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December 7, 2025 at 7:16 AM

Reposted by Quiet Riot

Patrick Reid

@oldmandoc.bsky.social

Aware about to be an episode behind but really good update on where the Uk-EU negotiations are and dissection of lessons from the 2024 GE!

Especially interesting about rh customs union considering David Lammys recent intervention.

Quiet Riot @quietriotpod.bsky.social · 3d

🆕 What's past is prologue 🆕

🇪🇺 Brexit's back alright
🗳️ lessons from 2024 GE
📰 media's Reeves derangement
🧌 Dungeons & Dragons

@pimlicat.bsky.social, @sturdyalex.bsky.social & guest @samfr.bsky.social put the world to rights.

🎧 open.spotify.com/episode/11Nv...

🍏 podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/q...

75% of Reform UK’s donations have come from just three rich men

December 7, 2025 at 1:40 AM

Reposted by Quiet Riot

Peter Geoghegan

@petergeoghegan.bsky.social

🔴 Nigel Farage’s Reform is more reliant on super-rich backers than any major party in modern British political history

75% of *all* Reform donations *ever* have come from just three rich men

Is this what democracy looks like?

New on Democracy for Sale
democracyforsale.substack.com/p/75-of-refo...

Calls grow for donation caps as Democracy for Sale research reveals that three-quarters of Reform’s funding comes from a trio of wealthy donors

democracyforsale.substack.com

December 5, 2025 at 10:55 AM

Reposted by Quiet Riot

Pete Miles

@petermiles.bsky.social

Hi @sturdyalex.bsky.social I just listened to the latest (excellent) Quiet Riot podcast and heard you pleading with the government to put down the Ming Vase. I wondered if you had seen this (also excellent) blog post?

@warringfictions.bsky.social
@quietriotpod.bsky.social

bsky.app/profile/warr...

Chris Clarke @warringfictions.bsky.social · Oct 23

1/ I have written a paper/ 4-part blog series called ‘Putting Down the Vase’. It is about populism, trust, and how Labour can stop Reform. The central argument is that, in a climate of low trust, risk-aversion at the centre must be overcome.

The full paper can be read here: shorturl.at/jJ8nu

December 5, 2025 at 3:59 PM

Reposted by Quiet Riot

Gildy Stern

@oldhamletsghost.bsky.social

I agree with every single word Alex utters in this week's burst of optimism, particularly true re the 'wall of news' at the local supermarket. People don't have to read newspapers to be influenced by them.

Quiet Riot @quietriotpod.bsky.social · 3d

🆕 What's past is prologue 🆕

🇪🇺 Brexit's back alright
🗳️ lessons from 2024 GE
📰 media's Reeves derangement
🧌 Dungeons & Dragons

@pimlicat.bsky.social, @sturdyalex.bsky.social & guest @samfr.bsky.social put the world to rights.

🎧 open.spotify.com/episode/11Nv...

🍏 podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/q...

December 5, 2025 at 4:20 PM

Quiet Riot

@quietriotpod.bsky.social

EXACTLY as predicted by @pimlicat.bsky.social and @samfr.bsky.social yesterday.

ARE WE GOOD OR ARE WE GOOD? A x

Lammy breaks ranks on Brexit
Joining customs union would boost growth, says Deputy PM days after PM rules it out
By Tony Diver
ASSOCIATE POLITICAL EDITOR
DAVID LAMMY has suggested that rejoining the EU customs union would boost economic growth amid mounting calls from within Downing Street to undo Brexit.
The Deputy Prime Minister refused seven times to rule out reversing the Brexit process, arguing that leaving the EU "badly damaged our economy" and that Labour should consider more inte gration with Brussels.
Mr Lammy said that rejoining the customs union was not "currently" the Government's policy, but that it was "self-evident" that other countries had "seen growth" after doing so.
His comments echo similar argu ments from Wes Streeting, the Health Secretary, who said on Wednesday that Labour should undo "the economic damage done by Brexit", as well as Sir Keir Starmer's own chief economic adviser and some senior figures close to No10.
Sir Keir pledged not to return to the single market or customs union in Labour's manifesto last year, but is under increasing pressure from MPs and advisers to reconsider its approach in light of dire growth forecasts. (cont'd in next image)

(cont'd)
Mr Lammy, asked several times on the News Agents podcast whether he would like to see Britain rejoin the cus toms union, said: "That is not currently our policy. That's not currently where we are. But you can see countries like Turkey with a customs union seemingly benefiting and seeing growth in their economy, and again, that's self-evi dent." He added that his comments
were "subject to collective responsibil-ity", implying that he was not free to divert from Sir Keir's stance on Brexit.
Senior Labour sources last night expressed frustration at Mr Lammy's refusal to repeat that assurance, while sources close to him insisted: "He is in the same position as the PM."
Darren Jones, Sir Keir's chief secre-tary, rebuked Mr Lammy in the Com-mons yesterday, arguing that Labour's policy would be announced in Parlia-ment, not "on podcasts".
Downing Street has abandoned the party's policy of avoiding discussion of Brexit, amid concerns that Remain vot ers have been pushed away from Labour and towards the Liberal Demo-
You can see countries like Turkey with a customs union... seeing growth, that's self-evident'
crats. The Prime Minister is now openly arguing for a closer relationship with Brussels, saying earlier this week that it would be "utterly reckless" to use Brexit as "a template for our future foreign policy" and pledging a "closer relation-ship" by the end of Labour's first term.
While he claimed that the public were "mis-sold" on "wild promises" about Brexit, he maintained that the customs union was a "red line" that the Government would not cross.
But Mr Lammy's comments come after the Treasury raised concerns that the Budget will not secure eco-nomic growth.

December 4, 2025 at 11:48 PM

Reposted by Quiet Riot

Alex Andreou

@sturdyalex.bsky.social

Perhaps my bitchiest moment on any podcast ever.

Naomi: "The OBR are looking for a new director after Richard Hughes fell on his sword."

Me: "Deliberately or did he just stumble?"

Quiet Riot @quietriotpod.bsky.social · 3d

🆕 What's past is prologue 🆕

🇪🇺 Brexit's back alright
🗳️ lessons from 2024 GE
📰 media's Reeves derangement
🧌 Dungeons & Dragons

@pimlicat.bsky.social, @sturdyalex.bsky.social & guest @samfr.bsky.social put the world to rights.

🎧 open.spotify.com/episode/11Nv...

🍏 podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/q...

December 4, 2025 at 8:57 PM

Reposted by Quiet Riot

Dr Sue Clayton

@topofthefield.bsky.social

Love @quietriotpod.bsky.social
Come for the erudite stay for the hope …or vice versa!

Quiet Riot @quietriotpod.bsky.social · 3d

🆕 What's past is prologue 🆕

🇪🇺 Brexit's back alright
🗳️ lessons from 2024 GE
📰 media's Reeves derangement
🧌 Dungeons & Dragons

@pimlicat.bsky.social, @sturdyalex.bsky.social & guest @samfr.bsky.social put the world to rights.

🎧 open.spotify.com/episode/11Nv...

🍏 podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/q...

December 4, 2025 at 12:56 PM

Reposted by Quiet Riot

Alex Andreou

@sturdyalex.bsky.social

Because, you see, buying influence is only a worry if a Labour peer donates a couple of "freebie" outfits to close friends. When a man, whose business is literally DARK MONEY, single-handedly rescues a near-bankrupt far-right party, leading in the polls, he's doing it because he believes in Nige.

December 4, 2025 at 12:53 PM

Reposted by Quiet Riot

Alex Andreou

@sturdyalex.bsky.social

Last year Sky News was rending its garments over Starmer's free eyeglasses: WHAT INFLUENCE DID LORD ALLI BUY?

Now, RefUK get £9m from a crypto bro, they have not one word about the donor's interests; just BRAVO NIGEL, barely concealed glee, and "what a huge boost... money goes where momentum is". 🤡

December 4, 2025 at 12:49 PM

Quiet Riot

@quietriotpod.bsky.social

“I thought Gullis had already moved over to Reform. It's a bit like when somebody tells you a celebrity has died, that you assumed had died 10 years ago. You're like: God, they were still alive, were they?” @pimlicat.bsky.social

Quiet Riot @quietriotpod.bsky.social · 3d

🆕 What's past is prologue 🆕

🇪🇺 Brexit's back alright
🗳️ lessons from 2024 GE
📰 media's Reeves derangement
🧌 Dungeons & Dragons

@pimlicat.bsky.social, @sturdyalex.bsky.social & guest @samfr.bsky.social put the world to rights.

🎧 open.spotify.com/episode/11Nv...

🍏 podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/q...

December 4, 2025 at 11:32 AM

Reposted by Quiet Riot

Alex Andreou

@sturdyalex.bsky.social

“We've spent months pointing out the absence of Brexit from Starmer's rhetoric. If that was important, then the re-emergence of it in his rhetoric must also be important.”

Quiet Riot @quietriotpod.bsky.social · 3d

🆕 What's past is prologue 🆕

🇪🇺 Brexit's back alright
🗳️ lessons from 2024 GE
📰 media's Reeves derangement
🧌 Dungeons & Dragons

@pimlicat.bsky.social, @sturdyalex.bsky.social & guest @samfr.bsky.social put the world to rights.

🎧 open.spotify.com/episode/11Nv...

🍏 podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/q...

December 4, 2025 at 11:29 AM

Reposted by Quiet Riot

Naomi Smith

@pimlicat.bsky.social

Always fab having Sam on the show.

We catch you up on everything eu uk related, plus the lessons from GE24 for left and right, and Alex reveals just how much of a board games nerd he was as a young thing.

🎧👇

Quiet Riot @quietriotpod.bsky.social · 3d

🆕 What's past is prologue 🆕

🇪🇺 Brexit's back alright
🗳️ lessons from 2024 GE
📰 media's Reeves derangement
🧌 Dungeons & Dragons

@pimlicat.bsky.social, @sturdyalex.bsky.social & guest @samfr.bsky.social put the world to rights.

🎧 open.spotify.com/episode/11Nv...

🍏 podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/q...

December 4, 2025 at 7:42 AM

Reposted by Quiet Riot

Eric Douglas

@ericdouglas999.bsky.social

Excellent episode, bringing together my favourite podcasters and substacker. Funny and insightful as always. Now, if only we could wean the Telegraph and Daily Mail readers off their regular daily dose of misinformed rage and prescribe them some of this instead.

December 4, 2025 at 9:37 AM

Reposted by Quiet Riot

Peter Welsh

@peterwelsh68.bsky.social

Quiet Riot always helps me walk up the Thursday hill and is
far more banjo than banjaxed.

Really good to hear substack aristocracy @samfr.bsky.social drop by the show!

Take it from me. Sam may miss those Nativitys when it gets to Drama A Level showcase time and your 11 soliloquies in!

December 4, 2025 at 10:08 AM

Reposted by Quiet Riot

Alex Andreou

@sturdyalex.bsky.social

The One Where Alex Loses It Over Dungeons & Dragons

Quiet Riot @quietriotpod.bsky.social · 3d

🆕 What's past is prologue 🆕

🇪🇺 Brexit's back alright
🗳️ lessons from 2024 GE
📰 media's Reeves derangement
🧌 Dungeons & Dragons

@pimlicat.bsky.social, @sturdyalex.bsky.social & guest @samfr.bsky.social put the world to rights.

🎧 open.spotify.com/episode/11Nv...

🍏 podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/q...

December 4, 2025 at 5:38 AM

Quiet Riot

@quietriotpod.bsky.social

🆕 What's past is prologue 🆕

🇪🇺 Brexit's back alright
🗳️ lessons from 2024 GE
📰 media's Reeves derangement
🧌 Dungeons & Dragons

@pimlicat.bsky.social, @sturdyalex.bsky.social & guest @samfr.bsky.social put the world to rights.

🎧 open.spotify.com/episode/11Nv...

🍏 podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/q...

Crisis in the Sahel: the end of Western intervention and the collapse of Mali

December 4, 2025 at 5:37 AM

Reposted by Quiet Riot

Fairy

@lafeeverte.bsky.social

I am a top listener apparently @quietriotpod.bsky.social

Quiet Riot podcast from Spotify wrapped.

December 3, 2025 at 7:29 PM

Reposted by Quiet Riot

Beth

@bethrankine.bsky.social

According to #SpotifyWrapped, my top podcast of the year is …. *drum roll* @quietriotpod.bsky.social ☺️

Big love to @sturdyalex.bsky.social, Naomi Smith and Kenny Campbell for keeping me informed, entertained, & regularly sighing or laughing - often while I’m cooking Sunday lunch or in the bath 🛀

December 3, 2025 at 8:14 PM

Reposted by Quiet Riot

Martyn Brunt

@skybluebrunty.bsky.social

Spotify Wrapped has spoken @quietriotpod.bsky.social

December 3, 2025 at 9:04 PM

Reposted by Quiet Riot

Alex Andreou

@sturdyalex.bsky.social

This is how Chris Mason, like a child filled with wonder, described "the choreography and theatre that surrounds a Budget" in Feb 2024, when a male Tory Chancellor was in post.

"Plans, or even just options, can be floated... Reaction to them can be tested. Opponents can be teased or wrongfooted." 👀

Screengrab from BBC website:

Looming election takes centre stage in Budget week
Published
29 February 2024

Share
Rachel Reeves and Jeremy Hunt
Image source,Getty Images
By
Chris Mason
Political editor, BBC News
Chris Mason
The choreography and theatre that surrounds a Budget invariably involve public performance before the curtain formally rises and the chancellor takes to his feet in the Commons.

The acts in advance, whether briefed out intentionally or leaked - or a combination of the two - turn a single-day event into a sprawling thing over a week or more.

Plans, or even just options, can be floated, commanding more attention than they would individually get, amid the cacophony of the big day itself.

Reaction to them can be tested. Opponents can be teased or wrongfooted, or so a chancellor might hope.

December 2, 2025 at 9:29 PM

Reposted by Quiet Riot

Alex Andreou

@sturdyalex.bsky.social

Islamophobia is rampant domestically, but the West's withdrawal from the international stage - in terms of military, but also aid and soft power - means more and more countries succumbing to militant Islamist regimes.

How do we square that circle? Absolutely fascinating discussion.

Arthur Snell @snellarthur.bsky.social · 4d

In Mali's capital, the city is surrounded by militants from an Al-Qaeda affiliate. But would the fall of a Russian-backed military govt be worse? And is this inevitable result of cutting aid to the world's poorest nations?
I spoke to Tessa Deveraux of #LSE.

podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/b...

Podcast Episode · Behind The Lines with Arthur Snell · 02/12/2025 · 38m