James O'Flynn
@jamesoflynn.bsky.social
Opinionated Yorkshireman. Sharing someone else's post may not reflect my opinion. Posts don't represent views of any employer, organisation or official position.
Youngest daughter is going on a school trip to watch the Royal Ballet perform The Nutcracker today. On public transport.
My wife is very jealous she's going to see Royal Ballet The Nutcracker.
I'm just extremely relieved it's not my job to supervise a load of small children in hi-vis on The Tube.
My wife is very jealous she's going to see Royal Ballet The Nutcracker.
I'm just extremely relieved it's not my job to supervise a load of small children in hi-vis on The Tube.
November 26, 2025 at 12:56 PM
Youngest daughter is going on a school trip to watch the Royal Ballet perform The Nutcracker today. On public transport.
My wife is very jealous she's going to see Royal Ballet The Nutcracker.
I'm just extremely relieved it's not my job to supervise a load of small children in hi-vis on The Tube.
My wife is very jealous she's going to see Royal Ballet The Nutcracker.
I'm just extremely relieved it's not my job to supervise a load of small children in hi-vis on The Tube.
That the OBR report has been put on the website early by mistake really does sum up what a total shit show this all has been.
#budget2025
#budget2025
November 26, 2025 at 12:03 PM
That the OBR report has been put on the website early by mistake really does sum up what a total shit show this all has been.
#budget2025
#budget2025
I was with businesses months ago who were saying how much uncertainty & reluctance to invest (even small scale investment like a few hundred quid or a couple of grand on a small machine) there was because of all the kite flying and speculation.
There should be a period of purdah before budget day.
There should be a period of purdah before budget day.
I don't think we should know even one thing about the Budget until the chancellor gets to the despatch box on the day, surprise us
November 26, 2025 at 11:08 AM
I was with businesses months ago who were saying how much uncertainty & reluctance to invest (even small scale investment like a few hundred quid or a couple of grand on a small machine) there was because of all the kite flying and speculation.
There should be a period of purdah before budget day.
There should be a period of purdah before budget day.
This & more of this.
'Of course disabled people should be supported so they can participate in society, but only in a way that enables normies to look down in pity at the lepers they are.'
This is in no way a fiscal policy, but simply a vindictive framing to pander to malicious rage bait.
'Of course disabled people should be supported so they can participate in society, but only in a way that enables normies to look down in pity at the lepers they are.'
This is in no way a fiscal policy, but simply a vindictive framing to pander to malicious rage bait.
Don’t want to be too moralistic about this, but it is an active disgrace what people are doing to a profoundly liberational scheme that costs relatively piddling amounts on the basis of a couple of right wing shitposters misrepresenting it on Twitter.
November 25, 2025 at 7:52 PM
This & more of this.
'Of course disabled people should be supported so they can participate in society, but only in a way that enables normies to look down in pity at the lepers they are.'
This is in no way a fiscal policy, but simply a vindictive framing to pander to malicious rage bait.
'Of course disabled people should be supported so they can participate in society, but only in a way that enables normies to look down in pity at the lepers they are.'
This is in no way a fiscal policy, but simply a vindictive framing to pander to malicious rage bait.
Just watched someone get IDd.
Turns out she's 30.
Thirty years on this God forsaken planet and somehow still not looking so haggard she still gets asked for ID to buy a lighter.
The bitch.
Turns out she's 30.
Thirty years on this God forsaken planet and somehow still not looking so haggard she still gets asked for ID to buy a lighter.
The bitch.
November 25, 2025 at 6:50 PM
Just watched someone get IDd.
Turns out she's 30.
Thirty years on this God forsaken planet and somehow still not looking so haggard she still gets asked for ID to buy a lighter.
The bitch.
Turns out she's 30.
Thirty years on this God forsaken planet and somehow still not looking so haggard she still gets asked for ID to buy a lighter.
The bitch.
I'd offer this as exhibit 2375 that Britain has lost its mind, but I'm increasingly convinced (or desperate to believe) the vast majority of this shit is a combo of bots and a very vocal, but relatively small rabble that doesn't live anywhere near Inverness, if they actually are in Britain at all.
Inverness school's Christmas show cancelled after 'racist' abuse
Inverness school's Christmas show cancelled after 'racist' abuse
Highland Council says some of the online messages were directed at staff at the primary.
www.bbc.com
November 25, 2025 at 12:12 PM
I'd offer this as exhibit 2375 that Britain has lost its mind, but I'm increasingly convinced (or desperate to believe) the vast majority of this shit is a combo of bots and a very vocal, but relatively small rabble that doesn't live anywhere near Inverness, if they actually are in Britain at all.
Interesting🧵. Gtr Manchester seems crucial test bed to watch re: what regional devolution can achieve.
Development in city centre has been astonishing. Not sure I'm best placed to judge how well that's benefited suburbs, though & politically that's key to whether is actually considered a success.
Development in city centre has been astonishing. Not sure I'm best placed to judge how well that's benefited suburbs, though & politically that's key to whether is actually considered a success.
I meant to do a thread on this but got sidetracked. So a couple of thoughts…
I often struggle to come up with tangible examples of English devolution but this is one. Greater Manchester is doing its own £1bn regeneration investment fund
on.ft.com/43InqRk
on.ft.com/43InqRk
November 23, 2025 at 10:17 AM
Interesting🧵. Gtr Manchester seems crucial test bed to watch re: what regional devolution can achieve.
Development in city centre has been astonishing. Not sure I'm best placed to judge how well that's benefited suburbs, though & politically that's key to whether is actually considered a success.
Development in city centre has been astonishing. Not sure I'm best placed to judge how well that's benefited suburbs, though & politically that's key to whether is actually considered a success.
My wife has found a place to get Christmas trees that has a Christmas Tree Train (tractor) that takes people around the plantation, reindeer and a Father Christmas to get pictures taken with.
She was actually getting increasingly excited as she went through the website.
She was actually getting increasingly excited as she went through the website.
November 23, 2025 at 9:22 AM
My wife has found a place to get Christmas trees that has a Christmas Tree Train (tractor) that takes people around the plantation, reindeer and a Father Christmas to get pictures taken with.
She was actually getting increasingly excited as she went through the website.
She was actually getting increasingly excited as she went through the website.
Sometimes I feel like I don't have a partner
Sometimes I feel like my only friend
Is the city I live in the city of angels
Lonely as I am together we cry
Sometimes I feel like my only friend
Is the city I live in the city of angels
Lonely as I am together we cry
November 23, 2025 at 8:57 AM
Sometimes I feel like I don't have a partner
Sometimes I feel like my only friend
Is the city I live in the city of angels
Lonely as I am together we cry
Sometimes I feel like my only friend
Is the city I live in the city of angels
Lonely as I am together we cry
Plasterers are a whole other breed.
It's a skilled trade I respect, but the mess is another level.
I did say 'don't worry too much about the floor mate, we're replacing it" but...
We've still to use the room till we can paint & fit the kitchen, so I didn't mean chuck shit all over the place.
It's a skilled trade I respect, but the mess is another level.
I did say 'don't worry too much about the floor mate, we're replacing it" but...
We've still to use the room till we can paint & fit the kitchen, so I didn't mean chuck shit all over the place.
November 22, 2025 at 7:06 PM
Plasterers are a whole other breed.
It's a skilled trade I respect, but the mess is another level.
I did say 'don't worry too much about the floor mate, we're replacing it" but...
We've still to use the room till we can paint & fit the kitchen, so I didn't mean chuck shit all over the place.
It's a skilled trade I respect, but the mess is another level.
I did say 'don't worry too much about the floor mate, we're replacing it" but...
We've still to use the room till we can paint & fit the kitchen, so I didn't mean chuck shit all over the place.
Ha!
What?
What?
He said "Amen" straight into the drop
Lmao Pope Leo threw a rave for an archbishop's 75th birthday this is kind of incredible
Lmao Pope Leo threw a rave for an archbishop's 75th birthday this is kind of incredible
November 21, 2025 at 10:03 PM
Ha!
What?
What?
Wow. Oh to have been a fly on the wall of that meeting.
"I expect to be helping him, not hurting him. A big help" -- Trump is totally charmed by Mamdani
November 21, 2025 at 9:44 PM
Wow. Oh to have been a fly on the wall of that meeting.
Amazing post on one of the local Facebook groups.
Amazing.
Love living here.
Amazing.
Love living here.
November 20, 2025 at 10:49 PM
Amazing post on one of the local Facebook groups.
Amazing.
Love living here.
Amazing.
Love living here.
Right.... the Home Secretary yesterday responded to a statement in the HOC with a reply including a F swear word & an extremely inflammatory racist term beginning with P.
Punchy stuff, but, unusually for me I actually saw it on TV and she read it from her file.... That was pre-prepared?
Punchy stuff, but, unusually for me I actually saw it on TV and she read it from her file.... That was pre-prepared?
November 18, 2025 at 7:31 AM
Right.... the Home Secretary yesterday responded to a statement in the HOC with a reply including a F swear word & an extremely inflammatory racist term beginning with P.
Punchy stuff, but, unusually for me I actually saw it on TV and she read it from her file.... That was pre-prepared?
Punchy stuff, but, unusually for me I actually saw it on TV and she read it from her file.... That was pre-prepared?
Reposted by James O'Flynn
I forget who said it originally, but the thing about unsustainable policies is they can't go on forever.
In other news look at councils projected cumulative deficit just on special needs costs over the next few years. Yikes.
November 17, 2025 at 9:39 AM
I forget who said it originally, but the thing about unsustainable policies is they can't go on forever.
Why though? Who do they think is even listening to this shit anymore?
Fast-track deportations to be announced as part of asylum reforms
Fast-track deportations to be announced as part of asylum reforms
Plans to end multiple appeals against removal and speed up deportations are expected to be unveiled.
www.bbc.com
November 16, 2025 at 10:45 PM
Why though? Who do they think is even listening to this shit anymore?
Sports coverage is not something I generally take any interest in either way, but I can't help wondering if there were any actual women involved in the development of this.
Sky Sports axes 'sexist' TikTok channel Halo after three days
Sky Sports axes 'sexist' TikTok channel Halo after three days
The female-focused TikTok channel was dubbed "patronising" and "sexist" by social media users.
www.bbc.com
November 16, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Sports coverage is not something I generally take any interest in either way, but I can't help wondering if there were any actual women involved in the development of this.
Open to suggestions for some kind of witty or prophetic message I can leave for whoever next replaces the kitchen after we've fitted the new one. (Possibly us in 20+yrs).
Contemplating printing & laminating some funny memes or thought provoking articles to stick to the wall before fitting the units.
Contemplating printing & laminating some funny memes or thought provoking articles to stick to the wall before fitting the units.
November 16, 2025 at 12:25 PM
Open to suggestions for some kind of witty or prophetic message I can leave for whoever next replaces the kitchen after we've fitted the new one. (Possibly us in 20+yrs).
Contemplating printing & laminating some funny memes or thought provoking articles to stick to the wall before fitting the units.
Contemplating printing & laminating some funny memes or thought provoking articles to stick to the wall before fitting the units.
Reposted by James O'Flynn
Asylum seekers with the right to work account for less than 8pc of those in accommodation, unless I’ve misunderstood something (8,500 currently have work visas, according to the Home Office)
The government plans to remove technical statutory basis for asylum seeker support.
Govt says it want asylum seekers to work if they are allowed to. Their policy is asylum seekers can't work (but some can after 12 months).
Govt don't plan to let asylum seekers work once case is 6 months old
Govt says it want asylum seekers to work if they are allowed to. Their policy is asylum seekers can't work (but some can after 12 months).
Govt don't plan to let asylum seekers work once case is 6 months old
November 16, 2025 at 12:12 PM
Asylum seekers with the right to work account for less than 8pc of those in accommodation, unless I’ve misunderstood something (8,500 currently have work visas, according to the Home Office)
Dismantling a kitchen really is a brutal 'here's all the bits you don't clean properly'. Not all our fault as kitchen was in for who knows how many years before we moved in, but while the tops of wall cupboard doors was predictable slightly surprised by the state of the bottom of base unit doors.
November 16, 2025 at 11:30 AM
Dismantling a kitchen really is a brutal 'here's all the bits you don't clean properly'. Not all our fault as kitchen was in for who knows how many years before we moved in, but while the tops of wall cupboard doors was predictable slightly surprised by the state of the bottom of base unit doors.
Reposted by James O'Flynn
What a photograph.
“Nearly two dozen arrested as faith leaders protested outside a federal immigration facility near Chicago…”
Arrested large amounts of peaceful clergy face first on pavement is a pretty good sign you’re not the good guys in the story. www.reuters.com/legal/govern...
“Nearly two dozen arrested as faith leaders protested outside a federal immigration facility near Chicago…”
Arrested large amounts of peaceful clergy face first on pavement is a pretty good sign you’re not the good guys in the story. www.reuters.com/legal/govern...
November 15, 2025 at 1:51 PM
What a photograph.
“Nearly two dozen arrested as faith leaders protested outside a federal immigration facility near Chicago…”
Arrested large amounts of peaceful clergy face first on pavement is a pretty good sign you’re not the good guys in the story. www.reuters.com/legal/govern...
“Nearly two dozen arrested as faith leaders protested outside a federal immigration facility near Chicago…”
Arrested large amounts of peaceful clergy face first on pavement is a pretty good sign you’re not the good guys in the story. www.reuters.com/legal/govern...
Reposted by James O'Flynn
At some point, for the love of God, will someone ANYONE at long last take the council funding crisis seriously?!?
Because THIS is what will break down a society, not some poor soul escaping incredible dangers, arriving on our shores.
Because THIS is what will break down a society, not some poor soul escaping incredible dangers, arriving on our shores.
English councils plan to sell off social clubs and sports centres to balance books
English councils plan to sell off social clubs and sports centres to balance books
Survey finds 60% of key cities councils are planning to sell assets to meet costs of adult and children’s social care
English councils are planning to sell social clubs, sports centres and shopping arcades as they bet on a fire sale of assets to balance the books, according to a survey of local authorities.
The key cities group of councils, which represents second-tier cities in England, said 60% of councils were planning to sell assets to meet the escalating costs of adult and children’s social care. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
November 15, 2025 at 8:03 PM
At some point, for the love of God, will someone ANYONE at long last take the council funding crisis seriously?!?
Because THIS is what will break down a society, not some poor soul escaping incredible dangers, arriving on our shores.
Because THIS is what will break down a society, not some poor soul escaping incredible dangers, arriving on our shores.
Anyone with more knowledge of Florida's legal system than me know the prospects & likely costs of The BBC issuing a counter claim re: the lies D Trump has told about a globally respected media organisation?
I understand not wanting to risk public money, but... perhaps we could have a whip round?
I understand not wanting to risk public money, but... perhaps we could have a whip round?
November 15, 2025 at 7:06 PM
Anyone with more knowledge of Florida's legal system than me know the prospects & likely costs of The BBC issuing a counter claim re: the lies D Trump has told about a globally respected media organisation?
I understand not wanting to risk public money, but... perhaps we could have a whip round?
I understand not wanting to risk public money, but... perhaps we could have a whip round?
Between upfront admitting you've broken your promise and apologising, or quietly breaking your promise in a complicated way that people will gradually find out about over the coming months and years....
I wonder which is more corrosive to the prospects of re-election in 4 years time....
I wonder which is more corrosive to the prospects of re-election in 4 years time....
November 14, 2025 at 10:25 AM
Between upfront admitting you've broken your promise and apologising, or quietly breaking your promise in a complicated way that people will gradually find out about over the coming months and years....
I wonder which is more corrosive to the prospects of re-election in 4 years time....
I wonder which is more corrosive to the prospects of re-election in 4 years time....
Amazing. Love it.
Of course, they got this idea of apologise but offer no compensation from me, I suggested it to 5Live via WhatsApp on Tuesday. It must have got passed on to the legal team.
Of course, they got this idea of apologise but offer no compensation from me, I suggested it to 5Live via WhatsApp on Tuesday. It must have got passed on to the legal team.
BBC apologises to Trump over Panorama edit but refuses to pay compensation
BBC apologises to Trump over Panorama edit but refuses to pay compensation
Lawyers for the US president have threatened to sue the corporation for $1bn (£759m).
www.bbc.com
November 13, 2025 at 9:35 PM
Amazing. Love it.
Of course, they got this idea of apologise but offer no compensation from me, I suggested it to 5Live via WhatsApp on Tuesday. It must have got passed on to the legal team.
Of course, they got this idea of apologise but offer no compensation from me, I suggested it to 5Live via WhatsApp on Tuesday. It must have got passed on to the legal team.