Behind the bewildering transformation of British universities, are management consultants being paid millions Really proud to have this vital piece on our unis are being gutted from the inside by @jheathershaw.bsky.social on Democracy for Sale. Do read democracyforsale.substack.com/p/inside-bri...

Inside Britain's university crisis

As teaching staff face job loss, their bosses have netted pay rises and bought advice from a “vampiric” management consultancy, writes Prof. John Heathershaw of the University of Exeter

democracyforsale.substack.com

CBI: “Net zero is one of the UK's most productive..sectors…generates around £105bn…& supports 1.1m full-time equivalent jobs…underpinned by more than 23,500 businesses…For every £1 of economic value created directly by net zero firms, a further £1.85 is generated…” www.cbi.org.uk/articles/net...

Net Gains: The UK's Net Zero Economy in 2025 | CBI

New analysis from CBI Economics and ECIU reveals a £105 billion sector generating high-wage jobs across every UK nation and region.

cbi.org.uk

Sunday Times Insight team (along with the Guardian) continue to crack open ReFUK’s dodgy money claims and finances - every Sunday now for several weeks. Murkier and more dodgy by the day.

🟡 From This Month’s Magazine: Trump is Not America, and America is More Than Trump Former British diplomat Alexandra Hall Hall found reassurance in the America she has always loved and recognised this Fourth of July – in the deep red of West Virginia Read the full story below.

Trump is Not America, and America is More Than Trump

Former British diplomat Alexandra Hall Hall found reassurance in the America she has always loved and recognised this Fourth of July – in the deep red of West Virginia The post Trump is Not America, and America is More Than Trump appeared first on Byline Times .

subscribe.bylinetimes.com

Spain is demonstrating how the #energytransition can be achieved whilst bringing down electricity prices. With the massive expansion of wind and solar energy, Spain is now one of the cheapest electricity markets in EU. Gas rarely determines the price there; #renewables supply 60% of the electricity

In case you have missed my 7-part Brexit series, here they are all in one place. northeastbylines.co.uk/news/brexit/...

Brexit, a seven-part analysis: part one

"Referendums should either be a regular part of political life or avoided entirely"

northeastbylines.co.uk

Culmination of my seven-part series on Brexit for the 10th anniversary of the disastrous referendum. Please circulate widely. @chrisgrey.bsky.social @ottocr.at @fascinatorfun.bsky.social @guitarmoog.bsky.social @nialloconghaile.bsky.social northeastbylines.co.uk/news/brexit/...

Brexit Part 7: The Way Forward is Joining the EU, but How?

There is increasing consensus that Brexit was a terrible mistake. The slogan "Make Brexit Work" is an oxymoron. Brexit cannot work. Joining the EU is the only way forward.

northeastbylines.co.uk

Another thing I enjoyed reading from the beach: slate.com/news-and-pol...

Democrats Have Been Stuck on the Same Question for 10 Years. This Year’s Biggest Primary Could Finally Give Them the Answer.

We've seen this movie before.

slate.com

France calls out the U.S. at a UN meeting: “The US used to be a beacon of human rights. Not anymore. Today, it stands alongside North Korea, Nicaragua, Mali and Russia. Isolated. And the world no longer listens to it.” U.S. representatives stormed out of the meeting. Well said France! 👏🏼🇫🇷👏🏼

Long overdue for The Spectator's Islamophobia to come under the microscope. Excellent piece from Peter Oborne here doing just that. It is now, he writes, just "an upmarket version of GB News" (same owner, of course)

Exposed: The Rabidly Islamophobic Magazine at the Heart of the British Establishment

For almost 200 years, 'The Spectator' stood for civilised, bravely heretical discourse. But a new report reveals how it now spews out anti-Muslim hatred week after week to its upmarket audience

open.substack.com

When an entire arena boos you for telling the truth, you quickly learn who has courage. Kris Kristofferson walking onto that stage and standing beside Sinéad as the insults rained down remains one of the most powerful acts of human decency I’ve ever seen. Three years resting in peace 🙌🏼🤍🙌🏼

There was some interesting speculation re this video. But Sam means the Sam Maguire Cup, the All-Ireland Gaelic Football Cup. Mayo triumphed against Kerry and are champions for the first time in 75 years. www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8U5...

"MAYO FOR SAM" | U.S. President Joe Biden

YouTube video by incognito

youtube.com

In case you missed it Chris Grey's ( @chrisgrey.bsky.social ) piece on Burnham was out yesterday. Well worth a read chrisgreybrexitblog.blogspot.com/2026/07/the-...

This is the equivalent of asking how a £1.5m turnover company is going to pay for £100 of drinks at the Xmas party.

The sixth in an interesting retrospective series of the last 16 years of U.K. politics. Thoughtful and well informed.

Sean Danaher@seand5.bsky.social · 2w ago

6/7 piece for the 10th anniversary of Brexit. Final part on the way forward next week. northeastbylines.co.uk/news/brexit/... Please retweet

The Cameron target [net migration] did not create the far right, but it did help entrench the idea that lower net migration was the obvious test of political seriousness. Once that was accepted, every failure became evidence of betrayal.

East Anglia Bylines@eastangliabylines.co.uk · 2w ago

Our immigration statistics have served to legimise racism. Reduced net migration was not what people wanted | Jonathan Portes

@sjwrenlewis.bsky.social This piece includes links to your analysis such as Media Macro, and might be of interest northeastbylines.co.uk/news/brexit/...

The Starmer years and the state of the nation: Brexit Part six

A look at the Starmer years comparing the inherited legacy in 2024 with that of 2010 -and moving on

northeastbylines.co.uk

6/7 piece for the 10th anniversary of Brexit. Final part on the way forward next week. northeastbylines.co.uk/news/brexit/... Please retweet

The Starmer years and the state of the nation: Brexit Part six

A look at the Starmer years comparing the inherited legacy in 2024 with that of 2010 -and moving on

northeastbylines.co.uk

bmti #VoteBinface

Can you help an MSc student with her research around public awareness of wildlife conservation in the UK? If you live in the UK, are over 18, and have 10 minutes for science, please take her survey here: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F... #Science🧪 #Wildlife #Nature

Misinformation is rife on social media and plays a key role in fuelling racist abuse, violence and even riots But the way we regulate it is - bluntly - rubbish In the second part of my look at social media regulation, I focus on our flawed approach to misinformation and how we might improve it:

How do you solve a problem like social media? Part II - misinformation

Misinformation and disinformation are among the worst online scourges, with huge real-world impacts. Why are our regulations so weak? And are there risks in making them stronger?

chamindajayanetti.substack.com

Overall, what we're getting from Roland, and which is sadly missing from too many UK-based commentators, is the IQ to be intellectually flexible about what can be done, and the EQ to understand what Europe is feeling on matters and how that is central Do read 12 rolandmcs.substack.com/p/on-rejoin

On Rejoin

How should the UK approach rejoining the EU?

rolandmcs.substack.com

One day, somebody in government will notice what the net migration level is hesding to. The fiscal forecast (£24 billion) was based on average net 235k to 2026-29 but that is at least 100k too high, costing £13 billion, or double that if want to reduce immigration visas further.

Adam Bienkov@adambienkov.bsky.social · 3w ago

The Times reporting that Andy Burnham succeeded in persuading Shabana Mahmood to become Chancellor because it would give her more control over cutting immigration

Thomas Paine’s 'Rights of Man' sold more copies in Ireland than any other country, helping to shape political debate in the years leading up to the 1798 Rebellion. In the latest issue of History Ireland, Fergus Whelan examines his enduring influence in Ireland. historyireland.com/thomas-paine...

THOMAS PAINE, IRELAND AND THE IRISH GHOST - History Ireland

By Fergus Whelan Thomas Paine was born in Thetford, England, in 1737. He had worked as a staymaker and a customs officer before emigrating to the North American colonies in 1774, where he quickly foun...

historyireland.com

We are in the danger zone with Putin. The Ukraine war has been a disaster and the casualties mounting. But in this age of monsters, men like Putin become more dangerous as their power is threatened. My latest. youtu.be/DqPvosXM5bE?...

PUTIN & THE APARTMENT BOMBS - MORE DANGEROUS THAN EVER

YouTube video by Charlie Angus

youtu.be

Well worth reading the whole series.

Sean Danaher@seand5.bsky.social · 3w ago

Part 5 is now out northeastbylines.co.uk/news/brexit/...

Part 5 of my 7-part Brexit series is out. Parts 1-4 were updates of a previous series. Part 5 is almost entirely new. Please circulate @chrisgrey.bsky.social @fascinatorfun.bsky.social @ottocr.at @guitarmoog.bsky.social northeastbylines.co.uk/news/brexit/...

From Brexit to Starmer: Brexit Part five

This piece will examine the period from the UK’s exit from the EU to the election of the Labour Government in 2024

northeastbylines.co.uk

Such a good thread. Encapsulates our current political economy as well as anything you'll ever read.

By Cory Doctorow (GPG 0xBF3D9110957E5F4C)@doctorow.pluralistic.net · 3w ago

Market theory goes like this: even the best of us can fall prey to selfishness and rationalization, so let's arrange society so people acting on their most selfish impulses end up producing benefit for all of us. That'll be easier and more reliable than convincing everyone to be more generous. 1/

A thoughtful and well-informed analysis of the various stages of Brexit, with links to reliable sources on specific issues. Valuable.

Sean Danaher@seand5.bsky.social · 4w ago

In case you missed them. The first four of my revised series on Brexit, now in seven parts, are available on NE Bylines.