Bob Payne
@aescmann.bsky.social
Husband, father, grandfather, academic, artist, sailor, politically engaged. Pretty much a centrist dad.
Brown articulates a way forward for us all in a world threatened by cowards whose only strategy is violence. An alternative to leaders that exert power because they fear their own weakness. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
As Trump menaces Greenland, this much is clear: the free world needs a new plan – and inspired leadership | Gordon Brown
The idea that the liberal rules-based order can survive his presidency now seems complacent. This is a historic moment – and a time to act, says former UK prime minister Gordon Brown
www.theguardian.com
January 20, 2026 at 8:05 AM
Brown articulates a way forward for us all in a world threatened by cowards whose only strategy is violence. An alternative to leaders that exert power because they fear their own weakness. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
And about time too. No sense pussyfooting around with populists.
Top Starmer Burns❤️🔥: "They had more positions in 14 years than the Karma Sutra... & they left the country screwed." #ukpolitics
January 14, 2026 at 4:15 PM
And about time too. No sense pussyfooting around with populists.
And with so many bots running X is being used to deliberately generate discontent and lower confidence in the democratic process. This is not "freedom of speech", the purpose is to separate and silence us.
Sorry to keep banging on about the other place but enough is enough is right.
X ceased being a public square years ago, and over the last month, it’s degraded even further.
A platform that enables the creation non-consensual sexualised images of women and children cannot be treated as neutral ground - and governments choosing to stay are endorsing it.
Enough is enough.
A platform that enables the creation non-consensual sexualised images of women and children cannot be treated as neutral ground - and governments choosing to stay are endorsing it.
Enough is enough.
January 10, 2026 at 4:34 PM
And with so many bots running X is being used to deliberately generate discontent and lower confidence in the democratic process. This is not "freedom of speech", the purpose is to separate and silence us.
An essential and fascinating read. My wife and both daughters have read it and call it marvellous. So, the Roman empire never really fell, just changed its form.
A friend sent me this - spotted in Bath! In its splendid apparel designed by art wizard Craig Fraser, Domination looks gorgeous as @waterstones.bsky.social Book of the Month! I love seeing it in bookshop windows - please share if you spot it out in the wild!
January 10, 2026 at 10:31 AM
An essential and fascinating read. My wife and both daughters have read it and call it marvellous. So, the Roman empire never really fell, just changed its form.
Now then; who could possibly be behind that?
January 4, 2026 at 2:30 PM
Now then; who could possibly be behind that?
Make a Bond movie academic:
Thunder orchitis.
Thunder orchitis.
December 26, 2025 at 7:46 PM
Make a Bond movie academic:
Thunder orchitis.
Thunder orchitis.
Over 5.5K within the Broads Authority area alone. Will the public tolerate culling and can it be a commercial exercise?
Driving across East Anglia roadkill deer is sadly a very common sight.
As far back as 2013, an academic study by University of East Anglia researchers suggested that around half of the UK's growing deer population needs to be shot each year to stop devastation of woodlands & birdlife
Via BBC News
As far back as 2013, an academic study by University of East Anglia researchers suggested that around half of the UK's growing deer population needs to be shot each year to stop devastation of woodlands & birdlife
Via BBC News
Why Britain has a deer problem
Deer numbers have rocketed over the last 40 years and particularly since the Covid-19 pandemic.
www.bbc.co.uk
December 26, 2025 at 1:37 PM
Over 5.5K within the Broads Authority area alone. Will the public tolerate culling and can it be a commercial exercise?
The year turns tomorrow. The winter solstice in the northern hemisphere is at 1530hrs, 21st Dec.
December 20, 2025 at 10:43 PM
The year turns tomorrow. The winter solstice in the northern hemisphere is at 1530hrs, 21st Dec.
That's about the increase required after we left the EU. You really could not make this up. Pontificate from a middle eastern state on how the UK is losing its culture. How do we break through to the public that we are being taken for fools again?
This policy was written on a luxury apartment balcony in Dubai, with the warm sun on Tice’s back, enjoying the moment, knowing he doesn’t have to worry about paying taxes in Britain. #ukpolitics
December 15, 2025 at 2:34 PM
That's about the increase required after we left the EU. You really could not make this up. Pontificate from a middle eastern state on how the UK is losing its culture. How do we break through to the public that we are being taken for fools again?
Reposted by Bob Payne
How can this inoffensive man have become so viscerally loathed?
Keir Starmer must make No 10 a content factory
🖊️ Lewis Goodall
Keir Starmer must make No 10 a content factory
🖊️ Lewis Goodall
Keir Starmer must make No 10 a content factory
The Prime Minister can only re-establish authority if he learns to command the message
www.newstatesman.com
December 12, 2025 at 9:37 AM
How can this inoffensive man have become so viscerally loathed?
Keir Starmer must make No 10 a content factory
🖊️ Lewis Goodall
Keir Starmer must make No 10 a content factory
🖊️ Lewis Goodall
Reposted by Bob Payne
📝 "The latest (research), says that GDP per head, the best measure of prosperity, is 6 to 8 per cent lower than it would have been had Brexit not happened. That’s around £3,000 for each of us."
📉 Brexit is worsening the cost of living crisis for us all.
https://bit.ly/3MvK89r
📉 Brexit is worsening the cost of living crisis for us all.
https://bit.ly/3MvK89r
Brexit made us poorer and it’s getting worse
Economists disagree on the detail but it’s clear that barrier-free trade would be a big boost
www.thetimes.com
December 12, 2025 at 10:30 AM
📝 "The latest (research), says that GDP per head, the best measure of prosperity, is 6 to 8 per cent lower than it would have been had Brexit not happened. That’s around £3,000 for each of us."
📉 Brexit is worsening the cost of living crisis for us all.
https://bit.ly/3MvK89r
📉 Brexit is worsening the cost of living crisis for us all.
https://bit.ly/3MvK89r
Europeans must appreciate the implications of the US National Security Strategy. As regards security we must accept the USA in no longer our ally and they want a rise in ethno-nationalism in our politics. www.politico.com/news/2025/12...
Trump reveals what he wants for the world
The National Security Strategy, which presidents usually release once each term, offers a formal statement of U.S. global priorities.
www.politico.com
December 8, 2025 at 11:09 PM
Europeans must appreciate the implications of the US National Security Strategy. As regards security we must accept the USA in no longer our ally and they want a rise in ethno-nationalism in our politics. www.politico.com/news/2025/12...
Do house values fall in areas displaying flags?
December 6, 2025 at 5:18 PM
Do house values fall in areas displaying flags?
The majority of Reform voters want this bill - but their current MP's are voting against every single item.... www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
It’s under fire from left and right – but Labour’s workers' rights bill is a huge achievement | Polly Toynbee
It makes no sense for union leaders to cry betrayal when it will be their members who benefit from these sorely needed reforms, says Guardian columnist Polly Toynbee
www.theguardian.com
December 2, 2025 at 4:50 PM
The majority of Reform voters want this bill - but their current MP's are voting against every single item.... www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Oh I do hope technocrats will succeed and that messaging like this will calm our adrenaline fuelled media. Please #Labour don't feed the 24hr a day outrage: www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
There are those on the left and right who offer only grievance: Labour is getting on with the job of economic renewal | Keir Starmer
Judge last week’s budget in the light of our bold plans to sweep away red tape, tackle inactivity among young people and pursue a closer trading relationship with the EU, says prime minister Keir Star...
www.theguardian.com
December 1, 2025 at 8:06 AM
Oh I do hope technocrats will succeed and that messaging like this will calm our adrenaline fuelled media. Please #Labour don't feed the 24hr a day outrage: www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Bob Payne
The Telegraph admits that Brexit has been a disaster a mere 9 years after the vote.
Very demure.
Very mindful.
Very brave.
Very demure.
Very mindful.
Very brave.
November 29, 2025 at 8:42 PM
The Telegraph admits that Brexit has been a disaster a mere 9 years after the vote.
Very demure.
Very mindful.
Very brave.
Very demure.
Very mindful.
Very brave.
But surely the publicity around this means the comment has reached a far wider audience?
“You can't make this shit up.”
“They snipped out 10 seconds of what he was going to say, and left him absolutely seething.”
Why did the BBC make the “chilling” decision to edit out Rutger Bregman’s criticism of Donald Trump when it went to broadcast?
www.thenewsagents.co.uk/article/you-...
“They snipped out 10 seconds of what he was going to say, and left him absolutely seething.”
Why did the BBC make the “chilling” decision to edit out Rutger Bregman’s criticism of Donald Trump when it went to broadcast?
www.thenewsagents.co.uk/article/you-...
‘You can't make this shit up’: BBC accused of censorship after cutting Trump criticism | The News Agents
Why did the BBC approve Rutger Bregman's description of Trump as "the most openly corrupt president in American history" in his Reith Lecture in October, but cut it from broadcast less than a month…
www.thenewsagents.co.uk
November 29, 2025 at 1:42 PM
But surely the publicity around this means the comment has reached a far wider audience?
Follow this timeline article and then tell me the UK doesn't need and inquiry into Russian, political interference: www.thenerve.news/p/nathan-gil...
Reform UK and Russian bribes: a Nathan Gill timeline
As Reform’s former leader in Wales is sentenced to ten and a half years for taking bribes from a pro-Russian actor, here's a chronology of his actions and the wider context of Putin, Ukraine and Brexi...
www.thenerve.news
November 29, 2025 at 1:37 PM
Follow this timeline article and then tell me the UK doesn't need and inquiry into Russian, political interference: www.thenerve.news/p/nathan-gil...
And of course Sir Ed Davey called for the inquiry yesterday in the HoC.
🚨BOOM! The Petition calling for a public inquiry into Russian influence on UK politics & democracy has now rocketed past 70,000 signatures! Let’s get it to 100,000 this week. If a petition is what it’s going to take let’s get this done!
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
November 27, 2025 at 1:10 PM
And of course Sir Ed Davey called for the inquiry yesterday in the HoC.
Quite brilliant ending.
🚨 BREXIT BUDGET🚨
"And Finally, Madam Deputy speaker, we are ramping up sanctions on Russia and we are freezing known Russian assets."
"But let me be clear. I don't actually mean the Honourable Member for Clacton."
"And Finally, Madam Deputy speaker, we are ramping up sanctions on Russia and we are freezing known Russian assets."
"But let me be clear. I don't actually mean the Honourable Member for Clacton."
November 26, 2025 at 5:52 PM
Quite brilliant ending.
Reposted by Bob Payne
Essential reading 👇 - The Bear’s analysis of Reform UK's budget.
It's a masterclass in brutal, forensic analysis revealing their "£25bn Plan" is one of imaginary savings and real-world cruelty. 🔥
It's a masterclass in brutal, forensic analysis revealing their "£25bn Plan" is one of imaginary savings and real-world cruelty. 🔥
The truth behind Reform UK’s reckless budget
£25bn of imagined savings, real-world cruelty and mathematics that should come with a trigger warning
eastangliabylines.co.uk
November 24, 2025 at 7:03 AM
Essential reading 👇 - The Bear’s analysis of Reform UK's budget.
It's a masterclass in brutal, forensic analysis revealing their "£25bn Plan" is one of imaginary savings and real-world cruelty. 🔥
It's a masterclass in brutal, forensic analysis revealing their "£25bn Plan" is one of imaginary savings and real-world cruelty. 🔥
There is a term for what he did. And the term for doing it, ten years. www.yahoo.com/news/article...
Former British MEP sentenced to 10 years for taking bribes to make pro-Russia statements
Gill was elected to the European Parliament in 2014 for the anti-EU UK Independence Party and later represented the Brexit Party.View on euronews
www.yahoo.com
November 21, 2025 at 2:01 PM
There is a term for what he did. And the term for doing it, ten years. www.yahoo.com/news/article...
Cryptocurrency. Enabling illegal activity, avoiding accountability and destabilising national economics. Your taxes will pay for the protections and services these people use. They are pan-national. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Cryptocurrency backed by Farage donor is used for Russian war effort, investigators say
Tether tokens found to facilitate scheme that enables sanctions evasion and launders money for the Kremlin
www.theguardian.com
November 21, 2025 at 7:29 AM
Cryptocurrency. Enabling illegal activity, avoiding accountability and destabilising national economics. Your taxes will pay for the protections and services these people use. They are pan-national. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Brexit came about because of the hubris of a PM and voters wanting to throw a brick at authority, Boris Johnson because the population were seduced. Truss was the result of too few making the decision. What we need is boring technocrats, patience and confidence in ourselves.
November 10, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Brexit came about because of the hubris of a PM and voters wanting to throw a brick at authority, Boris Johnson because the population were seduced. Truss was the result of too few making the decision. What we need is boring technocrats, patience and confidence in ourselves.
Reposted by Bob Payne
Norwich named as happiest place to live.....
Thoughts?
Article via Norwich Evening News
Thoughts?
Article via Norwich Evening News
Norwich revealed as happiest place to live in UK
A study by the online store Furniturebox has named Norwich the happiest place to live in the UK.
www.eveningnews24.co.uk
November 8, 2025 at 9:38 AM
Norwich named as happiest place to live.....
Thoughts?
Article via Norwich Evening News
Thoughts?
Article via Norwich Evening News