Vivienne Pay
@viviennepay.bsky.social
Retired lawyer, quite attached to the dear old rule of law. Also here for natural history, dogs and entertaining snark.
Reposted by Vivienne Pay
I'm no political strategist but has anyone in Labour considered *not* alienating any huge chunk of their base? I just feel like they tried alienating the left and the centre left and the public sector workers and the academics, and none of those things worked great, so maybe give my idea a whirl?
February 8, 2026 at 9:44 PM
I'm no political strategist but has anyone in Labour considered *not* alienating any huge chunk of their base? I just feel like they tried alienating the left and the centre left and the public sector workers and the academics, and none of those things worked great, so maybe give my idea a whirl?
Reposted by Vivienne Pay
It is worth recalling that the position of U.K. Ambassador to the US was not vacant at the time the Prime Minister chose to appoint Peter Mandelson to the role. A highly competent and respected woman was replaced.
February 4, 2026 at 1:05 PM
It is worth recalling that the position of U.K. Ambassador to the US was not vacant at the time the Prime Minister chose to appoint Peter Mandelson to the role. A highly competent and respected woman was replaced.
Reposted by Vivienne Pay
My favourite way of saying “we’re on it” or “we’ll take care of that for you” is the Dutch we zullen dat varkentje wel even wassen. It means “we will certainly get that piglet washed.”
January 30, 2026 at 10:59 AM
My favourite way of saying “we’re on it” or “we’ll take care of that for you” is the Dutch we zullen dat varkentje wel even wassen. It means “we will certainly get that piglet washed.”
Reposted by Vivienne Pay
Worth remembering when looking at the horrific scenes in the US right now that both Reform and the Tories have pledged to bring in ICE-style organisations to the UK if they win power
January 24, 2026 at 10:33 PM
Worth remembering when looking at the horrific scenes in the US right now that both Reform and the Tories have pledged to bring in ICE-style organisations to the UK if they win power
Reposted by Vivienne Pay
The US granted visas to Jews but only allowed 30,000 in from Germany a year. You had to wait for your number to come up.
Meet Robert Smallbones. An unassuming British diplomat who 'hacked' this system so effectively (saving 48 THOUSAND Jews) the UK government kept his scheme secret for decades /1 🧵
Meet Robert Smallbones. An unassuming British diplomat who 'hacked' this system so effectively (saving 48 THOUSAND Jews) the UK government kept his scheme secret for decades /1 🧵
January 21, 2026 at 12:52 PM
The US granted visas to Jews but only allowed 30,000 in from Germany a year. You had to wait for your number to come up.
Meet Robert Smallbones. An unassuming British diplomat who 'hacked' this system so effectively (saving 48 THOUSAND Jews) the UK government kept his scheme secret for decades /1 🧵
Meet Robert Smallbones. An unassuming British diplomat who 'hacked' this system so effectively (saving 48 THOUSAND Jews) the UK government kept his scheme secret for decades /1 🧵
Reposted by Vivienne Pay
Let tonight be a lesson to all of us: Make sure you have established your own, and are aware of your loved ones', advance directives.
Do you want to be awakened from your slumber when It Happens? Or do you want to find out when you awake naturally and unlock your phone? Let your loved ones know.
Do you want to be awakened from your slumber when It Happens? Or do you want to find out when you awake naturally and unlock your phone? Let your loved ones know.
January 21, 2026 at 5:26 AM
Let tonight be a lesson to all of us: Make sure you have established your own, and are aware of your loved ones', advance directives.
Do you want to be awakened from your slumber when It Happens? Or do you want to find out when you awake naturally and unlock your phone? Let your loved ones know.
Do you want to be awakened from your slumber when It Happens? Or do you want to find out when you awake naturally and unlock your phone? Let your loved ones know.
Reposted by Vivienne Pay
Main impression after 2 days in London: any politician, official or commentator who now prioritizes party politics, petty scores or their personal career advancement over dealing with this crisis should find a new job.
Time to be serious.
As a lot of serious people have said for a very long time.
Time to be serious.
As a lot of serious people have said for a very long time.
January 20, 2026 at 2:28 PM
Main impression after 2 days in London: any politician, official or commentator who now prioritizes party politics, petty scores or their personal career advancement over dealing with this crisis should find a new job.
Time to be serious.
As a lot of serious people have said for a very long time.
Time to be serious.
As a lot of serious people have said for a very long time.
Reposted by Vivienne Pay
I wonder what Londoners know that the rest of the country don’t?
January 11, 2026 at 9:26 AM
I wonder what Londoners know that the rest of the country don’t?
Reposted by Vivienne Pay
Frans Van Mieris’ self-portrait of himself interrupting his singing wife Cunera by passing her a glass of wine ~ music suggests harmony, the pet dog suggests fidelity, & I’m particularly enjoying the still-life of the flowers at L (The Interrupted Song, 1671)
www.petitpalais.paris.fr/en/oeuvre/in...
www.petitpalais.paris.fr/en/oeuvre/in...
January 11, 2026 at 7:04 AM
Frans Van Mieris’ self-portrait of himself interrupting his singing wife Cunera by passing her a glass of wine ~ music suggests harmony, the pet dog suggests fidelity, & I’m particularly enjoying the still-life of the flowers at L (The Interrupted Song, 1671)
www.petitpalais.paris.fr/en/oeuvre/in...
www.petitpalais.paris.fr/en/oeuvre/in...
Reposted by Vivienne Pay
Reposted by Vivienne Pay
There is, to my mind, no justification for the continued use by the UK Government of X as a platform for official comms. There hasn't been for some time, in fact, but if the latest developments around AI-generated image abuse and CSAM don't change the policy I really don't know what will.
NEW: People are using Elon Musk's chatbot, Grok, to alter images to depict real women being sexually abused, humiliated, hurt, and even killed.
futurism.com/future-socie...
futurism.com/future-socie...
Grok Is Being Used to Depict Horrific Violence Against Real Women
People are asking Elon Musk's Grok chatbot to alter images to depict women being sexually abused, humiliated, and even killed.
futurism.com
January 2, 2026 at 9:18 PM
There is, to my mind, no justification for the continued use by the UK Government of X as a platform for official comms. There hasn't been for some time, in fact, but if the latest developments around AI-generated image abuse and CSAM don't change the policy I really don't know what will.
Reposted by Vivienne Pay
It's New Year, so time to look back and forward. These are 10 things I think we need to recognise in 2026. It’s a response to what I think are profoundly damaging mistaken assumptions I’ve heard and read from practitioners, journalists, and analysts in 2025. Warning: very long🧵
January 1, 2026 at 4:55 PM
It's New Year, so time to look back and forward. These are 10 things I think we need to recognise in 2026. It’s a response to what I think are profoundly damaging mistaken assumptions I’ve heard and read from practitioners, journalists, and analysts in 2025. Warning: very long🧵
Reposted by Vivienne Pay
One of the strongest justifications for the ECHR and the Human Rights Act is that they provide (some) protection when a government wants to take punitive action against people it decides it doesn’t like - including for politically expedient, even irrational, capricious or ephemeral reasons
December 30, 2025 at 9:49 AM
One of the strongest justifications for the ECHR and the Human Rights Act is that they provide (some) protection when a government wants to take punitive action against people it decides it doesn’t like - including for politically expedient, even irrational, capricious or ephemeral reasons
Reposted by Vivienne Pay
Insurance would refuse to pay out because you put "Tapestry" on the policy and actually it's an embroidery.
Find this fascinating.
The Tapestry is literally priceless. There is no market. Why not £2 billion? Or £500 million?
www.ft.com/content/ec9a... Bayeux Tapestry set to be covered by £800mn UK Treasury indemnity
The Tapestry is literally priceless. There is no market. Why not £2 billion? Or £500 million?
www.ft.com/content/ec9a... Bayeux Tapestry set to be covered by £800mn UK Treasury indemnity
Bayeux Tapestry set to be covered by £800mn UK Treasury indemnity
Nearly 1,000-year-old depiction of Norman Conquest will be on display at British Museum in 2026
www.ft.com
December 26, 2025 at 9:19 AM
Insurance would refuse to pay out because you put "Tapestry" on the policy and actually it's an embroidery.
Sharing my own spare room, so not sure whether this counts for #duvetknowitschristmas
Saluting the happy morn will be happening soon as it’s nearly breakfast time.
Saluting the happy morn will be happening soon as it’s nearly breakfast time.
December 25, 2025 at 6:49 AM
Sharing my own spare room, so not sure whether this counts for #duvetknowitschristmas
Saluting the happy morn will be happening soon as it’s nearly breakfast time.
Saluting the happy morn will be happening soon as it’s nearly breakfast time.
Reposted by Vivienne Pay
MARY: I slammed the screen door, and the first thing he said was he hated being alone, and we weren’t that young anymore. I said, “Get off my porch.” Then he said, “You ain’t a beauty, but hey, you’re all right.” I said, “Get out of my driveway.”
Bruce Springsteen’s Exes Grab Brunch
Several women share bottomless mimosas somewhere in the swamps of Jersey. MARY 1: I slammed the screen door, and the first thing he said was he hat...
buff.ly
December 15, 2025 at 2:00 AM
MARY: I slammed the screen door, and the first thing he said was he hated being alone, and we weren’t that young anymore. I said, “Get off my porch.” Then he said, “You ain’t a beauty, but hey, you’re all right.” I said, “Get out of my driveway.”
Reposted by Vivienne Pay
This year I’m doing something different - I’m only going to talk about this one appeal.
Please donate at the link here if you possibly can, or share this to beat the far right vigilante groups 👉 www.justgiving.com/campaign/tog...
Please donate at the link here if you possibly can, or share this to beat the far right vigilante groups 👉 www.justgiving.com/campaign/tog...
December 6, 2025 at 1:20 PM
This year I’m doing something different - I’m only going to talk about this one appeal.
Please donate at the link here if you possibly can, or share this to beat the far right vigilante groups 👉 www.justgiving.com/campaign/tog...
Please donate at the link here if you possibly can, or share this to beat the far right vigilante groups 👉 www.justgiving.com/campaign/tog...
Reposted by Vivienne Pay
Reform UK’s attack on nature protections risks destroying the UK's already fragile ecosystem | Stuart Spray
Reform plan to scrap nature protections would speed “demise” of UK countryside
Reform UK’s attack on nature protections risks destroying the UK's already fragile ecosystem
kentandsurreybylines.co.uk
December 5, 2025 at 7:58 AM
Reform UK’s attack on nature protections risks destroying the UK's already fragile ecosystem | Stuart Spray
Reposted by Vivienne Pay
Farage has been dismissing evidence of Russian ties to the Salisbury Novichok attack since 2018 🧐
December 4, 2025 at 7:52 PM
Farage has been dismissing evidence of Russian ties to the Salisbury Novichok attack since 2018 🧐
Reposted by Vivienne Pay
Your reminder that political spending isn't regulated or recorded outside an election year
So public will probably have no idea how the biggest donation in British political history is spent
Why we urgently need political finance reform - sign petition here
you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/ta...
So public will probably have no idea how the biggest donation in British political history is spent
Why we urgently need political finance reform - sign petition here
you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/ta...
December 4, 2025 at 11:31 AM
Your reminder that political spending isn't regulated or recorded outside an election year
So public will probably have no idea how the biggest donation in British political history is spent
Why we urgently need political finance reform - sign petition here
you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/ta...
So public will probably have no idea how the biggest donation in British political history is spent
Why we urgently need political finance reform - sign petition here
you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/ta...
Reposted by Vivienne Pay
Here is a list of reasons why some of my hearings and trials this year have been delayed and kicked off into the long grass, stuck in our record court backlog. Serious allegations which will now be tried *years* after the event. 🧵👇
November 27, 2025 at 8:01 PM
Here is a list of reasons why some of my hearings and trials this year have been delayed and kicked off into the long grass, stuck in our record court backlog. Serious allegations which will now be tried *years* after the event. 🧵👇
Reposted by Vivienne Pay
Today we’ll get latest net immigration figures - They’ll show immigration for work is plummeting.
Why is this not part of the discussion on Rachel Reeves balancing her books & stalled growth?
For every 100,000 drop in net immigration, the OBR adds £7bn to the deficit. #r4today
Why is this not part of the discussion on Rachel Reeves balancing her books & stalled growth?
For every 100,000 drop in net immigration, the OBR adds £7bn to the deficit. #r4today
November 27, 2025 at 8:41 AM
Today we’ll get latest net immigration figures - They’ll show immigration for work is plummeting.
Why is this not part of the discussion on Rachel Reeves balancing her books & stalled growth?
For every 100,000 drop in net immigration, the OBR adds £7bn to the deficit. #r4today
Why is this not part of the discussion on Rachel Reeves balancing her books & stalled growth?
For every 100,000 drop in net immigration, the OBR adds £7bn to the deficit. #r4today
Reposted by Vivienne Pay
✨I always lose myself in this photo. 📷A moment of serenity: the jaw-dropping Gothic beauty of Salisbury Cathedral, mirrored in the shimmering reflection of William Pye’s font. 📷 #throwbackthursday
November 27, 2025 at 7:13 AM
✨I always lose myself in this photo. 📷A moment of serenity: the jaw-dropping Gothic beauty of Salisbury Cathedral, mirrored in the shimmering reflection of William Pye’s font. 📷 #throwbackthursday
Reposted by Vivienne Pay
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
November 25, 2025 at 9:26 AM
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
Reposted by Vivienne Pay
The Petition calling for a public inquiry into Russian influence on UK politics and democracy has reached 30k. There are signs that the wall of silence protecting Farage is beginning to crumble. Let's keep sharing the petition.
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
Petition: Call a public inquiry into Russian influence on UK politics & democracy
We are concerned about reported efforts from Russia to influence democracy in the US, UK, Europe and elsewhere. We believe we must establish the depth and breadth of possible Russian influence campaig...
petition.parliament.uk
November 24, 2025 at 10:56 PM
The Petition calling for a public inquiry into Russian influence on UK politics and democracy has reached 30k. There are signs that the wall of silence protecting Farage is beginning to crumble. Let's keep sharing the petition.
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...