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
This stuff really is snake oil. Would be a great shame if @zackpolanski.bsky.social fell for it. Politically it’s a one way ticket to nowhere. Important under current circumstances to have an articulate and credible voice on the left. Zack needs to steer clear.
www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2025/11...
www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2025/11...
MMT matters because it reveals power – and gives us back the right to choose
I think modern monetary theory (MMT) matters. That is not because it is perfect, because no theory is. Instead, it is because it explains something that almost no one in mainstream economics has ever ...
www.taxresearch.org.uk
December 2, 2025 at 10:05 PM
This stuff really is snake oil. Would be a great shame if @zackpolanski.bsky.social fell for it. Politically it’s a one way ticket to nowhere. Important under current circumstances to have an articulate and credible voice on the left. Zack needs to steer clear.
www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2025/11...
www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2025/11...
So, Reform ends up filled with disgruntled far-right ex-Tory MPs. No real difference to the Tories we all grew to know and love in their last administration. Except they’ll have the delight of Farage, Tice and Yussuf in leadership positions.
What could possibly go wrong, eh?
What could possibly go wrong, eh?
December 3, 2025 at 1:24 AM
So, Reform ends up filled with disgruntled far-right ex-Tory MPs. No real difference to the Tories we all grew to know and love in their last administration. Except they’ll have the delight of Farage, Tice and Yussuf in leadership positions.
What could possibly go wrong, eh?
What could possibly go wrong, eh?
Reposted by Richard Appleby
🔴 The making of a modern bigot
Everything from Farage’s cigarettes to his performative pint glass radiates the air of a man who never outgrew his rebellious, racist youth.
📝 My piece for the brilliant @afuahirsch.bsky.social’s Substack 👇
Everything from Farage’s cigarettes to his performative pint glass radiates the air of a man who never outgrew his rebellious, racist youth.
📝 My piece for the brilliant @afuahirsch.bsky.social’s Substack 👇
The making of a modern bigot
A guest post...
afuahirsch.substack.com
November 30, 2025 at 11:31 AM
🔴 The making of a modern bigot
Everything from Farage’s cigarettes to his performative pint glass radiates the air of a man who never outgrew his rebellious, racist youth.
📝 My piece for the brilliant @afuahirsch.bsky.social’s Substack 👇
Everything from Farage’s cigarettes to his performative pint glass radiates the air of a man who never outgrew his rebellious, racist youth.
📝 My piece for the brilliant @afuahirsch.bsky.social’s Substack 👇
Reposted by Richard Appleby
Department of Defense Law of War Manual, Sec. 18.3.2.1 states the "requirement" to refuse illegal orders.
What’s its key example? Wait for it . . . It’s "orders to fire upon the shipwrecked."
What’s its key example? Wait for it . . . It’s "orders to fire upon the shipwrecked."
December 1, 2025 at 1:49 PM
Department of Defense Law of War Manual, Sec. 18.3.2.1 states the "requirement" to refuse illegal orders.
What’s its key example? Wait for it . . . It’s "orders to fire upon the shipwrecked."
What’s its key example? Wait for it . . . It’s "orders to fire upon the shipwrecked."
Reposted by Richard Appleby
December 1, 2025 at 11:03 PM
Perfect!
Disgraceful! A patriotic flag shagger who dedicated his time to illegally putting up 64 flags is being charged £2,300 for the cost of taking them down. If it wasn't so funny I'd be furious.
November 30, 2025 at 3:23 PM
Perfect!
Frustrating take on this change. Completely removing the probation period would have been a complete disaster, as it would have inhibited hiring. This doesn’t, but still significantly reduces the probation period to the employees advantage.
UK waters down unfair dismissal plan after business pushback reut.rs/3KudF2B
UK waters down unfair dismissal plan after business pushback
Britain's government watered down plans to strengthen workers' protection against unfair dismissal on Thursday, saying employees would get the new rights six months after starting a job, not from their first day as originally planned.
reut.rs
November 28, 2025 at 12:42 AM
Frustrating take on this change. Completely removing the probation period would have been a complete disaster, as it would have inhibited hiring. This doesn’t, but still significantly reduces the probation period to the employees advantage.
It would certainly solve some problems if Farage ended up being found guilty of the same crimes as Gill…
NEW: This is worth your time.
@thenerve_news has the receipts.
A comprehensive timeline of Nathan Gill & Nigel Farage’s pro-Kremlin influencing activities & 2 other MEPs, David Cobourn & Jonathan Arnott.
Please read & share.
@thenerve_news has the receipts.
A comprehensive timeline of Nathan Gill & Nigel Farage’s pro-Kremlin influencing activities & 2 other MEPs, David Cobourn & Jonathan Arnott.
Please read & share.
November 24, 2025 at 12:32 AM
It would certainly solve some problems if Farage ended up being found guilty of the same crimes as Gill…
Reposted by Richard Appleby
In the same week the Covid Inquiry concluded that introducing lockdown a week earlier could have saved 23,000 lives and a former Reform politician was jailed for accepting Russian bribes, #bbclaurak hasn’t expended a single second talking about it
That is absolutely appalling
That is absolutely appalling
November 23, 2025 at 10:02 AM
In the same week the Covid Inquiry concluded that introducing lockdown a week earlier could have saved 23,000 lives and a former Reform politician was jailed for accepting Russian bribes, #bbclaurak hasn’t expended a single second talking about it
That is absolutely appalling
That is absolutely appalling
Blimey. And the replies! OMG, the replies!
It’s a sign of how insane the news cycle is these days that this historic failure of government policy got just one day of news coverage this week.
Not saying that’s right or wrong, but it’s astonishing how quickly the agenda moves on these days.
Not saying that’s right or wrong, but it’s astonishing how quickly the agenda moves on these days.
BREAKING: UK’s response to Covid was “too little too late”. Acting faster could have saved 23,000 lives in England according to the public inquiry.
Boris Johnson presided over a “toxic, sexist, chaotic culture” in No10, where rule-breaking seriously undermined public confidence.
Boris Johnson presided over a “toxic, sexist, chaotic culture” in No10, where rule-breaking seriously undermined public confidence.
November 23, 2025 at 9:01 PM
Blimey. And the replies! OMG, the replies!
No real hope that she will follow this advice, but appreciate Ed Davey for at least trying to persuade her.
My message to Rachel Reeves ahead of the Budget: Don’t just blame the Brexit damage, fix it.
November 21, 2025 at 5:55 PM
No real hope that she will follow this advice, but appreciate Ed Davey for at least trying to persuade her.
Nice to see the regime finally catching up with what most of us knew at the time. Shame those responsible have all moved on and up, and will never face sanction.
“UK did 'too little, too late', leading to thousands more Covid deaths, says inquiry” https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8030xvvlv0o
“UK did 'too little, too late', leading to thousands more Covid deaths, says inquiry” https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8030xvvlv0o
November 20, 2025 at 10:01 PM
Nice to see the regime finally catching up with what most of us knew at the time. Shame those responsible have all moved on and up, and will never face sanction.
“UK did 'too little, too late', leading to thousands more Covid deaths, says inquiry” https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8030xvvlv0o
“UK did 'too little, too late', leading to thousands more Covid deaths, says inquiry” https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8030xvvlv0o
Reposted by Richard Appleby
Quiet Piggy‼️ This is brilliant‼️
November 19, 2025 at 11:27 AM
Quiet Piggy‼️ This is brilliant‼️
Oh God - I’d never seen the manufactured outrage calendar before. It’s FANTASTIC! Now I understand whenever there’s a slow news day, just what the MSM will fall back on to complain about.
We all know we’ve entered the “they’re banning Christmas” season now poppy rage is over on social media.
But I didn’t expect actual newspapers would take the confected outrage by anonymous far-Right Twitter accounts and turn them into “news” stories!
But here we are in 2025🤷🏼♀️
21/
But I didn’t expect actual newspapers would take the confected outrage by anonymous far-Right Twitter accounts and turn them into “news” stories!
But here we are in 2025🤷🏼♀️
21/
November 19, 2025 at 12:47 AM
Oh God - I’d never seen the manufactured outrage calendar before. It’s FANTASTIC! Now I understand whenever there’s a slow news day, just what the MSM will fall back on to complain about.
Having a clear out of the worst excesses of my tendency to think "that might be useful one day".
Lots of stuff heading for the WEEE recycling bins. Who knew I had 5 old PS/2 keyboards? And a serial mouse (with a ball)? And IEC "kettle" leads must reproduce in the drawer!!
Lots of stuff heading for the WEEE recycling bins. Who knew I had 5 old PS/2 keyboards? And a serial mouse (with a ball)? And IEC "kettle" leads must reproduce in the drawer!!
November 16, 2025 at 1:55 PM
Having a clear out of the worst excesses of my tendency to think "that might be useful one day".
Lots of stuff heading for the WEEE recycling bins. Who knew I had 5 old PS/2 keyboards? And a serial mouse (with a ball)? And IEC "kettle" leads must reproduce in the drawer!!
Lots of stuff heading for the WEEE recycling bins. Who knew I had 5 old PS/2 keyboards? And a serial mouse (with a ball)? And IEC "kettle" leads must reproduce in the drawer!!
Fascinating review. One to add to the reading list…
For and Against a United Ireland reviewed by Andy Pollak: "I would make this balanced and scrupulous treatment of the great existential issue of this island required reading for every Irish & Northern Irish sixth year school student and first year undergraduate."
A sharp, clear-eyed look at Irish unity from two of the island’s best journalists…
Fintan O’Toole is the nearest thing Ireland gets to a public intellectual: a writer of erudition and intellect who tackles the political and cultural issues of the day and of the nation through a wide...
sluggerotoole.com
November 16, 2025 at 1:27 AM
Fascinating review. One to add to the reading list…
Hmmm. Call it £120k all in. Seems likely that we paid a lot more to host him on his second state visit, not that it did us much good. Kudos to the Swiss, so far….
To negotiate a trade deal with the President of the United States, the Swiss government arrived with a "special Rolex desktop clock" and "a 1-kilogram personalized gold bar"
www.axios.com/2025/11/14/t...
www.axios.com/2025/11/14/t...
How to lobby Trump with Swiss precision: gifts, gold and gab
How the Swiss broke a diplomatic logjam on tariffs by arriving with tributes fit for a king.
www.axios.com
November 16, 2025 at 12:16 AM
Hmmm. Call it £120k all in. Seems likely that we paid a lot more to host him on his second state visit, not that it did us much good. Kudos to the Swiss, so far….
Reposted by Richard Appleby
OR, Trump Admits His Tariffs Caused Grocery Prices to Rise.
November 14, 2025 at 10:52 PM
OR, Trump Admits His Tariffs Caused Grocery Prices to Rise.
Good advice ⬇️
🔐 Account Security Thread 🔐
We're seeing an increased number of phishing and social engineering attempts targeting Bluesky users. While we're working hard to protect you, here are essential steps YOU can take to secure your account and stay safe. 1/10
🧵👇
We're seeing an increased number of phishing and social engineering attempts targeting Bluesky users. While we're working hard to protect you, here are essential steps YOU can take to secure your account and stay safe. 1/10
🧵👇
November 15, 2025 at 12:51 AM
Good advice ⬇️
Reposted by Richard Appleby
Translation - We asked 100 people over 65 whether they thought life was better when they were young and hot.
November 14, 2025 at 10:16 AM
Translation - We asked 100 people over 65 whether they thought life was better when they were young and hot.
Reposted by Richard Appleby
BBC
Bias is often in the eye of the beholder
So let’s stick to measurable facts
During 10 yrs of debate about Brexit, BBC QuestionTime had Britain’s Members of the European Parliament on the show 50 times
Every single one was from the pro Brexit minority
47 were from UKIP/BP
23 times Farage
Bias is often in the eye of the beholder
So let’s stick to measurable facts
During 10 yrs of debate about Brexit, BBC QuestionTime had Britain’s Members of the European Parliament on the show 50 times
Every single one was from the pro Brexit minority
47 were from UKIP/BP
23 times Farage
November 14, 2025 at 7:43 PM
BBC
Bias is often in the eye of the beholder
So let’s stick to measurable facts
During 10 yrs of debate about Brexit, BBC QuestionTime had Britain’s Members of the European Parliament on the show 50 times
Every single one was from the pro Brexit minority
47 were from UKIP/BP
23 times Farage
Bias is often in the eye of the beholder
So let’s stick to measurable facts
During 10 yrs of debate about Brexit, BBC QuestionTime had Britain’s Members of the European Parliament on the show 50 times
Every single one was from the pro Brexit minority
47 were from UKIP/BP
23 times Farage
Reposted by Richard Appleby
Judge a man by the friends he keeps. Isn't Nigel good friends with both Trump and Bannon?🤔
November 13, 2025 at 10:10 AM
Judge a man by the friends he keeps. Isn't Nigel good friends with both Trump and Bannon?🤔
Waiting for the $1B libel suit to drop…
November 14, 2025 at 8:27 PM
Waiting for the $1B libel suit to drop…
Reposted by Richard Appleby
The next time someone tells you that America isn’t a sick & racist country, just remind them that this nation is willing to accept treason, rape, and child abuse from a white president but not healthcare from a Black one.
November 13, 2025 at 11:25 PM
The next time someone tells you that America isn’t a sick & racist country, just remind them that this nation is willing to accept treason, rape, and child abuse from a white president but not healthcare from a Black one.
Reposted by Richard Appleby
Yesterday in Parliament I said that the government should leave X.
🔉What dangers does X pose to our democracy? And should the government stop using it?
Good to hear yesterday from @sundersays.bsky.social and @petergeoghegan.bsky.social on the immense risk of X as it ignores legal obligations and its owner tries to influence UK politics.
@commonswec.parliament.uk
Good to hear yesterday from @sundersays.bsky.social and @petergeoghegan.bsky.social on the immense risk of X as it ignores legal obligations and its owner tries to influence UK politics.
@commonswec.parliament.uk
November 13, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Yesterday in Parliament I said that the government should leave X.