Phil Aisthorpe 🔶️
@sandgrouse.bsky.social
Retired IT project manager. #LibDems 🔶️. Ex Labour, disillusioned idealist. I go for walks and take photographs. My 3 political wishes: 1 Green economy, 2 #PR, 3 #Rejoin 🇪🇺 #FBPE. Make that 4 - free 🇺🇦.
PS, I don't reply to DMs.
PS, I don't reply to DMs.
Reposted by Phil Aisthorpe 🔶️
1. Placing these two graphs side by side shows why we have a prisons crisis. They can also be seen as a kind of Authoritarianism Index, showing the trend in state attitudes.
On the left is the Crime Survey for England and Wales.
On the right is the UK prison population.
🧵1/8
On the left is the Crime Survey for England and Wales.
On the right is the UK prison population.
🧵1/8
November 13, 2025 at 6:54 AM
1. Placing these two graphs side by side shows why we have a prisons crisis. They can also be seen as a kind of Authoritarianism Index, showing the trend in state attitudes.
On the left is the Crime Survey for England and Wales.
On the right is the UK prison population.
🧵1/8
On the left is the Crime Survey for England and Wales.
On the right is the UK prison population.
🧵1/8
Reposted by Phil Aisthorpe 🔶️
Reposted by Phil Aisthorpe 🔶️
The Telegraph sides with Trump against the BBC and, so, the country.
Private Eye sums up its feeble-minded, fawning betrayal beautifully.
Private Eye sums up its feeble-minded, fawning betrayal beautifully.
November 13, 2025 at 7:30 AM
The Telegraph sides with Trump against the BBC and, so, the country.
Private Eye sums up its feeble-minded, fawning betrayal beautifully.
Private Eye sums up its feeble-minded, fawning betrayal beautifully.
Reposted by Phil Aisthorpe 🔶️
To knit together two stories: through intimidation, litigation & extortion, Trump is clearly trying to create a media ecosystem where nobody asks him about Epstein - or indeed anything discomfiting. It is appalling to see so many UK media individuals & institutions aiding & abetting his corruption.
November 13, 2025 at 7:45 AM
To knit together two stories: through intimidation, litigation & extortion, Trump is clearly trying to create a media ecosystem where nobody asks him about Epstein - or indeed anything discomfiting. It is appalling to see so many UK media individuals & institutions aiding & abetting his corruption.
Reposted by Phil Aisthorpe 🔶️
Thx to Julie Ivory on Facebook for a great meme
November 12, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Thx to Julie Ivory on Facebook for a great meme
Reposted by Phil Aisthorpe 🔶️
"Another minister, who asked to be kept anonymous, told PoliticsHome it was 'pretty simple': "We either increase our birth rate, slash the state in half, or make the positive case for migration"
Perhaps they could try saying this non-anonymously? Just a thought
www.politicshome.com/news/article...
Perhaps they could try saying this non-anonymously? Just a thought
www.politicshome.com/news/article...
'It's About Earning Consent': Inside The Labour Government's 'Difficult Tightrope' On Immigration
Government insiders believe there is political space to set out a more positive case for legal immigration. But even Labour MPs who support a progr...
www.politicshome.com
November 12, 2025 at 3:28 PM
"Another minister, who asked to be kept anonymous, told PoliticsHome it was 'pretty simple': "We either increase our birth rate, slash the state in half, or make the positive case for migration"
Perhaps they could try saying this non-anonymously? Just a thought
www.politicshome.com/news/article...
Perhaps they could try saying this non-anonymously? Just a thought
www.politicshome.com/news/article...
Reposted by Phil Aisthorpe 🔶️
For all its faults, the BBC isn’t just a broadcaster — it’s part of our national culture and a pillar of our resilience in the information wars. Those who seek its destruction do our enemies’ work. We’d lose it at our collective peril. #BBC
November 12, 2025 at 5:28 PM
For all its faults, the BBC isn’t just a broadcaster — it’s part of our national culture and a pillar of our resilience in the information wars. Those who seek its destruction do our enemies’ work. We’d lose it at our collective peril. #BBC
Reposted by Phil Aisthorpe 🔶️
What Britain desperately needs is a vision of what we as a country, are aiming to build. Starmer certainly isn’t providing that vision. Not being the Tories isn’t enough. There is a desperation to appear patriotic, even though there is little consensus on what it means. We need to talk about it!
November 12, 2025 at 10:57 AM
What Britain desperately needs is a vision of what we as a country, are aiming to build. Starmer certainly isn’t providing that vision. Not being the Tories isn’t enough. There is a desperation to appear patriotic, even though there is little consensus on what it means. We need to talk about it!
Reposted by Phil Aisthorpe 🔶️
Reposted by Phil Aisthorpe 🔶️
The transition away from fossil fuels “inevitable”, despite a green backlash in the US. The world is expected to build more renewable energy projects in the next five years than has been rolled out over the last 40.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Supply boom in cheaper renewables will seal end of fossil fuel era, says IEA
Watchdog’s flagship report says rise in low-carbon electricity will make transition ‘inevitable’, despite Trump’s calls to carry on drilling
www.theguardian.com
November 12, 2025 at 6:42 AM
The transition away from fossil fuels “inevitable”, despite a green backlash in the US. The world is expected to build more renewable energy projects in the next five years than has been rolled out over the last 40.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
The UK's return to Dickensian England is complete.
With Rachel Reeves indicating that she will scrap the two-child benefit cap, 57% of Britons (including 50% of Labour voters) say they want to keep it in place
Keep cap: 57% (-2 from Sep)
Abolish cap: 28% (+3)
2024 Labour voters
Keep cap: 50% (-3)
Abolish cap: 37% (+4)
yougov.co.uk/topics/polit...
Keep cap: 57% (-2 from Sep)
Abolish cap: 28% (+3)
2024 Labour voters
Keep cap: 50% (-3)
Abolish cap: 37% (+4)
yougov.co.uk/topics/polit...
November 11, 2025 at 5:55 PM
The UK's return to Dickensian England is complete.
Reposted by Phil Aisthorpe 🔶️
If Trump sues the BBC for slander or libel, it would be in a UK court. As far as I know, UK laws would require:
1. Trump prove the report did harm to his reputation (which it didn't).
2. The BBC prove he incited an insurrection (which he did).
... So all he's trying to do is intimidate broadcasters
1. Trump prove the report did harm to his reputation (which it didn't).
2. The BBC prove he incited an insurrection (which he did).
... So all he's trying to do is intimidate broadcasters
November 11, 2025 at 2:00 PM
If Trump sues the BBC for slander or libel, it would be in a UK court. As far as I know, UK laws would require:
1. Trump prove the report did harm to his reputation (which it didn't).
2. The BBC prove he incited an insurrection (which he did).
... So all he's trying to do is intimidate broadcasters
1. Trump prove the report did harm to his reputation (which it didn't).
2. The BBC prove he incited an insurrection (which he did).
... So all he's trying to do is intimidate broadcasters
Reposted by Phil Aisthorpe 🔶️
Could suing the BBC backfire spectacularly on trump?
If BBC lawyers stick to their guns, his actions on January 6 will be aired in court.
If BBC lawyers stick to their guns, his actions on January 6 will be aired in court.
November 11, 2025 at 2:34 PM
Could suing the BBC backfire spectacularly on trump?
If BBC lawyers stick to their guns, his actions on January 6 will be aired in court.
If BBC lawyers stick to their guns, his actions on January 6 will be aired in court.
Reposted by Phil Aisthorpe 🔶️
The thrill of right-wing outlets and politicians over the BBC tells you all you need to know...
The BBC is a vital British institution.
from @bjennings90.bsky.social⭐
The BBC is a vital British institution.
from @bjennings90.bsky.social⭐
November 11, 2025 at 3:05 PM
The thrill of right-wing outlets and politicians over the BBC tells you all you need to know...
The BBC is a vital British institution.
from @bjennings90.bsky.social⭐
The BBC is a vital British institution.
from @bjennings90.bsky.social⭐
Reposted by Phil Aisthorpe 🔶️
“The Panorama edit may be a mistake. The campaign around it is not. It is an assault on democratic infrastructure. The question is whether Britain will defend its power to tell the truth” www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
The Guardian view on the BBC under siege: Britain must defend its own truth | Editorial
Editorial: With Donald Trump circling and Labour ministers wavering, defending the corporation’s independence is now a test of national will
www.theguardian.com
November 11, 2025 at 2:35 PM
“The Panorama edit may be a mistake. The campaign around it is not. It is an assault on democratic infrastructure. The question is whether Britain will defend its power to tell the truth” www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
China added 240GW of solar in 9 months this year. Meanwhile, in Rotherham, Labour MPs are opposing plans for a piddling 50MW of solar because it's too big.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
China’s CO2 emissions have been flat or falling for past 18 months, analysis finds
World’s biggest polluter on track to hit peak emissions target early but miss goal for cutting carbon intensity
www.theguardian.com
November 11, 2025 at 2:34 PM
China added 240GW of solar in 9 months this year. Meanwhile, in Rotherham, Labour MPs are opposing plans for a piddling 50MW of solar because it's too big.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
Reposted by Phil Aisthorpe 🔶️
Trump wants to destroy the BBC and take our money. And Nigel Farage is egging him on.
All true patriots should tell them both: hands off our BBC.
All true patriots should tell them both: hands off our BBC.
November 10, 2025 at 10:07 PM
Trump wants to destroy the BBC and take our money. And Nigel Farage is egging him on.
All true patriots should tell them both: hands off our BBC.
All true patriots should tell them both: hands off our BBC.
Reposted by Phil Aisthorpe 🔶️
Reposted by Phil Aisthorpe 🔶️
Ed Davey about traitorous Putin's pet Farage: He is basically teaming up with Trump to criticize the BBC, it's shocking & unpatriotic. It shows he wants Trump's America, with his attacks on free media, coming to the UK.. election interference has come from Farage's friend... Putin.. #ukpolitics
November 10, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Ed Davey about traitorous Putin's pet Farage: He is basically teaming up with Trump to criticize the BBC, it's shocking & unpatriotic. It shows he wants Trump's America, with his attacks on free media, coming to the UK.. election interference has come from Farage's friend... Putin.. #ukpolitics
I'll just correct that headline. "Farage betrayed small business owners."
www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...
www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...
Farage says small business owners who thought Brexit would cut regulation have been betrayed – UK politics live
Reform UK leader claims that burden of regulation is worse than before the referendum
www.theguardian.com
November 10, 2025 at 12:46 PM
I'll just correct that headline. "Farage betrayed small business owners."
www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...
www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...
Reposted by Phil Aisthorpe 🔶️
The BBC belongs to Britain, not Trump.
Political leaders across the spectrum must defend it.
Political leaders across the spectrum must defend it.
November 10, 2025 at 8:30 AM
The BBC belongs to Britain, not Trump.
Political leaders across the spectrum must defend it.
Political leaders across the spectrum must defend it.
Reposted by Phil Aisthorpe 🔶️
The famously left-wing bias of the BBC.
(From The Decade In Tory)
(From The Decade In Tory)
November 10, 2025 at 8:59 AM
The famously left-wing bias of the BBC.
(From The Decade In Tory)
(From The Decade In Tory)
Reposted by Phil Aisthorpe 🔶️
The BBC - for all its flaws - remains the greatest news and broadcasting service in the world.
It is everything Donald Trump and his cabal of nasty little nobodies will never be and we need to defend it.
It is everything Donald Trump and his cabal of nasty little nobodies will never be and we need to defend it.
Donald Trump Slams 'Corrupt' BBC After Tim Davie Resigns Over Bias Row
www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/donald...
www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/donald...
Donald Trump Slams 'Corrupt' BBC After Tim Davie Resigns Over Bias Row
The US president said the corporation's behaviour was "a terrible thing for democracy".
www.huffingtonpost.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 9:00 AM
The BBC - for all its flaws - remains the greatest news and broadcasting service in the world.
It is everything Donald Trump and his cabal of nasty little nobodies will never be and we need to defend it.
It is everything Donald Trump and his cabal of nasty little nobodies will never be and we need to defend it.
Reposted by Phil Aisthorpe 🔶️
The resignations of Tim Davie and Deborah Turness must be an opportunity for the BBC to turn a new leaf, rebuild trust and resist those like Nigel Farage who want to destroy it
We must stand up for a strong, independent BBC, to stop Trump’s America becoming Farage's Britain.
We must stand up for a strong, independent BBC, to stop Trump’s America becoming Farage's Britain.
November 9, 2025 at 6:45 PM
The resignations of Tim Davie and Deborah Turness must be an opportunity for the BBC to turn a new leaf, rebuild trust and resist those like Nigel Farage who want to destroy it
We must stand up for a strong, independent BBC, to stop Trump’s America becoming Farage's Britain.
We must stand up for a strong, independent BBC, to stop Trump’s America becoming Farage's Britain.