Will Reid-Tong

Will Reid-Tong

@willthong.com

💻 Release Engineer at a cybersecurity firm 🌹 Ex-Labour fundraiser, 2021-2023 🎓 Ex-Magdalene College, Cambridge fundraiser 🧑‍🍳 Even more formerly a MasterChef 2017 contestant All opinions personal; RT ≠ endorsement

333 followers400 following2.1K posts

Will Reid-Tong reposted

Politics.co.uk
@politics.co.uk

“Alongside fellow MPs, I have received reports of applications being refused because of convictions linked to the 2019-2020 pro-democracy protests”, writes @bobbywdean.bsky.social 🗣️ Britain cannot shut the door on Hongkongers persecuted for defending democracy www.politics.co.uk/2026/10/brit...

politics.co.ukBritain cannot shut the door on Hongkongers persecuted for defending democracy - Politics.co.ukHongkongers who stood up for democracy have paid a heavy price. Some have lost their freedom, spent years in prison and emerged to find the city they knew changed beyond recognition. Now, for some see...
Will Reid-Tong
@willthong.com

If we get into a position where any old Frenchman can saunter in but we're still saying an (eg) Indian-born gent who's been working here non-stop for 14 years cannot earn citizenship, I will become the Joker. I'm all for FoM, but let's try not to make it so explicitly a racist policy please.

Sunder Katwala (sundersays)@sundersays.bsky.social

Prime Minister Andy Burnham says he wants a more 'honest conversation' about freedom of movement, suggesting it could work better than post-Brexit immigration has. www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...

thetimes.comAndy Burnham is open to adopting EU free movementThe PM calls for an honest conversation, saying pre-Brexit migration was not ‘as difficult’ as it is now

Will Reid-Tong reposted

Leonardo Carella
@leonardocarella.bsky.social

"Political correctness gone mad", but political correctness now is that trans people don't exist.

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. * * *
Will Reid-Tong
@willthong.com

Transphobic bigots cannot be appeased. Labour's failed experiment in treating them like good faith actors has fucked over a vulnerable group of people with absolutely no upside.

Raluca Terry-Enescu@ralucahippie.bsky.social

Wait. I understand the argument for banning trans people from single sex spaces. I strongly disagree with it and think it's absolute bollocks but it is some form of comprehensible. What is even her rationale for "spaces that we can accept are mixed sex still need to be exclusively cis?"

Will Reid-Tong
@willthong.com

Rancid. We're turning away the world's best and forcing them back into danger just to satisfy fascist skinheads and small-minded racist grandmas who were never going to vote Labour anyway.

The Guardian@theguardian.com

Surgeon faces deportation as Home Office revokes refugee status for Syrians

theguardian.comSurgeon faces deportation as Home Office revokes refugee status for SyriansUK classifies Syria as safe to return to despite UN refugee body’s advice A Syrian plastic surgeon is facing deportation from the UK after the Home Office revoked his refugee status, declaring it is now safe for him and his family to return to their home country. Despite Foreign Office guidance advising against all travel to Syria because of the “volatile” security situation, the government has classified it as a safe place for refugees to return to. Continue reading...

Will Reid-Tong reposted

Dan Snow
@thehistoryguy.bsky.social

This a million times. People of colour being dragged on to debate maniacs about imaginary labels & race science is an abomination. proper ‘how German are you’ Nazi shit Note that people like me with white migrant parentage never asked to defend our identity Englishness. Is. A. Made. Up. Thing

Sathnam Sanghera@sathnam.bsky.social

Dear tv and radio producers. Thankyou for the invitation. But, no, I do not want to appear on your show to defend the idea that I am English, after 50 years of living and working here, because the increasingly feral right want to turn this into a "debate" and you cannot see how you're being played

Will Reid-Tong reposted

Sathnam Sanghera
@sathnam.bsky.social

Dear tv and radio producers. Thankyou for the invitation. But, no, I do not want to appear on your show to defend the idea that I am English, after 50 years of living and working here, because the increasingly feral right want to turn this into a "debate" and you cannot see how you're being played

Will Reid-Tong reposted

Jordan
@jordanpfot.bsky.social

Not a novel observation by any means but the irony here, of course, is that it is precisely the UK’s successful approach to multiculturalism that has allowed us to generate a brown white nationalist.

Farrukh@implausibleblog.bsky.social

Suella Braverman suggests on #BBCQT that you can't be English unless you are white, and have a lineage or heritage going back some generations

Will Reid-Tong
@willthong.com

Not against linking state pension to earnings instead. But it would be deeply regressive to scrap the triple lock, hitting vulnerable folk relying solely on the state pension, while doing nothing about council/property tax reform to ask a little more of wealthy pensioners in million £ houses.

The Guardian@theguardian.com

Burnham to signal willingness to look at scrapping pension triple lock to fund social care

theguardian.comBurnham to signal willingness to look at scrapping pension triple lock to fund social carePM to tell Labour conference he is prepared to make difficult arguments and have ‘honest conversation’ * UK politics live – latest updates Andy Burnham will signal he is prepared to look at scrapping the pensions triple lock to fund a national care service, telling the Labour conference he will be willing to make difficult arguments to tackle the UK’s intractable issues such as social care. Government sources have suggested the prime minister would signal his willingness to review the policy but stop short of a pledge to scrap it altogether. The Unite general secretary, Sharon Graham, said the move would be “electoral suicide”, with an end to the policy likely to be attacked by the Conservaties and Reform. Continue reading...

Will Reid-Tong reposted

Sam Freedman
@samfr.bsky.social

Also under current proposals they won't be allowed to be social care workers after 2028. Ministers still don't seem to understand their own plan.

Jonathan Portes@jdportes.bsky.social

"In order to deliver the PM's promise to save social care we need a permanent class of indentured migrant workers without labour rights".

Will Reid-Tong reposted

Cab Davidson
@gnomeicide.bsky.social

Sheer crap from Burnham. If you say "immigration needs to be dealt with" and talk about small boar crossings in this context, you -are- equivocating. Call them what they are - fascists, terrorists, scum. Nothing short of that will do.

Sunder Katwala (sundersays)@sundersays.bsky.social

Burnham's comments to the Echo

Will Reid-Tong reposted

James Ball
@jamesrball.com

I do wonder sometimes if certain people in Labour have ever met the modern working class. I know in reality they have, but it never feels like it. Working people are overwhelmingly literate now! Most know people of other races! Many have gay friends or family! Some worry about climate change!

Jack Bailey@jack-bailey.co.uk

I would welcome more diversity in politics, but a focus on material issues rooted in this sort of sentimentality about who counts as working class is a death sentence for Labour. As @jamesdaustin.bsky.social says, you can't hold your own voters in contempt then begrudge them for not voting for you.

Will Reid-Tong reposted

Sunder Katwala (sundersays)
@sundersays.bsky.social

Guardian reports Rayner's continued defence of migrants care workers from in Cabinet. Seems to have won that argument for care workers with No 10 + Home Office Big unknown: will anyone protect 250k non-care workers (chefs, vets, architects) from being thrown out www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

theguardian.comAngela Rayner stands by attack on care worker visa reforms ahead of Labour conferenceHousing secretary says Home Office moved goalposts with ‘disruptive’ change to permanent residence rules

Will Reid-Tong reposted

Dan Davies
@dsquareddigest.bsky.social

I mean, we've apparently lifted the ban on right wing hooliganism so what's the point keeping the stable door bolted I guess

James Dart@jamesdart.bsky.social

Andy Burnham has signalled he may lift the ban on drinking alcohol in the stands at football matches, suggesting it is ‘unfair’ for fans to be singled out when it is permitted for other sports. Story: @pippacrerar.bsky.social and @tomjgarry.bsky.social

theguardian.comAndy Burnham signals he may lift ban on alcohol in football standsPrime minister says measure is discriminatory when fans of other sports are not similarly restricted

Will Reid-Tong reposted

Tom Roberts
@tpgroberts.bsky.social

The complete and total collapse of state function in the face of far right extremists. It is frankly ludicrous that Daniel Thomas continues to be at large given the series of crimes committed which he has literally filmed.

Emma Yeomans@yeomans.bsky.social

Worrying scenes in the Channel today, for all interested in asylum policy and maritime tactics. A small boat from Normandy spent more than 30 hours at sea. Those on board now on their 2nd rescue vessel as Border Force forced to play cat and mouse with far-right activists who have their own boat.

Will Reid-Tong
@willthong.com

Props to Bridget for saying what, 5 years ago, would've been totally common ground between basically all Labour and Tory MPs. We need to hear the same moral leadership, consistently, from everyone in the Cabinet.

Bridget Phillipson MP@bphillipsonmp.bsky.social

We should be proud that being British is something that unites people regardless of their skin colour. If today’s parties of the right want a backward-facing, exclusionary patriotism – Labour will fight against them, and we’ll win.

Will Reid-Tong reposted

Bridget Phillipson MP
@bphillipsonmp.bsky.social

We should be proud that being British is something that unites people regardless of their skin colour. If today’s parties of the right want a backward-facing, exclusionary patriotism – Labour will fight against them, and we’ll win.

Will Reid-Tong reposted

Stephen Bush
@stephenkb.bsky.social

Replying to @stephenkb.bsky.social

A lot of Labour people visibly believe that a Labour government gives off tolerance particles, and therefore sitting mute is fine and good. The reality is that it took a cross party, whole society effort to make us, as Sunak says, the most successful multiethnic, multifaith democracy in the world:

thetimes.comRishi Sunak: Britishness must not be turned into a DNA testI worry that the immigration debate is going far beyond arrival numbers

Will Reid-Tong reposted

James Ball
@jamesrball.com

I think it should be a source of deep embarrassment – and perhaps even shame – that Rishi Sunak has spoken out on this before Andy Burnham has.

Sunder Katwala (sundersays)@sundersays.bsky.social

Former PM Rishi Sunak in the Sunday Times challenges the rise of ethno-nationalism in British politics, as an argument within the right about Britishness being about ancestry, DNA and ethnicity www.thetimes.com/article/e89d...

Will Reid-Tong
@willthong.com

The last PM who did nothing to arrest the rise of racism, 2025 (colourised)

The Guardian@theguardian.com

Britons of all ethnicities feel racial equality is worsening, study shows

theguardian.comBritons of all ethnicities feel racial equality is worsening, study showsNearly half of minority ethnic respondents in a poll say they have faced prejudice over the past year Many Britons feel inequality is worsening and that discrimination has become more common, according to a thinktank study. The report by British Future has found that people across ethnic groups believe racial equality is worsening in Britain. One in six people are from minority ethnic backgrounds. Continue reading...

Will Reid-Tong reposted

Don Moynihan
@donmoyn.bsky.social

Unlike Macklemore, these support acts don’t have big followings and they are giving up their chance to perform to stadiums to push back against censorship, not of themselves but of a fellow artist. Respect.

Una Mullally@unamullally.bsky.social

The Irish musicians, Beoga, who play alongside Ed Sheeran, have withdrawn from Sheeran’s tour. This is the statement they published on Instagram:

Will Reid-Tong reposted

Owen Winter
@owenwntr.bsky.social

disagreeing with Urdu election material is silly. the more interesting question is why Polanski is campaigning in Urdu in a constituency with hardly any Urdu speakers

Kevin Schofield@kevinschofied.bsky.social

Greens Defend Zack Polanski's Urdu Video After Minister Says It Makes Him 'Uncomfortable' www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/greens...

huffingtonpost.co.ukGreens Defend Zack Polanski's Urdu Video After Minister Says It Makes Him 'Uncomfortable'The party said “democracy doesn’t discriminate by languages spoken”.
Will Reid-Tong
@willthong.com

Sure it's not Burnham's fault. But the second best time to cap individual and company donations etc etc. It's very easy to make a political argument that TU funding is, per person, very low. You could just limit each person (voter, union member, shareholder) to £15k and boost short money a bit.

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Will Reid-Tong
@willthong.com

Really good stuff from @paulnowaktuc.bsky.social here - more Labour MPs should be saying the same. Mahmood's ILR reforms are unfair, will undermine migrant integration and only embolden the far right's attack on the world's best and brightest who want to contribute to the UK 👏

Jonathan Portes@jdportes.bsky.social

Excellent by @paulnowaktuc.bsky.social on Mahmood's settlement proposals “You end up with Reform claiming a woman born in Somalia who's lived here most of her life, worked hard and contributed to our society,somehow isn’t fit to hold elected office.” www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Will Reid-Tong reposted

Heather Stewart
@guardianheather.bsky.social

“The idea that you could be here for the next 10, 15 years and you’d still have no legal right to remain in the country … how the hell do you plan?..It cuts across any effort to integrate at all.” www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

theguardian.com‘Fundamentally unfair’: Burnham must overhaul migration reforms, says TUC general secretaryPaul Nowak says changes to immigration rules risk overstretching social care and fuelling far-right sentiment
Will Reid-Tong
@willthong.com

And the Home Secretary needs to get in the bin.

Tom Wilson@feedthedrummer.bsky.social

This does suggest Britain is a) very good at integration b) actively attracts the world's smart and ambitious people who want to get on and do well for themselves Both of these are very good, competitive qualities to have and should be celebrated.

Will Reid-Tong
@willthong.com

Vital for Labour MPs to pressure the Government by explicitly, publicly condemning this fascist behaviour. We must never conflate racist, anti-democratic thuggery with peaceful protest. A random selection: @torstenbell.bsky.social @chriscurtis94.bsky.social @antoniabance.bsky.social

HOPE not hate@hopenothate.org.uk

Two RNLI volunteers were pictured in Portsmouth this weekend while responding during the Patriot Platform protest. The far right responded by identifying them and branding them “traitors”. This is what the far right’s “peaceful” activism looks like.

Will Reid-Tong reposted

M☿th
@monroetempleton.bsky.social

At the most basic level, this is why the PM, Police, and press response is so horrifying: it gives a fascist cabal the impunity that because they can get away with open "not touching u" demos, they can get away with directing their followers to the homes of RNLI volunteers

HOPE not hate@hopenothate.org.uk

Two RNLI volunteers were pictured in Portsmouth this weekend while responding during the Patriot Platform protest. The far right responded by identifying them and branding them “traitors”. This is what the far right’s “peaceful” activism looks like.

Will Reid-Tong reposted

James Ball
@jamesrball.com

It's craven, it's politically stupid, and it's morally wrong. Number 10 does not struggle to get Andy Burnham in front of a camera when it wants him to be there. Every minute he's not on show over this is the result of a deliberate decision.

Jonn Elledge@jonnelledge.bsky.social

I simply do not understand what's going on in Labour that renders its leaders incapable of finding a TV camera and speaking out against street violence. Even if you assume they agree about immigration, violence is wrong, unpopular AND against the interests of any even vaguely left wing govt.

Will Reid-Tong reposted

Tom Roberts
@tpgroberts.bsky.social

I appreciate they would deny it, but they spent the last two days arguing about if some ethnicities can be British, announcing they'd declare a state or emergency to push through their policies, and now this, it's a very straightforwardly fascist movement.

Tom Roberts@tpgroberts.bsky.social

Not going to share the video, because it is actually horrific, but the footage of Reform members assaulting a young protestor whilst Farage smiles and jokes is probably one of the most disgusting things I've seen in politics and speaks to the fundamental weakness in Reform voters' character.