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iainamackinnon.bsky.social

@iainamackinnon.bsky.social
93 followers 288 following 130 posts

Retired public servant

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iainamackinnon.bsky.social @iainamackinnon.bsky.social · 13/10/2026
Excellent article
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iainamackinnon.bsky.social @iainamackinnon.bsky.social · 13/10/2026
The arithmetic looks more compelling for those who drive high mileage. I spend less than £1,200pa on fuel for my hybrid so serious fuel savings would take some time, + I would need to spend £1,000 to install a charger. (I agree about good to drive; when in the US I love to drive my son's MachE).
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iainamackinnon.bsky.social @iainamackinnon.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
When Fanny Gosling, a relative of my wife’s, was killed by a @gwr.com train in 1845 the Oxford coroner personally delivered his plea for change to GWR *and* had their response, agreeing, within five days of poor Fanny’s death. That’s how it should be, @gwr.com; there was no reason at all to delay.
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iainamackinnon.bsky.social @iainamackinnon.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
A shocking story by @danielleherbert.bsky.social about @gwr.com’s treatment of wheelchair user Phoebe Tesoriere: she was left to crawl - literally - through a carriage because the promised ramp was not available. And then GWR took NINE MONTHS to apologise. Why so long? www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Caerphilly wheelchair user 'had to crawl' off GWR train from London
Phoebe's mum says watching the incident was "traumatic" and left her feeling "helpless".
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iainamackinnon.bsky.social @iainamackinnon.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
Absolutely right.
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iainamackinnon.bsky.social @iainamackinnon.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
Agree, but not just the Greens’ electoral prospects; it would be good having them keeping up the pressure on Labour and the Tories for climate change policies and this stupid decision makes that much less likely.
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iainamackinnon.bsky.social @iainamackinnon.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
I remember visiting Glasgow with a university friend. “You’re not to laugh when the train appears” she said. Promised I wouldn’t. Then did.
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iainamackinnon.bsky.social @iainamackinnon.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
Good call
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iainamackinnon.bsky.social @iainamackinnon.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
"Jews are not discriminated against" An astonishing claim when there's clear evidence that Jews in the UK do very much feel discriminated against are are much more anxious about their place in Britain than they used to be. Far more insidious indeed.
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iainamackinnon.bsky.social @iainamackinnon.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Interesting article, covering far more than the headline suggests.
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iainamackinnon.bsky.social @iainamackinnon.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
We have to hope that someone in the BA public relations team has a private Bluesky account and is following this avidly.
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iainamackinnon.bsky.social @iainamackinnon.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
... which all helps explain why Virgin Atlantic *insisted* that a doctor accompany me on my way back from the US in July after I'd fainted unexpectedly. They're clearly didn't want the cost & bother of diverting to Iceland - or the risk of separating an onboard journalist and her toothpaste.
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iainamackinnon.bsky.social @iainamackinnon.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
@rupahuq.bsky.social As my MP I hope you’re following this and will be pressing the Government to see that firm action is taken against these thugs.
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iainamackinnon.bsky.social @iainamackinnon.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
What a superb speech! True leadership. And Carney in fact improved on this text a little when he spoke - compare it with the video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMKm...
youtube.com
FULL SPEECH: Mark Carney Addresses European Parliament on Global Geopolitical Rupture | AC1B
YouTube video by DRM News
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iainamackinnon.bsky.social @iainamackinnon.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
There's a way to go yet, but this is good news. Thanks for reporting it.
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iainamackinnon.bsky.social @iainamackinnon.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
An apt choice of illustration: the guy featured spoke up bravely, but lost the argument.
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iainamackinnon.bsky.social @iainamackinnon.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
"Save your brain, ignore it and move on" - is wise advice on many fronts.
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iainamackinnon.bsky.social @iainamackinnon.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
Well done.
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iainamackinnon.bsky.social @iainamackinnon.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
I don’t particularly object if some cool kids want to chase fashion and waste their money on this - so long as Apple keeps updating the software on my reliable old SE.
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iainamackinnon.bsky.social @iainamackinnon.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
Alumnus here, agreeing with you.
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iainamackinnon.bsky.social @iainamackinnon.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
Well worth reading in full to see both Miliband’s careful balance (eg condemning both October 7th and the Israeli Government’s over-reaction) and his clear-sighted outrage.
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iainamackinnon.bsky.social @iainamackinnon.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
I’ve signed. Let’s make this a huge vote of support for the charity that saves lives at sea - no matter who they are.
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iainamackinnon.bsky.social @iainamackinnon.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
Well said, Edward Leigh.
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iainamackinnon.bsky.social @iainamackinnon.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
I’m enormously proud of a young relation who has just got a security job with a Jewish primary school in North London, but it is appalling that a Jewish primary school needs a security guard in the first place.
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iainamackinnon.bsky.social @iainamackinnon.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
Excellent!
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iainamackinnon.bsky.social @iainamackinnon.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
Where’s Burnham?
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iainamackinnon.bsky.social @iainamackinnon.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
This is very poor, @rupahuq.bsky.social - how hard is it to condemn fascism?
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iainamackinnon.bsky.social @iainamackinnon.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
Hear hear! My favourite charity, now and always.
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Reposted by @iainamackinnon.bsky.social
The Guardian @theguardian.com · 04/09/2026
Revealed: how companies ‘secretly’ use billions of litres of public water in drought-hit England
theguardian.com
Revealed: how companies ‘secretly’ use billions of litres of public water in drought-hit England
Exclusive: As millions of people face hosepipe bans, many companies are not required to report, let alone cut, use of public supply Less than 1% of businesses in England use more water than the daily needs of 10 million people, as millions of households face hosepipe bans and three-quarters of the country is in drought. Businesses across England use 2.6bn litres a day from the public water supply, which includes potable and non-potable water provided by water companies. In total, businesses account for about 30% of public supply use, with two-thirds of their consumption in water-stressed areas, according to Mosl, the organisation that operates England’s business water market. Continue reading...
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iainamackinnon.bsky.social @iainamackinnon.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
Ditto Gibraltar being British longer than Spanish
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iainamackinnon.bsky.social @iainamackinnon.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
Excellent thread.
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iainamackinnon.bsky.social @iainamackinnon.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
Terrific progress - though as someone who lives near Hanger Lane Gyratory I’m sorry to see that it still stands out on this map. More work to be done there.
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iainamackinnon.bsky.social @iainamackinnon.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
c40 years ago as a Management Trainee in the Department of Employment I visited a factory in Halifax making socks for M&S. They’d just had two guys up from HQ for two days exploring how to reduce the size of the seam on the toe following customer complaints. Those were the days!
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iainamackinnon.bsky.social @iainamackinnon.bsky.social · 30/08/2026
I’d suggest re-orienting this so that prospective nurses do a year in care (properly paid) before their course - with a big discount on their later fees for doing so. Care is central to nursing, so if they can’t hack it they leave when they find out. And it would help engender better understanding.
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iainamackinnon.bsky.social @iainamackinnon.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
I spot a safety issue
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iainamackinnon.bsky.social @iainamackinnon.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
I haven't read the whole poll to check, but if the poll was presented in terms of Sadiq Khan's 10th anniversary that would almost certainly colour opinions. ie "I'm agin Khan & therefore assume that crime / air quality / etc are worse".
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Reposted by @iainamackinnon.bsky.social
letsrecycle.com @letsrecycle.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
CIWM calls for outright ban on disposable barbecues
letsrecycle.com
CIWM calls for outright ban on disposable barbecues - letsrecycle.com
The Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM) has called for an outright ban on the sale of “difficult-to-dispose-of” barbecues.
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iainamackinnon.bsky.social @iainamackinnon.bsky.social · 17/08/2026
Brits living on the Continent might want to reflect on this next time they get a chance to vote.
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iainamackinnon.bsky.social @iainamackinnon.bsky.social · 15/08/2026
Very helpful, Peter; much appreciated. In that particular case I suspect there's a land deal with the Council. And it fits with my own experience as a College Chair: I asked for a review of solar options but the arithmetic didn't work (this was 15+ years ago), much as we all wanted it to.
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iainamackinnon.bsky.social @iainamackinnon.bsky.social · 15/08/2026
Interesting comment. Are there circumstances in which this idea would make sense (eg for my local Sainsburys in London)? What would need to happen for them to think it a might be a commercial opportunity (regardless of what the Govt does or says)?
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iainamackinnon.bsky.social @iainamackinnon.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
Beaten by two independents, the Restore EU chap and Laurence Fox - as well, of course, as by Count Binface and Farage. Still, they are up to four councillors nationally, so they still have something to celebrate.
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iainamackinnon.bsky.social @iainamackinnon.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
Good to see. Perhaps you could pop round and talk to them, then write it up for the FT? Let's hear their side of the story too.
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iainamackinnon.bsky.social @iainamackinnon.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
Very interesting (ie worrying) to see that so many Farage supporters are MORE likely to vote for him because of the £5m story:
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iainamackinnon.bsky.social @iainamackinnon.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
Go elsewhere.
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iainamackinnon.bsky.social @iainamackinnon.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
Come on, @bsky.support @support.bsky.team you need to take this down. Polls don't close until 10pm and people are still voting.
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iainamackinnon.bsky.social @iainamackinnon.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
SDP not SNP! That takes the SDP up to four councillors nationally.
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iainamackinnon.bsky.social @iainamackinnon.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
A sentiment which could be widely applied. (*Should* be widely applied).
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iainamackinnon.bsky.social @iainamackinnon.bsky.social · 28/07/2026
A nice contract to have if you're the printer
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iainamackinnon.bsky.social @iainamackinnon.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
One of the best things about being retired is never having to attend a Teams meeting ever again.
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iainamackinnon.bsky.social @iainamackinnon.bsky.social · 20/07/2026
Refugee Ralph Miliband learnt English at the Acton campus of what is now Ealing, Hammersmith & West London College, which proudly lists him as one of its alumni: www.wlc.ac.uk/about-us/
wlc.ac.uk
About Us - West London College
West London College is a Further Education college with three centres located in Ealing, Hammersmith and Southall. For nearly 150 years, we have been providing training and development in the area, he...
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