James Barr
@jamesbarr.bsky.social
I write history. Last book: LORDS OF THE DESERT; before that: A LINE IN THE SAND. Next book: THE ARENA.
More at/contact me via https://www.historythatmatters.org
Signal - jamesbarr.62
Currently reading Gavin Maxwell / A Reed Shaken By The Wind
More at/contact me via https://www.historythatmatters.org
Signal - jamesbarr.62
Currently reading Gavin Maxwell / A Reed Shaken By The Wind
Pinned
James Barr
@jamesbarr.bsky.social
· Dec 31
This pollarded willow stands on our local Common and is thought to date to the 1600s. It’s been set fire to in the past and then a year or so ago disintegrated. Here it is, throwing up new branches. I’m sure there’s a message in that somewhere. Happy New Year!
Reposted by James Barr
this may be the most English man ever to exist.
“I’ve reviewed over 50 sticky toffee puddings” is an incredibly powerful way to begin a video
February 11, 2026 at 7:04 PM
this may be the most English man ever to exist.
Reposted by James Barr
Let's play 'What the hell is this mysterious stuff I saw in an archive file' (Second World War edition)!
Exhibit A: 1 enveloped full of finely shredded silver paper (quite stiff, still remarkably shiny), from May 1944.
Yes, it is war related.
any offers?
Exhibit A: 1 enveloped full of finely shredded silver paper (quite stiff, still remarkably shiny), from May 1944.
Yes, it is war related.
any offers?
February 11, 2026 at 5:35 PM
Let's play 'What the hell is this mysterious stuff I saw in an archive file' (Second World War edition)!
Exhibit A: 1 enveloped full of finely shredded silver paper (quite stiff, still remarkably shiny), from May 1944.
Yes, it is war related.
any offers?
Exhibit A: 1 enveloped full of finely shredded silver paper (quite stiff, still remarkably shiny), from May 1944.
Yes, it is war related.
any offers?
Reposted by James Barr
"Must try to get more time to think. Punch-drunk with red boxes. More delegation to Junior Ministers and to Cab. Cttees. We must get a second wind."
Harold Macmillan pep talk to Cabinet, 18 February 1958 (Source: National Archives, CAB 195/17)
Harold Macmillan pep talk to Cabinet, 18 February 1958 (Source: National Archives, CAB 195/17)
February 11, 2026 at 3:52 PM
"Must try to get more time to think. Punch-drunk with red boxes. More delegation to Junior Ministers and to Cab. Cttees. We must get a second wind."
Harold Macmillan pep talk to Cabinet, 18 February 1958 (Source: National Archives, CAB 195/17)
Harold Macmillan pep talk to Cabinet, 18 February 1958 (Source: National Archives, CAB 195/17)
"Must try to get more time to think. Punch-drunk with red boxes. More delegation to Junior Ministers and to Cab. Cttees. We must get a second wind."
Harold Macmillan pep talk to Cabinet, 18 February 1958 (Source: National Archives, CAB 195/17)
Harold Macmillan pep talk to Cabinet, 18 February 1958 (Source: National Archives, CAB 195/17)
February 11, 2026 at 3:52 PM
"Must try to get more time to think. Punch-drunk with red boxes. More delegation to Junior Ministers and to Cab. Cttees. We must get a second wind."
Harold Macmillan pep talk to Cabinet, 18 February 1958 (Source: National Archives, CAB 195/17)
Harold Macmillan pep talk to Cabinet, 18 February 1958 (Source: National Archives, CAB 195/17)
That is a somewhat misleading headline.
UK prosecutors working with police over Andrew, Mandelson claims reut.rs/3M7M08F
UK prosecutors working with police over Andrew, Mandelson claims
British prosecutors have been in contact with police over investigations into Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and former U.S. ambassador Peter Mandelson's links with Jeffrey Epstein, Britain's chief prosecutor said on Wednesday.
reut.rs
February 11, 2026 at 3:02 PM
That is a somewhat misleading headline.
Reposted by James Barr
I think this nails it. Wishful thinking. I have to say this terrifies me given the state of the world, let alone the country.
My column in today's paper. I used to think that the reason why Starmer said things that weren't true was he was relaxed about the truth. Now I think it is the product of extreme wishful thinking - a much harder bad habit to junk and therefore much worse:
Keir Starmer’s inconvenient truth
Labour must stop believing things because they are politically helpful and engage with the world as it really is
www.ft.com
February 11, 2026 at 7:48 AM
I think this nails it. Wishful thinking. I have to say this terrifies me given the state of the world, let alone the country.
Brilliant piece by @j-amesmarriott.bsky.social
Jeffrey Epstein circle’s ‘big ideas’ were vacuous guff
Emails show that despite hooking up the rich, the powerful and intellectuals, the philosophising was utterly banal
www.thetimes.com
February 10, 2026 at 2:05 PM
Brilliant piece by @j-amesmarriott.bsky.social
Reposted by James Barr
Those invasion preparations in full
Plans to invade Greenland have just been cancelled after this
February 10, 2026 at 12:25 PM
Those invasion preparations in full
Reposted by James Barr
Call me old fashioned but this is NOT how MOD should do business:
"Burghart said Palantir’s MoD contract “was granted by direct award”, without competition, and asked the cabinet secretary to check there were “no other such contracts, no other such undisclosed meetings”." apple.news/AV4gdfVtNSFi...
"Burghart said Palantir’s MoD contract “was granted by direct award”, without competition, and asked the cabinet secretary to check there were “no other such contracts, no other such undisclosed meetings”." apple.news/AV4gdfVtNSFi...
February 10, 2026 at 8:47 AM
Call me old fashioned but this is NOT how MOD should do business:
"Burghart said Palantir’s MoD contract “was granted by direct award”, without competition, and asked the cabinet secretary to check there were “no other such contracts, no other such undisclosed meetings”." apple.news/AV4gdfVtNSFi...
"Burghart said Palantir’s MoD contract “was granted by direct award”, without competition, and asked the cabinet secretary to check there were “no other such contracts, no other such undisclosed meetings”." apple.news/AV4gdfVtNSFi...
Excellent news
UK seaside town plans to bring back beachfront lido after 50 years
A BEACHFRONT lido could return to the English seaside – 51 years after it closed. Ambitious plans have revealed the seafront car parks in Ramsgate that could be transformed into an open-air s…
www.thesun.co.uk
February 10, 2026 at 7:55 AM
Excellent news
Reposted by James Barr
BBC R4’s latest How Did We Get Here? on Israel and the Palestinians starts today. You’ll find me in Episode 4, with Eugene Rogan and Gudrun Krämer.
BBC Sounds - How Did We Get Here? - Available Episodes
Listen to the latest episodes of How Did We Get Here? on BBC Sounds.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 9, 2026 at 11:49 AM
BBC R4’s latest How Did We Get Here? on Israel and the Palestinians starts today. You’ll find me in Episode 4, with Eugene Rogan and Gudrun Krämer.
From JIC 519/61, "Secret Atomic Activities in Israel"
Would love to know what the redactions conceal
Would love to know what the redactions conceal
February 9, 2026 at 3:54 PM
From JIC 519/61, "Secret Atomic Activities in Israel"
Would love to know what the redactions conceal
Would love to know what the redactions conceal
BBC R4’s latest How Did We Get Here? on Israel and the Palestinians starts today. You’ll find me in Episode 4, with Eugene Rogan and Gudrun Krämer.
BBC Sounds - How Did We Get Here? - Available Episodes
Listen to the latest episodes of How Did We Get Here? on BBC Sounds.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 9, 2026 at 11:49 AM
BBC R4’s latest How Did We Get Here? on Israel and the Palestinians starts today. You’ll find me in Episode 4, with Eugene Rogan and Gudrun Krämer.
Next!
EXCL: Tim Allan, Keir Starmer’s director of communications, steps down from Downing Street role.
“I have decided to stand down to allow a new No 10 team to be built. I wish the PM and his team every success,” he says.
“I have decided to stand down to allow a new No 10 team to be built. I wish the PM and his team every success,” he says.
February 9, 2026 at 11:01 AM
Next!
Reposted by James Barr
Always an exciting moment when we see les grues (the cranes) flying north over our part of France… a sign that spring is on the way.
February 7, 2026 at 5:27 PM
Always an exciting moment when we see les grues (the cranes) flying north over our part of France… a sign that spring is on the way.
As the old saying goes
“Advisers resign, ministers hide”
“Advisers resign, ministers hide”
February 9, 2026 at 8:26 AM
As the old saying goes
“Advisers resign, ministers hide”
“Advisers resign, ministers hide”
Glad I’m not his mum
The backflip!
February 8, 2026 at 7:15 PM
Glad I’m not his mum
Porcini and garlic and white wine and parsley sauce for tagliatelle with mushrooms.
February 7, 2026 at 6:35 PM
Porcini and garlic and white wine and parsley sauce for tagliatelle with mushrooms.
Reposted by James Barr
“strategic adviser”
February 7, 2026 at 4:32 PM
“strategic adviser”
Reposted by James Barr
Was looking at my old children's bible at realised the editors were perculiarly obsessed with 1 Samuel.
February 7, 2026 at 10:36 AM
Was looking at my old children's bible at realised the editors were perculiarly obsessed with 1 Samuel.
Reposted by James Barr
If you want a fun science (🧪) article to read this weekend, make it this one: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti... #Stradivarius #Dendrochronology
Tracing the origins of Stradivari’s resonance wood
Stradivari’s violins represent the pinnacle of classical instrument making, yet the origins of the wood used to construct their soundboards have long …
www.sciencedirect.com
February 6, 2026 at 10:00 PM
If you want a fun science (🧪) article to read this weekend, make it this one: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti... #Stradivarius #Dendrochronology
Reposted by James Barr
Listening idly to this FT politics podcast.
www.ft.com/content/b5b3...
The utterly fatal point is the one made by @stephenkb.bsky.social at 33 minutes.
What is the achievement Starmer cites? Removing the child benefit cap. Which he was forced to do.
/1
www.ft.com/content/b5b3...
The utterly fatal point is the one made by @stephenkb.bsky.social at 33 minutes.
What is the achievement Starmer cites? Removing the child benefit cap. Which he was forced to do.
/1
Mandelson, money - and the risk to the prime minister
Could revelations about Peter Mandelson’s ties to Jeffrey Epstein bring down Keir Starmer?
www.ft.com
February 6, 2026 at 8:45 PM
Listening idly to this FT politics podcast.
www.ft.com/content/b5b3...
The utterly fatal point is the one made by @stephenkb.bsky.social at 33 minutes.
What is the achievement Starmer cites? Removing the child benefit cap. Which he was forced to do.
/1
www.ft.com/content/b5b3...
The utterly fatal point is the one made by @stephenkb.bsky.social at 33 minutes.
What is the achievement Starmer cites? Removing the child benefit cap. Which he was forced to do.
/1