Tim Bale
LightNews LightNews
banner
timbale.bsky.social
Tim Bale
@timbale.bsky.social
29K followers 1.1K following 3.9K posts

Professor of Politics at Queen Mary University of London & author of The Conservative Party after Brexit: Turmoil and Transformation (now out in paperback). The bits and pieces I do for websites and newspapers turn up eventually at https://proftimbale.com .. more

Videos

Timothy Paul Bale is an English political scientist who is professor of politics at Queen Mary, University of London.

Source: Wikipedia
Political science 83%
Sociology 6%
Posts Replies Media Videos

timbale.bsky.social
Tim Bale @timbale.bsky.social · 2h
Any 'analysis' of the Conservative Party headed up with a picture of Ken Clarke as a 'wet' is almost certainly going to end up being a total load of bollocks. Having read it, this is no exception.

timbale.bsky.social
Tim Bale @timbale.bsky.social · 3h
I know anything he says and does is infra dig as far as many are concerned, but I thought this was very good, actually.
I’m sleepless, angry and anxious over this - and I know I'm not alone
Editor-at-large Alastair Campbell on the reaction to the Mandelson affair, the calls for Starmer to go, and what happens to this government - and the United Kingdom - next
www.thenewworld.co.uk

timbale.bsky.social
Tim Bale @timbale.bsky.social · 3h
I suppose they might try blaming the printer. But surely no party would try that, would they?

timbale.bsky.social
Tim Bale @timbale.bsky.social · 3h
Who's going to be left by lunchtime?
Starmer's communication chief quits No 10 in wake of Mandelson scandal
It comes as Starmer fights for his political future after the resignation of Morgan McSweeney over the Peter Mandelson scandal
inews.co.uk

Reposted by Andrew Scott

timbale.bsky.social
Tim Bale @timbale.bsky.social · 7h
'and the dancing is disgusting', says the former owner of the Miss Universe Organization.
Trump's Truth Social Post re Bad Bunny

Reposted by Tim Bale

davidallengreen.bsky.social
dag @davidallengreen.bsky.social · 7h
In England, our half-time entertainment consists of a 1990s footballer earnestly explaining the offside rule, and a detailed preview of tomorrow’s match involving a Manchester team.

timbale.bsky.social
Tim Bale @timbale.bsky.social · 8h
A brief bit of heart-warming, should you need it.
The kindness of strangers: my teenage son was on a date at a fancy restaurant when a fellow diner helped pay the bill
She made a special night even more special for these two young people – and gave me something special too
www.theguardian.com

Reposted by Tim Bale, Christopher Smith, Lesley A. Hall

jimdickinson.bsky.social
Jim Dickinson @jimdickinson.bsky.social · 9h
NEW on Wonkhe: Jim Dickinson explores the growing evidence that AI isn't just changing what students produce – it's changing what their brains are ready to do, and asks whether HE can redesign itself around a question it has been avoiding for decades buff.ly/uHtisNU

Reposted by Tim Bale, Daniel Angus, Anthony Burke

thierryaaron.bsky.social
Dr. Aaron Thierry @thierryaaron.bsky.social · 11h
R.I.P Jon Kudelka @kudelka.bsky.social

“If I did a sequel it would probably involve a scientist swearing a great deal”

allouryesterdays.info/2025/04/28/i... @allouryesterdays.bsky.social

Reposted by Tim Bale

dylandifford.bsky.social
Dylan Difford @dylandifford.bsky.social · 17h
As I say, I'm not saying 2024 was a fluke or that McSweeney's pre-election strategy didn't *mostly* work, but I think if you feel he's got some special sauce that nobody else could have, that's some combo of a lack of psephological curiosity on your part or a damning indictment on Labour.

Reposted by Tim Bale

apiln.bsky.social
Angry People in Local Newspapers @apiln.bsky.social · 17h
That’s EVERY Friday.
Newspaper ad board: EVERY FRIDAY GUN FOUND IN MAN’S BUM.

Reposted by Will Jennings, Tim Bale, Pauline Stafford

paulbrand.bsky.social
Paul Brand @paulbrand.bsky.social · 22h
Not *all* Labour MPs wanted McSweeney out.

“Gutted about Morgan”, one texts.

“So many of us know he’s brilliant to work with, so exceptional at the bigger picture strategic thinking, relentlessly focused on the moving pieces… and credit him with winning the majority”.

Reposted by Steve Peers, Tim Bale, Simon Lester

middleeasteye-rss.bsky.social
Middle East Eye (Unofficial) @middleeasteye-rss.bsky.social · 22h
Noam Chomsky's wife says he was 'ensnared' and 'manipulated' by Epstein - https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/noam-chomskys-wife-says-he-was-ensnared-and-manipulated-epstein
Noam Chomsky's wife says he was 'ensnared' and 'manipulated' by Epstein
The veteran left-wing intellectual met and corresponded extensively with Epstein, newly released files reveal
www.middleeasteye.net

Reposted by Tim Bale

dylandifford.bsky.social
Dylan Difford @dylandifford.bsky.social · 23h
British politics has lost a giant, a visionary.

Who else could have conceived a strategy of "Labour's route to power goes through middle England marginals and involves appearing economically credible"?

Who even believed it possible for a govt to alienate two thirds of its voters within 18 months?

timbale.bsky.social
Tim Bale @timbale.bsky.social · 1d
Breaking: Starmer loses lightning conductor.
Morgan McSweeney quits as PM's chief of staff following Mandelson scandal
McSweeney says he takes
www.bbc.co.uk

Reposted by Jonathan Portes, Scott L. Greer, Steve Peers , and 2 more

sundersays.bsky.social
Sunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · 1d
The Home Office now describes asylum seekers as "illegal immigrants [living in hotels]" with no reference to the reason that these people are in government-funded accommodation is that this government has taken & will process the asylum claim from them in 98-99% of cases of unauthorised entry.

timbale.bsky.social
Tim Bale @timbale.bsky.social · 1d
This, from the @smfthinktank.bsky.social's @jtmigratory.bsky.social, is excellent - really useful for anyone studying or just wanting to get a sense of where we've been and where we might be going on this issue.
jtmigratory.bsky.social Jonathan Thomas @jtmigratory.bsky.social · 11d
Brexit and Immigration: the Arc of the Pendulum

My report out today for @consoc.bsky.social trying to make sense of the last 25 years of the UK's immigration politics and policy. And where next?

consoc.org.uk/wp-content/u...
consoc.org.uk

Reposted by Tim Bale

robertsaunders.bsky.social
Robert Saunders @robertsaunders.bsky.social · 1d
On 25 April, my choir will be singing the complete choral works of Thomas Tallis in one day - culminating in his stunning 40-part motet "Spem in Alium".

Do come and listen if you're in Oxford, or watch the livestream. And we'd be hugely grateful for any donations!
www.justgiving.com/campaign/tal...
Poster of Thomas Tallis as a rabbit in an unlikely outfit, with a watch that seems to have gone through the washing machine.

Reposted by Tim Bale

benworthy.bsky.social
Ben Worthy @benworthy.bsky.social · 1d
It's very important- amid this v serious scandal- that @iandunt.bsky.social reminds of the otherhuge scandal still staring us in the face from the covid inquiry
timbale.bsky.social Tim Bale @timbale.bsky.social · 2d
This—by @iandunt.bsky.social—is the best thing I’ve read on the implications of this week’s shitshow for UK government, diplomacy and democracy
Starmer's moment of reckoning
Where is the competent boring government we were promised?
iandunt.substack.com

Reposted by Tim Bale, Philip Cowley

devolvedelections.bsky.social
Devolved Election Projections @devolvedelections.bsky.social · 1d
Try it for yourself!

devolvedelections.co.uk/scotland-pro...

www.thenational.scot/news/2583446...
Devolved Elections - Devolved Parliament Projection Tool
Create and share your own Devolved Parliament election projections. Interactive, educational, and up-to-date!
devolvedelections.co.uk

Reposted by Tim Bale

pickardje.bsky.social
Jim Pickard @pickardje.bsky.social · 1d
this year’s Wildlife Photographer exhibition is astounding, if you haven’t had a chance to see it yet

Reposted by Diane Coyle, Will Jennings, Steve Peers , and 1 more

robfordmancs.bsky.social
Rob Ford @robfordmancs.bsky.social · 1d
Reform UK are seeking to fob off blame for their illegal leaflet on a printer error. That won’t stand up with the police - responsibility for making sure the law is followed lies with the party commissioning and distributing the leaflets.

Reposted by Tim Bale, Martin O’Neill, Stuart White

profafinlayson.bsky.social
ProfAFinlayson @profafinlayson.bsky.social · 1d
I think a lot of politicians & commentators see all this very differently from most of the country. They see it as part of an ongoing story about decision-making, personalities, probity, money etc. For everyone else it’s part of a long series of events: Saville, Huw Edwards, Rotherham & more (1/)

Reposted by Tim Bale

robertsaunders.bsky.social
Robert Saunders @robertsaunders.bsky.social · 2d
"An iron curtain has descended across the Continent".

On 5 March we'll mark 80 years of Churchill's "Sinews of Peace" speech at Fulton Missouri.

Join the brilliant @patporter76.bsky.social & @sophgaston.bsky.social to explore its history & the lessons for today
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/beyond-the...
Beyond the Iron Curtain: Churchill's Fulton Speech, 80 Years On
Join the Mile End Institute for Prof Patrick Porter's lecture marking 80 years since Churchill's "Iron Curtain" speech in Fulton, Missouri!
www.eventbrite.co.uk

Reposted by Will Jennings, Patrick Dunleavy, Steve Peers , and 10 more

owenwntr.bsky.social
Owen Winter @owenwntr.bsky.social · 2d
The untold story that is told constantly and isn’t really true

Reposted by Tim Bale, Rupert Read, Lesley A. Hall

peterwalker99.bsky.social
Peter Walker @peterwalker99.bsky.social · 2d
NEW: Reform UK’s flagship council, Kent, has been accused of telling a “blatant lie” after its claim of nearly £40m in savings on net zero were found to be based on hypothetical projects for which there was no documentation.

www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Reform-run Kent council accused of fabricating £40m net zero savings
Disclosures show figures cited by authority’s leader rested on unfunded ideas listed briefly in budget papers
www.theguardian.com

Reposted by Ben Worthy

timbale.bsky.social
Tim Bale @timbale.bsky.social · 2d
This—by @iandunt.bsky.social—is the best thing I’ve read on the implications of this week’s shitshow for UK government, diplomacy and democracy
Starmer's moment of reckoning
Where is the competent boring government we were promised?
iandunt.substack.com

timbale.bsky.social
Tim Bale @timbale.bsky.social · 2d
"It’s the pussy-grabbers’ world – we just live in it. The only difference is you can now see it laid out in black and white." #IfYouReadOneThingToday
So the Epstein scandal is about politics? Silly me for thinking it’s about the mass abuse of women and girls | Marina Hyde
Obsessing over individual players and political chaos leaves less time to focus on the misogyny. And that’s for the best, isn’t it guys, says Guardian columnist Marina Hyde
www.theguardian.com

Reposted by Tim Bale

creamywillbrie.bsky.social
Will Of The People @creamywillbrie.bsky.social · 2d
Democracy sausage - Wikipedia share.google/V1YBmZIaQ7gI...
Democracy sausage - Wikipedia
share.google

Reposted by Tim Bale

ajaanmark.bsky.social
Dr Mark | 北马克 |🍉🇦🇺🇲🇾🇹🇭 @ajaanmark.bsky.social · 2d
I hope everyone in the UK is aware of Democracy Sausage itself, the cherished and delicious symbol of our Australian democracy!

Democracy sausage - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democra...
en.wikipedia.org