iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

David Beckett @iamdavidbeckett.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

I enjoyed the #PMQs analysis by @mrjamesob.bsky.social and @natashaclark.bsky.social (youtu.be/4Yo0uA4LI2M) and think the reference by Badenoch to getting the tone right may have been influenced by responses to the exchange after Starmer announced his resignation (such as @mrjohncrace.bsky.social)

Graceless Kemi concedes not a croak of kindness for newly liberated Keir article by John Crace

You learn a lot about a person at a time like this. Not so much about the prime minister, who has resigned. Keir Starmer has already revealed how he deals with a personal loss. But about the leader of the opposition. Here was a chance for Kemi Badenoch to show her human side. To give the world a rare sighting of her empathy gene. But Kemi just can’t go there. She can’t read a room. She has only one mode. All-out attack.

Other people’s moments of weakness are just material for her to use against them. Even now, she probably thinks she played a blinder at prime minister’s questions. A chance taken to humiliate Keir when he’s down. She has no idea how graceless she is. How charmless.

All the more so because she has played no part in Starmer’s resignation. The Conservatives have just been bystanders. There has been no dramatic intervention by Kemi. No set piece in which she has exposed his weakness and forced the issue. Keir’s departure was purely between him and the Labour party. It was Keir’s MPs who had given up on him. No one else.

One day she will find this comes back to bite her. Those whom she has ripped apart on her way up won’t hesitate to do the same to her when she is on the way down. Which may be sooner than she imagines. She certainly has no idea of how to make friends with people.

The mad thing is that it would have taken so little for Kemi to have come out of PMQs looking good. In their first exchanges after a Downing Street resignation, it’s customary for the leader of the opposition to say something complimentary about the outgoing prime minister.

It doesn’t even have to be very much. She could have said she admired his steadfast support for Ukraine. Or gone for the human touch. That she had enjoyed the conversations they had held in private. Had loved meeting his wife and kids. Wished him all the very best. But Kemi would rather die than do this. She sees kindness as a sign of weakness. It would have cost her what passes for her self-worth.

Had she done this – allowed even a forced croak of kindness to escape her lips – then everything that followed would have been OK. Kemi would have bossed the show. As it was, she crashed and burned. Her language becoming progressively more angry and violent the longer she went on. It was the behaviour of a spoiled child. A playground bully whom her party doesn’t dare to call out.

001

David Beckett @iamdavidbeckett.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

That was a very powerful, dignified, and emotional resignation speech from Keir Starmer. I hope the achievements he laid out in the address and the manner in which he announced his departure from office, and how he will go, will give him a favourable hearing in the history books. 1/2

100

David Beckett @iamdavidbeckett.bsky.social · 18/03/2026

Brilliant questioning of Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, showing the military action against Iran was based on a lie

000

David Beckett @iamdavidbeckett.bsky.social · 18/03/2026

I completely agree with this as Nick Timothy's post, endorsed by Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, was contemptible

000

David Beckett @iamdavidbeckett.bsky.social · 14/12/2025

This is just brilliant questioning by @benniethompson.bsky.social, who makes Michael Glasheen look foolish and someone who is trying to crackdown on a nonexistent threat youtu.be/CFXdX0l3Ld8?...

youtu.be

"Where is in the U.S. does Antifa exist?"

YouTube video by C-SPAN

020

David Beckett @iamdavidbeckett.bsky.social · 14/12/2025

Amusing error on Patriots.com, which has Chris Simms predicting that the Patriots play themselves tonight @patriots.bsky.social

010

David Beckett @iamdavidbeckett.bsky.social · 15/11/2025

A very good piece in Prospect by @arusbridger.bsky.social about what the BBC should do about Donald Trump's lawsuit and how a polite, but blunt and American version of Private Eye's Arkle v Pressdram response would be appropriate www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/media/...

prospectmagazine.co.uk

The four-word message the BBC should send Trump about his $1bn lawsuit

The corporation must show it will not be cowed, unlike American broadcast media, and call the president’s bluff

020

Reposted by David Beckett

Best for Britain @bestforbritain.org · 27/10/2025

Farage is asked about another two of his MEPs, who made the same pro-Russia statements that Nathan Gill has now pled guilty to being bribed to make. "Opinions are opinions." Farage's defence seems to be that they arrived at those views independently and it has nowt to do with him. Hmm. 🤔 ~AA

60461168

Reposted by David Beckett

Led By Donkeys @ledbydonkeys.org · 27/10/2025

Farage: epic grifter

25386774718

Reposted by David Beckett

Mark Hamill @markhamillofficial.bsky.social · 27/10/2025

I have a very bad feeling about this...

18345398310118

Reposted by David Beckett

Best for Britain @bestforbritain.org · 29/09/2025

Really, Reform UK? THIS is what you're going with? That this man, who served as an MEP next to Nigel Farage for years and was made leader of your party in Wales by current deputy, Richard Tice, is just "one of tens of thousands of people Nigel meets on an annual basis"?~AA

901317573

David Beckett @iamdavidbeckett.bsky.social · 14/09/2025

Ricky Hatton’s fights were more than sporting occasions - they were joyous and exciting, fitting his all-action style and the suspense of wondering if his fragile skin would last He was a very skilled boxer with one of the most vicious body punchers I’ve ever seen, and is one of Britain’s best

020

David Beckett @iamdavidbeckett.bsky.social · 14/09/2025

Though some hours have passed since the awful news of Ricky Hatton’s death, I can’t believe that one of the most exciting fighters I’ve ever had the privilege of watching has died I hope he is at peace and my thoughts are with his friends and family at this time💔 www.bbc.co.uk/sport/boxing...

bbc.co.uk

Ricky Hatton dead: Obituary of Manchester's former world champion boxer

Former boxing world champion Ricky Hatton, who has died aged 46, achieved all he dreamed of and more, writes Chris McKenna.

020

David Beckett @iamdavidbeckett.bsky.social · 16/08/2025

Just had the interesting experience of going through the process of verifying my age for @bsky.app, following an emailed link to do a facial scan, which estimated my age I’m not sure how mature-looking teenagers will fare or how the program deals with people in their 20s or 30s with youthful faces🧐

010

David Beckett @iamdavidbeckett.bsky.social · 16/08/2025

The process of receiving a phone call from a resident about an overgrown tree to hearing from them again after substantial work had been done to it was quicker than expected and very rewarding, knowing it’s been life changing for that couple www.facebook.com/share/p/1CPL...

facebook.com

Redirecting...

000

David Beckett @iamdavidbeckett.bsky.social · 16/08/2025

The fact that Putin thinks the meeting with Trump was “very useful” and a way to discuss ending the “Ukrainian crisis“ shows how the discussion was on Putin’s terms and will have emboldened the Russian war criminal - Trump was naive to be manipulated by the dictator www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c2...

000

David Beckett @iamdavidbeckett.bsky.social · 05/08/2025

I know you are fan of Substack, @mrjamesob.bsky.social, so I highly recommend @joshuarozenberg.bsky.social's, including today's post on how the criminal justice system has come very close to collapsing in the last couple of years

010

David Beckett @iamdavidbeckett.bsky.social · 05/08/2025

If you're in any doubt about the mess this government inherited, this blog post by @joshuarozenberg.bsky.social clearly explains the desperate state of the criminal justice system and how it was on the verge of collapse during the general election campaign open.substack.com/pub/rozenber...

open.substack.com

Justice meltdown avoided

But only just, says independent review

010

Reposted by David Beckett

Adam Bienkov @adambienkov.bsky.social · 28/07/2025

Nigel Farage says he is “very pleased” to be joined by Ann Coulter, who has previously described immigration as “white genocide” and said European settlers to America “should have killed more Indians”, saying she “has written and said many interesting things” which have "come true".

57427162

Reposted by David Beckett

Kat Abughazaleh @katmabu.bsky.social · 27/07/2025

85% of Gaza is on the brink of death due to starvation. Israel could let aid in at any moment. And some people (like these men tried to do with me on Friday) are still trying to justify this atrocity. There is no justification. This could stop at any moment. End the blockade now.

757179684978

David Beckett @iamdavidbeckett.bsky.social · 15/07/2025

I always thought the best punishment for this crime would be for them to do many hours of community service, specifically relating to trees and nature 1/2

120

David Beckett @iamdavidbeckett.bsky.social · 21/06/2025

Immanuel Feyi-Waboso can't have any complaints about that red card – it was a reckless and dangerous act that could've led to a serious injury Steve Borthwick will need a new winger for his tour squad to Argentina and the USA; Adam Radwan should be the next man up #ENGVFRA

000

David Beckett @iamdavidbeckett.bsky.social · 18/06/2025

Blimey, Chris Philp is unnecessarily shouty and abrasive in his first #PMQs @mrjamesob.bsky.social wondered if he would be better or worse than Kemi Badenoch at PMQs - I think they are both terrible at this

160

David Beckett @iamdavidbeckett.bsky.social · 14/06/2025

Congratulations to @bathrugby.bsky.social on winning the 2024/2025 #Premiership and commiserations to @leicestertigers.bsky.social on a brilliant, 3 try losing effort I really feel for Ben Youngs and Dan Cole to end their careers this way, especially Cole, who didn’t deserve that yellow card #rugby

110

David Beckett @iamdavidbeckett.bsky.social · 09/06/2025

Your analysis of Trump’s response to the demonstration in LA and a need to scapegoat is very similar to this exchange in The Light Years by Elizabeth Jane Howard @mrjamesob.bsky.social

000

Reposted by David Beckett

Sam Freedman @samfr.bsky.social · 27/05/2025

Given how unpopular Starmer is this is quite a reflection on Farage and Badenoch.

811023282

David Beckett @iamdavidbeckett.bsky.social · 27/05/2025

A very clear explanation of how Parliament, the CPS, and the defendant herself gave a judge no other option but to sentence Lucy Connolly to 31 months in prison, so thank you @davidallengreen.bsky.social for this blog post and the article in Prospect (www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/law/th...)

prospectmagazine.co.uk

Understanding the sentence of Lucy Connolly

Had it not been for competent legal advice, her sentence could have been far harsher

1194

David Beckett @iamdavidbeckett.bsky.social · 21/05/2025

If it was about smarter political operators and not Reform UK, it would be tempting to interpret a promise to remove something that doesn't exist as a canny way of guaranteeing success in the future (no DEI officers in Lincolnshire or low traffic zones in their councils) @mrjamesob.bsky.social

100

David Beckett @iamdavidbeckett.bsky.social · 19/05/2025

I hope this is the start of a new era in British politics, one in which the government can be honest with the public about Brexit, acknowledging that it was always going to be economically damaging, and say that steps are being taken to ameliorate that financial harm

000

Reposted by David Beckett

Jessica Elgot @jessicaelgot.bsky.social · 19/05/2025

One remarkable thing which shows how far we have come. There will be a vote in parliament on the agrifoods deal with the EU. Once, that would have been the top line of every news story. Starmer is first PM in more than a decade who doesn't have to worry about that vote at all.

1330148

Reposted by David Beckett

Stephen Bush @stephenkb.bsky.social · 19/05/2025

Call me Andrea Dworkin, but I just think it’s corrosive that there are quite so many references to sexual acts in the British right’s response to this deal.

2947490

David Beckett @iamdavidbeckett.bsky.social · 18/05/2025

I hope the exit polls are accurate and Mr Dan is duly elected as the next president of Romania

Romanian election exit polls suggest surprise win for pro-western candidate Nicusor Dan

Exit polls from the Romanian presidential election suggest pro-Western centrist Nicusor Dan is on course for a surprise win over hard-right populist George Simion

020

David Beckett @iamdavidbeckett.bsky.social · 18/05/2025

The opinions of Nick Ferrari on this morning’s #LauraK about how the government seeking to use a pragmatic approach to improve the lives of UK citizens and the British economy is typical of a historical revisionism about the question put to the public in 2016 1/4

100

David Beckett @iamdavidbeckett.bsky.social · 18/05/2025

The latest blog post by @barristersecret.bsky.social to debunk the absurd claims by some right wing commentators about EDI policies and the membership of the Inns of Court is beautifully written with a blend of humour and statistical analysis thesecretbarrister.com/2025/05/18/n...

110

David Beckett @iamdavidbeckett.bsky.social · 06/05/2025

Although I haven’t seen the story about the number of EDI officers in Lincolnshire councils who Andrea Jenkyns wants to sack, I’m guessing there aren’t any @mrjamesob.bsky.social

000

David Beckett @iamdavidbeckett.bsky.social · 05/05/2025

Many congratulations to Julian Edelman on being voted into the Patriots Hall of Fame to join Tom Brady and acknowledged as one of the franchise’s finest players 1/2 www.patriots.com/news/julian-...

patriots.com

Julian Edelman Voted by Fans into Patriots Hall of Fame

The New England Patriots announced today that former wide receiver Julian Edelman has been voted into the Patriots Hall of Fame as the 37th inductee.

100

David Beckett @iamdavidbeckett.bsky.social · 02/05/2025

I don't know if you have time to touch on some of @iandunt.bsky.social's excellent analysis of last night and what it means or, rather, what it doesn't @mrjamesob.bsky.social, but it is well worth reading iandunt.substack.com/p/election-r...

iandunt.substack.com

Election results: None of this really matters

Everything we know this morning we already knew last night.

000

David Beckett @iamdavidbeckett.bsky.social · 30/04/2025

As I understand it, Keir Starmer's record on prosecuting 'grooming gangs' and changing the CPS so such action took place more frequently is extremely good, whereas the last government did very little to swiftly establish an inquiry and act on its recommendations www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

theguardian.com

Ex-chief prosecutor rejects Musk’s calls for new child abuse inquiry

Nazir Afzal and police whistleblower Maggie Oliver say previous lengthy inquiries were not acted upon

020

David Beckett @iamdavidbeckett.bsky.social · 30/04/2025

Well, that 10 minutes of using the victims of child abuse as a political football was all rather distasteful and regrettable #pmqs @mrjamesob.bsky.social

041

Reposted by David Beckett

Doug Parr @dougparr.bsky.social · 30/04/2025

1/12 Tony Blair Institute have released a report which is getting a lot of coverage in UK today It says the drive for net zero emissions is flawed and some media outlets have gone to town However it’s a bit odd By odd, I mean there’s a lot of bollocks in it and shouldn't be taken seriously 🧵🧵

72802412

Reposted by David Beckett

Sam Freedman @samfr.bsky.social · 26/04/2025

There is no other word for illegally deporting a toddler with cancer apart from evil. Not just Trump and Stephen Miller but every single person involved in doing it from start to finish.

181031222

David Beckett @iamdavidbeckett.bsky.social · 27/04/2025

With the #patriots selecting Vanderbilt long snapper Julian Ashby after previously drafting a kicker, it's almost as if Bill Belicheck has taken over the last few rounds of this year's NFL Draft

100

David Beckett @iamdavidbeckett.bsky.social · 23/04/2025

I understand wanting score political points with the Supreme Court ruling (and I am not underestimating its significance), but surely there are more important things to use all six of your #PMQs questions on than that, such as the economy, US tariffs, environment, Ukraine…

271

David Beckett @iamdavidbeckett.bsky.social · 21/04/2025

Millicent Fawcett was not a suffragette, as reported in your news bulletins; she was a suffragist #r4today

050

David Beckett @iamdavidbeckett.bsky.social · 11/04/2025

This should be thoroughly investigated by the SEC, which should demand an investigation into what has taken place on its watch

010

Reposted by David Beckett

Chris Hayes @chrislhayes.bsky.social · 09/04/2025

Art of the deal!

444155442413

David Beckett @iamdavidbeckett.bsky.social · 10/04/2025

A thoughtful and troubling piece about how the United States currently has a president without any functioning checks on his powers, an unpredictable man who can therefore govern in an arbitrary and capricious manner

0214