Cath Martin 59
@cathmartin59.bsky.social
Books, walking, dog owner,climate, renewables, community energy, Green Party, Humanist, traditional music, NHS, Byline Times supporter.
Views my own.
Views my own.
Reposted by Cath Martin 59
Reform is a party that says things that appeal to racists, fields racist candidates, fawns over racist world leaders, made a convicted racist guest of honour at their conference, and whose leader refuses to outright deny having racially abused people.
If only there were a word for such a party.
If only there were a word for such a party.
November 24, 2025 at 7:23 PM
Reform is a party that says things that appeal to racists, fields racist candidates, fawns over racist world leaders, made a convicted racist guest of honour at their conference, and whose leader refuses to outright deny having racially abused people.
If only there were a word for such a party.
If only there were a word for such a party.
Reposted by Cath Martin 59
Special quiet when you need it. Listen on repeat. 🎧
Episode 183 - Upland fir forest (38 mins *sleep safe*)
Listen with headphones for the full gorgeous effect of the wind in the fir trees in this remote place.
> bit.ly/LenDent1
Episode 183 - Upland fir forest (38 mins *sleep safe*)
Listen with headphones for the full gorgeous effect of the wind in the fir trees in this remote place.
> bit.ly/LenDent1
November 24, 2025 at 9:15 AM
Special quiet when you need it. Listen on repeat. 🎧
Episode 183 - Upland fir forest (38 mins *sleep safe*)
Listen with headphones for the full gorgeous effect of the wind in the fir trees in this remote place.
> bit.ly/LenDent1
Episode 183 - Upland fir forest (38 mins *sleep safe*)
Listen with headphones for the full gorgeous effect of the wind in the fir trees in this remote place.
> bit.ly/LenDent1
Reposted by Cath Martin 59
"Have I ever tried to take it out on any individual on the basis of where they're from? No. I have never directly really tried to go and hurt anybody".
If the press is giving Farage such a platform it must, as ITV News has done, scrutinise. That this isn't being reported prominently is astonishing.
If the press is giving Farage such a platform it must, as ITV News has done, scrutinise. That this isn't being reported prominently is astonishing.
Nigel Farage responds to racism claims saying he never ‘tried to hurt anybody’
Reform leader denies racist or antisemitic behaviour ‘with intent’ at school, but says he can’t remember everything from 49 years ago
www.theguardian.com
November 24, 2025 at 8:43 PM
"Have I ever tried to take it out on any individual on the basis of where they're from? No. I have never directly really tried to go and hurt anybody".
If the press is giving Farage such a platform it must, as ITV News has done, scrutinise. That this isn't being reported prominently is astonishing.
If the press is giving Farage such a platform it must, as ITV News has done, scrutinise. That this isn't being reported prominently is astonishing.
Reposted by Cath Martin 59
Believe Nigel Farage about anything and you need to give your head a wobble ….
“I would never ever do it in a hurtful or insulting way”
Nigel Farage responds to allegations of racist behaviour from when he was a teenager at school
@itvnewspolitics.bsky.social
Nigel Farage responds to allegations of racist behaviour from when he was a teenager at school
@itvnewspolitics.bsky.social
November 24, 2025 at 7:28 PM
Believe Nigel Farage about anything and you need to give your head a wobble ….
Reposted by Cath Martin 59
I implore someone, anyone, in the media…
Do your job
And the next time you have Farage on, please ask him directly:
…what were the motivations behind this?
Do your job
And the next time you have Farage on, please ask him directly:
…what were the motivations behind this?
November 24, 2025 at 3:39 PM
I implore someone, anyone, in the media…
Do your job
And the next time you have Farage on, please ask him directly:
…what were the motivations behind this?
Do your job
And the next time you have Farage on, please ask him directly:
…what were the motivations behind this?
Reposted by Cath Martin 59
🧵 1/
🔥 The UK is sleepwalking into a major energy mistake: co-firing hydrogen with natural gas in NEW gas power stations
Like this one on Humberside just going to national planning
keadbynextgen.com
Read my Substack analysis:
👉 scrapcc.org/KEADBY-RR-SST, summary in 🧵 below
🔥 The UK is sleepwalking into a major energy mistake: co-firing hydrogen with natural gas in NEW gas power stations
Like this one on Humberside just going to national planning
keadbynextgen.com
Read my Substack analysis:
👉 scrapcc.org/KEADBY-RR-SST, summary in 🧵 below
Keadby Next Generation Power Station
keadbynextgen.com
November 24, 2025 at 11:26 AM
🧵 1/
🔥 The UK is sleepwalking into a major energy mistake: co-firing hydrogen with natural gas in NEW gas power stations
Like this one on Humberside just going to national planning
keadbynextgen.com
Read my Substack analysis:
👉 scrapcc.org/KEADBY-RR-SST, summary in 🧵 below
🔥 The UK is sleepwalking into a major energy mistake: co-firing hydrogen with natural gas in NEW gas power stations
Like this one on Humberside just going to national planning
keadbynextgen.com
Read my Substack analysis:
👉 scrapcc.org/KEADBY-RR-SST, summary in 🧵 below
Reposted by Cath Martin 59
November 24, 2025 at 4:46 PM
Reposted by Cath Martin 59
1/2 The “people’s broadcaster” is now overseen by private equity grandees, ex-CEOs of privatised utilities, investment bankers and assorted corporate heavyweights.
Hardly the broad public it claims to serve.
Hardly the broad public it claims to serve.
November 24, 2025 at 2:33 PM
1/2 The “people’s broadcaster” is now overseen by private equity grandees, ex-CEOs of privatised utilities, investment bankers and assorted corporate heavyweights.
Hardly the broad public it claims to serve.
Hardly the broad public it claims to serve.
Reposted by Cath Martin 59
Twitter accounts are based in Russia. BlueSky accounts are based in homes with, frankly, too many books, plants, obsolete cables, and pieces of rustic pottery, that could do with a bit of a tidying up, to be honest.
November 23, 2025 at 8:29 PM
Twitter accounts are based in Russia. BlueSky accounts are based in homes with, frankly, too many books, plants, obsolete cables, and pieces of rustic pottery, that could do with a bit of a tidying up, to be honest.
Reposted by Cath Martin 59
Just saw a Kelvin-Helmholtz cloud, one of the rarest clouds, over Regents Park in London.
earthsky.org/earth/kelvin...
earthsky.org/earth/kelvin...
November 24, 2025 at 8:37 AM
Just saw a Kelvin-Helmholtz cloud, one of the rarest clouds, over Regents Park in London.
earthsky.org/earth/kelvin...
earthsky.org/earth/kelvin...
Reposted by Cath Martin 59
I’d have thought nothing cuts more against our precious British values than selling out your country for Russian bribes…
And yet Reform, the right‑wing press, and all those self‑styled guardians of these values have nothing to say
…funny that.
And yet Reform, the right‑wing press, and all those self‑styled guardians of these values have nothing to say
…funny that.
November 23, 2025 at 12:00 PM
I’d have thought nothing cuts more against our precious British values than selling out your country for Russian bribes…
And yet Reform, the right‑wing press, and all those self‑styled guardians of these values have nothing to say
…funny that.
And yet Reform, the right‑wing press, and all those self‑styled guardians of these values have nothing to say
…funny that.
Reposted by Cath Martin 59
Community energy = people powering people ⚡🏘️
It’s when people come together to produce their own clean, affordable energy.
Lower bills ▶️ more control ▶️ greener society.
Imagine a world where your community takes control of their energy future, that’s community energy ✊♻️
It’s when people come together to produce their own clean, affordable energy.
Lower bills ▶️ more control ▶️ greener society.
Imagine a world where your community takes control of their energy future, that’s community energy ✊♻️
November 24, 2025 at 9:53 AM
Community energy = people powering people ⚡🏘️
It’s when people come together to produce their own clean, affordable energy.
Lower bills ▶️ more control ▶️ greener society.
Imagine a world where your community takes control of their energy future, that’s community energy ✊♻️
It’s when people come together to produce their own clean, affordable energy.
Lower bills ▶️ more control ▶️ greener society.
Imagine a world where your community takes control of their energy future, that’s community energy ✊♻️
Reposted by Cath Martin 59
Yes, there are spending multipliers etc - and yes, Kuenssberg spouted vacuous talking points.
BUT.
There is a bond market (or more generally a macro) constraint to borrowing, as there was in the 2010s - we just weren't near it then. Dodging the issue/pretending it doesn't exist isn't a policy.
BUT.
There is a bond market (or more generally a macro) constraint to borrowing, as there was in the 2010s - we just weren't near it then. Dodging the issue/pretending it doesn't exist isn't a policy.
@zackpolanski.bsky.social on the importance of spending multipliers & borrowing to invest
Zack is, without doubt, a great communicator. And on him talking about democracy & the bond markets I'm reminded of Eddie Dempsey at the Durham Miners Gala when he asked "who elected the bond market?"
Zack is, without doubt, a great communicator. And on him talking about democracy & the bond markets I'm reminded of Eddie Dempsey at the Durham Miners Gala when he asked "who elected the bond market?"
November 24, 2025 at 8:14 AM
Yes, there are spending multipliers etc - and yes, Kuenssberg spouted vacuous talking points.
BUT.
There is a bond market (or more generally a macro) constraint to borrowing, as there was in the 2010s - we just weren't near it then. Dodging the issue/pretending it doesn't exist isn't a policy.
BUT.
There is a bond market (or more generally a macro) constraint to borrowing, as there was in the 2010s - we just weren't near it then. Dodging the issue/pretending it doesn't exist isn't a policy.
Reposted by Cath Martin 59
There’s some very bad news hidden in the Ofgem price cap for January announced yesterday: the electricity to gas price ratio has jumped to 4.67, its highest level since before the energy crisis.
This is a big barrier to households adopting heat pumps in Britain, and threatens our climate goals
This is a big barrier to households adopting heat pumps in Britain, and threatens our climate goals
November 22, 2025 at 7:51 AM
There’s some very bad news hidden in the Ofgem price cap for January announced yesterday: the electricity to gas price ratio has jumped to 4.67, its highest level since before the energy crisis.
This is a big barrier to households adopting heat pumps in Britain, and threatens our climate goals
This is a big barrier to households adopting heat pumps in Britain, and threatens our climate goals
Reposted by Cath Martin 59
As Trump and Putin work to crush Ukraine and destabilise Europe and Farage’s ally gets sentenced to 10yrs for taking Russian bribes, it’s a good time to revisit this excellent report on how the British rightwing has betrayed us all.
Brexit was their weapon of choice.
bylinetimes.com/2022/03/08/p...
Brexit was their weapon of choice.
bylinetimes.com/2022/03/08/p...
Putin’s Plot Against ‘Great’ Britain – And How He Got Away With It
Peter Jukes tracks Vladimir Putin’s long war against the West and the allies he has found in the pro-Brexit establishment in the plot to derail Britain
bylinetimes.com
November 23, 2025 at 9:31 AM
As Trump and Putin work to crush Ukraine and destabilise Europe and Farage’s ally gets sentenced to 10yrs for taking Russian bribes, it’s a good time to revisit this excellent report on how the British rightwing has betrayed us all.
Brexit was their weapon of choice.
bylinetimes.com/2022/03/08/p...
Brexit was their weapon of choice.
bylinetimes.com/2022/03/08/p...
Reposted by Cath Martin 59
From the obvious reality of this two-bit bigot to the orchestrated attacks on the BBC to the pathological arrogance of Johnson & Cummings, it’s oddly ungratifying to see so much of ‘How They Broke Britain’ still resonating this month.
NEW: Nigel Farage is facing renewed calls to explain why he repeatedly aired tropes and conspiracy theories associated with antisemitism during interviews, after claims the Reform UK leader used racist language in his teens.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Farage urged to explain conspiracy theories linked to antisemitism he voiced in US media
Exclusive: The Reform UK leader discussed far-right talking points in web TV and radio appearances between 2009 and 2018
www.theguardian.com
November 24, 2025 at 7:58 AM
From the obvious reality of this two-bit bigot to the orchestrated attacks on the BBC to the pathological arrogance of Johnson & Cummings, it’s oddly ungratifying to see so much of ‘How They Broke Britain’ still resonating this month.
Reposted by Cath Martin 59
Call a public inquiry into Russian influence on UK politics
Concerned about reported efforts from Russia to influence democracy in the US/UK/Europe? We believe we must establish the depth and breadth of possible Russian influence campaigns in the UK.
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
Concerned about reported efforts from Russia to influence democracy in the US/UK/Europe? We believe we must establish the depth and breadth of possible Russian influence campaigns in the UK.
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
Petition: Call a public inquiry into Russian influence on UK politics & democracy
We are concerned about reported efforts from Russia to influence democracy in the US, UK, Europe and elsewhere. We believe we must establish the depth and breadth of possible Russian influence campaig...
petition.parliament.uk
November 24, 2025 at 8:45 AM
Call a public inquiry into Russian influence on UK politics
Concerned about reported efforts from Russia to influence democracy in the US/UK/Europe? We believe we must establish the depth and breadth of possible Russian influence campaigns in the UK.
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
Concerned about reported efforts from Russia to influence democracy in the US/UK/Europe? We believe we must establish the depth and breadth of possible Russian influence campaigns in the UK.
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
Reposted by Cath Martin 59
Check our Member Map to find your nearest #CommunityEnergy group communityenergyengland.org/our-members/
November 24, 2025 at 10:03 AM
Check our Member Map to find your nearest #CommunityEnergy group communityenergyengland.org/our-members/
Reposted by Cath Martin 59
The theme for #BirdoftheDay is #warblers
Here's a Sedge Warbler passing through the garden in late August, on its way to cross the Sahara.
It stopped off here for 3 days, where it enjoyed regular baths in the dustbin lid, deep n the willow scrub.
I hope it returns in the spring.
🦉
Here's a Sedge Warbler passing through the garden in late August, on its way to cross the Sahara.
It stopped off here for 3 days, where it enjoyed regular baths in the dustbin lid, deep n the willow scrub.
I hope it returns in the spring.
🦉
November 24, 2025 at 10:03 AM
The theme for #BirdoftheDay is #warblers
Here's a Sedge Warbler passing through the garden in late August, on its way to cross the Sahara.
It stopped off here for 3 days, where it enjoyed regular baths in the dustbin lid, deep n the willow scrub.
I hope it returns in the spring.
🦉
Here's a Sedge Warbler passing through the garden in late August, on its way to cross the Sahara.
It stopped off here for 3 days, where it enjoyed regular baths in the dustbin lid, deep n the willow scrub.
I hope it returns in the spring.
🦉
Reposted by Cath Martin 59
“If you go back a million minutes, you reach 2023. Go back a billion minutes, you reach the Roman Empire — that’s the scale of inequality we’re living with.”
Zack Polanski on #BBCLauraK discussing inequality and why a wealth tax should be in the budget
Zack Polanski on #BBCLauraK discussing inequality and why a wealth tax should be in the budget
November 23, 2025 at 10:31 AM
“If you go back a million minutes, you reach 2023. Go back a billion minutes, you reach the Roman Empire — that’s the scale of inequality we’re living with.”
Zack Polanski on #BBCLauraK discussing inequality and why a wealth tax should be in the budget
Zack Polanski on #BBCLauraK discussing inequality and why a wealth tax should be in the budget
Reposted by Cath Martin 59
It never stops.
The grubby donations. The profiteering. The lobbying. The lies.
“In 2019-20, as the UK was leaving the EU, Harborne gave £10m to Nigel Farage’s Brexit party, since renamed Reform UK.”
They make damn sure they get what they want.
We get screwed.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
The grubby donations. The profiteering. The lobbying. The lies.
“In 2019-20, as the UK was leaving the EU, Harborne gave £10m to Nigel Farage’s Brexit party, since renamed Reform UK.”
They make damn sure they get what they want.
We get screwed.
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 7:43 AM
It never stops.
The grubby donations. The profiteering. The lobbying. The lies.
“In 2019-20, as the UK was leaving the EU, Harborne gave £10m to Nigel Farage’s Brexit party, since renamed Reform UK.”
They make damn sure they get what they want.
We get screwed.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
The grubby donations. The profiteering. The lobbying. The lies.
“In 2019-20, as the UK was leaving the EU, Harborne gave £10m to Nigel Farage’s Brexit party, since renamed Reform UK.”
They make damn sure they get what they want.
We get screwed.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Cath Martin 59
It's not going away
November 24, 2025 at 7:30 AM
It's not going away
Reposted by Cath Martin 59
So, #r4today reports on the Covid inquiry and the “too little, too late” Tory govt, then says they’ll be talking to *Lord* Gove about it. Ugh.
That just sums up so much that’s so very wrong with our politics and media.
Rewarding, rather than punishing, those responsible for failing us all.
That just sums up so much that’s so very wrong with our politics and media.
Rewarding, rather than punishing, those responsible for failing us all.
November 21, 2025 at 7:10 AM
So, #r4today reports on the Covid inquiry and the “too little, too late” Tory govt, then says they’ll be talking to *Lord* Gove about it. Ugh.
That just sums up so much that’s so very wrong with our politics and media.
Rewarding, rather than punishing, those responsible for failing us all.
That just sums up so much that’s so very wrong with our politics and media.
Rewarding, rather than punishing, those responsible for failing us all.
Reposted by Cath Martin 59
I mean why TF is Gove a Lord now? He spent Covid plotting with Cummings and grifting his sorry arse off, having already lied himself inside out over Brexit - another reason our country is in such a mess.
He gets a peerage.
We get to pay for it all.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
He gets a peerage.
We get to pay for it all.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Michael Gove lobbied by Covid VIP lane’s biggest winner of PPE contracts
Exclusive: then Cabinet Office minister had phone call with Unispace, which weeks later got the first of £680m worth of deals
www.theguardian.com
November 21, 2025 at 7:34 AM
I mean why TF is Gove a Lord now? He spent Covid plotting with Cummings and grifting his sorry arse off, having already lied himself inside out over Brexit - another reason our country is in such a mess.
He gets a peerage.
We get to pay for it all.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
He gets a peerage.
We get to pay for it all.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Cath Martin 59
Given that Grok, X’s AI tool, is now posting holocaust-denial commentary on X, I’d say we should well beyond the casual-review-but-do-nothing stage of investigation and moving swiftly on to legal challenges and all govt accounts/responsible media leaving X immediately.
🚨 Labour MPs are calling for a minister-led review of the government’s use of X, warning it poses growing risks to democracy and public safety
@politicshome.bsky.social understands a review is currently being carried out by officials, but without ministerial oversight
@politicshome.bsky.social understands a review is currently being carried out by officials, but without ministerial oversight
Labour MPs Call For A More Serious Review Of The Government's Use Of X
Labour MPs are calling for ministers to take control of decisions over the government’s continued use of X, as concerns grow about the platform’s s...
www.politicshome.com
November 20, 2025 at 1:40 PM
Given that Grok, X’s AI tool, is now posting holocaust-denial commentary on X, I’d say we should well beyond the casual-review-but-do-nothing stage of investigation and moving swiftly on to legal challenges and all govt accounts/responsible media leaving X immediately.