Ben Whitham
@drbenwhitham.bsky.social
Senior Policy and Research Officer at Refugee Action | Research Associate at SOAS | Assistant Instructor at Tiger Crane Kung Fu, London | Trade unionist, martial artist, antifascist. Views my own.
https://www.soas.ac.uk/about/ben-whitham
https://www.soas.ac.uk/about/ben-whitham
Reposted by Ben Whitham
Labour secured a landslide majority where they could theoretically enact any policy they want, unopposed. They instead chose to try and appease the right-wing, including the paper this man is writing in. That has failed, so they're blaming an all-powerful left-wing that they systematically ejected.
And just so everyone's up-to-date on the transatlantic reactionary centrist ping-pong game, UK Labour are taking the Matt Yglesias 'Abundance' crowd's lamentations about 'the groups' and now claiming Starmer's Labour are failing because of a Deep State cabal run by NGOs and regulatory bodies.
January 2, 2026 at 2:05 PM
Labour secured a landslide majority where they could theoretically enact any policy they want, unopposed. They instead chose to try and appease the right-wing, including the paper this man is writing in. That has failed, so they're blaming an all-powerful left-wing that they systematically ejected.
Reposted by Ben Whitham
Again: Starmer is less popular than Truss and Johnson because he was supposed to not be this, he was the lifeline people desperately reached out for. But the job of the Labour right is to say, no, fuck you, whoever you vote for, it's just us again. Be grateful, peasants.
In today's episode of Everything Is America Now, here's Starmer's disgraced ex-director of political strategy blaming Labour's failures on a Brit version of the US Deep State, made up of NGOs, activists, lawyers & regulators.
If this sounds like far rightism à la Cummings, that's because it 100% is
If this sounds like far rightism à la Cummings, that's because it 100% is
January 2, 2026 at 2:07 PM
Again: Starmer is less popular than Truss and Johnson because he was supposed to not be this, he was the lifeline people desperately reached out for. But the job of the Labour right is to say, no, fuck you, whoever you vote for, it's just us again. Be grateful, peasants.
Reposted by Ben Whitham
“Mamdani walks in an older Jewish tradition. Not that of ritzy Upper East Side synagogues, but of so many of our great-grandparents: the socialist sweatshop workers who fought for a better and more beautiful world.”
They tried to smear him as an antisemite – but Mayor Zohran Mamdani walks in a rich Jewish tradition | Molly Crabapple
When I look at Mamdani, I don’t see some radical departure. I see him as an heir to the Yiddish socialism that helped build New York
www.theguardian.com
January 2, 2026 at 2:45 PM
“Mamdani walks in an older Jewish tradition. Not that of ritzy Upper East Side synagogues, but of so many of our great-grandparents: the socialist sweatshop workers who fought for a better and more beautiful world.”
This story doesn't even bother to mention the dozens of people killed in the Channel in 2025 by our government's shameful asylum policy - instead reproducing and tacitly accepting the Home Office framing where the "shame" is that 41,000 survived to get here.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...
‘Shameful’ 41,000 people reached UK by small boat last year, says Home Office
Second highest annual number of irregular arrivals on record reached British shores in 2025
www.theguardian.com
January 2, 2026 at 12:30 PM
This story doesn't even bother to mention the dozens of people killed in the Channel in 2025 by our government's shameful asylum policy - instead reproducing and tacitly accepting the Home Office framing where the "shame" is that 41,000 survived to get here.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...
It's not surprising that a man who resigned over his abusive "jokes" about Diane Abbott also thought a British political prisoner a "joke" and colonial reparations a "distraction". The problem is that this casual racist disregard for human rights was, and remains, at the heart of Starmer's project.
January 2, 2026 at 11:06 AM
It's not surprising that a man who resigned over his abusive "jokes" about Diane Abbott also thought a British political prisoner a "joke" and colonial reparations a "distraction". The problem is that this casual racist disregard for human rights was, and remains, at the heart of Starmer's project.
The "all" here presumably referring to the relentless and vicious, racist attacks on people seeking asylum, the support for genocide and authoritarianism, the snatching of welfare from people in need, the crackdowns on protest, rolling back of human rights and general hastening of fascism.
December 30, 2025 at 11:31 AM
The "all" here presumably referring to the relentless and vicious, racist attacks on people seeking asylum, the support for genocide and authoritarianism, the snatching of welfare from people in need, the crackdowns on protest, rolling back of human rights and general hastening of fascism.
Reposted by Ben Whitham
No-one with eyes & ears could’ve doubted there was a festering cesspit of racism bubbling just below the surface of UK society, the only surprise is quite how rapidly it’s engulfing us & with how little resistance from our supposed democratic institutions
Number of people who say Britons must be born in UK is rising, study shows
Exclusive: Research finds ‘worrying’ surge in support for hard-right narratives on national identity
www.theguardian.com
December 29, 2025 at 9:29 PM
No-one with eyes & ears could’ve doubted there was a festering cesspit of racism bubbling just below the surface of UK society, the only surprise is quite how rapidly it’s engulfing us & with how little resistance from our supposed democratic institutions
Reposted by Ben Whitham
No one should face winter alone. As the weather gets colder, people seeking safety are forced to navigate the asylum system without support. Our Winter Appeal will double your donation.
https://donate.refugee-action.org.uk/page/180644/donate/1?ea.tracking.id=CC2526_Social
https://donate.refugee-action.org.uk/page/180644/donate/1?ea.tracking.id=CC2526_Social
Donate to Refugee Action
Help Refugee Action build a compassionate UK that welcomes people seeking safety.
donate.refugee-action.org.uk
December 22, 2025 at 9:11 AM
No one should face winter alone. As the weather gets colder, people seeking safety are forced to navigate the asylum system without support. Our Winter Appeal will double your donation.
https://donate.refugee-action.org.uk/page/180644/donate/1?ea.tracking.id=CC2526_Social
https://donate.refugee-action.org.uk/page/180644/donate/1?ea.tracking.id=CC2526_Social
A snapshot of how the big parties are handing power to the far right. Reform benefiting from years of the Tories and now Labour relentlessly and wrongly talking about "illegal" migration with reference to channel crossing arrivals, 99% of whom seek asylum and are entitled to arrive however they can.
![Screenshot from BBC News story: "He says his electricity bills have gone from £300 a month to £900 in the past few years. And increases in the minimum wage and employer national insurance have resulted in him "taking a big hit". Longer term, current costs mean that he doesn't think his business is sustainable. Migration is also an area that the café owner thinks needs addressed. He insists he backs legal migration, pointing out his grandfather moved from Italy to Scotland, but says "I'd like to see [Reform] stopping illegal migration full stop". "Nigel Farage is the man to do it", he adds."](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:5q5aphkryddfhrwdtbnf6nlk/bafkreihsnke5gdzluy2rgtt2wd3gl2lw7yr3ztgwn4pgyjpa2h5tlhsage@jpeg)
December 18, 2025 at 1:55 PM
A snapshot of how the big parties are handing power to the far right. Reform benefiting from years of the Tories and now Labour relentlessly and wrongly talking about "illegal" migration with reference to channel crossing arrivals, 99% of whom seek asylum and are entitled to arrive however they can.
Reposted by Ben Whitham
We are at the stage of British politics where David Lammy and Keir Starmer are seemingly willing to let hunger strikers in prison die. The situation is extremely concerning. They have been in prison, without trial, for over a year.
www.instagram.com/p/DSVg7zFiOi...
www.instagram.com/p/DSVg7zFiOi...
December 17, 2025 at 10:05 PM
We are at the stage of British politics where David Lammy and Keir Starmer are seemingly willing to let hunger strikers in prison die. The situation is extremely concerning. They have been in prison, without trial, for over a year.
www.instagram.com/p/DSVg7zFiOi...
www.instagram.com/p/DSVg7zFiOi...
Reposted by Ben Whitham
I am desperately worried for 20 yr old Qesser Zuhrah who is dangerously ill at HMP Bronzefield. It remains very unclear how soon she will be transferred to hospital.
Qesser is on day 46 of hunger strike. It should not take this long to get the help she needs.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Qesser is on day 46 of hunger strike. It should not take this long to get the help she needs.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Palestine Action-linked hunger strikers ‘may die without Lammy’s intervention’
Justice secretary criticised for refusing to meet lawyers who say health of their jailed clients is ‘rapidly deteriorating’
www.theguardian.com
December 17, 2025 at 12:16 PM
I am desperately worried for 20 yr old Qesser Zuhrah who is dangerously ill at HMP Bronzefield. It remains very unclear how soon she will be transferred to hospital.
Qesser is on day 46 of hunger strike. It should not take this long to get the help she needs.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Qesser is on day 46 of hunger strike. It should not take this long to get the help she needs.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
"without immigration there will be no Europe, no civilisation & no one left to argue about it. Of course we’re talking about different things. The Trump administration appears to see “civilisation” as a white & western property, threatened by Black & Brown people" www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
The facts are stark: Europe must open the door to migrants, or face its own extinction | George Monbiot
These are the facts: plummeting birth rates mean that without attracting immigration, many countries are sliding towards collapse, says Guardian columnist George Monbiot
www.theguardian.com
December 12, 2025 at 9:11 AM
"without immigration there will be no Europe, no civilisation & no one left to argue about it. Of course we’re talking about different things. The Trump administration appears to see “civilisation” as a white & western property, threatened by Black & Brown people" www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
This framing is open to misinterpretation. Many key EU leaders are unfortunately just as keen as Starmer on attacking human rights and asylum. Their Pact on Migration and Asylum, in force next year, is a product of that aim, and Mahmood's proposals for the UK included many near-identical measures.
December 10, 2025 at 2:26 PM
This framing is open to misinterpretation. Many key EU leaders are unfortunately just as keen as Starmer on attacking human rights and asylum. Their Pact on Migration and Asylum, in force next year, is a product of that aim, and Mahmood's proposals for the UK included many near-identical measures.
This is how Europe's political leaders are choosing to mark Human Rights Day...
Reminder that the ECHR prevents people being expelled to face torture, inhuman treatment, slavery or death, and prevents splitting of families unless there's a strong enough public interest.
European leaders are evidently comfortable with at least some of those things, at least for foreigners.
European leaders are evidently comfortable with at least some of those things, at least for foreigners.
European leaders back ECHR plan to tackle illegal migration
Countries in treaty - including the UK - will negotiate a "political declaration" to make it easier to deport migrants.
www.bbc.com
December 10, 2025 at 2:09 PM
This is how Europe's political leaders are choosing to mark Human Rights Day...
I finally starting streaming Succession in October. For some reason I thought there were six seasons, so when I finished Season 4 last week and realised it was over, I was disappointed. Now I have to make do with real-life global media corporations acting out the plot. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Why has Paramount launched a hostile bid for Warner Bros Discovery?
What to know about Netflix and Paramount Skydance's blockbuster battle over Warner Bros Discovery.
www.bbc.co.uk
December 9, 2025 at 12:41 PM
I finally starting streaming Succession in October. For some reason I thought there were six seasons, so when I finished Season 4 last week and realised it was over, I was disappointed. Now I have to make do with real-life global media corporations acting out the plot. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Ben Whitham
According to IOM Libya, 478 people were intercepted and returned to Libya in the first week of December.
📣Let us remind you that people returned to Libya are not only prevented from seeking asylum, but also forced back to horrific conditions, including detention, forced labour & sexual violence.
📣Let us remind you that people returned to Libya are not only prevented from seeking asylum, but also forced back to horrific conditions, including detention, forced labour & sexual violence.
December 8, 2025 at 3:40 PM
According to IOM Libya, 478 people were intercepted and returned to Libya in the first week of December.
📣Let us remind you that people returned to Libya are not only prevented from seeking asylum, but also forced back to horrific conditions, including detention, forced labour & sexual violence.
📣Let us remind you that people returned to Libya are not only prevented from seeking asylum, but also forced back to horrific conditions, including detention, forced labour & sexual violence.
Reposted by Ben Whitham
The level of taxpayer-funded violence at the UK-France border revealed in this report is sickening.
We support @humansforrights.bsky.social calls for an independent public inquiry into the UK government’s role in the increase in violence and deaths at the border in recent years.
We support @humansforrights.bsky.social calls for an independent public inquiry into the UK government’s role in the increase in violence and deaths at the border in recent years.
🚨EMERGENCY AT THE UK-FRANCE BORDER 🚨 Today we are launching our new collaborative report reveals that people attempting to cross the UK-France border are subjected to horrifying levels of state violence. www.humansforrights.org/state-violence
"You can't stay and you can't go" - State Violence at the UK-France Border — Humans for Rights Network
www.humansforrights.org
December 8, 2025 at 12:27 PM
The level of taxpayer-funded violence at the UK-France border revealed in this report is sickening.
We support @humansforrights.bsky.social calls for an independent public inquiry into the UK government’s role in the increase in violence and deaths at the border in recent years.
We support @humansforrights.bsky.social calls for an independent public inquiry into the UK government’s role in the increase in violence and deaths at the border in recent years.
In response to a crisis of access to justice, the UK government wants to scrap juries. In response to a national mental health crisis it wants to scrap diagnoses. In response to a crisis of asylum rights, it wants to scrap the protection from "inhuman and degrading treatment". This is a pattern.
December 8, 2025 at 12:20 PM
In response to a crisis of access to justice, the UK government wants to scrap juries. In response to a national mental health crisis it wants to scrap diagnoses. In response to a crisis of asylum rights, it wants to scrap the protection from "inhuman and degrading treatment". This is a pattern.
Reposted by Ben Whitham
🚨EMERGENCY AT THE UK-FRANCE BORDER 🚨 Today we are launching our new collaborative report reveals that people attempting to cross the UK-France border are subjected to horrifying levels of state violence. www.humansforrights.org/state-violence
"You can't stay and you can't go" - State Violence at the UK-France Border — Humans for Rights Network
www.humansforrights.org
December 8, 2025 at 9:44 AM
🚨EMERGENCY AT THE UK-FRANCE BORDER 🚨 Today we are launching our new collaborative report reveals that people attempting to cross the UK-France border are subjected to horrifying levels of state violence. www.humansforrights.org/state-violence
Reposted by Ben Whitham
The proposals to limit Article 3 are absolutely terrifying. I struggle to think of something that has come out of any UK government which has concerned me more. This must be resisted absolutely.
December 8, 2025 at 6:44 AM
The proposals to limit Article 3 are absolutely terrifying. I struggle to think of something that has come out of any UK government which has concerned me more. This must be resisted absolutely.
Reposted by Ben Whitham
“Kill more. Kill everyone. Kill with our weapons”
The new competitive West’s embrace of “ceasefire” means heavy continuous murderous fire
The new competitive West’s embrace of “ceasefire” means heavy continuous murderous fire
"After removing restrictions on weapons exports.. Germanys signed the largest weapons export deal in Israels history"
The point of the 'ceasefire'. Not to stop genocide but to allow countries to more easily resist calls to put pressure on Israel & reverse actions already taken
The point of the 'ceasefire'. Not to stop genocide but to allow countries to more easily resist calls to put pressure on Israel & reverse actions already taken
December 8, 2025 at 8:18 AM
“Kill more. Kill everyone. Kill with our weapons”
The new competitive West’s embrace of “ceasefire” means heavy continuous murderous fire
The new competitive West’s embrace of “ceasefire” means heavy continuous murderous fire
Reposted by Ben Whitham
This is so disgusting.
December 6, 2025 at 6:45 PM
This is so disgusting.
Reposted by Ben Whitham
All in one day:
Immigration Minister lied about me with a slur.
Wes Streeting then tried a different attack.
And the Evening Standard write yet another attack piece because I dare to say we need to tax the rich.
Want to help create our better future?
Join.greenparty.org.uk
Immigration Minister lied about me with a slur.
Wes Streeting then tried a different attack.
And the Evening Standard write yet another attack piece because I dare to say we need to tax the rich.
Want to help create our better future?
Join.greenparty.org.uk
December 5, 2025 at 10:19 PM
All in one day:
Immigration Minister lied about me with a slur.
Wes Streeting then tried a different attack.
And the Evening Standard write yet another attack piece because I dare to say we need to tax the rich.
Want to help create our better future?
Join.greenparty.org.uk
Immigration Minister lied about me with a slur.
Wes Streeting then tried a different attack.
And the Evening Standard write yet another attack piece because I dare to say we need to tax the rich.
Want to help create our better future?
Join.greenparty.org.uk
Reposted by Ben Whitham
The diplomatic "achievement" of the ceasefire was to recalibrate the tempo of the genocide sufficiently to get it off the front pages and the news bulletins, thus alleviating the political pressure on Israel's western accomplices.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
Israel still committing genocide in Gaza, Amnesty International says
The NGO’s chief says last month’s ceasefire ‘risks creating a dangerous illusion that life in Gaza is returning to normal’
www.theguardian.com
November 27, 2025 at 7:46 PM
The diplomatic "achievement" of the ceasefire was to recalibrate the tempo of the genocide sufficiently to get it off the front pages and the news bulletins, thus alleviating the political pressure on Israel's western accomplices.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...