Safe to say this website/app is now near tipping point for just being unbearable, so within the next month I'll be over a BlueSky.
If you're already over there or thinking of hopping over, hopefully see you there!
My DMs will remain open.
Just so we're all clear, the BBC allows Laura Kuenssberg to be a Tory spokesperson and Andrew Neil to bully journalists like Carole Cadwalladr. But the minute a presenter like Emily Maitlis says basic facts, or Naga Munchetty talks about racism, they beg the right for forgiveness
Nadhim Zahawi has been Chancellor for less than 24 hours and he's already tried to oust his own boss, faced the threat of reshuffle, and is being investigated by National Crime Agency over his finances.
Less than 24 hours.
Just to hop on on the BBC Question Time drama... I've been applying to be part of the audience for three years, never once been accepted.
My dad applied for the first time recently, but claimed he voted UKIP, voted Brexit, and voted No in 2014. 2 days later BBC accepted him.
The Cass Review rejected around 50 studies (98%) submitted to it, but accepted studies not focused on trans people. It claims 24 year olds are children. It claims that toys children play with is determined by biology.
This report is anti-science and is for ideological zealots.
The Cass Review must be a watershed moment for the NHSโs gender identity services.
My response for
@UKLabour
underlining our support for the Cass Reviewโs evidence-led recommendations and our determination to put childrenโs health and wellbeing above the political fray ๐๐ป
Has Nicola Sturgeon's comments on "detesting" Tories gone too far? Today we speak to Tory leader Douglas Ross, who previously made racist comments on Irish travellers and voted against equal marriage for LGBTQ+ people.
Labour threaten Lindsay Hoyle to ditch the SNP motion on Palestine.
Hoyle apologises. He offers the SNP a fresh debate.
The SNP announce their new motion will include stopping arms to Israel.
Now Lindsay Hoyle breaks his word and won't offer a debate.
Sheer corruption.
๐น A Labour government is just around the corner, and REAL change is coming for the UK!
๐ฌ๐ง Here is a list of just some of Labour's policies under the fresh leader of Keir Starmer - a real alternative to the Conservatives.
๐ A thread...
If you want to know how completely corrupt and unprincipled Keir Starmer is, he told Pink News he would ban conversion therapy in all forms, but today has told Mumsnet that he would keep some forms of conversation therapy.
Starmer is not an LGBTQIA+ ally.
Utterly shameful. Your party blackmails the speaker, puts MP's names to their amendment without their consent, pushes out an SNP motion on *their* opposition day, removes reference to collective punishment of Palestinians...and you accuse the SNP of division?
You are a disgrace.
"They're turning all the kids trans"
"I know a student who identifies as a cat."
"Did you hear about the child who identifies as a fox?"
"My son's best friend's cousin started identifying as a hologram."
Do you all hear how fucking stupid and gullible you all sound?
The Labour Party will cooperate with:
โ Tories in Scottish councils
โ The far-right in France
โ Supplying arms to Israel
The Labour party will not cooperate with:
โ Social democrats in Scotland
โ Workers on picket lines
โ Charities to scrap two child benefit cap
Threatening the speaker isn't an accident. Lying about peaceful protests isn't an accident. Suggesting the SNP, led by the first Western Muslim leader, of enabling terrorist attacks isn't an accident.
Labour and others are embracing far-right rhetoric and it's deeply dangerous.
It really is utterly obscene that the German Chancellor states multiple times that Germany's role in the Holocaust is a motivator for backing Israel, yet when Owen Jones merely repeats this view he's smeared as an antisemite. Far-right zionists are unprincipled bad faith hacks.
German chancellor Olaf Scholz (17th Oct): "The security & safety of Israel is part of Germanys raison d'etre & political doctrine.. German history & the responsibility that results from the Holocaust requires that we help safeguard the existence and safety of the state of Israel"
Humza Yousaf is calling for a ceasefire and a humanitarian corridor for innocent Palestinians to escape Gaza.
Keir Starmer supports breaking Article 33 of the Geneva Convention to collectively punish all Palestinians - including Humza's own family trapped in Gaza.
Want to know how things are in Labour for the Uxbridge by-election? Labour staffers have provided zero food or drink for activists in the main campaign room.
They then ordered a massive Dominos *just for staffers* and went into a different room.
Zero respect for activists.
The statesmanship of Humza Yousaf has to be commended. He didn't rush to project flags on public buildings. He didn't carelessly support war crimes on LBC. He didn't cherry pick which community to meet. He showed empathy for victims on both sides and supports humanitarianism.
JK Rowling going after Humza Yousaf is interesting. Between racist stereotypes in Harry Potter, sharing an image that removes BAME people from the LGBTQ+ flag and calling them "shit", and now despising Scotland's first BAME and Muslim First Minister...hmmm.
Glasgow telling Alba to get lost with zero councillors, whilst electing the city's first ever trans councillor, is fucking amazing.
#TransRightsAreHumanRights
Honestly I don't really care that Corbyn kept the seat. He is where he's supposed to be, as a lonely voice in parliament. All that matters is he's not in charge of the Labour party.
@Jay_Sutherland_
@HumzaYousaf
He's tweeting from his personal Twitter, praying in his own home, doing absolutely no harm to no one. Please take your tankie republicanism somewhere else
Does anyone remember the last time Laura Kuenssberg jumped on a random thread to defend Nicola Sturgeon or Jeremy Corbyn? Does anyone remember Laura Kuenssberg defending Labour or the SNP because one of their sources "insisted" something?
Yeah, me neither.
BREAKING: Speaker Lindsay Hoyle has denied the SNP a second debate on a ceasefire in Gaza despite previously offering one.
The revelation came after Stephen Flynn raised a point of order in the House of Commons
72% of Scottish households are being pushed into fuel poverty from a party 75% of Scots voted against but got anyway.
This isn't democracy and Scotland deserves better.
Kate Forbes: If I was FM I would demote Humza Yousaf and reshuffle the cabinet, because continuity won't cut it.
Humza Yousaf: (becomes FM, demotes Kate Forbes and reshuffles the cabinet)
Kate Forbes:
Paul Sweeney being caught out by Police Scotland over his protest lies is part of a deeper problem. Labour intentionally conflates peaceful protest and accountability with threats of violence. And after last night's Labour corruption, how can you trust them to improve democracy?
Pretty disgusting that the SNP are playing politics by opposing genocide. If they had a fraction of human emotion or wit they would simply sit on the fence and watch as babies die in the al-Shifa hospital in Gaza. That's what real change means with Labour ๐น๐ฌ๐ง
The SNP are not a perfect party. I have my policy disagreements with them. But their unwavering committment to standing up for children being bombed in Palestine is why I'd vote for them any day over Keir Starmer's tacit consent for genocide.
Transphobes have spent the last few weeks furiously crying that JK Rowling isn't a holocaust denier, only to protest outside the Scottish Parliament alongside one of the most notorious holocaust deniers in the country. They really are complete morons.
Can confirm that despite the SNP being the biggest party on Stirling Council, Scottish Labour are currently in talks with the Conservatives to form an unofficial/official coalition.
Whilst not surprising, this would a gobsmacking betrayal to Stirling residents.
QT is always going to attract fringe extremist voices who don't get a platform in the mainstream. But the BBC don't actually have to select them, even if it attracts astonished viewers.
If people want an example of Police Scotland being institutionally racist and discriminatory, here they are protecting a fascist cult marching through a largely Catholic area to a tune that contains the lyrics "we're up to our knees in Fenian blood, surrender or you'll die"
The Orange Order, just now marching down Craigton Road with a Catholic pub at the bottom. Why do this, when as a Catholic woman told me, โThese tunes cut through us like a knifeโ?
This is probably one of the best statements a national leader has put out. It fully condemns the horrific attack by Hamas. It highlights the loss of life on both sides. It raises the issue of Israel trapping Palestinians in Gaza - including Humza's own family. Fair and balanced.
Jackie Baillie saying the GRA Reform legislation is going too fast might be true if it weren't the most consulted piece of legislation in the Scottish parliament's history. It's also a huge insult to the trans people, past and present, who have waited years for humane support.
Today in Westminster the UK Government passed their Section 35 order to circumvent Scottish democracy and attack trans rights.
318 MPs voted for it. 71 opposed.
Labour did not show up. They failed to defend Scottish trans people or democracy. A disgrace of a political party.
People don't seem to realise that Nicola Sturgeon isn't just popular in Scotland - she's recognised/respected by leaders and voters across the globe. Removing Nicola as leader, whilst we're miles ahead in the polls, will remove so much credibility the indy movements holds.
Fuck off. Genuinely just fuck off. Your party voted for the bill and now you've completely abandoned trans people because your London boss told you so.
No principles. No empathy. Scottish Labour are a disgrace and you're no ally to LGBTQ+ people if you campaign for them.
Alex Massie wrote in the Spectator that Scottish nationalism is the same as any other nationalism. Yet today Scotland's First Minister, a civic nationalist, directly looked into the eyes of Jayda Fransen and called her a fascist, whilst defending Glasgow's diversity.
It hasn't been a day since the US Supreme Court had moved to remove a basic human right for 40% of American women, and gender critics are instead using it to criticise trans rights.
What the hell is actually wrong with these people?
If you canโt define woman, never mind use the actual word โwomanโ when it comes to womenโs reproductive rights, then how do you campaign for women?
I won't be voting for the SNP at this election.
I want to vote for a pro independence party that is progressive. Having a deputy leader that opposes equality for LGBTQ+ people and supports a unionist millionaire goes against that.
The SNP should be better than this.
"I, Anas Sarwar, will stand up to my boss Keir Starmer!"
"On trans rights?"
"Well, no."
"On the rape clause?"
"Nope."
"On green investment?"
"Not really."
"Capping banker's bonuses?"
"No, they're my friends!"
"On austerity?"
"No more questions, thanks."
Activists have been walking and chapping doors non stop for the last few hours. A few have told me they're beyond furious and that it's not common practice to only feed staffers.
Feel genuinely sorry for hard working Labour activists being treated like this by their own party.
ScotLab: It's awful what the SNP have done to our budget.
SNP: Where's your budget?
ScotLab: Hmm?
SNP: Your alternative budget. Let's put it to Holyrood for a vote. Where is it?
ScotLab: We have it.
SNP: ...
ScotLab: ...
SNP: Well can we see it?
ScotLab: ...no.
1) Keeping anti-protest laws
A radical and progressive Labour government will ensure the people cannot loudly complain about us.
It's thanks to the hard work of Conservative colleagues this legislation works today!
Lammy stating clearly that Labour will not repeal the anti-protest legislation if it gets into government
'We can't come into office picking through all the Conservative legislation and repealing it. It would take too much time.'
Okay, now I'm pissed. I had no idea they had removed Emily Maitlis from Newsnight.
This is pretty chilling for a so called "democracy". Time to use people power to make clear this won't be tolerated.
When Keir Starmer, Paul Sweeney and Wes Streeting raise concerns, it becomes the dominant media topic for days.
When Apsana Begum, Dianne Abbot and Zarah Sultana raise concerns, there's hardly a peep from the media.
Hmmm, I wonder what the difference is.
It's barely been a day and SNP conservatives are trying to create the myth that minority rights and the Greens cost their party the election.
If regular members allow such a deeply toxic narrative to control the party's strategy then the SNP deserves to lose come 2026.
The Scottish Conservatives jumping with glee when a violent trans person commits a crime is no different from when Britain First jumps with glee when a Muslim commits a crime. Both want to use a tiny minority to smear an entire group.
Same bigoted tactics. Same old story.
You know British politics is totally fucked when the UK Labour government is not asking "how do we reduce child poverty?" but rather "does child poverty actually cause harm?"
Scotland deserves so, so much better
2) Not taxing the wealthiest in our society
A progressive Labour government will ensure that wealth is disproportionately held at the top 5% of earners. Income inequality is not a serious issue!
'Another one was increasing income tax for the top 5% of earners'
'We're in a different situation now. I think we have the highest tax burden since World War Two'
3) Keeping services in private hands
Despite our original proposals, it's only right that our railways, water, mail and energy are kept in private hands. Profit margins are increasing massively for shareholders, and should go higher.
Nothing to see here folks. Just
@annaturley
and
@RosieDuffield1
spreading lies about Imane Khelif.
Khelif is *not* trans. She is a cis woman. But Turley and Duffield are promoting this lie because Khelif is not feminine enough for them.
Classic misogyny right there.
Worth remembering that Lisa Cameron also voted against equal marriage and took donations from an anti-abortion evangelical group.
How she has the SNP whip is anyone's guess.
Not a single Scottish Labour MP voted to scrap Labour's child benefit cap, which keeps hundreds of thousands of children in poverty.
@paulhutcheon
and
@AnasSarwar
lied to you. Their lies mean that next year Labour will force more children into poverty.
Never forget this.
Support for independence, broken down by age group via
@RedfieldWilton
.
18-to-24 (58%)
25-to-34 (60%)
35-to-44 (59%)
45-to-54 (49%)
55-to-64 (44%)
65+ (32%)
Independence is the future young people want.
I understand the impact the Queen had on many people, and it's right to pay respects. However, the CWU and RMT cancelling their strikes really is a complete slap in the face for working people. The livelihood of working class families is far more important than public gestures.
4) Keeping tuition fees
Education is not really a human right, so we believe that students should to take on a mountain of debt to learn. Discouraging working class people from higher education is not a problem.
"The SNP and the Tories need each other" is a wild take considering I live in a constituency with a Tory and Labour council coalition that nearly a year ago voted down an SNP motion to give school children bread and soup over Christmas
Big difference between Nicola Sturgeon and Keir Starmer's speeches is that Keir spent most of it talking about himself, whilst Nicola spent most of it talking about Scotland.
Just imagine if the SNP did the same thing in the Scottish parliament to Labour. Weeks upon weeks of media coverage. Cries of corruption. Calls for an independent investigation. Demands for resignations. Centrist commentators crying for democracy.
5) Tagging migrants
Migrants are a bit like animals. They should be constantly tracked, even if this causes physical and mental strain on their health. But it's okay because migrants are not really human under a Labour government!
I've said it before that the SNP are far from perfect in wider areas of policy. I've criticised them fairly. But their basic humanity of wanting an end to universal punishment against Palestinian people, whilst Labour's tacitly support it, is enough to win my vote.
"But Israel has the right to defend itself."
Killing UN staff isn't defending yourself.
Killing humanitarian activists isn't defending yourself.
Denying electricity to hospitals and killing civilians isn't defending yourself.
Committing war crimes is not defending yourself.
That's...it?
That's actually it?
ยฃ150 million is the equivalent of 0.1% of spending for the entire Holyrood budget. That's all they're spending on poverty?
The Labour Party are an absolute joke.
BREAKING: Merriam-Webster has rejected Joanna Cherry's application to change the definition of "totalitarian".
Cherry's application would have changed the definition of totalitarian to "anyone who disagrees with Joanna Cherry or hurts her ego".
If you ever want a reminder of the utter garbage pile that Scottish journalism has become, here's
@KennyFarq
condemning Nicola Sturgeon for standing against transphobia.
He tweeted nothing about condemning Rishi Sunak's transphobic jibe or repeating calls for him to apologise.
This is a shocking level of snobbery. Activists walk all over Uxbridge in the summer heat on their spare time, many who have come from across the country, and this is how you speak to them?
Shameful.
9) Attack unions
Look, Labour represents the workers. Not unions, who are elected by the workers. We'll be sure not to listen to silly union reps who are not engaged with workers at all.
I'm sorry but the claim that "the SNP have done nothing for working Scots" by so called "left wing" commentators is a lie.
You can say the SNP don't go far enough, that's fine! But to claim they've done nothing or have abandoned working Scots is absolutely detached from reality
Won't say who, but a certain politician has attempted to have me fired from my work because of my support for trans rights.
After a stressful period, I'm glad to report nothing is going forward. I'll continue to teach all my students love and tolerance to all people. ๐ณ๏ธโโง๏ธ๐ณ๏ธโ๐
๐น The snats on Twitter keep complaining that Labour's links to the Orange Order are deeply problematic.
๐ฌ๐ง But Labour is proud of its British heritage and won't hide who our friends. So here's why the Orange Order are not a fascist cult.
๐งต A thread...
Why is Scottish Labour leader
@AnasSarwar
participating on a media platform that has spread anti-vaxxer conspiracy theories, transphobic misinformation, and continuously attacked the Black Lives Matter movement?
10) Not increase wages by inflation We know we said we'd listen to workers and not unions. But now that we did, workers are asking for too much. Sorry, a Labour government will offer a real terms cut.
But it's not THAT bad!
6) Keeping some forms of conversion therapy
We can't trust trans children to know who they are. A Labour government will ensure that parents guide trans children to their standards. Autonomy for trans children is too much!
'We all know what it's like with teenage children and I feel very strongly about this...this argument that children can make decisions without the consent of parents is one I just don't agree with at all'
12) Continue to privatise the NHS
We hear you. We listened ...to shareholders. It's important to continue privatising the NHS, because we've seen huge successes for profits in the US model. Health care is a human right, but do bring along your bank card.
8) No freedom of movement
We know that increasing the work force would help tackle the cost-of-living crisis, but frankly Britain is for the British. We need to limit opportunities, besides Brexit has worked really well.
7) Visiting anti-LGBTQ+ churches
Labour know there are inclusive churches in the UK, but it's really important to win over pro-conversion therapy votes - no matter how many times we apologise for it.
The SNP and independence supporters don't need to portray the UK as a dysfunctional entity because the UK already does it masterfully every single day.
"The political aim of the SNP is to destroy the United Kingdom."
Michael Gove MP tells the Covid Inquiry that supporters of Scottish independence want to portray the United Kingdom as a โdysfunctional entityโ.
11) Not supporting striking workers
Okay, we did say we would support workers. After all we are called the LABOUR party. But after thinking about it, Labour won't join workers on picket lines. Frankly that's for peasants.
Can we all just take a moment to applaud
@patrickharvie
for maturely holding the Scottish Government to account without diving into diving into misogynistic conspiracy theories?
And he's absolutely right, certain members of the Salmond Committee should be resigning, not the FM.
Cherry, Duffield and Hanvey all rolling their eyes when hearing about the suicidal thoughts of trans people? They really are the most vile and disgusting bullies who belong in the dark ages.
14) Continue austerity
No no no, it's not austerity! It's "balanced budgets", which just happens to be the same policy as George Osborne.
What do you mean that's just austerity? Not true! Can we guarantee no austerity? Uh ...what's that over there?