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Benn

@bennexeter.bsky.social
1.4K followers 2.3K following 269 posts

Nerd. Plant-based. Humanist. Gay. Green. Lover of languages, maths, science, Star Trek, swimming, gardening, DIY, allotmenting, travel, beaches, surf, scuba, Lego. Refuser of AI slop. Speaker of 🇬🇧🇫🇷🇪🇸. Learner of 🇯🇵 Mostly posting about UK politics.

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Reposted by Benn
Make Votes Matter @makevotesmatter.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Today's announcement marks the beginning of the end of First Past the Post. To everyone who has contributed to our movement over the years: we can't thank you enough. Now let's push PR over the finish line 💪💯 A message from our CEO @emmacampaigner.bsky.social:
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Dr Julia Grace Patterson @jujuliagrace.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
It’s important that we don’t end up with a new care system that funnels billions of taxpayer money into private companies… 🚨 jujuliagrace.substack.com
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The London Economic @thelondoneconomic.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Ministers have reportedly said it is a question of "not if but how" a rejoin pledge is included in the next Labour manifesto.
thelondoneconomic.com
Burnham 'building the case' to put rejoining the EU in next manifesto
Andy Burnham is reportedly going to edge Labour closer to rejoining the EU and move towards a rejoin pledge in the party's next manifesto.
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Elizabeth Taylor @elizabethtaylor47.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
This notion of bigoted beliefs being a protected characteristic like gender or race is just absolutely barmy. Those of us who’ve experienced genuine discrimination for who we are know there’s no comparison, and the political and legal collusion on this stuff is disastrous.
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ElizabethC 💙🐸 @econklin44.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
One by one we are losing our most senior military officers, who are finding the ignorance, incompetence, & disloyalty of their civilian overlords unconscionable. Attacking our military in this way is a major part of the plan. #ProudBlue
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Best for Britain @bestforbritain.org · 28/09/2026
Against the backdrop of an increasingly tense geopolitical landscape, a dangerous Putin and antagonistic Trump, the foreign secretary knows all too well that the UK’s economic prosperity and national security lie with our allies in Europe, back where we belong as a fully-fledged member of the EU.
bestforbritain.org
Miliband entirely right UK’s future lies back where we belong: Europe - Best for Britain
In the face of geopolitical unrest, EU membership is the only path to boost the UK's economic prosperity and ensure nati
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Sarah Murphy @13sarahmurphy.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
The Times - which has v much joined in the rightwing clamour to reduce immigration - now reporting that Mahmood’s “success” has cost the economy £4- to £7Bn. Would they like to now honestly confirm that fewer people = less spending power for all. There’s a high price to pay for this nasty obsession.
Patrick Maguire
Chief Political Commentator Oliver Wright Policy Editor

Falling migration numbers could cost the chancellor as much as £7bn in fiscal headroom as he writes his first budget, The Times has been told.
Government insiders believe that John Healey, who already faced an uphill battle to balance the books next month, is likely to have an even bigger challenge after immigration undershot projections from the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR).
The Institute for Fiscal Studies think tank estimated last month that the success of Shabana
Mahmood's
reforms, which have cut net migration to the low hundreds of thousands, could cost Healey some £4bn.
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Natacha @natacha.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
The Guardian had a lot of letters about Gabby Hinsliff’s article advocating a lower state pension. None had a comparison with the rest of Western Europe, which the rest of mainstream media also omitted. A media consensus of this kind is an abuse of power. This is the letter they didn’t publish.
Gaby Hinsliff's piece advocating cutting the UK state pension (ie abandoning the Triple Lock), avoided comparing the UK with our neighbours, a problematic contextualisation to leave out.
Below I provide a rough list of current state pensions in Western Europe, in pounds sterling;
Luxembourg: £2436
Switzerland: £2400
Norway: £2164
Denmark: £1822
Holland: £1403
The only country I could find with a lower state pension is Portugal at £815
As you can see the UK has the lowest state pension in Western Europe bar one, considerably undermining any arguments for abandoning the Triple Lock. In my opinion this information needs to be included in every article about this subject.

Italy: Men £1437, Women £1056
Belgium: £1401


Malta: £1400 - £1600
Spain: £1341

France: £1296


Germany: £1281
Sweden: £1226


Austria: £1121 (min)

Ireland: £1115 (min)
UK: £1045
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Mark Wallace @wallaceme.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Ok don’t let’s get carried away but I found something genuinely good on Threads.
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Otto English @ottoenglish.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Liar. Small boat crossings peaked under Johnson in 2022 reaching 46,000 in 2022. In current year they are 18,565 and falling. Also prior to Boris Johnson's Brexit there were none.
It's a disaster, and it can all be traced to
Labour ideology. Burnham has no mandate
from the people. He has no real ideas, and
no plan,

Johnson on X
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George Monbiot @georgemonbiot.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Anyone who believes this bunch of con artists represents their interests is either a billionaire or seriously misinformed. leftfootforward.org/2026/09/outr...
leftfootforward.org
Outrage as Reform-run council votes to shut 10 nurseries
Members of the public shouted “you should be ashamed” as Reform councillors approved the plans
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lukewarm24.bsky.social @lukewarm24.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Oligarchs have bought the USA Oligarchs are trying to buy the Uk through installing farage into power We can’t allow the Uk (under a farage admin) becoming the US (under a trump Admin) It’s a disaster as we can all see
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Robert Wright @reporterrwright.ft.com · 25/09/2026
The UK remains a signatory of the Refugee Convention. Reform might want to take the UK out of the convention. But it was introduced in 1951 to avoid a repeat of countries' refusal to take Jewish refugees during the Holocaust. So I'm not sure leaving it is a good look.
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Peter Walker @peterwalker99.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Are Reform UK *sure* they want to yoke themselves to people like Daniel “Danny Tommo” Thomas? Nigel Farage was adamant for years that most voters instantly recognise and intensely dislike football thug types like him and Tommy Robinson.
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Celeste Headlee @celesteheadlee.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
So, Banksy bought a used yacht, repaired it and retrofitted it to serve as a rescue boat to save migrants in the central Mediterranean. The whole project cost the artist $860,000. Since 2020, the boat has saved more than 3,800 people. londondaily.com/banksy-funds...
londondaily.com
Banksy funds refugee rescue boat operating in Mediterranean - London Daily
Exclusive: UK artist finances bright pink motor yacht that set sail in secrecy to avoid being intercepted by authorities
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Benn @bennexeter.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
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Stephen Farrow @stephenfarrow.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
"Activist"? Really? Stop sanewashing these people. Call them what they are. He's a fascist thug, and a criminal, and he belongs in prison.
theguardian.com
Far-right activist Daniel Thomas slashes dinghy in Channel with blade while rescue worker onboard
Thomas called followers to protest against arrival of asylum seekers in Gosport, but Border Force instead transported them to Dover
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YouGov @yougov.co.uk · 22/09/2026
66% of straight women are unwilling to date a bisexual man, our study finds ahead of #BiVisibility Day % unwilling to date bi men Straight women 66% Bi men 15% Gay men 11% Bi women 10% % unwilling to date bi women Straight men 35% Lesbian women 20% Bi men 9% Bi women 3% yougov.com/en-gb/articl...
Willingness to date a bisexual man:
Straight women: 19% willing, 66% unwilling.
Bisexual women: 82% willing, 10% unwilling.
Bisexual men: 78% willing, 15% unwilling.
Gay men: 83% willing, 11% unwilling.

Willingness to date a bisexual woman:
Bisexual women: 89% willing, 3% unwilling.
Lesbian women: 73% willing, 20% unwilling.
Straight men: 53% willing, 35% unwilling.
Bisexual men: 85% willing, 9% unwilling.
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Oliver @oliver48.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
via Selby for Europe
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Best for Britain @bestforbritain.org · 21/09/2026
A new megapoll shows that EU membership is the most popular UK-EU relations policy in all but four parliamentary seats in Great Britain. Which areas are the most supportive? Which areas aren't? And what are the benefits of membership? ⬇️
bestforbritain.org
FAQ: Why is EU membership the most popular UK-EU relations policy in 628 seats? - Best for Britain
A new megapoll shows that EU membership is the most popular UK-EU relations policy in all but four (628) parliamentary s
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Jose @justicia73.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
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Benn @bennexeter.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
And yet:
bbc.co.uk
Young people are not snowflakes, head of mental health review says
Speaking exclusively to the BBC, Prof Peter Fonagy says being young is much harder now than it was.
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Jose @justicia73.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
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Prem Sikka @premnsikka.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
HMRC is an unsecured creditor for corporation and capital gains tax. It recovers little from bankrupt businesses. Phoenixing also robs the public purse. HMRC wrote-off £12.8bn in 2025-26. Changes to law and HMRC creditor status can raise billions for the public purse.
leftfootforward.org
Here’s how the chancellor can raise the billions needed to improve the quality of life of millions
Prem Sikka is an Emeritus Professor of Accounting at the University of Essex and the University of Sheffield, a Labour member of the House of Lords, and Contributing Editor at Left Foot Forward. Mi...
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Prem Sikka @premnsikka.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
UK politics funded by billionaires, mega-donations surge as the rich buy power. £179m donated by wealthy individuals since 2019. A cap at £100,000 or £500,000 won't do. Only the rich can enter political auctions Can't end political corruption without ending donations.
theguardian.com
UK politics increasingly funded by billionaires as mega-donations surge
Exclusive: A total £179m has been donated by wealthy individuals since 2019, research reveals
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Benn @bennexeter.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
🏥
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Mark Chadbourn @chadbourn.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
Rebranding to sell it. Trump is desperate because the US economy is now propped up by AI and all the talk of restrictions is making him sweat that he might end up the Recession President. It’s Covid all over again.
Donald J. Trump
@realDonaldTrump
Many people think that the words "Artificial Intelligence" are inaccurate, and very ineloquent, relative to Al, or Artificial Intelligence. A far more elegant and accurate description of this new phenomena would be Superior Intelligence (SI) or, Extreme Intelligence (El) or, Supreme Intelligence (SI). This is a Poll, and I would appreciate everybody voting! Which is the best name for this ever growing "Revolution?" President DONALD J. TRUMP
Superior Intelligence (SI)
Extreme Intelligence (EI)
Supreme Intelligence (SI)
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Joe Walsh @walshfreedom.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
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Best for Britain @bestforbritain.org · 19/09/2026
A new mega poll by YouGov reveals that an overwhelming majority of constituencies want to rejoin the EU. Only 4 constituencies were not sure. It’s time to put EU membership on the table. bestforbritain.org/uk-membership-mo…
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Sarah Murphy @13sarahmurphy.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
“There can be no more trying to pretend there’s a respectable anti-immigration position which is meaningfully distinguishable from far right thuggery” We must actively make racism shameful again. Because this is where it has led and it’s unforgivable. No more indulging ignorance and hate.
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Manon Jacob @manonjacob.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
🪫Not Death with a Norwegian accent commenting on mass programmed obsolescence... I just love everything about this.
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The Green Party of England & Wales @greenparty.org.uk · 17/09/2026
British democracy should never be for sale to the highest bidder. Who is in favour of state funding for political parties? 🙋‍♀️🙋‍♂️💚 #BCCQT
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Sir Richard Mountbasket🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ @richmountbasket.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Russia is deliberately creating division and hatred in British society - and it's working. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Ukrainian guilty of vandalism at mosques linked to Russian network behind Starmer arson attack
Illia Bilyk, a 21-year-old Ukrainian man, has pleaded guilty to targeting five locations in east London.
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Benn @bennexeter.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
This brings me more hope than I’ve had in a while. 🇨🇦🇪🇺 In case it’s not painfully obvious, fuck the orange manbaby.
youtube.com
FULL SPEECH: Mark Carney Addresses European Parliament on Global Geopolitical Rupture | AC1B
YouTube video by DRM News
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Benn @bennexeter.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
“Selfishness on the road changes us as a society … The belief that a driver should be allowed to do whatever they please, regardless of the impact on others … If this is to be a decent, inclusive country that values human life, then the law and its enforcement should match that aspiration.”
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Anti-Reform @antireform.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
"50 people stood together in Burgess Hill against a far-right mobilisation more than twice our size ... they targeted an ex-old people's home they [wrongly] claim will become an HMO. ... but if the far right are going to mobilise in our town. We need to mobilise too!" via Burgess Hill Green Party
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Benn @bennexeter.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
A polling company in bed with Reform? Surely not
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Benn @bennexeter.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
This is gorgeous. What a great idea 💚
youtube.com
We Built a Wildlife Corridor Through a City
YouTube video by Planet Wild
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Benn @bennexeter.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
A much-needed initiative courtesy of @sianberry.bsky.social 💚🏡
you.38degrees.org.uk
Fund Councils to Buy the Supply of Council Homes
We urgently need to replenish our decimated council housing stock, and part of the answer is real funding for councils to Buy the Supply. Over 169,000 children are homeless and living in overcrowded ...
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Sarah Murphy @13sarahmurphy.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
£72million can’t fix this. Nothing can fix this. This is Reform. A bunch of raging liabilities who shouldn’t ever be anywhere near public office. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Reform's Dan Thomas resigns as Wales leader after arrest
Thomas said he has done nothing wrong as Gwent Police confirms arrest on suspicion of assault.
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Peter Geoghegan @petergeoghegan.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
🔴950 people have now taken Democracy for Sale's survey about big money in British politics How worried are you about politics for sale? Should donations be capped? Do take the survey - and share it! thanks 😀 docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
docs.google.com
How concerned are you about UK political funding? – A Democracy for Sale survey
We're Democracy for Sale, a newsletter covering dark money and influence in UK politics. We're trying to better understand our readers' and the wider public's opinions and concerns about political fun...
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Benn @bennexeter.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
1) Individual cap at around £3k 2) Spending caps at all times, not just at election times 3) Ban organisational donations
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Hassinator @hassinator.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
a great letter in the times today. perhaps worth sharing in these troubled times. #RNLI #heroes
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The Green Party of England & Wales @greenparty.org.uk · 12/09/2026
Democracy for sale: Billionaires should not be able to bankroll British politics and buy political influence. It is time this government introduced a cap on donations.
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Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan @london.gov.uk · 14/09/2026
The rapid pace of AI development presents meaningful dangers to our society. My statement on the events of the last few days:
Part 1 of statement: AI CEOs are today voicing many of the same concerns I’ve been expressing on behalf of Londoners about the pace of AI development - and it’s clear a broad consensus has now emerged that it’s time to act.

AI is an incredibly powerful technology, and politicians and regulators need to be alert both to the opportunities and risks it presents.

Used responsibly, it has enormous potential to help us address some of the biggest challenges we face – from treating cancer to tackling the climate crisis.

But used recklessly, or in the wrong hands, we should be under no illusions: it can do immense harm, including to our national security, children’s wellbeing and the safety of women and girls.

I’ve previously warned AI could be a weapon of mass destruction for jobs and that’s one of the reasons why we’ve set up the London AI and Jobs Taskforce – to closely monitor its impact on our labour market and to act as an ‘early-warning system’ if there are certain negative trends emerging that we need to quickly respond to. 


Part 2 of statement: AI experts and engineers are also deeply concerned about the dangers AI poses to cyber security and the integrity of our internet infrastructure, as well as its potential to be used by rogue states and actors to develop biological weapons.

We’ve seen, in recent years, with social media the dangers of failing to effectively regulate new technologies. Social media has been used to undermine democracies, spread division and disinformation, and in some cases it’s had a seriously detrimental impact on our young people and their mental health.

We can’t make the same mistakes again and take a hands-off approach to AI regulation. 

National Governments and the international community need to step up and urgently work together to make sure this technology is being safely developed and deployed. 

That means at the very least ensuring there is proper democratic oversight of AI and putting a decisive end to the era of ‘move fast and break things’.Part 3 of statement: London and Europe can lead in this regard by advocating for stronger international institutions, more agile and effective regulation, and an approach that ensures we are shaping AI, rather than being shaped by it. 

Just like the co-ordinated international action we saw in the wake of the global financial crisis, today we need a similar response that crosses borders and is equal to the scale of the challenge we’re facing.

The age of AI presents many remarkable opportunities, but the risks involved are nothing short of existential. It’s why we must work together to manage the transition in a way that is consistent with our democratic values and never compromises on the safety of our cities and societies.

Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan
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Benn @bennexeter.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
An incredible achievement in only 12 months.
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Ali Rıza Taşkale @alirizataskale.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
Superb piece by Richard Seymour on AI “criti-hype”: how warnings of extinction can reinforce the industry’s own mythology of technological power. The real dangers lie not in a god-machine but in labour discipline, ecological damage, and concentrated corporate power. www.patreon.com/richardseymo...
patreon.com
Kill all humans | Richard Seymour
It seems a strange publicity gambit, to say our product could wipe out humanity. In the lingo of our evolving tech empire, though, this is e
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Owen Jones @owenjones.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
No, this is not a joke. UK Lawyers for Israel are trying to proscribe *Médecins Sans Frontières*. That’d mean they’d be treated as terrorists. On the same legal footing as ISIS. Membership would mean 14 years in prison. This is what we’re dealing with
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Suella De-Vil Shadowy spokesdemon for learning stuff @suellade.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
I’m sure little Tommeh and his fash mates will be all over this
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Lisa Severn @lisasevern.uk · 13/09/2026
That £72m will ensure that the next general election is going to be mired in personally targeted, AI generated, radicalisation content across social media Only a couple of years for the electoral commission to get ahead of it - there won't be any chance of an investigation afterwards
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