Tim Bale
banner
timbale.bsky.social
Tim Bale
@timbale.bsky.social

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

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%

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.

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

I suppose they might try blaming the printer. But surely no party would try that, would they?

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

'and the dancing is disgusting', says the former owner of the Miss Universe Organization.

Reposted by Tim Bale

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.

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
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
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

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

That’s EVERY Friday.
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 Tim Bale

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?

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
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.

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.
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

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...

Reposted by Tim Bale

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
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

this year’s Wildlife Photographer exhibition is astounding, if you haven’t had a chance to see it yet
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.
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

"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
The untold story that is told constantly and isn’t really true
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

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

"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

Democracy sausage - Wikipedia share.google/V1YBmZIaQ7gI...
Democracy sausage - Wikipedia
share.google

Reposted by Tim Bale

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