.substack.com/pub/mrhenrym...
October 7, 2025 at 10:12 AM
WOW! This Mail column about diversity in adverts is wild.
Click for subs
open.substack.com/pub/mrhenrym...
Click for subs
open.substack.com/pub/mrhenrym...
Reposted by Gemma Roulston
Me: the world would be a better place if more politicians read Pratchett
*notes this from BadEnoch *
*amends *
The world would be a better place if more politicians read AND UNDERSTOOD Pratchett
*notes this from BadEnoch *
*amends *
The world would be a better place if more politicians read AND UNDERSTOOD Pratchett
Kemi Badenoch claiming Terry Pratchett as her favourite author is wild
October 7, 2025 at 10:18 AM
Me: the world would be a better place if more politicians read Pratchett
*notes this from BadEnoch *
*amends *
The world would be a better place if more politicians read AND UNDERSTOOD Pratchett
*notes this from BadEnoch *
*amends *
The world would be a better place if more politicians read AND UNDERSTOOD Pratchett
Reposted by Gemma Roulston
Badenoch reading Vimes' Boots Theory of Socio-economic Unfairness and thinking how much more economic growth comes from making poorer people buy cheap boots over and over
October 7, 2025 at 8:06 AM
Badenoch reading Vimes' Boots Theory of Socio-economic Unfairness and thinking how much more economic growth comes from making poorer people buy cheap boots over and over
Reposted by Gemma Roulston
This journalist is literally inviting Jenrick to share his views, while being accused of shutting down the debate! Astonishing.
Wow. Robert Jenrick doubles down by branding a black journalist's questions "ridiculous" and saying that the problem is not his comments, but "journalists like you who pop up and try to knock me down", adding that "this is the reason why terrorist attacks happen". ~AA
October 7, 2025 at 10:22 AM
This journalist is literally inviting Jenrick to share his views, while being accused of shutting down the debate! Astonishing.
Reposted by Gemma Roulston
As renewables overtake coal as the world's largest source of electricity, what did we get from the Tory conference?
- repeal the Climate Change Act
- scrap 2050 net-zero target
- remove renewable energy subsidies
- maximise oil and gas extraction from the North Sea
They are so out of touch!
- repeal the Climate Change Act
- scrap 2050 net-zero target
- remove renewable energy subsidies
- maximise oil and gas extraction from the North Sea
They are so out of touch!
Renewables overtake coal as world's biggest source of electricity
Developing countries lead the historic clean energy charge but the US and EU rely more on fossil fuels than before, a think tank study shows.
www.bbc.co.uk
October 7, 2025 at 10:06 AM
As renewables overtake coal as the world's largest source of electricity, what did we get from the Tory conference?
- repeal the Climate Change Act
- scrap 2050 net-zero target
- remove renewable energy subsidies
- maximise oil and gas extraction from the North Sea
They are so out of touch!
- repeal the Climate Change Act
- scrap 2050 net-zero target
- remove renewable energy subsidies
- maximise oil and gas extraction from the North Sea
They are so out of touch!
Reposted by Gemma Roulston
"What goes in the basket is constantly changing and can reflect different parts of your life, experience, aspiration, your choice. Identity is not just about ethnicity"
I spoke to Labour peer Shami Chakrabarti about flags and fixed identity, and why she thinks comparisons to the 1930s are valid 👇
I spoke to Labour peer Shami Chakrabarti about flags and fixed identity, and why she thinks comparisons to the 1930s are valid 👇
Shami Chakrabarti: ‘We Need a Popular Front Broad Enough to Go From the Left of the Left to Liberal Conservatives’
The Labour peer, lawyer and human rights activist speaks to Byline Times’ Editor-in-Chief Hardeep Matharu about why her new podcast – Shami’s Speakeasy – focuses on having human conversations with tho...
bylinetimes.com
October 4, 2025 at 10:59 AM
"What goes in the basket is constantly changing and can reflect different parts of your life, experience, aspiration, your choice. Identity is not just about ethnicity"
I spoke to Labour peer Shami Chakrabarti about flags and fixed identity, and why she thinks comparisons to the 1930s are valid 👇
I spoke to Labour peer Shami Chakrabarti about flags and fixed identity, and why she thinks comparisons to the 1930s are valid 👇
Reposted by Gemma Roulston
Another security breach at a UK military base. Lessons haven't been learnt after the high profile break in at Brize Norton.
We need a full investigation into this incident at Larkhill and the govt should commission a review into security at all UK bases and assets.
news.sky.com/story/securi...
We need a full investigation into this incident at Larkhill and the govt should commission a review into security at all UK bases and assets.
news.sky.com/story/securi...
'Security breach' as intruders cut fence to steal fuel from Larkhill Camp army garrison
The incident happened on Saturday, with the fuel stolen from a tanker belonging to a civilian contractor.
news.sky.com
October 7, 2025 at 10:24 AM
Another security breach at a UK military base. Lessons haven't been learnt after the high profile break in at Brize Norton.
We need a full investigation into this incident at Larkhill and the govt should commission a review into security at all UK bases and assets.
news.sky.com/story/securi...
We need a full investigation into this incident at Larkhill and the govt should commission a review into security at all UK bases and assets.
news.sky.com/story/securi...
Reposted by Gemma Roulston
"Complaint considered resolved with no further sanction due to apology and discussion broadcast on GB News."
Ofcom doesn't even merit the phrase "paper tiger". It's a paper kitten.
pressgazette.co.uk/the-wire/new...
Ofcom doesn't even merit the phrase "paper tiger". It's a paper kitten.
pressgazette.co.uk/the-wire/new...
GB News comment about LGBTQ+ including 'paedos' in breach of Ofcom code
A GB News presenter saying “full inclusion of LGBTQ+ persons” at a church would “include paedos” breached the Broadcasting Code, Ofcom said.
pressgazette.co.uk
October 7, 2025 at 10:24 AM
"Complaint considered resolved with no further sanction due to apology and discussion broadcast on GB News."
Ofcom doesn't even merit the phrase "paper tiger". It's a paper kitten.
pressgazette.co.uk/the-wire/new...
Ofcom doesn't even merit the phrase "paper tiger". It's a paper kitten.
pressgazette.co.uk/the-wire/new...
Reposted by Gemma Roulston
After clashing with Maurice Glasman recently, I've come to realise just how pernicious he and his Blue Labour movement are. We could discuss his chumminess with Steve Bannon and JD Vance, endless pandering to the far right and evident hatred of the Labour left. But there's something even worse. 🧵
October 3, 2025 at 10:43 AM
After clashing with Maurice Glasman recently, I've come to realise just how pernicious he and his Blue Labour movement are. We could discuss his chumminess with Steve Bannon and JD Vance, endless pandering to the far right and evident hatred of the Labour left. But there's something even worse. 🧵
Reposted by Gemma Roulston
Tory councillor defections to Reform have hit 20 as North Yorkshire's Karl Arthur, Cannock Chase's Richard Craddock, Suffolk's Heike Sowa & Bromley's Christopher Marlow are the latest to defect.
#NeverVoteTory #NeverVoteReform
#NeverVoteTory #NeverVoteReform
October 7, 2025 at 10:25 AM
Tory councillor defections to Reform have hit 20 as North Yorkshire's Karl Arthur, Cannock Chase's Richard Craddock, Suffolk's Heike Sowa & Bromley's Christopher Marlow are the latest to defect.
#NeverVoteTory #NeverVoteReform
#NeverVoteTory #NeverVoteReform
Reposted by Gemma Roulston
Reform lied to get elected to Kent County Council, promising tax cuts in their election material.
The only tax councils have any say over is council tax & now Reform are saying they will increase it.
Failure to deliver on what they promised after just 5 months.
#NeverVoteReform #NeverFarage
The only tax councils have any say over is council tax & now Reform are saying they will increase it.
Failure to deliver on what they promised after just 5 months.
#NeverVoteReform #NeverFarage
October 7, 2025 at 10:28 AM
Reform lied to get elected to Kent County Council, promising tax cuts in their election material.
The only tax councils have any say over is council tax & now Reform are saying they will increase it.
Failure to deliver on what they promised after just 5 months.
#NeverVoteReform #NeverFarage
The only tax councils have any say over is council tax & now Reform are saying they will increase it.
Failure to deliver on what they promised after just 5 months.
#NeverVoteReform #NeverFarage
Reposted by Gemma Roulston
Things Farage won’t answer:
1. Why did he lie about buying a house in Clacton?
2. What did he know about Welsh Reform Leader Nathan Gill’s Russian Bribes?
3. Why did he lie about meeting the Russian Ambassador?
4. Why is his flagship council Kent raising taxes and cutting services?
1. Why did he lie about buying a house in Clacton?
2. What did he know about Welsh Reform Leader Nathan Gill’s Russian Bribes?
3. Why did he lie about meeting the Russian Ambassador?
4. Why is his flagship council Kent raising taxes and cutting services?
October 7, 2025 at 6:24 AM
Things Farage won’t answer:
1. Why did he lie about buying a house in Clacton?
2. What did he know about Welsh Reform Leader Nathan Gill’s Russian Bribes?
3. Why did he lie about meeting the Russian Ambassador?
4. Why is his flagship council Kent raising taxes and cutting services?
1. Why did he lie about buying a house in Clacton?
2. What did he know about Welsh Reform Leader Nathan Gill’s Russian Bribes?
3. Why did he lie about meeting the Russian Ambassador?
4. Why is his flagship council Kent raising taxes and cutting services?
Reposted by Gemma Roulston
Three men admit violent disorder outside the Essex asylum hotel in July, and are jailed.
Epping hotel protesters jailed for violent disorder
The three men were
www.bbc.co.uk
October 7, 2025 at 10:35 AM
Three men admit violent disorder outside the Essex asylum hotel in July, and are jailed.
Reposted by Gemma Roulston
So he wants the British Government to smuggle people into France or other countries? The level of stupid from politicians is increasing impressively as the slide to the right continues.
October 7, 2025 at 10:48 AM
So he wants the British Government to smuggle people into France or other countries? The level of stupid from politicians is increasing impressively as the slide to the right continues.