James Austin
@jamesdaustin.bsky.social
This again. Outdoors. Politics. Sport. Not always in that order. Labour. Trade Unionist. Trying to do community things. Views entirely my own
Reposted by James Austin
You can argue about Labour’s left wing credentials, but what is objectively true is Labour is delivering record climate investment and ending new oil and gas exploration licenses - policies Reform would scrap in support of Trumpist climate denialism.
Robert Peston, "Wouldn't you regret Reform UK coming through in Gorton and Denton if The Greens split the left vote?"
Zack Polanski, "We cannot say that Keir Starmer's Labour would be a left wing vote"
Zack Polanski, "We cannot say that Keir Starmer's Labour would be a left wing vote"
February 13, 2026 at 11:15 AM
You can argue about Labour’s left wing credentials, but what is objectively true is Labour is delivering record climate investment and ending new oil and gas exploration licenses - policies Reform would scrap in support of Trumpist climate denialism.
Reposted by James Austin
We’ve got a sleeveless cross-country skier, surely making NFL offensive linemen proud
February 13, 2026 at 11:29 AM
We’ve got a sleeveless cross-country skier, surely making NFL offensive linemen proud
Reposted by James Austin
Polanski's two case studies of Labour being a right-wing party are (1) it didn't cut welfare and (2) it scrapped the two child benefit cap
Robert Peston, "Wouldn't you regret Reform UK coming through in Gorton and Denton if The Greens split the left vote?"
Zack Polanski, "We cannot say that Keir Starmer's Labour would be a left wing vote"
Zack Polanski, "We cannot say that Keir Starmer's Labour would be a left wing vote"
February 13, 2026 at 11:09 AM
Polanski's two case studies of Labour being a right-wing party are (1) it didn't cut welfare and (2) it scrapped the two child benefit cap
George Osbourne cut public spending by roughly 3% in real terms.
The Govt has increased it by 4.3% at the last budget alone.
This sort of critiques are entirely vibes based and detached from reality
The Govt has increased it by 4.3% at the last budget alone.
This sort of critiques are entirely vibes based and detached from reality
Starmer is to their right, even. His politics are basically George Osborne's
February 13, 2026 at 12:21 PM
George Osbourne cut public spending by roughly 3% in real terms.
The Govt has increased it by 4.3% at the last budget alone.
This sort of critiques are entirely vibes based and detached from reality
The Govt has increased it by 4.3% at the last budget alone.
This sort of critiques are entirely vibes based and detached from reality
God, imagine spending time being pointlessly obsessed with people acting on stage, or what other people imagined and wrote down in a book, or people acting on a screen or...
Sport is a art form, just like any other, and it's no more a waste to obsess on it than any cultural form. Makes us human.
Sport is a art form, just like any other, and it's no more a waste to obsess on it than any cultural form. Makes us human.
Not liking spectator sport is one of the best life hacks going. Over a lifetime you'll end up with literally years of time to dedicate to whatever you want, compared to spending it being pointlessly obsessed with other people playing a game
February 13, 2026 at 11:20 AM
God, imagine spending time being pointlessly obsessed with people acting on stage, or what other people imagined and wrote down in a book, or people acting on a screen or...
Sport is a art form, just like any other, and it's no more a waste to obsess on it than any cultural form. Makes us human.
Sport is a art form, just like any other, and it's no more a waste to obsess on it than any cultural form. Makes us human.
Reposted by James Austin
Significant that the High Court ruling is still, in places, quite damning of Palestine Action. It emphatically rejects that the group is engaged in "civil disobediance", for example.
It just finds (compellingly) that proscription was still wrong, despite that.
It just finds (compellingly) that proscription was still wrong, despite that.
February 13, 2026 at 10:45 AM
Significant that the High Court ruling is still, in places, quite damning of Palestine Action. It emphatically rejects that the group is engaged in "civil disobediance", for example.
It just finds (compellingly) that proscription was still wrong, despite that.
It just finds (compellingly) that proscription was still wrong, despite that.
I'll admit instagram toplining this for me today is quite amusing
February 13, 2026 at 9:27 AM
I'll admit instagram toplining this for me today is quite amusing
Reminds me of the best ever cry off from a rugby game I've had: 'sorry mate, going to have to flake, snipped by ballsack open'
February 13, 2026 at 8:48 AM
Reminds me of the best ever cry off from a rugby game I've had: 'sorry mate, going to have to flake, snipped by ballsack open'
Reposted by James Austin
The Tony Blair Institute out there today calling for more oil and gas drilling in an absolute gift for Farage and Badenoch. Government will be forgiven for thinking, with friends like these... www.businessgreen.com/news/4525624...
Government hits back at Tony Blair Institute call to ditch clean power targets
Think tank calls for 'energy strategy reset' to permit more drilling in the North Sea and drop clean power by 2030 goal, sparking criticism from government and analysts
www.businessgreen.com
February 13, 2026 at 8:00 AM
The Tony Blair Institute out there today calling for more oil and gas drilling in an absolute gift for Farage and Badenoch. Government will be forgiven for thinking, with friends like these... www.businessgreen.com/news/4525624...
Reposted by James Austin
What does the Representation of the People Bill include?
Votes at 16
Automatic voter registration
ID checks for candidates
Reformed postal & proxy voting
Risk checks for large donations
Ban on non-UK business & shell company donations
More Electoral Commission powers
Action on election intimidation
Votes at 16
Automatic voter registration
ID checks for candidates
Reformed postal & proxy voting
Risk checks for large donations
Ban on non-UK business & shell company donations
More Electoral Commission powers
Action on election intimidation
Labour Unveils Sweeping Elections Reform Bill
The Representation of the People Bill had its first reading in the Commons today.
open.substack.com
February 12, 2026 at 9:23 PM
What does the Representation of the People Bill include?
Votes at 16
Automatic voter registration
ID checks for candidates
Reformed postal & proxy voting
Risk checks for large donations
Ban on non-UK business & shell company donations
More Electoral Commission powers
Action on election intimidation
Votes at 16
Automatic voter registration
ID checks for candidates
Reformed postal & proxy voting
Risk checks for large donations
Ban on non-UK business & shell company donations
More Electoral Commission powers
Action on election intimidation
Reposted by James Austin
“I can’t thank the government enough”
SEND BUDGET
Hundreds of millions of pounds in SEND debt are being wiped out under a national government scheme.
The Lib Dems, Julian Brazil, Leader of Devon County Council told the BBC: "It's fantastic news for us, and I can't thank the government enough."
www.sidmouthherald.co.uk/news/2584844...
Hundreds of millions of pounds in SEND debt are being wiped out under a national government scheme.
The Lib Dems, Julian Brazil, Leader of Devon County Council told the BBC: "It's fantastic news for us, and I can't thank the government enough."
www.sidmouthherald.co.uk/news/2584844...
'Fantastic news' as hundreds of millions of Devon Council's debt written off
Devon County Council will have the vast majority of about £200 million written off.
www.sidmouthherald.co.uk
February 13, 2026 at 4:18 AM
“I can’t thank the government enough”
Thus is a fascinating graph, particularly when you consider national Labour contact rates.
Largely reinforces my belief Labour don't do enough leafleting and that our obsession with doorknocking is a negative
Largely reinforces my belief Labour don't do enough leafleting and that our obsession with doorknocking is a negative
February 12, 2026 at 9:18 PM
Thus is a fascinating graph, particularly when you consider national Labour contact rates.
Largely reinforces my belief Labour don't do enough leafleting and that our obsession with doorknocking is a negative
Largely reinforces my belief Labour don't do enough leafleting and that our obsession with doorknocking is a negative
Reposted by James Austin
Some advice worth listening to for Labour in Gorton and Denton from @thangamdebbonaire.bsky.social who lost out to the Greens (albeit in a very different constituency) in 2024. www.politicshome.com/opinion/arti...
February 12, 2026 at 5:56 PM
Some advice worth listening to for Labour in Gorton and Denton from @thangamdebbonaire.bsky.social who lost out to the Greens (albeit in a very different constituency) in 2024. www.politicshome.com/opinion/arti...
Reposted by James Austin
Remembrance is not a violation
February 10, 2026 at 8:34 PM
Remembrance is not a violation
Reposted by James Austin
Heraskevych’s choice to forfeit the medal chance instead of give up the memorial helmet is the biggest story in Ukraine today. Everyone is heartbroken but there is a unanimous consensus that this was what had to happen rather than to give up.
February 12, 2026 at 1:41 PM
Heraskevych’s choice to forfeit the medal chance instead of give up the memorial helmet is the biggest story in Ukraine today. Everyone is heartbroken but there is a unanimous consensus that this was what had to happen rather than to give up.
Reposted by James Austin
right, so, some quite insane professional news from me: last month I went to Paris to interview Gisèle Pelicot about what happened to her, and what her life looks like now - out in print on Sunday
February 12, 2026 at 2:46 PM
right, so, some quite insane professional news from me: last month I went to Paris to interview Gisèle Pelicot about what happened to her, and what her life looks like now - out in print on Sunday
Plenty of legit criticisms of this blog - but I think its core emotion: 'something is happening' is why it has struck a cord. The detail is less important.
Because clearly it is; you're hearing it from anyone who codes, not just hypersters, in a way that wasn't true a few months back.
Because clearly it is; you're hearing it from anyone who codes, not just hypersters, in a way that wasn't true a few months back.
This post argues AI is having a moment similar to when you heard about some illness in China back in February 2020.
Tech workers just watched AI go from “helpful tool” to “does my job better than I do.” Everyone else is next. Get your financial house in order and lean into what’s hardest to replace
Tech workers just watched AI go from “helpful tool” to “does my job better than I do.” Everyone else is next. Get your financial house in order and lean into what’s hardest to replace
Something Big Is Happening
A personal note for non-tech friends and family on what AI is starting to change.
shumer.dev
February 12, 2026 at 2:15 PM
Plenty of legit criticisms of this blog - but I think its core emotion: 'something is happening' is why it has struck a cord. The detail is less important.
Because clearly it is; you're hearing it from anyone who codes, not just hypersters, in a way that wasn't true a few months back.
Because clearly it is; you're hearing it from anyone who codes, not just hypersters, in a way that wasn't true a few months back.
Reposted by James Austin
my feeling is the 'death of bsky' stuff is a bit overdone
it has strengths and weaknesses, but it does it's core thing - liberal & left politics hub - well enough
it has strengths and weaknesses, but it does it's core thing - liberal & left politics hub - well enough
February 12, 2026 at 12:53 PM
my feeling is the 'death of bsky' stuff is a bit overdone
it has strengths and weaknesses, but it does it's core thing - liberal & left politics hub - well enough
it has strengths and weaknesses, but it does it's core thing - liberal & left politics hub - well enough
Reposted by James Austin
What is effective about this Burnham statement is it reads like something that he is personally invested in and is not worried about criticism for. More of this please.
February 12, 2026 at 11:00 AM
What is effective about this Burnham statement is it reads like something that he is personally invested in and is not worried about criticism for. More of this please.
And we're back to this again...
Bristol has, in the past two decades, had a tram based vision of mass transit, a more ambitious underground one and now Helen's vision more stripped back bus based one.
And crucially none have progressed.
In part because we keep persuing the perfect over the good
Bristol has, in the past two decades, had a tram based vision of mass transit, a more ambitious underground one and now Helen's vision more stripped back bus based one.
And crucially none have progressed.
In part because we keep persuing the perfect over the good
"We must demand trams for Bristol, not a bus-based solution," says Martin Booth
'We must demand trams for Bristol, not a bus-based solution'
We can't just tinker around the edges if we want to solve our city's transport woes, says Bristol24/7 Editor Martin Booth
www.bristol247.com
February 12, 2026 at 10:00 AM
And we're back to this again...
Bristol has, in the past two decades, had a tram based vision of mass transit, a more ambitious underground one and now Helen's vision more stripped back bus based one.
And crucially none have progressed.
In part because we keep persuing the perfect over the good
Bristol has, in the past two decades, had a tram based vision of mass transit, a more ambitious underground one and now Helen's vision more stripped back bus based one.
And crucially none have progressed.
In part because we keep persuing the perfect over the good
I think I win the competation for the 'smallest number of famous people from your high school'
February 12, 2026 at 9:42 AM
I think I win the competation for the 'smallest number of famous people from your high school'
Yeah, about the whole progressive alliance, tactical vote thing we need to do to stop Reform...
This could be a challenge
This could be a challenge
Robert Peston, "Wouldn't you regret Reform UK coming through in Gorton and Denton if The Greens split the left vote?"
Zack Polanski, "We cannot say that Keir Starmer's Labour would be a left wing vote"
Zack Polanski, "We cannot say that Keir Starmer's Labour would be a left wing vote"
February 12, 2026 at 9:37 AM
Yeah, about the whole progressive alliance, tactical vote thing we need to do to stop Reform...
This could be a challenge
This could be a challenge
Reposted by James Austin
in light of that chris hayes post about ai and the left, i’m just gonna re-up what i’ve been saying for like a year now
February 11, 2026 at 6:41 PM
in light of that chris hayes post about ai and the left, i’m just gonna re-up what i’ve been saying for like a year now
Reposted by James Austin
I understand why people are exhausted by AI hype, and why those of us squarely in the corner of "human dignity uber alles" see AI doomerism as self-serving hype, but I *really* think people on the left broadly need to start thinking seriously about the possibiltiy of the hype being...true.
February 11, 2026 at 4:54 PM
I understand why people are exhausted by AI hype, and why those of us squarely in the corner of "human dignity uber alles" see AI doomerism as self-serving hype, but I *really* think people on the left broadly need to start thinking seriously about the possibiltiy of the hype being...true.
Clear. Unambigious. A that sounds like Starmer and on a broad threme they've been developing for a few weeks now.
Things have changed
Things have changed
Downing Street weighing in on Jim Ratcliffe's comments about immigration. A Number 10 spokesperson said “Jim Ratcliffe should immediately apologise. His offensive remarks are wrong and play into the hands of those who want to divide our country.”
February 11, 2026 at 10:01 PM
Clear. Unambigious. A that sounds like Starmer and on a broad threme they've been developing for a few weeks now.
Things have changed
Things have changed