Ed Wilson
@eddwilson.bsky.social
Lefty liberal by temperament, exasperated by experience.
Not strictly qualified for most arguments, but I do read a lot.
Stockport, UK
Not strictly qualified for most arguments, but I do read a lot.
Stockport, UK
Reposted by Ed Wilson
Reposted by Ed Wilson
The govt is refusing to commit to an inquiry into the MOD's contracts with US-based spy tech giant Palantir despite the web of shady connections between Mandelson, Epstein, and Palantir co-founder Peter Thiel - this absolutely stinks.
February 10, 2026 at 7:03 PM
The govt is refusing to commit to an inquiry into the MOD's contracts with US-based spy tech giant Palantir despite the web of shady connections between Mandelson, Epstein, and Palantir co-founder Peter Thiel - this absolutely stinks.
Reposted by Ed Wilson
Peter Mandelson's official role in Gordon Brown's government was actually not that far away from his unauthorised dealings with Jeffrey Epstein. This week's column digs up some inconvenient truths and suggests the problem is much deeper than we're told.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
There is a lot of convenient amnesia about Peter Mandelson’s New Labour days. Let’s jog some memories | George Monbiot
Yes, he betrayed the national interest in his dealings with Jeffrey Epstein – but also in his sanctioned role as enabler of corporate power, says Guardian columnist George Monbiot
www.theguardian.com
February 10, 2026 at 6:22 PM
Peter Mandelson's official role in Gordon Brown's government was actually not that far away from his unauthorised dealings with Jeffrey Epstein. This week's column digs up some inconvenient truths and suggests the problem is much deeper than we're told.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Ed Wilson
I tried to take a photo of a grasshopper on my windshield, but now it looks like a gigantic bug destroying the town.
February 10, 2026 at 6:10 AM
I tried to take a photo of a grasshopper on my windshield, but now it looks like a gigantic bug destroying the town.
Reposted by Ed Wilson
You have won a 'T-shirt' in local Newquay post office competition.
February 10, 2026 at 6:12 PM
You have won a 'T-shirt' in local Newquay post office competition.
Support for cutting taxes, and spending less on health, education and benefits, at highest level for 40 years, report says - www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...
February 10, 2026 at 6:03 PM
With @kayleendevlin.bsky.social, whose previous tanker work you should definitely read no less than a lot of:
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Dozens of sanctioned Russian tankers navigate Channel despite UK vow of 'assertive' action
Some 42 sanctioned tankers has passed through the Channel since 11 January, a BBC Verify analysis finds.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 10, 2026 at 5:57 PM
Tuesday morning update, Aquila II bound for Singapore: www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cg...
February 10, 2026 at 5:57 PM
The US has seized another sanctioned oil tanker, this time in the Indian Ocean: www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c0...
February 10, 2026 at 5:57 PM
Labour says its increasing funding in London.
What they aren't telling you is their numbers include YOUR COUNCIL TAX.
So it's not more money for our councils - in most of Inner London, it's actually going down per head.
It's a sham and I will keep calling it out.
What they aren't telling you is their numbers include YOUR COUNCIL TAX.
So it's not more money for our councils - in most of Inner London, it's actually going down per head.
It's a sham and I will keep calling it out.
February 10, 2026 at 5:56 PM
I wrote on Russia's cyber-attack against Poland's energy system in December, why it suggests a more aggressive Russian approach to disrupting critical infrastructure in Europe, and why the involvement of the FSB, Russia's security service, is bad news. www.economist.com/europe/2026/...
Russia’s sabotage campaign is becoming bolder
Hacks against Polish energy plants suggest the FSB is involved
www.economist.com
February 10, 2026 at 5:55 PM
I'm sorry, I feel for any family dealing with a kidnapping, but what the hell has the Nancy Guthrie case got to do with us?
There are thousands of kidnappings in Pakistan, for example, but they're not from rich families.
edm.parliament.uk/early-day-mo...
#BBCPM
There are thousands of kidnappings in Pakistan, for example, but they're not from rich families.
edm.parliament.uk/early-day-mo...
#BBCPM
February 10, 2026 at 5:51 PM
I'm sorry, I feel for any family dealing with a kidnapping, but what the hell has the Nancy Guthrie case got to do with us?
There are thousands of kidnappings in Pakistan, for example, but they're not from rich families.
edm.parliament.uk/early-day-mo...
#BBCPM
There are thousands of kidnappings in Pakistan, for example, but they're not from rich families.
edm.parliament.uk/early-day-mo...
#BBCPM
February 10, 2026 at 5:50 PM
"Britain has been gradually slipping down the rankings since 2015, falling from the seventh-placed country to 20th in 2025, with a score of 70 out of 100, down from 71 in last year’s report."
www.transparency.org/en/cpi/2025
#WATO #PoliticsLIve
www.transparency.org/en/cpi/2025
#WATO #PoliticsLIve
Corruption Perceptions Index 2025
The Corruption Perceptions Index 2025 ranks 182 countries by their perceived levels of public sector corruption. Find out the scores and read our analysis.
www.transparency.org
February 10, 2026 at 5:45 PM
We know there's a BBC Persian Service, Evan Davis, because people like you keep quoting it.
And this isn't the first time Lyse Doucet has been into Iran on condition that none of her material is broadcast on that service.
#BBCPM
And this isn't the first time Lyse Doucet has been into Iran on condition that none of her material is broadcast on that service.
#BBCPM
February 10, 2026 at 5:24 PM
We know there's a BBC Persian Service, Evan Davis, because people like you keep quoting it.
And this isn't the first time Lyse Doucet has been into Iran on condition that none of her material is broadcast on that service.
#BBCPM
And this isn't the first time Lyse Doucet has been into Iran on condition that none of her material is broadcast on that service.
#BBCPM
Rep. Delia Ramirez to DHS officials: "I have as much respect for you as I do for the last white men who put on masks to terrorize communities of color. I have no respect for the inheritors of the Klanhood and the slave patrol. Those activities were criminal and so are yours."
February 10, 2026 at 5:22 PM
Starmer nominated [Doyle] for a peerage in December - despite knowing Matthew Doyle campaigned for a councillor... charged with child sex offences... No 10 investigated Mr Doyle's continued support of [a] councillor... charged with possessing and distributing indecent images of children
#R4Today
#R4Today
Former No 10 spin doctor joins House of Lords despite row over links to paedophile | LBC
Sir Keir Starmer nominated his former aide for a peerage in December - despite knowing Matthew Doyle campaigned for a councillor who had been charged with child sex offences
www.lbc.co.uk
February 10, 2026 at 5:20 PM
"perhaps, in an age of kompromat and hybrid warfare, we should vet our politicians as well?"
A fair amount of nonsense has been written and said about the "security vetting" process for Mandelson's appointment. I wrote about what "Developed Vetting" really involves and why it's perfectly possible that it found nothing useful about Mandelson.
arthursnell.substack.com/p/the-vettin...
arthursnell.substack.com/p/the-vettin...
The Vetting Myth
Understanding the realities of Mandelson's pre-appointment checks
arthursnell.substack.com
February 10, 2026 at 4:51 PM
"perhaps, in an age of kompromat and hybrid warfare, we should vet our politicians as well?"
Jake Berry complains that the minimum wage has been increased for younger people.
Did he object when his Conservative colleagues did that?
#PoliticsLive
Did he object when his Conservative colleagues did that?
#PoliticsLive
February 10, 2026 at 2:42 PM
Jake Berry complains that the minimum wage has been increased for younger people.
Did he object when his Conservative colleagues did that?
#PoliticsLive
Did he object when his Conservative colleagues did that?
#PoliticsLive
"Increasing the cost of employment" can be considered relative to
- the current cost of employment is right
- the cost of employment should be zero
The debate should be a bit more intellligent than this.
#PoliticsLive
- the current cost of employment is right
- the cost of employment should be zero
The debate should be a bit more intellligent than this.
#PoliticsLive
February 10, 2026 at 2:39 PM
"Increasing the cost of employment" can be considered relative to
- the current cost of employment is right
- the cost of employment should be zero
The debate should be a bit more intellligent than this.
#PoliticsLive
- the current cost of employment is right
- the cost of employment should be zero
The debate should be a bit more intellligent than this.
#PoliticsLive
Palantir's contract with the NHS was awarded by the Tories, but if there is a break clause with a review this year, that's an opportunity.
#PoliticsLve
#PoliticsLve
£240m. With no tender. Palantir.
I wrote to Wes Streeting last week demanding answers.
Every day without any transparency deepens the scandal.
Palantir out.
I wrote to Wes Streeting last week demanding answers.
Every day without any transparency deepens the scandal.
Palantir out.
Mandelson’s malign influence runs right through the heart of this Government.
Not least in the govt’s NHS data deal with Palantir – a spy-tech firm co-founded by a man who thinks the NHS should be ‘ripped up.’
I've written to Wes Streeting urging him to ditch this dangerous deal.
Not least in the govt’s NHS data deal with Palantir – a spy-tech firm co-founded by a man who thinks the NHS should be ‘ripped up.’
I've written to Wes Streeting urging him to ditch this dangerous deal.
February 10, 2026 at 2:33 PM
Palantir's contract with the NHS was awarded by the Tories, but if there is a break clause with a review this year, that's an opportunity.
#PoliticsLve
#PoliticsLve
Reform is threatening Bangor University over a student society’s decision. The society isn’t Bangor University—but this is a neat preview of how a Reform government would work: public money for supporters only. Trump-style politics, UK edition.
Authoritarian reflex is already working just fine.👇
Authoritarian reflex is already working just fine.👇
February 10, 2026 at 2:24 PM
"The government can’t afford another era where standards are optional, and scrutiny is dismissed as an inconvenience. Trust in politics is already hanging by a thread."
#PoliticsLive
#PoliticsLive
👇My call for urgent reform following the Mandelson scandal.
The system is broken, but here are some ways we can fix it.
The system is broken, but here are some ways we can fix it.
The government must now make ethics reform a top priority
Ethics reform can't be seen as a secondary concern or a nice-to-have. For my party, it is existential – and the government must embrace it.
www.politicshome.com
February 10, 2026 at 2:19 PM
"The government can’t afford another era where standards are optional, and scrutiny is dismissed as an inconvenience. Trust in politics is already hanging by a thread."
#PoliticsLive
#PoliticsLive
The former chair of the UK Conservative party has recommended "finding out from Google" as the way to truth.
You have to work a bit harder than that, Mr Berry.
#PoliticsLive
You have to work a bit harder than that, Mr Berry.
#PoliticsLive
February 10, 2026 at 2:15 PM
The former chair of the UK Conservative party has recommended "finding out from Google" as the way to truth.
You have to work a bit harder than that, Mr Berry.
#PoliticsLive
You have to work a bit harder than that, Mr Berry.
#PoliticsLive