James Loxley
@oldnorthroad.bsky.social
English Lit prof based in Edinburgh. Bisexual English Scot - volatile organic compound - he/they. Roundhead in politics, Cavalier in spirit. Small room dj. Opinions expressed here entirely my personal own.
If this is really what’s going to come out then holy fuck. They’re drenching themselves and their predecessors in kerosene and giving someone else the lighter.
It is worth reminding ourselves here that this - from the main Times politics journos - is not some terrible misfortune out of the blue. It’s the direct consequence of these guys getting absolutely everything they wanted, exactly the way they wanted it, with roaring media support for it.
February 10, 2026 at 11:21 PM
If this is really what’s going to come out then holy fuck. They’re drenching themselves and their predecessors in kerosene and giving someone else the lighter.
Reposted by James Loxley
Reposted by James Loxley
Scotland just made history by passing a world-first Community Wealth Building Bill.
It will ensure public money works harder to benefit local jobs, local businesses and local communities.
Here’s why it matters. 👇
It will ensure public money works harder to benefit local jobs, local businesses and local communities.
Here’s why it matters. 👇
February 10, 2026 at 6:18 PM
Scotland just made history by passing a world-first Community Wealth Building Bill.
It will ensure public money works harder to benefit local jobs, local businesses and local communities.
Here’s why it matters. 👇
It will ensure public money works harder to benefit local jobs, local businesses and local communities.
Here’s why it matters. 👇
‘Like everyone’. Oh my homophobic honey, I don’t know what to tell you.
If you have to wake up and choose not to act on your "gay thoughts" every single day, I have news for you, pet.
February 10, 2026 at 8:06 PM
‘Like everyone’. Oh my homophobic honey, I don’t know what to tell you.
🤮
Wow. What a question. I guess if I HAD to describe my perfect woman it would be body heat and dense skin.
February 10, 2026 at 7:48 PM
🤮
My two new favourite genres:
Polly Toynbee articles earnestly explaining how Keir Starmer can fix all the problems caused by Keir Starmer
Equally earnest responses to Zack Polanski’s skeets by Labour loyalists telling him how he should be attacking Reform, not Starmer.
It’s all so touching 🥹
Polly Toynbee articles earnestly explaining how Keir Starmer can fix all the problems caused by Keir Starmer
Equally earnest responses to Zack Polanski’s skeets by Labour loyalists telling him how he should be attacking Reform, not Starmer.
It’s all so touching 🥹
February 10, 2026 at 7:34 PM
My two new favourite genres:
Polly Toynbee articles earnestly explaining how Keir Starmer can fix all the problems caused by Keir Starmer
Equally earnest responses to Zack Polanski’s skeets by Labour loyalists telling him how he should be attacking Reform, not Starmer.
It’s all so touching 🥹
Polly Toynbee articles earnestly explaining how Keir Starmer can fix all the problems caused by Keir Starmer
Equally earnest responses to Zack Polanski’s skeets by Labour loyalists telling him how he should be attacking Reform, not Starmer.
It’s all so touching 🥹
Free speech latest
This is pretty menacing.
Sarah Pochin wrote to Bangor's university student run debating society requesting that she attend to "answer questions from students."
When they said "no" Reform rolled all it's tanks onto the lawns and said they'll cut funding to the entire university if they win.
Sarah Pochin wrote to Bangor's university student run debating society requesting that she attend to "answer questions from students."
When they said "no" Reform rolled all it's tanks onto the lawns and said they'll cut funding to the entire university if they win.
February 10, 2026 at 8:54 AM
Free speech latest
Now that’s what I call a life goal
Hope to get my dad to take me to Clapham Junction one day.
February 10, 2026 at 8:48 AM
Now that’s what I call a life goal
Reposted by James Loxley
Less than six hours between these posts.
Excellent journalism, Paul. Thank you.
Excellent journalism, Paul. Thank you.
February 9, 2026 at 10:16 PM
Less than six hours between these posts.
Excellent journalism, Paul. Thank you.
Excellent journalism, Paul. Thank you.
Reposted by James Loxley
the use of performance enhancing drugs by olympic athletes is getting out of hand
February 9, 2026 at 9:00 PM
the use of performance enhancing drugs by olympic athletes is getting out of hand
Reposted by James Loxley
Reposted by James Loxley
more ppl need to be pointing out that wes streeting is peter mandelson's protege and that he defended mandelson remaining friends with epstein after he was convicted.
February 5, 2026 at 2:09 PM
more ppl need to be pointing out that wes streeting is peter mandelson's protege and that he defended mandelson remaining friends with epstein after he was convicted.
Reposted by James Loxley
My "I was never friends with Peter Mandelson" t-shirt asks more questions than provides any answers
Ignore the smears: I was never a close friend of Peter Mandelson. And I fully understand the lessons we must learn | Wes Streeting
Ignore the smears: I was never a close friend of Peter Mandelson. And I fully understand the lessons we must learn | Wes Streeting
I knew him but not well, and worry now that he thrived in our political culture. There was a failure of moral seriousness, says health secretary Wes Streeting
www.theguardian.com
February 9, 2026 at 6:56 PM
My "I was never friends with Peter Mandelson" t-shirt asks more questions than provides any answers
Reposted by James Loxley
Good to see Lewis Goodall at least addressing this, a thing nobody else I’ve seen has had a go at.
February 9, 2026 at 6:19 PM
Good to see Lewis Goodall at least addressing this, a thing nobody else I’ve seen has had a go at.
Reposted by James Loxley
I know it’s a very busy day but this story *really* matters
Josh Simons says he hired ‘a PR company’ to investigate a ‘suspected illegal hack’
But if you’re worried about a hack, why pay £30k to a PR firm?
A lot about this story isn’t right. And a cabinet office minister is at the centre of it
Josh Simons says he hired ‘a PR company’ to investigate a ‘suspected illegal hack’
But if you’re worried about a hack, why pay £30k to a PR firm?
A lot about this story isn’t right. And a cabinet office minister is at the centre of it
When he ran Labour Together, Cabinet Office minister Josh Simons hired a PR firm to investigate journalists
After our revelations, and a flurry of news stories, Simons finally gave his side of the story
But it doesn't seem to tally with the facts... 🧵
democracyforsale.substack.com/p/mcsweeney-...
After our revelations, and a flurry of news stories, Simons finally gave his side of the story
But it doesn't seem to tally with the facts... 🧵
democracyforsale.substack.com/p/mcsweeney-...
McSweeney goes - but Josh Simons in the frame over targeting journalists
Cabinet Office minister hired a PR firm to investigate journalists. His explanation is bewildering - and begs one big question. How can Starmer keep him on?
democracyforsale.substack.com
February 9, 2026 at 6:53 PM
I know it’s a very busy day but this story *really* matters
Josh Simons says he hired ‘a PR company’ to investigate a ‘suspected illegal hack’
But if you’re worried about a hack, why pay £30k to a PR firm?
A lot about this story isn’t right. And a cabinet office minister is at the centre of it
Josh Simons says he hired ‘a PR company’ to investigate a ‘suspected illegal hack’
But if you’re worried about a hack, why pay £30k to a PR firm?
A lot about this story isn’t right. And a cabinet office minister is at the centre of it
Reposted by James Loxley
Good judgement. That's what will always make the difference between a successful public leader and an unsuccessful public leader.
February 9, 2026 at 6:15 PM
Good judgement. That's what will always make the difference between a successful public leader and an unsuccessful public leader.
Reposted by James Loxley
Macbeth: SHIT
February 9, 2026 at 2:50 AM
Macbeth: SHIT
Heuristically ignoring the sarcasm here, this is probably where Anas Sarwar finds out that the ‘Scottish when I want to be, British when I don’t’ rule can also be used against him.
I’m standing outside a Commons committee room where Keir Starmer has walked in to a mass of loud applause from his MPs. It was very loud. Well, that settles it. He’s 100% safe now.
February 9, 2026 at 6:08 PM
Heuristically ignoring the sarcasm here, this is probably where Anas Sarwar finds out that the ‘Scottish when I want to be, British when I don’t’ rule can also be used against him.
That loud cackling you can hear is coming from SNP HQ.
Feels from talking to Labour MPs today that Starmer is probably safe for today.
It was only in Wes Streeting's interest for Starmer to be forced out now and Sarwar's attack doesn't seem to have started the snowballing his allies hoped for.
It was only in Wes Streeting's interest for Starmer to be forced out now and Sarwar's attack doesn't seem to have started the snowballing his allies hoped for.
February 9, 2026 at 6:02 PM
That loud cackling you can hear is coming from SNP HQ.
Reposted by James Loxley
Desperation and delusion more like. This will just leave Sarwar looking impotent. Labour’s success in Scotland at GE2024 was nothing to do with him, and its fate in the Holyrood election this year is just as completely beyond his control. That’s unionism, baybeeee!
Sarwar has shown his ruthless streak. But will his swipe at Starmer mean anything to voters?
Sarwar has shown his ruthless streak. But will his swipe at Starmer mean anything to voters?
Scottish Labour leader is gambling that by declaring his loyalty to Scotland, the electorate will rally behind him
www.theguardian.com
February 9, 2026 at 5:26 PM
Desperation and delusion more like. This will just leave Sarwar looking impotent. Labour’s success in Scotland at GE2024 was nothing to do with him, and its fate in the Holyrood election this year is just as completely beyond his control. That’s unionism, baybeeee!
Reposted by James Loxley
Olivia Colman ‘always sort of felt nonbinary’ and calls herself a ‘gay man’ to husband
metro.co.uk/2026/02/08/o...
metro.co.uk/2026/02/08/o...
Olivia Colman says she feels nonbinary and calls herself a 'gay man' to husband
She's not 'massively feminine in my being female.'
metro.co.uk
February 8, 2026 at 11:20 PM
Olivia Colman ‘always sort of felt nonbinary’ and calls herself a ‘gay man’ to husband
metro.co.uk/2026/02/08/o...
metro.co.uk/2026/02/08/o...
Reposted by James Loxley
Reposted by James Loxley
Our amazing @sophisteria.bsky.social recently gave evidence, alongside reps from other Scottish HEIs, to the Education, Children and Young People's Committee at a special session on HE funding at the Scottish parliament. We have made a 2.5 minute video mash up of her best moments. Enjoy! #UCU
February 8, 2026 at 4:16 PM
Our amazing @sophisteria.bsky.social recently gave evidence, alongside reps from other Scottish HEIs, to the Education, Children and Young People's Committee at a special session on HE funding at the Scottish parliament. We have made a 2.5 minute video mash up of her best moments. Enjoy! #UCU
Reposted by James Loxley
Right, but just to clarify, you did not appoint Peter Mandelson, because you were not Prime Minister.
NEW: PM’s Chief of Staff Morgan McSweeney resigns
“After careful reflection, I have decided to resign from the government. The decision to appoint Peter Mandelson was wrong. He has damaged our party, our country and trust in politics itself.”
“After careful reflection, I have decided to resign from the government. The decision to appoint Peter Mandelson was wrong. He has damaged our party, our country and trust in politics itself.”
February 8, 2026 at 2:35 PM
Right, but just to clarify, you did not appoint Peter Mandelson, because you were not Prime Minister.