Aberdeen's failed hydrogen bus fleet cost almost £14m The world first project in the Granite City was aimed at being the future of clean public transportation.

Hydrogen vehicles & home heating systems are a failed fossil fuel industry boondoggle, not part of a green energy transition
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

We Need to Prepare for the Mammoth Task of De-Trumpification The damage he and his cronies have wrought could take decades to repair, particularly when it comes to science and public health.

The task of de-Trumpification of science and public health will take a generation and a "Marshall Plan" to rebuild. Without a bold, expansive vision to guide us, there is no coming back. Small-bore, poll-tested versions of the future will not help us. www.thenation.com/article/soci...

So far Olly Robbins has dropped govt in it x 3 - that Cabinet Office suggested Mandelson might not even need vetting, that No 10 pressured him to get on with it, that publicly rejecting M on vetting grounds wd be v awkward - & himself in it on maybe 1 (dsn't sound like he recorded much of this...

Speaking on Sky this AM about Mandelson, energy sec Ed Miliband says:

"Prime ministers make errors. Prime ministers are fallible. Prime ministers are human. As you know, I steered well clear of Peter Mandelson when I became Labour leader in 2010. But people make mistakes."

Palantir manifesto described as ‘ramblings of a supervillain’ amid UK contract fears Alarm caused by posts of Alex Carp, tech firm’s CEO, championing US military dominance and of AI weapons

'The US spy tech company Palantir published a manifesto extolling the benefits of American power and implying some cultures are inferior to others – in what MPs have called “a parody of a RoboCop film” and “the ramblings of a supervillain”.' 1/2

Police pelted with eggs and beer before Epsom protesters burst into wrong hotel 'The escalating behaviour of some of the protesters and the threat to officer safety'

metro.co.uk/2026/04/20/p...

It’s going to be a long hot summer of racist madness :(

He said: "By shifting the vast majority of university funding into the hands of the aggregate decisions of 17-year-olds, the English system of choice has become an enormous machine for finding out who has the best marketing department, with some world-leading research sprinkled in certain places."

Quite the quote from the John Blake, the former director of fair access at the Office for Students
www.thetimes.com/article/1cb6...

Rogue Trooper brings the Genetic Infantry to the silver screen The future war film, from the director of Moon, is adapted from 2000 AD's comic series.

Rogue Trooper brings the Genetic Infantry to the silver screen arstechnica.com/culture/2026...

‘A quiet, radical act’: Muslim neighbours support members of attacked London synagogue After attempted arson attack, communities are determined to remain resilient and open

www.theguardian.com/news/2026/ap...

Senate Democrats had stellar fundraising numbers in four states that Trump won by double-digit margins: Alaska, Ohio, Texas, and Florida.

Dems need to flip at least two of them for a majority. Despite the map’s strong pro-GOP bias, Trump’s unpopularity is increasingly making that outcome plausible

“X is now becoming a very unpleasant and a very dangerous place”

...says Nigel Farage today

Rule one of throwing people under the bus is make sure they aren't going to drag you along with them

The insider trading suspicions looming over Trump's presidency The BBC has found a pattern of spikes in trades ahead of public announcements by the US president.

Insider trading based on privileged info is unfortunately rife in US politics but Trump has taken it to a new level by creating the market moving events he profits from
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Please use the sharing tools found via the share button at the top or side of articles. Copying articles to share with others is a breach of FT.com T&Cs and Copyright Policy. Email licensing@ft.com to buy additional rights. Subscribers may share up to 10 or 20 articles per month using the gift article service. More information can be found at https://help.ft.com/faq/gifting-and-sharing-an-article/what-is-a-gift-article/. https://www.ft.com/content/034361bc-641b-4a73-a3d1-3ee76c4ed573?syn-25a6b1a6=1 One Labour official who knows Starmer well said that while McSweeney, a protégé of Mandelson’s, wanted to send him to Washington, Starmer was never that close to him. “Keir didn’t even really like Mandy, and suspended his judgment as he does so often,” the person said. “At that point, the machine took it [Mandelson’s appointment] as his intention and does what the British state does, which is bend the process to the signal it thinks is being broadcast from the principal.”

An all-time classic entry in the hall of fame 'does the person saying this realise how damning it is?' quotes:

Nigel Farage vows to deport small boat migrants who were granted asylum Reform UK says it would review five years of claims, leaving up to 400,000 people potentially facing removal if the party wins power

Reform pledges to review the previous 5 years of asylum grants if got into power - deporting those granted refugee status if came without permission.

Reform claim 400,000 people granted asylum would be "in scope" - and they would deport most of them

www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...

Just to remind you that my post was specifically about wanting to see council tax bands reformed. You seem to be belatedly accepting that in 2026 Labour have no more to offer on this than the SNP? I think that's equally disappointing from both parties. Thank you and good night.

Initial response to the Scottish Labour manifesto | Institute for Fiscal Studies A focus on improving existing services rather than new entitlements or tax cuts

You got me interested in what Scottish Labour are promising on council tax reform ahead of the Holyrood elections. According to the IFS they are following the SNP's lead & setting impossible preconditions. Good news for all who love the current iniquitous system, I guess?
ifs.org.uk/articles/ini...

Oh, but they did make a pledge. They promised to continue an unjust Tory system and they delivered. If that's your idea of the moral high ground you are welcome to it

Labour rules out changes to council tax bands Tories have claimed Labour are planning tax rises on homes to fund spending pledges

They kept their promise not to reform council tax bands. Hurrah?
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article....

Thankfully the Labour Party have stuck to their principles and as promised in 2024 have done absolutely nothing to reform council tax

Sure but which other parties who might form a government are even talking about this?

MSPs need to work together to reform council tax - SNP Representatives from six Scottish political parties agree that the council tax needs to be reformed, but how exactly is a contentious issue.

Speaking as someone who would probably pay more if council tax were reformed - bring it on
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

MSPs need to work together to reform council tax - SNP Representatives from six Scottish political parties agree that the council tax needs to be reformed, but how exactly is a contentious issue.

There does not need to be consensus to reform council tax, there won’t be.

Because reforming it has to include removing the bias towards better off households.

That’s what needs to change. No reform will deliver no one who pays more.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

I was so shocked by Carrifran - the birds, the small mammals, the insects, the invertebrates in the stream. Suddenly I realised what it meant to be in a Scottish landscape that was *alive*

Controversial deer larder plans set to be backed despite strong local opposition A decision on the Yair Forest site is expected on Monday.

Taking deer culled to allow forest regeneration in a rural area & processing them in a rural area so they can be eaten? Monstrous!
www.bordertelegraph.com/news/2602449...

Image from the Times showing a gamekeeper in tweed and cap dragging a dead deer through a tussocky landscape with a hill and lochan behind. Text: Drive to cull thousands more deer risks leaving 'empty glens'

If we reduce deer numbers to sustainable levels the glens will be empty. Well, apart from the regenerating native forest & bog. More insects, birds, small mammals, reptiles & amphibians too, I guess. And the fewer but healthier deer. Oh & people drawn to all the above. But apart from that, empty.

Start of spokes article #Holyrood2026 : Travelling Backwards The Holyrood election on 7 May is critical to active travel and wider transport policies and budgets for the next 5 years. Is there a local project being planned that you’re looking forward to? – in Edinburgh, say Meadows to George Street, or Portobello to Musselburgh? When and if such projects will happen depends largely on the existence and size of the Scottish Government active travel budget. Sadly and shockingly, in view of the climate crisis, the cost of living crisis, and the need for healthier lifestyles to help the NHS crisis this year’s manifestos mark a massive deterioration in active travel policies as compared to the 2021 election – or even 2016. This article includes an analysis of the various party manifestos, and lots of other relevant info. We will add more as it becomes available.

Table comparing AT investment promises in 2021 and 2026 manifestos. Sorry, tables don't come out well in ALT text! Key to tables below++Very good and/or best+good=mixed, unclear, or less good than other parties-poor (or unrealistic) - -very disappointing NNot in manifesto [N is generally disappointing, but depends on the issue, so think!] Page numbers shown are to pages of each party’s 2026 manifesto 2026 v 2021 comparison of AT Investment manifesto commitments Sadly and shockingly, in view of the climate crisis, the cost of living crisis, and the need for healthier lifestyles to help the NHS crisis the 2026 manifestos mark a massive deterioration in active travel policies as compared to the 2021 election – or even 2016. Only the Greens, and to a lesser extent the Lib Dems, retain positive approaches. Whilst this applies to many policies and promises, the astonishing contrast is seen clearly in this comparative table on the top issue, active travel investment AT Investment Conservative Green Labour LibDem Reform SNP 2021 manifestos [AT funding then was approx £116m, roughly 3.5% of total transport] + 10% by 2026 ++ £320m immediately [approx 10%] rising further + 10% [unclear if soon or by 2026] = “aim” to double existing [this would be approx 7%] N/A = 10% of “capital” bgt by 2026 [BUT this is less of the total transport bgt] 2026 manifestos [AT funding is now approx £163m, roughly 3.9% of total transport] - - p35; p75 cut the AT budget; end ring-fenced cash to councils ++ p26 at least 10%; multi-year funding N = p66 “Invest in active travel for the first and last mile” - - p11 End ring-fenced cash to councils = p64 £2.5m for bike repair; new fund for outdoor recreation paths

Table of party manifesto comparisons (page 1) 2026 manifesto overall comparisons Note that the manifestos include more transport policies/promises than are shown here, particularly on walk, bus and rail. We hope this table includes most of the items directly relevant to cycling, as well as some relevant wider transport issues. Also, note that if something is not in a manifesto, it doesn’t mean it won’t happen, though it is less likely to. Issue Conservative Green Labour LibDem Reform SNP AT Investment [from above table] - - ++ N = - - = Extent of cycle/AT routes/networks ambition - - p36 “End the obsession with cycle lanes” Cycle lanes only ok if not using road or pavement space ++ p26 “national blueprint of walking, cycle and wheeling networks“; faster Council AT project delivery N + p66 “Investing in active travel for the first and last mile” = p23 Rural Scotland: “support outdoor recreation ... cycling … with accessible paths” = p64 outdoor recreation paths fund; no Roseburn tram; support Powderhall AT path [see note 3 below] Is AT recognised and supported as a public health measure - p57 Only considers leisure centres & sport + p163 “space to walk, run, play, wheel and cycle is a right not a privilege” N ++ p33 & p61 “Supporting wellbeing by making it easier for people to use active travel” N N Neighbourhoods / Car-free lifestyles N + p118 “Support local living and 20-minute nbd approaches” N + p52 New towns “prioritising features such as rail links.. and 20-minute nbds” N N Disincentivise car use/ Demand management - - p35 “End the war on drivers”; No targets; stop any Workplace Parking levies or congestion charging ++ p22 Seek road-user taxation powers for Scotland ++ p33 Levy on out-oftown retail, to support towns + p89 Business rates replaced by a new levy favouring town centre retail & hospitality = p73 “Moving all forms of transport away from fossil fuels” – But carrotsonly approach - - p21 “End the war on the car“ N 20mph - p36 20mph only ok where locals…

Table of party manifestos (page 2) Potholes - - p33 Fund pothole filling by cutting (scrapping?) the AT budget N + (or - -) p49 £350m fund [see note 1 below] + p64 “fair funding” for councils; use of new technology + p21 “Fix potholes” + p72 “up to £350m” for potholes & resurfacing Air pollution including Low Emission Zones - - p36 Halt more LEZs and reduce fines in existing ++ p118 expand LEZs, plus stronger monitoring N - - p21 Abolish LEZs N Transport integration, with respect to active travel = p38 Rail, bus & tram integration; no mention of walk/ bike + p22, p26 Better AT links to public transport; All new rail, bus, tram to carry bikes N N N N Road building - - p34 New law to fasttrack trunk road upgrades; dual A9 by 2031; many other trunk projects + p22 Future-proof roads like A83 vulnerable to climate change; no mention of expansion - - p49 Dual A9 by 2035, look into dualling A77 and A75, & create National Roads Plan - - p64 Dual A9 & A96; - - p21 “plan to upgrade major trunk roads” [see note 2 below] - - p71 Dual A9 by 2035, also parts of A96; and consider A75, A77 Air travel taxation ADT= Air departure tax - - p39 oppose any new taxes; reduce long-haul tax ++ p34 frequent flyer levy; private jet tax; more.. N + p66 Higher tax for private jet passengers N + p27 private jet tax; including for ‘ghost’ flights USP – unique selling points (good and bad!) picked out by Spokes - - p33 1. AT schemes are “ideological projects” 2. ban bikes in all pedestrian areas + p16, p156 Universal rail card; £2 max bus fares + p122 Council powers to enforce traffic contraventions + p55 “Crush illegal e-bikes, using drones to track & trace unlicensed bikes” + p64 ”Dangerous Roads Programme“ - - p21 “End the war on the car“ + p38 £2 bus fare cap [1] Labour £350m pothole fund. The manifesto does not say where the money would come from. In early campaign speeches Anas Sarwar had said it would be from cutting Active Travel funding. On our estimate this would mean a 40% cut on curre…

#Holyrood2026 #SP26

Our #manifesto analysis
--> www.spokes.org.uk/2026/04/holy...

We looked at #activetravel, mainly 🚲, and some related transport/environment, but not at 🚌🚆

1 Greens, excellent
2 LibDem, positive in a fairly modest way
3= Labour & SNP, poor
5 Reform, bad
6 Conservative, terrible

Young Bulgarians hold out for change in eighth election in five years Voters broadly split along generational lines as pro-Russian former president leads in polls

www.theguardian.com/world/2026/a...

More in Common continue to be the outlier in terms of SNP support (much lower than any others), and the best for the Lib Dems. They're the only firm to have Lib Dems ahead of Greens (albeit within margin of error), though this is also the best share Greens have had with otherwise low-Green pollster

GB News headline: GP who asked Muslim woman to remove her veil 'because he was struggling to understand her' is struck off.

Was this GP struck off just because he asked a Muslim woman to remove her veil?

How likely does that sound? 🤷‍♀️

Did he actually ask her to remove her veil 'because he was struggling to understand her?'

Let's take a look at what really happened based on the tribunal reports...

🧵
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