Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by John Spicer

Lucy Betteridge-Dyson @lmbd1418.bsky.social · 22h

It’s depressed me to learn that Robbie Williams - a man whose confidence to talent ratio is painfully misaligned - is tied with the Beatles at 15 number one albums. I worry about the British public sometimes, I really do. #IfAnyonePlaysAngelsAtMyFuneralIWillComeBackAndHauntThem

4 1 20

John Spicer @johnspicer3.bsky.social · 1d

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Hard truths about the idiocy of #brexit in @theguardian.com by #simonjenkins today

We all know Brexit’s to blame for the crisis facing UK steel – it’s time for politicians to be honest and reverse it | Simon Jenkins

With British industry faltering, the excuse that the public wants this is risible. Parliament must force Starmer to act, says Guardian columnist Simon Jenkins

www.theguardian.com

John Spicer @johnspicer3.bsky.social · 2d

Deo gratias
The very thought is emetic

1

John Spicer @johnspicer3.bsky.social · 2d

Could start by reading this wonderful article :
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...
[Jazz and the Art of Medicine by Paul Haidet]

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

1

John Spicer @johnspicer3.bsky.social · 2d

@roylilley1.bsky.social asks 'Quis custodiet ipsos custodes' of the CQC. Quite rightly....
myemail.constantcontact.com/CQC.html?soi...

CQC

Email from nhsManagers.net A scandal or a snapshot? View as Webpage Share This Email Share This Email Share This Email Latest Health News Weather IHSCM Academy of Fab' Stuff nhsManagers.net 9th Octobe

myemail.constantcontact.com

John Spicer @johnspicer3.bsky.social · 2d

The desperate cry of a desperate man …

1

Reposted by John Spicer

Sir Michael Take CBE @sirmichaeltake.bsky.social · 5d

So Nigel Farage says we Conservatives are FINISHED! 😡
Rubbish!
Here we all are turning up in our droves to party conference: Representing all classes, all races, all creeds!
We can’t wait to hear Laura Trott’s speech on numbers over 10 & James Cleverly’s address on sh*tholes.
🇬🇧

30 42 200

John Spicer @johnspicer3.bsky.social · 4d

www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Dunno why @kemibadenochmp.bsky.social bothers as @robertjenrickmp.bsky.social clearly wants to lead #conservatives and using Faragist rhetoric to get there

Badenoch defends Jenrick’s ‘no white faces’ comments about Birmingham

Tory leader says ‘nothing wrong with making observations’, after Jenrick said Handsworth was ‘as close as I’ve come to a slum in this country’

www.theguardian.com

Reposted by John Spicer

Marthese Fenech @fenka33.bsky.social · 18d

"Tough it out", Mr Bone Spurs?

#tylenol

1

Reposted by John Spicer

Robert Reich @rbreich.bsky.social · 5d

Stoke fear. Exploit desperation. Suspend the rule of law. Fan brutality.

Every time the stronger brutalize the weak, it’s fundamentally the same playbook.

Our duty is to stand up to brutality.

Our moral obligation is to protect the vulnerable and hold the powerful accountable.

270 4.1K 13K

John Spicer @johnspicer3.bsky.social · 5d

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Marvellous stuff from @nesrinemalik.bsky.social today such as ‘Let’s not forget all the ineffectual and insubstantial attention-seekers who acquired state power: Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, Kwasi Kwarteng, Rishi Sunak, Suella Braverman and, of course, Kemi Badenoch’

Don’t despair, Tories: look upon Reform and see your rightful and fitting legacy | Nesrine Malik

If Kemi Badenoch wonders why her party conference looks and feels like a sideshow, perhaps she should reflect on the Conservatives’ 14 years in power, says Guardian columnist Nesrine Malik

www.theguardian.com

John Spicer @johnspicer3.bsky.social · 6d

Painful listening to @kemibadenochmp.bsky.social pontificate on #bbclaurak

Outrageous nonsense she is emitting…

1 1 3

John Spicer @johnspicer3.bsky.social · 6d

Why are there 2 #conservatives on #bbclaurak panel today?

(Both incompetent btw)

1

John Spicer @johnspicer3.bsky.social · 7d

Aphra Brandreth seriously out of her depth on #bbcaq
If this the standard for new #conservative MPs, they are lost..

2

John Spicer @johnspicer3.bsky.social · 7d

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Royal entitlement continues…

‘I think it’s selfish’: William and Kate face backlash over Windsor Great Park no-go zone

Royal couple’s desire for more privacy means 2.3-mile perimeter exclusion zone and less public land for walkers

www.theguardian.com

John Spicer @johnspicer3.bsky.social · 7d

www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Times change but some behaviours don’t

Tory chair accepted £2k hospitality from developer of HMOs for asylum seekers

Exclusive: Kevin Hollinrake’s conference costs paid for by firm helping landlords convert homes for lucrative market

www.theguardian.com

1

John Spicer @johnspicer3.bsky.social · 8d

www.theguardian.com/business/nil...
Let us remind ourselves that #thameswater is a product of a botched #privatisation brought to you by #conservatives

There are no good options at Thames Water. But temporary renationalisation is cleaner

Creditors may well succeed in their plea for lower standards, but at this point customers deserve to see some proper detail

www.theguardian.com

Reposted by John Spicer

Jo Wolff @jowolff.bsky.social · 8d

“Yet things change, and time moves in mysterious ways. As every year passes, we seem to get closer to, not further away from, World War Two.”

From sometimes I wrote in 2021 on assimilation and antisemitism for @royalliteraryfund.bsky.social

writersmosaic.org.uk/content/on-a...

On Assimilation - Jonathan Wolff | WritersMosaic Magazine

Jonathan Wolff on assimilation as a secular Jew. He is a Senior Research Fellow in Philosophy and Public Policy at Wolfson College, Oxford

writersmosaic.org.uk

3 22 55

John Spicer @johnspicer3.bsky.social · 8d

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
@pollytoynbee.bsky.social on the continuing disasters of #brexit in today’s @theguardian.com

If you liked Brexit, you’re going to love what the Conservatives want next | Polly Toynbee

Leaving the ECHR could mean higher food prices and an even bigger blow to trade. The Tories’ new proposals will end the party for good, says Guardian columnist Polly Toynbee

www.theguardian.com

John Spicer @johnspicer3.bsky.social · 8d

www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Is there no end to the rank stupidity of #conservatives ?

Kemi Badenoch expected to announce plan to leave ECHR

Move to come if Conservatives win next election and is calculated to head off growing support for Reform UK

www.theguardian.com

John Spicer @johnspicer3.bsky.social · 9d

When he finds the old ads for asthma cigarettes he’ll go public

1

John Spicer @johnspicer3.bsky.social · 9d

www.theguardian.com/news/2025/oc...
Terrific account of Trump and his crowd in today’s @theguardian.com
But is it stupidity or simply lack of knowledge and curiosity that characterises MAGA ?

A critique of pure stupidity: understanding Trump 2.0

If the first term of Donald Trump provoked anxiety over the fate of objective knowledge, the second has led to claims we live in a world-historical age of stupid, accelerated by big tech. But might th...

www.theguardian.com

John Spicer @johnspicer3.bsky.social · 16d

www.theguardian.com/music/2025/s...
RIP Danny Thompson
Another #pentangle musician leaves us

From Kate Bush to Pentangle to T-Rex, the late Danny Thompson’s musical brilliance knew no bounds

The bassist, who has died aged 86, was an extraordinary and wildly versatile presence in British music, bringing his personality into everything he played

www.theguardian.com

John Spicer @johnspicer3.bsky.social · 16d

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Interesting article here, but doesn’t mention utter failure of @jeremycorbyn.bsky.social to achieve anything as leader of Labour

Corbyn and Sultana have a half-formed party with huge potential. Don’t write them off yet | Andy Beckett

Vast numbers want a party that counters the country’s rightward lurch. Despite the chaos, they are willing Your Party to get off the ground, says Guardian columnist Andy Beckett

www.theguardian.com

Reposted by John Spicer

Rebecca R Helm @rebeccarhelm.bsky.social · 16d

I get that the news cycle is packed right now, but I just heard from a colleague at the Smithsonian that this is fully a GIANT SQUID BEING EATEN BY A SPERM WHALE and it’s possibly the first ever confirmed video according to a friend at NOAA

10 YEAR OLD ME IS LOSING HER MIND (a thread 🧵)

730 10K 30K