Gerhard Schnyder
@gerhardschnyder.bsky.social
Citizen of nowhere - now here in the UK. Academic but without a field (I‘m not a donkey) or a tribe (I‘m not a caveman). Also metal head! 💀🤘🏻
Really good by @newsagents.bsky.social about the coup at the BBC. The cui bono? question is key here: Billionaire-owned right wing competitors trying to sink our public broadcaster. Crucial time for the BBC. Let’s hope HMG makes the right move next. Oh wait! 😒
www.globalplayer.com/podcasts/epi...
www.globalplayer.com/podcasts/epi...
The News Agents - Podcast Episode | Global Player
Inside the BBC: What really went on
www.globalplayer.com
November 11, 2025 at 7:29 AM
Really good by @newsagents.bsky.social about the coup at the BBC. The cui bono? question is key here: Billionaire-owned right wing competitors trying to sink our public broadcaster. Crucial time for the BBC. Let’s hope HMG makes the right move next. Oh wait! 😒
www.globalplayer.com/podcasts/epi...
www.globalplayer.com/podcasts/epi...
Reposted by Gerhard Schnyder
What you’re witnessing is a populist assault on the BBC.
This is not an institutional scandal in any meaningful sense of the word. It is an attack on public service broadcasting.
iandunt.substack.com/p/extra-edit...
This is not an institutional scandal in any meaningful sense of the word. It is an attack on public service broadcasting.
iandunt.substack.com/p/extra-edit...
November 10, 2025 at 10:52 AM
What you’re witnessing is a populist assault on the BBC.
This is not an institutional scandal in any meaningful sense of the word. It is an attack on public service broadcasting.
iandunt.substack.com/p/extra-edit...
This is not an institutional scandal in any meaningful sense of the word. It is an attack on public service broadcasting.
iandunt.substack.com/p/extra-edit...
Reposted by Gerhard Schnyder
Yep. And to think that so many people think this man is some sort of hero is such a sign of our twisted times.
November 8, 2025 at 12:24 PM
Yep. And to think that so many people think this man is some sort of hero is such a sign of our twisted times.
Oh dear Lord! 🫣😱😳🤯🤷🏼♂️
November 7, 2025 at 9:53 AM
Oh dear Lord! 🫣😱😳🤯🤷🏼♂️
I’m intrigued by reporting on the Caerphilly by-election. I mean bookies had Reform to win. They didn’t. Focus in the media (even the good ones) is on Labour losing. We expected that. Reform non-win is the bigger story here? Compare with reporting on Dutch right-wingers coming second. 🤔
October 30, 2025 at 11:57 AM
I’m intrigued by reporting on the Caerphilly by-election. I mean bookies had Reform to win. They didn’t. Focus in the media (even the good ones) is on Labour losing. We expected that. Reform non-win is the bigger story here? Compare with reporting on Dutch right-wingers coming second. 🤔
Superb reporting by @peterjukes.bsky.social in @bylinetimes.bsky.social on Farage, Putin & Nathan Gill.
The sort of reporting you’d want the BBC to do and should really be career-ending for Farage if @teamlabouruk.bsky.social or the Tories knew what they were doing!
bylinetimes.com/2025/10/04/t...
The sort of reporting you’d want the BBC to do and should really be career-ending for Farage if @teamlabouruk.bsky.social or the Tories knew what they were doing!
bylinetimes.com/2025/10/04/t...
Bot Verification
bylinetimes.com
October 25, 2025 at 1:10 PM
Superb reporting by @peterjukes.bsky.social in @bylinetimes.bsky.social on Farage, Putin & Nathan Gill.
The sort of reporting you’d want the BBC to do and should really be career-ending for Farage if @teamlabouruk.bsky.social or the Tories knew what they were doing!
bylinetimes.com/2025/10/04/t...
The sort of reporting you’d want the BBC to do and should really be career-ending for Farage if @teamlabouruk.bsky.social or the Tories knew what they were doing!
bylinetimes.com/2025/10/04/t...
October 25, 2025 at 1:06 PM
Are mainstream economists losing influence over policy making? "The ‘Appallingly Bad’ Dismal Science: Of the Increasing Irrelevance of (the Wrong Kind of) Economics"
www.gerhardschnyder.com/blog/2025/8/31/the-appallingly-bad-dismal-science-of-the-increasing-irrelevance-of-the-wrong-kind-of-economics
www.gerhardschnyder.com/blog/2025/8/31/the-appallingly-bad-dismal-science-of-the-increasing-irrelevance-of-the-wrong-kind-of-economics
August 31, 2025 at 9:43 AM
Are mainstream economists losing influence over policy making? "The ‘Appallingly Bad’ Dismal Science: Of the Increasing Irrelevance of (the Wrong Kind of) Economics"
www.gerhardschnyder.com/blog/2025/8/31/the-appallingly-bad-dismal-science-of-the-increasing-irrelevance-of-the-wrong-kind-of-economics
www.gerhardschnyder.com/blog/2025/8/31/the-appallingly-bad-dismal-science-of-the-increasing-irrelevance-of-the-wrong-kind-of-economics
❓ Does the British state have what it takes for its industrial strategy? ❓
Merve Sancak and I doubt it. Importantly, it lacks the willingness to be 'anti-business' in the right way to be 'pro-business' in the long run...
Read our piece on Encompass Europe:
encompass-europe.com/comment/does...
Merve Sancak and I doubt it. Importantly, it lacks the willingness to be 'anti-business' in the right way to be 'pro-business' in the long run...
Read our piece on Encompass Europe:
encompass-europe.com/comment/does...
June 9, 2025 at 7:38 AM
❓ Does the British state have what it takes for its industrial strategy? ❓
Merve Sancak and I doubt it. Importantly, it lacks the willingness to be 'anti-business' in the right way to be 'pro-business' in the long run...
Read our piece on Encompass Europe:
encompass-europe.com/comment/does...
Merve Sancak and I doubt it. Importantly, it lacks the willingness to be 'anti-business' in the right way to be 'pro-business' in the long run...
Read our piece on Encompass Europe:
encompass-europe.com/comment/does...
Reposted by Gerhard Schnyder
"The UK is very good – much better than most European countries – at integrating migrants, because most Britons, and most migrants, want integration... The rhetoric and policy we saw yesterday will take us backward to a much uglier, and more dangerous, place."
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
There’s one slight issue with Labour’s immigration plans: they’re completely untethered from reality | Jonathan Portes
The government’s new policy will take us back to an uglier, more dangerous place – and it’s not even supported by the data, says professor of public policy Jonathan Portes
www.theguardian.com
May 13, 2025 at 5:16 PM
"The UK is very good – much better than most European countries – at integrating migrants, because most Britons, and most migrants, want integration... The rhetoric and policy we saw yesterday will take us backward to a much uglier, and more dangerous, place."
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
This is interesting: UK Labour are not only digging their own electoral
grave by adding water to Reform’s mill, but also undermining centrist/progressive parties’ case against anti-immigration in other countries! 👏🏻 Well done Keir!
grave by adding water to Reform’s mill, but also undermining centrist/progressive parties’ case against anti-immigration in other countries! 👏🏻 Well done Keir!
Not that it is a surprise given the direction, but the only German party leader that I could find giving a statement on yesterday's immigration annoucements by Keir Starmer was Alice Weidel and the AfD celebrating the turn in migration policy.
May 13, 2025 at 11:38 AM
This is interesting: UK Labour are not only digging their own electoral
grave by adding water to Reform’s mill, but also undermining centrist/progressive parties’ case against anti-immigration in other countries! 👏🏻 Well done Keir!
grave by adding water to Reform’s mill, but also undermining centrist/progressive parties’ case against anti-immigration in other countries! 👏🏻 Well done Keir!
Reposted by Gerhard Schnyder
That went well.
Alienated your voter base and MPs, Reform voters still hate you and The Mail still drags you because, unlike Reform, they don’t think you really *believe* in racist policy.
I mean, who saw that coming? *points at self*
You win by stopping this bullshit.
Alienated your voter base and MPs, Reform voters still hate you and The Mail still drags you because, unlike Reform, they don’t think you really *believe* in racist policy.
I mean, who saw that coming? *points at self*
You win by stopping this bullshit.
May 13, 2025 at 10:16 AM
That went well.
Alienated your voter base and MPs, Reform voters still hate you and The Mail still drags you because, unlike Reform, they don’t think you really *believe* in racist policy.
I mean, who saw that coming? *points at self*
You win by stopping this bullshit.
Alienated your voter base and MPs, Reform voters still hate you and The Mail still drags you because, unlike Reform, they don’t think you really *believe* in racist policy.
I mean, who saw that coming? *points at self*
You win by stopping this bullshit.
Spot on by @pmdfoster.bsky.social ! 👏 The most astonishing thing though is: It is so obvious and yet none in Labour seems to take notice/understand/act...beyond frustrating seeing the country slip into Reform's dirty grip...
Labour's immigration announcement today is a reflection of the paucity of honest debate by BOTH political parties over the last decade on this issue.
Labour has never made a counter-argument, or been honest about economic cost of immigration curbs, so it's stuck making Tory/Reform arguments 1/n
Labour has never made a counter-argument, or been honest about economic cost of immigration curbs, so it's stuck making Tory/Reform arguments 1/n
May 13, 2025 at 8:12 AM
Spot on by @pmdfoster.bsky.social ! 👏 The most astonishing thing though is: It is so obvious and yet none in Labour seems to take notice/understand/act...beyond frustrating seeing the country slip into Reform's dirty grip...
Reposted by Gerhard Schnyder
All this while refusing to call out Brexit as one of the main factors for Britains low growth and the rise in immigration after “Brexit got done.”
Which allows Farage to evade his responsibility for the situation he now so happily exploits.
This all helps only Reform.
Which allows Farage to evade his responsibility for the situation he now so happily exploits.
This all helps only Reform.
Keir Starmer immitates Reform in his divisive speech.
Accuses immigrants of causing “incalculable damage”, making the UK “an island of strangers”.
Rightly faces backlash from unions, employers, MPs.
Silence on class war, inequalities, profiteering, lack of public services, fuelling frustrations.
Accuses immigrants of causing “incalculable damage”, making the UK “an island of strangers”.
Rightly faces backlash from unions, employers, MPs.
Silence on class war, inequalities, profiteering, lack of public services, fuelling frustrations.
Despair at Starmer’s ‘divisive’ language as he clamps down on immigration
Backbench Labour MPs, unions and charities criticise the PM, who is urged to apologise for his ‘dangerous’ comments
www.independent.co.uk
May 13, 2025 at 6:17 AM
All this while refusing to call out Brexit as one of the main factors for Britains low growth and the rise in immigration after “Brexit got done.”
Which allows Farage to evade his responsibility for the situation he now so happily exploits.
This all helps only Reform.
Which allows Farage to evade his responsibility for the situation he now so happily exploits.
This all helps only Reform.
Reposted by Gerhard Schnyder
The Farage effect. Pretty stark. bsky.app/profile/adam...
Keir Starmer denies pushing anti-migrant policies in order to chase Reform, saying that "I'm doing this because it is right, because it is fair and because it is what I believe".
A reminder of what he said he believed when he was running for Labour leader.
A reminder of what he said he believed when he was running for Labour leader.
May 13, 2025 at 6:17 AM
The Farage effect. Pretty stark. bsky.app/profile/adam...
Super interesting piece in the FT on MAGA’s appropriation of René Girard’s philosophy of mimetic desire and scapegoating! 🤯
Fascinating how one of the most anti-intellectual movements in recent times draws inspiration from a “deep-thinker”…
on.ft.com/3YGjRZh
Fascinating how one of the most anti-intellectual movements in recent times draws inspiration from a “deep-thinker”…
on.ft.com/3YGjRZh
How a little-known French literary critic became a bellwether for the US right
René Girard is best known for his theory of ‘mimetic desire’. Now Peter Thiel and the vice-president are among his fans
on.ft.com
May 11, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Super interesting piece in the FT on MAGA’s appropriation of René Girard’s philosophy of mimetic desire and scapegoating! 🤯
Fascinating how one of the most anti-intellectual movements in recent times draws inspiration from a “deep-thinker”…
on.ft.com/3YGjRZh
Fascinating how one of the most anti-intellectual movements in recent times draws inspiration from a “deep-thinker”…
on.ft.com/3YGjRZh
Reposted by Gerhard Schnyder
If true, depressing and stupid, negatively impacting on Labour's growth focus & screwing one of UK's few strategic advantages & success stories, when overseas students aren't even the focus of anti-immigration ire - which won't be deflected by this.
Lose to Reform so give Reform everything they want. Well, that's been a winning strategy so far. Once again we have a government hell bent on demonising migrants to pander to what is in fact a minority of voters. It doesn't work, and people suffer in the meantime.
observer.co.uk/news/politic...
observer.co.uk/news/politic...
Labour plots immigration blitz after Reform success at polls
No 10 and Home Office expected to ramp up curbs on foreign university students
observer.co.uk
May 4, 2025 at 6:55 PM
If true, depressing and stupid, negatively impacting on Labour's growth focus & screwing one of UK's few strategic advantages & success stories, when overseas students aren't even the focus of anti-immigration ire - which won't be deflected by this.
This 100% 👇🏻 …
Tom Baldwin: “Labour are not losing votes to Reform, they are losing votes to Libdems and the Greens. It's the Conservatives that are losing shitloads of voters to Reform.”
youtu.be/WvK0aQJNi9I?...
youtu.be/WvK0aQJNi9I?...
Reform make gains across the country in local elections and win by-election | Politics Hub special
YouTube video by Sky News
youtu.be
May 4, 2025 at 11:21 AM
This 100% 👇🏻 …
Reposted by Gerhard Schnyder
Frantically learning all the wrong lessons.
People who want Reform policies will vote Reform.
People who want Labour policies ... well, perhaps they'll just have to vote Green.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
People who want Reform policies will vote Reform.
People who want Labour policies ... well, perhaps they'll just have to vote Green.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Labour targets international students claiming asylum after election losses to Reform
Exclusive: Ministers understood to be drafting white paper this month in move to reduce legal migration
www.theguardian.com
May 4, 2025 at 8:26 AM
Frantically learning all the wrong lessons.
People who want Reform policies will vote Reform.
People who want Labour policies ... well, perhaps they'll just have to vote Green.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
People who want Reform policies will vote Reform.
People who want Labour policies ... well, perhaps they'll just have to vote Green.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Reposted by Gerhard Schnyder
Hey British media,
It’s no surprise that if you give Farage the run of the place, he’ll start winning.
Time to do your actual jobs and start interrogating him on his Brexit shitshow, his funding, his Trumpiness, his idiotic manifesto, his real plans for the NHS… instead of drumrolling him into No.10
It’s no surprise that if you give Farage the run of the place, he’ll start winning.
Time to do your actual jobs and start interrogating him on his Brexit shitshow, his funding, his Trumpiness, his idiotic manifesto, his real plans for the NHS… instead of drumrolling him into No.10
May 4, 2025 at 7:41 AM
Hey British media,
It’s no surprise that if you give Farage the run of the place, he’ll start winning.
Time to do your actual jobs and start interrogating him on his Brexit shitshow, his funding, his Trumpiness, his idiotic manifesto, his real plans for the NHS… instead of drumrolling him into No.10
It’s no surprise that if you give Farage the run of the place, he’ll start winning.
Time to do your actual jobs and start interrogating him on his Brexit shitshow, his funding, his Trumpiness, his idiotic manifesto, his real plans for the NHS… instead of drumrolling him into No.10
Yes Keir, we’ve noticed! 🙄🤦🏼♂️
May 4, 2025 at 7:30 AM
Yes Keir, we’ve noticed! 🙄🤦🏼♂️
How does this come as a shock to anyone? It was crystal clear that this would happen given the government’s policies! 🙄
May 3, 2025 at 9:33 AM
How does this come as a shock to anyone? It was crystal clear that this would happen given the government’s policies! 🙄
“[In 2024] Labour won more votes than all other parties combined [in Runcorn]. Yet less than a year later, Reform has captured the seat, overturning a majority of 14,700.”
By McSweeny/Starmers logic that’s bc in July 2024 Lab was more like Reform than it is now? 🤔
theconversation.com/reform-wins-...
By McSweeny/Starmers logic that’s bc in July 2024 Lab was more like Reform than it is now? 🤔
theconversation.com/reform-wins-...
Reform wins Runcorn byelection by just six votes – what the result means for Labour and the Tories
Nigel Farage is now claiming to be the official opposition after overturning Labour’s 14,700-majority.
theconversation.com
May 3, 2025 at 9:19 AM
“[In 2024] Labour won more votes than all other parties combined [in Runcorn]. Yet less than a year later, Reform has captured the seat, overturning a majority of 14,700.”
By McSweeny/Starmers logic that’s bc in July 2024 Lab was more like Reform than it is now? 🤔
theconversation.com/reform-wins-...
By McSweeny/Starmers logic that’s bc in July 2024 Lab was more like Reform than it is now? 🤔
theconversation.com/reform-wins-...
“Telling voters the Reform leader is right, but they shouldn’t vote for him, is no more likely to work for Labour than it has for the Tories”…Yepp seems blindingly obvious…and yet somehow Labour seems hellbent on trying and defy basic logic and experience!
🔴Nigel Farage Is Killing the Conservatives and Starmer Must Change Course to Avoid the Same Fate
Telling voters the Reform leader is right, but they shouldn’t vote for him, is no more likely to work for Labour than it has for the Tories, argues Adam Bienkov
bylinetimes.com/2025/05/02/l...
Telling voters the Reform leader is right, but they shouldn’t vote for him, is no more likely to work for Labour than it has for the Tories, argues Adam Bienkov
bylinetimes.com/2025/05/02/l...
Nigel Farage Is Killing the Conservative Party and Starmer Must Change Course to Avoid the Same Fate
Telling voters that the Reform leader is right, but they shouldn't vote for him anyway, is no more likely to work for Labour than it has for the Conservatives, argues Adam Bienkov
bylinetimes.com
May 2, 2025 at 11:42 AM
“Telling voters the Reform leader is right, but they shouldn’t vote for him, is no more likely to work for Labour than it has for the Tories”…Yepp seems blindingly obvious…and yet somehow Labour seems hellbent on trying and defy basic logic and experience!
Sadly Labour’s conclusion from this defeat will probably be “Oh look we need to be more like Reform to win” rather than “Oh people don’t like us trying to imitate Reform” - Hopefully they’ll start looking at polls to realise people are less bothered about foreigners, more about climate than Reform!
May 2, 2025 at 8:22 AM
Sadly Labour’s conclusion from this defeat will probably be “Oh look we need to be more like Reform to win” rather than “Oh people don’t like us trying to imitate Reform” - Hopefully they’ll start looking at polls to realise people are less bothered about foreigners, more about climate than Reform!