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David O'Connell

@oconnelldavid.bsky.social
1.7K followers 1.5K following 13 posts

Twang! Surf guitarist, love the light and fight the dark 💚 #grenfell. Leaseholder in Kensington and Chelsea #FBPE #FollowBack

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Reposted by David O'Connell
By Cory Doctorow (GPG 0xBF3D9110957E5F4C) @doctorow.pluralistic.net · 12/09/2026
Once you understand the corporate culture of AI hyperscalers is everyone cooking their brains by locking themselves in the bathroom, holding flashlights under their chins, and saying "Aaaaaaaaaay Eyeeeeeee" until they wet themselves in terror, things snap into focus: pluralistic.net/2023/06/04/a...
A cutaway view of a stone tower containing an elaborate water-powered medieval geared machine. Rising out of the machine is a rainbow-tinted, pixelated God with the robes, beard and all. To one side of this scene is a cluster of tiny people in Jesus-era robes, falling about themselves in religious ecstasy all over a stone staircase, atop of which stands a robed priest with his hands upraised. The background is a set of shining golden rays, emanating from pixel-God.
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KeithG @datchmog.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
Write to your MP! Check out this from We Own It. weownit.org.uk/act-now/writ...
weownit.org.uk
Write to your MP: reject the creditors' last-ditch attempt to keep Thames Water privatised
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Torsten Bell @torstenbell.bsky.social · 02/05/2026
There’s no “accused” about it - a politician being handed £5m IS a conflict of interest. Accepting such a gift is an open and shut case of not being interested in, let alone fit for, public service www.ft.com/content/6a56...
ft.com
Farage accused of ‘conflict of interest’ over £5mn gift from crypto investor
Rival parties highlight how Reform UK has proposed cutting tax and regulation on the digital assets industry
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Jonathan C Slaght @jonathanslaght.com · 17/04/2026
"There is a nationwide warrant for [ICE agent] Morgan's arrest as he faces two second-degree assault charges" in Minnesota. Good - finally some semblance of accountability for ICE - hopefully more on the way. www.bbc.com/news/article...
bbc.com
ICE agent charged for pulling gun on motorists, Minnesota prosecutor says
There is a nationwide warrant for the agent's arrest as he faces two second-degree assault charges filed by state prosecutors.
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Krassensteins @krassenstein.bsky.social · 08/04/2026
BLATANT LIE CAUGHT ON CAMERA: Karoline Leavitt: "Lebanon is NOT part of the ceasefire agreement". FACT: Literally the PM of Pakistan, who mediated the ceasefire, tweeted out that it WAS included. He's literally the one who witnessed the deal.
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Brian Wernham C.Eng. @brianwernham.bsky.social · 08/04/2026
Oil back up 2.5% since this morning "Any ship trying to transit without permission would be targeted and destroyed "Tankers passing through had been stopped because Israel’s fresh wave of attacks on Lebanon constituted a ceasefire breach” www.theguardian.com/world/2026/a...
theguardian.com
Ceasefire changes little for shipping in strait of Hormuz, experts say
Analysts expect only limited increase in shipping as vessels will still need to seek Iranian permission to transit
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thattimwalker.bsky.social @thattimwalker.bsky.social · 05/04/2026
In taking Labour so far to the right, Starmer can reasonably be said to be the creator of the Green Party as their traditional base — in addition to the old-fashioned ‘One Nation’ Tories — have nowhere else to go. I predict Mahmood will end up in Reform. www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...
theguardian.com
Ministers working with Labour backbenchers to temper Mahmood immigration plans
Exclusive: Starmer urged to go further with exemptions if he wants to avoid widespread anger from his own MPs
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Allison Gill @muellershewrote.com · 02/04/2026
BREAKING: Fox News reports PAM BONDI HAS BEEN FIRED.
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BladeoftheSun @bladeofthes.bsky.social · 02/04/2026
Nearly 9 years later and not a single person has been put on trial for killing 72 people at Grenfell. Justice is only for shoplifters and protestors, mass murderers walk free so long as they are rich.
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Prem Sikka @premnsikka.bsky.social · 02/02/2026
House of Lords should strip Mandelson of peerage, says Starmer. That alone won't do. Mandelson leaked sensitive govt info. How many times did he do so? Who benefited from the leaks? Mandelson advised Starmer. Starmer made him US ambassador. What did Starmer know?
theguardian.com
House of Lords should strip Mandelson of peerage, says Starmer
PM believes ex-Labour minister should not be member of House of Lords or use title, No 10 spokesperson says
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Dan Neidle @danneidle.bsky.social · 01/02/2026
New Epstein emails show Peter Mandelson secretly advising JPMorgan’s CEO on how to fight Labour’s 2009 bankers’ bonus tax - even suggesting he “mildly threaten” the Chancellor. Mandelson was Business Secretary at the time. A year later, he was seeking work with JPM.
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Joshua Rozenberg @joshuarozenberg.bsky.social · 29/01/2026
This year will be a tipping point in which the majority of the legal industry will be AI-powered, a leading solicitor said this week. But what does that mean? Is artificial intelligence going to take over from the real thing? Will lawyers no longer be needed? rozenberg.substack.com/p/can-lawyer...
rozenberg.substack.com
Can lawyers trust AI?
What do you tell the clients? And what do clients tell their lawyers?
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David O'Connell @oconnelldavid.bsky.social · 15/01/2026
And he couldn't even find the stairs up to the press conference. Robert jenrick was the worst of all the Tory ministers who dealt with #GrenfellTower www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
theguardian.com
‘Not so clever after all’: how Robert Jenrick was ejected before he defected
Kemi Badenoch praised for sacking Jenrick before he could announce he was ditching Tories for Reform
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THE NERVE @thenerve.news · 14/01/2026
The remaining three hunger strikers have ended their strike. A good moment to reflect on how falsely labelling them as terrorists dehumanises the prisoners. Thought-provoking piece for the Nerve by @natashawalter.bsky.social www.thenerve.news/p/palestine-...
thenerve.news
'The word terrorism is being used to remove empathy': Natasha Walter on how language dehumanises the Palestine Action hunger strikers
Hunger striker Heba Muraisi has never been charged, tried or convicted of terrorism. But she and the other strikers have been stripped of humanity by how the government has labelled them. The repercus...
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Joshua Rozenberg @joshuarozenberg.bsky.social · 13/01/2026
Reducing the availability of jury trial is neither principled nor pragmatic, the incoming chair of the bar argued last night. In her inaugural address, Kirsty Brimelow KC said her first priority was to lead the Bar Council’s opposition to government reforms. rozenberg.substack.com/p/principled...
rozenberg.substack.com
Principled and pragmatic
Incoming barristers’ leader summarises bar’s opposition to jury reform
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David O'Connell @oconnelldavid.bsky.social · 12/01/2026
Conflicts of interest run through the Tories. Just look closer to home. RBKC with council officers with 2nd jobs from contractors, council employees running RAs and sitting on the memorial commission. To the Grenfell tower fire they caused
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David O'Connell @oconnelldavid.bsky.social · 22/12/2025
Here on Lancaster West, where Grenfell still stands we are facing an increase of 2x-4x in the standing charge 'to cover costs' as well as the bill for the works. www.thetimes.com/article/d81f...
thetimes.com
The flat-owners facing £60k bills to upgrade communal boilers
Nearly a million leaseholders may be forced to pay thousands to improve heat networks, which are often unreliable and wasteful
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Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 21/12/2025
BRENNAN: What are you going to do to force DOJ to comply? MASSIE: The quickest way and most expeditious way to get justice for these victims is to bring inherent contempt against Pam Bondi. That doesn't require going through the courts. We're drafting that right now.
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KeithG @datchmog.bsky.social · 16/12/2025
open.substack.com/pub/robertre...
open.substack.com
Again: Beware These Two Oligarchic Bubbles
They may already be bursting
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Joshua Rozenberg @joshuarozenberg.bsky.social · 16/12/2025
Today is David Lammy’s big day. The justice secretary has two opportunities to persuade MPs — and the public at large — to support his jury reforms. This morning, he answers MPs' questions. And this afternoon he gives evidence to the Commons justice committee. rozenberg.substack.com/p/get-a-grip
rozenberg.substack.com
Get a grip
Justice secretary has two chances today to sell his jury plans to MPs. And then?
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The Times and Sunday Times @thetimes.com · 14/11/2025
The chancellor may not have to break Labour’s manifesto pledges with a totemic income tax rise — but she still faces a massive task to balance the books ⬇️
thetimes.com
Why did Rachel Reeves drop plans to raise income tax?
The chancellor may not have to break Labour’s manifesto pledges with a totemic income tax rise — but she still faces a massive task to balance the books
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David O'Connell @oconnelldavid.bsky.social · 12/11/2025
For someone who is supposed to be a PR genius. Turning a bit of backbench speculation into a full-blown crisis certainly shows a great talent for something...
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Carole Cadwalladr @carolecadwalla.bsky.social · 10/02/2025
This is what should be on every front page right now. What's happening in the US right now is an illegal power grab by a private citizen. IT'S A COUP. It's a digital coup. It's Musk who's leading it. The consequences are terrifying. And it's coming for us next. 1/ open.substack.com/pub/broligar...
open.substack.com
IT IS A COUP
This is what should be on every front page in 150 point banner headlines. All I have is this Substack but I lay it beneath your feet and pray to a higher power that I'm wrong.
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Joe Powell MP @joepowell.bsky.social · 30/01/2025
As chair of The APPG on Anti-Corruption and Responsible Tax, I’ve written to HMRC calling on them to urgently investigate the Abramovich case and recover what is owed following reports of a £1bn tax dodge by the sanctioned oligarch Read more: www.bbc.com/news/article...
bbc.com
Roman Abramovich tax dodge must be probed, HMRC urged
A group of MPs is urging an investigation into £1bn that could be owed by Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich.
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David O'Connell @oconnelldavid.bsky.social · 25/01/2025
Build more social rent homes? "...there seems to be no desire to move away from an unsatisfactory short-term system, leaving local authorities attempting to save a sinking ship with a little more than a leaky bucket." www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/damning...
insidehousing.co.uk
Damning PAC report finds no clear homelessness strategy, no logic to LHA rates and calls on MHCLG to set affordable housing target
A Public Accounts Committee report has chastised the government’s homelessness strategy, said LHA rates have no logic, and called for an affordable homes target.
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Carole Cadwalladr @carolecadwalla.bsky.social · 07/01/2025
NEW: Episode 3 of Sergei & the Westminster Spy Ring is out today: Digital Barbecues. This one features @lukeharding1968.bsky.social & the story of how he & Sergei bust Conservative Friends of Russia wide open podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/s...
podcasts.apple.com
Digital Barbecues
Podcast Episode · Sergei & the Westminster Spy Ring · EP3 · 37m
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Hacked Off @hackedoff.bsky.social · 30/12/2024
This week, we’re highlighting a key figure in UK media: the notorious "Fake Sheikh," Mazher Mahmood. A convicted criminal, Mahmood exemplifies the dark side of tabloid journalism, from celebrity entrapments to the exploitation of society’s most vulnerable.
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David O'Connell @oconnelldavid.bsky.social · 29/12/2024
"Unfortunately, for the first three days, we heard nothing from Russia except for some absurd theories," www.politico.eu/article/russ...
politico.eu
Russia shot down Azerbaijan Airlines jet, attempted cover-up, Azerbaijan president charges
The downing was an accident, but “some circles” in Russia tried to cover it up, Ilham Aliyev said.
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David O'Connell @oconnelldavid.bsky.social · 29/12/2024
Finally the truth about the corrupt culture of the Murdoch press is starting to come out. How they destroyed lives and reputations. From from the murder of Daniel Morgan to the sleazy stings of Mazher Mahmood @alastairmorgan.bsky.social
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David O'Connell @oconnelldavid.bsky.social · 23/12/2024
"Thames Water intentionally diverted millions of pounds pledged for environmental clean-ups towards other costs including bonuses and dividends" A culture of always paying bosses bonuses while deliberately failing to stop pollution www.theguardian.com/business/202...
theguardian.com
Revealed: Thames Water diverted ‘cash for clean-ups’ to help pay bonuses
Exclusive: UK’s biggest water company assessed risks before cutting back on cost of environmental work, investigation shows
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The Telegraph @telegraph.co.uk · 15/12/2024
🇮🇷 Parastoo Ahmadi live-streamed the concert on YouTube. There has been outrage over her arrest as women continue to defy regime’s harsh laws
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David O'Connell @oconnelldavid.bsky.social · 07/12/2024
Banned too late in the US? it seems tiktok is bad for democracy www.euronews.com/2024/12/06/c...
euronews.com
Romanian president: Court's annulment of election must be respected
The Romanian Constitutional Court annulled the presidential election results due to foreign meddling, prompting President Klaus Iohannis to assure the country, the EU, and NATO of its continued stability on Friday evening.
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Colin Sydes aka Lord SydesJokes #FBPE #FBR #Resist #Resistance @sydesjokes.bsky.social · 01/12/2024
Can France say no Fucking Way?
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Scott Bryan @scottygb.bsky.social · 28/11/2024
Sir Rod Stewart has just shared this about Gregg Wallace on Instagram
So Greg Wallace gets fired from Master Chef. Good riddance Wallace… you humiliated my wife when she was on the show but you cut that bit out didn’t you? You’re a tubby, bald-headed, ill mannered bully. Karma got ya. Sir Rod Stewart.
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Private Eye Magazine @privateeyenews.bsky.social · 25/11/2024
Allison Pearson claimed police accused her of a “non-crime hate incident” after a tweet misidentifying a protest photo. Essex Police say that never happened, releasing footage to prove it. Pearson now says she might have “misheard” – but not before the Telegraph ran three front pages on the claim.
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David O'Connell @oconnelldavid.bsky.social · 23/11/2024
Thanks Colin!
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David O'Connell @oconnelldavid.bsky.social · 23/11/2024
So Cop29, supposedly dedicated to combating climate change, held in petrostate Azerbaijan and #1 oil producer Saudi Arabia is writing the script. And people are walking out 🤔 www.theguardian.com/environment/...
theguardian.com
Revealed: Saudi Arabia accused of modifying official Cop29 negotiating text
Exclusive: News of changes to usually non-editable document ‘risks placing climate summit in jeopardy'
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Gavin Esler @gavinesler.bsky.social · 16/11/2024
Indeed- and while we are on the subject of “grassroots” organisations… maybe broadcasters and newspapers might like to stop quoting people from supposed “think tanks” that refuse to say who funds them. What are they hiding? I have no idea. And that’s the point… who funds them and why?
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Femi @femi-oluwole.bsky.social · 21/11/2024
LET'S FUCKING GO!!!! International criminal Court issues arrest warrant for Netanyahu!
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David O'Connell @oconnelldavid.bsky.social · 20/11/2024
A system built to favour landowners rather than building houses. www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/scrappi...
insidehousing.co.uk
Scrapping hope value would slash cost of building 90,000 social homes a year by £4.5bn, new report finds
A new report has found that scrapping hope value for landowners would slash the cost of building 90,000 social homes a year by £4.5bn.
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Phil Waring @philwaring.bsky.social · 20/11/2024
MASSIVE announcement about a @Guardian / Observer journalists strike from Carole Cadwalladr. 👇🏼
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Adam Bienkov @adambienkov.bsky.social · 19/11/2024
If you bring central London to a halt in order to campaign against catastrophic climate change then you're a "barmy" eco "fanatic" who deserves to be locked up. If you do the same to hang on to your multimillion pound inheritance tax exemption then you're a brave freedom fighter defying the odds
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David O'Connell @oconnelldavid.bsky.social · 18/11/2024
Selling the oldest Sunday newspaper in the world for small change there to a bunch of rich backers while ignoring the people who work there. 🤔not so different @theguardian.com www.nuj.org.uk/resource/sal...
nuj.org.uk
Sale of The Observer
The NUJ Guardian & Observer chapel passed motions opposing the proposed sale of The Observer to Tortoise Media, alongside a vote of no confidence in the Scott Trust at an emergency chapel meeting on 1...
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Leo Murray @crisortunity.bsky.social · 20/10/2021
I’ve written a large number of Freedom of Information requests over the last 5 years, & can report that most councils & central government agencies are pretty good at responding. OTOH the following are consistently evasive & late: Metropolitan Police Ealing council RBKC council
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Thomas I-G @thomasig.bsky.social · 04/09/2024
Every step of authority - from Kensington&Chelsea council to London authorities to central govt and dept officials - failed to prevent this happening. Many created the conditions that allowed this to happen, deregulating an already underegulated sector which was known to be malfeasant for profit.
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RBKC was responsible for overseeing the TMO's activities, not monitoring its operations on a day-to-day basis, but its oversight of the MO's performance was weak and fire safety was not subject to any key performance indicator. The absence of any independent or rigorous scrutiny by RBKC of the MO's performance of its health and safety obligations, and in particular its management of fire safety, was a particular weakness. RBKC took little or no account of an independent and highly critical review of fire safety carried out for the TMO in 2009. It did not even know about a further independent and highly critical report produced in 2013 because the TMO had failed to disclose it to RBKC.'
The TMO's performance of its own functions and the effectiveness of RBKC's oversight depended on full and candid reporting by the TMO's senior management to its board.
Although there was a satisfactory system for senior management to report to the board and to RBKC, it did not operate effective
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Carole Cadwalladr @carolecadwalla.bsky.social · 17/11/2024
I'll post more later. But in the meantime, I've launched a newsletter because we can trust no platform & no publisher. We've seen what happened to Twitter. And the Guardian, in this moment of crisis, is seeking to sell our dearly beloved Observer, my home for 19 years. substack.com/home/post/p-...
substack.com
Fight the power
And other very hard things. Join me.
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BladeoftheSun @bladeofthes.bsky.social · 15/11/2024
If you are anti-Brexit and pro EU and want to find some extra followers. RT and reply to this post and add each other. No fun speaking to yourself.
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