Claire
@clrthrn.bsky.social
🇬🇧in 🇳🇱 Tea, music, Dutch stuff, UK/EU politics, crochet, and parenting. Currently battling a cheese addiction.
Resigned to allow a new team to be built but this photo from his appointment announcement tells another story. This is the clear out of the less public of the Mandy network. Those who flew more under the radar than McSweeney but were still as connected to Mandelson.
‘A class act’: Tim Allan, the former Blair ‘smoother’ recalled to Downing Street
Described as inscrutable and smart, the PR man has a job on his hands to turn around No 10’s communications effort
www.theguardian.com
February 9, 2026 at 11:51 AM
Resigned to allow a new team to be built but this photo from his appointment announcement tells another story. This is the clear out of the less public of the Mandy network. Those who flew more under the radar than McSweeney but were still as connected to Mandelson.
I’m not sure Morgan McSweeney was the “mastermind” of Labour’s election win. You could have put a dog in a top hat against the Tories and it would have won a landslide.
February 8, 2026 at 4:07 PM
I’m not sure Morgan McSweeney was the “mastermind” of Labour’s election win. You could have put a dog in a top hat against the Tories and it would have won a landslide.
Already too late but better than never.
BREAKING: Morgan McSweeney quits as Keir Starmer's chief of staff amid fall-out from the Mandelson scandal
February 8, 2026 at 2:39 PM
Already too late but better than never.
Pretty sure Dutch speed skaters can be seen from space in those outfits #winterolympics
February 7, 2026 at 3:26 PM
Pretty sure Dutch speed skaters can be seen from space in those outfits #winterolympics
It must also haunt Trump that even if he and Clinton are equally guilty of Epstein related crimes that people will still talk fondly about Clinton’s presidency and think he’s the better man.
Clintons call for their Epstein testimony to be held publicly
Bill Clinton says closed-door depositions would be akin to ‘kangaroo court’ as Hillary Clinton says they have already told House committee what they know
www.theguardian.com
February 7, 2026 at 1:58 PM
It must also haunt Trump that even if he and Clinton are equally guilty of Epstein related crimes that people will still talk fondly about Clinton’s presidency and think he’s the better man.
Obsessed with curling again. Don’t think about it for 4 years then the second the Olympics starts and I’m an expert again 😂
February 7, 2026 at 9:28 AM
Obsessed with curling again. Don’t think about it for 4 years then the second the Olympics starts and I’m an expert again 😂
This is why Mandelson got the job. If Harris had won, Mandelson would not be in Washington.
February 6, 2026 at 10:54 AM
This is why Mandelson got the job. If Harris had won, Mandelson would not be in Washington.
We all know this is what has happened but funny and disgusting to see it for real.
Facinating Shit on Reddit - A thread
Redactions are curious...and much can be gleaned...
Redactions are curious...and much can be gleaned...
February 6, 2026 at 8:36 AM
We all know this is what has happened but funny and disgusting to see it for real.
It's been quite a week in the crochet world.
I need everyone to know that on the crochet subreddit the mods made a big post about how they're taking a week off because there was too much fighting/political posts. so there's currently no mods on r/crochet and people are being absolutely insane
February 5, 2026 at 10:44 PM
It's been quite a week in the crochet world.
Reposted by Claire
it’s genuinely reassuring to me that this is the most miserable and paranoid person in the entire world
February 5, 2026 at 1:16 AM
it’s genuinely reassuring to me that this is the most miserable and paranoid person in the entire world
Reposted by Claire
Everyday I think back to this headline
February 5, 2026 at 8:16 AM
Everyday I think back to this headline
Reposted by Claire
Who could this be? Hmm…
February 5, 2026 at 5:16 AM
Who could this be? Hmm…
Everyone needs to challenge anyone with an X account. I have started replying to news organisations who embed X in stories. I refuse to engage with anything that puts eyeballs onto that website because that is how he gets paid. The AI makes CSAM ffs and everyone staying there is sickening
February 5, 2026 at 8:42 AM
Everyone needs to challenge anyone with an X account. I have started replying to news organisations who embed X in stories. I refuse to engage with anything that puts eyeballs onto that website because that is how he gets paid. The AI makes CSAM ffs and everyone staying there is sickening
Reposted by Claire
Without wishing to turn Labour into the Tories, there should be a leadership challenge over Mandelson. Whether an agenda or a blindspot, everyone knows Mandelson is crooked AF so why appoint him? What was the end goal? Beyond Trump charming. Deripaska should have been the end of Mandy.
Labour MPs say Starmer’s days as PM are numbered amid fury over Mandelson
MPs say release of papers on Mandelson’s appointment as US ambassador could trigger leadership challenge
www.theguardian.com
February 5, 2026 at 7:58 AM
Without wishing to turn Labour into the Tories, there should be a leadership challenge over Mandelson. Whether an agenda or a blindspot, everyone knows Mandelson is crooked AF so why appoint him? What was the end goal? Beyond Trump charming. Deripaska should have been the end of Mandy.
Cat keeps bringing in a shrew. Same shrew. I take it back to the bottom of the garden but then 5 mins later, he goes to find it and brings it back in. Done this 3 times now. Also shrews are surprisingly loud.
February 4, 2026 at 10:52 AM
Cat keeps bringing in a shrew. Same shrew. I take it back to the bottom of the garden but then 5 mins later, he goes to find it and brings it back in. Done this 3 times now. Also shrews are surprisingly loud.
Reposted by Claire
Despite being a moody teenage goth, I bloody loved Big Break because of John. He made something with Jim Davison in it bearable. Quite the feat.
John Virgo, former snooker player and broadcaster, dies aged 79
Snooker great John Virgo has died at the age of 79, World Snooker Tour has announced
www.theguardian.com
February 4, 2026 at 10:38 AM
Despite being a moody teenage goth, I bloody loved Big Break because of John. He made something with Jim Davison in it bearable. Quite the feat.
Absolutely right this isn't how innocent people talk. Innocent people would simply think about the victims because there is no need to think of themselves.
Trump attacks reporter Kaitlan Collins after she asks him about the Epstein files.
Innocent people don't behave that way.
Innocent people don't behave that way.
February 4, 2026 at 9:36 AM
Absolutely right this isn't how innocent people talk. Innocent people would simply think about the victims because there is no need to think of themselves.
Why, considering I am of the right age, have I never fucking seen this before?
In case anyone hasn’t seen one of the greatest videos of all time m.youtube.com/watch?v=Ue1U...
Mike Skinner Backstage Peter Mandelson Went Mad | Turn The Page Live | The Streets
YouTube video by stan tonkin
m.youtube.com
February 4, 2026 at 9:34 AM
Why, considering I am of the right age, have I never fucking seen this before?
If Letby is guilty then I hope she rots in prison. But if these claims of her innocence are true in any way then I cannot comprehend how she must feel, like she has been buried alive probably. I just don't think there would be enough money in the world to even come close to making this good again.
Lucy Letby documentary reveals first admission of ‘tiny’ doubt from doctors who accused her
Netflix film revisits evidence that led to Letby’s conviction and hears from expert who says his research was misused
www.theguardian.com
February 4, 2026 at 9:30 AM
If Letby is guilty then I hope she rots in prison. But if these claims of her innocence are true in any way then I cannot comprehend how she must feel, like she has been buried alive probably. I just don't think there would be enough money in the world to even come close to making this good again.
It's always the ones you most expect.
February 3, 2026 at 3:43 PM
It's always the ones you most expect.
Great work by France, keep it up lads!
Musk's X office in France raided by Paris prosecutor
The Paris prosecutor says its cyber-crime unit is conducting a search of X's offices.
www.bbc.com
February 3, 2026 at 10:44 AM
Great work by France, keep it up lads!
Whoever sets up a slop free streaming channel will get my business. I will cancel Disney when this kicks in properly. I am way more offended by AI than a lot of things that I really should be offended by.
Bob Iger says Disney+ will have AI-generated content on the platform by the end of September 2026
OpenAI's Sora will be able to AI generate 30-second videos based on 250 characters from Disney, Marvel, Pixar, and Star Wars
OpenAI's Sora will be able to AI generate 30-second videos based on 250 characters from Disney, Marvel, Pixar, and Star Wars
February 3, 2026 at 10:18 AM
Whoever sets up a slop free streaming channel will get my business. I will cancel Disney when this kicks in properly. I am way more offended by AI than a lot of things that I really should be offended by.
This is a powerful thing to read. USA is really at a tipping point. It's terrifying to watch, from inside and outside I imagine.
I know you've heard that a federal judge ordered the release of 5 year old Liam Conejo Arias and his father, and that they're now home.
But did you look at the judge's order?
It's less than 2.5 pages and well worth a minute. "Jesus wept."
Link to pdf: storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
But did you look at the judge's order?
It's less than 2.5 pages and well worth a minute. "Jesus wept."
Link to pdf: storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
February 3, 2026 at 8:04 AM
This is a powerful thing to read. USA is really at a tipping point. It's terrifying to watch, from inside and outside I imagine.