Laura Phillips
@lauraphillips.bsky.social
Campaigner to support the BBC, (not a BBC employee).It’s affected by savage UK govt cuts: c40% 2010-2024. BBC costs <48 pence/around 62 US cents a day per UK household. It’s a national public service broadcaster, respected worldwide for accurate reporting.
Reposted by Laura Phillips
On BBC Front Row tonight @tds153.bsky.social and guests are discussing loving Brutalism, as London's South Bank Centre finally gets Grade II heritage listing. Some of us have always felt the love..of course ❤️. 715pm R4 or link after: www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
February 12, 2026 at 5:48 PM
On BBC Front Row tonight @tds153.bsky.social and guests are discussing loving Brutalism, as London's South Bank Centre finally gets Grade II heritage listing. Some of us have always felt the love..of course ❤️. 715pm R4 or link after: www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
Two senior aides to the leader of the Conservatives in the Welsh Parliament have defected to Reform UK just days before the Tories' party conference where leader Darren Millar will tell members that Reform "isn't a serious party"+is more interested in selling merchandise than forming a government.
Welsh Tory leader attacks Reform as staff quit on eve of conference
Party gathers in Llandudno as senior aides quit to join Nigel Farage's organisation.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 12, 2026 at 10:36 PM
Two senior aides to the leader of the Conservatives in the Welsh Parliament have defected to Reform UK just days before the Tories' party conference where leader Darren Millar will tell members that Reform "isn't a serious party"+is more interested in selling merchandise than forming a government.
Yet the IOC disqualified Vladyslav Heraskevych ahead of his opening skeleton run at the 2026 Winter Olympics after ruling that he could not compete in a “helmet of remembrance” bearing photos of athletes killed in Russia’s war against Ukraine.
February 12, 2026 at 10:25 PM
Yet the IOC disqualified Vladyslav Heraskevych ahead of his opening skeleton run at the 2026 Winter Olympics after ruling that he could not compete in a “helmet of remembrance” bearing photos of athletes killed in Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Reposted by Laura Phillips
It's really rare for officials to force the PM to make a ministerial direction. Not sure I can think of another example. What a mess.
My God. What a total and utter shit show. Axed civil servant gets £260k after Starmer overrules objections
www.thetimes.com/article/e01c...
www.thetimes.com/article/e01c...
Axed civil servant gets £260k after Starmer overrules objections
Officials refused to sign off Sir Chris Wormald’s sacking as cabinet secretary because they said there was no reason that justified the expense
www.thetimes.com
February 12, 2026 at 8:52 PM
It's really rare for officials to force the PM to make a ministerial direction. Not sure I can think of another example. What a mess.
Reposted by Laura Phillips
New Swingometer! Dropping my latest Gorton & Denton update now as I have teaching all morning tomorrow. I take a look at the leaflet wars underway in the seat, and how I've ended up caught in the electoral crossfire: open.substack.com/pub/swingome...
Gorton & Denton update 2: Leaflet wars
I'm sorry but I just don't know, I know you said I told you so
open.substack.com
February 12, 2026 at 9:03 PM
New Swingometer! Dropping my latest Gorton & Denton update now as I have teaching all morning tomorrow. I take a look at the leaflet wars underway in the seat, and how I've ended up caught in the electoral crossfire: open.substack.com/pub/swingome...
Reposted by Laura Phillips
Farage's claims here are straightforward lies (and it's about time the media/press said so)
The correct figures are 160K (0.3%) and 900K (1.5%)
www.gbnews.com/news/video-n...
The correct figures are 160K (0.3%) and 900K (1.5%)
www.gbnews.com/news/video-n...
February 12, 2026 at 5:02 PM
Farage's claims here are straightforward lies (and it's about time the media/press said so)
The correct figures are 160K (0.3%) and 900K (1.5%)
www.gbnews.com/news/video-n...
The correct figures are 160K (0.3%) and 900K (1.5%)
www.gbnews.com/news/video-n...
Reposted by Laura Phillips
Not sure why you'd choose to go into bat for "being friends with rapists", but if you are running it, the principles of penitence and repentance are vital - and obviously lacking in the Epstein case.
There’s a segment of the right that lives on the reflected prestige of eugenicist thinkers who have been revealed as Epstein-adjacent. I understand the bind they’re in but I think most people would happily cut off former friends who were implicated in the sexual abuse of minors
February 12, 2026 at 9:06 PM
Not sure why you'd choose to go into bat for "being friends with rapists", but if you are running it, the principles of penitence and repentance are vital - and obviously lacking in the Epstein case.
Reposted by Laura Phillips
"Whites are a rapidly dying minority,”
Elon Musk posted on 22nd January. The radicalised and radicalising X owner posted about race on 26 days out of 31 in January, the Guardian reveals. His site also invariably protects unlawful racist posts in the UK
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
Elon Musk posted on 22nd January. The radicalised and radicalising X owner posted about race on 26 days out of 31 in January, the Guardian reveals. His site also invariably protects unlawful racist posts in the UK
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
Elon Musk posted about race almost every day in January
Many social media posts by Tesla CEO on his platform are indiscernible from those of white supremacists, say experts
www.theguardian.com
February 12, 2026 at 8:32 PM
"Whites are a rapidly dying minority,”
Elon Musk posted on 22nd January. The radicalised and radicalising X owner posted about race on 26 days out of 31 in January, the Guardian reveals. His site also invariably protects unlawful racist posts in the UK
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
Elon Musk posted on 22nd January. The radicalised and radicalising X owner posted about race on 26 days out of 31 in January, the Guardian reveals. His site also invariably protects unlawful racist posts in the UK
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
‘A spokesman declined to put a figure on the amount, but it is expected to be hundreds of millions of pounds. The BBC's total public service spending last year was more than £4bn.’
‘No details have yet been given about any programmes or services that will be affected.’ 2/
‘No details have yet been given about any programmes or services that will be affected.’ 2/
February 12, 2026 at 8:26 PM
‘A spokesman declined to put a figure on the amount, but it is expected to be hundreds of millions of pounds. The BBC's total public service spending last year was more than £4bn.’
‘No details have yet been given about any programmes or services that will be affected.’ 2/
‘No details have yet been given about any programmes or services that will be affected.’ 2/
‘The #BBC is making #cuts amounting to about 10% of its costs in the face of "substantial financial pressures".
The broadcaster said the savings needed to be made over the next three years.’ 1/
Death by a thousand?
The broadcaster said the savings needed to be made over the next three years.’ 1/
Death by a thousand?
BBC to make hundreds of millions of pounds of cuts
The outgoing director general told staff about the savings during an internal call on Thursday.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 12, 2026 at 8:26 PM
Thandiwe Newton, Maxine Peake, Danny Sapani and Ncuti Gatwa join #Michaela #Coel’s new original #drama
First Day on Earth is now filming 🎬 Coming to the #BBC and HBO
More👇
First Day on Earth is now filming 🎬 Coming to the #BBC and HBO
More👇
Michaela Coel joined by Thandiwe Newton, Maxine Peake, Danny Sapani and Ncuti Gatwa for new BBC drama First Day on Earth as filming begins
Coel will write, star and serve as an executive producer on the series coming to BBC iPlayer and BBC One
www.bbc.co.uk
February 12, 2026 at 5:36 PM
Reposted by Laura Phillips
"It is totally inappropriate and against the separations of powers for the DOJ to surveil us as we search the Epstein files. (US Attorney General) Bondi showed up today with a burn book that held a printed search history of exactly what emails I searched." - Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA).
February 12, 2026 at 12:43 AM
"It is totally inappropriate and against the separations of powers for the DOJ to surveil us as we search the Epstein files. (US Attorney General) Bondi showed up today with a burn book that held a printed search history of exactly what emails I searched." - Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA).
Exchange of statements by Chris Wormald and Keir Starmer:
February 12, 2026 at 4:52 PM
Exchange of statements by Chris Wormald and Keir Starmer:
‘Starmer said to be keen to push through the appointment of Romeo as soon as possible with an expedited process amid a bitter briefing war over her suitability for the role’ 4.
February 12, 2026 at 4:51 PM
‘Starmer said to be keen to push through the appointment of Romeo as soon as possible with an expedited process amid a bitter briefing war over her suitability for the role’ 4.
‘There is no word on his successor - his responsibilities are being shared on an interim basis with Cat Little from the Cabinet office, Antonia Romeo at the home office and James Bowler at the Treasury’ 3/
February 12, 2026 at 4:51 PM
‘There is no word on his successor - his responsibilities are being shared on an interim basis with Cat Little from the Cabinet office, Antonia Romeo at the home office and James Bowler at the Treasury’ 3/
‘He is the shortest-serving Cabinet Secretary in history
His appointment and the nature of his departure will lead to yet more questions about Keir Starmer's judgement’ 2/
His appointment and the nature of his departure will lead to yet more questions about Keir Starmer's judgement’ 2/
February 12, 2026 at 4:51 PM
‘He is the shortest-serving Cabinet Secretary in history
His appointment and the nature of his departure will lead to yet more questions about Keir Starmer's judgement’ 2/
His appointment and the nature of his departure will lead to yet more questions about Keir Starmer's judgement’ 2/
Times Poll Editor: ‘Sir Chris Wormald has stood down with immediate effect as Cabinet Secretary after a year in office
There will be a pretty extraordinary payoff - said to be in the region of £250,000’ 1/
There will be a pretty extraordinary payoff - said to be in the region of £250,000’ 1/
February 12, 2026 at 4:50 PM
Times Poll Editor: ‘Sir Chris Wormald has stood down with immediate effect as Cabinet Secretary after a year in office
There will be a pretty extraordinary payoff - said to be in the region of £250,000’ 1/
There will be a pretty extraordinary payoff - said to be in the region of £250,000’ 1/
@davidsonofaaron.bsky.social asks How vulnerable is #Iran's regime? Guests: Kasra Naji Special Corr #BBCPersian; Arash Azizi, Writer+lecturer,Yale; Burcu Ozcelik, Sen Research Fellow for Middle East Security, Royal United Services Institute; Sanam Vakil, Dir of the Middle East prog Chatham House.
The Briefing Room - Iran - how vulnerable is the regime? - BBC Sounds
What will happen next in Iran?
www.bbc.co.uk
February 12, 2026 at 4:33 PM
@davidsonofaaron.bsky.social asks How vulnerable is #Iran's regime? Guests: Kasra Naji Special Corr #BBCPersian; Arash Azizi, Writer+lecturer,Yale; Burcu Ozcelik, Sen Research Fellow for Middle East Security, Royal United Services Institute; Sanam Vakil, Dir of the Middle East prog Chatham House.