Lady Macbeth
@notinstructed.bsky.social
Not instructed. Rarely impressed. Merely observing proceedings…
Robert Jenrick threatening to invoke the European Convention on Human Rights on behalf of a party campaigning to leave the European Convention on Human Rights.
Somewhere, irony has instructed lawyers.
Somewhere, irony has instructed lawyers.
Treasury spokesman Robert Jenrick says Reform UK is prepared to take the government to the European Court of Human Rights, reports the Daily Mail👇
🔗 www.dailymail.com/news/article...
The European Convention on Human Rights protects us all.
🔗 www.dailymail.com/news/article...
The European Convention on Human Rights protects us all.
September 15, 2026 at 7:36 AM
Robert Jenrick threatening to invoke the European Convention on Human Rights on behalf of a party campaigning to leave the European Convention on Human Rights.
Somewhere, irony has instructed lawyers.
Somewhere, irony has instructed lawyers.
Nothing restores one’s enthusiasm for European human-rights institutions quite like personally requiring some European human rights.
Brexity dude loses appeal against lifetime ban from financial services industry, for his attempts to frustrate sexual harassment investigations
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Crispin Odey loses appeal against lifetime ban from UK financial services industry
Judges uphold ruling that financier tried to ‘frustrate’ investigations into harassment claims against him
www.theguardian.com
September 15, 2026 at 7:31 AM
Nothing restores one’s enthusiasm for European human-rights institutions quite like personally requiring some European human rights.
Reposted by Lady Macbeth
September 13, 2026 at 2:01 PM
Female-led dating appears to have confused worship with usefulness.
Because I’m not having some beautifully cheekboned man prostrating himself at my feet if he can’t also fix rotten decking boards. Worship is all very well. Can he use a spirit level?
Because I’m not having some beautifully cheekboned man prostrating himself at my feet if he can’t also fix rotten decking boards. Worship is all very well. Can he use a spirit level?
September 15, 2026 at 12:36 AM
Female-led dating appears to have confused worship with usefulness.
Because I’m not having some beautifully cheekboned man prostrating himself at my feet if he can’t also fix rotten decking boards. Worship is all very well. Can he use a spirit level?
Because I’m not having some beautifully cheekboned man prostrating himself at my feet if he can’t also fix rotten decking boards. Worship is all very well. Can he use a spirit level?
Counsel is completely confident of compliance. Counsel is unable to particularise the dates upon which that confidence depends…
Reform declines to say if £72m donors returned to UK within 12-month limit
Richard Tice says contributions are legally compliant after author of review into overseas donations says rules will be applied retrospectively
www.theguardian.com
September 14, 2026 at 4:14 PM
Counsel is completely confident of compliance. Counsel is unable to particularise the dates upon which that confidence depends…
So… can we have one of those, then?
Preferably with:
* evidence of critical reasoning,
* some grasp of cause and effect,
* and no apparent belief that he personally constitutes an adequate regulatory framework for artificial intelligence.
Preferably with:
* evidence of critical reasoning,
* some grasp of cause and effect,
* and no apparent belief that he personally constitutes an adequate regulatory framework for artificial intelligence.
September 14, 2026 at 3:45 PM
So… can we have one of those, then?
Preferably with:
* evidence of critical reasoning,
* some grasp of cause and effect,
* and no apparent belief that he personally constitutes an adequate regulatory framework for artificial intelligence.
Preferably with:
* evidence of critical reasoning,
* some grasp of cause and effect,
* and no apparent belief that he personally constitutes an adequate regulatory framework for artificial intelligence.
“Surrounded by losers, misfits and boozers…”
At this point, Jackson Lamb and Slough House are beginning to look less like satire and more like unusually restrained documentary filmmaking.
At this point, Jackson Lamb and Slough House are beginning to look less like satire and more like unusually restrained documentary filmmaking.
🧵 Peter Keeley, a former MI5 agent who spent 15 years undercover in the IRA, now works for Stephen Lennon AKA Tommy Robinson.
He’s supplying covertly-procured information while being supported by the British taxpayer.
hopenothate.org.uk/lennons-secr...
He’s supplying covertly-procured information while being supported by the British taxpayer.
hopenothate.org.uk/lennons-secr...
Lennon's Secret Agent
A former MI5 agent who operated as an IRA bomb maker is now working for Stephen Lennon. Despite still being supported by the British taxpayer, Peter Keeley appears to have broken the law by supplying ...
hopenothate.org.uk
September 14, 2026 at 3:00 PM
“Surrounded by losers, misfits and boozers…”
At this point, Jackson Lamb and Slough House are beginning to look less like satire and more like unusually restrained documentary filmmaking.
At this point, Jackson Lamb and Slough House are beginning to look less like satire and more like unusually restrained documentary filmmaking.
A man suspected of possessing indecent images of children is in London. US officials search his home, remove him to an American airbase and fly him out of Britain without informing the Met.
At what point, precisely, did UK criminal jurisdiction become optional?
At what point, precisely, did UK criminal jurisdiction become optional?
I haven't seen this get much traction over here (it led BBC news for a bit yesterday). Wild story about the Trump Administration taking extraordinary action to protect a pedophile
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
UK ministers urged to act after US flies out diplomat accused of possessing indecent images of children
US officials reportedly raided envoy’s London home and took him to American airbase without warning Met police
www.theguardian.com
September 14, 2026 at 2:52 PM
A man suspected of possessing indecent images of children is in London. US officials search his home, remove him to an American airbase and fly him out of Britain without informing the Met.
At what point, precisely, did UK criminal jurisdiction become optional?
At what point, precisely, did UK criminal jurisdiction become optional?
Today. Counsel may wish to consider why that particular adverb has suddenly become indispensable…
Farage hints that Reform’s £72m donations may not be legal under new elections bill - UK politics live
In an interview about the donations, he said they are compliant with the law ‘today’
www.theguardian.com
September 14, 2026 at 2:18 PM
Today. Counsel may wish to consider why that particular adverb has suddenly become indispensable…
Remorse generally requires accepting that the person responsible was you.
Speedboat killer Jack Shepherd jailed again for 20 months for attacking girlfriend
Speedboat killer Jack Shepherd jailed again for 20 months for attacking girlfriend
A man who was jailed for manslaughter over a woman's death in a speedboat crash has been sentenced to 20 months in prison for assaulting another woman.
news.sky.com
September 14, 2026 at 1:45 PM
Remorse generally requires accepting that the person responsible was you.
It is Lee. Mostly with the burden of proof.
x.com
September 14, 2026 at 12:32 PM
It is Lee. Mostly with the burden of proof.
Reposted by Lady Macbeth
This donation boost in just one week shows the effect of the right-whingers campaign against the RNLI.
September 13, 2026 at 7:40 PM
This donation boost in just one week shows the effect of the right-whingers campaign against the RNLI.
If £72m can arrive for one political party and the response is simply “those are the rules”, perhaps the rules are the problem. Democracy should not be an auction in which the largest private fortune buys the loudest political voice.
TUC leader calls for ban on crypto donations and says Reform’s £72m shows democracy ‘in crisis’ - UK politics live www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...
TUC leader calls for ban on crypto donations and says Reform’s £72m shows democracy ‘in crisis’ - UK politics live
Paul Nowak says the donations to Reform UK suggest that Nigel Farage is a ‘politician for sale’
www.theguardian.com
September 14, 2026 at 11:42 AM
If £72m can arrive for one political party and the response is simply “those are the rules”, perhaps the rules are the problem. Democracy should not be an auction in which the largest private fortune buys the loudest political voice.
There are occasions when the most devastating response available is impeccable customer service…
Remember the media created witch-hunt
when mobs attacked paediatricians
who spend their lives helping children
instead of paedophiles ...
"When you're so blinded by prejudice..."
via Truth Against Hate
when mobs attacked paediatricians
who spend their lives helping children
instead of paedophiles ...
"When you're so blinded by prejudice..."
via Truth Against Hate
September 14, 2026 at 11:40 AM
There are occasions when the most devastating response available is impeccable customer service…
Apparently we have reached the stage where a political party can identify a minority as a threat, produce no evidence that they are causing the alleged problem, and then spend public money monitoring them anyway. History has seen this particular administrative innovation before…
No evidence at all of crime in Essex being driven by asylum seekers.
This Reform use of taxpayers money is all about driving hate and fear against migrants.
This Reform use of taxpayers money is all about driving hate and fear against migrants.
September 14, 2026 at 11:35 AM
Apparently we have reached the stage where a political party can identify a minority as a threat, produce no evidence that they are causing the alleged problem, and then spend public money monitoring them anyway. History has seen this particular administrative innovation before…
Reposted by Lady Macbeth
Retrospective legislation often applies to financial laws to prevent pre-emption.
Overseas donations cap applies from 25/03/2026
“will include all donations from overseas electors received from today & all regulated transactions entered into from today.”
hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2026...
Overseas donations cap applies from 25/03/2026
“will include all donations from overseas electors received from today & all regulated transactions entered into from today.”
hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2026...
Foreign Financial Influence and Interference: UK Polit - Hansard - UK Parliament
Hansard record of the item : 'Foreign Financial Influence and Interference: UK Politics' on Wednesday 25 March 2026.
hansard.parliament.uk
September 14, 2026 at 11:09 AM
Retrospective legislation often applies to financial laws to prevent pre-emption.
Overseas donations cap applies from 25/03/2026
“will include all donations from overseas electors received from today & all regulated transactions entered into from today.”
hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2026...
Overseas donations cap applies from 25/03/2026
“will include all donations from overseas electors received from today & all regulated transactions entered into from today.”
hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2026...
If the purpose was to make farmland less attractive as a tax shelter and more accessible to people who actually farm it, this is rather awkward evidence for the claim that the policy was simply an attack on farmers.
Lifestyle buyers of farmland have fallen to 11 per cent as farmer purchases hit a seven-year high.
Inheritance tax changes for farmers have intended impact
New figures show agricultural inheritance tax changes brought in by Rachel Reeves are having the intended impact.
www.thelondoneconomic.com
September 14, 2026 at 11:01 AM
If the purpose was to make farmland less attractive as a tax shelter and more accessible to people who actually farm it, this is rather awkward evidence for the claim that the policy was simply an attack on farmers.
“Retrospective” is doing some very heavy lifting here. If the proposed change was known about months before the donations were made, this looks rather less like changing the rules after the event and rather more like somebody gambling that the rules wouldn’t change quickly enough.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cr...
Tice serving up his usual lying bullshit - he's known about the Bill since Feb of this year and specifically about the retroactive element since it was accepted as an amendment by the gov't in July - a full 2 months ago.
Tice serving up his usual lying bullshit - he's known about the Bill since Feb of this year and specifically about the retroactive element since it was accepted as an amendment by the gov't in July - a full 2 months ago.
Tice says government trying to 'retrospectively change rules' as Reform receives £72m in donations
Reform UK announced two £36m donations this weekend, as a bill that could change the rules passes through Parliament. It's being debated again in the Lords later.
www.bbc.co.uk
September 14, 2026 at 10:59 AM
“Retrospective” is doing some very heavy lifting here. If the proposed change was known about months before the donations were made, this looks rather less like changing the rules after the event and rather more like somebody gambling that the rules wouldn’t change quickly enough.
There is something rather beautiful about deploying wealth as a demonstration of political power so ostentatiously that you accidentally create the consensus for limiting the political power of wealth.
Think Reform fucked it with their donations. They're so outrageous, so obviously obscene, that they've managed to accidentally create a consensus for tougher action on political funding.
September 14, 2026 at 10:56 AM
There is something rather beautiful about deploying wealth as a demonstration of political power so ostentatiously that you accidentally create the consensus for limiting the political power of wealth.
Money can buy reach. It can buy advertising, algorithms, billboards and an enormous megaphone. What it cannot buy is competence, judgement or a workable programme for government. Eventually, somebody still has to answer the questions.
All the money in the world won’t make Reform’s moronic policies workable. It won’t make their people less racist or idiotic. It won’t sort out their ridiculous egos or end the investigations. It won’t make the majority of us loathe them any less. In fact, the money may well bury them. Let’s hope so.
September 14, 2026 at 10:52 AM
Money can buy reach. It can buy advertising, algorithms, billboards and an enormous megaphone. What it cannot buy is competence, judgement or a workable programme for government. Eventually, somebody still has to answer the questions.
If a single billionaire can potentially transform a British election by routing hundreds of millions through a UK company, we do not have meaningful controls on political donations. This should not depend on whether we approve of the billionaire or the party. Close the loophole.
£72m for Reform over the weekend could be just the tip of the iceberg
There's nothing to stop Elon Musk giving, via a UK X subsidiary, £300m to Restore Britain today
Or a Trump ally giving £500m to Farage via a UK-registered firm
There's a v narrow window to tackle big money in the elections bill
There's nothing to stop Elon Musk giving, via a UK X subsidiary, £300m to Restore Britain today
Or a Trump ally giving £500m to Farage via a UK-registered firm
There's a v narrow window to tackle big money in the elections bill
September 14, 2026 at 10:49 AM
If a single billionaire can potentially transform a British election by routing hundreds of millions through a UK company, we do not have meaningful controls on political donations. This should not depend on whether we approve of the billionaire or the party. Close the loophole.
£24bn to profitable banks is a technical feature of monetary policy. Money for hospitals, schools, housing or universities is an unaffordable burden on the taxpayer.
Funny how fiscal restraint always seems to know who it works for…
Funny how fiscal restraint always seems to know who it works for…
There’s no need for a windfall tax on bank profits; it would be simpler to stop paying them subsidies by removing the 3.75% the Bank of England pays out on their reserves. Before 2006 this didn’t happen — Gerard Holtham, partner at Cadwyn Capital and visiting professor at Cardiff Metropolitan Uni
Why are we giving a £24bn-a-year subsidy to profitable commercial banks? | Letter
Letter: Gerald Holtham suggests that it time to cut the 3.75% that the Bank of England pays out on the lenders’ reserves
www.theguardian.com
September 14, 2026 at 10:42 AM
£24bn to profitable banks is a technical feature of monetary policy. Money for hospitals, schools, housing or universities is an unaffordable burden on the taxpayer.
Funny how fiscal restraint always seems to know who it works for…
Funny how fiscal restraint always seems to know who it works for…
The irony isn’t that Osborne has “changed his mind” on Brexit. He hasn’t. It’s that the Cameron government tried to settle an internal Tory dispute with a binary referendum and no meaningful threshold for constitutional change. The gamble failed. The country has been paying for it ever since.
Former Tory Chancellor George Osborne calls for UK to rejoin EU customs union and boost trade.
Brexit has brought no economic gains to the UK.
Brexiteers want to cosy up to the US but being the 51st state is no future.
Brexit has brought no economic gains to the UK.
Brexiteers want to cosy up to the US but being the 51st state is no future.
George Osborne calls for UK to rejoin EU customs union and boost trade
Ex-Tory chancellor says economy has ‘fallen off a cliff’ since Brexit but rejoining union could be ‘quite simple’
www.theguardian.com
September 14, 2026 at 10:39 AM
The irony isn’t that Osborne has “changed his mind” on Brexit. He hasn’t. It’s that the Cameron government tried to settle an internal Tory dispute with a binary referendum and no meaningful threshold for constitutional change. The gamble failed. The country has been paying for it ever since.
NHS, housing, universities, schools, sewage, manufacturing: different headlines, same economic settlement. We keep treating the symptoms and refusing to name the disease. At what point does “more of the same” stop being pragmatism and become ideology?
The state we are in.
7.28m hospital appointments awaited.
4m waiting for a social home.
Universities in financial crisis.
Rivers polluted with sewage.
Half of schools unfit for use.
Manufacturing declined from 30.1% of economic output in 1970 to 8.5% by 2026.
Must abandon neoliberalism.
7.28m hospital appointments awaited.
4m waiting for a social home.
Universities in financial crisis.
Rivers polluted with sewage.
Half of schools unfit for use.
Manufacturing declined from 30.1% of economic output in 1970 to 8.5% by 2026.
Must abandon neoliberalism.
Here’s how the chancellor can raise the billions needed to improve the quality of life of millions
Prem Sikka is an Emeritus Professor of Accounting at the University of Essex and the University of Sheffield, a Labour member of the House of Lords, and Contributing Editor at Left Foot Forward. Mi...
leftfootforward.org
September 14, 2026 at 9:53 AM
NHS, housing, universities, schools, sewage, manufacturing: different headlines, same economic settlement. We keep treating the symptoms and refusing to name the disease. At what point does “more of the same” stop being pragmatism and become ideology?
If the wealth that built a country house came from slavery, the East India Company or imperial exploitation, saying so isn’t “politicising” its history. It’s provenance. You don’t preserve history by editing out the bit that paid for the house…
Oh blimey, here we go again. Time to vote in the National Trust AGM to keep so-called 'Restore Trust' off the council. Use the quick vote to ensure we don't split the anti-Restore vote. Or.... 1/2 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/who-we-are/a...
Annual General Meeting
Your Annual General Meeting will take place online and in person on Saturday 7th November 2026 at the STEAM Museum, Swindon.
www.nationaltrust.org.uk
September 14, 2026 at 9:51 AM
If the wealth that built a country house came from slavery, the East India Company or imperial exploitation, saying so isn’t “politicising” its history. It’s provenance. You don’t preserve history by editing out the bit that paid for the house…