Eliot Andersen
@eliotandersen.bsky.social
Cumbrian Labourite (remotely) in Westminster. Politics. Railways. Writes stuff. Honorary Mexican.
Perusing this year's Christmas Radio Times and quickly coming to the conclusion that it won't be a vintage year for TV over Christmas.
December 10, 2025 at 9:15 PM
Perusing this year's Christmas Radio Times and quickly coming to the conclusion that it won't be a vintage year for TV over Christmas.
I guess this is full-throated Badenochism.
December 10, 2025 at 5:52 PM
I guess this is full-throated Badenochism.
Reposted by Eliot Andersen
Might be worthwhile to expand here. So a cursory glance at a Westminster order paper will tell you that there are a /lot/ of votes at Parliament. That's part of why parties have research teams and whips offices, among other things they literally figure out how your MPs should vote on /everything/
It sounds stupid but it's actually extremely easy to do if you are an independent MP without a research team to preadvise you
December 9, 2025 at 5:43 PM
Might be worthwhile to expand here. So a cursory glance at a Westminster order paper will tell you that there are a /lot/ of votes at Parliament. That's part of why parties have research teams and whips offices, among other things they literally figure out how your MPs should vote on /everything/
"Ah but independent MPs don't have whips!"
Au contraire - their whips just aren't other MPs.
As I discovered when I did it for six months.
Au contraire - their whips just aren't other MPs.
As I discovered when I did it for six months.
In a past life I was actually the researcher for an independent elected official, and it was, to say the least, a horrible pain in the tit, because we /didn't/ have that advice. So yours truly had to go around reading piles of legislation every single fucking day to tell my boss what to think.
December 9, 2025 at 6:18 PM
"Ah but independent MPs don't have whips!"
Au contraire - their whips just aren't other MPs.
As I discovered when I did it for six months.
Au contraire - their whips just aren't other MPs.
As I discovered when I did it for six months.
Reposted by Eliot Andersen
the twelve days of christmas - and I cannot emphasise this enough - are 25 December - 5 January. we are not currently in a day of christmas. marketing departments stop it. STOP IT
December 8, 2025 at 10:20 AM
the twelve days of christmas - and I cannot emphasise this enough - are 25 December - 5 January. we are not currently in a day of christmas. marketing departments stop it. STOP IT
“Here’s looking at you, great-grandkid.” from the beloved sequel, Cas4blanca.
Beloved franchises like Casablanca
Fuck offfffffffffff
December 6, 2025 at 10:40 AM
“Here’s looking at you, great-grandkid.” from the beloved sequel, Cas4blanca.
I spent one of my first election campaigns (aged 3) following my Mum round on the #labourdoorstep asking where “the party” was.
It was three Labour Gains, so we had a party.
It was three Labour Gains, so we had a party.
December 4, 2025 at 8:40 PM
I spent one of my first election campaigns (aged 3) following my Mum round on the #labourdoorstep asking where “the party” was.
It was three Labour Gains, so we had a party.
It was three Labour Gains, so we had a party.
Reposted by Eliot Andersen
The Green party: We should tax wealth!
Also the Green Party: No! Not like that!
The eternal story
Also the Green Party: No! Not like that!
The eternal story
December 3, 2025 at 9:45 AM
The Green party: We should tax wealth!
Also the Green Party: No! Not like that!
The eternal story
Also the Green Party: No! Not like that!
The eternal story
And the specifics of the K-T Extinction event that wiped out the dinosaurs (the asteroid impact) were first discovered when Margaret Thatcher was Prime Minister.
David Attenborough’s Life on Earth, first broadcast in 1979, states “We don’t know exactly what wiped out the dinosaurs”.
David Attenborough’s Life on Earth, first broadcast in 1979, states “We don’t know exactly what wiped out the dinosaurs”.
To put it in perspective, the time period between Stegosaurus and T Rex is about 33% longer than the time period between T Rex and today
I don’t know a lot.
But I know a lot about dinosaurs.
Now we all know dinosaurs lived for millions of years right?
But does you mind actually wrap around how long they dominated for?
Lets get a little perspective.
Did you know Allosaurus never saw flowers but T.rex did?
But I know a lot about dinosaurs.
Now we all know dinosaurs lived for millions of years right?
But does you mind actually wrap around how long they dominated for?
Lets get a little perspective.
Did you know Allosaurus never saw flowers but T.rex did?
November 30, 2025 at 4:59 PM
And the specifics of the K-T Extinction event that wiped out the dinosaurs (the asteroid impact) were first discovered when Margaret Thatcher was Prime Minister.
David Attenborough’s Life on Earth, first broadcast in 1979, states “We don’t know exactly what wiped out the dinosaurs”.
David Attenborough’s Life on Earth, first broadcast in 1979, states “We don’t know exactly what wiped out the dinosaurs”.
Has there been a better script doctor than Barry Watson? What, you don’t know Barry Watson? Oh, that’s because he’s Tom Stoppard.
He also did a bit of work on a film called Revenge of the Sith - if only they’d let him rewrite the whole thing.
creativescreenwriting.com/indiana-jone...
He also did a bit of work on a film called Revenge of the Sith - if only they’d let him rewrite the whole thing.
creativescreenwriting.com/indiana-jone...
Loading...
Loading article...
creativescreenwriting.com
November 29, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Has there been a better script doctor than Barry Watson? What, you don’t know Barry Watson? Oh, that’s because he’s Tom Stoppard.
He also did a bit of work on a film called Revenge of the Sith - if only they’d let him rewrite the whole thing.
creativescreenwriting.com/indiana-jone...
He also did a bit of work on a film called Revenge of the Sith - if only they’d let him rewrite the whole thing.
creativescreenwriting.com/indiana-jone...
Reposted by Eliot Andersen
Wow - this guy must be really, REALLY bad with money if an extra £208 per month will “ruin” his retirement.
Let’s take a look at his situation based on what he told the @Telegraph
Because this does NOT add up!
No, this is not a “poor pensioner” scrabbling around for pennies…
🧵1/9
Let’s take a look at his situation based on what he told the @Telegraph
Because this does NOT add up!
No, this is not a “poor pensioner” scrabbling around for pennies…
🧵1/9
November 29, 2025 at 10:12 AM
Wow - this guy must be really, REALLY bad with money if an extra £208 per month will “ruin” his retirement.
Let’s take a look at his situation based on what he told the @Telegraph
Because this does NOT add up!
No, this is not a “poor pensioner” scrabbling around for pennies…
🧵1/9
Let’s take a look at his situation based on what he told the @Telegraph
Because this does NOT add up!
No, this is not a “poor pensioner” scrabbling around for pennies…
🧵1/9
Those who can, do.
Those who can’t, get AI to do it for them.
Those who can’t, get AI to do it for them.
November 28, 2025 at 9:43 PM
Those who can, do.
Those who can’t, get AI to do it for them.
Those who can’t, get AI to do it for them.
PSA - Waterstones has triple points on from now until Monday if you spend over £100.
November 28, 2025 at 11:11 AM
PSA - Waterstones has triple points on from now until Monday if you spend over £100.
The Lakes Express running under the Nordmann fir.
November 27, 2025 at 9:54 PM
The Lakes Express running under the Nordmann fir.
Nearly 5 years ago, we had to up sticks and leave Richmond (the cheap(!) end) because the rent levels were just insane.
We moved 300 miles, from a 2 bed flat to a 4 bed house, almost halving the rent.
The old flat was nearly 2.5x the value of my parents’ house.
We may in fact have a housing crisis.
We moved 300 miles, from a 2 bed flat to a 4 bed house, almost halving the rent.
The old flat was nearly 2.5x the value of my parents’ house.
We may in fact have a housing crisis.
‘I don’t live in a mansion. It’s a 1930s house’: Richmond residents react to council tax rise
‘I don’t live in a mansion. It’s a 1930s house’: Richmond residents react to council tax rise
Rachel Reeves’s new council tax surcharge on homes worth £2m or more earns mixed reception in well-heeled London borough
www.theguardian.com
November 27, 2025 at 9:16 AM
Nearly 5 years ago, we had to up sticks and leave Richmond (the cheap(!) end) because the rent levels were just insane.
We moved 300 miles, from a 2 bed flat to a 4 bed house, almost halving the rent.
The old flat was nearly 2.5x the value of my parents’ house.
We may in fact have a housing crisis.
We moved 300 miles, from a 2 bed flat to a 4 bed house, almost halving the rent.
The old flat was nearly 2.5x the value of my parents’ house.
We may in fact have a housing crisis.
New Lizardman’s Constant just dropped.
New polling on aliens
% of U.S. adult citizens who believe the following definitely or probably exist:
Aliens 56%
Bigfoot 28%
The Yeti 23%
The Loch Ness Monster 22%
Chupacabra 16%
today.yougov.com/health/artic...
% of U.S. adult citizens who believe the following definitely or probably exist:
Aliens 56%
Bigfoot 28%
The Yeti 23%
The Loch Ness Monster 22%
Chupacabra 16%
today.yougov.com/health/artic...
November 25, 2025 at 10:55 PM
New Lizardman’s Constant just dropped.
Black Friday *week*.
November 20, 2025 at 8:53 AM
Black Friday *week*.
Reposted by Eliot Andersen
This mural has gone up in Kingston, ostensibly for Christmas but AI has ensured it's actually to celebrate the return of our dark lord Cthulhu
November 18, 2025 at 9:44 AM
This mural has gone up in Kingston, ostensibly for Christmas but AI has ensured it's actually to celebrate the return of our dark lord Cthulhu
Caught a bit of Rise of Skywalker on TV earlier and... oh boy.
November 15, 2025 at 8:33 PM
Caught a bit of Rise of Skywalker on TV earlier and... oh boy.
Reposted by Eliot Andersen
*loading a pistol and reopening netscape navigator* net's haunted
January 3, 2025 at 9:32 PM
*loading a pistol and reopening netscape navigator* net's haunted
I’m sure I’ve seen this fella down Botchergate on a Friday night.
Russia presented its human-like AI robot. It fell down as it walked onto the stage.
November 12, 2025 at 7:59 AM
I’m sure I’ve seen this fella down Botchergate on a Friday night.
Reposted by Eliot Andersen
"The problem isn’t that we have a deliberately biased BBC, it’s that we have a BBC that has been consciously reduced in its scope and bullied into dumbing down and retreating." @stephenkb.bsky.social's newsletter today
November 10, 2025 at 9:40 AM
"The problem isn’t that we have a deliberately biased BBC, it’s that we have a BBC that has been consciously reduced in its scope and bullied into dumbing down and retreating." @stephenkb.bsky.social's newsletter today
Reposted by Eliot Andersen
Amongst the many issues with UK TV media coverage, the addiction to frippery is probably the worst?
An approach to even serious topics that doesn't engage seriously, constant efforts to simplify and flatten until you're responding to tragedies with "would you metal detect passengers?"
An approach to even serious topics that doesn't engage seriously, constant efforts to simplify and flatten until you're responding to tragedies with "would you metal detect passengers?"
Heidi Alexander, the transport secretary, rules out metal detecting arches at stations, pointing out that with the number of stations and entrances to each it's basically impossible. She says that overall, UK trains are a pretty safe place to be.
November 3, 2025 at 9:26 AM
Amongst the many issues with UK TV media coverage, the addiction to frippery is probably the worst?
An approach to even serious topics that doesn't engage seriously, constant efforts to simplify and flatten until you're responding to tragedies with "would you metal detect passengers?"
An approach to even serious topics that doesn't engage seriously, constant efforts to simplify and flatten until you're responding to tragedies with "would you metal detect passengers?"
Reposted by Eliot Andersen
Whatever else comes out once the attack on the ECML train last night, this alone is a credit to the train crew, driver, and signalling team.
Huntingdon was the first possible stop. In a highly stressful situation and improvising a plan the train lost just 3 minutes vs line speed to get there.
Huntingdon was the first possible stop. In a highly stressful situation and improvising a plan the train lost just 3 minutes vs line speed to get there.
November 2, 2025 at 10:17 AM
Whatever else comes out once the attack on the ECML train last night, this alone is a credit to the train crew, driver, and signalling team.
Huntingdon was the first possible stop. In a highly stressful situation and improvising a plan the train lost just 3 minutes vs line speed to get there.
Huntingdon was the first possible stop. In a highly stressful situation and improvising a plan the train lost just 3 minutes vs line speed to get there.
Reposted by Eliot Andersen
I'm beginning to think you can't trust random videos on the internet
November 2, 2025 at 9:16 AM
I'm beginning to think you can't trust random videos on the internet