Jonty
@jonty24.bsky.social
Retired Civil Servant (UK) with HM Customs & Excise as my favourite department of three over 38 years. Long-term mature student at the University of Life. Arsenal fan. DNA mess. Enthusiastic traveller and Duolingo aficionado.🇬🇧🇭🇺🇪🇺🇺🇦
Starting to worry that the most dangerous extremism we face are the small groups of "patriot" groups springing up. While not sophisticated, they do seem able and willing to coordinate. And they seem to be getting bolder. A real concern.
September 18, 2026 at 6:49 PM
Starting to worry that the most dangerous extremism we face are the small groups of "patriot" groups springing up. While not sophisticated, they do seem able and willing to coordinate. And they seem to be getting bolder. A real concern.
If there is good base security and a small mobile Military Police contigent deployed at the military base near Piddington, to temporary house people going through the asylum process, that should address the safety concerns of residents, no? If not, it makes you wonder what they really want/mean.
September 16, 2026 at 11:12 AM
If there is good base security and a small mobile Military Police contigent deployed at the military base near Piddington, to temporary house people going through the asylum process, that should address the safety concerns of residents, no? If not, it makes you wonder what they really want/mean.
Watching Arlene Foster, enthusiastic Brexiteer pouring scorn on the idea that the Union may come to an end, on Sky News. Performative nonsense is basically her view.
September 14, 2026 at 9:29 PM
Watching Arlene Foster, enthusiastic Brexiteer pouring scorn on the idea that the Union may come to an end, on Sky News. Performative nonsense is basically her view.
Good to hear Paul Nowak's voice over the last couple of days. The TUC has been too quiet in recent years. He seems a decent General Secretary who talks sense. In this toxic environment, it's important that people like him, in key influential positions, step up.
September 14, 2026 at 4:59 PM
Good to hear Paul Nowak's voice over the last couple of days. The TUC has been too quiet in recent years. He seems a decent General Secretary who talks sense. In this toxic environment, it's important that people like him, in key influential positions, step up.
I see that the AfD leader in Saxony-Anhalt, Ulrich Siegmund, was previously a fragrance salesman. There is some continuity, though, with his politics, with the clear stench of fascism coming through.
September 11, 2026 at 9:41 PM
I see that the AfD leader in Saxony-Anhalt, Ulrich Siegmund, was previously a fragrance salesman. There is some continuity, though, with his politics, with the clear stench of fascism coming through.
Interesting to see the hostility to the proposed UK tourist /holiday tax. 5% on hotel prices (potentially) does seem high though. £2 or so per night would be better. But, many countries in Europe have this tax. And they plough it back into providing services/infrastructure.
September 10, 2026 at 9:40 PM
Interesting to see the hostility to the proposed UK tourist /holiday tax. 5% on hotel prices (potentially) does seem high though. £2 or so per night would be better. But, many countries in Europe have this tax. And they plough it back into providing services/infrastructure.
Good to see the Met is investigating the Reform donations. It will be interesting to see what they discover.
September 9, 2026 at 2:09 PM
Good to see the Met is investigating the Reform donations. It will be interesting to see what they discover.
Alice Weidel, likely to be a dangerous, but ultimately useful idiot for even darker forces.
September 8, 2026 at 10:04 PM
Alice Weidel, likely to be a dangerous, but ultimately useful idiot for even darker forces.
Never imagined that the 1990s might actually end up being the high point of civilisation.
September 8, 2026 at 10:01 PM
Never imagined that the 1990s might actually end up being the high point of civilisation.
One thing that the South Coast thugs have conveniently done is take the interest away from the Farage donations story and the Reform conference. Not sure if this is linked or just a lucky break for Farage. But these days, who knows.
September 8, 2026 at 10:10 AM
One thing that the South Coast thugs have conveniently done is take the interest away from the Farage donations story and the Reform conference. Not sure if this is linked or just a lucky break for Farage. But these days, who knows.
I'm assuming most of the Dover thugs had to go home by train as the police would have arrested them if they'd have tried to get back in the rental vans?
September 7, 2026 at 8:00 PM
I'm assuming most of the Dover thugs had to go home by train as the police would have arrested them if they'd have tried to get back in the rental vans?
Saw a stat that 42% of 18 - 24 year olds voted for AfD in Saxony Anhalt yesterday. While I understand the state may be a bit of an outlier compared to the rest of Germany, it's rather depressing and worrying that such a high proportion of young people have voted for an extremist party.
September 7, 2026 at 7:35 AM
Saw a stat that 42% of 18 - 24 year olds voted for AfD in Saxony Anhalt yesterday. While I understand the state may be a bit of an outlier compared to the rest of Germany, it's rather depressing and worrying that such a high proportion of young people have voted for an extremist party.
The problem with deliberate shit stirring to make people angry is that after a while, people just stay perpetually angry. And those that did the shit stirring end up having no control over how that anger may unwind.
September 4, 2026 at 11:22 PM
The problem with deliberate shit stirring to make people angry is that after a while, people just stay perpetually angry. And those that did the shit stirring end up having no control over how that anger may unwind.
Beth Rigby, back on Sky News after her summer break, seems to have decided that every word ending in "ing" needs to lose the "g". She used to drop the occasional "g" in her reporting. No problem with that. But every single "ing" is a bit grating. Am I just a harsh, miserable old bastard?
September 4, 2026 at 11:18 PM
Beth Rigby, back on Sky News after her summer break, seems to have decided that every word ending in "ing" needs to lose the "g". She used to drop the occasional "g" in her reporting. No problem with that. But every single "ing" is a bit grating. Am I just a harsh, miserable old bastard?
If Reform does implode, it will be interesting (and no doubt rather depressing) to see where their vote goes. I suspect it'll be a relatively equal split between Restore and the Tories. The rotten thing is that even if Farage and Reform disappear, the toxicity they've enabled remains.
September 4, 2026 at 1:43 PM
If Reform does implode, it will be interesting (and no doubt rather depressing) to see where their vote goes. I suspect it'll be a relatively equal split between Restore and the Tories. The rotten thing is that even if Farage and Reform disappear, the toxicity they've enabled remains.
So if, as Farage claims, Reform have not taken any "dodgy money", why have Dan Dukes and James Orr stood down from their positions. Seems daft to do that if they've acted legimately, doesn't it?
September 4, 2026 at 9:08 AM
So if, as Farage claims, Reform have not taken any "dodgy money", why have Dan Dukes and James Orr stood down from their positions. Seems daft to do that if they've acted legimately, doesn't it?
If Middlesbrough is our future (and taking our country back), it's bloody bleak.
August 28, 2026 at 12:14 PM
If Middlesbrough is our future (and taking our country back), it's bloody bleak.
So sad to hear about Dolly Parton. So much to like about her.
August 25, 2026 at 6:26 PM
So sad to hear about Dolly Parton. So much to like about her.
The further you move on from her time in office, the more you understand just how much damage (much of it with long-term effects) Margaret Thatcher did to this country. She has left a rotten legacy.
August 23, 2026 at 7:07 AM
The further you move on from her time in office, the more you understand just how much damage (much of it with long-term effects) Margaret Thatcher did to this country. She has left a rotten legacy.
Something very satisfying about being in a silent environment but for the sound of rain falling on leaves.
August 19, 2026 at 9:34 AM
Something very satisfying about being in a silent environment but for the sound of rain falling on leaves.
So Richard Tice says we should adapt to climate change rather than try to stop/mitigate it. Idiotic, short-term thinking. But he's not thinking beyond his life. But still, British wine might be better than French wine for a few years before the vines burn. The man is a 🤡🤡🤡🤡💩💩💩💩
August 17, 2026 at 5:26 PM
So Richard Tice says we should adapt to climate change rather than try to stop/mitigate it. Idiotic, short-term thinking. But he's not thinking beyond his life. But still, British wine might be better than French wine for a few years before the vines burn. The man is a 🤡🤡🤡🤡💩💩💩💩
Reposted by Jonty
July 1920. Now, that is what I call a prediction!. 😮
August 12, 2026 at 8:38 PM
July 1920. Now, that is what I call a prediction!. 😮
I would love it if Count Binface won. But, Farage has made himself look like a total arse by triggering the by-election. And, if he wins, the attention will turn back to his financial dealings again. Hopefully, even Teflon Nigel won't be able to get out of the tangled web he's ensnared in.
August 13, 2026 at 7:20 AM
I would love it if Count Binface won. But, Farage has made himself look like a total arse by triggering the by-election. And, if he wins, the attention will turn back to his financial dealings again. Hopefully, even Teflon Nigel won't be able to get out of the tangled web he's ensnared in.
One bloody megadingy and Sky News refers to it as a crisis. Such irresponsible and dangerous journalism.
August 10, 2026 at 9:56 PM
One bloody megadingy and Sky News refers to it as a crisis. Such irresponsible and dangerous journalism.