Gareth Thomas
@profgaretht.bsky.social
Emeritus Prof, UEA Law School; Chair, Suffolk Law Centre; Exec Member, Law Centres Network; Founder, UEA Law Clinic. Posts on access to justice, employment & discrimination law, art, music, architecture, gardening, classic cars, Cymru, and NCFC 💛💚
Pinned
Gareth Thomas
@profgaretht.bsky.social
· Dec 22
Howdy folks - my first post on here, and feeling like the new boy in school - not sure where to go, or what to do!
Oh FFS. Are there no grown-ups in No 10?
‘Due diligence vitally important’ in next top civil servant appointment – Lord McDonald
www.channel4.com/news/due-dil...
www.channel4.com/news/due-dil...
‘Due diligence vitally important’ in next top civil servant appointment – Lord McDonald
Another high profile departure from No 10 in the wake of the Mandelson scandal is due to be Britain's top civil servant.
www.channel4.com
February 11, 2026 at 10:06 PM
Oh FFS. Are there no grown-ups in No 10?
This is arrant nonsense.
It’s a challenge that can and should be fulfilled by the state providing adequate funding in support of access to justice for all.
It’s a challenge that can and should be fulfilled by the state providing adequate funding in support of access to justice for all.
Master of the Rolls: Expectation that justice should be available to everyone provides a challenge that can only be fulfilled by the adoption of new technologies and AI
www.rightsnet.org.uk/now/post/69894
www.rightsnet.org.uk/now/post/69894
February 11, 2026 at 5:51 PM
This is arrant nonsense.
It’s a challenge that can and should be fulfilled by the state providing adequate funding in support of access to justice for all.
It’s a challenge that can and should be fulfilled by the state providing adequate funding in support of access to justice for all.
Yet another deeply depressing dull, damp, dismal day.
It’s reminded me of my favourite Max Boyce line:
“Excuse me, can you tell me, is that thing in the sky over by there* the sun or the moon?”
“I don’t know. I’m from Port Talbot.”
(* For the uninitiated, this is a South Walian form of words)
It’s reminded me of my favourite Max Boyce line:
“Excuse me, can you tell me, is that thing in the sky over by there* the sun or the moon?”
“I don’t know. I’m from Port Talbot.”
(* For the uninitiated, this is a South Walian form of words)
February 11, 2026 at 1:23 PM
Yet another deeply depressing dull, damp, dismal day.
It’s reminded me of my favourite Max Boyce line:
“Excuse me, can you tell me, is that thing in the sky over by there* the sun or the moon?”
“I don’t know. I’m from Port Talbot.”
(* For the uninitiated, this is a South Walian form of words)
It’s reminded me of my favourite Max Boyce line:
“Excuse me, can you tell me, is that thing in the sky over by there* the sun or the moon?”
“I don’t know. I’m from Port Talbot.”
(* For the uninitiated, this is a South Walian form of words)
Reposted by Gareth Thomas
Toby Young, Matthew Elliott, Daniel Moylan, Claire Fox, Daniel Hannan, Michael Gove, Therese Coffey (a Brexit convert), Paul Goodman, John Moynihan, Ruth Lea, Stewart Jackson, Michael Hintze, Charles Moore, David Frost, Theo Agnew; & now John Redwood.
Rewarded for the Brexit calamity with peerages.
Rewarded for the Brexit calamity with peerages.
Ex Tory MP John Redwood has been made a peer, as Lord Redwood on 31 January, and was formally introduced in the Lords on Tuesday
February 11, 2026 at 9:36 AM
Toby Young, Matthew Elliott, Daniel Moylan, Claire Fox, Daniel Hannan, Michael Gove, Therese Coffey (a Brexit convert), Paul Goodman, John Moynihan, Ruth Lea, Stewart Jackson, Michael Hintze, Charles Moore, David Frost, Theo Agnew; & now John Redwood.
Rewarded for the Brexit calamity with peerages.
Rewarded for the Brexit calamity with peerages.
Reposted by Gareth Thomas
The law on universities and free speech prevents speakers from being *disinvited after they have been invited*. It does not require universities to provide a platform to whoever demands one.
Let's not mince words: the threat to cut funding to every university who disagrees with them is fascist.
Let's not mince words: the threat to cut funding to every university who disagrees with them is fascist.
This is pretty menacing.
Sarah Pochin wrote to Bangor's university student run debating society requesting that she attend to "answer questions from students."
When they said "no" Reform rolled all it's tanks onto the lawns and said they'll cut funding to the entire university if they win.
Sarah Pochin wrote to Bangor's university student run debating society requesting that she attend to "answer questions from students."
When they said "no" Reform rolled all it's tanks onto the lawns and said they'll cut funding to the entire university if they win.
February 10, 2026 at 10:31 AM
The law on universities and free speech prevents speakers from being *disinvited after they have been invited*. It does not require universities to provide a platform to whoever demands one.
Let's not mince words: the threat to cut funding to every university who disagrees with them is fascist.
Let's not mince words: the threat to cut funding to every university who disagrees with them is fascist.
Reposted by Gareth Thomas
"I moved to Dubai because I'm a proud British patriot", said nobody ever.
February 10, 2026 at 7:30 AM
"I moved to Dubai because I'm a proud British patriot", said nobody ever.
Reposted by Gareth Thomas
Oh. My. God.
A Florida A&M University law student says the school told her to remove the word 'Black' from a Black History Month event flyer. The school says it is in full compliance with state law
‘Black’ banned from flyers for FAMU College of Law Black History Month event, student says
A student at FAMU College of Law says the school told her to remove the word 'black' from a Black History Month event flyer. The school says it is in full compliance with state law.
www.clickorlando.com
February 8, 2026 at 7:50 PM
Oh. My. God.
Reposted by Gareth Thomas
Just beyond parody at this point
February 8, 2026 at 7:52 PM
Just beyond parody at this point
Reposted by Gareth Thomas
There's a t shirt, yes? Surely someone's made a t shirt??
"Full speed ahead to uber-woke, net-zeroist rejoinerism" is the funniest thing a Labour MP has said for some time I'll give it that. It's like a Jordan Peterson quote about Elmo.
Yes, god help we risk a floundering government that feels like no one is in charge.
February 8, 2026 at 7:54 PM
There's a t shirt, yes? Surely someone's made a t shirt??
Well, at least Starmer didn’t say, “My project will be complete when the Labour Party learns to love Morgan McSweeney”.
February 8, 2026 at 7:24 PM
Well, at least Starmer didn’t say, “My project will be complete when the Labour Party learns to love Morgan McSweeney”.
Reposted by Gareth Thomas
The framing is absolutely disgusting.
The Home Office now describes asylum seekers as "illegal immigrants [living in hotels]" with no reference to the reason that these people are in government-funded accommodation is that this government has taken & will process the asylum claim from them in 98-99% of cases of unauthorised entry.
February 8, 2026 at 2:19 PM
The framing is absolutely disgusting.
“Why does he still believe he has all the answers?”
Because he’s an arrogant narcissist.
Because he’s an arrogant narcissist.
February 8, 2026 at 8:19 AM
“Why does he still believe he has all the answers?”
Because he’s an arrogant narcissist.
Because he’s an arrogant narcissist.
This is so bad
New on FT website:
Downing Street has refused to say whether Sir Keir Starmer knew Palantir was a client of Peter Mandelson’s lobbying firm when they both visited the company in Washington last February — ahead of it winning a £240mn UK government contract.
www.ft.com/content/5bba...
Downing Street has refused to say whether Sir Keir Starmer knew Palantir was a client of Peter Mandelson’s lobbying firm when they both visited the company in Washington last February — ahead of it winning a £240mn UK government contract.
www.ft.com/content/5bba...
Starmer faces questions over visit to Palantir office alongside Mandelson
Former ambassador was also shareholder in lobbying group that counted US tech firm as a client
www.ft.com
February 7, 2026 at 8:46 AM
This is so bad
Watching the film Bohemian Rhapsody on Film4, and I keep expecting someone to say “These go to 11”
February 6, 2026 at 9:16 PM
Watching the film Bohemian Rhapsody on Film4, and I keep expecting someone to say “These go to 11”
Reposted by Gareth Thomas
Seated Girl Holding Some Sewing, c.1920, painting by Gwen John, Welsh artist.
February 6, 2026 at 12:44 PM
Seated Girl Holding Some Sewing, c.1920, painting by Gwen John, Welsh artist.
Reposted by Gareth Thomas
“If anything was to come to the surface, we would look at it”
👀
👀
Ski jumping: Wada responds to penis injection claims
The World Anti-Doping Agency could investigate if evidence emerges that male ski jumpers are injecting their penises in a bid to improve sporting performance.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 6, 2026 at 1:24 PM
“If anything was to come to the surface, we would look at it”
👀
👀
Reposted by Gareth Thomas
This is MAGA ideological imperialism.
It's disguised as a "free speech" crusade. In reality, the Trump admin seeks to coerce Europe into deregulating digital environments to enable unimpeded extremist content that radicalises voters into supporting far-right populists.
www.ft.com/content/f869...
It's disguised as a "free speech" crusade. In reality, the Trump admin seeks to coerce Europe into deregulating digital environments to enable unimpeded extremist content that radicalises voters into supporting far-right populists.
www.ft.com/content/f869...
US government to fund Maga-aligned think-tanks and charities in Europe
State department grants to spread ‘American values’ are part of Washington’s 250th anniversary celebrations
www.ft.com
February 6, 2026 at 12:55 PM
This is MAGA ideological imperialism.
It's disguised as a "free speech" crusade. In reality, the Trump admin seeks to coerce Europe into deregulating digital environments to enable unimpeded extremist content that radicalises voters into supporting far-right populists.
www.ft.com/content/f869...
It's disguised as a "free speech" crusade. In reality, the Trump admin seeks to coerce Europe into deregulating digital environments to enable unimpeded extremist content that radicalises voters into supporting far-right populists.
www.ft.com/content/f869...
Reposted by Gareth Thomas
The President has issued his invitation for politics to embrace open racism. It’s not like it was otherwise hard to detect, but this still feels like a big step further.
Just confirmed it myself by viewing the video on Truth Social. This is real. He really did this and he has not deleted it.
February 6, 2026 at 10:44 AM
The President has issued his invitation for politics to embrace open racism. It’s not like it was otherwise hard to detect, but this still feels like a big step further.
Reposted by Gareth Thomas
again we do not really do a good job of explaining how wealthy people like Jeff Bezos are
his net worth is $253.2 billion.
so he could take one million dollars, and just light it on fire
and then do it again tomorrow
and again the day after that
and then do it every day for 693 years and 8 months
his net worth is $253.2 billion.
so he could take one million dollars, and just light it on fire
and then do it again tomorrow
and again the day after that
and then do it every day for 693 years and 8 months
February 4, 2026 at 5:41 PM
again we do not really do a good job of explaining how wealthy people like Jeff Bezos are
his net worth is $253.2 billion.
so he could take one million dollars, and just light it on fire
and then do it again tomorrow
and again the day after that
and then do it every day for 693 years and 8 months
his net worth is $253.2 billion.
so he could take one million dollars, and just light it on fire
and then do it again tomorrow
and again the day after that
and then do it every day for 693 years and 8 months
Got a UK Power Networks text message saying that, due to discovery of an unexpected fault, our scheduled 0900-1000 power cut will now continue until 1300. Desperate for a coffee. Send help.
February 4, 2026 at 11:21 AM
Got a UK Power Networks text message saying that, due to discovery of an unexpected fault, our scheduled 0900-1000 power cut will now continue until 1300. Desperate for a coffee. Send help.
Reposted by Gareth Thomas
Hot Take 2: if this is Mandelson's position, there is no reason for him not to issue a statement to this effect. If he has not issued a statement to this effect, the BBC's "understanding" of his actual position may be inaccurate. Stop letting people play this game.
February 4, 2026 at 9:55 AM
Hot Take 2: if this is Mandelson's position, there is no reason for him not to issue a statement to this effect. If he has not issued a statement to this effect, the BBC's "understanding" of his actual position may be inaccurate. Stop letting people play this game.
Reposted by Gareth Thomas
Thinking of those relatively junior civil servants who were jailed for substantial periods for leaking information in return for relatively small amounts of reward during the hacking scandal.
February 3, 2026 at 6:37 PM
Thinking of those relatively junior civil servants who were jailed for substantial periods for leaking information in return for relatively small amounts of reward during the hacking scandal.