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David Cottam

@davidcottam6.bsky.social
805 followers 1.9K following 1.7K posts

Inquisitive person. Composer and player of music. Ecology, arts and science enthusiast.

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Reposted by David Cottam
Alex Andreou @sturdyalex.bsky.social · 14h
If you’re reading today’s papers and thinking, did I watch a different Badenoch speech, may I recommend our sanity-restoring review? “The same people who could not build a railtrack from London to Manchester for £100bn, will build the Kemi Death Star for 10bn. It’s so ludicrous as to be offensive.”
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Private Eye Magazine @privateeyenews.bsky.social · 17h
Number crunching: “the poorest in our society” From the new Private Eye, out now.
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Josiah Mortimer @josiahmortimer.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
This does however solidify my theory that Reform are simply planning to spend *all* the crypto billionaire cash before the Electoral Commission and police even put their shoes on
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Torsten Bell @torstenbell.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
So what this week has taught us is that the Conservative offer is to: - prioritise the wealthiest - blow up the public finances
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Adam Bienkov @adambienkov.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
From the new Private Eye
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Prem Sikka @premnsikka.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
Thousands of active UK companies may have fraudulent directors. Anyone can form a company in the UK. Companies need one natural person as a director who can be non-UK resident. Too many small companies are fronts for crimes I have long called for companies to have one UK resident director.
tradersunion.com
UK companies face scrutiny as identity checks expose possible fraudulent directors
New UK identity rules reveal possible fraudulent company directors as overdue filings surge, raising concerns about the accuracy of corporate records.
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George Monbiot @georgemonbiot.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
Do check out Rupert’s website. It’s amazing. And so is he. thelonekayaker.wordpress.com
thelonekayaker.wordpress.com
The Lone Kayaker
Rupert Kirkwood's Wild World of Water. As seen from a Kayak.
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Guy Shrubsole @guyshrubsole.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
The Prime Minister @andyburnham.bsky.social has pledged to hold a Wildfire Summit later this Autumn (which may cover other extreme weather too). The Summit must agree a plan to re-wet the UK’s peat bogs, restore lost ponds in farmers’ fields, and stop grouse moor owners setting fire to moorland.
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Private Eye Magazine @privateeyenews.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
Archer’s resignation from the London mayoral race after it was revealed he lied in court was the thing that got Paul Foot up from his sickbed and contributing again, having first started chronicling Archer’s lies and misdemeanours in 1969. From the Private Eye archive. Issue 992, December 1999.
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David Cottam @davidcottam6.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
Nelly has settled in to her new home and a big comfy bed. She has weaned her pups and retired to join her grandmother Jessie (who is 11) for country walks and a quiet life sniffing the grass.
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Mary Corcoran @marycorcoran.bsky.social · 07/03/2025
TweedleDumb & TweedleSly #streetart
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Alex Andreou @sturdyalex.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
Apparently "Kemi" has "fresh solutions" uniquely tailored to Britain's current problems. <excitedly prepares to take notes> Cut taxes, reward the wealthiest, punish the poor and sick, alienate our allies, deregulate big business, and privatise any remaining state function. WAAAAAAIT A MINUTE!
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Best for Britain @bestforbritain.org · 05/10/2026
Ofcom rules say broadcasters cannot use politicians as newsreaders, interviewers or reporters in any news programmes. So why is Nigel Farage allowed to host his own primetime show on GB News? Demand that Ofcom takes immediate action ⬇️
bestforbritain.org
Farage on GB News: Demand that Ofcom takes immediate action - Best for Britain
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Alex Andreou @sturdyalex.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
This is a good explainer of why the motion is a problem. www.linestotake.com/p/green-part...
linestotake.com
Jewishness itself is now the offence
The Green Party votes to say “Zionism is racism”
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David Osland @davidosland.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Capitalism has now reached the stage at which companies openly admit that their products represent 'an existential risk to humanity'. And then invite investors to pump money into them anyway.
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Josiah Mortimer @josiahmortimer.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Great stuff from Adam, and thanks to @mrjamesob.bsky.social for being pretty much the only non-Byline journalist to pick this story up
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Adam Bienkov @adambienkov.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
The Conservative party Shadow Culture Secretary to speak at conference tomorrow about how to "defend press freedom", whilst her own party bans journalists whose coverage they don't like
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Peter Geoghegan @petergeoghegan.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
🔴 We asked Tony Blair's think tank about charging businesses £500k for political access at party conferences and why one of its sponsor's logos disappeared after our reporting last week on TBI's alleged cash for access scheme This is what they said
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Peter Geoghegan @petergeoghegan.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
🔴 Protests against Palantir across England today. In July, we published this deep dive into Palantir, its lobbying in Britain and the myriad problems NHS staff have had with its software. democracyforsale.substack.com/p/its-just-a...
democracyforsale.substack.com
"It's just a waste of time": inside Palantir's £330m NHS failure
Our new investigation reveals the problems with Palantir’s NHS tech - and the unrivalled political access that fuelled the firm’s march into the British state
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Adam Bienkov @adambienkov.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
I've been a member of the lobby for well over a decade. Not a single one of my lobby colleagues has said a word about the Conservatives banning me from their conferences, without any explanation. Contrast with the US where even Fox News stood in solidarity when Trump banned news outlets he disliked
bylinetimes.com
Kemi Badenoch's Conservatives Block Byline Times From Conference After Condemning Reform for Journalist Ban
The ban comes just weeks after the Conservative leader called Reform's barring of critical journalists from their conference an "authoritarian" attack on the free press
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David Cottam @davidcottam6.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
I accompanied my adult son to a hospital appointment at Brompton by train from Exeter. I was overwhelmed by the wonderful Passenger Assist teams at Exeter & Paddington who helped him on and off trains, got him onto buggies & lifts. Kind, patient, cheerful welcoming people. What a brilliant service!
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Dr Seán DOOLAN 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 🇮🇪 @sdinpraxis.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Wonder when the British Museum will get around to displaying a Brexit Tapestry illustrating the defeat of the populace and the triumph of the buccaneering, asset-stripping, opportunistic Brexiteers?
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paulusthewoodgnome @paulusthewoodgnome.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Alys Denby leaning 100% into the Kemi Badenoch narrative about millionaires fleeing the country. Will Dunn has shown this to be a gross deception. Albeit, one which is very handy for the likes of Denby because they never get challenged over it on shows like #politicslive. bsky.app/profile/will...
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Alex Andreou @sturdyalex.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Absolutely fascinating to see Laura Kuenssberg interviewing Burnham, flailing to adjust her stance to a politician with a moral argument and a positive message, who stands up for his policies and answers her questions clearly. She is getting so agitated at him not playing the game by the 'rules'.
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solomonhughes.bsky.social @solomonhughes.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
George Osborne, British Museum Chair and Palantir's Peter Thiel are both investors in the same Defence Tech company. By coincidence, Peter Thiel was given a VIP tour of the Bayeux Tapestry at the British Museum before even the King or PM - Osborne-Thiel links in current @privateeyenews.bsky.social
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David Cottam @davidcottam6.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
open.substack.com/pub/democrac...
open.substack.com
BREAKING: Tony Blair Institute’s $25,000 corporate network “smells like cash for access”
Exclusive documents show Tony Blair's think tank offers corporate members such as BP and Uber "networking" at party conferences and "a stronger voice" in policy debates.
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Steve Peers @stevepeers.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
I'm imagining "Tommo's" exploits being set out in a criminal law exam question, and the Home Secretary and local police officers being unable to identify any crimes
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Prem Sikka @premnsikka.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Vet prescription fees capped at £21 under rule changes. Doesn't deal with the real problems. Control of vet services by private equity, local monopolies. Profiteering High charges for treatment PE has overlapping interest in insurance and pet medicines.
bbc.co.uk
Vet prescription fees to be capped under rule changes
Vets must also tell clients if cheaper medicine is available online as part of the rule updates which surgeries have the coming months to bring in.
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Jim Pickard @pickardje.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
my brilliant colleague @robertshrimsley.bsky.social on the threat from Elon Musk’s X platform www.ft.com/content/f270...
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Jonesy Cartoons @jonesycartoons3.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
@privateeyenews.bsky.social #cartoon
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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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Quiet Riot @quietriotpod.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
NEW EPISODE: The Big Bung Theory! Reform U.K. is awash with cash so we talk all things spending rules, changes to donation law, and what it all means for our democracy. 🍏 podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/q... 🎧 open.spotify.com/episode/34B3...
podcasts.apple.com
The Big Bung Theory
Podcast Episode · Quiet Riot · 17 September · 53min
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David Osland @davidosland.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Anyone know why a newspaper owned by the Fourth Lord Rothermere, who inherited a fortune from the Third Lord Rothermere, who inherited his money from the Second Lord Rothermere, who inherited it from the First Lord Rothermere, is so strongly opposed to inheritance tax?
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David Osland @davidosland.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Democracy means one person, one vote. Not two billionaires, one party.
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Alex Andreou @sturdyalex.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Dear AI Experts If you think most people misunderstand certain things or are listening to the wrong experts, your role - perhaps even your duty - is to help others understand. It is not to shush and exclude 99.99% of humanity from a vital conversation about every aspect of its future.
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Amyn Merchant @amynmerchant.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
@quietriotpod.bsky.social
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Richard Corbett CBE @richardcorbett.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
£72 million is more than every UK political party combined accepted in donations and public funds throughout the whole of 2025. It’s more than twice what a party contesting every seat may spend nationally in the year before a general election. This is NOT normal! www.uglypolitix.com/p/two-men-48...
uglypolitix.com
Two men, 48 hours, £72m - What’s the Problem?
Two men gave Reform more in 48 hours than every British party raised in 2025. The Government's answer is a working group with no members, no remit and no timetable.
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David Cottam @davidcottam6.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
@alexpodyssey.bsky.social Is Podyssey returning soon?
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David Osland @davidosland.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
Billionaires who don't pay taxes give tens of millions of pounds to the racist right while newspapers owned by billionaires who don't pay taxes smear the politicians who challenge them. Because they want to ensure 'a fair fight and a level playing field', apparently.
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David Cottam @davidcottam6.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
“Oh God, What Now!” : a podcast that is worth its subscription. The recent interview with Jon Ronson was a delightful candid and hilarious look at the despair and weirdness caused by influencers seeking engagement through search engine optimisation. The existential despair driving the manosphere.
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Adam Bienkov @adambienkov.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
Reform UK's record-breaking donor was accused of running “in effect a money laundering platform”. Prosecutors accused Delo of being the “leader of a criminal enterprise” who knew that his Bitmex platform had become a “magnet for money laundering and criminal activity”.
adambienkov.co.uk
Reform UK Is Now a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of the Corrupt Crypto Industry
As criminal investigations into Reform’s funding continue, much of the British press continues to give a free pass to Nigel Farage’s shady funders
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Peter Whitewood @pwhitewood.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
Another healthy day for British democracy
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Bill @washingtonwill.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
Reform UK is not a political party it is a business, owned by NF. The primary aim of a business is to make money for its shareholders, in this case NF. That being the case, how is it possible for a business to have MPs in Parliament? Would someone please explain?
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Adam Bienkov @adambienkov.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
A reminder that Delo previously pled guilty in the US to violating money laundering protections and agreed to pay a $10 million fine for "willfully” breaking the law with his BitMex platform, which was described as "in effect a money laundering platform.” This is who owns Farage now
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David Osland @davidosland.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
Taxpayers foot the £2,700 a month rent on Kemi Badenoch's six-bedroom farmhouse in Essex. Then she goes on telly and argues that taxpayers shouldn't subsidise other people's rent.
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Alex Andreou @sturdyalex.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
“To lose one councillor, Mr. Farage, may be regarded as a misfortune; to lose 148 looks like a shitshow.”
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Private Eye Magazine @privateeyenews.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
Nigel Farage says he “frankly wasn’t even listening” while foreign donations were discussed in front of him. Another thing he won’t want to hear: IT’S PRIVATE EYE WEEK! New edition in shops and with subscribers from Wednesday.
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JoRichardsKent @jorichardskent.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
AI. AI Data Centres. AI Hyperscale Data Centres. Tech Bros. Broligarchy. Musk. Bezos. Meta. Google. Amazon. Etc etc.
@AbakpaJob

I still think about the guy who pointed out that "the underlying purpose of Al is to allow wealth to access skill while removing from the skilled the ability to access wealth." Rarely have I seen Al described so succinctly.
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Private Eye Magazine @privateeyenews.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
That Reform oyster bar sting in full The new Private Eye is out now.
A photo of the front cover of issue 1683 of Private Eye magazine with the caption “ON SHELVES NOW!” Heading reads “THAT REFORM OYSTER BAR STING IN FULL” and features an image of Nigel Farage eating an oyster, with speechbubbles reading: “How many would you like?”, “500,000 please!”, “Shellfish?”, “You bet I am!”, “It is not a good year for Nigel”, “Don’t swallow anything he says!”, “Watch out, he could be dodgy!” and “He’s too slimy for me!” The bottom caption reads “PUBLIC ‘NOT LISTENING’ TO FARAGE EXCUSES SHOCK!”
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Adam Bienkov @adambienkov.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
At the same time as banning myself and other journalists from their conference this week, this is who Reform laid out the red carpet for www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...
theguardian.com
Raise the Colours leader given access to Reform UK conference while on bail
Ryan Bridge, arrested this year on suspicion of religiously and racially aggravated harassment, says party invited him
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