John O’Shea
@politicalhackuk.bsky.social
Labour. Former BCC councillor and cabinet member. Know too much about bins. All views my own. RTs may not be. Work for Jess Phillips MP. Promoted by Yardley Labour Party on behalf of John O'Shea, both at 62 Yardley Road, Acocks Green, B27 6HH.
Reposted by John O’Shea
Brilliant thecritic.co.uk/auntie-in-th...
November 24, 2025 at 10:06 PM
Brilliant thecritic.co.uk/auntie-in-th...
Reposted by John O’Shea
Properly moving xkcd
xkcd.com/3172/
xkcd.com/3172/
Fifteen Years
xkcd.com
November 24, 2025 at 10:51 PM
Properly moving xkcd
xkcd.com/3172/
xkcd.com/3172/
I assume James Dyson's edit of the Today programme on the "entrepreneurial spirit" will include advice on buying vast amounts of farmland and patriotically moving your business to Singapore.
November 24, 2025 at 10:22 AM
I assume James Dyson's edit of the Today programme on the "entrepreneurial spirit" will include advice on buying vast amounts of farmland and patriotically moving your business to Singapore.
The article is utterly horrific.
don't really care how this makes me sound at this point, but the free open internet was a mistake and a lot of people out there were clearly never going to be able to handle it
Influencers made millions pushing ‘wild’ births – now the Free Birth Society is linked to baby deaths around the world
November 22, 2025 at 11:41 AM
The article is utterly horrific.
Have they tried giving some of it away? I'm more than happy to help the ultra-rich ease their pain by relieving them of some free cash.
The fear of not having enough money is familiar. But there’s a quieter struggle at the top: feeling uncomfortable with having too much, says money psychotherapist Vicky Reynal ⬇️
Why my ultra-rich clients are ashamed of their wealth
www.thetimes.com
November 21, 2025 at 10:57 AM
Have they tried giving some of it away? I'm more than happy to help the ultra-rich ease their pain by relieving them of some free cash.
Stokes remains a player who writes his own script for the match. 5-23 is a stunning performance. This England attack is relentless and he comes in as the fifth bowler after they've seen off the missiles of Archer, Carse and Wood. There's no light relief.
November 21, 2025 at 10:02 AM
Stokes remains a player who writes his own script for the match. 5-23 is a stunning performance. This England attack is relentless and he comes in as the fifth bowler after they've seen off the missiles of Archer, Carse and Wood. There's no light relief.
Reposted by John O’Shea
Next thing they'll tell us that Boris Johnson was a lazy dilettante with no ability to concentrate on anything for more than a few minutes and no ability to make tough decisions.
November 20, 2025 at 6:14 PM
Next thing they'll tell us that Boris Johnson was a lazy dilettante with no ability to concentrate on anything for more than a few minutes and no ability to make tough decisions.
In December 2020, government were imposing selective lockdowns. The council was asked when we wanted it brought in. Our health teams showed us evidence and we asked for it to come in from Boxing Day.
Government delayed a week. Their choice.
Government delayed a week. Their choice.
November 20, 2025 at 7:10 PM
In December 2020, government were imposing selective lockdowns. The council was asked when we wanted it brought in. Our health teams showed us evidence and we asked for it to come in from Boxing Day.
Government delayed a week. Their choice.
Government delayed a week. Their choice.
This is not news to anyone involved in the COVID response.
The one thing the useless incompetent Boris Johnson clung on to for his failed premiership was the UK’s Covid response. Turns out he killed 20,000 people.
‘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 20, 2025 at 6:02 PM
This is not news to anyone involved in the COVID response.
Reposted by John O’Shea
Trump calls for Democratic members of Congress to be hanged
November 20, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Trump calls for Democratic members of Congress to be hanged
Maybe I’m overthinking this, but doesn’t this kinda disclose that such a memo exists? And do orders from the Dep AG override a question from the court?
BREAKING: Prosecutors in the Comey case just told the judge that they’re under orders from the Deputy Attorney Generals’s office not to disclose whether career prosecutors wrote a memo recommending *against* indicting Comey prior to Halligan going to the grand jury.
November 19, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Maybe I’m overthinking this, but doesn’t this kinda disclose that such a memo exists? And do orders from the Dep AG override a question from the court?
An excellent thread on a reforming politician.
This week is Road Safety Week & a chance to talk about Barbara Castle!
Barbara was Transport Minister for three years yet she was able to introduce the Breathalyzer, a proper integrated transport strategy & more!
This was done despite fierce opposition.
📸 Photo from the Parliamentary Achieve
Barbara was Transport Minister for three years yet she was able to introduce the Breathalyzer, a proper integrated transport strategy & more!
This was done despite fierce opposition.
📸 Photo from the Parliamentary Achieve
November 19, 2025 at 3:58 PM
An excellent thread on a reforming politician.
Question - when should your Christmas tree and decorations go up and when should it come down? I'd say second week in December to about the 5th of Jan.
November 19, 2025 at 11:02 AM
Question - when should your Christmas tree and decorations go up and when should it come down? I'd say second week in December to about the 5th of Jan.
Ex-MPs shouldn't get passes to Parliament. If they want to see a mate who is still an MP, then they can be signed in as a visitor.
Former MPs who then go on to work for lobbying firms should be banned from holding a parliamentary pass.
I don't care whether they want a haircut or a "cuppa with old colleagues."
It's not as if I have a pass from any of my old workplaces still.
@spotlightcorruption.org right to call this out.
I don't care whether they want a haircut or a "cuppa with old colleagues."
It's not as if I have a pass from any of my old workplaces still.
@spotlightcorruption.org right to call this out.
Ex-MPs working for lobbyists use privileged access to parliament
A number of former politicians who are now paid to help influence policymakers have visited the parliamentary estate, but deny doing so for lobbying
www.thetimes.com
November 17, 2025 at 12:04 PM
Ex-MPs shouldn't get passes to Parliament. If they want to see a mate who is still an MP, then they can be signed in as a visitor.
Reposted by John O’Shea
At a rugby club in small-town Leicestershire. This was on the window ledge in the toilet. Fearing the worst, I scanned the QR & opened it in an incognito window…
It’s a link to Amnesty International’s explainer on asylum & refugees 😍
It’s a link to Amnesty International’s explainer on asylum & refugees 😍
November 15, 2025 at 1:52 PM
At a rugby club in small-town Leicestershire. This was on the window ledge in the toilet. Fearing the worst, I scanned the QR & opened it in an incognito window…
It’s a link to Amnesty International’s explainer on asylum & refugees 😍
It’s a link to Amnesty International’s explainer on asylum & refugees 😍
I did look it up on Goodreads, and he has one of the all time author bios
November 15, 2025 at 8:30 PM
The new home of concrete farming.
November 15, 2025 at 5:55 PM
The new home of concrete farming.
Reposted by John O’Shea
I made a joke about MOJO buying the Mail and I think this excellent reply deserves more attention
"Hurrah For The Black Keys!"
The Daily Mojo Headline (probably)
The Daily Mojo Headline (probably)
November 15, 2025 at 12:06 PM
I made a joke about MOJO buying the Mail and I think this excellent reply deserves more attention
Reposted by John O’Shea
![[Scene is a kitchen - a middle aged woman called JANET is boiling peas at the stove. A younger more colourfully dressed woman named LIZ approached her.]
JANET:
Ugh...
LIZ:
What's up?
JANET:
I am so bored of cooking peas!
LIZ:
Have you tried...
AI peas?
JANET:
AI peas?
LIZ:
They're peas with AI!
[Liz holds up to us a packet of peas labelled: Pea-i AI - Peas with AI].
LIZ:
Al-powered peas harness the potential of your peas
JANET:
What
LIZ [Now a voiceover as we cut to a whizzy technology diagram of peas all connected by meaningless dotted lines]
Why not take your peas to the next level with Al Peas' new Al tools to power your peas?
[Show a techno diagram of a pea with a label reading 'AI' pointing to a random zone in it]
LIZ:
Each pea has Al in a way we haven't quite worked out yet but it's fine
[Show Janet and Liz now in a Matrix-style world of peas]
LIZ:
With Al peas you can supercharge productivity and make AI work for your peas!
JANET:
What
LIZ:
Shut up
LIZ:
Our game-changing Pea-Al gives you the freedom to unlock the potential of the power of the future of your peas workflow
From opening the bag of peas
to boiling the peas
to eating the peas
To spending millions on adding Al to the peas and then having to work out what that even means.
JANET:
Is it really necessary to-
LIZ [Grabbing Janet by the collar]:
THE PEAS HAVE GOT AI, JANET
[Cut to an advert ending screen, with the bag of peas and the slogan:
AI PEAS: Just 'Peas' for god's sake buy the AI peas.
[Ends]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:4m3we4apbjayclzcnhwe3pfp/bafkreiayqa37f7kik7l7s7fbtfp2sir5ckb662ry2lylinyjrfa2rkvvka@jpeg)
Good decision.
Police and crime commissioners to be abolished, government to announce
Police and crime commissioners to be abolished, government to announce
System introduced in 2012 across England and Wales has faced criticism from police chiefs
*
UK politics live – latest updates
The controversial system of police and crime commissioners is to be abolished by the government, the Guardian has learned.
Under the system, introduced under the Conservatives, all 43 police forces covering local areas across England and Wales had to answer to an elected official. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
November 13, 2025 at 11:55 AM
Good decision.
Farage doesn't have time to condemn his councillor who called some children in care "evil"
I'm sure he'll find time when he's next on GB News.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
I'm sure he'll find time when he's next on GB News.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Cambridgeshire councillor to be investigated over 'evil' remark
Reform UK councillor Andy Osborn is heard describing some children in care as
www.bbc.co.uk
November 12, 2025 at 12:22 PM
Farage doesn't have time to condemn his councillor who called some children in care "evil"
I'm sure he'll find time when he's next on GB News.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
I'm sure he'll find time when he's next on GB News.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Anyone who thinks it would improve our nation for the BBC to be neutered is also a fool.
I’ll take an imperfect BBC over the alternate media landscape.
I’ll take an imperfect BBC over the alternate media landscape.
Anyone on the left who thinks that the BBC falling would help their politics, here and abroad, is an unbelievable fool
November 11, 2025 at 9:10 PM
Anyone who thinks it would improve our nation for the BBC to be neutered is also a fool.
I’ll take an imperfect BBC over the alternate media landscape.
I’ll take an imperfect BBC over the alternate media landscape.
As is traditional, Acocks Green still marks the 11th hour of the 11th month, when the guns fell silent at the end of the First World War. That was not the war to end all wars and we remember those who have given their lives for their country in the 107 years since.
November 11, 2025 at 8:41 PM
As is traditional, Acocks Green still marks the 11th hour of the 11th month, when the guns fell silent at the end of the First World War. That was not the war to end all wars and we remember those who have given their lives for their country in the 107 years since.
Reposted by John O’Shea
Rupert Lowe has invited Wayne O'Rourke to parliament
O'Rourke pleaded guilty to stirring up race hatred, after calling for people to go on the streets, burn cars, to attack mosques + the "traitors" defending Muslims
Judge "You were not caught up in what others were doing, you were instigating it"
O'Rourke pleaded guilty to stirring up race hatred, after calling for people to go on the streets, burn cars, to attack mosques + the "traitors" defending Muslims
Judge "You were not caught up in what others were doing, you were instigating it"
November 11, 2025 at 5:54 PM
Rupert Lowe has invited Wayne O'Rourke to parliament
O'Rourke pleaded guilty to stirring up race hatred, after calling for people to go on the streets, burn cars, to attack mosques + the "traitors" defending Muslims
Judge "You were not caught up in what others were doing, you were instigating it"
O'Rourke pleaded guilty to stirring up race hatred, after calling for people to go on the streets, burn cars, to attack mosques + the "traitors" defending Muslims
Judge "You were not caught up in what others were doing, you were instigating it"
Reposted by John O’Shea
If BBC News's rivals who are today damning it for bias were held to similar standards, most of them would be shut down on the spot.
November 10, 2025 at 8:12 AM
If BBC News's rivals who are today damning it for bias were held to similar standards, most of them would be shut down on the spot.