Jan O’Brien
@irishnan.bsky.social
Anglo Irish European. Pro EU, NHS, democracy, peace, compassion, kindness
Reposted by Jan O’Brien
People of America....
📣DO. 👏📣YOU.👏 📣UNDERSTAND.👏 📣THE. 👏 📣ASSIGNMENT 👏
📣DO. 👏📣YOU.👏 📣UNDERSTAND.👏 📣THE. 👏 📣ASSIGNMENT 👏
November 29, 2025 at 12:07 PM
People of America....
📣DO. 👏📣YOU.👏 📣UNDERSTAND.👏 📣THE. 👏 📣ASSIGNMENT 👏
📣DO. 👏📣YOU.👏 📣UNDERSTAND.👏 📣THE. 👏 📣ASSIGNMENT 👏
Reposted by Jan O’Brien
Feels fairly politically notable that Labour’s had to find the money to fund a £150 cut to energy bills next year and hasn’t really got a single good headline out of it. Maybe it’ll pay off next year, but relies on voters crediting them for the fall in bills?
November 28, 2025 at 11:10 AM
Feels fairly politically notable that Labour’s had to find the money to fund a £150 cut to energy bills next year and hasn’t really got a single good headline out of it. Maybe it’ll pay off next year, but relies on voters crediting them for the fall in bills?
Reposted by Jan O’Brien
Lib Dem leader Edward Davey calls for a national investigation into Russian political interference in British politics:
"Given Reform won't, he must. So will he know launch a national investigation into Russian infiltration into our politics?"
Starmer: "Reform is riddled with pro-Putin propaganda"
"Given Reform won't, he must. So will he know launch a national investigation into Russian infiltration into our politics?"
Starmer: "Reform is riddled with pro-Putin propaganda"
November 26, 2025 at 12:27 PM
Lib Dem leader Edward Davey calls for a national investigation into Russian political interference in British politics:
"Given Reform won't, he must. So will he know launch a national investigation into Russian infiltration into our politics?"
Starmer: "Reform is riddled with pro-Putin propaganda"
"Given Reform won't, he must. So will he know launch a national investigation into Russian infiltration into our politics?"
Starmer: "Reform is riddled with pro-Putin propaganda"
Reposted by Jan O’Brien
Quick analysis of The Times today:
Wall to wall negative coverage of Labour’s budget. An editorial that tuts about lack of growth but takes no responsibility. And a double page ad to join Farage/Reform.
Absolutely no analysis on how rightwing ideology - including Brexit - has been utterly ruinous.
Wall to wall negative coverage of Labour’s budget. An editorial that tuts about lack of growth but takes no responsibility. And a double page ad to join Farage/Reform.
Absolutely no analysis on how rightwing ideology - including Brexit - has been utterly ruinous.
November 27, 2025 at 8:22 AM
Quick analysis of The Times today:
Wall to wall negative coverage of Labour’s budget. An editorial that tuts about lack of growth but takes no responsibility. And a double page ad to join Farage/Reform.
Absolutely no analysis on how rightwing ideology - including Brexit - has been utterly ruinous.
Wall to wall negative coverage of Labour’s budget. An editorial that tuts about lack of growth but takes no responsibility. And a double page ad to join Farage/Reform.
Absolutely no analysis on how rightwing ideology - including Brexit - has been utterly ruinous.
Reposted by Jan O’Brien
The UK, where the day after a decision to take half a million children out of poverty, the media & political world has been full of sneering at those same children & their families, labelling them as ‘Benefits Street’, while the same people are moaning about a tax on £2m mansions. Shameful stuff.
November 27, 2025 at 8:22 PM
The UK, where the day after a decision to take half a million children out of poverty, the media & political world has been full of sneering at those same children & their families, labelling them as ‘Benefits Street’, while the same people are moaning about a tax on £2m mansions. Shameful stuff.
Reposted by Jan O’Brien
Is Farage still the racist bully he was at school?
“there’s a substantive case that Farage did change. He’s seen the strategic necessity of maintaining a clear boundary with the far right”
Cynical political manoeuvring should not shield him.
So yes, he still is.
www.thenewworld.co.uk/sunder-katwa...
“there’s a substantive case that Farage did change. He’s seen the strategic necessity of maintaining a clear boundary with the far right”
Cynical political manoeuvring should not shield him.
So yes, he still is.
www.thenewworld.co.uk/sunder-katwa...
How Farage fails the racism test
Would a person from an ethnic minority trust Nigel Farage in power? So long as the answer remains “no”, Farage and the Reform party are unfit for office
www.thenewworld.co.uk
November 28, 2025 at 7:40 AM
Is Farage still the racist bully he was at school?
“there’s a substantive case that Farage did change. He’s seen the strategic necessity of maintaining a clear boundary with the far right”
Cynical political manoeuvring should not shield him.
So yes, he still is.
www.thenewworld.co.uk/sunder-katwa...
“there’s a substantive case that Farage did change. He’s seen the strategic necessity of maintaining a clear boundary with the far right”
Cynical political manoeuvring should not shield him.
So yes, he still is.
www.thenewworld.co.uk/sunder-katwa...
Reposted by Jan O’Brien
Why wouldn’t you want to know? What have you got to fear? Losing your precious Brexit? Being revealed as a traitor and a liar?
Surely, anyone decent and honest who genuinely cares about our country and our democracy has nothing to lose from this. So, sign up.
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
Surely, anyone decent and honest who genuinely cares about our country and our democracy has nothing to lose from this. So, sign up.
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 8:11 PM
Why wouldn’t you want to know? What have you got to fear? Losing your precious Brexit? Being revealed as a traitor and a liar?
Surely, anyone decent and honest who genuinely cares about our country and our democracy has nothing to lose from this. So, sign up.
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
Surely, anyone decent and honest who genuinely cares about our country and our democracy has nothing to lose from this. So, sign up.
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
Reposted by Jan O’Brien
Listening to a podcast suggesting Starmer wants to go for an election before mid 2028
Which is *crazy*
Why?
Because it’s before a US election that will likely be incredibly dark, and will see Farage’s US friends and allies doing things will go down very badly w/UK voters
Which is *crazy*
Why?
Because it’s before a US election that will likely be incredibly dark, and will see Farage’s US friends and allies doing things will go down very badly w/UK voters
November 27, 2025 at 8:58 PM
Listening to a podcast suggesting Starmer wants to go for an election before mid 2028
Which is *crazy*
Why?
Because it’s before a US election that will likely be incredibly dark, and will see Farage’s US friends and allies doing things will go down very badly w/UK voters
Which is *crazy*
Why?
Because it’s before a US election that will likely be incredibly dark, and will see Farage’s US friends and allies doing things will go down very badly w/UK voters
Reposted by Jan O’Brien
I honestly can’t believe how nobody in the Westminster bubble seems to be thinking about/pricing in a Trump/MAGA power grab in 2028
They literally tried it already, and are far, far more capable now
If this happens will have serious blow back for radical right outside US
They literally tried it already, and are far, far more capable now
If this happens will have serious blow back for radical right outside US
November 27, 2025 at 8:59 PM
I honestly can’t believe how nobody in the Westminster bubble seems to be thinking about/pricing in a Trump/MAGA power grab in 2028
They literally tried it already, and are far, far more capable now
If this happens will have serious blow back for radical right outside US
They literally tried it already, and are far, far more capable now
If this happens will have serious blow back for radical right outside US
Reposted by Jan O’Brien
Just 13k more signatures and the call for a public inquiry into Russian interference has to be debate in Parliament
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
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 7:53 PM
Just 13k more signatures and the call for a public inquiry into Russian interference has to be debate in Parliament
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
Reposted by Jan O’Brien
Pope Leo recently said his favorite movie of all time was “It’s a Wonderful Life.” Mine too. The pope’s and my favorite movie has a lot to tell us about where America is right now. Let me explain. https://robertreich.substack.com/p/trump-the-pope-and-me
Trump, the Pope, and me
The real meaning of Pope Leo’s and my favorite film
robertreich.substack.com
November 28, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Pope Leo recently said his favorite movie of all time was “It’s a Wonderful Life.” Mine too. The pope’s and my favorite movie has a lot to tell us about where America is right now. Let me explain. https://robertreich.substack.com/p/trump-the-pope-and-me
Reposted by Jan O’Brien
Here's UKIP's former Scottish leader David Coburn, who has denied taking Russian bribes after being named in Whatsapp messages between Nathan Gill and a pawn of the Putin administration, being applauded by Gill for arguing against Ukraine's entry to the EU
November 28, 2025 at 11:38 AM
Here's UKIP's former Scottish leader David Coburn, who has denied taking Russian bribes after being named in Whatsapp messages between Nathan Gill and a pawn of the Putin administration, being applauded by Gill for arguing against Ukraine's entry to the EU
Reposted by Jan O’Brien
🧵/ Today a damning parliamentary report on the state of palliative care services in England was published.
Services are patchy, underfunded & “ill-equipped” to address end-of-life needs.
Bereavement support is “frequently inaccessible.
The palliative care workforce is in a “critical” situation”.
Services are patchy, underfunded & “ill-equipped” to address end-of-life needs.
Bereavement support is “frequently inaccessible.
The palliative care workforce is in a “critical” situation”.
November 28, 2025 at 8:25 AM
🧵/ Today a damning parliamentary report on the state of palliative care services in England was published.
Services are patchy, underfunded & “ill-equipped” to address end-of-life needs.
Bereavement support is “frequently inaccessible.
The palliative care workforce is in a “critical” situation”.
Services are patchy, underfunded & “ill-equipped” to address end-of-life needs.
Bereavement support is “frequently inaccessible.
The palliative care workforce is in a “critical” situation”.
Reposted by Jan O’Brien
May I reinforce this, please, with the observation that betting on political events supercharges these tendencies? Not going to happen, but root-and-branch regulation reform of gambling is needed—perhaps when a scandal blows up. Unlikely, but one can hope.
Even @channel4news.bsky.social opens its budget coverage by asking "What will this do for Labour's position in the polls?"
Polls are not even a good predictor of future elections. They're certainly not a test by which budgets should be measured.
We have to break their cold, dead grip on politics.
Polls are not even a good predictor of future elections. They're certainly not a test by which budgets should be measured.
We have to break their cold, dead grip on politics.
November 27, 2025 at 9:57 AM
May I reinforce this, please, with the observation that betting on political events supercharges these tendencies? Not going to happen, but root-and-branch regulation reform of gambling is needed—perhaps when a scandal blows up. Unlikely, but one can hope.
Reposted by Jan O’Brien
Now over 68,000
🔥 Highly recommended that you all sign and share.
Link to the petition—> petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
Link to the petition—> petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
November 27, 2025 at 7:03 AM
Now over 68,000
Reposted by Jan O’Brien
She’s just asking questions.
‘Is Nigel Farage a Russian asset?’
‘Are you seriously asking me that?’
@shelaghfogarty.bsky.social refuses to back down while questioning Reform’s Zia Yusuf.
‘Are you seriously asking me that?’
@shelaghfogarty.bsky.social refuses to back down while questioning Reform’s Zia Yusuf.
November 26, 2025 at 9:24 PM
She’s just asking questions.
Reposted by Jan O’Brien
When I hear Farage talking about rounding up and deporting hundreds of thousands of human beings, and threatening those with leave to remain or settled status, I cannot help but think of the schoolboy sidling up to me and telling me that “Hitler was right”
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Don’t believe Nigel Farage’s denials. He targeted me for being Jewish – and it hurt | Peter Ettedgui
Now that my former classmate has finally spoken about the allegations of his behaviour at school, I feel compelled to address his points directly, says Peter Ettedgui, a film director and producer
www.theguardian.com
November 25, 2025 at 8:34 PM
When I hear Farage talking about rounding up and deporting hundreds of thousands of human beings, and threatening those with leave to remain or settled status, I cannot help but think of the schoolboy sidling up to me and telling me that “Hitler was right”
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Jan O’Brien
Still reeling from the Stanford report on Brexit. Reduced GDP by up to 8% and investment by as much as 18%. The UK Treasury would have £40 billion more each year if Britain had remained in the EU. Devastating self-immolation.
The Economic Impact of Brexit
Other
siepr.stanford.edu
November 24, 2025 at 11:02 AM
Still reeling from the Stanford report on Brexit. Reduced GDP by up to 8% and investment by as much as 18%. The UK Treasury would have £40 billion more each year if Britain had remained in the EU. Devastating self-immolation.
Reposted by Jan O’Brien
Bossy headline from The Times letting Farage insist his “Hitler was right” racism was just ‘banter’.
If that were true, his politics now would be different and he’d apologise. He’s defensive because this is what he is and always has been and he’s angry with us for knowing that and for minding.
If that were true, his politics now would be different and he’d apologise. He’s defensive because this is what he is and always has been and he’s angry with us for knowing that and for minding.
November 25, 2025 at 7:53 AM
Bossy headline from The Times letting Farage insist his “Hitler was right” racism was just ‘banter’.
If that were true, his politics now would be different and he’d apologise. He’s defensive because this is what he is and always has been and he’s angry with us for knowing that and for minding.
If that were true, his politics now would be different and he’d apologise. He’s defensive because this is what he is and always has been and he’s angry with us for knowing that and for minding.
Reposted by Jan O’Brien
This is exactly what the recent Trump-BBC 'scandal' was designed to achieve. The BBC is now self-censoring criticisms of Trump in the name of "impartiality"
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 10:26 AM
This is exactly what the recent Trump-BBC 'scandal' was designed to achieve. The BBC is now self-censoring criticisms of Trump in the name of "impartiality"
Reposted by Jan O’Brien
the price of populism
"By 2025, Brexit had reduced UK GDP by 6% to 8%, with the impact accumulating gradually over time. We estimate that investment was reduced by between 12% and 18%, employment by 3% to 4% and productivity by 3% to 4%"
Read the Stanford report:
siepr.stanford.edu/publications...
Read the Stanford report:
siepr.stanford.edu/publications...
The Economic Impact of Brexit
Other
siepr.stanford.edu
November 25, 2025 at 7:43 PM
the price of populism
Reposted by Jan O’Brien
New: Three new ex-pupils come forward, on the record, to say Farage's racism as a teenager was targeted, persistent and nasty. Farage has denied targeting any individuals - but two of the men tell us they recall Farage abusing Peter Ettedgui.
w/ Dan Boffey, @drblacklock.bsky.social
w/ Dan Boffey, @drblacklock.bsky.social
Three more ex-pupils at school with Nigel Farage reject ‘banter’ claims
Exclusive: Dulwich college contemporaries ‘rubbish’ Reform UK leader’s suggestion alleged racist taunts not intended to hurt
www.theguardian.com
November 25, 2025 at 9:17 PM
New: Three new ex-pupils come forward, on the record, to say Farage's racism as a teenager was targeted, persistent and nasty. Farage has denied targeting any individuals - but two of the men tell us they recall Farage abusing Peter Ettedgui.
w/ Dan Boffey, @drblacklock.bsky.social
w/ Dan Boffey, @drblacklock.bsky.social
Reposted by Jan O’Brien
The bloke that utterly effed the education system, campaigned for Brexit and bought a bill to try and ban public bodies from boycotting Israel is doing what now….?
I’m a past winner of the Orwell Prize & won partly because I exposed Vote Leave’s unlawful activities.
Michael Gove was its co-convener & refused to answer a single q. He’s now a judge of the prize & our world is truly one that Orwell would recognise
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/25/m...
Michael Gove was its co-convener & refused to answer a single q. He’s now a judge of the prize & our world is truly one that Orwell would recognise
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/25/m...
Michael Gove Made Orwell Prize Judge Despite Record of Attacking Journalists and Dodging Scrutiny
Critics say "Orwell would have enjoyed the irony" of the former Conservative minister's appointment
bylinetimes.com
November 25, 2025 at 6:04 PM
The bloke that utterly effed the education system, campaigned for Brexit and bought a bill to try and ban public bodies from boycotting Israel is doing what now….?
Reposted by Jan O’Brien
One of the few consistent features of Farage's rhetoric over the years has been his long-standing support for Russian strategic interests. And here, courtesy of @quietriotpod.bsky.social , are the receipts.
open.spotify.com/episode/77cz...
open.spotify.com/episode/77cz...
Quiet Riot - Fact Check: Nigel Farage on Ukraine and Putin
open.spotify.com
November 25, 2025 at 3:38 PM
One of the few consistent features of Farage's rhetoric over the years has been his long-standing support for Russian strategic interests. And here, courtesy of @quietriotpod.bsky.social , are the receipts.
open.spotify.com/episode/77cz...
open.spotify.com/episode/77cz...