iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

David Higham @oldtrotter.bsky.social · 44m

The right have gone totally mad.

David Higham @oldtrotter.bsky.social · 7h

History is written by the victors. Thatcher broke the power of trade unions by mass unemployment, industrial restructuring, frittered away N Sea Oil, laid the foundations for the current housing crisis, decimated local bus services, hollowed out local government and introduced the poll tax.

Simon Clarke

Andy Burnham seems to remember a different 1970s to the rest of us. Britain in 1979 was utterly broken - ravaged by unaccountable trade union power, economically stagnant, the sick man of Europe.
The 1980s saw a remarkable national recovery based on free enterprise, the rule of law and championing Western values. And it is this that our Prime Minister rails against...

76716195

Reposted by David Higham

Sunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · 18h

Surprising for Burnham's first error in public comms being on football (and by being quite a long way from the instincts of many Evertonians + most other fans) www.theguardian.com/football/202...

theguardian.com

Andy Burnham’s Manchester City comments stir fresh tensions with Premier League

Andy Burnham’s intervention in the Manchester City debate has revived tensions between the Premier League and the prime minister

4207

David Higham @oldtrotter.bsky.social · 18h

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

141

Reposted by David Higham

Rosamundi @rosamundi.bsky.social · 22h

I had no idea this was an option.

840681

David Higham @oldtrotter.bsky.social · 22h

Dylan punctured this hypocrisy in "With God on Our Side" written in *checks notes* 1964

052

David Higham @oldtrotter.bsky.social · 22h

Two great songs from a long term campaigner against capital punishment. youtu.be/RnSVcpAzzeM?...

youtu.be

Steve Earle at Montreux Ellis Unit one.wmv

YouTube video by Todd Stilphen

131

David Higham @oldtrotter.bsky.social · 23h

Great to see that Lee has discovered the idea of the counterfactual. Now all he has to do is to apply it to Brexit.

54010

David Higham @oldtrotter.bsky.social · 23h

Sleek, fluffy and smelling nice (for the moment).

3240

David Higham @oldtrotter.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Gove - the self styled intellectual of the Tory Party - publishes pieces like this?

The Spectator

On Tuesday, an activist known as 'Danny Tommo' was refused bail. The crime of which he stands accused, and to which he has pleaded not guilty, is damaging a migrant boat.

Tommo is alleged to have slashed the dinghy having taken matters into his own hands, apparently as a result of British government claims that it can do nothing to stop boatloads of illegal migrants arriving each day.

If he's found guilty, the full force of the law - the same force that takes no interest in your own burgled property is likely to come down on him in predictable fashion and he could well spend the coming weeks in jail because he harmed the property of an illegal smuggling gang.

It is not surprising. This week we also learned that a Muslim lecturer has been teaching British police officers about 'Islamophobia' and the threat of Nigel Farage.

Meanwhile, our Foreign Secretary, Ed Miliband, was sucking up to his counterpart from the world's number one terrorist-sponsoring state - Iran - and declaring himself 'humbled' in the presence of the Palestinian representative to the UK.

Douglas Murray

8131

Reposted by David Higham

Stephen Bush @stephenkb.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

The BBC switching its local resources from radio to the website has been disastrous for the business model of local newspapers, but you have to balance that against how good it has been for 'the BBC's opponents' and 'random companies who now get a PR hit on the biggest news website in the UK'.

815435

Reposted by David Higham

The Bear @bearlypolitics.co.uk · 01/10/2026

Bad news, everyone - Brexit has apparently caused the entire United Kingdom to detach from Europe and drift several thousand miles west. We are now slowly approaching Newfoundland. Can someone please let Eurostar now there might be some issues.

2631478283

David Higham @oldtrotter.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Want books by Arnold Bennett? This is the place in Axe.

131

Reposted by David Higham

Anand Menon @anandmenon.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Th 'join' numbers are soft. They will change. The tradeoffs are quite stark and the accession process will be really tough. None of which is to say it's not something we should do. But we really shouldn't underestimate how hard it will be to do, and how much public opinion might shift.

18537

Reposted by David Higham

Dan Neidle @danneidle.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Manchester City cheated Premier League rules, the Commission found. Did it also cheat HMRC? We've examined the decision and leaked Mancini documents. We think City likely failed to pay £12m in tax. There should be a criminal investigation. Thread:

611031439

Reposted by David Higham

Robert Saunders @robertsaunders.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

I'm as keen as anyone to get rid of First Past the Post, but the idea that we can just snap our fingers and change the electoral system is the PR equivalent of those Brexiteers who thought we could leave the EU on 24 June 2016. This has to be done right, and that takes a bit of time.

1413

Reposted by David Higham

Tony Tassell @tonytassell.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Man City’s Emirati chair was granted diplomatic immunity 6 yrs ago in a move that could complicate any legal action resulting from findings that the club artificially inflated its finances by more than £900mn - scoop by Caroline Binham @journosooz.bsky.social as.ft.com/r/d717fb9e-2...

1519071

Reposted by David Higham

Otto English @ottoenglish.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Massive news. Notorious is 99p on Kindle for just this month. HUGE bargain and people love this book www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0F2FHD18...

Book cover showing Eve, Capone, Mosley, Henry 8, Vladimir the Impaler and NOTORIOUS

2718759

David Higham @oldtrotter.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

If there was ever an example of it being better to say nothing, then this is it. Im struggling to see the similarities with the Everton case, if only because the owners weren’t a sovereign state and he wasn’t PM www.theguardian.com/football/202...

theguardian.com

Andy Burnham admits to ‘concern’ if Manchester City lose their owners after guilty verdicts

The primer minister said: ‘City have been a huge partner in building modern Manchester,’ while the Independent Football Regulator said it is monitoring the case

86012

Reposted by David Higham

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 30/09/2026

Hegseth: "The ideological clowns are out. The patriotic cowboys are in, with testosterone testing on top."

10721519254

Reposted by David Higham

James Ball @jamesrball.com · 30/09/2026

At this point I would honestly prefer that the UK authorities said nothing on this than they kept dribbling out cryptic clues like it's a murder mystery evening. "What if I told you one of them rang 999 himself?" "We've bailed them, but it's still Iran, what might that mean?" Not. Helpful.

713817

David Higham @oldtrotter.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Good defence of the proposals on pensions by Chris Bryant. Obviously some big questions about how the proposed care system will work, and be funded, coming down the line but this is a more than decent attempt to keep control of the narrative.

So this isn't about taking money away from pensioners. It's about keeping the State Pension rising, protecting people when prices go up, and changing the system in the long term so we can also give older people the security of knowing that if they need care, they won't have to lose their savings to pay for it.

This is a big change, but it doesn't happen until 2030. And the choice we're being asked to make is whether we want to keep putting more and more money into the pension system through the current ratchet, or use some of that long-term saving to build a proper care system for older people too.

160

David Higham @oldtrotter.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

He's got a f******g nerve: latest edition

The Trump administration cranked up pressure on European allies to release diesel stocks from their reserves. US officials have also discussed asking China to increase diesel production from its refineries.

090

David Higham @oldtrotter.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

We have a real fight on our hands ...... to spread our message of hate and division. Good 👍

Rupert Lowe •

Burnham speaks better than Starmer, he comes across better than Starmer, he connects with people better than Starmer.

That makes him a lot more dangerous than Starmer. Let's be honest - we have a real fight on our hands.

1216423

Reposted by David Higham

Tim Bale @timbale.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

BREAKING: Tory talking sense on ULEZ etc. "If we campaign on a platform of taking out LTNs, be aware that we’re campaigning to send floods of traffic back down the now quiet streets where many of our voters, and many more of our potential voters, live."

conservativehome.com

Andrew Gilligan: Popular among activists, scrapping ULEZ doesn't add up - either politically or financially | Conservative Home

On the subject of motoring in London, there’s a long history of utter Tory refusal to look the electoral facts and numbers in the eye. You don’t have to agree with me on this. So please, let’s start t...

69020

David Higham @oldtrotter.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Do we really want growth that trashes the environment or adds to the problems of inequality and exclusion? Perhaps, just perhaps, endless deregulation isn’t the way forward. No prizes for guessing the author.

The telling phrase in Burnham's speech was "good growth". Notice that qualifier, for there are two decades of national economic decline contained within it. A country that has underperformed since the financial crash is open to growth - how gracious of us - as long as it is not distasteful or unjust in some ill-defined sense.
The growth must also touch "every postcode", as if that ever happens anywhere. The hauteur, the almost regal choosiness, is majestic. And they say that Britain has lost its pride.

3204

Reposted by David Higham

Henry Mance @henrymance.ft.com · 30/09/2026

Man City have shown zero remorse and are still belittling the legal process. Hard to see how they can expect any leniency.

5143452

David Higham @oldtrotter.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

It also sounds inclusive unlike the rant from Tice. Hope vs Hate. Pick a side.

3120

David Higham @oldtrotter.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

When someone refuses to get out of their bed 😂

190

Reposted by David Higham

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'.

811837

David Higham @oldtrotter.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Scott Bessent takes the time to speak to Honest Bob. Tells you who the Trump administration sees as its allies

US energy secretary Chris Wright held calls with UK officials on Monday, according to people familiar with the talks. Scott Bessent also spoke to Robert Jenrick, a senior member of the rightwing Reform UK party, who wrote to the US Treasury secretary last week arguing against a ban or to exempt the UK.

0123

Reposted by David Higham

General Boles @generalboles.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Getty have pics of the event but missed the money shot unfortunately

662

Reposted by David Higham

General Boles @generalboles.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Bluesky reacts to Burnham speech

37920

David Higham @oldtrotter.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

This must be up there with the most misleading headlines of all time, it's about the abolition of VAT on domestic electricity bills which will cut the cost of charging an EV at home, whether or not you have a driveway, relative to what it would have been. View this as a public service on my part.

2136

David Higham @oldtrotter.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Your regular reminder that the basic rate on income tax has not been raised since 1975, the last time a Healey was Chancellor.

49120

Reposted by David Higham

Chris Dillow @chrisdillow.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Treating the triple lock issue as one of pensioners vs non-pensioners is silly identity politics. The qn is: how do we best prepare for our retirements, & should we sacrifice some of this preparation to pay for social care insurance? I need convincing.

24816

Reposted by David Higham

John Oxley @joxley.jmoxley.co.uk · 29/09/2026

Damn, if only there were some sort of well-known historical comparison to make for this.

1424860

Reposted by David Higham

Daniel Collette @danielcollette.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Sure he may be at times insufferable, but his years fronting the Smiths need to count for at least something.

3224

David Higham @oldtrotter.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Spot on thread here. Ending the triple lock won’t be enough to fund a national care service. You can see the political attraction of selling it in that context but it’s only storing up problems further down the line. An ageing population is expensive.

4101