Catriona
@catrio.bsky.social
Lefty supporter of Scottish Democracy, Trans Rights are Human Rights 🏳️🌈 She/Her
Reposted by Catriona
Farage distances himself from by-election candidate after calling for tax on childless couples
Farage distances himself from by-election candidate after calling for tax on childless couples | LBC
Nigel Farage has distanced himself from comments made by the Reform UK's Gorton and Denton candidate after he suggested those without children should be taxed in a bid to tackle falling birth rates.
www.lbc.co.uk
February 18, 2026 at 2:37 PM
Farage distances himself from by-election candidate after calling for tax on childless couples
Just Lib Dem’s supporting private schools🤦♀️
The Scottish Parliament's education committee heard evidence from the Scottish Council for Independent Schools on the effect of the UK Government's decision to introduce VAT on their fees. I asked about the effect on the continuity of education for children from families with modest incomes.
February 18, 2026 at 2:37 PM
Just Lib Dem’s supporting private schools🤦♀️
Reposted by Catriona
🚅Borders Railway electrification update!
📆Piling work will begin from 21 Feb - September
📍Between Newcraighall to Shawfair and Bowshank tunnel to Tweedbank station.
🏴This is part of Scot Govs programme to decarbonise our railway.
More info: www.networkrail.co.uk/our-work/liv...
📆Piling work will begin from 21 Feb - September
📍Between Newcraighall to Shawfair and Bowshank tunnel to Tweedbank station.
🏴This is part of Scot Govs programme to decarbonise our railway.
More info: www.networkrail.co.uk/our-work/liv...
Electrification - Network Rail
Electric trains are better for the environment and quieter. Find out how how we maintain and install overhead line equipment on the railway near you.
www.networkrail.co.uk
February 18, 2026 at 11:47 AM
🚅Borders Railway electrification update!
📆Piling work will begin from 21 Feb - September
📍Between Newcraighall to Shawfair and Bowshank tunnel to Tweedbank station.
🏴This is part of Scot Govs programme to decarbonise our railway.
More info: www.networkrail.co.uk/our-work/liv...
📆Piling work will begin from 21 Feb - September
📍Between Newcraighall to Shawfair and Bowshank tunnel to Tweedbank station.
🏴This is part of Scot Govs programme to decarbonise our railway.
More info: www.networkrail.co.uk/our-work/liv...
Reposted by Catriona
Alternatively ‘Head of @COPFS complies to the letter with important Crown office Standards of Service for Victims & Witnesses policy document and Victims etc Act 2014 - by advising victim of crime of an important procedural step in the progress of the prosecution’.
Don’t read the Sun
#bothvotessnp
Don’t read the Sun
#bothvotessnp
February 18, 2026 at 1:43 PM
Alternatively ‘Head of @COPFS complies to the letter with important Crown office Standards of Service for Victims & Witnesses policy document and Victims etc Act 2014 - by advising victim of crime of an important procedural step in the progress of the prosecution’.
Don’t read the Sun
#bothvotessnp
Don’t read the Sun
#bothvotessnp
Reposted by Catriona
Downing Street celebrates a drop in inflation from 3.4%, but the rate in the UK is still high compared to other countries.
Labour pledged to fix the economy, but we still have to face increased prices, higher unemployment & stagnant growth.
Labour isn’t working!
Labour pledged to fix the economy, but we still have to face increased prices, higher unemployment & stagnant growth.
Labour isn’t working!
February 18, 2026 at 12:45 PM
Downing Street celebrates a drop in inflation from 3.4%, but the rate in the UK is still high compared to other countries.
Labour pledged to fix the economy, but we still have to face increased prices, higher unemployment & stagnant growth.
Labour isn’t working!
Labour pledged to fix the economy, but we still have to face increased prices, higher unemployment & stagnant growth.
Labour isn’t working!
Reposted by Catriona
LEFT: Someone who appears in the Epstein files over a million times. Epstein called him his "best friend."
RIGHT: Someone never mentioned in the Epstein files—even once. And she never met him.
So guess which one is being hauled before our corrupt, cover-upping Congress to testify about Epstein.
RIGHT: Someone never mentioned in the Epstein files—even once. And she never met him.
So guess which one is being hauled before our corrupt, cover-upping Congress to testify about Epstein.
February 18, 2026 at 12:48 AM
LEFT: Someone who appears in the Epstein files over a million times. Epstein called him his "best friend."
RIGHT: Someone never mentioned in the Epstein files—even once. And she never met him.
So guess which one is being hauled before our corrupt, cover-upping Congress to testify about Epstein.
RIGHT: Someone never mentioned in the Epstein files—even once. And she never met him.
So guess which one is being hauled before our corrupt, cover-upping Congress to testify about Epstein.
Reposted by Catriona
Who - or what organisation - is the victim of the alleged crime? Even wee Dougie Ross should be able to work that out. And then read the Victims and Witnesses (Scotland) Act 2014.
The Scottish Conservatives and Scottish Labour have demanded answers over why John Swinney received detailed information of charges against Peter Murrell before it was made public. www.holyrood.com/news/view,de...
Demand for answers after John Swinney ‘tipped off’ about Peter Murrell case
Details of the charges were made public on 13 February – but the first minister was made aware on 19 January
www.holyrood.com
February 18, 2026 at 1:16 PM
Who - or what organisation - is the victim of the alleged crime? Even wee Dougie Ross should be able to work that out. And then read the Victims and Witnesses (Scotland) Act 2014.
Reposted by Catriona
Brass neck of Douglas Ross accusing Scottish government of corruption and lack of transparency!
Tories have ransacked public funds for years, and are now sewer dwellers (and in ReformTory party).
Ross should be arrested/charged for contempt of court for deliberately raising this case in parliament.
Tories have ransacked public funds for years, and are now sewer dwellers (and in ReformTory party).
Ross should be arrested/charged for contempt of court for deliberately raising this case in parliament.
February 18, 2026 at 11:07 AM
Brass neck of Douglas Ross accusing Scottish government of corruption and lack of transparency!
Tories have ransacked public funds for years, and are now sewer dwellers (and in ReformTory party).
Ross should be arrested/charged for contempt of court for deliberately raising this case in parliament.
Tories have ransacked public funds for years, and are now sewer dwellers (and in ReformTory party).
Ross should be arrested/charged for contempt of court for deliberately raising this case in parliament.
Reposted by Catriona
👇👇👇👇
Alternatively ‘Head of @COPFS complies to the letter with important Crown office Standards of Service for Victims & Witnesses policy document and Victims etc Act 2014 - by advising victim of crime of an important procedural step in the progress of the prosecution’.
Don’t read the Sun
#bothvotessnp
Don’t read the Sun
#bothvotessnp
February 18, 2026 at 1:48 PM
👇👇👇👇
Reposted by Catriona
Pope Leo XIV will not be joining US President Donald Trump’s “Board of Peace,” the Vatican’s top diplomat said Tuesday, adding that the United Nations should be left to handle crisis situations.
Vatican will not participate in Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’ | CNN
Pope Leo XIV will not be joining US President Donald Trump’s “Board of Peace,” the Vatican’s top diplomat said Tuesday, adding that the United Nations should be left to handle crisis situations.
www.cnn.com
February 18, 2026 at 2:02 PM
Pope Leo XIV will not be joining US President Donald Trump’s “Board of Peace,” the Vatican’s top diplomat said Tuesday, adding that the United Nations should be left to handle crisis situations.
Reposted by Catriona
Reform UK would consider cutting minimum wage, says Richard Tice
Reform UK would look at cutting minimum wage, says Richard Tice
REFORM UK's Richard Tice has said his party would look at cutting the minimum wage if it got into government.
www.thenational.scot
February 18, 2026 at 12:34 PM
Reform UK would consider cutting minimum wage, says Richard Tice
Reposted by Catriona
It’s vital that we’re not complacent about how mainstream the far right are - penalising women who don’t “make babies” , the obsession with sexual abuse by “foreigners” while remaining silent on abuse by “our people”, expelling educators who don’t treat Britain as great - it’s all in plain sight
A #poem of rage and love - the sort of poem I write that seems to anger anti trans voices (why they bother to have opinions about what I make I don’t know - they seem a bit obsessed)
cosmicshambles.myshopify.com/products/ice...
cosmicshambles.myshopify.com/products/ice...
February 18, 2026 at 12:34 PM
It’s vital that we’re not complacent about how mainstream the far right are - penalising women who don’t “make babies” , the obsession with sexual abuse by “foreigners” while remaining silent on abuse by “our people”, expelling educators who don’t treat Britain as great - it’s all in plain sight
Reposted by Catriona
Beyond outrage, always check the FACTS in what Farage says.
It wasn't "the day after" Mandelson story broke, but six days later, and it was also on FT front. Reform story wasn't "silly". Head of Kent DOGE told FT they hadn't found any savings, denied it when Farage had a tantrum, and had to resign.
It wasn't "the day after" Mandelson story broke, but six days later, and it was also on FT front. Reform story wasn't "silly". Head of Kent DOGE told FT they hadn't found any savings, denied it when Farage had a tantrum, and had to resign.
![Reform councillor quits role after lack of cuts weakens Farage claims on waste
ANSA GROSS
POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT
The head of Reform UK's Elon Musk inspired cost-cutting drive at Kent county council has stood down after he told the FT it had not made significant cuts, undermining claims by senior party figures of vad wasteful spending.
Matthew Fraser Mast, one of the KCC cabinet members in charge of its so called Department of Local Govern ment Efficiency (Dolge), had told the FThe was proud that the Reform council had "not actually made any caus".
But in a later statement, he said his comments were the result of a "lapse of judgment and claimed his words had been "twisted to fit what I believe to be an anti-KCC narrative". He added that it was "not sustainable for him to continae as head of Dolge
Fraser Most's original comments contradicted claims by Nigel Farage and Zia Yusuf that there was significant waste and fraud in local gover
Most said the Reform council had even blocked some of the previous adisainistration's proposed cuts to serv lom, including closing several libraries.
KCC, in a statement on Tuesday evening, said the FT's reporting did act accurately reflect the position at the council, neting it was set to deliver 4100ma in savings this year, had "reprofiled £39.5mn of potential future spend and cut debt by £67mn.
"Next year's budget includes lain of savings secured specifically to ensure that council tax increases for residents
are kept to a minimum," KCC said.
Farage said: "We have made savings of £100mn in Kost and if the Financial Times choose ast to report that... them frankly they are just plain wrong"
The Reform leader also said that KCC "had to take all the so-called under-15 [asylum seekers who come across the English channel] and put them up at their own cost"
However, a senior Reform councillor in Kent told the FT this was not accurate -the Home Office covers the costs of almost all asylum seekers, which were "not in our badget at all".](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:nxb36xbu3fmz476orupk4p6q/bafkreigqw7vegqrzh2z4mxl7jbep4ncbsoyhetdj6brg5xi35hcuqivahe@jpeg)
February 18, 2026 at 12:43 PM
Beyond outrage, always check the FACTS in what Farage says.
It wasn't "the day after" Mandelson story broke, but six days later, and it was also on FT front. Reform story wasn't "silly". Head of Kent DOGE told FT they hadn't found any savings, denied it when Farage had a tantrum, and had to resign.
It wasn't "the day after" Mandelson story broke, but six days later, and it was also on FT front. Reform story wasn't "silly". Head of Kent DOGE told FT they hadn't found any savings, denied it when Farage had a tantrum, and had to resign.
Reposted by Catriona
We're being subjected to a deluge of medieval anti-science claptrap from the right-wing press.
Meanwhile, anti-vax attitudes are rising and measles is back.
Their opinions are not just "hot takes" – they're wrong and dangerous.
Meanwhile, anti-vax attitudes are rising and measles is back.
Their opinions are not just "hot takes" – they're wrong and dangerous.
Media derangement syndrome
A new epidemic...
open.substack.com
February 18, 2026 at 12:44 PM
We're being subjected to a deluge of medieval anti-science claptrap from the right-wing press.
Meanwhile, anti-vax attitudes are rising and measles is back.
Their opinions are not just "hot takes" – they're wrong and dangerous.
Meanwhile, anti-vax attitudes are rising and measles is back.
Their opinions are not just "hot takes" – they're wrong and dangerous.
Reposted by Catriona
Would this not be a more legitimate criticism if those weren't also the policies of the current Reform candidate in Gorton & Denton?
See Spiked are miffed with Rupert Lowe for splitting the far right
![Tom Slater @Tom_Slater
Rupert Lowe says Reform is a retirement home for failed Tories. But on current evidence, Restore Britain looks destined to become a clown car for people too mental for Reform. A vanity project masquerading as party
My @spikedonline column on the right's answer to Your Party:
[Spiked article screenshot: The vanity of Rupert Lowe
Restore Britain reveals the delusions of the Very Online right.
TOM SLATER EDITOR
16th February 2026]
9:36 PM Feb 16, 2026 168.2K Views](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:2kf2qj56o2vq7jfaq4x4ogp6/bafkreihw6uk3gk3s7naucqv2h5y4hbn274xpkedy3dhbi2n735wdokp3ii@jpeg)
February 18, 2026 at 12:46 PM
Would this not be a more legitimate criticism if those weren't also the policies of the current Reform candidate in Gorton & Denton?
Reposted by Catriona
February 18, 2026 at 12:53 PM
Reposted by Catriona
Nuclear Fusion Research Shifts Focus: Commercial Niche Products instead of Energy Promises
www.diw.de/de/diw_01.c....
www.diw.de/de/diw_01.c....
DIW Berlin: Nuclear Fusion Research Shifts Focus: Commercial Niche Products instead of Energy Promises
Nuclear fusion research shifts focus: commercial niche products instead of energy generation. Nuclear fusion, in which atomic nuclei are fused, promises clean, safe, and virtually inexhaustible energy...
www.diw.de
February 18, 2026 at 1:12 PM
Nuclear Fusion Research Shifts Focus: Commercial Niche Products instead of Energy Promises
www.diw.de/de/diw_01.c....
www.diw.de/de/diw_01.c....
Reposted by Catriona
🚨 BREAKING | **All** remaining Filton 24 defendants have just been found NOT GUILTY of aggravated burglary, the most serious charge they were facing.
This follows 6 being acquitted of the same charge just two weeks ago. They are expected to apply for bail.
(Via @HudaAmmori)
This follows 6 being acquitted of the same charge just two weeks ago. They are expected to apply for bail.
(Via @HudaAmmori)
February 18, 2026 at 11:45 AM
🚨 BREAKING | **All** remaining Filton 24 defendants have just been found NOT GUILTY of aggravated burglary, the most serious charge they were facing.
This follows 6 being acquitted of the same charge just two weeks ago. They are expected to apply for bail.
(Via @HudaAmmori)
This follows 6 being acquitted of the same charge just two weeks ago. They are expected to apply for bail.
(Via @HudaAmmori)
Reposted by Catriona
Reform UK would restore the two-child benefit cap in full, marking a change to its policy, Robert Jenrick will announce in his first outing as the party’s Treasury spokesman
Reform would restore two-child benefit cap in full, Jenrick to pledge
Reform UK would restore the two-child benefit cap in full, marking a change to its policy, Robert Jenrick will announce in his first outing as the party’s Treasury spokesman. He will also commit the p...
nation.cymru
February 18, 2026 at 11:46 AM
Reform UK would restore the two-child benefit cap in full, marking a change to its policy, Robert Jenrick will announce in his first outing as the party’s Treasury spokesman
Reposted by Catriona
France EDF say "growing solar and wind generation was increasing equipment wear and maintenance costs at its #nuclear reactors, which are forced to reduce output when power demand is insufficient. "
And jeopardizing of nuclear safety ...
financialpost.com/pmn/business...
And jeopardizing of nuclear safety ...
financialpost.com/pmn/business...
EDF Warns Solar, Wind Surge Straining Nuclear Fleet Costs
Electricite de France SA said growing solar and wind generation was increasing equipment wear and maintenance costs at its nuclear reactors, which are forced to red…
financialpost.com
February 18, 2026 at 11:50 AM
France EDF say "growing solar and wind generation was increasing equipment wear and maintenance costs at its #nuclear reactors, which are forced to reduce output when power demand is insufficient. "
And jeopardizing of nuclear safety ...
financialpost.com/pmn/business...
And jeopardizing of nuclear safety ...
financialpost.com/pmn/business...
Reposted by Catriona
France’s EDF is warning that ramping up and down their nuclear reactors to make way for lower cost renewable power, could cost €310 million annually in inspection and replacement.
montelnews.com/news/340313e...
montelnews.com/news/340313e...
Nuclear modulation may add EUR 310m/yr maintenance costs – EDF
EDF warns rising nuclear modulation could add over EUR 310m a year in extra maintenance and inspection costs as reactors ramp more to match weak demand and renewables.
montelnews.com
February 18, 2026 at 11:57 AM
France’s EDF is warning that ramping up and down their nuclear reactors to make way for lower cost renewable power, could cost €310 million annually in inspection and replacement.
montelnews.com/news/340313e...
montelnews.com/news/340313e...
Reposted by Catriona
Call now for your low, low cost murder machine! We guarantee the cheapest kills on the market!
I couldn't forward the article but I think the headline says it all.
February 18, 2026 at 12:10 PM
Call now for your low, low cost murder machine! We guarantee the cheapest kills on the market!
Reposted by Catriona
“Voters and the media should check where the parties stand on Brexit. The economic damage is undeniable and is delivering a country in the doldrums, with young people in particular losing out.”
#Holyrood2026
#EU🇪🇺
#Holyrood2026
#EU🇪🇺
Vote for what Scotland wants
Press Release: “Vote for what Scotland wants” says Scots European Movement general election social media campaign
bylines.scot
February 18, 2026 at 11:38 AM
“Voters and the media should check where the parties stand on Brexit. The economic damage is undeniable and is delivering a country in the doldrums, with young people in particular losing out.”
#Holyrood2026
#EU🇪🇺
#Holyrood2026
#EU🇪🇺
Reposted by Catriona
Short of having "women don't have penises" tattooed across her forehead Bridget Phillipson could hardly be clearer about who she is choosing to stand with.
And it's the men's rights movement in drag that is transhate. archive.ph/Ul7g3
And it's the men's rights movement in drag that is transhate. archive.ph/Ul7g3
February 18, 2026 at 11:41 AM
Short of having "women don't have penises" tattooed across her forehead Bridget Phillipson could hardly be clearer about who she is choosing to stand with.
And it's the men's rights movement in drag that is transhate. archive.ph/Ul7g3
And it's the men's rights movement in drag that is transhate. archive.ph/Ul7g3