Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Kate Martin

Alex Andreou @sturdyalex.bsky.social · 2h

Except ofc Pogrund. DPP explained to C’tee tonight what happened. They asked DNSA to go further than confines of Tory view of China at relevant time. He refused. They asked him again. He emphasised it’s still no. Gabriel added 2+2 and got 12 - and instead of apologising now insists his sums add up.

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Da Vinci @disqualified.bsky.social · 4h

Traitor Tice.

Josiah Mortimer @josiah.writes.news · 6h

"Another Reform MP has been accused of being in breach of Parliamentary rules, after its deputy leader Richard Tice failed to register lavish hospitality he received from Lubov Chernukhin – wife of a former Russian deputy finance minister"
leftfootforward.org/2025/10/refo...

Reform’s Richard Tice failed to register lavish hospitality from former Russian finance minister’s wife

'Tice and Oakeshott stayed at the Chernukhins’ “turreted villa” with “a stunning view of the Mediterranean” and had supper with them at a Michelin-starred restaurant'

leftfootforward.org

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marty1981.bsky.social @marty1981.bsky.social · 3h

@lewisgoodall.com and the newsagents might want to apologize instead of doubling down like they did on todays podcast

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Alex Andreou @sturdyalex.bsky.social · 3h

I notice all those brave journalists, Guido alumni, and Tory hacks, who manufactured a scandal - a dangerous one to national security, at that - out of gossip, supposition, and sticky tape, have gone ALL QUIET now the witness statements have been released and are exactly as the PM detailed at PMQs.

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Rory Cellan-Jones @rorycj.bsky.social · 12h

youtu.be/_VTeRiMisfc?... I hadn’t heard of Geobeats but when they told me they wanted to tell the story of #sophiefromromania I gave them an interview and a whole pile of video - I hope you will agree they have done a lovely job

Terrified rescue dog hid behind sofa for 6 months

YouTube video by GeoBeats Animals

youtu.be

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Reposted by Kate Martin

Stephen Bush @stephenkb.bsky.social · 11h

What I love about Holden’s “when I was in Cabinet, these guys were charged”, is, yes, the same week that the PM was (rightly!) trying to get a meeting with Xi Jinping!

Alex Andreou @sturdyalex.bsky.social · 12h

INCREDIBLE clip.

<Richard Holden MP shouts like an angry man in a pub>

Lisa Nandy: "Can you calm down a bit, mate? You're shouting like an angry man in a pub."

Richard Holden: "That's not fair."

<continues to shout like an angry man in a pub>

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Kate Martin @ktmartin.bsky.social · 11h

He stated the witness statements would be released during his statement before PMQs. How was he tied on knots and conceded what he had already stated? Your post makes no sense.

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Reposted by Kate Martin

Michael Savage @michaelsavage.bsky.social · 11h

Ofcom used qualitative "focus groups", including GB News viewers, to reach the view there was "no consensus" to stop politicians fronting "current affairs" shows. Farage's show not classed as "news".

This new quantitative research appears to contradict that finding.

Could Nandy/Ofcom reopen this?

Michael Savage @michaelsavage.bsky.social · 11h

NEW: Net migration almost halved last year. But 84% of regular GB News viewers believe it went up.

More importantly, new research revealing this also suggests the public opposes politicians presenting shows - contradicting Ofcom.

Lisa Nandy now taking note:

www.theguardian.com/media/2025/o...

GB News viewers more likely to wrongly believe net migration to UK rising, study finds

Research also finds majority of people are against letting politicians front current affairs programmes

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by Kate Martin

Adam Bienkov @adambienkov.bsky.social · 12h

Kemi Badeoch's spokesman tying himself in knots trying to explain why the substantive evidence the Conservative Government gave to the CPS on the China spy trial wasn't good enough to secure a conviction, but the additional evidence Starmer's Government later supplied somehow should have been

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Reposted by Kate Martin

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 1d

Trump: "If somebody is doing a bad job and if I feel there is unsafe conditions, I would call Gianni, the head of FIFA, and I would say, 'let's move it to another location.' And he would do that ... I could say the same things for the Olympics."

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Reposted by Kate Martin

Peter Jukes @peterjukes.bsky.social · 1d

MI5 issues guidance on countering espionage and interference

We have seen previous cases of political interference, including most recently the case of the former Member of the European Parliament, Nathan Gill

www.gov.uk/government/n...

MI5 issues guidance on countering espionage and interference

MI5's National Protective Security Authority issues new security guidance to protect democratic institutions from espionage and foreign interference

www.gov.uk

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Reposted by Kate Martin

Ian Dunt @iandunt.bsky.social · 1d

Faintly amusing that the IFS' argument to Reeves on tax reform is basically: You're fucked either way, so you might as well do something decent for the country while you're taking all this pain www.reuters.com/world/uk/uks...

UK's Reeves should use budget to reform tax system, IFS says

British finance minister Rachel Reeves should use her budget in November to carry out a long overdue reform of the taxation system which could help her to raise more revenue while limiting the hit to the economy, a think tank said on Monday.

www.reuters.com

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Reposted by Kate Martin

Best for Britain @bestforbritain.org · 2d

Rupert Lowe on Nathan Gill, former Reform leader in Wales, who has pleaded guilty to taking bribes from pro-Russian proxies:

"I had absolutely no idea. I was new to the European Parliament, Nathan had been there for years alongside Farage - they were very close."

Shots fired. ~AA

Rupert Lowe MP
@RupertLowe10
I have received A LOT of questions about Nathan Gill, having sat as a Brexit Party MEP alongside him in Brussels and Strasbourg. He was also the Reform leader in Wales. For those who don’t know, he has pleaded guilty to taking pro-Russian bribes over a number of months.

Obviously, I had absolutely no idea. I was new to the European Parliament, Nathan had been there for years alongside Farage - they were very close. He was the head of the delegation of our MEPs, so with the whip ran the day-to-day affairs of our grouping and organised activity in Brussels/Strasbourg. He was one of just two MEPs from the previous term Farage allowed to stand again.

He seemed particularly interested in Russian/Ukrainian developments which I found peculiar. There was one event, right at the beginning of our term, which he asked me and other MEPs to attend. Due to his position in the grouping, I agreed. It had a very pro-Russian slant, with individuals who claimed to be close to Putin there. For obvious reasons, I did not attend another such event.

I thought his obsession with that part of the world was strange, but given his years in the Parliament and position in the party, I didn’t think there was more to it. Other MEPs also found it unusual, but we just got on with job.

So to journalists asking, there is my response.

It is disgraceful behaviour, treasonous behaviour.

I am ashamed to have ever sat alongside him.
7:44 AM · Oct 13, 2025
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116.3K
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Reposted by Kate Martin

Damian Low @damianlow3.bsky.social · 1d

Well, this is awkward for Reform…

More questions to answer about Nathan Gill and Russia?

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Kate Martin @ktmartin.bsky.social · 1d

Why is Richard Tice discussing British gas power with the former Russian finance minister? Russia are not Ukraine's or Britain's friend.

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Reform Party UK Exposed @reformexposed.bsky.social · 1d

Richard Tice failed to register lavish hospitality from former Russian finance minister’s wife

hopenothate.org.uk/2025/10/13/r...

Richard Tice failed to register lavish hospitality from former Russian finance minister's wife – HOPE not hate

IN BREACH OF PARLIAMENTARY RULES: REFORM UK’S RICHARD TICE Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice has broken parliamentary rules by failing to register lavish hospitality...

hopenothate.org.uk

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Alex Andreou @sturdyalex.bsky.social · 2d

I really don’t know how a British-Palestinian like @laylamoran.bsky.social, someone so close to and personally affected by everything that happened, finds those reserves of empathy, while people with much less skin in the game take it upon themselves to strike the most strident pose.

Best for Britain @bestforbritain.org · 2d

As so often, @laylamoran.bsky.social finds gracious, unifying words.

"I choose to believe that peace is possible. Everyone who went on a protest, wrote to their MP, cares about it, shouted at their TV - from whatever point of view - what were those deaths for, if not for a sustainable peace?" ~AA

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Good Law Project @goodlawproject.bsky.social · 2d

TikTok is getting rid of the London staff who keep you safe from harmful, misleading and illegal content. When did they announce the job cuts? Eight days before those employees were due to vote on unionising.

We’ve signed an open letter with @tuc.org.uk and @cwunews.bsky.social:

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Zoë Grünewald @zoegrunewald.bsky.social · 2d

"Until now, public knowledge about the relationship between Reform U.K. and the A.D.F. was limited to a single quote Mr. Farage gave to the group, which they pushed out in a press statement. But the A.D.F. has quietly been courting the party since at least 2024."

www.nytimes.com/2025/10/13/w...

They Helped Topple Roe v. Wade. Now Their Sights Are Set on Britain.

www.nytimes.com

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Lizzie Dearden @lizziedearden.bsky.social · 2d

If you wondered why Nigel Farage turned up in US Congress in September speaking about "freedom of speech", this story has the answer

His appearance was orchestrated by a powerful American anti-abortion group that is trying to increase its influence in the UK by influencing the free speech debate

Jane Bradley @bradleyjane.bsky.social · 2d

NEW: How a U.S. anti-abortion group has quietly positioned itself as a powerbroker between the Trump administration and Nigel Farage’s Reform UK.

Latest investigation w Elizabeth Dias.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/13/w...

They Helped Topple Roe v. Wade. Now Their Sights Are Set on Britain.

www.nytimes.com

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Best for Britain @bestforbritain.org · 2d

Oops. ~AA

Ambassador Mike Huckabee
@GovMikeHuckabee
I assure you she’s delusional. She can thank
@realDonaldTrump
anytime just to set the record straight.
Quote
Sky News
@SkyNews
·
Oct 12
'We've played a key role behind the scenes in shaping this'

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson says the UK government has been involved in diplomatic efforts to secure a ceasefire in Gaza.

https://trib.al/GMH8aBc #TrevorPhillips

📺 Sky 501 and YouTube
1:40 PM · Oct 12, 2025
·
2.2M
Views

Special Envoy Steve Witkoff

@SEPeaceMissions
I would like to acknowledge the vital role of the United Kingdom in assisting and coordinating efforts that have led us to this historic day in Israel. In particular, I want to recognize the incredible input and tireless efforts of National Security Advisor Jonathan Powell.
6:53 AM · Oct 13, 2025
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657.1K
Views

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Reposted by Kate Martin

Lewis Baston @lewisbaston.bsky.social · 3d

It’s infuriating that so mediocre and crude a power as Russia is running rings round European democracies and that they have so many willing collaborators.

Sam Freedman @samfr.bsky.social · 3d

New post just out:

The relationship between Russia and the European radical right goes well beyond Reform's Nathan Gill being bribed.

In this post I trace the history back to the 1990s and look at the threat it poses now.

(£/free trial)

open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/r...

Russia and the rise of the radical right

Marine Le Pen meets with Putin before the 2017 French Presidential election (Photo credit Mikhail Klimentyev/AFP via Getty Images)

open.substack.com

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Roland Smith @rolandmcs.bsky.social · 2d

Interesting.

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Henry Mance @henrymance.ft.com · 2d

Listening to the Today programme, you'd think Donald Trump was about to be released as a hostage

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Paul Singh @paulsingh.bsky.social · 2d

We ought to change the status of the social media companies to ‘publishers’ rather than platforms so making them legally responsible for what is uploaded on to their networks.

And we need to start making online safety classes mandatory for all school children.

James Austin @jamesdaustin.bsky.social · 3d

Everyone knows at least one person (normally, but not exclusively, a guy) whose gone properly mental due to net rabbit holes.

We see public figures regularly go mad and destroy themselves.

And we have, at a policy level, just decided to put our fingers in our ears and go nahnahnah

Alastair Meeks @alastairmeeks.bsky.social · 3d

Last night I heard of another friend of a friend who has been lost to a rabbit hole of online propaganda. We need to start treating this as a serious public health concern.

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