Robert Saunders
@robertsaunders.bsky.social
Historian of modern Britain, singer and political nerd. Author of "Yes to Europe! The 1975 Referendum & Seventies Britain". "A jaw-dislocating page turner"(Andrew Marr). Deputy-director @mileendinstitute.bsky.social, Reader @QMHistory
Why do we keep burning through prime ministers?
Should politicians have more faith in the people?
Are we becoming "the heroes of our own disaster movie"?
I *really* enjoyed taking part in this podcast. I hope you enjoy it, too!
Should politicians have more faith in the people?
Are we becoming "the heroes of our own disaster movie"?
I *really* enjoyed taking part in this podcast. I hope you enjoy it, too!
🎙️ NEW: Is being Prime Minister now an impossible job? 🤯
We are joined by historian @robertsaunders.bsky.social from the @mileendinstitute.bsky.social to unpack why recent PMs burn out so fast: Brexit, COVID, new media pressure, and a broken leadership pipeline.
🎧 Listen: buff.ly/bhvHQf6
We are joined by historian @robertsaunders.bsky.social from the @mileendinstitute.bsky.social to unpack why recent PMs burn out so fast: Brexit, COVID, new media pressure, and a broken leadership pipeline.
🎧 Listen: buff.ly/bhvHQf6
December 27, 2025 at 7:34 PM
Why do we keep burning through prime ministers?
Should politicians have more faith in the people?
Are we becoming "the heroes of our own disaster movie"?
I *really* enjoyed taking part in this podcast. I hope you enjoy it, too!
Should politicians have more faith in the people?
Are we becoming "the heroes of our own disaster movie"?
I *really* enjoyed taking part in this podcast. I hope you enjoy it, too!
Reposted by Robert Saunders
Absolutely! Back when BBC Parliament did wall-to-wall, serious coverage, Christmas Day regularly pulled in its best ratings of the year. Proof that we’re happily indulging the political nerd instinct - even (especially?) on one of the biggest holidays
of the year. And it really was great fun.
of the year. And it really was great fun.
Nothing says "Merry Christmas!" like an episode of the Parliament Matters podcast!
It was a pleasure to join Ruth and Mark to discuss why it's so hard to be prime minister, why we're burning through PMs so quickly, and whether our politics is quite as bad as we think.
It was a pleasure to join Ruth and Mark to discuss why it's so hard to be prime minister, why we're burning through PMs so quickly, and whether our politics is quite as bad as we think.
🎙️ NEW: Is being Prime Minister now an impossible job? 🤯
We are joined by historian @robertsaunders.bsky.social from the @mileendinstitute.bsky.social to unpack why recent PMs burn out so fast: Brexit, COVID, new media pressure, and a broken leadership pipeline.
🎧 Listen: buff.ly/bhvHQf6
We are joined by historian @robertsaunders.bsky.social from the @mileendinstitute.bsky.social to unpack why recent PMs burn out so fast: Brexit, COVID, new media pressure, and a broken leadership pipeline.
🎧 Listen: buff.ly/bhvHQf6
December 23, 2025 at 7:17 PM
Absolutely! Back when BBC Parliament did wall-to-wall, serious coverage, Christmas Day regularly pulled in its best ratings of the year. Proof that we’re happily indulging the political nerd instinct - even (especially?) on one of the biggest holidays
of the year. And it really was great fun.
of the year. And it really was great fun.
Nothing says "Merry Christmas!" like an episode of the Parliament Matters podcast!
It was a pleasure to join Ruth and Mark to discuss why it's so hard to be prime minister, why we're burning through PMs so quickly, and whether our politics is quite as bad as we think.
It was a pleasure to join Ruth and Mark to discuss why it's so hard to be prime minister, why we're burning through PMs so quickly, and whether our politics is quite as bad as we think.
🎙️ NEW: Is being Prime Minister now an impossible job? 🤯
We are joined by historian @robertsaunders.bsky.social from the @mileendinstitute.bsky.social to unpack why recent PMs burn out so fast: Brexit, COVID, new media pressure, and a broken leadership pipeline.
🎧 Listen: buff.ly/bhvHQf6
We are joined by historian @robertsaunders.bsky.social from the @mileendinstitute.bsky.social to unpack why recent PMs burn out so fast: Brexit, COVID, new media pressure, and a broken leadership pipeline.
🎧 Listen: buff.ly/bhvHQf6
December 23, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Nothing says "Merry Christmas!" like an episode of the Parliament Matters podcast!
It was a pleasure to join Ruth and Mark to discuss why it's so hard to be prime minister, why we're burning through PMs so quickly, and whether our politics is quite as bad as we think.
It was a pleasure to join Ruth and Mark to discuss why it's so hard to be prime minister, why we're burning through PMs so quickly, and whether our politics is quite as bad as we think.
The bit that gets missed in the scandal around Farage's schooldays is that his school made him a prefect - despite warnings from staff about his conduct.
It's a recurring theme for Trump, Johnson, Farage & co. We can't be surprised at the way they behave, when their behavior is constantly rewarded.
It's a recurring theme for Trump, Johnson, Farage & co. We can't be surprised at the way they behave, when their behavior is constantly rewarded.
December 22, 2025 at 2:47 PM
The bit that gets missed in the scandal around Farage's schooldays is that his school made him a prefect - despite warnings from staff about his conduct.
It's a recurring theme for Trump, Johnson, Farage & co. We can't be surprised at the way they behave, when their behavior is constantly rewarded.
It's a recurring theme for Trump, Johnson, Farage & co. We can't be surprised at the way they behave, when their behavior is constantly rewarded.
Pitch perfect, sadly.
Wednesday’s @thetimes.com cartoon times.newsprints.co.uk/peter-brooke...
December 20, 2025 at 9:21 AM
Pitch perfect, sadly.
Reposted by Robert Saunders
"Realism" is on the lips of politicians, pundits & parties. The ancient tradition speaks to our time: large-scale war in Europe, the rise of China, economic failure & pressure on scarce resources. Curious? My book is short, cheap & punchy. Ideal for Xmas.
www.sup.org/books/politi...
www.sup.org/books/politi...
How to Survive a Hostile World | Stanford University Press
The oldest ideas are the best. This book is a defense of an ancient way of thinking about international politics: realism. Patrick Porter, a scholar of international relations, defends the realist app...
www.sup.org
December 19, 2025 at 11:46 AM
"Realism" is on the lips of politicians, pundits & parties. The ancient tradition speaks to our time: large-scale war in Europe, the rise of China, economic failure & pressure on scarce resources. Curious? My book is short, cheap & punchy. Ideal for Xmas.
www.sup.org/books/politi...
www.sup.org/books/politi...
Just turned off Radio 3, because there's a blackbird outside the window singing his little heart out and it's absolutely glorious!
December 19, 2025 at 3:45 PM
Just turned off Radio 3, because there's a blackbird outside the window singing his little heart out and it's absolutely glorious!
Reposted by Robert Saunders
Dog-whistle and factually incorrect. Ladies, raise your hand if you were sexually assaulted by a boy at school? I’d wager this or a family member is most women’s first experience of sexual violence
December 18, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Dog-whistle and factually incorrect. Ladies, raise your hand if you were sexually assaulted by a boy at school? I’d wager this or a family member is most women’s first experience of sexual violence
Reposted by Robert Saunders
Even by my low expectations for Kemi Badenoch ‘violence against women and girls is something done by immigrants and nobody else’ has shocked me.
Dog-whistle and factually incorrect. Ladies, raise your hand if you were sexually assaulted by a boy at school? I’d wager this or a family member is most women’s first experience of sexual violence
December 18, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Even by my low expectations for Kemi Badenoch ‘violence against women and girls is something done by immigrants and nobody else’ has shocked me.
Reposted by Robert Saunders
Matthew Goodwin objects to prosecuting this: ‘I think it’s time for the British to gang together, hit the streets and start the slaughter. Violence and murder is the only way now. Start off burning every migrant hotel then head off to MPs’ houses and Parliament, we need to take over by FORCE.’
December 18, 2025 at 12:48 PM
Matthew Goodwin objects to prosecuting this: ‘I think it’s time for the British to gang together, hit the streets and start the slaughter. Violence and murder is the only way now. Start off burning every migrant hotel then head off to MPs’ houses and Parliament, we need to take over by FORCE.’
Rejoining Erasmus is unambiguously good news - and a rare example of a policy that particularly benefits the young.
And no, it is a not a "betrayal" of Brexit. It's the kind of sensible, grown-up arrangement between the UK & the EU that many Brexiters said they wanted.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
And no, it is a not a "betrayal" of Brexit. It's the kind of sensible, grown-up arrangement between the UK & the EU that many Brexiters said they wanted.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
UK will rejoin Erasmus student scheme in 2027
The UK left in December 2020 as part of the post-Brexit trade deal with the EU negotiated by Boris Johnson.
www.bbc.co.uk
December 17, 2025 at 6:37 PM
Rejoining Erasmus is unambiguously good news - and a rare example of a policy that particularly benefits the young.
And no, it is a not a "betrayal" of Brexit. It's the kind of sensible, grown-up arrangement between the UK & the EU that many Brexiters said they wanted.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
And no, it is a not a "betrayal" of Brexit. It's the kind of sensible, grown-up arrangement between the UK & the EU that many Brexiters said they wanted.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Had a first in a podcast-recording today: a complete brain-freeze mid-answer. I couldn't for the life of me remember what I'd been about to say.
Podcasting has definitely made me more understanding of politicians who go blank or get stuff wrong on air. Strange stuff happens when you're tired.
Podcasting has definitely made me more understanding of politicians who go blank or get stuff wrong on air. Strange stuff happens when you're tired.
December 17, 2025 at 4:35 PM
Had a first in a podcast-recording today: a complete brain-freeze mid-answer. I couldn't for the life of me remember what I'd been about to say.
Podcasting has definitely made me more understanding of politicians who go blank or get stuff wrong on air. Strange stuff happens when you're tired.
Podcasting has definitely made me more understanding of politicians who go blank or get stuff wrong on air. Strange stuff happens when you're tired.
It will be interesting to see how loudly ministers trumpet this win.
The govt tends to soft-pedal its more left-wing measures, as if hoping no one will notice.
It has a story to tell about workers' rights, rental reform, green investment & public ownership, but seems curiously reluctant to tell it
The govt tends to soft-pedal its more left-wing measures, as if hoping no one will notice.
It has a story to tell about workers' rights, rental reform, green investment & public ownership, but seems curiously reluctant to tell it
NEW - The Employment Rights bill has finally passed, after a tortured time in the Lords.
Christmas cheer for ministers and trade unions
Christmas cheer for ministers and trade unions
December 16, 2025 at 5:11 PM
It will be interesting to see how loudly ministers trumpet this win.
The govt tends to soft-pedal its more left-wing measures, as if hoping no one will notice.
It has a story to tell about workers' rights, rental reform, green investment & public ownership, but seems curiously reluctant to tell it
The govt tends to soft-pedal its more left-wing measures, as if hoping no one will notice.
It has a story to tell about workers' rights, rental reform, green investment & public ownership, but seems curiously reluctant to tell it
Intriguing note on an essay I'm marking.
December 16, 2025 at 9:38 AM
Intriguing note on an essay I'm marking.
Reposted by Robert Saunders
New post just out:
"The Overshoot"
Net migration is collapsing, and will fall further over the coming years. We could even have net emigration.
What does that mean for the country and the political narrative as we head towards the next election?
(£/free trial)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/t...
"The Overshoot"
Net migration is collapsing, and will fall further over the coming years. We could even have net emigration.
What does that mean for the country and the political narrative as we head towards the next election?
(£/free trial)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/t...
The Overshoot
What happens to politics, and the country, as net migration collapses?
open.substack.com
December 16, 2025 at 8:46 AM
New post just out:
"The Overshoot"
Net migration is collapsing, and will fall further over the coming years. We could even have net emigration.
What does that mean for the country and the political narrative as we head towards the next election?
(£/free trial)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/t...
"The Overshoot"
Net migration is collapsing, and will fall further over the coming years. We could even have net emigration.
What does that mean for the country and the political narrative as we head towards the next election?
(£/free trial)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/t...
Absolutely glorious thread on the Telegraph's "Whisper it" series.
I would "whisper it", too, if I was putting out this much drivel...
I would "whisper it", too, if I was putting out this much drivel...
December 16, 2025 at 8:53 AM
Absolutely glorious thread on the Telegraph's "Whisper it" series.
I would "whisper it", too, if I was putting out this much drivel...
I would "whisper it", too, if I was putting out this much drivel...
Reposted by Robert Saunders
not the kind of behavior I expect from the winner of the fifa peace prize
December 15, 2025 at 7:28 PM
not the kind of behavior I expect from the winner of the fifa peace prize
Reposted by Robert Saunders
A quick 🧵
Hounslow has a large Polish community & the experience & the treatment of this issue really does tell a story about we talk about asylum, migration & our history.
The UK welcomed over 140,000 polish citizens in the UK after WW2; many had served in the war.
Hounslow has a large Polish community & the experience & the treatment of this issue really does tell a story about we talk about asylum, migration & our history.
The UK welcomed over 140,000 polish citizens in the UK after WW2; many had served in the war.
December 15, 2025 at 11:27 AM
A quick 🧵
Hounslow has a large Polish community & the experience & the treatment of this issue really does tell a story about we talk about asylum, migration & our history.
The UK welcomed over 140,000 polish citizens in the UK after WW2; many had served in the war.
Hounslow has a large Polish community & the experience & the treatment of this issue really does tell a story about we talk about asylum, migration & our history.
The UK welcomed over 140,000 polish citizens in the UK after WW2; many had served in the war.
Reposted by Robert Saunders
A recording of the panel's discussion about how the 2024 campaign was won and lost will be uploaded to our YouTube channel shortly. In the meantime, why not read @timbale.bsky.social's @theconversation.com piece on the ten most surprising facts of the election?
theconversation.com/the-ten-most...
theconversation.com/the-ten-most...
The ten most surprising facts from the 2024 election revealed
Voters cared a lot less about tax than you might think.
theconversation.com
December 15, 2025 at 2:28 PM
A recording of the panel's discussion about how the 2024 campaign was won and lost will be uploaded to our YouTube channel shortly. In the meantime, why not read @timbale.bsky.social's @theconversation.com piece on the ten most surprising facts of the election?
theconversation.com/the-ten-most...
theconversation.com/the-ten-most...
Reposted by Robert Saunders
Thank you to everyone who joined us for the final @mileendinstitute.bsky.social event of 2025 last week, where we marked the publication of "The British General Election of 2024" with own very own @timbale.bsky.social, @psurridge.bsky.social, @stephenkb.bsky.social and @rmcunliffe.bsky.social!
December 15, 2025 at 2:28 PM
Thank you to everyone who joined us for the final @mileendinstitute.bsky.social event of 2025 last week, where we marked the publication of "The British General Election of 2024" with own very own @timbale.bsky.social, @psurridge.bsky.social, @stephenkb.bsky.social and @rmcunliffe.bsky.social!
There's a related question that doesn't get enough attention: what happens if there's a substantial body of Reform MPs after the next election - perhaps even a majority - and Farage is no longer there?
Many will be *substantially* to the right of Farage, and they'll have seats and votes for 5 years
Many will be *substantially* to the right of Farage, and they'll have seats and votes for 5 years
Any serious analysis of Reform's long term prospects of sustainably shaking up UK politics needs to ask how far the party can survive scenarios where Farage is no longer willing or able to play a leadership role.
December 15, 2025 at 10:45 AM
There's a related question that doesn't get enough attention: what happens if there's a substantial body of Reform MPs after the next election - perhaps even a majority - and Farage is no longer there?
Many will be *substantially* to the right of Farage, and they'll have seats and votes for 5 years
Many will be *substantially* to the right of Farage, and they'll have seats and votes for 5 years
The idea that you mustn't change leader in time of war was one Boris Johnson's team pushed hard.
As I wrote at the time, the UK has a long history of doing just that. Indeed, "The ability to change leader during a crisis was once regarded as a strength of the UK system".
www.ft.com/content/e131...
As I wrote at the time, the UK has a long history of doing just that. Indeed, "The ability to change leader during a crisis was once regarded as a strength of the UK system".
www.ft.com/content/e131...
December 13, 2025 at 12:43 PM
The idea that you mustn't change leader in time of war was one Boris Johnson's team pushed hard.
As I wrote at the time, the UK has a long history of doing just that. Indeed, "The ability to change leader during a crisis was once regarded as a strength of the UK system".
www.ft.com/content/e131...
As I wrote at the time, the UK has a long history of doing just that. Indeed, "The ability to change leader during a crisis was once regarded as a strength of the UK system".
www.ft.com/content/e131...
Reposted by Robert Saunders
MINNEAPOLIS: “All I did was step outside as a Somali American citizen, and I got chased by a masked person, assaulted, kidnapped. It was inhumane. If this is what’s happening to a 🇺🇸 citizen on camera, imagine what could happen to your loved ones.”
December 11, 2025 at 4:00 AM
MINNEAPOLIS: “All I did was step outside as a Somali American citizen, and I got chased by a masked person, assaulted, kidnapped. It was inhumane. If this is what’s happening to a 🇺🇸 citizen on camera, imagine what could happen to your loved ones.”
Reposted by Robert Saunders
Most bonkers part of the story for me is that the Murdoch money was donated via News International (now News UK) - owner of The Times, The Sun, TalkTV etc.
In other words, a media company donating to a political pressure group.
And these same outlets have the gall to whinge about BBC “bias”
In other words, a media company donating to a political pressure group.
And these same outlets have the gall to whinge about BBC “bias”
December 11, 2025 at 9:05 AM
Most bonkers part of the story for me is that the Murdoch money was donated via News International (now News UK) - owner of The Times, The Sun, TalkTV etc.
In other words, a media company donating to a political pressure group.
And these same outlets have the gall to whinge about BBC “bias”
In other words, a media company donating to a political pressure group.
And these same outlets have the gall to whinge about BBC “bias”
I went to the House of Lords last night for the launch of a new book on Margaret Thatcher.
Policeman at the gate: "Another book on Thatcher? What do we need another book for? There's hundreds of them already! What is there left to say?" 😂😂😂
Policeman at the gate: "Another book on Thatcher? What do we need another book for? There's hundreds of them already! What is there left to say?" 😂😂😂
a woman says you 're joking not another one
Alt: Brenda from Bristol in 2017, complaining about "another one!"
media.tenor.com
December 10, 2025 at 11:31 AM
I went to the House of Lords last night for the launch of a new book on Margaret Thatcher.
Policeman at the gate: "Another book on Thatcher? What do we need another book for? There's hundreds of them already! What is there left to say?" 😂😂😂
Policeman at the gate: "Another book on Thatcher? What do we need another book for? There's hundreds of them already! What is there left to say?" 😂😂😂