Stephen Murray
@stemurray.bsky.social
Three decades working in tech. Increasingly interested in the ethical, environmental and socio-economic impacts of technology. Often reading. Sometimes writing. Fledgling drummer. Dad of 5. Live in beautiful Cumbria.
Strikes me that Shabana Mahmood is one of the dark forces she warns of. Labour need to stand up to this anti-immigrantion rhetoric, not amplify it.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
Shabana Mahmood warns Labour MPs ‘dark forces are stirring up anger’ over migration
There is understood to be growing unease in party over home secretary’s sweeping overhaul of refugee rights
www.theguardian.com
November 17, 2025 at 10:04 AM
Strikes me that Shabana Mahmood is one of the dark forces she warns of. Labour need to stand up to this anti-immigrantion rhetoric, not amplify it.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
Reposted by Stephen Murray
I wonder if Kier Starmer and the UK Home Secretary are listening to this.
Obama: "When you see an administration suggest that ordinary street crime is an insurrection or a terrorist act, that is a genuine effort to weaken how we have understood democracy."
October 14, 2025 at 3:28 PM
I wonder if Kier Starmer and the UK Home Secretary are listening to this.
The absence of even a semblance of self awareness is profoundly depressing.
"15 years ago, Polish workers came here to find opportunity. Now Poland is growing twice as fast as we are," says Kemi Badenoch.
Any ideas what may have happened in the interim?
Any ideas what may have happened in the interim?
October 8, 2025 at 4:41 PM
The absence of even a semblance of self awareness is profoundly depressing.
Reposted by Stephen Murray
Dad’s books are full of empathy, common sense, and a healthy suspicion of the powerful. But at its heart his work is also about how systems keep people poor while pretending it’s their own fault. So I hope Kemi’s taking notes as well as reading the jokes.
Kemi Badenoch claiming Terry Pratchett as her favourite author is wild
October 7, 2025 at 12:46 PM
Dad’s books are full of empathy, common sense, and a healthy suspicion of the powerful. But at its heart his work is also about how systems keep people poor while pretending it’s their own fault. So I hope Kemi’s taking notes as well as reading the jokes.
Reposted by Stephen Murray
About to start watching All the President's Men with my wife, who hasn't seen it. We noticed it came out in the year she was born. I expect to be even more disillusioned with the inadequacy of our current news media in a couple of hours.
October 4, 2025 at 7:17 PM
About to start watching All the President's Men with my wife, who hasn't seen it. We noticed it came out in the year she was born. I expect to be even more disillusioned with the inadequacy of our current news media in a couple of hours.
Reposted by Stephen Murray
Think the Tony Blair Institute looks sinister? You've not seen anything yet. Crucial investigation by @petergeoghegan.bsky.social and Democracy for Sale:
democracyforsale.substack.com/p/inside-the...
democracyforsale.substack.com/p/inside-the...
Inside the Tony Blair Institute
A former PM, tech tycoon Larry Ellison and Britain's data - what could go wrong?
democracyforsale.substack.com
September 24, 2025 at 8:28 AM
Think the Tony Blair Institute looks sinister? You've not seen anything yet. Crucial investigation by @petergeoghegan.bsky.social and Democracy for Sale:
democracyforsale.substack.com/p/inside-the...
democracyforsale.substack.com/p/inside-the...
Hypothetical: if you were to move to ban anti-fascism, what do you think that would say about you?
September 18, 2025 at 9:50 AM
Hypothetical: if you were to move to ban anti-fascism, what do you think that would say about you?
Reposted by Stephen Murray
⏳Final week to sign up to the Green Party.
🗳️ Vote for Bold Leadership on August 1st.
🗳️ Vote for Bold Leadership on August 1st.
July 23, 2025 at 6:46 AM
⏳Final week to sign up to the Green Party.
🗳️ Vote for Bold Leadership on August 1st.
🗳️ Vote for Bold Leadership on August 1st.
Reposted by Stephen Murray
High water bills, filthy rivers, now drought. England’s water crisis created by privatisation.
1989 - 2023: No shareholder investment.
Investment funded by customers.
19% of water lost to leaks.
£82.4bn cash extracted.
Water bills up 360%.
Govt opposes public ownership. Looting continues.
1989 - 2023: No shareholder investment.
Investment funded by customers.
19% of water lost to leaks.
£82.4bn cash extracted.
Water bills up 360%.
Govt opposes public ownership. Looting continues.
High water bills, filthy rivers – and now drought. This is England's great artificial water crisis of 2025 | George Monbiot
In its refusal to nationalise water, it’s clear the government operates in the interests of private capital and not of the country, says Guardian columnist George Monbiot
www.theguardian.com
July 18, 2025 at 6:11 AM
High water bills, filthy rivers, now drought. England’s water crisis created by privatisation.
1989 - 2023: No shareholder investment.
Investment funded by customers.
19% of water lost to leaks.
£82.4bn cash extracted.
Water bills up 360%.
Govt opposes public ownership. Looting continues.
1989 - 2023: No shareholder investment.
Investment funded by customers.
19% of water lost to leaks.
£82.4bn cash extracted.
Water bills up 360%.
Govt opposes public ownership. Looting continues.
Reposted by Stephen Murray
Cutting "red tape" (aka public protections), as Reeves is doing, does not save money. Instead, it transfers costs from the rich to the poor. Other people pay for financial recklessness, filthy rivers, air pollution, lax building standards and consumer rip-offs.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Reeves says rules and red tape are ‘boot on the neck’ of business
At the Mansion House dinner she calls for regulators to allow more risk to clear the way for economic growth
www.theguardian.com
July 16, 2025 at 5:16 AM
Cutting "red tape" (aka public protections), as Reeves is doing, does not save money. Instead, it transfers costs from the rich to the poor. Other people pay for financial recklessness, filthy rivers, air pollution, lax building standards and consumer rip-offs.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Stephen Murray
Pockets picked
Big pharma made £12bn excess profit from just 10 NHS drugs; profit mark-ups up to 23,000%.
Energy companies £514bn operating profit since 2020.
England Water companies £85bn in dividends, dump sewage in rivers.
Govts subservient to corporations. Abuses continue.
Wither democracy.
Big pharma made £12bn excess profit from just 10 NHS drugs; profit mark-ups up to 23,000%.
Energy companies £514bn operating profit since 2020.
England Water companies £85bn in dividends, dump sewage in rivers.
Govts subservient to corporations. Abuses continue.
Wither democracy.
Taming corporations is the key issue of our times
To appease corporations, people may raze mountains, divert rivers, clear forests, cover countryside in tarmac and shower subsidies upon them, but they have no loyalty to any place, people or product.
leftfootforward.org
July 13, 2025 at 1:42 PM
Pockets picked
Big pharma made £12bn excess profit from just 10 NHS drugs; profit mark-ups up to 23,000%.
Energy companies £514bn operating profit since 2020.
England Water companies £85bn in dividends, dump sewage in rivers.
Govts subservient to corporations. Abuses continue.
Wither democracy.
Big pharma made £12bn excess profit from just 10 NHS drugs; profit mark-ups up to 23,000%.
Energy companies £514bn operating profit since 2020.
England Water companies £85bn in dividends, dump sewage in rivers.
Govts subservient to corporations. Abuses continue.
Wither democracy.
Reposted by Stephen Murray
Trumpism
HSBC becomes first UK bank to quit industry’s net zero alliance.
Banks take bailouts, subsidies, sell dodgy financial products, launder money and abuse taxes, but never accept social responsibility.
Voluntarism is a fig leaf. Change law. Impose public duties.
HSBC becomes first UK bank to quit industry’s net zero alliance.
Banks take bailouts, subsidies, sell dodgy financial products, launder money and abuse taxes, but never accept social responsibility.
Voluntarism is a fig leaf. Change law. Impose public duties.
HSBC becomes first UK bank to quit industry’s net zero alliance
Campaigners condemn ‘troubling’ move that follows departure of six of largest US banks after Trump’s election
www.theguardian.com
July 13, 2025 at 7:26 AM
Trumpism
HSBC becomes first UK bank to quit industry’s net zero alliance.
Banks take bailouts, subsidies, sell dodgy financial products, launder money and abuse taxes, but never accept social responsibility.
Voluntarism is a fig leaf. Change law. Impose public duties.
HSBC becomes first UK bank to quit industry’s net zero alliance.
Banks take bailouts, subsidies, sell dodgy financial products, launder money and abuse taxes, but never accept social responsibility.
Voluntarism is a fig leaf. Change law. Impose public duties.
Reposted by Stephen Murray
NEW: Tony Blair's staff took part in a BCG project for the redevelopment of Gaza along the lines of the 'Trump Riviera' plan www.ft.com/content/0b1b...
Tony Blair’s staff took part in ‘Gaza Riviera’ project with BCG
Former UK prime minister’s institute participated in meetings on plan to turn shattered enclave into trading hub
www.ft.com
July 6, 2025 at 4:16 PM
NEW: Tony Blair's staff took part in a BCG project for the redevelopment of Gaza along the lines of the 'Trump Riviera' plan www.ft.com/content/0b1b...
Reposted by Stephen Murray
Welp. ATI had already narrowed its focus to health, sustainability and security, but are now being told that health and sustainability are no longer legitimate public priorities for AI research, and that this is consistent what ‘the British public expects.’
Alan Turing Institute told to focus on defence or lose funding
Science secretary threatens to pull defence R&D funds, while reforms could see EPSRC grant revisited
Big story
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-p...
Science secretary threatens to pull defence R&D funds, while reforms could see EPSRC grant revisited
Big story
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-p...
Alan Turing Institute told to focus on defence or lose funding - Research Professional News
Science secretary threatens to pull defence R&D funds, while reforms could see EPSRC grant revisited
www.researchprofessionalnews.com
July 4, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Welp. ATI had already narrowed its focus to health, sustainability and security, but are now being told that health and sustainability are no longer legitimate public priorities for AI research, and that this is consistent what ‘the British public expects.’
share.google/uNJ9FuIIg3pP...
So instead of efforts to improve humanity's lot through improving health or addressing climate risks using AI, Peter Kyle thinks we should focus on using it to find more efficient ways to kill people. What a ghoul!
So instead of efforts to improve humanity's lot through improving health or addressing climate risks using AI, Peter Kyle thinks we should focus on using it to find more efficient ways to kill people. What a ghoul!
Minister demands overhaul of UK’s leading AI institute
Peter Kyle calls for new leadership at Alan Turing Institute and greater focus on defence and national security
share.google
July 4, 2025 at 4:56 PM
share.google/uNJ9FuIIg3pP...
So instead of efforts to improve humanity's lot through improving health or addressing climate risks using AI, Peter Kyle thinks we should focus on using it to find more efficient ways to kill people. What a ghoul!
So instead of efforts to improve humanity's lot through improving health or addressing climate risks using AI, Peter Kyle thinks we should focus on using it to find more efficient ways to kill people. What a ghoul!
Reposted by Stephen Murray
One of the astonishing aspects of our times is that once-progressive parties are rushing us towards dystopia almost as fast as the far right is. This week's column is about what we might now face and how to contest it.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Palestine Action isn’t a danger to British democracy – but this repressive government is | George Monbiot
With their illiberal attitudes and ever more draconian use of technology to crack down on protest, it is ministers who now imperil our rights, says Guardian columnist George Monbiot
www.theguardian.com
July 4, 2025 at 10:40 AM
One of the astonishing aspects of our times is that once-progressive parties are rushing us towards dystopia almost as fast as the far right is. This week's column is about what we might now face and how to contest it.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Presumably, the UK Government will now be moving to proscribe The Spectator as a terrorist organisation.
July 4, 2025 at 10:19 AM
Presumably, the UK Government will now be moving to proscribe The Spectator as a terrorist organisation.
Meanwhile in the UK, politicians and the media are outraged at some not very nice words used at a music festival.
20 people reported killed in #Israel 's occupation forces' bombing of al-Baqa Cafe in #Israeli occupied #Palestine's #Gaza today.
Death toll was previously reported as 15.
Death toll was previously reported as 15.
July 1, 2025 at 8:54 AM
Meanwhile in the UK, politicians and the media are outraged at some not very nice words used at a music festival.
Reposted by Stephen Murray
Look, Britain is always going to support the US but this is an absolutely nonsense statement. Iran didn't leave the negotiation table. Israel launched an unprovoked attack which America has now joined.
BREAKING: Keir Starmer reacts to the US bombing Iran’s nuclear sites
June 22, 2025 at 7:22 AM
Look, Britain is always going to support the US but this is an absolutely nonsense statement. Iran didn't leave the negotiation table. Israel launched an unprovoked attack which America has now joined.
Reposted by Stephen Murray
The BBC’s decision to pull a documentary about Israeli war crimes in Gaza shows how its enforcement of 'impartiality' almost always benefits just one side
www.adambienkov.co.uk/p/the-right-...
www.adambienkov.co.uk/p/the-right-...
The Right Kind of Bias
The BBC’s decision to pull a documentary about Israeli war crimes in Gaza shows how its enforcement of 'impartiality' almost always benefits just one side
www.adambienkov.co.uk
June 22, 2025 at 8:04 AM
The BBC’s decision to pull a documentary about Israeli war crimes in Gaza shows how its enforcement of 'impartiality' almost always benefits just one side
www.adambienkov.co.uk/p/the-right-...
www.adambienkov.co.uk/p/the-right-...
Reposted by Stephen Murray
War is Peace.
Freedom is Slavery.
Ignorance is Strength.
Freedom is Slavery.
Ignorance is Strength.
June 22, 2025 at 1:48 AM
War is Peace.
Freedom is Slavery.
Ignorance is Strength.
Freedom is Slavery.
Ignorance is Strength.
Reposted by Stephen Murray
This is precisely what happened. The same effort, over and over again, with Democrats and Republicans. But America was finally weak enough to simply ignore and its president idiotic enough to go along with it.
Netanyahu has spent the better part of two decades trying to strong arm the United States into an unprovoked war against Iran and finally found a president stupid enough to do it for him. Unbelievable.
June 22, 2025 at 7:19 AM
This is precisely what happened. The same effort, over and over again, with Democrats and Republicans. But America was finally weak enough to simply ignore and its president idiotic enough to go along with it.
