Richard Woodcock
@zedwally.bsky.social
Old ex-academic, musician, crosswords, curious.
https://unclewallyandunclesteve.bandcamp.com
https://unclewallyandunclesteve.bandcamp.com
This latest Lord Mandelson controversy must trigger a full rethink on the House of Lords. We need a second chamber where the public decides who stays and who goes. Please sign the petition.
secure.unlockdemocracy.org.uk/page/185845/...
secure.unlockdemocracy.org.uk/page/185845/...
This must trigger a rethink
This latest Lord Mandelson controversy must trigger a full rethink on the House of Lords. We need a second chamber where the public decides who stays and who goes. Please sign the petition.
secure.unlockdemocracy.org.uk
February 3, 2026 at 11:44 AM
This latest Lord Mandelson controversy must trigger a full rethink on the House of Lords. We need a second chamber where the public decides who stays and who goes. Please sign the petition.
secure.unlockdemocracy.org.uk/page/185845/...
secure.unlockdemocracy.org.uk/page/185845/...
Reposted by Richard Woodcock
Drug laws have never stopped people from using drugs.
They've stopped people from using drugs safely.
It's time to legalise *and* regulate.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
They've stopped people from using drugs safely.
It's time to legalise *and* regulate.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Drugs policy approach needs to change, Zack Polanski says
The Green Party leader of England and Wales says there needs to be a
www.bbc.co.uk
February 2, 2026 at 12:06 PM
Drug laws have never stopped people from using drugs.
They've stopped people from using drugs safely.
It's time to legalise *and* regulate.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
They've stopped people from using drugs safely.
It's time to legalise *and* regulate.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Richard Woodcock
Entertainers can’t save truth. Or Greenland. But at least we can boycott the ‘Trump Kennedy Center’
This week’s column by Stewart Lee
🔗⏬
This week’s column by Stewart Lee
🔗⏬
February 1, 2026 at 12:01 PM
Entertainers can’t save truth. Or Greenland. But at least we can boycott the ‘Trump Kennedy Center’
This week’s column by Stewart Lee
🔗⏬
This week’s column by Stewart Lee
🔗⏬
Reposted by Richard Woodcock
Settler-only IDF units functioning as ‘vigilante militias’ in West Bank
Settler-only IDF units functioning as ‘vigilante militias’ in West Bank
Exclusive: ‘Regional defence’ settler units are escalating violent displacement of Palestinians, Israeli reservists and activists say
www.theguardian.com
January 30, 2026 at 1:03 PM
Settler-only IDF units functioning as ‘vigilante militias’ in West Bank
Reposted by Richard Woodcock
I wrote this song on Saturday, recorded it yesterday and released it to you today in response to the state terror being visited on the city of Minneapolis. It’s dedicated to the people of Minneapolis, our innocent immigrant neighbors and in memory of Alex Pretti and Renee Good.
Stay free
Stay free
Bruce Springsteen - Streets Of Minneapolis (Official Audio)
YouTube video by Bruce Springsteen
youtu.be
January 28, 2026 at 5:02 PM
I wrote this song on Saturday, recorded it yesterday and released it to you today in response to the state terror being visited on the city of Minneapolis. It’s dedicated to the people of Minneapolis, our innocent immigrant neighbors and in memory of Alex Pretti and Renee Good.
Stay free
Stay free
Always thought-provoking; this one's of particular relevance to students and teachers. open.substack.com/pub/johnnaug...
Wednesday 28 January, 2026
A rose by any other name…
open.substack.com
January 28, 2026 at 12:29 PM
Always thought-provoking; this one's of particular relevance to students and teachers. open.substack.com/pub/johnnaug...
Fascinating stuff from Cory Doctorow, quoting Henry Farrell - one of my favourite political/economic analysts: pluralistic.net/2026/01/26/i...
Pluralistic: Trump and the unmighty dollar (26 Jan 2026) – Pluralistic: Daily links from Cory Doctorow
pluralistic.net
January 26, 2026 at 4:21 PM
Fascinating stuff from Cory Doctorow, quoting Henry Farrell - one of my favourite political/economic analysts: pluralistic.net/2026/01/26/i...
Reposted by Richard Woodcock
As JD Vance attacked on women’s rights at an anti-abortion rally just miles away, neo-Nazis 'Patriot Front' marched in Washington, DC.
They were met with loud circus music.
As American Christian nationalism rises – and is increasingly exported to the UK – this response was more than deserved.
They were met with loud circus music.
As American Christian nationalism rises – and is increasingly exported to the UK – this response was more than deserved.
January 26, 2026 at 12:39 PM
As JD Vance attacked on women’s rights at an anti-abortion rally just miles away, neo-Nazis 'Patriot Front' marched in Washington, DC.
They were met with loud circus music.
As American Christian nationalism rises – and is increasingly exported to the UK – this response was more than deserved.
They were met with loud circus music.
As American Christian nationalism rises – and is increasingly exported to the UK – this response was more than deserved.
Well said, Steve Baker (says this Green Party member). #Newsnight
January 23, 2026 at 11:01 PM
Well said, Steve Baker (says this Green Party member). #Newsnight
Reposted by Richard Woodcock
Help us make hope normal again.
Join the Green Party now.
Join the Green Party now.
January 22, 2026 at 7:07 PM
Help us make hope normal again.
Join the Green Party now.
Join the Green Party now.
One big reason why Starmer won't stand up to Trump is this: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAF_Men... #Newsnight
RAF Menwith Hill - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
January 20, 2026 at 10:58 PM
One big reason why Starmer won't stand up to Trump is this: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAF_Men... #Newsnight
Reposted by Richard Woodcock
Listening to Trump presser for 40 mins. Rambling, repetitive stream of consciousness. Narcissistic in extreme. Every thought linked back to whether the person or entity voted for or likes Trump. If Biden had delivered this there would have been serious concern about his health.
January 20, 2026 at 7:48 PM
Listening to Trump presser for 40 mins. Rambling, repetitive stream of consciousness. Narcissistic in extreme. Every thought linked back to whether the person or entity voted for or likes Trump. If Biden had delivered this there would have been serious concern about his health.
Reposted by Richard Woodcock
Do not drink the complementary Kool-Aid.
January 20, 2026 at 12:11 PM
Do not drink the complementary Kool-Aid.
Reposted by Richard Woodcock
For all the talk of “strong government,” the reality of single-party rule under First Past the Post often looks anything but. buff.ly/T7heh6l
January 18, 2026 at 4:26 PM
For all the talk of “strong government,” the reality of single-party rule under First Past the Post often looks anything but. buff.ly/T7heh6l
Reposted by Richard Woodcock
It will not surprise you to learn that Toby Youngs 'Free Speech Union' has obtained a High Court injunction banning the publication of a list of its donors open.substack.com/pub/democrac...
Who funds the Free Speech Union?
Toby Young’s outfit went to court to hide its donors. Today we reveal that funders include US anti-abortion groups, Brexit politicians and Tufton Street insiders.
open.substack.com
January 17, 2026 at 8:45 AM
It will not surprise you to learn that Toby Youngs 'Free Speech Union' has obtained a High Court injunction banning the publication of a list of its donors open.substack.com/pub/democrac...
Reposted by Richard Woodcock
The Greens appear to be the only party who consistently point out that privatisation is a scam.
These utilities were sold off with no debt, are monopolies, yet strangely they're now saddled with debt but those who run them have become incredibly wealthy at the detriment to everyone else.
These utilities were sold off with no debt, are monopolies, yet strangely they're now saddled with debt but those who run them have become incredibly wealthy at the detriment to everyone else.
Thousands left without water in the middle of winter in the UK. And those same people are now facing a massive bill hike.
Privatised water is a scam.
I've written to the Prime Minister asking why he won't end this rip off and bring failing South East Water into public hands.
Privatised water is a scam.
I've written to the Prime Minister asking why he won't end this rip off and bring failing South East Water into public hands.
January 15, 2026 at 3:24 PM
The Greens appear to be the only party who consistently point out that privatisation is a scam.
These utilities were sold off with no debt, are monopolies, yet strangely they're now saddled with debt but those who run them have become incredibly wealthy at the detriment to everyone else.
These utilities were sold off with no debt, are monopolies, yet strangely they're now saddled with debt but those who run them have become incredibly wealthy at the detriment to everyone else.
Reposted by Richard Woodcock
Robert Jenrick is the MP for Newark - the only constituency that is an anagram of wanker.
January 15, 2026 at 4:52 PM
Robert Jenrick is the MP for Newark - the only constituency that is an anagram of wanker.
Reposted by Richard Woodcock
I thought Farage was the natural heir to Enoch Powell. Turns out it was Jenrick.
January 15, 2026 at 4:51 PM
I thought Farage was the natural heir to Enoch Powell. Turns out it was Jenrick.
It's good to see that Bandcamp is not allowing AI-generated music on to its website. That leaves more room for excellent human-generated music like this: unclewallyandunclesteve.bandcamp.com
Uncle Wally and Uncle Steve
Steve and Wally live in Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire - their music draws on over sixty years of varied musical influences. Sound on Sound magazine's Nell McCloud said of their first album 'Songs From a Shed': "a tribute to just about every musical genre of the past 100 years, all in 49 and a half minutes. Bonkers? Undoubtedly. Successful? Partly. Enjoyable? Um, yes, yes it is."
unclewallyandunclesteve.bandcamp.com
January 14, 2026 at 5:19 PM
It's good to see that Bandcamp is not allowing AI-generated music on to its website. That leaves more room for excellent human-generated music like this: unclewallyandunclesteve.bandcamp.com
Christina Pagel is Professor of Operational Research at UCL. She played a valuable part in Independent SAGE during the pandemic. She now reports weekly on the authoritarian actions of the Trump administration - it’s essential viewing. open.substack.com/pub/christin...
War and Propaganda in the US last week
What flew under the radar that you should know about
open.substack.com
January 14, 2026 at 4:34 PM
Christina Pagel is Professor of Operational Research at UCL. She played a valuable part in Independent SAGE during the pandemic. She now reports weekly on the authoritarian actions of the Trump administration - it’s essential viewing. open.substack.com/pub/christin...
Reposted by Richard Woodcock
The govt has launched a new TikTok that shows videos of people being handcuffed, bundled into police cars and frogmarched into detention centres. Why? It's a cruel, desperate bid for attention from a government failing to actually improve people's lives
www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/labour...
www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/labour...
'The Government's Deportations TikTok Is A New, Deeply Disturbing Low'
Writing for HuffPost UK, Green Party MP Carla Denyer said it was a "gross dereliction of duty" and simply unforgivable".
www.huffingtonpost.co.uk
January 13, 2026 at 5:16 PM
The govt has launched a new TikTok that shows videos of people being handcuffed, bundled into police cars and frogmarched into detention centres. Why? It's a cruel, desperate bid for attention from a government failing to actually improve people's lives
www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/labour...
www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/labour...
Irony meter explodes.
Israeli PM Netanyahu, wanted for war crimes by the ICC, said Israel “strongly condemns the mass slaughter of innocent civilians” in Iran.
He said he is “closely monitoring developments in Iran,” expressing hope that the “Persian nation will soon be freed” from the current government.
He said he is “closely monitoring developments in Iran,” expressing hope that the “Persian nation will soon be freed” from the current government.
January 11, 2026 at 8:37 PM
Irony meter explodes.