Mostly-retired opinion researcher, moderate left-of-centre. Pro-Ukraine and EU. Lifelong Norwich City fan.
Herts, UK
Joined July 2013
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When we talk about improving the country, we should define what we mean. For me, it’s public services being properly supported; for Tories, it means lower taxes & less govt.
I don’t know whether Starmer can improve the country, but I know he’ll try in a way the Tories wouldn’t.
Stewart Lewis retweeted
You don't have to prove your innocence Shane, they have to prove your guilt, and they have to prove it beyond reasonable doubt.
Brand wasn't convicted because someone made a statement he couldn't disprove. If you can stomach it, read the transcripts of his trial.
My professional experience matches the figures, less than 3% of all rapes reported to the police (historic or otherwise) result in someone being charged, because it's very difficult to meet the threshold for charging.
Around 70% of charges result in a conviction.
In theory a single statement from an alleged victim can meet the charging threshold (Full Code Test) but it very rarely happens, and it certainly didn't with Brand.
In the case of historic rapes we look for documented or institutional links, disclosure witnesses and bad character, or pattern evidence. We'll compare credibility and memory fading to ensure the
We also conduct highly detailed achieve best evidence interviews with the alleged victim which are scrutinised for discrepancies, then compare them to, amongst other things, the accused's responses in their interview.
It's far more complicated than this word salad has explained, but essentially, someone in your past having a grudge against you isn't going to get you in the dock.
The three c's - (convincing, compelling and consistent) are hard to achieve in a fictional, malicious or facetious statement.
Sorry this was so long, it's as short as I could make it.
Stewart Lewis retweeted
It's been quite the eye-opener watching people who routinely rage about the lack of grooming gang convictions suddenly take such profound offence at historic rape convictions being secured on the strength of victim testimony.
Which, of course, is precisely how the majority of grooming gang convictions are secured in the first place.
Stewart Lewis retweeted
Speaking as a lawyer, a rape conviction is the hardest to get in criminal law. 90% of rapes never reported due to vile attitudes like yours that don’t believe women. Conviction rates 10% as system is stacked against women not men. Just 1/100 rapists held accountable. Shame on u.
All it takes is a woman saying that a man raped her 20 years ago. No evidence. Just her word and the vibes. And just like that, prison. Meanwhile his word? Zero weight. Only what she says matters.
Those cheering Russell Brand’s conviction should understand what’s at stake. The judicial system is a cornerstone of Western civilisation. And now we know with 100 percent certainty that it’s completely corrupt.
Justice was not served, this is the opposite of that.
Stewart Lewis retweeted
Once a jury convicts a rapist, that's what they are. The opinions of Brand's defenders don't change that reality. Mind you, it tells you a lot about their values, or lack of them.
Stewart Lewis retweeted
Meloni was & is called Fascist - yet she is doing infinitely more to fight actual fascist imperialism than all those self righteous Leftists who cosy up to Putin, because both hate the West & are nostalgic for Soviet Communism
Stewart Lewis retweeted
What I want to know is what the end goal is here. Legislate that Zionism is racism and then what? Jail Jews? Fire them from their jobs? Send them to reeducation camps? Ban all Zionist prayers and passages from Jewish practices?
The answer is yes because all of the above and worst actually happened to Soviet Jews, and that’s the one thing Zach will never tell you.
Stewart Lewis retweeted
How embarrassing is this photo, imagine being photographed alongside Owen Jones 😬
Stewart Lewis retweeted
Rare moral clarity and moral leadership here
Italian chef fired for refusing to put pineapple on pizza bbc.in/4egT8uf
Stewart Lewis retweeted
The Democrats are a deeply well-established institution, the Greens can barely hold themselves together at a conference and their leader can't even win a seat despite throwing everything he had at it.
If you want the not-right to win, you need to wish for a Labour landslide
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Stewart Lewis retweeted
This thought process from Karoline Leavitt — the idea that Americans are too stupid to know how good they have it right now — is exactly why Republicans are getting their asses kicked tonight. Complete lack of awareness and reality.
Stewart Lewis retweeted
It’s the war.
It’s the blatant corruption.
It’s the trade wars.
It’s the sucking up to Putin.
It’s ICE’s cruelty.
It’s the administration’s incompetence.
It’s the Epstein files.
It’s Trump’s disgraceful behavior in office.
It’s a Republican-controlled Congress refusing to hold him accountable.
It’s ALL of it. And so much more
JD Vance, in his first statement following last night’s Republican wipeout:
“The reason we lost is the war. The president himself said so last night.
If you’d like to argue it was worth it, that losing the Senate for the next 6 years was worth it, then do so. Argue it was a worthwhile cost to pay. Agree or disagree, that’s at least honest.
But everyone knows why we lost. And any honest conversation about where we go from here must start there.”
Stewart Lewis retweeted
The problem with @trussliz is not her ignorance - that could be put right if she wanted to. The problem is her stupidity which I fear is incurable.
Stewart Lewis retweeted
1) If we'd Remained, Covid, Ukraine (probably), Iran, Trump would still have happened
2) And we would have had lower trade friction, lower inflation, higher FDI, easier labour market
It is beyond question that UK GDP would be HIGHER today, if we'd Remained.
Stewart Lewis retweeted
FACT CHECK:
✅ Local Green groups were given an opportunity to denounce the disgraceful "Zionism is Racism" policy and call on their leadership to do the same.
✅ Several did, and those local arrangements remain in place.
❌ It's disappointing more Green groups didn't feel they could do the same - we continue to call on the Green Party to drop this appalling policy.
✅ Today's action addresses support for this unacceptable policy - which clearly crosses a line. Local power sharing arrangements cannot come at the expense of upholding the moral obligation we have to stand up for everyone in our communities and the values we share.
❌ Today's action was not about whether people can or cannot criticise the actions of the Israeli Government - as the Labour Party repeatedly has.
❌ Any suggestion that today's action was about anything other than the "Zionism is Racism" policy is plain misinformation.
✅ Labour councillors will continue working hard day in, day out for their local communities. That's what we do.
Stewart Lewis retweeted
Interesting how it's always "vote according to Biblical values!" until it comes to the verses about welcoming immigrants, helping the poor, feeding the hungry, bringing healthcare to the sick, forgiving debts, caring for our planet, laying down our swords or loving our neighbors.
Not sure of its significance, but a remarkable stat about Philippe Clement’s reign at #ncfc. Of the 34 league games we’ve played in calendar year 2026, only 2 have been draws. Some kind of record?
Stewart Lewis retweeted
One of the most successful deceptions of our time was getting many Americans to fear diversity more than racism, equality more than misogyny, democracy more than fascism, immigrants more than authoritarians, the poor more than corrupt billionaires, and empathy more than cruelty.