Rhys Owens
@rhysowens.bsky.social
Former imperial historian specialising in India and social history. Job market didn't work out so now I am very happily employed working for an MP
We've allowed ourselves to accept the arguments of the far right and racists that all our problems are caused by a tiny number of people fleeing war and persecution. And it's just being swallowed like telling the truth is now an act of metropolitan sneering. It's disgraceful
November 18, 2025 at 11:54 AM
We've allowed ourselves to accept the arguments of the far right and racists that all our problems are caused by a tiny number of people fleeing war and persecution. And it's just being swallowed like telling the truth is now an act of metropolitan sneering. It's disgraceful
Why do fire and health and safety regulations not apply to trains?
November 16, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Why do fire and health and safety regulations not apply to trains?
Reposted by Rhys Owens
Interesting to see so many great British patriots right now begging an American president to bankrupt one of Britain’s last remaining truly national institutions.
November 15, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Interesting to see so many great British patriots right now begging an American president to bankrupt one of Britain’s last remaining truly national institutions.
Became a nail biter at the end! It's been a long time since I've been at a game we've won. Da iawn Cymru!
November 15, 2025 at 8:43 PM
Became a nail biter at the end! It's been a long time since I've been at a game we've won. Da iawn Cymru!
The British history academic job market is a constant stream of 'job I'm going to give to my PhD student but I have to open advertise'. Barely concealed and increasingly desperately pathetic
November 12, 2025 at 6:30 PM
The British history academic job market is a constant stream of 'job I'm going to give to my PhD student but I have to open advertise'. Barely concealed and increasingly desperately pathetic
Given the current political divides about our past it's always fascinating to see quite how little the British public know about the Commonwealth (about as much as they did about the empire 100 years ago).
That's not a dig, there's not an enormous reason why they should
That's not a dig, there's not an enormous reason why they should
November 9, 2025 at 9:37 PM
Given the current political divides about our past it's always fascinating to see quite how little the British public know about the Commonwealth (about as much as they did about the empire 100 years ago).
That's not a dig, there's not an enormous reason why they should
That's not a dig, there's not an enormous reason why they should
New York City giving us hope for the future
November 5, 2025 at 10:01 AM
New York City giving us hope for the future
I've been thinking the last few days about these people who want to make our country more homogenous, more 'integrated', more like them and like a past they believe existed. Essentially with people who outwardly don't seem very different to each other.
October 28, 2025 at 6:31 PM
I've been thinking the last few days about these people who want to make our country more homogenous, more 'integrated', more like them and like a past they believe existed. Essentially with people who outwardly don't seem very different to each other.
Well I'm glad where I'm from at least isn't going to be a future history book lesson on where we turned the corner to fascist decline
October 24, 2025 at 10:54 AM
Well I'm glad where I'm from at least isn't going to be a future history book lesson on where we turned the corner to fascist decline
I can't tell you how upsetting it is that my hometown may potentially have a Reform representative in a few hours time. We live in hope that doesn't happen, and I'm glad I was able to do a small amount towards preventing that
October 23, 2025 at 9:06 PM
I can't tell you how upsetting it is that my hometown may potentially have a Reform representative in a few hours time. We live in hope that doesn't happen, and I'm glad I was able to do a small amount towards preventing that
I spoke to a gentleman yesterday who insisted to me that the British Government was planning on handing Gibraltar over to Spain, in the context of Chagos. The histories are so different that even a vague understanding of it should quel that thought, but disingenuous men online abound
October 20, 2025 at 7:36 AM
I spoke to a gentleman yesterday who insisted to me that the British Government was planning on handing Gibraltar over to Spain, in the context of Chagos. The histories are so different that even a vague understanding of it should quel that thought, but disingenuous men online abound
It's worth remembering that the future is extremely uncertain, and what you really think is going to happen probably won't.
In the 1930s, some extremely clever very perceptive people were talking about how India would remain in the British Empire for centuries to come yet.
History hits you fast
In the 1930s, some extremely clever very perceptive people were talking about how India would remain in the British Empire for centuries to come yet.
History hits you fast
October 19, 2025 at 7:49 PM
It's worth remembering that the future is extremely uncertain, and what you really think is going to happen probably won't.
In the 1930s, some extremely clever very perceptive people were talking about how India would remain in the British Empire for centuries to come yet.
History hits you fast
In the 1930s, some extremely clever very perceptive people were talking about how India would remain in the British Empire for centuries to come yet.
History hits you fast
It is really really important to remember looking ahead to 2029 that this is the alternative to what we have. And it isn't at all pretty
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Nigel Farage roundly condemned over plan to abolish indefinite leave to remain
Cross-party criticism after Reform UK leader threatens hundreds of thousands of legal immigrants with deportation
www.theguardian.com
September 22, 2025 at 6:29 PM
It is really really important to remember looking ahead to 2029 that this is the alternative to what we have. And it isn't at all pretty
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Oh look, the fascist march in London descended into violence. Who could have predicted such a thing?
September 13, 2025 at 11:26 PM
Oh look, the fascist march in London descended into violence. Who could have predicted such a thing?
Reposted by Rhys Owens
🚨THIS IS NOT A DRILL🚨
#batw2026 is celebrating two decades over two weeks!
Join us online 18-19 April 2026 or in person in Boston 24-25 April 2026!
Check out and share the CFP. You won’t want to miss it! britainandtheworld.org/2026-20-year...
#batw2026 is celebrating two decades over two weeks!
Join us online 18-19 April 2026 or in person in Boston 24-25 April 2026!
Check out and share the CFP. You won’t want to miss it! britainandtheworld.org/2026-20-year...
2026 - 20 Years of BATW Events Page — Britain and the World
britainandtheworld.org
September 13, 2025 at 7:28 PM
🚨THIS IS NOT A DRILL🚨
#batw2026 is celebrating two decades over two weeks!
Join us online 18-19 April 2026 or in person in Boston 24-25 April 2026!
Check out and share the CFP. You won’t want to miss it! britainandtheworld.org/2026-20-year...
#batw2026 is celebrating two decades over two weeks!
Join us online 18-19 April 2026 or in person in Boston 24-25 April 2026!
Check out and share the CFP. You won’t want to miss it! britainandtheworld.org/2026-20-year...
Trying to work out whether I'm the kind of person who desperately needs to tie something which marks their identity to a piece of public furniture. I'm considering getting my face printed onto fabric and sticking it on streetlights around town. It will go nicely with the Union flags
September 1, 2025 at 7:51 PM
Trying to work out whether I'm the kind of person who desperately needs to tie something which marks their identity to a piece of public furniture. I'm considering getting my face printed onto fabric and sticking it on streetlights around town. It will go nicely with the Union flags
Just finished reading Cwmardy and We Live by Lewis Jones, which is a remarkable portrait of Valleys coal mining life in the early 20th century. It's not exactly a literary masterpiece, but life and struggle and everyday reality bursts out of its pages in a way which makes it a living document
August 25, 2025 at 8:13 PM
Just finished reading Cwmardy and We Live by Lewis Jones, which is a remarkable portrait of Valleys coal mining life in the early 20th century. It's not exactly a literary masterpiece, but life and struggle and everyday reality bursts out of its pages in a way which makes it a living document
Absolutely bizarre the BBC seemingly believing calling someone xenophobic is beyond the pale. Editing out the lines is just plain nuts. Someone should tell them they don't really need to be afraid of the Tories anymore
'Honest Bob' Jenrick, a politician obviously & deliberately embracing xenophobia, does some weapons grade xenophobia & the BBC *apologises* for a Thought For The Day contributor calling it xenophobic. Licence fee payers need to know who makes these decisions & why. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
BBC apologises after Robert Jenrick accused of xenophobia
A contributor to Radio 4's Thought for the Day slot made the remark about the shadow justice secretary.
www.bbc.co.uk
August 13, 2025 at 8:45 PM
Absolutely bizarre the BBC seemingly believing calling someone xenophobic is beyond the pale. Editing out the lines is just plain nuts. Someone should tell them they don't really need to be afraid of the Tories anymore
Just hearing the awful news about Hefin David. He was a passionate public servant who was never afraid to say what he believed.
Really shocking news and just really heartbroken for everyone who loved and knew him
Really shocking news and just really heartbroken for everyone who loved and knew him
August 13, 2025 at 11:07 AM
Just hearing the awful news about Hefin David. He was a passionate public servant who was never afraid to say what he believed.
Really shocking news and just really heartbroken for everyone who loved and knew him
Really shocking news and just really heartbroken for everyone who loved and knew him
The main problem for populist right wing parties seeking to reduce immigration to practically zero is for it to be even remotely possible you need a massively higher birthrate, meaning far more family friendly progressive left wing policies
July 19, 2025 at 12:55 PM
The main problem for populist right wing parties seeking to reduce immigration to practically zero is for it to be even remotely possible you need a massively higher birthrate, meaning far more family friendly progressive left wing policies
I really enjoyed doing my PhD, it was the most intellectually stimulating experience of my life.
Nearly two years after finishing it's had no tangible impact on my professional life at all, despite my best efforts.
Nearly two years after finishing it's had no tangible impact on my professional life at all, despite my best efforts.
July 18, 2025 at 1:37 PM
I really enjoyed doing my PhD, it was the most intellectually stimulating experience of my life.
Nearly two years after finishing it's had no tangible impact on my professional life at all, despite my best efforts.
Nearly two years after finishing it's had no tangible impact on my professional life at all, despite my best efforts.
Trying to explore ways of getting back into some kind of academic pursuit that works around the new incredibly hectic (but very rewarding) career I have fallen into. Not really worked anything out yet but hoping to be able to do a bit more writing again soon, any advice welcome if others have done
July 10, 2025 at 11:59 AM
Trying to explore ways of getting back into some kind of academic pursuit that works around the new incredibly hectic (but very rewarding) career I have fallen into. Not really worked anything out yet but hoping to be able to do a bit more writing again soon, any advice welcome if others have done
Dentistry in this country has become such a joke.
Got quoted £350 today for two fillings.
On the NHS the same procedure by the same dentist in the same room would cost about £70. But NHS dentistry essentially doesn't exist anymore for most people.
Got quoted £350 today for two fillings.
On the NHS the same procedure by the same dentist in the same room would cost about £70. But NHS dentistry essentially doesn't exist anymore for most people.
June 14, 2025 at 9:06 PM
Dentistry in this country has become such a joke.
Got quoted £350 today for two fillings.
On the NHS the same procedure by the same dentist in the same room would cost about £70. But NHS dentistry essentially doesn't exist anymore for most people.
Got quoted £350 today for two fillings.
On the NHS the same procedure by the same dentist in the same room would cost about £70. But NHS dentistry essentially doesn't exist anymore for most people.
Bit difficult for Richard Tice to sustain outrage at the Gibraltar deal with a beaming Fabian Picardo all over the news
June 11, 2025 at 7:07 PM
Bit difficult for Richard Tice to sustain outrage at the Gibraltar deal with a beaming Fabian Picardo all over the news
