Dear Shabana, I notice today that you referred to me in your speech on immigration at the IPPR think tank. You said: “A party leader should not be on the beaches of France encouraging people to make a perilous crossing on small boats.” I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised especially after the hateful Labour campaign in Gorton and Denton, but this is just the latest in a string of lies peddled by a discredited Government who intentionally fan the flames of racism and division. When I went to Calais, I was not there to encourage people to travel to the UK. I was there to see at first hand the suffering your Government and successive Governments have done in demonising migrants in a pathetic bid to pander to the base instincts of Reform and the flawed strategy of Morgan McSweeney. As you will know, if you even bothered to research my visit instead of taking Reform talking points, I was there to witness the brutality of families living in tents in freezing temperatures. I filled water tanks and picked up litter. What that visit did do is confirm my belief that if we are to smash the boat gangs and stop the boats, we need to offer safer and managed routes for migrants to come to this country. Showing compassion as a politician is not a crime. In fact, we need to see much more of it. It reminded me of a young MP who in October 2015 spent three days in Lesbos helping migrants fleeing war-torn Syria. She posted videos on X, talked about handing out water and croissants to refugees and food parcels. When she returned to the UK, she wrote a very moving piece in the New Statesman. She said “we have to work with our European partners and create new, safe, and legal routes for refugees to get to Europe. We cannot abandon them to their fate, left as prey for smugglers whilst risking death on the seas.” She said “maybe we can make ourselves feel better by saying no-one is making them get on the boats. And again, the Home Secretary is not entirely wrong when …

Dear Shabana,

Let's clear some things up around migration and remember we're talking about people's lives.

I find this kind of language from Mahmood quite grotesque. Distressing that this person is even in the Labour Party let alone a Minister.

After Trump's "Operation Midnight Hammer" (no, really), he said Iran's nuclear enrichment capabilities had been "completely and totally obliterated" and therefore Iran's nuclear programme had been set back "by decades."

That was 248 days ago.

Wordle 1,713 2/6

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I surprised myself!

Nigel Farage unveils Reform UK frontbench team and warns over dissent Leader says move should end claims of one-man band and shows party is ‘creating a machine for government’

"We're not like other parties, and I won't tolerate disloyalty," says Farage, as he introduces a cabinet that is 50% disloyal people from another party.

www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Orbán’s pay cheques: Reform candidate fuelled by profits from Russian oil The Reform candidate at this month’s byelection claims he wants to put Britain first, but is he still on the payroll of Viktor Orbán’s far-right propaganda unit?

Blimey. Looks like Matt Goodwin, who seems to think the Handmaid's Tale is an instruction manual, is in the pay of an Orban think tank, funded by Russian oil money.

One in five children infected in the recent London measles outbreak were reportedly hospitalised.
Don’t believe the anti-vaxxers when they say “it’s a mild disease” or “it’s better to get immunity naturally”.
It isn’t.

Any home-schooling parent (sorry, home-educating, they are really pissy about their jargon) who refuses entry to insepctors should be an immediate red flag. Neglect, abuse, indoctrination, children should be registered by the council and inspected regularly. They are so at risk of harm.

We have now deactivated our X account.
Please share our bluesky account with people that have an interest in mathematics education, and maths manipulatives
@cuisenaireco.bsky.social
#mathseducation #manipulatives #playislearning #pedagogy #cuisenairerods

Who Wants To Be A Millionaire Hotseat is giving KS2 Maths mental tests vibes

If you thought Elon Musk's “Grok” chatbot couldn't get worse, read my latest article: Grok isn't just undressing women, it's now putting swastika bikinis on them. One woman who was targeted is a recently-deceased Holocaust survivor.

This is perfect. The DOJ's embarrassing snafu with disappearing redactions was the fault of Elon Musk. Musk cancelled government subscriptions to Adobe programs that would have made the redactions permanent. What a pack of fools.

My absolute fav. The caption, the pose. The setting.

Cliff, shit, just remembered we need one more picture for the calendar. Fuck it just grab the Custard Creams and riff with it.

You maniacs.

It's always the ones you most suspect.

ANTHONY HOPKINS SPARKS BACKLASH AFTER CALLING ADHD AND AUTISM "NONSENSE" autism_feed 86-year-old Oscar-winning actor Anthony Hopkins is facing criticism from neurodiversity advocates after dismissing neurodevelopmental conditions as fashionable labels rather than legitimate diagnoses. The 'Silence of the Lambs' star made controversial remarks in a recent Sunday Times interview, suggesting society overuses medical terminology to describe "normal aspects of human behaviour."

Something I can agree with with Anthony Hopkins here is that much neurodivergence IS normal behaviour , the problem arises because it is not considered normal behaviour in numerous work, social and general living situations - the rules are often set up by those who believe there is one correct way

Poppy pizzas, clearly not quiches before you pipe up. Regurgitated from my Twitter account

We will fight them on the quiches

I understand this is about “parliamentary rules” but they are not fit for purpose

Life imitating art

Did the brief say 'spiralling circles' and yet what they wanted was a series of joined up loops? Glad the only ones with actual spirals won #GBBO

Video credit: itsjuliencohen

Description: "11 and 8-year-old prodigy sisters played Vivaldi Winter with me"

This is serious musical talent 🎻🎻🎹🎶🎵

#VivaldiWinter #Song #music #Piano #Violin #Instruments #Instrumental

Farage party picked a dead woman to run for Croydon Mayor EXCLUSIVE: Sharon Carby, aged 70, from Bradford, sadly died in July 2024. But that didn’t stop Reform UK six months later picking her as their Croydon mayoral candidate. By our Political Edit…

Reform will have to reselect in Croydon, as their initial candidate for Mayor had been dead for 6 months when they selected her, Inside Croydon report

Being dead is one way to pass the social media vetting but was likely to get noticed eventually

insidecroydon.com/2025/08/27/f...

Important update from ScoutsCymru regarding CRAI Scout Activity Park CRAI Scout Activity Park is an inclusive and welcoming campsite and activity centre in the South Wales Valleys offering a range of outdoor activities for youth and community groups. We are aware of a racially aggravated incident targeting under-18s who were leaving after visiting our activity centre and are working closely with the South Wales Police to address this situation. We are committed to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of everyone on site and will continue to take immediate and robust action against any behaviour that threatens this. END

Village idiots verbally abusing an influx of "illegal immigrants" at a campsite in Newbridge, Wales

They were a group of Scouts from Scotland

Anti-immigrant rhetoric has consequences

Statement from Scouts Cymru

"We are aware of a racially aggravated incident targeting under-18s"

2000 years ago: the Romans would let an aqueduct destroy the Gardon Valley. We need clean water, but at what cost?

Budapest Pride 2025. Brave and powerful.

Morning

I have NEVER said that I am relieved my mum killed my dad.

This is a very clear distortion of my words and it is actual putrid bile.

I have contacted the Daily Mirror.

PREMIER INN, IF YOU ARE STAYING IN A HOTEL IT IS NOT A STAYCATION.

There are some days when the news can be overwhelming and leave you feeling sad and afraid. Today is one of them.
Try to remember that the good in the world has always outnumbered the bad, stroke a cat and enjoy the sunshine x
(Pic @imageplotter.bsky.social)