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Simon Hix@simonhix.bsky.social · 1h ago

I have no idea what “Hard Right” means! We have established terms: Far Right, Extreme Right, Radical Right. Why invent a new one? Bizarre how UK journos have adopted a term that no-one else in the world uses or understands. Pathetic parochialism I guess 🤷‍♂️ www.theguardian.com/world/2026/a...

Interesting read.

Why Substack is Not Fixing Journalism

Casualization is not the solution to what ails the media

leightonwoodhouse.substack.com

*stares* I'm sorry, this guy is going to be your advisor on culture and integration? The one who makes these videos?

James Austin@jamesdaustin.bsky.social · 9h ago

I'll be honest: I'd buy this a lot more if his main outlet wasn't abusively attacking opposition politicians via AI slop in ways which obviously nod to other forms of prejudice.

I have read Joshua Bonehill-Paine’s blogpost from April entitled “Inside the Mind of an Antisemite -and How I Escaped It”. It’s a fascinating account of being consumed by hateful, extremist ideology. You know what’s not in there? An apology. To Luciana Berger or the wider Jewish community

Hi, I'm being made redundant by the University of Southampton at the end of this month. I'm desperately looking for work. I'll consider all offers but have particular skills in policy, strategy and research. I also have a consultancy service I offer. Please let me know if you hear of anything

And now she can get questioned on the dubious content of his stupid videos?

James Ball@jamesrball.com · 1h ago

Having said it was okay for Bonehill-Paine to be a councillor because it was just bins, instead of dropping him, Badenoch has given him an advisory role – *after* Jewish groups refused to meet with him? Does she just never want this story to end, or....what.

It's not an original explanation for Badenoch, but it remains the best: she just really really likes Twitter

The Guardian@theguardian.com · 9h ago

Badenoch defends decision to allow man jailed for antisemitism to stand as councillor

Great to see work on MPs staff continuing. They're a huge part of the system that is largely ignored. Shocking stats from the wellbeing group survey. See also @aliceolilly.bsky.social who has done some work on MP burnout.

Tim Bale@timbale.bsky.social · yesterday

Great short by @mbarnfield.bsky.social on the distress suffered by MPs's staff!

FWIW I agree with Ollie Dean: we should want extremists to be deradicalised. We should want former criminals to be rehabilitated and live productive lives. None of that means either group (or someone who is both) should be a candidate for election. conservativehome.com/2026/08/05/i...

I believe in second chances - but not for former neo-Nazis | Conservative Home

Again, I reiterate that I am all for second chances. But there comes a point in which one cannot extend the generosity of yet another attempt. Bonehill-Paine - I believe -, despite what he has done si...

conservativehome.com

Quite impressive to completely undermine your own defence and insult most of your party's elected officials in the same sentence.

Chris Terry-Enescu@cjterry.bsky.social · 9h ago

It's OK for criminal ex-neo Nazis to run your bins is a hell of a line.

Has anybody checked that it's NOT Grant Shapps?

Tim Bale@timbale.bsky.social · yesterday

Rather puts Grant Shapps being rejected as a Conservative candidate into perspective.

Rather puts Grant Shapps being rejected as a Conservative candidate into perspective.

Former neo-Nazi activist selected as Tory candidate for Somerset council election

Joshua Bonehill-Paine, creator of satirical Crewkerne Gazette, has convictions including for harassing a Jewish MP

theguardian.com

automatically running signal messages through a stranger's AI is, I think, the worst pitch and idea I've ever been cold pitched in my life and that is saying a lot

One respondent said “he’s just a jumped-up pantry boy who doesn’t know his place.”

Tim Bale@timbale.bsky.social · yesterday

Favourite quote: "When it comes to meeting world leaders, they’re not going to go, ‘Oh, he likes The Smiths, so we’ll do a deal with him’."

🚨POST BY ME & CALLUM HUNTER-DAWSON🚨 Richard Nixon’s career offers remarkably complete education in modern elections, political science, sociology, media theory, international relations, economics and so much more. This article looks at this life up to 1968 when he became president

How Richard Nixon's life explains modern politics (Part 1)

Social class, material insecurity, status resentment, generations, media image, electoral coalitions, demography and the median voter

substack.com

Quotes: "during our period of study (1993-2024), mechanisms designed to regulate spending tended towards input control and short-term decision-making, struggled to support strategic investment and often failed to deliver sustained improvements in outcomes."

Giles Wilkes@gilesyb.bsky.social · yesterday

This is the Nuffield research that the incredibly productive Diane Coyle refers to in this article. www.bennettschool.cam.ac.uk/publications...

#VoteBinface www.theguardian.com/food/2026/au...

‘A 99 with a Flake? That will be £7, please’: what’s behind the surge in ice-cream van prices?

From the cost of milk and chocolate to diesel and electricity, every part of producing the summer treat has been hit by the climate crisis and other shocks

theguardian.com

Andy Burnham rocking up to the G7: youtu.be/w3qPMe_cCJk?...

The Smiths - Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want (Official Audio)

YouTube video by The Smiths

youtu.be

Tim Bale@timbale.bsky.social · yesterday

Favourite quote: "When it comes to meeting world leaders, they’re not going to go, ‘Oh, he likes The Smiths, so we’ll do a deal with him’."

Great short by @mbarnfield.bsky.social on the distress suffered by MPs's staff!

New survey finds many MPs' staff are dealing with psychological distress in their work

YouTube video by Dr Matthew Barnfield

youtube.com

Seems to me "hold allies and opponents to the same standards" is a very simple and important rule to apply, but a lot of people in this argument (as in many args of this kind) look to me not to be applying it.

66 seems a young age for Rod Liddle to die. Talented comic writer, insightful about football.obvs took much pleasure in transgressing political correctness But just lied when caught being much more indefensibly racist+ sexist online in his Millwallmonkey persona www.theguardian.com/media/2026/a...

Sunday Times and Sun columnist Rod Liddle dies aged 66

Tributes paid across industry to provocative journalist who died after short illness

theguardian.com

This is already affecting US students studying in the UK.

The New Republic@newrepublic.com · 2d ago

President Trump is banning students majoring in degrees that don’t make enough money from taking out college loans. Degrees for social work, art, religious studies, teaching aides, and music will be hit the hardest. trib.al/aaAEu6v

It's nice to see P&P promoting my article as we approach the anniversary of the 1976 IMF Crisis, when unilateral protectionism was furiously debated within the bowels of the British state. It's open access and free to read via the link below.

Past and Present@pastpresentsoc.bsky.social · yesterday

On advance access "The Political Crisis of British Keynesianism, 1973–1983" by @colmpm.bsky.social (‪@qmpoliticsir.bsky.social‬) #OpenAccess doi.org/10.1093/past...

Does she realise Dunkirk wouldn't have even been possible if French forces had surrendered as opposed to fighting a rearguard action which allowed the BEF to assemble in Dunkirk and the evacuation flotilla to be formed?

Roland Smith@rolandmcs.bsky.social · yesterday

The war. It always comes back to the war. That happened long before they were born.

You are also, fundamentally, just *not* the Conservative Party any more. You're just a new party wearing its clothes. Yes, the tory party evolves over time but...evolution not revolution, and all that.

Chairman Moët@chairmanmoet.bsky.social · yesterday

you can't build a big enough coalition if Gavin Barwell is too radical for you but an ex-Neo Nazi who broke into a police station isn't

Rather puts Grant Shapps being rejected as a Conservative candidate into perspective.

Former neo-Nazi activist selected as Tory candidate for Somerset council election

Joshua Bonehill-Paine, creator of satirical Crewkerne Gazette, has convictions including for harassing a Jewish MP

theguardian.com

saying this not as a dig to Paul but as a general point, but it does worry me that we've ended up in a world where the two options are seemingly "leftist bubble" or "oh hey the nazis are here" - surely we should be able to have a politically heterogenous platform with tight rules on hate speech etc?

Paul Bernal@paulbernal.bsky.social · yesterday

The new CEO of Bluesky wants to change Bluesky from being a leftist bubble. The thing is, there’s nothing wrong with being a leftist bubble: the idea that everything has to be all-encompassing and suitable for everyone is a trap. 🧵 1/4

Ask them how HMS Ocean, sold in 2018 ended up as the cover model? Deeply researched?

Favourite quote: "When it comes to meeting world leaders, they’re not going to go, ‘Oh, he likes The Smiths, so we’ll do a deal with him’."

“He might be hopeless, but he seems genuine”: My focus groups on the early days of Andy Burnham - Lord Ashcroft Polls

My latest focus groups took place in Wallsend, Norwich and Lowestoft, where recently disgruntled 2024 Labour voters – and some opponents – told us what they made of Andy Burnham’s first days as prime ...

lordashcroftpolls.com

This may be my most elite post ever, but I used to own a private swimming pool and you wouldn't fill it from a hosepipe (it would take FOREVER). If you're building a new private swimming pool, you need a direct connection to mains water to fill (and refill) it.