Had dinner with Labour shadow cabinet minister in 1996 who told me that Mandelson was the biggest obstacle to the Blair government supporting LGBTQ+ rights as he thought they were too toxic to the right wing press.
I'm sure he's been one the big reasons current Labour have become more transphobic

Chris Morris standing next to a map.of the uk with paedophisles

www.bbc.co.uk/news/special...
BBC Politics 97

Remember when John Prescott likened him to a crab lol

I am old enough to remember complaints about Mandelson being made to the Labour party in 1997

I think the reason so many people - and these were broadly pro Starmer people! - were leaning on the idea that Mandelson was picked because Trump wanted him or because the Epstein connection was some kind of advantage in Trump world, is because claiming you just didn't know is utter nonsense.

Yes it's not the main take-away really, as the effect is the same whether she is or isn't well-intentioned. But to admire JKR in this day and age just seems like a marker of someone who doesn't care as much about trans rights as they think they do

I can say with some experience as a visibly gay woman things are more hostile *out there* but if, in 2026, you haven't joined the dots as to why that is, and still think the likes of JKR need to be engaged with politely you are part of the problem

Not sure it's that well-intentioned tbh. Labour Brained people like Kezia seek to keep trans liberation muted by calling it a "debate" during which all parties' opinions have equal merit and where everyone must remain civil, and that's bollocks. It plays to the oppressors.

but yes talking about how you feel more unsafe as a lesbian while suggesting that one of the primary domestic funders of anti-LGBT hate has an inspiring life story and needs to be listened to would be humiliating if there was any particular reason to respect Kezia Dugdale

"I think she's been a really powerful political advocate [for] improving the lot of single mums, making a case for tackling poverty and inequality in all its forms, and there is absolutely a place for her in public life to share her experiences and tell her story and make a difference." She called for "a bit of kindness, a bit of generosity of spirit, a willingness to get into the grey area to talk about these things calmly. To try and find common ground is the only path through this and it's one that I'm committed to."

This is her on JKR and she can fuck off really

Well, yes. Women's expectations of men seem very low to me, there's just this assumption they're useless little babies so women roll their eyes and helicopter parent them. No thank you very much.

And yet they air it in public like it's completely normal 🤷‍♀️

Stop infantilising men challenge. Honestly why have you married someone you talk about like they're a toddler?

Are the straights ok? Why are you talking about parenting your husband?

No, because (altogether now)... It's More Complicated Than That !

And we can't have decent living standards AND a protected environment, oh no, choose your trade-off plebs.

God I hate the soulless bastards

Yes I actually have because I am me

🫡💚

Love a lolly, me

Holding an orange lolly in front of the beach with blue sky and sea

Went for a long walk, it was nice

Probably not but again some people can overlook such differences with the company they keep

Because their one true ideology is being condescending and smug, they can overlook other differences (if they even have any)

This is me advocating returning to an agrarian economy btw

"When the system starts to crack, we'll have to be ready to give it all back"

Tbh if we are serious about climate change and the true causes of inequality we will have to live quite differently, and that will mean compromise and adjustments, but some people would rather go down in flames than relinquish some privilege

They're rattled by the Greens' popularity because it undermines their position as Chief Explainers in the It's More Complicated Than That stakes

James Austin @jamesdaustin.bsky.social I'm shocked, *shocked* that once again the Greens are opposing renewables Mark O'Neill@radiobeartime.com www.bbc.co.uk/news/article.. The Greens are an embarrassment BBC NEWS 'Industrial scale' solar farms attacked by Norfolk's Green The county council's Green leader says solar panels should be locally owned and put on ro... www.bbc.co.uk 9:33 AM: Apr 18, 2026 Everybody can reply

Except they're not opposing renewables. They're opposing us flogging off still more of our natural resources to rent seeking overseas capital. And we can all click on the article to read this

Lol I knew it!

They all sound like Tories