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njs1.bsky.social

@njs1.bsky.social
40 followers 64 following 218 posts
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njs1.bsky.social @njs1.bsky.social · 6h
Watched the 66 World Cup on a small black & white rented Rediffusion TV. I only remember having 2 channels then. The screen was grainy & it took ages for the thing to warm up & a picture appeared. The CRT used to break down every few months with a loud bang and it had to be repaired frequently.
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Reposted by @njs1.bsky.social
Robert Saunders @robertsaunders.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
The ability to pour hundreds of millions of pounds into a loss-making TV channel, bent on wrenching British politics sharply to the right, is yet another of the ways in which extreme wealth is trying to remake UK democracy. It needs to be part of any serious conversation about political funding.
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njs1.bsky.social @njs1.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Very true. I await to see his research on economic growth in the past 7 years, with and without Brexit.
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njs1.bsky.social @njs1.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Sensible adults do just that. But the sheep herded together by the Mail & Express, who missed out on the critical thinking lessons at school, I suspect remain brainwashed. The press & media have a lot to answer for & have to do much better this time around in informing the public of the facts.
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njs1.bsky.social @njs1.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Like his politics or loathe them, he was intelligent, respectful and thoughtful - the polar opposite of half the Commons today. Oh for a few more, on all sides, with his gravitas and common sense.
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njs1.bsky.social @njs1.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
And this is where, yet again, the media needs to stress that she is not being honest. As with Brexit and immigration, the false narratives out there are detrimental to our democracy. The tax only applies to 5% of us. She is trying to con folk into thinking that everyone pays it. Facts matter.
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njs1.bsky.social @njs1.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
That was my initial thought too! Just needs a Starbucks coffee shop bottom right and the Reichstag dome in the far distance.
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njs1.bsky.social @njs1.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
Great news. As a retired History teacher I used to organise and run annual trips to Berlin, which were very popular and informative and enjoyable. Exhausting too!!
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njs1.bsky.social @njs1.bsky.social · 01/08/2026
Needs more thought and working out - and expensive to boot - but it's basically a good idea. Many teenagers hate a pen and paper grammar school curriculum, dominated by exams and tests, and become disengaged and disruptive.
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njs1.bsky.social @njs1.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
Yes. Schools are staffed by adults, many with health issues & in the 45-65 age bracket. Not just teachers. Dinner staff, cleaners, caretakers, secretaries, finance officers, classroom assistants. Most have families themselves. It would have put them and their families at much greater risk.
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njs1.bsky.social @njs1.bsky.social · 28/07/2026
At first glance I thought it was Boris Johnson's brother, Same hairdresser.
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njs1.bsky.social @njs1.bsky.social · 15/07/2026
Sends shudders down my spine. Well documented. Their appalling bad management & not taking it entirely seriously is quite shocking. As ever, the supine right wing media gave them a free ride. Speaking as someone who suffered quite badly from Covid, I'm amazed they have got away with it. Shameful.
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njs1.bsky.social @njs1.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
Reform has decided to attack & be aggressive & shouty. She needed to press the point that if Farage had done nothing wrong & he was sure he'd be cleared then why go for an election. This loud, hectoring, in your face style will be counter productive for Reform. It might work for Trump but not here.
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njs1.bsky.social @njs1.bsky.social · 01/07/2026
She's out of her depth despite support from the right wing media. Smug. Arrogant. Touchy. She won't last. We all know that. Chasing Farage is the wrong way to go. Back to the centre would be more sensible. I fear for the Tories.
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njs1.bsky.social @njs1.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
Gives me nightmares. We need to get a grip on the press & media. Brexit was won by millions of adverts on Facebook & X in the 48 hours before the vote. All lies, bankrolled by foreign billionaires & Russia. Foolishly we have not learned anything from it & that for me is Starmer's biggest error.
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njs1.bsky.social @njs1.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
What was that old BBC programme- In the Psychiatrist's Chair? Get Trump in the hot seat and see what Anthony Clare makes of him?
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njs1.bsky.social @njs1.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
What has she actually done in the past two years, except sit back and do nothing while our media burns? The most underwhelming minister I can recall and it's a high bar in recent times.
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njs1.bsky.social @njs1.bsky.social · 21/06/2026
May I suggest "Walk Like an Egyptian" (The Bangles) for the music? Very catchy.
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njs1.bsky.social @njs1.bsky.social · 09/06/2026
The flowerpot men had more common sense than these two. What was in it for them?
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njs1.bsky.social @njs1.bsky.social · 06/06/2026
Depressing & disrespectful in equal measure. I'm not sure they realise the damage they're doing to the reputation of their once great nation. You wake up each day thinking they can't do anything worse, surely, but they do! A staggering lack of consideration of the moment & of the sacrifices made.
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njs1.bsky.social @njs1.bsky.social · 06/06/2026
I'm biased because I lived in Herefordshire for 10 years but another vote from me. It's inland so never packed with tourists. The whole area either side of the Welsh border is lovely, from Shrewsbury through Ludlow and Leominster to Hereford and beyond to Monmouth and the Wye Valley. Gorgeous.
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njs1.bsky.social @njs1.bsky.social · 05/06/2026
Nobody's perfect (apart from John Eales) but the contrast between Burnham & the purveyor of online abuse was stark. Kenyon is completely out of his depth - social attitudes, experience, knowledge & understanding - it's all a mystery to him. I know more sensible and articulate sixth formers.
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njs1.bsky.social @njs1.bsky.social · 03/06/2026
And in other news, the Pope is a Catholic.
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njs1.bsky.social @njs1.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
Among many of my recent disappointments (such as only receiving some socks and a Toblerone for my birthday) is the depressing decline of The Telegraph. Always was very much a Conservative perspective but now it's lurched so far right that it's off the spectrum. Sad. I used to enjoy reading it.
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njs1.bsky.social @njs1.bsky.social · 24/05/2026
Great shout. It's impossible to rank the Beatles' songs. So many outstanding ones. How they did it for so long is amazing. I do like this one and Here, There and Everywhere among their less well known songs. How lucky we were. I hadn't listened to this one for a year or two so grateful thanks.
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njs1.bsky.social @njs1.bsky.social · 23/05/2026
Holding his EU passport.
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njs1.bsky.social @njs1.bsky.social · 21/05/2026
And we can have school exchanges and trips to North Korea! Can't do Hungary any more now Orban has gone.
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njs1.bsky.social @njs1.bsky.social · 20/05/2026
It's been a complete mystery why Starmer with a big majority has not acted. Brexit was achieved by flooding social media. BJ changed BBC staff & threatened to close C4 quite apart from the increasingly far right propaganda printed by our foreign billionaire owned papers. It beggars belief.
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njs1.bsky.social @njs1.bsky.social · 20/05/2026
They need not shy away from the debate & explain why Brexit was a betrayal. None of the promises about cheaper goods, less immigration, NI, more money for the UK, were kept. We are all poorer economically & socially & less secure globally. 48% last time. It'll only take a small push. Lead for once!
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njs1.bsky.social @njs1.bsky.social · 17/05/2026
She's been the biggest disappointment of them all as minister supposedly in charge of regulating the press and media. But she's looking after no 1 and her unwise Brexit constituents, following the herd and not explaining why it's failed and why there is a better alternative.
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njs1.bsky.social @njs1.bsky.social · 17/05/2026
Ah, but the French.... And it hasn't been long enough yet to see the benefits. And we've had COVID and Ukraine. And if only we'd done it properly. And the civil service wrecked it. And abstract sovereignty. And it isn't like it was when we joined. And it's in decline. I wish you lot could get it!!!
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njs1.bsky.social @njs1.bsky.social · 16/05/2026
I want the centre-left to come together & do all in their power to prevent a Reform-Tory government 3 years hence. It would be disastrous for the UK and make our fractured society even worse. But where is the leadership to do it? Campaign for the EU, electoral & Ofcom reform. Collectively go for it.
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njs1.bsky.social @njs1.bsky.social · 15/05/2026
I hope so too. There are a few left who can see the bigger picture & we need to do all we can collectively to keep Reform away from power. Farage withdrew candidates to facilitate BJ's Brexit. The Greens & Lib Dems must work with Labour to prevent a catastrophe. The EU & PR are required urgently.
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njs1.bsky.social @njs1.bsky.social · 12/05/2026
If it wasn't so serious this stupidity could make for hilarious Saturday night viewing.
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njs1.bsky.social @njs1.bsky.social · 12/05/2026
Changing the leader won't work. Labour can have JC or David Attenborough but they'll still get abused by the far right. Is there anyone better who has the gravity & charisma? Focus on policies. A centre/left agenda. Better communications, stressing the positive achievements to date.
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njs1.bsky.social @njs1.bsky.social · 11/05/2026
Public opinion is shifting rapidly back towards the EU but Starmer is anxious about Brexit voters in Red Wall seats. He's probably lost them now and needs a big idea to unite the centre left. Re-joining the EU market is a good start. Most voters would coalesce around this & don't want Farage.
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njs1.bsky.social @njs1.bsky.social · 11/05/2026
And what film should they watch? Titanic?
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njs1.bsky.social @njs1.bsky.social · 11/05/2026
I'm happy to bow to those with superior knowledge but from somewhere, somehow, we need more economic growth to pay for more of what we want and surely that can only come from EU membership and immigrant workers because our growing elderly population is a drag. But this never gets discussed.
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njs1.bsky.social @njs1.bsky.social · 10/05/2026
Yes! But they've prevaricated for 2 years already & even now sit on the fence & don't know whether or not to stick or twist, be more Green or Reform. More of the same, done better, won't wash. Who on earth advises them? Be proactive not reactive. Bold. Visionary. EU. PR, nationalisation (water) etc.
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njs1.bsky.social @njs1.bsky.social · 10/05/2026
Amazed if there's any proper vetting. I imagine any tom, dick or harry (or jane) can say they'll stand because they are desperate for numbers. Most sensible folk won't touch them with a barge pole. They attract these nasty individuals like bees to honey - then they haven't a clue what to do! Crazy.
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njs1.bsky.social @njs1.bsky.social · 10/05/2026
Which means 3/4 of them did. 14 year olds would not be voting for 2 years. What would happen if we polled the over 80s, many of whom, understandably, have waning mental capacity? Would the results be better or worse? And about 1/3 of adults don't bother voting at all. I favour voting reform (& PR).
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njs1.bsky.social @njs1.bsky.social · 09/05/2026
I suspect many voters would urge Labour to form a broad, loose, alliance with other centre-left parties, like the Greens and Lib Dems. Together they can defeat the far right but only if Labour accepts that it can't win alone, as these figures suggest. Go for it. PR. EU membership. Reform Ofcom. Now.
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njs1.bsky.social @njs1.bsky.social · 09/05/2026
Extraordinary. How in god's name can folk vote for a person who espouses such objectionable and vile views? All decent people need to take a stand against this kind of appalling behaviour. It can't go on, can it?
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njs1.bsky.social @njs1.bsky.social · 09/05/2026
The Tories are competing with Reform & it won't wash. They had 14 years & failed; their support is dying. Labour too seem to want to be Reform lite in some ways and that too won't work. The Tories are dead ducks. Labour's problem is more the Greens who have split the left vote. Focus left not right.
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njs1.bsky.social @njs1.bsky.social · 09/05/2026
Looks to me as if the Tories will sooner or later get swallowed up by Reform who are, after all, Tories but further still to the right. Amazing to ponder the disappearance of the most successful political party ever but I suspect it's coming.
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njs1.bsky.social @njs1.bsky.social · 09/05/2026
Tend to agree. Starmer is trying hard to improve the broken system he inherited. But it's just more of the same, done better. It won't work. He has to change what isn't working and be bolder & more visionary viz a viz the EU, PR, the environment,etc. Give voters something to believe in.
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njs1.bsky.social @njs1.bsky.social · 09/05/2026
Fair enough. You're closer to the action than me. I take the point. But I'm not sure the messenger is the real problem.
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njs1.bsky.social @njs1.bsky.social · 09/05/2026
Point taken about Mr Prevarication but does it matter who the Labour leader is? The press & media would continue their barrage of abuse if they picked David Attenborough. Lead the way. Be bolder. Move towards the EU. PR. Address Ofcom. The environment. The Green vote is key. Don't ape the far right.
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njs1.bsky.social @njs1.bsky.social · 09/05/2026
100%. Labour is light years behind in communications strategy and it's a re-run of Brexit. Social media is king now and messaging all important. Slogans and culture wars predominate. Commons sense, logic and facts don't matter a jot. It's emotions and catch phrases that take the eye.
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njs1.bsky.social @njs1.bsky.social · 08/05/2026
The 2 party system is dead & now is the time for Labour to grasp the (unwanted) nettle of accepting it can't win on its own & think about a centre/left alliance with the others, as well as PR. They are the only ways to prevent Reform (who will join with the Tories) from winning. Will the penny drop?
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