Duncan Hothersall
@dhothersall.bsky.social
Gay husband. Small businessman. Scottish Labour. #LGBWithTheT and women's rights. Pro-EU & pro-UK. Labourhame.com editor. Our Scottish Future board member.
No, I would not like an AI summary.
No, I would not like an AI summary.
Pinned
Supporting trans rights does not mean opposing women's rights.
Supporting women's rights does not mean opposing trans rights.
Please think about whose interests it serves to turn those who should be allies against misogyny and transphobia into each others' enemies instead.
#LGBWithTheT #always
Supporting women's rights does not mean opposing trans rights.
Please think about whose interests it serves to turn those who should be allies against misogyny and transphobia into each others' enemies instead.
#LGBWithTheT #always
Curious as to whether the Guardian has confused Kenneth Clark with Tory MP Kenneth Clarke, or with Kenneth Clark's son, Tory MP Alan Clark. Either way, the presenter of the original Civilisation was not a Tory MP!
Civilisations: Rise and Fall review – TV that will make you despair for our own plummeting society
Civilisations: Rise and Fall review – TV that will make you despair for our own plummeting society
The mightily stressful and incredibly close-to-the-bone BBC show traces the demise of four ancient worlds – and it’s wildly prescient stuff. Will we never learn?
www.theguardian.com
November 25, 2025 at 7:43 AM
Curious as to whether the Guardian has confused Kenneth Clark with Tory MP Kenneth Clarke, or with Kenneth Clark's son, Tory MP Alan Clark. Either way, the presenter of the original Civilisation was not a Tory MP!
This form of reporting is a real problem across the media. The US administration routinely talks utter shite, and it gets turned into headlines that colour people's understanding of the world. It is entirely possible to include such quotes in the body of stories with suitable explanation instead.
November 23, 2025 at 9:58 PM
This form of reporting is a real problem across the media. The US administration routinely talks utter shite, and it gets turned into headlines that colour people's understanding of the world. It is entirely possible to include such quotes in the body of stories with suitable explanation instead.
Reposted by Duncan Hothersall
I think the reason Trump is so bad at peace making is he can't understand why people fight wars - because he can't comprehend why people are willing to die for a cause greater than themselves. He doesn't get why an (apparently) weaker party (eg Ukraine) won't just concede (eg give up the Donbas).
A US framework to end war in Ukraine would leave it more vulnerable to Russian aggression, if it restricts Kyiv's army, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen warned today.
EU rules out restrictions on Ukraine’s army in rebuke to Trump plan
Allowing Russia to change borders by force or letting Moscow veto Kyiv’s future membership in the EU are red lines, Brussels warns.
www.politico.eu
November 23, 2025 at 4:25 PM
I think the reason Trump is so bad at peace making is he can't understand why people fight wars - because he can't comprehend why people are willing to die for a cause greater than themselves. He doesn't get why an (apparently) weaker party (eg Ukraine) won't just concede (eg give up the Donbas).
*Jed Bartlet banging his head on his desk dot gif"
November 23, 2025 at 5:16 PM
*Jed Bartlet banging his head on his desk dot gif"
Fifteen years since one of the greatest newspaper front pages of all time.
November 23, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Fifteen years since one of the greatest newspaper front pages of all time.
The terrifying thing is how easily norms like "obvious lies don't benefit the teller because they are immediately shot down by an observant media and seen through by the public" can just be overturned if enough people are either unconcerned or scared for their livelihoods.
WELKER: Inflation has gone up. It's at 3% now up from 2% in April when the tariffs were imposed--
BESSENT: No, no no no. So, inflation hasn't gone up. The one thing we're not gonna do is do what the Biden administration did and tell the American people they don't know how they feel
BESSENT: No, no no no. So, inflation hasn't gone up. The one thing we're not gonna do is do what the Biden administration did and tell the American people they don't know how they feel
November 23, 2025 at 3:26 PM
The terrifying thing is how easily norms like "obvious lies don't benefit the teller because they are immediately shot down by an observant media and seen through by the public" can just be overturned if enough people are either unconcerned or scared for their livelihoods.
Honestly some people will complain about anything! Presumably the woman saying the post office is just over the road hasn't noticed that the post office is only open when everyone else is at work! Odds on she's retired.
Village knitters gutted as Royal Mail changes bring end to creative postbox toppers | LBC
Knitters will no longer be able to cover the top of the postbox with their creations as it will block the new solar panels
share.google
November 23, 2025 at 1:10 PM
Honestly some people will complain about anything! Presumably the woman saying the post office is just over the road hasn't noticed that the post office is only open when everyone else is at work! Odds on she's retired.
Reposted by Duncan Hothersall
“Going from evidence-based decision making to decision-based evidence making.” Is EXACTLY what the UK Health Secretary is doing with the Pathways “study” about trans healthcare.
I call these “contrived authority” strategies.
I call these “contrived authority” strategies.
Watching the same anti-science playbook used against gender-affirming care play out in vaccines…
apnews.com/article/trum...
apnews.com/article/trum...
RFK Jr. says he's following 'gold standard' science. Here's what to know
President Donald Trump and his Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. say they want the government to follow “gold standard” science.
apnews.com
November 23, 2025 at 6:45 AM
“Going from evidence-based decision making to decision-based evidence making.” Is EXACTLY what the UK Health Secretary is doing with the Pathways “study” about trans healthcare.
I call these “contrived authority” strategies.
I call these “contrived authority” strategies.
On the one hand, 205 is a bigger total than either side has yet managed in an innings. On the other hand, it's day two of a five day test match - that's a run rate of less than one an over. #cricket
November 22, 2025 at 7:28 AM
On the one hand, 205 is a bigger total than either side has yet managed in an innings. On the other hand, it's day two of a five day test match - that's a run rate of less than one an over. #cricket
Reposted by Duncan Hothersall
Russia's ambassador to the UK, Yakovenko, boasted about Brexit to another diplomat:
“We have crushed the British to the ground. They are on their knees and will not rise for a very long time”
Today, Farage’s close ally, leader of Reform in Wales, was sentenced to 10yrs for taking bribes from Russia.
“We have crushed the British to the ground. They are on their knees and will not rise for a very long time”
Today, Farage’s close ally, leader of Reform in Wales, was sentenced to 10yrs for taking bribes from Russia.
Brexit has caused almost twice as much damage to the UK economy than estimated by official forecasts, according to new paper from a group of experts including a senior Bank of England economist
Brexit Hit to UK Economy Double Official Estimate, Study Finds
Brexit has caused almost twice as much damage to the UK economy than estimated by official forecasts, according to new paper from a group of experts including a senior Bank of England economist.
bloom.bg
November 21, 2025 at 6:59 PM
Russia's ambassador to the UK, Yakovenko, boasted about Brexit to another diplomat:
“We have crushed the British to the ground. They are on their knees and will not rise for a very long time”
Today, Farage’s close ally, leader of Reform in Wales, was sentenced to 10yrs for taking bribes from Russia.
“We have crushed the British to the ground. They are on their knees and will not rise for a very long time”
Today, Farage’s close ally, leader of Reform in Wales, was sentenced to 10yrs for taking bribes from Russia.
Reposted by Duncan Hothersall
That is the face of a man who doesn't give the slightest fuck that he ate your plums
William Carlos Williams - Charles Sheeler, 1926
November 21, 2025 at 7:22 PM
That is the face of a man who doesn't give the slightest fuck that he ate your plums
Reposted by Duncan Hothersall
BLOG - You were never meant to know about the £25 million estate sale. How prices being paid for large-scale landholdings are being concealed from public view and what needs to change. andywightman.scot/2025/11/you-...
You were never meant to know about the £25 million estate sale - Land Matters
In my previous blog highlighting the £25.2 million sale of Scatwell Estate to Strathconon Estates Ltd, I mentioned a third interesting feature of the sale. You were never meant to know about it. I hav...
andywightman.scot
November 21, 2025 at 5:47 PM
BLOG - You were never meant to know about the £25 million estate sale. How prices being paid for large-scale landholdings are being concealed from public view and what needs to change. andywightman.scot/2025/11/you-...
Reposted by Duncan Hothersall
This is Zelensky putting pressure on Trump. He knows Ukrainians don't want to surrender. He's talking to all Americans across the political spectrum who support Ukraine, love freedom, and hate surrender. He's telling them: "you can't allow Trump to align the US with Ru against Europe". Let's see.
NEW: Brutal to watch Zelensky address his nation just now. On the brink of being abandoned by the US.
"Right now is one of the most difficult moments in our history. At this moment, Ukraine may face a very hard choice: either the loss of dignity, or the risk of losing a key partner."
"Right now is one of the most difficult moments in our history. At this moment, Ukraine may face a very hard choice: either the loss of dignity, or the risk of losing a key partner."
November 21, 2025 at 5:41 PM
This is Zelensky putting pressure on Trump. He knows Ukrainians don't want to surrender. He's talking to all Americans across the political spectrum who support Ukraine, love freedom, and hate surrender. He's telling them: "you can't allow Trump to align the US with Ru against Europe". Let's see.
Reposted by Duncan Hothersall
This is a REALLY important thread. The Supreme Court was unequivocally and verifiably wrong in its misjudgment.
1/🧵 The good people of the Cabinet Office has found a copy of the Department for Education and Employment’s drafting instructions* for the Sex Discrimination (Gender Reassignment) Regulations 1999.
* the Parly Counsel does vetting only in this case, so the instructions is to DfEE’s in-house lawyers
* the Parly Counsel does vetting only in this case, so the instructions is to DfEE’s in-house lawyers
Sex Discrimination Gender Reassignment Regulations 1999 Drafting Instructions - a Freedom of Information request to Government Equalities Office
Please send me copies of the Sex Discrimination Gender Reassignment Regulations 1999’s Drafting Instructions given to the Parliamentary Counsel. If you can’t locate all versions, send me any one of th...
www.whatdotheyknow.com
November 21, 2025 at 5:30 PM
This is a REALLY important thread. The Supreme Court was unequivocally and verifiably wrong in its misjudgment.
When people in power are telling you there's a simple answer to all your problems and it involves attacking a specific group of people, that's fascism.
November 21, 2025 at 5:18 PM
When people in power are telling you there's a simple answer to all your problems and it involves attacking a specific group of people, that's fascism.
Reposted by Duncan Hothersall
This story is all Nigel Farage should be asked about by journalists for months
Ex-leader of Reform UK in Wales sentenced to 10-and-a-half years for taking pro-Russian bribes
The judge tells Nathan Gill his actions were a
www.bbc.co.uk
November 21, 2025 at 2:34 PM
This story is all Nigel Farage should be asked about by journalists for months
It really is a remarkable coincidence that when Reform's Nathan Gill was being paid to shill for Putin, Reform's Nigel Farage was also shilling for Putin. Occam's razor surely comes into play. #DisparageTheFarage
November 21, 2025 at 1:53 PM
It really is a remarkable coincidence that when Reform's Nathan Gill was being paid to shill for Putin, Reform's Nigel Farage was also shilling for Putin. Occam's razor surely comes into play. #DisparageTheFarage
Reposted by Duncan Hothersall
Word of the day is ‘quockerwodger’ (19th century): a puppet politician whose strings are pulled entirely by someone else.
November 21, 2025 at 1:21 PM
Word of the day is ‘quockerwodger’ (19th century): a puppet politician whose strings are pulled entirely by someone else.
Reposted by Duncan Hothersall
They gave For Women Scotland campaign of the year and Kate Forbes Green champion. I think it’s clear whoever was assigning these awards was either inebriated or engaging in some kind of devilment.
November 21, 2025 at 1:30 PM
They gave For Women Scotland campaign of the year and Kate Forbes Green champion. I think it’s clear whoever was assigning these awards was either inebriated or engaging in some kind of devilment.
The thing that distinguishes Nathan Gill from Nigel Farage isn't what he said - they both promoted pro-Russian talking points in the European Parliament and in media interviews - it's that Gill was caught receiving bribes, whereas Farage was not caught. So, who thinks Farage did it for nothing?
November 21, 2025 at 1:26 PM
The thing that distinguishes Nathan Gill from Nigel Farage isn't what he said - they both promoted pro-Russian talking points in the European Parliament and in media interviews - it's that Gill was caught receiving bribes, whereas Farage was not caught. So, who thinks Farage did it for nothing?
Reposted by Duncan Hothersall
Maybe time to consider proscribing Reform? A government with integrity and courage would look deep to see if it was a rotten corrupt front for Russian money.
BREAKING: Nathan Gill is sentenced to 10 & a half years in prison after pleading guilty to eight charges of bribery from a Russian agent.
The "ultimate source" of the funds came from "a close friend of Vladimir Putin," said Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb.
The "ultimate source" of the funds came from "a close friend of Vladimir Putin," said Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb.
November 21, 2025 at 1:09 PM
Maybe time to consider proscribing Reform? A government with integrity and courage would look deep to see if it was a rotten corrupt front for Russian money.
Reposted by Duncan Hothersall
Leading anti-trans writer Kathleen Stock (whom Rowling is “proud” to call her friend), now comes out with this gem on abortion. Who could have foreseen that TERFs would attack bodily autonomy? All of us did. All of us.
Transphobia rots your brain.
Transphobia rots your brain.
Kathleen Stock has written an article against "abortion permissiveness". She claims abortion requires "justification" saying the state should limit "unacceptable decision-making" by women about their own bodies.
This is who anti-trans activists proclaim as the feminist thought leaders of our time.
This is who anti-trans activists proclaim as the feminist thought leaders of our time.
November 21, 2025 at 12:03 PM
Leading anti-trans writer Kathleen Stock (whom Rowling is “proud” to call her friend), now comes out with this gem on abortion. Who could have foreseen that TERFs would attack bodily autonomy? All of us did. All of us.
Transphobia rots your brain.
Transphobia rots your brain.
BBC Sport should upload the highlights package from today's ashes action to iPlayer at 5pm. Not sure how long these programmes are meant to be but they are going to struggle to edit day 1 down to less than an hour I reckon!
November 21, 2025 at 11:59 AM
BBC Sport should upload the highlights package from today's ashes action to iPlayer at 5pm. Not sure how long these programmes are meant to be but they are going to struggle to edit day 1 down to less than an hour I reckon!
Reposted by Duncan Hothersall
This is one of the changes in the UK media landscape that should be more remarked on: the fact that being a very open, proud, outright racist is no longer a bar to being a pundit on some TV stations (in this case GBN and Talk TV).
Lucy White advocates a ban on "non-natives" from office, citing Rishi Sunak and Priti Patel.
So she is referring to UK-born ethnic minority citizens. (Her argument would apply equally to Shabana Mahmood, Kemi Badenoch, Suella Braverman and others)
Lucy White continues to be a GB News regular
So she is referring to UK-born ethnic minority citizens. (Her argument would apply equally to Shabana Mahmood, Kemi Badenoch, Suella Braverman and others)
Lucy White continues to be a GB News regular
November 21, 2025 at 11:12 AM
This is one of the changes in the UK media landscape that should be more remarked on: the fact that being a very open, proud, outright racist is no longer a bar to being a pundit on some TV stations (in this case GBN and Talk TV).
This is absolutely shocking. The pain and stress that people go through to win these tribunals, only to have their employers or former employers weasel out of having to pay up.
A recent TBIJ investigation found that thousands of people who have won cases against their employers have not been paid what they are owed, even after the government intervened
Read more 👇
Read more 👇
Thousands of rogue bosses get away with not paying tribunal awards
The government scheme ‘enforcing’ money owed to workers has been unsuccessful in a staggering three-quarters of cases
www.thebureauinvestigates.com
November 21, 2025 at 11:11 AM
This is absolutely shocking. The pain and stress that people go through to win these tribunals, only to have their employers or former employers weasel out of having to pay up.