Simon Whiteley
@simonwhiteley6.bsky.social
Ordinary bloke, gripped by Brexit. Am I moving left or is the rest of the world moving right?
Reposted by Simon Whiteley
Why are the American president's claims about autism the first item on British news bulletins?
He's not our president, the advice doesn't apply here and he's not presented any evidence to support his assertions.
So why spread these claims? What make this the biggest story in the UK?
He's not our president, the advice doesn't apply here and he's not presented any evidence to support his assertions.
So why spread these claims? What make this the biggest story in the UK?
September 23, 2025 at 6:51 AM
Why are the American president's claims about autism the first item on British news bulletins?
He's not our president, the advice doesn't apply here and he's not presented any evidence to support his assertions.
So why spread these claims? What make this the biggest story in the UK?
He's not our president, the advice doesn't apply here and he's not presented any evidence to support his assertions.
So why spread these claims? What make this the biggest story in the UK?
Reposted by Simon Whiteley
In which @sturdyalex.bsky.social and I discuss how ancient Britons went about inventing law and democracy.
A public information thread.
A public information thread.
At what point did the swamp people invent law as they ascended from the turdlands?
Was just as they left the swamp, or as they got to a dry hillock? Or halfway between?
Legal history geek here, and I would love to know.
As would @sturdyalex.bsky.social
Was just as they left the swamp, or as they got to a dry hillock? Or halfway between?
Legal history geek here, and I would love to know.
As would @sturdyalex.bsky.social
August 24, 2025 at 2:18 PM
In which @sturdyalex.bsky.social and I discuss how ancient Britons went about inventing law and democracy.
A public information thread.
A public information thread.
Reposted by Simon Whiteley
Funny they don't seem so bothered by Jenrick's three homes (including a grade 1 listed manor) plus his forth home in his constituency rented at taxpayer expense.
Wonder why.
Wonder why.
Daily Telegraph today refers to A Rayner’s property “empire”. Whatever you think of her housing arrangements, I don’t think constituency house (bought for 375k in 2016), house in Hove, plus use of ministerial flat in London is an “empire”. Duke of Westminster wont fear a rival!
August 24, 2025 at 6:26 AM
Funny they don't seem so bothered by Jenrick's three homes (including a grade 1 listed manor) plus his forth home in his constituency rented at taxpayer expense.
Wonder why.
Wonder why.
US heads towards the Civil War. In a c one month. Trump either has to back the civil war, or back down.
Red states occupying a blue city
WASHINGTON (AP) — South Carolina, Ohio also sending National Guard troops to DC in further escalation of federal intervention in Dem city.
August 17, 2025 at 5:56 AM
US heads towards the Civil War. In a c one month. Trump either has to back the civil war, or back down.
Reposted by Simon Whiteley
Red states occupying a blue city
WASHINGTON (AP) — South Carolina, Ohio also sending National Guard troops to DC in further escalation of federal intervention in Dem city.
August 17, 2025 at 4:25 AM
Red states occupying a blue city
Reposted by Simon Whiteley
“A staff mutiny forced the management of a plush British countryside pub to turn away JD Vance, just weeks after the same venue hosted Kamala Harris… the staff reportedly staged a mutiny, telling management that they wouldn’t show up to work if the venue accepted Vance’s dinner booking”
Staff Mutiny Forces Pub to Turn Away JD Vance
The vice president had reportedly attempted to dine at The Bull in Charlbury, Oxfordshire, weeks after the venue hosted Kamala Harris.
www.thedailybeast.com
August 15, 2025 at 12:32 AM
“A staff mutiny forced the management of a plush British countryside pub to turn away JD Vance, just weeks after the same venue hosted Kamala Harris… the staff reportedly staged a mutiny, telling management that they wouldn’t show up to work if the venue accepted Vance’s dinner booking”
Reposted by Simon Whiteley
Government has got this spectacularly wrong.
If an organisation is breaking the law, prosecute it.
But arresting people for holding up signs is a waste of police time, it's increasing support for the organisation &, above all, it's a flagrant violation of free speech.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
If an organisation is breaking the law, prosecute it.
But arresting people for holding up signs is a waste of police time, it's increasing support for the organisation &, above all, it's a flagrant violation of free speech.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Palestine Action protest arrests rise to more than 500
Police say the majority of arrests were for displaying placards in support of the banned group.
www.bbc.co.uk
August 11, 2025 at 10:42 AM
Government has got this spectacularly wrong.
If an organisation is breaking the law, prosecute it.
But arresting people for holding up signs is a waste of police time, it's increasing support for the organisation &, above all, it's a flagrant violation of free speech.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
If an organisation is breaking the law, prosecute it.
But arresting people for holding up signs is a waste of police time, it's increasing support for the organisation &, above all, it's a flagrant violation of free speech.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Simon Whiteley
We have a constitution, it’s just not codified and written into a single document.
The US has a codified constitution, currently waiting to see if that makes a difference in terms of holding back the tyranny - not looking good at the moment though.
The US has a codified constitution, currently waiting to see if that makes a difference in terms of holding back the tyranny - not looking good at the moment though.
i mean, they basically don't have a constitution, right? it was always going to happen at some point that someone would decide to use that power
August 10, 2025 at 6:12 AM
We have a constitution, it’s just not codified and written into a single document.
The US has a codified constitution, currently waiting to see if that makes a difference in terms of holding back the tyranny - not looking good at the moment though.
The US has a codified constitution, currently waiting to see if that makes a difference in terms of holding back the tyranny - not looking good at the moment though.
Reposted by Simon Whiteley
Reform still soaking up the White Working Class vote all over in council by-elections.
The danger for other parties - and the rest of us - is that it’s increasingly being seen as the only authentic voice for that community.
The danger for other parties - and the rest of us - is that it’s increasingly being seen as the only authentic voice for that community.
Llangennech (Carmarthenshire) Council By-Election Result:
➡️ RFM: 43.1% (New)
🌼 PLC: 30.4% (-7.2)
🌹 LAB: 23.6% (-38.8)
🔶 LDM: 1.6% (New)
🌳 CON: 0.9% (New)
🐉 GWL: 0.4% (New)
Reform GAIN from Labour.
Changes w/ 2022.
➡️ RFM: 43.1% (New)
🌼 PLC: 30.4% (-7.2)
🌹 LAB: 23.6% (-38.8)
🔶 LDM: 1.6% (New)
🌳 CON: 0.9% (New)
🐉 GWL: 0.4% (New)
Reform GAIN from Labour.
Changes w/ 2022.
August 8, 2025 at 8:05 AM
Reform still soaking up the White Working Class vote all over in council by-elections.
The danger for other parties - and the rest of us - is that it’s increasingly being seen as the only authentic voice for that community.
The danger for other parties - and the rest of us - is that it’s increasingly being seen as the only authentic voice for that community.
Reposted by Simon Whiteley
Interesting discussion here with @columnist.bsky.social on law and literature
The two greatest “literary” writers about law are, for me, Kafka and Jane Austen, with Dickens perhaps third.
Austen can convey the most complex notions of law and equity in half a sentence.
Austen can convey the most complex notions of law and equity in half a sentence.
August 8, 2025 at 12:36 PM
Interesting discussion here with @columnist.bsky.social on law and literature
Reposted by Simon Whiteley
NEW
What makes a legal person?
If invisible corporations and inanimate objects can be legal persons, so can rivers and animals
By me, at @prospectmagazine.co.uk
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/law/th...
What makes a legal person?
If invisible corporations and inanimate objects can be legal persons, so can rivers and animals
By me, at @prospectmagazine.co.uk
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/law/th...
What makes a legal person?
If invisible corporations and inanimate objects can be legal persons, so can rivers and animals
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk
August 8, 2025 at 11:27 AM
NEW
What makes a legal person?
If invisible corporations and inanimate objects can be legal persons, so can rivers and animals
By me, at @prospectmagazine.co.uk
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/law/th...
What makes a legal person?
If invisible corporations and inanimate objects can be legal persons, so can rivers and animals
By me, at @prospectmagazine.co.uk
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/law/th...
Reposted by Simon Whiteley
1/ - Trade Policy in 2025 -
Step 1. Donald Trump invents threatened new tariff rates on your country based on some combination of the trade balance, vibes, personal grievance, vibes, how much he likes you, vibes, or a Peter Navarro formula so stupid it made Lesotho enemy #1.
Also vibes.
Step 1. Donald Trump invents threatened new tariff rates on your country based on some combination of the trade balance, vibes, personal grievance, vibes, how much he likes you, vibes, or a Peter Navarro formula so stupid it made Lesotho enemy #1.
Also vibes.
August 7, 2025 at 11:10 AM
1/ - Trade Policy in 2025 -
Step 1. Donald Trump invents threatened new tariff rates on your country based on some combination of the trade balance, vibes, personal grievance, vibes, how much he likes you, vibes, or a Peter Navarro formula so stupid it made Lesotho enemy #1.
Also vibes.
Step 1. Donald Trump invents threatened new tariff rates on your country based on some combination of the trade balance, vibes, personal grievance, vibes, how much he likes you, vibes, or a Peter Navarro formula so stupid it made Lesotho enemy #1.
Also vibes.
Reposted by Simon Whiteley
Shut Grok down!
Commit to a functioning reporting system! (It is a legal duty, but one currently observed only in the breach)
Somebody wake up the regulators so that we can start to uphold the rule of law in this country.
Make Twitter Lawful Again!
Commit to a functioning reporting system! (It is a legal duty, but one currently observed only in the breach)
Somebody wake up the regulators so that we can start to uphold the rule of law in this country.
Make Twitter Lawful Again!
August 6, 2025 at 8:31 AM
Shut Grok down!
Commit to a functioning reporting system! (It is a legal duty, but one currently observed only in the breach)
Somebody wake up the regulators so that we can start to uphold the rule of law in this country.
Make Twitter Lawful Again!
Commit to a functioning reporting system! (It is a legal duty, but one currently observed only in the breach)
Somebody wake up the regulators so that we can start to uphold the rule of law in this country.
Make Twitter Lawful Again!
Reposted by Simon Whiteley
Nick Timothy here, still making inflammatory falsehoods about migration
August 4, 2025 at 8:28 AM
Nick Timothy here, still making inflammatory falsehoods about migration
Reposted by Simon Whiteley
Kemi Badenoch believes everybody's identity is assigned at birth, and nobody should be able to change how they self-identify later in life.
Except for her, of course.
share.google/iypUG9X10tfG...
Except for her, of course.
share.google/iypUG9X10tfG...
Kemi Badenoch: I don't identify as Nigerian any more
The Conservative Party leader says she has not renewed her passport for the West African country in years.
share.google
August 2, 2025 at 1:44 PM
Kemi Badenoch believes everybody's identity is assigned at birth, and nobody should be able to change how they self-identify later in life.
Except for her, of course.
share.google/iypUG9X10tfG...
Except for her, of course.
share.google/iypUG9X10tfG...
Reposted by Simon Whiteley
Racism, and particularly the institutional kind is horrible and frustrating.
That said, neither me nor my son would be where we are today without the love and support of many of the white folks we've had in our lives. From family to teachers to friends.
Racists don't speak for them. 🧵
That said, neither me nor my son would be where we are today without the love and support of many of the white folks we've had in our lives. From family to teachers to friends.
Racists don't speak for them. 🧵
My 16 year old had his first incident of a group of white guys driving by calling him the n-word.
There are some milestones you hope your kids never hit, while having to prepare them how to handle it and how to continue moving forward.
There are some milestones you hope your kids never hit, while having to prepare them how to handle it and how to continue moving forward.
August 2, 2025 at 2:46 PM
Racism, and particularly the institutional kind is horrible and frustrating.
That said, neither me nor my son would be where we are today without the love and support of many of the white folks we've had in our lives. From family to teachers to friends.
Racists don't speak for them. 🧵
That said, neither me nor my son would be where we are today without the love and support of many of the white folks we've had in our lives. From family to teachers to friends.
Racists don't speak for them. 🧵
Reposted by Simon Whiteley
Argentina famously a country that normal people in this country admire and would wish to emulate.
July 24, 2025 at 8:16 AM
Argentina famously a country that normal people in this country admire and would wish to emulate.
Reposted by Simon Whiteley
Once again, if you are pointing to a mob and arguing that their violence is a justification for doing what you want, it’s your mob and your violence.
July 24, 2025 at 7:25 AM
Once again, if you are pointing to a mob and arguing that their violence is a justification for doing what you want, it’s your mob and your violence.
Very interesting for Badenoch to choose this look https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy4yj3rpjm8o
July 24, 2025 at 8:08 AM
Very interesting for Badenoch to choose this look https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy4yj3rpjm8o
Reposted by Simon Whiteley
Labour will face two ethno nationalist, climate change denying, anti-human rights, isolationist parties at the next election. The character of modern Britain could alter radically in the 2030s.
July 21, 2025 at 6:21 AM
Labour will face two ethno nationalist, climate change denying, anti-human rights, isolationist parties at the next election. The character of modern Britain could alter radically in the 2030s.
Reposted by Simon Whiteley
Don't see how the Epstein thing can end in anything other than disaster for Trump. He's spent a decade building a conspiratorial pyre on which to torch others, only for it to go up in his own face.
July 19, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Don't see how the Epstein thing can end in anything other than disaster for Trump. He's spent a decade building a conspiratorial pyre on which to torch others, only for it to go up in his own face.
Reposted by Simon Whiteley
The EHRC's lawyers have conceded its position on single sex toilets is wrong. goodlaw.social/z87e
EHRC backs down on single-sex toilets | Good Law Project
The EHRC’s interim update unleashed chaos after the Supreme Court’s transphobic decision. But now the commission says it was only ‘some observations’ and rows back on its demand for single-sex toilets...
goodlaw.social
June 17, 2025 at 2:40 PM
The EHRC's lawyers have conceded its position on single sex toilets is wrong. goodlaw.social/z87e
See also the US as on the same strategy as Iran.
Iran's status as a power is potentially falling apart not just because of the collapse of badly managed air defence systems, but also because of what proved a disastrous military and diplomatic strategy that wasted huge goodwill, cash and prestige on proxy forces in other states that are now useless
June 17, 2025 at 10:04 AM
See also the US as on the same strategy as Iran.
Read this. The world of Emperor nakedness has changed. The old story is wrong- the emperor is conscious of its own story. So we need to change its own story as well. The Bear makes it some good suggestion.
The emperor is naked. We all see it. And yet the crowd roars.
Trump’s parade wasn’t just farce - it was a symbol of post-truth politics.
My new piece on fairy tales, shame-free populism, and the fight ahead.
Trump’s parade wasn’t just farce - it was a symbol of post-truth politics.
My new piece on fairy tales, shame-free populism, and the fight ahead.
The Emperor Is Naked and They Love Him More for It.
The fairytale’s broken. Shame doesn’t work. And reality isn’t the point anymore.
www.bearlypolitics.co.uk
June 15, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Read this. The world of Emperor nakedness has changed. The old story is wrong- the emperor is conscious of its own story. So we need to change its own story as well. The Bear makes it some good suggestion.