Craig Winstanley

Craig Winstanley

@cwinstan.bsky.social

Voluntarily severed ex-Professor of Bacteriology dabbling in creative things (music, images, writing [a silly children’s story & a sketchbook about old Lancashire towns]). From Chorley (originally). Might mention The Fall. craigwinstanley.online

478 followers354 following5.4K posts

Craig Winstanley
@cwinstan.bsky.social

Can’t imagine why…

Max Colbert@mc00.bsky.social

I've also taken a look at funding of the party in Q2 2026, for @bylinetimes.bsky.social, and how donors with tax-haven offshore links, or people based overseas, made up 87% of that figure: bylinetimes.com/2026/09/10/r...

bylinetimes.comReform UK Donations Overwhelmingly Have Overseas or Tax-Haven TiesAnalysis of the latest Electoral Commission filings shows 87% of the £5.4m in donations newly-declared by Nigel Farage's party came from donors linked to offshore jurisdictions

Craig Winstanley reposted

Stephen Collins
@stephencollins.bsky.social

What’s that you say? Liz has a new book out which even the Telegraph is saying is even more unhinged than the last one? Wonderful, I’ll post this then.

Craig Winstanley reposted

Byline Times
@bylinetimes.bsky.social

The Conviction of Estonia’s ‘Lord Haw-Haw’ Links Russian Intelligence to Moscow’s Interference on Brexit A 'diplomat' who launched the 'Conservative Friends of… https://bylinetimes.com/2026/10/26/the-conviction-of-estonias-lord-haw-haw-links-russian-intelligence-to-moscows-interference-on-brexit/

bylinetimes.comThe Conviction of Estonia’s ‘Lord Haw-Haw’ Links Russian Intelligence to Moscow’s Interference on BrexitA 'diplomat' who launched the 'Conservative Friends of Russia' group has now been identified as a Russian intelligence officer involved in an attempted European disinformation campaign
Craig Winstanley
@cwinstan.bsky.social

It does however very much reflect the current ethos of BBC News

Pawel Swidlicki@pswidlicki.bsky.social

I think it doesn't reflect well on the BBC that one its leading presenters is allowed to write an 'analysis' for a highly partisan newspaper which includes lines like "Racial minorities, worshipped by white Democrats" www.dailymail.com/news/article...

dailymail.comWEBB: Trump may be routed at polls and I think it could be a calamityIt's relentless and each single insinuation, in spite of all of them being entirely false, might have been enough to see poor James Talarico off. So why is he still ahead in the polls?
Craig Winstanley
@cwinstan.bsky.social

I bet he knew how Joan of Arc felt after this roasting…

Odd This Day@oddthisday.bsky.social

It is, today, not the 13th anniversary of the publication of Steven Morrissey’s autobiography (it had been out for ten days) but something much better: the 13th anniversary of the Sunday Times publishing A. A. Gill’s merciless mauling of it—a review which went on to win Hatchet Job of the Year

Craig Winstanley
@cwinstan.bsky.social

One of the great theme tunes. But I’m still waiting for my flying scooter thing…

Prof Frank McDonough@fxmc1957.bsky.social

27 October 1963. Last episode of ITV’s children's puppet TV series, Fireball XL5, was broadcast. In the series Colonel Steve Zodiac leads the defence of the Earth from numerous interstellar threats. It had ran for 39 episodes since 28 October 1962. youtube.com/watch?v=6ifS...

youtube.comFireball XL5 - Start & Theme SongYouTube video by Mandar Sawant
Craig Winstanley
@cwinstan.bsky.social

Is the government ever going to do anything to tackle the blatant political favouritism of BBC News? Probably not…

Reform Party UK Exposed@reformexposed.bsky.social

Yeah, this is getting absurd. Zero scrutiny. BBC News broadcasts Reform UK speeches in full without interruptions www.thenational.scot/news/2667178...

thenational.scotQuestions as BBC News broadcasts Reform UK speeches in full without challengeBBC News is facing questions after broadcasting a Reform UK press event for more than 40 minutes without interruption ...

Craig Winstanley reposted

Odd This Day
@oddthisday.bsky.social

So, unhappy 106th anniversary, Alexander, King of Greece, dead at just 27 on this day in 1920 from a macaque bite that went septic, leading—what with one thing and another—to a *lot* of other deaths, the birth of modern Turkey, and Prince Philip marrying the woman who would be Queen Elizabeth II...

Craig Winstanley reposted

Leicester Gazette
@leicestergazette.leicester.news

Two University of Leicester students speak out over ‘absurd’ and ‘Orwellian’ decision by the BBC and ITV Studios to edit out pride pins worn on University Challenge

leicester.newsBBC edits out pride pins on University Challenge in ‘Orwellian’ move* * * This story was published by **The Leicester Gazette** : a local, independent newspaper about Leicestershire. 1,000 people have already joined our community. Just use those buttons below to download our app and **sign up for free**. * * * Astrophysics student Samuel Carlier and History student Emmeline Hague-Wright were shocked to find that their LGBTQ+ pride pins had been edited out of their University Challenge appearance earlier this year. The episode, initially scheduled for BBC Two on 24 August, was delayed twice before airing on 7 September 2026. The pins showed the progressive LGBTQ+ pride flag, the bisexual pride flag and a rainbow feather. Speaking to the Leicester Gazette, Sam said: “Living in a liberal democracy and having the state broadcaster tell you ‘we’re editing how you look’, seems very Orwellian.” Sam described the choice to remove the pins before broadcast as “weird” and “absurd”. He said: “[Censoring] that seemed weird. If I had worn a rainbow shirt, would they have censored that? If the idea is to keep things impartial, where is that line in the sand?” A side by-side image of Sam wearing the pin and with it having been digitally removed. Photograph: supplied Sam contacted the BBC to try to understand why his pins had been edited out. He told the Gazette: “The BBC people said they’d ring me, and I chased them, they just said go to the complaints website and file a complaint there, that’s what I did.” Since then, Sam hasn’t had a response from the BBC as to why his pins were removed. After the episode had aired, Sam noted that his shirt ‘melted’ into itself occasionally, as a result of the editing. Photograph: supplied ## Students believe the decision was made following online transphobia Emmeline was also shocked when she found out that the feather pin she wore was due to be removed from the episode she was in. It was understood by Emmeline that there was online transphobia in response to previous episode of University Challenge, and she had been contacted by the BBC, anticipating support from the broadcaster. When the BBC contacted her, instead of an offer of support, she was told her pin was going to be removed. “At first it was mostly confusion,” she said. “I heard that they had received a lot of nastiness online from people and I thought they were going to call me to say ‘we have support services if needed,’ and that wasn't what I got at all.” Instead, Emmeline was notified that the episodes were going to be delayed. “It was out of left field, I was confused for a while,” she said. “This entire delay has been because of a feather and two badges on a teammate that were basically impossible [for viewers] to see.” Emmeline had expressed her frustrations with the repeated delays from the BBC, spanning from mid-July to early-September. She said: “We were announced on the website and then delayed again, and then announced on the website a second time, and delayed even further. Speaking about the removal, she said: “It takes a lot of time” she said. “Making it [the edit] look good would be even more expensive and time-consuming. It seems like drastically a lot of effort.” ## Join the conversation Our app is more than just a way to keep up – it's a gateway to award-winning journalism and the local community. __Want to support our work?__ Click here for membership__.__ ## Wider criticism on LGBTQ+ support The pins Sam wore during the episode. Photograph: supplied According to leading LGBTQ+ charity Stonewall UK, two in five LGBTQ+ students will hide their identities at university for fear of discrimination. Stonewall has reported that more than 36 per cent of trans students have received hostile conduct from university staff due to their gender identity. Reflecting on the digital removal of the pins, Sam spoke about how disheartening the choice was. He said: “There was maybe like a span of eight years where someone could be uncontroversially out in the open queer – now that’s gone again.” he said. The BBC has also been widely criticised for ‘an attack on the LGBTQ+ community’ by pulling its involvement with the popular show, RuPaul's Drag Race. The broadcaster pulled its involvement in September following “significant financial pressures” as the reason for axing their involvement. The criticism follows another recent controversial edit by the BBC. On its hit show, Strictly Come Dancing, a decision was made to edit out ‘Protect the Dolls’ from contestant Bethany Antonia’s T-shirt. It’s a slogan which has become widely used to support the rights of trans women. The BBC defended their decision, saying the changes were made to meet editorial guidelines. It comes as the LGBTQ+ community has faced challenges amid an increasingly less tolerant political climate. ## What the BBC had to say When we asked them about editing out the pins worn by Leicester’s University Challenge team, a BBC spokesperson said: “In line with our editorial guidelines, we advise that no badges, flags, and emblems or symbols are worn or visible during filming, along with clothing with obvious branding or slogans. If such items are not removed for any reason then a decision is made between the programme makers and the BBC regarding any edits to the programme.” The BBC said the delays to the episode were unrelated to the decision to edit out the pins. A spokesperson for ITV Studios said: “University Challenge is an entertainment quiz show and is made in accordance with the BBC Editorial Guidelines requirements for impartiality.” The University of Leicester refused to comment on the matter. * * * **Before you go…** We’ve recently surpassed 1,000 subscribers, which is amazing considering we’re a small team on a shoestring budget. Now, we’re ready for the next stage of the Leicester Gazette. **Download our new app and get all of our journalism anytime, anywhere.** The app connects with **Bluesky** , **Mastodon** and **Threads** , giving you access to a network of around 60 million people. It’s a safer, more meaningful alternative to mainstream social media – owned by the community. * * *
Craig Winstanley
@cwinstan.bsky.social

The fact that none of the Eno albums ever sold well or bothered the charts much played a big part in me realising that I was out of step with the majority of the human race…a valuable lesson

Craig Winstanley@cwinstan.bsky.social

#NowPlaying Another Green World. Bombed commercially at the time. Didn’t even chart. Extraordinary. I always loved it. My brother bought the vinyl at the time & I taped it. Got the CD later. It’s a bonafide masterpiece.

Craig Winstanley
@cwinstan.bsky.social

#NowPlaying Another Green World. Bombed commercially at the time. Didn’t even chart. Extraordinary. I always loved it. My brother bought the vinyl at the time & I taped it. Got the CD later. It’s a bonafide masterpiece.

Craig Winstanley
@cwinstan.bsky.social

I’m only on it because of the odd bit of useful local news in a community group, but saw this on the dreaded Facebook. No (& she hasn’t written any of those books)

Craig Winstanley reposted

Peter Jukes
@peterjukes.bsky.social

They hounded him to death, and now they pursue him beyond the grave Jason Arday Again Cleared of Plagiarism as His Attackers Launch an ‘Independent Inquiry’ bylinetimes.com/2026/10/21/j...

bylinetimes.comJason Arday Again Cleared of Plagiarism as His Attackers Launch an ‘Independent Inquiry’Backed by Reform UK megadonor Ben Delo, the Committee for Academic Freedom defended Arday’s accusers and has now commissioned a report into his appointment by Cambridge University
Craig Winstanley
@cwinstan.bsky.social

From Reform’s point of view they are trying to crack down on the root of the problem: any dissent or truthful reporting about them.

Jim Pickard@pickardje.bsky.social

fascinating that Reform's priority seems to be going to war with ITV over its documentary rather than cracking down on the root problem www.ft.com/content/3d67...

ft.comReform reports ITV to police over undercover documentaryZia Yusuf says tactics behind programme that showed party councillors making sexist and racist comments may have been illegal
Craig Winstanley
@cwinstan.bsky.social

The negligence and incompetence of Johnson & Hancock during the pandemic was crystal clear at the time and pointed out by many people. There will never be any comeback despite the many thousands of avoidable deaths - compare & contrast with an overworked frontline social worker who makes a mistake…

Craig Winstanley reposted

Kit Yates
@kityates.bsky.social

The Covid Inquiry’s Module 6 report is devastating. Its central conclusion: adult social care was treated as “something of an afterthought”, while “protecting the NHS” sometimes came at the expense of people receiving and providing care. 1/10

Craig Winstanley reposted

c0nc0rdance
@c0nc0rdance.bsky.social

Qingshan Lake Water Forest in Lin'an District, Hangzhou is a viral attraction sometimes called "Matcha Lake" for the emerald green duckweed (subfamily Lemnoideae). These black swans (Cygnus atratus) & their cygnets are enjoying a nutritious buffet of aquatic plants. Let's learn about duckweed.

Craig Winstanley reposted

Byline Times
@bylinetimes.bsky.social

The Media ‘Manufactured’ Millionaire Exodus From UK, Campaigners Tell IPSO in Open Letter Ten campaign groups write to the official regulator demanding an investigation, saying eight newspapers misrepresented a discredited study in their reporting...

bylinetimes.comThe Media ‘Manufactured’ Millionaire Exodus From UK, Campaigners Tell IPSO in Open LetterTen campaign groups write to the official regulator demanding an investigation, saying eight newspapers misrepresented a discredited study in their reporting