Alan Calder
@alancalder.bsky.social
Jaded, early fifties gen-x ex x-er. Background in risk, natural hazards and disasters in the insurance industry. Climate change is unfortunately real - past time to take it seriously. Also: Cycling, Aberdeen FC, The Scottish Highlands. Londoner.
Reposted by Alan Calder
Why would any ‘civilised’ country want to weaken torture protections?
Rights groups warn against UK plans to weaken torture protections in ECHR
Exclusive: Ministers face pushback over potential changes to asylum seekers’ rights before Council of Europe meeting
www.theguardian.com
December 8, 2025 at 6:30 AM
Why would any ‘civilised’ country want to weaken torture protections?
Reposted by Alan Calder
It sure looks like Russian intelligence attempted to use military drones to assassinate the President of Ukraine inside an EU country.
Looking forward to more thoughts from Belgium on why freezing Russian assets is an escalatory move that might compromise the peace process.
Looking forward to more thoughts from Belgium on why freezing Russian assets is an escalatory move that might compromise the peace process.
Christ on a cracker — these seemingly hostile drones only missed Zelensky’s plane because he was unexpectedly early www.thejournal.ie/drones-dubli...
Four unidentified military-style drones breached no-fly zone to target Zelenskyy's arrival in Dublin
Gardaí are investigating whether the drones took off from land in Dublin or from an undetected ship.
www.thejournal.ie
December 5, 2025 at 9:22 AM
It sure looks like Russian intelligence attempted to use military drones to assassinate the President of Ukraine inside an EU country.
Looking forward to more thoughts from Belgium on why freezing Russian assets is an escalatory move that might compromise the peace process.
Looking forward to more thoughts from Belgium on why freezing Russian assets is an escalatory move that might compromise the peace process.
Reposted by Alan Calder
Martin Parr in 1974. RIP to one of the most influential photographers of his generation.
Photo by Geoff Howard.
Photo by Geoff Howard.
December 7, 2025 at 4:53 PM
Martin Parr in 1974. RIP to one of the most influential photographers of his generation.
Photo by Geoff Howard.
Photo by Geoff Howard.
Reposted by Alan Calder
American fascism is hilarious; it’s politics as aesthetics, but the aesthetics are ass.
Sean Duffy on slashing fuel economy standards: "This rule will actually allow you to bring back the 1970s station wagon. Maybe a little wood paneling on the side. We can bring back choice to consumers."
December 4, 2025 at 1:56 PM
American fascism is hilarious; it’s politics as aesthetics, but the aesthetics are ass.
Reposted by Alan Calder
Rightly lots of debates about growth this weekend - rightly because it was low productivity growth that saw wages entirely flatline during the 2010s.
November 30, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Rightly lots of debates about growth this weekend - rightly because it was low productivity growth that saw wages entirely flatline during the 2010s.
Reposted by Alan Calder
November 29, 2025 at 7:28 PM
Reposted by Alan Calder
'We have historically high welfare spending.' No we don't.
'We have a historically high proportion of working-age people not actually working.' No we don't.
'The number of Britons emigrating is skyrocketing.' No it isn't.
'We have a historically high proportion of working-age people not actually working.' No we don't.
'The number of Britons emigrating is skyrocketing.' No it isn't.
November 29, 2025 at 5:08 PM
'We have historically high welfare spending.' No we don't.
'We have a historically high proportion of working-age people not actually working.' No we don't.
'The number of Britons emigrating is skyrocketing.' No it isn't.
'We have a historically high proportion of working-age people not actually working.' No we don't.
'The number of Britons emigrating is skyrocketing.' No it isn't.
There wasn’t that much of sewage system either - is that her policy to turn Britain back to being literally full of shit?
November 28, 2025 at 11:56 AM
There wasn’t that much of sewage system either - is that her policy to turn Britain back to being literally full of shit?
Reposted by Alan Calder
Shabana Mahmood said this month that her migration policies are a "moral mission".
Where is the morality in blocking an eight-year-old girl made destitute by a Hurricane from coming to the UK to join her parents?
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Where is the morality in blocking an eight-year-old girl made destitute by a Hurricane from coming to the UK to join her parents?
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
UK rejects visa for girl left destitute in Jamaica by Hurricane Melissa
Lati-Yana Brown’s parents had asked for application to be expedited so she could join them in UK after house ruined
www.theguardian.com
November 28, 2025 at 11:18 AM
Shabana Mahmood said this month that her migration policies are a "moral mission".
Where is the morality in blocking an eight-year-old girl made destitute by a Hurricane from coming to the UK to join her parents?
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Where is the morality in blocking an eight-year-old girl made destitute by a Hurricane from coming to the UK to join her parents?
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Great work guys….talk about shooting ourselves in the foot yet again
Foreign doctors trained by the NHS face deportation under visa rules
Foreign doctors trained by the NHS face deportation under visa rules
www.thetimes.com
November 28, 2025 at 9:58 AM
Great work guys….talk about shooting ourselves in the foot yet again
Reposted by Alan Calder
Iran is undoubtedly one of the mid/low-latitudes regions that is warming the most! 🔥📈
Unbelievable anomalies... +2°C since the 1960s! 😱
As a result Damavand (5609 m asl) was snow free for 1st time this summer and chronic drought is threatening millions of people! 💧
Graph: @rarohde.bsky.social
Unbelievable anomalies... +2°C since the 1960s! 😱
As a result Damavand (5609 m asl) was snow free for 1st time this summer and chronic drought is threatening millions of people! 💧
Graph: @rarohde.bsky.social
November 24, 2025 at 12:49 PM
Iran is undoubtedly one of the mid/low-latitudes regions that is warming the most! 🔥📈
Unbelievable anomalies... +2°C since the 1960s! 😱
As a result Damavand (5609 m asl) was snow free for 1st time this summer and chronic drought is threatening millions of people! 💧
Graph: @rarohde.bsky.social
Unbelievable anomalies... +2°C since the 1960s! 😱
As a result Damavand (5609 m asl) was snow free for 1st time this summer and chronic drought is threatening millions of people! 💧
Graph: @rarohde.bsky.social
Reposted by Alan Calder
November 27, 2025 at 3:36 PM
Reposted by Alan Calder
One of my biggest fears is how the toughening up of restrictions directed at the many tens of thousands of people on Health and Care visas (both for extensions and settlement) will see increases in undocumented people. Instead of helping them, they are being demonised.
Today's migration stats illustrate the migration doom loop in action...
(from my presentation at the IMF last week)
(from my presentation at the IMF last week)
November 27, 2025 at 11:17 AM
One of my biggest fears is how the toughening up of restrictions directed at the many tens of thousands of people on Health and Care visas (both for extensions and settlement) will see increases in undocumented people. Instead of helping them, they are being demonised.
Reposted by Alan Calder
It’s especially ironic because the lecture is exactly about the ‘paralyzing cowardice’ of today’s elites.
About universities, corporations and media networks bending the knee to authoritarianism. /4
About universities, corporations and media networks bending the knee to authoritarianism. /4
November 25, 2025 at 9:26 AM
It’s especially ironic because the lecture is exactly about the ‘paralyzing cowardice’ of today’s elites.
About universities, corporations and media networks bending the knee to authoritarianism. /4
About universities, corporations and media networks bending the knee to authoritarianism. /4
Reposted by Alan Calder
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
November 25, 2025 at 9:26 AM
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
Reposted by Alan Calder
NEW: It’s takes a moment for this to really sink in.
Guardian reporting that key parts of Trump’s peace plan was drafted IN RUSSIAN first.
Guardian reporting that key parts of Trump’s peace plan was drafted IN RUSSIAN first.
November 21, 2025 at 3:45 PM
NEW: It’s takes a moment for this to really sink in.
Guardian reporting that key parts of Trump’s peace plan was drafted IN RUSSIAN first.
Guardian reporting that key parts of Trump’s peace plan was drafted IN RUSSIAN first.
Reposted by Alan Calder
Hi Nigel Farage, why did you try to block EU scrutiny of Russian funding for nationalist and Eurosceptic MEPs?
You were one.
#ReformRussianBribes
Time to answer questions.
You were one.
#ReformRussianBribes
Time to answer questions.
November 21, 2025 at 7:25 PM
Hi Nigel Farage, why did you try to block EU scrutiny of Russian funding for nationalist and Eurosceptic MEPs?
You were one.
#ReformRussianBribes
Time to answer questions.
You were one.
#ReformRussianBribes
Time to answer questions.
Reposted by Alan Calder
Eat out to Help Out was killing people, but they “kept it out of the news”.
November 20, 2025 at 6:53 AM
Eat out to Help Out was killing people, but they “kept it out of the news”.
Reposted by Alan Calder
On Monday, Reform held a press conference to say the councils it runs had identified £330m in savings, and that it had a list setting out the details. Since then I have asked Reform several times to see the list, and have been told repeatedly it will be sent. It has still not been sent.
November 19, 2025 at 2:20 PM
On Monday, Reform held a press conference to say the councils it runs had identified £330m in savings, and that it had a list setting out the details. Since then I have asked Reform several times to see the list, and have been told repeatedly it will be sent. It has still not been sent.
Reposted by Alan Calder
Seriously, look at the upwards trend. Time to get the heck out of here.
November 19, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Seriously, look at the upwards trend. Time to get the heck out of here.
Yes what a result Scotland 🏴
sounds like a very unscottish way to win too!
sounds like a very unscottish way to win too!
November 18, 2025 at 9:52 PM
Yes what a result Scotland 🏴
sounds like a very unscottish way to win too!
sounds like a very unscottish way to win too!
Reposted by Alan Calder
Reposted by Alan Calder
The Danish Social Democrats are currently on course for their worst election result since at least the Second World War, despite their brand of far-right accommodationism being touted as a blueprint for other centre-left parties.
November 18, 2025 at 11:58 AM
The Danish Social Democrats are currently on course for their worst election result since at least the Second World War, despite their brand of far-right accommodationism being touted as a blueprint for other centre-left parties.
Reposted by Alan Calder
"Quiet! Quiet, Piggy."
November 18, 2025 at 2:54 AM
"Quiet! Quiet, Piggy."