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@Foxy , @MattW , @rcs1000 etc - just caught up on your comments from last night: fair enough, I hold my hand up: the figure I had for 1995 was clearly erroneous. On which basis I am wrong.

Thank-you for that. Looking at the estimates no one seems particularly clear before 2001, when a question came into the census. For 1990 Google AI seems to give a range of 500k to 1000k, which is a huge error margin. Plus of course there has always been a significant group of people not here legally.

Just as background context from earlier - I was in Bradford 1985-1988 and at that time I think between 1/3 and 1/4 of the city was the population fraction described as Muslim. This was pre-Satanic Verses of course. There were harder line organisations being developed in places like Dewsbury some with explicit Middle Eastern links or funding, but also more ideologically open versions of Islam such as Ahmadiyya with open centres to visit in BD7 near the University.

The main numerical work I am familiar with from that sort of period was being done by the likes of Peter Brierley, then of Marc Europe (which was spun out of the BIble Society) and later of Christian Research. Their main activity was publication of a thing called the UK Christian Handbook, which was an enormous directory and reference volume from an Evangelical base, but covering the whole UK Christian sector. They were basically a resource and research organisation for churches and mission, from an evangelical focus but working across the piece.

They did a pioneering survey of Mosques and Mosque attendance in the second half of the 1980s, where one interesting number was Mosque attendance in the UK was around half of the adherent community - an interesting early number pointing at "drift". This is one reason I have always thought that the Muslim-background community is far broader than is readily admitted, whilst being less diffuse than the Christian-background community.

The mantle of Peter Brierley, who is still going as a consultant after starting in this arena in the mid-1970s, has been picked up by groups such as the Religion in Numbers project at Lancaster University, and Prof Linda Woodhead.

Half of Muslims never going to Mosque does fit with this survey:

https://pollingreport.uk/articles/nop-poll-of-british-muslims

I have some very pious Muslim friends, and others that never go at all, being "culturally Muslim" in the same way many "Christian" Brits are.

The optimistic scenario is that the upcoming generation assimilates and many of them become less overtly religious, as has been the case with previous immigrations to our country. The time I spent with Muslim teenagers during my many years as a councillor in east London tended me towards an optimistic outlook, since they seemed acutely aware of their responsibility to find a reconciliation between the attitudes of their home environment and the cultural values they were coming to understand and appreciate at school and as British citizens.

Law firm sets up OnlyFans team

A law firm has set up a specialist service to models and agencies working with 'adult sites' such as OnlyFans.

Blackmont Legal, based in Manchester, already provides legal advice to social media influencers who make money on TikTok, YouTube and Instagram.

The firm is also eyeing up adult site creators (so to speak), by launching dedicated legal services for OnlyFans models and agencies.

Spotting the "rise" in this area (get your mind out of the gutter, please), Blackmont Legal noted that there are almost 23,000 Only Fans creators in the UK, and that top performers can earn in excess of £20,000 monthly.

The firm said the growth of subscription-based content has resulted in a so-called 'under economy' where workers earn significant sums but function outside traditional employment frameworks. As a result, many of them can lack business support, operating without VAT registration or proper contracts.

https://www.rollonfriday.com/news-content/exclusive-law-firm-sets-onlyfans-team

Good luck with your new firm!

Is there a Mike Pence in the current Administration? I think Team MAGA learned their lesson, unfortunately.

Stuffing the administration with incompetent loyalists brings its own problems

@atrupar.com‬

MAGAZINER: How many veterans have you deported?

NOEM: We haven't deported veterans

MAGAZINER: We are now joined on Zoom by a combat veteran you deported to Korea

https://bsky.app/profile/atrupar.com/post/3m7pyay4ndm2w

@thetnholler.bsky.social‬

🔥 @repdeliaramirez to @KristiNoem: “Bottom Line: You lie with impunity. You reject checks & balances. You ignore Congress & the courts… you can either resign, Trump will fire you, or you’ll be impeached.

You’re going to be held accountable. I’m going to make sure of that.”

https://bsky.app/profile/thetnholler.bsky.social/post/3m7rc2dcrmc2e

This guy?

This is why people hate congressional hearings and don’t trust the media.

ICE didn’t deport a veteran. Sae Joon Park self-deported to South Korea.

He never pursued citizenship during his decades here and his green card was revoked under Obama in 2009 due to drug possession.

https://x.com/ljmoynihan/status/1999336182203797991

BREAKING: Democrats CAUGHT in massive fake news operation in DHS Sec. Kristi Noem hearing - lying that President Trump deported a Veteran to South Korea

Rep. Magaziner tried a "gotcha": "We are now joined on Zoom by a veteran YOU deported."

HE SELF-DEPORTED.

Sae Joon Park had a removal order over felony drug charges and bail jumping - and was NOT a citizen, but a green card holder.

Democrats lie, lie, LIE.

https://x.com/ericldaugh/status/1999200511820763484

My understanding is that they are given the option to “self deport” or to rot in an immigration facility for god knows how long. That isn’t really a choice and this isn’t the “gotcha” you think it is.

It's a Wonderful Life.

No other Christmas film comes close.

I know this sounds bitter but I hate that film . I was hoping Stewart would jump ! I’m not averse to some feel good films but I found it just nauseating.

I'm a sucker for a feel good film.

I wouldn't describe it as a feel good film, it is incredibly dark. James Stewart's depiction of George Bailey as a man on the edge is devastating. The claustrophobia of family life, the disappointments of life in a small town, his resentments at the compromises he as made in the name of duty are all laid out. He faces a genuine dilemma in whether to join Potter and accept a life of comfort or continue the family business he has come to hate, and making the "right" choice nearly kills him. The happy ending doesn't feel forced, despite it involving divine intervention. The support he receives from his community feels completely real and authentic, and is an incredible emotional payback for the audience. It is also a brilliant analysis of capitalism in its different forms, a passionate argument for human decency over greed. It serves as a novel retelling of A Christmas Carol. And it contains the best analysis of a bank run in Hollywood history. IMHO one of the best films ever made.