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Sean Devenish

@seandevenish.bsky.social
47 followers 110 following 197 posts

Scientist. Believer in democracy; enthusiastic and optimistic about energy transition and leaving a better world for our descendants

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Reposted by Sean Devenish
Andrew Sissons @acjsissons.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
Meme of Antonio Conte saying "one regular day of Barclays", but instead he is saying "One regular Friday not writing about the Boiler Upgrade Scheme. That's all I ask for. Will never happen"
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Dan Neidle @danneidle.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
We'll have a full analysis of the Conservatives' proposed inheritance tax cuts tomorrow. But, for now, three charts. 1. Who would benefit from the cuts?
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Zeke Hausfather @zekehausfather.com · 05/10/2026
I often see people argue that clean energy is not reducing emissions, because it just adds to rather than replaces fossil fuels. This argument is deeply misguided – clean energy built since 2005 has displaced 23 billion tons. I dive in over at The Climate Brink:
theclimatebrink.com
What if the world hadn't built wind and solar?
Clean energy does not simply “add to” global energy use; it displaces fossil sources that would otherwise get built.
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Kevin J. Kircher @kevinjkircher.com · 05/10/2026
We're in the middle of a race to the bottom, where authors use LLMs to generate more and more proposals, so funders use LLMs to screen proposals to keep up with increasing submission volumes. At some level of "LLMs evaluating LLM-generated submissions," you've gotta ask what we're even doing here.
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John Springford @johnspringford.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
This Dieter Helm essay doesn't engage with what's driving high UK energy prices in a serious way. Read @acjsissons.bsky.social instead. www.thetimes.com/comment/colu...
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Dan Grey @dangrey.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
It's extremely hard to take this government seriously when it's proposing this. How can anyone look at the world today and say "yeah, we need to sell fewer electric cars" www.gov.uk/government/c...
gov.uk
Zero emission vehicle mandate review
Seeks views on the zero emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate and its effectiveness in the UK.
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Transparency International UK @transparencyuk.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
🚨Louise Haigh agrees that mega donors with outsized influence are pernicious to democracy Yesterday at @ippr.org, Harry Quilter-Pinner rightly pointed out that big money corrupts UK politics regardless of where the money comes from. It's time for the Government to cap donations. Watch below ⤵️
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Make Votes Matter @makevotesmatter.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
🚨 Urgent message to Labour Conference delegates. Pass it on! On Sunday, you'll get to vote in the priorities ballot, which will decide which motions will be heard at conference. Let's make sure that a fair voting system is on the agenda. Vote for "electoral reform" and ask others to do the same.
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Ben Barclay @benbarclay.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Listen to people’s concerns about the cost of living, job insecurity, healthcare queues, housing quality, etc. But as soon as they say those problems are caused by people arriving in small boats, you have to challenge them. Tell them they’re wrong. Because they are.
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Captain Haddock @realcaptainhaddock.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
He commits at least 3 offences right on camera. Criminal damage. Endangering life at sea. Carrying a knife in public. Possession of any offensive weapon. Etc.
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Sean Devenish @seandevenish.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
Sure, let's talk about how you need to secede because there might be some asylum seekers housed in the area...
A map showing the route from Piddington to Bullingdon prison. 1.2 miles, 27 min walk.
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crypttext.bsky.social @crypttext.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
To little to late… Burnham shot himself in the foot 2.5 weeks ago…
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Adam Chapman @adamchapman.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
Come on, take the hint Mr Burnham.
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Adrie van der Luijt @traumainformedcontent.com · 12/09/2026
Labour blocked a ban on donations because of their own - relatively trivial - donations from trade unions. Burnham opened the door to a fascist crypto-funded takeover.
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Sean Devenish @seandevenish.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
I hope those union leaders are pleased with their lobbying against a donation cap so they can continue giving a mil or two to Labour... 🤦 🤦 🤡 www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
theguardian.com
Christopher Harborne matches £36m Reform donation of Ben Delo
Party leader, Nigel Farage, says he is humbled by the contributions from cryptocurrency billionaires
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Reposted by Sean Devenish
Cheshire West and Chester Green Party @cwacgreen.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
Burnham refused to cap political donations at £500k Now Farage has £72 million from 2 donors. The Green Party of England and Wales are funded by the communities we live in. Join.greenparty.org.uk
join.greenparty.org.uk
Join the Green Party
Join the Green Party from just £6 a year. Become a member today - join the only party standing up for people and planet.
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Mark🦢🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🌍 @mlz1962.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
Looks like Burnham failing to restrict political donations will be his Chamberlain waving a piece of paper saying peace in our time moment.
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Mike Bailey @linusd.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
Burnham backed away from a cap on political donations so that generous Lord Sainsbury could give Labour a single sausage. Meanwhile Ben Dilo gives Reform a whole pig.
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Electrify Britain @electrifygb.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
Moving levies off electricity bills is one way to close that gap, accelerate electrification and strengthen our energy security by reducing our dependence on oil and gas.
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Ketan Joshi @ketanjoshi.co · 08/09/2026
Microsoft pumped a mind-blowing amount of money into carbon removal. This is how it went for them:
a graphic showing targets vs emisisons for microsoft, with a failure for both emissions reductions and carbon removals
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George Monbiot @georgemonbiot.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
80 year-olds with pro-Palestine signs: arrested as terrorists. Greens planning to block a road, to highlight an existential crisis: sent down for years. Masked far-right thugs blocking roads and ports, using intimidation, obstruction & threatening behaviour: no arrests. The real two-tier policing.
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Iain @iainl7.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
Given we now know the “protestors” are backed by Russia, how much longer can Burnham continue to avoid the subject?
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scotfi1.bsky.social @scotfi1.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
Peaceful pensioners rot in jail for holding up placards. And meanwhile, masked right wing thugs terrorise Dover and Reform attendees violently assault peaceful protesters with absolutely no recourse. What is happening in the UK? And where is the government and rule of law? Where is Burnham?
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Mike Bailey @linusd.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
Labour and Tories are enabling the uncontested rise of far right intimidation on the streets and in politics by not calling it out in the most strident terms. Zack Polanski and Ed Davey cannot do it on their own.
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Atul Hatwal @atulhatwal.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
Genuine Q on the terrible government statement on the fash at Dover - was it from the Home Office, in which case, continuity McSweeney, because that's where they are politically from and is a sign of problems to come; OR was it Number 10, in which case, beyond rhyme or reason given why Starmer fell?
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Matt Severn @mattsevern.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
Failure to unequivocally condemn far-right thuggery is what started Starmers fall; Burnham needs to be outspoken or he will be making the same mistake
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Jeremy Smith @jeremysmith.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
Dear Burnham Labour government, There are uniformed fascists on the streets of Dover. You have done and said f*** all so far. Not good enough. You'll lock up pro-Palestinian grannies and young climate activists - but you ignore fascist thugs. NOT GOOD ENOUGH!
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Dr Anke Marsh @ankemarsh.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
Just so we are clear: The 83yo priest on the left is a terrorist. The balaclava-clad men on the right are protestors with legitimate concerns
A photo from the BBC of an older woman, with grey hair, being led away by police. A photograph of a line of men in black clothes and balaclavas blocking the port at Dover.
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TAFF 💕🐷🐄🐑🐥🪿🙏Annibyniaeth 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @vegan-4-indy.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
Had Muslims done this Burnham would have called a COBRA meeting by now.
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M a r c u s 🏳️‍🌈🇧🇧🇬🇧 @marcusjdl.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
If this was Just Stop Oil we’d be looking at arrests and charges
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Shortbreadfairy©️ @shortbreadfairy.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
This is nuts 🤷‍♀️ Waiting for arrests and Andy Burnham to condemn fhe violence & mob rule at the Reform Conference but so far the Police have appealed for the young women to come forward WTAF Burnham is fecking up already & letting the far right get away with normalising attacking woman
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David Louis Price @daimonddai.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
Let these images define the Reform Party conference, a woman protester being violently assaulted by a gang of right wing thugs while Nigel Farage laughs and urges them on. Ladies and gentlemen, 'this' is the future under Reform.
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Russ Jones @russincheshire.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
Let me get this right: if you're a retired vicar and peacefully hold up a sign opposing genocide, you're a terrorist. But if 1200 morons put on balaclavas and close half of Dover to stop people *escaping* genocide, police "constructively engage." Is that it? www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...
theguardian.com
Black-clad protesters in balaclavas block road at port of Dover in Kent
Traffic on A20 in and out of port grinds to halt as Kent police say they are in attendance and engaging with group
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Make Votes Matter @makevotesmatter.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
📩 Yesterday we went to Number 10 with a special delivery for the Prime Minister. Andy Burnham is our first PM to openly support PR. We know he can talk the talk. Now it's time for him to walk the walk. @compassoffice.bsky.social @unlockdemocracy.bsky.social @jowusunepaul.bsky.social
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Make Votes Matter @makevotesmatter.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
We agree that changing the voting system requires a national conversation - one involving the public. That's why we're calling on Andy Burnham to set up a National Commission on Electoral Reform - to design a better, proportional voting system that's fit for modern Britain.
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Make Votes Matter @makevotesmatter.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
"Let's make votes matter" - @alexsobel.co.uk 👏👏👏
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Make Votes Matter @makevotesmatter.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
🚨 The electoral reform amendment won't be heard today - it was ruled out of scope. This is disappointing. But if the government thinks this is the last they'll hear from us, they're badly wrong. A fair voting system is not a "nice to have." It must be a priority.
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Nicholas Beuret @nicholasbeuret.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
Burnham will likely approve North Sea drilling in the next week or so, and part of the justification will be “jobs”. So it’s worth saying out loud - it’s not about jobs. Even the world’s largest producer in lost oil and gas jobs, and now has fewer than in 2010
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Make Votes Matter @makevotesmatter.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
It's great to hear that Burnham is still committed to a fair voting system. But words are no longer enough. Now he's got the power to deliver the change he's long advocated for. So what is he waiting for? Our message to the PM is simple: the time for PR is now. ⏰
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Get PR Done! @getprdone.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
‘Burnham electrified the Labour party by talking about electoral reform – now he needs to act on it’ @pollytoynbee.bsky.social Here's Polly T. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
theguardian.com
Burnham electrified the Labour party by talking about electoral reform – now he needs to act on it | Polly Toynbee
The prime minister has lifted the spirits of the public and party members, and must use that goodwill to push through change, says Guardian columnist Polly Toynbee
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Get PR Done! @getprdone.bsky.social · 29/08/2026
‘Burnham and PR voting: Will he deliver? Or will he renege like Canada’s Justin Trudeau did?’ The need for electoral reform could not be more urgent after Labour gained 63 % of the seats on a mere 34% of the overall vote in the last general election. theleftlane2024.substack.com/p/burnham-an...
theleftlane2024.substack.com
Burnham and PR voting: Will he deliver? Or will he renege like Canada’s Justin Trudeau did?
The need for electoral reform could not be more urgent after Labour gained 63 % of the seats on a mere 34% of the overall vote in the last general election.
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Make Votes Matter @makevotesmatter.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
Billy Bragg is right. Over and over again, millions of us cast a vote knowing it will likely count for nothing. It's no wonder so many people are angry, frustrated and disillusioned. No wonder many are losing hope and giving up on voting. PR is a way to give everyone a fair vote and a fair voice.
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Get PR Done! @getprdone.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
Andy Burnham has talked the talk on PR and is now being urged to walk the walk. ‘Labour MPs will push Burnham to back voting reform in first 100 days’ Nearly 100 Labour MPs support commission on changing the system used for Westminster election #getPRdone www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
theguardian.com
Labour MPs will push Burnham to back voting reform in first 100 days
Exclusive: Nearly 100 Labour MPs support commission on changing the system used for Westminster election
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Peter Geoghegan @petergeoghegan.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
🔴 UK politics is bankrolled by the super rich. Andy Burnham promised to restore trust in politics - so why is he is ditching plans to cap mega donors? My latest on why the PM's timidity is bad retail politics *and* bad for British democracy democracyforsale.substack.com/p/burnham-is...
democracyforsale.substack.com
Burnham is failing his first big test as PM
The prime minister has the chance to end the power of the super-rich in British politics – he’s not taking it
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Make Votes Matter @makevotesmatter.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
🚨 If the next general election is held under First Past the Post, it will deliver the most chaotic and unrepresentative results we've ever seen. By then, the damage will be done. But we can still prevent a full-blown democratic crisis. We agree with the Guardian: it's time to act.
theguardian.com
The Guardian view on electoral reform: don’t wait for a crisis to fix a broken system | Editorial
Editorial: In an era of multiparty politics, first past the post risks generating perverse outcomes that delegitimise the democratic process
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Captain StillBeatingHeart @gvigary.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
Oh FFS here we go again. Burnham allegedly supports PR, but you know he won't adopt it in case it hurts Labour's chance of power. Now we have the same panto over donations. Do what's right for Britain, Prime Minister, even if it's not immediately obvious it's in your party's best interests.
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@richardkelham.bsky.social @richardkelham.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
www.theguardian.com/politics/202... Big money MUST be taken out of politics if any progress is to be made. This is an error caused by short-sightedness by both Burnham and the Unions. He is rapidly morphing into Starmer 2.0
theguardian.com
Burnham drops support for political funding cap aimed at curbing mega-donors
PM said he would set bar at £500k, but trade unions say funding reforms could undermine their ability to donate to Labour
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Social Media Lab @socialmedialab.ca · 27/08/2026
This is disappointing; the UK missed a chance to lead by example. "Burnham drops support for political funding cap aimed at curbing mega-donors" #Democracy4Sale www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
theguardian.com
Burnham drops support for political funding cap aimed at curbing mega-donors
PM said he would set bar at £500k, but trade unions say funding reforms could undermine their ability to donate to Labour
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Electoral Reform Society @electoralreform.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
A donations cap is a crucial step to ending the impression that our politics is for sale to the highest bidder and rebuilding that trust. buff.ly/yH95NCr
theguardian.com
Burnham drops support for political funding cap aimed at curbing mega-donors
PM said he would set bar at £500k, but trade unions say funding reforms could undermine their ability to donate to Labour
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Robert Saunders @robertsaunders.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
In 2025 trade unions gave £4.9 million to Labour. Individual donors gave £16 million to Reform & £9 million to the Tories. In total Labour raised £10 mill, Reform £19 mill & the Tories £21 mill. If the *unions* are blocking a donor cap, they've lost their minds www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Andy Burnham has dropped his support for capping political donations, causing anger among activists and Labour MPs who have long campaigned for change to the way parties are funded.

The prime minister has decided not to back amendments to the elections bill, which would cap the amount a person or an organisation can give in a single donation, according to government sources.

The decision comes after a lobbying campaign from Labour’s trade union backers, who said amendments to the bill, which returns to parliament for its remaining stages next week, could undermine their ability to donate to the party. It is also a retreat from the support Burnham gave to the idea just a few weeks ago, when he emailed a campaigner for electoral reform to say he would support a donations cap of £500,000.
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