Stefan Siebert
@stefansiebert.bsky.social
Professor at University of Glasgow in beautiful Scotland. Views obviously my own and not medical advice or representative of my employers. Hate injustice and worried about the future of healthcare (and humanity)! ☮️
Reposted by Stefan Siebert
Today I had surgery, as I lie here waiting for pain relief to kick in, feeling beaten up, exhausted I can’t thank the team at UCLH enough for world leading treatment.. that I/we get free❗️
Never forget Farage wants to kill #NHS & to push private care that’d bankrupt millions. Why❓
Follow the £’s..
Never forget Farage wants to kill #NHS & to push private care that’d bankrupt millions. Why❓
Follow the £’s..
Here’s a perfect example of the rich mix of nationalities, colours & cultures of #NHS that the Far Right so hate
I see their colleagues each year for surgery, they do an outstanding job with compassion, world class professionalism & often a smile
Yet Reform racists want to kick non white’s out 🤷🏼♂️🤦🏼♂️
I see their colleagues each year for surgery, they do an outstanding job with compassion, world class professionalism & often a smile
Yet Reform racists want to kick non white’s out 🤷🏼♂️🤦🏼♂️
February 5, 2026 at 9:47 PM
Today I had surgery, as I lie here waiting for pain relief to kick in, feeling beaten up, exhausted I can’t thank the team at UCLH enough for world leading treatment.. that I/we get free❗️
Never forget Farage wants to kill #NHS & to push private care that’d bankrupt millions. Why❓
Follow the £’s..
Never forget Farage wants to kill #NHS & to push private care that’d bankrupt millions. Why❓
Follow the £’s..
Reposted by Stefan Siebert
Glasgow City Council are finally relieving Derek Souter of the Egyptian Halls on Union St via CPO. Souter is a provaricating arse with no intention of putting his hand in his pocket.
Here it is in the late 70s, courtesy of the JR James Archive.
#Glasgow
Here it is in the late 70s, courtesy of the JR James Archive.
#Glasgow
February 5, 2026 at 8:37 PM
Glasgow City Council are finally relieving Derek Souter of the Egyptian Halls on Union St via CPO. Souter is a provaricating arse with no intention of putting his hand in his pocket.
Here it is in the late 70s, courtesy of the JR James Archive.
#Glasgow
Here it is in the late 70s, courtesy of the JR James Archive.
#Glasgow
Reposted by Stefan Siebert
Anas Sarwar says today of Peter Mandelson: “I'm utterly disgusted and furious about the entire situation … He never should have been the ambassador to the US.”
For context, here’s Sarwar in April 2025 love-bombing his ‘old friend’.
They think we are stupid.
He is an amoral opportunistic chancer.
For context, here’s Sarwar in April 2025 love-bombing his ‘old friend’.
They think we are stupid.
He is an amoral opportunistic chancer.
February 5, 2026 at 3:20 PM
Anas Sarwar says today of Peter Mandelson: “I'm utterly disgusted and furious about the entire situation … He never should have been the ambassador to the US.”
For context, here’s Sarwar in April 2025 love-bombing his ‘old friend’.
They think we are stupid.
He is an amoral opportunistic chancer.
For context, here’s Sarwar in April 2025 love-bombing his ‘old friend’.
They think we are stupid.
He is an amoral opportunistic chancer.
Reposted by Stefan Siebert
Immigrants have paid more in taxes than they have received in benefits every single year for the past 30 years, according to new analysis from Cato.
Remember this the next time Trump and his racist lackeys call immigrants "freeloaders."
Remember this the next time Trump and his racist lackeys call immigrants "freeloaders."
February 5, 2026 at 7:20 PM
Immigrants have paid more in taxes than they have received in benefits every single year for the past 30 years, according to new analysis from Cato.
Remember this the next time Trump and his racist lackeys call immigrants "freeloaders."
Remember this the next time Trump and his racist lackeys call immigrants "freeloaders."
Don’t always agree with Mark Kermode about films but not one single word wasted here or that I disagreed with, starting with “It’s not a film, it is a bribe, a grubby piece of propaganda”.
He also manages to include all the key moments (low points) of the last year in the US!
Spectacular!
He also manages to include all the key moments (low points) of the last year in the US!
Spectacular!
Well that’s my mind made up. Was on the fence*, but based on Mark Kermode’s excellent and unflinching review here I’m not buying a ticket to go and see Melania.
*I wasn’t on the fence. I wasn’t even in the same field as the fence.
*I wasn’t on the fence. I wasn’t even in the same field as the fence.
Mark Kermode reviews Melania
YouTube video by Kermode and Mayo's Take
youtu.be
February 5, 2026 at 7:20 PM
Don’t always agree with Mark Kermode about films but not one single word wasted here or that I disagreed with, starting with “It’s not a film, it is a bribe, a grubby piece of propaganda”.
He also manages to include all the key moments (low points) of the last year in the US!
Spectacular!
He also manages to include all the key moments (low points) of the last year in the US!
Spectacular!
Reposted by Stefan Siebert
What's interesting is that at the time this was thought to be true but it turned out it wasn't. Yes, men in Congress in the 1970s freaked out about divorce rates from basic income pilot data. They screwed up the analysis. It was later discovered that relationships improved.
bsky.app/profile/scot...
bsky.app/profile/scot...
This is literally true. There was a proposal in the US in the early seventies to bring in a basic income, there were trials, and they succeeded on every measure -- but the divorce rate went up as women didn't have to live with men they didn't love. So the proposal was scrapped.
There's two main reasons there's a segment of society against UBI
1. THOSE people, CERTAIN people will get FREE THINGS!!!! THAT I AM PAYING FOR!!!!
This thinking is wrong and bad. If one truly believes that...more money is being spent on all the other bullshit that doesn't help.
2. Divorce.
1. THOSE people, CERTAIN people will get FREE THINGS!!!! THAT I AM PAYING FOR!!!!
This thinking is wrong and bad. If one truly believes that...more money is being spent on all the other bullshit that doesn't help.
2. Divorce.
February 5, 2026 at 4:07 PM
What's interesting is that at the time this was thought to be true but it turned out it wasn't. Yes, men in Congress in the 1970s freaked out about divorce rates from basic income pilot data. They screwed up the analysis. It was later discovered that relationships improved.
bsky.app/profile/scot...
bsky.app/profile/scot...
Reposted by Stefan Siebert
Catz of BlueSky
February 5, 2026 at 2:26 PM
Catz of BlueSky
Surely that deserved a standing ovation and not just a smattering of sycophantic applause! Children across the world are always talking about how grateful they are that Christmas was saved.
[PS severe sarcasm and nausea alert!]😵💫
[PS severe sarcasm and nausea alert!]😵💫
Trump: "In 2015, when I announced, I said, 'We're gonna bring back Christmas,' because the word 'Christmas' was almost gone. We brought back the word 'Christmas.'"
February 5, 2026 at 3:27 PM
Surely that deserved a standing ovation and not just a smattering of sycophantic applause! Children across the world are always talking about how grateful they are that Christmas was saved.
[PS severe sarcasm and nausea alert!]😵💫
[PS severe sarcasm and nausea alert!]😵💫
Reposted by Stefan Siebert
“I look at the performative hand-wringing, all the ‘OMG can’t believe Starmer appointed him despite all this!’ and I feel I’m in a parallel universe. Starmer appointed him BECAUSE of, not despite it. To be our interface with a corrupt WH that operates in precisely the same way. Everyone understood.”
🔥 NEW: Binfire of the Vanities
👿 Mandelson: Beyond the schadenfreude
🎒 Education: What next for SEND policy?
🏺 Plus a very Homeric Wokey Dokey
@sturdyalex.bsky.social, @mrkennycampbell.bsky.social & guest @samfr.bsky.social
🎧 open.spotify.com/episode/61di...
🍏 podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/q...
👿 Mandelson: Beyond the schadenfreude
🎒 Education: What next for SEND policy?
🏺 Plus a very Homeric Wokey Dokey
@sturdyalex.bsky.social, @mrkennycampbell.bsky.social & guest @samfr.bsky.social
🎧 open.spotify.com/episode/61di...
🍏 podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/q...
Binfire of the Vanities
Podcast Episode · Quiet Riot · 05/02/2026 · 1h 12m
podcasts.apple.com
February 5, 2026 at 9:01 AM
“I look at the performative hand-wringing, all the ‘OMG can’t believe Starmer appointed him despite all this!’ and I feel I’m in a parallel universe. Starmer appointed him BECAUSE of, not despite it. To be our interface with a corrupt WH that operates in precisely the same way. Everyone understood.”
Reposted by Stefan Siebert
William Nordhaus received the Nobel Memorial Prize for these flawed economic models, and Bjorn Lomborg built a highly lucrative career on them.
They told rich and powerful people what they wanted to hear.
While helping to consign us all to catastrophe.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
They told rich and powerful people what they wanted to hear.
While helping to consign us all to catastrophe.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Flawed economic models mean climate crisis could crash global economy, experts warn
States and financial bodies using modelling that ignores shocks from extreme weather and climate tipping points
www.theguardian.com
February 5, 2026 at 8:28 AM
William Nordhaus received the Nobel Memorial Prize for these flawed economic models, and Bjorn Lomborg built a highly lucrative career on them.
They told rich and powerful people what they wanted to hear.
While helping to consign us all to catastrophe.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
They told rich and powerful people what they wanted to hear.
While helping to consign us all to catastrophe.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Reposted by Stefan Siebert
Alex Burghart MP has now called for a review of the circumstances around the award of Palantir's £240m defence contract, and asked why Mandelson's visit to Palantir's offices in Washington was kept off the books while the company was being represented by his firm, Global Council.
🔴‘Peter Mandelson’s Fixing of Keir Starmer’s Visit to Spytech Firm Palantir Raises Serious Questions’
Palantir was represented by a lobbying firm founded by Mandelson, Iain Overton and Max Colbert report
bylinetimes.com/2025/04/25/p...
Palantir was represented by a lobbying firm founded by Mandelson, Iain Overton and Max Colbert report
bylinetimes.com/2025/04/25/p...
'Peter Mandelson's Fixing of Keir Starmer’s Visit to Spytech Firm Palantir Raises Serious Questions'
Palantir was represented by a lobbying firm founded by Mandelson, Iain Overton and Max Colbert report
bylinetimes.com
February 4, 2026 at 7:48 PM
Alex Burghart MP has now called for a review of the circumstances around the award of Palantir's £240m defence contract, and asked why Mandelson's visit to Palantir's offices in Washington was kept off the books while the company was being represented by his firm, Global Council.
Reposted by Stefan Siebert
Mandelson?
Now do Palantir. And Brexit.
Now do Palantir. And Brexit.
February 4, 2026 at 9:58 PM
Mandelson?
Now do Palantir. And Brexit.
Now do Palantir. And Brexit.
Reposted by Stefan Siebert
If Starmer & McSweeney finally go over the revelations in the Mandelson files
Their toxic immigration plans must go with them.
NO MORE politicians in the pockets of the seedy rich blaming the outcomes of their greed & corruption on immigrants!
Their toxic immigration plans must go with them.
NO MORE politicians in the pockets of the seedy rich blaming the outcomes of their greed & corruption on immigrants!
February 5, 2026 at 7:58 AM
If Starmer & McSweeney finally go over the revelations in the Mandelson files
Their toxic immigration plans must go with them.
NO MORE politicians in the pockets of the seedy rich blaming the outcomes of their greed & corruption on immigrants!
Their toxic immigration plans must go with them.
NO MORE politicians in the pockets of the seedy rich blaming the outcomes of their greed & corruption on immigrants!
The general public could tell years ago after the most cursory Google search, that he was a complete self-interested charlatan who would do anything for personal benefit - that no MPs (from any party) or “journalists” mentioned this serves as reminder of what an insider’s club it is.
Them and us!
Them and us!
Mandelson would never have been exposed by the British media if it wasn't for the US DOJ dumping all those files. They would have assisted in covering up his role instead, like they've been doing for the past 30 years. They knew what he was and they kept quiet for decades.
February 5, 2026 at 8:36 AM
The general public could tell years ago after the most cursory Google search, that he was a complete self-interested charlatan who would do anything for personal benefit - that no MPs (from any party) or “journalists” mentioned this serves as reminder of what an insider’s club it is.
Them and us!
Them and us!
Reposted by Stefan Siebert
“It is absurd that asylum seekers are banned from working. There are many who spend long periods in the asylum backlog, or have difficulty proving their claim… such people should be allowed to enter the labour market. This would mean their skills could be recognised under the points-based system…”
February 3, 2026 at 9:43 AM
“It is absurd that asylum seekers are banned from working. There are many who spend long periods in the asylum backlog, or have difficulty proving their claim… such people should be allowed to enter the labour market. This would mean their skills could be recognised under the points-based system…”
Reposted by Stefan Siebert
Do they understand how mad they sound? As if anyone has ever decided to cross the Channel in a small boat because, if they make it, they might get to take a free taxi to a doctor's appointment?
"Pull factors" on steroids.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
"Pull factors" on steroids.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
February 5, 2026 at 7:01 AM
Do they understand how mad they sound? As if anyone has ever decided to cross the Channel in a small boat because, if they make it, they might get to take a free taxi to a doctor's appointment?
"Pull factors" on steroids.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
"Pull factors" on steroids.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Reposted by Stefan Siebert
Rights are inherently universal. If you have a right to something, it's because everyone else does too. It also goes the other way. Something universal can over time become perceived as a right even if it didn't start as being seen as one.
This is why the U in Universal Basic Income is so important
This is why the U in Universal Basic Income is so important
February 4, 2026 at 9:49 PM
Rights are inherently universal. If you have a right to something, it's because everyone else does too. It also goes the other way. Something universal can over time become perceived as a right even if it didn't start as being seen as one.
This is why the U in Universal Basic Income is so important
This is why the U in Universal Basic Income is so important
Reposted by Stefan Siebert
More reasons why you need to quit using ChatGpt. In addition to a poor regulation of the AI, Greg Brokman gave $25M to Trump and he is still lobbying for ICE to use his services. ICE also uses them to look for potential recruits.
Boycott those tech companies.
Vid credit: QuitGpt.org
Boycott those tech companies.
Vid credit: QuitGpt.org
February 4, 2026 at 8:23 PM
More reasons why you need to quit using ChatGpt. In addition to a poor regulation of the AI, Greg Brokman gave $25M to Trump and he is still lobbying for ICE to use his services. ICE also uses them to look for potential recruits.
Boycott those tech companies.
Vid credit: QuitGpt.org
Boycott those tech companies.
Vid credit: QuitGpt.org
Reposted by Stefan Siebert
in order to save this country we are probably going to have to do things that make rich men sad 😔
February 4, 2026 at 7:08 PM
in order to save this country we are probably going to have to do things that make rich men sad 😔
Hard times are coming when we will be wanting the voices of writers who can see alternatives to how we live now & can see through our fear-stricken society & its obsessive technologies. We will need writers who can remember freedom. Poets, visionaries–the realists of a larger reality.
Ursula Le Guin
Ursula Le Guin
February 4, 2026 at 8:14 PM
Hard times are coming when we will be wanting the voices of writers who can see alternatives to how we live now & can see through our fear-stricken society & its obsessive technologies. We will need writers who can remember freedom. Poets, visionaries–the realists of a larger reality.
Ursula Le Guin
Ursula Le Guin
Reposted by Stefan Siebert
Don’t know how many more examples it’s going to take for people to realize that billionaires are an existential threat to democracy and its institutions.
February 4, 2026 at 3:33 PM
Don’t know how many more examples it’s going to take for people to realize that billionaires are an existential threat to democracy and its institutions.
Reposted by Stefan Siebert
I’m not convinced people today would be able to organise an underground resistance movement against tyranny because they’d be too busy bragging about joining on social media, posting Andor quotes for the Likes, creating FB groups, and using WhatsApp to message each other.
January 8, 2026 at 2:54 PM
I’m not convinced people today would be able to organise an underground resistance movement against tyranny because they’d be too busy bragging about joining on social media, posting Andor quotes for the Likes, creating FB groups, and using WhatsApp to message each other.
Reposted by Stefan Siebert
Last year I wrote this for @bylinetimes.bsky.social:
The public see a political class whose proximity to wealth has eroded its independence, where talk of public service is an empty ritual. It's this culture that claimed Mandelson’s ‘qualities’ outweighed the risks.
bylinetimes.com/2025/09/29/t...
The public see a political class whose proximity to wealth has eroded its independence, where talk of public service is an empty ritual. It's this culture that claimed Mandelson’s ‘qualities’ outweighed the risks.
bylinetimes.com/2025/09/29/t...
The Integrity Gap: How We Built the Authoritarian Future We Fear
Labour MP Clive Lewis argues that the collapse of public trust in Government is the product of corporate power being wired into the architecture of the state
bylinetimes.com
February 4, 2026 at 3:21 PM
Last year I wrote this for @bylinetimes.bsky.social:
The public see a political class whose proximity to wealth has eroded its independence, where talk of public service is an empty ritual. It's this culture that claimed Mandelson’s ‘qualities’ outweighed the risks.
bylinetimes.com/2025/09/29/t...
The public see a political class whose proximity to wealth has eroded its independence, where talk of public service is an empty ritual. It's this culture that claimed Mandelson’s ‘qualities’ outweighed the risks.
bylinetimes.com/2025/09/29/t...
Reposted by Stefan Siebert
Tower of Life — Klaus Klinger in Düsseldorf, Germany Street Art mural on building
#StreetArt #art #murals
#StreetArt #art #murals
February 4, 2026 at 2:13 PM
Tower of Life — Klaus Klinger in Düsseldorf, Germany Street Art mural on building
#StreetArt #art #murals
#StreetArt #art #murals
Reposted by Stefan Siebert
Being paywalled out of reading an article about finding joy in academic work feels about right for 2026. #AcademicSky #Polisky
February 4, 2026 at 5:06 PM
Being paywalled out of reading an article about finding joy in academic work feels about right for 2026. #AcademicSky #Polisky