Alison Strachan
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alisonstrachan.bsky.social
Alison Strachan
@alisonstrachan.bsky.social
Grandparent. Retired English teacher. UK/EUropean. Various interests incl environment/🦔/Antarctica🐧🐳/sport/politics/democracy/climate change/space/sci-fi/SC2 😷💉/own views
Reposted by Alison Strachan
Brexiters - Project fear they said

We don’t mind being poorer they said

Now they blame migrants and asylum seekers for the mess they made

The ‘Brexit effect’ is only getting worse
November 13, 2025 at 12:28 PM
Reposted by Alison Strachan
That final point is absolutely crucial.
The fact that the BBC has made serious culpable errors does not negate the point that there is a real and concerted right-wing media campaign to destroy it. Both points can be true at the same time and the campaign would not end even if the errors did.
November 12, 2025 at 8:09 AM
Reposted by Alison Strachan
🎯 Davey is spot on. "We can have criticism of the BBC, but within that, we need to recognise how valuable an institution it is [and how] precious to our country. And that's one of the reasons why people like President Trump and Nigel Farage, want to undermine the BBC." 👏🏽~AA
November 10, 2025 at 2:35 PM
Reposted by Alison Strachan
A few more photos from tonight’s incredible #aurora. I’m fascinated by the amount of red light tonight. This is generated by oxygen molecules being excited by light plasma at least 600 km above the Earth. The green is also oxygen molecules, but much lower (100-250km). Definitely a great night.
November 12, 2025 at 4:23 AM
Reposted by Alison Strachan
A short video of the nursery pod of Bottlenose Dolphins in Vidlin Voe, Shetland yesterday. Check out some of those tiny calves! Only the fourth confirmed record of this species in Shetland waters.

#MarineLife #MarineMammals #CetaceansUK #UKWildlife
November 9, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Reposted by Alison Strachan
FT editorial is right to ask questions about governance and the Board at the BBC
on.ft.com/3WQmPJr
Crucial lessons for the BBC
The broadcaster has made errors, but its board has failed to defend it
on.ft.com
November 11, 2025 at 7:14 AM
Reposted by Alison Strachan
Trump wants to destroy the BBC and take our money. And Nigel Farage is egging him on.

All true patriots should tell them both: hands off our BBC.
November 10, 2025 at 10:07 PM
Reposted by Alison Strachan
Brexit reduced the UK’s GDP by between 6% and 8%. That is MASSIVE. #ProjectFear #wetoldyouso

www.nber.org/papers/w3445...
November 10, 2025 at 8:11 PM
Reposted by Alison Strachan
The reaction to the Panorama edit has been nothing short of hysterical. Yes the BBC has some impartiality problems. But its biggest isn't the one you think.

New piece from me.

open.substack.com/pub/goodalla...
The truth about impartiality at the BBC
And the hysteria of the current "crisis"
open.substack.com
November 10, 2025 at 7:22 PM
Reposted by Alison Strachan
Excellent analysis of this unfolding horror show
What you’re witnessing is a populist assault on the BBC.

This is not an institutional scandal in any meaningful sense of the word. It is an attack on public service broadcasting.

iandunt.substack.com/p/extra-edit...
November 10, 2025 at 12:28 PM
Reposted by Alison Strachan
See what’s happening. A Trumpist US media company has taken over Channel 5. Another US company is gunning for ITV. Our social media is saturated by Musk’s calls for civil war in the UK. The BBC is the last thing standing, and Trump/Johnson are trying to bring it down
November 9, 2025 at 11:59 PM
Reposted by Alison Strachan
I had my disagreements with the BBC under Tim Davie but he was a decent man doing a difficult job.

To see Trump's White House claiming credit for his downfall and attacking the BBC should worry us all.
November 9, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Reposted by Alison Strachan
November 10, 2025 at 6:42 AM
Reposted by Alison Strachan
Happy Birthday to the European Convention on Human Rights, which has helped to protect #OurRightsAndFreedoms for 75 years.

Here are more than 200 examples, from across the continent👇

🔗 www.coe.int/ECHR

There are thousands more.

#ECHR #ECHR75 @coe.int @echr.coe.int
November 4, 2025 at 6:38 AM
Reposted by Alison Strachan
Immigration, indecency, and incompetence. New post on my Brexit & Brexitism Blog. The ever-more indecent terms of the immigration 'debate' are another failure of Brexit, which links to the ever-more obvious incompetence of Reform in local government: chrisgreybrexitblog.blogspot.com/2025/10/immi...
October 31, 2025 at 7:39 AM
October 31, 2025 at 9:07 AM
Reposted by Alison Strachan
October 17, 2025 at 9:05 AM
Reposted by Alison Strachan
Fine and moving column from Caitlin Moran
Yay. Priceless. The right column at the right time. And a gleefully English two fingers to the haters.
October 25, 2025 at 8:46 AM
Reposted by Alison Strachan
Brexit eruptions. New post on my Brexit & Brexitism Blog looking at Tory madness, Labour’s ‘blame Farage’ strategy, the Brexit impasse and a suggestion of a way forward, and the latest ‘reset’ news. Bonus feature: a feeble new Brexit metaphor: chrisgreybrexitblog.blogspot.com/2025/10/brex...
October 17, 2025 at 6:02 AM
Reposted by Alison Strachan
I wrote this poem on the limits of phonics, a while back. Our spelling system is based on the history of words, meaning & connections with other words, as well as sounds. Whether a sound is spelt 'oar' 'ore' 'aw' can't be decided on phonics alone & confronted with those letter combinations in 1/.
October 18, 2025 at 8:05 AM
Reposted by Alison Strachan
Who is advising the Secretary of State on these issues, I wonder? It seems so misguided. And Phonics is NOT the same as reading. Even more of a relentless focus on phonics might actually produce fewer good readers! Surely a point must come when this is recognised?
October 16, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Reposted by Alison Strachan
They lie about the ECHR.
Just like they lied about Brexit. Claiming if we just got rid of that ‘European’ thing, we’d be free, we’d have control, all our problems solved…
It’s NOT TRUE.
We’d inflict more chaos on ourselves and torch our own human rights framework for NOTHING.
For liars.
Again.
The European Convention on Human Rights is being misrepresented in the UK, says former Supreme Court President Lady Hale👇

🔗 www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home... via @the-independent.com

“It seems so short-sighted. I’m sorry, I’m really, really worried about it.”

#ECHR #OurRightsAndFreedoms
October 16, 2025 at 6:20 AM
Reposted by Alison Strachan
Jane Goodall 😢
youtu.be/mpi6zAg_OII?...
Remembering legendary conservationist Jane Goodall
YouTube video by Good Morning America
youtu.be
October 2, 2025 at 6:24 PM
Reposted by Alison Strachan
Sunday reading explores 'difficult' women: from Jane Goodall to Jess Phillips. We need more to move things forward #equality occamstypewriter.org/athenedonald...
Difficult Women | Athene Donald's Blog
occamstypewriter.org
October 12, 2025 at 7:33 PM
Reposted by Alison Strachan
After a long pause, I've just done another England Covid & NHS update as we head into the autumn/winter season.

TLDR: we're in a significant Covid wave now, the NHS is stretched, get boosted if you're eligible.

christinapagel.substack.com/p/england-is...
England is now experiencing a significant Covid wave, after 10 months of relative quiet
The latest Covid situation in England and a look at where NHS services are as we head into winter
christinapagel.substack.com
October 10, 2025 at 1:10 PM