John Harris
@johnharris1969.bsky.social
Guardian. Free Substack pieces at maybeimamazed.substack.com Plus music writing in MOJO. Maybe I'm Amazed, my new memoir about autism & music, out now. Order here https://linktr.ee/maybeimamazed
Always remember: foreign policy & alliances can be kryptonite for Labour leaders. Witness Blair
January 5, 2026 at 7:33 PM
Always remember: foreign policy & alliances can be kryptonite for Labour leaders. Witness Blair
Reposted by John Harris
amazing how the entire machine can pivot within 24 hours. no need to slowly upsell the argument; just issue new marching orders
January 5, 2026 at 6:50 AM
amazing how the entire machine can pivot within 24 hours. no need to slowly upsell the argument; just issue new marching orders
Whatever line the govt takes, if you want to sample the great cloud of misapprehension and false argument swirling around changes to the SEND system, check out this Times editorial - a prime example of "overdiagnosis" as the bollocksome catch-all explanation for abs. everything archive.is/PZU8b
January 5, 2026 at 1:32 PM
Whatever line the govt takes, if you want to sample the great cloud of misapprehension and false argument swirling around changes to the SEND system, check out this Times editorial - a prime example of "overdiagnosis" as the bollocksome catch-all explanation for abs. everything archive.is/PZU8b
This on the ongoing SEND mess, by @catrionamoore.bsky.social, is a must-read www.specialneedsjungle.com/leaks-denial...
January 5, 2026 at 8:52 AM
This on the ongoing SEND mess, by @catrionamoore.bsky.social, is a must-read www.specialneedsjungle.com/leaks-denial...
Reposted by John Harris
Watch this. Watch again.
"This incredible thing last night... We have to do it again [in other countries]. We can do it again, too. Nobody can stop us."
"This incredible thing last night... We have to do it again [in other countries]. We can do it again, too. Nobody can stop us."
January 4, 2026 at 12:18 AM
Watch this. Watch again.
"This incredible thing last night... We have to do it again [in other countries]. We can do it again, too. Nobody can stop us."
"This incredible thing last night... We have to do it again [in other countries]. We can do it again, too. Nobody can stop us."
Reposted by John Harris
There is a man in our local park with a huge vintage ghetto blaster over his shoulder, smoking weed and blasting out Queen’s Greatest Hits. I do not believe he is a portent of great things to come in 2026.
January 4, 2026 at 10:06 AM
There is a man in our local park with a huge vintage ghetto blaster over his shoulder, smoking weed and blasting out Queen’s Greatest Hits. I do not believe he is a portent of great things to come in 2026.
Plenty of variables, but Farage remains a contender for PM. If so, what's the UK's international role? Airstrip One for a gangster state. Or we reject him, and resume being part of a rules-based Europe. This is the inescapable choice we now face, in shit circs (cos of Brexit, of Farage's making) 1/2
January 4, 2026 at 8:51 AM
Plenty of variables, but Farage remains a contender for PM. If so, what's the UK's international role? Airstrip One for a gangster state. Or we reject him, and resume being part of a rules-based Europe. This is the inescapable choice we now face, in shit circs (cos of Brexit, of Farage's making) 1/2
Latest from me in The Guardian: about how Farage, Jenrick etc won't be beaten until their delusional version of the UK's past is exposed. And why this should happen in the culture (a la Rock Against Racism) rather than through, say, Keir Starmer speeches www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
In 2026, remember this: Britain is much better than it was in so many ways. Don’t swallow the right’s lies | John Harris
Populists rewrite the history of this nation because they were complicit in much of its ugliness. The progressive fightback must start now, says Guardian columnist John Harris
www.theguardian.com
January 4, 2026 at 8:28 AM
Latest from me in The Guardian: about how Farage, Jenrick etc won't be beaten until their delusional version of the UK's past is exposed. And why this should happen in the culture (a la Rock Against Racism) rather than through, say, Keir Starmer speeches www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by John Harris
The cynics think today's attack on Venezuela is staged and transactional. Maduro is allied with Putin, but in 2019 Putin offered Trump a swap: Russia cedes Venezuela and gets Ukraine. (See Fiona Hill's testimony in Trump's first impeachment trial, h/t @davetroy.com). Even Maduro may be in on it. 2/
January 3, 2026 at 4:22 PM
The cynics think today's attack on Venezuela is staged and transactional. Maduro is allied with Putin, but in 2019 Putin offered Trump a swap: Russia cedes Venezuela and gets Ukraine. (See Fiona Hill's testimony in Trump's first impeachment trial, h/t @davetroy.com). Even Maduro may be in on it. 2/
Reposted by John Harris
Well worth a read. And when we're talking about reforms, answers are so tough in part because, as John says, 'spending cuts usually end up making things much more expensive'
With impeccable timing, the Maybe I'm Amazed Substack is back, and it's free maybeimamazed.substack.com/p/and-so-it-...
And so it begins: 2026 will be the year of a huge Special Needs battle, and this is why
Amid briefings, whispers and rumours, off we go: in an increasingly toxic atmosphere, basic educational rights look set to be one of this year's biggest issues
maybeimamazed.substack.com
January 3, 2026 at 11:44 AM
Well worth a read. And when we're talking about reforms, answers are so tough in part because, as John says, 'spending cuts usually end up making things much more expensive'
That Starmer Trump-whisperer thing is well & truly over, if it ever started
January 3, 2026 at 9:01 AM
That Starmer Trump-whisperer thing is well & truly over, if it ever started
Reposted by John Harris
With impeccable timing, the Maybe I'm Amazed Substack is back, and it's free maybeimamazed.substack.com/p/and-so-it-...
And so it begins: 2026 will be the year of a huge Special Needs battle, and this is why
Amid briefings, whispers and rumours, off we go: in an increasingly toxic atmosphere, basic educational rights look set to be one of this year's biggest issues
maybeimamazed.substack.com
January 2, 2026 at 6:21 PM
With impeccable timing, the Maybe I'm Amazed Substack is back, and it's free maybeimamazed.substack.com/p/and-so-it-...
Reposted by John Harris
Excellent article! Thank you to the wonderful John Harris.
If you want to know what all this #SEND worry is about please read.
If you want to know what all this #SEND worry is about please read.
With impeccable timing, the Maybe I'm Amazed Substack is back, and it's free maybeimamazed.substack.com/p/and-so-it-...
And so it begins: 2026 will be the year of a huge Special Needs battle, and this is why
Amid briefings, whispers and rumours, off we go: in an increasingly toxic atmosphere, basic educational rights look set to be one of this year's biggest issues
maybeimamazed.substack.com
January 2, 2026 at 7:05 PM
Excellent article! Thank you to the wonderful John Harris.
If you want to know what all this #SEND worry is about please read.
If you want to know what all this #SEND worry is about please read.
With impeccable timing, the Maybe I'm Amazed Substack is back, and it's free maybeimamazed.substack.com/p/and-so-it-...
And so it begins: 2026 will be the year of a huge Special Needs battle, and this is why
Amid briefings, whispers and rumours, off we go: in an increasingly toxic atmosphere, basic educational rights look set to be one of this year's biggest issues
maybeimamazed.substack.com
January 2, 2026 at 6:21 PM
With impeccable timing, the Maybe I'm Amazed Substack is back, and it's free maybeimamazed.substack.com/p/and-so-it-...
Reposted by John Harris
Our campaign group, #SaveOurChildrensRights is leading this fight and we’re ready- if the government want another benefits fiasco, bring it on. We’re strong, determined SEND parents and aLLM are welcome. Are you with us? Article: archive.is/ARzQU
Socr.org.uk
Socr.org.uk
January 2, 2026 at 8:49 AM
Our campaign group, #SaveOurChildrensRights is leading this fight and we’re ready- if the government want another benefits fiasco, bring it on. We’re strong, determined SEND parents and aLLM are welcome. Are you with us? Article: archive.is/ARzQU
Socr.org.uk
Socr.org.uk
If rumblings about Special Needs changes are true,they'll place huge pressures on schools, in the absence of the necessary resources.Also, taking rights away & putting schools in the driving seat would be a retrogressive move: the Labourism of institutions rather than the empowerment of families 1/2
January 1, 2026 at 9:16 PM
If rumblings about Special Needs changes are true,they'll place huge pressures on schools, in the absence of the necessary resources.Also, taking rights away & putting schools in the driving seat would be a retrogressive move: the Labourism of institutions rather than the empowerment of families 1/2
January 1, 2026 at 9:09 PM
Reposted by John Harris
This Times “speculation” had better be wrong—It would actively cause harm to children—there isn’t the expertise or infrastructure needed for this cruel plan. If it’s accurate, we will campaign against it vigorously. Which parent or school would back it? archive.is/KFcWB
January 1, 2026 at 3:31 PM
This Times “speculation” had better be wrong—It would actively cause harm to children—there isn’t the expertise or infrastructure needed for this cruel plan. If it’s accurate, we will campaign against it vigorously. Which parent or school would back it? archive.is/KFcWB
This is really good www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
When racists shout ‘Go home’, and you come from 15 places, what to do? | Hugh Muir
A DNA test showed me that theoretically I have links to a long list of countries – and that the way we look at belonging makes little sense, says Hugh Muir, executive editor, Opinion
www.theguardian.com
January 1, 2026 at 10:59 AM
This is really good www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by John Harris
Top read each month of 2025. Too many to choose otherwise(107 books this year)
Loved discussing several of these on the podcast.
Which have you read? Any thoughts?
Loved discussing several of these on the podcast.
Which have you read? Any thoughts?
December 31, 2025 at 12:03 PM
Top read each month of 2025. Too many to choose otherwise(107 books this year)
Loved discussing several of these on the podcast.
Which have you read? Any thoughts?
Loved discussing several of these on the podcast.
Which have you read? Any thoughts?
Up with the clouds on Cold Kitchen Hill nr. Warminster today... quite surreal
December 31, 2025 at 5:51 PM
Up with the clouds on Cold Kitchen Hill nr. Warminster today... quite surreal
Reposted by John Harris
Of the #books I have read this year these are my faves. Including @keithcameron2.bsky.social @johnharris1969.bsky.social @atahualpavasari.bsky.social JL Carr was a rediscovery in the lovely new Quince Tree Press edition. #booksofbluesky💙📚 #reading
December 29, 2025 at 10:27 AM
Of the #books I have read this year these are my faves. Including @keithcameron2.bsky.social @johnharris1969.bsky.social @atahualpavasari.bsky.social JL Carr was a rediscovery in the lovely new Quince Tree Press edition. #booksofbluesky💙📚 #reading
Reposted by John Harris
As mentioned in today's episode - two of the extremely positive reviews that 'Stay Together' received upon release, from @mscaitlinmoran.bsky.social at Melody Maker and @johnharris1969.bsky.social at NME respectively.
Listen now to find out how much I agree! (Spoiler - Quite a lot really)
Listen now to find out how much I agree! (Spoiler - Quite a lot really)
December 27, 2025 at 5:09 PM
As mentioned in today's episode - two of the extremely positive reviews that 'Stay Together' received upon release, from @mscaitlinmoran.bsky.social at Melody Maker and @johnharris1969.bsky.social at NME respectively.
Listen now to find out how much I agree! (Spoiler - Quite a lot really)
Listen now to find out how much I agree! (Spoiler - Quite a lot really)
Reposted by John Harris
No.2 in a series #autism #AutismAwareness #thesmiths #Neurodivergent
Order the book (for Christmas) here linktr.ee/maybeimamazed
Order the book (for Christmas) here linktr.ee/maybeimamazed
December 8, 2025 at 5:17 PM
No.2 in a series #autism #AutismAwareness #thesmiths #Neurodivergent
Order the book (for Christmas) here linktr.ee/maybeimamazed
Order the book (for Christmas) here linktr.ee/maybeimamazed
Reposted by John Harris
One of the greatest Christmas traditions, thanks to lovely @rhodri.biz - here's the link to contribute if you can ❤️
Unbelievably, #DuvetKnowItsChristmas generates such good will on social media that over the years we've raised somewhere approaching a quarter of a million quid for homeless charities. If you can spare a bob or two, sling some to Centrepoint, and here's the link: www.gofundme.com/f/duvet-know...
Donate to Duvet Know It's Christmas, 2025, organized by Rhodri Marsden
Unbelievably, it's the 15th year of this thing.
What is it?
Improbably, the nig… Rhodri Marsden needs your support for Duvet Know It's Christmas, 2025
www.gofundme.com
December 24, 2025 at 9:41 PM
One of the greatest Christmas traditions, thanks to lovely @rhodri.biz - here's the link to contribute if you can ❤️