Richard Haviland
@rfhaviland.bsky.social
Former civil servant, enjoying the freedom to speak my mind. Published in Times, Byline Times, Bylines Scotland, West Country Voices. Member of European Movement in Scotland.
Pinned
Richard Haviland
@rfhaviland.bsky.social
· Sep 15
Starmer’s moral cowardice on refugees
The Labour leadership is tacitly accepting, and reflecting, Farage’s perverted notion of patriotism
bylines.scot
‘If slavery were invented today, would (Labour ministers) call it ‘impractical’?
If torture were invented today, would they call it ‘ineffective’?
If child labour were invented today, would they call it ‘poor value for money’?’
My piece for @bylines.scot
bylines.scot/politics/sta...
If torture were invented today, would they call it ‘ineffective’?
If child labour were invented today, would they call it ‘poor value for money’?’
My piece for @bylines.scot
bylines.scot/politics/sta...
Reposted by Richard Haviland
The Home Office now describes asylum seekers as "illegal immigrants [living in hotels]" with no reference to the reason that these people are in government-funded accommodation is that this government has taken & will process the asylum claim from them in 98-99% of cases of unauthorised entry.
February 8, 2026 at 12:50 PM
The Home Office now describes asylum seekers as "illegal immigrants [living in hotels]" with no reference to the reason that these people are in government-funded accommodation is that this government has taken & will process the asylum claim from them in 98-99% of cases of unauthorised entry.
Reposted by Richard Haviland
"No Nazis" does not seem too high a bar for a tech company to clear yet it usually is
www.theguardian.com/media/2026/f...
www.theguardian.com/media/2026/f...
Revealed: How Substack makes money from hosting Nazi newsletters
Exclusive: Site takes a cut of subscriptions to content that promotes far-right ideology, white supremacy and antisemitism
www.theguardian.com
February 8, 2026 at 1:56 PM
"No Nazis" does not seem too high a bar for a tech company to clear yet it usually is
www.theguardian.com/media/2026/f...
www.theguardian.com/media/2026/f...
‘Look what you made me do’ is never a good look.
Even to hint this with polls as they are tells you these ‘allies’ should be nowhere near power.
Even to hint this with polls as they are tells you these ‘allies’ should be nowhere near power.
Have Keir Starmer’s allies considered…just getting better at their jobs?
Will Keir Starmer use his nuclear option to try to head off a leadership challenge? www.independent.co.uk/voices/keir-...
February 7, 2026 at 5:37 PM
‘Look what you made me do’ is never a good look.
Even to hint this with polls as they are tells you these ‘allies’ should be nowhere near power.
Even to hint this with polls as they are tells you these ‘allies’ should be nowhere near power.
Reposted by Richard Haviland
The untold story that is told constantly and isn’t really true
February 7, 2026 at 11:35 AM
The untold story that is told constantly and isn’t really true
It’s hard to escape the impression there a few people in Labour who would vote Reform over a Labour Party led by someone insufficiently to the right of the party.
Quite funny that Starmer's allies are waking up to this point now …
Cuts to Winter Fuel… not in the manifesto
Disability benefit cuts… not in there either
Cutting jury trials… also not there
Digital ID… no mention
Raising employers NI… nope
Freezing tax threholds… nah
Contracts with Palantir… no
Cuts to Winter Fuel… not in the manifesto
Disability benefit cuts… not in there either
Cutting jury trials… also not there
Digital ID… no mention
Raising employers NI… nope
Freezing tax threholds… nah
Contracts with Palantir… no
February 6, 2026 at 6:57 PM
It’s hard to escape the impression there a few people in Labour who would vote Reform over a Labour Party led by someone insufficiently to the right of the party.
Reposted by Richard Haviland
Sickening. At the very least it should have been conditional in their home countries observing the Olympic truce.
Today the winter Olympics open. Russia and Belarus are allowed to participate under neutral flag.
Picture by Gatis Šļūka
Picture by Gatis Šļūka
February 6, 2026 at 6:49 PM
Sickening. At the very least it should have been conditional in their home countries observing the Olympic truce.
Reposted by Richard Haviland
👇 It's stunning the amount that this lesson has not yet sunk in. No, it is never 'good news' or 'not worth worrying about' if your opponent moves further away from you or becomes more extreme.
I think the problem with this approach is the power of US money rapidly makes them the only ideological show in town on the right, and then regardless of domestic opposition to MAGA, you are one bad economic run from them getting power.
No reason to get too worked up about this.
Ultranationalist transnationalism is not an easy thing to pull off — and the trademark „MAGA-funded“ might hurt European forces more than help on balance.
Ultranationalist transnationalism is not an easy thing to pull off — and the trademark „MAGA-funded“ might hurt European forces more than help on balance.
February 6, 2026 at 2:17 PM
👇 It's stunning the amount that this lesson has not yet sunk in. No, it is never 'good news' or 'not worth worrying about' if your opponent moves further away from you or becomes more extreme.
Reposted by Richard Haviland
There's no reason to accept this as normal, though. Much of Starmer and Labour's unpopularity is not misfortune but his own doing. Mandelson was a choice. Consistently pursuing policy positions designed to appeal to people who will not vote for you - and alienating core supporters - is a choice.
Starmer's reported condition - incredibly unpopular, shorn of authority, probably un-reelectable and yet will stagger on for want of an alternative - is just the new normal of how Britain is governed. It was also true for two-thirds of May's premiership, half of Johnson's and all of Sunak's.
February 6, 2026 at 11:48 AM
There's no reason to accept this as normal, though. Much of Starmer and Labour's unpopularity is not misfortune but his own doing. Mandelson was a choice. Consistently pursuing policy positions designed to appeal to people who will not vote for you - and alienating core supporters - is a choice.
Reposted by Richard Haviland
One of the problems with Starmer's triangulation is he is roughly aiming at where the average person but that person doesn't listen to political speeches. And it annoys everyone who does. Then the average person catches the bad vibes.
February 5, 2026 at 11:36 AM
One of the problems with Starmer's triangulation is he is roughly aiming at where the average person but that person doesn't listen to political speeches. And it annoys everyone who does. Then the average person catches the bad vibes.
Reposted by Richard Haviland
Finally, the EU is waking up.
February 4, 2026 at 10:49 PM
Finally, the EU is waking up.
The events of today are ever-present in this fascinating discussion of the interplay between politics, philosophy, psychology and history. Sheds light on why it is that to expose immorality and corruption in the rich and powerful is to risk being accused, however unjustly, of the politics of envy.
NEW EPISODE OUT NOW!
In the second episode in our short series about how the history of ideas can help with the deepest puzzles of politics, David talks to political theorist Paul Sagar about the eighteenth-century polymath Adam Smith.
Find us at...🎧 ppfideas.com
In the second episode in our short series about how the history of ideas can help with the deepest puzzles of politics, David talks to political theorist Paul Sagar about the eighteenth-century polymath Adam Smith.
Find us at...🎧 ppfideas.com
February 4, 2026 at 12:05 PM
The events of today are ever-present in this fascinating discussion of the interplay between politics, philosophy, psychology and history. Sheds light on why it is that to expose immorality and corruption in the rich and powerful is to risk being accused, however unjustly, of the politics of envy.
Reposted by Richard Haviland
Every other “reporter” in that room that doesn’t walk out immediately when Trump does this should never be seen as professional or credible again. I’d say they should be ashamed of themselves, but appropriate shame seems to be one of the casualties of the Trump era in the United States.
Trump to Kaitlan Collins after she pressed him on getting justice for Epstein survivors:
"No wonder CNN has no ratings because of people like you. You know, she‘s a young woman. I don‘t think I‘ve ever seen you smile. I‘ve known you for 10 years. I don‘t think I‘ve ever seen a smile in your face."
"No wonder CNN has no ratings because of people like you. You know, she‘s a young woman. I don‘t think I‘ve ever seen you smile. I‘ve known you for 10 years. I don‘t think I‘ve ever seen a smile in your face."
February 3, 2026 at 10:24 PM
Every other “reporter” in that room that doesn’t walk out immediately when Trump does this should never be seen as professional or credible again. I’d say they should be ashamed of themselves, but appropriate shame seems to be one of the casualties of the Trump era in the United States.
Reposted by Richard Haviland
'They spent the child benefit in the pub' was a 1970s cliche about the very worst sort of parents. Now it's Farage's policy.
NEW: Reform UK says it would re-impose the two-child benefit cap - scrapped by Labour - for most families to fund £3bn support package for pubs.
February 3, 2026 at 4:47 PM
'They spent the child benefit in the pub' was a 1970s cliche about the very worst sort of parents. Now it's Farage's policy.
The gags are obvious, but Reform can only contemplate this policy because - in a poisonous political culture created not just by them - so many have been brainwashed into seeing the benefit cap as a freebie for sponging parents rather than as a response to the problem of starving children.
Reform UK says it would re-impose two-child benefit cap for most families to fund £3bn support package for pubs - www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...
February 3, 2026 at 4:54 PM
The gags are obvious, but Reform can only contemplate this policy because - in a poisonous political culture created not just by them - so many have been brainwashed into seeing the benefit cap as a freebie for sponging parents rather than as a response to the problem of starving children.
Reposted by Richard Haviland
Only in the UK can we have documentary evidence of documents being leaked, no denial of the leak, but journalists still have to put "alleged" in the headline.
Libel law is broken.
Libel law is broken.
February 3, 2026 at 8:33 AM
Only in the UK can we have documentary evidence of documents being leaked, no denial of the leak, but journalists still have to put "alleged" in the headline.
Libel law is broken.
Libel law is broken.
Reposted by Richard Haviland
Gervais’s Law: celebrities should never share their political views except in a sitcom, Netflix comedy special or national arena tour where they can pretend they’re just joking even when they’re clearly not
Ricky Gervais calls out Grammy winners for making political acceptance speeches: "You're in no position to lecture the public about anything"
Ricky Gervais calls out Grammy winners for making political acceptance speeches: "You're in no position to lecture the public about anything"
Gervais cited his own 2020 Golden Globes monologue, in which he urged winners not to use their acceptance speeches "as a platform to make a political speech."
decider.com
February 3, 2026 at 7:59 AM
Gervais’s Law: celebrities should never share their political views except in a sitcom, Netflix comedy special or national arena tour where they can pretend they’re just joking even when they’re clearly not
This is such a rewarding and thought-provoking listen - I can’t recommend it highly enough. And thank you to @newsagents.bsky.social for introducing me to David Runciman.
NEW EPISODE OUT NOW!
Today we begin a new series asking why contemporary political philosophy struggles to make sense of the deepest problems of politics and exploring how the history of ideas might help. Political theorist Paul Sagar suggests we start with Aristotle.
Find us at...🎧 ppfideas.com
Today we begin a new series asking why contemporary political philosophy struggles to make sense of the deepest problems of politics and exploring how the history of ideas might help. Political theorist Paul Sagar suggests we start with Aristotle.
Find us at...🎧 ppfideas.com
February 2, 2026 at 5:42 PM
This is such a rewarding and thought-provoking listen - I can’t recommend it highly enough. And thank you to @newsagents.bsky.social for introducing me to David Runciman.
Reposted by Richard Haviland
Our important work at Kent Council to spend £600k on a car park to provide free parking for Reform councillors while staff have to pay, is all part of our 'We don't give a shit about anyone but ourselves' policy.
February 1, 2026 at 10:50 AM
Our important work at Kent Council to spend £600k on a car park to provide free parking for Reform councillors while staff have to pay, is all part of our 'We don't give a shit about anyone but ourselves' policy.
Reposted by Richard Haviland
She’s quite simply arguing for the destruction of the social safety net. We pay collectively for a better fairer society. If we only pay for what we get, we all end up with nothing. That a Labour chancellor should be so intellectually lacking on this issue shows the depth to which the party has sunk
2026: Labour Chancellor Rachel Reeves, "It is not right that people who don't go to university bear the cost for others to"
2020: That time Labour leader Keir Starmer said he would scrap university tuition fees
2020: That time Labour leader Keir Starmer said he would scrap university tuition fees
January 30, 2026 at 3:42 PM
She’s quite simply arguing for the destruction of the social safety net. We pay collectively for a better fairer society. If we only pay for what we get, we all end up with nothing. That a Labour chancellor should be so intellectually lacking on this issue shows the depth to which the party has sunk
It’s so depressing to see a Labour chancellor use arguments which do the right’s bidding by helping to chip away at the very principle of taxation.
2026: Labour Chancellor Rachel Reeves, "It is not right that people who don't go to university bear the cost for others to"
2020: That time Labour leader Keir Starmer said he would scrap university tuition fees
2020: That time Labour leader Keir Starmer said he would scrap university tuition fees
January 30, 2026 at 12:12 PM
It’s so depressing to see a Labour chancellor use arguments which do the right’s bidding by helping to chip away at the very principle of taxation.
Reposted by Richard Haviland
Auschwitz was at the end of a process. We must remember that it did not start from gas chambers.
This hatred gradually developed: from ideas, words, stereotypes & prejudice through legal exclusion, dehumanization & escalating violence... to systematic and industrial murder.
Auschwitz took time.
This hatred gradually developed: from ideas, words, stereotypes & prejudice through legal exclusion, dehumanization & escalating violence... to systematic and industrial murder.
Auschwitz took time.
January 27, 2026 at 11:00 AM
Auschwitz was at the end of a process. We must remember that it did not start from gas chambers.
This hatred gradually developed: from ideas, words, stereotypes & prejudice through legal exclusion, dehumanization & escalating violence... to systematic and industrial murder.
Auschwitz took time.
This hatred gradually developed: from ideas, words, stereotypes & prejudice through legal exclusion, dehumanization & escalating violence... to systematic and industrial murder.
Auschwitz took time.
Reposted by Richard Haviland
When this bit of the party tries to imply that higher education is an elitist luxury rather than a public good, it's projection IMO.
Because their ideology – which is basically Fabianism on steroids – is incredibly elitist!
Because their ideology – which is basically Fabianism on steroids – is incredibly elitist!
2026: Labour Chancellor Rachel Reeves, "It is not right that people who don't go to university bear the cost for others to"
2020: That time Labour leader Keir Starmer said he would scrap university tuition fees
2020: That time Labour leader Keir Starmer said he would scrap university tuition fees
January 29, 2026 at 10:09 AM
When this bit of the party tries to imply that higher education is an elitist luxury rather than a public good, it's projection IMO.
Because their ideology – which is basically Fabianism on steroids – is incredibly elitist!
Because their ideology – which is basically Fabianism on steroids – is incredibly elitist!
‘When I grow up I want to be a computer’.
January 29, 2026 at 10:56 AM
‘When I grow up I want to be a computer’.
Badenoch’s problem is she should be defecting to Reform but that’s a bit tricky when you’re party leader.
Badenoch's strategic genius on full display here, telling centrist voters to fuck off, including in the 60+ seats the party lost to the Lib Dems, so she can focus on competing with an extreme right party ahead of her in the polls.
January 28, 2026 at 2:26 PM
Badenoch’s problem is she should be defecting to Reform but that’s a bit tricky when you’re party leader.