Mark Johnson
@braunton-mark.bsky.social
Retired tech founder who wants a more equal world and for Bristol Bears to win the Premiership Rugby final.
Not too much to ask is it ?
Not too much to ask is it ?
yes and all those figures pre date the afghan schemes I refer to. Sorry I have better things to do than carry this on.
January 4, 2026 at 2:50 PM
yes and all those figures pre date the afghan schemes I refer to. Sorry I have better things to do than carry this on.
lets agree to disagree
January 4, 2026 at 2:46 PM
lets agree to disagree
just read the rest of the thread , its obviously anecdotal, but unlike others on here its based on involvement and trying to help,.
January 4, 2026 at 2:31 PM
just read the rest of the thread , its obviously anecdotal, but unlike others on here its based on involvement and trying to help,.
as I said, when you actually get some facts, it may be worth continuing this dicussiuon. Until then bye bye
January 4, 2026 at 2:30 PM
as I said, when you actually get some facts, it may be worth continuing this dicussiuon. Until then bye bye
brought here, mostly from other European countries, where they had settled after being brought out from Afghanistan. If you don't think there are societal tiers of asylum seekers then you need to get involved and see for yourself.
January 4, 2026 at 2:27 PM
brought here, mostly from other European countries, where they had settled after being brought out from Afghanistan. If you don't think there are societal tiers of asylum seekers then you need to get involved and see for yourself.
So down here in my small village. 12 families houses in MoD accommodation under the 2nd wave of the Afghan scheme. These families were from the Afghan elite, except for one family, the husband of which worked in the Afghan security services. These people didnt arrive by boat, they were
January 4, 2026 at 2:27 PM
So down here in my small village. 12 families houses in MoD accommodation under the 2nd wave of the Afghan scheme. These families were from the Afghan elite, except for one family, the husband of which worked in the Afghan security services. These people didnt arrive by boat, they were
but the current system doesn't address that, it actually prohibits "dealing with it". if you want to have a discussion on this, then best to appraise yourself of the reality, not what you believe is the case.
January 4, 2026 at 2:21 PM
but the current system doesn't address that, it actually prohibits "dealing with it". if you want to have a discussion on this, then best to appraise yourself of the reality, not what you believe is the case.
given MoD homes which had lain empty for years and were refused when requested for local families, sticks in my claw, and I am someone who will defend the asylum system to my last breath. If you want to defuse anger, you have to address perceived unfairness.
January 4, 2026 at 2:19 PM
given MoD homes which had lain empty for years and were refused when requested for local families, sticks in my claw, and I am someone who will defend the asylum system to my last breath. If you want to defuse anger, you have to address perceived unfairness.
its not to pander to the far right, it's to m kale it clear to those that know little, but are whipped up by propaganda, that this is being addressed. As someone who has volunteered with asylum seekers myself, but who also works with local families in a housing crisis, seeing very wealthy families
January 4, 2026 at 2:19 PM
its not to pander to the far right, it's to m kale it clear to those that know little, but are whipped up by propaganda, that this is being addressed. As someone who has volunteered with asylum seekers myself, but who also works with local families in a housing crisis, seeing very wealthy families
This is clearly not the norm, but many arriving under the Afghan scheme did. If we are to defuse the anti asylum seeker feeling, we do have to address these unfair anomalies as they are used by the far right and media to stoke anger
January 4, 2026 at 1:53 PM
This is clearly not the norm, but many arriving under the Afghan scheme did. If we are to defuse the anti asylum seeker feeling, we do have to address these unfair anomalies as they are used by the far right and media to stoke anger
That’s not actually the case. Many asylum seekers don’t arrive by boat and many have significant assets and income. I had one to stay immediately post asylum grant in the gap between him getting housing. He had an ongoing income and significant assets but wasn’t assessed. He thought it was crazy
January 4, 2026 at 1:53 PM
That’s not actually the case. Many asylum seekers don’t arrive by boat and many have significant assets and income. I had one to stay immediately post asylum grant in the gap between him getting housing. He had an ongoing income and significant assets but wasn’t assessed. He thought it was crazy
How is that panel politically balanced . Disgraced Tory , disgraced Tory now promoting Reform and LD. It’s not even an attempt at representation. It’s the exact opposite. The sooner BBC management has a new broom, the better
January 4, 2026 at 9:54 AM
How is that panel politically balanced . Disgraced Tory , disgraced Tory now promoting Reform and LD. It’s not even an attempt at representation. It’s the exact opposite. The sooner BBC management has a new broom, the better
I voted Lib Dem down here in Devon to get rid of an awful Tory and, to be fair, the new MP seems a decent chap who cares about the local community, however Davey’s bandwagon jumping makes me cringe. If populism is to be defeated we need leaders who make and support properly considered judgement.
January 3, 2026 at 9:36 PM
I voted Lib Dem down here in Devon to get rid of an awful Tory and, to be fair, the new MP seems a decent chap who cares about the local community, however Davey’s bandwagon jumping makes me cringe. If populism is to be defeated we need leaders who make and support properly considered judgement.
And that is why Zack should never be anywhere near power.
January 3, 2026 at 4:16 PM
And that is why Zack should never be anywhere near power.
She’s correct. Having a country with an average adult reading age of between 9 and 11 is a major cause of our current problems. The vast majority of people have no ability to absorb any complex information so immediately grasp at someone peddling simple solutions.
January 2, 2026 at 5:31 PM
She’s correct. Having a country with an average adult reading age of between 9 and 11 is a major cause of our current problems. The vast majority of people have no ability to absorb any complex information so immediately grasp at someone peddling simple solutions.
The desire to label mild versions of these conditions isn’t in my view helpful. It implies there is something wrong, when the reality is that we are just different and that’s something to celebrate. It also belittles the serious and complex versions of these conditions.
December 25, 2025 at 1:13 PM
The desire to label mild versions of these conditions isn’t in my view helpful. It implies there is something wrong, when the reality is that we are just different and that’s something to celebrate. It also belittles the serious and complex versions of these conditions.
Yes, the lack of self awareness is breathtaking. I often wonder if these people actually have any idea of that fact that they are demeaning the history of some of the great journalists who filled their roles in the past. The gulf in ability, intellect and, most of all, integrity, is a chasm.
December 20, 2025 at 11:39 AM
Yes, the lack of self awareness is breathtaking. I often wonder if these people actually have any idea of that fact that they are demeaning the history of some of the great journalists who filled their roles in the past. The gulf in ability, intellect and, most of all, integrity, is a chasm.
or initiatives that the media doesn’t wish to cover and, even when it does, only via the filter of opinion pieces. I have been around a long time and it didn’t used to be like this. We had reporting of policy in detail and then, clearly separated opinion pieces. We need to get back there.
December 20, 2025 at 8:53 AM
or initiatives that the media doesn’t wish to cover and, even when it does, only via the filter of opinion pieces. I have been around a long time and it didn’t used to be like this. We had reporting of policy in detail and then, clearly separated opinion pieces. We need to get back there.
and concentrating on gotcha, gossip and operating to open political agendas. Now we will hear policy outlined in full and questions of that policy or any other issue they wish to raise. Isn’t that more transparent than the current system which means the public simply don’t hear about any policy
December 20, 2025 at 8:53 AM
and concentrating on gotcha, gossip and operating to open political agendas. Now we will hear policy outlined in full and questions of that policy or any other issue they wish to raise. Isn’t that more transparent than the current system which means the public simply don’t hear about any policy
The article is fascinating in that it reveals a mindset that the lobby holds when it says the Government didn’t consult on this. The media want to be the filter of all government announcements, even those involving the media. They have forfeited any claim to that in recent years by ignoring policy
December 20, 2025 at 8:53 AM
The article is fascinating in that it reveals a mindset that the lobby holds when it says the Government didn’t consult on this. The media want to be the filter of all government announcements, even those involving the media. They have forfeited any claim to that in recent years by ignoring policy
Ah I see what you mean. An obvious mistake when one sees so called political correspondents behaving like influencers on a daily basis.
December 20, 2025 at 8:39 AM
Ah I see what you mean. An obvious mistake when one sees so called political correspondents behaving like influencers on a daily basis.
Naomi Smith on Quiet Riot was putting forward the idea that this change has been driven by Darren Jones moving to No 10. The change of comms has been marked in recent weeks. If it’s Darren then he impresses more and more.
December 20, 2025 at 8:34 AM
Naomi Smith on Quiet Riot was putting forward the idea that this change has been driven by Darren Jones moving to No 10. The change of comms has been marked in recent weeks. If it’s Darren then he impresses more and more.