Fay Young
@fayyoung.bsky.social
Writer, editor, old style journalist and newish media collaborator. Woodland gardener, co-editor Sceptical Scot, podcaster Walking Heads. Enjoy music, poetry, food, good company
And climate change? Homo sapiens doesn’t care about tomorrow when they can take off for Christmas
Bumper Christmas for air travel as 300mn take to the skies
Bumper Christmas for air travel as 300mn take to the skies
Bumper Christmas for air travel as 300mn take to the skies
Airlines on track for the biggest holiday season getaway in history as industry braces for record demand
giftarticle.ft.com
December 19, 2025 at 8:39 AM
And climate change? Homo sapiens doesn’t care about tomorrow when they can take off for Christmas
Bumper Christmas for air travel as 300mn take to the skies
Bumper Christmas for air travel as 300mn take to the skies
#Bondi attacks show old hatreds are flourishing again
“…social media has become a fire hose of toxic, racist content, whipped up both by some domestic politicians for their own ends and by external forces.”
Stephen Bush @FT
“…social media has become a fire hose of toxic, racist content, whipped up both by some domestic politicians for their own ends and by external forces.”
Stephen Bush @FT
Bondi attacks show old hatreds are flourishing again
A permissive environment has been created in which Israel is conflated with all Jews, everywhere
giftarticle.ft.com
December 15, 2025 at 6:39 PM
#Bondi attacks show old hatreds are flourishing again
“…social media has become a fire hose of toxic, racist content, whipped up both by some domestic politicians for their own ends and by external forces.”
Stephen Bush @FT
“…social media has become a fire hose of toxic, racist content, whipped up both by some domestic politicians for their own ends and by external forces.”
Stephen Bush @FT
Reading December’s RHS magazine I’m thinking how much politicians could learn from a pragmatic, creative, uplifting approach to climate change adaptation.
Gardening shows a way to live well and within our means - and enjoy doing it too.
Hands up any gardening politicians?
#gardens #climatechange
Gardening shows a way to live well and within our means - and enjoy doing it too.
Hands up any gardening politicians?
#gardens #climatechange
December 15, 2025 at 12:04 PM
Reading December’s RHS magazine I’m thinking how much politicians could learn from a pragmatic, creative, uplifting approach to climate change adaptation.
Gardening shows a way to live well and within our means - and enjoy doing it too.
Hands up any gardening politicians?
#gardens #climatechange
Gardening shows a way to live well and within our means - and enjoy doing it too.
Hands up any gardening politicians?
#gardens #climatechange
Reposted by Fay Young
A result which both illustrates the magnitude of the Reform threat and the problems with Labour’s “Farage is right, don’t vote for him” response. 37 point Lab to Reform swing. Labour go from first to 4th as anti-Reform vote splits 3 ways. Combined Lab/LD/Grn vote larger than Reform vote.
Red Hall & Lingfield (Darlington) Council By-Election Result:
➡️ RFM: 37.7% (New)
🌳 CON: 17.3% (-22.5)
🔶 LDM: 17.3% (New)
🌹 LAB: 16.8% (-37.1)
🌍 GRN: 9.8% (+3.6)
🙋 Ind: 1.0% (New)
Reform GAIN from Labour.
Changes w/ 2023.
➡️ RFM: 37.7% (New)
🌳 CON: 17.3% (-22.5)
🔶 LDM: 17.3% (New)
🌹 LAB: 16.8% (-37.1)
🌍 GRN: 9.8% (+3.6)
🙋 Ind: 1.0% (New)
Reform GAIN from Labour.
Changes w/ 2023.
December 12, 2025 at 12:31 PM
A result which both illustrates the magnitude of the Reform threat and the problems with Labour’s “Farage is right, don’t vote for him” response. 37 point Lab to Reform swing. Labour go from first to 4th as anti-Reform vote splits 3 ways. Combined Lab/LD/Grn vote larger than Reform vote.
This old post just popped up
Raises some topical thoughts about political choices and budgets
Who pays, who benefits, what does it cost, could the money be better spent?
Raises some topical thoughts about political choices and budgets
Who pays, who benefits, what does it cost, could the money be better spent?
My Irish Baby Box, a vintage treasure with topical notes - Sceptical Scot
'It’s a post-war period piece, a personal memento from a different world and yet it echoes with the aims of the Finnish baby box.' Fay Young re-opens her forty-year-old Irish 'baby box' to find topica...
sceptical.scot
December 12, 2025 at 8:41 AM
This old post just popped up
Raises some topical thoughts about political choices and budgets
Who pays, who benefits, what does it cost, could the money be better spent?
Raises some topical thoughts about political choices and budgets
Who pays, who benefits, what does it cost, could the money be better spent?
“The SNP appears to have pulled off the political trick of staying in power even as it consistently fails to deliver – a combination mercilessly punished elsewhere.” John McLaren for @scepscot.bsky.social on government (and voters) reluctance to get real
#economy
#economy
UK Budget 2025? Get real. The world has changed - Sceptical Scot
John McLaren explains in no uncertain terms why the UK Budget is such a disappointment, doing nothig when so much needs to be done, further eroding trust in mainstream politicians, pushing voters towa...
sceptical.scot
December 12, 2025 at 8:29 AM
“The SNP appears to have pulled off the political trick of staying in power even as it consistently fails to deliver – a combination mercilessly punished elsewhere.” John McLaren for @scepscot.bsky.social on government (and voters) reluctance to get real
#economy
#economy
Neither Keir Starmer nor Kemi Badenoch wants to reverse Brexit
But, says Stephen Bush, UK politicians will, sooner or later, catch up with the public and decide to move closer to the EU, even if neither Starmer nor Badenoch is trying to lead us there.
But, says Stephen Bush, UK politicians will, sooner or later, catch up with the public and decide to move closer to the EU, even if neither Starmer nor Badenoch is trying to lead us there.
Neither Keir Starmer nor Kemi Badenoch wants to reverse Brexit
Critical comments about leaving the EU do not mean they want to return, despite public support for rejoining
giftarticle.ft.com
December 11, 2025 at 9:45 PM
Neither Keir Starmer nor Kemi Badenoch wants to reverse Brexit
But, says Stephen Bush, UK politicians will, sooner or later, catch up with the public and decide to move closer to the EU, even if neither Starmer nor Badenoch is trying to lead us there.
But, says Stephen Bush, UK politicians will, sooner or later, catch up with the public and decide to move closer to the EU, even if neither Starmer nor Badenoch is trying to lead us there.
Gusts up to 50mph still - a ‘strong gale’ on the Beaufort Scale my weather app tells me (StormBram thinks so too)
From the window our trees are standing defiant, red squirrels foraging with ruffled tails, swans at the sluice hoping for a little extra something
#woodlandgarden
From the window our trees are standing defiant, red squirrels foraging with ruffled tails, swans at the sluice hoping for a little extra something
#woodlandgarden
December 10, 2025 at 8:48 AM
Gusts up to 50mph still - a ‘strong gale’ on the Beaufort Scale my weather app tells me (StormBram thinks so too)
From the window our trees are standing defiant, red squirrels foraging with ruffled tails, swans at the sluice hoping for a little extra something
#woodlandgarden
From the window our trees are standing defiant, red squirrels foraging with ruffled tails, swans at the sluice hoping for a little extra something
#woodlandgarden
“Macron and Starmer…are allowing Farage and Le Pen to set the agenda.”
Tony O’Donnell for @scepscot.bsky.social on populist advance in US, UK and European
“Under Donald Trump the US has moved from (unreliable) ally to become an actual enemy not just of the EU but the UK …”
Tony O’Donnell for @scepscot.bsky.social on populist advance in US, UK and European
“Under Donald Trump the US has moved from (unreliable) ally to become an actual enemy not just of the EU but the UK …”
Les enfants de la patrie – but the enduring trap of populism is not unique to France - Sceptical Scot
Trump has seized on opportunities Macron and Starmer have created. Macron and Starmer. alike in their determination to ignore politicians of the left, have allowed Farage and Le Pen to set the agenda,...
sceptical.scot
December 9, 2025 at 11:03 PM
“Macron and Starmer…are allowing Farage and Le Pen to set the agenda.”
Tony O’Donnell for @scepscot.bsky.social on populist advance in US, UK and European
“Under Donald Trump the US has moved from (unreliable) ally to become an actual enemy not just of the EU but the UK …”
Tony O’Donnell for @scepscot.bsky.social on populist advance in US, UK and European
“Under Donald Trump the US has moved from (unreliable) ally to become an actual enemy not just of the EU but the UK …”
“Unfortunately, no party is competing with Reform by being honest about the current state of affairs. Maybe if they did they would garner additional support. It’s difficult to see how some of their polling numbers could get much worse” John McLaren for @scepscot.bsky.social
John McLaren laments UK govt failings likely to push voters towards outlying political parties. “So far Reform are the chief beneficiaries, but their appeal is based on even wilder policy promises which are destined to fail on an even grander scale.”
sceptical.scot/2025/12/uk-b...
sceptical.scot/2025/12/uk-b...
UK Budget 2025? Get real. The world has changed - Sceptical Scot
John McLaren explains in no uncertain terms why the UK Budget is such a disappointment, doing nothig when so much needs to be done, further eroding trust in mainstream politicians, pushing voters towa...
sceptical.scot
December 9, 2025 at 7:29 PM
“Unfortunately, no party is competing with Reform by being honest about the current state of affairs. Maybe if they did they would garner additional support. It’s difficult to see how some of their polling numbers could get much worse” John McLaren for @scepscot.bsky.social
John McLaren laments UK govt failings likely to push voters towards outlying political parties. “So far Reform are the chief beneficiaries, but their appeal is based on even wilder policy promises which are destined to fail on an even grander scale.”
sceptical.scot/2025/12/uk-b...
sceptical.scot/2025/12/uk-b...
UK Budget 2025? Get real. The world has changed - Sceptical Scot
John McLaren explains in no uncertain terms why the UK Budget is such a disappointment, doing nothig when so much needs to be done, further eroding trust in mainstream politicians, pushing voters towa...
sceptical.scot
December 9, 2025 at 7:27 PM
John McLaren laments UK govt failings likely to push voters towards outlying political parties. “So far Reform are the chief beneficiaries, but their appeal is based on even wilder policy promises which are destined to fail on an even grander scale.”
sceptical.scot/2025/12/uk-b...
sceptical.scot/2025/12/uk-b...
A fierce amount of brown water coming over the sluice, just fed our swan family and wished them well in the threatening storm
#extremeweather #StormBram #climatechange
#extremeweather #StormBram #climatechange
December 9, 2025 at 2:55 PM
A fierce amount of brown water coming over the sluice, just fed our swan family and wished them well in the threatening storm
#extremeweather #StormBram #climatechange
#extremeweather #StormBram #climatechange
Sneak preview: two splendid new pieces by John McLaren and Tony O'Donnell for @scepscot.bsky.social on the failing governments of UK and France. Unable to make urgently needed reforms, Starmer and Macron are letting Farage and Le Pen set the agenda. Much to Trump's delight.
#populism
#populism
December 8, 2025 at 11:26 PM
Sneak preview: two splendid new pieces by John McLaren and Tony O'Donnell for @scepscot.bsky.social on the failing governments of UK and France. Unable to make urgently needed reforms, Starmer and Macron are letting Farage and Le Pen set the agenda. Much to Trump's delight.
#populism
#populism
“There is still hope in the handwriting that refuses to be mass-produced for the world.” Leena Norms
Let me recommend the Advent Poetry Calendar by @annierutherford.bsky.social raising funds for #MSF
This year’s selection fits the world we live in like a glove
mailchi.mp/posteo/poetr...
Let me recommend the Advent Poetry Calendar by @annierutherford.bsky.social raising funds for #MSF
This year’s selection fits the world we live in like a glove
mailchi.mp/posteo/poetr...
Poetry Advent Calendar: 6 December
mailchi.mp
December 6, 2025 at 12:08 PM
“There is still hope in the handwriting that refuses to be mass-produced for the world.” Leena Norms
Let me recommend the Advent Poetry Calendar by @annierutherford.bsky.social raising funds for #MSF
This year’s selection fits the world we live in like a glove
mailchi.mp/posteo/poetr...
Let me recommend the Advent Poetry Calendar by @annierutherford.bsky.social raising funds for #MSF
This year’s selection fits the world we live in like a glove
mailchi.mp/posteo/poetr...
#NHSScotland is unsustainable "The NHS in Scotland has not improved in line with commitments made by the Scottish Government, despite having more staff and more money."
@auditscotland.bsky.social says Scottish Government must deliver reform plans youtu.be/oJHhvLyCh38?...
@auditscotland.bsky.social says Scottish Government must deliver reform plans youtu.be/oJHhvLyCh38?...
NHS in Scotland 2025
YouTube video by Audit Scotland
youtu.be
December 4, 2025 at 11:47 PM
#NHSScotland is unsustainable "The NHS in Scotland has not improved in line with commitments made by the Scottish Government, despite having more staff and more money."
@auditscotland.bsky.social says Scottish Government must deliver reform plans youtu.be/oJHhvLyCh38?...
@auditscotland.bsky.social says Scottish Government must deliver reform plans youtu.be/oJHhvLyCh38?...
What happens when Scottish ministers dare not tell truth to power? Political marketing replaces
deliverable policy. #FixingBrokenGovernment delivers constructive recommendations for radical reset, it’s essential cross-party reading before May 2026 sceptical.scot/2025/12/enou...
#Scottishpolitics
deliverable policy. #FixingBrokenGovernment delivers constructive recommendations for radical reset, it’s essential cross-party reading before May 2026 sceptical.scot/2025/12/enou...
#Scottishpolitics
Enough campaigning. Is the next Scottish government prepared to govern? - Sceptical Scot
Hot on the heels of Anton Muscatelli's hard-hitting report comes Jim Gallagher's rigorous investigation into Scotland's failing governance. Fixing Broken Government comes with positive recommendations...
sceptical.scot
December 3, 2025 at 1:02 PM
What happens when Scottish ministers dare not tell truth to power? Political marketing replaces
deliverable policy. #FixingBrokenGovernment delivers constructive recommendations for radical reset, it’s essential cross-party reading before May 2026 sceptical.scot/2025/12/enou...
#Scottishpolitics
deliverable policy. #FixingBrokenGovernment delivers constructive recommendations for radical reset, it’s essential cross-party reading before May 2026 sceptical.scot/2025/12/enou...
#Scottishpolitics
That’s three red squirrels! We’re so lucky to see their acrobatics every day - when we leave the front door there’s a cheeky face peeking at us from behind the birch tree. A flick of the tail and he or she is up the tree.
Up with the larch. I wasn’t quick enough with the phone so please just believe me, I watched three squirrels chasing each other through the larch tree - a fantastic gravity-defying aerial display.
Can’t imitate leaping from branch to branch but it’s a good morning to go for a walk.
Can’t imitate leaping from branch to branch but it’s a good morning to go for a walk.
November 28, 2025 at 11:25 PM
That’s three red squirrels! We’re so lucky to see their acrobatics every day - when we leave the front door there’s a cheeky face peeking at us from behind the birch tree. A flick of the tail and he or she is up the tree.
Reposted by Fay Young
And don’t miss the @fraserofallander.org podcast – clear, concise, and very human discussion of the key issues. Not least the ending of the 2 child cap (caps what exactly? why take so long? And what are the next moves to end child poverty?) podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t...
The Fraser of Allander Institute Podcast
Government Podcast · Monthly · The latest on the Scottish and UK economy from a leading independent economic research institute based in the University of Strathclyde.
podcasts.apple.com
November 28, 2025 at 12:24 PM
And don’t miss the @fraserofallander.org podcast – clear, concise, and very human discussion of the key issues. Not least the ending of the 2 child cap (caps what exactly? why take so long? And what are the next moves to end child poverty?) podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t...
Reposted by Fay Young
FAI provides an extraordinary resource of informed scrutiny into that leaky bucket of... political mismanagement. "This is not normal' as @joaosousa.bsky.social summed up their 3 part preview. No word mincing in the swift reaction on Budget day either. fraserofallander.org/budget-2025-...
Budget 2025 reaction: meeting the (briefed) expectations | FAI
*Please note that this blog will be updated over the course of the afternoon and evening. Check back for further analysis*
fraserofallander.org
November 28, 2025 at 12:20 PM
FAI provides an extraordinary resource of informed scrutiny into that leaky bucket of... political mismanagement. "This is not normal' as @joaosousa.bsky.social summed up their 3 part preview. No word mincing in the swift reaction on Budget day either. fraserofallander.org/budget-2025-...
After months of Budget leaks the 'real' thing raises more questions – and probably much less money – than solutions. Where better to start @scepscot.bsky.social review than with @fraserofallander.org reactions. Here the latest bite into that chewy smorgasbord sceptical.scot/2025/11/fras...
Fraser of Allender takes another bite at the Budget - Sceptical Scot
"The proposed pay-per-mile charge raises important questions of fairness and is likely to be a source of public debate." After the endless leaky build up, the 2025 UK Budget raises many questions and...
sceptical.scot
November 28, 2025 at 12:08 PM
After months of Budget leaks the 'real' thing raises more questions – and probably much less money – than solutions. Where better to start @scepscot.bsky.social review than with @fraserofallander.org reactions. Here the latest bite into that chewy smorgasbord sceptical.scot/2025/11/fras...
Up with the larch. I wasn’t quick enough with the phone so please just believe me, I watched three squirrels chasing each other through the larch tree - a fantastic gravity-defying aerial display.
Can’t imitate leaping from branch to branch but it’s a good morning to go for a walk.
Can’t imitate leaping from branch to branch but it’s a good morning to go for a walk.
November 19, 2025 at 10:18 AM
Up with the larch. I wasn’t quick enough with the phone so please just believe me, I watched three squirrels chasing each other through the larch tree - a fantastic gravity-defying aerial display.
Can’t imitate leaping from branch to branch but it’s a good morning to go for a walk.
Can’t imitate leaping from branch to branch but it’s a good morning to go for a walk.
"Muscatelli will be well aware of the forces of conservatism bent on undermining any such radical change." John McLaren responds to @antonmuscatelli.bsky.social report. Could Scotland risk a radical plan to revitalise failing regional economies? (No spoilers!) sceptical.scot/2025/11/musc...
#MuscatelliReport: is Scotland ready for radical action on regional economic development? - Sceptical Scot
Carried out on behalf of the Scottish Labour Party but after the 2026 election the Muscatelli Report is likely to fall to an SNP Government – judging from past behaviour how successful would it be?
sceptical.scot
November 18, 2025 at 11:38 AM
"Muscatelli will be well aware of the forces of conservatism bent on undermining any such radical change." John McLaren responds to @antonmuscatelli.bsky.social report. Could Scotland risk a radical plan to revitalise failing regional economies? (No spoilers!) sceptical.scot/2025/11/musc...
“He was witty, challenging, irreverent and, above all, committed to making Scotland a better place.”
Very nice tributes to David Gow growing on Sceptical Scot from contributors to the journal, close friends and people who only met him once.
More to come sceptical.scot/2025/11/davi...
Very nice tributes to David Gow growing on Sceptical Scot from contributors to the journal, close friends and people who only met him once.
More to come sceptical.scot/2025/11/davi...
David Gow's legacy of friendship - Sceptical Scot
sceptical.scot
November 6, 2025 at 8:44 AM
“He was witty, challenging, irreverent and, above all, committed to making Scotland a better place.”
Very nice tributes to David Gow growing on Sceptical Scot from contributors to the journal, close friends and people who only met him once.
More to come sceptical.scot/2025/11/davi...
Very nice tributes to David Gow growing on Sceptical Scot from contributors to the journal, close friends and people who only met him once.
More to come sceptical.scot/2025/11/davi...
A tribute I never expected to write. David Gow, a dear friend, mentor and co-founder of @scepscot.bsky.social has died far too soon
#scotland #scottishpolitics #journalism
sceptical.scot/2025/11/davi...
#scotland #scottishpolitics #journalism
sceptical.scot/2025/11/davi...
David Gow's legacy of friendship - Sceptical Scot
sceptical.scot
November 3, 2025 at 11:06 PM
A tribute I never expected to write. David Gow, a dear friend, mentor and co-founder of @scepscot.bsky.social has died far too soon
#scotland #scottishpolitics #journalism
sceptical.scot/2025/11/davi...
#scotland #scottishpolitics #journalism
sceptical.scot/2025/11/davi...
Monetising inattention
“In other words, these technologies help create a sort of music that no one needs to listen to, and films no one needs to watch”
Spotify and Netflix perfected the business of distraction — and now we’re paying the price via @ftweekend.com
on.ft.com/3Jrzwr2
“In other words, these technologies help create a sort of music that no one needs to listen to, and films no one needs to watch”
Spotify and Netflix perfected the business of distraction — and now we’re paying the price via @ftweekend.com
on.ft.com/3Jrzwr2
Spotify and Netflix perfected the business of distraction — and now we’re paying the price
Music and film open us up to new ways of seeing the world — but the streaming giants offer lonely visions of culture
on.ft.com
November 1, 2025 at 9:27 AM
Monetising inattention
“In other words, these technologies help create a sort of music that no one needs to listen to, and films no one needs to watch”
Spotify and Netflix perfected the business of distraction — and now we’re paying the price via @ftweekend.com
on.ft.com/3Jrzwr2
“In other words, these technologies help create a sort of music that no one needs to listen to, and films no one needs to watch”
Spotify and Netflix perfected the business of distraction — and now we’re paying the price via @ftweekend.com
on.ft.com/3Jrzwr2