David Kendall
@manwithbooks.bsky.social
Big Issue #changemaker, Co-director of Penned Up https://pennedup.org.uk/ - a literary festival curated with people in prison for people in prison.
Reposted by David Kendall
Incredibly brave. Imagine the faceless bores the BBC will have making their programmes if they continue down this path.
Very sad that I felt I had no choice but to resign from The Infinite Monkey Cage - a victory for the transphobes and other bigots - I did it because so much of the media has chosen to believe the kind and empathetic people are a fiction - they are real and so often unrepresented.
December 13, 2025 at 7:28 AM
Incredibly brave. Imagine the faceless bores the BBC will have making their programmes if they continue down this path.
Reposted by David Kendall
Excellent piece by Dani about the sickening rise of Reform in Scotland and the fact that the bigots we have in Scotland are becoming more vocal and gaining more support.
A wee bit I wrote about the hammerblow of watching people from the country that gave us the Glasgow girls and Kenmure Street turn to the right. And about the opportunism of Farage as he heads north. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Nigel Farage was once run out of Edinburgh. Now Scottish voters are embracing his rabble-rousing | Dani Garavelli
The Reform leader is exploiting growing resentment towards migrants and hosting a sold-out event - something unimaginable just a few years ago, says freelance columnist Dani Garavelli
www.theguardian.com
December 6, 2025 at 12:16 PM
Excellent piece by Dani about the sickening rise of Reform in Scotland and the fact that the bigots we have in Scotland are becoming more vocal and gaining more support.
Reposted by David Kendall
Why did Steve Witkoff kowtow to Putin so completely on Ukraine? You maybe didn't know he has received millions in investment from a former advisor to Vladimir Putin's sovereign wealth fund. Yes, I know. You can't make it up.
🔴Trump Envoy Has Financial Ties With Former Adviser to Putin’s ‘Money Man’ Now Leading Kremlin Peace Talks
Steve Witkoff’s real-estate empire is bankrolled by a former adviser to Kirill Dmitriev, head of Russia’s sovereign wealth fund and a key architect of Moscow’s Ukraine negotiations
Steve Witkoff’s real-estate empire is bankrolled by a former adviser to Kirill Dmitriev, head of Russia’s sovereign wealth fund and a key architect of Moscow’s Ukraine negotiations
Trump Envoy Has Financial Ties With Former Adviser to Putin’s ‘Money Man’ Now Leading Kremlin Peace Talks
Steve Witkoff’s real-estate empire is bankrolled by a former adviser to Kirill Dmitriev, head of Russia’s sovereign wealth fund and a key architect of Moscow’s Ukraine negotiations
bylinetimes.com
December 1, 2025 at 5:24 PM
Why did Steve Witkoff kowtow to Putin so completely on Ukraine? You maybe didn't know he has received millions in investment from a former advisor to Vladimir Putin's sovereign wealth fund. Yes, I know. You can't make it up.
Reposted by David Kendall
Super Natural by science writer Alex Riley brings home the resilience and ingenuity of life under the harshest circumstances.
Science writer Alex Riley: 'Even if humans cause mass extinction, life will still endure'
www.bigissue.com
December 2, 2025 at 4:18 PM
Super Natural by science writer Alex Riley brings home the resilience and ingenuity of life under the harshest circumstances.
Reposted by David Kendall
Well this is a lovely surprise from @memorialdevice.bsky.social
Going in again: Bodies by Ian Winwood. Brilliant book 🙏
December 2, 2025 at 5:10 PM
Well this is a lovely surprise from @memorialdevice.bsky.social
Reposted by David Kendall
Nigel Farage’s Legacy — Brexit: the trillion pound ‘mistake’
The National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)… confirms the Treasury’s 2016 analysis, claiming a relative fall in GDP of between 6% and 8%.
yorkshirebylines.co.uk/opinion/brex...
The National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)… confirms the Treasury’s 2016 analysis, claiming a relative fall in GDP of between 6% and 8%.
yorkshirebylines.co.uk/opinion/brex...
Brexit: the trillion pound ‘mistake’
The recent NBER report suggests the Treasury’s 2016 analysis – slammed by Brexiters as a ‘hoax’– actually understated the impact of Brexit
yorkshirebylines.co.uk
December 2, 2025 at 9:32 AM
Nigel Farage’s Legacy — Brexit: the trillion pound ‘mistake’
The National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)… confirms the Treasury’s 2016 analysis, claiming a relative fall in GDP of between 6% and 8%.
yorkshirebylines.co.uk/opinion/brex...
The National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)… confirms the Treasury’s 2016 analysis, claiming a relative fall in GDP of between 6% and 8%.
yorkshirebylines.co.uk/opinion/brex...
Reposted by David Kendall
President of Ukraine:
The Russians started the war, and there are no alternatives to this wording. The whole world is a witness. They came with aggression to destroy us.
We stopped them. Europe helped, America helped.
The Russians started the war, and there are no alternatives to this wording. The whole world is a witness. They came with aggression to destroy us.
We stopped them. Europe helped, America helped.
December 2, 2025 at 5:30 PM
President of Ukraine:
The Russians started the war, and there are no alternatives to this wording. The whole world is a witness. They came with aggression to destroy us.
We stopped them. Europe helped, America helped.
The Russians started the war, and there are no alternatives to this wording. The whole world is a witness. They came with aggression to destroy us.
We stopped them. Europe helped, America helped.
Reposted by David Kendall
🔴Reform UK’s ‘Cost Cutting’ Council Prepares to Raise Taxes After Presiding Over £46 Million Overspend
Nigel Farage’s flagship council, which promised to “reduce waste and cut your taxes” is set to raise bills after spending tens of millions of pounds over its budget
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/24/r...
Nigel Farage’s flagship council, which promised to “reduce waste and cut your taxes” is set to raise bills after spending tens of millions of pounds over its budget
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/24/r...
Reform UK's 'Cost Cutting' Council Prepares to Raise Taxes After Presiding Over £46 Million Overspend
Nigel Farage's flagship Kent County Council, which promised to "reduce waste and cut your taxes" is set to raise bills on local taxpayers, after spending tens of millions of pounds over its budget
bylinetimes.com
November 24, 2025 at 4:02 PM
🔴Reform UK’s ‘Cost Cutting’ Council Prepares to Raise Taxes After Presiding Over £46 Million Overspend
Nigel Farage’s flagship council, which promised to “reduce waste and cut your taxes” is set to raise bills after spending tens of millions of pounds over its budget
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/24/r...
Nigel Farage’s flagship council, which promised to “reduce waste and cut your taxes” is set to raise bills after spending tens of millions of pounds over its budget
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/24/r...
Reposted by David Kendall
This brilliant book is out 8 January from Picador and I urge you all to buy it. Sinister, exquisite and wonderful. Welsh folk horror wrapped up in a spellbinding love story.
November 29, 2025 at 7:15 AM
This brilliant book is out 8 January from Picador and I urge you all to buy it. Sinister, exquisite and wonderful. Welsh folk horror wrapped up in a spellbinding love story.
Reposted by David Kendall
I’m a past winner of the Orwell Prize & won partly because I exposed Vote Leave’s unlawful activities.
Michael Gove was its co-convener & refused to answer a single q. He’s now a judge of the prize & our world is truly one that Orwell would recognise
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/25/m...
Michael Gove was its co-convener & refused to answer a single q. He’s now a judge of the prize & our world is truly one that Orwell would recognise
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/25/m...
Michael Gove Made Orwell Prize Judge Despite Record of Attacking Journalists and Dodging Scrutiny
Critics say "Orwell would have enjoyed the irony" of the former Conservative minister's appointment
bylinetimes.com
November 25, 2025 at 5:53 PM
I’m a past winner of the Orwell Prize & won partly because I exposed Vote Leave’s unlawful activities.
Michael Gove was its co-convener & refused to answer a single q. He’s now a judge of the prize & our world is truly one that Orwell would recognise
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/25/m...
Michael Gove was its co-convener & refused to answer a single q. He’s now a judge of the prize & our world is truly one that Orwell would recognise
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/25/m...
Reposted by David Kendall
Aiui this is a regional thing too. Give people in London cheaper rent and they can spend more money on Warhammer made in Nottingham, and also on divorce lawyers
UK’s problem is that we don’t have enough disposable income, which you can fix by things getting cheaper or by people earning more money, and also either one of those things makes the other easier.
November 23, 2025 at 7:49 PM
Aiui this is a regional thing too. Give people in London cheaper rent and they can spend more money on Warhammer made in Nottingham, and also on divorce lawyers
Reposted by David Kendall
"My NHS colleagues & I weren’t willing to let the bodies pile high in their thousands. Boris no longer mentions them at all."
My piece on the responses to the UK Covid-UK Inquiry report that try to airbrush the dead away.
Sincere thanks, @theobserveruk.bsky.social.
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
My piece on the responses to the UK Covid-UK Inquiry report that try to airbrush the dead away.
Sincere thanks, @theobserveruk.bsky.social.
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
I’ll never forget the horror of the Covid wards | The Observer
observer.co.uk
November 23, 2025 at 9:18 AM
"My NHS colleagues & I weren’t willing to let the bodies pile high in their thousands. Boris no longer mentions them at all."
My piece on the responses to the UK Covid-UK Inquiry report that try to airbrush the dead away.
Sincere thanks, @theobserveruk.bsky.social.
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
My piece on the responses to the UK Covid-UK Inquiry report that try to airbrush the dead away.
Sincere thanks, @theobserveruk.bsky.social.
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
Reposted by David Kendall
It was an honour to be asked to do this BBC Look North West tribute to Mani youtu.be/23N1ds3vl74?... via @YouTube
BBC Look North West tribute to Mani featuring John Robb
YouTube video by JOHN ROBB
youtu.be
November 21, 2025 at 12:17 PM
It was an honour to be asked to do this BBC Look North West tribute to Mani youtu.be/23N1ds3vl74?... via @YouTube
Reposted by David Kendall
Just been ranting about it in the newsletter but Game is glorious bit of British cinema. Nasty, unpredictable, properly bonkers. One of a kind.
November 21, 2025 at 12:27 PM
Just been ranting about it in the newsletter but Game is glorious bit of British cinema. Nasty, unpredictable, properly bonkers. One of a kind.
Reposted by David Kendall
Centrepoint has launched an installation in central London telling the story of several young people who have experienced homelessness.
23,500 young people face homelessness this winter in 'worst time to be homeless'
www.bigissue.com
November 20, 2025 at 10:58 AM
Centrepoint has launched an installation in central London telling the story of several young people who have experienced homelessness.
Reposted by David Kendall
To put another way…. Everybody is in the minus figures.
The term omnisbambles was created too soon. Back then we didn’t know what it was describing.
The term omnisbambles was created too soon. Back then we didn’t know what it was describing.
Latest party leader net favourability ratings, November 2025
Nigel Farage: -32
Kemi Badenoch: -32
Jeremy Corbyn: -40
Keir Starmer: -54
Zack Polanski: -2 (58% DK)
Ed Davey: -9 (40% DK)
Zarah Sultana: -19 (58% DK)
yougov.co.uk/politics/art...
Nigel Farage: -32
Kemi Badenoch: -32
Jeremy Corbyn: -40
Keir Starmer: -54
Zack Polanski: -2 (58% DK)
Ed Davey: -9 (40% DK)
Zarah Sultana: -19 (58% DK)
yougov.co.uk/politics/art...
November 20, 2025 at 11:01 AM
To put another way…. Everybody is in the minus figures.
The term omnisbambles was created too soon. Back then we didn’t know what it was describing.
The term omnisbambles was created too soon. Back then we didn’t know what it was describing.
Reposted by David Kendall
Indeed, they seemed to be undervalued here & in the US
It seems not everyone values knowledge
bsky.app/profile/moni...
It seems not everyone values knowledge
bsky.app/profile/moni...
November 18, 2025 at 7:33 AM
Indeed, they seemed to be undervalued here & in the US
It seems not everyone values knowledge
bsky.app/profile/moni...
It seems not everyone values knowledge
bsky.app/profile/moni...
Reposted by David Kendall
And the BL isn’t just for researchers; it’s a public institution available to all. I always loved this about it - that my mother who left school at 15 could use it if she wanted.
November 18, 2025 at 6:52 AM
And the BL isn’t just for researchers; it’s a public institution available to all. I always loved this about it - that my mother who left school at 15 could use it if she wanted.
Reposted by David Kendall
Guards at the Rankin County jail beat people behind closed doors and encouraged some inmates to join in on the brutality, former inmates and guards said. The violence created a culture of fear, widely accepted by officials to keep order, a New York Times and Mississippi Today investigation found.
In a Brutal Mississippi Jail, Inmates Say They Were Enlisted as Enforcers
www.nytimes.com
November 15, 2025 at 4:24 PM
Guards at the Rankin County jail beat people behind closed doors and encouraged some inmates to join in on the brutality, former inmates and guards said. The violence created a culture of fear, widely accepted by officials to keep order, a New York Times and Mississippi Today investigation found.
Reposted by David Kendall
The Justice Select Committee has published a new report outlining how dire prison conditions are putting the reduction of rehabilitation and reoffending at risk.
Read the report: publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5901/cm...
Read the report: publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5901/cm...
Ending the cycle of reoffending – part one: rehabilitation in prisons
publications.parliament.uk
November 14, 2025 at 2:31 PM
The Justice Select Committee has published a new report outlining how dire prison conditions are putting the reduction of rehabilitation and reoffending at risk.
Read the report: publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5901/cm...
Read the report: publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5901/cm...
Reposted by David Kendall
This is a really good piece by @adey70.bsky.social for The Big Issue. An accurate assessment of what to expect of Channel 5's new Play for Today, which mentions some of the less often trumpeted greats from the original strand, like Destiny (1978), Sorry (1981) &, actually, The Spongers (1978).
Play for Today helped launch the careers of Ken Loach, Ray Winstone, June Brown and Kenneth Branagh. Now Channel 5 is bringing it back…
Why the return of Play for Today is good news for British televisio
www.bigissue.com
November 14, 2025 at 2:57 PM
This is a really good piece by @adey70.bsky.social for The Big Issue. An accurate assessment of what to expect of Channel 5's new Play for Today, which mentions some of the less often trumpeted greats from the original strand, like Destiny (1978), Sorry (1981) &, actually, The Spongers (1978).
Reposted by David Kendall
i know we won't, but we have got to understand that a keystone of the republican project is to both categorize whole classes of people as criminal to justify locking them up, or to make them so broken and desperate that lawbreaking is all but certain to happen.
Justice Sam Alito was v disturbed yesterday by the mere possibility that judges might be using the federal compassionate release statute to *checks notes* grant incarcerated people's requests for compassionate release
ballsandstrikes.org/scotus/ferna...
ballsandstrikes.org/scotus/ferna...
Sam Alito Very Concerned About the Possibility of People Not Being In Prison For As Long As Possible
Interesting to which issues prompt judges to get worked up about other judges deciding cases in line with their personal ideological agendas.
ballsandstrikes.org
November 14, 2025 at 3:13 PM
i know we won't, but we have got to understand that a keystone of the republican project is to both categorize whole classes of people as criminal to justify locking them up, or to make them so broken and desperate that lawbreaking is all but certain to happen.
Reposted by David Kendall
Positively the last pre-publication plug for Greeneland, my serial novel about the critical four months Graham Greene spent in Nottingham - each chapter free: 100 years to the day after the events it describes. On Friday, I’ll publish the title page, epigraph and prologue.
davidbelbin.substack.com
davidbelbin.substack.com
Greeneland | Substack
A serial novel set a hundred years ago when the author Graham Greene moved to Nottingham, where he trained to be a journalist, lived among the working classes, cared for a puppy, wooed the woman he lo...
davidbelbin.substack.com
October 25, 2025 at 12:30 PM
Positively the last pre-publication plug for Greeneland, my serial novel about the critical four months Graham Greene spent in Nottingham - each chapter free: 100 years to the day after the events it describes. On Friday, I’ll publish the title page, epigraph and prologue.
davidbelbin.substack.com
davidbelbin.substack.com
Reposted by David Kendall
Nearly two years ago, I wrote about the extraordinary influence of former Tory spin doctor Sir Robbie Gibb on the BBC. It's still a helpful backgrounder for what's going on now. New readers start here: www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/media/...
How the government captured the BBC
A right-wing cabal, largely unaccountable, is waging war on the principles that made our public broadcaster great. It must not succeed
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Nearly two years ago, I wrote about the extraordinary influence of former Tory spin doctor Sir Robbie Gibb on the BBC. It's still a helpful backgrounder for what's going on now. New readers start here: www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/media/...
Reposted by David Kendall
Almost 300,000 individuals and families are experiencing the worst forms of homelessness in England, according to new research from Crisis.
3 things Labour must do to help record-high number of homeless families
www.bigissue.com
November 10, 2025 at 1:45 PM
Almost 300,000 individuals and families are experiencing the worst forms of homelessness in England, according to new research from Crisis.