An essential read: open.substack.com/pub/chrished...
The Machinery of Terror
The Trump administration is consolidating the familiar machinery of terror of all authoritarian states. We must resist now. If we wait, it will be too late.
open.substack.com
January 13, 2026 at 9:19 AM
An essential read: open.substack.com/pub/chrished...
Reposted by Markgpope
Amazingly, Zahawi only got round to deleting the below after the press conference announcing his defection to Reform.
January 12, 2026 at 12:09 PM
Amazingly, Zahawi only got round to deleting the below after the press conference announcing his defection to Reform.
Reposted by Markgpope
This is why the Government's strategy is doomed. The British public's view of immigration is completely disconnected from reality, and copying the last government by pursuing increasingly vicious crackdowns on legal migration is delivering the same outcome.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...
Two-thirds of UK voters wrongly think immigration is rising, poll finds
Exclusive: Voters say they have little confidence that government can control borders despite sharp falls in net migration
www.theguardian.com
January 11, 2026 at 7:50 AM
This is why the Government's strategy is doomed. The British public's view of immigration is completely disconnected from reality, and copying the last government by pursuing increasingly vicious crackdowns on legal migration is delivering the same outcome.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...
Reposted by Markgpope
I wonder what Londoners know that the rest of the country don’t?
January 11, 2026 at 9:26 AM
I wonder what Londoners know that the rest of the country don’t?
Reposted by Markgpope
This story has just disappeared out of view. Why? It has it all: a PL club owner, gambling, aristo black sheep/Farage aide whose mother was the King's girlfriend and dad went to school with ex-prince Andrew, what more do you want, dear British media?
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Key aide to Nigel Farage was frontman for Premier League billionaire’s betting syndicate, lawsuit claims
Exclusive: George Cottrell ‘gave control’ of gambling accounts to syndicate headed by Tony Bloom, the owner of Brighton & Hove Albion FC
www.theguardian.com
December 22, 2025 at 10:10 PM
This story has just disappeared out of view. Why? It has it all: a PL club owner, gambling, aristo black sheep/Farage aide whose mother was the King's girlfriend and dad went to school with ex-prince Andrew, what more do you want, dear British media?
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Markgpope
Martinelli has apologised. Will Gary Neville?
I'll not hold my breath...
I'll not hold my breath...
January 9, 2026 at 9:44 AM
Martinelli has apologised. Will Gary Neville?
I'll not hold my breath...
I'll not hold my breath...
Reposted by Markgpope
What Martinelli did was stupid, potentially harmful and unacceptable. Also unacceptable is the fact that a pundit, Gary Neville, who did not have the (flimsy) excuse of being caught in the action, thought that Liverpool players should have given him a beating and said so live on TV.
The Arsenal boss wants to know what his winger was thinking with his actions against the #LFC defender 👇🔴
www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/footba...
www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/footba...
Mikel Arteta confirms talks with Gabriel Martinelli after Conor Bradley incident
Mikel Arteta confirms talks with Gabriel Martinelli after Conor Bradley incident
www.liverpoolecho.co.uk
January 9, 2026 at 9:20 AM
What Martinelli did was stupid, potentially harmful and unacceptable. Also unacceptable is the fact that a pundit, Gary Neville, who did not have the (flimsy) excuse of being caught in the action, thought that Liverpool players should have given him a beating and said so live on TV.
Reposted by Markgpope
Following Liam Rosenior's appointment by Chelsea, the statement released by the RC Strasbourg's supporters association. "A new, humiliating step in Racing's subjugation by Chelsea...The future of French football is at stake".
January 6, 2026 at 12:06 PM
Following Liam Rosenior's appointment by Chelsea, the statement released by the RC Strasbourg's supporters association. "A new, humiliating step in Racing's subjugation by Chelsea...The future of French football is at stake".
We saw a valid Arsenal goal given offside, overturned by Var. we’ve just seen a valid Fulham goal given offside overturned by var. yet we people yards off not flagged. Surely if that’s that close the linesmen’s flags should stay down; it’s too close for them to be sure.
January 4, 2026 at 3:35 PM
We saw a valid Arsenal goal given offside, overturned by Var. we’ve just seen a valid Fulham goal given offside overturned by var. yet we people yards off not flagged. Surely if that’s that close the linesmen’s flags should stay down; it’s too close for them to be sure.
Reposted by Markgpope
The White House has been caught.
The administration inserted a photo of Bill Clinton, Michael Jackson, and Diana Ross into the Epstein files and falsely implied it showed them with victims.
In reality, it’s a publicly available fundraiser photo featuring Jackson and Ross’s own children.
The administration inserted a photo of Bill Clinton, Michael Jackson, and Diana Ross into the Epstein files and falsely implied it showed them with victims.
In reality, it’s a publicly available fundraiser photo featuring Jackson and Ross’s own children.
December 20, 2025 at 12:33 PM
The White House has been caught.
The administration inserted a photo of Bill Clinton, Michael Jackson, and Diana Ross into the Epstein files and falsely implied it showed them with victims.
In reality, it’s a publicly available fundraiser photo featuring Jackson and Ross’s own children.
The administration inserted a photo of Bill Clinton, Michael Jackson, and Diana Ross into the Epstein files and falsely implied it showed them with victims.
In reality, it’s a publicly available fundraiser photo featuring Jackson and Ross’s own children.
Reposted by Markgpope
Reposted by Markgpope
I knew I had seen it somewhere...
December 6, 2025 at 7:04 AM
I knew I had seen it somewhere...
Despicable misuse of office.
December 5, 2025 at 6:59 PM
Despicable misuse of office.
Reposted by Markgpope
I mean look at this prick... Enzo!
No card btw and celebrating kicking and getting away with it. 🤦🏻
No card btw and celebrating kicking and getting away with it. 🤦🏻
December 1, 2025 at 12:29 PM
I mean look at this prick... Enzo!
No card btw and celebrating kicking and getting away with it. 🤦🏻
No card btw and celebrating kicking and getting away with it. 🤦🏻
Reposted by Markgpope
The “toxic and chaotic culture” inside Boris Johnson’s Downing St was behind the UK’s “too little, too late” response to Covid-19, with Johnson singled out for particular blame. Inquiry chair Baroness Hallett said poor decisions by him, his ministers and officials cost tens of thousands of lives.
Covid response of ‘toxic and chaotic’ UK government was ‘too little, too late’, inquiry finds
Report criticises culture in Downing Street during Boris Johnson’s tenure
www.ft.com
November 20, 2025 at 5:14 PM
The “toxic and chaotic culture” inside Boris Johnson’s Downing St was behind the UK’s “too little, too late” response to Covid-19, with Johnson singled out for particular blame. Inquiry chair Baroness Hallett said poor decisions by him, his ministers and officials cost tens of thousands of lives.
Reposted by Markgpope
Don’t really expect anything to happen if the emails are revealed in full but seems pretty clear that his name is all in there
A direct email exchange from 2011 between Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, just released by House Oversight Committee Democrats.
November 12, 2025 at 2:54 PM
Don’t really expect anything to happen if the emails are revealed in full but seems pretty clear that his name is all in there
One day people will have to accept that you are in charge of your body, and if you make contact with someones head, regardless of how, its your repsonsibility. You know, concussion, brain injury, cumulative damage etc… Evry other sport is having to take this seriously (note Rugby particulalry).
November 12, 2025 at 1:54 PM
One day people will have to accept that you are in charge of your body, and if you make contact with someones head, regardless of how, its your repsonsibility. You know, concussion, brain injury, cumulative damage etc… Evry other sport is having to take this seriously (note Rugby particulalry).
Reposted by Markgpope
You’ll never guess who was judged to have committed the foul here.
November 8, 2025 at 7:16 PM
You’ll never guess who was judged to have committed the foul here.
Reposted by Markgpope
Managers needs to have a bit more courage here - officiating won’t improve if it’s only teams who have been negatively affected by it speaking out.
Sonia Bompastor: "Difficult to make comments because from the dugout you can't see the same as they can see on the pitch. I can probably understand the Arsenal frustration but I don't want to make any comment."
November 8, 2025 at 2:40 PM
Managers needs to have a bit more courage here - officiating won’t improve if it’s only teams who have been negatively affected by it speaking out.
Reposted by Markgpope
I have spent my entire professional life understanding the British point of view on foreign policy. I get certain historic and cultural differences. But the wilder the world gets the more infuriated I become by the dismissive attitude many Brits have towards the EU as a peace project./
November 6, 2025 at 7:51 AM
I have spent my entire professional life understanding the British point of view on foreign policy. I get certain historic and cultural differences. But the wilder the world gets the more infuriated I become by the dismissive attitude many Brits have towards the EU as a peace project./
Reposted by Markgpope
Not seen reported but MTA statement (original Hebrew, not BBC excerpts) explained why they’re rejecting tickets for Villa. One reason was “fear of external extremists who have despicable views joining with their supporters (a thinly-veiled reference to Tommy Robinson). MTA don’t want to be linked.
October 21, 2025 at 9:48 AM
Not seen reported but MTA statement (original Hebrew, not BBC excerpts) explained why they’re rejecting tickets for Villa. One reason was “fear of external extremists who have despicable views joining with their supporters (a thinly-veiled reference to Tommy Robinson). MTA don’t want to be linked.
Reposted by Markgpope
Reposted by Markgpope
