Reposted by Westengland
So true … and investment in catalogue renewal and improving the website wd also be welcomed! www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Does Britain value culture any more? Ask the striking workers at the British Library | Zadie Smith
The dispute over pay at this great national institution gets to the heart of our misplaced priorities, says novelist Zadie Smith
www.theguardian.com
November 13, 2025 at 12:10 PM
So true … and investment in catalogue renewal and improving the website wd also be welcomed! www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Westengland
Number crunching: Increase in accidental prisoner releases
From the new Private Eye, out now.
From the new Private Eye, out now.
November 13, 2025 at 12:18 PM
Number crunching: Increase in accidental prisoner releases
From the new Private Eye, out now.
From the new Private Eye, out now.
Reposted by Westengland
All 41 police and crime commissioners to be scrapped bit.ly/47Z9nbf to save £20m for front line policing
Police and crime commissioners to be abolished, government to announce
System introduced in 2012 across England and Wales has faced criticism from police chiefs
bit.ly
November 13, 2025 at 12:20 PM
All 41 police and crime commissioners to be scrapped bit.ly/47Z9nbf to save £20m for front line policing
Reposted by Westengland
NEW
The letter the BBC could send back to Trump
A proposal for a reply to his $1bn claim
By me. Enjoy.
emptycity.substack.com/p/the-letter...
The letter the BBC could send back to Trump
A proposal for a reply to his $1bn claim
By me. Enjoy.
emptycity.substack.com/p/the-letter...
The letter the BBC could send back to Trump
A proposal for a reply to his $1bn claim
emptycity.substack.com
November 12, 2025 at 12:00 PM
NEW
The letter the BBC could send back to Trump
A proposal for a reply to his $1bn claim
By me. Enjoy.
emptycity.substack.com/p/the-letter...
The letter the BBC could send back to Trump
A proposal for a reply to his $1bn claim
By me. Enjoy.
emptycity.substack.com/p/the-letter...
Reposted by Westengland
Good to see @privateeyenews.bsky.social reminding us that Robbie Gibb started his political career with the rabidly right wing Federation of Young Conservatives.
I remember FCS loons at Bristol Uni, with "Hang Nelson Mandela" badges on.
I remember FCS loons at Bristol Uni, with "Hang Nelson Mandela" badges on.
November 12, 2025 at 12:47 PM
Good to see @privateeyenews.bsky.social reminding us that Robbie Gibb started his political career with the rabidly right wing Federation of Young Conservatives.
I remember FCS loons at Bristol Uni, with "Hang Nelson Mandela" badges on.
I remember FCS loons at Bristol Uni, with "Hang Nelson Mandela" badges on.
Reposted by Westengland
Dame Jenni Murray: "I left Womans Hour after 33 years due to the trans issue. I rejected the word ‘cis’, said I wanted single-sex spaces and received threats of violence in return. The BBC response was ‘never talk about this issue again’ " Another victim both of the BBC and of the rampant contagion.
November 11, 2025 at 11:26 PM
Dame Jenni Murray: "I left Womans Hour after 33 years due to the trans issue. I rejected the word ‘cis’, said I wanted single-sex spaces and received threats of violence in return. The BBC response was ‘never talk about this issue again’ " Another victim both of the BBC and of the rampant contagion.
Reposted by Westengland
🔴 The Pro-Trump Bias of the ‘Neutral’ Sources in the Leaked BBC ‘Prescott Dossier’
Byline Times’ analysis of key sources in the memo about the BBC’s alleged ‘progressive bias’ shows it relied on highly partisan, Trump-aligned organisations.
@nafeez.bsky.social
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/11/p...
Byline Times’ analysis of key sources in the memo about the BBC’s alleged ‘progressive bias’ shows it relied on highly partisan, Trump-aligned organisations.
@nafeez.bsky.social
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/11/p...
The Pro-Trump Bias of the 'Neutral' Sources in the Leaked BBC 'Prescott Dossier'
Byline Times’ analysis of key sources in the memo about the BBC’s alleged ‘progressive bias’ shows it relied on highly partisan right-wing, Trump-aligned organisations
bylinetimes.com
November 11, 2025 at 4:12 PM
🔴 The Pro-Trump Bias of the ‘Neutral’ Sources in the Leaked BBC ‘Prescott Dossier’
Byline Times’ analysis of key sources in the memo about the BBC’s alleged ‘progressive bias’ shows it relied on highly partisan, Trump-aligned organisations.
@nafeez.bsky.social
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/11/p...
Byline Times’ analysis of key sources in the memo about the BBC’s alleged ‘progressive bias’ shows it relied on highly partisan, Trump-aligned organisations.
@nafeez.bsky.social
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/11/p...
Reposted by Westengland
Our annual State of the Onion starts in less than 24 hours, be sure to join our broadcast Nov 12, 1700 UTC on 📺 YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTDt...
🧅 or Tor Browser as an Onion Service: xgsobitduxv7gcc5qlveigwiku7qcjn5exf4ayusw4mwq7kfrapmrjyd.onion
🧅 or Tor Browser as an Onion Service: xgsobitduxv7gcc5qlveigwiku7qcjn5exf4ayusw4mwq7kfrapmrjyd.onion
State of the Onion 2025
YouTube video by The Tor Project
www.youtube.com
November 11, 2025 at 10:18 PM
Our annual State of the Onion starts in less than 24 hours, be sure to join our broadcast Nov 12, 1700 UTC on 📺 YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTDt...
🧅 or Tor Browser as an Onion Service: xgsobitduxv7gcc5qlveigwiku7qcjn5exf4ayusw4mwq7kfrapmrjyd.onion
🧅 or Tor Browser as an Onion Service: xgsobitduxv7gcc5qlveigwiku7qcjn5exf4ayusw4mwq7kfrapmrjyd.onion
Reposted by Westengland
Spent my day in the National Portrait Gallery archives (Heinz Gallery) trying to find information about Thomas Beach's portraiture.
November 11, 2025 at 2:33 PM
Spent my day in the National Portrait Gallery archives (Heinz Gallery) trying to find information about Thomas Beach's portraiture.
Reposted by Westengland
Excellent #LawPodUK episode from @1crownofficerow.bsky.social ft leading environmental lawyer Carol Day from @leigh-day.bsky.social talking about significance of our recent High Court win against Natural England who had tried to increase our adverse costs cap #Aarhus
audioboom.com/posts/880408...
audioboom.com/posts/880408...
Should rivers have rights? The Environmental Law Foundation and the costs of taking action in the courts
Rosalind English is joined by a panel of environmental law experts, Emma Montlake, Richard Wald KC and Carol Day to discuss the resources and help offered by the Enviromental Law Foundation to those w...
audioboom.com
November 11, 2025 at 11:59 AM
Excellent #LawPodUK episode from @1crownofficerow.bsky.social ft leading environmental lawyer Carol Day from @leigh-day.bsky.social talking about significance of our recent High Court win against Natural England who had tried to increase our adverse costs cap #Aarhus
audioboom.com/posts/880408...
audioboom.com/posts/880408...
Reposted by Westengland
“Sources said the presentation by Thornton, a Canadian former Olympic rower, stated that scientific evidence showed there were physical advantages to being born male that remained with athletes, including those who had taken treatment to reduce testosterone levels”
🎁
www.thetimes.com/article/b168...
🎁
www.thetimes.com/article/b168...
Transgender women to be banned from all female Olympic events
IOC likely to announce new policy early in new year after findings of a scientific review about the permanent physical advantages of being born male
www.thetimes.com
November 10, 2025 at 12:49 PM
“Sources said the presentation by Thornton, a Canadian former Olympic rower, stated that scientific evidence showed there were physical advantages to being born male that remained with athletes, including those who had taken treatment to reduce testosterone levels”
🎁
www.thetimes.com/article/b168...
🎁
www.thetimes.com/article/b168...
Reposted by Westengland
I asked the council on Wednesday what was going on & they couldn’t get a response to me again by last night.
This used to be a deliberate strategy under the previous administration to try to quash or delay negative stories, & we didn’t have truck with it then & we don’t now.
This used to be a deliberate strategy under the previous administration to try to quash or delay negative stories, & we didn’t have truck with it then & we don’t now.
November 8, 2025 at 9:35 PM
I asked the council on Wednesday what was going on & they couldn’t get a response to me again by last night.
This used to be a deliberate strategy under the previous administration to try to quash or delay negative stories, & we didn’t have truck with it then & we don’t now.
This used to be a deliberate strategy under the previous administration to try to quash or delay negative stories, & we didn’t have truck with it then & we don’t now.
Reposted by Westengland
Either this is a deliberate council strategy to price these community groups out of public spaces or the council officers responsible didn’t think this through and/or gave inadequate instructions to the new contractors given the job of managing its venues
www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol...
www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol...
Bristol beer festival axed in row over huge rise in cost of hiring council venue
The prestigious Choral Society is another group hit with hugely increased costs
www.bristolpost.co.uk
November 8, 2025 at 9:34 PM
Either this is a deliberate council strategy to price these community groups out of public spaces or the council officers responsible didn’t think this through and/or gave inadequate instructions to the new contractors given the job of managing its venues
www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol...
www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol...
Reposted by Westengland
This new corporate events strategy melted its brain with the CAMRA beer festival. It’s run by volunteers, who do it for the love of ale, not to make money & City Hall is a perfect venue, but it’s been treated like it’s a 5-day corporate convention
👇🏼
www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol...
👇🏼
www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol...
Bristol beer festival axed in row over huge rise in cost of hiring council venue
The prestigious Choral Society is another group hit with hugely increased costs
www.bristolpost.co.uk
November 8, 2025 at 9:26 PM
This new corporate events strategy melted its brain with the CAMRA beer festival. It’s run by volunteers, who do it for the love of ale, not to make money & City Hall is a perfect venue, but it’s been treated like it’s a 5-day corporate convention
👇🏼
www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol...
👇🏼
www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol...
Reposted by Westengland
Bristol Choral Society rehearse in the council chamber. They pay a couple of hundred quid a week for that, but have now been told in April it’s going up above £3,100. A week!
www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol...
www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol...
Bristol beer festival axed in row over huge rise in cost of hiring council venue
The prestigious Choral Society is another group hit with hugely increased costs
www.bristolpost.co.uk
November 8, 2025 at 9:24 PM
Bristol Choral Society rehearse in the council chamber. They pay a couple of hundred quid a week for that, but have now been told in April it’s going up above £3,100. A week!
www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol...
www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol...
Reposted by Westengland
If you’re a big Bristol firm putting on an all-day corporate convention, or if you want a wedding in a fancy venue then RA will cover venue, catering, everything.
But these council venues aren’t just for that sort of thing…
www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol...
But these council venues aren’t just for that sort of thing…
www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol...
Bristol beer festival axed in row over huge rise in cost of hiring council venue
The prestigious Choral Society is another group hit with hugely increased costs
www.bristolpost.co.uk
November 8, 2025 at 9:17 PM
If you’re a big Bristol firm putting on an all-day corporate convention, or if you want a wedding in a fancy venue then RA will cover venue, catering, everything.
But these council venues aren’t just for that sort of thing…
www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol...
But these council venues aren’t just for that sort of thing…
www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol...
Reposted by Westengland
Well, no, it doesn’t seem so. Because the council also handed over control of hiring out the many rooms & venues at City Hall to Restaurants Associates too.
It’s not RA’s fault. They’ve been told to maximise revenue from these spaces & they are a top level venue & events firm.
It’s not RA’s fault. They’ve been told to maximise revenue from these spaces & they are a top level venue & events firm.
November 8, 2025 at 9:03 PM
Well, no, it doesn’t seem so. Because the council also handed over control of hiring out the many rooms & venues at City Hall to Restaurants Associates too.
It’s not RA’s fault. They’ve been told to maximise revenue from these spaces & they are a top level venue & events firm.
It’s not RA’s fault. They’ve been told to maximise revenue from these spaces & they are a top level venue & events firm.
Reposted by Westengland
Cllr Andrew Varney took up their case & we reported on this odd change.
The council didn’t respond to me (as usual) but after a week said they would U-turn & treat community groups as community groups, not corporate bookings.
A minor victory? 👇🏼
www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol...
The council didn’t respond to me (as usual) but after a week said they would U-turn & treat community groups as community groups, not corporate bookings.
A minor victory? 👇🏼
www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol...
Council U-turn on 'ridiculous' venue booking fee hike
It follows intervention from Bristol Live and a local councillor
www.bristolpost.co.uk
November 8, 2025 at 9:03 PM
Cllr Andrew Varney took up their case & we reported on this odd change.
The council didn’t respond to me (as usual) but after a week said they would U-turn & treat community groups as community groups, not corporate bookings.
A minor victory? 👇🏼
www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol...
The council didn’t respond to me (as usual) but after a week said they would U-turn & treat community groups as community groups, not corporate bookings.
A minor victory? 👇🏼
www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol...
Reposted by Westengland
City Hall isn’t just for council meetings - loads of community groups & events happen there.
We look forward to reporting what the council does say about it & if they still won’t comment then we’ll keep reporting that.
We look forward to reporting what the council does say about it & if they still won’t comment then we’ll keep reporting that.
November 8, 2025 at 9:37 PM
City Hall isn’t just for council meetings - loads of community groups & events happen there.
We look forward to reporting what the council does say about it & if they still won’t comment then we’ll keep reporting that.
We look forward to reporting what the council does say about it & if they still won’t comment then we’ll keep reporting that.
Reposted by Westengland
It’s a shame because there might be something else happening behind the scenes that we, concerned cllrs & the community groups like the Choral Society & CAMRA don’t know about, but if the council don’t tell us then we can’t report it.
Is two & a half days enough time to respond?
Is two & a half days enough time to respond?
November 8, 2025 at 9:36 PM
It’s a shame because there might be something else happening behind the scenes that we, concerned cllrs & the community groups like the Choral Society & CAMRA don’t know about, but if the council don’t tell us then we can’t report it.
Is two & a half days enough time to respond?
Is two & a half days enough time to respond?
Reposted by Westengland
Trouble is, community groups hire them too, & Restaurant Associates treated those bookings like corporate hires.
So the Bristol Naturalists Society’s monthly meet-up in the Create Centre went from a flat fee to a per person charge: so from £250 to £1500
👇🏼
www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol...
So the Bristol Naturalists Society’s monthly meet-up in the Create Centre went from a flat fee to a per person charge: so from £250 to £1500
👇🏼
www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol...
Community groups face 'ridiculous' new fee for council venues
“There is no way that we could afford this"
www.bristolpost.co.uk
November 8, 2025 at 8:02 PM
Trouble is, community groups hire them too, & Restaurant Associates treated those bookings like corporate hires.
So the Bristol Naturalists Society’s monthly meet-up in the Create Centre went from a flat fee to a per person charge: so from £250 to £1500
👇🏼
www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol...
So the Bristol Naturalists Society’s monthly meet-up in the Create Centre went from a flat fee to a per person charge: so from £250 to £1500
👇🏼
www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol...
Reposted by Westengland
Earlier this year, the council handed over mgt of hiring out its venues to an upmarket corporate events firm called Restaurants Associates. You can hire places like the M-Shed & Create Centre for your wedding or business conference.
full story here 👇🏼
www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol...
full story here 👇🏼
www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol...
Community groups face 'ridiculous' new fee for council venues
“There is no way that we could afford this"
www.bristolpost.co.uk
November 8, 2025 at 8:01 PM
Earlier this year, the council handed over mgt of hiring out its venues to an upmarket corporate events firm called Restaurants Associates. You can hire places like the M-Shed & Create Centre for your wedding or business conference.
full story here 👇🏼
www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol...
full story here 👇🏼
www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol...
Reposted by Westengland
THREAD: Two Bristol community institutions, the annual CAMRA beer festival & Bristol Choral Society, are the latest to be victims of the council decision to corporatise our public-owned venues.
Read the full story here 👇🏼
www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol...
Read the full story here 👇🏼
www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol...
Bristol beer festival axed in row over huge rise in cost of hiring council venue
The prestigious Choral Society is another group hit with hugely increased costs
www.bristolpost.co.uk
November 8, 2025 at 8:22 AM
THREAD: Two Bristol community institutions, the annual CAMRA beer festival & Bristol Choral Society, are the latest to be victims of the council decision to corporatise our public-owned venues.
Read the full story here 👇🏼
www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol...
Read the full story here 👇🏼
www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol...
Reposted by Westengland
On BBC Breakfast today shadow energy secretary Claire Coutinho said the UK has the “most expensive electricity in the developed world”.
We heard a similar claim from Ms Coutinho last month, and took a look at what the data shows.
We heard a similar claim from Ms Coutinho last month, and took a look at what the data shows.
Does the UK have the ‘most expensive’ electricity in the world? – Full Fact
Shadow energy secretary Claire Coutinho MP claimed the UK has the highest electricity prices in the world. Our fact check looks at what the official data shows.
fullfact.org
November 7, 2025 at 12:04 PM
On BBC Breakfast today shadow energy secretary Claire Coutinho said the UK has the “most expensive electricity in the developed world”.
We heard a similar claim from Ms Coutinho last month, and took a look at what the data shows.
We heard a similar claim from Ms Coutinho last month, and took a look at what the data shows.