Judith Fairbairn
@judithfairbairn.bsky.social
Enjoy discussing public service, education and urban planning.
PhD from UCL Institute of Education. Career in language testing.
Co-author https://api.equinoxpub.com/books/2874 and https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ1210080
🇬🇧 🇨🇦
PhD from UCL Institute of Education. Career in language testing.
Co-author https://api.equinoxpub.com/books/2874 and https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ1210080
🇬🇧 🇨🇦
Reposted by Judith Fairbairn
there is merch for this lifestyle in case you were wondering.
November 12, 2025 at 1:41 PM
there is merch for this lifestyle in case you were wondering.
Billionaires shouldn't be able to buy a bigger voice in politics. Add your name to @electoralreform.bsky.social's call to put a cap on how much they can donate in the #ElectionsBill
action.electoral-reform.org.uk/page/179420/...
action.electoral-reform.org.uk/page/179420/...
Sign now to demand an end to big money in politics
It takes 30 seconds
action.electoral-reform.org.uk
November 18, 2025 at 4:12 PM
Billionaires shouldn't be able to buy a bigger voice in politics. Add your name to @electoralreform.bsky.social's call to put a cap on how much they can donate in the #ElectionsBill
action.electoral-reform.org.uk/page/179420/...
action.electoral-reform.org.uk/page/179420/...
Reposted by Judith Fairbairn
Taxes will almost certainly have to go up to pay for this “success”
November 18, 2025 at 12:57 PM
Taxes will almost certainly have to go up to pay for this “success”
Reposted by Judith Fairbairn
View from the very apolitical mid-thirties guys in my office today - I guess you need to have controls, but you can’t help feeling sorry for the migrants and don’t we need some of them anyway?
November 17, 2025 at 12:40 PM
View from the very apolitical mid-thirties guys in my office today - I guess you need to have controls, but you can’t help feeling sorry for the migrants and don’t we need some of them anyway?
Reposted by Judith Fairbairn
We should stop the boats because it's dangerous, and we should stop the scapegoating of immigrants because it's wrong and cruel.
Controlled migration is good for the country, helps build our economy and diversity strengthens our communities. (1/6) 🧵
Controlled migration is good for the country, helps build our economy and diversity strengthens our communities. (1/6) 🧵
November 17, 2025 at 11:03 AM
We should stop the boats because it's dangerous, and we should stop the scapegoating of immigrants because it's wrong and cruel.
Controlled migration is good for the country, helps build our economy and diversity strengthens our communities. (1/6) 🧵
Controlled migration is good for the country, helps build our economy and diversity strengthens our communities. (1/6) 🧵
Reposted by Judith Fairbairn
Reposted by Judith Fairbairn
Part of the government’s work to make rail fares and tickets more convenient, accessible and flexible, as we move towards Great British Railways, is seeing better technology for tickets rolled out.
Today's announced sees tap-in/tap-out installed at 50 stations across the South East of England.
1/2
Today's announced sees tap-in/tap-out installed at 50 stations across the South East of England.
1/2
Simpler train travel to London airports as tap-in, tap-out expanded across south-east England
Buying tickets will be more convenient, more accessible and more flexible, ensuring passengers can get the best fares.
www.gov.uk
November 17, 2025 at 7:01 AM
Part of the government’s work to make rail fares and tickets more convenient, accessible and flexible, as we move towards Great British Railways, is seeing better technology for tickets rolled out.
Today's announced sees tap-in/tap-out installed at 50 stations across the South East of England.
1/2
Today's announced sees tap-in/tap-out installed at 50 stations across the South East of England.
1/2
Reposted by Judith Fairbairn
A rare serious debate about the UK economy. Also showing why so few politicians want this. Because our economic strengths are inconveniently linked to migration, and an ageing population is simply going to be more costly in taxes.
What you won't hear in the budget...
What you won't hear in the budget...
New essay out today by me and @acjsissons.bsky.social - ‘Getting Britain out of the hole: a plan for the economy’. You can read the whole thing here getting-out-of-the-hole.uk
A chart mega-thread follows 🧵
A chart mega-thread follows 🧵
Getting Britain out of the hole
A plan for the UK economy
getting-out-of-the-hole.uk
November 17, 2025 at 8:28 AM
A rare serious debate about the UK economy. Also showing why so few politicians want this. Because our economic strengths are inconveniently linked to migration, and an ageing population is simply going to be more costly in taxes.
What you won't hear in the budget...
What you won't hear in the budget...
Reposted by Judith Fairbairn
New essay out today by me and @acjsissons.bsky.social - ‘Getting Britain out of the hole: a plan for the economy’. You can read the whole thing here getting-out-of-the-hole.uk
A chart mega-thread follows 🧵
A chart mega-thread follows 🧵
Getting Britain out of the hole
A plan for the UK economy
getting-out-of-the-hole.uk
November 17, 2025 at 8:00 AM
New essay out today by me and @acjsissons.bsky.social - ‘Getting Britain out of the hole: a plan for the economy’. You can read the whole thing here getting-out-of-the-hole.uk
A chart mega-thread follows 🧵
A chart mega-thread follows 🧵
Reposted by Judith Fairbairn
Paris very effectively closes school streets to cars with this one simple trick, a swinging gate. These can be closed at all hours or just when school is in session. Fire trucks swing them open for easy access, as needed.
November 17, 2025 at 1:26 AM
Paris very effectively closes school streets to cars with this one simple trick, a swinging gate. These can be closed at all hours or just when school is in session. Fire trucks swing them open for easy access, as needed.
Reposted by Judith Fairbairn
Indeed. Although also consider: how much of people's current lifestyle pressures come from having to spend 15-20% of their household income on running a car?
November 16, 2025 at 5:54 PM
Indeed. Although also consider: how much of people's current lifestyle pressures come from having to spend 15-20% of their household income on running a car?
Reposted by Judith Fairbairn
Yes. Public broadcasting is critical to democracy.
November 13, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Yes. Public broadcasting is critical to democracy.
Reposted by Judith Fairbairn
This resident is objecting to the new Lime scooter station because - not a joke - it's "ruining her view."
This is what we're up against when we push for more micromobility.
vancouversun.com/news/east-va...
This is what we're up against when we push for more micromobility.
vancouversun.com/news/east-va...
'We had no recourse': East Vancouver residents object to new e-scooter docking stations
During its first phase in Vancouver, Lime introduced e-scooters and docking stations in the Hastings-Sunrise and Grandview-Woodland areas.
vancouversun.com
November 16, 2025 at 8:49 PM
This resident is objecting to the new Lime scooter station because - not a joke - it's "ruining her view."
This is what we're up against when we push for more micromobility.
vancouversun.com/news/east-va...
This is what we're up against when we push for more micromobility.
vancouversun.com/news/east-va...
Reposted by Judith Fairbairn
London is also diverse. It's hugely multicultural, and it's a largely tolerant and welcoming place.
Sure it has it's problems and the housing crisis is a big one.
But the haters don't hate this city because of that.
They hate it because it stands as living proof that multiculturalism works.
Sure it has it's problems and the housing crisis is a big one.
But the haters don't hate this city because of that.
They hate it because it stands as living proof that multiculturalism works.
November 16, 2025 at 5:31 PM
London is also diverse. It's hugely multicultural, and it's a largely tolerant and welcoming place.
Sure it has it's problems and the housing crisis is a big one.
But the haters don't hate this city because of that.
They hate it because it stands as living proof that multiculturalism works.
Sure it has it's problems and the housing crisis is a big one.
But the haters don't hate this city because of that.
They hate it because it stands as living proof that multiculturalism works.
Reposted by Judith Fairbairn
I was tagged and asked to take a look at this claim - cos, well just look at it!🙄
Does it seem plausible that THE Trocadero is going to be turned into a Mosque?
It was pretty easy to debunk but I decided to do a deep dive into the reality AND the appalling press coverage
🧵
1/26
Does it seem plausible that THE Trocadero is going to be turned into a Mosque?
It was pretty easy to debunk but I decided to do a deep dive into the reality AND the appalling press coverage
🧵
1/26
November 16, 2025 at 11:38 AM
I was tagged and asked to take a look at this claim - cos, well just look at it!🙄
Does it seem plausible that THE Trocadero is going to be turned into a Mosque?
It was pretty easy to debunk but I decided to do a deep dive into the reality AND the appalling press coverage
🧵
1/26
Does it seem plausible that THE Trocadero is going to be turned into a Mosque?
It was pretty easy to debunk but I decided to do a deep dive into the reality AND the appalling press coverage
🧵
1/26
Reposted by Judith Fairbairn
Especially as it’s something you should be able to understand based on your own anecdotal experience alone.
Are British tourists, upon discovering the receptionist at their hotel in Thailand speaks perfect English, really going “I assume he is equally fluent in Norwegian and Greek”?
Are British tourists, upon discovering the receptionist at their hotel in Thailand speaks perfect English, really going “I assume he is equally fluent in Norwegian and Greek”?
November 16, 2025 at 12:17 PM
Especially as it’s something you should be able to understand based on your own anecdotal experience alone.
Are British tourists, upon discovering the receptionist at their hotel in Thailand speaks perfect English, really going “I assume he is equally fluent in Norwegian and Greek”?
Are British tourists, upon discovering the receptionist at their hotel in Thailand speaks perfect English, really going “I assume he is equally fluent in Norwegian and Greek”?
Reposted by Judith Fairbairn
The importance of language really cannot be overstated. It hurts my brain that Brits will go on holiday to all four corners of the globe and will find that even in, say, rural Vietnam you can find English speakers, and then wonder why so many refugees choose an English-speaking country
November 16, 2025 at 11:36 AM
The importance of language really cannot be overstated. It hurts my brain that Brits will go on holiday to all four corners of the globe and will find that even in, say, rural Vietnam you can find English speakers, and then wonder why so many refugees choose an English-speaking country
Reposted by Judith Fairbairn
... are you going to go all the way to France and then stop because *channel* despite speaking decent English and no French and 2 of your remaining living human contacts being in the UK rather than France?
November 16, 2025 at 4:28 PM
... are you going to go all the way to France and then stop because *channel* despite speaking decent English and no French and 2 of your remaining living human contacts being in the UK rather than France?
Reposted by Judith Fairbairn
Same reason that anyone else wants to be in the UK not France: language, integration model, more attractive labour market. People in Syria read the Economist too.
November 16, 2025 at 11:10 AM
Same reason that anyone else wants to be in the UK not France: language, integration model, more attractive labour market. People in Syria read the Economist too.
Reposted by Judith Fairbairn
The obvious change would be to make working pensioners pay NI.
November 16, 2025 at 9:48 AM
The obvious change would be to make working pensioners pay NI.
Reposted by Judith Fairbairn
A great thread from Emma, drivel-debunker extraordinaire
It blows my mind that there are real people who see a post like this and actually believe the whole “Christmas is being cancelled by Muslims” BS 🙄
Let’s have a quick look at what’s happening to Sheffield so you can put your Express reading uncle’s mind at ease!😆
1/15
🧵
Let’s have a quick look at what’s happening to Sheffield so you can put your Express reading uncle’s mind at ease!😆
1/15
🧵
November 9, 2025 at 11:50 AM
A great thread from Emma, drivel-debunker extraordinaire
Reposted by Judith Fairbairn
the right winger who was appointed to lead the BBC in the hope of appeasing right wingers has been driven out by right wingers for not appeasing right wingers enough and the BBC has the chance to do the funniest thing ever
November 9, 2025 at 6:38 PM
the right winger who was appointed to lead the BBC in the hope of appeasing right wingers has been driven out by right wingers for not appeasing right wingers enough and the BBC has the chance to do the funniest thing ever
Reposted by Judith Fairbairn
Everything on our news agenda is being driven by a corrupted disinformation machine, run by a billionaire who sponsors Tommy Robinson and who keeps trying to foment civil war in the UK.
And incredibly our MPs & news providers stay there.
THAT is the problem. Not some bad editing choice on the BBC.
And incredibly our MPs & news providers stay there.
THAT is the problem. Not some bad editing choice on the BBC.
November 10, 2025 at 9:18 AM
Everything on our news agenda is being driven by a corrupted disinformation machine, run by a billionaire who sponsors Tommy Robinson and who keeps trying to foment civil war in the UK.
And incredibly our MPs & news providers stay there.
THAT is the problem. Not some bad editing choice on the BBC.
And incredibly our MPs & news providers stay there.
THAT is the problem. Not some bad editing choice on the BBC.
Reposted by Judith Fairbairn
Apart from all the rest, this is completely incompatible with encouraging integration.
Even children born in the UK to refugees will presumably have to be prepared for the possibility that at any moment they and they’re parents will be deported to somewhere they’ve never been.
Even children born in the UK to refugees will presumably have to be prepared for the possibility that at any moment they and they’re parents will be deported to somewhere they’ve never been.
Shabana Mahmood plans to extend the period refugees have to wait for permanent residence in the UK to 20 years, during which time their status will be under repeated review
November 16, 2025 at 7:24 AM
Apart from all the rest, this is completely incompatible with encouraging integration.
Even children born in the UK to refugees will presumably have to be prepared for the possibility that at any moment they and they’re parents will be deported to somewhere they’ve never been.
Even children born in the UK to refugees will presumably have to be prepared for the possibility that at any moment they and they’re parents will be deported to somewhere they’ve never been.
Reposted by Judith Fairbairn
Powerful words from @alexnurse.bsky.social - who simply doesn’t want to be killed while commuting to and from work
'I don't want to be an obituary in the ECHO, we need change'
Dad-of-two writes powerful letter after facing near-death experiences on the roads of Liverpool
www.liverpoolecho.co.uk
November 16, 2025 at 7:37 AM
Powerful words from @alexnurse.bsky.social - who simply doesn’t want to be killed while commuting to and from work