Suz MacLeod
@firmlyaground.bsky.social
Brit (Grade B). Boatperson. Musician. Metaphorist. Snarkophile. Anomalous. Retired Cat Herder and Lost Cause Technician. Culturally incoherent and proud of it.
Sorry: can’t follow you (back) if I can’t see some posts of yours.
Sorry: can’t follow you (back) if I can’t see some posts of yours.
Pinned
Well, there it is. I’ve just seen my first ‘Make England Great Again’ cap in #Hull, on an old boy sounding off about something to his mate in the street.
I’d love to* engage him in a conversation about how he thought England should be made great again and who should be doing it.
*Yeah, right.
I’d love to* engage him in a conversation about how he thought England should be made great again and who should be doing it.
*Yeah, right.
November 28, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Well, there it is. I’ve just seen my first ‘Make England Great Again’ cap in #Hull, on an old boy sounding off about something to his mate in the street.
I’d love to* engage him in a conversation about how he thought England should be made great again and who should be doing it.
*Yeah, right.
I’d love to* engage him in a conversation about how he thought England should be made great again and who should be doing it.
*Yeah, right.
Reposted by Suz MacLeod
🚨BOOM! The Petition calling for a public inquiry into Russian influence on UK politics & democracy has now rocketed past 80,000 signatures! Let’s get it to 100,000 this weekend. If a petition is what it’s going to take let’s get this done!
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
November 28, 2025 at 9:19 AM
🚨BOOM! The Petition calling for a public inquiry into Russian influence on UK politics & democracy has now rocketed past 80,000 signatures! Let’s get it to 100,000 this weekend. If a petition is what it’s going to take let’s get this done!
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
Brexit wasn’t just ‘mishandled’.
It was misbegotten.
It was misbegotten.
‘The way Brexit was mishandled’ is designed to con you into thinking there is a Labour piloted Brexit that won’t carry those costs.
Labour’s James Murray "The report that the OBR put out alongside the budget shows the impact on productivity from the previous government"
"Austerity, the way Brexit was mishandled" #BBCQT
Labour Brexit right now costs us £90 billion a year in lost tax revenue
"Austerity, the way Brexit was mishandled" #BBCQT
Labour Brexit right now costs us £90 billion a year in lost tax revenue
November 28, 2025 at 11:36 AM
Brexit wasn’t just ‘mishandled’.
It was misbegotten.
It was misbegotten.
Reposted by Suz MacLeod
Come on people!
Just 22,000 more signatures needed for a Parliamentary debate on Calling a Public Inquiry into Russian influence on UK Politics and Democracy.
Sign here: petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
Just 22,000 more signatures needed for a Parliamentary debate on Calling a Public Inquiry into Russian influence on UK Politics and Democracy.
Sign here: petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
Petition: Call a public inquiry into Russian influence on UK politics & democracy
We are concerned about reported efforts from Russia to influence democracy in the US, UK, Europe and elsewhere. We believe we must establish the depth and breadth of possible Russian influence campaig...
petition.parliament.uk
November 28, 2025 at 12:45 AM
Come on people!
Just 22,000 more signatures needed for a Parliamentary debate on Calling a Public Inquiry into Russian influence on UK Politics and Democracy.
Sign here: petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
Just 22,000 more signatures needed for a Parliamentary debate on Calling a Public Inquiry into Russian influence on UK Politics and Democracy.
Sign here: petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
Reposted by Suz MacLeod
💥 This is the economic equivalent of a senior Vatican priest admitting the Pope is wrong about God.
Even the architects of Brexit are confessing the truth 👉while Farage still lies.
Even the architects of Brexit are confessing the truth 👉while Farage still lies.
November 27, 2025 at 3:04 PM
💥 This is the economic equivalent of a senior Vatican priest admitting the Pope is wrong about God.
Even the architects of Brexit are confessing the truth 👉while Farage still lies.
Even the architects of Brexit are confessing the truth 👉while Farage still lies.
Reposted by Suz MacLeod
Today we’ll get latest net immigration figures - They’ll show immigration for work is plummeting.
Why is this not part of the discussion on Rachel Reeves balancing her books & stalled growth?
For every 100,000 drop in net immigration, the OBR adds £7bn to the deficit. #r4today
Why is this not part of the discussion on Rachel Reeves balancing her books & stalled growth?
For every 100,000 drop in net immigration, the OBR adds £7bn to the deficit. #r4today
November 27, 2025 at 8:41 AM
Today we’ll get latest net immigration figures - They’ll show immigration for work is plummeting.
Why is this not part of the discussion on Rachel Reeves balancing her books & stalled growth?
For every 100,000 drop in net immigration, the OBR adds £7bn to the deficit. #r4today
Why is this not part of the discussion on Rachel Reeves balancing her books & stalled growth?
For every 100,000 drop in net immigration, the OBR adds £7bn to the deficit. #r4today
Reposted by Suz MacLeod
Collective, racist punishment.
November 27, 2025 at 3:33 AM
Collective, racist punishment.
Reposted by Suz MacLeod
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
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
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
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
Reposted by Suz MacLeod
🔥 Rachel Reeves says there’s a “hole” in the public finances.
A new decade-long Brexit study quantifies it:
A 6–8% hit to GDP
That's £180bn-£240bn a year
It means less tax revenue and so less money for everything.
Brexit made Britain MUCH poorer.
A new decade-long Brexit study quantifies it:
A 6–8% hit to GDP
That's £180bn-£240bn a year
It means less tax revenue and so less money for everything.
Brexit made Britain MUCH poorer.
New: Boris Johnson’s ‘Brexit Titanic success’ was half right
Nearly ten years on, the first full assessment of Brexit confirms what millions warned: Britain made itself poorer
eastangliabylines.co.uk
November 25, 2025 at 6:56 AM
🔥 Rachel Reeves says there’s a “hole” in the public finances.
A new decade-long Brexit study quantifies it:
A 6–8% hit to GDP
That's £180bn-£240bn a year
It means less tax revenue and so less money for everything.
Brexit made Britain MUCH poorer.
A new decade-long Brexit study quantifies it:
A 6–8% hit to GDP
That's £180bn-£240bn a year
It means less tax revenue and so less money for everything.
Brexit made Britain MUCH poorer.
Reposted by Suz MacLeod
An absolute scandal compounded in this case by failure of French government and EU institutions to forcefully react and sanction in turn those who have sanctioned ICC judges and prosecutors. Makes a total mockery of FR/EU's repeated commitment to the rule of law/ICC
www.lemonde.fr/en/internati...
www.lemonde.fr/en/internati...
November 21, 2025 at 9:58 AM
An absolute scandal compounded in this case by failure of French government and EU institutions to forcefully react and sanction in turn those who have sanctioned ICC judges and prosecutors. Makes a total mockery of FR/EU's repeated commitment to the rule of law/ICC
www.lemonde.fr/en/internati...
www.lemonde.fr/en/internati...
Reposted by Suz MacLeod
Peace plan from Sanna Marin Former Finnish PM and your daily reminder how to stop this war .
November 23, 2025 at 3:12 PM
Peace plan from Sanna Marin Former Finnish PM and your daily reminder how to stop this war .
On balance I agree with Niall. As a Brit of course I share the suffering and humiliation that Brexit brought us, and it is encouraging that piecemeal ‘cakeist’ voices are being raised.
But as a European I want full-throated EU membership in good faith. Nationalist Britain doesn’t deserve it.
But as a European I want full-throated EU membership in good faith. Nationalist Britain doesn’t deserve it.
Jon Freedlamd in the G.
Are these on offer?
The customs union is reserved for members. Full stop. So not that.
And SM for goods only? Europe will wanr ita own say in how the UK integrates. It won't just allow cherry-picking.
1
Are these on offer?
The customs union is reserved for members. Full stop. So not that.
And SM for goods only? Europe will wanr ita own say in how the UK integrates. It won't just allow cherry-picking.
1
November 24, 2025 at 6:24 AM
On balance I agree with Niall. As a Brit of course I share the suffering and humiliation that Brexit brought us, and it is encouraging that piecemeal ‘cakeist’ voices are being raised.
But as a European I want full-throated EU membership in good faith. Nationalist Britain doesn’t deserve it.
But as a European I want full-throated EU membership in good faith. Nationalist Britain doesn’t deserve it.
Reposted by Suz MacLeod
Jon Freedlamd in the G.
Are these on offer?
The customs union is reserved for members. Full stop. So not that.
And SM for goods only? Europe will wanr ita own say in how the UK integrates. It won't just allow cherry-picking.
1
Are these on offer?
The customs union is reserved for members. Full stop. So not that.
And SM for goods only? Europe will wanr ita own say in how the UK integrates. It won't just allow cherry-picking.
1
November 23, 2025 at 8:13 AM
Jon Freedlamd in the G.
Are these on offer?
The customs union is reserved for members. Full stop. So not that.
And SM for goods only? Europe will wanr ita own say in how the UK integrates. It won't just allow cherry-picking.
1
Are these on offer?
The customs union is reserved for members. Full stop. So not that.
And SM for goods only? Europe will wanr ita own say in how the UK integrates. It won't just allow cherry-picking.
1
Reposted by Suz MacLeod
There are theses to be written.
Not comprehensive, but here are some thoughts on Ireland and Brexit.
It pays to take a wide-angle lens for this type of thing.
The story is nevertheless informative
A 🧵
Not comprehensive, but here are some thoughts on Ireland and Brexit.
It pays to take a wide-angle lens for this type of thing.
The story is nevertheless informative
A 🧵
There's a good thread to be written about ireland responded brexit.
November 21, 2025 at 12:48 PM
There are theses to be written.
Not comprehensive, but here are some thoughts on Ireland and Brexit.
It pays to take a wide-angle lens for this type of thing.
The story is nevertheless informative
A 🧵
Not comprehensive, but here are some thoughts on Ireland and Brexit.
It pays to take a wide-angle lens for this type of thing.
The story is nevertheless informative
A 🧵
It seems like everything that’s happening in the world (and ever did) was accurately depicted in Gene Roddenberry’s original Star Trek. Peoples living in peace, enjoying their planets’
respective bounty to soft music on rudimentary lutes … while vile shitheads smash everything up, laughing.
respective bounty to soft music on rudimentary lutes … while vile shitheads smash everything up, laughing.
November 22, 2025 at 7:46 AM
It seems like everything that’s happening in the world (and ever did) was accurately depicted in Gene Roddenberry’s original Star Trek. Peoples living in peace, enjoying their planets’
respective bounty to soft music on rudimentary lutes … while vile shitheads smash everything up, laughing.
respective bounty to soft music on rudimentary lutes … while vile shitheads smash everything up, laughing.
Not stellar.
But then, I’m not really into stellar.
Wordle 1,616 5/6*
⬛⬛🟨🟨⬛
🟨🟨⬛⬛⬛
⬛🟩⬛🟩🟩
⬛🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
But then, I’m not really into stellar.
Wordle 1,616 5/6*
⬛⬛🟨🟨⬛
🟨🟨⬛⬛⬛
⬛🟩⬛🟩🟩
⬛🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
November 21, 2025 at 7:00 AM
Not stellar.
But then, I’m not really into stellar.
Wordle 1,616 5/6*
⬛⬛🟨🟨⬛
🟨🟨⬛⬛⬛
⬛🟩⬛🟩🟩
⬛🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
But then, I’m not really into stellar.
Wordle 1,616 5/6*
⬛⬛🟨🟨⬛
🟨🟨⬛⬛⬛
⬛🟩⬛🟩🟩
⬛🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
I wonder how many reformistas are worked about small boats but relaxed about the much bigger Russian ‘research’ vessel pushing its luck in the North Sea.
November 20, 2025 at 7:14 AM
I wonder how many reformistas are worked about small boats but relaxed about the much bigger Russian ‘research’ vessel pushing its luck in the North Sea.
Reposted by Suz MacLeod
We will probably be the last country in the world to realise we are in a global competition for people.
November 19, 2025 at 5:57 PM
We will probably be the last country in the world to realise we are in a global competition for people.
Don’t you feel as though you’ve stood in exactly that spot half a dozen or so times in your life?
I do.
How art can assure you you’re not alone.
I do.
How art can assure you you’re not alone.
Sarah Evans, contemporary Welsh painter known for her local landscapes #WomensArt #Winter
November 19, 2025 at 7:22 AM
Don’t you feel as though you’ve stood in exactly that spot half a dozen or so times in your life?
I do.
How art can assure you you’re not alone.
I do.
How art can assure you you’re not alone.
Reposted by Suz MacLeod
Labour MP Brian Leishman: "The Government has surrendered to... the vile rhetoric of Reform. Does the Home Secretary not see that removing the legal obligation to support asylum seekers who will be otherwise destitute, is as far away from Labour Party principles and values as we can get?"
November 17, 2025 at 8:23 PM
Labour MP Brian Leishman: "The Government has surrendered to... the vile rhetoric of Reform. Does the Home Secretary not see that removing the legal obligation to support asylum seekers who will be otherwise destitute, is as far away from Labour Party principles and values as we can get?"
Reposted by Suz MacLeod
Any Labour MP with any conscience needs to get up and cross that floor.
This cannot be tolerated. It just can’t.
This isn’t a bit shady. This isn’t questionable. It isn’t uncomfortable. It’s full fat, over the line FACISM and you’re either part of it or you’re not.
Do. The right. Thing.
This cannot be tolerated. It just can’t.
This isn’t a bit shady. This isn’t questionable. It isn’t uncomfortable. It’s full fat, over the line FACISM and you’re either part of it or you’re not.
Do. The right. Thing.
A Government of cowards.
Rather than tackle inequality - they've gone for pensioners, disabled people and now it's people fleeing war and persecution.
They can't get away with this.
Join.greenparty.org.uk
Rather than tackle inequality - they've gone for pensioners, disabled people and now it's people fleeing war and persecution.
They can't get away with this.
Join.greenparty.org.uk
November 18, 2025 at 7:51 AM
Any Labour MP with any conscience needs to get up and cross that floor.
This cannot be tolerated. It just can’t.
This isn’t a bit shady. This isn’t questionable. It isn’t uncomfortable. It’s full fat, over the line FACISM and you’re either part of it or you’re not.
Do. The right. Thing.
This cannot be tolerated. It just can’t.
This isn’t a bit shady. This isn’t questionable. It isn’t uncomfortable. It’s full fat, over the line FACISM and you’re either part of it or you’re not.
Do. The right. Thing.
Brits. Think of your country as a Time Machine.
This is completely insane and abhorrent.
People will suffer. People will die.
People will suffer. People will die.
Women who get an abortion and anyone who helps them could face up to 30 years in prison under the bill.
It appears to ban any contraception that prevents a fertilized egg from implanting. That would ban IUDs and could strictly limit in-vitro fertilization.
It appears to ban any contraception that prevents a fertilized egg from implanting. That would ban IUDs and could strictly limit in-vitro fertilization.
November 18, 2025 at 7:48 AM
Brits. Think of your country as a Time Machine.
Reposted by Suz MacLeod
It's hard to find words to capture quite how revolting, steeped in bigotry, irresponsible, morally unmoored, Labour has become. www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Anglican bishop shaken ‘to the core’ by home secretary’s asylum seeker comments
Bishop of Edmonton says people coming to UK are being ‘scapegoated’ for years of policy failures
www.theguardian.com
November 17, 2025 at 4:38 PM
It's hard to find words to capture quite how revolting, steeped in bigotry, irresponsible, morally unmoored, Labour has become. www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Flag of St George defaced with Christian values.
November 17, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Flag of St George defaced with Christian values.
You won’t be alone in this, Seth. A significant number of ‘British’ people are eyeing up and talking up trumpofascism and saying: ‘Yep, we need some of that over here’.
We can say until we're blue in the face that we fully understand how fucking ridiculous our country is going to look, in retrospect, fifty years from now, but I'm here to tell you that the degree to which America in the first third of this century is an embarrassment to all of humanity is *shocking*
November 16, 2025 at 5:32 AM
You won’t be alone in this, Seth. A significant number of ‘British’ people are eyeing up and talking up trumpofascism and saying: ‘Yep, we need some of that over here’.