Rob Lavender – He/Him/His
@sephisloth81.bsky.social
Neurodivergent cat enthusiast from Scarborough, North Yorkshire. I write about linear broadcast TV for print newspapers - unironically. Views are my own, especially any good ones.
There is so, so much to criticise the Labour govt for – but the Tory attack lines are some of the most stupid criticisms I have ever seen. The latest – David Lammy bought a suit at some point in the same week that a thing happened – proves they're getting really silly now.
November 6, 2025 at 12:50 PM
There is so, so much to criticise the Labour govt for – but the Tory attack lines are some of the most stupid criticisms I have ever seen. The latest – David Lammy bought a suit at some point in the same week that a thing happened – proves they're getting really silly now.
Imagine getting 170 people who aren't trying to get to Israel, taking them by force into Israel, then telling them they have no right to be in Israel and deporting them. Far from the worst thing Israel has done recently, but certainly one of the stupidest-looking.
October 6, 2025 at 1:14 PM
Imagine getting 170 people who aren't trying to get to Israel, taking them by force into Israel, then telling them they have no right to be in Israel and deporting them. Far from the worst thing Israel has done recently, but certainly one of the stupidest-looking.
It's weird how, in just a few years, the debate has moved from "is immigration good or bad?" to "how should we deal with this awful immigration problem?", without any actual significant shift in people's opinions. It's all down to the media's framing, which is why articles like this are so rare
"I'm here to talk about what others won’t. To tell the truth about what makes our country great and what makes it not so great. While others thrive on creating scapegoats, I am here to tell you a different story."
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Migration is Britain’s superpower. Our future depends on embracing that truth, not denying it | Zack Polanski
Labour has lost its nerve. At our party conference this weekend, we’re gathering to set things right, says Green party leader Zack Polanski
www.theguardian.com
October 3, 2025 at 12:18 PM
It's weird how, in just a few years, the debate has moved from "is immigration good or bad?" to "how should we deal with this awful immigration problem?", without any actual significant shift in people's opinions. It's all down to the media's framing, which is why articles like this are so rare
Reposted by Rob Lavender – He/Him/His
The NHS gives Britain the buying power to force great deal on drugs companies. So they want it broken up and privatised to increase their profits. And their plans to break it up are championed by Reform and Nigel Farage. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Big pharma is at war with the UK, and the government can’t back down now | Nick Dearden
The industry has always wanted the NHS to pay more for its drugs; now it is pulling research and investment out of Britain, says director of Global Justice Now Nick Dearden
www.theguardian.com
October 2, 2025 at 7:47 AM
The NHS gives Britain the buying power to force great deal on drugs companies. So they want it broken up and privatised to increase their profits. And their plans to break it up are championed by Reform and Nigel Farage. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
It would be super interesting to learn who has been shorting Kenvue (who make #Tylenol) shares lately. Surely not anyone with ties to the Trump admin. That would be immoral and illegal.
September 23, 2025 at 9:37 AM
It would be super interesting to learn who has been shorting Kenvue (who make #Tylenol) shares lately. Surely not anyone with ties to the Trump admin. That would be immoral and illegal.
Feels like UK govt are preparing a convoluted defense for the Hague, "look if I thought we were assisting in a genocide, would I really go out of my way to recognise the victim as an independent sovereign state?"
September 21, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Feels like UK govt are preparing a convoluted defense for the Hague, "look if I thought we were assisting in a genocide, would I really go out of my way to recognise the victim as an independent sovereign state?"
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
"…the workers were in the US temporarily, helping to build an electric car battery plant run by … Hyundai and LG".
Hmn. Now why on earth would a president bankrolled by Tesla's owner want to disrupt this project – oh wait, something just occurred to me…
"…the workers were in the US temporarily, helping to build an electric car battery plant run by … Hyundai and LG".
Hmn. Now why on earth would a president bankrolled by Tesla's owner want to disrupt this project – oh wait, something just occurred to me…
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c07v1j98ydvo"…the
September 18, 2025 at 9:02 AM
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
"…the workers were in the US temporarily, helping to build an electric car battery plant run by … Hyundai and LG".
Hmn. Now why on earth would a president bankrolled by Tesla's owner want to disrupt this project – oh wait, something just occurred to me…
"…the workers were in the US temporarily, helping to build an electric car battery plant run by … Hyundai and LG".
Hmn. Now why on earth would a president bankrolled by Tesla's owner want to disrupt this project – oh wait, something just occurred to me…
Reposted by Rob Lavender – He/Him/His
Since this is apparently a resigning matter, I’ll just leave this here…
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Nigel Farage uses private company to pay less tax on GB News earnings
Exclusive: Reform leader’s use of personal services firm is a practice criticised across the political spectrum
www.theguardian.com
September 5, 2025 at 11:16 AM
Since this is apparently a resigning matter, I’ll just leave this here…
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Rob Lavender – He/Him/His
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THIS is one of the biggest problems of our time . . .
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THIS is one of the biggest problems of our time . . .
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September 2, 2025 at 7:13 AM
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THIS is one of the biggest problems of our time . . .
⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️
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THIS is one of the biggest problems of our time . . .
⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️
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Just watched an #ICE raid on Sky News. Awful, of course, but there's something incongruous about the fact they were all driving Hyundai and Lexuses while kidnapping anyone who looks remotely foreign. If you're going to be xenophobic, at least do it right.
August 30, 2025 at 12:33 PM
Just watched an #ICE raid on Sky News. Awful, of course, but there's something incongruous about the fact they were all driving Hyundai and Lexuses while kidnapping anyone who looks remotely foreign. If you're going to be xenophobic, at least do it right.
It is remarkable how Donald Trump's base is entirely people who up to 10 years ago hated/feared two things more than anything else: Russia, and paedophiles. And somehow he has got them rallying behind both now. Genuinely impressive. Awful, terrible, but yeah - wow.
August 22, 2025 at 11:10 AM
It is remarkable how Donald Trump's base is entirely people who up to 10 years ago hated/feared two things more than anything else: Russia, and paedophiles. And somehow he has got them rallying behind both now. Genuinely impressive. Awful, terrible, but yeah - wow.
Reposted by Rob Lavender – He/Him/His
That's why we should lock up billionaires. If people might want to do something that hurts other people, eg stealing, you make that thing a crime to stop people doing it.
The wonderful Fran Lebowitz, one of my favourite human beings, in The Observer today "Human beings are not good enough for Socialism." This has long been my view. It's a great idea in theory but we're just not sufficiently evolved as a species to enact it.
August 11, 2025 at 9:22 AM
That's why we should lock up billionaires. If people might want to do something that hurts other people, eg stealing, you make that thing a crime to stop people doing it.
Reposted by Rob Lavender – He/Him/His
Authors, if you've not seen this yet, an open letter about John Boyne's inclusion on the Polari prize list
Open letter on the Polari Prize longlist and the inclusion of John Boyne, who openly expresses his transphobic and misogynistic views.
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Author statement on the Polari Prize longlist
We are writers, editors, publishers and booksellers who stand in solidarity with the trans community. We are profoundly disappointed by the Polari Prize’s decision to include John Boyne on the longlis...
docs.google.com
August 9, 2025 at 6:30 AM
Authors, if you've not seen this yet, an open letter about John Boyne's inclusion on the Polari prize list
Imagine this in any other industry. Supermarket checkout, pay for your groceries, then Mr Tesco strides up and says "actually I want this, the shareholders are hungry - you'll have to buy it again".
England water bills will rise by a third to fund crisis of privatisation.
People already paid. Companies didn't invest, paid £85bn in dividends. Customers to pay again for service they don't get.
Companies raise capital from customers, shareholders take profits. Why are they not investing?
People already paid. Companies didn't invest, paid £85bn in dividends. Customers to pay again for service they don't get.
Companies raise capital from customers, shareholders take profits. Why are they not investing?
Water bill rises needed after years of low investment, says report
A major review of the water industry also suggests compulsory smart meters and scrapping the regulator Ofwat.
www.bbc.co.uk
July 22, 2025 at 7:38 AM
Imagine this in any other industry. Supermarket checkout, pay for your groceries, then Mr Tesco strides up and says "actually I want this, the shareholders are hungry - you'll have to buy it again".
Considering the timeline we're in – the one where everything bad that can happen, happens – this feels like a uniquely bad idea…
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Unique ice, 1.5m years old, to be melted to unlock mystery
BBC News went inside -23C freezers to see the ice that could
www.bbc.co.uk
July 18, 2025 at 1:44 PM
Considering the timeline we're in – the one where everything bad that can happen, happens – this feels like a uniquely bad idea…
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Don't forget to support the IDF in their murdering of children today guys – you wouldn't want to be thought of as antisemitic by the BBC now, would you?
July 2, 2025 at 2:36 PM
Don't forget to support the IDF in their murdering of children today guys – you wouldn't want to be thought of as antisemitic by the BBC now, would you?
Remarkable that we give more of a shit about a person *saying* "death to the IDF" than we do about the IDF *actually killing* vast numbers of civilians every single day.
June 30, 2025 at 3:16 PM
Remarkable that we give more of a shit about a person *saying* "death to the IDF" than we do about the IDF *actually killing* vast numbers of civilians every single day.
Picking up our new electric car tomorrow, after which I'll be able to say "I'm so Antifa I won't even drive ICE"
June 25, 2025 at 3:39 PM
Picking up our new electric car tomorrow, after which I'll be able to say "I'm so Antifa I won't even drive ICE"
Took an EV for a test drive today, thinking it would be a sensible decision that sacrifices a bit of fun in the driving process for good environmental and financial sense. But holy shit those things can shift. I am a) a convert, and b) very excited to welcome our new electric family member
June 24, 2025 at 8:36 PM
Took an EV for a test drive today, thinking it would be a sensible decision that sacrifices a bit of fun in the driving process for good environmental and financial sense. But holy shit those things can shift. I am a) a convert, and b) very excited to welcome our new electric family member
Tax avoidance is legalised tax evasion, and tax evasion is stealing. Tax avoidance is therefore legal theft. Imagine if they legalised other forms of theft. Someone walks into your house and steals your telly, but they filled in the correct forms first so fair enough, I guess.
June 23, 2025 at 3:07 PM
Tax avoidance is legalised tax evasion, and tax evasion is stealing. Tax avoidance is therefore legal theft. Imagine if they legalised other forms of theft. Someone walks into your house and steals your telly, but they filled in the correct forms first so fair enough, I guess.
Moved into a new-build estate four years ago, gardens all just grass and no wildlife to speak of at all (except, weirdly, loads of grasshoppers). As we & the neighbours add plants and create habitats, seeing the birds and insects arrive, slowly, year on year is a delight.
June 20, 2025 at 11:23 AM
Moved into a new-build estate four years ago, gardens all just grass and no wildlife to speak of at all (except, weirdly, loads of grasshoppers). As we & the neighbours add plants and create habitats, seeing the birds and insects arrive, slowly, year on year is a delight.