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David Robson

@davidotley.bsky.social
774 followers 405 following 8.5K posts

Hike, bike, bothy, belay, veg, politics, Can, Mekons, community, film, gigs. “I have moments”.

PostsRepliesMedia
David Robson @davidotley.bsky.social · 5h
What’s the best way to do this? 👇 www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
theguardian.com
More than 44,000 file legal objections to Palantir NHS platform handling their data
Exclusive: Campaign comes amid backlash against tech company’s involvement with Israeli military and Trump’s ICE crackdown
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David Robson @davidotley.bsky.social · 9h
Paying for the care system. Tell me why this is a bad idea … Our more well off pensioners (not the 2 million in poverty) should pay National insurance Contributions. It makes no sense that comfortably off pensioners should pay less in tax than those of working age. Please don’t say ‘stamps’.
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David Robson @davidotley.bsky.social · 11h
Matt Brittin went on to describe his vision of the future of the BBC: “Eviscerate. Eviscerate. Eviscerate.”
Davros - creator of the Daleks.
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David Robson @davidotley.bsky.social · 22h
Amusing on Newsnight that media folk find it so difficult to cope with the idea that a politician switching to long game politics might actually mean it, and might be willing to accept short term gossip. BBC’s Nick doing the BBC drama queen thing. (Guardian honourably excepted).
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David Robson @davidotley.bsky.social · 23h
Every contribution like Douglas Alexander’s on Newsnight (finding it impossible to just say “yes the change to the triple lock after 2029 will result in pensions rising but rising slower”) erodes the trust in politics that Burnham says he wants to rebuild. Talk straight or ship out.
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David Robson @davidotley.bsky.social · 23h
It was a great speech from Burnham. It was big picture stuff rather than the usual ‘and we’re going to take 1p off whisky’ twaddle. Two big holes - which will hopefully get filled soon: 1) Nature and the environment 2) Taxation reform - including wealth as a tax source.
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David Robson @davidotley.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Headline could also read: Labour leader proposes Labour-type policies as the way to improve the country’s problems. Well - at last! www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
theguardian.com
Burnham gambles on radical progressive plan to help Britain ‘rise again’
PM also confirms plan to end pensions triple lock to pay for national care service and pledges to put electoral reform in Labour’s manifesto
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David Robson @davidotley.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Watching Milliband waiting for his cue to stand up and applaud was very sweet.
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David Robson @davidotley.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
So it’s going to become a double and a bit lock.
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David Robson @davidotley.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Burnham’s delivery is probably better than Starmer’s.
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David Robson @davidotley.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Any chance that there was a small typo in Anthropic AI’s IPO summary? Maybe the first line should read “Anthropic IPO could value the company at -$2 trillion”.
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David Robson @davidotley.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Gérard Depardieu? www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...
theguardian.com
Rubio says foreign actor was ‘clearly’ behind suspected RAF Fairford bomb plot
The US secretary of state offered no evidence for his claims, and also said many people were ‘disturbed’ that the five suspects had been released on bail
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David Robson @davidotley.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
This puts the situation at BBC News very well. The corporation has lost its way re how to cover news and current affairs. Maybe it’s punch drunk, maybe it’s being badly led (malevolently or ineffectually). Whatever - it needs to go back to basics - what is news for? bylinetimes.com/2026/09/07/t...
bylinetimes.com
The BBC Is Just Nodding Along
The corporation's news coverage has lost its soul as a bulwark against unaccountable power and extremism, writes a former BBC News producer
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David Robson @davidotley.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
This kind of thing is total b*****ks. The people who set it up are scared of real life. Ban it - it does none of us any good at all. www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
theguardian.com
Teachers at Euan Blair firm report ‘horrendous stress’ after AI used to rate their work
Exclusive: Instructors at tech training company Multiverse hit out at ‘remorseless’ and ‘unnerving’ monitoring system
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David Robson @davidotley.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
In depth political analysis incoming from me ….. …. eh-hem …. Idiot!
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David Robson @davidotley.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Jonathan Reynolds over the weekend: “Hey Grok (for it is he) can you come up with a reason for not rejoining the EU that doesn’t depend on facts, hasn’t been used before, and allows me to use my ‘wise and reasonable’ persona when I deliver it”. www.politico.eu/article/eu-u...
politico.eu
UK Cabinet minister says push to undo Brexit is hitting business
Jonathan Reynolds said the focus should be on improving Britain’s trading relationship with Brussels.
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David Robson @davidotley.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
“…and that is why” Milliband continued “we will make a few headlines catching tweaks to our policies without changing anything that actually addresses the legitimate anger that I spoke about”. “Oh - and you’ll still get arrested”. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
theguardian.com
‘You were right’: Ed Miliband tells critics Labour was wrong on Gaza
Foreign secretary will tell party’s conference ‘we are not here to accept the status quo but to change it’
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David Robson @davidotley.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Are they the gardeners that we've never seen in his programmes? Thought he did it all himself. www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...
theguardian.com
Monty Don says he may have to let go of his gardeners after leaving BBC
Presenter reveals corporation has been paying part of their salaries to keep his Herefordshire garden camera-ready
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David Robson @davidotley.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
I’m sure they worked very hard. www.theguardian.com/business/202...
theguardian.com
London’s investment bankers and lawyers make more than £1bn in takeover frenzy
Bumper fees paid in the year’s mergers and acquisitions spark anger over high City pay during cost of living crisis
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David Robson @davidotley.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Star Wars 10: Journey up its own Fundament. Star Wars 11: Here we go again Star Wars 12: To Incontinence and Beyond www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general...
hollywoodreporter.com
‘Star Wars’: Jon Watts to Direct Next Movie for Lucasfilm
Simon Kinberg is writing the new trilogy that is said to be next episodes of the Skywalker Saga.
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David Robson @davidotley.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Just finished watching Paris Police 1900 on iPlayer. It’s about a well funded group of nutters using racism to whip up the mob and overthrow the state. The leader has serious mother issues and is a huge drama queen. They are stopped by people with moral fibre. Very instructive.
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David Robson @davidotley.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Eeeeeeeaaauuuuuuugggghhhh! A Glasgow smile could soon be superceded by a Muse bouche. www.theguardian.com/fashion/2026...
theguardian.com
‘Charming and disarming’ … how Meta’s technology-packed Muse harnesses the power of cuteness
The tech giant has launched a cute ‘little guy’ that can answer emails, book travel or do your weekly food shop
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David Robson @davidotley.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Just waiting for the day when Bluesky has a 'Trump (archived)' list.
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David Robson @davidotley.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
www.theguardian.com/football/202...
static.klipy.com
Fawlty Towers Manuel: I Know Nothing
ALT: Fawlty Towers Manuel: I Know Nothing
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David Robson @davidotley.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
How social media can be really, really s**t. themomoftheyear.substack.com/p/im-the-mom...
themomoftheyear.substack.com
I’m the Mom in That Viral Giants Clip. Let Me Tell You About My Husband.
You saw me carrying our baby and food. There was more happening in our family that night.
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David Robson @davidotley.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
We should reject the use of the words ‘rogue’ and ‘autonomous’ in connection with AI breaches. All AI has been designed by human designers, and will do what its design enables it to do. Bad design may have been involved (!) but blame rests on the AI companies. www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
theguardian.com
OpenAI says agents leaked 53 images from ChatGPT users in latest example of rogue activity
Disclosure reveals ⁠new area of privacy risk for the company and illustrates ​how difficult it is to inventory unauthorized activity tied to its agents
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David Robson @davidotley.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Do we need an ‘App Device’? Something that just holds all those (currently) essential apps. www.theguardian.com/money/2026/s...
theguardian.com
Schoolchildren without smartphones penalised with higher bus fares
Despite guidance keeping mobile phones out of England’s schools, cheaper travel may only be available via an app
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David Robson @davidotley.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Bold - but not bold enough. Try “Labour needs to do more things to convince more voters that a progressive agenda is the right approach.” www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
theguardian.com
Labour must reunite progressive voters to win the next election, says Lucy Powell
The deputy leader wants the party to take advantage of a split on the right and not be embarrassed to show its values
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David Robson @davidotley.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Stewart Lee takes anti-migrant sentiment to its logical conclusion … www.thenerve.news/p/stewart-le...
thenerve.news
Stewart Lee: Why don’t we stage public drownings of migrants, to address people’s legitimate concerns?
The collapse of compassion in post-Brexit Britain suggests it’s now time for Roman-style lethal spectacles.  The alternative – stopping malign global influences from destabilising our society, say – s...
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David Robson @davidotley.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Because it’s good to know the facts ….
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David Robson @davidotley.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Right wing racists are like flood water flowing down a hill. They will pour through any gaps, gouge out deeper channels, and destroy lives. They need damming, and diverting - and their headwaters need draining. Ignoring them (Shabana!!!!! ) just makes matters worse.
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David Robson @davidotley.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Just to correct the headline: OpenAI has done something that its design enabled it to do, and its designers blame the thing that they designed.
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David Robson @davidotley.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Bratfud.
Flower carpet outside  Bradford City Hall.
There until Sunday.
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David Robson @davidotley.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
This shows the actual results in Saxony-Anhalt last week (bottom two pie charts) under their PR system, and what they would have been (top two pie charts) if they had been using the UK’s marvellous FPTP system. And we use FPTP because ……?
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David Robson @davidotley.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Imagine the punishment that would have rained down on the Palestine Action pensioners if they had turned up dressed from head to toe in black, surrounded a Police Station, and demanded the release of a prisoner using an undecipherable 3 syllable chant. Rather than just writing on some cardboard.
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David Robson @davidotley.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Nice advert for Meta’s audio-only smart glasses on BBC News this lunchtime. The ones with cameras are, apparently, “creepy”. Not perverty - creepy.
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David Robson @davidotley.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
“Two things on your desk Home Secretary - some possible refugees arriving without transferring boats in mid-channel, and the leader of those black-clad marchers slashing a boat at sea during a rescue operation.” “OK - I’m on it!!!” www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Home Secretary hits out at 'unacceptable' migrant landings in Kent
The arrivals of two unescorted migrant boats mark the first uncontrolled landings recorded in the UK since 2025.
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David Robson @davidotley.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
September 23rd and the local ‘Yorkshire Trader’ have decided “It’s time!!!”. Also spot their key range, highlighted, in the store 🤪
Yorkshire Trader shop with Xmas tree and decorations in the entrance.

And a ‘Poo bags’ sign.
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David Robson @davidotley.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Not sure these two go together ...
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David Robson @davidotley.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
It’s now obvious that Burnham’a meeting with Trump will be seen as having gone really, really well because Trump didn’t call him a “sleazebag”. There again (and this was enormously in his favour) Burnham isn’t an eloquent, intelligent woman.
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David Robson @davidotley.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Bizarre things that happened in your assembly: This was when I was teaching. A member of staff somehow (for some reason!!!) got the boy band ‘Busted’ to appear at a school assembly. The kids went mad - for the whole day. I’d never been more disappointed in our young people.
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David Robson @davidotley.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Give these two a daily peak time current affairs programme. 😂😂😂👏👏👏
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David Robson @davidotley.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Great to hear about Chris Mason’s adventures in America on the Today programme this morning: * how his seat was not as big as Andy Burnham’s on the plane; * how he got himself into a good position to ask a question; * how he knew exactly which question to ask. More of this please!!
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David Robson @davidotley.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
I’m sorry - but is this a trailer for Trump TV, or a piss-take? youtu.be/vcID0OafOts?...
youtu.be
Trump TV is Here
YouTube video by The White House
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David Robson @davidotley.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Can’t reply to Iain so just to say that Bylines Times raised various issues of concern about Orr with Cambridge University. Their response? They ignored it. That’s procedures. This is all documented.
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Reposted by David Robson
Stanandthat @stanandthat.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
(chef's kiss)
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David Robson @davidotley.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
How I slowly developed common sense and caught up with the hoi polloi - by Francis Fukuyama.
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David Robson @davidotley.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
When did the Swedes become such turnips? www.theguardian.com/world/2026/s...
theguardian.com
‘I have nothing in the UK at all’: British man torn from his Swedish wife and home
Charles lands at Heathrow with just two bags and nowhere to go as a result of Brexit and Stockholm’s hardline immigration position
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David Robson @davidotley.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Maybe replace the triple pension lock with the tax free personal allowance level? (And extend NIC to pensioners at IT rates.) www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
theguardian.com
Britain needs cash and everyone knows we should break the pensions triple lock. Where is the courage? | Gaby Hinsliff
The issue cannot be avoided any longer. Andy Burnham and his chancellor must face the fear of a pensioner backlash, and find a fair solution, says Guardian columnist Gaby Hinsliff
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David Robson @davidotley.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Still use Facebook do you? Is that because you have no shame? Or are just keen to trash your own image? www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
theguardian.com
Meta bans ads for Virginia Woolf play in Spain because they relate to feminism
Theatre told that Facebook and Instagram filter out ads mentioning ‘social topics’ such as civil rights or feminism
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