Declan
@blench.bsky.social
Birgitte Nyborg fan account. [SNP councillor and staffer. Freelance translator. Glasgow. He/him]
Pinned
Declan
@blench.bsky.social
· Nov 12
I don’t plan to use this account for anything remotely council-related but better to err on the side of caution.
Reposted by Declan
plenty of women stepping up to the challenge here, who are the men who fail to answer the call
Several teams of female gamers have dropped out of the Dead by Daylight Women's World Cup after trans women were banned.
Women gamers boycott global esports tournament over trans ban
Several teams of female gamers have dropped out of the Dead by Daylight Women's World Cup after trans women were banned.
bit.ly
December 6, 2025 at 9:00 AM
plenty of women stepping up to the challenge here, who are the men who fail to answer the call
Reposted by Declan
Observed here presumably part of the etymology in the same way that laws in English were once said to be “found,” from the theory that laws were universal moral perspectives or naturally-existing rules that were noticed and codified rather than being invented from scratch.
Dutch has a fascinating word for "law": 'wet'.
It comes from Proto-Germanic *witōþan.
Its meaning is reconstructed as "that which is observed".
Old High German had 'wiʒʒōd', Gothic 'witōþ'.
They're related to *witanan, the ancestor of 'to wit', Dutch 'weten', and German 'wissen', all "to know".
It comes from Proto-Germanic *witōþan.
Its meaning is reconstructed as "that which is observed".
Old High German had 'wiʒʒōd', Gothic 'witōþ'.
They're related to *witanan, the ancestor of 'to wit', Dutch 'weten', and German 'wissen', all "to know".
The word ‘law’ is connected with ‘legal’, but etymologically they’re entirely unrelated.
‘Law’ is related to the verbs ‘to lie’ and ‘to lay’. It comes from a Germanic word meaning “things that are laid out”.
‘Legal’ is related to ‘loyal’. Both derive from Latin ‘lēx’ (law).
Zoom in to learn more:
‘Law’ is related to the verbs ‘to lie’ and ‘to lay’. It comes from a Germanic word meaning “things that are laid out”.
‘Legal’ is related to ‘loyal’. Both derive from Latin ‘lēx’ (law).
Zoom in to learn more:
December 6, 2025 at 7:28 PM
Observed here presumably part of the etymology in the same way that laws in English were once said to be “found,” from the theory that laws were universal moral perspectives or naturally-existing rules that were noticed and codified rather than being invented from scratch.
Reposted by Declan
this keeps coming up in the american context but it's true everywhere
if you join a party in scotland you'll get made a branch officer the first meeting you turn up and if you stick around a few months you'll be arguing with the party leader
if you have the time and energy seriously just do it
if you join a party in scotland you'll get made a branch officer the first meeting you turn up and if you stick around a few months you'll be arguing with the party leader
if you have the time and energy seriously just do it
I really can't emphasize enough that if you care about local politics, all you gotta do is show up. Just a regular schmegular person showing up. Literally just show up consistently in person and within a remarkably short amount of time, you will have a shocking amount of influence.
December 6, 2025 at 6:57 PM
this keeps coming up in the american context but it's true everywhere
if you join a party in scotland you'll get made a branch officer the first meeting you turn up and if you stick around a few months you'll be arguing with the party leader
if you have the time and energy seriously just do it
if you join a party in scotland you'll get made a branch officer the first meeting you turn up and if you stick around a few months you'll be arguing with the party leader
if you have the time and energy seriously just do it
Reposted by Declan
Is there any greater proof that the EU is something worthwhile than the richest person in the world calling for its destruction. The EU, imperfect as it is, is one of the very few means in the world to hold people like Musk to account.
December 6, 2025 at 6:20 PM
Is there any greater proof that the EU is something worthwhile than the richest person in the world calling for its destruction. The EU, imperfect as it is, is one of the very few means in the world to hold people like Musk to account.
Reposted by Declan
not entirely sure i love the guardian's headline that scottish voters are "embracing" reform and that this is a blow to our self-image as a welcoming country
yes there are arseholes, yes they have supporters, but headlines like these are also what shape the normalisation of those attitudes
yes there are arseholes, yes they have supporters, but headlines like these are also what shape the normalisation of those attitudes
December 6, 2025 at 6:32 PM
not entirely sure i love the guardian's headline that scottish voters are "embracing" reform and that this is a blow to our self-image as a welcoming country
yes there are arseholes, yes they have supporters, but headlines like these are also what shape the normalisation of those attitudes
yes there are arseholes, yes they have supporters, but headlines like these are also what shape the normalisation of those attitudes
Reposted by Declan
Aside from the ridiculous “biological people” language, I really hate the sneering dishonesty of “the fiction they had rights that have been taken away”. If you’re a trans woman who’s been in the WI for decades and now can’t remain a member, that’s not a fiction!
Kishwer Falkner in The Times talking about the rights of "biological people". As compared to trans people, who are, of course, non-biological.
December 6, 2025 at 11:03 AM
Aside from the ridiculous “biological people” language, I really hate the sneering dishonesty of “the fiction they had rights that have been taken away”. If you’re a trans woman who’s been in the WI for decades and now can’t remain a member, that’s not a fiction!
“I can’t be a spokesperson because of my self-admitted poor judgement but I can still be an MSP and a candidate in May” is a tough sell
EXC: Scottish Labour’s education spokeswoman has quit over her friendship with a convicted sex offender.
Pam Duncan-Glancy resigned after a Record investigation into her links with Sean Morton, who was convicted of possessing indecent child images.
Pam Duncan-Glancy resigned after a Record investigation into her links with Sean Morton, who was convicted of possessing indecent child images.
Scottish Labour education spokeswoman quits over friendship with convicted sex offender - Daily Record
Pam Duncan-Glancy resigned after the Record approached Scottish Labour about her links to disgraced former councillor Sean Morton. Concerns were raised about her judgement.
www.dailyrecord.co.uk
December 5, 2025 at 10:17 PM
“I can’t be a spokesperson because of my self-admitted poor judgement but I can still be an MSP and a candidate in May” is a tough sell
Reposted by Declan
Nigel Farage has shown 'profound ignorance' of the benefits of having multilingual children in classrooms, an expert has said ahead of his visit to Scotland this weekend
'Profound ignorance': Expert weighs in as Nigel Farage attacks bilingual children
www.thenational.scot
December 5, 2025 at 6:11 PM
Nigel Farage has shown 'profound ignorance' of the benefits of having multilingual children in classrooms, an expert has said ahead of his visit to Scotland this weekend
Reposted by Declan
What would happen if, say, an attendee accused every gender critical labour attendee of being transgender? Would they be banned upon suspicion?
The Labour party women’s conference will be revived next year with only biological women allowed to vote, but a fringe programme and reception will be open to all regardless of gender and sex, LabourList can reveal.
labourlist.org/2025/12/excl...
labourlist.org/2025/12/excl...
EXCLUSIVE: Labour women's conference plan and locals campaign priorities revealed - LabourList
Labour's NEC finds compromise position that enables women's conference to return in 2026. And Labour will campaign on NHS, Families and Pride in Place in May.
labourlist.org
December 5, 2025 at 6:06 PM
What would happen if, say, an attendee accused every gender critical labour attendee of being transgender? Would they be banned upon suspicion?
FIFA bloody Peace Prize, spare me
December 5, 2025 at 5:57 PM
FIFA bloody Peace Prize, spare me
Reposted by Declan
No 10 ICYMI: "Eurostar and Deutsche Bahn (DB) have confirmed joint plans for a direct high-speed rail connection between Germany & London, which will go direct to Cologne and Frankfurt in 4 and 5 hours respectively.
"The line should be up and running in the early 2030s" and will use double deckers
"The line should be up and running in the early 2030s" and will use double deckers
December 5, 2025 at 4:35 PM
No 10 ICYMI: "Eurostar and Deutsche Bahn (DB) have confirmed joint plans for a direct high-speed rail connection between Germany & London, which will go direct to Cologne and Frankfurt in 4 and 5 hours respectively.
"The line should be up and running in the early 2030s" and will use double deckers
"The line should be up and running in the early 2030s" and will use double deckers
“in a modern economy with its astoundingly detailed division of labor, almost all immigrants are not substitutes for you… They increase your productivity, by helping you, and therefore raise your wage. They are, as economists put it, “complements” with you”
mccloskey.substack.com/p/immigratio...
mccloskey.substack.com/p/immigratio...
Immigration is Good
I like immigration.
mccloskey.substack.com
December 5, 2025 at 4:22 PM
“in a modern economy with its astoundingly detailed division of labor, almost all immigrants are not substitutes for you… They increase your productivity, by helping you, and therefore raise your wage. They are, as economists put it, “complements” with you”
mccloskey.substack.com/p/immigratio...
mccloskey.substack.com/p/immigratio...
Slovenia, too. Eurovision seems determined to sign its own death warrant, and I've always been a huge Eurovision fan but hell mend them.
Ireland, Spain and the Netherlands to boycott Eurovision 2026 as Israel cleared to compete
Ireland, Spain and the Netherlands to boycott Eurovision 2026 as Israel cleared to compete
Decision not to hold vote on Israel’s participation comes in spite of several broadcasters calling for its exclusion
Ireland, Spain and the Netherlands will boycott next year’s Eurovision after Israel was given the all-clear to compete in next year’s song contest in spite of several participating broadcasters calling for its exclusion.
At the general assembly of the European Broadcasting Union, the body that organises the hugely popular international annual singing competition, no vote on Israel’s participation was held. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
December 4, 2025 at 9:18 PM
Slovenia, too. Eurovision seems determined to sign its own death warrant, and I've always been a huge Eurovision fan but hell mend them.
Reposted by Declan
Absolutely insane to me that GB News retains its broadcasting license. It's BNP TV.
GB News now broadcasting calls to remove the ethnic minority MPs from parliament
December 4, 2025 at 6:52 PM
Absolutely insane to me that GB News retains its broadcasting license. It's BNP TV.
Reposted by Declan
It doesn't matter what language you speak at home, or on your first day at school - if you live in Glasgow, Glasgow is your home. Farage and co think multilingualism is somehow a bad thing. I know, firsthand, that it's a strength.
December 3, 2025 at 6:11 PM
It doesn't matter what language you speak at home, or on your first day at school - if you live in Glasgow, Glasgow is your home. Farage and co think multilingualism is somehow a bad thing. I know, firsthand, that it's a strength.
Scottish Labour could never
BREAKING NEWS
Over a third of Welsh Labour Senedd Members have written to Keir Starmer to stop undermining devolution.
They say:
"If this was being done by a Tory Government, we would be calling for a judicial review. This must never happen again."
1/2
Over a third of Welsh Labour Senedd Members have written to Keir Starmer to stop undermining devolution.
They say:
"If this was being done by a Tory Government, we would be calling for a judicial review. This must never happen again."
1/2
December 3, 2025 at 4:56 PM
Scottish Labour could never
The lighting in these lifts is so forgiving
December 3, 2025 at 2:30 PM
The lighting in these lifts is so forgiving
Reposted by Declan
if you genuinely want to argue that the Equality Act, when introduced, intended to make unlawful an approach to trans inclusion that has existed *since the 1970s*, I absolutely cannot take you seriously
December 3, 2025 at 11:40 AM
if you genuinely want to argue that the Equality Act, when introduced, intended to make unlawful an approach to trans inclusion that has existed *since the 1970s*, I absolutely cannot take you seriously
Reposted by Declan
It's worth remembering that the government could stop the exclusion of trans people from public life any time they want.
December 3, 2025 at 10:58 AM
It's worth remembering that the government could stop the exclusion of trans people from public life any time they want.
Reposted by Declan
The article explicitly notes WI had had a trans-inclusive policy *since the 1970s*!
December 3, 2025 at 10:57 AM
The article explicitly notes WI had had a trans-inclusive policy *since the 1970s*!
This would be fantastic
UK aims to secure agreement to rejoin Erasmus student exchange scheme 👏
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
UK aims to secure agreement to rejoin Erasmus student exchange scheme
Britain quit EU programme after Brexit, when Boris Johnson claimed it did not offer good value for money
www.theguardian.com
December 2, 2025 at 9:17 PM
This would be fantastic
Reposted by Declan
this Girlguiding thing is so miserable. and so emblematic of the bigot playbook. a poisonous minority of mindless, soul rotted cultists intimidating decent people - who far outnumber them - because they have the backing of Big Transphobe. and for what? to make life miserable for a defenceless few
December 2, 2025 at 8:44 PM
this Girlguiding thing is so miserable. and so emblematic of the bigot playbook. a poisonous minority of mindless, soul rotted cultists intimidating decent people - who far outnumber them - because they have the backing of Big Transphobe. and for what? to make life miserable for a defenceless few
Reposted by Declan
“I am proud to have scrapped the two-child limit,” #Starmer intoned yesterday “and lifted half a million children out of poverty.” Fascinating to hear he’s extremely proud of doing something he last year suspended seven of his MPs for voting for.”
December 2, 2025 at 8:39 PM
“I am proud to have scrapped the two-child limit,” #Starmer intoned yesterday “and lifted half a million children out of poverty.” Fascinating to hear he’s extremely proud of doing something he last year suspended seven of his MPs for voting for.”
Reposted by Declan
Scotland's population is undergoing unprecedented change as it reaches a new high, according to new analysis from the National Records of Scotland
🗣️ 'Scotland’s population has never been so big or had as many people aged 75 and over'
🗣️ 'Scotland’s population has never been so big or had as many people aged 75 and over'
December 2, 2025 at 12:57 PM
Scotland's population is undergoing unprecedented change as it reaches a new high, according to new analysis from the National Records of Scotland
🗣️ 'Scotland’s population has never been so big or had as many people aged 75 and over'
🗣️ 'Scotland’s population has never been so big or had as many people aged 75 and over'