Thomas Bacon
@tomabacon.bsky.social
Head of Screen Rant's Star Wars coverage. A lifelong fan of superhero comics and films, with a love of in-depth analysis!
A strong argument, but it does have two omissions: 1) The argument about the mayoralty - that going to Reform would have damaged both Starmer and Burnham, and rightly so. 2) I'm also concerned Reform is outspending Labour 10 to 1, and can't help wondering whether all that money is organic.
Lots of people saying Keir Starmer had no good options and that blocking Burnham from standing was the least worst one.
Why I now think the opposite is the case
bylinetimes.com/2026/01/26/w...
Why I now think the opposite is the case
bylinetimes.com/2026/01/26/w...
What Keir Starmer Should Have Done With Andy Burnham
The PM's decision to block Burnham from standing in the Gorton and Denton by-election risks handing the seat to Nigel Farage, and ultimately triggering his own downfall. It didn't have to be this way,...
bylinetimes.com
January 26, 2026 at 11:20 AM
A strong argument, but it does have two omissions: 1) The argument about the mayoralty - that going to Reform would have damaged both Starmer and Burnham, and rightly so. 2) I'm also concerned Reform is outspending Labour 10 to 1, and can't help wondering whether all that money is organic.
Reposted by Thomas Bacon
There’s always a post..
January 25, 2026 at 12:55 PM
There’s always a post..
Reposted by Thomas Bacon
"I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace"
January 19, 2026 at 7:00 PM
"I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace"
Reposted by Thomas Bacon
Perfect
This is truly brilliant!👏👏✨
I wondered why I disliked Trump so much……🤭
londondaily.com/british-writ...
I wondered why I disliked Trump so much……🤭
londondaily.com/british-writ...
British Writer Pens The Best Description Of Trump I’ve Read - London Daily
“Why do some British people not like Donald Trump?” Nate White, an articulate and witty writer from England wrote the following response:
londondaily.com
January 10, 2026 at 2:33 PM
Perfect
Reposted by Thomas Bacon
“What the hell kind of Christian is this guy anyway?”
From the new Private Eye, out now.
From the new Private Eye, out now.
January 9, 2026 at 6:11 PM
“What the hell kind of Christian is this guy anyway?”
From the new Private Eye, out now.
From the new Private Eye, out now.
Reposted by Thomas Bacon
Reposted by Thomas Bacon
That this was 2022 policy of last government is not necessarily a reason not to do it.
But ignoring that avoids question of why it failed
Much tougher policy on "pull factors" (refuse all claims) failed
So analysis of asylum system rules as pull factor is exaggerated/wrong & changes won't impact
But ignoring that avoids question of why it failed
Much tougher policy on "pull factors" (refuse all claims) failed
So analysis of asylum system rules as pull factor is exaggerated/wrong & changes won't impact
November 17, 2025 at 8:08 AM
That this was 2022 policy of last government is not necessarily a reason not to do it.
But ignoring that avoids question of why it failed
Much tougher policy on "pull factors" (refuse all claims) failed
So analysis of asylum system rules as pull factor is exaggerated/wrong & changes won't impact
But ignoring that avoids question of why it failed
Much tougher policy on "pull factors" (refuse all claims) failed
So analysis of asylum system rules as pull factor is exaggerated/wrong & changes won't impact
Reposted by Thomas Bacon
A strong immigration system doesn't need to be a cruel one.
It shouldn't need saying - but refugees & asylum seekers are real people, fleeing war and persecution.
This daughter of an immigrant is proud of our British and Labour values of respect and not turning our backs on people in real need.
It shouldn't need saying - but refugees & asylum seekers are real people, fleeing war and persecution.
This daughter of an immigrant is proud of our British and Labour values of respect and not turning our backs on people in real need.
November 17, 2025 at 11:02 AM
A strong immigration system doesn't need to be a cruel one.
It shouldn't need saying - but refugees & asylum seekers are real people, fleeing war and persecution.
This daughter of an immigrant is proud of our British and Labour values of respect and not turning our backs on people in real need.
It shouldn't need saying - but refugees & asylum seekers are real people, fleeing war and persecution.
This daughter of an immigrant is proud of our British and Labour values of respect and not turning our backs on people in real need.
Reposted by Thomas Bacon
This has to be a moment of reckoning for how they've organised themselves, the ideas they're promoting and the manner in which they are pursuing them. It can't go on like this.
This is the kind of mess you expect from a Major-style government that's lost its majority and is dying on its arse.
It's not about the theatre of it. It's just a terrible, indefensible way to go about making policy. And it has terrified thousands of disabled people in the process.
It's not about the theatre of it. It's just a terrible, indefensible way to go about making policy. And it has terrified thousands of disabled people in the process.
July 1, 2025 at 4:58 PM
This has to be a moment of reckoning for how they've organised themselves, the ideas they're promoting and the manner in which they are pursuing them. It can't go on like this.
Reposted by Thomas Bacon
once again I must tap my own sign
June 5, 2025 at 9:13 PM
once again I must tap my own sign
Reposted by Thomas Bacon
President Trump, "As Pope?"
"I'd like to be Pope"
"That would be my number one choice"
"I'd like to be Pope"
"That would be my number one choice"
April 29, 2025 at 9:00 PM
President Trump, "As Pope?"
"I'd like to be Pope"
"That would be my number one choice"
"I'd like to be Pope"
"That would be my number one choice"
Jesus springs to mind. Or the Apostle Paul.
April 20, 2025 at 8:37 PM
Jesus springs to mind. Or the Apostle Paul.
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1/4. On the White House’s theory, if they abduct you, get you on a helicopter, get to international waters, shoot you in the head, and drop your corpse into the ocean, that is legal, because it is the conduct of foreign affairs.
April 15, 2025 at 1:13 AM
1/4. On the White House’s theory, if they abduct you, get you on a helicopter, get to international waters, shoot you in the head, and drop your corpse into the ocean, that is legal, because it is the conduct of foreign affairs.
Reposted by Thomas Bacon
1/ The Trump Administration is seeking to force foreign companies worldwide to ban diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programmes within their firms if they want to do business with the US government. It's an aggressive expansion of its anti-DEI crusade. ⬇️
March 29, 2025 at 12:20 PM
1/ The Trump Administration is seeking to force foreign companies worldwide to ban diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programmes within their firms if they want to do business with the US government. It's an aggressive expansion of its anti-DEI crusade. ⬇️
Reposted by Thomas Bacon
This is pretty damning.
March 28, 2025 at 10:09 PM
This is pretty damning.
Delaying is not neutral. The world moves on. The risk is that the economic harm, when the die is eventually cast, is even worse. And in political terms, there is the risk that Starmer winds up looking like he's been forced into a decision rather than chosen it.
March 29, 2025 at 12:07 PM
Delaying is not neutral. The world moves on. The risk is that the economic harm, when the die is eventually cast, is even worse. And in political terms, there is the risk that Starmer winds up looking like he's been forced into a decision rather than chosen it.
Imo Starmer is simply trying to hold the line, to avoid committing too closely to either the EU or the US, because pivoting in either direction will cause economic harm.
But it cannot last, and it cannot hold. Eventually, he must choose. And there's a risk to delaying:
But it cannot last, and it cannot hold. Eventually, he must choose. And there's a risk to delaying:
March 29, 2025 at 12:06 PM
Imo Starmer is simply trying to hold the line, to avoid committing too closely to either the EU or the US, because pivoting in either direction will cause economic harm.
But it cannot last, and it cannot hold. Eventually, he must choose. And there's a risk to delaying:
But it cannot last, and it cannot hold. Eventually, he must choose. And there's a risk to delaying:
I sort of understand why Starmer is waiting. We've already seriously damaged our economy with Brexit, and opposing Trump would incur further economic damage - which we can't afford. We placed ourselves in the weakest possible position through Brexit.
March 29, 2025 at 12:05 PM
I sort of understand why Starmer is waiting. We've already seriously damaged our economy with Brexit, and opposing Trump would incur further economic damage - which we can't afford. We placed ourselves in the weakest possible position through Brexit.
(I think I'd seen that bio back in the day, and not realized it'd been corrected!)
March 2, 2025 at 5:33 PM
(I think I'd seen that bio back in the day, and not realized it'd been corrected!)
Thanks so much for the correction, I will adjust :) I absolutely LOVE Aphra!
March 2, 2025 at 5:31 PM
Thanks so much for the correction, I will adjust :) I absolutely LOVE Aphra!
Reposted by Thomas Bacon
It is moments like this that really bring home how unutterably awful it was to allow events* to create a national mood in which Boris Johnson & Liz Truss could become Prime Minister. Imagine they were in the post right now…
*Brexit
*Brexit
March 2, 2025 at 10:01 AM
It is moments like this that really bring home how unutterably awful it was to allow events* to create a national mood in which Boris Johnson & Liz Truss could become Prime Minister. Imagine they were in the post right now…
*Brexit
*Brexit
Reposted by Thomas Bacon
Typically interesting from @benshimshon.bsky.social (& @stevevr.bsky.social)
Do voters care about manifesto promises? Yes...
But Labour's opponents care more than its supporters
For the latter, feeling positive change is more important than campaign pledges
www.politicshome.com/news/article...
Do voters care about manifesto promises? Yes...
But Labour's opponents care more than its supporters
For the latter, feeling positive change is more important than campaign pledges
www.politicshome.com/news/article...
February 20, 2025 at 11:43 AM
Typically interesting from @benshimshon.bsky.social (& @stevevr.bsky.social)
Do voters care about manifesto promises? Yes...
But Labour's opponents care more than its supporters
For the latter, feeling positive change is more important than campaign pledges
www.politicshome.com/news/article...
Do voters care about manifesto promises? Yes...
But Labour's opponents care more than its supporters
For the latter, feeling positive change is more important than campaign pledges
www.politicshome.com/news/article...
Reposted by Thomas Bacon
Jasmine Crockett: "The problem is that Americans thought it was okay to take a full fledged criminal and make him the President of the US and then they want to act aghast when he does criminal things. Let me tell you, we have a thug in charge of the US and if we don't wake up we may not have a US"
February 2, 2025 at 8:31 PM
Jasmine Crockett: "The problem is that Americans thought it was okay to take a full fledged criminal and make him the President of the US and then they want to act aghast when he does criminal things. Let me tell you, we have a thug in charge of the US and if we don't wake up we may not have a US"
Wait, what? I missed this hahahah
January 11, 2025 at 1:53 PM
Wait, what? I missed this hahahah