Irene A Reid

"International law cannot be “à la carte”. Its credibility depends on consistent application, regardless of who is involved." - Graça Machel, Deputy Chair of The Elders

✉️ NEWSLETTER | International law cannot be “à la carte”

In our latest newsletter, Graça Machel discusses the U.S. and Israel’s military strikes in Iran and argues that a world in which powerful states set their own rules is a threat to everyone.

theelders.org/news/interna...

I am frankly more concerned about the apathy of the American public and even more importantly the lack of leadership in the Democratic Party.

This is not a dress rehearsal. Every single American must speak out against this Facist administration.

Republic - an independent Scottish republic

The future of the monarchy in Scotland - Bylines Scotland What relevant role does the monarchy play today, with or without the present scandal?

Previously on Bylines Scotland...

#Epstein
#AndrewMountbattenWindsor
#Arrested

Blue-toned BBC building background; red map of Scotland with BBC logo. Text reads: “The BBC is taking more while spending less in Scotland.” Believe in Scotland branding.

🟥 BBC Scotland is taking MORE in licence fee from Scottish households - while spending LESS in Scotland.

📺 Here are a few issues Scots have with the BBC: www.believeinscotland.org/bbc_scotland...

Dorothy Byrne on @skynews asking all the right questions about when the MEN involved in Epstein files, including what the Royal Family knew and when. And when will men find themselves behind bars, like Ghislaine Maxwell. Ofc Mandelson is a serious matter, but I want to see sex offenders punished.

History repeating itself?

UKIP under Nigel Farage controlled Thanet Council and nearly bankrupt it.

Reform UK under Nigel Farage controls Worcestershire Council and it’s on the verge of bankruptcy.

Never trust Reform UK. Imagine a country run by them. We'd be bankrupt with Trussite policies.

He’s absolutely right.

There are 848 'sitting' members in the House of Lords, with 27 non-sitting members. This fluctuates. There's no fixed maximum. Eh?

It consists of life peers (Mandy, Mone), 92 hereditary peers (their Dad got them it), and ...26 ENGLISH BISHOPS!

No sensible person can justify the House of Lords.

Absolutely. And until such time as we can do with the peerage system [hereditary & honorary] & House of Lords action must be taken swiftly to remove Mandelson's peerage. He may have 'resigned' from the second chamber but can still use the title.

Don't tell Jackie B she won't know what to do!!!

Among the other "gifts" bestowed by Trump are entirely new definitions of fake and hoax. Both now mean something this appalling old fraud chooses not to believe.

#OtD 22 Jan 1891 Italian Marxist philosopher Antonio Gramsci was born in Sardinia. His key contribution was his theory of hegemony, which describes how the capitalist class maintains its power through its domination of culture. Commemorative merch here: shop.workingclasshistory.com/collections/...

be aware

If Trump invades Greenland, it will be the Peace Prize War. Satire is truly dead.

Meanwhile Starmer keeps pretending this is about trade. Grow a spine Starmer. It's about a fucking demented madman in the White House and the fascists who enable him.

In Scotland, 97% of patients experience no delay in hospital discharge, it’s been the same since records began but only one Auditor General in the UK seems interested, wonder why From BBC Scotland today: NHS Scotland spent £440m last year on beds for patients who were unable to get out of hospital despite being ready to be discharged, according to public spending watchdogs.…

talkingupscotlandtwo.com/2026/01/08/i...

Canada stands with Ukraine. Their cause — freedom, democracy, and sovereignty — is our cause.

We’ll keep working with our Allies to secure peace for the Ukrainian people, and we’ll be there to help them rebuild, recover, and create the foundations for lasting prosperity.

Interesting to hear the redoubtable Fraser Nelson proclaim on @BBCr4today that independence hasn't moved. In fact it's currently 8 points ahead of where it was at the last Referendum and 6 points clear of support for the Union according to the latest poll.

That FIFA peace prize has gone down in my estimation

Same NHS. Two choices. In England, you pay nearly a tenner for medicine. In Scotland, prescriptions are free — thanks to SNP policy. This is what different priorities look like.

Labour came in promising to cut energy bills by £300. Now they’re almost £200 higher, and they trumpet a change that won’t even cover the increase since they took office.

Is this really it??

Scotland deserves better than this chaos. A fresh start with independence. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

All ballots to be returned by 28th NOVEMBER. That’s just over 10 final days to push, to talk to everyone you can and GET THE VOTE OUT! 🗳️🗳️

Pickets all over Edinburgh this morning! From Old College to King's Building, Edinburgh UCU staff are saying NO to job cuts!

It was an honour to speak at @scottishcnd.bsky.social yesterday and talk about how increasing military spending is not the answer to the social problems created by austerity.

Instead, let's invest in people, communities and the public services that will actually improve living standards.

I agree with @brianleishmanmp.bsky.social if only the Budget will tax multimillionaires. But probably wishful thinking.

www.scottishwater.co.uk/About-Us/New...

Well done @scottishwater.bsky.social @scottishswimming.bsky.social
#duncanscott & #tonishaw

Comrades in the UCU Solidarity Movement have arrived on BlueSky! 🥊

#OtD 22 Oct 1902 Black British boxer and communist, Len Johnson, was born in Manchester. Newspapers said it was "tolerably certain" that he would become UK champion, but he was barred because of the rule that contestants had to have two white parents stories.workingclasshistory.com/article/1122...

Most folks would not shell out millions to a woman they deny ever meeting. Just saying.