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Penny Stuart

@lostindisco.bsky.social
4.3K followers 394 following 2.4K posts

Centre left politics junkie, polite but quietly furious. RTs are not endorsements. Same handles on 🐘 and X.

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Reposted by Penny Stuart
Alan Renwick @alanrenwick.bsky.social · 23h
Immediate thoughts on Andy Burnham's announcement today of a national commission on electoral reform. Doing this process well will be really important. theconversation.com/if-he-wants-...
theconversation.com
If he wants to secure legitimacy for electoral reform, Andy Burnham must stick to these rules
Involving both the public and all parties in shaping reforms on how they vote will be crucial.
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Mark Chadbourn @chadbourn.bsky.social · 9h
New Survation Westminster poll: LAB 29% (+2) RFM 23% (-1) CON 19% (-2) LD 9% (-2) GRN 9% (+2) SNP 3% (=) RB 2% (=) PC 1% (-1) OTH 4% (=)
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Jacob Öberg @profjacob.bsky.social · 9h
🚨🚨 @coe.int of Europe said yesterday that the #US formally notified it that it would leave the Group of States against Corruption, or #GRECO. Only two other countries have left GRECO before — #Russia and #Belarus. The fall of the #US on the world scene is striking. apnews.com/article/trum...
apnews.com
US withdraws from European anti-corruption panel in latest shift away from global groups
The Trump administration has withdrawn the United States from a top European anti-corruption watchdog.
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Penny Stuart @lostindisco.bsky.social · 9h
Goodall was impressed
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Jessica Elgot @jessicaelgot.bsky.social · 22h
The Labour Party is having a moment My analysis of the speech, the most radical from a prime minister in more than a decade www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
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Channel 4 News @channel4news.bsky.social · 22h
What will changing the triple lock mean for state pensions? www.channel4.com/news/what-wi...
channel4.com
What will changing the triple lock mean for state pensions?
Andy Burnham’s announcement on reforming the triple lock was at the centre of his speech. Our Economics Editor Helia Ebrahimi took us through the numbers.
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MAKS 26 👀🇺🇦 @maks23.bsky.social · 22h
🇪🇺🇺🇦 European Commission prepares radical EU reform that will accelerate Ukraine and other countries’ accession — Rappourter The main point is the abolition of the unanimity requirement and the right of veto at many intermediate stages of a candidate country’s application for EU membership.
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SpinningHugo @spinninghugo.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Interesting and characteristically thoughtful reflections by GP on why Starmer was unsuited to the job he had.
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Sam Freedman @samfr.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
We can all argue about Burnham's speech but it meant girl twin asking me what the triple lock was and boy twin asking me what my preferred form of PR is. So it's done its work.
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Penny Stuart @lostindisco.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
👀
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derek guy @dieworkwear.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Tweed is such a beautiful fabric to wear this time of year because it produces, in Dolly Parton's phrasing, a coat of many colors. Even a solid-colored brown is not just brown, but bits of red, blue, and yellow to produce something that looks lifted off the Scottish landscape.
There are two photos taped together. The top shows a brown stone building with a brown thatched roof. It's surrounded by green grass, stone walkways, and blue-gray sea. Below is a checked brown tweed that reflects the colors in the landscape above it. There are two photos taped together. The one at te top shows a rocky hillside with green and straw-colored grass, gray rocks, and a tan sandy beach below. The blue waters are crashing at the shore. Below is a green herringbone tweed that reflects the colors in the landscape above it. There are two photos taped together. The top shows a field of green and straw colored fields with bits of purple flowers. Below is a a series of checked brown tweed that reflect the colors in the landscape above it. A swatch book of solid-colored tweeds. The green tweed has visible flecks of red, gold, and blue.
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The Institute for Fiscal Studies @theifs.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
NEW: How will the new triple lock work and what effects will it have? 📊 Jonathan Cribb, @heidikarj.bsky.social and @helenmiller.bsky.social's new comment explains how the new triple lock would work, how much it would cost and how it compares to the previous triple lock: ifs.org.uk/articles/how...
Chart is an illustration of how the new triple lock would operate compared to the old triple lock.
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Chris Grey @chrisgrey.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
And recall: “one piece of evidence of failure [of Brexit] would be if we are still debating this in five- or six-years’ time in the same way. I think [if] it is to succeed it needs to settle in the British polity.” David Frost (2022). Pretty clear we now have that evidence of failure.
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Chris Grey @chrisgrey.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Important development in clearly stating Brexit was harmful & reset isn't a solution. But (unlike ER commission) no obvious process for how "we can find consensus". And on what? The options (again)? Or which to pursue? Still, definitely pitchrolling for something beyond 'make Brexit work'.
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Best for Britain @bestforbritain.org · 29/09/2026
🚨 BREAKING 🚨 Burnham: "I cannot say to you truthfully that where we are is good enough. Brexit has done more harm than good. We need to restore a higher level of growth and prosperity for Britain." Britain needs EU membership - only then will we have the growth that our country needs.
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Gaby Hinsliff @gabyhinsliff.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
it might backfire horribly on him but if so, boy is Andy Burnham going out with a bang. Do wonder if that speech could only have been made by someone who was out of Westminster for the madness years & isn't as scared of the public - he's gambling on them still grudgingly respecting conviction
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The Institute for Fiscal Studies @theifs.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
"The old triple lock is gone. And the new triple lock still keeps pace with average earnings, but doesn't have the ratchet." 📺 @helenmiller.bsky.social interprets the Prime Minister's triple lock announcement in her response to the speech on BBC Politics Live:
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George Peretz KC @georgeperetzkc.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
🎉🎉
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The Institute for Fiscal Studies @theifs.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
How much would the new reformed triple lock announced by Andy Burnham this afternoon save compared to the old system? 📺 @helenmiller.bsky.social explains on BBC Politics Live:
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Russ Jones @russincheshire.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Just tax the compute. Datacentre? Cool. Fund your own power generation and water reservoirs, and then pay tax for every computational act your datacentre does. And we'll use the tax income to offset societal and job damage. Overnight, AI becomes something AI giants are desperate to restrict.
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Luke Tryl @luketryl.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
🧵Ahead of Burnham’s speech our latest research looks at the state of Labour and the 3 tests by which public will judge this gov’t. Burnham’s earned his party a rehearing, but has yet to detoxify Labour brand. Only ½ of those who think Burnham is doing a good job would vote Lab
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Dan/iel Mudford @danmud.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
You can hear him screaming "Fucksakes!" in his own language whatever it is.
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Ian Dunt @iandunt.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
These anonymous MPs saying it's 'electoral suicide' to tinker with the triple lock. Exactly the type who got us into this mess: unwilling to lead, unwilling to recognise reality for fear of offending voters, unwilling to solve long-term problems if it presents the slightest short-term risk.
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Sam Freedman @samfr.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
New post from @ldfreedman.bsky.social On the still ongoing, horrific, but little covered war in Sudan. How it illustrates the difficulties of ending wars, and whether there is any route to ending this one. (Free to read) samf.substack.com/p/the-sudan-...
samf.substack.com
The Sudan War: is there any way out?
Since April 2023 Sudan has been consumed by a vicious war that gets far too little attention in the West.
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John Rentoul @rentouljohn.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Really important graph for any debate about triple lock commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-bri...
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Anton Gerashchenko @antongerashchenko.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Why are Russia’s jet-powered drones so difficult to shoot down? Speed is only part of the challenge. According to aviation expert Anatolii Khrapchynskyi, relay stations deployed by Belarus along the border provide Russian strike drones with high-quality communications deep into Ukrainian territory,
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Jon Henley @jonhenley.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Jeez
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Full Fact @fullfact.org · 29/09/2026
Viral posts claim Japan has passed ‘anti-Islam laws’ banning halal food, mosques, burqas and prayer calls. This is false. Japan's constitution guarantees religious freedom. Here's what we found 👇
fullfact.org
No, Japan has not introduced 'anti-Islam' laws – Full Fact
Viral posts claim Japan has banned halal food, mosques, burqas and the call to prayer. This is false. No such laws exist, and Japan's constitution guarantees religious freedom.
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Alice Lilly @aliceolilly.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
This is unconscionable and a moral stain on everybody who facilitated this administration and its approach.
theatlantic.com
The Babies Left Behind in America
The United States is deporting parents without their children, creating a whole new family-separation crisis.
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General Boles @generalboles.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
The terrorists undermined our security measures with a trip to B&Q bsky.app/profile/gene...
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Best for Britain @bestforbritain.org · 28/09/2026
🚨 Ed Miliband: "Europe is not just our geography, but so much more. "And on economics, on defence, on security, I say to this conference: our future lies in a stronger, deeper partnership with the European Union."
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Stephen Bush @stephenkb.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
It will never not be wild to me that the Russians attacked Keir Starmer's home, successfully spread falsehoods about Starmer's love life, and this didn't changed British politics and British political elite behaviour *at all*.
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Tim Bale @timbale.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
"Since Healey is in a Labour government that will not slash spending, this means higher taxes. The UK is not in truth a high-tax country, at least by the standards of its European peers. Labour must now dare to recognise that reality." Martin Wolf telling it like it is www.ft.com/content/aa0a....
Graph showing that the UK's overall tax burden falls in the middle of the large high-income economies.
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MAKS 26 👀🇺🇦 @maks23.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
😡 Explosions are heard in Dnipro, a business center hit. There are injuries, and a fire is on the scene.
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David Higham @oldtrotter.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
The unwillingness or inability of ministers to see the importance of HE to both national and local prosperity in a knowledge and skills based economy, is on a par with their neglect of local government while talking about the importance of devolution. You don’t build a sense of community this way.
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MAKS 26 👀🇺🇦 @maks23.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
🇺🇦 Operation Vivaldi: The Defense Forces have liberated Ridkodub, Nove and Katerynivka, and have also regained control near Novomykhailivka and Lypove, DeepState reports. The area of ​​the liberated territories is 40.7 km².
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Ben Ansell @benansell.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Final point on this. There’s nothing new to HO wanting lower numbers and HMT wanting higher numbers. Was ever thus (eg May vs Osborne). What is more surprising is that Mahmood never gets asked about this and the relative silence of Govt ministers (other than Rayner) on positive side of immigration.
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Mark Chadbourn @chadbourn.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
US social media companies are interfering in the Brazilian elections in favour of the Far Right’s Flávio Bolsonaro. Meta is the latest. It’s just blocked the campaign account of President Lula in the final stretch of the election.
elespectador.com
Meta restringe la cuenta de Lula y su partido alerta por posible injerencia extranjera
De cara a las elecciones en Brasil, Lula enfrenta a Meta por restringir su cuenta mientras su partido alerta por posible injerencia extranjera.
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Sam Freedman @samfr.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Also under current proposals they won't be allowed to be social care workers after 2028. Ministers still don't seem to understand their own plan.
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Pete Miles @petermiles.eurosky.social · 27/09/2026
Straightforward recommendations from @jjn1.bsky.social on how governments should manage the AI companies. @theobserveruk.bsky.social "Second – even more straightforward – we could just make AI companies legally liable for any harms that their products inflict on us humans."
But the real utility of the apocalyptic narrative for the industry is that it distracts attention from more tangible issues over which democracies could have leverage. Such as what? First, there's the monopolistic power of tech companies, something for which existing legal tools are readily available, provided governments have the political will to use them. Second – even more straightforward – we could just make AI companies legally liable for any harms that their products inflict on us humans. And then we could leave apocalypse to the movie industry, where it belongs.
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Mark Chadbourn @chadbourn.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Trump asked Chinese President Xi Jinping at one point if he would like to buy some American armaments, US Ambassador to China David Perdue says. (Bloomberg)
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Bylines Network @bylinesnetwork.co.uk · 27/09/2026
A new East Anglian performance-art collective is bringing seven artists together for its first major event in Norwich – with site-specific works, intimate acts of care, confessionals and some striking costume changes. What exactly should audiences expect from CONVERGE? @eastangliabylines.co.uk
eastangliabylines.co.uk
New performance art collective hosts first event in Norwich
Norwich hosts a first show by a local art collective. Expect “intimate acts of care, shamanic confessionals and stunning costume changes”
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Nadine Batchelor-Hunt @nadinebh.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Meanwhile, on Facebook
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Rob Ford @robfordmancs.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Curtice identifies a key red flashing light in the MRPs - Labour are falling furthest in seats where Labour are first and con, ref or Nat are second. Labour therefore do a lot *worse* than uniform swing would predict (having done much better than uniform swing in 2024)
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Rob Ford @robfordmancs.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Sir John Curtice lays down the numbers at the Demos fringe while Polly Curtis and Chris Curtis look on - a Curtice/Curtis full house
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MAKS 26 👀🇺🇦 @maks23.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
🇺🇦Zelensky: Just today and in Kyiv alone, Russian jet drones struck two kindergartens and two schools, an ordinary residential building, a service station, several warehouses and communication facilities. Everywhere in the world, such a choice of targets would be described in one word – terrorism.
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Chris Grey @chrisgrey.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Even worse, it's now being claimed that it's the hallmark of the superiority of "our race" to make such speculations. Beyond belief.
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John Rentoul @rentouljohn.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Labour conference will be suffused with the imagery of class politics. Most of the speeches will refer to “working people”, and imply that the party represents the poor and middle-income majority against the rich. It has been untrue for years. www.independent.co.uk/voices/labou...
independent.co.uk
By ’eck, Labour is the middle-class party now
Andy Burnham’s appeal to a northern working class that no longer exists could be the key to winning the next election – especially for a party whose supporters are now better-off and better-educated t...
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The Kyiv Independent @kyivindependent.com · 27/09/2026
⚡️Update: 2 killed, 4 injured by Russian strike on market as drones, missiles continue to batter Kyiv. The deadly strike on the Stolichny wholesale food market caused a fire, while Russian forces attacked targets across Kyiv.
kyivindependent.com
2 killed, 4 injured after Russia strikes market as drones, missiles continue to batter Kyiv
Over central Kyiv, air defense systems were reported to be active, filling the city with sounds of blasts and explosions. Multiple attacks across the capital injured nine, said Klitschko. Six of the i...
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Peter Geoghegan @petergeoghegan.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
The online far right conspiracy theorists’ obsession with the Fabians - stoked massively by GB News, Talk TV et al - is one of the weirdest, most disturbing things in British politics right now (and that’s saying something) Like a mini British QAnon Must be awful working for Fabians rn
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