The Haunted Balloon Lady
@colonelescargot.bsky.social
author and editor of educational stuff
deflated doomscroller
fuck brexit
fuck the fascists
#CovidIsAirborne #MaskUp #Climate #Environment #Politics #Books
deflated doomscroller
fuck brexit
fuck the fascists
#CovidIsAirborne #MaskUp #Climate #Environment #Politics #Books
Pinned
Reposted by The Haunted Balloon Lady
The Sun has been told Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood will on Monday propose confiscating jewellery, watches, necklaces from asylum seekers to meet asylum costs
This reflects the most controversial aspect of the Danish scheme - the Jewellery Law. The toughest Labour MPs thought this was OTT
This reflects the most controversial aspect of the Danish scheme - the Jewellery Law. The toughest Labour MPs thought this was OTT
November 17, 2025 at 12:06 AM
The Sun has been told Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood will on Monday propose confiscating jewellery, watches, necklaces from asylum seekers to meet asylum costs
This reflects the most controversial aspect of the Danish scheme - the Jewellery Law. The toughest Labour MPs thought this was OTT
This reflects the most controversial aspect of the Danish scheme - the Jewellery Law. The toughest Labour MPs thought this was OTT
The Sun has been told Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood will on Monday propose confiscating jewellery, watches, necklaces from asylum seekers to meet asylum costs
This reflects the most controversial aspect of the Danish scheme - the Jewellery Law. The toughest Labour MPs thought this was OTT
This reflects the most controversial aspect of the Danish scheme - the Jewellery Law. The toughest Labour MPs thought this was OTT
November 17, 2025 at 12:30 AM
Reposted by The Haunted Balloon Lady
This cause is close to my heart - please sign: you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/co...
WASPI scandal: Pay out compensation to the women affected
The Government has announced it will reconsider whether to compensate the WASPI women, following growing pressure and undisclosed "evidence"
Last December, the Government announced women born in the ...
you.38degrees.org.uk
November 16, 2025 at 4:46 PM
This cause is close to my heart - please sign: you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/co...
Reposted by The Haunted Balloon Lady
2015 Shabana Mahmood really needs to have a word with 2025 Shabana Mahmood
November 16, 2025 at 8:14 PM
2015 Shabana Mahmood really needs to have a word with 2025 Shabana Mahmood
Reposted by The Haunted Balloon Lady
..work as it should - by cutting initial decision delays and the appeals backlog, sorting out asylum accommodation, making the UK-France deal work, removing those whose claims fail etc.
The Government must think again on this.
The Government must think again on this.
November 16, 2025 at 5:47 PM
..work as it should - by cutting initial decision delays and the appeals backlog, sorting out asylum accommodation, making the UK-France deal work, removing those whose claims fail etc.
The Government must think again on this.
The Government must think again on this.
Reposted by The Haunted Balloon Lady
The Government is wrong to think that reviews of safety in the person's country every few years will mean refugees can be returned at scale. That hasn't happened in Denmark. Brutal dictators tend to hang onto power. It would just move huge amounts of resource away from making our asylum system...
November 16, 2025 at 5:47 PM
The Government is wrong to think that reviews of safety in the person's country every few years will mean refugees can be returned at scale. That hasn't happened in Denmark. Brutal dictators tend to hang onto power. It would just move huge amounts of resource away from making our asylum system...
Reposted by The Haunted Balloon Lady
We absolutely need immigration controls. And where those controls decide to grant asylum, we should welcome and integrate, not create perpetual limbo and alienation.
The rhetoric around these reforms encourages the same culture of divisiveness that sees racism and abuse growing in our communities.
The rhetoric around these reforms encourages the same culture of divisiveness that sees racism and abuse growing in our communities.
November 16, 2025 at 5:46 PM
We absolutely need immigration controls. And where those controls decide to grant asylum, we should welcome and integrate, not create perpetual limbo and alienation.
The rhetoric around these reforms encourages the same culture of divisiveness that sees racism and abuse growing in our communities.
The rhetoric around these reforms encourages the same culture of divisiveness that sees racism and abuse growing in our communities.
Reposted by The Haunted Balloon Lady
The Prime Minister said in September that we are at a fork in the road. These asylum proposals suggest we have taken the wrong turning.
The idea that recognised refugees need to be deported is wrong.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
The idea that recognised refugees need to be deported is wrong.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Asylum system in UK ‘out of control’ and dividing country, home secretary says
Shabana Mahmood to unveil new proposals modelled on Denmark’s controversial system
www.theguardian.com
November 16, 2025 at 5:45 PM
The Prime Minister said in September that we are at a fork in the road. These asylum proposals suggest we have taken the wrong turning.
The idea that recognised refugees need to be deported is wrong.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
The idea that recognised refugees need to be deported is wrong.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Reposted by The Haunted Balloon Lady
Tony Vaughan MP who needs to make the case for control (and compassion) in his Folkestone constituency in Kent says the government should rethink its rhetoric and policy on removing people granted refugee status here
November 16, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Tony Vaughan MP who needs to make the case for control (and compassion) in his Folkestone constituency in Kent says the government should rethink its rhetoric and policy on removing people granted refugee status here
Reposted by The Haunted Balloon Lady
COVID continues
Circulation of COVID variants has created a new year-round baseline for work absences and excess deaths (the level of mortality above what it was before the pandemic) remains significantly elevated). And within these, Long COVID.
@yaneerbaryam.bsky.social
thetyee.ca/Analysis/202...
Circulation of COVID variants has created a new year-round baseline for work absences and excess deaths (the level of mortality above what it was before the pandemic) remains significantly elevated). And within these, Long COVID.
@yaneerbaryam.bsky.social
thetyee.ca/Analysis/202...
November 16, 2025 at 5:09 PM
COVID continues
Circulation of COVID variants has created a new year-round baseline for work absences and excess deaths (the level of mortality above what it was before the pandemic) remains significantly elevated). And within these, Long COVID.
@yaneerbaryam.bsky.social
thetyee.ca/Analysis/202...
Circulation of COVID variants has created a new year-round baseline for work absences and excess deaths (the level of mortality above what it was before the pandemic) remains significantly elevated). And within these, Long COVID.
@yaneerbaryam.bsky.social
thetyee.ca/Analysis/202...
Reposted by The Haunted Balloon Lady
🚨This is so important:
"After years of denial the international consensus is now shifting,” according to physicist @yaneerbaryam.bsky.social
COVID-19 is:
🛑creating a 12.9% increase in workplace absences compared to pre-pandemic
🛑causing a 2% increase in excess deaths vs. pre-pandemic
1/
"After years of denial the international consensus is now shifting,” according to physicist @yaneerbaryam.bsky.social
COVID-19 is:
🛑creating a 12.9% increase in workplace absences compared to pre-pandemic
🛑causing a 2% increase in excess deaths vs. pre-pandemic
1/
November 4, 2025 at 1:44 PM
🚨This is so important:
"After years of denial the international consensus is now shifting,” according to physicist @yaneerbaryam.bsky.social
COVID-19 is:
🛑creating a 12.9% increase in workplace absences compared to pre-pandemic
🛑causing a 2% increase in excess deaths vs. pre-pandemic
1/
"After years of denial the international consensus is now shifting,” according to physicist @yaneerbaryam.bsky.social
COVID-19 is:
🛑creating a 12.9% increase in workplace absences compared to pre-pandemic
🛑causing a 2% increase in excess deaths vs. pre-pandemic
1/
Reposted by The Haunted Balloon Lady
KARL: Tariffs have been removed from some food items. How soon do we expect prices on those goods will go down?
HASSETT: The prices for those goods weren't necessarily going up just because of tariffs
KARL: So they might not go down?
HASSETT: The prices for those goods weren't necessarily going up just because of tariffs
KARL: So they might not go down?
November 16, 2025 at 4:49 PM
KARL: Tariffs have been removed from some food items. How soon do we expect prices on those goods will go down?
HASSETT: The prices for those goods weren't necessarily going up just because of tariffs
KARL: So they might not go down?
HASSETT: The prices for those goods weren't necessarily going up just because of tariffs
KARL: So they might not go down?
Reposted by The Haunted Balloon Lady
Shabana Mahmood on the BBC this morning talking about desperate people fleeing war and persecution as being given a "golden ticket" and "handouts" and saying she's got a "moral mission" to take them away from them
Indistinguishable from the rhetoric of Reform www.adambienkov.co.uk/p/shabana-ma...
Indistinguishable from the rhetoric of Reform www.adambienkov.co.uk/p/shabana-ma...
Shabana Mahmood and the Politics of Extortion
Labour's strategy of telling its supporters to back Reform-style policies, or get a Reform Government, is the politics of the protection racket and it is not going to work
www.adambienkov.co.uk
November 16, 2025 at 9:25 AM
Shabana Mahmood on the BBC this morning talking about desperate people fleeing war and persecution as being given a "golden ticket" and "handouts" and saying she's got a "moral mission" to take them away from them
Indistinguishable from the rhetoric of Reform www.adambienkov.co.uk/p/shabana-ma...
Indistinguishable from the rhetoric of Reform www.adambienkov.co.uk/p/shabana-ma...
Reposted by The Haunted Balloon Lady
To reiterate, this is about making life immeasurably more miserable and stressful for some of the most vulnerable people, in the almost certainly vain hope of winning over the votes of racists.
Anything more shabby and shameful is difficult to envisage.
Anything more shabby and shameful is difficult to envisage.
Asylum in UK to be made temporary under Home Secretary’s plans
Shabana Mahmood will lay out reforms modelled on the Danish system on Monday.
www.independent.co.uk
November 15, 2025 at 9:14 AM
To reiterate, this is about making life immeasurably more miserable and stressful for some of the most vulnerable people, in the almost certainly vain hope of winning over the votes of racists.
Anything more shabby and shameful is difficult to envisage.
Anything more shabby and shameful is difficult to envisage.
Reposted by The Haunted Balloon Lady
"A series of punches to the face was designed to unlock the inherent kindness, gorgeousness and loveliness of the British people."
"Mahmood said a raft of tough immigration controls were designed to unlock “the inherent openness, tolerance and generosity” of the British people."
Such nauseating shamelessness.
Such nauseating shamelessness.
Mahmood’s new asylum plan: when home is ‘safe’, we’ll send you back | The Observer
observer.co.uk
November 16, 2025 at 8:38 AM
"A series of punches to the face was designed to unlock the inherent kindness, gorgeousness and loveliness of the British people."
Reposted by The Haunted Balloon Lady
"Mahmood said a raft of tough immigration controls were designed to unlock “the inherent openness, tolerance and generosity” of the British people."
Such nauseating shamelessness.
Such nauseating shamelessness.
Mahmood’s new asylum plan: when home is ‘safe’, we’ll send you back | The Observer
observer.co.uk
November 16, 2025 at 8:26 AM
"Mahmood said a raft of tough immigration controls were designed to unlock “the inherent openness, tolerance and generosity” of the British people."
Such nauseating shamelessness.
Such nauseating shamelessness.
Reposted by The Haunted Balloon Lady
This week Nathan Gill, Reform UK’s Leader in Wales will be sentenced for 8 charges of Russian bribes.
Here’s Farage calling him an “honest, decent and honourable man”.
Let’s not forget that whilst he was taking the bribes, Farage was making similar pro-Russian speeches in the European Parliament.
Here’s Farage calling him an “honest, decent and honourable man”.
Let’s not forget that whilst he was taking the bribes, Farage was making similar pro-Russian speeches in the European Parliament.
November 16, 2025 at 8:20 AM
This week Nathan Gill, Reform UK’s Leader in Wales will be sentenced for 8 charges of Russian bribes.
Here’s Farage calling him an “honest, decent and honourable man”.
Let’s not forget that whilst he was taking the bribes, Farage was making similar pro-Russian speeches in the European Parliament.
Here’s Farage calling him an “honest, decent and honourable man”.
Let’s not forget that whilst he was taking the bribes, Farage was making similar pro-Russian speeches in the European Parliament.
Reposted by The Haunted Balloon Lady
Not the first to make this point. But there is a tyrant in charge of another country who is accused of being heavily linked to a paedophile sex ring - and supposed ‘patriots’ in this country are passionately willing him to take down our national broadcaster. Madness.
November 15, 2025 at 7:57 PM
Not the first to make this point. But there is a tyrant in charge of another country who is accused of being heavily linked to a paedophile sex ring - and supposed ‘patriots’ in this country are passionately willing him to take down our national broadcaster. Madness.
Reposted by The Haunted Balloon Lady
I came to this country as a child refugee. No English, no certainty, no idea what my life could become. Britain gave me refuge.
Not on a timer, not with conditions attached, but with a chance to grow roots.
A thread 🧵 1/8
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Not on a timer, not with conditions attached, but with a chance to grow roots.
A thread 🧵 1/8
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
UK set to limit refugees to temporary stays
Shabana Mahmood is expected to say the era of permanent protection for refugees is over, in major changes to the UK's asylum and immigration system.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 15, 2025 at 10:29 AM
I came to this country as a child refugee. No English, no certainty, no idea what my life could become. Britain gave me refuge.
Not on a timer, not with conditions attached, but with a chance to grow roots.
A thread 🧵 1/8
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Not on a timer, not with conditions attached, but with a chance to grow roots.
A thread 🧵 1/8
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by The Haunted Balloon Lady
And because of that chance, I’m now a British citizen, an emergency medicine consultant, a husband, and a father of four.
My whole life, my real life, unfolded here. This is home, heart and bone.
2/8
My whole life, my real life, unfolded here. This is home, heart and bone.
2/8
November 15, 2025 at 10:29 AM
And because of that chance, I’m now a British citizen, an emergency medicine consultant, a husband, and a father of four.
My whole life, my real life, unfolded here. This is home, heart and bone.
2/8
My whole life, my real life, unfolded here. This is home, heart and bone.
2/8
Reposted by The Haunted Balloon Lady
Everything about SARS-CoV-2 weakens us as a species. Population-level immune dysregulation leading to both reactivation of latent pathogens and creating niches for new ones; the politicisation of our response regressing public health and massively amplifying anti-vax ideology.
November 15, 2025 at 10:54 AM
Everything about SARS-CoV-2 weakens us as a species. Population-level immune dysregulation leading to both reactivation of latent pathogens and creating niches for new ones; the politicisation of our response regressing public health and massively amplifying anti-vax ideology.
Reposted by The Haunted Balloon Lady
Labour's strategy of telling its supporters to back Reform-style policies, or get a Reform Government, is the politics of the protection racket.
Here's why it's not going to work
www.adambienkov.co.uk/p/shabana-ma...
Here's why it's not going to work
www.adambienkov.co.uk/p/shabana-ma...
Shabana Mahmood and the Politics of Extortion
Labour's strategy of telling its supporters to back Reform-style policies, or get a Reform Government, is the politics of the protection racket and it is not going to work
www.adambienkov.co.uk
November 15, 2025 at 11:01 AM
Labour's strategy of telling its supporters to back Reform-style policies, or get a Reform Government, is the politics of the protection racket.
Here's why it's not going to work
www.adambienkov.co.uk/p/shabana-ma...
Here's why it's not going to work
www.adambienkov.co.uk/p/shabana-ma...
Reposted by The Haunted Balloon Lady
"An inspired piece of genius."
Los Angeles
Los Angeles
November 15, 2025 at 10:24 AM
"An inspired piece of genius."
Los Angeles
Los Angeles
Reposted by The Haunted Balloon Lady
I'm absolutely bloody sick of self-appointed "patriots" claiming to adore Britain while trying to destroy our national institutions – including, this week, our world-revered public broadcaster.
📝 New rant 👇
📝 New rant 👇
The ‘patriots’ who loathe Britain
They claim to love our country, but want to destroy all its institutions...
writesbright.substack.com
November 15, 2025 at 10:42 AM
I'm absolutely bloody sick of self-appointed "patriots" claiming to adore Britain while trying to destroy our national institutions – including, this week, our world-revered public broadcaster.
📝 New rant 👇
📝 New rant 👇
Reposted by The Haunted Balloon Lady
Oh wow @reuters.com got the photo here:
November 14, 2025 at 9:25 PM
Oh wow @reuters.com got the photo here: