David Beckett
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iamdavidbeckett.bsky.social
David Beckett
@iamdavidbeckett.bsky.social
Tetraplegic, vegan, Fabian, a man who refuses to let what he can't do stop what he can do

Labour Councillor, proud to represent the Brinkburn and Faverdale ward in Darlington
This is just brilliant questioning by @benniethompson.bsky.social, who makes Michael Glasheen look foolish and someone who is trying to crackdown on a nonexistent threat

youtu.be/CFXdX0l3Ld8?...
"Where is in the U.S. does Antifa exist?"
YouTube video by C-SPAN
youtu.be
December 14, 2025 at 2:58 PM
Amusing error on Patriots.com, which has Chris Simms predicting that the Patriots play themselves tonight @patriots.bsky.social
December 14, 2025 at 2:43 PM
A very good piece in Prospect by @arusbridger.bsky.social about what the BBC should do about Donald Trump's lawsuit and how a polite, but blunt and American version of Private Eye's Arkle v Pressdram response would be appropriate

www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/media/...
The four-word message the BBC should send Trump about his $1bn lawsuit
The corporation must show it will not be cowed, unlike American broadcast media, and call the president’s bluff
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk
November 15, 2025 at 10:59 PM
Reposted by David Beckett
Farage is asked about another two of his MEPs, who made the same pro-Russia statements that Nathan Gill has now pled guilty to being bribed to make.

"Opinions are opinions."

Farage's defence seems to be that they arrived at those views independently and it has nowt to do with him.

Hmm. 🤔 ~AA
October 27, 2025 at 3:42 PM
Reposted by David Beckett
Farage: epic grifter
October 27, 2025 at 12:45 PM
Reposted by David Beckett
I have a very bad feeling about this...
October 27, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Reposted by David Beckett
Really, Reform UK? THIS is what you're going with? That this man, who served as an MEP next to Nigel Farage for years and was made leader of your party in Wales by current deputy, Richard Tice, is just "one of tens of thousands of people Nigel meets on an annual basis"?~AA
September 29, 2025 at 9:26 AM
Ricky Hatton’s fights were more than sporting occasions - they were joyous and exciting, fitting his all-action style and the suspense of wondering if his fragile skin would last

He was a very skilled boxer with one of the most vicious body punchers I’ve ever seen, and is one of Britain’s best
Though some hours have passed since the awful news of Ricky Hatton’s death, I can’t believe that one of the most exciting fighters I’ve ever had the privilege of watching has died

I hope he is at peace and my thoughts are with his friends and family at this time💔

www.bbc.co.uk/sport/boxing...
Ricky Hatton dead: Obituary of Manchester's former world champion boxer
Former boxing world champion Ricky Hatton, who has died aged 46, achieved all he dreamed of and more, writes Chris McKenna.
www.bbc.co.uk
September 14, 2025 at 6:46 PM
Though some hours have passed since the awful news of Ricky Hatton’s death, I can’t believe that one of the most exciting fighters I’ve ever had the privilege of watching has died

I hope he is at peace and my thoughts are with his friends and family at this time💔

www.bbc.co.uk/sport/boxing...
Ricky Hatton dead: Obituary of Manchester's former world champion boxer
Former boxing world champion Ricky Hatton, who has died aged 46, achieved all he dreamed of and more, writes Chris McKenna.
www.bbc.co.uk
September 14, 2025 at 6:34 PM
Just had the interesting experience of going through the process of verifying my age for @bsky.app, following an emailed link to do a facial scan, which estimated my age

I’m not sure how mature-looking teenagers will fare or how the program deals with people in their 20s or 30s with youthful faces🧐
August 16, 2025 at 7:11 PM
The process of receiving a phone call from a resident about an overgrown tree to hearing from them again after substantial work had been done to it was quicker than expected and very rewarding, knowing it’s been life changing for that couple

www.facebook.com/share/p/1CPL...
Redirecting...
www.facebook.com
August 16, 2025 at 7:08 PM
The fact that Putin thinks the meeting with Trump was “very useful” and a way to discuss ending the “Ukrainian crisis“ shows how the discussion was on Putin’s terms and will have emboldened the Russian war criminal - Trump was naive to be manipulated by the dictator www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c2...
August 16, 2025 at 6:53 PM
I know you are fan of Substack, @mrjamesob.bsky.social, so I highly recommend @joshuarozenberg.bsky.social's, including today's post on how the criminal justice system has come very close to collapsing in the last couple of years
Government officials believed the criminal justice system was “within three days of meltdown” on 12 October 2023, an independent review has found. Rishi Sunak then authorised his justice secretary to release more than 13,000 prisoners up to 10 weeks early.

rozenberg.substack.com/p/justice-me...
Justice meltdown avoided
But only just, says independent review
rozenberg.substack.com
August 5, 2025 at 9:17 AM
If you're in any doubt about the mess this government inherited, this blog post by @joshuarozenberg.bsky.social clearly explains the desperate state of the criminal justice system and how it was on the verge of collapse during the general election campaign
open.substack.com/pub/rozenber...
Justice meltdown avoided
But only just, says independent review
open.substack.com
August 5, 2025 at 9:06 AM
Reposted by David Beckett
Nigel Farage says he is “very pleased” to be joined by Ann Coulter, who has previously described immigration as “white genocide” and said European settlers to America “should have killed more Indians”, saying she “has written and said many interesting things” which have "come true".
July 28, 2025 at 2:11 PM
Reposted by David Beckett
85% of Gaza is on the brink of death due to starvation. Israel could let aid in at any moment. And some people (like these men tried to do with me on Friday) are still trying to justify this atrocity.

There is no justification. This could stop at any moment. End the blockade now.
July 27, 2025 at 10:59 PM
I always thought the best punishment for this crime would be for them to do many hours of community service, specifically relating to trees and nature
1/2
July 15, 2025 at 8:34 PM
Immanuel Feyi-Waboso can't have any complaints about that red card – it was a reckless and dangerous act that could've led to a serious injury

Steve Borthwick will need a new winger for his tour squad to Argentina and the USA; Adam Radwan should be the next man up #ENGVFRA
June 21, 2025 at 3:13 PM
Blimey, Chris Philp is unnecessarily shouty and abrasive in his first #PMQs

@mrjamesob.bsky.social wondered if he would be better or worse than Kemi Badenoch at PMQs - I think they are both terrible at this
June 18, 2025 at 11:20 AM
Congratulations to @bathrugby.bsky.social on winning the 2024/2025 #Premiership and commiserations to @leicestertigers.bsky.social on a brilliant, 3 try losing effort

I really feel for Ben Youngs and Dan Cole to end their careers this way, especially Cole, who didn’t deserve that yellow card #rugby
June 14, 2025 at 4:08 PM
Your analysis of Trump’s response to the demonstration in LA and a need to scapegoat is very similar to this exchange in The Light Years by Elizabeth Jane Howard @mrjamesob.bsky.social
June 9, 2025 at 10:34 AM
Reposted by David Beckett
Given how unpopular Starmer is this is quite a reflection on Farage and Badenoch.
May 27, 2025 at 9:55 AM
A very clear explanation of how Parliament, the CPS, and the defendant herself gave a judge no other option but to sentence Lucy Connolly to 31 months in prison, so thank you @davidallengreen.bsky.social for this blog post and the article in Prospect (www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/law/th...)
May 27, 2025 at 10:24 AM
If it was about smarter political operators and not Reform UK, it would be tempting to interpret a promise to remove something that doesn't exist as a canny way of guaranteeing success in the future (no DEI officers in Lincolnshire or low traffic zones in their councils) @mrjamesob.bsky.social
May 21, 2025 at 11:47 AM