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Reposted by Mike Gapes

Tim Bale @timbale.bsky.social · 1d

What was that Sooty? The children can't hear you!

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Omar Khan @omaromalleykhan.bsky.social · 1d

I know statistics are poorly understood and are misused. But facts matter

Between the 1991, 2001, 2011 and 2021 Census *every* ethnic group in the UK has become *less* geographically segregated and *all* groups, majority and minorities, are more likely to interact with people not like them

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Sunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · 1d

The Bishop of Birmingham has written to the Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick about his comments about Handsworth

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Mike Gapes @mikegapes.bsky.social · 1d

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Nicolai von Ondarza @nvondarza.bsky.social · 2d

Missed this earlier - as part of its series of bilateral arrangements with EU member states, the UK signed this strategic framework with Spain in early September.

It includes cooperation on defence, security, but also migration, foreign affairs, people to people, energy, climate and more:

Real Instituto Elcano / Elcano Royal Institute @rielcano.bsky.social · 2d

Spain was the only one of the four major EU economies without a bilateral agreement with the UK—until last month, when both countries signed a strategic framework.
✍️ William Chislett #InsideSpain
www.realinstitutoelcano.org/en/commentar...

Spain and the UK deepen bilateral ties within a strategic framework

The UK-EU agreement on Gibraltar has unlocked a road map for greater cooperation between Spain and Britain.

www.realinstitutoelcano.org

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Tom Freeman @tomfreeman.bsky.social · 2d

But the great thing about Robert Jenrick is that wherever he goes, he increases the number of white faces by two.

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Sathnam Sanghera @sathnam.bsky.social · 2d

I've responded to Robert Jenrick's vile comments in @thetimes.com

www.thetimes.com/life-style/c...

I sang Jerusalem with Robert Jenrick at school — he’s wrong about race

The Conservative MP has complained that, visiting Handsworth in Birmingham, he didn’t see ‘another white face’. You can’t judge whether someone is integrated by skin colour, argues fellow Wulfrunian S...

www.thetimes.com

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Jessica Elgot @jessicaelgot.bsky.social · 2d

EXC from @annaisaac.bsky.social

The finances of one of Nigel Farage’s key confidants are being examined by the UK’s tax and revenue authorities amid questions over his income from wealth and business activities, the Guardian understands.

www.theguardian.com/business/202...

Tax authorities examine finances of key Nigel Farage ally

Exclusive: HMRC conducts scoping exercise into Reform UK backer ‘Posh George’ Cottrell’s income from business and wealth

www.theguardian.com

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Alex Andreou @sturdyalex.bsky.social · 2d

We had this rule in fringe, where if the total number of punters in that night was smaller than the combined cast and crew, you offered a refund or a ticket for a busier night.

Alex Andreou @sturdyalex.bsky.social · 2d

Tory Conference debate on free speech. You see? Sometimes being "cancelled" is a mercy.

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Mike Gapes @mikegapes.bsky.social · 3d

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🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 it says magnificent !

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Anne Applebaum @anneapplebaum.bsky.social · 5d

President Macron:
“We were very naive to leave our public space to social media networks controlled by US or Chinese companies that don’t share our interests and not interested in survival of our democracies.”
www.youtube.com/watch?v=MggN...

French President Macron Speaks at German Unity Day Ceremony | WION LIVE

YouTube video by WION

www.youtube.com

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Dorian Lynskey @dorianlynskey.bsky.social · 5d

It’s crazy that nobody in the room or on the production team knew it was nonsense. It was a scripted line not a spontaneous error. How many people must have okayed it?

Adam Payne @adampayne26.bsky.social · 5d

@zoecrowther.bsky.social story:

The BBC has apologised after airing a fast-spreading fake claim that Tony Blair's son's company is producing the digital ID scheme

The Have I Got News For You episode which repeated the claim has been removed from iPlayer to be edited, the BBC told PolHome

BBC Apologises For Airing Fake Claim About Digital ID Scheme

The BBC has apologised for airing a false claim about Tony Blair's son's company being awarded a government contract to produce the new mandatory d...

www.politicshome.com

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Mike Gapes @mikegapes.bsky.social · 5d

Wow. I know Keith Prince well. He was the Leader of my local Council in Redbridge before becoming the GLA Member. Keith was always a mainstream moderate Conservative. Unless he has changed considerably I’m not sure how he will be happy in Reform. But this is a real blow to Badenoch.

Mark Chadbourn @chadbourn.bsky.social · 5d

Another Tory defects to Reform, on the eve of the Conservative Party conference. This time it’s London Assembly member Keith Prince. He comes from Havering which is prime Reform territory. The Tories look likely to lose their entire east London heartland right out into Essex.

Top London Tory defects to Reform and 'charismatic' Nigel Farage in blow to Kemi Badenoch on eve of party conference — The Standard

London Assembly member Keith Prince says Reform ‘has a vision’ - while the Conservative party ‘is not the party I joined 49 years ago’

apple.news

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Stephen Bush @stephenkb.bsky.social · 5d

Good write-up this. Every bit of research shows that 'pre-buttal' (i.e. people don't see the misinformation or malinformation first) is much more effective than factchecking. Part of that is 'government should try and make it so that you can cover UK politics without being on X'.

PoliticsHome @politicshome.bsky.social · 5d

Both the government and the company, Multiverse, have confirmed the claim is false

PoliticsHome understands that the government is looking to ramp up its communication around the digital ID scheme to combat misinformation

@zoecrowther.bsky.social reports

BBC Apologises For Airing Fake Claim About Digital ID Scheme

The BBC has apologised for airing a false claim about Tony Blair's son's company being awarded a government contract to produce the new mandatory d...

www.politicshome.com

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Ian Bond @cerianbond.bsky.social · 5d

Just heard Chris Philp on BBC’s Today programme explaining why the Tories want to leave the ECHR. He claimed ECHR isn’t mentioned in Belfast Agreement - which is simply untrue. The UK govt agreed to incorporate it into NI law & give direct access to the courts (Strand 3). Why no BBC fact-check?

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Zoë Crowther @zoecrowther.bsky.social · 5d

A BBC spokesperson told @politicshome.bsky.social this week’s Have I Got News for You “contained an inaccurate story” about Euan Blair’s firm being linked with digital ID cards

PoliticsHome understands the government plans to step up comms on the ID scheme to counter misinformation

BBC Apologises For Airing Fake Claim About Digital ID Scheme

The BBC has apologised for airing a false claim about Tony Blair's son's company being awarded a government contract to produce the new mandatory d...

www.politicshome.com

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John Rentoul @rentouljohn.bsky.social · 5d

BBC apologises for false claim about Tony Blair's son's company being awarded a govt contract for digital ID www.politicshome.com/news/article...

BBC Apologises For Airing Fake Claim About Digital ID Scheme

The BBC has apologised for airing a false claim about Tony Blair's son's company being awarded a government contract to produce the new mandatory d...

www.politicshome.com

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Mike Gapes @mikegapes.bsky.social · 6d

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🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩phew. Too many options.

Mike Gapes @mikegapes.bsky.social · 6d

So. It’s apparently ok for companies owned by far right tech bros to have your data. But not for a democratic state to introduce digital identity systems to make government work more effectively and efficiently and also combat fraud, crime and illegal working in the black economy. Bonkers.

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Sunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · 7d

Four people have been injured in an attack at Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation synagogue in Crumpsall, Manchester on the Jewish holy day of Yom Kippur. A major incident, being investigated as terrorism, with suspect/perpetrator reportedly shot at the scene. Updates
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/live...

Manchester synagogue attack latest: suspect shot after four people injured in vehicle and stabbing attack at synagogue, police say

Prime minister Keir Starmer will fly home early from Europe to chair a Cobra meeting, while Greater Manchester mayor tells people to avoid the area

www.theguardian.com

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Gabriel Milland @gabrielmilland.bsky.social · 7d

Thank you to the GMP officers who, it seems, prevented the terrorist hurting anyone else. And thank you to the CST volunteers who protect British Jews every day. For those doing so, wishing them an easy fast.

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Mike Gapes @mikegapes.bsky.social · 7d

I am Appalled by the terrorist attack on worshippers at a synagogue in Manchester today. My thoughts are with all those injured or affected and with all in our Jewish community on this holy day of Yom Kippur. Congratulations to the police for responding so quickly and for shooting the attacker.

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Ben Ansell @benansell.bsky.social · 8d

Bold of Reform-associated people to go for the "yOu CaN't Be PrOpErLy EnGlISh" line while simultaneously complaining about being called 'racist'.

Sunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · 8d

We now have two v prominent advocates of Reform - both Matthew Goodwin and Isabel Oakeshott - arguing that Shabana Mahmood (so Rishi Sunak and Paul Ince) can't be English.

That was a settled question long before this match in 1998. This kind of radicalisation by online racists would harm Reform

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Sam Freedman @samfr.bsky.social · 8d

Can someone ask Farage or Zia Yusuf why, if they're so concerned about incitement to violence, they had Lucy Connolly as a guest star at their conference?

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Mike Gapes @mikegapes.bsky.social · 9d

I’m in Liverpool for the Labour Party conference. But this evening I was delighted to be at the Hill Dickinson stadium to support the Hammers as we fought back to get a deserved 1-1 draw against Everton. Nuno has only had 2 days as our new manager. But this was a good start. Come on You Irons. ⚒️

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