Gwynneth🌍👩‍🔬⚖️🐝

Standing up to world class thugs in the Whitehouse and the Kremlin 💙

[Brian Cox @ProfBrianCox]

On the physics funding crisis in the UK - there are some issues of nuance, shall we say, in the attached article below.
The reason STFC had 'no choice' but to cut so many projects (Jodrell and many more) was NOT the government's spending review settlement. It was a deliberate choice by UKRI (as confirmed by a UKRI board member on X, you'll find it in my replies) to refocus spend away from STFC science and labs and towards other areas which, it asserts, will lead to more ‘impact’. UKRI have the power to do this. However, as the HoC Select committee pointed out, we have not been able to see a detailed record of the process, impact assessment or consultation that led to such a seismic shift in UK science policy. Who made the decision?

As @ChiOnwurah wrote in an open letter to UKRI / STFC in March: ‘What is clear is that, despite your assertions to the contrary in evidence to my committee and our counterparts in the House of Lords, widespread cuts have been proposed before adequate consultation with those affected was undertaken. This is wholly unacceptable and represents a failure for which DSIT, UKRI and STFC leadership must bear responsibility, and act urgently to address.’

[Brian Cox @ProfBrianCox]

Jodrell Bank is the most visible causality of UKRI’s short sighted ‘vision’ for science, but as you’ll see below, there are many other valuable UK facilities and collaborations at risk. We became aware of the problem in the autumn of last year. It is not a result of the overall funding settlement for science after the spending review, which was quite generous I would say in the circumstances. Neither as far as we can tell is it a direct decision by ministers (all of whom have now gone in any case). Rather the problems appears to have been caused by senior management at UKRI focusing on short term economic ‘impact’ (whatever that means) rather than doing their job as custodians of the foundations of science. What must happen now is that the new ministerial team make the time (and space ;-)) to review the upcoming catastrophe, and instruct UKRI to do their job and focus on making Britain the best place in the world to do science, now and in the future.

[James Mitchinson @JayMitchinson]

"He was a nasty piece of work, and the woman with him no less hostile in her attitude. They were going to have their barbecue whether anybody liked it or not, and to hell with the possible consequences."

😡👇
https://t.co/tVKzJTtkaE

[DaveInNotts 🇬🇧+🇺🇦 @davidjamesdj]

I’ve signed 👍🏻
SAVE JODRELL BANK – Protect a national treasure of science, heritage and inspiration - Sign the Petition! https://t.co/JfHBZfTWVz via @UKChange

[Jim Shannon MP @JimShannonMP]

This iconic observatory must not be allowed to close. The future of British science, & the retention of our brightest minds, depend on urgent, decisive action. I have written to @UKRI_News & the SoS Jonathan Reynolds MP. I will support any efforts to reverse this decision.

[Ben Kentish @BenKentish]

To put the £2.8 million Jodrell Bank budget in context, £7.2 million is currently allocated for “bespoke stationery” for MPs.

[BladeoftheSun @BladeoftheS]

UEFA are suggesting starting a new Football Governing body to replace the corrupt FIFA.

An excellent idea!

[Alessandra Libutti 🇪🇺 🇮🇹 🇬🇧 @a_libutti]

Fact check.

In January 2026, @Keir_Starmer announced a support package for pubs and live music venues, including:

A 15% discount on business rates bills from April 2026, on top of earlier support.

A two‑year real‑terms freeze on pub bills.

So, is @andyburnham selling a 5% discount as a 20% or is he adding a 20% discount on the existing 15% bringing it to a 35% discount?

It seems like it’s the second. If so, why adding an extra discount on a category that was already benefiting of one when there’s plenty of business struggling in the Uk?

Could it be because message of Starmer’s cut had been hardly mentioned by the press despite being popular, while for Burnham, it sounded like the perfect horse to ride?

[Mal @UtdMaI]

I genuinely don’t understand why the European and African countries don’t just walk away from FIFA

Create a new federation. The rest of the world would follow soon enough.

Why keep supporting an organization so many fans believe has lost its credibility?

[ALASTAIR CAMPBELL @campbellclaret]

My Binface pledge card for Clacton - exploiting his opponent’s main local weaknesses

[Alice Vinten @AVintenAuthor]

Why are women murdered by men constantly reduced to ‘sweethearts’ whilst the murderers are described as things like ‘maths graduates’

She was a graduate too. Her worth is not measured by her connection to the sick fuck who killed her.

Do better @DailyMirror !! 😡

[Jennifer Stewart @JenniferJS_]

Thanks for replying Alison and for your warmth towards Keir Starmer. But, I'm afraid I don't care what anybody says about Andy Burnham; I was witness to how he went about this. It's inherently dishonest. He and Louise Haigh - according to her - have been planning this coup for a year, 1 year after he won the GM mayoralty 3rd term. He promised those voters he was done with Westminster and he wanted to complete his third term more than anything else. So they gave him their vote. Then he walked out on them, and he'd known for a year that he was going to do it. but they didn't know.

In Jan this year and before Makerfield he promised to support the govt and not undermine it. A blatant lie, because he'd known for 6 months what he was going to do. The NEC had wisdom in Jan. But not in the Makerfield by-election. How many MPs did Andy Burnham try to persuade to give up their seats? 26, I heard, before Josh Simons agreed - for a very sweet deal. Then Andy Burnham trashed Labour and the govt and by default Keir Starmer - and used Labour resources to do it. He repeatedly said he wasn't interested in ousting Keir Starmer, that he was dedicated to Makerfield. Another blatant lie.

He started amassing MP support. He got to 97 pretty quickly, but Keir Starmer had a 150 at that point. Then Louise Haigh told him that if he didn't resign the contest would be "brutal". And the campaign to put pressure on MPs ramped up exponentially. The betrayal was mind-boggling. MPs who owed their status in the cabinet to Keir Starmer stabbed him in the back. Others who owed their jobs as MPs to the fact that he won a landslide in 2024 did the same.

Being the decent man that he is, Keir Starmer didn't want to subject the Labour Party to internecine war. So the bullies won. He resigned. And we've lost the best PM this country has had for decades. What makes it even more revolting is that Burnham is now using Keir Starmer's achievements and trying to make out like they're his own, or at his own ideas.

I think it's clear that not all MPs nominating him are doing so because they believe in him. They're doing so because they don't want Labour to fall apart.

Keir Starmer has been a Prime Minister of exceptional standing who did all the hard and difficult work of turning the country round after inheriting a stinking mess from the Tories, taking all the body blows, never flinching, never giving up, never losing his nerve or commitment to the job and the country. He has elevated the UK internationally beyond our wildest dreams, and been the driving force behind European solidarity and security, liked, respect and admired by all.

And he's been kicked out by a plotter and a backstabber who makes and breaks promises as easily as you can switch a light on and off. Who lies with impunity. Who cost the taxpayer about £5million.

I'm not just angry. It's been traumatising, for me and for many here. And nobody is listening to us. We've been completely disenfranchised.

If you've got to the end of this, thank you for persisting.

[Maarten Hopman @maartenhopman94]

Overview of who is supporting which country during tomorrow’s USA–Belgium match. #USABEL

[Cherry @Cherryopenmind]

We need to talk about someone called Josh Simons.

I told you what's happening is very, very serious.

Josh Simons is a very dangerous man who was ready to pay £30,000 for a PR campaign to destroy a journalist's credibility.

Today, this man is Andy Burnham's right-hand man.

Yet, nobody has investigated Josh Simons, and the media choose to stay completely blind when it comes to him.

Do not let this pass under the radar ‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️

[BelindaSales. @sales_belinda]

@ChrisGPackham is spot on here #Gogglebox

[Linda @LindaR39]

Is this a joke? @IanByrneMP @UKLabour have you any idea how the members feel, let alone the electorate about @AndyBurnhamGM coup. You have deposed the best PM we’ve had in decades because you fell for the contrived efforts supported by the media from day1. Shame on you all.

[Linda @LindaR39]

I know I live in a bit of an echo chamber on here but my timeline is full of incensed members, ex members & everyone that respects @Keir_Starmer but it’s so important that we at least tag in @UKLabour so they hear us. I’m re-quoting as many as possible. They need to know.

[Gordon Fielden @GordonFielden]

If the NEC representatives' account is accurate, then this should concern every Labour member, regardless of which candidate they support.

The Labour Party exists because hundreds of thousands of ordinary members give up their time, pay their subscriptions and campaign in all weathers. They are the lifeblood of the Party.

Yet the process now appears designed so that, if one candidate secures sufficient nominations from MPs and affiliated organisations, constituency parties and ordinary members may have little or no meaningful opportunity to influence the contest before it is effectively settled.

Whether that is technically within the rules is almost beside the point. It creates the impression that the voices of individual members matter less than those of Westminster and the affiliated organisations.

For a democratic political party, that should trouble us all. If members begin to believe that their role is simply to fund the Party and deliver leaflets, while others decide its future, the damage to trust will be profound and long-lasting.

[Narinder Kaur @narindertweets]

Hounded out by right-wing media.
He lost his brother months into his leadership and still carried on with grace.
A shameful moment in political history

[Ursula von der Leyen @vonderleyen]

It can take many leaders years to grow into the statesman you became in just two years.

European and Ukrainian security is stronger because of you.

Thank you, dear Keir.