Matthew Fletcher

Jon Snow: A Last Big Story review – the finest swan song you could hope for

Dutch children are unusually happy and healthy. Is it because of the Avondvierdaagse?

yes!! prospect.org/2026/05/20/e...

There are no antivaxxers in the Congo... the modern equivalent of "there are no atheists in foxholes"

Blaming Starmer for loss in Senedd or local councils betrays shortcomings in local MPs, decent MPs have helped their respective councillors retain & increase representation

Anyone else worried that Trump has been duped and is negotiating with some 'Dummy Mullah'?

Reform mayor courted US oil and gas executive about fracking in UK

Are the BBC being muzzled by Trump's action - their criticism of Starmer for sending a paedo tolerant ambassador to serve another guilty of compliance seems excessive, or is this a dry run for a Farage investigation?

🌱Great to hear two of our major reports spotlighted by James Rebanks @herdyshepherd.bsky.social on BBC Sounds: Radical with Amol Rajan. 👉Full episode: www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/... Read the reports: ➡️'Farming for Change' ffcc.co.uk/publications... ➡️‘Paying the Price’ ffcc.co.uk/publications...

The right wants to talk about fraud? Somali fraud? Okay, give me 60 seconds.

Woman arrested live on air by Donald Trump's thugs just because she says she doesn't want her tax dollars used to commit war crimes in Venezuela. This is far worse repression than they have in Venezuela.

Corruption so pungent, it wafts right off the page: Lobbyists who do pardon deals “say their going rate is $1 million. Pardon-seekers have offered some lobbyists close to the president success fees of as much as $6 million if they can close the deal.” Gift link www.wsj.com/politics/pol...

Farage has been dismissing evidence of Russian ties to the Salisbury Novichok attack since 2018 🧐

If it's good enough for @nfucanada.bsky.social & @nfudc.bsky.social why aren't #NFU_England&Wales and #NFU_Scotland on @bsky.app? @tom-clarke.bsky.social @abireader.bsky.social

🔴NEW🔴 Thread 🧵 @bylinetimes.bsky.social can now reveal that, during the crucial period when convicted Reform leader Nathan Gill was most active, working directly with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s most senior ally in Ukraine, he was also one of Nigel Farage’s closest confidantes 1/12

Will be interesting to see the #Reform led Lincolnshire County Council approach to this... Let's hope they don't put the C*NT into Canute... www.lincolnshireworld.com/news/environ...

Inside the everyday Facebook networks where far-right ideas grow

Nigel Farage & Alex Phillips have been awfully quiet about Nathan Gill pleading guilty to eight counts of bribery relating to pro-Russia statements made in European parliament and articles. Just wanted to refresh their memories about how they were all a team through that period.

Reform UK’s ex-leader in Wales Nathan Gill pleads guilty to bribery charges

The Reform right like the MAGA right are completely fact averse and know that they can bullshit their way to power because their followers simply don't care about truth. That's the threat this country faces, and it strikes me that our media are ill equipped to tackle it and failing us all.

Interested to understand if this deal gets reviewed by the Competition and Markets Authority. For a govt that has pledged to help farming profitability, this can't help farmers? www.independent.co.uk/news/busines... #MinetteBatters #SteveReed #NFU

Somebody Should Do Something About All The Problems

“Low-income households in Britain are now 27 per cent poorer than their equivalents in France and a staggering 60 per cent poorer than those in Ireland.” 🔥 www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2025...

Is your Memorial Day barbecue more expensive this year? Maybe because just 4 firms control 85% of the beef market, 66% of the pork market, and 54% of the poultry market. Minimal competition means maximized price gouging. https://youtu.be/NuvKoe9Ilvo?si=KoAExA3HWCDTN8L3

This Archie Bland piece is such a thing. Beautifully written, heartfelt, triumphant. He's on Bluesky but not active. He should know this is a lovely masterpiece. www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...

We're seeing it again: FPTP makes a mockery of democracy. 🚨Turning elections into a lottery 🚨Giving 100% of the power to parties with 25% of the vote 🚨Making us vote for the "lesser evil" 🚨Silencing millions of voices Sign the petition to scrap it:

The new Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough won 28% of the vote, on 33% turnout. There was no option to pick a second preference. Like in the West of England, the winning candidate was elected by less than 10% of the electorate. This is not sustainable. FPTP must go.

@i-communities.bsky.social enjoyed listening to Kirsten S-W on #BBCRadio4, are there any UK based #intentionalcommunities that have achieved 'Registered Provider' status? #HomesEngland

"The Agriculture Department will not require poultry companies to limit salmonella bacteria in their products, halting a Biden Administration effort to prevent food poisoning from contaminated meat." www.seattletimes.com/business/usd...

The two most powerful Republican politicians in America - the president and co-president of the United States - are publicly praising and defending and excusing the crimes of a far-right foreign politician who leads a party founded by a Holocaust-denying neo-Nazi. We are in a very, very dark place.

A while ago a lovely German man appeared at our church. He came a few times to look around during our Saturday opening hours, before asking if the piano abandoned in the corner worked. I told him it was horrendously out of tune, and the cathedral piano tuner had deemed it not worth sorting out.

UK taxes on big tech firms may be changed as part of a deal to avoid US President Donald Trump's next raft of tariffs, Chancellor Rachel Reeves has suggested www.bbc.com/news/article...

Never forgive, never forget

a (very timely) reminder of the legacy of germany’s partition:

Former Reform UK leader in Wales and pro-Brexit MEP Nathan Gill, has been charged with accepting bribes for promoting Russian interests in the European Parliament. In particular participating in an operation to harm Ukraine. #SpookyConnections #EndImpunity

Hi All, just sent out my weekend update (free as always). The only way to understand the USA and its interactions with Russia, Ukraine and Europe is to accept that the US is now a mafia state. open.substack.com/pub/phillips...

Donald Trump pressures Romania to lift restrictions on Tate brothers https://www.ft.com/content/3f951e0b-a9cb-489a-be89-fdf9f996ed27

Historically, the European country Canada was the closest with was the UK - for obvious reasons. But that is quickly changing as 🇨🇦under Keir Starmer fails to show solidarity with 🇨🇦. Trudeau notably visiting 🇫🇷&🇪🇺 but not 🇬🇧 on this trip.