David Walker
@davidwlkr0.bsky.social
Author (The Only Way is Up, with Polly Toynbee), non-executive, former Audit Commission director and journalist
Reposted by David Walker
Precisely. This is reminiscent of when Rishi Sunak tried to palm off responsibility for the betting scandal involving his closest advisors onto an independent inquiry, as if he needed an investigator to tell him who was in the room when he discussed the election date.
Starmer simply should not need Ofcom to tell him he shouldn’t post on Twitter. He should, for once, stop abrogating responsibility and do something himself.
January 7, 2026 at 1:47 PM
Precisely. This is reminiscent of when Rishi Sunak tried to palm off responsibility for the betting scandal involving his closest advisors onto an independent inquiry, as if he needed an investigator to tell him who was in the room when he discussed the election date.
Reposted by David Walker
The government does not appear to be even considering any of these options
- direct communication to X by the Prime Minister or an SoS
- a temporary cessation of government communications until this stops
- an inquiry to the police as well as to Ofcom about the production of unlawful content
- direct communication to X by the Prime Minister or an SoS
- a temporary cessation of government communications until this stops
- an inquiry to the police as well as to Ofcom about the production of unlawful content
Keir Starmer's spokesman tells me that X and Grok's creation of sexual deepfakes of children is "completely unacceptable" but again won't commit to taking direct action against them, or to stop posting there.
Says "all options are on the table" but suggests it's a matter for Ofcom, not Government
Says "all options are on the table" but suggests it's a matter for Ofcom, not Government
January 7, 2026 at 1:22 PM
The government does not appear to be even considering any of these options
- direct communication to X by the Prime Minister or an SoS
- a temporary cessation of government communications until this stops
- an inquiry to the police as well as to Ofcom about the production of unlawful content
- direct communication to X by the Prime Minister or an SoS
- a temporary cessation of government communications until this stops
- an inquiry to the police as well as to Ofcom about the production of unlawful content
Reposted by David Walker
If all options were on table, the government would communicate with the equality regulator [failure to provide an equal service], the police [what is it doing about unlawful content] and take legal advice about Public Sector Equality Duty & safeguarding implications of schools & gvt posting there
January 7, 2026 at 1:47 PM
If all options were on table, the government would communicate with the equality regulator [failure to provide an equal service], the police [what is it doing about unlawful content] and take legal advice about Public Sector Equality Duty & safeguarding implications of schools & gvt posting there
Where’s the difference between this and the action of successive Tory ministers in the 1980s bearing down on Reed’s Labour council colleagues
www.localgov.co.uk/Councils-tha...
www.localgov.co.uk/Councils-tha...
Councils that boycott Israel could face legal action, Reed warns | LocalGov
Labour-run local authorities could face legal action if they pursue boycotts against Israel, Communities Secretary Steve Reed has warned.
www.localgov.co.uk
January 7, 2026 at 3:10 PM
Where’s the difference between this and the action of successive Tory ministers in the 1980s bearing down on Reed’s Labour council colleagues
www.localgov.co.uk/Councils-tha...
www.localgov.co.uk/Councils-tha...
But, electorally speaking, voters in outer boroughs don’t consider themselves Londoners and may relish criticism of the Great Wen - which only shows how old anti London criticism is
"If Sadiq Khan thinks today that London is the greatest city in the world, then he's deluded," says Nigel Farage.
Suspect there may be one or two Londoners who, for all its faults, don't much like their city being talked down.
Suspect there may be one or two Londoners who, for all its faults, don't much like their city being talked down.
January 7, 2026 at 1:36 PM
But, electorally speaking, voters in outer boroughs don’t consider themselves Londoners and may relish criticism of the Great Wen - which only shows how old anti London criticism is
Reposted by David Walker
BILLET. Face à la crise internationale, l’Europe sera souveraine si elle est fédérale
L’Union européenne est un havre de paix. Il est désormais attaqué par les empires pour ce qu’il prétend être : démocratique, relativement sécularisé, social et libre. Par @thomas-legrand.bsky.social :
L’Union européenne est un havre de paix. Il est désormais attaqué par les empires pour ce qu’il prétend être : démocratique, relativement sécularisé, social et libre. Par @thomas-legrand.bsky.social :
Face à la crise internationale, l’Europe sera souveraine si elle est fédérale
L’Union européenne est un havre de paix. Il est désormais attaqué par les empires pour ce qu’il prétend être : démocratique, relativement sécularisé, social et libre.
www.liberation.fr
January 7, 2026 at 11:32 AM
BILLET. Face à la crise internationale, l’Europe sera souveraine si elle est fédérale
L’Union européenne est un havre de paix. Il est désormais attaqué par les empires pour ce qu’il prétend être : démocratique, relativement sécularisé, social et libre. Par @thomas-legrand.bsky.social :
L’Union européenne est un havre de paix. Il est désormais attaqué par les empires pour ce qu’il prétend être : démocratique, relativement sécularisé, social et libre. Par @thomas-legrand.bsky.social :
Reposted by David Walker
The reality is that most government activity on X gets zero genuine engagement. It's landfill comms. Buried under thick layers of noxious matter. Potemkin activity that barely generates any outputs, let alone any outcomes. Other than legitimising a CASM site, of course.
January 7, 2026 at 11:58 AM
The reality is that most government activity on X gets zero genuine engagement. It's landfill comms. Buried under thick layers of noxious matter. Potemkin activity that barely generates any outputs, let alone any outcomes. Other than legitimising a CASM site, of course.
Reposted by David Walker
I think this still gets overlooked. It wasn’t just the tidal wave of racist filth, it was the deliberate puncturing of the life preservers.
I scrolled the feeds of people who vanished from Twitter after 2022, and it's wall-to-wall Democrats whose last tweets are basically "the new algo buried me", "I'm being throttled", and "no one sees my stuff anymore."
January 7, 2026 at 12:18 PM
I think this still gets overlooked. It wasn’t just the tidal wave of racist filth, it was the deliberate puncturing of the life preservers.
Reposted by David Walker
Shaun Grady, chair of AstraZeneca, said “East West Rail is vital infrastructure that will knit together labs, campuses, and urban centres into a single labour market, building the future skills the country needs, driving economic growth, and ensuring the UK benefits faster from scientific advances.”
January 7, 2026 at 12:19 PM
Shaun Grady, chair of AstraZeneca, said “East West Rail is vital infrastructure that will knit together labs, campuses, and urban centres into a single labour market, building the future skills the country needs, driving economic growth, and ensuring the UK benefits faster from scientific advances.”
Reposted by David Walker
Farage is critical of X producing AI sexualisation images + says that Reform wants the government to intervene to get X to stop producing it. He + Reform will keep taking X cash for tweeting.
January 7, 2026 at 12:56 PM
Farage is critical of X producing AI sexualisation images + says that Reform wants the government to intervene to get X to stop producing it. He + Reform will keep taking X cash for tweeting.
Reposted by David Walker
Sublime shithousery from the @financialtimes.com 🤌🏽
Who’s who at X, the deepfake porn site formerly known as Twitter: shorturl.at/QkJ5A
Who’s who at X, the deepfake porn site formerly known as Twitter: shorturl.at/QkJ5A
January 6, 2026 at 6:37 PM
Sublime shithousery from the @financialtimes.com 🤌🏽
Who’s who at X, the deepfake porn site formerly known as Twitter: shorturl.at/QkJ5A
Who’s who at X, the deepfake porn site formerly known as Twitter: shorturl.at/QkJ5A
Reposted by David Walker
Opinion from Alphaville: Here's a look inside Elon Musk's big tent. ft.trib.al/NM1VE7i
January 6, 2026 at 8:10 PM
Opinion from Alphaville: Here's a look inside Elon Musk's big tent. ft.trib.al/NM1VE7i
Reposted by David Walker
Fantastic …
Opinion from Alphaville: Here's a look inside Elon Musk's big tent. ft.trib.al/NM1VE7i
January 6, 2026 at 8:15 PM
Fantastic …
Reposted by David Walker
Article's not bad either ... :)
January 6, 2026 at 8:27 PM
Article's not bad either ... :)
Reposted by David Walker
European countries now need to seriously consider what kind of an adversary the US might be, especially in the event of Donald Trump ordering an attack on Greenland.
US intentions towards Greenland threaten NATO’s future. But European countries are not helpless
US threats to annex Greenland following the attack on Venezuela should be taken seriously. European countries have important leverage they should be prepared to use.
www.chathamhouse.org
January 6, 2026 at 9:00 PM
European countries now need to seriously consider what kind of an adversary the US might be, especially in the event of Donald Trump ordering an attack on Greenland.
Reposted by David Walker
Reform UK councils unveil plans for tax rises and service cuts ft.trib.al/wiypFSF
Reform UK councils unveil plans for tax rises and service cuts
Party controls nine English councils and leads three minority administrations after last year’s local election wins
ft.trib.al
January 6, 2026 at 9:18 PM
Reform UK councils unveil plans for tax rises and service cuts ft.trib.al/wiypFSF
Reposted by David Walker
«Cet accord va nous permettre d'approvisionner nos sites français sur le long terme avec une électricité bas carbone, un facteur clé de compétitivité future».→https://l.lefigaro.fr/nNrO
January 6, 2026 at 9:30 PM
«Cet accord va nous permettre d'approvisionner nos sites français sur le long terme avec une électricité bas carbone, un facteur clé de compétitivité future».→https://l.lefigaro.fr/nNrO
Reposted by David Walker
There we go. That there’s a headline.
Who’s who at X, the deepfake porn site formerly known as Twitter
A look inside Elon Musk’s big tent
www.ft.com
January 6, 2026 at 4:08 PM
There we go. That there’s a headline.
London prepares for a front-seat role as US and China accelerate their robotaxi rivalry, says @financialtimes.com . Will this happen @christianwolmar.bsky.social @davehillonlondon.bsky.social
January 6, 2026 at 4:45 PM
London prepares for a front-seat role as US and China accelerate their robotaxi rivalry, says @financialtimes.com . Will this happen @christianwolmar.bsky.social @davehillonlondon.bsky.social
Reposted by David Walker
Labour vote in London polling is stubbornly sticky in the low 30s which might be enough to hold on in lots of places in the borough election. On the other hand, London Labour morale appears to me to be low and there’s talk of a near wipeout. Maybe that’s just temperamental pessimism?
Our latest Mile End Institute/Savanta London Poll is out!
Labour - 31%
Reform - 19%
Greens - 18%
Cons - 17%
LD - 13%
@standard.co.uk.web.brid.gy @mileendinstitute.bsky.social @savanta.bsky.social
www.standard.co.uk/news/politic...
Labour - 31%
Reform - 19%
Greens - 18%
Cons - 17%
LD - 13%
@standard.co.uk.web.brid.gy @mileendinstitute.bsky.social @savanta.bsky.social
www.standard.co.uk/news/politic...
Labour hits record low in London with Tories 4th behind Greens and Reform, new poll
EXCLUSIVE: Just 31% of Londoners now say they would vote for Sir Keir Starmer’s party, according to a Savanta survey, down from 43% at the 2024 General Election
www.standard.co.uk
January 6, 2026 at 11:56 AM
Labour vote in London polling is stubbornly sticky in the low 30s which might be enough to hold on in lots of places in the borough election. On the other hand, London Labour morale appears to me to be low and there’s talk of a near wipeout. Maybe that’s just temperamental pessimism?
Reposted by David Walker
I'm fairly sure that the X team see all this as good publicity that will drive traffic and, sadly, they're probably not wrong.
The thing is, to be pragmatic, the government won't even stop posting on X whilst it is actively generating illegal deepfakes and CSAM so why should X worry about enforcement?
This is really bad; Grok is now going into is third day of regularly producing nonconsensual deepfake pornography and nobody is doing anything about it. The "Mechahitler" and "white genocide" episodes were stopped much more quickly. I suppose this tells us all about relative priorities.
January 6, 2026 at 11:58 AM
I'm fairly sure that the X team see all this as good publicity that will drive traffic and, sadly, they're probably not wrong.
Reposted by David Walker
Greenland could be next ft.trib.al/tgNVUgt | opinion
Greenland could be next
Emboldened by the Venezuelan operation, Trump is seeking a foreign balm for domestic pain
ft.trib.al
January 6, 2026 at 12:07 PM
Greenland could be next ft.trib.al/tgNVUgt | opinion
Reposted by David Walker
Greenland belongs to its people, say European leaders, as coalition of willing meets to discuss Ukraine in Paris – Europe live
Greenland belongs to its people, say European leaders, as coalition of willing meets to discuss Ukraine in Paris – Europe live
Danish PM and leaders of UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Poland allude to Trump threats of takeover and say principles of UN charter must be upheld
Their statement also says they “will not stop defending” the UN Charter principles, “including sovereignty, territorial integrity and the inviolability of borders”.
Nato has made clear that the Arctic region is a priority and European allies are stepping up.” Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
January 6, 2026 at 12:09 PM
Greenland belongs to its people, say European leaders, as coalition of willing meets to discuss Ukraine in Paris – Europe live
Reposted by David Walker
Starmer's tweet couldn't be clearer but a bit awkward when one of the main government comms platforms literally does this as a feature now
January 6, 2026 at 12:10 PM
Starmer's tweet couldn't be clearer but a bit awkward when one of the main government comms platforms literally does this as a feature now