Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Symon Hill @symonhill.bsky.social · 1d

It's #WorldMentalHealthDay! And we have a #Labour government that continues the Tories' policy of underfunding #mentalhealth services. Meanwhile, ministers aim to cut benefits for people with mental health problems while the "Health" Secretary smears them. Time to fight back!

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Otto English @ottoenglish.bsky.social · 6d

Convinced that most British people want to live in a functioning, decent country where government improves stuff and everyone can thrive.

The vast majority want nothing to do with this imported hate and atmosphere of violence directed at people just trying to live their lives.

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Symon Hill @symonhill.bsky.social · 8d

Instead of calling for protests against the #PalestineAction ban to be cancelled following the #synagogue attack, police could focus on protecting people from real terrorism (such as we saw in #Manchester) rather than pretending that people holding placards are a terrorist threat.

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Symon Hill @symonhill.bsky.social · 8d

The murderous attack in #Manchester is no reason to cancel protests against murderous attacks in #Gaza. At the same time, we must make sure that our protests give no space at all to the minority who want to misuse our movement to promote anti-Semitism.

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Symon Hill @symonhill.bsky.social · 8d

Why have the Church of England announced the new #ArchbishopofCanterbury the day after the #Manchester terrorist attack? On one hand it looks insensitive not to wait a bit, and on the other it means the news of the news of the new archbishop will get far less coverage. Baffling.

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Symon Hill @symonhill.bsky.social · 8d

Calling for #Gaza protests to be cancelled because of the horrific attack in #Manchester completely misses the point. Many of us object to the killing of innocent people in Gaza for *the same reason* that we object to the killing of innocent people in a Manchester #synagogue.

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Otto English @ottoenglish.bsky.social · 8d

In shocking: "most people want to eat competitively priced, good quality fresh food and don't care where it comes from or what Nigel Farage thinks" news.

David Phinnemore @dphinnemore.bsky.social · 8d

‘Polling commissioned by POLITICO shows the government’s agri-food deal agreed in principle with Brussels is popular with Remainers and Leavers alike — even when they're told it means following EU rules.

‘Nearly two-thirds (63 per cent) of voters back the deal…

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Zack Polanski @zackpolanski.bsky.social · 8d

"I'm here to talk about what others won’t. To tell the truth about what makes our country great and what makes it not so great. While others thrive on creating scapegoats, I am here to tell you a different story."

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Migration is Britain’s superpower. Our future depends on embracing that truth, not denying it | Zack Polanski

Labour has lost its nerve. At our party conference this weekend, we’re gathering to set things right, says Green party leader Zack Polanski

www.theguardian.com

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Symon Hill @symonhill.bsky.social · 9d

Utterly vile things to read on social media today:
1. Supposedly progressive people making excuses for anti-Semitic murders in #Manchester.
2. People blaming anti-Semitic murders on immigration/ all Muslims/ Palestinians/ anyone else they don't like, regardless of evidence or reality.

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NationCymru @nation.cymru · 9d

A controversial decision to axe free school transport for hundreds of children has failed to produce the expected savings, instead contributing to a projected £500,000 overspend

Free bus pass cuts backfire as council faces £500k overspend

Twm Owen, Local Democracy Reporter A controversial decision to axe free school transport for hundreds of children has failed to produce the expected savings, instead contributing to a projected £500,0...

nation.cymru

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Stephen Lingwood @sjlingwood.bsky.social · 9d

Horrific news. God weeps. www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cx...

Two dead in Manchester synagogue attack, with suspect also believed killed - police

The suspect was shot by police, who say his condition cannot be confirmed due to

www.bbc.co.uk

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Symon Hill @symonhill.bsky.social · 9d

Feeling sick at the news of the #Synagogue stabbings in #Manchester on #YomKippur. Best wishes and solidarity to all those affected. We must stand against everyone who tries to exploit this horrific incident to stir up yet more hatred and violence.

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Display Me Not Display Me Do @scotsbme.bsky.social · 14d

petition.parliament.uk/petitions/73...

Petition: Do not introduce Digital ID cards

We demand that the UK Government immediately commits to not introducing a digital ID cards. There are reports that this is being looked at.

petition.parliament.uk

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Sarah O @erniebufflo.bsky.social · 16d

It feels almost impossible as a practicing Christian to talk about my horror and revulsion at what American evangelics profess and practice because non-Christians always come out to yell "YOU CAN'T JUST NOT ALL CHRISTIANS." But they are spitting in the face of the actual teachings of Christ?

Alan Elrod @aselrod.bsky.social · 16d

Charlie Kirk’s memorial was a religious revival of MAGA authoritarianism. With the exception of his widow, it was a celebration of rage, hatred, and retribution.

I wrote about it for @liberalcurrents.com

www.liberalcurrents.com/charlie-kirk...

Charlie Kirk, Martyrdom, and America’s Authoritarian Apostles

The entanglement of fascist politics and Christian imagery is not new, and it is dangerously powerful.

www.liberalcurrents.com

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The Mysterious Bookshop @mysteriousbookshop.com · 15d

Remember that time that Sigmund Freud used hypnosis to help Sherlock Holmes kick his coke habit?

The Seven-Per-Cent Solution screens this Sunday at The Roxy Cinema Tribeca, with a Q&A with author Nicholas Meyer to follow. Details: www.roxycinemanewyork.com/screenings/t...

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Otto English @ottoenglish.bsky.social · 15d

Oops.

Eddie Burfi @eddieburfi.bsky.social · 15d

Billy Bragg points out to Reform UK ‘patriot’ Richard Tice that his flag’s upside down. 🇬🇧😂🤦🏽‍♂️ #bbcqt

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Otto English @ottoenglish.bsky.social · 15d

Billy Bragg on fire

Farrukh @implausibleblog.bsky.social · 15d

Richard Tice, "We've already got 80 sharia courts in the UK"

Billy Bragg, "There are also Jewish courts as well, thats part of their religion. We as a tolerant nation accept that"

"To demonise, particularly the Muslims, is the sort of thing we worry about Reform UK"

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Symon Hill @symonhill.bsky.social · 16d

In 2004, I signed a pledge to refuse to carry an identity card.
In 2025, I won't be carrying the digital version either.
I don't need the state's permission to exist. Not in 2004, not in 2025, not ever.
We defeated it before. We'll defeat it again.
#DigitalID #BritCard

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Lizzie Dearden @lizziedearden.bsky.social · 17d

Sadiq Khan has responded to Donald Trump's comments on London and Sharia law in yesterday's UN General Assembly speech, calling the US president racist, sexist and Islamophobic

"I appear to be living rent free inside Donald Trump’s head," he added
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/24/w...

London’s Mayor Calls Trump Racist and Islamophobic After U.N. Comments

www.nytimes.com

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Symon Hill @symonhill.bsky.social · 18d

Happy #BiVisibilityDay! I hope you can still see me.

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Henry Mance @henrymance.ft.com · 18d

What on Earth is this? An "in depth" BBC article about free speech in the UK that only cites examples of right-wing/ 'anti-woke' speech being suppressed. How can you mention Lucy Connolly but completely ignore Palestine Action / Just Stop Oil? Gob-smacking. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

How the simmering UK freedom of speech row reached boiling point

How did we reach a point where the UK is being compared to a 'tin pot Third World dictatorship'?

www.bbc.co.uk

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Sarah O @erniebufflo.bsky.social · 18d

Autistic people are great and do not need to be eradicated or cured. Mothers are not to “blame” for their kids’ differences and disabilities. Love, a mom of a kid with a neural tube defect that people also love to blame moms for.

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NationCymru @nation.cymru · 18d

Folk music in Wales is at a crossroads. If our schools won’t teach it, or those growing up in deprived communities are unable to afford it, or have access to instruments and music lessons, then it could just become a hobby for the well off ✍️Trac Cymru

Celebrating European Folk Day

Antwn Owen-Hicks, Trac Cymru Trac Cymru is the national development organisation for traditional music in Wales. It was established 25 years ago by Welsh traditional musicians, to develop and protect ...

nation.cymru

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Dorian Lynskey @dorianlynskey.bsky.social · 18d

It is possible to cherish the BBC as an institution while also saying that BBC News is failing very badly, day after day, in its duty to inform and that it always fails in a right-wing direction. It desperately needs to recover its integrity

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Symon Hill @symonhill.bsky.social · 19d

#ShanaTova to my Jewish friends and followers!