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ray1617.bsky.social
@ray1617.bsky.social
110 followers 590 following 7 posts
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dianecoyle1859.bsky.social
I've had two outstanding public service experiences this hols: a new passport within 2 days of application & a prescription ready to pick up within 2 hours of request. Time saved is a key (unmeasured) productivity metric: digital tech makes a huge difference when implemented well.
January 2, 2026 at 4:07 PM
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ruthdeyermond.bsky.social
It's New Year, so time to look back and forward. These are 10 things I think we need to recognise in 2026. It’s a response to what I think are profoundly damaging mistaken assumptions I’ve heard and read from practitioners, journalists, and analysts in 2025. Warning: very long🧵
January 1, 2026 at 4:55 PM
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mancunianmedic.bsky.social
as someone who splits my time between the hospital acute front door, back door and the bit in the middle, works at the interface with primary, community and social care services and spent years around the policy area in various guises, it is deeply frustrating people the lack of institutional memory
December 29, 2025 at 7:28 PM
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ruthdeyermond.bsky.social
But Europe needs to stop trying to impose an imaginary coherence on Trump administration foreign policy and to work out how to deal with the incoherent reality.
January 1, 2026 at 4:55 PM
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peternimmo.bsky.social
In case you fancy a trip on that #Traitors railway...
www.strathspeyrailway.co.uk
Train at Broomhill station
November 6, 2025 at 9:57 PM
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grahambs.bsky.social
Gambling firms prey on the vulnerable, it’s time to regulate them!
January 1, 2026 at 4:34 PM
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threadinburgh.scot
📆 It's now 2026, which means it is over 50 years since 2025. Hats off to the @natlibscot.bsky.social Map Library for getting the latest batch of out-of-copyright large scale OS maps online already! maps.nls.uk/additions/#191 🗺️🎉
Screenshot - "Ordnance Survey large-scale maps published in 1975 Ordnance Survey National Grid maps published in 1975 graphic We have put online 9,851 maps at scales of 1:1,250 to 1:10,560 which were published in 1975, and which have therefore just come out-of-copyright from 1 January 2026. These maps cover areas in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, and include 2,872 more detailed maps at scales of 1:1,250, 6,281 maps at 1:2,500, and 699 less detailed maps at scales of 1:10,000/1:10,560 . Our graphic index showing the maps highlights the new maps published in 1975 in orange. These are usually the most detailed, basic scales of Ordnance Survey maps for these areas."
January 1, 2026 at 1:21 PM
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seanjones.org
Hoping that 2026 will be the year that people the world over realise that putting despicable, venal narcissists into power simply does not benefit the little guy even by accident.
December 31, 2025 at 11:21 PM
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jamesrball.com
This is the plan Number 10 is surprised isn’t working: “Instead of delivering on the priorities of the people who actually voted for us, we’re going to loudly pledge to deliver for the people we feel *should’ve* voted for us, even when they’re fully offensive to our actual voting coalition”
December 31, 2025 at 10:25 AM
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zxguesser.bsky.social
This isn't news to regular users of my online teletext viewer as it's been online for ages, but one of the channels has a service from this evening 40 years ago.
This was recovered from a VHS tape and every page painstakingly repaired and turned back into a packet stream

zxnet.co.uk/teletext/vie...
Ceefax index page from the 28th of December 1985
December 28, 2025 at 4:09 PM
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johnsimpsonnews.bsky.social
Tomorrow is important for Ukraine. Pres Zelensky will present his counter-proposals for peace to Pres Trump in Florida — terms carefully calibrated with the UK, Germany & France to ensure maximum future security for Ukraine & at least the possibility of acceptance by Russia.
December 27, 2025 at 1:19 PM
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henrymance.ft.com
Current special relationship is that Britain gives Donald Trump two state visits, and he attacks bans British citizens from entry to the US www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
UK social media campaigners among five denied US visas
The Trump administration bans five people who have called for tech regulation from entering the country.
www.bbc.co.uk
December 24, 2025 at 7:55 PM
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ngoodrichhsg.bsky.social
Final paragraph here is brutally astute.
December 24, 2025 at 7:39 AM
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grahambs.bsky.social
A Commons overall majority for Reform with Farage as our Prime Minister on only 28% of the popular vote. 72% didn’t want Reform but FPTP doesn’t care about that. Starmer, it seems, doesn’t care as well.
electionmaps.uk Election Maps UK @electionmaps.uk · 13d
Nowcast Update - Tories & Greens up as Labour hit post-election lows:

RFM: 330 (+325), 28.2% (10 Maj.)
LAB: 82 (-329), 17.8%
LDM: 77 (+5), 13.7%
CON: 55 (-66), 19.5%
SNP: 46 (+37), 2.7%
GRN: 26 (+22), 13.8%
PLC: 6 (+2), 1.0%
Oth: 9 (+4), 3.4%

electionmaps.uk/nowcast
December 21, 2025 at 1:23 PM
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ottoenglish.bsky.social
In which Tim Stanley experiences the "find out" phase of his arrant fuck wittering.
Tim Stanley Brexit isn't about nostalgia. It's about ambition. Trust me, I'm a historian Tim Stanley Brexit hasn't defunded Britain. So why is Project Fear willing us to fail? Brexit is simultaneously the smallest thing and the biggest The smallest because we're already halfway out of the EU, We were never in the euro, which is what matters. The EU wants a unitary state, we don't - so let's depart as friends But it's also massive because it's a repatriation of law and democracy. Brexit was one of those things that could never happen. But the people willed it, so it will be so. Within the bounds of a constitutional monarchy, this is as revolutionary as it gets. It's thrilling. The sense of potential for the nation is great Xe're the architects of our own destiny Do NOT fly to the EU! New security system doesn't work - or is designed to deter Brits, could be either - and we've been stuck in a queue for an hour, I'd guess another two to go. A drunk lady from Manchester is trying to explain the economic consequences, but they won't listen,
December 20, 2025 at 9:20 AM
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cerianbond.bsky.social
Hardly a surprise. Any ‘agreement’ with Trump is just the start of attempts to extort more, as his various tariffs on Canada & Mexico have shown. In that respect, his approach to negotiations is similar to Putin’s. Deals are essentially worthless.
December 16, 2025 at 6:59 AM
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13sarahmurphy.bsky.social
So, Trump sues the BBC for $5Bn and puts the technology deal with the UK on hold until the US gets more concessions.
Anyone still deluding themselves about that “special relationship”? No. Just the tedious parade of simpering MAGA dickheads - led, of course, by the traitorous Farage.
December 16, 2025 at 7:20 AM
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thegmcconnachie.bsky.social
Robin Ince reveals to last night’s audience at a recording of Infinite Monkey Cage that the BBC has forced him to resign over his support of trans people
December 13, 2025 at 11:02 AM
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cosmicshambles.com
Today would be a great day to sign up to become a Cosmic Shambles Patreon. No reason… patreon.com/cosmicshambles @robinince.bsky.social
Get more from The Cosmic Shambles Network on Patreon
Independent Creators of Content for the Curious
patreon.com
December 13, 2025 at 10:08 AM
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robinince.bsky.social
Very sad that I felt I had no choice but to resign from The Infinite Monkey Cage - a victory for the transphobes and other bigots - I did it because so much of the media has chosen to believe the kind and empathetic people are a fiction - they are real and so often unrepresented.
This is the saddest day of my professional life. Today is not only the final recording of the latest series of The Infinite Monkey Cage, it is my last ever Monkey Cage. I never thought that I would have to leave the show. I always imagined going on until | dropped dead under the studio lights due to a brain aneurysm caused by my final attempt to understand notions of quantum gravity or the shock of being told about fly maggot infestations in the sacks of macaque monkeys. I resigned in September, after sixteen years of dedication to the show, A show that I named and helped develop over all those years. Unfortunately, my opinions outside the BBC have been considered problematic for sometime, whether it has been voicing support for the trans community, criticism of Donald Trump, numerous other outlandish opinions, including once gently criticising Stephen Fry. These things were considered to conflict with being a freelance BBC science presenter In a recent meeting where BBC Studio executives again voiced problems with me, I realised my choices. Obedience and being quieter to remain making Monkey Cage, or 'Resign and have the freedom to speak out against what I believe are injustices'. • I chose the latter. It broke my heart. I love this show and I love the audience, and it is because of the audience in particular, that this decision was so difficult to make. I kept thinking about all the extremist voices promoting hate and division. They are being given so many platforms, while voices that represent kindness, open mindedness, empathy seem to be scarcer and scarcer. I felt I couldn't pamper myself with the luxury of silence. One of my many privileges is that I am able to resign and I can speak out even if it is to the detriment of my career. I have thought a lot about my heroes, Sinead O Connor, James Baldwin, Audre Lorde, and so many more. I think of Sinead's words, "the job of an artist is to be themselves at any cost". James Baldwin said prejudice was really just a word for cowardice. Audre Lorde, viewing her life, wrote that her only regrets were her silences. I think of my father as I resign, he brought me up to believe in fairness , justice and kindness. Though my heart is broken, it is also full of fire. I apologise to our incredible listeners for my departure, your love of the show means a great deal. I am so sorry to let you down. I hope that you can understand my reasoning. I have to accept that I am not what the current BBC expects of their freelance presenters. Despite this I should add that I have always worked far more than my contracted hours to try and ensure the show was always the best it could be, as well as making myself accessible and responsive to the audience wherever and whenever I met them. Every night, we have recorded, I have been filled with determination to make the best show possible. This was not "just a job" I hope that with my departure I can be a better ally to the LGBTQ community, to the neurodivergent community, to activists fighting against those who aim to brutalise society, to those currently in prison on hunger strike, and to all those who fight for a more inclusive world. From many conversations, I know there are many Monkey Cage listeners who support these communities and activists too. The strawberry is dead. Long live the strawberry. B
December 13, 2025 at 12:02 AM
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seamas.bsky.social
So you feel like buying my excellent and award-winning memoir, Did Ye Hear Mammy Died but aren't sure if it's as good as I keep saying. So here's a few pieces from - and about - the book, which might entice you to buy a copy right now from mammybook.com
Did Ye Hear Mammy Died?
Pre-order now:
mammybook.com
November 13, 2024 at 12:05 PM
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werahobhouse.org.uk
Brexit took away vital opportunities for young people to live, work & study in the EU.

The Government must urgently agree on a Youth Mobility Scheme to reverse this and strengthen UK-EU relations.

Send Best for Britain's Youth Mobility report to your MP to encourage them to support this.
Hey MP! 🙋 from Best for Britain
Reach out to your MP quickly and easily.
hey-mp.uk
December 11, 2025 at 4:19 PM
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grahambs.bsky.social
Great speech by @alpinkerton.bsky.social in support of a new Customs Union with the EU. He also clearly set out the immense damage Brexit has caused.
December 9, 2025 at 2:50 PM
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tpgroberts.bsky.social
What really strikes me is their utter inability to see how this sort of language is not just morally wrong, but very clearly helps their opponents.
jonkingh.bsky.social Jonathan Kingham @jonkingh.bsky.social · 27d
This is so disgusting.
December 6, 2025 at 8:10 PM
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jonkingh.bsky.social
This is so disgusting.
December 6, 2025 at 6:45 PM