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Reposted by Gareth Young

John Denham @jydenham.bsky.social · 23/04/2025

Calls to ‘reclaim the flag’ amid a ‘never-ending fight’ again simply tar English identity uniquely with the far right. It risks alienating the very English identifiers Labour needs to win. They don’t see themselves as far right; it sounds like Labour does. www.thesun.co.uk/news/3459195...

thesun.co.uk

Sir Keir issues rallying cry to 'reclaim our flag' for St George’s Day

DEFIANT Sir Keir Starmer has issued a St George’s Day rallying cry to the country in the “never-ending fight for the flag”. The Prime Minister launches a savage attack on those who “sow division” &…

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Gareth Young @gaf-young.bsky.social · 26/03/2025

Great news. I wonder whether most of Dartmoor is owned by companies registered in Grand Cayman, the British Virgin Islands or the Channel Islands.

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Gareth Young @gaf-young.bsky.social · 26/03/2025

Mind your own business! Can't a ferret have a night on the town without being plastered all over social media?

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Gareth Young @gaf-young.bsky.social · 25/02/2025

I don't national identities need to be defined. Attempts by politicians to define national identity are normally laughed at (see Gordon Brown's Britishness) or dangerous. England's problem is the conflation of English identity and British identity, which is politically motivated.

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Gareth Young @gaf-young.bsky.social · 25/02/2025

I see the logic of it. Sunak is basically doing what any English Tory does, relegating Englishness to sport or something whimsical like old maids riding to holy communion while emphasising political Britishness.

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Gareth Young @gaf-young.bsky.social · 25/02/2025

It is not Sunak's Indian heritage that hobbles his Englishness. When a journalist reported that Sunak's parents emigrated to England (they emigrated to Southampton, England), Sunak felt it necessary to issue a correction. This is the action of a Unionist/British nationalist rather than an Indian.

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Gareth Young @gaf-young.bsky.social · 25/02/2025

The other obstacle is, of course, unionism (or Britishness) and the resulting denial of Englishness (at least in political form). In their next video the Lotus Eaters ridicule Fraser Nelson for claiming that Rishi Sunak is English. youtu.be/50FHI5kHUAc?...

youtu.be

Delving Into the Midwit World of PoliticsJOE

YouTube video by Lotuseaters Dot Com

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Gareth Young @gaf-young.bsky.social · 25/02/2025

The ethnic nationalism and obsession with skin colour of the goading Lotus Eaters (and their like) is one of the two biggest obstacles to an inclusive and democratic English identity that could achieve an English parliament.

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Gareth Young @gaf-young.bsky.social · 25/02/2025

Ethnic nationalists convinced they've won the argument because the Joe guy points out that England is a cultural and historical fact and mentions that we don't have a parliament. Most people would agree with that and always have done. www.youtube.com/watch?v=SrEP...

youtube.com

PoliticsJOE Realise They Are English Nationalists

YouTube video by Lotuseaters Dot Com

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Gareth Young @gaf-young.bsky.social · 22/02/2025

I watched Free Guy with my kids (12 & 14) last night. They loved it. My hot take is that it's Gen Z's answer to The Matrix with a bit of The Truman Show thrown in. It doesn't take itself too seriously though and is essentially a funny action film. www.imdb.com/title/tt6264...

imdb.com

Free Guy (2021) ⭐ 7.1 | Action, Adventure, Comedy

1h 55m | PG-13

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Gareth Young @gaf-young.bsky.social · 15/02/2025

This somewhat creepy painting in a Totnes pub always reminds me of Rishi Sunak.

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Gareth Young @gaf-young.bsky.social · 10/02/2025

I've come across them while out with the dogs, and yes, they are quite tame. Respectful of humans. Not sure if their is a lone male out somewhere. He might be a different prospect.

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Gareth Young @gaf-young.bsky.social · 06/02/2025

Pig update. They're up on Aish Tor rooting for acorns under oak trees. Here's one they dug earlier.

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Gareth Young @gaf-young.bsky.social · 05/02/2025

Wild boar strolling through Poundsgate this morning. #Dartmoor

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Gareth Young @gaf-young.bsky.social · 20/01/2025

Emmanuel Petit looks like he's on his way to the Dragonpit to order a dragon to serve him in High Valyrian.

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Gareth Young @gaf-young.bsky.social · 18/01/2025

The Government is set to allow local elections to be delayed in large parts of England. We don't think democracy should be put on the back burner like this. Add your name to our letter. secure.unlockdemocracy.org.uk/page/164357/...

secure.unlockdemocracy.org.uk

Back our campaign

The Government is set to allow local elections to be delayed in large parts of England. We don't think democracy should be put on the back burner like this. Add your name to our letter.

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Gareth Young @gaf-young.bsky.social · 24/12/2024

A round from our family Christmas Quiz. Name that chocolate bar.

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Gareth Young @gaf-young.bsky.social · 24/12/2024

I think most MPs just tow the party line. If the Green Party had adopted an English parliament as party policy, then no doubt she would have campaigned for that. It's only mavericks like Frank Field or John Redwood who tend to go against the party line.

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Gareth Young @gaf-young.bsky.social · 24/12/2024

Like most things in England, I suspect the housing crisis is largely to blame. A lack of punters spending money because it all has to go on rent and properties that are more commercially viable as living accommodation rather than nightclubs.

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Gareth Young @gaf-young.bsky.social · 24/12/2024

Nightlife in provincial England is gone, Yes, it's still great if you can go to Dalston or Fabric, but towns across England are now nightclub-less. When we moved to Devon, Exmouth had three nightclubs. Now it has none. Two turned into housing, the third just shut.

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Gareth Young @gaf-young.bsky.social · 21/12/2024

If you're not at the Exmouth Caribbean Cristmas Party, you're a loser. That's just the way it is!

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Gareth Young @gaf-young.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

The Scots and Welsh (and maybe some Northern Irish) will call this English nationalism and react against it. Lots of the English will react against it too but dichotomy of England: bad; Scotland: good will be further cemented. It will be the push Scotland needs.

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Gareth Young @gaf-young.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

Could well be. Brexit was a kind of Westminster nationalism, it was all about restoring Westminster sovereignty. And though we've left the EU, Reform seem to me to be very much in that tradition. I think they'll take a dim view of devolution and take a very unitary state, British nationalist stance.

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Gareth Young @gaf-young.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

The Lib Dem guy is a clown and no one really knows who the Green's leaders now that Lucas has gone.

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Gareth Young @gaf-young.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

It's feels almost as though we're living in a failed state (not quite, but certainly a failing democracy) and the centre cannot hold. Judging by Farage's demeanour he feels it too. Whenever Starmer gets up to speak, it's like someone has thrown a piece of wood on stage. And Kemi is nowhere.

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Gareth Young @gaf-young.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

It's a peculiar situation because I dislike Reform a lot and think they could be a real danger to liberal democracy, especially with Musk pulling the strings, but then there's a part of me that wants to see them give Labour and the Tories a damn good hiding.

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Gareth Young @gaf-young.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

Nah, not feelin' it. I did want them to do well, because God knows we need it, but if feels like same arse, different cheek.

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Gareth Young @gaf-young.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

You're not feeling the sunlit uplands of Labour Britain?

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Gareth Young @gaf-young.bsky.social · 19/12/2024

I can see Farage winning. Even Theresa May was more animated than Starmer.

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Gareth Young @gaf-young.bsky.social · 19/12/2024

Unlikely that Mary Shelley said that and that's definitely not her.

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Gareth Young @gaf-young.bsky.social · 19/12/2024

The year is 2045, and you're getting a guided tour of Islay distilleries by 'Robot the Bruce' in his clan tartan. He's playing Row Me Home To Islay out of his built in bagpipes.

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Gareth Young @gaf-young.bsky.social · 19/12/2024

Maybe the UK does need Reform, not for the reform they offer (or the odious individuals involved) but for the threat they pose to the status quo.

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Gareth Young @gaf-young.bsky.social · 19/12/2024

And when an inflection point is reached, when Reform are high enough in the polls for first past the post to be beneficial to them rather than a barrier to winning seats, don't be surprised to see Labour and the Tories finally support PR.

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Gareth Young @gaf-young.bsky.social · 19/12/2024

I'd be horrified if Reform UK received millions from Musk, but at the same time I think Farage is correct. Labour and the Tories have been trousering money from private healthcare, off-shore sources and dodgy multi-millionaires for years, with kickbacks.

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Gareth Young @gaf-young.bsky.social · 19/12/2024

There's only one way to settle this 51st state idea: mano a mano. You name the place and King Charles will be there, Trump.

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Gareth Young @gaf-young.bsky.social · 17/12/2024

As a bloke it pains me to say it but maybe the Church of England should consider putting women in charge of safeguarding. The blokes seem pretty shit at it. chng.it/T92ZjFjNQp

chng.it

RESIGNATION of STEPHEN COTTRELL, Archbishop of York

Can you spare a minute to help this campaign?

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Gareth Young @gaf-young.bsky.social · 17/12/2024

Nah, definitely not another chicken and the ducks and geese were outside the pen - they have a stream and pond for messing about in. I might ask Santa for one of those wildlife cameras. Has to be some sort of mustelid, I think. Would love it to be a pine martin!

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Gareth Young @gaf-young.bsky.social · 17/12/2024

I suppose we'll just have to hope that it doesn't happen again. Won't be trapping because we're in a national park and whatever it is is supposed to be here.

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Gareth Young @gaf-young.bsky.social · 17/12/2024

Definitely not an owl because they couldn't get in the pen (it has a roof).

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Gareth Young @gaf-young.bsky.social · 16/12/2024

On a more pleasant note than the previous post, I went over to my parents earlier to help them with some heavy lifting and gardening. This is a picture of their front door. Yes, those are huge lemons. Coastal Devon microclimate. They even have a banana plant that sometimes fruits.

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Gareth Young @gaf-young.bsky.social · 16/12/2024

Never had this kind of kill before and we've been here 8 years.

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Gareth Young @gaf-young.bsky.social · 16/12/2024

Only the neck has been eaten. Anyone know what could have done this? Is this the work of a weasel, stoat or pine martin (pine martins were recently released very nearby as part of a reintroduction to Dartmoor).

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Gareth Young @gaf-young.bsky.social · 16/12/2024

Last night just after dusk, when I went to put the chickens in, I found one of our hens dead with its neck eaten inside the fox-proof pen. Obviously not a fox and the hen was young and healthy. Photo of the hen carcass.

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Gareth Young @gaf-young.bsky.social · 16/12/2024

Anyway, we built a fox-proof pen, partly to comply with the bird flu regulations, and the chickens are contained in that and occasionally let out to roam the wider garden when we're around.

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Gareth Young @gaf-young.bsky.social · 16/12/2024

We frequently get foxes predating our poultry (chickens, ducks & geese). The duck and geese can take to the water but the chickens are sitting, err, ducks, so to speak.

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