The UK might not be a great power anymore but we lead the world in projecting timely and embarrassing messages onto historic buildings. Makes one proud.
Retired primary school teacher escaping from Twitter. Interested in reading, walking, running, photography, history, gardening, knitting and education. Loving being a grandmother. Hope to return to EU one day.
2,490 followers 2,565 following 3,691 posts
view profile on Bluesky
The UK might not be a great power anymore but we lead the world in projecting timely and embarrassing messages onto historic buildings. Makes one proud.
Privatisation isolated small towns and villages. Economic decline follows. Despite subsidies can't get a direct bus/train from a town like Ludlow to Birmingham. It is all about profits and shareholders, not needs or community building. Yet major parties still obsessed with privatisation.
In Salford, Lee “T-Bone” Twamley leads a flagging campaign. Twamley is a convicted human trafficker who once tried to smuggle Vietnamese migrants into the UK to pay off drug debts. Now he posts “Stop the Boats”. hopenothate.org.uk/2025/08/19/e...
Alongside Hilden is Mike Gott. Gott is an ex-National Front member who was given a suspended sentence for assault. He was also caught in possession of a knuckleduster. Gott can be seen at events in Kent draped in the flag of the neo-Nazi British National Socialist Movement.
In Kent, Faversham protest leader Harry Hilden demanded background checks on asylum-seeking children. But Hilden himself has a conviction in relation to gang violence. His group have also threatened locals who removed unwanted flags from their own homes.
In Norwich, ex-EDL thug Glen Saffer (once Tommy Robinson’s bodyguard) chased down an 18-year-old local who dared to speak to media. His followers shouted “pedo” and tried to push the lad over. Some “concern for locals”. 🤷
In Aberdeen, protest speaker Geoffrey Farquharson told crowds “Jesus was white” and Scotland should be too. This same man once sent death threats to Labour MP Ben Bradshaw, filled with racist and homophobic abuse.
The far right say their anti-migrant protests are about “protecting communities”. Our new investigation shows the reality: violence, criminal records, and hypocrisy. 🧵 hopenothate.org.uk/2025/09/16/r...
Child poverty is already at a record high, and is set to rise further if the UK Government doesn't scrap the two-child limit on benefits and benefit cap. In fact, this could be the first Labour Government in history to oversee a significant rise in child poverty. 3/4
🚨 NEW: One million children in working families are affected by the two-child limit, new analysis by @cpaguk.bsky.social has revealed. 3 in 5 families impacted by the two-child limit are working, while a large majority who are not working have young children or are ill or disabled. 1/4
I'm grateful to our brave officers who put themselves on the line to keep Londoners safe this weekend. The violence towards our officers and the racism we saw has no place in our city. The far-right wants to divide us. They will never succeed.
❗ 14 MILLION people are facing hunger and hardship in the UK. In 2025. In one of the richest countries in the world. We don’t need more food banks – we need change. Repost if you agree.
Over 14 million people are facing hunger in the UK. We took this news straight to Parliament, and spoke to politicians, academics and charities about the changes we need to bring this dire number down. Together, we CAN create a future where no one needs to turn to a food bank to survive.
It is disproportionate to the point of absurdity to treat people sitting peacefully in a group holding signs as ‘terrorists’. People are outraged by the genocide in Gaza and are entitled to express their horror. Call on UK prosecutors to end these prosecutions: amn.st/63329ARB1U
On Sunday 21 September, Oxford Street will go traffic-free from Orchard Street to Oxford Circus for This is Oxford Street, a landmark free event open to all to enjoy music, great food, pop-ups and entertainment. See more: www.oxfordstreet.co.uk/whats-happen...
One of several Red Admirals today at Sandbach Flashes in Cheshire today. #Savebutterflies
Other work by the Ladybird artists. ‘Mam Tor, Derbyshire’ Artist: SR Badmin
I haven’t met anyone who likes him.
What’s in a flag? EU flags lit up the Proms as far-right riots marred Westminster – two visions of Britain, one of unity, the other of hate By Sue Wilson MBE @yorkshirebylines.co.uk
We must not let the shooting of Charlie Kirk become Trump’s Reichstag fire | David Van Reybrouck
But if you dare to criticise me I'll ban you from my party conference bylinetimes.com/2025/09/04/k...
I bet they think it was worth it. I thought it clever.
✍️ Rewriting the symbols: the case for a new Union Flag From three lions to the Union Jack, symbols shift with time. Should Britain’s flag evolve to reflect all its nations and Commonwealth heritage By Dr Pam Jarvis @drpam.bsky.social
‼️🇪🇺🇺🇦 All eyes are on Trump's second state visit to the UK, yet a far more important development is unfolding in Brussels, where senior EU officials are closing in on a plan to use the roughly €200 billion in frozen Russian assets in Euroclear to support Ukraine
When journalism was cool. And risked everything to challenge power.
All sorts of delights here. *If you like this kind of thing.
Wonderful Welsh recreational stilin' 🏴
Squeaky in autumnal mood…
#TuesdayBlues is another wild morning glory in a stunning blue color with the signature star pattern ✨💙 #Flowers #Gardening #Plants #GulfOfMexico #FlowerReport
And third it!
Is it hate speech to post 'oh shut the **** up'? 🤦♀️
www.alzheimersresearchuk.org/how-you-can-...
16 September 1908 | A Polish Jewish woman, Fanny Cukier, was born in Radom. She emigrated to France. In August 1942, she was deported to #Auschwitz with her daughters, Ginette and Irene. After the selection they were murdered in a gas chamber.
Hallo Trump! Windsor Castle
Excellent as usual- well done! 👏👏
If you look at my bio it is UK
It seems like 'Oh Dear, look what I got' by Helen Oxenbury and me reached number one in the picture book bestseller list this week, and number two in the children's books overall list. @WalkerBooksUK @walkerpicbooks
Lets be honest it doesn't matter that much what political persuasion Tyler Robinson was, he acted alone. So it is not a political killing, just another person with a high powered gun shooting people Which doesn't happen in any other country, because you can't get guns like that
16 September 1942 | A transport of 1,000 Jews deported from #Drancy in German-occupied France arrived at #Auschwitz. After the selection, 645 of them were murdered in gas chambers. One of them was Felicie Rajter. She was 10 years old. --- Gas chambers at Auschwitz: https://youtu.be/-A05i25j9Ck
Pennine scene above Geltsdsle.
How very sad 😢 www.theguardian.com/film/2025/se...
We lost a great activist today, a humanitarian, a wonderful mind, and an incredible creative force, Robert Redford dies today, September 16th, 2025
“This is the only planet we’ve got. What could be more important than protecting it?” – Robert Redford
That compares with about 32% in US. Of course some states are really high e.g Utah and that is because of Mormon worship.
Approximately 12% of the adult population attended a church of any denomination at least once a month in 2024. That doesn’t include weddings, funerals etc According to a Bible Society survey. I don’t think Christian Nationalism will spread from America.
I think interviewers should be more rigorous in questioning - that would really show them up.
True - an interviewer should get a group and spring it on them - ‘now we will all sing the National Anthem’ - that would be fun! Not a hope with the Lord’s Prayer. They are too young (on the whole) to have said it daily in school so they probably don’t even know what it is.
A new parody account worth following.
Danny Kruger who just joined Reform UK, telling Parliament, "There is a problem Reform would spend money like drunken sailors." Oops, don't let this get out.
They might manage to get through the 1st verse but not the rest. They also couldn’t manage Rule Britannia or Land of Hope and Glory. Interviews should put them on the spot and ask them. They could also ask the name of their church and the name of the vicar.
My family values are nothing like Charlie Kirk’s where the woman is property - handed over by the father to a husband, when young, to stay in the home with lots of babies. Not that he followed it - marrying a 33 year old with a university education who carried on working & employed a nanny!
One thing that is for sure is that Christian Nationalism will never take off here because all the flag wavers, who keep on saying that we are a Christian nation, never set foot in a church and are not going to- they wouldn’t cope with sitting through a service. They have a low attention span.
'Unusual' here = Weird.
Elon Musk's language at rally was "abhorrent", Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood says www.bbc.com/news/article...
We must unite against those who seek to divide us.
However in the case of Danny Kruger he could still get in as Reform and that would be really depressing.
If an elected standing MP decides to switch political party there should surely be a by-election, yes? If you voted for a cabbage that switches into a lettuce or turnip, the electorate must surely ratify (or deny)? Ethical. Don't call me Shirley.
“Nitty Nora” The school nurse, 1967 (More Words for Numbers) Artist: Kenneth Inns
Good grief #BBCRadio4 had a rush of blood to the head and interviewed @eddavey.libdems.org.uk Was Mr #Farage unavailable?
Unsolicited writing advice, no. 176: Don't underestimate your reader. Give them space to imagine; to dream. You don't need to tell them everything; just the things they need to know.
It took me 4
Heaven forbid the truth should be involved
I have just seen all this exchange and blocked her.
It is always ‘do as I say and not do as I do’.
The private family life of twice divorced Nigel Farage, who had children with both of his ex wives.... and now lives with his girlfriend.... is none of my business... just as the private family lives of everyone else are none of his.
I think they like the idea without actually ever going to a service.
I can’t resist posting this from another site. Why on earth does she think they are closing?!!
15th September 2025 15.15
How do people not know this about Farage?
Very hard to resist shouting 'wtf did you think would happen!' at my phone.
And mine!
On X a lot of replies have concentrated on the fact that she states she isn’t a Christian and they want to convert her. I think they are mainly Americans.
Nigel Farage (Dulwich), Danny Kruger (Eton), Richard Tice (Uppingham) and Isabel Oakeshott (Gordonstoun) aren't 'standing up to the elite'. They are the elite.
Good grief! He used to be my MP (and a useless one).
Here’s a poem called ‘English Roundabouts’.
Well done Channel 4
yorkshirebylines.co.uk/news/educati...
At the very least he wouldn’t let her have a position of authority!
I saw that one and it must be surely all she stands against - but she hasn’t looked.
This is pretty scary. There are more fundamental questions she needs to ask about Reform if she wants all those children she is responsible for to live in the democracy their ancestors fought and died for.
I find the fitted sheets never actually fit properly.
Women against the far-right launch "Women dare to tread and to speak where the prime minister does not" northeastbylines.co.uk/news/politic...
2 things are acknowledged by all civilised people. 1) No-one should ever be killed for their political views, however abhorrent. 2) Katherine Birbalsingh will say anything for attention, however stupid and divisive.
Did you not see his comments on black women?
Obviously not. His first thought would be to wonder if she was capable or part of a quota.
She sees the word ‘traditional’ and ‘family’ and doesn’t look further.
I am sorry he was shot, but then he said a few deaths a year were worth it so better him than a child. His widow still won’t campaign for gun control.
Barefoot and pregnant was his role for women!
I think ‘traditional’ was the trigger for her.
Right wing and family oriented so she jumps on it. She doesn’t even look to see what sort of family he advocates!
I wonder if the parents don’t complain because they close their eyes to it if she gets the results.
Surprising how many people think she ought to be in charge of education! I wouldn’t leave my grandchildren with her for as little as 10 minutes
When I was a pupil I went to 2 schools where the heads took us for current affairs. We had no idea what their personal views were and they really made you think by giving different perspectives. They did not jump on popular bandwagons.
Without realising that Kirk thought women should be silent (apart from his own wife! ). However I expect he would have been unprincipled enough to use her- realising she had a following and the attention of the media.
She doesn’t look deeper. Before she blocked me, because I don’t believe in original sin, she retweeted an opinion from a very dodgy account. When people asked if she had looked she got all huffy and said she didn’t look at accounts. I always look at accounts first.
I think she means she is pro gun control. I doubt she has bothered to look into his views. He is rightwing and family orientated and she hasn’t looked deeper.
She ought to realise that he doesn’t believe in further education for girls. He wanted them married young, being submissive to husbands, and having lots of babies.
If I had a child in her school, I would be on the phone to her this morning. However, there is no way I would send a child to her school.
She jumps on any bandwagon - a lack of critical thinking. Has she thought that he wouldn't send his child to her school simply because he would want a white man as a headmaster?
He needed to be kept away from children- particularly any who had ‘lost their way’.