Phil Kohler 🔶
@leamingtonphil.bsky.social
Proud to be Lib Dem councillor for Leamington Lillington. Still furious about the stupidity called Brexit.
Tech BSky: of course he had to resign, that’s bleeding obvious
Politics BSky: such a shame such an honourbale fellow has decided to go
🤷♂️
Politics BSky: such a shame such an honourbale fellow has decided to go
🤷♂️
December 1, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Tech BSky: of course he had to resign, that’s bleeding obvious
Politics BSky: such a shame such an honourbale fellow has decided to go
🤷♂️
Politics BSky: such a shame such an honourbale fellow has decided to go
🤷♂️
Well this is fascinating in a car-crash, keep-you-awake-at-night and give-you-nightmares-for-weeks-afterwards kind of way.
December 1, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Well this is fascinating in a car-crash, keep-you-awake-at-night and give-you-nightmares-for-weeks-afterwards kind of way.
Scoop by Local Democracy Reporter Andy Mitchell on an investigation into a potential breach of the code of conduct by the Leader of Warwickshire County Council, Cllr George Finch:
leamington.nub.news/news/local-n...
leamington.nub.news/news/local-n...
External investigation launched into council leader’s comments on child rape case
Warwickshire County Council appoints solicitor to probe Cllr Finch's child rape case comments, assessing potential code breaches; investigation ongoing.
leamington.nub.news
November 28, 2025 at 6:20 PM
Scoop by Local Democracy Reporter Andy Mitchell on an investigation into a potential breach of the code of conduct by the Leader of Warwickshire County Council, Cllr George Finch:
leamington.nub.news/news/local-n...
leamington.nub.news/news/local-n...
Very pleased that the motion, proposed by @dickson2902r.bsky.social and I, has had such a clear-cut result!
At their Cabinet meeting last night, councillors confirmed the suspension of the Council’s social media platform X (formerly Twitter).
From today, we will no longer use that channel to promote the council’s news or respond to comments or questions on that platform.
https://orlo.uk/bXsoX
From today, we will no longer use that channel to promote the council’s news or respond to comments or questions on that platform.
https://orlo.uk/bXsoX
November 28, 2025 at 10:59 AM
Very pleased that the motion, proposed by @dickson2902r.bsky.social and I, has had such a clear-cut result!
Reposted by Phil Kohler 🔶
At their Cabinet meeting last night, councillors confirmed the suspension of the Council’s social media platform X (formerly Twitter).
From today, we will no longer use that channel to promote the council’s news or respond to comments or questions on that platform.
https://orlo.uk/bXsoX
From today, we will no longer use that channel to promote the council’s news or respond to comments or questions on that platform.
https://orlo.uk/bXsoX
November 28, 2025 at 10:53 AM
At their Cabinet meeting last night, councillors confirmed the suspension of the Council’s social media platform X (formerly Twitter).
From today, we will no longer use that channel to promote the council’s news or respond to comments or questions on that platform.
https://orlo.uk/bXsoX
From today, we will no longer use that channel to promote the council’s news or respond to comments or questions on that platform.
https://orlo.uk/bXsoX
Reposted by Phil Kohler 🔶
Absolutely no sympathy for Home Secretary from me. Home office has decided to renege on rules it previously made. It deserves every terrible headline and more.
November 28, 2025 at 9:35 AM
Absolutely no sympathy for Home Secretary from me. Home office has decided to renege on rules it previously made. It deserves every terrible headline and more.
Reposted by Phil Kohler 🔶
Never forget who Nigel Farage is.
November 27, 2025 at 10:24 AM
Never forget who Nigel Farage is.
Reposted by Phil Kohler 🔶
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 Phil Kohler 🔶
OBR says lower net migration will hurt overall productivity
November 26, 2025 at 12:31 PM
OBR says lower net migration will hurt overall productivity
Reposted by Phil Kohler 🔶
Having a great first day as the OBR's website manager. Got all of the content queued up as a scheduled post, ready for a big day, but all of the work is done now.
Now before I put my feet up, time to take a big gulp of water and check the latest news.
Now before I put my feet up, time to take a big gulp of water and check the latest news.
November 26, 2025 at 12:04 PM
Having a great first day as the OBR's website manager. Got all of the content queued up as a scheduled post, ready for a big day, but all of the work is done now.
Now before I put my feet up, time to take a big gulp of water and check the latest news.
Now before I put my feet up, time to take a big gulp of water and check the latest news.
Reposted by Phil Kohler 🔶
The latest figures show that 14% of households are living in fuel poverty in Warwick District, which represents over 9,000 households. Local charity Act On Energy are here to help with advice on grants that could help you heat your home.
Visit https://orlo.uk/e5wAL
#FuelPovertyAwarenessDay
Visit https://orlo.uk/e5wAL
#FuelPovertyAwarenessDay
November 26, 2025 at 10:01 AM
The latest figures show that 14% of households are living in fuel poverty in Warwick District, which represents over 9,000 households. Local charity Act On Energy are here to help with advice on grants that could help you heat your home.
Visit https://orlo.uk/e5wAL
#FuelPovertyAwarenessDay
Visit https://orlo.uk/e5wAL
#FuelPovertyAwarenessDay
Reposted by Phil Kohler 🔶
Who remembers that Brexit campaign slogan from 2016? 🤔
November 25, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Who remembers that Brexit campaign slogan from 2016? 🤔
Reposted by Phil Kohler 🔶
Nigel Farage has addressed the recollections of twenty contemporaries about his use of racism + antisemitism at school, saying it was "banter in a playground" many decades ago, but did not in his view amount to "direct unpleasant genuine abuse"
www.itv.com/news/2025-11...
www.itv.com/news/2025-11...
November 24, 2025 at 8:10 PM
Nigel Farage has addressed the recollections of twenty contemporaries about his use of racism + antisemitism at school, saying it was "banter in a playground" many decades ago, but did not in his view amount to "direct unpleasant genuine abuse"
www.itv.com/news/2025-11...
www.itv.com/news/2025-11...
As always with Sunder Katwala, this is a thorough and detailed thread. Who knows how much more is to come with this story, but for the sake of the country, I hope it is a lot.
Nigel Farage has addressed the recollections of twenty contemporaries about his use of racism + antisemitism at school, saying it was "banter in a playground" many decades ago, but did not in his view amount to "direct unpleasant genuine abuse"
www.itv.com/news/2025-11...
www.itv.com/news/2025-11...
November 24, 2025 at 11:26 PM
As always with Sunder Katwala, this is a thorough and detailed thread. Who knows how much more is to come with this story, but for the sake of the country, I hope it is a lot.
I’m shocked* I tell you. Completely shocked**. To think that Reform would trumpet savings that either they had nothing to do with or have nothing to back them up is shocking***.
* oh no I’m not.
** not even a little bit.
*** exactly as expected really.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
* oh no I’m not.
** not even a little bit.
*** exactly as expected really.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Reform UK claim to have saved £331m at English councils – but do the numbers stack up?
Experts say councils face limits on cuts as Reform’s savings on IT deals, office moves and EV projects are disputed
www.theguardian.com
November 24, 2025 at 1:16 PM
I’m shocked* I tell you. Completely shocked**. To think that Reform would trumpet savings that either they had nothing to do with or have nothing to back them up is shocking***.
* oh no I’m not.
** not even a little bit.
*** exactly as expected really.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
* oh no I’m not.
** not even a little bit.
*** exactly as expected really.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
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...
‘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
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...
‘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...
Reposted by Phil Kohler 🔶
This chart (which applies even more to social media than it did to TV) lives in my head rent free.
Social media enveloping traditional media means everything and everyone is now competing in the entertainment market. Boring stuff like policy that affects millions of lives doesn’t stand a chance.
Social media enveloping traditional media means everything and everyone is now competing in the entertainment market. Boring stuff like policy that affects millions of lives doesn’t stand a chance.
November 23, 2025 at 8:24 PM
This chart (which applies even more to social media than it did to TV) lives in my head rent free.
Social media enveloping traditional media means everything and everyone is now competing in the entertainment market. Boring stuff like policy that affects millions of lives doesn’t stand a chance.
Social media enveloping traditional media means everything and everyone is now competing in the entertainment market. Boring stuff like policy that affects millions of lives doesn’t stand a chance.
Reposted by Phil Kohler 🔶
Although the scale of this is still to be assessed, this is the inevitable outcome of the monetization of the algorithm. Rage-bait becomes a personal revenue model. Nothing about this should be a surprise.
NEWS: I spent the past 24 hours going through major MAGA accounts on Twitter, and a bombshell development has become clear: most of the right-wing ecosphere is being fed propaganda from foreign actors.
This impacts elections. This impacts discourse. This is major. Subscribe to support my work:
This impacts elections. This impacts discourse. This is major. Subscribe to support my work:
NEWS: Major MAGA Accounts on Twitter Exposed as Foreign Actors
A stunning development over the past 24 hours.
open.substack.com
November 23, 2025 at 8:02 PM
Although the scale of this is still to be assessed, this is the inevitable outcome of the monetization of the algorithm. Rage-bait becomes a personal revenue model. Nothing about this should be a surprise.
If they are halfway sensible and wait until (late) 2028 for the defenestration, this surely reinforces that Milliband is the runaway favourite:
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Four top Labour figures could beat Starmer in a leadership race, poll finds
Research shows members would back Andy Burnham, Ed Miliband, Angela Rayner and Wes Streeting over PM
www.theguardian.com
November 23, 2025 at 12:42 AM
If they are halfway sensible and wait until (late) 2028 for the defenestration, this surely reinforces that Milliband is the runaway favourite:
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Reposted by Phil Kohler 🔶
Yes but it’s complicated.
The problem comes from having a campaigner in charge.
Lib Dem campaigners hated being in coalition because being in opposition is way easier for leaflets etc.
I think this government hates being in charge, for the same reason.
The problem comes from having a campaigner in charge.
Lib Dem campaigners hated being in coalition because being in opposition is way easier for leaflets etc.
I think this government hates being in charge, for the same reason.
It's funny how much they talk like the Liberal Democrats in coalition, except instead of 'negotiating with the senior partner in a coalition', the coalition partner is 'the campaign people refuse to let go of the wheel or to sign off anything suggesting their campaign was anything but perfect'.
Absolutely. The improved forecasts is insane because it's banking inflationary increases in revenue that will surely provoke inflationary increases in spending (particular public sector pay).
This BTW is a work of art. Exactly the type of attitude that has got Labour into this mess.
This BTW is a work of art. Exactly the type of attitude that has got Labour into this mess.
November 22, 2025 at 7:11 PM
Yes but it’s complicated.
The problem comes from having a campaigner in charge.
Lib Dem campaigners hated being in coalition because being in opposition is way easier for leaflets etc.
I think this government hates being in charge, for the same reason.
The problem comes from having a campaigner in charge.
Lib Dem campaigners hated being in coalition because being in opposition is way easier for leaflets etc.
I think this government hates being in charge, for the same reason.
Reposted by Phil Kohler 🔶
Nathan Gill; A traitor who was at the very top of Reform UK, aiding and abetting Russian adversaries, has been sentenced today.
Reform UK should be ashamed. Britain deserves better.
Reform UK should be ashamed. Britain deserves better.
November 21, 2025 at 11:22 AM
Nathan Gill; A traitor who was at the very top of Reform UK, aiding and abetting Russian adversaries, has been sentenced today.
Reform UK should be ashamed. Britain deserves better.
Reform UK should be ashamed. Britain deserves better.
Reposted by Phil Kohler 🔶
will admit i don't fully understand this but POETRY OUTFOXES AI is the best case for preserving English degrees i have ever heard. 'all the teenage girls who were really into Sylvia Plath at one point vs tech bros' is the battle for civilisation we deserve
Looks like LLMs are *very* vulnerable to attack via poetic allusion: "curated poetic prompts yielded high attack-success rates (ASR), with some providers exceeding 90% ..."
https://arxiv.org/html/2511.15304v1
https://arxiv.org/html/2511.15304v1
November 21, 2025 at 1:05 PM
will admit i don't fully understand this but POETRY OUTFOXES AI is the best case for preserving English degrees i have ever heard. 'all the teenage girls who were really into Sylvia Plath at one point vs tech bros' is the battle for civilisation we deserve
Reposted by Phil Kohler 🔶
Nathan Gill has been sentenced to 10.5 years for endangering national security and taking Russian bribes.
Nigel Farage and Reform are a danger to national security, the Liberal Democrats will continue to hold them to account and defend our democracy.
Nigel Farage and Reform are a danger to national security, the Liberal Democrats will continue to hold them to account and defend our democracy.
November 21, 2025 at 1:26 PM
Nathan Gill has been sentenced to 10.5 years for endangering national security and taking Russian bribes.
Nigel Farage and Reform are a danger to national security, the Liberal Democrats will continue to hold them to account and defend our democracy.
Nigel Farage and Reform are a danger to national security, the Liberal Democrats will continue to hold them to account and defend our democracy.
Reposted by Phil Kohler 🔶
Word of the day is ‘quockerwodger’ (19th century): a puppet politician whose strings are pulled entirely by someone else.
November 21, 2025 at 12:59 PM
Word of the day is ‘quockerwodger’ (19th century): a puppet politician whose strings are pulled entirely by someone else.
Reposted by Phil Kohler 🔶
NEW: Former Reform MEP Nathan Gill is sentenced to 10.5 years at the Old Bailey on 8 counts of bribery by a Russian agent.
The "ultimate source" of the funds came from "a close friend of Vladimir Putin," said Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb. Here is the evidence…
The "ultimate source" of the funds came from "a close friend of Vladimir Putin," said Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb. Here is the evidence…
November 21, 2025 at 1:18 PM
NEW: Former Reform MEP Nathan Gill is sentenced to 10.5 years at the Old Bailey on 8 counts of bribery by a Russian agent.
The "ultimate source" of the funds came from "a close friend of Vladimir Putin," said Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb. Here is the evidence…
The "ultimate source" of the funds came from "a close friend of Vladimir Putin," said Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb. Here is the evidence…