Clare
@sochs.bsky.social
Reposted by Clare
Nigel Farage says Reform Mayoral candidate Chris Parry should apologise for saying David Lammy should "go home" to the Caribbean. Parry has refused to apologise claiming - against the revealed preferences evidence - to be an 'equal opportunity' challenger of political opponents loyalties to Britain
January 7, 2026 at 12:20 PM
Nigel Farage says Reform Mayoral candidate Chris Parry should apologise for saying David Lammy should "go home" to the Caribbean. Parry has refused to apologise claiming - against the revealed preferences evidence - to be an 'equal opportunity' challenger of political opponents loyalties to Britain
Reposted by Clare
An important part of Farage press events is keeping track of his changing positions on, well, everything. It helps to be wildly credulous. thecritic.co.uk/poli...
January 7, 2026 at 7:47 PM
An important part of Farage press events is keeping track of his changing positions on, well, everything. It helps to be wildly credulous. thecritic.co.uk/poli...
Reposted by Clare
A major fire has broken out at Moscow’s UEC-Salyut plant, a key facility in Russia’s aviation industry. The site, part of state-owned Rostec, produces engines for Su-27/30/35 jets, Yak-130 trainers, and Ka-52 and Mi-28 helicopters. The fire reportedly started in a workshop or on the roof.
January 7, 2026 at 6:02 PM
A major fire has broken out at Moscow’s UEC-Salyut plant, a key facility in Russia’s aviation industry. The site, part of state-owned Rostec, produces engines for Su-27/30/35 jets, Yak-130 trainers, and Ka-52 and Mi-28 helicopters. The fire reportedly started in a workshop or on the roof.
Reposted by Clare
The digital euro that Europe urgently needs ft.trib.al/WETYIgG | opinion
The digital euro that Europe urgently needs
A tokenised version of the EU’s currency for wholesale use would bring big benefits
ft.trib.al
January 7, 2026 at 5:35 AM
The digital euro that Europe urgently needs ft.trib.al/WETYIgG | opinion
Reposted by Clare
Machado and Trump keep talking about the Nobel as if the recipient can simply decide to pass it on to whoever they like
Hannity: Did you at any point offered to give him the Nobel peace prize?
Machado: It hasn’t happened yet. We want to give it to him. Share it with him.
Machado: It hasn’t happened yet. We want to give it to him. Share it with him.
January 6, 2026 at 2:23 PM
Machado and Trump keep talking about the Nobel as if the recipient can simply decide to pass it on to whoever they like
Reposted by Clare
Without a hint of irony, Kemi Badenoch - after doing the full ‘Trump was right’ on Venezuela for best part of 10 minutes - when asked about Brexit on Radio 4 Today says ‘sovereignty matters’
Then asked for one big policy, says cutting net zero
Fundamentally unserious
Then asked for one big policy, says cutting net zero
Fundamentally unserious
January 6, 2026 at 8:23 AM
Without a hint of irony, Kemi Badenoch - after doing the full ‘Trump was right’ on Venezuela for best part of 10 minutes - when asked about Brexit on Radio 4 Today says ‘sovereignty matters’
Then asked for one big policy, says cutting net zero
Fundamentally unserious
Then asked for one big policy, says cutting net zero
Fundamentally unserious
Reposted by Clare
🚨🧵on Venezuela
While the final US military operation last weekend might have been under cover of darkness, the build-up to it was out in the open for all to see.
I've constructed some timelines of the immediate build-up covering both the strikes and the supporting actions...
1/11
While the final US military operation last weekend might have been under cover of darkness, the build-up to it was out in the open for all to see.
I've constructed some timelines of the immediate build-up covering both the strikes and the supporting actions...
1/11
January 5, 2026 at 4:38 PM
🚨🧵on Venezuela
While the final US military operation last weekend might have been under cover of darkness, the build-up to it was out in the open for all to see.
I've constructed some timelines of the immediate build-up covering both the strikes and the supporting actions...
1/11
While the final US military operation last weekend might have been under cover of darkness, the build-up to it was out in the open for all to see.
I've constructed some timelines of the immediate build-up covering both the strikes and the supporting actions...
1/11
Reposted by Clare
How can a government be taken seriously when it does nothing about Grok (in fact posts alongside it) while promoting this
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
January 6, 2026 at 9:17 AM
How can a government be taken seriously when it does nothing about Grok (in fact posts alongside it) while promoting this
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Clare
If there is an argument then this is the argument. But lol I can’t find where this obviously false stat is coming from. And if the government does believe more than half the families in the UK are using it as their primary news source then woah maybe time to up the scrutiny of it!
January 5, 2026 at 8:00 PM
If there is an argument then this is the argument. But lol I can’t find where this obviously false stat is coming from. And if the government does believe more than half the families in the UK are using it as their primary news source then woah maybe time to up the scrutiny of it!
Reposted by Clare
This march is going to be important, so don't miss out! Please check out the website for all the info: www.marchforrejoin.co.uk/nrmiv And if you can, donate to help make the march happen here: gofund.me/82211c23a Thank You so so much for your continued support! See you in June! #SpreadTheWord
January 4, 2026 at 11:33 PM
This march is going to be important, so don't miss out! Please check out the website for all the info: www.marchforrejoin.co.uk/nrmiv And if you can, donate to help make the march happen here: gofund.me/82211c23a Thank You so so much for your continued support! See you in June! #SpreadTheWord
Reposted by Clare
And now we know. Everything Trump said in his press conference confirms the worst. Not even a pretense at supporting the democratic opposition, or allowing the people of Venezuela a say. Naked US grab of Venezuela’s assets. This is heading in a VERY bad direction.
January 3, 2026 at 6:53 PM
And now we know. Everything Trump said in his press conference confirms the worst. Not even a pretense at supporting the democratic opposition, or allowing the people of Venezuela a say. Naked US grab of Venezuela’s assets. This is heading in a VERY bad direction.
Reposted by Clare
A gangster state at home, a rogue state abroad: and entirely because Congress and the Supreme Court have abdicated their proper constitutional roles.
January 3, 2026 at 10:11 AM
A gangster state at home, a rogue state abroad: and entirely because Congress and the Supreme Court have abdicated their proper constitutional roles.
Reposted by Clare
Been watching the BBC coverage for 15 mins and there's no mention yet of the illegality of US intervention under US law [let alone international law]. Can't help think that Trump's lawsuit is causing them to feel unable to report what is happening properly.
January 3, 2026 at 10:18 AM
Been watching the BBC coverage for 15 mins and there's no mention yet of the illegality of US intervention under US law [let alone international law]. Can't help think that Trump's lawsuit is causing them to feel unable to report what is happening properly.
Reposted by Clare
This is a good example of a headline a strategic govt in Westminster simply wouldn’t allow to be written. www.chathamhouse.org/2025/12/uk-w...
The UK will not join the EU’s new defence fund. Can the UK–EU security reset still succeed?
The collapse of talks for the UK to join the SAFE defence fund is a blow to the UK–EU reset. But it has not hit a brick wall.
www.chathamhouse.org
January 3, 2026 at 10:08 AM
This is a good example of a headline a strategic govt in Westminster simply wouldn’t allow to be written. www.chathamhouse.org/2025/12/uk-w...
Reposted by Clare
Outriders for that need to be extremely vocal, laying the groundwork - and pinning our geopolitical frailty on Farage/Reform.
January 3, 2026 at 10:11 AM
Outriders for that need to be extremely vocal, laying the groundwork - and pinning our geopolitical frailty on Farage/Reform.
Reposted by Clare
The thing about inevitable actions is that they are inevitable! The market of ideas can certainly remain irrational longer than you can stay solvent, but eventually a PM will stand at a lectern and tell us “it’s time for a new chapter in our relations with the EU”.
January 3, 2026 at 10:10 AM
The thing about inevitable actions is that they are inevitable! The market of ideas can certainly remain irrational longer than you can stay solvent, but eventually a PM will stand at a lectern and tell us “it’s time for a new chapter in our relations with the EU”.
Reposted by Clare
I'd like to think 2026 is the year populism falls apart in both Britain and America.
Over here, there are early signs that the process of populist radicalisation (and ever greater stupidity) is becoming too much for some of them and lines are being drawn.
Over here, there are early signs that the process of populist radicalisation (and ever greater stupidity) is becoming too much for some of them and lines are being drawn.
January 1, 2026 at 8:50 AM
I'd like to think 2026 is the year populism falls apart in both Britain and America.
Over here, there are early signs that the process of populist radicalisation (and ever greater stupidity) is becoming too much for some of them and lines are being drawn.
Over here, there are early signs that the process of populist radicalisation (and ever greater stupidity) is becoming too much for some of them and lines are being drawn.
Reposted by Clare
Begum may be 'distasteful', but it is pretty clear she was a victim of grooming and trafficking. The decision to make her defacto stateless is also clearly incompatibile with the principles of international law. Labour doubling down doesn't change that it is bad. 1/2
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
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.co.uk
January 1, 2026 at 10:07 AM
Begum may be 'distasteful', but it is pretty clear she was a victim of grooming and trafficking. The decision to make her defacto stateless is also clearly incompatibile with the principles of international law. Labour doubling down doesn't change that it is bad. 1/2
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Clare
I often think back to a Greek taxi driver who once told me: "Too many people want the harshest laws they can imagine - for everyone except themselves."
This thinking is rife on the right, but it is also prevalent in a significant minority on the left. And that last part always takes me by surprise.
This thinking is rife on the right, but it is also prevalent in a significant minority on the left. And that last part always takes me by surprise.
December 30, 2025 at 12:14 PM
I often think back to a Greek taxi driver who once told me: "Too many people want the harshest laws they can imagine - for everyone except themselves."
This thinking is rife on the right, but it is also prevalent in a significant minority on the left. And that last part always takes me by surprise.
This thinking is rife on the right, but it is also prevalent in a significant minority on the left. And that last part always takes me by surprise.
Reposted by Clare
PSA: The reason Ukraine isn't targetting Putin's residences with drones and missiles are that both are finite resources and:
a) It's not clear killing him would help;
b) The residences are heavily protected by air defense;
c) They include bunkers;
d) They are huge so you can hit and still miss.
a) It's not clear killing him would help;
b) The residences are heavily protected by air defense;
c) They include bunkers;
d) They are huge so you can hit and still miss.
December 30, 2025 at 1:14 PM
PSA: The reason Ukraine isn't targetting Putin's residences with drones and missiles are that both are finite resources and:
a) It's not clear killing him would help;
b) The residences are heavily protected by air defense;
c) They include bunkers;
d) They are huge so you can hit and still miss.
a) It's not clear killing him would help;
b) The residences are heavily protected by air defense;
c) They include bunkers;
d) They are huge so you can hit and still miss.
Reposted by Clare
many moons ago I finessed some invites to the Ivor Novello afterparty for me and a mate, except we got arguably too drunk getting ready then spent the evening wondering why the party was so shit - turns out we just spent hours in the right fancy hotel but in the wrong bar, celebs were all next door
Please quote this with the time you didn’t interact with someone famous - eg one time I was in Cardiff the same weekend as Willem Dafoe (but I didn’t see him or even know he was there until he appeared on the telly later)
Please quote this with your major interactions with massive celebrities. eg “I was married to the pope for fifteen years”
December 30, 2025 at 10:29 AM
many moons ago I finessed some invites to the Ivor Novello afterparty for me and a mate, except we got arguably too drunk getting ready then spent the evening wondering why the party was so shit - turns out we just spent hours in the right fancy hotel but in the wrong bar, celebs were all next door
Reposted by Clare
As far as I can tell, the Conservative party's position is that there should be no censorship of content on platforms like twitter but that the same content can be grounds for deportation/denaturalisation
December 30, 2025 at 9:45 AM
As far as I can tell, the Conservative party's position is that there should be no censorship of content on platforms like twitter but that the same content can be grounds for deportation/denaturalisation
Reposted by Clare
SITREP 🇺🇦 DAY 1406
1. Trump as Putin's shill. Lavrov asserts 91 🇺🇦 drones targetted Putin dacha near Novgorod; no evidence offerd. Putin says same to Trump. Trump believes him & expresses anger vs Zelensky. No US intel cited
2. ~40 Shaheds launches; 8 hits
1. Trump as Putin's shill. Lavrov asserts 91 🇺🇦 drones targetted Putin dacha near Novgorod; no evidence offerd. Putin says same to Trump. Trump believes him & expresses anger vs Zelensky. No US intel cited
2. ~40 Shaheds launches; 8 hits
December 30, 2025 at 9:23 AM
SITREP 🇺🇦 DAY 1406
1. Trump as Putin's shill. Lavrov asserts 91 🇺🇦 drones targetted Putin dacha near Novgorod; no evidence offerd. Putin says same to Trump. Trump believes him & expresses anger vs Zelensky. No US intel cited
2. ~40 Shaheds launches; 8 hits
1. Trump as Putin's shill. Lavrov asserts 91 🇺🇦 drones targetted Putin dacha near Novgorod; no evidence offerd. Putin says same to Trump. Trump believes him & expresses anger vs Zelensky. No US intel cited
2. ~40 Shaheds launches; 8 hits
Reposted by Clare
I’m happy that Trump’s crown has slipped enough fo people to think about a post-Trumpian world. But I still don’t see how MAGA will willingly hand over power. In 2020 they tried incompetently to fake an election. The 2024- MAGA movement is marked by increased competence in its exercise of coercion.
Wondering about the corporate risk planning for those doing business now with Trump and acolytes given the near certainty of years of corruption and bribery cases to follow the end of his time in office.
December 30, 2025 at 9:28 AM
I’m happy that Trump’s crown has slipped enough fo people to think about a post-Trumpian world. But I still don’t see how MAGA will willingly hand over power. In 2020 they tried incompetently to fake an election. The 2024- MAGA movement is marked by increased competence in its exercise of coercion.
Reposted by Clare
I say this incidentally as someone who loves the Elizabeth Line and is super glad it got built! Just wish we could somehow generate the same commitment to seeing big transformative infrastructure projects through elsewhere
December 30, 2025 at 9:41 AM
I say this incidentally as someone who loves the Elizabeth Line and is super glad it got built! Just wish we could somehow generate the same commitment to seeing big transformative infrastructure projects through elsewhere