You know, you can't blame the officers in the #HenryNowak case. The police simply can't do their job these days. Imagine being shit scared of not acting on a claim of racism. The politicians just want everyone to shut up and make it go away by accusing people of "Division." bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c77yx8โฆ
They had 3 people (members of one family) telling them one story and 1 person telling them he'd been stabbed. On the bodycam recording a police officer says, "I don't think you have mate" because they are used to being lied to. They know there are many white racists who start fights. They assessed the probabilities and guessed wrong. If they can be criticised for anything, it's not checking more carefully for a stab wound. If anyone is responsible for the death, it's not the police.
I think "I've been stabbed" takes precedence over anything. My original knee-jerk reaction to the video was "WTF!" After speaking with a number of people, I've changed my opinion to: "It certainly looks like arresting him for a race crime seemed to be the main objective." I mean, think about it. There's a bloke on the floor who's only crime at that stage was supposedly racially abusing someone, and the course of action is to cuff them? When you get stopped for speeding, etc., do they slap the bracelets on? No, they sit you in the back of the car and have a chat.
There are lots of questions, and we're not going to get the answers. Henry Nowak is going to have died for nothing, and nobody apart from his family cares because the world we live in is more worried about upsetting people's feelings than telling it like it is. ๐คทโโ๏ธ
You have to take your hat off to Sir Kier Starmer. He's proven that ignoring everyone works! He's had way more than most Prime Ministers' failures, and yet he's still there! And still doing nothing. #Politics bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c3vyxzโฆ
Have you noticed the LibDems slow rise in popularity since the media almost stopped reporting on them? If media attention is negative, it seems better not to have it.
I still think votes for the Liberals are "parking votes" People want to vote, but they can't (Yet) bring themselves to vote for ReformUK, and (imo) they think a vote for the Greens is a wasted vote. I fully accept the Conservatives have no chance for at least another seven or eight years, so that leaves the Liberals or one of these fringe parties. ๐คทโโ๏ธ
If the votes are parked awaiting the return of a viable Centre-Right party, that is the Lib Dems' Right Wing. I thought it might be Labour but they're too authoritarian for libertarian Cs. The Conservatives either aren't conservative or are too afraid to admit they are, which is equally useless for attracting the 'sensible middle'. Being tribal about a label that has lost its meaning is pointless.
British politics has stagnated. Nobody wants to do anything, stand out or rock the boat. Other than prices going up, which has nothing to do with the UK government or Brexit, for that matter, I've not seen this government achieve anything. The problem with that is there has been nothing as such where the electorate stands up and says, "This government must go!"
I think these local election wins for ReformUK will not translate to votes in a general election.
So out of over 275,000 people (Police Estimates) who attended both rallies in London yesterday, there were only 43 arrests? That's 0.0156%. If that's not a law-abiding protest, I don't know what is. bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckgpznโฆ
This demonstrates how ineffectual our so-called PM is. He's doing nothing while his party colleagues are literally setting in motion actions that could potentially lead to his downfall, in full view of everyone, including Starmer himself. He'll go down in history as the Prime Minister who did nothing! #Politics #UselessLabour
It seems abundantly clear to me that he is bereft of any skill or ability. Most of these damaging tinkering, such as winter fuel payments, have been instigated by others, and anything he does seems to blow up in the Labour Party's face. We have a fuel crisis at the moment, along with a whole host of other problems, and he just sits in number ten watching events unfold. It wouldn't be so bad if Burnham and Streeting et al were being devious and carrying out their manoeuvres behind his back; it's the fact that it's all out in the open that's mind-blowing.
At least when John Major stabbed Maggie in the back, he did it behind her back.
I take it that I'm the only one in the country whose mind is blown by the fact that an elected PM is going to be ousted by a man who, at the moment, isn't even an MP! And even if Starmer stepped down, I suspect they'll all wait for Burnham anyway. You watch, I bet I'm right. ๐คฃ
Potentially, there's only Reeves, and she's not had the best of starts. I know I've been joking about Raynor and Abbott, but my worry is that factions may well think that Raynor is a viable option. Don't forget, there is still a powerful lobby within the Labour party who think it's still 1970.
Raynor would have been in her element during the 70s and mid 80s. She would drag us back to those times if she could.
There's a fundamental question that nobody is asking: Who runs the country? Am I seriously being told that all the state departments, the Foreign Office, the Home Office, the Treasury, etc. Are a law unto themselves? What does #Starmer actually do then? #politics newstatesman.com/politics/uk-pโฆ
either way Starmer should go. He's either lied or completely incompetent.
I struggle to buy that an FCO civil-servant would make such a decision with out being pressured in advance, or consulting via an undocumented back channel.
And then after it all blew up. You'd have thought the PM might actually go and find out the details. To which it seems he trusted 'a process'. The guy really have no political sense.
That definitely opens the door for ReformUK. I honestly cannot ever envisage the Green Party ever being in power. The Liberal Democrats, Who?
While it grieves me to admit it, I suspect the Conservatives will be a spent force until 2034 the only chance they have is a coelition in 2029 but the public will only allow them to be the junior partner.
You aren't the only one asking but 'journalists' don't seem to be. They are so keen to get Starmer fired that they aren't asking the right questions. He's under attack from the Left and Right. I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt this time, despite his previous errors of judgement. What does "Number 10" mean? Was Starmer kept in the dark because he would have stopped someone's plotting?
I saw something the other day alluding to some backroom deal that Starmer supposedly owed Mandleson, and that's why he gave him the job. The problem is, over the years, we have become so accustomed to that sort of thing that I tend to believe it.
The problem with this whole mess is that amateurs are in charge. Starmerโs attempt to offer up Olly Robbins as a sacrificial lamb has backfired. Now Downing Street intends to release hundreds of documents relating to Mandelson and his appointment, which I wouldnโt be surprised will put Starmer even deeper in trouble. If they canโt get Mandelson vetted right, what chance have they got of scrutinising the documents?
Someone on YouTube named 2 'little helpers' who they alleged had kept Starmer in the dark because Israel wanted the Dark Lord as our representative. Or that could be anti-Semitic conspiracy theory. I used to trust the BBC to check out stories like this.
Remember how you all screamed for Boris Johnson's head when he did something? Why are you not screaming for Starmer's head? He obviously knew Mandelson was tainted? He must have sanctioned the Ambassadorship? #Politics #LabourSleaze theguardian.com/politics/2026/โฆ
#Labour spends all its time blaming other people for problems it should be solving as our elected government! If they're not blaming "The previous government", they're shirking responsibility by blaming Brexit, Ukraine, Palestine and Iran. Why is the UK not more resilient to outside influences? irishnews.com/news/uk/familiesโฆ
Following on from a post I made three days ago about how we have all these different excuses for why prices are rising. I have to take my hat off to @SallyBundockBBC this morning, who, like me, is shocked to learn that oil prices have barely twitched since Trump announced his blockade of Iranian ports. So which is it? Are the price hikes because of Iran or not? I smell a rat.
Oil prices aren't much different than last week, but they're still 50% higher than before March and the war started.
One blockade or two, still cuts off that route either way so adding the second one doesn't make much difference, but the oil that lubricates and facilitates trade and manufacturing has a 20% lower global supply and a 50% higher price than before the spring with no sign of that ending soon.
What is annoying is that there was, in fact, no need for prices to increase. The fuel you buy at the pumps was purchased three months ago! One of my customers is a fuel oil provider, and they've only just started paying for their next shipments from suppliers.
Yeah, the futures market reacts on what it expects to happen. Makes it volatile.
Fuel coming out of the pumps today in the UK shouldn't be much affected for a month or more, but they are coz the forecourts use that futures price I guess.
And this is another reason I don't trust news outlets! A news story about Corridoor Beds had a reporter who said: "We've just come out of the worst winter on record for the #NHS." Umm? Did you forget COVID?
Everything is always "On record", and yet when I cast my mind back, I'm like "Well, you must have been in a different country? Especially when it comes to the weather, "Warmest on record!" Aye? I had my heating on all day! #BBC News
๐ง๐ต๐ฒ๐'๐น๐น ๐๐ฎ๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐๐๐ต๐ถ๐ป๐ด! First, it was all Brexit's fault that prices were rising. Next, it was the war in Ukraine. Now, it's the war in Iran. Maybe if the UK stopped tearing up farmland for housing or wind farms, we could produce affordable food!
I can see the reasons that impel you, me and anyone alive to consider it. Those same reasons spell danger, well you could fit a couple of large books text in there but you know what i mean.
So glad I cancelled my subscription. I was never happy with it from the off. It doesn't help when they bombard you on the website with supposed winners who've only just joined! thesun.co.uk/money/38462040/peโฆ
THE Peopleโs Postcode ยญLottery has sparked fury after raising the price of tickets yet again โ with players branding it an โabsolute waste of moneyโ. Tickets have gone up to ยฃ12.50 per month, a 25 โฆ
As of March 2026, the #Labour government is significantly off track to meet its manifesto target of building 1.5 million new homes in England by the end of this Parliament (estimated August 2029). To hit 1.5 million homes over five years, the government needs to deliver an average of 300,000 homes per year (approximately 811 per day).
Total Delivered: Approximately 309,600 net additional homes were delivered between the start of the Parliament (9 July 2024) and 11 January 2026.
Shortfall to Date: By early November 2025, the government should have built roughly 396,000 homes to stay on track, representing a deficit of over 120,000 homes just in the first 16 months.
Daily Rate: The current delivery rate is roughly 564 homes per day, well below the required 811. GOV.UK #politics
For a nation steeped in naval history, we constantly show the world how incompetent and weak we really are when we announce, "Err, bear with us, we're coming. Just not right now. If you could hold off for a bit, that would be brilliant." bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5y550โฆ
Hey, look, I'm a dumbass, what would I know? But I find it interesting that all the news outlets, and especially the BBC, are ramming it down our throats that while Donald Trump spoke for two hours, TWO HOURS! According to them, he said nothing of value? I even read a BBC fact-checker that debunked much of what he said about fuel prices, etc.
The thing is, I watched a lot of it LIVE, and I watched both sides of the Senate stand and applaud him and not just once either! So that tells this dumbass that a lot of what he said struck a chord with senators across the political spectrum and not just his party faithful.
We need to be careful what the press, TV and social media tell us. Remember, folks, they, too, have their own agenda, and we've seen numerous court cases where it turns out that maybe journalists and editors are not your guardians with your best interests at heart after all.
Remember when our TV screens were filled with lots of teenagers flocking to #Labour Party events, excited that they could well choose their government at age 16? I bet you're glad you showed your support for them, aren't you? theguardian.com/politics/live/โฆ
I have no idea of his guilt or innocence, but it seems to me there are those determined to see Andrew go to jail. He's been a juicy news story every week for months now. independent.co.uk/news/uk/poliโฆ
Mr Speaker. The highest position in the land, before his majesty, the king, is Prime Minister. The holder of that position is entrusted by his majesty to not only serve the people but also to guide and ensure their well-being while shielding them from harm. The office of the Prime Minister carries significant responsibility and power. It is the Prime Minister's responsibility to ensure that the people are represented by honourable and competent individuals. The ultimate responsibility for prestigious appointments rests with the Prime Minister, who is accountable not only to this House but also to the British public. The buck stops here!
Mr Speaker, sadly, I call upon the House to censure the Prime Minister and call for a vote of "No Confidence" to be invoked.
That was jolly nice of Sweeney to take the bullet for Kier Starmer, wasn't it?
Ask yourself, who made the ultimate decision? I think it was the man that has "๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฏ๐๐ฐ๐ธ ๐๐๐ผ๐ฝ๐ ๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฒ!" on his desk. politico.eu/article/top-starmeโฆ
The AI says, "Peter Mandelson is called the "Prince of Darkness" due to his reputation as a ruthless, behind-the-scenes political fixer and media manipulator, a key architect of New Labour known for his secretive plotting, machiavellian tactics, and cultivation of powerful contacts, earning him an image as a cunning, shadowy figure who operated effectively in the political shadows to achieve modernizing goals, despite controversies and public scrutiny."
How on earth can ANY of Epstein's victims gain justice? What, money? Is that the answer? Give people a few quid, and that's justice? Justice is tracking down everyone who participated in or facilitated his activities, and I mean everyone, even those who offered up their friends or other girls to him and his fellow pedos, because that, in my opinion, is the worst betrayal.
I think (fairly) innocent people are at risk of being implicated when they knew nothing. He seems to have run 2 parallel social lives. His 'salons' were simply networking for the rich, powerful and influential, where bankers were introduced to people with money to invest and Epstein was paid a fee for introductions. There's a lot of noise being generated which could be used to hide the real criminals. The photograph of 'Andrew formerly known as Prince' COULD be a life-saving lesson.
Ah, now that's a thought I've also had. I'm convinced some people will be blackened by association. While I have no desire to defend Mandelson, so what if he had ยฃ75K from Epstein? Don't MPs get donations and business deals every day? So long as they declare it, there's nothing shady about it other than Epstein being a convicted paedophile and if we're going to subscribe to the logic "Ah, well, if Mandleson knew he was a convicted Pedo he shouldn't have had anything to do with him." Then, nobody had better watch a Harvey Weinstein film ever again?
ReformUK was and probably still is accused by some of being a racist party. MPs from the Conservative party have been flocking to join Nigel Farage and his #ReformUK, which some would argue has now given ReformUK a veneer of respectability, certainly credibility. All these MPs crossing the floor seem to be making the party gฬถuฬถiฬถlฬถtฬถyฬถ innocent by association now.
@andyc The not that old I'm not homophobe I have a gay friend repurposed to the whatever needs you have. Apply to race, religion, gender, etc ... Soon they will begin with the song that Hitler was a leftist. It's the evolution of all of them around the world. @dick_turpin
๐ง๐ต๐ถ๐ ๐ถ๐ ๐๐ต๐ ๐ ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ณ๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ฒ๐บ๐ฎ๐ถ๐น๐ ๐๐ผ ๐ฝ๐ต๐ผ๐ป๐ฒ ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐น๐น๐! Customer sends me a requirement email and yet still phones "for a chat". Mulling over the request, he adds a monitor to his original request. I go ahead and order his stuff, including the monitor. This morning I opened his PO, and there's no monitor. I email him, and he rings:
๐๐๐๐๐ผ๐บ๐ฒ๐ฟ: "Ah, I wanted to try the monitor we have." ๐ ๐ฒ: "I know, you said that, but you also said you still needed a monitor." ๐๐๐๐๐ผ๐บ๐ฒ๐ฟ: "Yeah, I was thinking I might need another PC, so I would need a monitor." ๐ ๐ฒ: "You never mentioned a PC?" ๐๐๐๐๐ผ๐บ๐ฒ๐ฟ: "Yeah." ๐ ๐ฒ: "I've ordered it now." ๐๐๐๐๐ผ๐บ๐ฒ๐ฟ: "Hmm? OK."
@Nigel_Farage may well have overplayed his hand? It's all very well taking in every waif and stray that begs to join #ReformUK, but his party is now starting to look like the Tory Party with a new name rather than a new political force. bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c1evq2โฆ
I don't know why anyone is surprised by this? More importantly, why lots of #Labour voters cannot see what the party they signed up for is like! They've cancelled elections to ensure they don't lose and blocked Burnham so that he knows his place. Ah, Democracy and fairness isn't that what they promised us back in 2024? bbc.co.uk/news/articles/czr4e7โฆ
Once or twice, I've told the story of a fairly well-known customer of ours, in which the Director, walking through the factory, stopped at one of the workers' machines and said, "You know about computers, don't you?" The worker responded, "Yeah, I build 'em on the weekend." The director promptly made him head of IT for a multi-million-pound company.
The other day, I mentioned a PA at another big customer was either pushed or jumped. She was the main point of contact for a group of about 15 companies, submitting support tickets to us and approving or resolving any requests for work requiring payment. This morning, there is an email in my inbox introducing the new point of contact and asking for our help and understanding as they take on this new (secondary to their own) role. This person works in the design department. ๐คฆโโ๏ธ
I see there are still people struggling to understand the Fediverse (Mastodon to all those who don't know the real name).
Unlike ๐ or Facebook, where their algorithm spoon-feeds stories that align with your opinions or nudge you towards only those users who are likely to think and say the same as you, on the Fediverse, you are the master of your own destiny and, like real life, will have to find out for yourself if you want to interact or follow anyone here.
Of course, if you only want like-minded users, we have those too, but what a boring day that would be. ๐
Andy Wootton
in reply to dick_turpin • • •dick_turpin
in reply to Andy Wootton • •I think "I've been stabbed" takes precedence over anything. My original knee-jerk reaction to the video was "WTF!" After speaking with a number of people, I've changed my opinion to: "It certainly looks like arresting him for a race crime seemed to be the main objective." I mean, think about it. There's a bloke on the floor who's only crime at that stage was supposedly racially abusing someone, and the course of action is to cuff them? When you get stopped for speeding, etc., do they slap the bracelets on? No, they sit you in the back of the car and have a chat.
There are lots of questions, and we're not going to get the answers. Henry Nowak is going to have died for nothing, and nobody apart from his family cares because the world we live in is more worried about upsetting people's feelings than telling it like it is. ๐คทโโ๏ธ