mjpm69.bsky.social

I long for the day when trends and news articles don’t start with the words “Trump says…”. Instead of “Trump says it’s a lovely day” how about “the wind is gusting 60kph and it’s raining”.

A distinctively British approach to Artificial Intelligence (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phillip...)

Tony Yates@t0nyyates.bsky.social

A distinctively British approach to Artificial Intelligence

If a pride badge is a political symbol, so too are crucifixes, crosses and Stars of David. These things say something about the identity of the wearer. They are only “political” because others find that identity objectionable.

merman hellville@seafoamghost.bsky.social

VERY interesting as we head into poppy month

AI is not your friend. If you quote AI, you don’t appear knowledgeable, you’re displaying your ignorance. If you need AI generated memes to make your point, you don’t have one.

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. * * *

Looking forward to the BBC editing out poppies in the coming month. May as well say this now: after a lifetime of ‘wearing my poppy with pride’, I stopped wearing one a couple of years ago. I make a donation every year but refuse to wear the symbol since it was hijacked by the far right.

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

The smoking ban (as many have said) also central heating, the variety of food available, and perhaps trivial but colour TV.

Michael Druker 🇨🇦@mdruker.app

Social media loves talking about how everything is getting worse. But what’s something that you’ve seen get _better_ in your lifetime?

bbc.co.ukStreeting: Prepare for supply chain disruption from cyber or climate emergenciesThe defence secretary says the UK needs to be ready for scenarios including impact to essential supply chains.

This advice is all well and good but three days supply of food isn’t going to do much in the event of a “plant disease” outbreak. Presumably this would cause crop failure affecting supplies for more than three days. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

bbc.co.ukStock up on food to prepare for extreme El Niño weather, minister saysDame Angela Eagle warns the weather event could lead to extreme storms this winter.

If people are going to take this seriously, the scenarios need to be realistic. And what of those living on benefits or low incomes? For people living hand-to-mouth three days supply of food and bottled water, sitting unused in a cupboard, is an unaffordable luxury. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

A lot of “this won’t end Reform because their core are racist” posts on here. Yes, the core vote are. They always have been and they always will be. You’re not going to change them but you can put them back in their box. Starting in the 1970s until about 2014, it wasn’t acceptable to openly

express racists views. The EU referendum gave these people permission to be more open. At first it was dog whistles and euphemisms but, since 2016, it’s been getting more explicit. This programme can show it’s not “legitimate concerns”, it’s plain old racism, and time to put it back in its box.

I despair of the left/centre/moderates who think AI memes and fabricated claims are the way to fight the right. Copying the right’s tactics won’t work. Not least because they’re better at lying than us but also because it gives false hope to those on our side.

ITV have been trailing Inside Reform with some pretty explosive revelations all week. It makes me wonder what they’re holding back for tonight’s broadcast. www.itv.com/news/2026-10...

itv.comitv.com

nytimes.comTrump Signs Order Exempting Russia From Sanctions LegislationThe sanctions were part of legislation that was named after Senator Lindsey Graham, the South Carolina Republican who died in July.

In the early 1980s, Ronald Reagan imposed sanctions on European companies involved in construction of the Soviet trans-Siberian gas pipeline. Time to return the favour. www.nytimes.com/2026/10/16/u...

I remember this. I remember having conversations with Leave voters, on twitter, who repeated this. I also remember those Leave voters what they were against was uncontrolled, “illegal” immigration. I asked how leaving the EU would stop that. They had no answer.

Farrukh@implausibleblog.bsky.social

In 2016 Nigel Farage said that leaving the EU would mean fewer (white) migrants from the European Union. Suggesting we would have more (black and brown) migrants from Commonwealth/other countries. So when Brexiters are upset at the migration mix, not only were the told this, but they voted for it.

As history teaches us, 52% is the unequivocal voice of the people, a majority that should never be questioned.

Luke Tryl@luketryl.bsky.social

But there is appetite for that referendum. 52% think there should be a referendum on rejoining in the next five years vs 33% who think that there should not be a referendum.

@carolecadwalla.bsky.social

The President of the United States has posted THAT video of the terrible incident in Doncaster this weekend. Trump is that sick. Unlike Trump, I’ve not posted the full image for obvious reasons.

mjpm69.bsky.social reposted

Carole Cadwalladr

NEW: Prime Minister Andy Burnham finally breaks a decade of UK govt silence…& reveals there was ‘clear’ Russian interference in the Brexit vote. 1/

Rejoining the EU is a process, not something that will happen overnight. The process will likely take a decade or more. Andy Burnham probably won’t be PM by the time it happens. Farage may be long gone. The process has to start sometime and it may as well start now.

“Super intelligence” 😂 it’ll always be AI to me, artificial ignorance.

bbc.co.ukRAF Fairford suspects are bailed, what happens now?The men were all UK nationals in their 20s who live in London and were arrested under the Explosives Act and on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act.

A short thread on the events around RAF Fairford. What we know: - the five men are British Nationals from London. - they have been released on bail. What we can surmise: - the police didn’t find any explosives or the men would still be in custody www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/...

View full thread

police received the first call. The farmer saying she called about an hour after the Acting Chief Constable said the police were called about vans driving suspiciously near RAF Fairford. Were there two calls? Were police responding to the first call when the second was made about the vans at

Whelford? Were there two groups of vans? This poses a worrying question. Is there an active terror cell preparing an imminent attack on UK soil? Following the events of the last few days, has that cell gone to ground? If so, is it now more difficult for the security services to disrupt any attack?

It seems likely to me that, regardless of what these men were actually doing, the UK and US intelligence services are aware of a specific threat against US bases in the UK. It has been reported that the threat level at Fairford had recently been raised, as it had at RAF Lakenheath. This may explain

news.sky.com'We got them': Trump comments on five people arrested after RAF Fairford incidentThe US president briefly spoke to reporters about five terror arrests in the UK near an airbase used by the US military.

Donald Trump’s comments last night (news.sky.com/share/13592462) and Wes Streeting’s comment that the farmer who called 999 didn’t see the whole picture. It may also explain the speed with which police were able to respond to the call although there are contradictory reports about when Wiltshire

Farmer who had had her 15 minutes of fame quietly exits the stage. Trump looks like even more of a liar. Gloucestershire plod maybe feeling a bit foolish. Media pundits now get another day talking rubbish to each other about what went wrong. Farage looks for another distraction from dodgy money.

bbc.co.ukRAF Fairford suspects to be released on bail, head of counter-terror police saysFive UK nationals, all in their 20s and from London, were arrested near the base on Sunday morning.

Well www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c6...

mjpm69.bsky.social@mjpm69.bsky.social

Just putting this out there but what if those three vans, which seem to contain empty barrels, were out doing nothing more nefarious than stealing fuel last night? Some people are going to have a lot of egg on their faces. Including Trump after his “we had them under investigation” comment.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c6...

mjpm69.bsky.social@mjpm69.bsky.social

bbc.co.ukRAF Fairford suspects are all British men in their 20s, counter-terror police sayThe men, who all live in London, were arrested in Whelford near the RAF base early on Sunday morning.

Now we know the Fairford five are all British nationals from London, how long before Farage (or perhaps Yusuf) blames Sadiq Khan? www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c6...

BBC News: “it’s more likely to be Iran” “it’s more likely to be Russia” “it’s not intelligence led” “it is intelligence led”. Why not just stop the speculation and show the pictures?

For most of my life, I’ve voted Lib Dem. At the start of my second decade I saw the damage Thatcherism was doing but I was also turned off Labour’s self destruction at the time. Like many, to me the Alliance offered something different, less tribal.

View full thread

I still consider myself a liberal but don’t have any party affiliation. Even when I was a LibDem member, I voted tactically; Labour when they were the obvious opposition to the Conservatives in my constituency and, once in a local election, Conservative when the choice was between a

Labour Party that took voters for granted and a Residents Association that was so parochial they hindered any kind of borough wide progress.

The more I learned about liberalism, the more I recognised I was a social liberal (economic liberalism, of the laissez-faire variety, isn’t something I subscribe to). I was an active LibDem member up until about 2006-7 when I started to feel uncomfortable with some policy decisions.

bbc.co.ukHome Secretary hits out at 'unacceptable' migrant landings in KentThe arrivals of two unescorted migrant boats mark the first uncontrolled landings recorded in the UK since 2025.

Is it just possible that Border Force were otherwise engaged dealing with a shameful mob of thugs intent on preventing them, and the RNLI, doing their job? www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

bbc.co.ukTrump says his triumphal arch will become a military ammunition complexTrump said the updated plans were at the request of the US military and for national security purposes.

20 Sept

This reminds me of a daydreaming schoolboy doodling in the back of his school book. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

For some reason, when I read that Trump’s crating an AI Force, my first thought is Arnold Rimmer

Compared to Trump, a toaster has“superior intelligence”

bbc.co.ukParents could face prison for child's crimes under justice reforms, minister saysThe reforms to Parenting Orders could also see parents losing benefits, Jake Richards MP told the Times.

Because withholding benefits from a family with a ‘problem’ child is definitely going to have a positive outcome. 🤦‍♂️ Why do so many politicians think making poor families poorer changes behaviour but the already rich need to be bribed with tax cuts and bonuses? www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

democracyforsale.substack.comRevealed: Five police forces to drop Palantir surveillance toolExclusive: Palantir's UK policing ambitions take a hit as East Midlands forces end their involvement in a controversial data pilot.

Another example of why anyone who has been a government minister/senior civil servant should be banned for life from accepting any paid executive/advisor/media appointment on leaving office. In the interest of good government, I’d be happy for them to receive a very generous pension from day one.

Peter Geoghegan@petergeoghegan.bsky.social

🔴 Something Tom Watson won't tell you: Five police forces in the East Midlands working with Palantir on a controversial surveillance programme are ending their involvement Exclusive by Democracy for Sale and Liberty Investigates. democracyforsale.substack.com/p/revealed-f...

bbc.co.ukPiddington in Oxfordshire votes to leave UK over asylum plansPiddington residents vote over proposals to house up to 1,256 male asylum seekers nearby.

16 Sept

Give them what they want. I’m sure they’ll understand that, once they’ve left the UK, they can’t come here and “take our jobs” or be a burden on local services. Of course, if they cross the border illegally, they’ll end up in MOD Bicester. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

bbc.co.ukAndy Burnham among Great North Run 2026 finishersThis year's event sees 63,000 people take on the half marathon - including the prime minister.

13 Sept

Plenty of people, on left and right, will be cynical about this but credit where it’s due. The PM has just run 13 miles to raise money for a homeless charity. Compare that to the “man of the people” politician who will say anything on camera to pocket £80 for himself www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

8 Sept

In the 1983 general election the Liberal SDP Alliance polled 25%, having briefly led the opinion polls on 50% the year before. They won 23 seats.

Election Maps UK@electionmaps.uk

Westminster Voting Intention: LAB: 26% (+3) RFM: 25% (-1) CON: 20% (-3) LDM: 11% (+2) GRN: 11% (+1) SNP: 2% (-1) Via Freshwater Strategy, 4-6 Sep. Changes w/ 7-10 Aug.

bbc.co.ukDonald Trump shares misleading video of King Charles and fainting workerThe president shares a misleading video which appears to show Charles shrugging and walking away from a man who fainted during a royal visit.

8 Sept

I believe $10bn is the going rate for a deceptively edited video. It’s a pity the Royal Family rarely sue. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

5 Sept

There are essentially two types of RefUK voter; those who share the racism, or have been convinced immigrants are the problem, and those who don’t follow politics and think Reform are a change from the main parties.