Keith Burnett
@virescitvv.bsky.social
Escaped management consultant, runaway civil servant, quondam public health campaigner, lifetime social worker and current PhD candidate. Always armed with a fountain pen... mightier than the sword.
More of this sort of candour, please. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Andy Burnham says it is clear Russia interfered in Brexit referendum
PM says he asked question upon entering No 10 but does not reveal who gave him ‘clear answer’ that Russia meddled
www.theguardian.com
October 11, 2026 at 3:46 PM
More of this sort of candour, please. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Patriotism can be about seeing what's good in your own imperfect society, and seeking to defend it. Nationalism, all too often, is about finding fault with foreigners and trying to attack them. The first sometimes heals. The second, almost always, ends in tragedy.
October 1, 2026 at 8:53 AM
Patriotism can be about seeing what's good in your own imperfect society, and seeking to defend it. Nationalism, all too often, is about finding fault with foreigners and trying to attack them. The first sometimes heals. The second, almost always, ends in tragedy.
I particularly loved Stephanie Cole's contribution to Cabin Pressure, and was a bit disappointed that Radio 4 didn't mention this, instead of Coronation Street. As a fellow fan observed, a serious actor who can do funny well is a rare talent.
September 19, 2026 at 9:40 AM
I particularly loved Stephanie Cole's contribution to Cabin Pressure, and was a bit disappointed that Radio 4 didn't mention this, instead of Coronation Street. As a fellow fan observed, a serious actor who can do funny well is a rare talent.
Written quickly, and occasionally it shows - but this is a must-read book right now.
September 17, 2026 at 11:02 AM
Written quickly, and occasionally it shows - but this is a must-read book right now.
I had a joke about Goffman's theory of everyday public roleplay, but I realised I was just phoning it in.
I have a joke about Milner's agentic state experiment. I really don't want to tell it to you, but...
I have a knock knock joke about Drake’s equation, but I’m not sure anyone’s there.
September 17, 2026 at 3:56 AM
I had a joke about Goffman's theory of everyday public roleplay, but I realised I was just phoning it in.
I have a joke about Maslow's hierarchy of needs, but I'm not sure it stacks up.
I have a joke about Milner's agentic state experiment. I really don't want to tell it to you, but...
I have a knock knock joke about Drake’s equation, but I’m not sure anyone’s there.
September 17, 2026 at 3:54 AM
I have a joke about Maslow's hierarchy of needs, but I'm not sure it stacks up.
My battered paperback summer leisure reading, which was fascinating, illuminating and slightly dangerous - as there are additional places I want to go now! More of this sort of thing please @lewisbaston.bsky.social
September 10, 2026 at 4:23 PM
My battered paperback summer leisure reading, which was fascinating, illuminating and slightly dangerous - as there are additional places I want to go now! More of this sort of thing please @lewisbaston.bsky.social
One of the best pieces of classic old-school undercover journalism for a long while. Worth half an hour of your time to see corruption exposed so skilfully. youtu.be/aXut3s90rUI?...
Going undercover to expose Reform's secret donations plot
YouTube video by Channel 4 News
youtu.be
September 5, 2026 at 5:34 AM
One of the best pieces of classic old-school undercover journalism for a long while. Worth half an hour of your time to see corruption exposed so skilfully. youtu.be/aXut3s90rUI?...
It may interest electoral reform enthusiasts, sure, but the idea that this 'electrified' anyone much seems a bit of a stretch. 'Certainly not the top priority issue for his party's membership. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Burnham electrified the Labour party by talking about electoral reform – now he needs to act on it | Polly Toynbee
The prime minister has lifted the spirits of the public and party members, and must use that goodwill to push through change, says Guardian columnist Polly Toynbee
www.theguardian.com
August 28, 2026 at 8:23 AM
It may interest electoral reform enthusiasts, sure, but the idea that this 'electrified' anyone much seems a bit of a stretch. 'Certainly not the top priority issue for his party's membership. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Keith Burnett
Montblanc, kids. Just say no.
August 8, 2026 at 4:50 PM
Montblanc, kids. Just say no.
More inaccurate reporting. These are not fines; they're speculative invoices. When manifestly unreasonable they can be challenged quite simply through the courts. The BBC does readers a disservice by omitting this. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Drivers fined £100 after using parcel lockers in Cardiff pub car park
Some people who were fined said they parked in the car park for two or three minutes to use the lockers.
www.bbc.co.uk
August 7, 2026 at 5:00 AM
More inaccurate reporting. These are not fines; they're speculative invoices. When manifestly unreasonable they can be challenged quite simply through the courts. The BBC does readers a disservice by omitting this. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
The sketchy reporting of this sort of abuse of the small claims process is part of the problem. If someone sends you a speculative invoice (which is all the 'ticket' is) & the grounds are obviously unreasonable, you can take the matter to a real court where a professional judge will end it.
Driver gets £90 ticket after using Lidl EV charger out of hours
Trevor Taylor says he spent 16 minutes charging his vehicle in the car park in Barton-upon-Humber.
www.bbc.co.uk
August 6, 2026 at 3:49 AM
The sketchy reporting of this sort of abuse of the small claims process is part of the problem. If someone sends you a speculative invoice (which is all the 'ticket' is) & the grounds are obviously unreasonable, you can take the matter to a real court where a professional judge will end it.
Is it because the song in question is a bit forgettable? www.theguardian.com/music/2026/a...
Demise of the monoculture: why so many have never heard UK’s record-breaking No 1 single
Sam Fender and Olivia Dean’s Rein Me In is longest-running No 1 single in UK chart history, and yet it seems to have passed many people by
www.theguardian.com
August 6, 2026 at 3:18 AM
Is it because the song in question is a bit forgettable? www.theguardian.com/music/2026/a...
Sure, there might have been a need for subsistence nourishment, once upon a time. But there's a big Tesco just down the road now. www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Scottish seabird hunt cancelled for first time in 400 years
NatureScot refuses licence for hunt on Hebridean island of Sula Sgeir in which up to 2,000 gannet chicks are killed
www.theguardian.com
August 4, 2026 at 7:14 AM
Sure, there might have been a need for subsistence nourishment, once upon a time. But there's a big Tesco just down the road now. www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Turnout for Greater Manchester Mayoral by-election looks rather lacklustre; a minority of the electorate, in every ward, to replace the man now PM. However much Westminster wangs-on about devolution, voters still seem pronouncedly lukewarm.
July 31, 2026 at 5:52 PM
Turnout for Greater Manchester Mayoral by-election looks rather lacklustre; a minority of the electorate, in every ward, to replace the man now PM. However much Westminster wangs-on about devolution, voters still seem pronouncedly lukewarm.
The mighty @mrjohncrace.bsky.social hits the nail on the head again: www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Andy Burnham wants to fix social care. It’s personal for him and for a lot of us too
Finally a grownup is in charge who speaks to voters as fellow adults. If he fixes this, he’ll achieve more than most other PMs
www.theguardian.com
July 29, 2026 at 9:39 PM
The mighty @mrjohncrace.bsky.social hits the nail on the head again: www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
'Looking increasingly unlikely that Heathrow expansion will ever 'take off'. Too expensive, customers won't pay more, govt more interested in developing long-distance rail connections with EU partners. Perhaps no bad thing. www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Heathrow expansion would take thousands of jobs from other UK regions, report finds
Airports in England and Wales are likely to lose millions of passengers if third runway goes ahead, DfT economic paper shows
www.theguardian.com
July 27, 2026 at 5:14 AM
'Looking increasingly unlikely that Heathrow expansion will ever 'take off'. Too expensive, customers won't pay more, govt more interested in developing long-distance rail connections with EU partners. Perhaps no bad thing. www.theguardian.com/environment/...
'Love the look of this pen, but presumably one doesn't know whether there is any ink inside until one tries to write with it: onoto.com/product/the-...
The Schrödinger Pen - Dark Grey Pearl Edition | Onoto The Pen
The Schrödinger Pen celebrates the life and legacy of Erwin Schrödinger, whose revolutionary work laid the foundations of modern quantum mechanics and transformed our understanding of the physical uni...
onoto.com
July 24, 2026 at 11:32 AM
'Love the look of this pen, but presumably one doesn't know whether there is any ink inside until one tries to write with it: onoto.com/product/the-...
'Not entirely sure this (I think) fascinating but of #stationery #history got quite the audience it deserved:
The brilliant @lewisbaston.bsky.social's book Borderlines included this striking image of protest about the Treaty of Trianon. 🧵
July 24, 2026 at 10:03 AM
'Not entirely sure this (I think) fascinating but of #stationery #history got quite the audience it deserved:
The brilliant @lewisbaston.bsky.social's book Borderlines included this striking image of protest about the Treaty of Trianon. 🧵
July 22, 2026 at 8:38 PM
The brilliant @lewisbaston.bsky.social's book Borderlines included this striking image of protest about the Treaty of Trianon. 🧵
Good to see this discussed. If a wealth tax and other income taxes were contingent upon citizenship, not just residence, it could raise a lot more than that though. www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Wealth tax on UK’s super-rich could raise £10bn a year, Andy Burnham told
New PM urged to introduce a 2% minimum charge on households with more than £100m in wealth
www.theguardian.com
July 21, 2026 at 12:58 PM
Good to see this discussed. If a wealth tax and other income taxes were contingent upon citizenship, not just residence, it could raise a lot more than that though. www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Trump's attempts to divert attention from his corruption only serve to draw attention to his corruption. It's *almost* like the Streisand Effect, yet subtly nuanced by, err... Oh, OK, it's literally the Streisand Effect. Thanks for the clarification.
Donald Trump will never recover from losing the 2020 election and will lie about it forever. His supporters attempted a coup to try and overturn the results. He doesn’t care about how high prices are hurting Americans, only his perpetual grievances. So sad.
July 21, 2026 at 12:24 PM
Trump's attempts to divert attention from his corruption only serve to draw attention to his corruption. It's *almost* like the Streisand Effect, yet subtly nuanced by, err... Oh, OK, it's literally the Streisand Effect. Thanks for the clarification.
Very sorry to hear this. A favourite memory was his programme about an ancestor involved in the Gunpowder Plot. Maybe the Beeb might consider rebroadcast? www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Edward Stourton: Broadcaster and journalist dies aged 68
Stourton hosted Radio 4's Today programme for a decade and was a founding member of Channel 4 News.
www.bbc.co.uk
July 20, 2026 at 8:51 AM
Very sorry to hear this. A favourite memory was his programme about an ancestor involved in the Gunpowder Plot. Maybe the Beeb might consider rebroadcast? www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
A Red Admiral has landed on the Duke of Buckingham's nose. It's hard to imagine that he'd disapprove.
July 19, 2026 at 4:37 PM
A Red Admiral has landed on the Duke of Buckingham's nose. It's hard to imagine that he'd disapprove.