JamesHobson
@jameshobson.bsky.social
History, politics, animal welfare and vegetarianism. Liverpool FC and the European Union.
Author of eight books on radical Britain 1600-1900
Labour Party supporter, but no longer a member...
Little Bowden, Market Harborough.
Author of eight books on radical Britain 1600-1900
Labour Party supporter, but no longer a member...
Little Bowden, Market Harborough.
Reposted by JamesHobson
To celebrate the publication of @d-j-frost.bsky.social and mine’s book ‘In Solidarity, Under Suspicion: The British Far Left from 1956’, I am giving away a copy to one randomly chosen person who reposts this post by 11.59pm ACST Sunday 1 Feb.
manchesteruniversitypress.co.uk/9781526179593/
manchesteruniversitypress.co.uk/9781526179593/
January 27, 2026 at 7:21 AM
To celebrate the publication of @d-j-frost.bsky.social and mine’s book ‘In Solidarity, Under Suspicion: The British Far Left from 1956’, I am giving away a copy to one randomly chosen person who reposts this post by 11.59pm ACST Sunday 1 Feb.
manchesteruniversitypress.co.uk/9781526179593/
manchesteruniversitypress.co.uk/9781526179593/
Liz Truss used to be a republican and liberal democrat.
youtu.be/2qfg1AQnWIM
youtu.be/2qfg1AQnWIM
1994: Watch Liz Truss Call for Abolition of the Monarchy
YouTube video by ITN Archive
youtu.be
January 31, 2026 at 10:35 AM
Liz Truss used to be a republican and liberal democrat.
youtu.be/2qfg1AQnWIM
youtu.be/2qfg1AQnWIM
Reposted by JamesHobson
Ladybird Nature Corner.
Blackbird.
(Who doesn’t love a blackbird?)
Artist: John Leigh-Pemberton
Blackbird.
(Who doesn’t love a blackbird?)
Artist: John Leigh-Pemberton
January 30, 2026 at 8:23 PM
Ladybird Nature Corner.
Blackbird.
(Who doesn’t love a blackbird?)
Artist: John Leigh-Pemberton
Blackbird.
(Who doesn’t love a blackbird?)
Artist: John Leigh-Pemberton
Reposted by JamesHobson
Every one of homes was under construction during the Labour administration
All Councillor Parsons has done is attend ribbon-cutting ceremonies, pat himself on the back, and cut over 2,000 homes from the council housebuilding programme…
All Councillor Parsons has done is attend ribbon-cutting ceremonies, pat himself on the back, and cut over 2,000 homes from the council housebuilding programme…
January 30, 2026 at 2:18 PM
Every one of homes was under construction during the Labour administration
All Councillor Parsons has done is attend ribbon-cutting ceremonies, pat himself on the back, and cut over 2,000 homes from the council housebuilding programme…
All Councillor Parsons has done is attend ribbon-cutting ceremonies, pat himself on the back, and cut over 2,000 homes from the council housebuilding programme…
Reposted by JamesHobson
The Rest of History is a bit too "What my housemaster told me about the Seventies" for my taste. But I've just booked to hear Rob Colls (who taught me on my Victorian Studies MA course in an earlier life) talk on George Orwell at Waterstones, Market Harborough.
Let's hear it for The Rest is History
Dominic Sandbrook and Tom Holland are defining our national story
By Robert Colls www.newstatesman.com/cultur...
Dominic Sandbrook and Tom Holland are defining our national story
By Robert Colls www.newstatesman.com/cultur...
January 29, 2026 at 4:12 PM
The Rest of History is a bit too "What my housemaster told me about the Seventies" for my taste. But I've just booked to hear Rob Colls (who taught me on my Victorian Studies MA course in an earlier life) talk on George Orwell at Waterstones, Market Harborough.
My god, when Stewart Jackson describes you as 'nasty and unpleasant', you must be horrible indeed.
January 26, 2026 at 4:06 PM
My god, when Stewart Jackson describes you as 'nasty and unpleasant', you must be horrible indeed.
Reposted by JamesHobson
I don't really get why the prevailing opinion is that poor old Andy Burnham is entitled to use the Manchester mayoralty as a springboard for his personal leadership ambitions.
January 26, 2026 at 9:49 AM
I don't really get why the prevailing opinion is that poor old Andy Burnham is entitled to use the Manchester mayoralty as a springboard for his personal leadership ambitions.
Why is he still on X?
BREAKING: Andy Burnham says he has sought permission to stand in the by election.
January 24, 2026 at 5:11 PM
Why is he still on X?
People have short political memories. I still remember Burnham tacking right in the leadership election of 2015 because he though members had nowhere else to go
He is neither radical nor consistent- more like Starmer than different to him.
He is neither radical nor consistent- more like Starmer than different to him.
January 24, 2026 at 9:38 AM
People have short political memories. I still remember Burnham tacking right in the leadership election of 2015 because he though members had nowhere else to go
He is neither radical nor consistent- more like Starmer than different to him.
He is neither radical nor consistent- more like Starmer than different to him.
In Sept 2014 I stood next to Burnham in Manchester. I was waiting for him to speak at a talk on the NHS. He had already exploited Harry Smith, introducing him and basking in the limelight. He was doing absolutely nothing; I had to leave because I didn't want to be late. He waited until he was late.
January 22, 2026 at 1:01 PM
In Sept 2014 I stood next to Burnham in Manchester. I was waiting for him to speak at a talk on the NHS. He had already exploited Harry Smith, introducing him and basking in the limelight. He was doing absolutely nothing; I had to leave because I didn't want to be late. He waited until he was late.
A weak man, hopelessly over-promoted, whose life is a permanent air-miles freebie and junket
I represented @houseofcommons.parliament.uk at the Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth in New Delhi.
My thanks to the Speaker of the Lok Sabha Shri Om Birla for hosting this valuable exchange among Commonwealth parliamentary leaders.
My thanks to the Speaker of the Lok Sabha Shri Om Birla for hosting this valuable exchange among Commonwealth parliamentary leaders.
January 22, 2026 at 12:57 PM
A weak man, hopelessly over-promoted, whose life is a permanent air-miles freebie and junket
Reposted by JamesHobson
George Jacob Holyoake, the great Owenite socialist, co-operator, secularist and Chartist, died in Brighton #OnThisDay 22 January 1906 aged 88. He is buried in Highgate Cemetery.
January 22, 2026 at 8:08 AM
George Jacob Holyoake, the great Owenite socialist, co-operator, secularist and Chartist, died in Brighton #OnThisDay 22 January 1906 aged 88. He is buried in Highgate Cemetery.
Reposted by JamesHobson
At long last Lindsay Hoyle @commonsspeaker.parliament.uk ejects an unruly MP from #PMQs
Couldn’t have happened to a nicer Conservative, Richard Holden, known for Constituency hopping and 10 minutes as Chair of the Conservative Party in Sunak short reign.
Couldn’t have happened to a nicer Conservative, Richard Holden, known for Constituency hopping and 10 minutes as Chair of the Conservative Party in Sunak short reign.
January 21, 2026 at 1:18 PM
At long last Lindsay Hoyle @commonsspeaker.parliament.uk ejects an unruly MP from #PMQs
Couldn’t have happened to a nicer Conservative, Richard Holden, known for Constituency hopping and 10 minutes as Chair of the Conservative Party in Sunak short reign.
Couldn’t have happened to a nicer Conservative, Richard Holden, known for Constituency hopping and 10 minutes as Chair of the Conservative Party in Sunak short reign.
if there is a Labour MP defector, could it be Liverpool MP Dan Carden, who has gone a bit blue Labour recently?
Or that Hinder bloke?
Or that Hinder bloke?
January 16, 2026 at 11:34 AM
if there is a Labour MP defector, could it be Liverpool MP Dan Carden, who has gone a bit blue Labour recently?
Or that Hinder bloke?
Or that Hinder bloke?
I remember listening to something from a few days before the Jenrick thing where Farage says he will announce a *ex-labour MP* next week.
So much of present speculation is pointless, maybe
So much of present speculation is pointless, maybe
January 16, 2026 at 11:33 AM
I remember listening to something from a few days before the Jenrick thing where Farage says he will announce a *ex-labour MP* next week.
So much of present speculation is pointless, maybe
So much of present speculation is pointless, maybe
Reposted by JamesHobson
Remember when the BBC was convinced that if we saw enough of Giles Coren on our screens we would take him to our hearts?
Ynyshir: Giles Coren says hygiene ratings do not apply to Michelin restaurants
Ynyshir: Giles Coren says hygiene ratings do not apply to Michelin restaurants
The restaurant critic says inspectors should "modernise" after Ynyshir recieved a one-out-of-five hygiene rating.
www.bbc.com
January 15, 2026 at 6:29 PM
Remember when the BBC was convinced that if we saw enough of Giles Coren on our screens we would take him to our hearts?
Things are so truly terrible that I now wish for the renaissance of the Conservative Party.
Better the bastards than the mad bastards.
Better the bastards than the mad bastards.
January 15, 2026 at 5:07 PM
Things are so truly terrible that I now wish for the renaissance of the Conservative Party.
Better the bastards than the mad bastards.
Better the bastards than the mad bastards.
Reposted by JamesHobson
Nick Timothy, of antisemitic Soros conspiracy theory infamy, who masterminded Theresa May's throwing away of her majority.
Truly the Tories are blessed with talents.
Truly the Tories are blessed with talents.
January 15, 2026 at 5:04 PM
Nick Timothy, of antisemitic Soros conspiracy theory infamy, who masterminded Theresa May's throwing away of her majority.
Truly the Tories are blessed with talents.
Truly the Tories are blessed with talents.
Reposted by JamesHobson
The New Statesman assesses the 'Juke Box Jury' studio audience, 1964:
January 15, 2026 at 4:39 PM
The New Statesman assesses the 'Juke Box Jury' studio audience, 1964:
Reposted by JamesHobson
I’m quite coy about using the word “hate” to describe how I feel about certain public figures. It’s obviously not the most derogatory, but it does imply an opinion of extremes.
Jenrick is one of those, with every bone in my body, hate as a politician.
Jenrick is one of those, with every bone in my body, hate as a politician.
Robert Jenrick, the Tory Shadow Justice Secretary and former Home Office Minister, joining protesters outside an asylum hotel is one of the most disgusting acts by a frontline British politician in living memory.
August 17, 2025 at 8:44 PM
I’m quite coy about using the word “hate” to describe how I feel about certain public figures. It’s obviously not the most derogatory, but it does imply an opinion of extremes.
Jenrick is one of those, with every bone in my body, hate as a politician.
Jenrick is one of those, with every bone in my body, hate as a politician.
With his horrible views on immigration and a clear desire to normalise right wing talking points, how do we know Jenrick isn't going to defect to Labour?
January 15, 2026 at 11:46 AM
With his horrible views on immigration and a clear desire to normalise right wing talking points, how do we know Jenrick isn't going to defect to Labour?
To my George Canning aficionados: I’m thinking about what to do for the anniversary of his death in 2027 (other than get my book out)
Any suggestions? More than happy for people/organisations to reach out - please share with any contacts @bsecs.bsky.social
#heritage #publicengagement #media #18thc
Any suggestions? More than happy for people/organisations to reach out - please share with any contacts @bsecs.bsky.social
#heritage #publicengagement #media #18thc
January 13, 2026 at 7:18 PM
Reposted by JamesHobson
I hate the title and tone of the Lucy Worsley 'Murder Club' series on BBC2. Brutal murders that actually happened narrated as amusingly salacious 'cosy crime'. Horrible.
January 12, 2026 at 9:16 PM
I hate the title and tone of the Lucy Worsley 'Murder Club' series on BBC2. Brutal murders that actually happened narrated as amusingly salacious 'cosy crime'. Horrible.
Another one of my Georgian era books cheap on Kindle. Go on, I could do with the 14p
www.amazon.co.uk/Voices-Georg...
www.amazon.co.uk/Voices-Georg...
Amazon.co.uk
www.amazon.co.uk
January 12, 2026 at 8:17 PM
Another one of my Georgian era books cheap on Kindle. Go on, I could do with the 14p
www.amazon.co.uk/Voices-Georg...
www.amazon.co.uk/Voices-Georg...