Phil Webber
@philwebber.bsky.social
PhD Physicist. Author London After the Bomb. Co- Chair SGR - www.sgr.org.uk. An independent membership organisation promoting responsible science and technology.
eg. low carbon, demilitarisation, ethical career choices.
eg. low carbon, demilitarisation, ethical career choices.
Reposted by Phil Webber
These are not people serving sentences. They are people awaiting trial. And yet the conditions they describe – prolonged pre-trial detention, restrictions on communication, isolation – are indistinguishable from punishment.
www.thenational.scot/news/2570995...
www.thenational.scot/news/2570995...
In Common: Palestine Action saga reveals the fiction of the law
Good evening! This week's edition of the In Common newsletter comes from Megan Davidson, policy communications officer at Common Weal.
www.thenational.scot
December 19, 2025 at 1:15 PM
These are not people serving sentences. They are people awaiting trial. And yet the conditions they describe – prolonged pre-trial detention, restrictions on communication, isolation – are indistinguishable from punishment.
www.thenational.scot/news/2570995...
www.thenational.scot/news/2570995...
Reposted by Phil Webber
Failure to include mandatory batteries in the standard for new UK homes would be a massive climb down by Labour govt - caving into pressure from large housebuilders
Again
Climbdown would be to detriment of the homeowners, the electricity grid, & public interest
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Again
Climbdown would be to detriment of the homeowners, the electricity grid, & public interest
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Ministers may cut green tech mandate from new homes regulations in England
Critics say removing battery installation requirement will reduce amount homebuyers save on energy bills
www.theguardian.com
January 2, 2026 at 10:24 AM
Failure to include mandatory batteries in the standard for new UK homes would be a massive climb down by Labour govt - caving into pressure from large housebuilders
Again
Climbdown would be to detriment of the homeowners, the electricity grid, & public interest
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Again
Climbdown would be to detriment of the homeowners, the electricity grid, & public interest
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Reposted by Phil Webber
🚨 “Can I tell you how many times in the last 45 years the European Court of Human Rights has ruled against the UK when it comes to deporting people from this country - only 13 times - in 45 years”
Please remember this in 2026 when Nigel Farage tells you we must leave the ECHR to control our borders
Please remember this in 2026 when Nigel Farage tells you we must leave the ECHR to control our borders
Human rights are universal - politicians may not always find them politically convenient but it shouldn’t fall to any government to say who those rights should & should not apply to. Because none of us then has rights, just privileges that can be taken away by those in power
youtu.be/bl0Lm7v_T18?...
youtu.be/bl0Lm7v_T18?...
The government won’t achieve ‘decency’ over ‘division’ by trying to be Reform Lite
YouTube video by Peter Stefanovic
youtu.be
December 31, 2025 at 5:52 PM
🚨 “Can I tell you how many times in the last 45 years the European Court of Human Rights has ruled against the UK when it comes to deporting people from this country - only 13 times - in 45 years”
Please remember this in 2026 when Nigel Farage tells you we must leave the ECHR to control our borders
Please remember this in 2026 when Nigel Farage tells you we must leave the ECHR to control our borders
Reposted by Phil Webber
When and if sane and honest people ever again control the U.S. government, one of the first things they should do is enact a tax on large accumulations of wealth. https://robertreich.substack.com/p/if-the-market-were-working-well-we
December 29, 2025 at 8:01 PM
When and if sane and honest people ever again control the U.S. government, one of the first things they should do is enact a tax on large accumulations of wealth. https://robertreich.substack.com/p/if-the-market-were-working-well-we
A flexible fork in biological coding. Dependent on environmental conditions?
Life is messy, and we understand so little.
"Biological systems are more ambiguous than we give them credit to be and that ambiguity is actually a feature — it’s not a bug.”
scitechdaily.com/scientists-h...
"Biological systems are more ambiguous than we give them credit to be and that ambiguity is actually a feature — it’s not a bug.”
scitechdaily.com/scientists-h...
Scientists Have Discovered an Organism That Breaks Biology’s Golden Rule
An archaeon reads the same codon in two different ways, overturning a doctrine that has stood for 60 years. Living organisms usually read the DNA code in a very strict and predictable way. Every codon...
scitechdaily.com
December 29, 2025 at 9:26 AM
A flexible fork in biological coding. Dependent on environmental conditions?
Reposted by Phil Webber
Typical FTSE 100 CEO collects average UK wage in TWO days. CEO collects 141 times average employee's earnings. Some collect 1,110 times more.
No link between CEO pay and performance - look at water, energy, banking, gambling sectors?
Govts preach pay restraint to workers. No curbs on exec pay.
No link between CEO pay and performance - look at water, energy, banking, gambling sectors?
Govts preach pay restraint to workers. No curbs on exec pay.
The bosses paid the average UK salary in just TWO days
The growing pay gap between what chief executives and their employees earn will reignite the debate around 'fat cat' pay as shareholder revolts against boardroom excess surge.
www.thisismoney.co.uk
December 28, 2025 at 12:12 PM
Typical FTSE 100 CEO collects average UK wage in TWO days. CEO collects 141 times average employee's earnings. Some collect 1,110 times more.
No link between CEO pay and performance - look at water, energy, banking, gambling sectors?
Govts preach pay restraint to workers. No curbs on exec pay.
No link between CEO pay and performance - look at water, energy, banking, gambling sectors?
Govts preach pay restraint to workers. No curbs on exec pay.
Reposted by Phil Webber
An English local council innovates, evaluates what it did, finds it works (replicating an earlier study in Scotland) … and all councils are told by the Labour government not to try it. What message does this convey? Another victory for ideology & cowardice
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Councils warned against adopting four-day week
Local Government Secretary Steve Reed has told council leaders to not introduce four-day working weeks.
www.bbc.co.uk
December 23, 2025 at 8:13 AM
An English local council innovates, evaluates what it did, finds it works (replicating an earlier study in Scotland) … and all councils are told by the Labour government not to try it. What message does this convey? Another victory for ideology & cowardice
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Phil Webber
While the US & Europe ramp up military spending, millions live in poverty.
Today, we launch Transition Security Project, investigating how militarisation makes us poorer and less safe amid climate crisis — and what genuine security could look like. 🧵
transitionsecurity.org
Today, we launch Transition Security Project, investigating how militarisation makes us poorer and less safe amid climate crisis — and what genuine security could look like. 🧵
transitionsecurity.org
Transition Security Project
transitionsecurity.org
October 16, 2025 at 1:00 PM
While the US & Europe ramp up military spending, millions live in poverty.
Today, we launch Transition Security Project, investigating how militarisation makes us poorer and less safe amid climate crisis — and what genuine security could look like. 🧵
transitionsecurity.org
Today, we launch Transition Security Project, investigating how militarisation makes us poorer and less safe amid climate crisis — and what genuine security could look like. 🧵
transitionsecurity.org
Reposted by Phil Webber
Empty docks, shuttered courtrooms, missing evidence - The real reasons for London’s crippling court delays
www.standard.co.uk/news/london/...
www.standard.co.uk/news/london/...
Revealed: The real reason for London’s crippling court delays
Labour is bringing the axe down on jury trials, but people in court tell a different story of where the chronic delays come from
www.standard.co.uk
December 20, 2025 at 11:35 AM
Empty docks, shuttered courtrooms, missing evidence - The real reasons for London’s crippling court delays
www.standard.co.uk/news/london/...
www.standard.co.uk/news/london/...
Reposted by Phil Webber
The public has had enough of this disgusting money-go-round at Thames Water
But did you know the company is asking to be allowed to *release sewage outside of current legal limits until 2035-40* ⁉️
Tell @ofwat.bsky.social to say NO weownit.org.uk/act-now/ofwa...
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
But did you know the company is asking to be allowed to *release sewage outside of current legal limits until 2035-40* ⁉️
Tell @ofwat.bsky.social to say NO weownit.org.uk/act-now/ofwa...
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Thames Water defers controversial £2.5m in bonuses to bosses
Heavily indebted utility puts back ‘retention payments’ for 21 executives until new year amid search for rescue deal
www.theguardian.com
December 18, 2025 at 8:20 AM
The public has had enough of this disgusting money-go-round at Thames Water
But did you know the company is asking to be allowed to *release sewage outside of current legal limits until 2035-40* ⁉️
Tell @ofwat.bsky.social to say NO weownit.org.uk/act-now/ofwa...
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
But did you know the company is asking to be allowed to *release sewage outside of current legal limits until 2035-40* ⁉️
Tell @ofwat.bsky.social to say NO weownit.org.uk/act-now/ofwa...
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Reposted by Phil Webber
Innocent people end up in our criminal courts.
Completely, terrifyingly innocent.
And all that stands between them and losing everything is a fair trial.
Politicians would do well to remember this when they tell us that justice is all about processing “criminals” swiftly.
Completely, terrifyingly innocent.
And all that stands between them and losing everything is a fair trial.
Politicians would do well to remember this when they tell us that justice is all about processing “criminals” swiftly.
December 11, 2025 at 10:48 PM
Innocent people end up in our criminal courts.
Completely, terrifyingly innocent.
And all that stands between them and losing everything is a fair trial.
Politicians would do well to remember this when they tell us that justice is all about processing “criminals” swiftly.
Completely, terrifyingly innocent.
And all that stands between them and losing everything is a fair trial.
Politicians would do well to remember this when they tell us that justice is all about processing “criminals” swiftly.
Reposted by Phil Webber
British politics is a mess. Food, energy, housing are all too expensive. Major parties are all flogging the dead horse of trickle down. So I’m joining the Green Party. Britain needs an economy that works for workers, for small businesses, and future generations. @greenparty.org.uk
December 17, 2025 at 9:57 AM
British politics is a mess. Food, energy, housing are all too expensive. Major parties are all flogging the dead horse of trickle down. So I’m joining the Green Party. Britain needs an economy that works for workers, for small businesses, and future generations. @greenparty.org.uk
Reposted by Phil Webber
For clarity
bsky.app/profile/edwi...
bsky.app/profile/edwi...
£240,000 per job to temporarily safeguard 500 jobs at a firm run by the UK's 7th richest person, an ardent Brexiter worth £17 billion.
Is it really worth it when firms that don't get a penny in government support collapse with greater job losses every few weeks?
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Is it really worth it when firms that don't get a penny in government support collapse with greater job losses every few weeks?
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
December 17, 2025 at 10:40 AM
For clarity
bsky.app/profile/edwi...
bsky.app/profile/edwi...
Reposted by Phil Webber
Labour promised Business Growth Partnerships and Labour are delivering Business Growth with the Partnership of Public money
Jim Ratcliffe’s company Ineos gets £120m govt subsidy to help save the UK’s last ethylene plant at Grangemouth.
Ratcliffe is worth $14.7bn (£11bn). Can he not invest? Will he be back for more?
Govt is not taking any equity stake. £120m is not repayable.
Ratcliffe is worth $14.7bn (£11bn). Can he not invest? Will he be back for more?
Govt is not taking any equity stake. £120m is not repayable.
Government invests £120m to save UK’s last ethylene plant
Funding for billionaire Jim Ratcliffe’s Ineos plant in Scotland will help safeguard 500 jobs
www.theguardian.com
December 17, 2025 at 10:33 AM
Labour promised Business Growth Partnerships and Labour are delivering Business Growth with the Partnership of Public money
Reposted by Phil Webber
NEW: A critic of Keir Starmer has been elected general secretary of the UK's biggest trade union in a blow to Labour
Starmer critic becomes new leader of UK's biggest union in blow to Labour
www.thenational.scot
December 17, 2025 at 10:29 AM
NEW: A critic of Keir Starmer has been elected general secretary of the UK's biggest trade union in a blow to Labour
Reposted by Phil Webber
Jamie Driscoll was an outstanding, politically-unifying operator as North Tyneside mayor. Labour’s loss when he was quite obviously purged as part of a strategy that has by no means worked out for them. Greens gain here.
December 17, 2025 at 10:26 AM
Jamie Driscoll was an outstanding, politically-unifying operator as North Tyneside mayor. Labour’s loss when he was quite obviously purged as part of a strategy that has by no means worked out for them. Greens gain here.
'Non-lethal' - a deliberately misleading description for gun sights and armoured vehicle engines used in the Sudan via UAE.
Reports from @amnestyuk.bsky.social clearly show that UK-made components have been found in weapons in the awful conflict in Sudan. But this government refuses to act. Once again, the minister refused to acknowledge the reality of the situation when I confronted him yesterday.
December 17, 2025 at 10:29 AM
'Non-lethal' - a deliberately misleading description for gun sights and armoured vehicle engines used in the Sudan via UAE.
Definitely worth a try. Somehow we need to cut through against the prevailing fossil-fuelledl narrative with plain, accurate, understandable messages.
Jonathon Porritt and Robin Maynard on the need for a climate dashboard
www.chathamhouse.org/publications...
www.chathamhouse.org/publications...
Why we urgently need a ‘climate dashboard’
Swathes of the public are understandably disengaged from the climate crisis and the COP is increasingly irrelevant – a clear, annual assessment of the key data could help, write Jonathon Porritt and R...
www.chathamhouse.org
December 16, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Definitely worth a try. Somehow we need to cut through against the prevailing fossil-fuelledl narrative with plain, accurate, understandable messages.
Reposted by Phil Webber
YES YES YES thank you @georgemonbiot.bsky.social 🙏
😩AT LAST someone rasiing the alarm about what Europe's plummeting brith rates really mean!!
"In reality, without immigration there will be no Europe, no civilisation and no one left to argue about it."⚠️
It's. that. simple.
😩AT LAST someone rasiing the alarm about what Europe's plummeting brith rates really mean!!
"In reality, without immigration there will be no Europe, no civilisation and no one left to argue about it."⚠️
It's. that. simple.
December 12, 2025 at 10:22 AM
YES YES YES thank you @georgemonbiot.bsky.social 🙏
😩AT LAST someone rasiing the alarm about what Europe's plummeting brith rates really mean!!
"In reality, without immigration there will be no Europe, no civilisation and no one left to argue about it."⚠️
It's. that. simple.
😩AT LAST someone rasiing the alarm about what Europe's plummeting brith rates really mean!!
"In reality, without immigration there will be no Europe, no civilisation and no one left to argue about it."⚠️
It's. that. simple.
Reposted by Phil Webber
If you are in doubt about who's going to benefit most from this (still unpublished) UK-US deal, a comparison between the narratives in the UK and US governments’ press releases is revealing:
December 5, 2025 at 12:30 PM
If you are in doubt about who's going to benefit most from this (still unpublished) UK-US deal, a comparison between the narratives in the UK and US governments’ press releases is revealing:
Reposted by Phil Webber
![BREAKING NEWS CONSUMER'S HANDBOOK
1. In the immediate aftermath, news outlets will get it wrong.
2. Don't trust anonymous sources.
3. Don't trust stories that cite another news outlet as the source of the information.
4. There's almost never a second shooter.
5. Pay attention to the language the media uses.
• "We are getting reports".
". could mean anything.
• "We are seeking confirmation".. means they don't have it.
• "[News outlet] has learned". means it has a scoop or is going out on limb.
6. Look for news outlets close to the incident.
7. Compare multiple sources.
8. Big news brings out the fakers. And photoshoppers.
9. Beware reflexive retweeting. Some of this is on you.
ON THE MEDIA
ONTHEMEDIA.ORG](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:is7mtapkpnvxq77sxyv64xzq/bafkreidjd6cimg6dhedanmu22nekqoa5xkib6rfjnefghyygms4b3apcu4@jpeg)
December 14, 2025 at 9:32 AM
Reposted by Phil Webber
Why is it everyone else's job to unite behind Starmer, and not Starmer's job to present a policy platform worthy of support?
December 14, 2025 at 12:11 PM
Why is it everyone else's job to unite behind Starmer, and not Starmer's job to present a policy platform worthy of support?
Reposted by Phil Webber
The fact that Nigel Farage is even capable of winning is a sign that Keir Starmer is a terrible politician. It's like losing a popularity contest against a rotting fish
December 14, 2025 at 12:10 PM
The fact that Nigel Farage is even capable of winning is a sign that Keir Starmer is a terrible politician. It's like losing a popularity contest against a rotting fish
Reposted by Phil Webber
Worth reposting those explicit objections. They are highly compelling. committees.parliament.uk/publications...
committees.parliament.uk
December 14, 2025 at 9:03 AM
Worth reposting those explicit objections. They are highly compelling. committees.parliament.uk/publications...