Graham Simpson
@grahambs.bsky.social
Advocate of proportional representation and progressive politics. Humanist. Anti Brexit! Anti Trump! @libdems.org.uk
Pinned
Graham Simpson
@grahambs.bsky.social
· Sep 12
It’s time for a politics, free of vested interests, free of dogma, free of corruption, free of populist easy answers to complicated questions. A politics which puts justice, the individual and the community ahead of narrow self interest. A politics based on evidence, rationality and compassion. Now!
Trump removes video with racist clip depicting Obamas as apes - Even the BBC acknowledges it as racist! If the British government continues to treat him as anything approaching respectable then they should be ashamed!
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk
February 6, 2026 at 6:10 PM
Trump removes video with racist clip depicting Obamas as apes - Even the BBC acknowledges it as racist! If the British government continues to treat him as anything approaching respectable then they should be ashamed!
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Racist and disgusting! When will Americans stop accepting Trump’s offensive behaviour?
news.sky.com/story/donald...
news.sky.com/story/donald...
Donald Trump accused of 'disgusting behaviour' after sharing image of Obamas as apes
The White House defended the post, saying it was part of a longer meme depicting various politicians as different animals.
news.sky.com
February 6, 2026 at 4:39 PM
Racist and disgusting! When will Americans stop accepting Trump’s offensive behaviour?
news.sky.com/story/donald...
news.sky.com/story/donald...
The US gov will fund Europe’s far right. Musk amplify their voices on X. This has to be challenged!
EXC: US State dept is set to fund Maga-aligned think-tanks and charities in UK/ Europe to amplify Washington’s policy stances and challenge perceived threats to free speech
W/ @annasophiegross.bsky.social, @oilsheppard.bsky.social & Amy McKinnon
as.ft.com/r/98452b33-5...
W/ @annasophiegross.bsky.social, @oilsheppard.bsky.social & Amy McKinnon
as.ft.com/r/98452b33-5...
US government to fund Maga-aligned think-tanks and charities in Europe
[FREE TO READ] State department grants to spread ‘American values’ are part of Washington’s 250th anniversary celebrations
as.ft.com
February 6, 2026 at 4:16 PM
The US gov will fund Europe’s far right. Musk amplify their voices on X. This has to be challenged!
Last September @eddavey.libdems.org.uk asked Starmer why Mandelson was appointed ambassador when his continuing association with Epstein was known. It took till very recently for Starmer to do anything about it.
Months ago, @eddavey.libdems.org.uk asked the Prime Minister a simple question: why did he keep backing Mandelson despite his Epstein links, and what leverage might the Trump administration have over him?
Instead of answering, he waved it away.
Instead of answering, he waved it away.
February 6, 2026 at 10:06 AM
Last September @eddavey.libdems.org.uk asked Starmer why Mandelson was appointed ambassador when his continuing association with Epstein was known. It took till very recently for Starmer to do anything about it.
Reposted by Graham Simpson
My read tonight including what I think is an growing belief among the 2024 intake that none of current options for leadership are up to it, and they are starting to look among their own ranks
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
‘If someone had pulled the trigger’: MPs rue lack of challenger to oust Starmer
PM clings to power after a day when Commons mutiny filled the air, as fallout over Mandelson appointment continues
www.theguardian.com
February 5, 2026 at 10:52 PM
My read tonight including what I think is an growing belief among the 2024 intake that none of current options for leadership are up to it, and they are starting to look among their own ranks
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Graham Simpson
Remember when Jackie Kennedy made a documentary showing us the White House? She didn’t make a penny from that.
Melania Trump is set to personally bag at least $28 million from her deal with Amazon- just part of a $40 million licensing agreement for the film
How low we have been taken
Melania Trump is set to personally bag at least $28 million from her deal with Amazon- just part of a $40 million licensing agreement for the film
How low we have been taken
February 6, 2026 at 2:47 AM
Remember when Jackie Kennedy made a documentary showing us the White House? She didn’t make a penny from that.
Melania Trump is set to personally bag at least $28 million from her deal with Amazon- just part of a $40 million licensing agreement for the film
How low we have been taken
Melania Trump is set to personally bag at least $28 million from her deal with Amazon- just part of a $40 million licensing agreement for the film
How low we have been taken
Reposted by Graham Simpson
Polish Politician Włodzimierz Czarzasty,
"President Trump is destabilizing the situation in these organizations by representing the politics of force and using force to pursue a transactional policy"
"This is a violation of policy, principles, values and often a violation of international law"
"President Trump is destabilizing the situation in these organizations by representing the politics of force and using force to pursue a transactional policy"
"This is a violation of policy, principles, values and often a violation of international law"
February 6, 2026 at 9:40 AM
Polish Politician Włodzimierz Czarzasty,
"President Trump is destabilizing the situation in these organizations by representing the politics of force and using force to pursue a transactional policy"
"This is a violation of policy, principles, values and often a violation of international law"
"President Trump is destabilizing the situation in these organizations by representing the politics of force and using force to pursue a transactional policy"
"This is a violation of policy, principles, values and often a violation of international law"
Never again do I want to hear our Prime Minister liking and respecting the overtly racist Donald Trump…
February 6, 2026 at 9:51 AM
Never again do I want to hear our Prime Minister liking and respecting the overtly racist Donald Trump…
Reposted by Graham Simpson
If Jeff Bezos could afford to spend $75 million on the Melania movie & $500 million for a yacht to sail off to his $55 million wedding to give his wife a $5 million ring, please don't tell me he needed to fire one-third of the Washington Post staff.
Democracy dies in oligarchy.
Democracy dies in oligarchy.
February 5, 2026 at 12:16 AM
If Jeff Bezos could afford to spend $75 million on the Melania movie & $500 million for a yacht to sail off to his $55 million wedding to give his wife a $5 million ring, please don't tell me he needed to fire one-third of the Washington Post staff.
Democracy dies in oligarchy.
Democracy dies in oligarchy.
Reposted by Graham Simpson
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
The malign influence of Trump’s America. Giving help and money to the far right in Europe…
Senior state department official Sarah Rogers travelled to European cities in December and has spoken to key figures in Nigel Farage’s populist Reform UK party about deploying grants to spread ‘American values’. ft.trib.al/Kx8ta8a
February 6, 2026 at 7:01 AM
The malign influence of Trump’s America. Giving help and money to the far right in Europe…
“Where is the great electoral reform to ensure never again a result like last time – 34% of the vote winning 63% of seats? Where is Lords reform? With three years still on the clock and a massive unearned majority, it’s time for Labour to start all over again” P
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
It’s tragic that a decent PM will be brought down by Mandelson’s sleaze – but it’s a matter of when, not if | Polly Toynbee
With three years left and a huge majority, Labour can govern with more humility and deliver real change. But with Starmer at the helm? I can’t see it, says Guardian columnist Polly Toynbee
www.theguardian.com
February 6, 2026 at 6:35 AM
“Where is the great electoral reform to ensure never again a result like last time – 34% of the vote winning 63% of seats? Where is Lords reform? With three years still on the clock and a massive unearned majority, it’s time for Labour to start all over again” P
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
He’s not well…
Trump at National Prayer Breakfast: "They rigged the second election. I had to win it. I needed it for my own ego. I would've had a bad ego for the rest of my life. Now I really have a big ego. Beating these lunatics was incredible ... The first time they said I didn't win the popular vote. I did"
February 5, 2026 at 9:51 PM
He’s not well…
“Starmer apologised but his regret is expressed in self-exculpatory terms – contrition for having been deceived into allowing Mandelson’s appointment. As if the salient offence that needs addressing is a fraud perpetrated against the PM” says @theguardian.com
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
The Guardian view on Downing Street in crisis: Keir Starmer’s judgment looks fatally flawed | Editorial
Editorial: The prime minister has said sorry for believing Peter Mandelson’s lies – but the Epstein connection should have been disqualification enough
www.theguardian.com
February 5, 2026 at 8:24 PM
“Starmer apologised but his regret is expressed in self-exculpatory terms – contrition for having been deceived into allowing Mandelson’s appointment. As if the salient offence that needs addressing is a fraud perpetrated against the PM” says @theguardian.com
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Parliament revamp could cost £40bn and take 61 years - What a ridiculous waste of money! We need a purpose built Parliament with a debating chamber in the shape of a horseshoe, a seat and desk for every member, electronic voting and so much more.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Parliament revamp could cost £40bn and take 61 years
MPs and peers are presented with two renovation options and told to make a decision by the mid-2030s.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 5, 2026 at 5:19 PM
Parliament revamp could cost £40bn and take 61 years - What a ridiculous waste of money! We need a purpose built Parliament with a debating chamber in the shape of a horseshoe, a seat and desk for every member, electronic voting and so much more.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Lovely Brexit!
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Warning of long airport queues under new EU border control system
Airport organisation says queues could last up to six hours over the summer holidays.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 5, 2026 at 4:01 PM
Lovely Brexit!
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Graham Simpson
Exactly this. Starmer’s position is so bad because, even with his defence of being lied to, the question ‘what is the only acceptable degree of past intimacy with Epstein in a potential ambassador?’ demanded the answer ‘zero’.
Isn’t the point that you shouldn’t be mates with a convicted child sex offender anyway? Like the depth and the money should be add-ons
February 5, 2026 at 12:44 PM
Exactly this. Starmer’s position is so bad because, even with his defence of being lied to, the question ‘what is the only acceptable degree of past intimacy with Epstein in a potential ambassador?’ demanded the answer ‘zero’.
Reposted by Graham Simpson
At this point, punching down on your own side is pathological.
Keir Starmer attacks the racism of Reform and Matt Goodwin but then adds that "Britain has also been let down by a mindset on the left of politics that is too slow to defend core British values"
February 5, 2026 at 11:35 AM
At this point, punching down on your own side is pathological.
Reposted by Graham Simpson
Doesn't seem like the best day for Starmer to reheat "you lefties [on the backbenches/in the Labour membership/in the Labour electorate] just don't get it" Blue Labour type arguments?
Keir Starmer attacks the racism of Reform and Matt Goodwin but then adds that "Britain has also been let down by a mindset on the left of politics that is too slow to defend core British values"
February 5, 2026 at 11:49 AM
Doesn't seem like the best day for Starmer to reheat "you lefties [on the backbenches/in the Labour membership/in the Labour electorate] just don't get it" Blue Labour type arguments?
Reposted by Graham Simpson
If you were looking for an exposition of what British values *could* be you could do a lot worse than Ian McKellen wielding Shakespeare like a rapier.
Sir Ian McKellen performing a monologue from Shakespeare’s Sir Thomas More on the Stephen Colbert show. Never have I heard this monologue performed with such a keen sense of prescience. Nor have I ever been in this exact historical moment.TY Sir Ian, for reaching us once again.
#Pinks #ProudBlue
#Pinks #ProudBlue
February 5, 2026 at 1:13 PM
If you were looking for an exposition of what British values *could* be you could do a lot worse than Ian McKellen wielding Shakespeare like a rapier.
Reposted by Graham Simpson
This, for me, is the decisive argument for getting rid of FPTP: voters, activists, and strategists will effectively be going into the next election blind, and a lot of the results will feel basically random
Looking at the Gorton and Denton contest is like a foretaste of a GE where voters are given multiple messages, ‘only X party can win here’ based on - often - relatively poor data and bewildering changes in the national picture 🤯. I’m concerned about how we could provide decent information.
February 3, 2026 at 1:13 PM
This, for me, is the decisive argument for getting rid of FPTP: voters, activists, and strategists will effectively be going into the next election blind, and a lot of the results will feel basically random
Reposted by Graham Simpson
What is the point of Keir Starmer staying as prime minister?
February 5, 2026 at 8:19 AM
What is the point of Keir Starmer staying as prime minister?
You get the feeling Starmer has little support in the party and he has little understanding of the culture and ethos of the party. Plus he isn’t a very good politician, in fact he rejects politics and ‘ideas’.
The PM is clearly morally compromised by his decision to appoint Mandelson despite all he knew about him. Perhaps the only thing that stands a chance of restoring some modicum of the public's shattered trust in this country's politics and political class is him doing the decent thing and resigning.
Chris Mason: Starmer can ill afford any more days like these
Starmer is furious with Mandelson, and the mood among many Labour MPs is darkening, the BBC's political editor writes.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 5, 2026 at 8:14 AM
You get the feeling Starmer has little support in the party and he has little understanding of the culture and ethos of the party. Plus he isn’t a very good politician, in fact he rejects politics and ‘ideas’.