Lesley McDowell
@lesleymcdowell.bsky.social
Author of LOVE AND OTHER POISONS 'enthralling, a beautifully structured tale' The Scotsman; CLAIRMONT 'Riveting...clever portrait of a fascinating woman' The Times @wildfirebooks.bsky.social Repd by @sheilland.bsky.social ExJoycean Still Glaswegian she/her
Pinned
I'mso delighted to be able to share this! My next book with Wildfire is a historical novel based on the true story of Madeleine Smith, the wealthy young socialite who in 1857 stood trial for the murder of her lover, in a case that shocked the world. But did she do it? @headlinebooks.bsky.social
Reposted by Lesley McDowell
Trump: TO be tough on China I will impose huge tariffs
China [buys all its soybean from Brazil]
Trump: To free Bolsonaro I will impose huge tariffs on coffee
Brazil [jails Bolsonaro early]
Trump to Japan: You have to let China take Taiwan or they won't buy our soybeans
China [buys all its soybean from Brazil]
Trump: To free Bolsonaro I will impose huge tariffs on coffee
Brazil [jails Bolsonaro early]
Trump to Japan: You have to let China take Taiwan or they won't buy our soybeans
November 27, 2025 at 1:18 PM
Trump: TO be tough on China I will impose huge tariffs
China [buys all its soybean from Brazil]
Trump: To free Bolsonaro I will impose huge tariffs on coffee
Brazil [jails Bolsonaro early]
Trump to Japan: You have to let China take Taiwan or they won't buy our soybeans
China [buys all its soybean from Brazil]
Trump: To free Bolsonaro I will impose huge tariffs on coffee
Brazil [jails Bolsonaro early]
Trump to Japan: You have to let China take Taiwan or they won't buy our soybeans
Reposted by Lesley McDowell
🚨🚨"Whatever the reason Witkoff is prolonging the conflict. He is not promoting peace. If this were a normal American administration, he would be fired immediately. But nothing about this negotiation, or this administration, is normal at all." @anneapplebaum.bsky.social's damning verdict on #witkoff.
November 27, 2025 at 8:50 AM
🚨🚨"Whatever the reason Witkoff is prolonging the conflict. He is not promoting peace. If this were a normal American administration, he would be fired immediately. But nothing about this negotiation, or this administration, is normal at all." @anneapplebaum.bsky.social's damning verdict on #witkoff.
Reposted by Lesley McDowell
NEW: Israel's genocide in Gaza is 'not over' despite the announcement of a ceasefire, human rights experts have warned
🔗 www.thenational.scot/news/2...
🔗 www.thenational.scot/news/2...
November 27, 2025 at 10:51 AM
NEW: Israel's genocide in Gaza is 'not over' despite the announcement of a ceasefire, human rights experts have warned
🔗 www.thenational.scot/news/2...
🔗 www.thenational.scot/news/2...
Reposted by Lesley McDowell
So we are already back to the levels of migration of the early 2010s and declining faster... let's hope all those new restrictions, based on previous higher numbers, don't make Britain massively unattractive to those migrants the government DOES wish to attract.
Net migration fell sharply agaim to 204,000 in the year to June 2025, having been 344k in 2024 and 848k in 2023. But falling immigration has been the biggest secret - and it is time for the media and political debate to catch up with this change
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cn...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cn...
UK net migration fell to 204,000 in year to June - live updates
Net migration, the difference between those entering and leaving the country, was 345,000 in 2024 according to revised figures.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 27, 2025 at 9:56 AM
So we are already back to the levels of migration of the early 2010s and declining faster... let's hope all those new restrictions, based on previous higher numbers, don't make Britain massively unattractive to those migrants the government DOES wish to attract.
Reposted by Lesley McDowell
Imagine George W Bush causing
5k dead US soldiers
1 million dead Iraqis
an occupation w/no WMDs
a global recession
Wall St meltdown
derivatives & housing market crash
blow off a hurricane
crash economy while enriching millionaires...
...and he's still not the worst POTUS of the 21st Century.
5k dead US soldiers
1 million dead Iraqis
an occupation w/no WMDs
a global recession
Wall St meltdown
derivatives & housing market crash
blow off a hurricane
crash economy while enriching millionaires...
...and he's still not the worst POTUS of the 21st Century.
Remember when George W Bush was the dumbest living President. I really miss those days.
September 29, 2025 at 3:19 PM
Imagine George W Bush causing
5k dead US soldiers
1 million dead Iraqis
an occupation w/no WMDs
a global recession
Wall St meltdown
derivatives & housing market crash
blow off a hurricane
crash economy while enriching millionaires...
...and he's still not the worst POTUS of the 21st Century.
5k dead US soldiers
1 million dead Iraqis
an occupation w/no WMDs
a global recession
Wall St meltdown
derivatives & housing market crash
blow off a hurricane
crash economy while enriching millionaires...
...and he's still not the worst POTUS of the 21st Century.
Reposted by Lesley McDowell
this is amazing news - the HPV vaccine promises to eliminate cervical cancer in countries where uptake is high.
November 26, 2025 at 6:57 PM
this is amazing news - the HPV vaccine promises to eliminate cervical cancer in countries where uptake is high.
Reposted by Lesley McDowell
Witkoff is not buying the Russian narrative. He is selling it.
November 26, 2025 at 5:24 PM
Witkoff is not buying the Russian narrative. He is selling it.
Reposted by Lesley McDowell
WASHINGTON (AP) — Two National Guard members have been shot in Washington, D.C., and their condition isn't known, AP source says.
November 26, 2025 at 7:47 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) — Two National Guard members have been shot in Washington, D.C., and their condition isn't known, AP source says.
Reposted by Lesley McDowell
RIP Pam Hogg. I interviewed her a few years ago. She was ferocious, funny and a fucking excellent designer.
www.ft.com/content/6c78...
www.ft.com/content/6c78...
Designer Pam Hogg: ‘Kids at school called me a witch. But I loved it!’
The punky outlier who gave us Kylie Minogue in a catsuit is back in London with a show that plays on her sorcerous image
www.ft.com
November 26, 2025 at 3:31 PM
RIP Pam Hogg. I interviewed her a few years ago. She was ferocious, funny and a fucking excellent designer.
www.ft.com/content/6c78...
www.ft.com/content/6c78...
Reposted by Lesley McDowell
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 5:53 PM
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...
Reposted by Lesley McDowell
The OBR could not be clearer today. Weak growth is tied to Brexit, which they now expect will leave UK trade 15% smaller in the long term.
November 26, 2025 at 12:28 PM
The OBR could not be clearer today. Weak growth is tied to Brexit, which they now expect will leave UK trade 15% smaller in the long term.
Reposted by Lesley McDowell
If only these were little old ladies who were peacefully sitting down and holding signs, the police could do something about it.
November 26, 2025 at 12:02 PM
If only these were little old ladies who were peacefully sitting down and holding signs, the police could do something about it.
Reposted by Lesley McDowell
Embroidered fabric fragment, something Thomas Cromwell may have seen during his time in Italy.
substack.com/@wolfhallwee...
substack.com/@wolfhallwee...
Wolf Hall Weekend (@wolfhallweekend)
Embroidered fabric fragment, something Thomas Cromwell may have seen during his time in Italy.
15th Century, Florence.
Frisé velvet with overshot weave; silk, silver and gold.
On display at Museo d...
substack.com
November 26, 2025 at 12:32 PM
Embroidered fabric fragment, something Thomas Cromwell may have seen during his time in Italy.
substack.com/@wolfhallwee...
substack.com/@wolfhallwee...
Reposted by Lesley McDowell
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 Lesley McDowell
She never misses a beat, of course, but Marina's first paragraph this week is *chef's kiss*
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
What can we learn from RFK's 'erotic poetry'? That Americans need to get better at enjoying a scandal | Marina Hyde
The US health secretary’s ‘digital affair’ with Olivia Nuzzi doesn’t need sombre analysis. Take it from this Brit: sometimes laughter is the only option, says Guardian columnist Marina Hyde
www.theguardian.com
November 25, 2025 at 11:04 PM
She never misses a beat, of course, but Marina's first paragraph this week is *chef's kiss*
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Lesley McDowell
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 Lesley McDowell
So many senior MAGA figures are so careless I wouldn't be surprised if two dozen intelligence agencies have cracked their means of communication
November 25, 2025 at 8:26 PM
So many senior MAGA figures are so careless I wouldn't be surprised if two dozen intelligence agencies have cracked their means of communication
Reposted by Lesley McDowell
"Now, me to you, I know what it’s going to take to get a peace deal done: Donetsk and maybe a land swap somewhere."
-- Steve Witkoff, in his call to Putin aide Yuri Ushakov
Read the whole transcript of the Oct 14 call. It's amazing.
Gift link (for 7 days) ⤵️
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
-- Steve Witkoff, in his call to Putin aide Yuri Ushakov
Read the whole transcript of the Oct 14 call. It's amazing.
Gift link (for 7 days) ⤵️
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Witkoff Discusses Ukraine Plans With Key Putin Aide: Transcript
The following is a transcript of an Oct. 14 phone call lasting just over 5 minutes between Steve Witkoff, Donald Trump’s special envoy for peace missions, and Yuri Ushakov, Vladimir Putin’s most senio...
www.bloomberg.com
November 25, 2025 at 8:17 PM
"Now, me to you, I know what it’s going to take to get a peace deal done: Donetsk and maybe a land swap somewhere."
-- Steve Witkoff, in his call to Putin aide Yuri Ushakov
Read the whole transcript of the Oct 14 call. It's amazing.
Gift link (for 7 days) ⤵️
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
-- Steve Witkoff, in his call to Putin aide Yuri Ushakov
Read the whole transcript of the Oct 14 call. It's amazing.
Gift link (for 7 days) ⤵️
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Reposted by Lesley McDowell
Great big news!
My book, LIKE A CAT LOVES A BIRD: THE NINE LIVES OF MURIEL SPARK is coming to America! I'm so pleased that @princetonupress.bsky.social will be publishing my strange, slippery take on Spark's life and work. It'll be out in spring!
🐈⬛💘🐦⬛
My book, LIKE A CAT LOVES A BIRD: THE NINE LIVES OF MURIEL SPARK is coming to America! I'm so pleased that @princetonupress.bsky.social will be publishing my strange, slippery take on Spark's life and work. It'll be out in spring!
🐈⬛💘🐦⬛
November 25, 2025 at 8:28 PM
Great big news!
My book, LIKE A CAT LOVES A BIRD: THE NINE LIVES OF MURIEL SPARK is coming to America! I'm so pleased that @princetonupress.bsky.social will be publishing my strange, slippery take on Spark's life and work. It'll be out in spring!
🐈⬛💘🐦⬛
My book, LIKE A CAT LOVES A BIRD: THE NINE LIVES OF MURIEL SPARK is coming to America! I'm so pleased that @princetonupress.bsky.social will be publishing my strange, slippery take on Spark's life and work. It'll be out in spring!
🐈⬛💘🐦⬛
Reposted by Lesley McDowell
Reposted by Lesley McDowell
Don’t believe Nigel Farage’s denials. He targeted me for being Jewish – and it hurt | Peter Ettedgui
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 8:09 PM
Don’t believe Nigel Farage’s denials. He targeted me for being Jewish – and it hurt | Peter Ettedgui
Reposted by Lesley McDowell
Is this cheese grater conscious? Many users feel they're talking to a real person. Scientists say it's time to consider whether they're onto something.
November 25, 2025 at 8:21 PM
Is this cheese grater conscious? Many users feel they're talking to a real person. Scientists say it's time to consider whether they're onto something.
Reposted by Lesley McDowell
Kentish Fran 🇪🇺
Remember that Farage was one of the laziest MEPs.
He rarely turned up for a vote.
I wonder what was so special about this one?😉
Remember that Farage was one of the laziest MEPs.
He rarely turned up for a vote.
I wonder what was so special about this one?😉
November 25, 2025 at 8:03 AM
Kentish Fran 🇪🇺
Remember that Farage was one of the laziest MEPs.
He rarely turned up for a vote.
I wonder what was so special about this one?😉
Remember that Farage was one of the laziest MEPs.
He rarely turned up for a vote.
I wonder what was so special about this one?😉
Thankyou Barrhead News! www.barrheadnews.com/news/2564951...
East Renfrewshire pupils celebrate Book Week Scotland with authors
Libraries across East Renfrewshire celebrated Book Week Scotland with a range of author events and workshops
www.barrheadnews.com
November 25, 2025 at 6:27 PM
Thankyou Barrhead News! www.barrheadnews.com/news/2564951...