Philip Stephens
@philipstephens.bsky.social
Writer, historian, Contrib Ed, FT, Robert Bosch Fellow, Berlin, author These Divided Isles, and Britain Alone (both Faber), British, Irish and European. philipstephens.substack.com, philipstephens.net
Pinned
The book I always wanted to write. How Partition turned the Irish Question in British politics into the British Question in Irish politics. And the extraordinary mix of enmity and intimacy that finally mapped a path to a different future. Now open for advance orders:
linktr.ee/thesedivided...
linktr.ee/thesedivided...
There's an awkward conundrum here. Trump's attack on Venezuela all but endorses Putin's great power gangsterism in his war on Ukraine. But opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner María Corina Machado declares that in deposing Maduro, US has ensured "The time for freedom has come".
January 3, 2026 at 8:06 PM
There's an awkward conundrum here. Trump's attack on Venezuela all but endorses Putin's great power gangsterism in his war on Ukraine. But opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner María Corina Machado declares that in deposing Maduro, US has ensured "The time for freedom has come".
Reposted by Philip Stephens
So it seems the Venezuela plan is a resources grab overseen by a puppet regime. And that's the best-case scenario.
www.reuters.com/world/us/liv...
www.reuters.com/world/us/liv...
Live: Trump says Maduro to face justice and US will run Venezuela until 'safe' transition
"We're going to run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition," Trump said at a news conference.
www.reuters.com
January 3, 2026 at 5:50 PM
So it seems the Venezuela plan is a resources grab overseen by a puppet regime. And that's the best-case scenario.
www.reuters.com/world/us/liv...
www.reuters.com/world/us/liv...
Reposted by Philip Stephens
The cynics think today's attack on Venezuela is staged and transactional. Maduro is allied with Putin, but in 2019 Putin offered Trump a swap: Russia cedes Venezuela and gets Ukraine. (See Fiona Hill's testimony in Trump's first impeachment trial, h/t @davetroy.com). Even Maduro may be in on it. 2/
January 3, 2026 at 4:22 PM
The cynics think today's attack on Venezuela is staged and transactional. Maduro is allied with Putin, but in 2019 Putin offered Trump a swap: Russia cedes Venezuela and gets Ukraine. (See Fiona Hill's testimony in Trump's first impeachment trial, h/t @davetroy.com). Even Maduro may be in on it. 2/
Reposted by Philip Stephens
There is, to my mind, no justification for the continued use by the UK Government of X as a platform for official comms. There hasn't been for some time, in fact, but if the latest developments around AI-generated image abuse and CSAM don't change the policy I really don't know what will.
NEW: People are using Elon Musk's chatbot, Grok, to alter images to depict real women being sexually abused, humiliated, hurt, and even killed.
futurism.com/future-socie...
futurism.com/future-socie...
Grok Is Being Used to Depict Horrific Violence Against Real Women
People are asking Elon Musk's Grok chatbot to alter images to depict women being sexually abused, humiliated, and even killed.
futurism.com
January 2, 2026 at 9:18 PM
There is, to my mind, no justification for the continued use by the UK Government of X as a platform for official comms. There hasn't been for some time, in fact, but if the latest developments around AI-generated image abuse and CSAM don't change the policy I really don't know what will.
For once an interesting opinion poll. "I'm pretty much fine but the country is still going to the dogs". The big challenge for Starmer is somehow to close the gap.
How good a year do Britons say 2025 was for...
Themselves personally
Good: 36%
Average: 35%
Bad: 27%
The UK
Good: 6%
Average: 24%
Bad: 66%
yougov.co.uk/society/arti...
Themselves personally
Good: 36%
Average: 35%
Bad: 27%
The UK
Good: 6%
Average: 24%
Bad: 66%
yougov.co.uk/society/arti...
January 2, 2026 at 1:11 PM
For once an interesting opinion poll. "I'm pretty much fine but the country is still going to the dogs". The big challenge for Starmer is somehow to close the gap.
Reposted by Philip Stephens
Concerning.
just saw a billionaire pack all his things in a bindle and start leaving new york city on foot. he turned and looked at me with tears in his eyes and said “maybe one day when this city is safe we’ll return” before walking away
January 1, 2026 at 7:08 PM
Concerning.
Reposted by Philip Stephens
Reposted by Philip Stephens
Excellent piece with echoes of Dickens, perfect New Year reading:
Set out six months ago to investigative some dubious evictions. Ended up writing a sprawling story spread over 450 years about London property deals, the ethics of money lending, Tommy Robinson, Barbary pirates, Jacobean earls, and wealth in the capital. www.londoncentric.media/p/henry-smit...
A Tale Of One City And Two Henry Smiths
These two London landlords are separated by four centuries — but joined by a common name and business interests.
www.londoncentric.media
January 1, 2026 at 2:31 PM
Excellent piece with echoes of Dickens, perfect New Year reading:
Immigrants in general and Muslims in particular are intermediate targets for the far right. As ever, Jews remain the real "enemy" of the extremists. Nigel Farage's refusal to recant the anti-semitic views he once voiced publicly is instructive.
A neat example of why prominent Jewish voices boosting far right narratives are being unbelievably stupid. Have they never read a history book?
Yeah it's probably because you're talking about 'English-Jewish relations' and threatening to deport us all if we don't fall in line with your ramblings
January 1, 2026 at 11:46 AM
Immigrants in general and Muslims in particular are intermediate targets for the far right. As ever, Jews remain the real "enemy" of the extremists. Nigel Farage's refusal to recant the anti-semitic views he once voiced publicly is instructive.
Thoughtful and illuminating from @billemmott.bsky.social - the very best of all the year end reviews of our more dangerous world....
open.substack.com/pub/billemmo...
open.substack.com/pub/billemmo...
A year of destruction and speculation
Essay on 2025 published by Engelsberg Ideas today
open.substack.com
December 30, 2025 at 6:53 PM
Thoughtful and illuminating from @billemmott.bsky.social - the very best of all the year end reviews of our more dangerous world....
open.substack.com/pub/billemmo...
open.substack.com/pub/billemmo...
Something always puzzles me in the stories super-rich quitting UK for Dubai. With a billion in the bank I would be congratulating myself I could afford to pay a bit more tax to live in such a great country rather than share desert bling with a bunch of despots, oligarchs and assorted hucksters.
December 30, 2025 at 2:46 PM
Something always puzzles me in the stories super-rich quitting UK for Dubai. With a billion in the bank I would be congratulating myself I could afford to pay a bit more tax to live in such a great country rather than share desert bling with a bunch of despots, oligarchs and assorted hucksters.
Switched on the (analogue) TV to find BBC1 showing something called Pointless Celebrities ...apt description of programme and, sad to say, of the channel...
December 29, 2025 at 5:21 PM
Switched on the (analogue) TV to find BBC1 showing something called Pointless Celebrities ...apt description of programme and, sad to say, of the channel...
Quite a tribute to European conhesion...
Russian troops invading Ukraine are "main obstacle" to peace in Ukraine, says mostly everyone else
EU is ‘main obstacle’ to peace in Ukraine, says Russia’s foreign minister
Sergey Lavrov’s comments come ahead of Ukrainian President Zelenskyy’s talks with Donald Trump in Florida on Sunday.
Sergey Lavrov’s comments come ahead of Ukrainian President Zelenskyy’s talks with Donald Trump in Florida on Sunday.
December 29, 2025 at 12:12 PM
Quite a tribute to European conhesion...
Presumably, Farage is also disqualified by his own past, vile expressions of anti-semitism.
So the Hard Right position is that you should only have to suffer the consequences for tweets inciting racial hatred if you're name is...oh I don't know...Adbel Fattah? If your name is Lucy Connolly and you admit to doing it, you should get a parade actually.
December 29, 2025 at 12:05 PM
Presumably, Farage is also disqualified by his own past, vile expressions of anti-semitism.
Reposted by Philip Stephens
😂 This level of self-control has to be taught.
December 29, 2025 at 11:10 AM
😂 This level of self-control has to be taught.
So now it seems that objection to Israeli colonisation of Palestinian territory to create an apartheid state can be called anti-semitism.....
Israel has reacted furiously to a condemnation by 14 countries including Ireland, France and Britain of its approval of new settlements in the occupied West Bank, calling the criticism discriminatory against Jews
www.rte.ie/news/middle-east/2025/1225/1550505-west-bank/
www.rte.ie/news/middle-east/2025/1225/1550505-west-bank/
Condemnation of new West Bank settlements 'wrong' - Saar
Israel has reacted furiously to a condemnation by 14 countries including Ireland, France and Britain of its approval of new settlements in the occupied West Bank, calling the criticism discriminatory ...
www.rte.ie
December 25, 2025 at 10:29 AM
So now it seems that objection to Israeli colonisation of Palestinian territory to create an apartheid state can be called anti-semitism.....
Reposted by Philip Stephens
Have become quite critical of Macron lately. But for the EU's sole nuclear power this is an important response.
December 23, 2025 at 9:15 AM
Have become quite critical of Macron lately. But for the EU's sole nuclear power this is an important response.
Absolutely nothing beats a good Manhattan....
"I am fussy when it comes to Manhattans and I have experimented with lots of different ingredients. But hand down this one really is the best I have made or had! dangerously delicious!" nyti.ms/4s9T3Ok
December 23, 2025 at 12:06 AM
Absolutely nothing beats a good Manhattan....
Great to talk about my book, These Divided Isles, Britain and Ireland Past and Future on the Irish Cultural Centre's superlative Bright Side of the Road. Many thanks to Sé Merry Doyle and Ros Scanlon, and Christmas greetings to all @irishculturalcentr.bsky.social
www.mixcloud.com/Portobello_R...
www.mixcloud.com/Portobello_R...
Bright Side of the Road With Sé Merry Doyle Series 6 Ep2
Se interviews Philip Stephens, former Political Editor of The FT, about his new book “These Divided Isles - Britain and Ireland, Past and Future” and photographer Steve Pyke, who’s book SCRIBENDI: IR...
https://www.mixcloud.com/Portobello_Radio/bright-side-of-the-road-with-sé-merry-doyle-series-6-ep2/
December 22, 2025 at 12:38 PM
Great to talk about my book, These Divided Isles, Britain and Ireland Past and Future on the Irish Cultural Centre's superlative Bright Side of the Road. Many thanks to Sé Merry Doyle and Ros Scanlon, and Christmas greetings to all @irishculturalcentr.bsky.social
www.mixcloud.com/Portobello_R...
www.mixcloud.com/Portobello_R...
Agreed!
"The solution that the EU has arrived at - a loan and the indefinite freezing of assets - removes legal, reputational and financial risk, while leaving the option of seizing the assets at some future date very much on the table." 🇪🇺🇧🇪
Always read @nixonsimon.bsky.social
Always read @nixonsimon.bsky.social
A good-ish weak for Europe, a great year for China and an outstanding year for the Trump family. Plus marketing God - lessons from the remarkable success of the Alpha course. My latest on the Year of the Dragon
open.substack.com/pub/nixons/p...
open.substack.com/pub/nixons/p...
December 22, 2025 at 11:19 AM
Agreed!
Nigel Farage's real views on the Russian war on Ukraine. In his own words.
December 22, 2025 at 11:11 AM
Nigel Farage's real views on the Russian war on Ukraine. In his own words.
Reposted by Philip Stephens
Oh ffs, just had quick squint at the Sky News app, today's bash Labour story is the Labour Chair refusing to confirm or deny if Labour will delay the next GE!!! What sort of stupid question is that, no wonder the Government has scrapped the 2nd daily lobby briefings.
December 21, 2025 at 1:58 PM
Oh ffs, just had quick squint at the Sky News app, today's bash Labour story is the Labour Chair refusing to confirm or deny if Labour will delay the next GE!!! What sort of stupid question is that, no wonder the Government has scrapped the 2nd daily lobby briefings.
Reposted by Philip Stephens
Useful eye opener on Russia, if needed ⤵️
www.reuters.com/world/europe...
www.reuters.com/world/europe...
US intelligence indicates Putin's war aims in Ukraine are unchanged
The reports present a starkly different picture from that portrayed by the U.S.
www.reuters.com
December 21, 2025 at 10:19 AM
Useful eye opener on Russia, if needed ⤵️
www.reuters.com/world/europe...
www.reuters.com/world/europe...
Reposted by Philip Stephens
Merry Christmas everyone!
this photo of our fun festive FT podcast Xmas quiz makes me laugh every time I see it
December 20, 2025 at 6:31 PM
Merry Christmas everyone!
How the EU did the right thing after exhausting all the alternatives. Strong piece from @billemmott.bsky.social
An important counter to the Putin-Trump narrative
open.substack.com/pub/billemmo...
An important counter to the Putin-Trump narrative
open.substack.com/pub/billemmo...
An important counter to the Putin-Trump narrative
English original of article on the EU's big loan to Ukraine published in Italian this morning by La Stampa
open.substack.com
December 20, 2025 at 1:33 PM
How the EU did the right thing after exhausting all the alternatives. Strong piece from @billemmott.bsky.social
An important counter to the Putin-Trump narrative
open.substack.com/pub/billemmo...
An important counter to the Putin-Trump narrative
open.substack.com/pub/billemmo...