Leo Gibbons
@layog.bsky.social
Failed politician. YIMBY. Linguistics student. Writer and presenter of The Stepping Out of Line Podcast.
Reposted by Leo Gibbons
I’ve been thinking about how no political party quite represents my views.
I’ve outline my ideal policy platform and I ask, which political party do you think best reflects my politics?
open.substack.com/pub/thehotta...
I’ve outline my ideal policy platform and I ask, which political party do you think best reflects my politics?
open.substack.com/pub/thehotta...
What political party should I vote for?
Here is my idea of the perfect policy agenda... but does it make me 'politically homeless?'
open.substack.com
November 10, 2025 at 5:38 PM
I’ve been thinking about how no political party quite represents my views.
I’ve outline my ideal policy platform and I ask, which political party do you think best reflects my politics?
open.substack.com/pub/thehotta...
I’ve outline my ideal policy platform and I ask, which political party do you think best reflects my politics?
open.substack.com/pub/thehotta...
Reposted by Leo Gibbons
This is similar to my views. Neoliberalism never left the Tory Party so any challenge to the economic status quo will only ever be rhetorical. That's why I'm sticking with Labour, they're the closest for me.
I’ve been thinking about how no political party quite represents my views.
I’ve outline my ideal policy platform and I ask, which political party do you think best reflects my politics?
open.substack.com/pub/thehotta...
I’ve outline my ideal policy platform and I ask, which political party do you think best reflects my politics?
open.substack.com/pub/thehotta...
What political party should I vote for?
Here is my idea of the perfect policy agenda... but does it make me 'politically homeless?'
open.substack.com
November 10, 2025 at 5:52 PM
This is similar to my views. Neoliberalism never left the Tory Party so any challenge to the economic status quo will only ever be rhetorical. That's why I'm sticking with Labour, they're the closest for me.
I’ve been thinking about how no political party quite represents my views.
I’ve outline my ideal policy platform and I ask, which political party do you think best reflects my politics?
open.substack.com/pub/thehotta...
I’ve outline my ideal policy platform and I ask, which political party do you think best reflects my politics?
open.substack.com/pub/thehotta...
What political party should I vote for?
Here is my idea of the perfect policy agenda... but does it make me 'politically homeless?'
open.substack.com
November 10, 2025 at 5:38 PM
I’ve been thinking about how no political party quite represents my views.
I’ve outline my ideal policy platform and I ask, which political party do you think best reflects my politics?
open.substack.com/pub/thehotta...
I’ve outline my ideal policy platform and I ask, which political party do you think best reflects my politics?
open.substack.com/pub/thehotta...
A few years about I wrote a blog asking whether I should do an MA and how should I go about choosing one? The response was great - I had loads of great DM chats, and chats over coffee, and these discussions really helped me find the right MA for me.
I am now doing the same for a PhD!
I am now doing the same for a PhD!
A new blog from me where I ask, should I do a PhD?
I am throwing this out to my followers and readers for tips and advice!
open.substack.com/pub/thehotta...
I am throwing this out to my followers and readers for tips and advice!
open.substack.com/pub/thehotta...
I am ‘neurodivergent’, so I guess I should do a PhD...
But where do I start?
open.substack.com
November 7, 2025 at 6:09 PM
A few years about I wrote a blog asking whether I should do an MA and how should I go about choosing one? The response was great - I had loads of great DM chats, and chats over coffee, and these discussions really helped me find the right MA for me.
I am now doing the same for a PhD!
I am now doing the same for a PhD!
Reposted by Leo Gibbons
A new blog from me where I ask, should I do a PhD?
I am throwing this out to my followers and readers for tips and advice!
open.substack.com/pub/thehotta...
I am throwing this out to my followers and readers for tips and advice!
open.substack.com/pub/thehotta...
I am ‘neurodivergent’, so I guess I should do a PhD...
But where do I start?
open.substack.com
November 7, 2025 at 2:06 PM
A new blog from me where I ask, should I do a PhD?
I am throwing this out to my followers and readers for tips and advice!
open.substack.com/pub/thehotta...
I am throwing this out to my followers and readers for tips and advice!
open.substack.com/pub/thehotta...
A new blog from me where I ask, should I do a PhD?
I am throwing this out to my followers and readers for tips and advice!
open.substack.com/pub/thehotta...
I am throwing this out to my followers and readers for tips and advice!
open.substack.com/pub/thehotta...
I am ‘neurodivergent’, so I guess I should do a PhD...
But where do I start?
open.substack.com
November 7, 2025 at 2:06 PM
A new blog from me where I ask, should I do a PhD?
I am throwing this out to my followers and readers for tips and advice!
open.substack.com/pub/thehotta...
I am throwing this out to my followers and readers for tips and advice!
open.substack.com/pub/thehotta...
Reposted by Leo Gibbons
I've written a blog about adverts that get you questioning reality.
open.substack.com/pub/thehotta...
open.substack.com/pub/thehotta...
Dear Transport for London, am I going crazy?
The kids might call this 'gaslighting...'
open.substack.com
November 4, 2025 at 1:26 PM
I've written a blog about adverts that get you questioning reality.
open.substack.com/pub/thehotta...
open.substack.com/pub/thehotta...
I've written a blog about adverts that get you questioning reality.
open.substack.com/pub/thehotta...
open.substack.com/pub/thehotta...
Dear Transport for London, am I going crazy?
The kids might call this 'gaslighting...'
open.substack.com
November 4, 2025 at 1:26 PM
I've written a blog about adverts that get you questioning reality.
open.substack.com/pub/thehotta...
open.substack.com/pub/thehotta...
Reposted by Leo Gibbons
Another incredible story from London Centric. First there were tax-dodging snails, and now we've got unsuspecting gardens masquerading as dens for stolen goods.
Some of the best journalism I've read in a long time.
Some of the best journalism I've read in a long time.
The fun thing about having a small team working with you is you can say "hey you're spending this week digging for stolen mobile phones in London flowerbeds, I promise you it's a thing". www.londoncentric.media/p/london-pho...
London's thieves are burying phones in flowerbeds
The police don't take much interest in returning the stolen devices when they're dug up — so London Centric decided to do it.
www.londoncentric.media
October 30, 2025 at 12:24 PM
Another incredible story from London Centric. First there were tax-dodging snails, and now we've got unsuspecting gardens masquerading as dens for stolen goods.
Some of the best journalism I've read in a long time.
Some of the best journalism I've read in a long time.
Reposted by Leo Gibbons
Another thought on this brilliant story: police orthodoxy in this country is that, best use if straitened resources is to focus on “high impact” crime. Hard to square that with the fact that essentially every serious look into “petty” crime finds it is scarily organised!
The fun thing about having a small team working with you is you can say "hey you're spending this week digging for stolen mobile phones in London flowerbeds, I promise you it's a thing". www.londoncentric.media/p/london-pho...
London's thieves are burying phones in flowerbeds
The police don't take much interest in returning the stolen devices when they're dug up — so London Centric decided to do it.
www.londoncentric.media
October 30, 2025 at 4:18 PM
Another thought on this brilliant story: police orthodoxy in this country is that, best use if straitened resources is to focus on “high impact” crime. Hard to square that with the fact that essentially every serious look into “petty” crime finds it is scarily organised!
Reposted by Leo Gibbons
Head smashing idiocy of the theory aside, I am fascinated as to why 'The Fabians control Labour' has taken off in a way that, say, 'The ASI controls the Tories' simply never did.
Just had lunch with a great friend and colleague who told me solemnly that the Labour Party is now controlled by the Fabians and that Fabians are radical communists. This is my first real world sighting of this amazing idea.
October 30, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Head smashing idiocy of the theory aside, I am fascinated as to why 'The Fabians control Labour' has taken off in a way that, say, 'The ASI controls the Tories' simply never did.
Confirmed. I got a distinction in my dissertation so I have passed my MA with distinction.
a man in a suit and tie wipes his face with a napkin
ALT: a man in a suit and tie wipes his face with a napkin
media.tenor.com
October 30, 2025 at 2:47 PM
Confirmed. I got a distinction in my dissertation so I have passed my MA with distinction.
Reposted by Leo Gibbons
I always find the ‘people with X amount of wealth’ tax results funny because it’s very clear that the British do not consider their home as wealth and if you actually started a property tax at £200k of annual value they would scream bloody murder. But housing is where the wealth is!
Indeed, opposition to taxing most affluent groups is genuinely very low.
There is a danger zone - pensioners, petrol car drivers, small biz - but also a lot of soft targets: banks, gambling companies, oil and gas, landlords etc.
[graph 8]
There is a danger zone - pensioners, petrol car drivers, small biz - but also a lot of soft targets: banks, gambling companies, oil and gas, landlords etc.
[graph 8]
October 29, 2025 at 9:31 AM
I always find the ‘people with X amount of wealth’ tax results funny because it’s very clear that the British do not consider their home as wealth and if you actually started a property tax at £200k of annual value they would scream bloody murder. But housing is where the wealth is!
I’ve written a blog!
It’s about a thrilling subject matter… the lack of floodlit artificial football pitches in London and what it means!
TL;DR, it means people like me will never be able to play a competitive game.
open.substack.com/pub/thehotta...
It’s about a thrilling subject matter… the lack of floodlit artificial football pitches in London and what it means!
TL;DR, it means people like me will never be able to play a competitive game.
open.substack.com/pub/thehotta...
I warn you not to be ordinary, I warn you not to be poor, I warn you not to be bang-average at football
The economics explaining why you can’t get a game.
open.substack.com
October 28, 2025 at 5:57 PM
I’ve written a blog!
It’s about a thrilling subject matter… the lack of floodlit artificial football pitches in London and what it means!
TL;DR, it means people like me will never be able to play a competitive game.
open.substack.com/pub/thehotta...
It’s about a thrilling subject matter… the lack of floodlit artificial football pitches in London and what it means!
TL;DR, it means people like me will never be able to play a competitive game.
open.substack.com/pub/thehotta...
Reposted by Leo Gibbons
Thus isn’t a perfect policy but it is a good thing and definitely better than the status quo. Universal ID offers many benefits.
Every adult in Britain to require new ‘Brit Card’ ID
Every adult in Britain to require new ‘Brit Card’ ID
www.independent.co.uk
September 25, 2025 at 3:36 PM
Thus isn’t a perfect policy but it is a good thing and definitely better than the status quo. Universal ID offers many benefits.
Polling people!
Is there are any polling in the U.K. to suggest that the public PERCEIVE academia to be left-leaning?
I’m not interested in studies on academic bias or left-wing academics vs right-wing academics.
What are the public’s perceptions?
Is there are any polling in the U.K. to suggest that the public PERCEIVE academia to be left-leaning?
I’m not interested in studies on academic bias or left-wing academics vs right-wing academics.
What are the public’s perceptions?
a man is writing prof on a blackboard
ALT: a man is writing prof on a blackboard
media.tenor.com
September 19, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Polling people!
Is there are any polling in the U.K. to suggest that the public PERCEIVE academia to be left-leaning?
I’m not interested in studies on academic bias or left-wing academics vs right-wing academics.
What are the public’s perceptions?
Is there are any polling in the U.K. to suggest that the public PERCEIVE academia to be left-leaning?
I’m not interested in studies on academic bias or left-wing academics vs right-wing academics.
What are the public’s perceptions?
He’s so comically awful haha
September 12, 2025 at 4:42 PM
He’s so comically awful haha
Reposted by Leo Gibbons
oh well, onward and upward
![REPORTER: Mr. President, my condolences to you, Sir. My condolences on the loss of your friend Charlie Kirk. [unintelligible]
How are you holding up over the last day and a half, Sir?
TRUMP: I think very good. And by the way, right there, you see all the trucks? They've just started construction of the new ballroom for the White House, which is something they ve been trying to get, as you know, for about 150 years. And it's gonna be a beauty. Absolutely magnificent construction. We just started, so it'll get done very nicely.
And it will be one of the best anywhere in the world, actually.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:cfy5rgqvohpdqxgu2geb5u2b/bafkreig42mujsiyxozvq3kiayszu47dbk6zds3icm5bwu34twt3d7vbo2q@jpeg)
September 12, 2025 at 3:22 PM
oh well, onward and upward
Reposted by Leo Gibbons
Just utterly horrific, a despicable act, a personal tragedy and an anathema to democracy.
Just in: Donald Trump announced Charlie Kirk's death after the conservative activist was shot on Wednesday. The close ally of the US president was speaking with students at an outside event at Utah Valley University when he was struck in the neck. on.ft.com/48aRc40
September 10, 2025 at 9:18 PM
Just utterly horrific, a despicable act, a personal tragedy and an anathema to democracy.
Reposted by Leo Gibbons
Agree with Sam. There's a weird strain in British politics that just refuses to accept that the big picture story of the 2015 election was 'life was great for c45 per cent of people, and the Conservatives got most of that 45 per cent to vote for them'.
In 2015 wages were rising, inflation was non-existent, the NHS was still doing well, pensions were triple locked. If you were in the Tory base (i.e. not a public sector working or on benefits) things were going well enough.
2017 and 2019 were sui generis elections because of Brexit/Corbyn.
2017 and 2019 were sui generis elections because of Brexit/Corbyn.
September 8, 2025 at 11:20 AM
Agree with Sam. There's a weird strain in British politics that just refuses to accept that the big picture story of the 2015 election was 'life was great for c45 per cent of people, and the Conservatives got most of that 45 per cent to vote for them'.
I want to learn the IPA and do an introduction to phonetics and phonology course.
Anyone know any good courses out there?
Anyone know any good courses out there?
a man in a suit is sitting in a car and says that 's a lovely accent you have ... new jersey
ALT: a man in a suit is sitting in a car and says that 's a lovely accent you have ... new jersey
media.tenor.com
September 5, 2025 at 1:21 PM
I want to learn the IPA and do an introduction to phonetics and phonology course.
Anyone know any good courses out there?
Anyone know any good courses out there?
Blair wrote this in 2010. He was probably keenly aware of this issue much earlier.
Why is politics just an endless conveyor belt of politicians understanding a problem… and then failing to do anything about it?
Why is politics just an endless conveyor belt of politicians understanding a problem… and then failing to do anything about it?
September 4, 2025 at 9:14 PM
Blair wrote this in 2010. He was probably keenly aware of this issue much earlier.
Why is politics just an endless conveyor belt of politicians understanding a problem… and then failing to do anything about it?
Why is politics just an endless conveyor belt of politicians understanding a problem… and then failing to do anything about it?
Reposted by Leo Gibbons
Also bad for other reasons - think 'California Syndrome' is a great coinage for what happens when basically you just have 'all constitutional politics in one party', usually leads to crap governance and general dissatisfaction, even when it is stable.
Once the Right goes crazy enough you get California syndrome, where the entire range of responsible politics has to fit [awkwardly] within a single party that generates no enthusiasm from anyone because it's always doing *something* hateful to every individual
September 3, 2025 at 2:47 PM
Also bad for other reasons - think 'California Syndrome' is a great coinage for what happens when basically you just have 'all constitutional politics in one party', usually leads to crap governance and general dissatisfaction, even when it is stable.
Reposted by Leo Gibbons
Always been true. It's why having a strong, constitutional parties on right and left, committed to free and fair elections, exchanges of power, limits on the executive, rule of law is a really important part of democratic stability, because otherwise you're only one price shock away from the abyss.
Us democrats (LOWER D, DON'T GET EXCITED YANKS) are going to have to start getting it into our heads that a lot of people simply don't care about democracy, because our "we must save democracy from totalitarianism" is absolutely not going to work with people who don't care either way...
Imagine asking people two questions -- whether each of these is a good or bad way to run a govt:
1) having a democratic political system
2) having a strong leader who does not have to bother with parliament and elections
What percent says *both* are good?
44%!
1) having a democratic political system
2) having a strong leader who does not have to bother with parliament and elections
What percent says *both* are good?
44%!
September 3, 2025 at 2:44 PM
Always been true. It's why having a strong, constitutional parties on right and left, committed to free and fair elections, exchanges of power, limits on the executive, rule of law is a really important part of democratic stability, because otherwise you're only one price shock away from the abyss.
It’s more about the profound and rapid demographic, social and cultural change, than numbers on a chart.
A population the size of Leeds entering the country, or a population the size of Bristol entering the country? Both are pretty much equally gobsmacking and appalling to most voters.
A population the size of Leeds entering the country, or a population the size of Bristol entering the country? Both are pretty much equally gobsmacking and appalling to most voters.
net immigration fell by more than half last year and the politics has gone in the complete opposite direction. It's not really about the numbers
September 3, 2025 at 11:23 AM
It’s more about the profound and rapid demographic, social and cultural change, than numbers on a chart.
A population the size of Leeds entering the country, or a population the size of Bristol entering the country? Both are pretty much equally gobsmacking and appalling to most voters.
A population the size of Leeds entering the country, or a population the size of Bristol entering the country? Both are pretty much equally gobsmacking and appalling to most voters.