Michael Snowdon

It’s vectors. All the way down.

[Michael Snowdon @Blogsbloke]

I’m going to pin this…

[Yann LeCun @ylecun]

@elonmusk @stclairashley You know what can *actually* be the downfall of Western civilization?

People who dismiss facts, disparage scientists and the journalists, side with aspiring dictators, disseminate batshit-crazy conspiracy theories, and buy themselves a medium to amplify them.

[Andrew Fox @Mr_Andrew_Fox]

One thing worth bearing in mind amid the Henry Nowak tragedy: Russia actively exploits these moments.

Before the facts are established and before investigations conclude, an online swarm appears. Some are genuine people, of course. People are right to be upset. However, some are activists, some are opportunists chasing clicks, many will be automated or coordinated influence accounts trying to exploit that natural emotion of outrage. The objective is to deepen division and destroy trust.

I’ve noticed my own replies flooded with anonymous accounts pushing highly emotive claims, demanding instant conclusions and attempting to drive outrage. Some will be real people. Many almost certainly are not.

What strikes me as particularly curious is how many of these accounts appear aligned with Reform. That does not mean Reform is involved, nor that Reform supporters are bots. It is deeply strange that they follow the same playbook, however. Hostile states amplify whatever is most likely to increase polarisation, weaken confidence in institutions and pit citizens against one another.

Russian information operations have spent years exploiting contentious issues across Western democracies. Immigration, policing, identity, social cohesion and political distrust are ideal targets because they already generate strong emotions. Funnily enough, it’s also the same playbook Hamas and their allies use.

The family asked for Henry Nowak’s death not to be politicised. Instead, it has become a canvas onto which everyone is projecting their pre-existing beliefs.

The best defence is to stop and pause. Ask why people want you to see the narrative you’re seeing to try and get you riled up and jump to conclusions. Wait for the evidence, let the investigation run its course, and be wary of anyone demanding certainty before the facts are known.

Don’t let yourself be manipulated. When you’re upset is the worst time to draw conclusions.

My recent peer-reviewed paper explains how the psychology of this all works. https://t.co/0dIIF7oPp3

[Michael Snowdon @Blogsbloke]

@ChrisO_wiki @IAPonomarenko @LauraLoomer is hot though. Mad as a box of frogs, but hot. Somehow the crazy is sexy. Or is there something wrong with me?

[Michael Snowdon @Blogsbloke]

@colwight Well yeah. Ironically that’s why the anti-racism guidelines were introduced in the first place. Because black people were far more likely to be stopped and/or arrested. So there was a perception in some quarters that there was two-tier policing and a lack of trust in the police.

[Michael Snowdon @Blogsbloke]

@OlgaNYC1211 Interesting, can you give some examples?

[(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges]

Sorry, but this is ridiculous. If you are doing a special programme on a specific by-election you self-evidently have to reflect the reality of that by-election. It would have been like the BBC doing a by-election special in Rochdale in 2024 and not inviting George Galloway.

[Michael Snowdon @Blogsbloke]

@I_amMukhtar Oh lol this is too funny. Read your tweet and your attachment again. Never were three words so hard to remember correctly !

[Michael Snowdon @Blogsbloke]

@Nigel_Farage How you getting on suing Habib? Has that happened yet?

[Steve Loftus @LoftusSteve]

A couple of months ago I thought Zia might be Reform's JD Vance, but it turns out he's Reform's Stephen Miller.

Hard line, arrogant and unlikeable. He's going to be Reform's undoing.

[Harry Eccles @Heccles94]

Let’s be crystal clear about it what is happening tonight in Southampton.

Far right thugs are doing Nazi salutes and throwing bricks at police.

It’s not a ‘revolution’ it’s criminality and thuggery.

[Neil Stone @DrNeilStone]

All those podcasters you half jokingly said are probably paid by Russia are now literally having a meet up in Moscow

[Michael Snowdon @Blogsbloke]

@W44Brian @BenInRushcliffe Yup. And I ain’t a fan.

[Michael Snowdon @Blogsbloke]

@RupertLowe10 @McMurdockFan71 Oof…quite the ratio…

[Michael Snowdon @Blogsbloke]

@BorisJohnson Tell that to your pal Trump who undermined US support for Ukraine as you cheered him on. Sit this one out, you bloviating hypocrite.

[Michael Snowdon @Blogsbloke]

@NickCohen4 While Lowe deftly slips inside to a more moderate position…what a world we live in…

[Rupert Lowe MP @RupertLowe10]

Reform putting out an attack ad on Kemi Badenoch misquoting her over Henry Nowak’s tragic death is a deeply misguided, ugly and offensive move.

A young British man was murdered. He died cuffed and begging for his life, alone in the street.

To weaponise his death, so vindictively, in order to make a viciously deceitful graphic attacking a political opponent is low.

I am not in the same party as Kemi Badenoch. In fact, we are competing for votes in Makerfield. I disagree with her on a great many number of policies.

I would never manipulate the death of an innocent young man to score petty party political points, especially using such blatant lies.

It’s just not how we conduct ourselves in Britain.

Principles still matter, or at least they should.

[James Cleverly🇬🇧 @JamesCleverly]

Seeing as Reform have resorted to lying about Kemi’s position on policing, race, and the murder of Henry Nowak, here is the full interview.

Judge for yourself.

[Rupert Lowe MP @RupertLowe10]

Reform putting out an attack ad on Kemi Badenoch misquoting her over Henry Nowak’s tragic death is a deeply misguided, ugly and offensive move.

A young British man was murdered. He died cuffed and begging for his life, alone in the street.

To weaponise his death, so vindictively, in order to make a viciously deceitful graphic attacking a political opponent is low.

I am not in the same party as Kemi Badenoch. In fact, we are competing for votes in Makerfield. I disagree with her on a great many number of policies.

I would never manipulate the death of an innocent young man to score petty party political points, especially using such blatant lies.

It’s just not how we conduct ourselves in Britain.

Principles still matter, or at least they should.

[Michael Snowdon @Blogsbloke]

@RLangford18 @MavwreckTweet @GaryWinslett True, I suspect that’s a large part of what’s going on here.

[Michael Snowdon @Blogsbloke]

@Jawgenius @RedWallPleb @ZiaYusufUK Yeah. I mean there’s actually common ground here. The Sikh community want to look at it. People outside that community want to look at it. We can look at it without demonising anyone.

[Michael Snowdon @Blogsbloke]

@MavwreckTweet @RLangford18 @GaryWinslett People can really believe something but be too self-interested or scared to act on it.

[Kevin Schofield @KevinASchofield]

Kemi Badenoch’s full quote this morning: “I don’t want to hear about Black Lives Matter. I don’t want to hear about White Lives Matter. Everyone matters. Henry Nowak matters.”