Gareth Thomas
@profgaretht.bsky.social
Emeritus Prof, UEA Law School; Chair, Suffolk Law Centre; Exec Member, Law Centres Network; Founder, UEA Law Clinic. Posts on access to justice, employment & discrimination law, art, music, architecture, gardening, classic cars, Cymru, and NCFC 💛💚
Pinned
Gareth Thomas
@profgaretht.bsky.social
· Dec 22
Howdy folks - my first post on here, and feeling like the new boy in school - not sure where to go, or what to do!
This thread took an unexpected turn 🤭
1 December is the day we must mark the sad passing 504 years ago of Giovanni di Lorenzo de’ Medici – or Pope Leo X, as he was also known. Leo was not one of those popes memorable for a sordid life, but is known for two things. Firstly, this:
December 1, 2025 at 9:26 AM
This thread took an unexpected turn 🤭
Reposted by Gareth Thomas
Yes. They cry that they’re studiously non-partisan but their political editor takes it upon himself to essentially accuse the Labour chancellor of lying. Something that would simply *never* have happened - did not happen - with the Tories in power, when there was far more ammunition.
December 1, 2025 at 8:16 AM
Yes. They cry that they’re studiously non-partisan but their political editor takes it upon himself to essentially accuse the Labour chancellor of lying. Something that would simply *never* have happened - did not happen - with the Tories in power, when there was far more ammunition.
Reposted by Gareth Thomas
Mason declares that in his judgement we have been misled by Rachel Reeves.
It feels unprecedented that the BBC has made a "call" on a story, and is something that was absent throughout the terms of notorious liars such as Johnson.
There were certainly no "calls" about Brexit lies.
#r4today
It feels unprecedented that the BBC has made a "call" on a story, and is something that was absent throughout the terms of notorious liars such as Johnson.
There were certainly no "calls" about Brexit lies.
#r4today
December 1, 2025 at 7:29 AM
Mason declares that in his judgement we have been misled by Rachel Reeves.
It feels unprecedented that the BBC has made a "call" on a story, and is something that was absent throughout the terms of notorious liars such as Johnson.
There were certainly no "calls" about Brexit lies.
#r4today
It feels unprecedented that the BBC has made a "call" on a story, and is something that was absent throughout the terms of notorious liars such as Johnson.
There were certainly no "calls" about Brexit lies.
#r4today
Reposted by Gareth Thomas
I was able to retire at 37 by flying economy, forgoing a daily coffee AND earning £350k per year is the new “I bought my first home at 22 by avoiding avocado toast, Netflix AND getting a £400k gift from my parents.
Fascinating thing about this story is that you could easily write a better and IMO more accurate one about a woman who has fallen in love with someone 17 years older, and has concluded 'I don't want to run the risk of not getting to enjoy my time with you' and has lived frugally to achieve that.
The secret to early retirement; dine out rarely, fly economy and be a Google employee making $390,000/year married to a fellow Google employee 17 years older than you who likely makes twice as much as you.
December 1, 2025 at 7:05 AM
I was able to retire at 37 by flying economy, forgoing a daily coffee AND earning £350k per year is the new “I bought my first home at 22 by avoiding avocado toast, Netflix AND getting a £400k gift from my parents.
Reposted by Gareth Thomas
Our media has become the story. What they decide is newsworthy, what they scream about, who they accuse, who they excuse, who they blame…
They have an agenda entirely of their own. Not one rooted in public interest or national responsibility. But one that is deeply rightwing and undemocratic.
They have an agenda entirely of their own. Not one rooted in public interest or national responsibility. But one that is deeply rightwing and undemocratic.
I must have missed the wall-to-wall coverage of demands for an investigation into Nigel Farage's lies about being a racist
Or about whether he knew Nathan Gill
Or about who bought his house in Frinton
Or about whether he knew Nathan Gill
Or about who bought his house in Frinton
December 1, 2025 at 7:29 AM
Our media has become the story. What they decide is newsworthy, what they scream about, who they accuse, who they excuse, who they blame…
They have an agenda entirely of their own. Not one rooted in public interest or national responsibility. But one that is deeply rightwing and undemocratic.
They have an agenda entirely of their own. Not one rooted in public interest or national responsibility. But one that is deeply rightwing and undemocratic.
Reposted by Gareth Thomas
Brexit, the gift that keeps on taking. You NEED some Myerscough Merch in your life!
The EU are removing their de minimis threshold next year. So that will be the EU added to the growing list of places that I can’t sell to.
As a small business it’s getting harder and harder to keep going.
Fuck brexit and all who sail in her. 🤬
As a small business it’s getting harder and harder to keep going.
Fuck brexit and all who sail in her. 🤬
a man sitting at a desk with a panda bear on his arm
Alt: A Panda smashing up an office
media.tenor.com
November 30, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Brexit, the gift that keeps on taking. You NEED some Myerscough Merch in your life!
Fools
In Timothy Snyder's book 'On Tyranny' his first edict is "Do not obey in advance".
Cambridge wants to obey in advance.
Cambridge wants to obey in advance.
This is the most alarming story I’ve read today. Giving up the fight before it’s started
November 30, 2025 at 4:37 PM
Fools
Reposted by Gareth Thomas
"We don’t have a lord. We’re an anarcho-syndicalist commune. We take it in turns to act as a sort of executive officer for the week. But all the decisions of that officer have to be ratified at a special biweekly meeting. By a simple majority in the case of purely internal affairs..."
Oh God I needed this so much right now. Good old fashioned funny chaos and farce instead of constant depression in politics.
Looking forward to them setting up their own rival parties.
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...
Looking forward to them setting up their own rival parties.
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...
Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana dropped as Your Party leaders
Members vote in favour of 'collective leadership' option, with a ‘lay’ chair – who cannot be an MP
www.independent.co.uk
November 30, 2025 at 12:13 PM
"We don’t have a lord. We’re an anarcho-syndicalist commune. We take it in turns to act as a sort of executive officer for the week. But all the decisions of that officer have to be ratified at a special biweekly meeting. By a simple majority in the case of purely internal affairs..."
Splitters!
Oh God I needed this so much right now. Good old fashioned funny chaos and farce instead of constant depression in politics.
Looking forward to them setting up their own rival parties.
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...
Looking forward to them setting up their own rival parties.
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...
Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana dropped as Your Party leaders
Members vote in favour of 'collective leadership' option, with a ‘lay’ chair – who cannot be an MP
www.independent.co.uk
November 30, 2025 at 12:24 PM
Splitters!
Reposted by Gareth Thomas
Are there any other countries whose "patriotic" publications pay foreigners to write about what a hellhole they think their country is?
November 28, 2025 at 7:04 PM
Are there any other countries whose "patriotic" publications pay foreigners to write about what a hellhole they think their country is?
Reposted by Gareth Thomas
Turned on the Sunday politics shows (never a good idea). Heard the leader of the Conservative Party say:
"I remember when they were all calling Liz Truss a lettuce"
Switched off.
"I remember when they were all calling Liz Truss a lettuce"
Switched off.
November 30, 2025 at 9:48 AM
Turned on the Sunday politics shows (never a good idea). Heard the leader of the Conservative Party say:
"I remember when they were all calling Liz Truss a lettuce"
Switched off.
"I remember when they were all calling Liz Truss a lettuce"
Switched off.
Reposted by Gareth Thomas
Hard-hitting truth-telling from UCL Prof Anthony Costello….
“The Covid Public Inquiry is a devastating critique of medical advisers, civil servants and politicians who led the UK to the worst public health disaster in a century. More than 230,000 deaths.”
www.bylinesupplement.com/p/230000-dea...
“The Covid Public Inquiry is a devastating critique of medical advisers, civil servants and politicians who led the UK to the worst public health disaster in a century. More than 230,000 deaths.”
www.bylinesupplement.com/p/230000-dea...
230,000 Deaths and the ‘Calculated Silence’ of the Medical Establishment About the COVID Inquiry
The Covid Inquiry Report is a devastating critique of the medical establishment which led the UK to the worst public health disaster in a century, argues Anthony Costello
www.bylinesupplement.com
November 29, 2025 at 9:58 AM
Hard-hitting truth-telling from UCL Prof Anthony Costello….
“The Covid Public Inquiry is a devastating critique of medical advisers, civil servants and politicians who led the UK to the worst public health disaster in a century. More than 230,000 deaths.”
www.bylinesupplement.com/p/230000-dea...
“The Covid Public Inquiry is a devastating critique of medical advisers, civil servants and politicians who led the UK to the worst public health disaster in a century. More than 230,000 deaths.”
www.bylinesupplement.com/p/230000-dea...
Pinch me, somebody!
Another match day, another less-than-enthusiastic trip to Carrow Road #ncfc
Why do we keep punishing ourselves in this way? 🤷♂️
Why do we keep punishing ourselves in this way? 🤷♂️
I have absolutely no desire on such a filthy night to tear myself away from the comforting warmth of my wood-burning stove, brave the traffic up to Norwich, and trudge across the city in the cold & rain to Carrow Road #ncfc
But I *will* do so, because that’s what we do. It’s the hope that kills you
But I *will* do so, because that’s what we do. It’s the hope that kills you
November 29, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Pinch me, somebody!
Another match day, another less-than-enthusiastic trip to Carrow Road #ncfc
Why do we keep punishing ourselves in this way? 🤷♂️
Why do we keep punishing ourselves in this way? 🤷♂️
I have absolutely no desire on such a filthy night to tear myself away from the comforting warmth of my wood-burning stove, brave the traffic up to Norwich, and trudge across the city in the cold & rain to Carrow Road #ncfc
But I *will* do so, because that’s what we do. It’s the hope that kills you
But I *will* do so, because that’s what we do. It’s the hope that kills you
November 29, 2025 at 1:52 PM
Another match day, another less-than-enthusiastic trip to Carrow Road #ncfc
Why do we keep punishing ourselves in this way? 🤷♂️
Why do we keep punishing ourselves in this way? 🤷♂️
🤣🤣🤣
Happy weekend everybody! If you would like to make it that little bit more joyful, do yourselves a favour and watch this video at least once: youtu.be/-tfH1nty62U
Ugly Nasty Commie Bitch (Official Video)
YouTube video by Carsie Blanton
youtu.be
November 29, 2025 at 10:42 AM
🤣🤣🤣
With not-friends like these…
#Headline of the Day
Jeremy Corbyn declines to call Zarah Sultana a friend as Your Party holds first conference - Sky News
Jeremy Corbyn declines to call Zarah Sultana a friend as Your Party holds first conference - Sky News
November 29, 2025 at 10:38 AM
With not-friends like these…
Harsh!
So, happy 50th anniversary to Melody Maker’s review of Bohemian Rhapsody: “Queen, with a suitably baroque vocal orchestration, contrive to approximate the demented fury of the Balham Amateur Operatic Society performing The Pirates of Penzance”
November 29, 2025 at 10:33 AM
Harsh!
Reposted by Gareth Thomas
Oh well done Emma!
Wow - this guy must be really, REALLY bad with money if an extra £208 per month will “ruin” his retirement.
Let’s take a look at his situation based on what he told the @Telegraph
Because this does NOT add up!
No, this is not a “poor pensioner” scrabbling around for pennies…
🧵1/9
Let’s take a look at his situation based on what he told the @Telegraph
Because this does NOT add up!
No, this is not a “poor pensioner” scrabbling around for pennies…
🧵1/9
November 29, 2025 at 10:23 AM
Oh well done Emma!
Reposted by Gareth Thomas
Entirely predictable spending on taxis -
Home office: SOMETHING MUST BE DONE
2000 trafficked kids -
Home office....
Home office: SOMETHING MUST BE DONE
2000 trafficked kids -
Home office....
November 29, 2025 at 9:00 AM
Entirely predictable spending on taxis -
Home office: SOMETHING MUST BE DONE
2000 trafficked kids -
Home office....
Home office: SOMETHING MUST BE DONE
2000 trafficked kids -
Home office....
Reposted by Gareth Thomas
Not sure what's the most shocking aspect of this story of waste being dumped to a depth of 2m across 0.6ha of SSSI..
that the fine was a paltry £15000..
that it took 3 years for NE/EA to stop the dumping..
Or that the judge actually believes the SSSI can be restored!
www.gov.uk/government/n...
that the fine was a paltry £15000..
that it took 3 years for NE/EA to stop the dumping..
Or that the judge actually believes the SSSI can be restored!
www.gov.uk/government/n...
Landowner to pay £31,000 for landscaping Cornish SSSI with waste
Martin McAnulty has to undo the damage he did to a habitat-rich Site of Special Scientific Interest in St Dennis, Cornwall.
www.gov.uk
November 29, 2025 at 9:24 AM
Not sure what's the most shocking aspect of this story of waste being dumped to a depth of 2m across 0.6ha of SSSI..
that the fine was a paltry £15000..
that it took 3 years for NE/EA to stop the dumping..
Or that the judge actually believes the SSSI can be restored!
www.gov.uk/government/n...
that the fine was a paltry £15000..
that it took 3 years for NE/EA to stop the dumping..
Or that the judge actually believes the SSSI can be restored!
www.gov.uk/government/n...
Reposted by Gareth Thomas
Huge respect to the papers for finding both an 88 year old worried about the tax bill on her 6 bedroom Kensington house and a 20 year old fretting about only being able to save £12k a year tax free.
Top work all around. These are not easy case studies to find.
Top work all around. These are not easy case studies to find.
November 29, 2025 at 9:24 AM
Huge respect to the papers for finding both an 88 year old worried about the tax bill on her 6 bedroom Kensington house and a 20 year old fretting about only being able to save £12k a year tax free.
Top work all around. These are not easy case studies to find.
Top work all around. These are not easy case studies to find.
Reposted by Gareth Thomas
So the BBC did a news story on the horrible conditions in the hotels were people seeking asylum are forced to live and instead of the media talking about humanity and compassion about improving conditions and letting them work, this was the outcome:
So how exactly are they meant to get to them? Many are placed in areas without accessible transport links. They can't afford to pay for journeys themselves because of how little support they get.
Yet again Labour choosing to pander to Reform than think of consequences.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Yet again Labour choosing to pander to Reform than think of consequences.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Government to ban asylum seekers from using taxis
The ban is set to come in February and any exemptions will have to be signed off by the Home Office.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 29, 2025 at 7:55 AM
So the BBC did a news story on the horrible conditions in the hotels were people seeking asylum are forced to live and instead of the media talking about humanity and compassion about improving conditions and letting them work, this was the outcome:
Reposted by Gareth Thomas
There's something mesmerising about Badenoch's combination of supreme intellectual confidence and "Jesus? Didn't he play for Real Madrid?" command of detail.
It's like somebody spliced the certainty of Margaret Thatcher with the work ethic of Boris Johnson.
It's like somebody spliced the certainty of Margaret Thatcher with the work ethic of Boris Johnson.
November 28, 2025 at 8:53 PM
There's something mesmerising about Badenoch's combination of supreme intellectual confidence and "Jesus? Didn't he play for Real Madrid?" command of detail.
It's like somebody spliced the certainty of Margaret Thatcher with the work ethic of Boris Johnson.
It's like somebody spliced the certainty of Margaret Thatcher with the work ethic of Boris Johnson.
I’m with Fannie 🍻
To begin with today, happy 117th anniversary to this entirely reasonable cat
November 28, 2025 at 10:25 AM
I’m with Fannie 🍻