John Spicer
@johnspicer3.bsky.social
GP, med eth, med ed, guitar, ski, refugee from another place
Reposted by John Spicer
Boris Johnson didn't apologise to Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, even when she told him in person the lasting impact his comments about her had on her detention in Iran, her husband tells the BBC
November 23, 2025 at 10:00 AM
Boris Johnson didn't apologise to Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, even when she told him in person the lasting impact his comments about her had on her detention in Iran, her husband tells the BBC
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
‘He is their cement shoes’
(Where ‘he’ is Trump and ‘their’ is the GOP)
Forensic account from #sidneyblumenthal in @theguardian.com
‘He is their cement shoes’
(Where ‘he’ is Trump and ‘their’ is the GOP)
Forensic account from #sidneyblumenthal in @theguardian.com
Republicans will be left holding the bill for Trump’s policies in the midterms | Sidney Blumenthal
The abject obedience of GOP members and the 4 November election results do not augur well for Republicans in the midterms
www.theguardian.com
November 23, 2025 at 2:10 PM
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
‘He is their cement shoes’
(Where ‘he’ is Trump and ‘their’ is the GOP)
Forensic account from #sidneyblumenthal in @theguardian.com
‘He is their cement shoes’
(Where ‘he’ is Trump and ‘their’ is the GOP)
Forensic account from #sidneyblumenthal in @theguardian.com
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Astounding waste of money is this
Astounding waste of money is this
UK gambling firms spent ‘astronomic’ £2bn on advertising last year
Calls for Rachel Reeves to increase taxes in budget as estimate outstrips duties collected from online casinos
www.theguardian.com
November 23, 2025 at 10:51 AM
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Astounding waste of money is this
Astounding waste of money is this
Reposted by John Spicer
Newmarket MP Matt Hancock gave a £37bn Covid testing contract to Jockey Club director Dido Harding, who subcontracted it to Grand National sponsor Randox, employer of Tory MP Owen Paterson, whose late wife chaired Aintree racecourse. That's how the Tories handled the pandemic.
November 22, 2025 at 12:42 PM
Newmarket MP Matt Hancock gave a £37bn Covid testing contract to Jockey Club director Dido Harding, who subcontracted it to Grand National sponsor Randox, employer of Tory MP Owen Paterson, whose late wife chaired Aintree racecourse. That's how the Tories handled the pandemic.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
As has been said, anyone among @conservatives who elevated this man to public office bears some guilt as to the consequences
As has been said, anyone among @conservatives who elevated this man to public office bears some guilt as to the consequences
Boris Johnson took four days off as NHS warned Covid could ‘overwhelm’ system
Files show then PM was walking dog, riding motorbike and hosting guests as pandemic planning stalled in ‘lost month’
www.theguardian.com
November 22, 2025 at 7:09 PM
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
As has been said, anyone among @conservatives who elevated this man to public office bears some guilt as to the consequences
As has been said, anyone among @conservatives who elevated this man to public office bears some guilt as to the consequences
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
@jonathanfreedland.bsky.social reminds us of the terrible economic consequences of #brexit
And how to fix them
@jonathanfreedland.bsky.social reminds us of the terrible economic consequences of #brexit
And how to fix them
Rachel Reeves is studiously ignoring the cause of Britain’s woes: the Brexit-shaped hole in its roof | Jonathan Freedland
The autumn budget will mop up some damage, but the true source of the economic crisis is clear. The government should now fix it – tragically, it won’t, says Guardian columnist Jonathan Freedland
www.theguardian.com
November 22, 2025 at 8:48 AM
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
@jonathanfreedland.bsky.social reminds us of the terrible economic consequences of #brexit
And how to fix them
@jonathanfreedland.bsky.social reminds us of the terrible economic consequences of #brexit
And how to fix them
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Lest we forget
Lest we forget
Spain has too rosy a view of Franco’s regime. Let’s remind ourselves of its horrors | Giles Tremlett
Little is taught about the murderous, incompetent dictatorship – and now almost one in five young people say Franco was good for the country, says historian Giles Tremlett
www.theguardian.com
November 21, 2025 at 8:26 AM
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Lest we forget
Lest we forget
November 21, 2025 at 8:19 AM
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
So it’s as we thought- utter incompetence from the politicians in charge at the time
(Led by the appalling #borisjohnson)
So it’s as we thought- utter incompetence from the politicians in charge at the time
(Led by the appalling #borisjohnson)
‘Too little, too late’: damning report condemns UK’s Covid response
Report on handling of pandemic contains stinging criticism of ‘toxic and chaotic’ culture inside Boris Johnson’s No 10
www.theguardian.com
November 21, 2025 at 8:11 AM
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
So it’s as we thought- utter incompetence from the politicians in charge at the time
(Led by the appalling #borisjohnson)
So it’s as we thought- utter incompetence from the politicians in charge at the time
(Led by the appalling #borisjohnson)
@reform-uk-official.bsky.social offering more xenophobia today.
Selectively treating EU nationals differently is clearly that
Selectively treating EU nationals differently is clearly that
November 18, 2025 at 1:31 PM
@reform-uk-official.bsky.social offering more xenophobia today.
Selectively treating EU nationals differently is clearly that
Selectively treating EU nationals differently is clearly that
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
On Trump memorials
On Trump memorials
The US has drafted a coin featuring Trump. Here’s a better way to immortalize him | Robert Reich
It is our solemn duty to ensure he is remembered for all he has done and may still do to destroy US democracy
www.theguardian.com
November 17, 2025 at 7:54 AM
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
On Trump memorials
On Trump memorials
@mattvickers.bsky.social turn to talk hogwash on #today just now
@conservatives.bsky.social - it’s getting boring…
@conservatives.bsky.social - it’s getting boring…
November 17, 2025 at 7:48 AM
@mattvickers.bsky.social turn to talk hogwash on #today just now
@conservatives.bsky.social - it’s getting boring…
@conservatives.bsky.social - it’s getting boring…
So #chrisphilp neglected to remind us, on #bbclaurak, that #brexit aggravated the cross channel immigration due to leaving the #dublinconvention
Funny that…and another great Brexit advantage!
Funny that…and another great Brexit advantage!
November 16, 2025 at 12:13 PM
So #chrisphilp neglected to remind us, on #bbclaurak, that #brexit aggravated the cross channel immigration due to leaving the #dublinconvention
Funny that…and another great Brexit advantage!
Funny that…and another great Brexit advantage!
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Good plan
Good plan
The first step towards saving our precious BBC: remove Robbie Gibb from the board | Ed Davey
The BBC belongs to all of us, and it is under attack as never before. The government must defend it from its enemies, within and without, says Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey
www.theguardian.com
November 10, 2025 at 6:05 PM
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Good plan
Good plan
Reposted by John Spicer
Johnson’s crony directors and client journalists should have been cleaned out of the BBC within the first year. Very disappointing that they weren’t. @bylinetimes.bsky.social
The BBC’s Road to Appeasement
As the BBC comes under growing criticism for its coverage of Reform, we republish Adam Bienkov and Patrick Howse's 2024 investigation into how the corporation's leadership became cowed by the right
www.bylinesupplement.com
November 9, 2025 at 1:55 PM
Johnson’s crony directors and client journalists should have been cleaned out of the BBC within the first year. Very disappointing that they weren’t. @bylinetimes.bsky.social
Pretty anodyne contribution from Caroline Dinenage on #today.
As the relevant select committee chair I’d expect a better defence of the principles of public service broadcasting
As the relevant select committee chair I’d expect a better defence of the principles of public service broadcasting
November 10, 2025 at 8:40 AM
Pretty anodyne contribution from Caroline Dinenage on #today.
As the relevant select committee chair I’d expect a better defence of the principles of public service broadcasting
As the relevant select committee chair I’d expect a better defence of the principles of public service broadcasting
Reposted by John Spicer
The NHS workforce is growing, but demand for care is also rising and health needs are increasingly complex. While headlines often focus on overall staff shortages, the reality is more nuanced. Find out more. https://bit.ly/4hKrmql
NHS Workforce Nutshell | The King's Fund
We know the NHS is facing a workforce crisis, but how many people work in the NHS in England, what roles are they in and are they happy with their jobs? Find out in our nutshell.
www.kingsfund.org.uk
November 6, 2025 at 10:55 AM
The NHS workforce is growing, but demand for care is also rising and health needs are increasingly complex. While headlines often focus on overall staff shortages, the reality is more nuanced. Find out more. https://bit.ly/4hKrmql
Slightly more thoughtful contribution from #alexchalke on #wato today, than the faux outrage from @robertjenrickmp.bsky.social earlier on #today
There are gradations of @conservatives.bsky.social we should remember I guess
There are gradations of @conservatives.bsky.social we should remember I guess
November 6, 2025 at 1:27 PM
Slightly more thoughtful contribution from #alexchalke on #wato today, than the faux outrage from @robertjenrickmp.bsky.social earlier on #today
There are gradations of @conservatives.bsky.social we should remember I guess
There are gradations of @conservatives.bsky.social we should remember I guess
November 5, 2025 at 1:18 PM
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Thoughtful piece from @rafaelbehr.bsky.social on shyster economics
Thoughtful piece from @rafaelbehr.bsky.social on shyster economics
Economic policy is one thing Nigel Farage can’t crib from the Donald Trump playbook | Rafael Behr
The Maga model, based on the US’s exorbitant market privileges, can’t be imported to Britain. That’s going to be a problem for Reform UK, says Guardian columnist Rafael Behr
www.theguardian.com
November 5, 2025 at 8:50 AM
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Thoughtful piece from @rafaelbehr.bsky.social on shyster economics
Thoughtful piece from @rafaelbehr.bsky.social on shyster economics
Reposted by John Spicer
paying my respects to the temple of the whale
Palazzo Ducale, Genoa
Palazzo Ducale, Genoa
November 5, 2025 at 8:37 AM
paying my respects to the temple of the whale
Palazzo Ducale, Genoa
Palazzo Ducale, Genoa
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Warnings from @pollytoynbee.bsky.social about the ghastly #farage
Warnings from @pollytoynbee.bsky.social about the ghastly #farage
It’s the Nigel Farage chameleon show – flashy, ever-changing pledges, but only one real policy: xenophobia | Polly Toynbee
The Reform leader’s speech was full of contradictions and damaging cuts. But if he makes it to No 10, Labour will be to blame, says Guardian columnist Polly Toynbee
www.theguardian.com
November 4, 2025 at 1:43 PM
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Warnings from @pollytoynbee.bsky.social about the ghastly #farage
Warnings from @pollytoynbee.bsky.social about the ghastly #farage
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Of course it does…
Of course it does…
‘The money machine is misfiring’: City blames Brexit for UK’s £20bn productivity headache
Poor output since the leave vote has landed Rachel Reeves with a bigger-than-forecast budget spending gap
www.theguardian.com
November 3, 2025 at 8:16 AM
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Of course it does…
Of course it does…