James Elsender
@jameselsender.bsky.social
30-something. Enjoy running 🏃♂️ & cooking 👨🍳. Getting married in 2025. Apparently, I'm now a cat 🐈 & a dog 🐕 person. Nerd 🤓.
Reposted by James Elsender
Do we really have to do an America and allow ourselves to be gaslit into a Reform govt and all the ugly carnage that entails? Please god can we not fall into the same trap just because we couldn’t be arsed to think or care enough.
February 7, 2026 at 11:42 AM
Do we really have to do an America and allow ourselves to be gaslit into a Reform govt and all the ugly carnage that entails? Please god can we not fall into the same trap just because we couldn’t be arsed to think or care enough.
Gotta say, arguing that allowing so-called think tanks to keep their funding opaque will "advance democratic engagement" takes some serious brass neck.
Baroness Finn, stating that this would "risk a disproportionate intrusion into civil society", asks minister to confirm that the "current arrangements" will not change, but gets a strong response from Anderson:
February 5, 2026 at 8:50 PM
Gotta say, arguing that allowing so-called think tanks to keep their funding opaque will "advance democratic engagement" takes some serious brass neck.
Now entering that time once every 4 years where we all become Curling experts 🥌
February 5, 2026 at 9:49 AM
Now entering that time once every 4 years where we all become Curling experts 🥌
Reposted by James Elsender
Good to see MPs raising pertinent questions about this conflict of interest over government dealings with Palantir.
I remember investigating this for Good Law Project back in April and being told in response to FOIs that no paper trail was kept from Starmer and Mandelson’s visit to Palantir’s HQ.
I remember investigating this for Good Law Project back in April and being told in response to FOIs that no paper trail was kept from Starmer and Mandelson’s visit to Palantir’s HQ.
“Peter Mandelson has a clear conflict of interest – and the failure to keep a minute of the meeting he arranged for the PM shows a kind of contempt for the public interest.”
From April last year – how Mandelson’s embassy fixed a meeting for Mandelson’s client Palantir:
https://goodlaw.social/nszl
From April last year – how Mandelson’s embassy fixed a meeting for Mandelson’s client Palantir:
https://goodlaw.social/nszl
Mandelson’s embassy fixed Starmer’s visit to spytech firm | Good Law Project
The British Ambassador to the United States is at the centre of a web connecting Palantir and the prime minister. But what did they all discuss?
goodlaw.social
February 4, 2026 at 8:24 PM
Good to see MPs raising pertinent questions about this conflict of interest over government dealings with Palantir.
I remember investigating this for Good Law Project back in April and being told in response to FOIs that no paper trail was kept from Starmer and Mandelson’s visit to Palantir’s HQ.
I remember investigating this for Good Law Project back in April and being told in response to FOIs that no paper trail was kept from Starmer and Mandelson’s visit to Palantir’s HQ.
Reposted by James Elsender
Be amazing if occasionally when rich people do bad things we did more than take away their titles.
Sir Fred Goodwin
Baroness Mone
Lord Mandelson
Prince Andrew
Like who’s going to JAIL?
Sir Fred Goodwin
Baroness Mone
Lord Mandelson
Prince Andrew
Like who’s going to JAIL?
February 3, 2026 at 3:39 PM
Be amazing if occasionally when rich people do bad things we did more than take away their titles.
Sir Fred Goodwin
Baroness Mone
Lord Mandelson
Prince Andrew
Like who’s going to JAIL?
Sir Fred Goodwin
Baroness Mone
Lord Mandelson
Prince Andrew
Like who’s going to JAIL?
Reposted by James Elsender
Abolish investment real estate. Homes should be for people and families not for people who can already afford their own home but want more money and push rents up to the top limit of what the market will tolerate and force people to share homes, have three side hustles to afford rent, etc.
February 1, 2026 at 7:30 PM
Abolish investment real estate. Homes should be for people and families not for people who can already afford their own home but want more money and push rents up to the top limit of what the market will tolerate and force people to share homes, have three side hustles to afford rent, etc.
Reposted by James Elsender
1. In 2009 I wrote this. I argued that Peter Mandelson's department “functions as a fifth column within government, working for corporations to undermine democracy and the public interest.”
This thread explains what I saw, and reaches a startling conclusion.🧵
www.monbiot.com/2009/05/04/m...
This thread explains what I saw, and reaches a startling conclusion.🧵
www.monbiot.com/2009/05/04/m...
Mandelson’s Fifth Column
The British government’s business department exists to undermine democracy.
www.monbiot.com
February 3, 2026 at 7:32 AM
1. In 2009 I wrote this. I argued that Peter Mandelson's department “functions as a fifth column within government, working for corporations to undermine democracy and the public interest.”
This thread explains what I saw, and reaches a startling conclusion.🧵
www.monbiot.com/2009/05/04/m...
This thread explains what I saw, and reaches a startling conclusion.🧵
www.monbiot.com/2009/05/04/m...
Labour should really think about standing down to avoid splitting the vote and risk letting reform uk in.
Then they should get on with electoral reform to proportional representation that their members voted for a few years ago.
Then they should get on with electoral reform to proportional representation that their members voted for a few years ago.
Labour MPs are admitting they don’t want to go and campaign in the Gorton & Denton by-election because they know they are going to lose.
February 1, 2026 at 11:22 AM
Labour should really think about standing down to avoid splitting the vote and risk letting reform uk in.
Then they should get on with electoral reform to proportional representation that their members voted for a few years ago.
Then they should get on with electoral reform to proportional representation that their members voted for a few years ago.
Reposted by James Elsender
Oh, and
4. Despite the demand for proportional representation from Labour members, Starmer won't change
our ridiculous First Past the Post system. So he's in no position to blame anyone for "splitting the vote".
share.google/buxD1tZ5BfKk...
4. Despite the demand for proportional representation from Labour members, Starmer won't change
our ridiculous First Past the Post system. So he's in no position to blame anyone for "splitting the vote".
share.google/buxD1tZ5BfKk...
January 30, 2026 at 3:55 PM
Oh, and
4. Despite the demand for proportional representation from Labour members, Starmer won't change
our ridiculous First Past the Post system. So he's in no position to blame anyone for "splitting the vote".
share.google/buxD1tZ5BfKk...
4. Despite the demand for proportional representation from Labour members, Starmer won't change
our ridiculous First Past the Post system. So he's in no position to blame anyone for "splitting the vote".
share.google/buxD1tZ5BfKk...
Reposted by James Elsender
90,000 properties in England/Wales are owned by offshore companies. Almost half unlawfully hide their true ownership
We've found them, mapped them, and published everything
▶️ This 60-second video shows how to find secretly owned property near you
📊 Details & stats below
We've found them, mapped them, and published everything
▶️ This 60-second video shows how to find secretly owned property near you
📊 Details & stats below
January 29, 2026 at 12:46 PM
90,000 properties in England/Wales are owned by offshore companies. Almost half unlawfully hide their true ownership
We've found them, mapped them, and published everything
▶️ This 60-second video shows how to find secretly owned property near you
📊 Details & stats below
We've found them, mapped them, and published everything
▶️ This 60-second video shows how to find secretly owned property near you
📊 Details & stats below
Reposted by James Elsender
Quick iconic comic cover edit to laud Ilhan Omar.
January 28, 2026 at 3:59 AM
Quick iconic comic cover edit to laud Ilhan Omar.
Reposted by James Elsender
This is how the BBC is reporting Matt Goodwin's selection as Reform's candidate in Gorton and Denton.
He's not an academic. He holds no academic position and hasn't done for quite some time.
He's not an academic. He holds no academic position and hasn't done for quite some time.
January 27, 2026 at 2:44 PM
This is how the BBC is reporting Matt Goodwin's selection as Reform's candidate in Gorton and Denton.
He's not an academic. He holds no academic position and hasn't done for quite some time.
He's not an academic. He holds no academic position and hasn't done for quite some time.
Just brilliant.
As always comedy, satire and laughter are an excellent way to combat tyranny and fascism.
As always comedy, satire and laughter are an excellent way to combat tyranny and fascism.
January 27, 2026 at 11:37 AM
Just brilliant.
As always comedy, satire and laughter are an excellent way to combat tyranny and fascism.
As always comedy, satire and laughter are an excellent way to combat tyranny and fascism.
Reposted by James Elsender
National insurance hike and energy bills behind food price rise, say UK retailers.
No mention of the role of private equity ownership of supermarkets, restaurants and pubs. No mention of profiteering, exec pay, dividends or profit shifting to dodge taxes.
No mention of the role of private equity ownership of supermarkets, restaurants and pubs. No mention of profiteering, exec pay, dividends or profit shifting to dodge taxes.
National insurance hike and energy bills behind food price rise, say UK retailers
Latest BRC figures show year-on-year rate of increase was 3.9% in January, up from 3.3% the month before
www.theguardian.com
January 27, 2026 at 11:22 AM
National insurance hike and energy bills behind food price rise, say UK retailers.
No mention of the role of private equity ownership of supermarkets, restaurants and pubs. No mention of profiteering, exec pay, dividends or profit shifting to dodge taxes.
No mention of the role of private equity ownership of supermarkets, restaurants and pubs. No mention of profiteering, exec pay, dividends or profit shifting to dodge taxes.
Reposted by James Elsender
And yet they claim they represent change
January 26, 2026 at 3:42 PM
And yet they claim they represent change
Another good example of why reform are where they are in polls - the right wing media keep writing/talking them up without the most basic journalistic scrutiny.
The defection of Suella Braverman, who was sacked twice from Government in disgrace, spent £700m of taxpayers' money to send four volunteers to Rwanda on a deportation scheme that was then scrapped and has a public approval rating of minus 32 is currently being described as a "major coup" for Reform
January 26, 2026 at 2:50 PM
Another good example of why reform are where they are in polls - the right wing media keep writing/talking them up without the most basic journalistic scrutiny.
Reposted by James Elsender
Two things to learn from this.
1. The rightwing newspapers are lobby groups whose purpose is to advance the class interest of their proprietors.
2. Lobbyists for the rich and powerful lose their jobs if they are not prepared to lie.
www.carbonbrief.org/analysis-uk-...
1. The rightwing newspapers are lobby groups whose purpose is to advance the class interest of their proprietors.
2. Lobbyists for the rich and powerful lose their jobs if they are not prepared to lie.
www.carbonbrief.org/analysis-uk-...
Analysis: UK newspaper editorial opposition to climate action overtakes support for first time - Carbon Brief
Nearly 100 UK newspaper editorials opposed climate action in 2025, a record figure that reveals the backlash against net-zero in the right-leaning press
www.carbonbrief.org
January 26, 2026 at 12:53 PM
Two things to learn from this.
1. The rightwing newspapers are lobby groups whose purpose is to advance the class interest of their proprietors.
2. Lobbyists for the rich and powerful lose their jobs if they are not prepared to lie.
www.carbonbrief.org/analysis-uk-...
1. The rightwing newspapers are lobby groups whose purpose is to advance the class interest of their proprietors.
2. Lobbyists for the rich and powerful lose their jobs if they are not prepared to lie.
www.carbonbrief.org/analysis-uk-...
This is so spot on.
A reminder to the news media: “conflicting accounts” is what you say BEFORE the incontrovertible video evidence appears. After that, your job is to ask why one side is lying, not to repeat the lie and pretend no one knows the truth.
January 25, 2026 at 1:44 PM
This is so spot on.
Reposted by James Elsender
A reminder to the news media: “conflicting accounts” is what you say BEFORE the incontrovertible video evidence appears. After that, your job is to ask why one side is lying, not to repeat the lie and pretend no one knows the truth.
January 25, 2026 at 12:28 PM
A reminder to the news media: “conflicting accounts” is what you say BEFORE the incontrovertible video evidence appears. After that, your job is to ask why one side is lying, not to repeat the lie and pretend no one knows the truth.
Reposted by James Elsender
Are you filled with righteous anger about Donald Trump's fascism in the States? Good, but not enough. Now, make it your personal responsibility to ensure Nigel Farage never gets to introduce it here.
January 22, 2026 at 7:49 AM
Are you filled with righteous anger about Donald Trump's fascism in the States? Good, but not enough. Now, make it your personal responsibility to ensure Nigel Farage never gets to introduce it here.
Reposted by James Elsender
Board of Peace - Season 1
January 24, 2026 at 7:45 AM
Board of Peace - Season 1
Reposted by James Elsender
And yet the two parties are first and second in the polls and command nearly 50% vote share.
Too many people don't understand what they're voting for in this country. I believe the hideously RW majority media is a big part of the problem.
Too many people don't understand what they're voting for in this country. I believe the hideously RW majority media is a big part of the problem.
January 23, 2026 at 12:15 PM
And yet the two parties are first and second in the polls and command nearly 50% vote share.
Too many people don't understand what they're voting for in this country. I believe the hideously RW majority media is a big part of the problem.
Too many people don't understand what they're voting for in this country. I believe the hideously RW majority media is a big part of the problem.
Reposted by James Elsender
Reposted by James Elsender
He also said Brexit would be great, Trump would be good for us, he’d help the people of Clacton, the Tory party are awful (then took in all their worst people), broke parliamentary rules & allowed a traitor to run the Welsh Reform party, so let’s stop listening to what this prick says eh
January 21, 2026 at 6:24 PM
He also said Brexit would be great, Trump would be good for us, he’d help the people of Clacton, the Tory party are awful (then took in all their worst people), broke parliamentary rules & allowed a traitor to run the Welsh Reform party, so let’s stop listening to what this prick says eh
Reposted by James Elsender
So you might as well vote for what you actually want. Many people don’t know that all those votes in losing constituencies are added up and used to calculate how much Short Money the party gets. commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-bri...
Short Money
Short Money is allocated to opposition parties to support them in their parliamentary duties. Allocations are based on a party’s performance at the previous election.
commonslibrary.parliament.uk
January 21, 2026 at 10:35 PM
So you might as well vote for what you actually want. Many people don’t know that all those votes in losing constituencies are added up and used to calculate how much Short Money the party gets. commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-bri...