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James Connelly

James Connelly

@jamescon.bsky.social

1.1K followers 2K following 150 posts

Emeritus Prof, Hull. Writing Collingwood bio / Philosophical Idealism, Environmental politics & ethics, Elections/electoral systems / Minsters Rail Campaign /J.Connelly@hull.ac.uk / https://hull.academia.edu/JamesConnelly .. more

Political science 33%

History 20%

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Posts Replies Media Videos

James Connelly @jamescon.bsky.social · 7h

Rees Mogg on Newsnight. He takes repellant oleaginousness to new depths of revoltingness.

Reposted by Jonathan Portes, James Connelly

Kenan Malik @kenanmalik.bsky.social · 1d

“The debate about crime… has become a lightning rod that, like the immigration debate, captures a wider set of anxieties about a wider set of failures of policymaking and statecraft.” My ‪@theobserveruk.bsky.social column: observer.co.uk/news/columni...

Violent crime is at a low, yet people’s experiences tell a different story | The Observer

Reposted by James Connelly

Dylan Difford @dylandifford.bsky.social · 1d

When we looked at attitudes to rail nationalisation, ticket prices and infrastructure investment were the two things the public most expected to improve.

Given that fare reform would also be costly (so won't happen), increasingly looking like nationalisation will be a failure in eyes of the public.

Reposted by James Connelly

Dr Andrew Boswell #ClimateLitigation @drandrewboswell.bsky.social · 1d

Agree

“Nothing I have seen or heard gives me comfort that Rachel Reeves understands the importance of nature to economic and social wellbeing, nothing,”

www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Developers met ministers dozens of times over planning bill while ecologists were shut out

Exclusive: Leading ecologists say warnings over threat to wildlife have been ignored in drive to build 1.5m new homes

www.theguardian.com

Reposted by James Connelly

Dr Charlie Gardner @charliejgardner.bsky.social · 1d

Burning trees is not a climate solution

Drax still burning 250-year-old trees sourced from forests in Canada, experts say

Exclusive: report by Stand.earth says subsidiary of power plant received truckloads of whole logs at biomass pellet sites

www.theguardian.com

Reposted by Benjamin Braun, James Connelly

Jonathan Hopkin @jonathanhopkin.bsky.social · 1d

We can’t afford to do what every other country did years ago for our railways, but people need to drive their kids to school in a tank

Brynley Heaven @brynleyheaven.bsky.social · 2d

Govt scraps all electrification investment. Midland Main Line to stay forever diesel Leicester Nottingham Derby Sheffield. Hugely embarrassing and inexplicable
www.ft.com/content/5ecd...

UK transport secretary says full electrification of railways ‘not affordable right now’

Heidi Alexander says focus will be on other projects such as HS2

James Connelly @jamescon.bsky.social · 2d

You are too kind: but woefully wrong about the importance of voting systems and British Idealism. But you're young enough to learn and I'm (apparently) now old enough to be an eminence grise!

Reposted by Sara B. Hobolt, Nazita Lajevardi, James Connelly , and 2 more Sara B. Hobolt, Nazita Lajevardi, James Connelly, Tarik Abou‐Chadi, Roman Senninger

Kristina Bakkær Simonsen @kristinabsimonsen.bsky.social · 2d

Time to reshare this piece on the pitfalls of following the road Denmark has taken on immigration: ukandeu.ac.uk/denmarks-mig...

Reposted by Margot C. Finn, James Connelly, Catriona Seth

Emma Cayley 谷曦 @emmacayley.bsky.social · 2d

We all know the difficulty the HE sector is in. But let’s work together to come up with solutions. The nuclear option damages our students & the reputation of our institutions. @ucflangs.bsky.social & @artsandhums.bsky.social
are supporting colleagues www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

University of Nottingham students fight 'insane' cull of courses

Traitors composer Sam Watts is among those against plans to cut University of Nottingham courses.

Reposted by Joni Lovenduski, Ben Worthy, James Connelly

Rosie Campbell @profrosiecamp.bsky.social · 2d

@jonilo.bsky.social @politicalquarterly.bsky.social what would it take for a women to become President of the United States? A series of unlikely events. doi.org/10.1111/1467...

What Will it Take for a Woman to Become President of the United States?

In this article we consider what it will take for a woman to be elected President of the United States. We examine the available data from the 2024 election, in comparison to previous elections; we i....

Reposted by James Connelly

George Monbiot @georgemonbiot.bsky.social · 2d

This week's column is on Billionaire Brain: the condition which seems to prevent extremely rich people from perceiving the utterly bleeding obvious.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

I wish we could ignore Bill Gates on the climate crisis. But he’s a billionaire, so we can’t | George Monbiot

Money talks – and his essay denouncing ‘near-term emissions goals’ at Cop30 mostly argues the case for letting the ultra-rich off the hook

www.theguardian.com

Reposted by James Connelly

Climate Tracker @climate.skyfleet.blue · 2d

Jailed UK climate protesters facing conditions reserved for extremists on release #Climate

Jailed UK climate protesters facing conditions reserved for extremists on release

Exclusive: Just Stop Oil activist was banned from attending gatherings, including meeting a friend in a cafe, without permission

www.theguardian.com

Reposted by Diane Coyle, Stacy D. VanDeveer, James Connelly

Steve Chambers @planningtransport.co.uk · 2d

This isn't just poverty of aspiration, it is incompetence. www.ft.com/content/5ecd...

UK transport secretary says full electrification of railways ‘not affordable right now’

Heidi Alexander says focus will be on other projects such as HS2

Reposted by James Connelly

Eoghan Daltun 🌍 @irishrainforest.bsky.social · 2d

Wonderfully wet and wild.

Make up all the bug hotels and bird boxes you want, but without way more healthy wild natural habitats like this, nature will continue to crash.

Rewilding is how we make that happen.

Reposted by James Connelly

Rebekah Higgitt @rhiggitt.bsky.social · 2d

Look out for this later #histSTM
(And on Franklin, about whom lots of myths are circulating today, read this: www.nature.com/articles/d41...)

Reposted by James Connelly

Rail Focus - Chris 🏳️‍🌈 @railfocus.bsky.social · 3d

Manchester Piccadilly set for once-in-a-generation upgrade
www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/news/manches...

Manchester Piccadilly set for once-in-a-generation upgrade

Passengers using the North West’s busiest railway station are being given advance notice of once-in-a-generation track and signalling upgrades taking place in February next year.

www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk

Reposted by James Connelly

Liberal Democrats @libdems.org.uk · 3d

Nigel Farage used to believe in reforming the voting system, now he's rowed back because it no longer benefits him.

We will keep fighting for a fair votes, not because it benefits us but because it's right for the country.

Reposted by James Connelly

Damian Carrington @dpcarrington.bsky.social · 3d

‘Politicians actually taking action’: six world mayors defying climate-sceptic populist leaders

- From Sierra Leone to Milan, cities are introducing their own rules and innovations in the face of rising temperatures

#C40 #COP30 #climatecrisis
www.theguardian.com/global-devel...

‘Politicians actually taking action’: six world mayors defying climate-sceptic populist leaders

From Sierra Leone to Milan, cities are crafting their own rules and innovations in the face of rising temperatures

www.theguardian.com

Reposted by Juan Cole, Dominik Wiedenhofer, John Hogan , and 3 more Juan Cole, Dominik Wiedenhofer, John Hogan, Dana R. Fisher, David Murakami Wood, James Connelly

Nina Lakhani @ninalakhani.bsky.social · 3d

Exclusive by me: How thousands fossil fuel lobbyists got access to UN climate talks – and then oil and gas companies kept drilling
www.theguardian.com/environment/...

How thousands of fossil fuel lobbyists got access to UN climate talks – and then kept drilling

Exclusive: Research shows oil, gas and coal firms’ unprecedented access to Cop26-29, blocking urgent climate action

www.theguardian.com

Reposted by James Connelly

Tom Scott @tom--scott.bsky.social · 3d

I'm in the Falmouth Packet responding (for Cornwall Greens) to the grimly racist remarks of Tory councillor Pauline Giles & her subsequent "sorry, not sorry" & resignation from the Tory Party.

She needs to resign from #Cornwall Council altogether.
www.falmouthpacket.co.uk/news/2560354...

Councillor apologises for ‘racist’ post and resigns from the Tory party

The former chair of Cornwall Council has resigned from the Conservative party after she was condemned by two of the Duchy’s MPs over a Facebook…

www.falmouthpacket.co.uk

James Connelly @jamescon.bsky.social · 5d

Why does it always come back to Mr Burns? www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3Lb...

Reposted by James Connelly

George Takei @georgetakei.bsky.social · 5d

Oh, Trump was on the ballot alright.

A tweet from MeidasTouch (@MeidasTouch) says:
“JUST IN: Trump’s first post since the election results dropped might be his most pathetic ever.”
It includes a screenshot of a post from Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) that reads:
“‘TRUMP WASN’T ON THE BALLOT, AND SHUTDOWN, WERE THE TWO REASONS THAT REPUBLICANS LOST ELECTIONS TONIGHT,’ according to Pollsters.”

Reposted by James Connelly

UK 🇬🇧 🤝 🇺🇦 □ @ukbastard.bsky.social · 5d

Shock as Orbán allies take ownership of Hungary’s most-read newspaper
Blikk, a tabloid with about 3 million online monthly readers, bought by pro-Orbán media group Indamedia

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...

Shock as Orbán allies take ownership of Hungary’s most-read newspaper

Blikk, a tabloid with about 3 million online monthly readers, bought by pro-Orbán media group Indamedia

www.theguardian.com

Reposted by James Connelly, Michael Larkin

Daniel Trilling @trillingual.bsky.social · 7d

Piece on how the British right has managed to convince a significant minority that it would be in their interests to get rid of the European Convention on Human Rights. My suggestion: rather than capitulate, make human rights part of a wider politics of equality.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

How the European convention on human rights became a battleground between the centre and the right | Daniel Trilling

For 20 years, populists have been blaming the ECHR for endangering Britain by offering basic protections to immigrants, says author Daniel Trilling

www.theguardian.com

Jacob Öberg @profjacob.bsky.social · 7d

🚨🚨Things are just getting worse. 🧵
www.politico.eu/article/us-a...

US accused of threatening EU diplomats during bid to kill green shipping rules

Negotiators at shipping talks in London were told both they and their countries could be punished unless they voted with the U.S.

www.politico.eu

Reposted by James Connelly

Naomi Smith @pimlicat.bsky.social · 7d

Polling from @amnestyuk.bsky.social shows we want to stay in the ECHR.

The public have seen the harm leaving European institutions has done to Britain and they recognise calls to leave the ECHR are just asking for even more damage to all our rights
nation.cymru/news/more-su...

More support for staying in ECHR than leaving, poll suggests

Nearly half of the UK public support staying in the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), almost twice the proportion who say the country should leave the treaty, new polling has suggested. A su...

Reposted by James Connelly

WATERSHED Investigations @watershed-i.bsky.social · 7d

Water companies ordered to clean up hundreds of water sources across England found to contain toxic PFAS forever chemicals, with levels rising at some sites, reports Watershed's @rachelsalvidge.bsky.social:

www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Drinking Water Inspectorate ordered action over ‘forever chemicals’ risk

Analysis finds regulator for England and Wales raised issues with untreated water at facilities serving millions

www.theguardian.com

Reposted by Steve Peers, James Connelly

Natalie Sedacca @nataliesedacca.bsky.social · 7d

Sheffield Hallam University complied with Beijing demand to halt research about human rights abuses in China, leading to a major project on supply chains and forced labour being dropped. It was reinstated after threat of legal action but chilling effect remains www.theguardian.com/education/20...

UK university halted human rights research after pressure from China

Exclusive: Leading professor at Sheffield Hallam was told to cease research on supply chains and forced labour in China after demands from authorities

www.theguardian.com

Reposted by James Connelly

WATERSHED Investigations @watershed-i.bsky.social · 8d

In spite of the critical role they play in supporting insects, amphibians, birds, fish, reptiles + mammals, small water bodies are mostly excluded from the Water Framework Directive. As a result we have very little data about their health, or pollution in these tiny waterways + wetlands.

3/4

Winter pool within a marsh, bare trees

Reposted by James Connelly

WATERSHED Investigations @watershed-i.bsky.social · 8d

These tiny capillaries make up 80% of the total freshwater network. Protecting them is vital to preserve wildlife, + restoring them takes much less time than with larger water bodies - generating benefits for nature much faster.
2/4

Damp wildflower meadow with wildlife pond, rushes, hedgerows and trees in distance.