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Self-contained

@self-contained.eurosky.social
790 followers 1.2K following 1.1K posts

Self-contained: (of a person) quiet and independent; not depending on or influenced by others. Retired. Former librarian, information manager, archivist. Northumbrian. European.

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Stay European #RejoinEU 🇪🇺 #FBPE @stayeuropean.bsky.social · 13/10/2026
"It takes a referendum to reverse a referendum" No, it doesn't. Having a referendum would probably be a good idea for perceptions of legitimacy, but it's not any kind of constitutional requirement. The original referendum was, constitutionally, advisory. It has no continuing standing.
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Richard Corbett CBE @richardcorbett.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
So what ARE the options for Britain re EU? - Status quo: massive damage to the economy - Customs Union: limited economic benefit - Single Market: significant economic benefit but UK has to follow EU rules without a say on them - EU membership: econ & political benefits with a seat at the table
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jackheathwriter 📚 @jackheathwriter.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
And this one, from 1975:
The Rape of Mr. Smith 
In the following situation, a holdup victim is asked questions by a lawyer. 
“Mr. Smith, you were held up at gunpoint on the corner of First and Main?” 
“Yes” 
“Did you struggle with the robber?” 
“No.” 
“Why not?” 
“He was armed.” 
“Then you made a conscious decision to comply with his demands rather than resist?” 
“Yes.” 
“Did you scream? Cry out?” 
“No, I was afraid.” 
“I see. Have you ever been held up before?” 
“No.” 
“Have you ever GIVEN money away?” 
“Yes, of course.” 
“And you did so willingly?” 
“What are you getting at?” 
“Well, let’s put it like this, Mr. Smith. You’ve given money away in the past. In fact, you have quite a reputation for 
philanthropy. How can we be sure that you weren’t CONTRIVING to have your money taken from you by force?” 
“Listen, if I wanted –“ 
“Never mind. What time did this holdup take place, Mr. Smith?” 
“About 11:00 P.M..” 
“You were out on the street at 11:00 P.M.? Doing what?” 
“Just walking.” 
“Just walking? You know that it’s dangerous being out on the street that late at night. Weren’t you aware that 
you could have been held up?” 
“I hadn’t thought about it.” 
“What were you wearing at the time, Mr. Smith?” 
“Let’s see … a suit. Yes, a suit.” 
“An EXPENSIVE suit?” 
“Well – yes. I’m a successful lawyer, you know.” 
“In other words, Mr. Smith, you were walking around the streets late at night in a suit that practically advertised 
the fact that you might be good target for some easy money, isn’t that so? I mean, if we didn’t know better, Mr. 
Smith, we might even think that you were ASKING for this to happen, mightn’t we?”
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Make Votes Matter @makevotesmatter.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
💥BREAKING: Andy Burnham announces a National Commission on Electoral Reform. This is a historic moment. The era of First Past the Post is coming to an end. It's time to transform politics and make all votes count. It's time for Proportional Representation.
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Anti-Reform @antireform.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
"Farage is certainly no friend of working people ...." via Wanda Lozinska
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Prem Sikka @premnsikka.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Sign the petition. Let water companies go bust. Ofwat approved 36% bill increases for 2025-2030, companies want more. Prices doubled - in real terms - since privatisation. We got sewage in rivers, water outages, hosepipe bans. Need public ownership.
weownit.org.uk
We're telling Ofwat: let water companies go bust!
consultation to reject proposed water company bill increases. Ofwat.
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Chasbell 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇮🇪🇮🇹🇨🇦 @chasbell.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
The state pension is not a benefit, the deal was we paid National Insurance to cover our State Pension and the NHS and because successive governments have squandered our National Insurance contributions elsewhere they are now trying to claim it’s a benefit in kind, absolute bollocks.
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sianushka.bsky.social @sianushka.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Asylum seeking people don’t have the freedom to work, they don’t even have the freedom to shop using cash or choose where to shop, in temp accommodation they don’t have the freedom to cook or choose their own food - honestly this headline is batshit
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Jim Pickard @pickardje.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
my brilliant colleague @robertshrimsley.bsky.social on the threat from Elon Musk’s X platform www.ft.com/content/f270...
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Self-contained @self-contained.eurosky.social · 19/09/2026
It's time for a new Charter. Help write it and choose your 6 demands for a better politics. Take the survey here:https://actionnetwork.org/surveys/a-new-charter?source=bluesky&
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Self-contained @self-contained.eurosky.social · 19/09/2026
Enough is enough. Devastating wildfires are threatening our communities, our wildlife, and our landscapes 🌳 We need the UK Gov to back our amazing fire fighters and invest in a real national wildfire prevention plan. Join me and sign the petition here: you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/te...
you.38degrees.org.uk
Protect nature for the future: make wildfire prevention a national priority
Enough is enough. Devastating wildfires are threatening our communities, our wildlife, and our landscapes 🌳 We need the UK Gov to back our amazing fire fighters and invest in a real national wildfire ...
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James Ball @jamesrball.com · 18/09/2026
It is incredibly important that political violence does not succeed. The far-right mob that shut down Portsmouth wanted this outcome. If the state wishes to avoid more of these actions, it needs to make sure this RNLI branch reopens *immediately*, or as close to that as humanly possible.
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Peter Geoghegan @petergeoghegan.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
🔴 The £72million pound question - how worried are you about big money in British politics? Democracy for Sale is running a survey to find out what the public thinks about money in politics - and what we should do about it Please take it!! And share widely!! thx! 😀 docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
docs.google.com
How concerned are you about UK political funding? – A Democracy for Sale survey
We're Democracy for Sale, a newsletter covering dark money and influence in UK politics. We're trying to better understand our readers' and the wider public's opinions and concerns about political fun...
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Josiah Mortimer @josiahmortimer.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Canada has a total ban on company/corporate donations. Only individuals who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents can make contributions and it's capped at $1,750 a year. They still have functioning parties and the sky hasn't fallen in. Quite the opposite... www.elections.ca/content.aspx...
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abbi @abbis.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
The money people are willing to put into elections, rather than society, is unconscionable. Everyone should get the same amount to spend on these things, it's supposed to be about what people say, not how ubiquitous their advertising.
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paulusthewoodgnome @paulusthewoodgnome.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
Why are rich people so dull? Imagine having £36m burning a hole in your pocket and you can't think of anything better to do with it than hand it over to Nigel Frogface and Reflux UK. Think of the joy, relief and appreciation you could generate with that kind of cash. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Ben Delo: Reform receives record £36m donation from cryptocurrency billionaire
Ben Delo's donation, the biggest single sum ever given to a political party in the UK, comes amid scrutiny of Reform's finances.
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Quiet Majority @majorityquiet.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
We loved this so much we just had to put English subtitles on it, apologies to the French speakers for our translation. But this is what it would look like here in the UK if Farage or Lowe or another of their ilk got their own way.
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Tim Bale @timbale.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
Easy to donate: rnli.org/support-us/g...
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Jane G @janeger.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
This seems appropriate #R4Today act.38degrees.org.uk/act/rnli-tha...
act.38degrees.org.uk
An open letter in support of the volunteers and staff at the RNLI
This is a disgrace. Brave RNLI volunteers being called scum for risking their lives to save others at sea is just plain wrong. So I've signed an open letter of thanks for the RNLI letting them know th...
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Best for Britain @bestforbritain.org · 09/09/2026
🚨 A new poll by British Future found that most of the public would support Burnham going beyond Labour’s red lines. The PM wants growth in every postcode, and EU membership is the best way to deliver on that promise. It's time to rethink the red lines and put EU membership back on the table.
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Kevin Thurston @del-boy.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
#BBCpolitics live. Reform have 8 MPs Fucking pack it in with the free publicity and taking Nigel’s speech live. He’s a crook.
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Stephen McGann @stephenmcgann.uk · 07/09/2026
It seems to me that if one wishes to have a citizen protest, then one shouldn't be able to do it with a preemptive masking of one's identity. In a democratic context, a citizen protest is an open conversation with the state. Visible. Identifiable. Hidden subversion is something else.
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Gillian Martin @gillmartin.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
Racists closed Dover port.They seem to think that people crossing the channel in small boats come through the port. If you want to close down a major travel terminal, just be a fascist thug. No arrests. But hold up a sign protesting for Palestine Action & against genocide & you're a terrorist.
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pharaoh house crash @phchq.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
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David Clark @david-k-clark.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
No arrests. When environmentalists block roads to protest about climate change, they are prosecuted and jailed. When masked fascists do it to promote race hate, they are allowed to go home without a fuss. How about that for two-tier policing?
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Sarah Murphy @13sarahmurphy.bsky.social · 30/08/2026
Iceland is not in the EU, but it is a member of the Schengen area. It’s also a member of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and is part of the Single Market, meaning it enjoys freedom of movement with the EU. Good to know that doesn’t impact their independence. Maybe we should try it, Nige.
Nigel Farage 
@Nigel_Farage
Congratulations to Iceland on voting to keep their independence.
09:40 • 30/08/2026 •
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Westerns UK @westerns.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
It feels like you can’t watch a game of football without wading through annoying gambling ads. 🙄 😡It’s dangerous for young fans, and it puts a stain on the beautiful game. ⚽Find out what you can do about it. you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/pr...
you.38degrees.org.uk
Protect young fans: kick gambling ads out of football
Gambling ads are all over football, targeting young fans and risking dangerous addictions. Millions are watching the Premier League - so can you help me get them banned now? We don’t have long!
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North East Bylines @northeastbylines.co.uk · 22/08/2026
Northumberland Wildlife Trust will be showcasing its conservation work in Eldon Square’s Community Quarter | Peter Sagar
northeastbylines.co.uk
Championing Nature in Eldon Square
Northumberland Wildlife Trust will be showcasing its conservation work in Eldon Square’s Community Quarter
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dsimpson.bsky.social @dsimpson.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
Billions of plastic pellets are still spilling into the North Sea. Sign Friends of the Earth's petition to demand an urgent clean-up foe.uk/9sf9w
foe.uk
Tell Andy Burnham: Save the North Sea from plastic pellet disaster
One of the UK's biggest spills of plastic pellets (or “nurdles”) is flooding the North East’s coastline. It could harm wildlife in the North Sea for decades. Thousands of volunteers – including Friend...
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Mark Burnley @drmarkburnley.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
Idea for government: stop calling it “net zero” and just call it “energy policy”, put cost of living at the centre of it and decarbonise anyway.
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Rod Evans @ultra-rejoiner.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
11 days ago Jason Arday resigned, saying he was at his limits. The press wrote 188 more articles. 9 days later Jason Arday was found dead. Enough is enough: Demand an urgent inquiry into the role the media had on his death: you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/de...
you.38degrees.org.uk
Sign the petition: demand an inquiry into the culture of the press after Jason Arday's death!
Tragically, Professor Jason Arday has died after a vicious and deeply personal campaign of press attacks over the last few weeks. The Government must urgently launch an inquiry into the culture and b...
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TheBossRoss 🧶 @thebossross.bsky.social · 17/08/2026
The reason most media give for their extensive #Reform coverage is its lead in the polls. That's partly true & partly dishonest as Reform would not poll so well if their every move wasn't reported. Publicity is just that. Information dissemination to attract public notice.
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Glennyrodge @glennyrodge.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
In these challenging times someone might need one of them: Childline: 0800 1111 Samaritans: 116 123 Domestic Violence Hotline: 0808 2000 247 Mind: 0300 123 3393 Age UK: 0800 169 6565 Alcoholics Anonymous : 0800 9177 650 Cruse Bereavement Care: 0808 808 1677 MH text support: 85258 Please share. TY x
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UK Government Petitions @petitions.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
New petition: "Ban MPs who resign with open standards investigations from standing as an MP" Deadline 7 February 2027, created by Ross Lawley #NewPetition
petition.parliament.uk
New petition: Ban MPs who resign with open standards investigations from standing as an MP
MPs that resign and therefore escape open parliamentary standards investigations should be banned from standing as an MP, unless the investigations are resumed and completed whilst they are not in office.
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Self-contained @self-contained.eurosky.social · 15/08/2026
I suppose we could make an exception for when an MP does the honourable thing and resign to stand fo re-election after crossing the floor. Otherwise we need to stop the stunts. petition.parliament.uk/petitions/77...
petition.parliament.uk
Petition: Ban MPs who resign with open standards investigations from standing as an MP
MPs that resign and therefore escape open parliamentary standards investigations should be banned from standing as an MP, unless the investigations are resumed and completed whilst they are not in off...
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jeffamoore.bsky.social @jeffamoore.bsky.social · 15/08/2026
Politics isn't working. It's time to call time on the broken culture in Westminster and have a fresh start with a fair voting system. Add your name to @electoralreform.bsky.social‬'s call to #MakeSeatsMatchVotes action.electoral-reform.org.uk/page/3782/pe...
action.electoral-reform.org.uk
First Past the Post means millions of our votes make no difference to parliament. Add your name now to demand a fairer voting system
It only takes 30 seconds
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North East Bylines @northeastbylines.co.uk · 14/08/2026
Volunteers are needed urgently to join the NE Nurdle Clean-Up this weekend just after the High Tides morning and evening | Peter Sagar
northeastbylines.co.uk
Spring tide alert: North East nurdle volunteers demand more from authorities
Volunteers are needed urgently to join the NE Nurdle Clean-Up this weekend just after the High Tides morning and evening
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Andy Brown @andybrown1951.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
So let's get this clear Britain is burning up as the early impact of climate change destroys homes. Burnham holds crisis "Cobra" meeting. And concludes that we should slow down - yes slow down!!! - the move away from fossil burning cars. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Electric vehicle sales targets could be cut after pressure from car makers
The government says it is considering cutting the new electric car sales target from 80% to 50% by 2030.
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Self-contained @self-contained.eurosky.social · 14/08/2026
The govt must recognise Israel as a hostile state. Call in the Israeli ambassador in London for a bollocking. Withdraw the British ambassador to Israel for consultation. Cancel military aid and cooperation Cancel export licences for military supplies www.theguardian.com/world/2026/a...
theguardian.com
Benjamin Netanyahu describes UK as ‘first Islamic republic to get a nuclear weapon’
Israeli PM criticised by political rival for attacking an international ally and overseeing ‘horrific diplomatic failure’
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jeffamoore.bsky.social @jeffamoore.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
Every time you open a news site, Google gets paid, but journalism dies. Big Tech’s monopoly is starving newsrooms. The EU can break it up. Tell them: Save journalism, stand up to Big Tech now! action.wemove.eu/sign/2025-05...
action.wemove.eu
Break up Big Tech
Share the petition and you'll help multiply the impact of this campaign: Break up Big Tech
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Sarah Murphy @13sarahmurphy.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
It would be genuinely uplifting if Clacton has the wit today to vote for Count Binface and not inflict Farage on us all again. We don’t need his greedy, lying, racist negativity in our politics. He’s done nothing good and he never will. Come on Clacton, don’t give him another chance.
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Wild Justice @wildjustice.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
URGENT: the river Tyne is facing a plastic pollution disaster. On 19 July, a cargo ship collision caused over a billion plastic pellets to spill to the port of river Tyne - polluting the river system, coastal sites and the sea. To find out how you can help, visit buff.ly/XpB89LA
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Squeezy John @johnspiers.co.uk · 10/08/2026
I still absolutely think that the English rugby team should learn how to morris dance properly and do it in response to the Haka against New Zealand.
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The Scales ⚖️ @shakethescales.bsky.social · 09/08/2026
Utter bollocks! The free art pictured has the added bonus of explaining the role of the building on which it appears. Leaving it alone costs nothing, and what’s the ‘security’ for? www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Bristol artist Banksy's works cost taxpayers nearly £150k
FOI requests reveal Banksy artworks have cost taxpayers almost £150,000, with costs still rising.
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Jose @justicia73.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
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Count Binface @countbinface.bsky.social · 09/08/2026
I believe Clacton deserves an MP who will spend their time shining a light on everything the area has to offer. And why wait till I'm elected? I've been to visit one of the constituency's most stunning landmarks.
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Glen O'Hara @gsoh31.bsky.social · 09/08/2026
When you don't listen for *years* to what loads of us who actually understand universities say, when you listen to a load of know-nothing frauds from think tanks and consultants and media loudmouths instead, this is the university disaster you make. Govts could have listened. They didn't.
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National Emergency Briefing @nebriefing.bsky.social · 08/08/2026
A big thank you to everyone who’s been promoting the petition for a televised emergency briefing on the climate and nature crisis. It’s now jumped up to 56,700. petition.parliament.uk/petitions/76... #NationalEmergencyBriefing #TimeToStepUp
petition.parliament.uk
Petition: Hold a UK-wide briefing on climate and nature risks
The UK faces growing risks from climate and nature breakdown - from extreme weather to economic disruption and national security threats. Yet the public has never been given a clear national briefing ...
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Guardian Environment @environment.theguardian.com · 08/08/2026
Sadiq Khan calls on Andy Burnham to commit to climate action as pressure grows over North Sea oil
theguardian.com
Sadiq Khan calls on Andy Burnham to commit to climate action as pressure grows over North Sea oil
London mayor points to ‘terrifying scenes’ this summer amid speculation Burnham may back Jackdaw and Rosebank projects
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