Dr. Henry Tam
@henrytam.bsky.social
Author: 'Time to Save Democracy', 'Communitarianism', 'Against Power Inequalities', 'Who's Afraid of Political Education', 'Tomorrow's Communities', 'Whitehall through the Looking Glass', etc. More info from: https://hbtam.blogspot.com
Tories slash funding for local govt by over 50% over a decade,
Farage & Co claim they can turn things around but then having to admit it's a mess & they can't do a thing.
Voters beware of the worst double act ever: www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Farage & Co claim they can turn things around but then having to admit it's a mess & they can't do a thing.
Voters beware of the worst double act ever: www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reform UK warns Worcestershire County Council is facing bankruptcy
Worcestershire County Council is asking for £71m in emergency support.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 7, 2026 at 12:30 PM
Tories slash funding for local govt by over 50% over a decade,
Farage & Co claim they can turn things around but then having to admit it's a mess & they can't do a thing.
Voters beware of the worst double act ever: www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Farage & Co claim they can turn things around but then having to admit it's a mess & they can't do a thing.
Voters beware of the worst double act ever: www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Why would xenophobic leaders of 'nationalist' parties side with the likes of Putin and Trump against their own countries and democratic traditions?
Because they are banking on the global culture war help them win power: henry-tam.blogspot.com/2026/01/puti...
Because they are banking on the global culture war help them win power: henry-tam.blogspot.com/2026/01/puti...
Putin’s Global Culture War
Following the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, there were about two decades during which the world was filled with hope for the spread of li...
henry-tam.blogspot.com
February 7, 2026 at 12:24 PM
Why would xenophobic leaders of 'nationalist' parties side with the likes of Putin and Trump against their own countries and democratic traditions?
Because they are banking on the global culture war help them win power: henry-tam.blogspot.com/2026/01/puti...
Because they are banking on the global culture war help them win power: henry-tam.blogspot.com/2026/01/puti...
Same old tactic,
Do something vile, delight (in every sense) the base,
And then deny all responsibility for it.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
Do something vile, delight (in every sense) the base,
And then deny all responsibility for it.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
Trump’s toxic, racist video surpasses previous levels of debasement
Video deleted by White House breaks through numbness barrier and raises further questions about fitness for office
www.theguardian.com
February 7, 2026 at 12:19 PM
Same old tactic,
Do something vile, delight (in every sense) the base,
And then deny all responsibility for it.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
Do something vile, delight (in every sense) the base,
And then deny all responsibility for it.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
Warmth sucked out of society,
Hope frozen without reprieve,
Too many left shivering in fear.
The US has descended into the ICE age.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Hope frozen without reprieve,
Too many left shivering in fear.
The US has descended into the ICE age.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
How ICE raids changed a once bustling Chicago neighbourhood
Businesses in Little Village - known as the
www.bbc.co.uk
February 1, 2026 at 1:15 PM
Warmth sucked out of society,
Hope frozen without reprieve,
Too many left shivering in fear.
The US has descended into the ICE age.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Hope frozen without reprieve,
Too many left shivering in fear.
The US has descended into the ICE age.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Perhaps Blue Labour is too obsessed with 'blue' credentials, and Red Tory is too light on 'red' commitments.
A politics that is centred on the empowerment of communities and all their members has to be authentically communitarian: blogs.bath.ac.uk/iprblog/2025... @uniofbathipr.bsky.social
A politics that is centred on the empowerment of communities and all their members has to be authentically communitarian: blogs.bath.ac.uk/iprblog/2025... @uniofbathipr.bsky.social
What is Communitarianism?
Discover how communitarianism offers a progressive path forward by focusing on shared responsibility, inclusive participation, and community-based solutions. In this blog, Henry Tam explores the ro…
blogs.bath.ac.uk
February 1, 2026 at 1:09 PM
Perhaps Blue Labour is too obsessed with 'blue' credentials, and Red Tory is too light on 'red' commitments.
A politics that is centred on the empowerment of communities and all their members has to be authentically communitarian: blogs.bath.ac.uk/iprblog/2025... @uniofbathipr.bsky.social
A politics that is centred on the empowerment of communities and all their members has to be authentically communitarian: blogs.bath.ac.uk/iprblog/2025... @uniofbathipr.bsky.social
Lessons from the May Fourth Movement (1919) on science and democracy - more relevant than ever for the world today:
henry-tam.blogspot.com/2026/02/the-...
henry-tam.blogspot.com/2026/02/the-...
The May Fourth Movement
"A long time ago, in a country, not that far away... There came a time of revolution, when rebels united to challenge a tyrannical culture."...
henry-tam.blogspot.com
February 1, 2026 at 1:01 PM
Lessons from the May Fourth Movement (1919) on science and democracy - more relevant than ever for the world today:
henry-tam.blogspot.com/2026/02/the-...
henry-tam.blogspot.com/2026/02/the-...
The UK has to keep conceding to the US,
The UK is in a weak bargaining position with China,
The UK is left out of the superior trade deal India struck with the EU.
Russia backed Brexit because it would diminish the UK - and there's only one way to reverse that.
leftfootforward.org/2026/01/new-...
The UK is in a weak bargaining position with China,
The UK is left out of the superior trade deal India struck with the EU.
Russia backed Brexit because it would diminish the UK - and there's only one way to reverse that.
leftfootforward.org/2026/01/new-...
New poll reveals majority of Brits want to reverse Brexit and rejoin the EU
The demand to reverse Brexit continues to grow
leftfootforward.org
January 30, 2026 at 10:09 AM
The UK has to keep conceding to the US,
The UK is in a weak bargaining position with China,
The UK is left out of the superior trade deal India struck with the EU.
Russia backed Brexit because it would diminish the UK - and there's only one way to reverse that.
leftfootforward.org/2026/01/new-...
The UK is in a weak bargaining position with China,
The UK is left out of the superior trade deal India struck with the EU.
Russia backed Brexit because it would diminish the UK - and there's only one way to reverse that.
leftfootforward.org/2026/01/new-...
An electoral system that cannot remove someone from the ballot who has been disowned by their own party is not really fit for purpose;
Esp when a party can 'disown' one of its candidates and still hope to have that person with those views elected.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Esp when a party can 'disown' one of its candidates and still hope to have that person with those views elected.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reform UK withdraws support for Redcar candidate over posts
A council by-election candidate resigns from the party over
www.bbc.co.uk
January 30, 2026 at 9:57 AM
An electoral system that cannot remove someone from the ballot who has been disowned by their own party is not really fit for purpose;
Esp when a party can 'disown' one of its candidates and still hope to have that person with those views elected.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Esp when a party can 'disown' one of its candidates and still hope to have that person with those views elected.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Trumputin,
Invades Europe from the east,
Threatens European sovereignty from the west.
Proudly displayed in the White House.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026... #trumputin
Invades Europe from the east,
Threatens European sovereignty from the west.
Proudly displayed in the White House.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026... #trumputin
Critics aghast as White House displays framed photo of Trump with Putin
Lawmaker from Estonia says photo celebrates ‘the greatest war criminal of the 21st century’
www.theguardian.com
January 30, 2026 at 9:46 AM
Trumputin,
Invades Europe from the east,
Threatens European sovereignty from the west.
Proudly displayed in the White House.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026... #trumputin
Invades Europe from the east,
Threatens European sovereignty from the west.
Proudly displayed in the White House.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026... #trumputin
One of the questions I'm often asked is how can govt bodies engage with citizens effectively without letting it become an unproductive taking shop.
The answer is to learn from the many successful practices which have been examined and shared: bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/whose-govern...
The answer is to learn from the many successful practices which have been examined and shared: bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/whose-govern...
Whose Government Is It?
Whose Government Is It? - The Renewal of State-Citizen Cooperation; This book brings together leading figures in democratic reform and civic engagement to show why and how better state-citizen coopera...
bristoluniversitypress.co.uk
January 25, 2026 at 11:02 AM
One of the questions I'm often asked is how can govt bodies engage with citizens effectively without letting it become an unproductive taking shop.
The answer is to learn from the many successful practices which have been examined and shared: bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/whose-govern...
The answer is to learn from the many successful practices which have been examined and shared: bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/whose-govern...
People talk about unbridgeable ideological differences, or irreconcilable culture clashes.
Why don't we focus on the need for cooperative co-existence - for that points to real solutions for everyone ...
henry-tam.blogspot.com/2024/10/coop...
Why don't we focus on the need for cooperative co-existence - for that points to real solutions for everyone ...
henry-tam.blogspot.com/2024/10/coop...
Cooperation 101: lessons in co-existence
If people don’t learn why and how we should secure healthy co-existence, society suffers. The key question is how we are to relate to others...
henry-tam.blogspot.com
January 25, 2026 at 10:50 AM
People talk about unbridgeable ideological differences, or irreconcilable culture clashes.
Why don't we focus on the need for cooperative co-existence - for that points to real solutions for everyone ...
henry-tam.blogspot.com/2024/10/coop...
Why don't we focus on the need for cooperative co-existence - for that points to real solutions for everyone ...
henry-tam.blogspot.com/2024/10/coop...
How much is US-arranged talks a means of enabling Putin to escalate his attacks on Ukraine, following the cuts of American support to Zelensky?
www.reuters.com/business/aer...
www.reuters.com/business/aer...
US-brokered peace talks break off without deal after overnight Russian bombardment of Ukraine
Kyiv is under pressure from the U.S. to make concessions to reach a peace deal.
www.reuters.com
January 25, 2026 at 10:36 AM
How much is US-arranged talks a means of enabling Putin to escalate his attacks on Ukraine, following the cuts of American support to Zelensky?
www.reuters.com/business/aer...
www.reuters.com/business/aer...
Armed forces across Europe, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and others who have fought for democracy in the 1940s and since, take note that when a former ally now denigrates and threatens you, you need to regroup and guard against treachery.
January 25, 2026 at 10:27 AM
Armed forces across Europe, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and others who have fought for democracy in the 1940s and since, take note that when a former ally now denigrates and threatens you, you need to regroup and guard against treachery.
It is the ultimate intimidation to make it clear that anyone approaching ICE agents with a camera, or simply to ask a question, would be treated with deadly force and reported as "threatening".
Even '1984' didn't go this far.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
Even '1984' didn't go this far.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
Alex Pretti did not brandish gun, witnesses say in sworn testimony
Pair testify that Pretti did not hold weapon and was trying to help woman federal agents had shoved to the ground
www.theguardian.com
January 25, 2026 at 10:18 AM
It is the ultimate intimidation to make it clear that anyone approaching ICE agents with a camera, or simply to ask a question, would be treated with deadly force and reported as "threatening".
Even '1984' didn't go this far.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
Even '1984' didn't go this far.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
Another day, another fatal shooting by ICE agents - killing a man who, on the video evidence, was not holding any weapon, but was held firmly on the ground by a group of masked agents and repeatedly shot.
To claim otherwise is not to give a different "narrative", but simply lie.
To claim otherwise is not to give a different "narrative", but simply lie.
January 25, 2026 at 10:13 AM
Another day, another fatal shooting by ICE agents - killing a man who, on the video evidence, was not holding any weapon, but was held firmly on the ground by a group of masked agents and repeatedly shot.
To claim otherwise is not to give a different "narrative", but simply lie.
To claim otherwise is not to give a different "narrative", but simply lie.
This is not about the US seeking greater security from Russia.
This is the US shrugging off Russian aggression in Europe,
While advancing its own aggression in the Americas.
See it for what it is.
For Trump and Putin, European democracies are the common enemy.
This is the US shrugging off Russian aggression in Europe,
While advancing its own aggression in the Americas.
See it for what it is.
For Trump and Putin, European democracies are the common enemy.
January 21, 2026 at 10:40 AM
This is not about the US seeking greater security from Russia.
This is the US shrugging off Russian aggression in Europe,
While advancing its own aggression in the Americas.
See it for what it is.
For Trump and Putin, European democracies are the common enemy.
This is the US shrugging off Russian aggression in Europe,
While advancing its own aggression in the Americas.
See it for what it is.
For Trump and Putin, European democracies are the common enemy.
Ideas and practices drawn from government & community experiences of what works (and what doesn't) - distilled with the help of leading experts.
50% off until the end of Jan with code BUP01 when ordered from: bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/henry-tam
@policypress.bsky.social @brisunipress.bsky.social
50% off until the end of Jan with code BUP01 when ordered from: bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/henry-tam
@policypress.bsky.social @brisunipress.bsky.social
January 21, 2026 at 10:29 AM
Ideas and practices drawn from government & community experiences of what works (and what doesn't) - distilled with the help of leading experts.
50% off until the end of Jan with code BUP01 when ordered from: bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/henry-tam
@policypress.bsky.social @brisunipress.bsky.social
50% off until the end of Jan with code BUP01 when ordered from: bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/henry-tam
@policypress.bsky.social @brisunipress.bsky.social
Forget geographical security analysis.
Trump has no intention of helping Ukraine,
He just wants to help himself to Greenland.
As ever the only person finding all this immensely helpful is Putin.
Trump has no intention of helping Ukraine,
He just wants to help himself to Greenland.
As ever the only person finding all this immensely helpful is Putin.
January 21, 2026 at 10:23 AM
Forget geographical security analysis.
Trump has no intention of helping Ukraine,
He just wants to help himself to Greenland.
As ever the only person finding all this immensely helpful is Putin.
Trump has no intention of helping Ukraine,
He just wants to help himself to Greenland.
As ever the only person finding all this immensely helpful is Putin.
Trump has announced more tariffs to be imposed on the UK & other European countries for showing support towards Greenland. Will the UK & EU realise that there is no placating Trump, and only a much more robust North Atlantic economic & security alliance (with Canada) can give us real protection.
January 17, 2026 at 4:53 PM
Trump has announced more tariffs to be imposed on the UK & other European countries for showing support towards Greenland. Will the UK & EU realise that there is no placating Trump, and only a much more robust North Atlantic economic & security alliance (with Canada) can give us real protection.
There is no lesson more important in political education than recounting the devastation caused by power inequalities, and setting out how they have been tackled:
www.amazon.co.uk/Against-Powe...
www.amazon.co.uk/Against-Powe...
January 17, 2026 at 4:43 PM
There is no lesson more important in political education than recounting the devastation caused by power inequalities, and setting out how they have been tackled:
www.amazon.co.uk/Against-Powe...
www.amazon.co.uk/Against-Powe...
Rather than hyping how well Reform UK is doing in recruiting from the ranks of the failed Tory govt, media attention all round should focus on Reform's performance in raising council taxes and closing care homes: www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Reform council’s plan to shut eight care homes ‘a betrayal of local people’
Announcement after proposed sale falls through prompts backlash and union says more than 200 jobs at risk
www.theguardian.com
January 17, 2026 at 4:38 PM
Rather than hyping how well Reform UK is doing in recruiting from the ranks of the failed Tory govt, media attention all round should focus on Reform's performance in raising council taxes and closing care homes: www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
What do you call politicians who severely damage the country's economy, decimate public services to fund tax cuts for the rich, and fuel social divisions for political gains - but like to do it under a new identity?
Defectors to Reform UK, aka the Farage bandwagon.
Defectors to Reform UK, aka the Farage bandwagon.
January 17, 2026 at 4:31 PM
What do you call politicians who severely damage the country's economy, decimate public services to fund tax cuts for the rich, and fuel social divisions for political gains - but like to do it under a new identity?
Defectors to Reform UK, aka the Farage bandwagon.
Defectors to Reform UK, aka the Farage bandwagon.
Plutocratic politics that serves a wealthy elite at the expense of everyone else is the root cause of problems everywhere. 'Money Rules' is their motto, and it's definitely not OK.
Check out the countermoves we must make:
henry-tam.blogspot.com/2026/01/mone...
Check out the countermoves we must make:
henry-tam.blogspot.com/2026/01/mone...
Money Rules – Not OK
The indictment of plutocracy is not directed at rich people in general, but at those who want to amass even greater wealth and power for the...
henry-tam.blogspot.com
January 17, 2026 at 4:23 PM
Plutocratic politics that serves a wealthy elite at the expense of everyone else is the root cause of problems everywhere. 'Money Rules' is their motto, and it's definitely not OK.
Check out the countermoves we must make:
henry-tam.blogspot.com/2026/01/mone...
Check out the countermoves we must make:
henry-tam.blogspot.com/2026/01/mone...
Trump wants Ukraine to surrender territories to Putin,
& expects Putin to support his takeover of Greenland - which would help to breakup NATO.
Geopolitics meets egomania.
& expects Putin to support his takeover of Greenland - which would help to breakup NATO.
Geopolitics meets egomania.
January 14, 2026 at 7:50 PM
Trump wants Ukraine to surrender territories to Putin,
& expects Putin to support his takeover of Greenland - which would help to breakup NATO.
Geopolitics meets egomania.
& expects Putin to support his takeover of Greenland - which would help to breakup NATO.
Geopolitics meets egomania.
Of course Greenland has to be better protected,
From Russia and China?
Let's face it, the only imminent threats are from the US.
From Russia and China?
Let's face it, the only imminent threats are from the US.
January 14, 2026 at 7:39 PM
Of course Greenland has to be better protected,
From Russia and China?
Let's face it, the only imminent threats are from the US.
From Russia and China?
Let's face it, the only imminent threats are from the US.