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Mark McGeoghegan @markmcgeoghegan.bsky.social · 19h

"I sexually harassed people in a weaker position than me then blamed it on being on 'the spectrum', you should respect GDPR"

Convincing.

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Reposted by Mark McGeoghegan

Rob Ford @robfordmancs.bsky.social · 22h

Among the many possibilities for the next few years, the scenario of swapping one pair of dominant parties (Lab and Con) for another (Reform and LD) is intriguing, under-discussed and, in English elections, not entirely implausible either (several county councils made this leap in May)

Election Maps UK @electionmaps.uk · 23h

Aggregate Result of the 122 Council By-Elections (for 125 Seats) since the 2025 Local Elections:

RFM: 47 (+40)
LDM: 32 (+10)
CON: 13 (-15)
LAB: 12 (-30)
GRN: 11 (+3)
Ind: 5 (-4)
Local: 3 (-3)
SNP: 1 (-1)
PLC: 1 (=)

Explore: electionmaps.uk/byelections-...

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Mark McGeoghegan @markmcgeoghegan.bsky.social · 19h

As much as I support folks exercising their data rights, fuck this.

Gregg Wallace: Former MasterChef presenter claims BBC caused him 'distress and harassment'

The former MasterChef presenter is seeking up to £10,000 in damages from the BBC, court documents show.

www.bbc.co.uk

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Mark McGeoghegan @markmcgeoghegan.bsky.social · 20h

Something needs to be written on this, tbh. The victory of gradualism over fundamentalism and the reality that while unionists and political commentators focus on the now, senior Scottish secessionists think in the long-run.

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Mark McGeoghegan @markmcgeoghegan.bsky.social · 20h

Even Salmond, the author of the gradualists' victory in the 2000s, ran aground when he tried to change course.

There's one game in town in Scottish nationalism.

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Mark McGeoghegan @markmcgeoghegan.bsky.social · 20h

If you want a reason why, look no further than this: they were/are wrong about secessionist contention in the modern UK and modern Scotland. They'll be remembered for seemingly clever wheezes that were obviously dead on arrival.

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Mark McGeoghegan @markmcgeoghegan.bsky.social · 20h

In the SNP's long, gradualist moment (yet to terminate), a whole generation of fundamentalists has emerged, fucked it, and vanished.

Those challenging Swinney this weekend represent a political afterthought.

Drow Paweł Włodkowic 🇺🇦🇱🇹🇵🇸🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 @dov.bsky.social · 20h

Apropos of nothing, with Ash Regan's hilarious defection to the Ash Regan Party, we can bid a final, deeply belated farewell forever to the highly irritating fundy-nat streak in fringe Scottish politics. It has been slain almost inhumanely, a sort of death by a thousand cuts.

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Reposted by Mark McGeoghegan

Drow Paweł Włodkowic 🇺🇦🇱🇹🇵🇸🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 @dov.bsky.social · 20h

Apropos of nothing, with Ash Regan's hilarious defection to the Ash Regan Party, we can bid a final, deeply belated farewell forever to the highly irritating fundy-nat streak in fringe Scottish politics. It has been slain almost inhumanely, a sort of death by a thousand cuts.

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Mark McGeoghegan @markmcgeoghegan.bsky.social · 20h

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Reposted by Mark McGeoghegan

Mark McGeoghegan @markmcgeoghegan.bsky.social · 21h

Despite the Opposition's focus on public services, tax, and the economy, May's Holyrood election will end up defined by distrust in politics, aimless constitutional wrangling, and, for the first time, immigration.

My latest for @heraldscotland.bsky.social

'Scotland’s election will be won on distrust, not debate

Scotland ought to be debating how to fix our health and education systems and reinvigorate our economy next April and May, but the next Holyrood…

www.heraldscotland.com

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Mark McGeoghegan @markmcgeoghegan.bsky.social · 20h

Ash in Parliament:

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Mark McGeoghegan @markmcgeoghegan.bsky.social · 20h

What a track record...

Mark McGeoghegan @markmcgeoghegan.bsky.social · 21h

Don't think that was Dunlop?

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Mark McGeoghegan @markmcgeoghegan.bsky.social · 21h

Despite the Opposition's focus on public services, tax, and the economy, May's Holyrood election will end up defined by distrust in politics, aimless constitutional wrangling, and, for the first time, immigration.

My latest for @heraldscotland.bsky.social

'Scotland’s election will be won on distrust, not debate

Scotland ought to be debating how to fix our health and education systems and reinvigorate our economy next April and May, but the next Holyrood…

www.heraldscotland.com

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Reposted by Mark McGeoghegan

Tim Bale @timbale.bsky.social · 21h

Just found the actual tables. Not sure where 71% in the Telegraph comes from but the fact that it's significantly lower for police/military (36% as opposed to 66 and 63%) may help explain Charing Cross etc.

"Q6. Do you agree or disagree that Racism in Britain is a major problem for society."

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Mark McGeoghegan @markmcgeoghegan.bsky.social · 21h

I distinctly recall Roddy Dunlop Q/KC commenting that he'd worked with Ash so knew how clever she is in response to people making fun of her.

Doesn't fill one with much faith in the Dean of the Faculty of Advocates, does it.

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Mark McGeoghegan @markmcgeoghegan.bsky.social · 21h

MSP who defected over party direction in resigning over party direction shock

Ballot Box Scotland @ballotbox.scot · 22h

Ash Regan, MSP for Edinburgh Eastern, candidate for SNP leader in 2023 and subsequently Alba leader in 2025, has now quit Alba citing it's "direction". She becomes an Independent and is re-standing as one next year. Alba's - never earned, only defected - parliamentary representation is ended.

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Reposted by Mark McGeoghegan

Ballot Box Scotland @ballotbox.scot · 22h

Ash Regan, MSP for Edinburgh Eastern, candidate for SNP leader in 2023 and subsequently Alba leader in 2025, has now quit Alba citing it's "direction". She becomes an Independent and is re-standing as one next year. Alba's - never earned, only defected - parliamentary representation is ended.

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Mark McGeoghegan @markmcgeoghegan.bsky.social · 1d

My fear is that he loses interest because he's capricious and easily swayed...

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Mark McGeoghegan @markmcgeoghegan.bsky.social · 1d

I agree with the first half of your response, but I'm sceptical that he'll lose interest. The Peace Prize is still in play for him and making the Gaza ceasefire work is his best shot. As you say, he's transactional, so it should keep his interest on that basis.

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Mark McGeoghegan @markmcgeoghegan.bsky.social · 1d

At least Kissinger will have some company atop the undeserving Nobel Laureates rankings.

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Mark McGeoghegan @markmcgeoghegan.bsky.social · 1d

It would've been insane for the Nobel committee to award Trump the Peace Prize this year. But if the ceasefire in Gaza holds I can see the committee caving to pressure next year, given their track record.

At which point we'll have the grotesquery of a wannabe dictator winning the Nobel Peace Prize.

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Mark McGeoghegan @markmcgeoghegan.bsky.social · 1d

Should clarify this:

Declining British identity
Increasing *sole* Scottish identity

There's not been an increase in Scottish identity as much as it has become more singular v. the 2011 census.

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Mark McGeoghegan @markmcgeoghegan.bsky.social · 1d

Possibly points to a more specific relationship between Scottish identity (pretty flat) and secessionist support rather than between British identity and opposition to independence.

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Reposted by Mark McGeoghegan

Prof Christina Pagel @chrischirp.bsky.social · 1d

🧵🚨

The UK’s independent scientific bodies are highly vulnerable to politicisation - over the past 5 months I've been working with @martinmckee.bsky.social to map out their vulnerabilities and it's not good news.

Today our report is published!
www.ucl.ac.uk/policy-lab/n...

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UK’s arm’s length public bodies are highly vulnerable to politicisation

Seven in ten Britons say it is important for top scientific institutions to be independent in exclusive new polling.

www.ucl.ac.uk

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