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Ruth Dawson

@ruthd.bsky.social
1.4K followers 448 following 76 posts

Ex DTI, COI, CBI, LSE & CCC. Current affairs addict also interested in history, theatre, art, reading & beer. Tout passe, tout casse, tout lasse

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Chris Milsom @chrismilsom.bsky.social · 3h
MorrissAI ?
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Ian Kikuchi @curatorian.bsky.social · 2h
When it's Jonah and the Whale. Every. Single. Week.
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Priyamvada Gopal @priyamvadagopal.bsky.social · 3h
Well, it does say a lot about the nation.
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John Self @john-self.bsky.social · 7h
Is Andy Burnham the first prime minister in my lifetime who actually likes fiction and poetry? I feel quite moved to hear him talk with genuine enthusiasm about Tony Harrison’s V.
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Jonn Elledge @jonnelledge.bsky.social · 2h
counterpoint: no
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Petrus Crinitus @petruscrinitus.bsky.social · 2h
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Sam Vimes @samvimes6.bsky.social · 2h
"The Office of Religious Affairs".... in a nation where Church and State are supposed to be separate. I think we can all see where this is going.
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Pwnallthethings @pwnallthethings.bsky.social · 3h
AI xrisk people: ok we are particularly concerned about AI autonomous weapons Normal people: in principle I agree, but seems a bit far fetched that will happen tbh USG: today we are announcing we are doing AI autonomous weapons on purpose
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Brilliant Maps @brilliantmaps.bsky.social · 3h
This bit of London with 21,725 people squeezed into 1 sq km has the highest population density of anywhere in the UK. Yet it's less than half as dense as the densest European city: brilliantmaps.com/densest-n... credit: Alasdair Rae
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Henry Mance @henrymance.ft.com · 3h
Good to see everyone is focused on the right things
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General Boles @generalboles.bsky.social · 5h
Sky are interviewing a barrister in the most barristey barrister's office that ever barristered
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ironeconomist.bsky.social @ironeconomist.bsky.social · 5h
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NationCymru @nation.cymru · 5h
A Labour Member of the Senedd has written to Meta raising concerns after she was impersonated on Instagram by a scammer offering advice on cryptocurrency to her constituents✍️ Emily Price
wp.me
Crypto scammer impersonates Labour MS on Instagram
Emily Price  A Labour Member of the Senedd has written to Meta raising concerns after she was impersonated on Instagram by a scammer offering advice on cryptocurrency to her constituents. Caerdydd Ffy...
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Brilliant Maps @brilliantmaps.bsky.social · 5h
Map Of The 10 Oldest Companies In The UK brilliantmaps.com/oldest-co...
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Dr Stylite @columnist.bsky.social · 5h
I do think people really need to start believing again that good things can happen - otherwise life is just one painful retreat after another.
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Adam Bienkov @adambienkov.bsky.social · 9h
Kemi Badenoch condemned Reform's ban on critical journalists covering their conference as "authoritarian", saying her own party would never do the same as "we believe in free speech. We believe in a free press." Now the Conservatives have banned Byline Times from their conference
bylinetimes.com
Kemi Badenoch's Conservatives Ban Byline Times From Conference After Condemning Reform for Journalist Ban
The ban comes just weeks after the Conservative leader called Reform's barring of critical journalists from their conference an "authoritarian" attack on the free press
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Dan Kaszeta FRHistS @dankaszeta.bsky.social · 8h
See my writing in, erm, @bylinetimes.bsky.social on this sort of hypocrisy bylinetimes.com/2023/07/05/h...
bylinetimes.com
Hypocrisy and Tribalism: The Dangers of Our 'So What?' Political Culture
Renowned weapons expert Dan Kaszeta, who was blacklisted by the Government over his tweets, explores how 'amoral familism' has come to penetrate our public life
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David Ho @davidho.bsky.social · 8h
I basically see a lot of this.
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John MacLeod @mrjohnmacleod.bsky.social · 14h
“BREXIT WINS REVERSED”
static.klipy.com
Vincent Vega Confused
Alt: Vincent Vega Confused in the Backrooms
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Andrew Rait @andrewrait.bsky.social · 8h
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Jane @localnotail.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
The pratriots of Kingstanding Raise the Colours
[screenshot of Facebook page]
RAISE THE COLOURS KINGSTANDING

GenAi image of a grimy Union flag hanging in the air in front of the Houses of Parliament with text down the aide]

THIS IS ENGLAND

FLAGS FLY WHERE WE PUT THEM

SIMPLES

A COUNTRY BEING STOPPED FLYING IT'S FLAG IS A COUNTRY BEING TAKEN OVER
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Richard Morris @ahistoryinart.bsky.social · 9h
'View from the Window.' (c1950) Margaret Green was a painter of narrative landscapes and figure compositions of subtle strength and quiet lives; she remained largely unknown to a wider public - a story familiar to many women artists of her generation.
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Sam Freedman @samfr.bsky.social · 10h
Not sure how the triple lock change will ultimately play politically. But trapping the Tories and Reform into defending a policy literally none of them support in private is potentially a neat move.
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Legal C @legalclaret.bsky.social · 9h
What is this absolute lunatic wittering on about? If a person has diplomatic immunity, you cannot “bail” them!
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Tim Bale @timbale.bsky.social · 9h
Happy to be proved wrong (if, that is, I am proved wrong).
tortoisemedia.com
I know why social care isn’t being fixed
Finding £17,000 a month towards the care of my parents forced me to reflect on the collective delusions and political cowardice that conspire to prevent us confronting – once and for all – this huge s...
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Command & Couture @burnafterbriefing.bsky.social · 20/07/2026
From a policy and epidemiology lens: this is an optics problem and a data governance problem. The Pentagon has every incentive to suppress the human cost of war. It also operates systems far less centralized & real time than the public imagines. Both can be true. 1/ www.nytimes.com/2026/07/20/u...
nytimes.com
Pentagon Withheld Dozens of U.S. Military Injuries in Iran War (Gift Article)
Central Command is not required to release information about injured troops, especially when they quickly return to duty, a military official said.
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Command & Couture @burnafterbriefing.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
WAR & COUTURE No. 1 This installment begins a limited series seeking refined solutions to complexities in military statecraft; each featuring a vintage dress from my collection, discussed at the end. And no. I don’t know how the fuck we got here either. But… Welcome to NatSec Charm School.
A blonde woman contemplates Clausewitz in a 1960’s off shoulder black velvet dress with front bow detail.
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Command & Couture @burnafterbriefing.bsky.social · 10h
Okay, counterpoint, but I really do have to keep doing as much normal shit as possible to keep the things that are still normal, normal. Ish. Bruh. We’re doing our goddamn best over here, okay?
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Ian Collins @icoll.bsky.social · 10h
Of course it’s completely normal to go out in public armed with a knife, for Reform councillors that is. www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater...
manchestereveningnews.co.uk
Davyhulme Reform councillor, 67, appears in court as preliminary trial date set
Billy Burke, the councillor for Davyhulme, previously denied possession of a knife
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James Porter @porterjames.bsky.social · 12h
I seem to recall that RefUK campaigned in favour of PR in 2024, so I wonder if they would be up for it. The Tories are now wandering about in the jungle, swatting at every policy that passes them by. They are consummate fools and deserve the fate that awaits them.
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globelimper.bsky.social @globelimper.bsky.social · 11h
A patriotic party would attend and make the case for no change and attempt to mitigate the consequences of change if Labour win a mandate. That is not @conservatives.bsky.social
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Phil Harrison @mrpmharrison.bsky.social · 13h
More importantly, they're not emotionally equipped. Badenoch et al are too X-brained to see what a bad look this is.
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Sam Coleridge @samcoleridge.bsky.social · 13h
It's difficult to think of anything which the current Tory shower are intellectually equipped to do.
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Ben Ralph @raggyralph.bsky.social · 11h
He should do because it is a no lose move. He can show he is being inclusive and trying to lift political debate out of the gutter plus it puts pressure on Badenoch/Farage for exactly the reason you said. It is a major issue and politically dangerous so Burnham must control the narrative.
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Alan Stedman @alanjstedman.bsky.social · 12h
He probably wouldn't, but empty chairing them would be very uncomfortable for some of their supporters who are really affected by care issues
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Ben Ralph @raggyralph.bsky.social · 12h
Then Burnham can constantly point out they were invited but they preferred to stand on the sidelines shouting whilst serious party leaders tried to take the country forward.
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Ben Ralph @raggyralph.bsky.social · 12h
Badenoch and Farage need the confrontational type of politics because if it is replaced by reasoned, intellectual debate then they're screwed. Burnham should publicise the details of a meeting, publicly invite all party leaders then go through with it. If Badenoch and/or Farage don't attend 1/2
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Ian Dunt @iandunt.bsky.social · 13h
Actually pretty funny when you consider that they could benefit significantly from this.
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Peter Stefanovic @peterstefanovic.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
"We're ending the injustice of leasehold." Housing Secretary Angela Rayner says Labour will be capping and then scrapping ground rents for leaseholders
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Thomas I-G @thomasig.bsky.social · 11h
Everyone talking about French spreads today means that all I want is Boursin...
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Josh Self @josh.politics.co.uk · 13h
“Does he agree that the triple lock is simply not affordable?” - Tom Tugendhat, shadow foreign secretary, in the commons last year. H/T Tali Fraser on X The extent to which Burnham’s triple lock position will unsettle the Conservatives is underappreciated 1/...
Tom Tugendhat 
I am interested to hear the hon. Gentleman using the figure of £70 billion, and I agree with him. He knows that £30 billion of that results from the rise in the triple lock, so does he agree that the triple lock is simply not affordable?
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Unofficial BBCNews (UK) Bot @bbcnews-uk-rss.bsky.social · 11h
Giant data centre plans lodged at old Chapelcross nuclear site
bbc.co.uk
Giant data centre plans lodged at old Chapelcross nuclear site
Developers say it could create more than 500 full-time jobs on the Chapelcross site near Annan.
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Treblig 🇺🇦 @camtreblig.bsky.social · 11h
[SENATOR ANDRE MARRINER]: So you’re telling me under oath that you’ve never spoken with Perrie Edwards' husband? [JACK SMITH]: No, I don’t think— [MARRINER]: WELL THEN *unveils poster* please explain this picture of you with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain! [SMITH]: That is Kieran Gibbs
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Ian Dunt @iandunt.bsky.social · 14h
This is testament to No.10's frankly astonishing degree of political competence. A policy which was branded electoral suicide 48 hours ago now showing signs of robust popularity.
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Super Nintendo Chalmers @snchalmers.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
We have strayed so far from God’s light
Icenova 
FRIED
CHICKEN ICE CREAM
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Tides of History @tidesofhistory.bsky.social · 13h
As Burnham promises to repeal Thatcher's Water Bill, a look back at the original Labour fight against privatiastion It was led by a rising Labour star who warned it had no public support: "Under public ownership the industries are more accountable” 👇 yesterdaypapers.substack.com/p/tony-blair...
yesterdaypapers.substack.com
Tony Blair and the Battle to stop Water Privatisation
In the 1980s Tony Blair argued that “under public ownership the industries are more accountable”
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Alex Andreou @sturdyalex.bsky.social · 14h
Burnham on Social Care in July: "I ask the media, can we not let the country look at this in a clear-eyed way without all of the overwriting? On this issue, please, can we not have a factual debate? Allow people to weigh up the options and come to a considered view based on the facts?" The media:
Daily Mail: BURNHAM'S TRIPLE SHOCKThe Daily Telegraph: TRIPLE LOCK SCRAPPED BY 2030 (with a monstering photo of Burnham)Daily Express: IT'S A CRYING SHAME FOR OUR NATIONThe Sun: LOCKY HORROR SHOW
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Peter Whitewood @pwhitewood.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Former Attorney General
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Alwyn Turner @alwynturner.bsky.social · 15h
I agree entirely. Youth had very substantial spending power that shaped society. (And I really didn't mean it as you being "found out" - I wasn't trying to score points.)
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