Holly Brigstocke

Holly Brigstocke

@hollybrigstocke.bsky.social

Decadent post-scarcity revolutionary trans feminist lesbian progressive on disability. Pro Rejoin EU, sometimes a twat.

3.4K followers269 following34.5K posts

Holly Brigstocke reposted

morag
@mordant.bsky.social

Look, I know all the reasons we got here, but we really need to start seriously thinking about what we do in a world where The Markets punish whole countries for voting for decency, compassion, and fairness. We must stop pretending the capitalist machine is an objective, value neutral force.

Lewis Wade 🗃️@wadehistory.bsky.social

It's very, very telling, I think, that the markets are so concerned about the pro-democracy incumbent winning

ft.comLula faces a fiscal reckoning after Brazil’s market routConcerns about management of economy trigger worst day for currency in more than 25 years

Holly Brigstocke reposted

Bottles
@bottles1936.bsky.social

If we could obtain some/all of the original complaints and outcome decisions, we could take a strong case to judicial review. If any of you out there made complaints against this monster to the Bar Standards Board and got one of the 'No Further Action' replies, DM us. discretion guaranteed (more)

Holly Brigstocke
@hollybrigstocke.bsky.social

After goofing an order and having it dropped for collection instead of delivery went for a walk to pick up the parcel. Lots of trees which was nice. Half a dozen annoyingly skinny 20 somethings were out jogging, man walking dog etc. Pleasantly tired. 🙂

Holly Brigstocke reposted

Samantha Brennan
@samanthabrennan.bsky.social

A new survey of 1,000 American adults found that the strongest supporters of transgender sports bans are not the people who admire women most: they are the people who hold the most hostile views about women. www.helenwebberley.com/news/transge...

helenwebberley.comAre transgender sports bans really about protecting women? | Dr Helen WebberleyThe data says no. Those most hostile to women are most in favour of banning trans athletes.
Holly Brigstocke
@hollybrigstocke.bsky.social

The issue of MI5's DG possibly being fired for investigating the Leave campaign, and MI5's curious silence on other issues like US based Heritage and ADF and Kremlin backed transphobia does raise a lot of questions about UK govt ministers. It's Matrix Churchill scandal 2.0.

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

Holly Brigstocke reposted

Nick Dearden
@nickdearden.bsky.social

I have been detained by Israeli security forces all day. Along with with MPs Clive Lewis, Lara Bird, MSP Kate Nevans, former MP Sam Tarry and campaigners from across the world, we were turned back because they don’t want anyone seeing their ethnic cleansing.

Holly Brigstocke reposted

Feral Millennial Communists of Late Stage Capitalism
@feralcommie.bsky.social

A house is somewhere to live. Somewhere to raise children. Somewhere to feel safe. Somewhere to grow old. We turned that basic human need into an investment asset, then acted surprised when millions couldn't afford one. The housing market isn't failing investors. It's failing humanity.

Holly Brigstocke reposted

Tarik Abou-Chadi
@tabouchadi.bsky.social

Many comments on the great election victories in Brazil and Serbia state that the authorian right is in decline or that voters have rejected far-right authoritarianism. That is a wrong interpretation of what happened. Progressive movements mobilized and beat the authoritarian right. That's different

Holly Brigstocke reposted

David Graeber Institute
@davidgraeberinst.bsky.social

David Graeber explained that one of the ways that Neoliberalism functions is through hopelessness. Our hope is killed until we think there is no point anymore and we just give up. Lula's amazing victory shows there still is hope. We should never give up!!!

Holly Brigstocke
@hollybrigstocke.bsky.social

An Evri parcel was delivered. The catch? Like a clown I ordered 'Click and Collect' by mistake and have a walk half way across town to pick it up because Evri picked the one furthest away from where I live. 🙄

Holly Brigstocke
@hollybrigstocke.bsky.social

Burnham's full of shit. The man is all over the place with used car salesman"I'm your best mate" patter and making statements he later rolls back, fiddling and faffing with nonsense while he rams through more Tory than the Tories policy.

Holly Brigstocke reposted

CJ
@cinnamonwhirl.bsky.social

Brazil proves you can beat fascism without cowardly appeasing their every wish. Keir Starmer/Andy Burnham look weak, cowardly, ineffective. You beat fascists by squaring up to them and smashing them in the face, not meekly cowering behind appeasement. Andy Burnham is a snivelling coward.

Holly Brigstocke
@hollybrigstocke.bsky.social

What's worse? "The patriarchy" or women who make a big play of being progressive and politically savvy who then rugpull any challenge by saying you don't get anywhere in life if you challenge the patriarchy?

Holly Brigstocke
@hollybrigstocke.bsky.social

This is why under Miliband Labour's right wing rugpulled austerity and student protests, and why when in power Labour under Starmer now Burnham are going after universities and anyone with a pro trans or pro Palestine point of view. Bigotry is a top down project and they want to head off a backlash.

News Eye@newseye.bsky.social

For two years, student-led protests have raged against Aleksandar Vučić and his corrupt government in Serbia. Today, in parliamentary elections, he was toppled. One of the most sustained protest movements in recent European history has succeeded. Resistance works.

Holly Brigstocke
@hollybrigstocke.bsky.social

This highlights Burnham's failure to properly regulate media and social media platform owners, and do something about corruption and foreign interference (inc the US and Russia) an even more obvious act of cowardice.

SlavaUkraini033@slavaukraini033.bsky.social

Breaking Now: Winner Brazilian President Lula: This was an election in which we had to overcome interference coming from outside the country through digital platforms, which we will have to regulate.

Holly Brigstocke reposted

Taniel
@taniel.bsky.social

I'm going to start this thread on the presidential count in Brazil—so people who are interesting can follow along. With 3% of vote counted, Lula up 51.3 to 48.7 (that's a lead of 103K). Pattern in 2022 & in R1 was Lula down big at 1st, then closing gap, but that's shaken up by today's 2-hour delay.

Holly Brigstocke reposted

The Author, Séamas O'Reilly
@seamas.bsky.social

This is not a "you didn't KNOW?" post because I truly envy and respect anyone unaware of Linehan's output BUT he's been EXTREMELY racist for years now. Attacking black actors on his wife's show Motherland as diversity hires; podcast screeds about muslims in Ireland; delighting in Palestinian deaths.

This post is unavailable.
Holly Brigstocke
@hollybrigstocke.bsky.social

The UK could do with some of this energy and kick out politicians whiffing of autocracy and the far right. And yes I do include the bigoted transphobic and xenophobic Yank ass kissing Labour party along with the Tories and Reform and Restore. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

bbc.co.ukWhy Serbian elections are so important - as students challenge 12 years of Vučić ruleAfter two years of student protests, Serbians vote on Sunday in elections that could bring down the ruling party.

Holly Brigstocke reposted

Rafa Sales Ross
@rafiews.com

I haven’t slept a full night in three weeks ahead of the polls opening in Brazil today. I might be shouting into a void here, but if you can spare a few seconds to send good energy towards our elections today and for the largest country in South America to beat fascism, please do so. 🇧🇷

Holly Brigstocke
@hollybrigstocke.bsky.social

This explains a lot about the billionaire media owners and the scum journos they employ.

A not-so-social socialist@treeslaughing.bsky.social

This man perfectly embodies the sad state of mass media. He has one and only purpose:not to debate, understand and inform the public but to discredit the guests who criticise the system that feeds him. For he knows a better world would not take him seriously.

Holly Brigstocke
@hollybrigstocke.bsky.social

The right wing parties want to ram us straight out of the European Convention on Human Rights. The ECtHR underpins our rights to protect us against a cavalier govt. Meanwhile Labour supporters are all "let's go softly softly on rejoining the EU and water things down" because reasons. 🤡

Holly Brigstocke
@hollybrigstocke.bsky.social

The same Tory party who embraced 'moniterism' like an alcoholic swigging booze from a bottle who said "unemployment is a price worth paying" and reneged on building a national high speed rail network to fund tax cuts for the rich who spent it on private helicopters and yachts.

The i Paper @theipaper.com

“Healey should remove anxiety and depression as a reason to claim benefits and offer people treatment instead. It would be better for the individuals and a fraction of the cost.” Read more: trib.al/cxsKwxw

Holly Brigstocke
@hollybrigstocke.bsky.social

I'm no screaming lefty or peacenik, just to disarm the moonhowling warmongering neoliberals, and can get behind Pedro Sánchez on this. He shames the UK govt in comparison.

Nick Lloyd@spaincivilwartours.bsky.social

This new electoral vídeo from Pedro Sánchez is quite something. Standing in front of Guernica defending the anti-war stance of his government, limiting military expenditure, denouncing the atrocity of Gaza. English subtitles.

Holly Brigstocke
@hollybrigstocke.bsky.social

I'm old enough now I don't know if I'll live long enough to see a single whiff of NHS trans healthcare or my rights restored. That's where things are at. It's like being sentenced in absentia by a kangeroo court and given a life sentence in solitary for a crime you didn't commit with no appeal.

Holly Brigstocke 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. * * *
Holly Brigstocke
@hollybrigstocke.bsky.social

There will be a dividing line between trans kids who got their healthcare vs today where many of us never got trans healthcare until well into adulthood. The whole point of banning healthcare for trans kids is to prevent this from happening then wipe out the trans adults.

Aubrey Gilleran@aubreygilleran.bsky.social

Any queer culture writers who have written about this? I feel like there’s a very real difference between Gen Z and millennial queer culture and “I didn’t spend my formative years closeted” seems like one of the clear dividing lines.

Holly Brigstocke
@hollybrigstocke.bsky.social

The Guardian doesn't get as much hate as it deserves. Behind the handwringing it never challenges anything and rolls out a red carpet for the worst bigotry.

pharaoh house crash@phchq.bsky.social

The Guardian continues its 'business as usual' approach to genocide. While tens of thousands of children are being murdered, this liberal rag writes about their murderer as if he was a politician and not a genocidal, baby butchering, land thieving psychopath. #BoycottGuardianNewspapers #BoycottMSM

Holly Brigstocke
@hollybrigstocke.bsky.social

Well, well, well. We all know Met Commissioner Mark Rowley is a transphobic bigot *and* hates all women. London mayor Sadiq Khan is just fine with this. The Green party made vague promises while doing fuck all to challenge the Met Commissioner. Smoking gun. 👇

Bottles@bottles1936.bsky.social

Breaking. Data request from the CPS has confirmed the Met Police didn't supply the CPS with further information supplied by the witness about Graham Linehan that would have shown crucial context and mens rea to his tweet INCITING others to assault transgender people. This changes things massively.

Holly Brigstocke
@hollybrigstocke.bsky.social

Imagine if we called Wes Streeting a "fat ****" to his face the crying and tantrums this would generate? Yet he happily serves in and endorses a govt which signed off guidance that *protects* bigots who openly insult trans women and girls in the workplace.

Helen 🏳️‍⚧️✊🏻💕@mimmymum.bsky.social

Imagine if a prominent trans person posted this? The ‘gender critical’ transphobes would be jumping up and down on Mumsnet, have a front page Times article saying how all “trans activists” (aka trans people) are violent, while running to the billionaire bigot to fund intimidatory legal action!

Holly Brigstocke reposted

Peter Geoghegan
@petergeoghegan.bsky.social

🔴 REVEALED: Palantir led closed-door review of how MoD buys software The review was presented to defence minister Luke Pollard by Palantir UK boss Louis Mosley in Feb and has mostly been implemented None of this was made public New investigation🧵 democracyforsale.substack.com/p/revealed-p...

democracyforsale.substack.comRevealed: Palantir led secret review of how the MoD spends billionsThe Ministry of Defence asked the controversial US tech firm how to fix its procurement rules. Its answer? Fewer obstacles for companies like Palantir
Holly Brigstocke
@hollybrigstocke.bsky.social

Trademark Labour - the party of "Got mine, fuck you". Healey bigging up coddling the super wealthy and white elephant planet killers in the same week all trans people are being driven out of the military. The Guardian is all there for it - punching the air and popping champagne corks.

The Guardian@theguardian.com

John Healey pledges to use budget to harness power of AI to bolster Britain’s security

theguardian.comJohn Healey pledges to use budget to harness power of AI to bolster Britain’s securityChancellor says government to commit hundreds of millions to develop ‘distinctively British’ approach to AI John Healey has pledged to use Wednesday’s budget to harness the power of artificial intelligence to bolster Britain’s security and prosperity against the risks in the accelerating global technology arms race. As he prepares for his debut budget, the chancellor said that Andy Burnham’s government would commit hundreds of millions of pounds to develop a “distinctively British” approach to AI that would capitalise on the benefits of the frontier technology. Continue reading...
Holly Brigstocke
@hollybrigstocke.bsky.social

We all know that if the new UK transphobic guidance impacted gays, Muslims, or cis women the Green party leadership would be throwing all channels tantrums in Technicolor Surround Sound. What do the do when it only impacts the transes? Fuck... sodding... all.