@robkewley.bsky.social
Reposted
We can’t afford to do what every other country did years ago for our railways, but people need to drive their kids to school in a tank
Govt scraps all electrification investment. Midland Main Line to stay forever diesel Leicester Nottingham Derby Sheffield. Hugely embarrassing and inexplicable
www.ft.com/content/5ecd...
www.ft.com/content/5ecd...
UK transport secretary says full electrification of railways ‘not affordable right now’
Heidi Alexander says focus will be on other projects such as HS2
www.ft.com
November 9, 2025 at 8:05 AM
We can’t afford to do what every other country did years ago for our railways, but people need to drive their kids to school in a tank
Reposted
Dominic Cummings has this racialised take on David Lammy
There is an increasingly prevalent kneejerk online rightwing trait to call the presence of any black or Asian person a diversity hire
There is an increasingly prevalent kneejerk online rightwing trait to call the presence of any black or Asian person a diversity hire
November 6, 2025 at 8:47 PM
Dominic Cummings has this racialised take on David Lammy
There is an increasingly prevalent kneejerk online rightwing trait to call the presence of any black or Asian person a diversity hire
There is an increasingly prevalent kneejerk online rightwing trait to call the presence of any black or Asian person a diversity hire
Reposted
There are so many hateful, far-right X accounts with hundreds of thousands of followers accumulated since 2022 constantly attacking the U.K not because they have better arguments, but because X’s crypto-fascist owner has gamed it for them.
But, you already knew that.
news.sky.com/story/the-x-...
But, you already knew that.
news.sky.com/story/the-x-...
Elon Musk is boosting the British right - and this shows how
Elon Musk is boosting the British right - and this shows how
news.sky.com
November 6, 2025 at 9:37 AM
There are so many hateful, far-right X accounts with hundreds of thousands of followers accumulated since 2022 constantly attacking the U.K not because they have better arguments, but because X’s crypto-fascist owner has gamed it for them.
But, you already knew that.
news.sky.com/story/the-x-...
But, you already knew that.
news.sky.com/story/the-x-...
If you starve public services that would have traditionally responded to matters like this, then don’t be surprised stuff like organised crime proliferates www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Crime network behind UK mini-marts is enabling migrants to work illegally
Undercover reporters were told how easy it was to make big profits selling illegal vapes and cigarettes.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 4, 2025 at 10:12 PM
If you starve public services that would have traditionally responded to matters like this, then don’t be surprised stuff like organised crime proliferates www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
I just don’t buy the Council’s unhelpful response here. Ludicrous, that a city the size of Birmingham has for a long time only had one Conservation Officer (and a part time one at that): Fears for historic sites blamed on staff shortage www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Birmingham historic building fears blamed on staff shortages
The Victorian Society writes to Birmingham council's boss over a lack of conservation staff.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 4, 2025 at 6:59 AM
I just don’t buy the Council’s unhelpful response here. Ludicrous, that a city the size of Birmingham has for a long time only had one Conservation Officer (and a part time one at that): Fears for historic sites blamed on staff shortage www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted
Some great reporting from @birminghamdispatch.bsky.social and partners here.
The men who raised the flags
Nigel Farage says this summer’s movement was led by ‘ordinary people’ expressing their patriotism. That’s not what we found
www.birminghamdispatch.co.uk
November 1, 2025 at 9:06 AM
Some great reporting from @birminghamdispatch.bsky.social and partners here.
Near neighbour is in the process of cutting down tens of beautiful trees in their back garden. A decades old orchard has been the first victim. A haven to many garden birds. It’s terrible watching this nature vandalism happen in plain sight with nothing in the way of redress.
October 30, 2025 at 5:51 PM
Near neighbour is in the process of cutting down tens of beautiful trees in their back garden. A decades old orchard has been the first victim. A haven to many garden birds. It’s terrible watching this nature vandalism happen in plain sight with nothing in the way of redress.
Reposted
That's racism. Plain and simple.
No other word for it.
It's shocking beyond belief that this sort of thing is somehow acceptable.
No other word for it.
It's shocking beyond belief that this sort of thing is somehow acceptable.
Reform UK MP Sarah Pochin, “It drives me mad seeing adverts full of black people, full of Asian people, full of anything other than white"
Followed by that time Sarah Pochin said, "My kids say: mum, you're such a moron" 👀
Followed by that time Sarah Pochin said, "My kids say: mum, you're such a moron" 👀
October 25, 2025 at 12:41 PM
That's racism. Plain and simple.
No other word for it.
It's shocking beyond belief that this sort of thing is somehow acceptable.
No other word for it.
It's shocking beyond belief that this sort of thing is somehow acceptable.
Reposted
Next week, Reform faces a key by-election in Wales. Yet voters in Caerphilly know none of this.
Even tho Reform’s candidate is Nathan Gill’s former assistant.
We are at a critical point of failure in Britain. The delay of the authorities, the silence of the media..
6/
Even tho Reform’s candidate is Nathan Gill’s former assistant.
We are at a critical point of failure in Britain. The delay of the authorities, the silence of the media..
6/
October 18, 2025 at 8:53 AM
Next week, Reform faces a key by-election in Wales. Yet voters in Caerphilly know none of this.
Even tho Reform’s candidate is Nathan Gill’s former assistant.
We are at a critical point of failure in Britain. The delay of the authorities, the silence of the media..
6/
Even tho Reform’s candidate is Nathan Gill’s former assistant.
We are at a critical point of failure in Britain. The delay of the authorities, the silence of the media..
6/
Reposted
Shipping emissions levy abandoned as countries bow to US pressure.
Trump threatened countries, and individual officials, with tariffs, penalties, visa revocations if they supported the pricing mechanism to curb emissions
Fossil fuels lobby wins again. Presidents can be replaced, planet earth can't
Trump threatened countries, and individual officials, with tariffs, penalties, visa revocations if they supported the pricing mechanism to curb emissions
Fossil fuels lobby wins again. Presidents can be replaced, planet earth can't
Landmark global shipping deal abandoned under US threats
President Trump intervened in the talks calling the deal a
www.bbc.co.uk
October 18, 2025 at 6:06 AM
Shipping emissions levy abandoned as countries bow to US pressure.
Trump threatened countries, and individual officials, with tariffs, penalties, visa revocations if they supported the pricing mechanism to curb emissions
Fossil fuels lobby wins again. Presidents can be replaced, planet earth can't
Trump threatened countries, and individual officials, with tariffs, penalties, visa revocations if they supported the pricing mechanism to curb emissions
Fossil fuels lobby wins again. Presidents can be replaced, planet earth can't
Reposted
Unbelievable that TikTok & Insta are amplifying 1970s ‘jokes’ about N*****s & P***s to a whole new generation.
Bernard Manning, of all people, is back in fashion…
Bernard Manning, of all people, is back in fashion…
Bernard Manning rides again: how TikTok and Instagram are promoting racist “jokes” to teens
Sketches from the 70s & 80s featuring slurs including the N word are going viral on social media, shared by millions and boosted by algorithms
@stokel.bsky.social reports
www.thenerve.news/p/bernard-ma...
Sketches from the 70s & 80s featuring slurs including the N word are going viral on social media, shared by millions and boosted by algorithms
@stokel.bsky.social reports
www.thenerve.news/p/bernard-ma...
October 8, 2025 at 5:42 PM
Unbelievable that TikTok & Insta are amplifying 1970s ‘jokes’ about N*****s & P***s to a whole new generation.
Bernard Manning, of all people, is back in fashion…
Bernard Manning, of all people, is back in fashion…
This does not make an easy read for those of us hoping Birmingham City Council’s governance and culture might change post its effective bankruptcy - Parents at Raddlebarn Primary tried to raise the alarm. The council investigated them for bullying www.birminghamdispatch.co.uk/the-headteac...
The headteacher’s missing receipts: how did a Selly Oak school get into £400,000 of debt?
Parents at Raddlebarn Primary tried to raise the alarm. The council investigated them for bullying
www.birminghamdispatch.co.uk
September 24, 2025 at 6:48 AM
This does not make an easy read for those of us hoping Birmingham City Council’s governance and culture might change post its effective bankruptcy - Parents at Raddlebarn Primary tried to raise the alarm. The council investigated them for bullying www.birminghamdispatch.co.uk/the-headteac...
Reposted
Amazing to see what's happening with rail in mainland Europe, while we're still building massive road schemes and cancelling HS2. Helsinki to Palermo by train – imagine!
How 4 key infrastructure projects centered in Italy will reshape the European transit map
Workers broke open the first tunnel connecting Austria to Italy under the Brenner Pass. The achievement on Thursday marks a major milestone in the European Union's ambitious projects to boost train tr...
apnews.com
September 21, 2025 at 1:46 PM
Amazing to see what's happening with rail in mainland Europe, while we're still building massive road schemes and cancelling HS2. Helsinki to Palermo by train – imagine!
It [the Probation Service] needs investment, but also human capital in the form of experienced staff who can build relationships with offenders and younger recruits. Mr Jones’s cry for help on behalf of the service must be heard. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
The Guardian view on criminal justice reform: community sentencing can’t be done on the cheap | Editorial
Editorial: The chief inspector of probation is right to be anxious about the service’s growing workload
www.theguardian.com
September 20, 2025 at 10:49 PM
It [the Probation Service] needs investment, but also human capital in the form of experienced staff who can build relationships with offenders and younger recruits. Mr Jones’s cry for help on behalf of the service must be heard. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted
While I understand the BBC’s imperative to provide balance in stories, at times it can feel completely ludicrous. Data vs one person’s entirely anecdotal opinion isn’t balance.
September 17, 2025 at 7:14 AM
While I understand the BBC’s imperative to provide balance in stories, at times it can feel completely ludicrous. Data vs one person’s entirely anecdotal opinion isn’t balance.
It took until right at the end of the article to vaguely mention that food prices are shooting up because of the ravages of the climate crisis on food production. Leaders should be saying that. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
UK inflation remains at 3.8% but food prices continue to surge
While UK inflation held steady in August, the pace of price rises for food surged, increasing cost of living pressures.
www.bbc.co.uk
September 17, 2025 at 11:59 AM
It took until right at the end of the article to vaguely mention that food prices are shooting up because of the ravages of the climate crisis on food production. Leaders should be saying that. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
BRITAIN IS NOT IN CRISIS! People that hate this country are willing it to be because they stand to profit handsomely. Challenge this negative rhetoric at every opportunity.
September 15, 2025 at 8:13 PM
BRITAIN IS NOT IN CRISIS! People that hate this country are willing it to be because they stand to profit handsomely. Challenge this negative rhetoric at every opportunity.
Reposted
Do we really need the death of an extremist American podcaster who was relatively unknown in the UK to dominate our headlines for this many days?
September 13, 2025 at 10:40 AM
Do we really need the death of an extremist American podcaster who was relatively unknown in the UK to dominate our headlines for this many days?
Reposted
Green leader Zack Polanski calls for Farage’s resignation over tax, on BBC Any Questions:
"Farage has changed his personal business to make sure he could avoid tax for his appearances on GBNews. That’s perfectly legal, but is that in the Nolan Principles? Absolutely not. [He should] step down too.”
"Farage has changed his personal business to make sure he could avoid tax for his appearances on GBNews. That’s perfectly legal, but is that in the Nolan Principles? Absolutely not. [He should] step down too.”
September 6, 2025 at 12:16 PM
Green leader Zack Polanski calls for Farage’s resignation over tax, on BBC Any Questions:
"Farage has changed his personal business to make sure he could avoid tax for his appearances on GBNews. That’s perfectly legal, but is that in the Nolan Principles? Absolutely not. [He should] step down too.”
"Farage has changed his personal business to make sure he could avoid tax for his appearances on GBNews. That’s perfectly legal, but is that in the Nolan Principles? Absolutely not. [He should] step down too.”
Jeez part deux
This at Reform conference from Aseem Malhotra, a British cardiologist…
We seem to be getting the full breadth of conspiracy theories
We seem to be getting the full breadth of conspiracy theories
"It's highly likely that the Covid vaccines have been a factor, a significant factor, in the cancer of members of the royal family."
September 6, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Jeez part deux
Jeez..
Day Two of Reform conference, and we're getting the good stuff. At the Heartland Institute's fringe "Is Climate Realism Inevitable", we've learned that electric cars are part of a Marxist plot to control humanity, and heard calls for the abolition of the BBC.
September 6, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Jeez..
Reposted
A glimpse into the murky world of illegal window tinting lauralaker.substack.com/p/hundreds-o...
'Hundreds of thousands' of illegal window tints sailing through MOTs per year
Dark tints impact driver visibility and increase risk but enforcement at MOT centres is currently discretionary
lauralaker.substack.com
September 5, 2025 at 10:32 AM
A glimpse into the murky world of illegal window tinting lauralaker.substack.com/p/hundreds-o...
Reposted
Is Birmingham still the UK's second city?
Many of the statistics are grim:
🏚️Second highest rate of economic inactivity (25% of the working age population).
🎒 The worst performing region for GCSEs in the country.
🎓The lowest graduate employment share (30%) of any large UK city.
Many of the statistics are grim:
🏚️Second highest rate of economic inactivity (25% of the working age population).
🎒 The worst performing region for GCSEs in the country.
🎓The lowest graduate employment share (30%) of any large UK city.
September 4, 2025 at 10:19 AM
Is Birmingham still the UK's second city?
Many of the statistics are grim:
🏚️Second highest rate of economic inactivity (25% of the working age population).
🎒 The worst performing region for GCSEs in the country.
🎓The lowest graduate employment share (30%) of any large UK city.
Many of the statistics are grim:
🏚️Second highest rate of economic inactivity (25% of the working age population).
🎒 The worst performing region for GCSEs in the country.
🎓The lowest graduate employment share (30%) of any large UK city.