Phil Harrison
@mrpmharrison.bsky.social
Journalism, constructive moaning, weird music, telly, LUFC, all the usual shit.
Wanting to defend the BBC is nothing to do with 'privilege' and even that implication is ridiculous.
Where do these 'outsiders' imagine people will get their news from in the BBC's absence? Novara? Byline Times?
The BBC's disappearance would just drag the Overton Window still further to the right.
Where do these 'outsiders' imagine people will get their news from in the BBC's absence? Novara? Byline Times?
The BBC's disappearance would just drag the Overton Window still further to the right.
Revealing division in my timeline between (1) my insider friends who have lived privileged lives who are very keen that we defend the BBC and think it's important it survives and (2) my outsider friends who feel (at best) ambivalent about the BBC's survival.
November 11, 2025 at 1:11 PM
Wanting to defend the BBC is nothing to do with 'privilege' and even that implication is ridiculous.
Where do these 'outsiders' imagine people will get their news from in the BBC's absence? Novara? Byline Times?
The BBC's disappearance would just drag the Overton Window still further to the right.
Where do these 'outsiders' imagine people will get their news from in the BBC's absence? Novara? Byline Times?
The BBC's disappearance would just drag the Overton Window still further to the right.
I hate the way telephone hold queues make people behave. It's another miserable branch of enshittification. Just concluded a labrynthine issue with O2 - and by the time I got through to someone who was a) nice and b) able and willing to help, I was in a murderous mood and frankly, not at my best!
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November 11, 2025 at 12:17 PM
I hate the way telephone hold queues make people behave. It's another miserable branch of enshittification. Just concluded a labrynthine issue with O2 - and by the time I got through to someone who was a) nice and b) able and willing to help, I was in a murderous mood and frankly, not at my best!
1
1
Nothing says 'Maximum Alpha' like building a 'sexy' chatbot and programming it to tell you it loves you.
November 11, 2025 at 9:31 AM
Nothing says 'Maximum Alpha' like building a 'sexy' chatbot and programming it to tell you it loves you.
This is a brilliant, heartbreaking piece of writing.
When I met Craig he was 13 and homeless. I still thought his life might turn around. I was tragically wrong
When I met Craig he was 13 and homeless. I still thought his life might turn around. I was tragically wrong
The long read: I knew he was running away from something. It wasn’t until many years later that I discovered the truth
www.theguardian.com
November 11, 2025 at 9:29 AM
This is a brilliant, heartbreaking piece of writing.
I think I do understand it but none of it reflects well on them.
They are terrified. Terrified of the right wing media, terrified of Farage and most of all, terrified of Trump.
Everyone in this govt will look back in 20 years and regret their cowardice. But that's how cowardice works isn't it?
They are terrified. Terrified of the right wing media, terrified of Farage and most of all, terrified of Trump.
Everyone in this govt will look back in 20 years and regret their cowardice. But that's how cowardice works isn't it?
I do not understand the Labour government's reticence over defending the BBC and social media regulation. Their long-term survival basically depends on it. Their cowardice in the face of it may be the single thing they are most remembered for.
on.ft.com/3JVxC1Z via @FT
on.ft.com/3JVxC1Z via @FT
BBC faces ‘existential’ threat after exit of top executives
Broadcaster’s deepest crisis in recent history comes amid fresh questions over its future role in British society
on.ft.com
November 11, 2025 at 8:45 AM
I think I do understand it but none of it reflects well on them.
They are terrified. Terrified of the right wing media, terrified of Farage and most of all, terrified of Trump.
Everyone in this govt will look back in 20 years and regret their cowardice. But that's how cowardice works isn't it?
They are terrified. Terrified of the right wing media, terrified of Farage and most of all, terrified of Trump.
Everyone in this govt will look back in 20 years and regret their cowardice. But that's how cowardice works isn't it?
Late-dropping album of the year contender. I needed this mind-wiping madness tonight!
youtu.be/wZn36PEB834?...
youtu.be/wZn36PEB834?...
And Music Shall Untune the Sky
YouTube video by Earth Ball - Topic
youtu.be
November 10, 2025 at 10:22 PM
Late-dropping album of the year contender. I needed this mind-wiping madness tonight!
youtu.be/wZn36PEB834?...
youtu.be/wZn36PEB834?...
Probably not worth bothering at this point guys...
Your Party row erupts over hundreds of thousands of pounds in donations
Your Party row erupts over hundreds of thousands of pounds in donations
Corbyn and Sultana clash comes after months of fighting between the pair both jostling to be leader of populist left
The feud between Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana over the future of a left wing party took another twist as the two camps argued publicly over hundreds of thousands of pounds in donations.
Sultana on Monday offered to transfer £600,000 from a company which the party’s founders set up earlier this year, only to be rebuffed by allies of Corbyn who accused her of playing “political games” with supporters’ money. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
November 10, 2025 at 9:37 PM
Probably not worth bothering at this point guys...
Reposted by Phil Harrison
Be much easier to just say "I'm a massive racist" and have done with it.
November 10, 2025 at 7:38 PM
Be much easier to just say "I'm a massive racist" and have done with it.
I suspect if we lost the Beeb it would be a 'You don't know what you've got 'til it's gone' thing.
The news dept has been horrific for a while. But that's a tiny fraction of what it does. It maintains such an important set of principles and that's why the right hates it.
The news dept has been horrific for a while. But that's a tiny fraction of what it does. It maintains such an important set of principles and that's why the right hates it.
You wouldn’t believe how far the BBC reaches. The furthest away country, you’ll meet some locals. They ask you if you’re British, they’ll tell you about the BBC.
November 10, 2025 at 6:54 PM
I suspect if we lost the Beeb it would be a 'You don't know what you've got 'til it's gone' thing.
The news dept has been horrific for a while. But that's a tiny fraction of what it does. It maintains such an important set of principles and that's why the right hates it.
The news dept has been horrific for a while. But that's a tiny fraction of what it does. It maintains such an important set of principles and that's why the right hates it.
Not unpersuasive, this theory.
The assumptions of the neolib, 'end of history' era fell apart in the global financial crisis. But rather than try and build something new, we forced austerity onto the people who had done the least to cause the GFC in order to restore the exact system that caused it.
The assumptions of the neolib, 'end of history' era fell apart in the global financial crisis. But rather than try and build something new, we forced austerity onto the people who had done the least to cause the GFC in order to restore the exact system that caused it.
What if... it wasn't the short-20th-century that ended in 1989, but the long-20th-century that ended in 2008.
November 10, 2025 at 6:11 PM
Not unpersuasive, this theory.
The assumptions of the neolib, 'end of history' era fell apart in the global financial crisis. But rather than try and build something new, we forced austerity onto the people who had done the least to cause the GFC in order to restore the exact system that caused it.
The assumptions of the neolib, 'end of history' era fell apart in the global financial crisis. But rather than try and build something new, we forced austerity onto the people who had done the least to cause the GFC in order to restore the exact system that caused it.
Don't ban it. But get the fuck off it!
And start regulating it properly, as a persistent and unrepentent publisher of hate speech. If that means extensive reforms to OFCOM, all the better.
And start regulating it properly, as a persistent and unrepentent publisher of hate speech. If that means extensive reforms to OFCOM, all the better.
genuinely hard to think of another single move the UK govt could do that would do as much good as banning twitter. it's the poison at the root of so much ill
November 10, 2025 at 12:37 PM
Don't ban it. But get the fuck off it!
And start regulating it properly, as a persistent and unrepentent publisher of hate speech. If that means extensive reforms to OFCOM, all the better.
And start regulating it properly, as a persistent and unrepentent publisher of hate speech. If that means extensive reforms to OFCOM, all the better.
Reposted by Phil Harrison
Maybe Keir should demand the heads of major US news networks any time they imply Britain is on the brink of civil war or that we live under sharia law. Or does it not work both ways?
November 10, 2025 at 11:29 AM
Maybe Keir should demand the heads of major US news networks any time they imply Britain is on the brink of civil war or that we live under sharia law. Or does it not work both ways?
This is the heart of all of it.
I'm appalled that Labour doesn't seem to have addressed any of this stuff. Progressives need to be willing to play as dirty as their opponents.
I'm appalled that Labour doesn't seem to have addressed any of this stuff. Progressives need to be willing to play as dirty as their opponents.
Robbie Gibb should quite simply not be in that role. He makes no pretence of his own bias. While he has power the BBC will continue to rot.
November 10, 2025 at 11:49 AM
This is the heart of all of it.
I'm appalled that Labour doesn't seem to have addressed any of this stuff. Progressives need to be willing to play as dirty as their opponents.
I'm appalled that Labour doesn't seem to have addressed any of this stuff. Progressives need to be willing to play as dirty as their opponents.
Reposted by Phil Harrison
What bothers me is that impartiality and balance are two different and incompatible things. Impartiality means that you don't intervene to put your thumb on the scales. Balance necessarily requires that you intervene to artificially make every issue look like a 50/50.
November 10, 2025 at 10:49 AM
What bothers me is that impartiality and balance are two different and incompatible things. Impartiality means that you don't intervene to put your thumb on the scales. Balance necessarily requires that you intervene to artificially make every issue look like a 50/50.
Another entry for the bulging 'Shit Old Days' file.
Drink driving was *way* less taboo even 30 years ago than it is now. People I knew used to do it all the time. Not proper hammered but certainly well refreshed. I wince when I think about it.
Drink driving was *way* less taboo even 30 years ago than it is now. People I knew used to do it all the time. Not proper hammered but certainly well refreshed. I wince when I think about it.
November 10, 2025 at 10:22 AM
Another entry for the bulging 'Shit Old Days' file.
Drink driving was *way* less taboo even 30 years ago than it is now. People I knew used to do it all the time. Not proper hammered but certainly well refreshed. I wince when I think about it.
Drink driving was *way* less taboo even 30 years ago than it is now. People I knew used to do it all the time. Not proper hammered but certainly well refreshed. I wince when I think about it.
Reposted by Phil Harrison
This line from Katie Razzall's report suggesting that the board actively prevented the BBC from getting on the front foot about this makes the whole thing feel even more murky. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
November 10, 2025 at 9:55 AM
This line from Katie Razzall's report suggesting that the board actively prevented the BBC from getting on the front foot about this makes the whole thing feel even more murky. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Phil Harrison
![Cartoon by Stephen Collins for The Guardian. Script as follows:
[scene is Winston Churchill in a bbc studio, giving his 'finest hour' speech]
1
CHURCHILL:
The whole fury and might of the enemy must very soon be turned on us.
2
CHURCHILL:
Hitler knows that he will have to break us in this Island or lose the war.
3
CHURCHILL:
If we can stand up to him, all Europe may be free
and the life of the world may move forward into broad, sun-
BBC PRESENTER:
Thank you prime minister
4
BBC PRESENTER:
Mr hitler, your response?
5
HITLER [in the studio]:
Vell zis is hysterical woke nonsense as usual from mr Churchill
6
HITLER:
What we are proposing -
CHURCHILL:
Hang on
7
HITLER:
Let me finish - what we are proposing eez a simple power-sharing arrangement -
8
CHURCHILL:
What's he doing here
BBC PRESENTER:
It's important we hear both sides of the debate
9
CHURCHILL:
This isn't a debate
You don't debate fascists
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HITLER:
Oh here we go with ze Godwins law!
11
HITLER:
Why must you people always compare ze things you don't like to 'fascists, Nazis, Hitler'...
CHURCHILL:
Because you are a fascist Nazi Hit-
12
HITLER [standing up, saluting]:
RAUSS!
BBC PRESENTER:
*Please* Mr Churchill let him speak
[ends]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:4m3we4apbjayclzcnhwe3pfp/bafkreibw4ldc3fhslbvxgy2oqrof2oys5kpgh7zu6a5f3usmx3lf4547qm@jpeg)
Reposted by Phil Harrison
Be clear, the American far right are coming for British democracy.
November 9, 2025 at 8:45 PM
Be clear, the American far right are coming for British democracy.
Reposted by Phil Harrison
Seeing so many posts about who “Starmer and Nandy” will appoint as director general. Easy mistake but the government does not appoint the director general! The BBC board, whose members are appointed for rolling terms by the culture secretary, appoints the director general.
November 9, 2025 at 9:00 PM
Seeing so many posts about who “Starmer and Nandy” will appoint as director general. Easy mistake but the government does not appoint the director general! The BBC board, whose members are appointed for rolling terms by the culture secretary, appoints the director general.
Trying not to get involved in #lufc headloss tonight!
I think there is a good argument that Farke has run out of road. But even so, he sorted us out in 2023, got us up this year and has us going at a point a game in the Prem, despite being let down by recruitment. Deserves a bit of respect.
I think there is a good argument that Farke has run out of road. But even so, he sorted us out in 2023, got us up this year and has us going at a point a game in the Prem, despite being let down by recruitment. Deserves a bit of respect.
November 9, 2025 at 8:02 PM
Trying not to get involved in #lufc headloss tonight!
I think there is a good argument that Farke has run out of road. But even so, he sorted us out in 2023, got us up this year and has us going at a point a game in the Prem, despite being let down by recruitment. Deserves a bit of respect.
I think there is a good argument that Farke has run out of road. But even so, he sorted us out in 2023, got us up this year and has us going at a point a game in the Prem, despite being let down by recruitment. Deserves a bit of respect.
I felt it at the time and nothing since has changed my mind.
Trump winning this time last year was the death of liberal, western democracy as we know/knew it. It killed integrity, accountability, even rationality stone dead. And we are powerless in the face of the consequences of that vote.
Trump winning this time last year was the death of liberal, western democracy as we know/knew it. It killed integrity, accountability, even rationality stone dead. And we are powerless in the face of the consequences of that vote.
Neither Tim Davie nor Deborah Turness incited an insurrection against the US Capitol. Congressman didn’t have to flee for their lives because of a BBC Panorama edit.
That all happened because of President Donald Trump. If he didn’t resign, it’s truly *insane* that anyone else does.
That all happened because of President Donald Trump. If he didn’t resign, it’s truly *insane* that anyone else does.
November 9, 2025 at 7:30 PM
I felt it at the time and nothing since has changed my mind.
Trump winning this time last year was the death of liberal, western democracy as we know/knew it. It killed integrity, accountability, even rationality stone dead. And we are powerless in the face of the consequences of that vote.
Trump winning this time last year was the death of liberal, western democracy as we know/knew it. It killed integrity, accountability, even rationality stone dead. And we are powerless in the face of the consequences of that vote.
I wish I was 100% confident that something like this couldn't happen.
But if post-2015 UK politics has taught us anything, it's that while we might think we've hit the bottom, there's always a hidden trapdoor.
But if post-2015 UK politics has taught us anything, it's that while we might think we've hit the bottom, there's always a hidden trapdoor.
We're about 48 hours from a campaign to get Boris Johnson as the new director general of the BBC
November 9, 2025 at 6:26 PM
I wish I was 100% confident that something like this couldn't happen.
But if post-2015 UK politics has taught us anything, it's that while we might think we've hit the bottom, there's always a hidden trapdoor.
But if post-2015 UK politics has taught us anything, it's that while we might think we've hit the bottom, there's always a hidden trapdoor.
This is Salah's last season in the Prem isn't it? A tiny little loss of sharpness is all it takes. The margins are *so* fine.
November 9, 2025 at 6:10 PM
This is Salah's last season in the Prem isn't it? A tiny little loss of sharpness is all it takes. The margins are *so* fine.
'Candidates to replace him include Matthew Goodwin, Laurence Fox and Chris Mason...'
Political Editor New Statesman “SCOOP: Tim Davie is about to announce his resignation as Director General of the BBC, according to a person familiar with the matter.”
November 9, 2025 at 6:01 PM
'Candidates to replace him include Matthew Goodwin, Laurence Fox and Chris Mason...'