Tony Dowling
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toekneedowling.bsky.social
Tony Dowling
@toekneedowling.bsky.social
Husband, father, grandad, teacher, socialist, trade unionist, antifascist, anti-war & anti-cuts activist. Chair, People's Assembly North East
#NUFC season tkt
https://www.counterfire.org/
https://thepeoplesassembly.org.uk/
https://www.stopwar.org.uk
Reposted by Tony Dowling
"‘Performative cruelty’ is in danger of becoming a cliché. But that is exactly what Starmer-Labour is engaged in as it also pumps out Hunger Games videos of Border Force and police seizing those whose papers are not in order and deporting them."
www.counterfire.org/article/depr...
Depraved. Obscene: Home Secretary’s new asylum policy
Adopting despicable Danish-style exactions on refugees brings disturbing resonances of the 1930s.
www.counterfire.org
November 20, 2025 at 11:31 AM
@bphillipsonmp.bsky.social
Dear Bridget,
What do you make of this conversation with a young teacher I know?
👇🏼thread
November 26, 2025 at 11:10 AM
"‘Fiscal headroom’ is not an objective measurement. The government has imposed rules on itself that income and outgoings must be balanced day-to-day and that public debt must be falling by the end of this parliament." #budget2025
www.counterfire.org/article/igno...
Ignore the scare stories, a radical budget is possible
Any genuinely progressive government would be resisting Trump’s pressure to increase our attack capacity and looking to cut arms spending, argues Chris Nineham There are two scare stories surroundi...
www.counterfire.org
November 26, 2025 at 11:08 AM
Reposted by Tony Dowling
The NUJ Disabled Members' Council is hosting an online meeting for members on 24 Nov (5.30 - 6.30pm), exploring ongoing issues within the government’s Access to Work scheme, the impact on journalists, and the campaign for reform. Learn more + join:

www.nuj.org.uk/resource/dis...
Disabled Members' Council meeting to explore Access to Work and push for reform
The NUJ Disabled Members' Council is hosting an informal online meeting on 24 November (from 5.30 - 6.30pm) which will explore ongoing issues within the government’s Access to Work scheme, the impact ...
www.nuj.org.uk
November 20, 2025 at 4:58 PM
"‘Performative cruelty’ is in danger of becoming a cliché. But that is exactly what Starmer-Labour is engaged in as it also pumps out Hunger Games videos of Border Force and police seizing those whose papers are not in order and deporting them."
www.counterfire.org/article/depr...
Depraved. Obscene: Home Secretary’s new asylum policy
Adopting despicable Danish-style exactions on refugees brings disturbing resonances of the 1930s.
www.counterfire.org
November 20, 2025 at 11:31 AM
Reposted by Tony Dowling
WATCH all the speeches from a recent gathering of hundreds of supporters of #YourParty in London which was addressed by Tariq Ali, Mark Serwotka, Salma Yaqoob, Michael Lavalette, Andrew Feinstein and Nandita Lal:
www.counterfire.org/article/the-...
The party we need – speeches
A recent gathering of hundreds of supporters of Your Party in London was addressed by Tariq Ali, Mark Serwotka, Salma Yaqoob, Michael Lavalette, Andrew Feinstein and Nandita Lal Filmed by Platform ...
www.counterfire.org
November 13, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Reposted by Tony Dowling
Will #COP30 be just another talking shop?
The COP summits have long been dominated by fossil-fuel interests, and expecting them to achieve meaningful change is a dangerous illusion, argues John Clarke
www.counterfire.org/article/will...
Will Cop30 be just another talking shop?
The Cop summits have long been dominated by fossil-fuel interests, and expecting them to achieve meaningful change is a dangerous illusion, argues John Clarke The Cop30 UN climate summit is underwa...
www.counterfire.org
November 13, 2025 at 2:10 PM
Will #COP30 be just another talking shop?
The COP summits have long been dominated by fossil-fuel interests, and expecting them to achieve meaningful change is a dangerous illusion, argues John Clarke
www.counterfire.org/article/will...
Will Cop30 be just another talking shop?
The Cop summits have long been dominated by fossil-fuel interests, and expecting them to achieve meaningful change is a dangerous illusion, argues John Clarke The Cop30 UN climate summit is underwa...
www.counterfire.org
November 13, 2025 at 2:10 PM
WATCH all the speeches from a recent gathering of hundreds of supporters of #YourParty in London which was addressed by Tariq Ali, Mark Serwotka, Salma Yaqoob, Michael Lavalette, Andrew Feinstein and Nandita Lal:
www.counterfire.org/article/the-...
The party we need – speeches
A recent gathering of hundreds of supporters of Your Party in London was addressed by Tariq Ali, Mark Serwotka, Salma Yaqoob, Michael Lavalette, Andrew Feinstein and Nandita Lal Filmed by Platform ...
www.counterfire.org
November 13, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Reposted by Tony Dowling
“NHS staff must be able to do their jobs without fear of harassment or abuse.”

UNISON head of health, Helga Pile, warns growing racist rhetoric is putting healthcare workers at risk. Employers and ministers must act now to protect staff.

Read here: unsn.uk/3JWnLsK
November 11, 2025 at 11:45 AM
Reposted by Tony Dowling
Health ministry: Three Palestinians killed in 24 hours, toll 69,182
<article data-history-node-id="431347" about="https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/health-ministry-three-palestinians-killed-24-hours-toll-69182" class="live-blog-update default clearfix"> <h2> <a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/health-ministry-three-palestinians-killed-24-hours-toll-69182" rel="bookmark"> <span class="field field-title">Health ministry: Three Palestinians killed in 24 hours, toll 69,182 </span> </a> </h2> <div class="content"> <div class="field field-field-text"><p>The Gaza health ministry on Tuesday said that in the past 24 hours, Israeli forces killed three&nbsp;Palestinians&nbsp;across the enclave, and one person was wounded due to Israeli aggression.&nbsp;</p> <p>"The overall toll of the Israeli aggression has risen to 69,182 martyrs and 170,694 injuries since 7 October 2023," the statement said.&nbsp;</p> <p>Since the beginning of the ceasefire, Israeli forces have killed at least 245 Palestinians, while 623 others have been wounded, the ministry said, adding that its teams have so far recovered 529 bodies from under the rubble.&nbsp;</p> <p>The statement said that many victims are still under the rubble and on the roads, as ambulance and civil defence crews have been unable to reach them so far.</p> </div> </div> </article>
www.middleeasteye.net
November 11, 2025 at 11:55 AM
Reposted by Tony Dowling
Year of Climate Action
November 11, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Reposted by Tony Dowling
General Secretary Joanne Thomas and Deputy General Secretary Rab Donnelly will be visiting workplaces this week to hear directly from members and reps about their experiences 🗣️

Thank you to everyone supporting #RespectWeek, making it clear that abuse is NOT part of the job ❌
November 11, 2025 at 12:01 PM
Reposted by Tony Dowling
Proposal:
The problematic BBC News and BBC Politics arms of the organisation should be separated from the entirety of the rest of the excellent BBC output...
November 11, 2025 at 12:04 PM
Reposted by Tony Dowling
As Jewish academics, we reject the weaponisation of antisemitism
Universities should adopt proportionate anti-racist measures informed by the diverse voices of those most affected, say Michael Rosen, Catherine Rottenberg and Des Freedman
www.timeshighereducation.com/opinion/jewi...
As Jewish academics, we reject the weaponisation of antisemitism
Universities should adopt proportionate anti-racist measures informed by the diverse voices of those most affected, say Michael Rosen, Catherine Rottenberg and Des Freedman
www.timeshighereducation.com
November 6, 2025 at 10:15 AM
Reposted by Tony Dowling
Blocking water bosses' bonuses after dismal performances is what the public rightly expect

Water workers toil night and day to keep the taps running and spillages down

But instead of investment in infrastructure they see money sucked out of the system in bonuses

It must stop.
November 6, 2025 at 10:34 AM
Reposted by Tony Dowling
RMT calls for BTP cuts reversal and safer railways following Huntingdon stabbing

RMT has called for cuts to the British Transport Police to be reversed and for urgent action to deliver a safer, properly policed railway following the horrific mass stabbing last Saturday.
rmtunion.org/3WDr4rJ
RMT calls for BTP cuts reversal and safer railways following Huntingdon stabbing
Rail union, RMT has called for cuts to the British Transport Police (BTP) to be reversed and for urgent action to deliver a safer, properly policed railway following the horrific mass stabbing last Sa...
rmtunion.org
November 6, 2025 at 10:35 AM
Reposted by Tony Dowling
"Any government that wants to improve public services needs to invest in its people, skills and technology. A race to the bottom on pensions will do nothing to deliver this." - @fdagensec.bsky.social
inews.co.uk/news/politic...
Farage's 'gold plated' pension reform plan faces firefighters strike threat
Reform set to say it would axe defined benefit schemes used in public sector
inews.co.uk
November 6, 2025 at 10:42 AM
Reposted by Tony Dowling
Sefton Council ‘will not tolerate racist and hateful graffiti in our community’ and initiatives are under way to fight the ‘filth’ | Adam Green
Beyond the graffiti: Sefton’s response to racist incidents
Sefton Council ‘will not tolerate racist and hateful graffiti in our community’ and initiatives are under way to fight the ‘filth’
northwestbylines.co.uk
November 6, 2025 at 7:13 AM
Reposted by Tony Dowling
Love this story, billionaire, tax exile, petrolhead kills more people than he employs, is how it reads to me.

www.theguardian.com/business/202...
November 6, 2025 at 10:52 AM
Reposted by Tony Dowling
That the UK - one of the architects of this fund, designed to save the world’s forests - is now refusing to put any money into it is frankly shameful. Starmer’s claim that he still continues to back the fund is meaningless without resources - so much for climate leadership
November 6, 2025 at 9:54 AM
As the undercover hearings continue, James Simpson explains why the fight for the truth is facing obstacles from within the process itself:
www.counterfire.org/article/day-... #spycops
Day of contradictions as Spycops Inquiry falls further into disrepute
As the undercover hearings continue, James Simpson explains why the fight for the truth is facing obstacles from within the process itself Monday 3 November saw the return of the Undercover Pol...
www.counterfire.org
November 6, 2025 at 11:01 AM