Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Neil Drysdale @neildrysdale.bsky.social · 14h

The Mr Bean of tariffs!

Neil Drysdale @neildrysdale.bsky.social · 14h

We just finished the book and it’s an absolute belter. I cut it down to 90,000 words, but it’s going to be good. Coming next spring!

1 1 18

Reposted by Neil Drysdale

The Tennessee Holler @thetnholler.bsky.social · 1d

Grab the popcorn.

880 2.6K 8.6K

Reposted by Neil Drysdale

Sarah Murphy @13sarahmurphy.bsky.social · 22h

Good to blame Farage for the dull-arsed, ruinous, tedious failure of Brexit.
Not that good to keep punishing us for that failure, rather than looking to swiftly boost our prosperity by asking to rejoin the Single Market and Customs Union.
But yes. It’s a start.

www.thetimes.com/article/8875...

Starmer and Reeves are expected to argue that if it hadn't been for Brexit this type of downgrade would not have been needed - and cite official figures suggesting that if Britain had not left the European Union the economy would be about £120 billion greater by 2035 than current forecasts suggest.
The message is simple: Farage is ultimately to blame, as the man who delivered Brexit with "easy sloganeering" then walked away from the aftermath rather than putting in the hard yards.
Or to put it another way: Farage, not us, is responsible for putting up your taxes.
The theme will tie to the main thrust of Starmer's argument at conference, that the Reform leader is selling easy solutions that are just a fantasy.

53 300 920

Neil Drysdale @neildrysdale.bsky.social · 16h

Oh dear. How sad. Never mind!

1 1 17

Neil Drysdale @neildrysdale.bsky.social · 16h

As one of life’s nighthawks, I love watching the skies over Aberdeen and occasionally spying the Aurora. That’s not the only thing worth capturing, though. A couple of random pics from last week!

8

Reposted by Neil Drysdale

Sam Freedman @samfr.bsky.social · 23h

I've been to Dubai for work a few times. It's like the world's biggest airport lounge. Utterly soulless. Can't imagine wanting to live there whatever the financial benefits. (That's before you get to the ethical issues...)

Katie Martin @katie0martin.ft.com · 23h

People keep telling me the UK is so over and they're going to move to Dubai and, like, fine. Go on then. Would you like directions to the airport?

Janine Gibson @janinegibson.ft.com · 23h

You definitely shouldn't move to Dubai, writes V&A director Tristram Hunt on.ft.com/46MfW1t

70 85 760

Reposted by Neil Drysdale

The Tennessee Holler @thetnholler.bsky.social · 1d

Nothing says “America First” like letting another country put an Air Force base in Idaho

3.5K 7.6K 19K

Neil Drysdale @neildrysdale.bsky.social · 1d

What a resplendent day in Aberdeen. It’s warm, there’s not a cloud in the sky, I’ve seen a few butterflies today and it could pass for May or August rather than the second week in October. Grab it while you can!

1 16

Neil Drysdale @neildrysdale.bsky.social · 1d

Hard to believe it's a year already since the death of Alex Salmond. I talked to many people across the north east and found out why he was so popular. Basically, Alex cared about far more than just tribal politics!

www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/lifestyle...

How Alex Salmond devoted himself to the north-east, from Banchory to Banff and everywhere in between

Whether in the arts, local culture or meeting the people, the former First Minister left a huge imprint across the region he loved.

www.pressandjournal.co.uk

1 2

Reposted by Neil Drysdale

Ian Fraser @ianfraser.bsky.social · 2d

Earlier this month, Reform UK members were spreading “concern” that Kilgraston, a former boarding school in Perthshire, was to be turned into accommodation for asylum seekers. Now, they’re lying about giving the developer "pause for thought". Quality journalism by @alasdairclark.bsky.social.

EXCLUSIVE: Reform UK figures linked to fake Kilgraston School asylum hotel rumours

A councillor for Nigel Farage's Reform UK shared a petition claiming the former private school would be turned into housing for asylum seekers.

www.thecourier.co.uk

1 14 22

Neil Drysdale @neildrysdale.bsky.social · 2d

Stewart Lee has it right and sums up it up in fewer than a dozen words!

The Guardian @theguardian.com · 2d

‘Amoral, evil’: vitriolic backlash builds against comics who played Riyadh festival

Murder by bone-saw, lashings for rape victims, punitive amputation, jail for satirists … these are the human rights abuses fuelling the fury now being directed at the likes of Louis CK and Dave Chappelle. How have they reacted?

www.theguardian.com

2

Neil Drysdale @neildrysdale.bsky.social · 3d

The Democrats aren’t helping. Apart from a few such as Gavin Newsom and AOC, why aren’t they condemning and calling out the myriad abuses of power? I despair when I see Kamala Harris being touted as their candidate in 2028. She’s just written a book which blames everybody else - except herself.

3

Neil Drysdale @neildrysdale.bsky.social · 3d

There’s a military takeover happening in the US, but you’d never guess it from most of the commentators. And Britain now has its own version of the Tea Party - Reform - which explains why the Tory Party conference seems so irrelevant. It’s terrifying there’s so little opposition.

1 2

Neil Drysdale @neildrysdale.bsky.social · 3d

I’ve been watching “The Hack”, but it’s not very good, is it? Tonally, it’s all over the place, but it’s pulling its punches whereas “Mr Bates vs The Post Office” landed serious blows. “All The President’s Men” managed to make journalism interesting without gimmicks. This fails, even with them!

4

Neil Drysdale @neildrysdale.bsky.social · 3d

It was a privilege to tell the story of three generations of a Highland family who joined forces to take part in a epic charity challenge, both to honour Donna Macdonald and raise money for Kayleigh's Wee Stars! #CommunityMatters #KayleighsWeeStars

www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/lifestyle...

2

Reposted by Neil Drysdale

Anti-Fascist Collective… @wtafc.bsky.social · 3d

140 1.9K 5.5K

Reposted by Neil Drysdale

The Guardian @theguardian.com · 3d

The best gig I ever saw cost £4. Spiralling concert prices are a cultural disaster | John Harris

Tickets for big tours have vastly outstripped inflation, while smaller artists and venues struggle. The magic is in danger of being snuffed out entirely, says Guardian columnist John Harris

www.theguardian.com

15 17 99

Neil Drysdale @neildrysdale.bsky.social · 3d

Doug Kyle is the visitor centre manager at Crathes Castle. But he has recently become an on-call firefighter with the SFRS in Banchory. It's good to highlight people who make the time and the effort to help others in their community! #NTS #Aberdeenshire

www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/lifestyle...

1 6

Reposted by Neil Drysdale

Adam Bienkov @adambienkov.bsky.social · 3d

"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?

230 870 4.2K

Neil Drysdale @neildrysdale.bsky.social · 4d

I'm delighted to hear that Gaelic drama "An-t-Eilean" has been renewed. I spoke to lead actress Sorcha Groundsell about the first series and it was a terrific chat with a rising star who has appeared in several other notable roles!

www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/entertain...

Interview: Sorcha Groundsell, star of new BBC crime drama An t-Eilean set in Western Isles

The Western Isles actor is at the helm of "An T-Eilean", the first major crime drama to be filmed in Gaelic.

www.pressandjournal.co.uk

3 21

Reposted by Neil Drysdale

Jon Cooper @joncooper-us.bsky.social · 4d

Cartoon by @ivan-ehlers.bsky.social.

310 3.9K 11K

Reposted by Neil Drysdale

The Guardian @theguardian.com · 4d

‘It’s more than a pretty backdrop’: crime writer Ann Cleeves on the magic of Orkney in Scotland

With her latest book, the author moves detective Jimmy Perez from Shetland to Orkney, where she was inspired by the deep history, huge skies and warm people

www.theguardian.com

3 21 99

Neil Drysdale @neildrysdale.bsky.social · 5d

Yip!

3 13

Neil Drysdale @neildrysdale.bsky.social · 5d

I talked to former STV North chief David McKeith about joining "Our Union Street" to boost Aberden's city centre. I used to work with David and he's a smashing chap. Understandably, he's concerned about STV's plans to axe the North news programmes!

www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/6864...

1 6