Flora Alexander
@florainthesouth.bsky.social
Retired academic (English Literature), feminist, politically left.
I come from the north, but I don’t live there now.
I come from the north, but I don’t live there now.
Reposted by Flora Alexander
File under, we never quite know what's coming next.
One of my favourite embassy reports. The UK ambassador in East Berlin reporting in after the fall of the Wall...
One of my favourite embassy reports. The UK ambassador in East Berlin reporting in after the fall of the Wall...
January 2, 2026 at 9:36 AM
File under, we never quite know what's coming next.
One of my favourite embassy reports. The UK ambassador in East Berlin reporting in after the fall of the Wall...
One of my favourite embassy reports. The UK ambassador in East Berlin reporting in after the fall of the Wall...
Reposted by Flora Alexander
Oof this hurts
Any human not worried about environmental degradation from human activities—especially its toll on our health and vulnerable communities—is acting selfishly. Facts show it's hitting the poorest hardest. We fight this with education, not denial. #Environment #Health
January 2, 2026 at 10:11 AM
Oof this hurts
Reposted by Flora Alexander
I'm happy for Bulgaria, but sad for us not being in the same position
It's official: Bulgaria is in the euro-zone.
An excerpt from an atypically emotional NYE address by the Central Bank governor:
"Thank you, friends. We are home.
This is not a protocol. It is a feeling.
In this sense, the euro is not just an economic solution...
www.bnb.bg/AboutUs/Pres...
An excerpt from an atypically emotional NYE address by the Central Bank governor:
"Thank you, friends. We are home.
This is not a protocol. It is a feeling.
In this sense, the euro is not just an economic solution...
www.bnb.bg/AboutUs/Pres...
January 1, 2026 at 8:49 PM
I'm happy for Bulgaria, but sad for us not being in the same position
Reposted by Flora Alexander
I know the case is about whether she was a victim of grooming or not. But honestly I do not care.
She's British and should remain a British citizen. Doing awful things has never once invalidated that before now. We shouldn't just get to abandon problems we created for everyone else to deal with.
She's British and should remain a British citizen. Doing awful things has never once invalidated that before now. We shouldn't just get to abandon problems we created for everyone else to deal with.
Shamima Begum: Home secretary to 'robustly defend' citizenship decision
Shamima Begum: Home secretary to 'robustly defend' citizenship decision
The ECHR questions whether it was considered if Shamima Begum was a victim of grooming and trafficking.
www.bbc.com
January 1, 2026 at 2:27 PM
I know the case is about whether she was a victim of grooming or not. But honestly I do not care.
She's British and should remain a British citizen. Doing awful things has never once invalidated that before now. We shouldn't just get to abandon problems we created for everyone else to deal with.
She's British and should remain a British citizen. Doing awful things has never once invalidated that before now. We shouldn't just get to abandon problems we created for everyone else to deal with.
Reposted by Flora Alexander
I’m very fed up with them putting the onus on us.The onus is on a Labour government to be a Labour government. I know they will try to blame Farage on us. The blame lies with the people in charge of the government, those promoting his agenda (& not even trying to achieve fairer wealth distribution).
January 1, 2026 at 10:37 AM
I’m very fed up with them putting the onus on us.The onus is on a Labour government to be a Labour government. I know they will try to blame Farage on us. The blame lies with the people in charge of the government, those promoting his agenda (& not even trying to achieve fairer wealth distribution).
Reposted by Flora Alexander
As soon as Labour got in we had the Farage riots, this year it’s flags on lampposts and constant coverage of asylum seekers despite a massive drop in net migration threatening the economy.
It’s been the right wing media driving a far right agenda and Farage and his like reaping the rewards.
It’s been the right wing media driving a far right agenda and Farage and his like reaping the rewards.
Annual Channel migrant crossings of 41,472 is highest since 2022 when it was a vast 46,000..
And yet there weren’t any Migrant Hotels protests then or constant coverage by BBC/MSM of migrants in UK, amplifying the far right wing narrative
Why was that❓🤔
Oh yes it was a Tory Govt so no biggie❗️🤷🏼♂️
And yet there weren’t any Migrant Hotels protests then or constant coverage by BBC/MSM of migrants in UK, amplifying the far right wing narrative
Why was that❓🤔
Oh yes it was a Tory Govt so no biggie❗️🤷🏼♂️
Channel migrant crossings for 2025 highest in three years
The 2025 total is the highest since 2022, when nearly 46,000 migrants made the crossing.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 1, 2026 at 11:25 AM
As soon as Labour got in we had the Farage riots, this year it’s flags on lampposts and constant coverage of asylum seekers despite a massive drop in net migration threatening the economy.
It’s been the right wing media driving a far right agenda and Farage and his like reaping the rewards.
It’s been the right wing media driving a far right agenda and Farage and his like reaping the rewards.
Reposted by Flora Alexander
"Oxford's High Street booming, bucking national trend"
And this in a city where we've removed city centre parking and put in a congestion charge. Almost as if it's people who shop, not cars.
www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/2573227...
And this in a city where we've removed city centre parking and put in a congestion charge. Almost as if it's people who shop, not cars.
www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/2573227...
Oxford high street demand returns to pre-pandemic levels
Oxford’s high street is bucking the national trend, with demand rising and vacancy rates low
www.oxfordmail.co.uk
January 1, 2026 at 10:36 AM
"Oxford's High Street booming, bucking national trend"
And this in a city where we've removed city centre parking and put in a congestion charge. Almost as if it's people who shop, not cars.
www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/2573227...
And this in a city where we've removed city centre parking and put in a congestion charge. Almost as if it's people who shop, not cars.
www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/2573227...
Reposted by Flora Alexander
The 7thC Holderness Cross was discovered by a farmer at Burton Pidsea, East Yorkshire, #OTD in 1965. It spent 30 years in a drawer before his granddaughter took it to a ‘finds day’ at a museum in Hull. The gold pectoral cross is set with garnets. #medievalsky
January 1, 2026 at 9:21 AM
The 7thC Holderness Cross was discovered by a farmer at Burton Pidsea, East Yorkshire, #OTD in 1965. It spent 30 years in a drawer before his granddaughter took it to a ‘finds day’ at a museum in Hull. The gold pectoral cross is set with garnets. #medievalsky
Reposted by Flora Alexander
🦊 A Londres, 10 000 renards trottent toutes les nuits dans les rues. Devenus emblèmes de la ville, où ils font perdurer une once de vie sauvage, ces animaux suscitent autant d’attachement que d’agacement.
Reportage à lire dans le Libé des animaux : bit.ly/4pTZnrJ
Reportage à lire dans le Libé des animaux : bit.ly/4pTZnrJ
December 25, 2025 at 10:02 AM
🦊 A Londres, 10 000 renards trottent toutes les nuits dans les rues. Devenus emblèmes de la ville, où ils font perdurer une once de vie sauvage, ces animaux suscitent autant d’attachement que d’agacement.
Reportage à lire dans le Libé des animaux : bit.ly/4pTZnrJ
Reportage à lire dans le Libé des animaux : bit.ly/4pTZnrJ
Reposted by Flora Alexander
Money that could have been better spent
Oxfordshire County Council has spent over £16,000 removing 397 flags affixed to highway street furniture since August, the Clarion has learned, plus a further flag in Witney removed on safety grounds due to obstruction of a traffic signal head which incurred a cost of £300 alone.
December 31, 2025 at 1:07 PM
Money that could have been better spent
Reposted by Flora Alexander
Sorry (not sorry) to repeat this story:
You probably know this, but for anyone who doesn’t.
Tony Benn claimed that in 1997 “Callaghan, L” was cold called by the Labour campaign and asked "Have you ever thought of being a bit more active in politics?"
James Callaghan’s reply: “Well I was a Labour Prime Minister – what more could I do?"
Tony Benn claimed that in 1997 “Callaghan, L” was cold called by the Labour campaign and asked "Have you ever thought of being a bit more active in politics?"
James Callaghan’s reply: “Well I was a Labour Prime Minister – what more could I do?"
December 31, 2025 at 12:53 PM
Sorry (not sorry) to repeat this story:
Reposted by Flora Alexander
Metal detectorists/mudlarkers in North America: "Look, three pennies and a belt buckle! Best day on the beach ever!"
Metal detectorists/mudlarkers in Great Britain: "Remember to report all the dead bodies and live WWII-era ordnance you find. They have a form at the office."
Metal detectorists/mudlarkers in Great Britain: "Remember to report all the dead bodies and live WWII-era ordnance you find. They have a form at the office."
December 30, 2025 at 12:57 AM
Metal detectorists/mudlarkers in North America: "Look, three pennies and a belt buckle! Best day on the beach ever!"
Metal detectorists/mudlarkers in Great Britain: "Remember to report all the dead bodies and live WWII-era ordnance you find. They have a form at the office."
Metal detectorists/mudlarkers in Great Britain: "Remember to report all the dead bodies and live WWII-era ordnance you find. They have a form at the office."
Reposted by Flora Alexander
This is one of our favorites!
December 24, 2025 at 8:24 PM
This is one of our favorites!
Reposted by Flora Alexander
How can a civil servant possibly predict this future event?
Reform Minority Report:
If a civil servant is found to have let a foreigner in the UK who then commits certain offences, including sexual ones, that civil servant should be stripped of their pension.
The goal of this is simple: frighten civil servants working on immigration cases.
If a civil servant is found to have let a foreigner in the UK who then commits certain offences, including sexual ones, that civil servant should be stripped of their pension.
The goal of this is simple: frighten civil servants working on immigration cases.
December 28, 2025 at 8:07 PM
How can a civil servant possibly predict this future event?
Reposted by Flora Alexander
This is the earliest Scottish-minted coin ever found. It was struck almost 900 years ago during the reign of King David I of Scotland.
The coin has now been saved for the nation 👏
www.thenational.scot/news/2...
The coin has now been saved for the nation 👏
www.thenational.scot/news/2...
December 29, 2025 at 8:40 AM
This is the earliest Scottish-minted coin ever found. It was struck almost 900 years ago during the reign of King David I of Scotland.
The coin has now been saved for the nation 👏
www.thenational.scot/news/2...
The coin has now been saved for the nation 👏
www.thenational.scot/news/2...
Reposted by Flora Alexander
My indian relative, then a senior cardiac surgeon in a German hospital, before moving to Canada 4 years ago, told me at the time that all his Indian colleagues here had warned him against even thinking about UK.
December 27, 2025 at 5:17 PM
My indian relative, then a senior cardiac surgeon in a German hospital, before moving to Canada 4 years ago, told me at the time that all his Indian colleagues here had warned him against even thinking about UK.
Reposted by Flora Alexander
I'm sure Labour announced that fox hunting ban at least partly as a trap for the Right, so it's noticeable that Farage has walked right into it.
It's probably the one contested issue voters hate so much that even Starmer isn't the kiss of death for his own side
It's probably the one contested issue voters hate so much that even Starmer isn't the kiss of death for his own side
December 27, 2025 at 11:36 AM
I'm sure Labour announced that fox hunting ban at least partly as a trap for the Right, so it's noticeable that Farage has walked right into it.
It's probably the one contested issue voters hate so much that even Starmer isn't the kiss of death for his own side
It's probably the one contested issue voters hate so much that even Starmer isn't the kiss of death for his own side
Reposted by Flora Alexander
‘The NHS would collapse within hours’: BME staff say Britain fails to appreciate their roles
‘The NHS would collapse within hours’: BME staff say Britain fails to appreciate their roles
Long-serving workers say they faced racism as they helped build health service – but it ‘seems things have got worse’
www.theguardian.com
December 26, 2025 at 8:44 PM
‘The NHS would collapse within hours’: BME staff say Britain fails to appreciate their roles
Reposted by Flora Alexander
December 26, 2025 at 7:51 PM
Reposted by Flora Alexander
The outrageous sanctioning of EU lawmakers and citizens in order to pressure democratically-elected European governments to change their laws shows just how intent the US government is on controlling Europeans' lives.
We must go into 2026 with eyes open.
We must go into 2026 with eyes open.
The US can destroy a European's life with the swipe of a pen
This week's US sanctions against European lawmakers and privacy activists is a major escalation. And it shows the dangers of Europe relying on American economic infrastructure.
davekeating.substack.com
December 26, 2025 at 5:10 PM
The outrageous sanctioning of EU lawmakers and citizens in order to pressure democratically-elected European governments to change their laws shows just how intent the US government is on controlling Europeans' lives.
We must go into 2026 with eyes open.
We must go into 2026 with eyes open.
Reposted by Flora Alexander
Reaping what we sow.
"Foreign-born doctors and nurses were being put off by antagonism by politicians towards migrants, media coverage of immigration, the racist abuse of international medical graduates by NHS colleagues and racist aggression by patients toward minority ethnic NHS staff, she said."
Foreign medics shunning NHS because of anti-migrant rhetoric, says top doctor
Exclusive: UK now an ‘unwelcoming, racist’ country for overseas health workers, according to medical colleges leader
www.theguardian.com
December 26, 2025 at 8:46 PM
Reaping what we sow.
Reposted by Flora Alexander
“the numbers do suggest that restoring borderless trade with the EU would bring big economic benefits. And since those who think Brexit has been a failure outnumber those who think it has been a success by 61% to 13%, I doubt the political cost would be significant.” www.europesays.com/uk/657414/
Brexit made us poorer and it’s getting worse - United Kingdom
As the government searches desperately for ways to boost growth, rejoining the EU customs union and single market looks increasingly appealing. There might be
www.europesays.com
December 27, 2025 at 8:46 AM
“the numbers do suggest that restoring borderless trade with the EU would bring big economic benefits. And since those who think Brexit has been a failure outnumber those who think it has been a success by 61% to 13%, I doubt the political cost would be significant.” www.europesays.com/uk/657414/
Reposted by Flora Alexander
99% of what you need to understand about the relentless murder of our living planet, in one word:
CAPITALISM
CAPITALISM
December 27, 2025 at 7:55 AM
99% of what you need to understand about the relentless murder of our living planet, in one word:
CAPITALISM
CAPITALISM
Reposted by Flora Alexander
Carol of the Bells in #
Kyiv subway.
Voices of the Embassies of Germany, France, and the United Kingdom came together to perform Shchedryk in the Kyiv metro as a sign of solidarity with Ukraine.
Thankful to everyone who stands with us!
Kyiv subway.
Voices of the Embassies of Germany, France, and the United Kingdom came together to perform Shchedryk in the Kyiv metro as a sign of solidarity with Ukraine.
Thankful to everyone who stands with us!
December 24, 2025 at 6:17 PM
Carol of the Bells in #
Kyiv subway.
Voices of the Embassies of Germany, France, and the United Kingdom came together to perform Shchedryk in the Kyiv metro as a sign of solidarity with Ukraine.
Thankful to everyone who stands with us!
Kyiv subway.
Voices of the Embassies of Germany, France, and the United Kingdom came together to perform Shchedryk in the Kyiv metro as a sign of solidarity with Ukraine.
Thankful to everyone who stands with us!
Reposted by Flora Alexander
So reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) can't fly, but they are VERY MAGICAL.
For example, their EYES CHANGE COLOR during the year & they're one of the few large mammals that can see UV. Golden brown in summer, deep blue in winter.
Let's talk about the unique visual adaptations of Rudolph and company.
For example, their EYES CHANGE COLOR during the year & they're one of the few large mammals that can see UV. Golden brown in summer, deep blue in winter.
Let's talk about the unique visual adaptations of Rudolph and company.
December 20, 2025 at 11:36 PM
So reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) can't fly, but they are VERY MAGICAL.
For example, their EYES CHANGE COLOR during the year & they're one of the few large mammals that can see UV. Golden brown in summer, deep blue in winter.
Let's talk about the unique visual adaptations of Rudolph and company.
For example, their EYES CHANGE COLOR during the year & they're one of the few large mammals that can see UV. Golden brown in summer, deep blue in winter.
Let's talk about the unique visual adaptations of Rudolph and company.