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Reposted by John Simkin

Sarah Murphy @13sarahmurphy.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

The Farage show is tediously self-pitying. Even if his idiotic by-election stunt distracts temporarily from scrutiny of his dodgy finances, his inability to accept and make amends for the significant role he himself plays in the toxification of our politics will not. (Letters in The Times)

Reform UK and the toxic political discourse

2 out of 5 letters all condemning Farage’s divisive conduct

Sir, Huge Rifkind rightly exposes the contradiction at the heart of Reform UK's position ("Reform can't have it both ways on hurty words", Jul 15).
Its leaders demand more protection for politicians from abuse and violence, yet when I urged Nigel Farage simply to respect the police's request not to speculate about Ann Widdecombe's tragic death, Reform's
"shadow home secretary", Zia Yusuf, responded not with civil argument but by publicly denouncing me as
"depraved" and resurrecting a conviction 1 got 40 years ago under discriminatory laws that parliament has since recognised were unjust. The result has been a torrent of vitriol directed at me, including from Arron Banks and Laila Cunningham.
Political leaders cannot credibly deplore today's toxic discourse while helping to fuel it. If Reform wishes to be taken seriously as a party of government, it should begin by practising the civility and restraint it so readily demands of others.
K Harvey Proctor
Conservative MP, 1979-87
Grantham, Lincs

Sir, Nigel Farage has played the victim card far too soon. Resigning to trigger an unnecessary by-election is a costly political stunt and the other parties are quite right to refuse to participate. If he is re-elected, the standards inquiry into his £5 million gift will simply resume. But this raises a constitutional question. If an MP cannot serve under scrutiny, and quits, they should be barred from standing in the resulting by-election.

To paint oneself into a corner and demand the public pay for an escape door is absurd. An honourable politician would respect the regulatory process; an honourable man would withdraw from active politics.
David Dickinson
Stadtschlaining, Austria

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Fionna O’Leary @fascinatorfun.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

Did I hear him bang the drum about Russian interference with the 2016 election in order to get him elected in his Dementia Don speech last night trying to lay the ground for preferential cheating in the mid terms and in the next presidentical? No. But Russia undoubtedly did. “MY CHEATING IS GREAT”

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loopylaura.bsky.social @loopylaura.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

"Slush funds, astroturf projects, unattributed stories inflaming ethnic tensions .. this was .. the stuff of the Labour Together project, and it speaks volumes that Starmer’s leadership and government would emerge from its milieu.

novaramedia.com

Ignore the Pageantry – Keir Starmer is Leaving Power in Disgrace

As the most unpopular prime minister in modern times is evicted from No.10, Paul Holden remembers a leadership whose hatred the left curdled into the abandonment of democratic principles and basic dec...

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Blairer @haggisblarer.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

And this will get worse under Farage. #Brexit Time he was binned.

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Phoenix Satya @flyingpangolin.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

As the owner of a company put out of business by these incredibly complicated "disguised renumeration" tax laws. I've been puzzled for weeks how Farage has simply been able to ignore them. Dan Neidle with excellent synopsis:

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John Simkin @johnsimkin1945.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

Details of how Morgan McSweeny turned the Labour Party into a right-wing organisation. spartacus-educational.com/Labour_Toget... @villagegreenparty.bsky.social @elliechowns.bsky.social @brumgreens.bsky.social @sianberry.bsky.social @adamramsay.bsky.social @nathalie87.bsky.social

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John Simkin @johnsimkin1945.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

At 81, after a lime time of experiencing the patronising words of those politicians who have enjoyed the benefits of their privileged education, I am guilty of being too passionate and concerned about the plight of the world than the accuracies of English grammar.

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John Simkin @johnsimkin1945.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

Both my parents were unskilled factory workers, and I was brought up on a council estate. I left school at 15 in 1960 without qualifications and received my political education on the factory floor. My fellow factory workers probably did not spend too much time correcting my English skills.

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John Simkin @johnsimkin1945.bsky.social · 27/06/2026

Clement Attlee said: “Charity is a cold grey loveless thing. If a rich man wants to help the poor, he should pay his taxes gladly, not dole out money at a whim.” spartacus-educational.com/TUattlee.htm @elliechowns.bsky.social @aleedscyclist.bsky.social @danclayt.bsky.social

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John Simkin @johnsimkin1945.bsky.social · 27/06/2026

Technofeudalism: Is AI going to destroy Capitalism and Democracy? spartacus-educational.com/spartacus-bl... @ginaj.bsky.social‬ @eraldo.bsky.social‬ @jacobtolley1u1.bsky.social‬ @historyhighway.bsky.social‬ ‪@notremade.bsky.social‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ ‪@crispinb.bsky.social‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

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John Simkin @johnsimkin1945.bsky.social · 27/06/2026

Should the government try to control what appears on the internet? spartacus-educational.com/spartacus-bl... @gemmamh.bsky.social‬ @terryhaydn.bsky.social @arthurjchapman.bsky.social @davidbutleruk.bsky.social @arimaxpharma.bsky.social @nb23.bsky.social @solidarity.social

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Ed Hawkins @edhawkins.org · 26/06/2026

What is the future of summers in England? Our choices matter. A high-emissions future will commit our children and grandchildren to live in a world where the summers of 1976 & 2025 are cold. A global net-zero emissions future means that we can stabilise the climate & those summers will be normal.

England average summer temperatures in a high emissions future

England average summer temperatures in a global net-zero emissions future

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John Simkin @johnsimkin1945.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

The reasons why Nigel Farage was given this money. spartacus-educational.com/spartacus-bl...

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Simon Parker @sparkerworld.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

Between October 7, 2023 and October 7, 2025, at least 20,179 children were killed [in Gaza] around 30% of the overall death toll. This compares to a 24% death rate for children in previous Israeli military operations. www.reuters.com/world/middle...

reuters.com

Israel targeted Gaza children resulting in genocide, UN inquiry says

Israeli authorities and security forces deliberately targeted Palestinian children, resulting in genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes in Gaza, and war crimes in the occupied West Bank, an...

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John Simkin @johnsimkin1945.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

This is great news. We had the same thing in the UK under Jeremy Corbyn but eventually the false smear stories have an effect. I am sure they will do the same thing to Mamdani.

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John Simkin @johnsimkin1945.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

Thanks for telling me. I like to hear that my efforts are not in vain. In the early days a lot of people thanked me by email but that rarely happens today. You have made a very old man happy. I'm 81 tomorrow.

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John Simkin @johnsimkin1945.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

The reason why Christopher Harbone funds Nigel Farage. spartacus-educational.com/spartacus-bl...

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John Simkin @johnsimkin1945.bsky.social · 30/05/2026

The Vassal State: How America Runs Britain spartacus-educational.com/spartacus-bl... @solidarity.social @bumkz.bsky.social @medlockaj.bsky.social @sanders.senate.gov @danlyndon.bsky.social‬ @richardjonesnerzic.bsky.social @edpodesta.bsky.social @apf102.bsky.social

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Pete Marchetto @petemarchetto.bsky.social · 30/05/2026

I heard @pollytoynbee.bsky.social Toynbee defend Blair's Labour on Today this morning. She said that he promoted equality, (which he didn't, see below). She also spoke about his promotion of LGBTQ+ rights, but Cameron introduced gay marriage. Should be be... www.theguardian.com/uk/2004/dec/...

theguardian.com

Super-rich have doubled their money under Labour

Official figures show widening gap in pay, assets and life expectancy.

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Jake Wright @bcnjake.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

Once again: German universities were the envy of the world before the Nazis rose to power and took an ideological wrecking ball to the entire enterprise. If you want to know how long it took for German universities to recover… they haven’t.

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l8in.bsky.social @l8in.bsky.social · 30/05/2026

Buckingham Palace was handed emails six years ago that would have shown that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was sharing confidential government information while a trade envoy, according to court documents... www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

bbc.co.uk

Palace handed Andrew's controversial envoy emails six years ago

Thousands of emails containing information about the former prince's financial dealings were given to the Royal Household in 2020.

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John Simkin @johnsimkin1945.bsky.social · 30/05/2026

Clement Attlee said: “Charity is a cold grey loveless thing. If a rich man wants to help the poor, he should pay his taxes gladly, not dole out money at a whim.” spartacus-educational.com/TUattlee.htm @solidarity.social @santinimore.bsky.social @barneymhiggins.bsky.social @greenparty.org.uk

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John Simkin @johnsimkin1945.bsky.social · 30/05/2026

How do we stop Nigel Farage from forming the next government? spartacus-educational.com/spartacus-bl... ‪@solidarity.social @notremade.bsky.social‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ ‪@crispinb.bsky.social‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ @flibbertigibbitt.bsky.social‬ @katheryngallant.bsky.social‬‬‬‬ @pesgb.bsky.social‬

spartacus-educational.com

How do we stop Nigel Farage from forming a government?

How do we stop Nigel Farage from forming a government? Last updated: 30th October, 2025

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John Simkin @johnsimkin1945.bsky.social · 30/05/2026

Technofeudalism: Is AI going to destroy Capitalism and Democracy? spartacus-educational.com/spartacus-bl... @northernhistory.bsky.social @denslon.bsky.social @lambhearttea.bsky.social @mrsball.bsky.social @chrisrobbrown.satan.social‬ ‪@harrietmarshall.bsky.social‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

spartacus-educational.com

Technofeudalism: Is AI going to destroy Capitalism and Democracy?

Technofeudalism: Is AI going to destroy Capitalism and Democracy? Last updated: 20 December, 2025

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