Rob
@robg8.bsky.social
Welshman living across the bridge. Interested in 🇪🇦🇫🇷🇬🇷🇪🇺 and Latin America. And in history, law, & politics - and sci-fi!
Reposted by Rob
How can ppl of such epic stupidity and avarice win power, and keep it? The latter is easy to answer, the judges, the former remains a mystery
elpais.com/espana/2025-...
elpais.com/espana/2025-...
Los ‘whatsapps’ de Mazón a Feijóo del día de la dana: “Un puto desastre va a ser esto presi”
Los horarios de los mensajes desmienten que el líder del PP estuviese informado “en tiempo real” desde el lunes y Feijóo señala ahora que dijo eso por un error
elpais.com
December 24, 2025 at 6:58 PM
How can ppl of such epic stupidity and avarice win power, and keep it? The latter is easy to answer, the judges, the former remains a mystery
elpais.com/espana/2025-...
elpais.com/espana/2025-...
Reposted by Rob
The Starmer government rejects the false choices and cynicism of zero-sum politics. They have discovered negative-sum politics. Make some people permanently mad as hell for no ultimate gain for anyone else.
Inheritance tax for farmers to kick in at £2.5m, not £1m as planned, in government U-turn to help farming community - www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...
December 24, 2025 at 12:26 PM
The Starmer government rejects the false choices and cynicism of zero-sum politics. They have discovered negative-sum politics. Make some people permanently mad as hell for no ultimate gain for anyone else.
Reposted by Rob
I’m sure conservatives and MAGA will roundly denounce this threat of government censorship and attack on free speech.
Trump posts early on Christmas Eve: "If Network NEWSCASTS, and their Late Night Shows, are almost 100% Negative to President Donald J. Trump, MAGA, and the Republican Party, shouldn’t their very valuable Broadcast Licenses be terminated? I say, YES!"
December 24, 2025 at 11:51 AM
I’m sure conservatives and MAGA will roundly denounce this threat of government censorship and attack on free speech.
Reposted by Rob
Let me shock you: the nationalist right, wherever in the world it is situated, does not believe in your free speech, only its own.
December 24, 2025 at 9:11 AM
Let me shock you: the nationalist right, wherever in the world it is situated, does not believe in your free speech, only its own.
Reposted by Rob
Final paragraph here is brutally astute.
December 24, 2025 at 7:39 AM
Final paragraph here is brutally astute.
Reposted by Rob
Just thinking, this US administration is sanctioning countries that buy and want to regulate their products, not those than ban them.
So pretty obviously showing the message - don't buy American.
So pretty obviously showing the message - don't buy American.
December 24, 2025 at 7:39 AM
Just thinking, this US administration is sanctioning countries that buy and want to regulate their products, not those than ban them.
So pretty obviously showing the message - don't buy American.
So pretty obviously showing the message - don't buy American.
Reposted by Rob
The folks who try to deport legal immigrants for criticism of a foreign government are pretending to care about "censorship"?
In a major escalation against the EU, alongside civil society representatives the Trump Administration sanctions former Commissioner Breton for work he did in official capacity ↘️ www.state.gov/releases/off...
Announcement of Actions to Combat the Global Censorship-Industrial Complex - United States Department of State
The State Department is taking decisive action against five individuals who have led organized efforts to coerce American platforms to censor, demonetize, and suppress American viewpoints they oppose....
www.state.gov
December 23, 2025 at 10:20 PM
The folks who try to deport legal immigrants for criticism of a foreign government are pretending to care about "censorship"?
Reposted by Rob
United States government strengthens the position of Liberal Democrats in UK politics
December 23, 2025 at 10:10 PM
United States government strengthens the position of Liberal Democrats in UK politics
Reposted by Rob
Turns out the best defence against charges of animal cruelty is to say "we'll kill 20,000 dogs".
December 23, 2025 at 10:24 AM
Turns out the best defence against charges of animal cruelty is to say "we'll kill 20,000 dogs".
Reposted by Rob
This government has an uncanny ability to absorb all the flak from a decision only to u-turn when everyone involved already hates them and it's way too late to get any credit
Government waters down farm inheritance tax plan
The government has now said it will lift the intended threshold from £1m to £2.5m.
www.bbc.co.uk
December 23, 2025 at 3:55 PM
This government has an uncanny ability to absorb all the flak from a decision only to u-turn when everyone involved already hates them and it's way too late to get any credit
Reposted by Rob
It says: we are absolutely terrified of the right wing media and will let that blind fear, not what delivers the best outcomes, dictate what we do. See, also, immigration policy.
An English local council innovates, evaluates what it did, finds it works (replicating an earlier study in Scotland) … and all councils are told by the Labour government not to try it. What message does this convey? Another victory for ideology & cowardice
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Councils warned against adopting four-day week
Local Government Secretary Steve Reed has told council leaders to not introduce four-day working weeks.
www.bbc.co.uk
December 23, 2025 at 10:28 AM
It says: we are absolutely terrified of the right wing media and will let that blind fear, not what delivers the best outcomes, dictate what we do. See, also, immigration policy.
Reposted by Rob
This is wild. Why would a line like this be redacted:
“Epstein also threatened harm to victims and helped release damaging stories about them to damage their credibility when they tried to go public with their stories of being trafficked and sexually abused.”
“Epstein also threatened harm to victims and helped release damaging stories about them to damage their credibility when they tried to go public with their stories of being trafficked and sexually abused.”
Ok. Now had a chance to check and, well, at least some docs do appear to be straight up classic redaction fail. And there are some *interesting* bits here.
www.justice.gov/multimedia/C...
www.justice.gov/multimedia/C...
December 23, 2025 at 4:25 AM
This is wild. Why would a line like this be redacted:
“Epstein also threatened harm to victims and helped release damaging stories about them to damage their credibility when they tried to go public with their stories of being trafficked and sexually abused.”
“Epstein also threatened harm to victims and helped release damaging stories about them to damage their credibility when they tried to go public with their stories of being trafficked and sexually abused.”
Reposted by Rob
I think the people who make a technology that makes nudes of children should be put in jail. this should not be in any way controversial
December 22, 2025 at 8:49 PM
I think the people who make a technology that makes nudes of children should be put in jail. this should not be in any way controversial
Reposted by Rob
Bill Clinton releasing a statement saying 'release the Epstein files, you cowards' was not on my bingo list.
December 22, 2025 at 10:22 PM
Bill Clinton releasing a statement saying 'release the Epstein files, you cowards' was not on my bingo list.
Reposted by Rob
Definitive proof that in Sadiq Khan's London, Christmas has been cancelled altogether
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
London's Christmas lights: A view from the skies
Aerial photographs taken at night show central London dazzling in festive light displays.
www.bbc.co.uk
December 23, 2025 at 8:27 AM
Definitive proof that in Sadiq Khan's London, Christmas has been cancelled altogether
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Rob
If YouGov is right, tactical voting and a smarter, less Reform-apologist approach by the government (obviously the two go hand in hand) may well save us from a Farage-led government and preserve our democracy. A lot of very big "ifs", though.
Westminster Voting Intention:
RFM: 25% (-3)
LAB: 20% (+2)
CON: 19% (+2)
LDM: 15% (+1)
GRN: 15% (-2)
SNP: 3% (-1)
Via @yougov.co.uk, 21-22 Dec.
Changes w/ 14-15 Dec.
RFM: 25% (-3)
LAB: 20% (+2)
CON: 19% (+2)
LDM: 15% (+1)
GRN: 15% (-2)
SNP: 3% (-1)
Via @yougov.co.uk, 21-22 Dec.
Changes w/ 14-15 Dec.
December 23, 2025 at 9:52 AM
If YouGov is right, tactical voting and a smarter, less Reform-apologist approach by the government (obviously the two go hand in hand) may well save us from a Farage-led government and preserve our democracy. A lot of very big "ifs", though.
Reposted by Rob
Pitch perfect, sadly.
Wednesday’s @thetimes.com cartoon times.newsprints.co.uk/peter-brooke...
December 20, 2025 at 9:21 AM
Pitch perfect, sadly.
Reposted by Rob
Title: "Streeting: Starmer must go further to undo Brexit"
First few sentences: Turns out Streeting "suggested" this, by "hinting" at stuff.
The actual quote: Turns out Streeting didn't even do that. In any way. 😂
A perfect summary of 2025 'reporting'. ~AA
First few sentences: Turns out Streeting "suggested" this, by "hinting" at stuff.
The actual quote: Turns out Streeting didn't even do that. In any way. 😂
A perfect summary of 2025 'reporting'. ~AA
December 22, 2025 at 9:50 AM
Title: "Streeting: Starmer must go further to undo Brexit"
First few sentences: Turns out Streeting "suggested" this, by "hinting" at stuff.
The actual quote: Turns out Streeting didn't even do that. In any way. 😂
A perfect summary of 2025 'reporting'. ~AA
First few sentences: Turns out Streeting "suggested" this, by "hinting" at stuff.
The actual quote: Turns out Streeting didn't even do that. In any way. 😂
A perfect summary of 2025 'reporting'. ~AA
Reposted by Rob
The bit that gets missed in the scandal around Farage's schooldays is that his school made him a prefect - despite warnings from staff about his conduct.
It's a recurring theme for Trump, Johnson, Farage & co. We can't be surprised at the way they behave, when their behavior is constantly rewarded.
It's a recurring theme for Trump, Johnson, Farage & co. We can't be surprised at the way they behave, when their behavior is constantly rewarded.
December 22, 2025 at 2:47 PM
The bit that gets missed in the scandal around Farage's schooldays is that his school made him a prefect - despite warnings from staff about his conduct.
It's a recurring theme for Trump, Johnson, Farage & co. We can't be surprised at the way they behave, when their behavior is constantly rewarded.
It's a recurring theme for Trump, Johnson, Farage & co. We can't be surprised at the way they behave, when their behavior is constantly rewarded.
Reposted by Rob
Rare footage of St Paul’s Cathedral testing its giant flamethrower
December 21, 2025 at 8:37 AM
Rare footage of St Paul’s Cathedral testing its giant flamethrower
Reposted by Rob
Reposted by Rob
Neither. Labour aren’t an evil bunch of racists, they’re complacent in the face of racism & are happy to throw immigrants and ethnic minorities under the bus for perceived electoral gain.
And as importantly, they completely misunderstand the threat of Reform, or wouldn’t be engaging in appeasement.
And as importantly, they completely misunderstand the threat of Reform, or wouldn’t be engaging in appeasement.
It's a question of whether you believe scenario A or B 🤷♂️
A: Labour are an evil bunch of racists who only won power to wage a war on migrants
B: Labour understand the threat of Reform, and are addressing the concerns some voters have about uncontrolled migration, which fuel Reform's popularity.
A: Labour are an evil bunch of racists who only won power to wage a war on migrants
B: Labour understand the threat of Reform, and are addressing the concerns some voters have about uncontrolled migration, which fuel Reform's popularity.
December 21, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Neither. Labour aren’t an evil bunch of racists, they’re complacent in the face of racism & are happy to throw immigrants and ethnic minorities under the bus for perceived electoral gain.
And as importantly, they completely misunderstand the threat of Reform, or wouldn’t be engaging in appeasement.
And as importantly, they completely misunderstand the threat of Reform, or wouldn’t be engaging in appeasement.
Reposted by Rob
Compare and contrast:
Donald Trump decries South African persecution of white Afrikaaners and opens up a programme for them to move to the US.
Donald Trump decries genocide of Christian Nigerians and then bans the entry of all Nigerians into the US.
What could possibly explain the difference? 🤔
Donald Trump decries South African persecution of white Afrikaaners and opens up a programme for them to move to the US.
Donald Trump decries genocide of Christian Nigerians and then bans the entry of all Nigerians into the US.
What could possibly explain the difference? 🤔
December 20, 2025 at 11:48 AM
Compare and contrast:
Donald Trump decries South African persecution of white Afrikaaners and opens up a programme for them to move to the US.
Donald Trump decries genocide of Christian Nigerians and then bans the entry of all Nigerians into the US.
What could possibly explain the difference? 🤔
Donald Trump decries South African persecution of white Afrikaaners and opens up a programme for them to move to the US.
Donald Trump decries genocide of Christian Nigerians and then bans the entry of all Nigerians into the US.
What could possibly explain the difference? 🤔
Reposted by Rob
Reposted by Rob
'You're not welcome here just f**k off home will you....in a year or so's time, that is'. We are just not a serious country anymore.
Hundreds of foreign prison staff 'offered emergency extension to visa' to stop the prison system collapsing
Hundreds of foreign prison staff 'offered emergency extension to visa' to stop the prison system collapsing
Hundreds of foreign prison staff who could have faced deportation and the sack have been offered an emergency extension to their visa in order to stop the prison system collapsing, Sky News understands.
news.sky.com
December 19, 2025 at 3:01 PM
'You're not welcome here just f**k off home will you....in a year or so's time, that is'. We are just not a serious country anymore.