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Professor Christopher Painter @prfchrispainter.bsky.social · 8h

The indictments are never ending!

Professor Christopher Painter @prfchrispainter.bsky.social · 10h

ReformUK tainted with bribes for Russian propaganda lines; a still unexplained house purchase: Farage raking in a fortune through lucrative sidelines to the day job; Reform-controlled local councils reneging on promises or descending into chaos. Should anyone remotely trust this lot of hustlers!!

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Professor Christopher Painter @prfchrispainter.bsky.social · 1d

Even in the midst of a Middle East peace process,Trump can't resist showing his contempt for the rule of law, whether domestic or international.

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Professor Christopher Painter @prfchrispainter.bsky.social · 2d

A US President who has to take all the credit for literally everything. Anyone who has occupied any organisational leadership position will know just how destructive (and implausible) such leadership styles can be.

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Professor Christopher Painter @prfchrispainter.bsky.social · 4d

However, oligarchical tendencies and further concentration of wealth in the hands of the few. Extreme neoliberalism has never been comfortable with democratic threats to untrammelled wealth creation.

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Professor Christopher Painter @prfchrispainter.bsky.social · 4d

"'Faragism' is neoliberalism at its most inhumane, more destructive even than monetarism, and vindictive far beyond austerity." Same applies to Trumpians. They are very close ideological bedfellows.

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Don’t fall for the authoritarian hype – Reform and the hard right can be stopped in their tracks | Gordon Brown

From the US to Europe and Asia, grievances are being exploited to gain power. But moderate voices are still in tune with the majority, says former prime minister Gordon Brown

www.theguardian.com

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Professor Christopher Painter @prfchrispainter.bsky.social · 5d

Entirely appropriate that the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded to a politician fighting authoritarianism and not one heading an increasingly authoritarian règime.

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...

Venezuelan politician María Corina Machado wins Nobel peace prize

Opponent of Maduro regime receives award and praise for keeping ‘flame of democracy burning’

www.theguardian.com

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Professor Christopher Painter @prfchrispainter.bsky.social · 6d

Too many voters just don't pay attention until it's too late! It was obvious from a country mile away that Trump was planning an authoritarian presidency. Same with Brexit. Buyers' remorse there, too. Will be the same story of regret if somehow Farage squeezes into Downing Street in 2029. Sigh!!

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Professor Christopher Painter @prfchrispainter.bsky.social · 7d

The irony of these charges, instigated by a president (contrary to the rule of law) who is himself a pathological liar (or else has little contact with reality).

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

Ex-FBI director James Comey pleads not guilty on lying to Congress charge

Case marks significant step in Trump’s efforts to politicize the justice department and punish political enemies

www.theguardian.com

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Professor Christopher Painter @prfchrispainter.bsky.social · 7d

Imitation may be the sincerest form of flattery. But when it involves sacrificing a distinctive identity, as in the case of Badenoch's Conservatives with Reform, it spells disaster. And Heseltine is absolutely right. It is all too reminiscent of sinister, 1930s-style, far right politics.

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Professor Christopher Painter @prfchrispainter.bsky.social · 8d

The absurd idea that Trump should be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize to keep him engaged with developments in the Middle East and to sustain a child-like sugar rush. For goodness sake!! Aren't US presidents meant to be grown-ups.

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Professor Christopher Painter @prfchrispainter.bsky.social · 8d

Should an EU Referendum be held today, Remain would comfortably win over Leave. Paradoxically, Farage leads in the polls with a percentage support roughy correlating with this much diminished support for Brexit. Simply testimony to the current fragmented state of UK politics.

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Professor Christopher Painter @prfchrispainter.bsky.social · 9d

Yes, but hardly a tiny slither between them under Badenoch.

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Professor Christopher Painter @prfchrispainter.bsky.social · 9d

The last remnants of what was the most successful historical force in British politics being systematically destroyed by Badenoch. The Conservative Party: RIP.

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Professor Christopher Painter @prfchrispainter.bsky.social · 11d

Peaks can be very low!

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Professor Christopher Painter @prfchrispainter.bsky.social · 11d

The Tory Party and Reform are essentially fighting for the same segment of the electorate. Remnants of the more centrist tendency in the Conservative Party are rapidly being extinguished and with that any prospect of rekindling a wider appeal. Badenoch proving to be a disastrous Opposition leader!

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Professor Christopher Painter @prfchrispainter.bsky.social · 12d

Starmer has been thanked by the Hillsborough campaigners for being the one political leader to keep his promises to them on the Hillsborough Law.

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Professor Christopher Painter @prfchrispainter.bsky.social · 12d

As such, we are getting heartily sick of the real perpetrators of hate and division unconvincingly playing the role of victim.

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Professor Christopher Painter @prfchrispainter.bsky.social · 12d

Let's not beat around the bush. The kind of society Starmer placed his stake in the ground for in his Conference Speech is a civilised opposite of the rhetoric and policy adopted by Reform. It is they who are providing cover for thuggery and violence in our society.

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Professor Christopher Painter @prfchrispainter.bsky.social · 13d

We're seeing exactly the descent into chaos in US federal government that is the hallmark of the populist Right.

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Professor Christopher Painter @prfchrispainter.bsky.social · 18d

The drip feed of Epstein Files will expose the shocking hypocrisy of appropriating family and Christian values for naked political manipulation by those in and around the Trump camp.

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Professor Christopher Painter @prfchrispainter.bsky.social · 18d

The net is closing in.

BBC News - Elon Musk and Prince Andrew named in new Epstein files
www.bbc.com/news/article...

Elon Musk and Prince Andrew named in new Epstein files

The documents by the estate of convicted paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein were released by Congressional Democrats.

www.bbc.com

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Professor Christopher Painter @prfchrispainter.bsky.social · 19d

As do the rest of us. We just see the tip of the iceberg

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Professor Christopher Painter @prfchrispainter.bsky.social · 19d

Never let us forget the crucial distinction between nationalism and patriotism. The former is a destructive ideology; the latter celebrates all that is best in a country's values. The difference between hate and violence on the streets of London and Last Night of the Proms!

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Professor Christopher Painter @prfchrispainter.bsky.social · 20d

Every time Farage is challenged over his financial affairs or lack of due diligence in his constituency, he comes up with feeble excuses around privacy or security, implying he alone should be immune from proper public scrutiny and accountability. The real explanation is that he has much to hide!

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