Leonard Smith

I am an academic historian with a special interest in mental health institutions. Former mental health social worker.
Also keen supporter of WBA.

[Don McGowan @donmcgowan]

Over the last 36 hours, we have witnessed the very soul of Nigel Farage — his essence.

It has been over a month since he went into hiding, since serious questions began to be raised over his undeclared £5M donation.

A month since he appeared in front of TV cameras or underwent any questioning at all.

At 8am yesterday morning, Farage released a video, from a field somewhere, calling for rage. Calling for an end to the mythical two-tier policing.

Make no mistake, those were very carefully chosen words — he understood what he was unleashing, and his wish was granted last night in Southampton.

On Tuesday, the Home Secretary made a statement to the House regarding the murder of Henry Nowack. There was, as always, an opportunity to question Shabana Mahmood — was Nigel Farage in attendance?

No, of course not.

Today, Farage was granted a question at PMQs — the showpiece spectacle of the political week in which the country's news and politics fanatics tune in to watch — was Nigel Farage in attendance?

Yes, of course he was.

He had somehow found his way into work after missing 77 separate votes in Parliament because … he would, at least for three minutes, be the centre of the country's political attention.

His question was about the murder of Henry Nowack and the violence that erupted [on his command] last night, but he would not condemn it or call for calm.

Instead, he 'suggested' that this rioting might escalate.

This afternoon, he has performatively written to the BBC because someone on Newsnight dared to accuse him of inciting the violence — playing his perpetual victim card. Again.

And there we see the soul of Nigel Farage — a craven, desperate for attention, evil, petty and pointless man.

END RANT.

[Leonard Smith @ldsmith25]

@limeryoo You and they all look beautiful. Strength to you.

[Leonard Smith @ldsmith25]

@BearwoodBloke @gorbalsgoebbels @LastBlairite Ambition can so all-consuming that it does funny things to one's thought processes.

[Steve Loftus @LoftusSteve]

I strongly dislike reporters shouting at Ministers as they enter Downing Street.

It's performative nonsense. Not once in history has one of them replied.

It's childish and unprofessional.

[😱 Scary Larry 😱 🇺🇦✊🏻🇺🇸🗽 @aintscarylarry]

trump calls the White House a “shithouse.” Calls a reporter a “bitch.” Screams at Iran: “Open the Fuckin’ Strait, you crazy bastards.” And not a peep from the media. Do not become numb to this. None of this is acceptable. How far we have fallen as a nation

[Leonard Smith @ldsmith25]

@zoester73 Chester

[Leonard Smith @ldsmith25]

@J_Phillips1994 I wouldn't be surprised if Wallace and Grant were offered another season.

[Alistair Jones 𓅪 @AliJones9]

Excellent letter from @SarahCoombesWB regarding the farce that @EFL has governed over.

We will not let this go just because we’ve stayed up. It is still shocking what they’ve done.

[Leonard Smith @ldsmith25]

@ItsSamson2 Keep if at all possible.

[Steve Hermon @SteveHermon]

You literally couldn’t make it up that Albion have been retrospectively judged to have breached financial rules due to in-kind donations of facilities & resources to charity in the same season #WBA were named Community Club of the Year by the EFL.

[Nury Vittachi @NuryVittachi]

It has been confirmed that Donald Trump himself rescued a US airman in Iran. The President carried the man 100 miles to Air Force One, while killing 20 Iranian generals with a gun. Trump also recovered the plane, which was barely scratched. “Many won’t believe this,” Trump said.

[Aaron Rupar @atrupar]

The biggest story in the world right now is that the president of the United States is a demented old man who takes pleasure in torturing and killing people and is committing crimes with impunity. And yet most legacy media outlets are too cowardly to tell it like it is.

[Leonard Smith @ldsmith25]

@jeffprestridge Not impossible Jeff. I am on train from Birmingham to Manchester Piccadilly. Will take bus, tram or walk to Victoria Station and take train to Blackburn.
It's only West Coasr trains that are disrupted.

[Leonard Smith @ldsmith25]

@chrislepkowski @neilashton_ Thanks Chris. All OK. Very important to get rapid diagnosis and treatment (steroids).

[Dominic Grieve @dominicgrieve_]

I am very happy to engage with you on the substance.
We have never discussed your views on Islam. But you made them clear when introducing your ten minute rule bill in the Commons very recently, as you were perfectly entitled to do.
I agree that mass prayer in public by large groups without prior permission, that aims to disrupt the activities of others, can be an act of 'domination' just as a sit down on Westminster Bridge or the M25 can be or any other illegal demonstration or one accompanied by threats or harassment.
This did not apply to this gathering in Trafalgar Square. It was done with permission. It comprised short prayers followed by an Iftar to break the Ramadan fast. It threatened no one any more than the Palm Sunday procession ( with permission) in which I shall participate shortly where I live and where there will be hymns to the effect that Jesus Christ is Lord.
Your original post says that this event 'should not happen again'. You are the Shadow Justice Secretary, perhaps one day the person who will take an oath to uphold the rule of law. As I put to you in my last post, stopping such an event would be unlawful and discriminatory unless you intend to advocate changing the law to discriminate against Muslims. Is that what you are saying? So far you have not attempted to answer this question.
Lots of replies to your original post highlight that freedom of religious expression does not exist in many countries and that some of these countries have Muslim majorities and persecute minority faiths. We will, I am sure, have a shared revulsion at this. But this is surely all the more reason why we should stand up for the values of freedom under law which our forefathers have given to us.
Finally you suggest that my 'world'' is falling apart'. I am not sure what world vision you are referring to. As a long standing Conservative I am a pragmatic realist about the world and its shortcomings as I might expect you to be too. I also believe that in times when there are challenges to the values of freedom and democratic pluralism there is a need for all people of goodwill to be voices of assertive moderation. Your original post comes across as entirely contrary to this and as a call to confrontation on no valid basis.

[Leonard Smith @ldsmith25]

@Alisha26221 The plane is stationary on the ground?

[Protect Kamala Harris ✊ @DisavowTrump20]

Legendary Singer Neil Young has removed all his albums from Amazon Music due to founder Jeff Bezos and his support for Donald Trump.

RETWEET to thank @NeilYoung for standing up for our democracy!

[Dave Matt @davematt88]

So let me get this straight. FIFA is threatening to penalize Iran for not coming to the world cup in the United States, which just bombed the hell out of them and this is the same FIFA that gave the president of the country that bombed them a peace prize.