Rob Kirkland
@robkirkland.bsky.social
Reposted by Rob Kirkland
I'm also old enough to remember all those who told us Trump would make the world more stable. One year in, he's threatening to destroy an eight decade security alliance, the pillar of Western stability, over not getting an award.
January 19, 2026 at 6:32 PM
I'm also old enough to remember all those who told us Trump would make the world more stable. One year in, he's threatening to destroy an eight decade security alliance, the pillar of Western stability, over not getting an award.
Reposted by Rob Kirkland
Trump says a lot of deranged shit, but, per this Reuters article — and the threats of invoking the Insurrection Act in Minnesota this morning — he is very clearly exploring how to cancel the midterms.
www.reuters.com/world/us/fiv...
www.reuters.com/world/us/fiv...
January 15, 2026 at 4:10 PM
Trump says a lot of deranged shit, but, per this Reuters article — and the threats of invoking the Insurrection Act in Minnesota this morning — he is very clearly exploring how to cancel the midterms.
www.reuters.com/world/us/fiv...
www.reuters.com/world/us/fiv...
Reposted by Rob Kirkland
Imagine Keir Starmer gave a speech and said Tunbridge Wells was a shithole. Why do right wing politicians get a free pass on slagging off the country they’re trying to represent?
Farage says Sadiq Khan is "deluded" to think London is the greatest city in the world.
Not sure that's the best way to appeal to Londoners at a press conference designed to appeal to Londoners.
Not sure that's the best way to appeal to Londoners at a press conference designed to appeal to Londoners.
January 7, 2026 at 11:46 AM
Imagine Keir Starmer gave a speech and said Tunbridge Wells was a shithole. Why do right wing politicians get a free pass on slagging off the country they’re trying to represent?
Reposted by Rob Kirkland
People who consider themselves decent, progressive, or left leaning should not only be embarrassed to remain on X in any active capacity - they should be deeply ashamed. The line was crossed long ago.
January 7, 2026 at 1:22 PM
People who consider themselves decent, progressive, or left leaning should not only be embarrassed to remain on X in any active capacity - they should be deeply ashamed. The line was crossed long ago.
Reposted by Rob Kirkland
The UK’s three hottest years on record have been 2025, 2023, and 2022. Truly mad that there are people who we are supposed to take seriously who insist there is nothing extraordinary or concerning about this fact.
www.businessgreen.com/news/4523723...
www.businessgreen.com/news/4523723...
Double record-breaker: 2025 declared UK's hottest and sunniest year on record
Mean temperature of 10.09C sees 2025 join 2022 and 2023 in the three hottest years since 1884, provisional Met Office data confirms
www.businessgreen.com
January 2, 2026 at 7:07 PM
The UK’s three hottest years on record have been 2025, 2023, and 2022. Truly mad that there are people who we are supposed to take seriously who insist there is nothing extraordinary or concerning about this fact.
www.businessgreen.com/news/4523723...
www.businessgreen.com/news/4523723...
Reposted by Rob Kirkland
This is absolutely sickening. Like Starmer's "Island of Strangers" speech, I don't know how anyone could propose it without hearing echoes of a very dark past.
The Sun has been told Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood will on Monday propose confiscating jewellery, watches, necklaces from asylum seekers to meet asylum costs
This reflects the most controversial aspect of the Danish scheme - the Jewellery Law. The toughest Labour MPs thought this was OTT
This reflects the most controversial aspect of the Danish scheme - the Jewellery Law. The toughest Labour MPs thought this was OTT
November 17, 2025 at 7:38 AM
This is absolutely sickening. Like Starmer's "Island of Strangers" speech, I don't know how anyone could propose it without hearing echoes of a very dark past.
Reposted by Rob Kirkland
It’s not at all clear to me how the BBC can do any kind of serious journalism if its top two bosses can be forced to quit over such an obviously confected scandal. There is no substantive error here. How can the BBC report on Trump, or Farage, or anyone else, in these circumstances?
November 9, 2025 at 7:30 PM
It’s not at all clear to me how the BBC can do any kind of serious journalism if its top two bosses can be forced to quit over such an obviously confected scandal. There is no substantive error here. How can the BBC report on Trump, or Farage, or anyone else, in these circumstances?
Reposted by Rob Kirkland
We're running out of ways to say it, but for all the progress that has been made things are still getting worse and over the coming decades climate impacts will only intensify. The world is facing risks that could quickly prove genuinely catastrophic.
November 4, 2025 at 2:28 PM
We're running out of ways to say it, but for all the progress that has been made things are still getting worse and over the coming decades climate impacts will only intensify. The world is facing risks that could quickly prove genuinely catastrophic.
Reposted by Rob Kirkland
The more useful data point is that emissions in 2030 have to fall 25 per cent from 2019 levels for a 2C pathway, and 40 per cent for a 1.5C pathway. Last year they rose by 2.3 per cent.
November 4, 2025 at 2:24 PM
The more useful data point is that emissions in 2030 have to fall 25 per cent from 2019 levels for a 2C pathway, and 40 per cent for a 1.5C pathway. Last year they rose by 2.3 per cent.
Reposted by Rob Kirkland
In a year of depressing graphics, this one is close to the worst.
October 31, 2025 at 3:49 PM
In a year of depressing graphics, this one is close to the worst.
Reposted by Rob Kirkland
As the single most important news story this year, I can't wait to see the detailed and central coverage this will get in every media outlet we have
‘Change course now’: humanity has missed 1.5C climate target, says UN head
Exclusive: ‘Devastating consequences’ now inevitable but emissions cuts still vital, says António Guterres in sole interview before Cop30
www.theguardian.com
October 28, 2025 at 1:00 AM
As the single most important news story this year, I can't wait to see the detailed and central coverage this will get in every media outlet we have
Reposted by Rob Kirkland
34 people killed in 50 days. Their guilt or innocence unknown, for an alleged crime that doesn't carry a death sentence. That's a lot of death.
adamisacson.com/boat-strikes/
adamisacson.com/boat-strikes/
October 22, 2025 at 7:42 PM
34 people killed in 50 days. Their guilt or innocence unknown, for an alleged crime that doesn't carry a death sentence. That's a lot of death.
adamisacson.com/boat-strikes/
adamisacson.com/boat-strikes/
Reposted by Rob Kirkland
This is the loudest alarm bell imaginable. And yet it will still be ignored.
The wet tropical rainforests of Queensland are now a carbon source because CO₂ emitted from trees dying and decaying outstripped the CO₂ taken up by trees growing. 😕
Australia's tropical trees emit more carbon than they absorb: study
Climate change is killing trees faster than they can be replaced leading to greater carbon emissions, according to a new study.
www.abc.net.au
October 15, 2025 at 8:35 PM
This is the loudest alarm bell imaginable. And yet it will still be ignored.
Reposted by Rob Kirkland
These are some of the most extreme restrictions on immigration in years. We're told to see them as benign because they're less bad than Farage's far-right extremism. But they are still terrible.
Mahmood says she will introduce new conditions for indefinite leave to remain:
Lived here 10 years not 5
Being in work
Not taking a penny in benefits
No criminal record
Giving back to community eg volunteering
Lived here 10 years not 5
Being in work
Not taking a penny in benefits
No criminal record
Giving back to community eg volunteering
September 29, 2025 at 6:05 PM
These are some of the most extreme restrictions on immigration in years. We're told to see them as benign because they're less bad than Farage's far-right extremism. But they are still terrible.
Reposted by Rob Kirkland
Trump just ordered the military into Portland, and he’s giving them the green light to use lethal force on American citizens.
Authoritarianism is an abstract concept but Trump is making its impacts real and tangible. Let’s be real about it: This is the beginning of dictatorship in America.
Authoritarianism is an abstract concept but Trump is making its impacts real and tangible. Let’s be real about it: This is the beginning of dictatorship in America.
September 27, 2025 at 9:11 PM
Trump just ordered the military into Portland, and he’s giving them the green light to use lethal force on American citizens.
Authoritarianism is an abstract concept but Trump is making its impacts real and tangible. Let’s be real about it: This is the beginning of dictatorship in America.
Authoritarianism is an abstract concept but Trump is making its impacts real and tangible. Let’s be real about it: This is the beginning of dictatorship in America.
Reposted by Rob Kirkland
It took ~9 months for Farage to go from disavowing mass deportations to promising them, and then 25 days to go from promising them to expanding that promise. At this rate I really dread to think where this policy will be by the next election...
bsky.app/profile/sund...
bsky.app/profile/sund...
Farage made a pledge to remove 600,000 people without legal status [having said a year ago he wouldn't pledge that because he knows it is impossible]
Elon Musk and Rupert Lowe said that was too weak & they wanted "proper deportations" and Farage has shifted further now
Elon Musk and Rupert Lowe said that was too weak & they wanted "proper deportations" and Farage has shifted further now
September 21, 2025 at 10:05 PM
It took ~9 months for Farage to go from disavowing mass deportations to promising them, and then 25 days to go from promising them to expanding that promise. At this rate I really dread to think where this policy will be by the next election...
bsky.app/profile/sund...
bsky.app/profile/sund...
Reposted by Rob Kirkland
Also: how on earth can university staff encourage their students to steer away from the bland generalities of AI if they are required by administrators to reduce their own feedback to the same AI slop?
Simply astonishing. Maybe Lecturer A should not have to mark over 100 essays in a two-week window in the first place? Invest in qualified staff and reduce impossible workloads FFS www.kcl.ac.uk/about/strate...
September 17, 2025 at 12:41 PM
Also: how on earth can university staff encourage their students to steer away from the bland generalities of AI if they are required by administrators to reduce their own feedback to the same AI slop?
Reposted by Rob Kirkland
Great Yarmouth is set to host the biggest neo-nazi music festival in over a decade. The Home Office has the power to block entry of overseas bands, which will scupper the promoters plans. But they won’t act unless we demand it. Email the Home Office now: hopenothate.org.uk/2025/08/28/g...
Great Yarmouth to Host Britain’s Biggest White Power Concert in Years – HOPE not hate
Great Yarmouth is set to host the largest white power music gig held in the UK for at least 10 years, HOPE not hate can...
hopenothate.org.uk
September 1, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Great Yarmouth is set to host the biggest neo-nazi music festival in over a decade. The Home Office has the power to block entry of overseas bands, which will scupper the promoters plans. But they won’t act unless we demand it. Email the Home Office now: hopenothate.org.uk/2025/08/28/g...
Reposted by Rob Kirkland
If I was Manchester United I would simply not implode spectacularly for the amusement of others
August 27, 2025 at 7:32 PM
If I was Manchester United I would simply not implode spectacularly for the amusement of others
Reposted by Rob Kirkland
Update: Cooper now says she “agrees with local communities that all asylum hotels need to close”, but in an orderly way.
Once again telling racists their concerns are legitimate, offering a prissy technocratic solution which won’t satisfy them, no word of solidarity with refugees affected.
Abject.
Once again telling racists their concerns are legitimate, offering a prissy technocratic solution which won’t satisfy them, no word of solidarity with refugees affected.
Abject.
August 22, 2025 at 7:32 PM
Update: Cooper now says she “agrees with local communities that all asylum hotels need to close”, but in an orderly way.
Once again telling racists their concerns are legitimate, offering a prissy technocratic solution which won’t satisfy them, no word of solidarity with refugees affected.
Abject.
Once again telling racists their concerns are legitimate, offering a prissy technocratic solution which won’t satisfy them, no word of solidarity with refugees affected.
Abject.
Reposted by Rob Kirkland
The Trump administration has announced that the US will rewrite past climate reports, in a clear attempt to erase scientific history and undermine the consensus on human-caused climate change.
US to rewrite its past national climate reports
US President Donald Trump's administration is revising past editions of the nation's premier climate report -- its latest move to undermine the scientific consensus on human-caused global warming.
www.france24.com
August 8, 2025 at 6:26 AM
The Trump administration has announced that the US will rewrite past climate reports, in a clear attempt to erase scientific history and undermine the consensus on human-caused climate change.
Reposted by Rob Kirkland
We wanted change - and this is what we got. Labour will leave Government, after only one term, having achieved nothing beyond delivering the country to Reform
They care about governance as much as the Tories they, wearing a red rosette, are. www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Mary-Ann Stephenson confirmed as EHRC chair despite MPs’ objections
Stephenson to take over at equality watchdog even though committees raised concerns about breadth of experience
www.theguardian.com
July 31, 2025 at 7:05 PM
We wanted change - and this is what we got. Labour will leave Government, after only one term, having achieved nothing beyond delivering the country to Reform