Sign in

Jane McNicholl

@janemcnicholl.bsky.social
453 followers 997 following 42 posts

Science Educator Stoke City supporter Cat lover & hispanophile

PostsRepliesMedia
Reposted by Jane McNicholl
Roland Smith @rolandmcs.bsky.social · 20h
Great piece about the Conservative Right living in an alternative universe. 'There is nothing so powerful in British politics as the right wing unreality machine. It is its own Faraway Tree, a place where anything is possible, where anything can be manifested, if you think it hard enough.'
411521
Reposted by Jane McNicholl
Danielle Blake @abradacabla.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
A common theme that drives me absolutely wild with elections/polling these days: 1. Right wing wrecks everything 2. Left of centre figure elected 3. Left of centre can’t fix all the damage in 5 seconds so the right wing, who have got 10x worse in the meantime, lead polls again/win next election
225461
Reposted by Jane McNicholl
Best for Britain @bestforbritain.org · 02/10/2026
Oli Dugmore brilliantly outlines the struggles young people face today. Brexit robbed them of countless opportunities. Restoring our EU membership is the easiest way to help our young people.
9348102
Reposted by Jane McNicholl
Ian Stuart @ianstu.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Excellent piece from @alexhh.bsky.social. Let's just hope Burnham can deliver at least some of his proposals. At least they have inspired some much needed discussion on the provision of social care.
192
Reposted by Jane McNicholl
John Oxley @joxley.jmoxley.co.uk · 28/09/2026
"Once, I went out on the rob for diesel, and sparked a major international security incident"
17848157
Reposted by Jane McNicholl
Ann Pettifor @annpettifor.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
In re-reading this - I must acknowledge that it's very good. The intro is too long, but the rest is brilliantly clear. If I say so myself. annpettifor.substack.com/p/its-time-t...
annpettifor.substack.com
Its Time to Ignore Defeatists on Both Right and Left
The Left must reject Neoliberal Political Framing. Taxes do not pay for government spending. Taxes are a consequence of spending.
0157
Reposted by Jane McNicholl
Prospect Magazine @prospectmagazine.co.uk · 25/09/2026
“Peaceful pensioners with placards are criminalised as ‘terrorists’ while organised bullies in political uniforms disrupt infrastructure without obvious impediment,” writes The Empty City
prospectmagazine.co.uk
The difference between ‘Free Speech’ and free speech
The fundamental disconnections between political speech and substance, and why this matters
02220
Reposted by Jane McNicholl
Reece Dinsdale @reecedinsdale.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
It’s time to stop adhering to a decade-old referendum that caused us nothing but problems. An increasingly volatile world now changes faster, year on year. The days of Empire are long gone. We cannot survive alone. We need the power/safety of our neighbours. Unity not isolation.
47792209
Reposted by Jane McNicholl
James Ball @jamesrball.com · 19/09/2026
I think it should be a source of deep embarrassment – and perhaps even shame – that Rishi Sunak has spoken out on this before Andy Burnham has.
651940446
Reposted by Jane McNicholl
Liam Thorp @liamthorp.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
Lord give me the arrogance of a tax exile who feels the right to comment on the tax policies and general running of a country who you have deprived of billions by registering yourself in Monaco
bbc.co.uk
Billionaire Manchester United owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe says he has lost confidence in UK
Ineos founder Sir Jim Ratcliffe tells the BBC he thinks the country is "on the slide" and calls for more investment in the North Sea.
721180326
Reposted by Jane McNicholl
Prospect Magazine @prospectmagazine.co.uk · 17/09/2026
Many members of the Israeli establishment vehemently oppose what is happening in the West Bank. You wouldn’t know it from the criticism aimed at Ed Miliband, writes Alan Rusbridger
prospectmagazine.co.uk
Confronting Jewish terrorism is not an act of Jew hate
Many members of the Israeli establishment vehemently oppose what is happening in the West Bank. You wouldn’t know it from the criticism aimed at Ed Mi...
11613
Reposted by Jane McNicholl
Alex Hall Hall @alexhh.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
There’s no such thing as “apolitical”. By refusing to take a stand, Sheeran is also expressing a view. Silence can be as harmful as action. Moreover, this whole saga will backfire on Kraft and Sheeran, because I bet there’ll now be protests at every venue! www.theguardian.com/music/commen...
theguardian.com
Ed Sheeran wants to stay out of politics. By quitting his tour, his support acts have exposed the hollowness of neutrality
By standing behind support act Macklemore, who was removed from the tour for his vocal support of Palestine, these artists are demonstrating the self-sacrifice necessary to stand against those crushin...
58319
Reposted by Jane McNicholl
Oliver Bullough @oliverbullough.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
The fact something as fundamental and superb as the RNLI is a charity is one of the most magical and strange things about Britain. You can support them here. rnli.org/support-us/g...
rnli.org
Donate to the RNLI and help save lives at sea
Your donations really make a difference. We depend on your generosity to educate people to stay safe and prevent tragedies on and offshore. Donate here.
11615286
Reposted by Jane McNicholl
Byline Times @bylinetimes.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
“My profession smiles at hard-right figures when they walk into a TV studio and are given a disproportionate amount of air time to make their fact-free assertions while nodding along to their scapegoating of the weak.” ✍️ Patrick Howse
bylinetimes.com
The BBC Is Just Nodding Along
The corporation's news coverage has lost its soul as a bulwark against unaccountable power and extremism, writes a former BBC News producer
36868354
Reposted by Jane McNicholl
Jeremy Smith @jeremysmith.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
Dear Burnham Labour government, There are uniformed fascists on the streets of Dover. You have done and said f*** all so far. Not good enough. You'll lock up pro-Palestinian grannies and young climate activists - but you ignore fascist thugs. NOT GOOD ENOUGH!
7517177
Reposted by Jane McNicholl
Chris Grey @chrisgrey.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
Very good overview of the UK-EU Gibraltar agreement (which has been provisonally in force since mid-July, and is effectively the last part of the original Brexit negotiations), by James Trinidad for @ukandeu.bsky.social published today: ukandeu.ac.uk/a-new-europe...
ukandeu.ac.uk
A new European chapter for Gibraltar - UK in a changing Europe
Jamie Trinidad KC explains how the implementation of the UK-EU Agreement in respect of Gibraltar agreed by the UK and EU will affect both Gibraltar and Spain and the border between the two.
03615
Reposted by Jane McNicholl
Trickcyclist 🦋🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇪🇺 @trickcyclist.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
Scrap the Academy system.
121
Reposted by Jane McNicholl
Sarah Murphy @13sarahmurphy.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
“What I fear…. is the wholesale distortion of democracy whereby a small number of disproportionately loud voices determine outcomes because of the funding they offer.” Farage’s crypto greed exposing him as a threat to our national security and democracy. Again. www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...
Picture of Farage superimposed on a load of bitcoins

Revealed: Reform rakes in £20m in donations from crypto investors
• Reform's crypto millions raise doubts about Nigel Farage's judgement
Labour MP Catherine West told The Independent: "The late Robin Williams once suggested that politicians should wear jackets with the names of the people who are sponsoring them. In Reform's case, it seems to be a magic cloak that disappears when difficult questions are asked.
"Ordinary people across the country need nothing less than full disclosure on who exactly is trying to buy their way into UK legislation."
REFORMUK
Nigel Farage claimed his party would make London one of the major crypto trading centres of the world (PA Wire)
13342118
Reposted by Jane McNicholl
Deb Chachra @debcha.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
This explainer out of Australia is genuinely useful background and analysis of what happened with the Canada-US trade deal last night. Note that it is extremely and delightfully sweary. Also there’s an appended glossary of Australian slang. ifloz.substack.com/p/king-carne...
ifloz.substack.com
KING CARNEY ACTIVATES KONG MODE WITH ZERO FUCKS
Carney Reads the Clock Like a Pro Wrestler
992005769
Jane McNicholl @janemcnicholl.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
Good call.
000
Reposted by Jane McNicholl
JointheDots @joiningupthedots.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
An oldie but a goodie. Lest the Standards Commissioner forget.
532330845
Reposted by Jane McNicholl
Ed Davey @eddavey.libdems.org.uk · 20/08/2026
The Conservatives and Nigel Farage helped create the small boats crisis with their botched Brexit deal. Now they want you to blame everyone else. Only Lib Dems have a real plan: work with our European neighbours to tackle it.
515742
Reposted by Jane McNicholl
George Monbiot @georgemonbiot.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
I've added my name to the open letter calling for a public inquiry into the tragic death of Professor Jason Arday. Will you join me? goodlaw.social/625453
goodlaw.social
Jason Arday: Demand a public inquiry now | Good Law Project
Commission an immediate public inquiry into how to ensure a responsible press given its contribution to Dr Arday’s tragic death.
531232393
Reposted by Jane McNicholl
The New World @thenewworldmag.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
The national broadcaster reported as fact the Reform man's fanciful claims his new welfare cuts would save more than £50 billion ✏️ Rats in a Sack 🐀
thenewworld.co.uk
Why is the BBC parroting Robert Jenrick's back-of-a-fag-packet welfare figures?
The national broadcaster reported as fact the Reform man's fanciful claims his new welfare cuts would save more than £50 billion
1276
Reposted by Jane McNicholl
Sarah Murphy @13sarahmurphy.bsky.social · 17/08/2026
Tice is such a prejudiced, small-minded little man. He wears his ignorance with actual pride and becomes aggressively vengeful when challenged. Someone this dim but this entitled shouldn’t have a hope of being in power. That’s how our country is broken… people like him being able to eye up govt.
738568
Reposted by Jane McNicholl
Martin Rowson @martinrowson.bsky.social · 16/08/2026
11 days ago Jason Arday resigned, saying he was at his limits. The press wrote 188 more articles. 9 days later Jason Arday was found dead. Enough is enough: Demand an urgent inquiry into the role the media had on his death: you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/de...
you.38degrees.org.uk
Sign the petition: demand an inquiry into the culture of the press after Jason Arday's death!
Tragically, Professor Jason Arday has died after a vicious and deeply personal campaign of press attacks over the last few weeks. The Government must urgently launch an inquiry into the culture and b...
36617
Reposted by Jane McNicholl
Count Binface @countbinface.bsky.social · 16/08/2026
A brief note for Nadhim Zahawi.
33687332865
Jane McNicholl @janemcnicholl.bsky.social · 15/08/2026
000
Jane McNicholl @janemcnicholl.bsky.social · 15/08/2026
I’m an ex-academic and this story has hit home hard. But more than that, it screams to what a horribly racist country we now seem to be. So, so sad for this young man.
000
Reposted by Jane McNicholl
Ian Dunt @iandunt.bsky.social · 15/08/2026
Haunted by Arday story. In that state where you surprise yourself by how upset you are.
1351698132
Reposted by Jane McNicholl
Sarah Murphy @13sarahmurphy.bsky.social · 15/08/2026
Trump… and Farage “are good at raging at how things are, but incapable of making them better.“ They’re pisstakers not policy makers. Lazy, vain and corrupt. They peddle grievance to the disenchanted but will never care or think enough to actually help them. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
theguardian.com
Donald Trump can’t beat Iran and Nigel Farage can only beat a bin. When it counts, these populists are just losers | Jonathan Freedland
The pattern in the US and Britain is clear. They serve up stunt after stunt to mask incompetence and the betrayal of all those who trusted them, says Guardian columnist Jonathan Freedland
50946305
Reposted by Jane McNicholl
👻 🎃 🦇 Boola Lughosti's Dad 🏳️‍⚧️ 🇵🇸 @belalugosisdad.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
You know who wasn't hounded to suicide for dodgy academic research? ANDREW FUCKING WAKEFIELD.
201925513
Reposted by Jane McNicholl
Sarah Murphy @13sarahmurphy.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
The only things this ridiculous Clacton by-election farce have confirmed: 1) Farage is wholly unfit for public office, given his willingness to abuse it 2) Farage is corrupt 3) Farage is an attention-seeking, charmless, lying dickhead 4) Clacton has let us all down. Again. That’s it.
1742817623
Jane McNicholl @janemcnicholl.bsky.social · 09/08/2026
😜
000
Reposted by Jane McNicholl
Kate from Kharkiv @kateinkharkiv.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
APPLEBAUM: War in Ukraine is not about territory. When Putin invaded Ukraine, he had at least 2 other motives. First, to assure his own place in history by rebuilding Soviet or Russian Empire. Second, to prevent democratization of Russia from following the same path as Ukraine.
12749197
Reposted by Jane McNicholl
Gavin Esler @gavinesler.bsky.social · 02/08/2026
Maybe it’s approaching the time for Nigel to retire to spend more time with his money. www.lbc.co.uk/article/fara...
lbc.co.uk
Farage struck secret Reform comeback deal months before election | LBC
Negotiations with Richard Tice were supervised by George Cottrell, raising fresh questions over Nigel Farage’s account of when he decided to return to politics.
1724860
Reposted by Jane McNicholl
Sarah Murphy @13sarahmurphy.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
Jenrick jumps at another opportunity to make a fool of himself. And Reform sinks further into unserious, unprincipled unelectable territory. A corrupt clownshow, desperate to peddle anger rather than hope. @mrjohncrace.bsky.social sighs deeply at their inanity. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Jenrick giving a speech with a flash card saying ‘DEATH TAX’ behind him.

When you've lost the trust of GB
News, when you're too deranged, too extreme and too outright mendacious for your
biggest fan, then you know you are in trouble.
You can almost sense the panic beginning to set in at Reform HQ.The first question came from GB News, more in sorrow than in anger. Why had Honest Bob made such a fool of himself? Why not actually try to join in the cross-party talks to find a solution to such a serious problem? Why the scare tactics of a death tax that isn't even government policy? If the Tories and the Lib Dems could behave as grownups and engage with Andy Burnham, why couldn't Reform?
Instead, Reform ended up looking like a deeply unserious party. One that didn't even have a health and social care spokesperson.
18477138
Reposted by Jane McNicholl
Ian Dunt @iandunt.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
Burnham: "Social care in England is as unfair as American healthcare." It's a very good line.
491965372
Reposted by Jane McNicholl
Byline Times @bylinetimes.bsky.social · 28/07/2026
📌 ICYMI @nafeez.bsky.social Nigel Farage's criminal funder runs a Montenegro company whose corporate advisors work for a Belgrade Russian-arms dealer and individuals tied to Russian state-linked enterprises
bylinetimes.com
How George Cottrell’s Reform UK Network in Montenegro Is Tied to Sanctioned Russian Oligarchs
Nigel Farage's criminal funder runs a Montenegro company whose corporate advisors work for a Belgrade Russian-arms dealer and individuals tied to Russian state-linked enterprises
7185100
Reposted by Jane McNicholl
The Economist @economist.com · 26/07/2026
La Roja (The Reds) exemplify Spanish virtues that casual visitors often overlook: modesty, hard work and above all teamwork and unity
bit.ly
Spain’s team embodies footballing values FIFA has betrayed
La Roja won the World Cup through teamwork and grit
1274
Reposted by Jane McNicholl
sailingbikeruk.bsky.social @sailingbikeruk.bsky.social · 25/07/2026
'The poor and middle pay taxes, the rich pay accountants, the very rich pay lawyers – and the ultra-rich pay politicians.' Never has this been more obvious than now. Ask Nigel.
041
Reposted by Jane McNicholl
Chris Grey @chrisgrey.bsky.social · 24/07/2026
The Burnham chapter begins. New post on my Brexit & Brexitism Blog assessing Burnham and Burnhamism, plus Farage’s fortunes, and the rancid reactions to the alleged murder of Ann Widdecombe. Long, last post of the summer: chrisgreybrexitblog.blogspot.com/2026/07/the-...
Image of the opening paragraphs of the latest blogpost
1816583
Reposted by Jane McNicholl
David Phinnemore @dphinnemore.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
“Badenoch has effectively committed the Conservatives to a policy of conflict, and possibly even rupture, with the EU…. That’s because the UK’s continued membership of the ECHR underpins every element of its post-Brexit relationship with the EU” www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
theguardian.com
Nobody in Europe knows or cares what Kemi Badenoch thinks. That’s a big mistake | Simon Nixon
The opposition leader wants to pull the UK out of the ECHR, wrecking treaties from the Good Friday agreement to the Gibraltar deal, says economics commentator Simon Nixon
42017
Reposted by Jane McNicholl
Graham Simpson @grahambs.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
In an open letter, 120 well-off Britons told Burnham: "We can afford it. We're not talking about higher taxes on those who get up and go to work for their income every day, but on the very richest whose income is derived from the wealth they hold." 👏👏👏 www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Gary Lineker among millionaires asking Andy Burnham to tax them more
A group including the former England footballer write to the new PM telling him "we can afford it".
612454
Reposted by Jane McNicholl
UK in a Changing Europe @ukandeu.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
"I think the key thing for Andy Burnham is to focus on a few key domestic priorities and show the British public that finally we have a govt. that is willing to tackle our long term economic problems." 📈 @anandmenon.bsky.social on @bloomberg.com on the need to start the UK economy growing again
1184
Reposted by Jane McNicholl
Ang Honeybourne @anghoneyb.bsky.social · 20/07/2026
I love how some commentators are saying that AB made a u-turn over appointing either Ed M & Shabana M as Chancellor, when in reality they had no idea who AB‘s first choice was.
0133
Reposted by Jane McNicholl
James O’Brien @mrjamesob.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
Ooh.
501141270
Reposted by Jane McNicholl
The Secret Barrister @barristersecret.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
Just to recap: Calling Nigel Farage “an unflushable poo” = dehumanising hate speech. Calling for hotels housing asylum seekers to be set on fire = guest of honour at party conference. Bless those non-racist free speech warriors.
711696497
Reposted by Jane McNicholl
Liam Thorp @liamthorp.bsky.social · 15/07/2026
On a serious note. It was a massive mistake to instantly sit back after our goal and just invite pressure. The defensive subs then added to this and meant that if they were too equalised, we were always in further trouble.
1720610