Mike Gapes
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mikegapes.bsky.social
Mike Gapes
@mikegapes.bsky.social
990 followers 310 following 600 posts
Internationalist. Retired. Joined Labour 1968. Left 2019 on kamikaze mission. Rejoined Labour 2023. 15 years Party HQ including head of International. MP for Ilford South 1992-2019. Hammers season ticket holder. Cricket at Lords. Blues and Jazz. Rotarian.
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Reposted by Mike Gapes
I think this post (2pm on Monday) was the first time I asked this Idi Amin question about the Opposition's deportation plan, after the Katie Lam Sunday Times interview.

Nobody has been able to identify any democratic government to do this since the Idi Amin dictatorship's mass expulsions of 1972.
In the whole half century period since the dictator Idi Amin's expelled migrants in 1972, can anybody identify any *democratic* government at all that has stripped past grants of permanent residence from a large number of legal migrants & removed/expelled them?
The thing about the Overton window is that it just shifts by default if you let people propose insane policies like removing people with indefinite leave to remain without robust challenge. It doesn't just go away, it slowly leaks into the mainstream water supply unless you properly hose it down.
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Reposted by Mike Gapes
Stephen Bush on the extraordinary draft legislation which Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp, Matt Vickers, Katie Lam and backbench colleagues have proposed in parliament

It is a proposal that would seek to deport around 5% of the resident population, including over a quarter of a million with ILR
Reposted by Mike Gapes
This, in particular,should chime with any centre right voter or politician. We might add that Lam’s desire to torch previously agreed permanent residence rules will make life very difficult for millions of British citizens settled long term abroad, who rely on foreign govt’s abiding by such rules.
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Great walk in Valentines Park Ilford this afternoon with the Friends of Valentines Mansion. Very well attended despite heavy rain. And our guide the excellent Stephen Smith was very informative about the history and the characteristics of the diverse range of trees in the Park.
And when they were up They were up, And when they were down they were down …..
Indeed. But why let the facts interfere with your lying narrative designed to win over the Tory activists.
This is total bollocks. I bet Jenrick never went to a match in the 1970s or 1980s. It is much much better now. I’ve been gong to West Ham
home and away games for sixty years. There is no comparison. This is opportunistic performative signalling. Which bears no relation to reality.
Jenrick casting 1980s British football hooliganism as something that was easily dealt with by police and not an era defining issue which we're still living with the consequences of today... He's genuinely the most unserious person in British politics rn
Spot on. The Conservative Party used to support the rule of law. But apparently no longer.
I find @tomtugendhat.bsky.social's argument not just ludicrous, but dangerous. Due process is *absolutely* paramount in criminal law - not "whose side you are on".

We don't trample Separation of Powers just because you feel rightly angry and ashamed for being spied on *while Security Minister".
Reposted by Mike Gapes
In one crisp para — & the 2 charts he highlights — @chrisgiles.ft.com bursts a huge number of “welfare” myths www.ft.com/content/ee67...
Reposted by Mike Gapes
From Robert Jenrick's video - in which he did not see a single other white face on a brief trip to Birmingham, despite his video showing that he did.

"He must have been walking around Handsworth with his eyes closed" writes Dan Cave

www.birminghamdispatch.co.uk/a-notorious-...
Reposted by Mike Gapes
Reform are the Lost Politicians Office of the Tories

Lee Anderson
Maria Caulfield
Adam Holloway
Sir Jake Berry
Dame Andrea Jenkyns
Ross Thomson
David Jones
Nadine Dorries
Danny Kruger
Marco Longhi

Tory MPs responsible for trashing our economy & public services now in Reform
Reposted by Mike Gapes
Pope Leo quotes Hannah Arendt:

“The ideal subject of totalitarian rule is not the convinced Nazi or the convinced Communist, but people for whom the distinction between fact and fiction and the distinction between true and false no longer exist."

www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news...
Pope Leo calls for news agencies to stand as bulwark against "post-truths," lies and manipulation
Pope Leo XIV has encouraged international news agencies to stand firm as a bulwark against the "ancient art of lying" and manipulation.
www.cbsnews.com
Bye Bye Derek. I was on the balcony looking after the International visitors. They all stood up to applaud Neil Kinnock as he denounced the Trotskyite Militant Tendency. And next to us were member visitors also standing but to applaud Eric Heffer as he stormed off the platform. Labour history ⛏️⛏️
NEW: Weekend News Agents

40 years ago this month Neil Kinnock delivered his famous, fervent conference speech against Militant. In this special episode, we discuss that extraordinary day, at length, with the man himself. Living history.

podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t...
Neil Kinnock on the speech that changed the Labour Party
Podcast Episode · The News Agents · 10/10/2025 · 56m
podcasts.apple.com
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Reposted by Mike Gapes
What was that Sooty? The children can't hear you!
Reposted by Mike Gapes
I know statistics are poorly understood and are misused. But facts matter

Between the 1991, 2001, 2011 and 2021 Census *every* ethnic group in the UK has become *less* geographically segregated and *all* groups, majority and minorities, are more likely to interact with people not like them
Reposted by Mike Gapes
The Bishop of Birmingham has written to the Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick about his comments about Handsworth
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Reposted by Mike Gapes
Missed this earlier - as part of its series of bilateral arrangements with EU member states, the UK signed this strategic framework with Spain in early September.

It includes cooperation on defence, security, but also migration, foreign affairs, people to people, energy, climate and more:
Reposted by Mike Gapes
But the great thing about Robert Jenrick is that wherever he goes, he increases the number of white faces by two.
Reposted by Mike Gapes
EXC from @annaisaac.bsky.social

The finances of one of Nigel Farage’s key confidants are being examined by the UK’s tax and revenue authorities amid questions over his income from wealth and business activities, the Guardian understands.

www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Tax authorities examine finances of key Nigel Farage ally
Exclusive: HMRC conducts scoping exercise into Reform UK backer ‘Posh George’ Cottrell’s income from business and wealth
www.theguardian.com