Richard Appleby
@rmappleby.uk
Ex-IBMer, currently "economically inactive". Interested in science, technology and the environment. Fan of rational thought, citizenship and the common good.
Reposted by Richard Appleby
Our uncodified constitution is deficient in so many ways, but there also are things it does well - especially when like today there is a genuine tension between Commons and No 10.
And as US indicate, a codified constitution is no good without tensions.
And as US indicate, a codified constitution is no good without tensions.
February 4, 2026 at 4:14 PM
Our uncodified constitution is deficient in so many ways, but there also are things it does well - especially when like today there is a genuine tension between Commons and No 10.
And as US indicate, a codified constitution is no good without tensions.
And as US indicate, a codified constitution is no good without tensions.
Reposted by Richard Appleby
A useful reminder on today of all days from our @qmulsse.bsky.social colleague @colmpm.bsky.social
Labour's problem isn't Keir Starmer | LSE British Politics
Labour's dismal performance in the polls has lead to Keir Starmer's leadership of the Labour Party being openly contested. But Colm Murphy argues that, while Starmer is a flawed politician, many of th...
blogs.lse.ac.uk
February 4, 2026 at 12:47 PM
A useful reminder on today of all days from our @qmulsse.bsky.social colleague @colmpm.bsky.social
This ⬇️
If Starmer is serious (he's not, ofc) he'd introduce strict new anti-lobbying laws, bring in firewalls against revolving doors, and undertake a deep, unflinching investigation into financial and influence ties in politics, with criminal sanctions.
February 4, 2026 at 12:47 PM
This ⬇️
This. The problem is visible from space ⬇️
Zero net migration would shrink UK economy by 3.6%.
Higher taxes to maintain public services.
UK has 3 working age people for every one pensioner, could be 2:1 by 2050. Low birth rate. Can't sustain economy without immigration.
Xenophobia preventing honest debate.
Higher taxes to maintain public services.
UK has 3 working age people for every one pensioner, could be 2:1 by 2050. Low birth rate. Can't sustain economy without immigration.
Xenophobia preventing honest debate.
Zero net migration would shrink UK economy by 3.6%, says thinktank
Jump of £37bn in budget deficit by 2040 would force government to increase taxes, NIESR predicts
www.theguardian.com
February 4, 2026 at 11:15 AM
This. The problem is visible from space ⬇️
And if Mandelson did this, and (almost) got away with it, who else has been? And how would we even know?
I imagine current politicians of all hues will want to paint Mandelson as a lone ‘bad apple’, and sweep any hint of a mess under the carpet asap.
I imagine current politicians of all hues will want to paint Mandelson as a lone ‘bad apple’, and sweep any hint of a mess under the carpet asap.
Peter Mandelson is telling the truth on one thing: the idea he was bought for a $4k “bursary” or a $75k gift is ridiculous
The real incentive was a post-government payday - one so big he *rejected* a $3–5m-a-year offer
And Epstein enabled that payday
Here’s the evidence. 🧵
The real incentive was a post-government payday - one so big he *rejected* a $3–5m-a-year offer
And Epstein enabled that payday
Here’s the evidence. 🧵
February 4, 2026 at 10:27 AM
And if Mandelson did this, and (almost) got away with it, who else has been? And how would we even know?
I imagine current politicians of all hues will want to paint Mandelson as a lone ‘bad apple’, and sweep any hint of a mess under the carpet asap.
I imagine current politicians of all hues will want to paint Mandelson as a lone ‘bad apple’, and sweep any hint of a mess under the carpet asap.
So that’s equivalent to a 9 billion cut to the NHS budget?
Well done Wes Streeting. That’s going to make life easier.
Well done Wes Streeting. That’s going to make life easier.
February 4, 2026 at 1:29 AM
So that’s equivalent to a 9 billion cut to the NHS budget?
Well done Wes Streeting. That’s going to make life easier.
Well done Wes Streeting. That’s going to make life easier.
Uh huh. Except the Americans are bringing some ICE agents to provide security. Now, I’m just guessing here, but I don’t expect them to be listening to the Italians much.
Or even at all, actually.
Or even at all, actually.
Italy rolls out 24/7 command centre for Winter Games security plan reut.rs/4bAJaDl
Italy rolls out 24/7 command centre for Winter Games security plan
Italy has rolled out a sweeping security plan for the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics to be coordinated by a single command centre, the International Olympic Operations Room (SOIO).
reut.rs
February 4, 2026 at 12:32 AM
Uh huh. Except the Americans are bringing some ICE agents to provide security. Now, I’m just guessing here, but I don’t expect them to be listening to the Italians much.
Or even at all, actually.
Or even at all, actually.
Wondering which of these things is actually a crime in Florida?
February 4, 2026 at 12:17 AM
Wondering which of these things is actually a crime in Florida?
So this will be the famous American “blind justice” then?
Right?
Right??!
😢
Right?
Right??!
😢
So much here that I just cannot wrap my head around...
"Asked about the shooting of Ms. Good, more than half of Republicans said it was a necessary use of force. Asked about Mr. Pretti, just 33 percent said it was a necessary use of force. A large share, 43 percent, said they were not sure."
"Asked about the shooting of Ms. Good, more than half of Republicans said it was a necessary use of force. Asked about Mr. Pretti, just 33 percent said it was a necessary use of force. A large share, 43 percent, said they were not sure."
Polls Show Strong G.O.P. Support for Trump on Immigration
www.nytimes.com
February 4, 2026 at 12:15 AM
So this will be the famous American “blind justice” then?
Right?
Right??!
😢
Right?
Right??!
😢
He’s like the old British army: if it moves tariff it, and if it doesn’t, sue it. (With apologies to the original aphorism)
February 4, 2026 at 12:07 AM
He’s like the old British army: if it moves tariff it, and if it doesn’t, sue it. (With apologies to the original aphorism)
No experience of Jennrick, but Braverman was never the sharpest knife in the drawer. Amazed she managed to even get selected a prospective MP tbh. I always assumed someone had pulled some strings for her…
The #Reform Party has less than 10 MPs, yet cannot co-ordinate how they should vote on a policy in Parliament. Can you trust a party who can't even manage or organise just a handful of people? Mind you, #ToryFailures Robert Jenrick and Suella Braverman aren't smart cookies, are they?
#ReformShambles
#ReformShambles
February 3, 2026 at 11:49 PM
No experience of Jennrick, but Braverman was never the sharpest knife in the drawer. Amazed she managed to even get selected a prospective MP tbh. I always assumed someone had pulled some strings for her…
“… might pose isssues for AI…”
I’m a bit more worried about the issues they’ll pose for pedestrians, frankly.
I’m a bit more worried about the issues they’ll pose for pedestrians, frankly.
Self-driving taxis are coming to London – should we be worried? | Jack Stilgoe
Waymo’s cars were first rolled out in San Francisco, but the English capital’s old roads, pelican crossings and jaywalkers may pose issues for AI, says science and technology professor Jack Stilgoe
www.theguardian.com
February 2, 2026 at 9:14 AM
“… might pose isssues for AI…”
I’m a bit more worried about the issues they’ll pose for pedestrians, frankly.
I’m a bit more worried about the issues they’ll pose for pedestrians, frankly.
I’m sorry, I must be getting old. While I support people wearing whatever they want, this is just … Seriously? WTF! Don’t you know what you look like?
Wearing a custom-molded leather dress, Heid Klum joked that she would be giving standing ovations throughout the Grammy Awards due to her inability to sit down at the ceremony.
February 2, 2026 at 1:31 AM
I’m sorry, I must be getting old. While I support people wearing whatever they want, this is just … Seriously? WTF! Don’t you know what you look like?
Fabulous! ⬇️
Thanks to @daveproudlove.bsky.social for alerting me to this wonderful exchange 😂
February 2, 2026 at 12:41 AM
Fabulous! ⬇️
Can’t argue with the numbers…
February 2, 2026 at 12:34 AM
Can’t argue with the numbers…
Reposted by Richard Appleby
Timeline Cleanse:
This tawny owl is sadly infertile
So while she was out hunting, her caretaker swapped her inviable eggs with orphaned chicks, and left a few field mice behind
❤️❤️
This tawny owl is sadly infertile
So while she was out hunting, her caretaker swapped her inviable eggs with orphaned chicks, and left a few field mice behind
❤️❤️
February 1, 2026 at 11:00 PM
I so want this to be true! ⬇️
read online that someone set-up a premium rate phone number where callers get charged $3.99/ min. then they posted flyers in their neighborhood that said "call this number to report illegal aliens," but the number just puts them on hold with music. so far, they've made $17,000
February 1, 2026 at 9:37 PM
I so want this to be true! ⬇️
I’ve never seen an electric HGV in the UK. I do see some Transit van-size EVs (fairly occasionally), but that’s it.
Meanwhile, in China: ⬇️
Meanwhile, in China: ⬇️
One-sixth of transport emissions in the UK are from HGVs. They need to switch to battery-electric, but BEV HGV sales in the UK are tiny.
Meanwhile in China:
Meanwhile in China:
Here are the data plotted as shares (recognising that brown and purple are not besties).
January 29, 2026 at 7:25 PM
I’ve never seen an electric HGV in the UK. I do see some Transit van-size EVs (fairly occasionally), but that’s it.
Meanwhile, in China: ⬇️
Meanwhile, in China: ⬇️
😂😂😂😂
Precious little darlings ain’t they,those purveyors of freedom of speech.
January 29, 2026 at 7:13 PM
😂😂😂😂
Post of the week! ⬇️😂
They're there to stop American athletes defecting
BREAKING: ICE agents will have a security role during the upcoming Winter Olympics, U.S. embassy sources confirm.
January 28, 2026 at 8:52 PM
Post of the week! ⬇️😂
I’ve sort of reached that point where I’m resigned to letting the Americans harm themselves with their antivax nonsense, but I object to them trying to push it onto the rest of the world too.
This is essentially blackmail and could endanger vaccine supply for many countries that need thiomersal in vaccines to keep them stable when they lack infrastructure to keep vaccines cool in transport and storage 🧵
The Trump administration has told global vaccine group GAVI to phase out shots containing the preservative thimerosal as a condition of providing the group with funding. Thimerosal was targeted by RFK Jr last summer in US vaccines without a rigorous scientific process
TAT: [Attacking Science]
TAT: [Attacking Science]
January 28, 2026 at 6:30 PM
I’ve sort of reached that point where I’m resigned to letting the Americans harm themselves with their antivax nonsense, but I object to them trying to push it onto the rest of the world too.
Springsteen continuing the protest song tradition with style. On a par with Dylan? Not sure, but he can at least sing in tune, so there is definitely that 👍
I wrote this song on Saturday, recorded it yesterday and released it to you today in response to the state terror being visited on the city of Minneapolis. It’s dedicated to the people of Minneapolis, our innocent immigrant neighbors and in memory of Alex Pretti and Renee Good.
Stay free
Stay free
Bruce Springsteen - Streets Of Minneapolis (Official Audio)
YouTube video by Bruce Springsteen
youtu.be
January 28, 2026 at 6:21 PM
Springsteen continuing the protest song tradition with style. On a par with Dylan? Not sure, but he can at least sing in tune, so there is definitely that 👍
Reposted by Richard Appleby
“Imagine how they lie when there’s no evidence to contradict them.”
Watch this powerful message from Jon Stewart.
Watch this powerful message from Jon Stewart.
January 27, 2026 at 7:59 PM
“Imagine how they lie when there’s no evidence to contradict them.”
Watch this powerful message from Jon Stewart.
Watch this powerful message from Jon Stewart.
Reposted by Richard Appleby
I think at this point the UK has accepted Paddington as the Death Bear, collector of souls. So, I think as a nation we should start smearing marmalade on the eyes of the dead and whisper “fare for the crossing”. It’ll feel weird now but, in three of four generations, no one will question it.
January 26, 2026 at 11:36 AM
I think at this point the UK has accepted Paddington as the Death Bear, collector of souls. So, I think as a nation we should start smearing marmalade on the eyes of the dead and whisper “fare for the crossing”. It’ll feel weird now but, in three of four generations, no one will question it.
Reposted by Richard Appleby
So Reform has no problem with a candidate who doesn't think Rishi Sunak is English, and effectively endorsed the neo-Nazis of the AfD in the last German election.
NEW: Former academic Matt Goodwin has been announced as Reform UK's candidate for the Gorton & Denton byelection.
January 27, 2026 at 2:21 PM
So Reform has no problem with a candidate who doesn't think Rishi Sunak is English, and effectively endorsed the neo-Nazis of the AfD in the last German election.