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simon-allen.bsky.social

@simon-allen.bsky.social
87 followers 41 following 301 posts
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Stevie Bennett @steviebennett.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
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🌊🏄BlueWaveSurfer🏄🌊 @bluewavesurfer.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
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Stephen Graham @stephengraham.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
I had this bit about Jeffrey Archer from the 1995 HIGNFY video memorised for whenever I needed a handy fact about him.
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David Osland @davidosland.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
Racists continually insist that black and brown people can never be English. Then they accuse them of 'refusing to integrate'. I mean, make your bloody mind up.
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simon-allen.bsky.social @simon-allen.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
The Telegraph UK 3rd Sept "Farage: I’ll force MPs to work seven-day week to fix Britain" The London Economic May 2026 "It has been almost 11 weeks since Nigel Farage last turned up to the House of Commons to register a vote." Now absent for 77 Parliament votes in a row. Public media has memory!!
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simon-allen.bsky.social @simon-allen.bsky.social · 29/08/2026
BBC headline: Ex-White House teleprompter operator ordered to pay $172,000 for Trump speech bets Yet the orange one and his pals get to keep all the $$$ they made buying / selling stock with insider information. The downfall will be good. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Ex-White House teleprompter operator ordered to pay $172,000 for Trump speech bets
The staffer was found to have used his prior knowledge of the president's speeches to place lucrative bets.
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simon-allen.bsky.social @simon-allen.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
This says it all: www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...
theguardian.com
Grenfell cladding firm Arconic paid shareholders £23m more in compensation than to fire victims
Report’s author said findings highlighted ‘near-total failure’ to hold corporations accountable over the disaster that killed 72 people
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Ed Davey @eddavey.libdems.org.uk · 04/08/2026
While wildfires rage, oil bosses are laughing all the way to the bank thanks to Donald Trump’s idiotic Iran war. People across the country are facing sky high energy bills. If Burnham is struggling to find the money to help families with those bills, I’d start here.
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Tom Gauld @tomgauld.bsky.social · 15/03/2026
Happy Mothering Sunday!
Happy Mothering Sunday!

Title: Just in time for Mother's Day: Classic literature with added Mums 

Panel 1: Moby Dick 
"Ahab! Moby! Enough of this nonsense. Apologise to each other and if you can't get along, stay apart." says Ahab's mother, standing in a little boat and looking sternly into Moby's eye, while her son sits chastened behing her.


Panel 2: Casino Royale.
"Vodka martini, shaken not stirred... And a sweet sherry for my mother."
says James Bond. His mother calls over from their table "Just a little one."

Panel 3: The Lord of the Rings.
"You can look for your ring after you tidy your room and walk the dog, Sauron."
says Sauron's mother, holding out the dog lead to her son, who replies "Aw, mum!".
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Lynne Murphy @lynneguist.bsky.social · 13/03/2026
www.theguardian.com/media/2026/m...
theguardian.com
BBC World Service funding freeze risks ‘opening door to hostile states’, MPs say
Cross-party committee says service is ‘jewel in crown of UK’s soft power’ but is diminished by poor governance
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Brian Bilston @brianbilston.bsky.social · 11/03/2026
Principles of Boogie Management.
Principles of Boogie Management
 
 
Don't blame it on the sunshine
Don't blame it on the moonlight
Don't blame it on the good times 
 
Establish a collaborative working environment
coupled with individual accountability
to prevent a blame culture
from developing in the first place




Brian Bilston
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simon-allen.bsky.social @simon-allen.bsky.social · 11/02/2026
This from Tesco head honcho is 'amusing'. No one tell him that their self-serve checkouts have put people out of work. Also that is without looking at their profits vs their adverts "the power to cut prices". www.theguardian.com/business/202...
theguardian.com
UK sleepwalking into joblessness epidemic, Tesco boss warns
Ashwin Prasad says far fewer people in work than there could be with ministers just ‘tinkering at the edges’ of problem
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simon-allen.bsky.social @simon-allen.bsky.social · 01/02/2026
Quote from 1958 is also pertinent to social media: "This instrument [television] can teach, it can illuminate; yes, and it can even inspire, but it can do so only to the extent that humans are determined to use it to those ends. Otherwise it is merely wires and lights in a box." Edward R. Murrow
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David Osland @davidosland.bsky.social · 31/01/2026
The big difference between fraudulent covid loans and student loans is that fraudulent covid loans are happily written off
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Edge O. Erin @edgeoerin.com · 19/01/2026
Trump has asked upwards of 82 leaders from different countries, incl. Putin, Orban, & Lukashenko, to join his Board of "Peace." All would have to pay $1-B for "permanent membership." It’s not "just" a grift, it's an attempt to create a quasi-UN that he would control. SAY "NO" TO TRUMP'S PEACE BOARD!
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A Way with Words @waywordradio.org · 17/01/2026
Dictionary of our times: If a "party boob" is a breast unexpectedly visible while the other stays covered, and a "party foul" is when something accidently breaks or spills at a gathering, then “party politics” is a bunch of boobs making a mess that nobody wants to clean up.
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Dave Johnson @dcjohnson.bsky.social · 07/01/2026
All the (remaining) democracies should be doing this in the schools. apnews.com/article/fake...
apnews.com
Finnish children learn media literacy at 3 years old. It's protection against Russian propaganda
Finland has been fighting fake news by teaching media literacy to children as young as 3. The Nordic nation includes this in its national curriculum to help citizens recognize disinformation, especial...
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John Crace @mrjohncrace.bsky.social · 04/01/2026
How’s this Nobel Peace Prize thing coming along?
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Robin Ince @robinince.bsky.social · 27/12/2025
This is the danger of having a leader who is utterly shameless - there is no way he can comprehend hypocrisy - this is what we will get if Farage wins , which is why we need strong opposition that is not obedient to Farage’s talking points
theresistance1789
Subscribe
THE RESISTANCE
•••
THE RESISTANCE
PatriotTakes
PT
@patriottakes
Trump currently golfing again. He has visited his golf club 6 out of the last 7 days.
1:32 PM • 26 Dec 25 • 6,413 Views
Donald J. Trump
@realDonaldTrump
Can you believe that, with all of the problems and difficulties facing the U.S., President Obama spent the day playing golf.Worse than Carter
8:03 PM • 13 Oct 14
Donald J. Trump •
rea/DonaldTrump - 9 Sep 2014
*@TheBigJamesG: What kind of president doesn't get playing golf after a cruel beheading isn't the thing to do? Detached from reality he is"
Donald J. Trump CrealDonaldTrump GrealDonaldTrump Sep 2014
Can you believe we still have not gotten our Marine out of Mexico. He sits in prison while our PRESIDENT plays golf and makes bad decisions!
Donald J. Trump
rea/DonaldTrump - 15 Jul 2014
*@ursulacurtin: @cantget300 Hands off - we need him as President here in
Ireland - he has the golf club here so that's a start!!!!" Cute!
Donald J. Trump O
GrealDonaldTrump 13 Oct Oct2014
Can you believe that, with all of the problems and difficulties facing the U.S., President Obama spent the day playing golf. Worse than Carter
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Donald J. Trump
GrealDonald Trump 18 Nov 2013
President Obama played golf yesterday???
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Donald J. Trump GrealDonaldTrump - 21 May 2016
While our wonderful president was out playing golf all day, the TSA is falling apart, just like our government! Airports a total disaster!
Donald J. Trump •
Drea/DonaldTrump - 5 May 2014
*@Leonard @realDonaldTrump Even the Irish are routing for you to become president. Also congrats on Doonbeg golf course. #TrumpForPresident"
Donald J. Trump GrealDonaldTrump : 23 Oct 2014
President Obama has a major meeting on the N.Y.C. Ebola outbreak, with people flying in from all over the country, but decided to play golf!
Donald J. Trump
Donald Trump - 20 Aug 2013
*@pellscuse11: @realDonaldTrump Who plays more golf, yourself or the President? My money is on POTUS. You win!
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Robin Ince @robinince.bsky.social · 17/12/2025
Nothing more MASCULINE than attacking reproductive rights - like watching a body builder crack open their walnuts with their fist
myvoicemychoiceorg
Mark Zuckerberg said
"masculine energy" has been removed from the corporate world, and that
"aggression" needs to be brought back.
Now, he wants to aggresively delete accounts talking about abortion rights.
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The Rejoin EU Party @therejoineuparty.com · 12/12/2025
Former Deputy Head of Dulwich College Confirms Nigel Farage Racism Comments
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Natasha Walter @natashawalter.bsky.social · 09/12/2025
I'm so struck by the lack of outcry or even interest in the Palestine Action prisoners on hunger strike. Particularly strange that Guardian & BBC won't cover it. Good on Observer for covering, Zarah Sultana & Mothin Ali for visiting. #palestineaction #hungerstrike observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
observer.co.uk
‘Death risk’ fear for Palestine Action hunger strike activists | The Observer
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Grumpy 💙 European 🪶 @klausbusse.de · 02/12/2025
Science needs the arts.
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Andrew Copson @andrewcopson.bsky.social · 27/11/2025
The allocation of 12 additional days for the Assisted Dying Bill should hopefully mean we can finally move past the threat of filibustering. The House of Lords is at its best when it scrutinises, not when it obstructs.
humanists.uk
12 more days for Assisted Dying Bill means peers should stop filibustering
The Government has announced 12 further days of House of Lords time that will be set aside for debating the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, in addition to the four days of debate that have a...
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Andrew Copson @andrewcopson.bsky.social · 27/11/2025
Yesterday’s investiture was the first for ‘services to the non-religious’. Surely a welcome sign of the increasing inclusion of non-religious people in our national life, and a validation of the collective effort of so many in the humanist movement to achieve that recognition.
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simon-allen.bsky.social @simon-allen.bsky.social · 25/11/2025
Farage on Jewish former classmate: "Suddenly after 49 years they seem to have perfect recollection." I was bullied at school and remember the names and faces of those boys. I could pick them out in court. That was 53 years ago.
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simon-allen.bsky.social @simon-allen.bsky.social · 25/11/2025
Whenever I have been employed the contract stated that, if I broke the rules, I would be dismissed without compensation. Yet Lord Dannatt stays in his apartment at the Tower of London and four months holiday before returning to govern us? Even the Tories must realise how putrid this is.
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simon-allen.bsky.social @simon-allen.bsky.social · 15/11/2025
I do not usually suggest petitions but, in the UK, this is important. 38d.gs/3fme
38d.gs
Sign the petition: Michelle Mone should be removed from the House of Lords
This is big: Michelle Mone is being forced to pay back £122m after supplying poor quality protective gear to our NHS during the pandemic. But she STILL hasn't been kicked out of the House of Lords. Mo...
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Ed Davey @eddavey.libdems.org.uk · 11/11/2025
Robbie Gibb was appointed to the BBC Board by Boris Johnson, was an editorial advisor for GB News, and worked as Theresa May's Director of Comms. He is not impartial or neutral. The government should remove him from the Board immediately to protect the BBC's independence.
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Trades Union Congress @tuc.org.uk · 06/11/2025
Which one is more English?
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simon-allen.bsky.social @simon-allen.bsky.social · 03/11/2025
At long last they get a tiny slap on the wrist ... www.theguardian.com/media/2025/n...
theguardian.com
TalkTV breached impartiality rules with allegations about cancelled local elections, Ofcom finds
Claim that elections were cancelled because ministers were ‘terrified of Reform’ given rare rebuke by regulator
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Tom Gauld @tomgauld.bsky.social · 31/10/2025
Three @theguardian.com books cartoons from previous halloweens: 1. Haunted Bookshop
Reasons to visit your local haunted bookshop:

Open Until Very Late (image: moonlit bookshop)
Staff with nine hundred years experience (image: skeleton bookseller)
Home delivery by Headless Hoseman or flying fiend (image: deliveries being made)
Readings from famous authors (Image: Shakespeare zombie)
Stay and browse forever (Image ghost in a bookshop)
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simon-allen.bsky.social @simon-allen.bsky.social · 01/11/2025
‘ICE agent’ asks Black cop if he’s Haitian after being pulled over for driving drunk with his children in the car This should not be a surprise. www.independent.co.uk/tv/news/ice-... www.local10.com/news/local/2...
independent.co.uk
‘ICE agent’ asks cop if he’s Haitian after being pulled over
A Miami man who identified himself as an ICE agent questioned the nationality of a Black police officer who pulled him over for driving recklessly with his children in the car. Scott Thomas Deiseroth,...
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Brian Bilston @brianbilston.bsky.social · 31/10/2025
Given that it’s Halloween, here are some haiku horrorscopes.
Haiku Horrorscopes
 
Aries   
That decision not
to believe in poltergeists
comes back to haunt you.
 
Taurus
You are invited
to a skeleton party
but meet nobody.
 
Gemini
Weary from worry,
you feel wary of werewolves
and their whereabouts.
 
Cancer
Murderer at large.
Eat your cornflakes with caution.
Cereal Killer.
 
Leo
The world is a blur.
You wish you hadn’t been Bourne.
Possessed by Damons.
 
Aquarius
Evil ghostwriter
forces you to read his book –
Life of Michael Gove.
 




Virgo
You let a vampire
into work. Boss furious.
Get it in the neck.
 
Libra
The worst day ever.
Chased by flesh-eating zombies.
Meet Nigel Farage.
 
Scorpio
Your luck starts to change
There’s someone new in your life –
dark handsome strangler.
 
Sagitarrius
Island invites you
to be their guest of honour
at wicker craft fair.
 
Capricorn
Aargh! You’re buried alive
with your phone but you don’t know
the Wi-Fi password.

Pisces
Morrissey’s ghost calls
and he’s massive – some ghouls are
bigger than others.


Brian Bilston
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Prem Sikka @premnsikka.bsky.social · 29/10/2025
In 2024, UK’s big four banks HSBC, Barclays, Lloyds, & National Westminster made £45.9bn profit. Since 2021/22 profit margins up by 21%. 2022 -2024: Big four banks paid £124bn in dividends, £32bn in share buybacks. They oppose possible tax increase, publish misleading tax numbers. Tax them.
leftfootforward.org
Why the banking industry is not a paragon of free markets, efficiency, or honesty
Despite making record profits and paying record returns to shareholders it resents paying taxes.
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simon-allen.bsky.social @simon-allen.bsky.social · 18/10/2025
This is the news that the right wing media will ignore: "Borders chief can’t name a way Brexit has helped UK control its borders" Martin Hewitt, said he did ‘not immediately’ have an answer. The Independent. Friday 17 October 2025 14:38 BST.
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Cam @millap.bsky.social · 18/10/2025
Brilliant journalism as always from @carolecadwalla.bsky.social & @thenerve.news This needs amplifying. Perhaps @ZackPolanski.bsky.social could give it volume on Kuenssberg tomorrow, as he did during #bbcqt Who else is on? Bring it up. Force it into the discussion if necessary!
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LiberalLens @annieburns.bsky.social · 14/10/2025
Australia has passed a Bill that will limit the total spending on a party by billionaires like Elon Musk to Just $50,000 This will ban billionaires from single-handedly buying Elections in Australia.
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THE NERVE @thenerve.news · 12/10/2025
Quote: I’m old enough to remember when mainstream British politicians, who should know better, stirred up racial hatred as a path to power. You’re old enough to remember this too because it was last Tuesday. And it was Robert Jenrick. Stewart Lee
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Lynne Murphy @lynneguist.bsky.social · 08/10/2025
GenAI still can't count. It's ironic that it's called 'computation' and tragedy that it's called 'information technology'
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Tanita Tikaram @tanitatikaram.bsky.social · 07/10/2025
Bit worrying , now that Starmer has finally recognised Palestine , he’s unable to recognise his own citizens.
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The Lincoln Project @lincolnproject.us · 30/09/2025
Thinking about this piece from 2024 today...
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Brad Lander @bradlander.bsky.social · 25/09/2025
I was back at 26 Federal Plaza today, where an ICE agent violently threw this bereft woman to the ground in front of her kids. She had not touched him. She did not pose any threat. She had to be taken to the hospital. (🎥: Elias Eliahu)
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Anonymous @youranoncentral.bsky.social · 26/09/2025
Human rights defender Greta Thunberg: "I am not scared of Israel, I am scared of a world that has seemingly lost all sense of humanity. What we are doing here is trying to show there is some humanity left. That there are still people willing to step up when all other means fail." #3E
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simon-allen.bsky.social @simon-allen.bsky.social · 28/09/2025
Trump's own people at UN? 1) An escalator used by Donald Trump abruptly stopped because of a safety mechanism that may have been triggered by his videographer, the UN has said. 2) A UN official told the BBC the White House was operating the teleprompter at the time. www.bbc.com/news/article...
bbc.com
Safety mechanism caused Trump escalator malfunction, UN says
The US president's videographer "may have inadvertently triggered the safety function" while capturing his arrival, the UN says.
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David Osland @davidosland.bsky.social · 24/09/2025
Where I live in London, churches and synagogues sit side by side with mosques and same-sex couples walk arm in arm in the streets. Doesn't look much like sharia law to me.
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Andrew Copson @andrewcopson.bsky.social · 17/09/2025
I am aware that things like this may well annoy only me
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Brian Bilston @brianbilston.bsky.social · 15/09/2025
Here’s a poem called ‘English Roundabouts’.
English Roundabouts
 
They’re making the roundabouts great again 
by painting the flag of St George
to keep our circular road systems safe
from the dark, satanic hordes.

What do they want? Patriotic junctions!
When do they want them? Before it’s too late.
Good old-fashioned English roundabouts,
as decreed by Alfred the Great.

Behold the sacred intersection,
this blessed plot, this septic isle.
English roundabouts for English people,
draped in red and white and bile. 

St George is cross, as well he may be –
whipped-up hate, he’s seen before.
Give way to the right, the road signs rage,
and the far right most of all.

Brian Bilston
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Alex Andreou @sturdyalex.bsky.social · 13/09/2025
Sky News says police are "overwhelmed by the numbers". Met coped perfectly well with 2x as many at the pro-Gaza rally, 5x as many at the anti-Brexit march, and 15x as many at London Pride. They're not overwhelmed by the numbers. They're overwhelmed by the ratio of violent thugs in those numbers.
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Prem Sikka @premnsikka.bsky.social · 12/09/2025
Barclays Bank's CEO tells govt to cut wages of public sector workers instead of taxing banks. Wants to cut wages of doctors, nurses, teachers, cleaners, drivers, cooks, security guards to give more to bankers. Wage rises inflationary apparently but CEO pay, dividends aren't. archive.ph/yTGN7
ft.com
Barclays boss warns UK government on wages and bank taxes
CS Venkatakrishnan urges chancellor to avoid raising levies on banks in Autumn Budget
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