Alan M
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alan1874.bsky.social
Alan M
@alan1874.bsky.social
Chair Bournemouth Interpreters' Group CIC. Translator, language consultant/trainer/author, sold more books than Liz Truss, & 1874Northwich fan/co-owner. Another twitter refugee seeking asylum here - still hiding in the Bear's Den though.
The term is still "useful idiot" Sarah.
Some of us use it regularly for certain BBC 'journalists' in hoc to opposition parties
#wato
December 1, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Media left with egg on its collective face when all their speculation about tax rises was proven wrong, so media moans about being misled.
How about not speculating so wildly next time?
Just asking the question ...
#wato
December 1, 2025 at 1:24 PM
No Sarah, the Chancellor was not responsible for the speculation. That was you lot in the media. #wato
December 1, 2025 at 1:20 PM
Yes, Chris Mason, the PM is trying to talk about proper stuff, which may or may not be good policies, but you insist on reporting on this nonsense instead. #wato
December 1, 2025 at 1:17 PM
I find it interesting that every single TV political journalist opened with an editorialising comment, while all the newspaper ones just asked questions. I suspect, because the latter know the question won't be in the write-up, while the former are trying to craft a clip that is all about them. ~AA
December 1, 2025 at 1:13 PM
There were other Qs at that post-speech press conf, Sarah. The whole debate around misleading anyone has been largely manufactured by the media based on *their* interpretation of the pre-budget speech. #wato
December 1, 2025 at 1:12 PM
Reposted by Alan M
Bookends
November 30, 2025 at 12:34 PM
The realities of #brexit laid bare.
#wato
November 30, 2025 at 1:15 PM
Reposted by Alan M
Absolutely insane to have spent Saturday battling crowds of shoppers and tourists in the West End, seen hordes of teenagers queuing for Korean food and Hollister Black Friday sales and sent youngest daughter off to Wembley to see a sell-out women international - and then read headlines like this.
Are there any other countries whose "patriotic" publications pay foreigners to write about what a hellhole they think their country is?
November 30, 2025 at 11:18 AM
Twas ever thus, the left are masters at in-fighting. #wato
November 28, 2025 at 1:25 PM
It would be deeply ironic if Trump and Putin seek to undermine Ukraine's efforts to seek a more equitable end to the conflict based on accusations of corruption in the top levels of govt. #wato
November 28, 2025 at 1:21 PM
Ergo ... "only rich British people should have children" ... verging on eugenics.
#wato
So the theme this lunchtime is it's okay yo bash assylum seekers and the poorest in our society- who despite the declining birth rate and aging population, shouldn't have children.
#WATO
November 27, 2025 at 1:36 PM
Migration is essential for economic growth, Peter Kyle #wato
November 27, 2025 at 1:30 PM
Forgive my maths Peter Kyle, but if you cam to power in 2024 and want to hold the threshold till 2031, that too is 7 years, not 3. Your extension is merely 3.
#wato
November 27, 2025 at 1:27 PM
Yet again the reminder that very many of those on UC are *in work*. The benefits system is propping up employers who don't pay enough & rely on the state to pick up the slack.
#wato
November 27, 2025 at 1:24 PM
Honestly, is this news? Is it even "culture news"? Why is it in #wato?
November 25, 2025 at 1:41 PM
Reposted by Alan M
Here's the transcript. When I say ‘we had a convicted reality star’, you can add ‘who now rules as the most openly corrupt president in American history’ in your head.

downloads.bbc.co.uk/radio4/reith...
November 25, 2025 at 10:15 AM
Reposted by Alan M
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.

They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
November 25, 2025 at 9:26 AM
Reposted by Alan M
Truth!
Farage's racist remaks as an 18 year old were only "banter" if he rejected racism later. But he never has. In fact, without racism, Farage wouldn't have a career!
#RacistFarage
November 25, 2025 at 10:22 AM
It is very "BBC" to seek to balance the Farage racism allegations. He didn't deny making the comments, merely dismissing it as playground banter. His refusal to condemn people in his party making racist comments in recent months tells a different story. #wato
November 25, 2025 at 1:19 PM
Reposted by Alan M
This is great.

‘Farage says it was he who personally chose Gill as Ukip’s Welsh leader. "I have worked with Nathan Gill over a period of years and he's been terrific, he's never, ever, let me down … He's as honest as the day is long." ‘

www.thenerve.news/p/nathan-gil...
Reform UK and Russian bribes: a Nathan Gill timeline
As Reform’s former leader in Wales is sentenced to ten and a half years for taking bribes from a pro-Russian actor, here's a chronology of his actions and the wider context of Putin, Ukraine and Brexi...
www.thenerve.news
November 24, 2025 at 11:51 AM
I wish that every time a Tory (or Reformist) says "get to work and get off benefits" someone would remind them that nearly half of UC recipients are *in work* - the state is paying for miserly employers.
#wato
November 24, 2025 at 1:26 PM
Reposted by Alan M
The only reason Gill stopped being the Reform UK leader in Wales was because he failed to win a seat in the 2021 Senedd election.

Zia Yusuf keeps trying to make this sound like this is ancient history, and Reform washed their hands of him, but nothing is further from the truth.
November 24, 2025 at 9:55 AM
Reposted by Alan M
Reposted by Alan M
Having a bit of a moment in the White House.
November 23, 2025 at 3:11 PM