Professor (Emeritus) U of Manchester ▪️co-ops and cooperation ▪️progressive pluralism▪️ex Aikidoka ▪️Arsenal ▪️Born Dover (that's my Castle)https://bsky.app/profile/colintalbot.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/colintalbot.bsky.social/post/3ml7og2jzhs2nArsenal vs PSG for the Champions league final? So that’s No2 (London) vs No1 (Paris) grandsons No1 has even been a mascot at a PSG match.06 May 2026 21:46 +0000at://did:plc:bp6lvppkcvapidqmr2zazxwf/app.bsky.feed.post/3ml7og2jzhs2nhttps://bsky.app/profile/colintalbot.bsky.social/post/3ml6hoccq5c2wMy review of fascinating new book on worker cooperatives https://www.thenews.coop/heavyweight-survey-of-the-worlds-worker-co-op-movement/06 May 2026 10:12 +0000at://did:plc:bp6lvppkcvapidqmr2zazxwf/app.bsky.feed.post/3ml6hoccq5c2whttps://bsky.app/profile/colintalbot.bsky.social/post/3ml445hwzss22“Government cannot do this by itself” Steve Reed talking about defeating antisemitism. He’s right. But it’s a pity Govt doesn’t apply that to all the other policy areas where they cannot do it by themselves. They have mostly fallen into the Whitehall trap of thinking they can.05 May 2026 11:41 +0000at://did:plc:bp6lvppkcvapidqmr2zazxwf/app.bsky.feed.post/3ml445hwzss22https://bsky.app/profile/colintalbot.bsky.social/post/3ml445hwzss22“Government cannot do this by itself” Steve Reed talking about defeating antisemitism. He’s right. But it’s a pity Govt doesn’t apply that to all the other policy areas where they cannot do it by themselves. They have mostly fallen into the Whitehall trap of thinking they can.05 May 2026 11:41 +0000at://did:plc:bp6lvppkcvapidqmr2zazxwf/app.bsky.feed.post/3ml445hwzss22https://bsky.app/profile/colintalbot.bsky.social/post/3mkk6qyeync2mSo RIP then ACOBA. The Advisory Committee on Business Appointments died peacefully last October. Aged 50. consoc.org.uk/blog/ https://consoc.org.uk/blog/28 Apr 2026 08:40 +0000at://did:plc:bp6lvppkcvapidqmr2zazxwf/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkk6qyeync2mhttps://bsky.app/profile/colintalbot.bsky.social/post/3mkk6qyeync2mSo RIP then ACOBA. The Advisory Committee on Business Appointments died peacefully last October. Aged 50. consoc.org.uk/blog/ https://consoc.org.uk/blog/28 Apr 2026 08:40 +0000at://did:plc:bp6lvppkcvapidqmr2zazxwf/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkk6qyeync2mhttps://bsky.app/profile/colintalbot.bsky.social/post/3mjyeefw7ac22It’s always the cover-up. Under urging from Morgan McSweeney Starmer made a bad and over hasty decision to appoint, and announce, the Mandelson appointment. My best guess: when MMcS was confronted with reality - Mandelson had failed his DV - he chose to try to bury it? And not tell his boss?21 Apr 2026 06:32 +0000at://did:plc:bp6lvppkcvapidqmr2zazxwf/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjyeefw7ac22https://bsky.app/profile/colintalbot.bsky.social/post/3mjtowu65v22eThis the crucial part of the UK Security Vetting template for the DV process (via the FT). Both red boxes were ticked for Peter Mandelson by the security officials. Could not be clearer?19 Apr 2026 09:58 +0000at://did:plc:bp6lvppkcvapidqmr2zazxwf/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjtowu65v22ehttps://bsky.app/profile/colintalbot.bsky.social/post/3mjomlsxhtk2iI’ve also had DV status. I also understand a bit about how Govt works. This is a good thread 👇🏽👇🏽👇🏽👇🏽 [contains quote post or other embedded content]17 Apr 2026 09:33 +0000at://did:plc:bp6lvppkcvapidqmr2zazxwf/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjomlsxhtk2ihttps://bsky.app/profile/colintalbot.bsky.social/post/3mjomdwrwas2iMANDELSON’S DV FAILURE He failed his DV It was over-ruled by FCDO No-one told Ministers or PM But crucially - no-one dug into this and found out until it was revealed by The Guardian? Seriously? My best guess - the pivotal actor in all this was MMcS?17 Apr 2026 09:28 +0000at://did:plc:bp6lvppkcvapidqmr2zazxwf/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjomdwrwas2ihttps://bsky.app/profile/colintalbot.bsky.social/post/3mjhuegnghs2bRebecca & Colin discuss: how agri co-ops are responding to the war in Iran. Energy security, interview with Chris Vrettos, senior policy advisor at REScoop.eu Challenges facing rules-based transnational institutions Countries offering support to their co-op sectors https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/co-ops-building-a-better-world/id1878511518?i=100076133812714 Apr 2026 17:03 +0000at://did:plc:bp6lvppkcvapidqmr2zazxwf/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjhuegnghs2bhttps://bsky.app/profile/colintalbot.bsky.social/post/3mjfis2fur224This is fascinating (from 1940).13 Apr 2026 18:31 +0000at://did:plc:bp6lvppkcvapidqmr2zazxwf/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjfis2fur224