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Reposted by Matt Stevens

James Heale @jaheale.bsky.social · 3d

Telegraph reports that James Orr has formally joined Reform UK and is now an advisor to Nigel Farage.

He could prove to be a key force in the party’s thinking and policy making.

A Cambridge academic, he is respected by many Tories - JD Vance calls him “his British Sherpa.”

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Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 5d

Chris Murphy: "This is a country that's falling apart because Trump is in the middle of an authoritarian takeover. We're not on the verge of an authoritarian takeover. We're in the middle of it ... I have no moral obligation to vote for a budget that literally funds the destruction of our democracy"

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Andrew Cutting @andrewcutting.coe.int · 7d

The European Convention on Human Rights is being misrepresented in the UK, says former Supreme Court President Lady Hale👇

🔗 www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home... via @the-independent.com

“It seems so short-sighted. I’m sorry, I’m really, really worried about it.”

#ECHR #OurRightsAndFreedoms

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Matt Stevens @mattstevens.bsky.social · 9d

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_Ge...

King George's Fields - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

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Matt Stevens @mattstevens.bsky.social · 11d

Mike Johnson, shares a trait with his untrustworthy UK namesake, Boris Johnson. At moments of creative deception or manipulation, he smirks. Psychologists call it 'duping delight'.

www.paulekman.com/blog/duping-...

Duping Delight

Duping delight occurs when successful liars get away with a lie and become delighted by their accomplishment. Dr. Paul Ekman explains this phenomenon.

www.paulekman.com

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CTV News Vancouver @ctvnewsvancouver.bsky.social · 20d

Vancouver record store owner gives recently discovered 1962 Beatles audition reel to Paul McCartney

In the 44 years he’s owned Neptoon Records in Vancouver, Rob Frith has bought a lot of random music collections. But only one of them contained original recordings of the Beatles from 1962.

bit.ly

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Radiohead @radiohead.wastehq.social · 20d

Happy 25th to Kid A

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Ursula von der Leyen @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu · 23d

🇲🇩 Moldova, you’ve done it again.
 No attempt to sow fear or division could break your resolve.

You made your choice clear:
 Europe. Democracy. Freedom.

Our door is open. And we will stand with you every step of the way. 
The future is yours.

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Birmingham 81 @birmingham81.bsky.social · 27d

RIP Danny Thompson. Watch the full recording of Pentangle at the Two Brewers here youtu.be/ESycWNOJ22o

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Ron Filipkowski @ronfilipkowski.bsky.social · 29d

Sounds like the US is about to bail out Trump’s pal Javier Milei. ‘America First’ always has lots of exceptions.

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Matt Stevens @mattstevens.bsky.social · Sep 15

Yes, the mainspring of support for populists seems to be that 'we should look after our own first': the idea that scarce national resources (post-recession) are being deployed in favour of those who have 'jumped the queue' or haven't 'paid in'.

Simply dismissing that as racist is counterproductive.

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Matt Stevens @mattstevens.bsky.social · Sep 14

I suspect that all these analyses about 'generational cohorts' miss the specifics of who is economically screwed. E.g., are the Reform-curious over-50s homeowners? Repayment mortgages or interest-only mortgages with no savings? Private pensions? Are they looking at comfortable retirement? and so on.

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Matt Stevens @mattstevens.bsky.social · Sep 11

It's a feature of social media in general.

People post more on social media when they're emotional, whether that's anger/hurt/upset/relief/glee.

Social media persuade us that the posts we see are more representative of public opinion than the non-posts of people who are silent. A distorting lens.

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Trades Union Congress @tuc.org.uk · Sep 6

What's Nigel Farage's problem with solar panels?

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Matt Stevens @mattstevens.bsky.social · Sep 9

Yes, I'd like more councils to offer bonds to local people, using the funds raised to cover council car parks/buildings with solar arrays.

Citizen investors get a return. The council gets the ongoing revenue from the solar panels.

This kind of thing:
www.greenfinanceinstitute.com/products-sol...

Local Climate Bonds - Green Finance Institute

www.greenfinanceinstitute.com

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Matt Stevens @mattstevens.bsky.social · Sep 9

No surprise to see four Tories vote against a solar farm during a climate emergency... but the rest

3 Labour votes against:
Rachel Crouch
Michael Brooker
Andrew Lyon

3 Lib Dem absentions:
David Melvin
Alistair Wray
Dan Levy

2 Lib Dem votes against:
Phil Godfrey
Steve Cosier

what's their excuse?

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Matt Stevens @mattstevens.bsky.social · Sep 9

Ironically, Caswell House's website includes the prominent phrase, 'Our Eco-Conscious Barn Wedding Venue'.

The Matthews family might want to remove that, now that their objections appear to have been instrumental in the rejection of a solar farm.
caswellhouse.co.uk

Caswell House | Exclusive Wedding Venue in the Cotswolds

Caswell House is a soulful wedding and event retreat in the Cotswolds, offering exclusive use, elegant accommodation, and beautifully restored historic barns.

caswellhouse.co.uk

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Matt Stevens @mattstevens.bsky.social · Sep 7

It is worth noting that the evidence from the US is that immigration crackdowns will not change the political weather for Labour.

The Democrats tried to crack down on immigration under both Obama and Biden.

Each time, it was an operational success but a political failure.
bsky.app/profile/edbu...

Ed Burmila @edburmila.bsky.social · Sep 6

Tapping the sign

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Shoaib M Khan @shoaibmkhan.bsky.social · Sep 4

"Misperception about UK cases before ECtHR. Judgments against UK are rare. Since 1980, ECtHR found UK decision to extradite or deport would violate ECHR 13 times. 4 of these concerned family life. In respect of UK immigration rules, ECtHR ruled against UK 3 times in 45 years": Oxford Uni research

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Matt Stevens @mattstevens.bsky.social · Sep 1

I don't think the inner sleeve belongs with the Axis record. In the US, Hendrix was on Reprise. Inner sleeve is Atlantic/Atco.

Could still be a 60s/70s pressing, though. If you're motivated, Discogs will have details of copies with the same deadwax markings as yours: www.discogs.com/master/24511...

The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Axis: Bold As Love

Explore songs, recommendations, and other album details for Axis: Bold As Love by The Jimi Hendrix Experience. Compare different versions and buy them all on Discogs.

www.discogs.com

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Will Stancil @whstancil.bsky.social · Aug 28

I'm increasingly convinced this is the main persuasive mechanism of media, and especially social media. media, especially social media, provides a vivid sense of "what everyone thinks," which causes the viewer to then shift their view so they can fit in with everyone, and be liked and not ostracized

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Marie Le Conte @youngvulgarian.marieleconte.com · Aug 21

think that if "we must debate the fascists not no-platform them!" is your view then we have probably reached the stage, globally, where you may wish to wonder if your preferred way of doing things is actually working

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Matt Stevens @mattstevens.bsky.social · Aug 20

LP12s are classics. However, the design has been around so long that almost all of them are different. Over the years, updates included bearings, power supplies, subchassis etc. You'll want to know what you've got.

Summary of changes to 2002 to get you started:
www.vinylengine.com/linn-lp12-hi...

www.vinylengine.com

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Jim Waterson @jim.londoncentric.media · Aug 20

We’re so fucked:

1) TikTok being used to upload family videos which are inadvertently shown to big numbers because peoplestopped flicking for half a second
2) The profitability of libellous “what’s up here” Blue Tick X
3) the fact the whole town had seen it means this looks a lot like the true MSM

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Tony Yates @t0nyyates.bsky.social · Aug 20

The video was shared on Robinson's X account. The far right is using X to destabilise our society and the govt is doing nothing about it. [And lots of you are helping support the site by continuing to post there].

Lewis Baston @lewisbaston.bsky.social · Aug 20

This is wickedness. It flourishes.

Musa Okwonga @okwonga.bsky.social · Aug 20

Family in fear after Tommy Robinson shares video of black man with white granddaughters.

Exclusive: Olajuwon Ayeni racially abused and falsely labelled a paedophile as far right weaponises clip of family in park

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/a...

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