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Elliot Bidgood

@elliotbidgood.bsky.social
433 followers 741 following 168 posts

Work in charity public affairs and campaigns. All views are my own, tweets at @ElliotBidgood

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Reposted by Elliot Bidgood
Sunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · 14/09/2025
There is a serious failure in UK govt, politics & media to take sufficiently seriously what Musk said & meant with "fight back or die" = Violence (interethnic civil war) is inevitable so pre-emptive violence - vs migrants, minorities & political opponents - is necessary to avoid existential erasure
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British Soldier ⌯ Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 @britishsoldier.bsky.social · 13/05/2025
Office for Veterans’ Affairs: COBSEO and RBL have responded to the announcement of VALOUR, a new UK-wide veteran support system which will connect local services. For more info: questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-stat...
White text on a blue background with Ministry of Defence logo in top left corner.
Text reads: 
“We look forward to continuing to work alongside the government to foster coordination and collaboration across the service charity sector, and to ensure that our members can keep providing the life-enhancing support for veterans and their families that honours the contributions they have all made to the nation.”
Lt Gen Sir Nicholas Pope KCB CBE, Chair CobseoWhite text on a blue background with Ministry of Defence logo in top left corner.
Text reads: 
“The Royal British Legion welcomes today’s announcement to improve and better coordinate government support for veterans under VALOUR. 
We look forward to working closely with government and partner organisations to help turn these commitments into meaningful change.”
Mark Atkinson Director General Royal British Legion
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Helen Maguire MP 🔶 @helenmaguiremp.bsky.social · 16/05/2025
What a brilliant afternoon of #VEDay80 celebrations in Leatherhead last week, meeting members of the Mole Valley Silver Band, Leatherhead Youth Theatre, Royal British Legion & The Meeting Room. 🙌 Well done to everyone involved for organising such a special day!
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Elliot Bidgood @elliotbidgood.bsky.social · 05/05/2025
Nice Bank Holiday afternoon out at Halsey Hall for their Cheshunt #VEDay80 party. You can search local events this week here ve-vjday80.gov.uk/events/ and here: ve80.com#events
Local singer captivates the audience with Jerusalem in Halsey Hall, Cheshunt, in front of a draped union flag.Halsey Hall, Cheshunt - sign for their VE Day 80th celebration and cutouts of WW2 soldiers in the car park.Elliot and his wife in front of Halsey Hall, Cheshunt.
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Sunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · 05/05/2025
8/10 people think recognising role of Commonwealth soldiers matters. But much patchier awareness that those who won the war came from every ethnicity + faith. A narrow majority (55%) know Indian soldiers part of WW2. But only a quarter know of Caribbean & African service. VE Day can raise awareness
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Elliot Bidgood @elliotbidgood.bsky.social · 28/04/2025
Amazed by the resilience of all the runners I saw at #LondonMarathon yesterday, and great to see so many fundraising for Service charities including the #RoyalBritishLegion, #ScottysLittleSoldiers and @ssafaofficial.bsky.social.
Runners at the London Marathon, April 27th 2025Runners at the London Marathon, April 27th 2025Runners at the London Marathon, April 27th 2025
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Anthony Albanese @albomp.bsky.social · 24/04/2025
Today, on Anzac Day, we say one of the simplest but most powerful of sentences we have: Lest we forget.
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Elliot Bidgood @elliotbidgood.bsky.social · 21/04/2025
Last weekend was my three-year wedding anniversary. We got married during a trip to New York, a treasured memory. But I'm not sure I'd risk it today.
Ferry in New York, seeing Liberty Island on the morning of my wedding in April 2022.
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Oregon 🕎🎲 @oregonthedm.bsky.social · 09/04/2025
Biggest commitment to a 3 second joke I've ever seen
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Elliot Bidgood @elliotbidgood.bsky.social · 04/04/2025
In his book 'How Westminster Works...And Why It Doesn't', @iandunt.bsky.social says similar about local reporting in the UK.
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Elliot Bidgood @elliotbidgood.bsky.social · 20/03/2025
I like "Anxiety", but also finding its the Millennial/Y version of this meme for Gen X. Suspensefully waiting for either the brooding "Now and then I think of when we were together..." from Gotye I'm used to or Doechii bursting through the door with "Anxiety, keep on trying me...".
Cartoon with a Trojan horse, first few beats of Under Pressure, Ice Ice Baby, Queen and Bowie fans as the Greeks.
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Elliot Bidgood @elliotbidgood.bsky.social · 18/03/2025
Such a loss, the last people who lived this history are leaving us. As an Irishman, he also reminds us how many non-UK nationals have served in Britain's defence. The VE Day (May 8th) and VJ Day (Aug 15th) 80th anniversaries this year will be so important.
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Elliot Bidgood @elliotbidgood.bsky.social · 17/03/2025
Most powerful thing I've watched in a while. Hauntingly good acting and camera, and deals bluntly with online safety and radicalisation of boys. The third and fourth episodes are especially tough viewing, but worth watching. #Adolescence
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Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience @kingsioppn.bsky.social · 04/03/2025
Do you want to understand more about the history, medications and public awareness of #ADHD? Join our ADHD: Past, Present and Future panel discussion on Thursday 20 March from 17.30-18.30. #NeurodiversityCelebrationWeek Register 👉 bit.ly/4hLVPU1
bit.ly
ADHD: Past, Present and Future
An insightful conversation on the past, present and future of ADHD.
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The Secret Barrister @barristersecret.bsky.social · 16/03/2025
This is an exceptional piece of writing by an anonymous barrister recently diagnosed with ADHD. www.counselmagazine.co.uk/articles/adh...
counselmagazine.co.uk
ADHD Barrister
Marking Neurodiversity Week 2025, an anonymous barrister shares the revelations and emotions from a mid-career diagnosis with a view to encouraging others to find out more
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Elliot Bidgood @elliotbidgood.bsky.social · 13/03/2025
Interesting look at why the Government has shifted from seeking to avoid restructure to abolition of NHS England. The Lansley aim to somehow 'depoliticise' the NHS never been thought to work - no one thinks the DHSC Secretary isn't already responsible - but still a big move.
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Manor House Speakers (Toastmasters) @manorhousetoasties.bsky.social · 12/03/2025
Thanks so much to our speaker Hannah Bays for her prepared speech tonight on her work in art and 'Mediatory Devices in Rome'🎨, and to our four guests tonight. It was also wonderful to see so many of our guests step up for off-the-cuff Table Topics, along with some of our regulars.
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John Vibes @johnvibes.bsky.social · 11/03/2025
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BFBS Forces News @forcesnews.com · 08/03/2025
Female veterans and serving personnel gathered at the RAF Club in London to celebrate women's vital contributions during the Second World War for International Women's Day. Find out more here👇
forcesnews.com
Inspirational veterans mark 80 years of vital work on International Women's Day
The event organised by the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans honoured the huge contribution women made during the Second World War.
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Manor House Speakers (Toastmasters) @manorhousetoasties.bsky.social · 07/03/2025
Spring is all about growth—so why not grow your public speaking and leadership skills too? 🌿🎤 Whether you're looking to overcome stage fright, speak with impact, or build leadership skills, Manor House Speakers is the perfect place to start.
Manor House Speakers, calendar, women for International Women's Day. a shamrock for St Patrick's Day.
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Nute @nutedawn.bsky.social · 07/03/2025
Was joking about this yesterday but I think all politicos of all stripes should always remember that our brains are literally hardwired to trick us into overestimating how many people agree with us and we should remain *extremely* vigilant about anything that appears to reinforce that
en.m.wikipedia.org
False consensus effect - Wikipedia
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Elliot Bidgood @elliotbidgood.bsky.social · 07/03/2025
Looked them up and their song Laugh About It is earwormy ("I wouldn′t use a word as strong as hate, But I hope they cancel trains when you're running late" - genius). They've got talent. Not sure about tempo of this track yet but best of luck to them. #Eurovision2025
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Mark Cuban @mcuban.bsky.social · 23/02/2025
Dear Dems. This is a reminder that Donald Trump rescinded the ethics rules preventing gifts to executive branch employees. Now would be a good time to propose legislation formalizing the prevention into a law Time to do things that make him react to you. apnews.com/article/trum...
apnews.com
Trump has canceled Biden's ethics rules. Critics call it the opposite of 'drain the swamp'
Donald Trump took office eight years ago pledging to “drain the swamp” of the dominance of Washington influence peddlers.
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Elliot Bidgood @elliotbidgood.bsky.social · 23/02/2025
Bond supervillain: Alexa, launch missiles in 30 minutes. Alexa: Okay, I have staunched the gristle for 30 minutes. Supervillain: Alexa, no, you are failing to launch the missiles. Alexa: "Failure to Launch" is a 2006 romantic comedy film starring Matthew McConaughey.
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Rafael Behr @rafaelbehr.bsky.social · 22/02/2025
Global crisis style note: What Trump is doing to Ukraine is not 'blackmail', which would be demand for payment under threat of exposure of compromising information*. This is demand for payment under threat of violence/refusal to protect from violence. The word is 'extortion'.
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Ian Dunt @iandunt.bsky.social · 22/02/2025
Good morning. After a rough few days, this week's Blind Date was perfectly timed to fill you with joy. Couldn't wipe the smile off my face. www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
theguardian.com
Blind date: ‘I was hoping to meet a total babe. She was a total babe’
Gráinne, 31, a software engineer and musician, meets Alexander, 34, a civil servant
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Iain Mansfield @igmansfield.bsky.social · 22/02/2025
"Trump’s election in 2016 was a gift to Europe. It handed the continent’s leaders...a decade to prepare for a world in which they could no longer rely for their security on the US But Europe’s leaders squandered that gift." By Yascha Mounk. yaschamounk.substack.com/p/europes-co...
yaschamounk.substack.com
Europe's Coming Fall
Either you shape history or history shapes you.
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Ian Dunt @iandunt.bsky.social · 21/02/2025
Zelensky is perhaps the defining figure of our age. Brave, ingenious, pragmatic and defined by his convictions. They hate him because he kills fascists.
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Sam Freedman @samfr.bsky.social · 21/02/2025
This is a poor headline from the BBC. The US aren't offering a "deal" - they want the minerals in return for support already given. It's straight up extortion.
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Elliot Bidgood @elliotbidgood.bsky.social · 17/02/2025
The ironic cornerstone of MAGA is America choosing to be what it hasn't been for 80 years - just another country, self-enclosed, not a world leader or a guarantor for allies. That means Starmer is right about UK and European defence spending.
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Robert Saunders @robertsaunders.bsky.social · 15/02/2025
The peace dividend is over. Europe needs a rapid rise in defence spending. That's a tragedy. Money spent on instruments of death cannot be spent on the means of life: art, schools, childcare, housing. It will change radically what progressive govts can do. But without it,everything else is at risk
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Elliot Bidgood @elliotbidgood.bsky.social · 15/02/2025
Did a rewatch of Set It Up (2018) last night for #ValentinesDay after first seeing it when it went up on @netflix.com - still easily my favourite romcom. 2010s gags blended with homage-to-90s vibes, sweet and comfortingly predictable but still sharply written.
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Elliot Bidgood @elliotbidgood.bsky.social · 15/02/2025
The logic of the US political system and the individual incentives of potential 2028 presidential candidates go against it, but this really is something the Democrats need. In the UK, having elected party leaders and shadow spokespeople isn't always enough to get press attention, but it *helps*.
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jamelle @jamellebouie.net · 07/02/2025
i really hope democrats are listening to @jvl.bsky.social www.thebulwark.com/p/how-to-win...
thebulwark.com
How to Win the USAID Fight
Rules for Democrats.
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Civil Society @civilsociety.bsky.social · 07/02/2025
Unlock’s new chief executive discusses her journey into the charity sector, the ‘vulnerability’ of staff with lived experience, and hope for the future...
civilsociety.co.uk
Paula Harriott: ‘I’m still one of very few lived experience CEOs’
Unlock’s new chief executive discusses her journey into the charity sector, the ‘vulnerability’ of staff with lived experience, and hope for the future...
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Elliot Bidgood @elliotbidgood.bsky.social · 07/02/2025
#ICYMI, insights roundup 🧵 from @principleconsult.bsky.social on policy and public affairs news for charities to follow.
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Josh Marshall @joshtpm.bsky.social · 04/02/2025
New Exclusive building on Wired's reporting: Musk operatives have already pushed live to production extensive code changes to the Treasury Department payment system which makes 95% of fed govs payments. talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/musk-...
talkingpointsmemo.com
Musk Cronies Dive Into Treasury Dept Payments Code Base
Overnight Wired reported that contrary to published reports that DOGE operatives at...
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Elliot Bidgood @elliotbidgood.bsky.social · 04/02/2025
8% of Canadians not being quite sure whether they want to be annexed by the US is the kind of stat in polling I always love.
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Barney Panofsky's Best Intentions @mynamesnotgordy.bsky.social · 02/02/2025
Hear me out. A completely Canadian-themed Valentine's Day this year. Only Canadian-made gifts. We'll call it Valentine's D'eh.
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Elliot Bidgood @elliotbidgood.bsky.social · 02/02/2025
I joined my then-local Toastmasters branch @manorhousetoasties.bsky.social three years ago and have always always find this bit valuable, and (mostly!) fun.
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Dan Sohege @danielsohege.bsky.social · 01/02/2025
Please just stop. The internet has meant more people previously ignored for diagnosis, due to lack of recognition for even basic traits, have been able to find a community and recognise those traits. That's a good thing. It isn't "over-diagnosis". It's catching up after decades of "under-diagnosis".
Daydreaming, social awkwardness: Has the internet diagnosed you with autism or ADHD?
Autism and ADHD diagnoses are spiking. But some psychiatrists argue we’ve reached the point of ‘overdiagnosis’. So, how did we get here, and why is the internet making it so much worse?
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Paul Hardcastle @shitposts.online · 29/01/2025
Really not a fan of the whole 'far right feeling empowered to get away with this sort of shit' thing going on right now metro.co.uk/2025/01/29/r...
metro.co.uk
Razor blade found hidden under Neo-Nazi sticker at Overground train station
The sticker was found on Monday, which was Holocaust Memorial Day.
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Madeleine Sugden @madlinsudn.bsky.social · 29/01/2025
@mindcharity.bsky.social who have 508k followers on X have just announced that they will no longer be posting there. This is one of the first loud quits from a really big charity I have seen. They hadn't posted on X since November. They are here instead and building up from their 2k followers.
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Mind @mind.org.uk · 29/01/2025
Just a lil reminder today 🩵
A soft, pink watercolor circle labeled “Your Life,” with a small dot near its edge labeled “this moment.”
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Scott Bryan @scottygb.bsky.social · 27/01/2025
Lovely to know that viewers of #TheTraitors have donated as much as Alexander would have won.
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Katie Mack @astrokatie.com · 27/01/2025
Withdrawing US funding from the World Health Organization is a potential disaster for public health worldwide, due to the impact it will have on the important work the WHO does. Preventing the CDC from even *talking* with WHO personnel is a step much farther toward undermining global health & safety
apnews.com
CDC ordered to stop working with WHO immediately, upending expectations of an extended withdrawal
U.S. public health officials have been told to stop working with the World Health Organization, effective immediately. The surprise decision is focused on the U.S.
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Sam Freedman @samfr.bsky.social · 26/01/2025
This is why you don't design curricula around "jobs of the future". We can't predict the future but we do know what general skills and knowledge will be valuable whatever job you do.
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Manor House Speakers (Toastmasters) @manorhousetoasties.bsky.social · 25/01/2025
Live near N4 and want to work on your public speaking? Our next in-person meeting will be on Wednesday Jan 29th, 7pm at the Redmond Community Centre, Kayani Avenue, Woodberry Down, London, www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/public-spe... #publicspeaking #leadershipskills
Manor House Speakers, picture of Manor House and Redmond Centre, people meeting online and in-person.
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