Willie Mackenzie

Willie Mackenzie

@williemackenzie.bsky.social

🌱Nature 🌊 🏳️‍⚧️Equality ✊🏽 🐕Dogs 🐾 🧱Lego 🧩 🌍Environment 🗳️ 🎶Kirsty MacColl 🪁 ☕️Twin Peaks 🍩 🦄Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

762 followers999 following5.7K posts

Willie Mackenzie reposted

Gregor/Fisher
@grogipher.bsky.social

"Officers attended" Aye, I bet they did.

Love Glasgow Hate Racism@lghr.bsky.social

“Officers attended and engaged with those involved. There were no arrests. Campaigning and demonstration are a legitimate, necessary and vital part of life" Interesting tactic from Police Scotland who routinely kettle antifascist groups while they attempt to peacefully protest. shorturl.at/QCf7N

shorturl.atPolice Scotland issue statement after fascist-style demonstration at Edinburgh CastlePOLICE Scotland have issued a statement following a far-right demonstration staged outside Edinburgh Castle

Willie Mackenzie reposted

Otto English
@ottoenglish.bsky.social

Imagine a world where we are no longer dependent on oil and nuclear energy. It's coming and it's better and that's why the vested interests are doing everything in their power to stop it

Jan Rosenow@janrosenow.bsky.social

Solar has overtaken nuclear. A decade ago it supplied 1% of the world's power. In 2025 it met three quarters of global demand growth. Almost nobody saw it coming. I spoke to Jocelyn Timperley at BBC Future about why. www.bbc.co.uk/future/artic...

bbc.co.uk'It's offensively cheap': How solar power is quietly becoming bigger than nuclearAfter defying projections, solar's dramatic growth means it is overtaking nuclear as a global power source. Here are seven reasons for solar's success, and where it might go from here.

Willie Mackenzie reposted

Catherine Clarke
@cathamclarke.bsky.social

I could spend the rest of my life analysing this feedback sign in the local Home Bargains. Did 'not happy' break from overuse? Was it taped over to ensure 100% positive feedback? Is the green 'b' in 'feedback' some kind of subliminal nudge? Is the duck tape indent because people still keep pressing?

Willie Mackenzie
@williemackenzie.bsky.social

‘Defence-led growth’

Luke Pollard MP@lukepollard.bsky.social

Increasing defence spending offers more chances to reindustrialise and create more good jobs. Today I joined Douglas Alexander and Richard Baker at Navantia’s shipyard in Methil to see what defence-led growth looks like. 🇬🇧🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Willie Mackenzie reposted

George Takei
@georgetakei.bsky.social

My heart is heavy. Walter Koenig, our Ensign Pavel Chekov, passed away early today. Walter and I met on the bridge of the Enterprise in the 1960s, and we stayed friends for nearly six decades. When Brad and I married in 2008, Walter stood beside us as our best man.

Willie Mackenzie
@williemackenzie.bsky.social

‘What do we want? - Crumbs!’ ‘When do we want them? - Honestly, just whenever you can get round to it. Sorry again for asking. No worries if not!’

Mike@doa70.bsky.social

You know, the purity tests when trying to change society only make things worse. Im old enough to remember the fight for gay rights starting in the 80’s. We didnt change hearts and minds by demanding 100% adherence to everything. It came by increments. All you are doing is helping the magats.

Willie Mackenzie
@williemackenzie.bsky.social

Oh great. Here we go. I mean clearly the pub was trying to avoid letting in a bunch of belligerent radgies who were fresh off an anti-immigrant protest, but you just know how this is gonna go …

Manchester Evening News: Number one for news, opinion, sport & …@manchestereveningnews.co.uk.web.brid.gy

manchestereveningnews.co.ukWetherspoons issues statement after Army veteran turned away from pub for 'wearing a poppy'Footage shows a man being turned away from the boozer for wearing a poppy as it is "political".

Willie Mackenzie reposted

Neil Mackay
@neilmackay.bsky.social

A racist lady told a Nazi something and now Britain has a mercenary army made up of African migrants These assholes are stark raving mad and they actually vote

Willie Mackenzie reposted

Neil Mackay
@neilmackay.bsky.social

It’s so telling that Robin Ince has used the word ‘openly’ here. Any time I write a piece in the Scottish press that’s supportive of trans folk it unleashes a tidal wave of hate and threats that lasts for days. It is a deliberate exercise in silencing support and further isolating trans people.

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Willie Mackenzie
@williemackenzie.bsky.social

Happened across a vile post on X where someone as calling a black woman from Big Brother a full on racial slur. Silly me thought I’d just report it as it was pretty blatant and indisputable: guess what apparently didn’t violate any rules on X? Fucking cesspit.

Willie Mackenzie reposted

Alasdair Mackenzie
@alasdairmackenzie.bsky.social

The BBC’s constant tendency to play down or ignore the true nature of the far right is a major contributor to its growth

Sunder Katwala (sundersays)@sundersays.bsky.social

BBC report sanitises the overt racism: It notes that organisers warned marchers not to talk to journalists, then gives the "anti-immigration group"'s own sanitised description of itself. It does not report they chanted "England for the white man" in the streets. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

bbc.co.ukPro and anti-immigration protesters march in Herne BayThere was a heavy police presence for the marches by the Kent Nationalist Movement and its opponents.

Willie Mackenzie reposted

Tristan Grayford
@tristangrayford.scot

The entirety of Scottish Labour gladly helped them in that effort, happily backing an overt racist in the process

flyingrodent@flyingrodent.bsky.social

Another one here where the British press just smashed fuck out of a member of the public’s life for no good reason, just because they wanted to and nobody will stop them doing at. And they’re still going, even now.

Willie Mackenzie reposted

Sophie Molly
@sophiemolly.co.uk

Hello Police. Can you arrest this person for threatening a trans woman please. Remember when you arrested a trans woman for posting about a dead person. Well this person is alive.

Willie Mackenzie reposted

Euan
@euan.bsky.social

presented without comment

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. * * *

Willie Mackenzie reposted

HulloThere
@jethroreading32.bsky.social

Three years ago, my dad said that all fish are the same shape. Out of spite, I decided to draw all 478 families of bony fish listed in Nelson 2016. There's still some stuff I need to edit and some fish I want to redraw but, after 985 days, I finished my big dumb fish project last night.

Willie Mackenzie reposted

flyingrodent
@flyingrodent.bsky.social

Again, it’s important to understand that the transgender terror did not arise organically from the public. It was imposed from above, by the world’s most hateful and poisonous media class.

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. * * *

Willie Mackenzie reposted

Athena Kugblenu
@athenakugblenu.bsky.social

drilling for more gas then telling us to stockpile because of the climate crisis is like digging a deeper and deeper hole because you know a guy who sells long ladders

Willie Mackenzie reposted

Natacha
@natacha.bsky.social

Burnham’s government is telling people to stockpile food & water in case of a climate crisis/“technological dependency” while contributing to that climate crisis with Jackdaw & embedding *Palantir* into government systems. Labour is literally saying “protect yourselves from our bad decisions.” 1/2

Willie Mackenzie reposted

Kaitlin Ruiz
@kaitlinruiz.bsky.social

the Vittorio Angelone stuff is a depressing bookend to this, and a reminder that even men who loudly signal supposed allyship fail to recognize women's pain

Kaitlin Ruiz@kaitlinruiz.bsky.social

Shane Gillis is such an interesting case, because you have this guy who is unfunny, but also: he's bad-looking

Willie Mackenzie reposted

Ireland against Fascism
@irlagainstfascism.bsky.social

Danny Tommo's 'patriot platform' vigilantes were refused service in The George Inn, Portsmouth. They demanded to know why, despite the fact they do not have to be given a reason. Always make bigots feel unwelcome. Show the pub some love for doing the right thing. Things you love to see ✊❤️

Willie Mackenzie reposted

Ross Sayers
@rosssayers.bsky.social

Why would I use ChatGPT when I could just ask The Mold On My Walls like I've been doing for years with no negative consequences

Willie Mackenzie reposted

W Griffith
@supersequin.bsky.social

Not only that 👇 but today Wes Streeting warned us to be ready for climate-related impacts to food and water supplies. If only we knew what was causing this increase in extreme weather and could do things to reduce the risk of it getting worse. Oh wait... www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... #StopRosebank

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.
KOJAMF🤘🖤🤘@kojamf.bsky.social

Cody Dahler

Willie Mackenzie reposted

Ellie Mae O'Hagan
@elliemaeohagan.bsky.social

The IPCC is pretty clear that if we want a safe climate there can be no new oil and gas. But every country thinks it has some special reason for why it should be the exception

Willie Mackenzie reposted

Natacha
@natacha.bsky.social

The real story isn’t this, it is what happened after this as the BBC and other mainstream media platforms repeatedly platformed racists, transphobes and other fascists, including a disproportionately large number of appearances by Farage and Farage lackeys.

Josh Self@josh.politics.co.uk

#Onthisday 2009. Nick Griffin, the leader of the British National Party (BNP), appeared as a panellist on Question Time The BBC's decision to invite Griffin was immensely controversial. His appearance drew a record audience of eight million viewers Full story: www.politics.co.uk/history/bnp-...

politics.co.ukBNP leader Nick Griffin appears on BBC Question Time (2009)On 22 October 2009, Nick Griffin, the leader of the BNP, appeared as a panellist on the BBC’s flagship debate programme, Question Time.

Willie Mackenzie reposted

James Bullock
@jmbecologist.bsky.social

We can rewild, we can plant trees, we can protect areas But fundamentally, to help nature to recover we need to free up more land And the easiest & most effective single approach is to reduce meat eating Saving vast areas of land from being use to grow livestock feed

Willie Mackenzie reposted

flyingrodent
@flyingrodent.bsky.social

This was already pretty damn weird with the press lads declining to do the screaming scandal that you’d expect for a drunken MP publicly fondling nuclear sub commanders, before we even get on to this or the stuff about China.