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Ian Skidmore

@ianjskidmore.bsky.social
374 followers 334 following 50 posts

Writing again after a hiatus. Also practising grade 3 jazz piano, rehearsing the Nauti' Buoys set list, gardening, dog-walking, cooking… Blog: ianskidmore.co.uk

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Reposted by Ian Skidmore
Steve Bullock @guitarmoog.bsky.social · 34m
Reposting this thread as I think the US can no longer be reasonably described as Ukraine’s ally, is on the knife edge of (1) below, and I think Trump’s for-us-or-against-us -psychology/psychopathy means (2) will follow close behind. NATO and the EU need to brace for the coming storm.
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Steve Peers @stevepeers.bsky.social · 2h
I try to avoid this language, but what a fucking piece of 💩
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Ron Filipkowski @ronfilipkowski.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
Zelenskyy says Trump has betrayed Ukraine.
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Jim Pickard @pickardje.bsky.social · 7h
just when you thought it couldn’t get worse
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Leonardo Carella @leonardocarella.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
In other words, a 10 percent contraction in one of Britain’s most successful exports. If it were steel or fish or other infinitely less profitable sectors, people would be having a meltdown.
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Joe Walsh @walshfreedom.bsky.social · 6h
A disgusting, horrific lie.
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Julianne Wingate @julieannewingate.bsky.social · 6h
Miss you, @barackobama.bsky.social .....
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Chasbell 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇮🇪🇮🇹🇨🇦 @chasbell.bsky.social · 14h
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The Empty City @davidallengreen.bsky.social · 9h
All executions are barbaric. The primary difference with a public execution is that the barbarism is made obvious. Mankind cannot bear that reality.
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Caroline Lucas @carolinelucas.bsky.social · 6h
Delighted that @europeanmovement.co.uk is stepping up its campaign to rejoin the EU - good for the economy & for the environment, and ever more urgent in an increasingly insecure world with a totally unreliable US & feral President
independent.co.uk
Labour voters overwhelmingly want Andy Burnham to commit to rejoining EU, poll shows
Exclusive: New 10-year plan for re-entry to the European Union in 2036 being put to the prime minister
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Dorian Lynskey @dorianlynskey.bsky.social · 8h
Huge respect for Caroline Lucas this week, repeatedly standing up to antisemitic entryism while remaining staunchly critical of Israel and the government's failures on that front. You can see why she used to be leader
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Jacques Gallagher @1olddemocrat.bsky.social · 11h
Russia starts war with Ukraine, the West & USA put sanctions on Russia. Idiot Trump starts war with Iran, gas & diesel prices go up! Putin's asset Trump, buys diesel from Russia to reduce price in US! Trump betrays USA & West to help Russia. Traitor! www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
theguardian.com
Zelenskyy furious as Trump announces deal to buy Russian diesel
President says deal essential to lower US fuel prices but move set to create fresh crisis with Ukraine and Nato allies
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We Own It @weownit.org.uk · 8h
Andy Burnham must properly fund our NHS and end NHS privatisation We spend £40 billion LESS on health per capita than comparable European countries like France and Germany After years of underfunding and privatisation, our NHS is on its knees. It's time to get serious about reinstating our NHS
Screenshot of a Times article that says "PM and his chancellor reject NHS cash appeal"
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Phillips OBrien @phillipspobrien.bsky.social · 8h
Maybe the most amazing aspect of the Russo-Ukraine War is that Russia is getting backing from both China and the USA, the two largest powers of the moment--and Ukraine could still emerge triumphant as long as Europe backs it stoutly.
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Steve Peers @stevepeers.bsky.social · 9h
If anything, this understates the consistency of the policy, and how much it is driven by Trump's personality. Trump has consistently been a simp for Putin.
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Ian Dunt @iandunt.bsky.social · 9h
This is really good. It is precisely the lack of this kind of clear-speaking condemnation within the Green party that makes me nervous about its future.
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Darth Putin @darthputinkgb.bsky.social · 11h
Good to see Donald buy Russian diesel instead of Canadian. I know its right on USA border but they sell imperialist, woke diesel that makes your truck gay.
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Steve Peers @stevepeers.bsky.social · 10h
Elon Musk encouraging violence against his political opponents. There is no good reason to continue using his website.
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Tessa Munt MP 🔶 @tessamunt.bsky.social · 10h
Today, Lifeboat Saturday, I’d like to pay tribute to the many brave men and women who volunteer for the #RNLI, risking their lives to save others in grave danger. I’m appalled at the abuse and intimidation faced by RNLI crews in recent weeks. Let’s support and celebrate this incredible charity.
Tessa Munt MP with Marie Goldman MP and Sarah Gibson MP visiting the Brighton Lifeboat Station.
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Adam Bienkov @adambienkov.bsky.social · 10h
The contrast between the utterly sycophantic coverage this week of Kemi Badenoch, whose party has a truly atrocious electoral record under her leadership, and the utterly dismissive coverage of the Greens, tells you everything you need to know about media bias in the UK
adambienkov.co.uk
Why the Holborn and St Pancras By-Election Was a Good Result for the Green Party
The dismissive coverage of Zack Polanski’s party obscures a far bigger truth about the rise of the left in British politics
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Nick B 🔶 @aviarm.com · 10h
To put this in perspective, the world burns 45 tonnes of diesel *per second*, so the initial 300k tonnes is less than 2 hours worth of global consumption. And that's before the Ukrainians cast their vote via Flamingo missile. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Trump announces deal for Russian diesel as Zelensky calls it a 'gift to Putin'
Ukraine's president sharply criticised the move, calling it an "investment in war that must be ended, not prolonged".
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Olena Halushka @halushka.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
Let me make this very clear. Diesel prices have spiked because of Trump's war against Iran. Ukraine has nothing to do with it. But by buying russian diesel now, Americans will be helping fund the murder of Ukrainian children in their beds. Congratulations, folks.
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Kate from Kharkiv @kateinkharkiv.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
United States of America is official sponsor of Russia's illegal genocidal invasion of Ukraine. Till April 7 2027 at least.
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Luke McGee @lukemcgee.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
We've seen Trump do some shitty things to Ukraine since taking office (Oval Office incident; Alaska summit; Patriot U-turn) but today he's chosen to do a diesel deal with Putin that plays to Russia's economic/warchest advantage and restricts Ukraine's ability to defend itself.
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Maria Popova @popovaprof.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
Theatre of the absurd! Trump announces US will buy diesel from russia even though he signed a law mandating sanctions for any country buying russian energy. Meanwhile russia actually has a diesel export ban because they can’t meet domestic demand.
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Kyle Cheney @kyledcheney.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
The United States is now importing fuel from Russia, per President Trump.
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15/10 Foundation @15outof10.org · 09/10/2026
You all funded Autumn and her buddies care in 1 hour and 28 minutes! Binx is settling in for some well-deserved rest and sending a big thank you on everyone’s behalf 🤗 We’ll pupdate you on all five pups progress here ❤️‍🩹
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Ben Ansell @benansell.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
‘Culturally British by my standards’ is one of the most chilling phrases uttered in British politics. Entirely unsurprising to me who it’s from.
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Dan Snow @thehistoryguy.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
This a million times. People of colour being dragged on to debate maniacs about imaginary labels & race science is an abomination. proper ‘how German are you’ Nazi shit Note that people like me with white migrant parentage never asked to defend our identity Englishness. Is. A. Made. Up. Thing
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Jacob Öberg @profjacob.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
🚨🚨 My scattered thoughts on this: Yes, #brexit was exactly this, absolute crap (financially, socially politically and in all thinkable ways) and the Johnson-hammered #hardbrexit EU-UK TCA deal is obviously not working for the UK (surprise: works quite well for the EU).
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National Trust @nationaltrust.org.uk · 09/10/2026
👋 Say hello to the stars of your new bank notes! After a public vote which saw over 2.5 million responses, the Bank of England have revealed the Atlantic puffin, barn owl, European hedgehog and buff-tailed bumblebee will appear on redesigned notes over the coming years.
A close-up of a puffin. A small bird with a black back, white front and brightly-coloured beak.A close-up of a bee on flowersA hedgehog walks through a woodland floor at nightTwo brown and white barn owls on a wooden perch
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Jacob Öberg @profjacob.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
Update: #US now offically impose new sanctions on the #ICC. The ICC refers in a statement to the sanctions as an "assault on the rule of law and the very foundations of the international legal order". The moral disgrace of the US' actions is unprecedented. www.reuters.com/world/us-imp...
reuters.com
EXCLUSIVE: US imposes sanctions on ICC hours after former judge wins Nobel Peace Prize
The Trump administration has long been hostile to the court and has previously imposed sanctions on its prosecutors and judges.
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Kristian Kiehling @kristiankiehling.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
The fact that the slaughter of 78 Ukrainian civilians by the russians in two days does not make the headlines in Europe is a testament to our failure as Europeans The skies above Ukraine must be closed now! All russian citizens should be banned from travelling to and conducting business in the EU!
japantimes.co.jp
Zelenskyy accuses U.S. of inaction as Russian strikes kill over 70 in two days
Ukraine’s president criticized Washington’s effort to pursue economic ties with Russia while also seeking to mediate the more than four-year war.
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North West Bylines @northwestbylines.co.uk · 09/10/2026
What do we lose when education is reduced to economic value? And does AI reveal what we are in danger of losing? Is neoliberalism really killing the humanities?  | Albert Strang
northwestbylines.co.uk
How neoliberalism is killing the humanities
What do we lose when education is reduced to economic value? And does AI reveal what we are in danger of losing? Is neoliberalism really killing the humanities?
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Prem Sikka @premnsikka.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
UK water companies made £340m by pouring billions of litres of industrial/commercial wastewater into sewage treatment works. Treatment works are not designed to remove most chemicals, leaving pollutants to pass into rivers, seas and farmland. Investment neglected. Practices are mostly unregulated.
theguardian.com
Revealed: the ‘black box’ wastewater trade that rakes in millions for UK utility companies
Exclusive: Firms made more than £340m last year from processing industrial and commercial wastewater at sewage works that are unable to remove many chemical pollutants
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Laura Bassett @lebassett.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
“If you don’t like public executions just don’t watch it” says the crowd trying to ban drag shows and books
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Alex Hall Hall @alexhh.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
There’s no truly “humane” way to execute another human being. The death penalty is the ultimate definition of inhumane behavior.
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We Own It @weownit.org.uk · 08/10/2026
Andy Burnham has said he wants to reverse Thatcher’s 40 year legacy of privatisation. Now is the time for him to seize the moment, anchored by a set of principles that are uncompromising enough to make a difference to people's lives. Our new report sets out how to do it. vist.ly/5mh3j
"“If water companies cannot invest without raising our bills, they should be allowed to go bust and then taken into public ownership. The public has had enough of the rising bills, service cuts, hosepipe bans and sewage dumping. It is time for water to be taken into public ownership like 90% of the world.”
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cara giaimo @cjgiaimo.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
i was fortunate enough to profile Margaret Hamilton in 2019. A really kind and curious person. This was my favorite story she told me:
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Emily Lakdawalla 🏳️‍⚧️ Uranus Expert @elakdawalla.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
Holy shit you guys there are so many things to see in this video. My favorite detail is one I recognize from studying Curiosity’s landing sequence. The vehicle rolls alternately left and right to control its lift as it enters the atmosphere in order to target its landing range
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Prem Sikka @premnsikka.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
Failures of privatisation. Royal Mail to cut up to 2,500 jobs Foreign-owned RM doesn't meet letter delivery targets even after regulator lowered them. Postage: 1st class, £1.80, 2nd class 91p. When privatized in 2013: 1st class 60p; 2nd class 50p. Poor service at triple price. Customers fleeced.
bbc.co.uk
Royal Mail plans to cut 2,500 head office jobs
The postal service firm wants to cut the head office and other jobs by the end of 2027.
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Prem Sikka @premnsikka.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
UK govt plans £1bn energy bills help for poorer households. How about cutting energy profit margins, 100% windfall tax on excess profits before turning to the public purse. UK energy sector is mostly foreign-owned. Dividends paid without any UK tax deduction. End this perk, raise billions.
theguardian.com
Chancellor plans major intervention to help poorer UK households with rising energy bills
Exclusive: Officials working on further radical changes that would change how much energy companies could charge customers
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The News Agents @thenewsagents.co.uk · 08/10/2026
"One of the reasons I did so badly at school was that I didn't get to mark my own homework... We all saw the Channel Four report." Reform has cleared itself of all wrongdoing over its donations, but is the real trouble for Farage just around the corner? www.thenewsagents.co.uk/article/refo...
thenewsagents.co.uk
Reform investigation into Reform finds Reform did nothing wrong. Is it any surprise? | The News Agents
Reform UK has investigated itself, and found it broke no rules and no laws when it accepted overseas donations in a Channel 4 sting. Was there going to be any other outcome?
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Adam Bienkov @adambienkov.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
From the new Private Eye
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Jim Waterson @jim.londoncentric.media · 08/10/2026
Hardly an original take but it is Quite Annoying to imagine how much the UK (and me, and you!) would all have more cash today if Donald Trump hadn't decided to start bombing Iran for *reasons*. Where's the White House impact assessment on my nursery fees. www.ft.com/content/2cb1...
ft.com
Iran war blows near-£12bn hole in Britain’s public finances
FT estimates show inflation and soaring borrowing costs have slashed chancellor John Healey’s headroom in half
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Emma Monk @monkemma.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
🧵 Matt Goodwin demanded to be fact-checked live on air when he claimed the UK spent "£100 million PER YEAR on family planning and condoms in Pakistan". He then 'corrected' himself to £74.3 million, saying it was based on a "major news story from October 2025" He was, of course, still wrong... 1/30
Screenshot of LBC tweet:

How much has the UK actually spent on condoms in Pakistan? 

Henry Riley is sceptical about Matt Goodwin's numbers so the reform politician calls himself to be fact-checked live on air.
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Micah @rincewind.run · 07/10/2026
rip to one of the coolest software engineers who ever lived
Margaret Hamilton standing next to a printout of code she and her team wrote for the Apollo program, which is as tall as she is
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15/10 Foundation @15outof10.org · 07/10/2026
This dog was placed on the euthanasia list because she had mange. Now she's healthy and thriving in her forever home with two of our followers ❤️‍🩹
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Dave Dustin @dustin.nz · 07/10/2026
"YOU’RE LISTENING TO SISYPHUS FM, THE HOME OF NON-STOP ROCK"
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Looking at the stars @lookingatthestars.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
Hypocrisy: it's the Reform way www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
theguardian.com
Reform MP raises concerns about second homes – then buys one for £800,000
Sarah Pochin bought Anglesey property two days after writing to minister about impact of second homes on rural communities
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