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Mark Gannon

@markgannon.bsky.social
574 followers 1.6K following 307 posts

Northern Irish optimist. Musings on digital, local government, music, travel, beer, hiking and AVFC. Interested in social justice and fairness. 💜 💙 🇺🇦 ☘️ 🌹 🇪🇺🏳️‍🌈

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Reposted by Mark Gannon
Parody Nigel Farage @parodypm.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
"So tell me Mr Farage, what was it about a system favoured by money launderers that allows donations to be totally untraceable that first attracted you to crypto?"
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Adam Bienkov @adambienkov.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
Reform UK's record-breaking donor was accused of running “in effect a money laundering platform”. Prosecutors accused Delo of being the “leader of a criminal enterprise” who knew that his Bitmex platform had become a “magnet for money laundering and criminal activity”.
adambienkov.co.uk
Reform UK Is Now a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of the Corrupt Crypto Industry
As criminal investigations into Reform’s funding continue, much of the British press continues to give a free pass to Nigel Farage’s shady funders
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Sam Bright @writesbright.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
Not to be pedantic but Christopher Harborne has already given £25 million to Reform and Ben Delo £8 million. So the figure isn’t £72 million - it’s £105 million.
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Mark Gannon @markgannon.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
Finally got around to reading ‘The Revenge of Power’ by @moisesnaim.bsky.social An excellent analysis of the 3P capture (Populism, Polarisation and Post-Truth) currently attacking world politics. A must read.
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Reposted by Mark Gannon
Financial Times @financialtimes.com · 09/09/2026
Breaking news: London's Metropolitan Police has expanded an investigation into the financing of Reform UK after an undercover TV sting operation that alleged the rightwing populist party sought illegal funding from overseas ft.trib.al/b7F4Acf
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Mark Gannon @markgannon.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
Very happy with that. Great to get 3 points in our first Champions League game and great to get off the mark with 3 goals. Good signs of better to come. #UTV #AVFC 🟣🔵⚽️🦁
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Paul Bernal @paulbernal.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
Nigel Farage resigns when he shouldn't, but doesn't resign when he should.
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Mark Gannon @markgannon.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
A lot to be positive about in that game. We had our chances and played pretty well. Once we get the full team in place I think we’ll do OK this season. #UTV #AVFC 💜🟣🔵⚽️
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Mark Gannon @markgannon.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
Great extra episode of @ohgodwhatnow.bsky.social podcast today. @nndroid.bsky.social talking with @lukeharding1968.bsky.social about his new book ‘Betrayal’. pca.st/episode/663e...
pca.st
Is Trump a Russian Asset? – Bonus with The Guardian’s Russia expert Luke Harding
The first of our occasional weekend bonus episodes… Bewildered by the tangled stories of Putin’s war on Ukraine, Trump’s incomprehensible loyalty to the Russian tyrant, and Russia’s interference in…
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Mark Gannon @markgannon.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
This has made me sad. But what an amazing legacy from an incredible woman.
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Mark Gannon @markgannon.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
@theguardian.com are rerunning their 2024 ‘Black Box’ podcast series about AI which is excellent and def worth some of your listening time. www.theguardian.com/news/audio/2...
theguardian.com
Black Box: episode 1 – The connectionists – podcast
Revisited: Guardian journalist Michael Safi looks into the world of artificial intelligence, exploring the dangers and promises it holds for society
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Mark Gannon @markgannon.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
Donation number 40 in the bag (literally). Sign up here > 🩸 blood.co.uk if you want to do the same.
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Rob Ford @robfordmancs.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
Not a good showing for Farage. 27% for a joke candidate is very high (probably a record) and captures a pure anti-Farage vote. That over a quarter of the vote in the most Reform friendly seat in the country will instead back a man with a bin on his head shows how strong anti-Farage motivation is.
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Mark Gannon @markgannon.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
Just read ‘Empire of AI’ by @karenhao.bsky.social Whilst largely focused on the story of Sam Altman and OpenAI it uses that to look at the history of AI & LLMs, the political, socio-economic, and environmental impacts of AI, and the tech, investment and startup ecosystem. Very enjoyable. ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
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Mark Gannon @markgannon.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
Mark Gannon mrmarkgannon.substack.com?r=45c08&utm_...
mrmarkgannon.substack.com
Mark Gannon | Substack
Click to read Mark Gannon on Substack. Launched a few seconds ago.
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Mark Gannon @markgannon.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
I keep hearing public sector organisations talking about the importance of partnering, not just contracting, with suppliers. I'm not sure everyone means the same thing. So, I've put down some thoughts. Partnership is a Behaviour, Not a Procurement Strategy medium.com/@markgannon/...
medium.com
Partnership is a Behaviour, Not a Procurement Strategy
Over 25 years, I’ve experienced supplier relationships from both sides of the table. My thoughts on contracting versus partnering.
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Paul Bernal @paulbernal.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
The worst two word phrase in politics is ‘legitimate concerns’.
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Mark Gannon @markgannon.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
Pleased to see this. Fixing Social Care needs a cross-party consensus. Burnham invites Tories and Lib Dems to social care talks www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Burnham invites Tories and Lib Dems to talks about social care
In a speech, the PM is expected to say finding common ground across party lines will be key to fixing social care.
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Oh God, What Now? – the politics podcast @ohgodwhatnow.bsky.social · 27/07/2026
Woop woop.
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Mark Gannon @markgannon.bsky.social · 25/07/2026
The politicians and media types downplaying the impact of Burnham’s bus fare cap at £2 have never had to worry about finding an extra £1 a day to get to work or go to a hospital appointment.
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Mark Gannon @markgannon.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
This arrived today. One of my favourite ever albums. I walked the streets of London in 1998/99 with this on my CD Walkman non-stop during that period. Was also lucky enough to see them perform this live. A gloriously beautiful album that sounds new and exciting every time I listen to it. @4ad.com
A picture of the Mojave 3 album ‘Out of Tune’ in front of a turntable playing the album.
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Mark Gannon @markgannon.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
A new government sets its direction early. I've just signed European Movement UK's petition asking Andy Burnham to drop the red lines on Europe and set out a real plan for the UK's European future. Add your name: www.europeanmovement.co.uk/5_asks_for_a... @europeanmovement.co.uk
europeanmovement.co.uk
Our 5 Asks for Andy Burnham
Andy Burnham must seize the moment to build a bold, forward-looking agenda for his administration to lead the UK towards a new European future.
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gquaggiotto.bsky.social @gquaggiotto.bsky.social · 30/12/2025
The temptation is to think about “Day 10” (flawless demo, applause, press release). But in the public sector, the real challenge is making it to “Week 53”: when the service is actually in production, integrated with legacy systems fermonge.substack.com/p/week-53-mi...
fermonge.substack.com
"Week 53" Mindset
How to avoid getting stuck in the “pilot phase” of government innovation
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Mark Gannon @markgannon.bsky.social · 14/07/2026
Just finished ‘Careless People’ by Sarah Wynn-Williams. Quite the story and everything that you imagined goes on in companies like Facebook - and more than you imagined. Sarah is now subject to atrocious legal harassment for her brave whistleblowing.
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Mark Gannon @markgannon.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
Just finished listening to ‘Why We Think What We Think’ by Turi Munthe. One of the best books I’ve read in recent years. Got me thinking about how and why I think for sure. Must read. www.audible.co.uk/pd/B0G4RHHTS...
audible.co.uk
Why We Think What We Think
Check out this great listen on Audible.com. Brought to you by Penguin. An eye-opening journey through the secret forces shaping our opinions, this book reveals why we think what we think – and why dis...
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Reposted by Mark Gannon
Pascal @pascallth.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
Getting to our 7th prime minister since 2016 I wonder if anything happened back then that so destabilised our constitutional and political order?
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Dave Haslam @davehaslam.bsky.social · 19/06/2026
Britain is a progressive country. Reform under scrutiny at by-elections fold. 75% of the British public loathe Farage and Tice etc. Here are the results of the last 6 by-elections Reform have contested…
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Mark Gannon @markgannon.bsky.social · 02/06/2026
Holiday read is ‘The Language of War’ by Oleksander Mykhed. Gritty and moving. This passage hit particularly hard: “Ukrainian history is a history of constant demolition. We seldom inherit anything. There is barely any continuity between generations.” Something we all take for granted.
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Mark Gannon @markgannon.bsky.social · 24/05/2026
What a second half performance from Villa. And what a way to end the most wonderful season to be a Villa fan. 🏆 🟣🔵⚽️🦁 #UTV #AVFC
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Mark Gannon @markgannon.bsky.social · 20/05/2026
We’ve bloody done it. Champions of Europe. Up the Villa. And thank you to Unai Emery for getting us here. He’s a genius. Weeping with joy. 🟣🔵⚽️🦁 #UTV #AVFC
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Mark Gannon @markgannon.bsky.social · 20/05/2026
Came home from work and Mrs G had decorated the living room table 😍🟣🔵⚽️🦁 Come on you Villa boys #UTV #AVFC #EuropaLeague
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Mark Gannon @markgannon.bsky.social · 15/05/2026
Exceptional performance tonight from Villa. Champions League qualification confirmed. And great momentum going into Wednesday’s final. Ollie absolutely unplayable. #UTV #AVFC 🟣🔵⚽️🦁
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Reposted by Mark Gannon
Dorian Lynskey @dorianlynskey.bsky.social · 13/05/2026
Just for a week, just for fun, the New York Times, BBC, etc should cover US politics on the assumption that the Republican Party is an extremist, authoritarian, anti-democratic personality cult led by a mentally failing narcissist rather than the same old same old. See what happens
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Sathnam Sanghera @sathnam.bsky.social · 12/05/2026
The inexplicable excitability of political correspondents, as their nation withers and disintegrates
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Mark Gannon @markgannon.bsky.social · 07/05/2026
Best performance this season. Exactly when we needed it. Every player superb. Dreamland. Istanbul here we come. 🟣🔵⚽️🦁 #UTV #AVFC
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Anon Opin @anonopin.bsky.social · 06/05/2026
Every General Election, Panini should bring out a parliament sticker album.
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Mark Gannon @markgannon.bsky.social · 26/04/2026
I see that Sherlock Holmes is on the case.
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Mark Gannon @markgannon.bsky.social · 21/04/2026
Without stating your age, post a movie that released when you turned 18...
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Mark Gannon @markgannon.bsky.social · 16/04/2026
What a beautiful team goal 😍 Ollie on fire. 🟣🔵⚽️🦁 #AVFC #UTV
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Mark Gannon @markgannon.bsky.social · 16/04/2026
This referee tonight is atrocious. Making the game a non-contact sport #AVFC #UTV
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BUCKERS @deathofbuckley.bsky.social · 09/04/2026
Do a war to distract from Epstein files then do an Epstein files to distract from the war OK gotcha x
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Aston Villa Statto @avfcstatto.bsky.social · 09/04/2026
Aston Villa have won their last 𝐄𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓 games in a row in the Europa League 🤝 ✅ vs Maccabi Tel Aviv ✅ vs Young Boys ✅ vs Basel ✅ vs Fenerbahçe ✅ vs RB Salzburg ✅ vs Lille ✅ vs Lille ✅ vs Bologna🆕  #AVFC
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Mark Gannon @markgannon.bsky.social · 09/04/2026
Superb result. Found our groove in the second half. Olie led the line brilliantly. Taking a 2 goal advantage back to Villa Park is huge. 🟣🔵⚽️🦁 #UTV #AVFC
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Mark Gannon @markgannon.bsky.social · 09/04/2026
Only now?! Mind blowing.
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Mark Gannon @markgannon.bsky.social · 06/04/2026
Really enjoyed Ollie Dugmore chatting to @rory-stewart.bsky.social on ‘The Exchange’ from @newstatesman1913.bsky.social pca.st/episode/558d...
pca.st
Rory Stewart sees fundamental evil in Trump
Follow The Exchange on Spotify, Apple, and YouTube for more episodes like this.LISTEN AD-FREE:📱Download the New Statesman appMORE FROM THE NEW STATESMAN:❓ Ask a question – we answer them every…
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Patrick Chovanec @prchovanec.bsky.social · 06/04/2026
You think it's bad here?
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Mark Gannon @markgannon.bsky.social · 19/03/2026
Great result. Strategy masterclass from Emery. What a pass from Martinez for the McGinn goal 👌🏼 Onwards 🟣🔵⚽️🦁 #AVFC #UTV #UEL
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Mark Gannon @markgannon.bsky.social · 15/03/2026
Decent half from Villa. Watkins not on it unfortunately. You can totally see the McGinn difference though. Big 45 coming up #AVFC #UTV
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Mark Gannon @markgannon.bsky.social · 14/03/2026
Sat in Heathrow before heading to Prague and very much enjoying the latest issue of @newhumanist.bsky.social
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Mark Gannon @markgannon.bsky.social · 12/03/2026
Good result. Steady performance. Lovely to see SJM back. And Emery now quickest Villa manager ever to get to 100 wins 👌🏼 🟣🔵⚽️🦁 #UTV #AVFC
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