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fipunchard.bsky.social

@fipunchard.bsky.social
62 followers 174 following 58 posts
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Reposted by @fipunchard.bsky.social
Dan Snow @thehistoryguy.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
If you think a distinct sub category of human exists because some medieval warlords agreed that the border of England should be on the River Tweed, you are, Im afraid, an absolute maniac bsky.app/profile/theh...
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Yachad @yachad.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
Our executive director, Hannah Weisfeld, on @tomswarbrick.bsky.social's @lbc.co.uk show yesterday discussing the Green Party adopting the motion 'Zionism is Racism'.
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Sathnam Sanghera @sathnam.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
#empireworld is available for 99p as a kindle deal innit amzn.eu/d/0aaF6wLd
amzn.eu
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Jonathan Portes @jdportes.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
"In order to deliver the PM's promise to save social care we need a permanent class of indentured migrant workers without labour rights".
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Stephen Bush @stephenkb.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
Why is Gen Z depressed? It’s a mystery.
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fipunchard.bsky.social @fipunchard.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Away for work. And no idea why a certain horror film came to mind.
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Alex Andreou @sturdyalex.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
All day Piddington's womminfolk have been telling news how they will be terrified of "hundreds of young men nearby, free to come and go as they please." NOT ONE JOURNALIST has asked: "How did you cope when it was an army base? Who came and went then? Nuns?" Soon as you ask that, all becomes clear.
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Dr Dean Burnett @drdeanburnett.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
There’s a surprisingly simple reason for England’s high antidepressant use: lots of people need them www.theguardian.com/... My latest article, for the... [checks notes] Guardian? Doesn't ring a bell, must be some new publication. #mentalhealth #antidepressants
theguardian.com
There’s a surprisingly simple reason for England’s high antidepressant use: lots of people need them | Dean Burnett
The idea that GPs are ignoring guidelines and ‘overprescribing’ doesn’t hold water. Instead, look to our social and economic crises, says doctor of neuroscience Dean Burnett
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Robert Saunders @robertsaunders.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
A serious democratic society simply cannot allow this. That's £72 million from just two men. (Both, until lately, based overseas). The average UK earner (full-time) would have to work for over 1,800 years to raise that much. It's a nuclear strike on any pretence at the equality of political power
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fipunchard.bsky.social @fipunchard.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
I think I just heard Justin Webb on R4 imply to Ed Miliband that he's not really Jewish because he doesn't go to synagogue. 🤦‍♀️
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Sam Freedman @samfr.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
One reason England does so well is our second generation immigrants outperform their peers which is not true in most OECD countries. We are also very good at integration. And it's v sad that this is never acknowledge in debates on immigration.
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The Verge @theverge.com · 02/09/2026
As a new Harry Potter trailer makes the rounds, it bears repeating that there’s no way to watch this show without supporting J.K. Rowling’s bigotry and the structural violence she’s inflicting on the trans community.
theverge.com
There is no ethical consumption of HBO’s Harry Potter series
You can’t without supporting Rowling’s transphobic bigotry.
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fipunchard.bsky.social @fipunchard.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
Sounds about right. Some years ago when I was working in an NHS trust there was a 'fun' staff quiz. Most people didn't recognise the then head of NHS England in the picture round.
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fipunchard.bsky.social @fipunchard.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
Ah yes. And those Healey allies who were adamant that it was out of principle, and not simply a manoeuvre to get Starmer out.
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Joel @itsjoels.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
This is the letter kids got at the end of Dolly’s Imagination Library. I defy you to read this and not cry.
Sorry, I can’t type that.
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fipunchard.bsky.social @fipunchard.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
Catching up on Ludwig. I can't be the only one wanting a cross-over between him and Professor T.
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Athena Kugblenu @athenakugblenu.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
It should be career ending to say one race is inferior to another race. For fucks sake!! These people should be pariahs!
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Robin Ince @robinince.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
Hopefully I can get to membership of one thousand in the next few days on patreon - membership is free as is most of the content www.patreon.com/c/RobinInce
patreon.com
Robin Ince — conversations and blog posts about creativity
Get more from Robin Ince on Patreon. conversations and blog posts about creativity . Support Robin Ince and get exclusive access to their work.
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fipunchard.bsky.social @fipunchard.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
I know I am supposed to keep up with the news for my job, but have had to turn off R4 now. The air time being given to rich man brings kids back to UK for school is OTT.
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fipunchard.bsky.social @fipunchard.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
He was also incredibly kind to a slightly bolshy teenager who was insistent that she was sticking with her interpretation of the ending of the Hippolytus which was different to his. He didn't insist his view was right but treated it as up for academic discussion.
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fipunchard.bsky.social @fipunchard.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
Whereas when it came to Uni, the criteria was all about the subject I was applying for. I am forever grateful that Peter Jones saw potential when I interviewed at NCL and made me a flexible based on x nos points and I had to get an A in one of my 2 languages not both.
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fipunchard.bsky.social @fipunchard.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
www.theguardian.com/education/20... Listening to R4 & reflecting on my own experience. At school I got a D in maths & stayed to do 3 humanities A-levels. I had to resit maths twice just to get a C. I was academically able elsewhere as I had As and Bs elsewhere,including those A-level subjects.
theguardian.com
Compulsory GCSE resits in England harm teenagers’ mental wellbeing, study finds
UCL researchers warn repeated exam attempts may dent students’ confidence and raise risk of dropping out
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Ben Whitham @drbenwhitham.bsky.social · 16/08/2026
I spoke to Lizzie Dearden for this i article on the racist targeting of HMOs. From Belfast to Thetford, people are being dragged from their homes by masked fascist thugs, their houses attacked and even burned down, and this is all being normalised as "protest". inews.co.uk/news/vigilan...
inews.co.uk
How far-right vigilantes are targeting asylum seekers as HMO attacks rise
Experts said the targeting of asylum seekers in houses 'represented a new escalation of anti-migrant harassment and violence'
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The Secret Barrister @barristersecret.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
I have enormous sympathy with people angry that the political vandalism of our prison system is forcing the (even earlier) release of prisoners. It is a scandal. But deciding who does and does not get released on the basis of the volume of public outcry at their crime is the road to madness.
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fipunchard.bsky.social @fipunchard.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
We can only hope. The lack of rigour and fact checking for years has been appalling.
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fipunchard.bsky.social @fipunchard.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
"Generally speaking, human beings are very good at telling the sex of someone they are talking to." Chair of EHRC confirming that it's the 'we can always tell' check that makes their ridiculous and cruel guidance workable. 🤦‍♀️
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fipunchard.bsky.social @fipunchard.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
What does R4 think it's doing by platforming the appalling Rupert Lowe? If they think they're doing the sunlight disinfecting thing, things have shifted too far.
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fipunchard.bsky.social @fipunchard.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
It's different experiences. AI shouldn't replace people but it can help overworked, understaffed ones.
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fipunchard.bsky.social @fipunchard.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
Sounds like you were the kind of reliable volunteer who is a joy to work with. And for every branch that has a you, there are others that don't or decide organisation branding isn't for them, or think their comms thing is the must have thing, with a head office comms person sighing in the corner.
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fipunchard.bsky.social @fipunchard.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
Guessing you've never worked in a charity comms team trying to wrangle volunteers.
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Prof Christina Pagel @chrischirp.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
🧵On @thenewsagents.co.uk yesterday, school closures and the lab leak theory were offered as two examples of legitimate questions that were hard to ask. Both have in fact been asked constantly since 2020. But here's a thread on why I think they were wrong and dangerous on school closures 1/12
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fipunchard.bsky.social @fipunchard.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
Seems to trigger some sort of persecution/martyr thing. 🤷‍♀️
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fipunchard.bsky.social @fipunchard.bsky.social · 28/07/2026
Listening to someone on R4 taking the line that making it "too expensive" to hire young people is putting employers off. That never seems to apply to "talent" for senior and exec roles.
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Dan Neidle @danneidle.bsky.social · 27/07/2026
I have a modest proposal for a new tax. It involves a deck of cards and a monkey throwing darts. Here are the rules:
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fipunchard.bsky.social @fipunchard.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
I am more inclined to go with cock-up versus conspiracy. I know from my own working life that it can be quite hard to find those people willing to step up and advocate for you on a regular basis. It can become a surprisingly small pool.
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fipunchard.bsky.social @fipunchard.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
Charity comms teams rely on beneficiaries to bring their cause to life. But given previous scandals in the sector it is incumbent on those teams to fact check them before offering them up.
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Adam Rutherford @adamrutherford.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
Anyone interested in the story of this truly weird, racist fascist thumb who runs Trump should listen to @dorianlynskey.bsky.social and @iandunt.bsky.social www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdHi...
youtube.com
Stephen Miller – American Fascist | Origin Story
YouTube video by Origin Story
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Jill Rutter @jillongovt.bsky.social · 15/07/2026
People want to take functions away from HM Treasury. I want to give it a new one - getting the UK's act together on climate adaptation www.ft.com/content/2789... (£) - much more than an environment issue..
ft.com
The UK is forgetting the dull bit of climate change policy
Adaptation has never been the priority, but this summer’s heat is a message that the Treasury needs to act
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fipunchard.bsky.social @fipunchard.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
As I heard this on the r4 today headlines, that was one of my thoughts. This Labour government seems to have taken May's hostile environment model and gone: Hold my beer.
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fipunchard.bsky.social @fipunchard.bsky.social · 18/06/2026
I miss when the attitude was
A4 booklet stood up with the Liberal Democrats logo and the text "Bollocks to Brexit" on the front cover.
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Alex de Campi @alexdecampi.bsky.social · 18/06/2026
I love this. Unmute.
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Jim Pickard @pickardje.bsky.social · 17/06/2026
Brexiters’ claims that the UK would be able to aggressively deregulate and forge new trade alliances with the likes of the US have failed to bear fruit
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Sunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · 16/06/2026
My generation gained when overt racism was pushed back - but that progress faces pressure today. A new study reports sobering findings on the reach of anti-Muslim prejudice - and sets out why shrinking it can not be the responsibility of Muslims also. My column www.easterneye.biz/anti-muslim-...
easterneye.biz
Tackling hostility against Muslims matters for everyone
Efforts to tackle anti-Muslim hatred risked being stalled by arguments over what to call it and how to define it.
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Frances Ryan @francesryan.bsky.social · 14/06/2026
Regular reminder that what Britain desperately needs is “low skilled” care workers - and that these jobs are not actually low skilled at all and should be welcomed by an immigration system that appreciates their huge value. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
theguardian.com
Wes Streeting plans to increase high-skilled immigration if he becomes PM
Leadership hopeful to also say tax revenues from new North Sea oil and gasfields should be used to cut energy bills
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Dan Sohege @danielsohege.bsky.social · 14/06/2026
Because of course he does. Yes, people are struggling. Yes, unemployment is rising. None of that is to do with "anti-whiteness", that is a line used by the far right to weaponise people's feelings of disconnection, without any basis in reality. It is grievance politics designed to stoke tensions.
Nigel Farage claims 'anti-whiteness is institutionalised' in the UK

Reform UK leader argues in 5,000-word ‘essay to Britain' on Substack that the British state discriminates against white people through 'toxic' legislation
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fipunchard.bsky.social @fipunchard.bsky.social · 12/06/2026
How odd.This stabbing isn't getting wall to wall coverage on R4 Today this morning. It It has made a brief mention in the headlines. Just who's up who's down politics.🤔 BBC News - Girl, 14, charged with attempted murder after Manchester school knife attack www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Girl, 14, charged with attempted murder after Manchester school knife attack
Two pupils and a teacher were injured in the attack, which counter-terror police are investigating.
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Adil Ray @adilray.bsky.social · 11/06/2026
If Muslims or members of the Asian and Black community had set fire to white people’s homes with children running for their lives, do you think we would be discussing legitimate concerns or focussing on who radicalised them and ideological and contributing cultural factors?
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