Reposted by Alex MairBrian Groom @groomb.bsky.social · 29/09/2026York-born poet W.H. Auden died on this day 1973 (photo by Jane Bown). On former lead mines of the north Pennines: In Rookhope I was first aware Of Self and Not-Self, Death and Dread: There I dropped pebbles, listened, heard The reservoir of darkness stirred. 213724
Alex Mair @alexmairyorks.bsky.social · 08/09/2026Absolutely zero self-awareness to acknowlede that a month ago this women defended a literal neo-nazi activist she had hired in an advisory role despite the man serving a custodian senrance for harassing a female Jewish MP. 101
Alex Mair @alexmairyorks.bsky.social · 05/09/2026This may legitimately be the worst opinion column of all time. Turns out all those catatrophic energy price rises, low wages, high inflation, it was all just one big mirage. 000
Alex Mair @alexmairyorks.bsky.social · 25/08/2026Dolly Parton was a brilliant singer and songwriter whose public image often disguised how witty and clever her songs were. A massively underrated songwriter, not acknowledged enough for the craft and skill that went into her songs. I will miss her. RIP. 000
Reposted by Alex MairJonny Morris @jonnymorris.bsky.social · 20/08/2026THE DOCTOR WHO - LABOUR LEADER CORRELATION. 1. WILLIAM HARTNELL - HAROLD WILSON's 1st term 1964-1966 Hugely popular as the public are dazzled by the white heat of technology. 26640
Reposted by Alex MairToby Buckle @polphilpod.bsky.social · 20/08/2026the left was blamed for stagflation in the 70s & has been less trusted on the economy ever since the right has been catastrophically wrong about climate change, financial deregulation, multiple wars, & immigration control & it's always forgotten by the next election 1532929782
Reposted by Alex MairPhilip Larkin Society @plsoc.bsky.social · 12/08/2026As we consider the beauty and mystery of the solar eclipse today, do read Philip Larkin's poem SOLAR. Some would argue this is the closest Larkin ever came to writing a prayer. 0204
Alex Mair @alexmairyorks.bsky.social · 11/08/2026Mature and sensible take on Andy Burnham from former Labour MP and member of the Socialist Campaign Group, Alan Simpson. www.morningstaronline.co.uk/article/bank...morningstaronline.co.ukBanking on Burnham: How Labour must ride the crisisBARELY a week into his premiership, Andy Burnham had to navigate an avalanche of political interviews, all expecting answers to issues we’ve ducked for decades. He did so with remarkable good grace an... 000
Alex Mair @alexmairyorks.bsky.social · 04/08/2026Since when did Rod Liddle become Princess Diana? 010
Alex Mair @alexmairyorks.bsky.social · 20/07/2026Don't post much on here but I'm astonished at the love on this platform for Bridget Phillipson. She tried to strip SEND children of their legal rights and under her watch every university in southern England is in financial crisis. Good riddance. 030
Reposted by Alex MairGeorge Eaton @georgeeaton.bsky.social · 21/06/2026The idea that Starmer failed because he didn’t appeal enough to Reform voters ignores all the evidence: *six times* as many Labour supporters defected to the Greens/LDs. It’s a classic example of motivated reasoning used to justify a reactionary platform that would leave Labour unelectable. 14503141
Alex Mair @alexmairyorks.bsky.social · 13/06/2026Excellent article in Prospect. The Abundance movement has always been an elite project, and has been from the word go. prospect.org/2026/06/12/n...prospect.orgNew Documents Detail Nine-Figure, Silicon Valley–Funded Abundance Movement - The American ProspectThe Prospect has obtained a fundraising pitch and historical manifesto from inside the movement. 000
Reposted by Alex MairAbilu Tangwa. @abilutangwa.bsky.social · 10/06/2026The horn of Africa is grieving because their -Their farms are no longer yielding -Advancement of desert is alarming -Our major rivers are drying -Proliferation of pest and pathogens -Development of tropical diseases. -Our crop are dieing out. Climate change is a reality. 22057852128
Reposted by Alex MairAdam Bienkov @adambienkov.bsky.social · 10/06/2026This is the "pure cold rage" they were calling for 41790338
Reposted by Alex MairClive Lewis MP @labourlewis.bsky.social · 27/05/2026Privatised water is such an obvious scam that it's achieved the impossible: getting 82% of Brits to agree on something. The only issue to score higher was the public’s desire for Tony Blair to stick to retirement. 581588483
Reposted by Alex MairMichael LaFrance @mlafrance.bsky.social · 25/05/2026A livestream of a volcano in the Philippines captured a meteor crashing to Earth today. What are the odds? Mayon Volcano, Location: Albay, Luzon, Philippines 615288239435
Reposted by Alex MairT.J. Stiles @tj-stiles.bsky.social · 24/05/2026The tech bros gave us crypto currency that isn’t currency, artificial intelligence that isn’t intelligence, and prediction markets that are inside-trader scams. On the other hand, they have given us gigantic data centers that employ no one and destroy communities. So there’s that. 323108774038
Reposted by Alex MairJohn Foot @footymac.bsky.social · 16/05/2026And in 2017 Labour got 40%. The result that no political commentator can ever mention. 262
Reposted by Alex MairJim Caris @jimcaris.eurosky.social · 21/04/2026So now we've established that Mandelson is a corrupting force that sullies everything and everyone in his sphere of influence, what are we going to do about the fact he hand-picked the entirety of Labour's 2024 intake of new MPs? 926087
Reposted by Alex MairAnna Horroridge @anna-orridge.bsky.social · 04/04/2026Just fascinated about why this journalistic finger-wagging at Hannah Spencer for supposedly over-simplifying complex problems was not applied to Starmer when he fully suggested tackling fly-tipping by tracking down the culprits with drones and crushing their vehicles. 27446115
Reposted by Alex MairChaucer Doth Tweet @levostregc.bsky.social · 01/04/2026Some brave souls choose to face the feare of failure and the terror of a blanke page. Thrugh harde worke and luck thei come back wyth storyes that bringe us mirthe, or horror, or thrilles, or beautye, or wisdom, or delighteful surreal confusioun. Gen A.I. ys nothinge lyke that. Long live artists. 08420
Reposted by Alex MairAndrej @tepid.meme · 01/04/2026Princess Anne continues to merge with the Christopher Walken meme 291334295
Alex Mair @alexmairyorks.bsky.social · 25/03/2026James Meadway is the genius who came up with Covid Recovery Bonds. A policy that no-one could understand and sank like a stone. The Green Party would be well advised to keep him at arms length. 000
Reposted by Alex MairIda B Wells' Winchester Rifle @dytsras.bsky.social · 20/03/2026You could say that Rock n Roll was born 111 years ago today in Arkansas, but probably not where you'd think. Before there was a Chuck Berry or Little Richard, there was those who wanted to be like her. Rosetta Nubin better known as Sister Rosetta Tharpe, the godmother of Rock was born on this day 480244887557
Reposted by Alex MairDr Laura Varnam @drlauravarnam.bsky.social · 10/03/2026One of my favourite ‘after’ poems- Mary Ruefle’s Red, a response to William Carlos Williams’ Red Wheebarrow. 47114
Alex Mair @alexmairyorks.bsky.social · 19/02/2026Had the great misfortune to accidentally listen to Maurice Glasman for 30 seconds. Best avoided. I haven't forgotten how he advised the Tories. 010
Reposted by Alex MairJohn Harris @johnharris1969.bsky.social · 15/02/2026Latest from me: on the govt's imminent Special Needs revolution, and a familiar (old) Labour story: of lofty aims undermined by meagre budgets, constant anonymous briefings – and a drive to remove families’ basic rights www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...theguardian.comI fear that Labour’s special needs revolution will instead be a catastrophic letdown | John HarrisA familiar Labour story is unfolding: of lofty aims undermined by budgets, constant anonymous briefing – and a drive to remove families’ basic rights, says Guardian columnist John Harris 33513
Reposted by Alex MairPrem Sikka @premnsikka.bsky.social · 22/12/2025England water company CEO says long-term water security is under threat. Customers already paid, companies didn't build reservoirs, dumped sewage in rivers, neglected investment, paid dividends Now want to charge customers again, not raising capital from shareholders. End the scam. Nationalise.bbc.co.ukSuffolk water boss says new reservoirs needed to address demandWater company says it needs two new reservoirs and a recycling plant to cope with demand in Suffolk. 25467210
Reposted by Alex MairSimon Pegg @simonpegg.bsky.social · 19/12/2025Can't believe it's Christmas, and David Walliams is going to be visited by three Ghostwriters to show him the error of his ways. 131742
Reposted by Alex MairJamie K @crumpsalljamie.bsky.social · 04/12/2025The British army wanted an armoured monster truck with a gun on it. £6 billion and 31 hospitalised soldiers later, they got one of the biggest procurement fuckups of all time defence-blog.com/insider-says...defence-blog.comInsider says only hull redesign can save British AjaxThe British Army’s troubled Ajax armoured fighting vehicle has returned to the centre of national criticism in recent days, after new noise-related injuries forced the suspension of training and sent ... 89634
Alex Mair @alexmairyorks.bsky.social · 05/11/2025A good piece by Mehdi Hasan political editor of New Stateman during 9/11 wars. As a keen young reader of papers from 2001-10, I can tell you opening a posh paper was just basically a public school Trot screaming at you and frothing at the mouth for the US to bomb more black and brown. 120
Reposted by Alex MairPaul Hebden @paulhebden.bsky.social · 04/11/2025The "consensus" in 2010 was that our economy was on the verge of collapse, we were at the mercy of "bond vigilantes", & it would be crazy to borrow money at 0 interest rates. Instead the "consensus" was that we needed austerity. That "consensus" was wrong & no-one has been held accountable. 28420
Reposted by Alex MairKelly @broadwaybabyto.bsky.social · 27/10/2025The Walton family (who own Walmart) are worth over $400 billion, yet many of their employees are on SNAP. Bezos is worth over $400 billion, many Amazon employees require SNAP. The people who need help are not the problem. It’s corporate greed. It’s an unwillingness to pay a living wage. 10213560813526
Alex Mair @alexmairyorks.bsky.social · 26/10/2025The SEND white paper has been kicked back to 2026 because the givernment know it's a crock of shit which will go down like a lorry load of whale shite. So, when Keith is removed in a Palace coup after the local elections next May, a new labour PM can quietly abandon it. 000
Alex Mair @alexmairyorks.bsky.social · 08/10/2025Articles like this reflect no credit on The Graun. The 'one-nation' wing of the Tory party hasn't existed for decades. Under Cameron, cabinet had 1 genuine moderate Tory, Ken Clarke. That's 1 minister since the year 2000. And he was aged about 395. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...theguardian.comHas Kemi Badenoch sounded the death knell for one nation Conservatism?The Tory leader’s shift to the right has left its centrist wing wondering if its tradition still has a future 020
Reposted by Alex MairNicholas Grossman @nicholasgrossman.bsky.social · 04/10/2025One path to a successful career as a columnist is to be repeatedly wrong. Not to have unique takes on matters of opinion, but confident declarations proven wrong by events. If you can condescend to people proven right no matter how often you are wrong, the most prominent media would like to pay you. 491439236
Reposted by Alex MairHOPE not hate @hopenothate.org.uk · 02/10/2025HOPE not hate condemn the appalling, violent attack at a synagogue in Manchester which has taken place on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. Our thoughts are with the Jewish community and all affected. 0661154
Reposted by Alex MairDavid Roberts @volts.wtf · 30/09/2025We laugh at this shit -- I mean, how can you not? -- but it's serious: these guys want to infuse reactionary thinking into AI and then infuse AI into every nook & cranny of American life. They can't win the argument so they are trying to blunt-force their views onto us with money & power. 13842821302
Alex Mair @alexmairyorks.bsky.social · 26/09/2025Also, Keir Starmer is banging the immigration drum because he knows he is doomed. The anti-democratic forces which got him elected have turned on him. Every government back to Margaret Thatcher has done it when they are in trouble. After politics, I predict he will vanish. Not a politician. 000
Alex Mair @alexmairyorks.bsky.social · 26/09/2025Here's the thing, there's no way of attacking New Labour's immigration policy without also admitting that New Labour's economic policy didn't work - which it didn't. So, why is Keir Starmer and the Labour right so obssssed with finding the button back to the late 90s? 1/2. 110
Reposted by Alex MairPaul Bernal @paulbernal.bsky.social · 21/09/2025A short thread on digital ID (cards) just to bear in mind. There are a few myths that I keep hearing about this idea that need clarifying/debunking. 1/10 15146132
Alex Mair @alexmairyorks.bsky.social · 25/09/2025I've given Rachel Reeves some advice if she wants to rescue her government. Perhaps she'll give me a phone call and invite me in to explain why she's getting everything wrong over a cappucino. 010
Reposted by Alex MairTrussell @trusselluk.bsky.social · 22/09/2025This is how much the price of food has risen in 5 years... 🤯 🥛Milk, eggs and cheese: +47% 🍖 Meat: +35% 🧈 Oil and butter: +60% 🍞 Cereal and bread: +34% 🍓 Fruit: +26% 🥦 Vegetables: +35% 66668
Alex Mair @alexmairyorks.bsky.social · 19/09/2025Unilaterally criticising your own party in public only emboldens your party's opponents. Unfortunately, the lesson still hasn't been learned that if you make a public statement that is 99% supportive of your own party and 1% critical - it's the 1% of criticism that will dominate the media cycle. 100
Alex Mair @alexmairyorks.bsky.social · 14/09/2025Just doing a bit of research on the OBR for an article I'm writing. It is the stupidist, most pointless thing ever invented in the history of pointless, stupid things. Rarely has the public had to pay for such an ideologically-driven waste of money. Abolish it. 000
Alex Mair @alexmairyorks.bsky.social · 13/09/2025Charlie Kirk's killer is a 22 year old, white, male Utah native and the son of registered Republicans. Yet Kirk's murder is going to be used to justify more gun violence against blacks, latinos, women, gay people, trans people, Asylum seekers and immigrants. 000