Caroline Derbyshire
@morsecat.bsky.social
Former MAT leader.Now working in mentoring and school improvement.
Was not a fan of McSweeney, but he did mastermind a triumphant election campaign. However, gratitude should not have been enough to keep him in the job when he has not been sufficiently values-driven as a Number 10 adviser. Let’s now get bold, inspiring stuff done.
February 8, 2026 at 10:53 PM
Was not a fan of McSweeney, but he did mastermind a triumphant election campaign. However, gratitude should not have been enough to keep him in the job when he has not been sufficiently values-driven as a Number 10 adviser. Let’s now get bold, inspiring stuff done.
The first image may not be the best photo, but it was the best experience because we saw that koala in the wild. Being authentic matters far more than striking the right pose.
February 3, 2026 at 7:12 AM
The first image may not be the best photo, but it was the best experience because we saw that koala in the wild. Being authentic matters far more than striking the right pose.
None of us really knows what has and has not been said and agreed by Starmer and Burnham and most of what I read is speculation, but I do know that if I was Starmer I would have tried to make a pact and have him as my ‘in the tent’ succession plan. Perhaps Burnham would not wait for that. Who knows.
January 26, 2026 at 4:47 AM
None of us really knows what has and has not been said and agreed by Starmer and Burnham and most of what I read is speculation, but I do know that if I was Starmer I would have tried to make a pact and have him as my ‘in the tent’ succession plan. Perhaps Burnham would not wait for that. Who knows.
I never had a Gap Year adventure, going straight from school to Cambridge and then into teaching. So I promised myself we would do it when I stepped away from being a school leader. So here I am in Singapore on a Wednesday in term time. Cheers!
January 20, 2026 at 11:21 PM
I never had a Gap Year adventure, going straight from school to Cambridge and then into teaching. So I promised myself we would do it when I stepped away from being a school leader. So here I am in Singapore on a Wednesday in term time. Cheers!
Whizzing up to the North East to see relatives at this time of year invariably involves a trip to NandonThai in Durham. Almost a tradition.
December 29, 2025 at 8:41 PM
Whizzing up to the North East to see relatives at this time of year invariably involves a trip to NandonThai in Durham. Almost a tradition.
Today a knock on the door. It was our new neighbours with a gift. We’ve become alarmed at knocks following the abuse we received for taking down flags in our village. Our neighbours are immigrants. Their response is significant and why we took action. Everyone is our neighbour. Merry Christmas!
December 25, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Today a knock on the door. It was our new neighbours with a gift. We’ve become alarmed at knocks following the abuse we received for taking down flags in our village. Our neighbours are immigrants. Their response is significant and why we took action. Everyone is our neighbour. Merry Christmas!
I have just heard Lucy Powell describe Farage as the love child of Enoch Powell and Margaret Thatcher. Spot on.
December 2, 2025 at 5:47 PM
I have just heard Lucy Powell describe Farage as the love child of Enoch Powell and Margaret Thatcher. Spot on.
Chris Mason should be sacked. He epitomises everything that needs sorting out at the BBC. I am
So bored of his predictable nonsense.
So bored of his predictable nonsense.
BBC Political Editor Says Rachel Reeves 'Misled' The Public In Run-Up To Budget
www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/bbc-po...
www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/bbc-po...
BBC Political Editor Says Rachel Reeves 'Misled' The Public In Run-Up To Budget
Chris Mason added to the pressure on the chancellor with his shock judgment.
www.huffingtonpost.co.uk
December 1, 2025 at 8:47 AM
Chris Mason should be sacked. He epitomises everything that needs sorting out at the BBC. I am
So bored of his predictable nonsense.
So bored of his predictable nonsense.
The only people I know who live in mansions worth £2 million live in London. None of them made the money to buy these houses through paid employment. There’s an awful lot of rich people moaning at a time when we should be hoping that the poorest in our communities can now live without Food Banks.
December 1, 2025 at 8:38 AM
The only people I know who live in mansions worth £2 million live in London. None of them made the money to buy these houses through paid employment. There’s an awful lot of rich people moaning at a time when we should be hoping that the poorest in our communities can now live without Food Banks.
Reposted by Caroline Derbyshire
For context the 'Middle England' referred to here is the 0.5% of households living in homes worth more than £2 million
November 30, 2025 at 10:27 PM
For context the 'Middle England' referred to here is the 0.5% of households living in homes worth more than £2 million
Nowadays we play ‘People Watching’ as we travel under the Tyne Tunnel to Cullercoats. Back in the day it was always Dire Straits and ‘Tunnel of Love’. Matching the soundtrack to the journey is one of my eccentric habits. Does anyone else do this?
November 30, 2025 at 1:21 PM
Nowadays we play ‘People Watching’ as we travel under the Tyne Tunnel to Cullercoats. Back in the day it was always Dire Straits and ‘Tunnel of Love’. Matching the soundtrack to the journey is one of my eccentric habits. Does anyone else do this?
The BBC One Show does a great job with the National Teaching Awards. It always brings a tear to my eye to hear people on television presenting a positive image of the profession because we are so used to seeing quite the opposite in TV dramas.
November 28, 2025 at 7:37 PM
The BBC One Show does a great job with the National Teaching Awards. It always brings a tear to my eye to hear people on television presenting a positive image of the profession because we are so used to seeing quite the opposite in TV dramas.
Taxing mansions? Yep I agree
Encouraging investment? Yep I agree
Raising living and minimum wages? Yep I agree
Lifting 2 child benefit? Yep, I agree.
Well done on lots of fronts. Now sort out the out-Faraging Farage when discussing immigration.
Encouraging investment? Yep I agree
Raising living and minimum wages? Yep I agree
Lifting 2 child benefit? Yep, I agree.
Well done on lots of fronts. Now sort out the out-Faraging Farage when discussing immigration.
November 27, 2025 at 9:09 AM
Taxing mansions? Yep I agree
Encouraging investment? Yep I agree
Raising living and minimum wages? Yep I agree
Lifting 2 child benefit? Yep, I agree.
Well done on lots of fronts. Now sort out the out-Faraging Farage when discussing immigration.
Encouraging investment? Yep I agree
Raising living and minimum wages? Yep I agree
Lifting 2 child benefit? Yep, I agree.
Well done on lots of fronts. Now sort out the out-Faraging Farage when discussing immigration.
Reposted by Caroline Derbyshire
If multiple people can remember someone being horribly racist, even by the appalling low bar of the racist 1970s, that is entirely noteworthy.
As an adult Farage fanboyed Enoch Powell - the most infamous racist of the 1960s - and long cited him as his political hero.
And that's noteworthy too.
As an adult Farage fanboyed Enoch Powell - the most infamous racist of the 1960s - and long cited him as his political hero.
And that's noteworthy too.
November 25, 2025 at 2:23 PM
If multiple people can remember someone being horribly racist, even by the appalling low bar of the racist 1970s, that is entirely noteworthy.
As an adult Farage fanboyed Enoch Powell - the most infamous racist of the 1960s - and long cited him as his political hero.
And that's noteworthy too.
As an adult Farage fanboyed Enoch Powell - the most infamous racist of the 1960s - and long cited him as his political hero.
And that's noteworthy too.
Reposted by Caroline Derbyshire
‘A Jewish former classmate of Nigel Farage has told the BBC the Reform UK leader is being "fundamentally dishonest" by suggesting former pupils who say they witnessed his racism are not telling the truth.
Peter Ettedgui said Farage had repeatedly told him "Hitler was right" and "gas them"…’
Peter Ettedgui said Farage had repeatedly told him "Hitler was right" and "gas them"…’
Nigel Farage's racism denials are dishonest, says ex-classmate
Peter Ettedgui tells the BBC Nigel Farage targeted antisemitic abuse at him when they were teenagers.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 25, 2025 at 8:06 PM
‘A Jewish former classmate of Nigel Farage has told the BBC the Reform UK leader is being "fundamentally dishonest" by suggesting former pupils who say they witnessed his racism are not telling the truth.
Peter Ettedgui said Farage had repeatedly told him "Hitler was right" and "gas them"…’
Peter Ettedgui said Farage had repeatedly told him "Hitler was right" and "gas them"…’
There has been so much disinformation about the budget floating about for weeks now from the likes of The Telegraph. What on earth will they fabricate or falsely speculate over once tomorrow has come? Perhaps they might like to do some good old-fashioned news reporting instead.
November 25, 2025 at 7:14 PM
There has been so much disinformation about the budget floating about for weeks now from the likes of The Telegraph. What on earth will they fabricate or falsely speculate over once tomorrow has come? Perhaps they might like to do some good old-fashioned news reporting instead.
So while I was worrying about the sick children who had returned from a ski trip to Italy in February 2020 and wondering whether they had this scary Covid thing and what to do about it, Johnson was living out a Great Escape fantasy on his motorbike toy and having some days off. Never forget!
November 23, 2025 at 2:31 PM
So while I was worrying about the sick children who had returned from a ski trip to Italy in February 2020 and wondering whether they had this scary Covid thing and what to do about it, Johnson was living out a Great Escape fantasy on his motorbike toy and having some days off. Never forget!
Polanski went to private school, Farage went to private school, Badenoch went to private school. You can either conclude that their education gave them special agency and/or you can argue that they should not be trusted with any decisions over our state education system.
November 20, 2025 at 11:18 AM
Polanski went to private school, Farage went to private school, Badenoch went to private school. You can either conclude that their education gave them special agency and/or you can argue that they should not be trusted with any decisions over our state education system.
Today at The Comprehensive Futures AGM we heard about the devastating impact on self-belief that failing the 11+ has on young children, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds. Why does selection at 11 still happen in English state schools? It makes a mockery of the idea of inclusion.
November 19, 2025 at 11:39 PM
Today at The Comprehensive Futures AGM we heard about the devastating impact on self-belief that failing the 11+ has on young children, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds. Why does selection at 11 still happen in English state schools? It makes a mockery of the idea of inclusion.
Reposted by Caroline Derbyshire
Exclusive: ‘Deeply shocking’: Nigel Farage faces fresh claims of racism and antisemitism at school
Bafta-winning director among contemporaries urging contrition and apology from Reform UK leader, who denies the allegations
w/ Dan Boffey and @drblacklock.bsky.social
Bafta-winning director among contemporaries urging contrition and apology from Reform UK leader, who denies the allegations
w/ Dan Boffey and @drblacklock.bsky.social
‘Deeply shocking’: Nigel Farage faces fresh claims of racism and antisemitism at school
Bafta-winning director among contemporaries urging contrition and apology from Reform UK leader, who denies the allegations
www.theguardian.com
November 18, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Exclusive: ‘Deeply shocking’: Nigel Farage faces fresh claims of racism and antisemitism at school
Bafta-winning director among contemporaries urging contrition and apology from Reform UK leader, who denies the allegations
w/ Dan Boffey and @drblacklock.bsky.social
Bafta-winning director among contemporaries urging contrition and apology from Reform UK leader, who denies the allegations
w/ Dan Boffey and @drblacklock.bsky.social
I tend to agree. The Government has my support on many things, but its approach to immigration is not helpful and is disillusioning its voting base amongst those in the public services.
By mimicking Reform to win back support, the Labour government is making a serious mistake. This race to the bottom emboldens Farage, punishes vulnerable people, amplifies racism, and undermines those working to hold communities together.
November 18, 2025 at 9:20 PM
I tend to agree. The Government has my support on many things, but its approach to immigration is not helpful and is disillusioning its voting base amongst those in the public services.
We took the third set of flags down that had been put up in our village. We went in daylight, openly, chatting as we went to so many supportive people. We were thanked and bought cookies in thanks from the village cafe.
November 15, 2025 at 9:35 AM
We took the third set of flags down that had been put up in our village. We went in daylight, openly, chatting as we went to so many supportive people. We were thanked and bought cookies in thanks from the village cafe.
Reposted by Caroline Derbyshire
The Lee Miller exhibition at Tate Britain has the lot: glamour, wit, play, brutal honesty, important exposure of brutality and a celebration of the efforts of women in war. I thoroughly recommend it as an antidote to jingoism and shallow but performative remembrance.
November 2, 2025 at 7:00 PM
The Lee Miller exhibition at Tate Britain has the lot: glamour, wit, play, brutal honesty, important exposure of brutality and a celebration of the efforts of women in war. I thoroughly recommend it as an antidote to jingoism and shallow but performative remembrance.
Reposted by Caroline Derbyshire
Farage’s claim that flag mania was down to ordinary citizens couldn’t be further from the truth. Brilliant expose via @manchestermill.bsky.social.
manchestermill.co.uk/the-men-who-...
manchestermill.co.uk/the-men-who-...
The men who raised the flags
Nigel Farage says this summer’s movement was led by ‘ordinary people’ expressing their patriotism. That’s not what we found
manchestermill.co.uk
November 2, 2025 at 7:45 AM
Farage’s claim that flag mania was down to ordinary citizens couldn’t be further from the truth. Brilliant expose via @manchestermill.bsky.social.
manchestermill.co.uk/the-men-who-...
manchestermill.co.uk/the-men-who-...