Donald Campbell
@dncampbell.bsky.social
Reposted by Donald Campbell
Rarely mentioned but about much of Ratcliffe’s business ‘success’ is based on draining public money (very common among these ‘self made tycoons’)
Eg democracyforsale.substack.com/p/ineos-set-...
Eg democracyforsale.substack.com/p/ineos-set-...
February 11, 2026 at 8:16 PM
Rarely mentioned but about much of Ratcliffe’s business ‘success’ is based on draining public money (very common among these ‘self made tycoons’)
Eg democracyforsale.substack.com/p/ineos-set-...
Eg democracyforsale.substack.com/p/ineos-set-...
Jim Ratcliffe complains about people 'draining resources from the state,' while also benefiting from 700m euro-worth of support from the British taxpayer for a plastics factory in Belgium. www.gov.uk/government/p...
'The UK has been colonised by immigrants', says INEOS boss and Man Utd co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe
'The UK has been colonised by immigrants', says INEOS boss and Man Utd co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe
Britain has been "colonised" by immigrants, who are draining resources from the state, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, one of the country's richest and most influential men, has told Sky News.
news.sky.com
February 11, 2026 at 7:10 PM
Jim Ratcliffe complains about people 'draining resources from the state,' while also benefiting from 700m euro-worth of support from the British taxpayer for a plastics factory in Belgium. www.gov.uk/government/p...
Genuinely hard to think of another industry that’s treated like this. “Researchers working with Claude” rather than “people employed by Anthropic“ is a v odd choice of words.
Researchers working with the A.I. system Claude have come to understand that the model’s selfhood, like our own, is a matter of both neurons and narratives. newyorkermag.visitlink.me/kEX1vV
February 11, 2026 at 1:54 PM
Genuinely hard to think of another industry that’s treated like this. “Researchers working with Claude” rather than “people employed by Anthropic“ is a v odd choice of words.
'Childnet, a UK charity part-funded by companies including Snap, Roblox and Meta, edited out warnings from Lewis Swire and Saamya Ghai that social media addiction was an “imminent threat to our future” and obsessive scrolling was making people “sick”'.
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
‘It felt hypocritical’: child internet safety campaign accused of censoring teenagers’ speeches
Exclusive: Childnet, a UK charity part-funded by US tech firms, edited out warnings by two young speakers at its 2024 Safer Internet Day event
www.theguardian.com
February 11, 2026 at 9:44 AM
'Childnet, a UK charity part-funded by companies including Snap, Roblox and Meta, edited out warnings from Lewis Swire and Saamya Ghai that social media addiction was an “imminent threat to our future” and obsessive scrolling was making people “sick”'.
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
Reposted by Donald Campbell
I read through the texts, emails, and iMessages between Steve Bannon and his good friend, and self described “cornerman,” convicted sex predator Jeffrey Epstein. My dispatch from the files:
www.ms.now/news/steve-b...
www.ms.now/news/steve-b...
Steve Bannon had a plan to rehabilitate Jeffrey Epstein, files reveal. Will MAGA care?
Trump’s former adviser maintained a relationship with Epstein long after his conviction for soliciting prostitution from a minor.
www.ms.now
February 10, 2026 at 10:03 PM
I read through the texts, emails, and iMessages between Steve Bannon and his good friend, and self described “cornerman,” convicted sex predator Jeffrey Epstein. My dispatch from the files:
www.ms.now/news/steve-b...
www.ms.now/news/steve-b...
In 2024, OpenAI was a client of the lobbying firm Mandelson founded. In 2025, the US tech giant signed a major “strategic partnership” with the uk govt - while Mandelson was ambassador.
Questions go beyond just Palantir: www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Questions go beyond just Palantir: www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
UK signed deals with US firms that were clients of Mandelson lobbying company
Clients of Global Counsel, co-founded by Mandelson, included OpenAI and Palantir, which have both signed deals with government
www.theguardian.com
February 10, 2026 at 9:33 PM
In 2024, OpenAI was a client of the lobbying firm Mandelson founded. In 2025, the US tech giant signed a major “strategic partnership” with the uk govt - while Mandelson was ambassador.
Questions go beyond just Palantir: www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Questions go beyond just Palantir: www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
"The US company Palantir Technologies is hosting a lavish party for the Ministry of Defence to celebrate winning a government contract" www.thetimes.com/uk/defence/a...
Palantir hosts party for MoD to celebrate £240m defence contract
The American technology company signed a three-year deal to ‘boost military AI and innovation’, but critics called for a review of its links to Lord Mandelson
www.thetimes.com
February 10, 2026 at 8:07 AM
"The US company Palantir Technologies is hosting a lavish party for the Ministry of Defence to celebrate winning a government contract" www.thetimes.com/uk/defence/a...
This is far from the worst thing about this piece, but who knew this was how we pronounced 'San Francisco'?
www.wsj.com/tech/ai/anth...
www.wsj.com/tech/ai/anth...
February 9, 2026 at 2:52 PM
This is far from the worst thing about this piece, but who knew this was how we pronounced 'San Francisco'?
www.wsj.com/tech/ai/anth...
www.wsj.com/tech/ai/anth...
Interesting that the Times have chosen to illustrate this piece about Palantir with a view from a bomber in WW2. It's not an allied bomber.
www.thetimes.com/business/com...
www.thetimes.com/business/com...
February 9, 2026 at 12:36 PM
Interesting that the Times have chosen to illustrate this piece about Palantir with a view from a bomber in WW2. It's not an allied bomber.
www.thetimes.com/business/com...
www.thetimes.com/business/com...
Reposted by Donald Campbell
This is the key point that is lost in so much Westminster bubble talk on net zero. It is popular. It’s hugely popular with Labour’s base and with the progressive voters it needs to vote tactically to defeat Reform. And it’s even popular with Tories who Labour needs not to switch to Reform.
…as well as being supported by the vast majority of Lab/Lib/Gn voters, almost all Labour MPs, a 2-1 majority of voters overall and – even now – a healthy majority of Con voters
February 8, 2026 at 10:16 PM
This is the key point that is lost in so much Westminster bubble talk on net zero. It is popular. It’s hugely popular with Labour’s base and with the progressive voters it needs to vote tactically to defeat Reform. And it’s even popular with Tories who Labour needs not to switch to Reform.
Kind of staggering this. Easily available info - it’s in global counsel’s disclosures on the uk and eu lobbying registers. And plenty of people raising questions about it even at the time.
New on FT website:
Downing Street has refused to say whether Sir Keir Starmer knew Palantir was a client of Peter Mandelson’s lobbying firm when they both visited the company in Washington last February — ahead of it winning a £240mn UK government contract.
www.ft.com/content/5bba...
Downing Street has refused to say whether Sir Keir Starmer knew Palantir was a client of Peter Mandelson’s lobbying firm when they both visited the company in Washington last February — ahead of it winning a £240mn UK government contract.
www.ft.com/content/5bba...
Starmer faces questions over visit to Palantir office alongside Mandelson
Former ambassador was also shareholder in lobbying group that counted US tech firm as a client
www.ft.com
February 7, 2026 at 9:31 AM
Kind of staggering this. Easily available info - it’s in global counsel’s disclosures on the uk and eu lobbying registers. And plenty of people raising questions about it even at the time.
Reposted by Donald Campbell
Last year, the UK Govt refused our request to release info about Mandelson's links with US tech giant Palantir.
Join our call for full transparency: www.foxglove.org.uk/campaigns/ma...
Join our call for full transparency: www.foxglove.org.uk/campaigns/ma...
February 6, 2026 at 8:39 AM
Last year, the UK Govt refused our request to release info about Mandelson's links with US tech giant Palantir.
Join our call for full transparency: www.foxglove.org.uk/campaigns/ma...
Join our call for full transparency: www.foxglove.org.uk/campaigns/ma...
Reposted by Donald Campbell
The questions the UK Government needs to answer over Mandelson, Palantir and Big Tech: www.foxglove.org.uk/2026/02/06/u...
We're calling on the UK Government to publish the full detail behind Keir Starmer's trip to Palantir HQ with Peter Mandelson – and the subsequent £240m Ministry of Defence contract
But this scandal isn't about just one man. It opens up serious questions about how close the UK Government is to US Big Tech companies across the board.
www.foxglove.org.uk
February 6, 2026 at 1:49 PM
The questions the UK Government needs to answer over Mandelson, Palantir and Big Tech: www.foxglove.org.uk/2026/02/06/u...
Reposted by Donald Campbell
How has this changed so much in such a short time?
How has such divisiveness and hatred become so commonplace across social media platforms?
Since when did it become acceptable to question a child's Britishness on the basis of their skin colour?
How has such divisiveness and hatred become so commonplace across social media platforms?
Since when did it become acceptable to question a child's Britishness on the basis of their skin colour?
February 6, 2026 at 1:08 PM
How has this changed so much in such a short time?
How has such divisiveness and hatred become so commonplace across social media platforms?
Since when did it become acceptable to question a child's Britishness on the basis of their skin colour?
How has such divisiveness and hatred become so commonplace across social media platforms?
Since when did it become acceptable to question a child's Britishness on the basis of their skin colour?
Reposted by Donald Campbell
"Let the techbros bark, Sancho, it's a sign that we're riding."
Classic Spanish clap-back to Durov from Sanchez here.
Classic Spanish clap-back to Durov from Sanchez here.
February 5, 2026 at 9:24 AM
"Let the techbros bark, Sancho, it's a sign that we're riding."
Classic Spanish clap-back to Durov from Sanchez here.
Classic Spanish clap-back to Durov from Sanchez here.
Depressingly, this isn't even the first time the Govt has presented dubious figures from the tech industry as their own:
UPDATE: I've had a response from the Cabinet Office!
"the statistics cited ‘19.2 million British citizens registered with X and 10.8 million families using the platform’ were provided by OmniGov, the government's media buying agency, who received this data directly from X itself."
"the statistics cited ‘19.2 million British citizens registered with X and 10.8 million families using the platform’ were provided by OmniGov, the government's media buying agency, who received this data directly from X itself."
February 6, 2026 at 10:45 AM
Depressingly, this isn't even the first time the Govt has presented dubious figures from the tech industry as their own:
The US diplomat leading on this effort is a former lawyer for Big Tobacco and tech firms: www.ft.com/content/f869... (see: www.state.gov/biographies/... )
US government to fund Maga-aligned think-tanks and charities in Europe
State department grants to spread ‘American values’ are part of Washington’s 250th anniversary celebrations
www.ft.com
February 6, 2026 at 10:41 AM
The US diplomat leading on this effort is a former lawyer for Big Tobacco and tech firms: www.ft.com/content/f869... (see: www.state.gov/biographies/... )
"In June, Downing Street rejected a request from the fair tech campaign @foxglovelegal.bsky.social to publish briefings to Starmer before his visit with Mandelson to a Palantir showroom in Washington DC...Palantir signed a £241m deal with the MoD last month." www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Calls to halt UK Palantir contracts grow amid ‘lack of transparency’ over deals
Opposition MPs urge Labour to pause public contracts with the US tech firm after attempts to examine deals blocked
www.theguardian.com
February 6, 2026 at 8:32 AM
"In June, Downing Street rejected a request from the fair tech campaign @foxglovelegal.bsky.social to publish briefings to Starmer before his visit with Mandelson to a Palantir showroom in Washington DC...Palantir signed a £241m deal with the MoD last month." www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
US diplomat Sarah Rogers is “targeting the UK’s Online Safety Act and the EU’s Digital Services Act.” Trump-Big Tech axis clearer than ever.
US government to fund Maga-aligned think-tanks and charities in Europe ft.trib.al/rg4IDIC
US government to fund Maga-aligned think-tanks and charities in Europe
State department grants to spread ‘American values’ are part of Washington’s 250th anniversary celebrations
ft.trib.al
February 6, 2026 at 8:04 AM
US diplomat Sarah Rogers is “targeting the UK’s Online Safety Act and the EU’s Digital Services Act.” Trump-Big Tech axis clearer than ever.
Reposted by Donald Campbell
If Reform-aligned 'think tanks' take money to promote 'American values', they should be honest about what those values are. The death penalty? Bullying universities? Opposition to abortion? Gleeful racism? Shooting protestors?
Then they should explain why they don't want to promote British values.
Then they should explain why they don't want to promote British values.
Remember the controversy when Obama was accused of intervening in UK politics? This is the current US government openly seeking to undermine liberal democracy in Europe.
February 6, 2026 at 7:44 AM
If Reform-aligned 'think tanks' take money to promote 'American values', they should be honest about what those values are. The death penalty? Bullying universities? Opposition to abortion? Gleeful racism? Shooting protestors?
Then they should explain why they don't want to promote British values.
Then they should explain why they don't want to promote British values.
Reposted by Donald Campbell
US government to fund Maga-aligned think-tanks and charities in Europe ft.trib.al/rg4IDIC
US government to fund Maga-aligned think-tanks and charities in Europe
State department grants to spread ‘American values’ are part of Washington’s 250th anniversary celebrations
ft.trib.al
February 5, 2026 at 11:42 PM
US government to fund Maga-aligned think-tanks and charities in Europe ft.trib.al/rg4IDIC
Reposted by Donald Campbell
Epstein had many known connections to Silicon Valley CEOs, but less known was how he made money from those relationships.
We did a deep dive into how he got dealflow in Silicon Valley, giving him shots to invest in Coinbase, Palantir, SpaceX and other companies.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/05/b...
We did a deep dive into how he got dealflow in Silicon Valley, giving him shots to invest in Coinbase, Palantir, SpaceX and other companies.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/05/b...
Jeffrey Epstein’s Money Mingled With Silicon Valley Start-Ups
www.nytimes.com
February 5, 2026 at 3:21 PM
Epstein had many known connections to Silicon Valley CEOs, but less known was how he made money from those relationships.
We did a deep dive into how he got dealflow in Silicon Valley, giving him shots to invest in Coinbase, Palantir, SpaceX and other companies.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/05/b...
We did a deep dive into how he got dealflow in Silicon Valley, giving him shots to invest in Coinbase, Palantir, SpaceX and other companies.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/05/b...
Reposted by Donald Campbell
Support our call to the UK Government for transparency over Lord Mandelson's links with Palantir - sign here: www.foxglove.org.uk/campaigns/ma...
February 5, 2026 at 4:42 PM
Support our call to the UK Government for transparency over Lord Mandelson's links with Palantir - sign here: www.foxglove.org.uk/campaigns/ma...
It still doesn't seem clear what will happen when the ISC reaches a view on what should be released - will it be released? Or will it still be the Govt's final decision, as it always is in every other circumstance involving the ISC?
Letter to the prime minister from parliament's intelligence & security committee - when will you send us the withheld Mandelson documents so we can decide whether to release them?
February 5, 2026 at 4:53 PM
It still doesn't seem clear what will happen when the ISC reaches a view on what should be released - will it be released? Or will it still be the Govt's final decision, as it always is in every other circumstance involving the ISC?
Reposted by Donald Campbell
Italian man investigated over claims he paid to shoot people during 1990s siege of Sarajevo
Italian man investigated over claims he paid to shoot people during 1990s siege of Sarajevo
Former truck driver, now 80, said to have been one of many ‘sniper tourists’ who paid Bosnian Serb soldiers to be allowed fire on city
An elderly Italian man is under investigation as part of an investigation by prosecutors in Milan into individuals who allegedly paid members of the Bosnian Serb army for trips to Sarajevo so they could kill citizens during the four-year siege of the city in the 1990s.
The 80-year-old is being investigated on charges of aggravated murder, a source close to the case told the Guardian. The man, a former truck driver from the northern Italian region of Veneto, is the first suspect to be placed under investigation since the inquiry began in November. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
February 5, 2026 at 4:38 PM
Italian man investigated over claims he paid to shoot people during 1990s siege of Sarajevo