James Hawes
@jameshawes.bsky.social
Father of three boys. Married to an Irishwoman. Ex-novelist. Historian. Teacher of writing. Novel “Speak for England” (2005) predicted Brexit - “it deserves some kind of prescience prize" (Observer, 2017).
Pinned
@waterstones.bsky.social
Can’t wait to be back at your wonderful bookshop - where I spent so many happy hours when I was doing my PhD at #UCL! - to launch this at 6.30 on Monday 9 March… All welcome. It will be a fast and furious, entirely visually-based event!
Can’t wait to be back at your wonderful bookshop - where I spent so many happy hours when I was doing my PhD at #UCL! - to launch this at 6.30 on Monday 9 March… All welcome. It will be a fast and furious, entirely visually-based event!
You are entirely right except for one little detail. It started in 2013-15 when Cameron yielded to the “swivel-eyed loons” in his own constituency associations and ran campaign which portrayed the SNP as the deadly enemy.
They diagnosis in brief: English nationalism.
They diagnosis in brief: English nationalism.
February 12, 2026 at 11:43 AM
You are entirely right except for one little detail. It started in 2013-15 when Cameron yielded to the “swivel-eyed loons” in his own constituency associations and ran campaign which portrayed the SNP as the deadly enemy.
They diagnosis in brief: English nationalism.
They diagnosis in brief: English nationalism.
Reposted by James Hawes
Russian analysts nevertheless acknowledge the importance of Thiel’s techno-theological thought and his critique of contemporary liberalism.“ on the Connection of Thiel. And Dugin. Worth a read. ridl.io/the-dark-enl...
The Dark Enlightenment and the Return of Political Theology in Russia and the United States – Riddle Russia
Maria Engström examines the Dark Enlightenment in Russia and the US: a philosophical doctrine that reintegrates metaphysical elements into political thought and promotes a new authoritarian world orde...
ridl.io
February 12, 2026 at 11:31 AM
Russian analysts nevertheless acknowledge the importance of Thiel’s techno-theological thought and his critique of contemporary liberalism.“ on the Connection of Thiel. And Dugin. Worth a read. ridl.io/the-dark-enl...
Reposted by James Hawes
“Are you firmly in favour of rejoining the European Union?" - Robert Peston
“Firmly very much in favour. Brexit has been a disaster under any criteria, under any measure" - Zack Polanski
“Firmly very much in favour. Brexit has been a disaster under any criteria, under any measure" - Zack Polanski
February 12, 2026 at 6:54 AM
“Are you firmly in favour of rejoining the European Union?" - Robert Peston
“Firmly very much in favour. Brexit has been a disaster under any criteria, under any measure" - Zack Polanski
“Firmly very much in favour. Brexit has been a disaster under any criteria, under any measure" - Zack Polanski
It’s beginning to feel a lot like…
Please help to send the fiery cross around!
Please help to send the fiery cross around!
February 12, 2026 at 11:28 AM
It’s beginning to feel a lot like…
Please help to send the fiery cross around!
Please help to send the fiery cross around!
Yesterday, I signed this entire pile of books in three hours. An extremely bizarre experience in this age where we hardly pick up a pen from one week to the next. Somewhat like partaking in a touchingly ancient ceremony, the purpose of which has got lost…
February 11, 2026 at 12:53 PM
Yesterday, I signed this entire pile of books in three hours. An extremely bizarre experience in this age where we hardly pick up a pen from one week to the next. Somewhat like partaking in a touchingly ancient ceremony, the purpose of which has got lost…
Reposted by James Hawes
Oh nein die armen Tech-Milliardäre sind da rein geraten ohne ihr zutun
February 9, 2026 at 9:33 PM
Oh nein die armen Tech-Milliardäre sind da rein geraten ohne ihr zutun
Reposted by James Hawes
No-one seems to have noticed, but many of the core developments in the Mandelson/Epstein story these last few days have been broken on this website. @pickardje.bsky.social and @petergeoghegan.bsky.social are both posting each breaking development on BlueSky, not X.
February 10, 2026 at 11:40 AM
No-one seems to have noticed, but many of the core developments in the Mandelson/Epstein story these last few days have been broken on this website. @pickardje.bsky.social and @petergeoghegan.bsky.social are both posting each breaking development on BlueSky, not X.
And here’s why Ireland should be very, very interested in the collapse of Labour in Britain: my 2023 prediction (and, I suspected by the end of our memorable interview, privately that of the most eminent Co.Tyrone man in the UK establishment)…
www.newstatesman.com/long-reads/2...
www.newstatesman.com/long-reads/2...
February 9, 2026 at 9:36 AM
And here’s why Ireland should be very, very interested in the collapse of Labour in Britain: my 2023 prediction (and, I suspected by the end of our memorable interview, privately that of the most eminent Co.Tyrone man in the UK establishment)…
www.newstatesman.com/long-reads/2...
www.newstatesman.com/long-reads/2...
Reposted by James Hawes
They also look like they hate each other. Possibly everything.
February 8, 2026 at 9:59 PM
They also look like they hate each other. Possibly everything.
And they have in common?
Hate taxes. Hate “little people“ banding together in liberal democracies (especially transnational bodies like the EU) and daring to limit them.
The only freedom they care about is the freedom to do WTF they like with their money.
www.forbes.com/sites/zachar...
Hate taxes. Hate “little people“ banding together in liberal democracies (especially transnational bodies like the EU) and daring to limit them.
The only freedom they care about is the freedom to do WTF they like with their money.
www.forbes.com/sites/zachar...
Epstein Files Photo Shows Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk At Dinner
Epstein emailed himself the photo, possibly after a dinner with tech moguls.
www.forbes.com
February 8, 2026 at 9:55 PM
And they have in common?
Hate taxes. Hate “little people“ banding together in liberal democracies (especially transnational bodies like the EU) and daring to limit them.
The only freedom they care about is the freedom to do WTF they like with their money.
www.forbes.com/sites/zachar...
Hate taxes. Hate “little people“ banding together in liberal democracies (especially transnational bodies like the EU) and daring to limit them.
The only freedom they care about is the freedom to do WTF they like with their money.
www.forbes.com/sites/zachar...
Reposted by James Hawes
Congratulations to Chasity Verret Martinez on her election to represent House District 60.
She was outspent 3-to-1 and still won. This is what happens when grassroots Democrats show up and organize.
Proud of this win and excited to keep building power together. #LaDemos
She was outspent 3-to-1 and still won. This is what happens when grassroots Democrats show up and organize.
Proud of this win and excited to keep building power together. #LaDemos
February 8, 2026 at 3:38 AM
Congratulations to Chasity Verret Martinez on her election to represent House District 60.
She was outspent 3-to-1 and still won. This is what happens when grassroots Democrats show up and organize.
Proud of this win and excited to keep building power together. #LaDemos
She was outspent 3-to-1 and still won. This is what happens when grassroots Democrats show up and organize.
Proud of this win and excited to keep building power together. #LaDemos
Reposted by James Hawes
Reposted by James Hawes
There are all sorts of parallels for what the Trump regime is doing to American cities but you could do a lot worse than looking at Ireland under British rule and Northern Ireland during the Troubles for a better understanding - a populace viewed as fundamentally hostile, little restraint, etc.
February 3, 2026 at 5:16 PM
There are all sorts of parallels for what the Trump regime is doing to American cities but you could do a lot worse than looking at Ireland under British rule and Northern Ireland during the Troubles for a better understanding - a populace viewed as fundamentally hostile, little restraint, etc.
Reposted by James Hawes
Counterpoint: Democrats want ICE razed more thoroughly than Carthage in 146 BC, the ideological territory in which it operates salted so thoroughly it never grows again, and every single one of these goons in front of a judge to face justice for their crimes.
Democrats want commonsense reform for ICE:
End the roving patrols and racial profiling.
Take accountability and abide by the same rules as local police.
Masks need to come off, body cameras need to stay on—no secret police in the United States of America.
End the roving patrols and racial profiling.
Take accountability and abide by the same rules as local police.
Masks need to come off, body cameras need to stay on—no secret police in the United States of America.
February 3, 2026 at 11:17 PM
Counterpoint: Democrats want ICE razed more thoroughly than Carthage in 146 BC, the ideological territory in which it operates salted so thoroughly it never grows again, and every single one of these goons in front of a judge to face justice for their crimes.
Reposted by James Hawes
it’s genuinely reassuring to me that this is the most miserable and paranoid person in the entire world
February 5, 2026 at 1:16 AM
it’s genuinely reassuring to me that this is the most miserable and paranoid person in the entire world
Hi @patrickwyman.bsky.social
Loved your episode on St Patrick. If you fancy doing something together, this is my latest, out just before St Patrick’s Day…
Loved your episode on St Patrick. If you fancy doing something together, this is my latest, out just before St Patrick’s Day…
February 8, 2026 at 8:28 AM
Hi @patrickwyman.bsky.social
Loved your episode on St Patrick. If you fancy doing something together, this is my latest, out just before St Patrick’s Day…
Loved your episode on St Patrick. If you fancy doing something together, this is my latest, out just before St Patrick’s Day…
I often tell fellow-residents of Bath, UK:
You do realise that all this Jane Austen/Bridgerton-style “Georgian elegance” was the first purpose-built elite spa networking destination since the fall of Rome?
You do realise that all this Jane Austen/Bridgerton-style “Georgian elegance” was the first purpose-built elite spa networking destination since the fall of Rome?
There's a certain kind of ultra-wealthy person throughout history (medieval Italian merchant-bankers, for example) who were just wealth generalists; they would invest in anything, use whatever kind of financial tool was available, but it all built off their access to other wealthy elites.
February 8, 2026 at 8:13 AM
I often tell fellow-residents of Bath, UK:
You do realise that all this Jane Austen/Bridgerton-style “Georgian elegance” was the first purpose-built elite spa networking destination since the fall of Rome?
You do realise that all this Jane Austen/Bridgerton-style “Georgian elegance” was the first purpose-built elite spa networking destination since the fall of Rome?
You see? Cognitive disjunction in politics is nothing new. Scores of millions of Americans
have long been able to persuade themselves the Antebellum South was a great place.
NB: Millions of English people still believe the British Empire was a great place.
have long been able to persuade themselves the Antebellum South was a great place.
NB: Millions of English people still believe the British Empire was a great place.
Most of the scholarship I've read has drawn a direct line from the the up-to-their-necks-in-slaving early years of South Carolina to its godawful antebellum political culture, not hard to get from there to the present state of the Republican Party
February 8, 2026 at 8:07 AM
You see? Cognitive disjunction in politics is nothing new. Scores of millions of Americans
have long been able to persuade themselves the Antebellum South was a great place.
NB: Millions of English people still believe the British Empire was a great place.
have long been able to persuade themselves the Antebellum South was a great place.
NB: Millions of English people still believe the British Empire was a great place.
Reposted by James Hawes
They looked for “Don T” in the Epstein files and redacted all instances, which means they also redacted a lot of “don’t”
February 7, 2026 at 7:56 PM
They looked for “Don T” in the Epstein files and redacted all instances, which means they also redacted a lot of “don’t”
Reposted by James Hawes
5/5 PMs with approval ratings of measles isn't just a feature of failed leadership. It's Brexit Britain. There's no money for anything people want and were promised they would have, and no one can blame the people who got us into this mess because they got 52% of the vote (let alone reverse it).
Starmer's reported condition - incredibly unpopular, shorn of authority, probably un-reelectable and yet will stagger on for want of an alternative - is just the new normal of how Britain is governed. It was also true for two-thirds of May's premiership, half of Johnson's and all of Sunak's.
February 6, 2026 at 12:10 PM
5/5 PMs with approval ratings of measles isn't just a feature of failed leadership. It's Brexit Britain. There's no money for anything people want and were promised they would have, and no one can blame the people who got us into this mess because they got 52% of the vote (let alone reverse it).
The way social media sites use algorithms to manufacture attention-time makes absolute nonsense of the claim that they should have immunity from responsibility for their content as “mere conduits” for their users (that being the legal basis of this immunity).
TikTok is ‘addictive’ to kids and faces big fine — European Commission www.independent.ie/business/tec...
TikTok is ‘addictive’ to kids and faces big fine — European Commission
The European Commission has found TikTok addictive for children and adults with features such as infinite scroll, autoplay, push notifications and its “highly personalised” recommender system.
www.independent.ie
February 6, 2026 at 1:09 PM
The way social media sites use algorithms to manufacture attention-time makes absolute nonsense of the claim that they should have immunity from responsibility for their content as “mere conduits” for their users (that being the legal basis of this immunity).
Reposted by James Hawes
Der Präsident der USA ist ein derart widerwärtiger Rassist, dass er nicht einmal fünf Minuten in der Fankurve eines Kreisligisten geduldet würde.
February 6, 2026 at 9:46 AM
Der Präsident der USA ist ein derart widerwärtiger Rassist, dass er nicht einmal fünf Minuten in der Fankurve eines Kreisligisten geduldet würde.
Good! The court cases (U.S., 1991-6) and EU directive (2000) which award “mere conduit” immunity to social media platforms are from before even Facebook was invented! They are hopelessly unfit for purpose now. @uncivil-s.bsky.social
Paging all #lawyers
Paging all #lawyers
Spain to ban social media access for children under 16 reut.rs/4rNX6in
February 5, 2026 at 1:16 PM
Reposted by James Hawes
“The era of hiding behind servers is over”.
February 5, 2026 at 8:34 AM
“The era of hiding behind servers is over”.
Reposted by James Hawes
Utilitarian philosopher R.M. Hare has a discussion about how to bring up your kids if you were solely concerned with their happiness. He says: teach them not to seek happiness directly but be nice to people, make some true friends, get an absorbing hobby and a fulfilling job, be a good neighbour etc
it’s genuinely reassuring to me that this is the most miserable and paranoid person in the entire world
February 5, 2026 at 7:10 AM
Utilitarian philosopher R.M. Hare has a discussion about how to bring up your kids if you were solely concerned with their happiness. He says: teach them not to seek happiness directly but be nice to people, make some true friends, get an absorbing hobby and a fulfilling job, be a good neighbour etc