Richard Hooton
@richardhooton.bsky.social
Global news junkie, French language enthusiast living in Groningen, 30 years in the world of Migration..and counting
Reposted by Richard Hooton
A video falsely claiming to show a long queue of Muslim women waiting to sign up for free childcare has been liked thousands of times on social media.
But the clip actually shows the women waiting in line for a modest clothing sale in Amsterdam.
But the clip actually shows the women waiting in line for a modest clothing sale in Amsterdam.
Video shows Muslim women queuing for a clothing sale, not free childcare – Full Fact
The video has been widely shared on social media alongside the false claim that it shows women in headscarves lining up to enroll their children into free public daycare.
fullfact.org
September 29, 2026 at 6:00 PM
A video falsely claiming to show a long queue of Muslim women waiting to sign up for free childcare has been liked thousands of times on social media.
But the clip actually shows the women waiting in line for a modest clothing sale in Amsterdam.
But the clip actually shows the women waiting in line for a modest clothing sale in Amsterdam.
Reposted by Richard Hooton
If people don't want to pay tax to make this country function and help out the rest of society and particularly those who need help most... then maybe they should move to Dubai and stop bleating about it.
Really sick to death of it.
Really sick to death of it.
September 29, 2026 at 5:38 PM
If people don't want to pay tax to make this country function and help out the rest of society and particularly those who need help most... then maybe they should move to Dubai and stop bleating about it.
Really sick to death of it.
Really sick to death of it.
Reposted by Richard Hooton
Iceland is not in the EU, but it is a member of the Schengen area. It’s also a member of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and is part of the Single Market, meaning it enjoys freedom of movement with the EU.
Good to know that doesn’t impact their independence. Maybe we should try it, Nige.
Good to know that doesn’t impact their independence. Maybe we should try it, Nige.
August 30, 2026 at 2:58 PM
Iceland is not in the EU, but it is a member of the Schengen area. It’s also a member of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and is part of the Single Market, meaning it enjoys freedom of movement with the EU.
Good to know that doesn’t impact their independence. Maybe we should try it, Nige.
Good to know that doesn’t impact their independence. Maybe we should try it, Nige.
Reposted by Richard Hooton
No, we aren’t heading back to the Seventies. On the intellectual stagnation of UK opposition that got lazy while Starmer was self-destructing. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Suddenly the British right feels a political chill. It’s getting cold in Andy Burnham’s shadow | Rafael Behr
The Tories and Reform had it easy when Keir Starmer was self-destructing – but a new PM with ideas exposes how vacant the opposition has become, says Guardian columnist Rafael Behr
www.theguardian.com
July 29, 2026 at 7:12 AM
No, we aren’t heading back to the Seventies. On the intellectual stagnation of UK opposition that got lazy while Starmer was self-destructing. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Richard Hooton
God bless Wayne Rooney
July 19, 2026 at 8:18 PM
God bless Wayne Rooney
Reposted by Richard Hooton
Drinks taken on the final day of the 2nd Ashes Test at Lord's, June 28th 1938
June 28, 2026 at 11:15 AM
Drinks taken on the final day of the 2nd Ashes Test at Lord's, June 28th 1938
Reposted by Richard Hooton
He was, in part, another victim of Brexit
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announces he will resign, setting UK on course for sixth leader in seven years. https://cnn.it/4oJqtBW
June 22, 2026 at 9:01 AM
He was, in part, another victim of Brexit
Reposted by Richard Hooton
The attacks in Edinburgh, in which an armed bare-chested white man terrorised Muslims, leaving five people injured, don't feature on a single newspaper front page this morning.
Two tier journalism
Two tier journalism
June 21, 2026 at 9:15 AM
The attacks in Edinburgh, in which an armed bare-chested white man terrorised Muslims, leaving five people injured, don't feature on a single newspaper front page this morning.
Two tier journalism
Two tier journalism
Reposted by Richard Hooton
The house next door to mine is being turned into asylum housing. My neighbours are up in arms. Here's the story.
(It's free to read - but do subscribe for more)
open.substack.com/pub/nicolake...
(It's free to read - but do subscribe for more)
open.substack.com/pub/nicolake...
On my street
HMOs, Reform stickers and flag-shaggers
open.substack.com
June 18, 2026 at 8:25 PM
The house next door to mine is being turned into asylum housing. My neighbours are up in arms. Here's the story.
(It's free to read - but do subscribe for more)
open.substack.com/pub/nicolake...
(It's free to read - but do subscribe for more)
open.substack.com/pub/nicolake...
Reposted by Richard Hooton
“Lifestyle choices”
For the good of society, I am willing to take on this curse.
I'm a martyr, me.
I'm a martyr, me.
May 27, 2026 at 7:42 AM
“Lifestyle choices”
Reposted by Richard Hooton
ITV News just vox-popped an older northern woman who said that she had switched from Labour to Reform because she was angry that illegal migrants were “getting hotels when British people can’t get hotels”. At some point Labour surely just has to say these people are completely politically illiterate
May 8, 2026 at 9:29 PM
ITV News just vox-popped an older northern woman who said that she had switched from Labour to Reform because she was angry that illegal migrants were “getting hotels when British people can’t get hotels”. At some point Labour surely just has to say these people are completely politically illiterate
Reposted by Richard Hooton
The Guardian are obsessed with Starmer.
It’s just a shame they don’t have the same level of obsession with holding the Greens & Reform to the same imaginary standard.
It’s just a shame they don’t have the same level of obsession with holding the Greens & Reform to the same imaginary standard.
Most Labour members think Starmer cannot revive party fortunes, poll finds
Most Labour members think Starmer cannot revive party fortunes, poll finds
Exclusive: Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham is preferred choice of new leader for 42% of those surveyed
www.theguardian.com
May 9, 2026 at 9:32 AM
The Guardian are obsessed with Starmer.
It’s just a shame they don’t have the same level of obsession with holding the Greens & Reform to the same imaginary standard.
It’s just a shame they don’t have the same level of obsession with holding the Greens & Reform to the same imaginary standard.
Reposted by Richard Hooton
A video viewed over 1.7 million times appears to show an interview with two Muslim women saying people shouldn’t bring dogs to the beach.
It’s generated a huge amount of negative engagement and comments, but it’s fake. It’s been created with AI.
It’s generated a huge amount of negative engagement and comments, but it’s fake. It’s been created with AI.
Video of Muslim women calling for Brighton beach to be dog-free is AI – Full Fact
A fake video that appears to show two women wearing niqabs saying “the UK has too many dogs” has been viewed over 1.7 million times, with many people seemingly thinking it is genuine.
fullfact.org
April 19, 2026 at 8:00 AM
A video viewed over 1.7 million times appears to show an interview with two Muslim women saying people shouldn’t bring dogs to the beach.
It’s generated a huge amount of negative engagement and comments, but it’s fake. It’s been created with AI.
It’s generated a huge amount of negative engagement and comments, but it’s fake. It’s been created with AI.
Reposted by Richard Hooton
The Lebanese civilians killed in Israel's massacre - https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/lebanese-civilians-killed-israel-massacre
The Lebanese civilians killed in Israel's massacre
A doctor, journalists and students are among the hundreds killed in the heaviest single day of bombing in Lebanon
www.middleeasteye.net
April 9, 2026 at 4:09 PM
The Lebanese civilians killed in Israel's massacre - https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/lebanese-civilians-killed-israel-massacre
Reposted by Richard Hooton
That Trump post is a clear expression of genocidal intent. Clear cut case with zero caveats.
April 7, 2026 at 12:18 PM
That Trump post is a clear expression of genocidal intent. Clear cut case with zero caveats.
Reposted by Richard Hooton
Evil.
No other word for it.
No other word for it.
April 7, 2026 at 12:27 PM
Evil.
No other word for it.
No other word for it.
Reposted by Richard Hooton
🔎NEW INVESTIGATION: The hotline between FM Péter Szijjártó and Sergey Lavrov gives Russia strategic insight into key EU matters. Evidence, including a leaked phone call recording shows Hungary’s FM acted for the Kremlin, pushing to delist sanctioned Russians, with Slovak support.
Kremlin Hotline: Hungary colluded with Russia to delist sanctioned oligarchs, companies and banks - VSquare.org
The hotline between Péter Szijjártó and Sergey Lavrov provided Russia with strategic information on critical EU issues.
vsquare.org
March 31, 2026 at 6:01 AM
🔎NEW INVESTIGATION: The hotline between FM Péter Szijjártó and Sergey Lavrov gives Russia strategic insight into key EU matters. Evidence, including a leaked phone call recording shows Hungary’s FM acted for the Kremlin, pushing to delist sanctioned Russians, with Slovak support.
Reposted by Richard Hooton
It’s just so stupid on so many levels.
The *fundamental* problem is that the world has less oil. We need to use less to account for that. Making petrol a fraction cheaper doesn’t help with the real issue, costs the government money and does very little for households.
The *fundamental* problem is that the world has less oil. We need to use less to account for that. Making petrol a fraction cheaper doesn’t help with the real issue, costs the government money and does very little for households.
It is absolutely stupid that a major focus of policy response to the Iran War is on the planned 1p rise in fuel duty in September (watching Trevor Phillips interview Bridget Phillipson). Of no help now to anyone to abandon it. Shows how trivial our political debate has become.
March 29, 2026 at 8:12 AM
It’s just so stupid on so many levels.
The *fundamental* problem is that the world has less oil. We need to use less to account for that. Making petrol a fraction cheaper doesn’t help with the real issue, costs the government money and does very little for households.
The *fundamental* problem is that the world has less oil. We need to use less to account for that. Making petrol a fraction cheaper doesn’t help with the real issue, costs the government money and does very little for households.
Reposted by Richard Hooton
Reposted by Richard Hooton
I am increasingly seeing Trump as the ultimate western rage against the dying of the light of their age of global leadership, as China now at the very least joins and is arguably on the way to surpassing the US as an innovation powerhouse.
March 19, 2026 at 7:09 AM
I am increasingly seeing Trump as the ultimate western rage against the dying of the light of their age of global leadership, as China now at the very least joins and is arguably on the way to surpassing the US as an innovation powerhouse.
Reposted by Richard Hooton
Trump has all the money, all the power, all the attention, and all the bombs in the world.
But were he to live for a thousand years, he'd never have this.
And it must eat him up.
But were he to live for a thousand years, he'd never have this.
And it must eat him up.
Obama has the crowd at Jesse Jackson's eulogy hanging on his every word
March 6, 2026 at 10:14 PM
Trump has all the money, all the power, all the attention, and all the bombs in the world.
But were he to live for a thousand years, he'd never have this.
And it must eat him up.
But were he to live for a thousand years, he'd never have this.
And it must eat him up.
Reposted by Richard Hooton
Islamophobic meme wars
MAGA and UK offshoots in Reform desperately trying to connect Trump’s war against Iran with domestic British Muslim communities. But they are 85% Sunni and the 15% Shia is filled with Iranians who fled the Ayatollahs.
It’s just racist ignorance, isn’t it?
MAGA and UK offshoots in Reform desperately trying to connect Trump’s war against Iran with domestic British Muslim communities. But they are 85% Sunni and the 15% Shia is filled with Iranians who fled the Ayatollahs.
It’s just racist ignorance, isn’t it?
March 2, 2026 at 12:32 PM
Islamophobic meme wars
MAGA and UK offshoots in Reform desperately trying to connect Trump’s war against Iran with domestic British Muslim communities. But they are 85% Sunni and the 15% Shia is filled with Iranians who fled the Ayatollahs.
It’s just racist ignorance, isn’t it?
MAGA and UK offshoots in Reform desperately trying to connect Trump’s war against Iran with domestic British Muslim communities. But they are 85% Sunni and the 15% Shia is filled with Iranians who fled the Ayatollahs.
It’s just racist ignorance, isn’t it?
Reposted by Richard Hooton
One of the stories of British politics over last 15 years has been Conservatives and Labour valuing narrower and narrower ideological coherence over their historic, broad coalitions and then being astonished that their vote shares keep falling.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Centrist ideas no longer wanted in Conservative party, says Kemi Badenoch
Party leader tells MPs that one-nation Tories doubting her rightward direction ‘need to get out of the way’
www.theguardian.com
January 28, 2026 at 12:02 PM
One of the stories of British politics over last 15 years has been Conservatives and Labour valuing narrower and narrower ideological coherence over their historic, broad coalitions and then being astonished that their vote shares keep falling.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...