Roland Smith
@rolandmcs.bsky.social
Tracking the decay of the Right and patrolling the culture war's boundaries. Former Fellow of the Adam Smith Institute. Now firmly centrist. Telegraph watcher.
https://open.substack.com/pub/rolandmcs
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https://open.substack.com/pub/rolandmcs
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Roland Smith
@rolandmcs.bsky.social
· Nov 10
Long thread on how Brexitism started and evolved over 75 years, drawing from Benjamin Grob-Fitzgibbon's 'Continental Drift'.
Global Britain, Free Trade, Cakeism, Federalism, anti-federalism, EEA, Winston Churchill, Empire, 52-48 referendums, Enoch Powell, 1975, Thatcher.... It's all here. /1
Global Britain, Free Trade, Cakeism, Federalism, anti-federalism, EEA, Winston Churchill, Empire, 52-48 referendums, Enoch Powell, 1975, Thatcher.... It's all here. /1
"They are so convinced their politics isn’t really politics, but just some default setting shared with much of the country..."
True of so many commentators on the Right.
True of so many commentators on the Right.
The reaction to the Panorama edit has been nothing short of hysterical. Yes the BBC has some impartiality problems. But its biggest isn't the one you think.
New piece from me.
open.substack.com/pub/goodalla...
New piece from me.
open.substack.com/pub/goodalla...
The truth about impartiality at the BBC
And the hysteria of the current "crisis"
open.substack.com
November 10, 2025 at 10:21 PM
"They are so convinced their politics isn’t really politics, but just some default setting shared with much of the country..."
True of so many commentators on the Right.
True of so many commentators on the Right.
Reposted by Roland Smith
Why can't the BBC just be more impartial towards President Trump, like GB News, says Nigel Farage.
GB News:
GB News:
November 10, 2025 at 9:26 PM
Why can't the BBC just be more impartial towards President Trump, like GB News, says Nigel Farage.
GB News:
GB News:
Farage should be pushed to disown Ant Middleton for this.
"I wouldn't expect someone like Adil Ray to understand...I'd love to have grabbed Adil Ray by the scruff of the neck & thrown him back to 1944... on the beaches of Normandy... and also for him to look to his left and his right and realise they look nothing like him."
www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkng...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkng...
'Grab Adil Ray By The Scruff Of The Neck' Says Former UK Special Forces Officer Ant Middleton
YouTube video by TalkTV
www.youtube.com
November 10, 2025 at 9:30 PM
Farage should be pushed to disown Ant Middleton for this.
The Populist Right could borrow from an old IRA statement:
"Today we were right, but remember we only have to be right once – you have to be right always."
"Today we were right, but remember we only have to be right once – you have to be right always."
November 10, 2025 at 9:22 PM
The Populist Right could borrow from an old IRA statement:
"Today we were right, but remember we only have to be right once – you have to be right always."
"Today we were right, but remember we only have to be right once – you have to be right always."
Reposted by Roland Smith
Very interesting piece, including the extract below which has the ring of truth
November 10, 2025 at 7:42 PM
Very interesting piece, including the extract below which has the ring of truth
Reposted by Roland Smith
IOC edges closer to ban on transgender women in female Olympic events
IOC edges closer to ban on transgender women in female Olympic events
*
Sources expect ban within next six to 12 months
*
IOC president wants to protect the female category
The International Olympic Committee is edging closer towards implementing a ban on transgender women competing in the female category in time for the Los Angeles Olympics.
Multiple sources expect such a ban to come into effect over the next six to 12 months with the new IOC president, Kirsty Coventry, making clear she wants to drive through her campaign pledge to protect the female category. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
November 10, 2025 at 4:37 PM
IOC edges closer to ban on transgender women in female Olympic events
I might have to install the Checkatrade app just so I can delete it.
November 10, 2025 at 7:09 PM
I might have to install the Checkatrade app just so I can delete it.
Reposted by Roland Smith
One can only imagine the screams of betrayal in Brussels if the UK was backtracking on the common understanding agreed in May. But it is an EU struggling to find any commonality in trade policy largely due to extreme French positions (on every subject). www.ft.com/content/03ef...
Von der Leyen dodged Starmer request for meeting on EU money demands
European Commission president had ‘scheduling’ issues at COP30 summit in Brazil and did not see the UK premier
www.ft.com
November 10, 2025 at 5:17 PM
One can only imagine the screams of betrayal in Brussels if the UK was backtracking on the common understanding agreed in May. But it is an EU struggling to find any commonality in trade policy largely due to extreme French positions (on every subject). www.ft.com/content/03ef...
Reposted by Roland Smith
Trump and his cronies have the BBC in their sights. Leaders can’t stay silent while one of our great institutions is attacked.
We must defend its independence, end political appointments, and remove Robbie Gibb from the Board.
We must defend its independence, end political appointments, and remove Robbie Gibb from the Board.
November 10, 2025 at 6:15 PM
Trump and his cronies have the BBC in their sights. Leaders can’t stay silent while one of our great institutions is attacked.
We must defend its independence, end political appointments, and remove Robbie Gibb from the Board.
We must defend its independence, end political appointments, and remove Robbie Gibb from the Board.
WTAF
Plaques commemorating Black WWII soldiers fighting against Nazi Germany have been removed from a U.S. military cemetery in the Netherlands —Newsweek
November 10, 2025 at 5:36 PM
WTAF
Reposted by Roland Smith
Ant Middleton combines racism with ignorance about the world wars as he continues his racist campaign to lose his Mayor of London deposit (when he advocates a racist bar on the current Mayor from offiice + over two-thirds of the London electorate if their grandparents weren't born here!)
"I wouldn't expect someone like Adil Ray to understand...I'd love to have grabbed Adil Ray by the scruff of the neck & thrown him back to 1944... on the beaches of Normandy... and also for him to look to his left and his right and realise they look nothing like him."
www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkng...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkng...
'Grab Adil Ray By The Scruff Of The Neck' Says Former UK Special Forces Officer Ant Middleton
YouTube video by TalkTV
www.youtube.com
November 10, 2025 at 5:17 PM
Ant Middleton combines racism with ignorance about the world wars as he continues his racist campaign to lose his Mayor of London deposit (when he advocates a racist bar on the current Mayor from offiice + over two-thirds of the London electorate if their grandparents weren't born here!)
"I wouldn't expect someone like Adil Ray to understand...I'd love to have grabbed Adil Ray by the scruff of the neck & thrown him back to 1944... on the beaches of Normandy... and also for him to look to his left and his right and realise they look nothing like him."
www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkng...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkng...
'Grab Adil Ray By The Scruff Of The Neck' Says Former UK Special Forces Officer Ant Middleton
YouTube video by TalkTV
www.youtube.com
November 10, 2025 at 5:08 PM
"I wouldn't expect someone like Adil Ray to understand...I'd love to have grabbed Adil Ray by the scruff of the neck & thrown him back to 1944... on the beaches of Normandy... and also for him to look to his left and his right and realise they look nothing like him."
www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkng...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkng...
The solar/wood fence bit surely can't be true, can it?
Solar’s price drop is astonishing: panels are now 98% cheaper than when I first analyzed them in 2004.
Today, building a fence with solar can be cheaper than using wood.
Today, building a fence with solar can be cheaper than using wood.
November 10, 2025 at 1:19 PM
The solar/wood fence bit surely can't be true, can it?
Reposted by Roland Smith
I’ve written to Keir Starmer, Kemi Badenoch and Nigel Farage urging them to condemn Donald Trump’s attack on the BBC.
The BBC belongs to Britain, not Trump. We must defend it together.
The BBC belongs to Britain, not Trump. We must defend it together.
November 10, 2025 at 11:29 AM
I’ve written to Keir Starmer, Kemi Badenoch and Nigel Farage urging them to condemn Donald Trump’s attack on the BBC.
The BBC belongs to Britain, not Trump. We must defend it together.
The BBC belongs to Britain, not Trump. We must defend it together.
Reposted by Roland Smith
Meanwhile, in Reform's Lancashire CC, the councillor in charge of care homes, owns a private care home, and is closing council care homes. 👀
A resident’s son, a Reform party member, said any move would “kill” his mother. ~AA
#NeverThoughtTheLeopards
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
A resident’s son, a Reform party member, said any move would “kill” his mother. ~AA
#NeverThoughtTheLeopards
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Lancashire’s Reform-run council plans to close care homes and day centres
Questions about potential conflict of interest as council’s cabinet member for social care owns private care company
www.theguardian.com
November 10, 2025 at 10:08 AM
Meanwhile, in Reform's Lancashire CC, the councillor in charge of care homes, owns a private care home, and is closing council care homes. 👀
A resident’s son, a Reform party member, said any move would “kill” his mother. ~AA
#NeverThoughtTheLeopards
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
A resident’s son, a Reform party member, said any move would “kill” his mother. ~AA
#NeverThoughtTheLeopards
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Roland Smith
Didn't Tuesday's election results show that it actually WAS working???
November 10, 2025 at 2:58 AM
Didn't Tuesday's election results show that it actually WAS working???
Reposted by Roland Smith
Thread.
What happened in Tuesday's elections? Here's our anatomy of a blue wave: www.economist.com/graphic-deta...
November 9, 2025 at 9:05 PM
Thread.
Reposted by Roland Smith
OK this is interesting. It was already OK/legal to criticise the religion of Islam, but it seems a recent judgment has concluded that 'Islam-critical' belief is protected under the Equalities Act. That's what the Telegraph, GB News and the Mail are getting excited about.
Will delve further...
Will delve further...
November 9, 2025 at 9:16 AM
OK this is interesting. It was already OK/legal to criticise the religion of Islam, but it seems a recent judgment has concluded that 'Islam-critical' belief is protected under the Equalities Act. That's what the Telegraph, GB News and the Mail are getting excited about.
Will delve further...
Will delve further...
Wild boy Captain Sensible is now doing recipes. Really.
November 9, 2025 at 7:49 PM
Wild boy Captain Sensible is now doing recipes. Really.
The Trump incident was merely the final precipitating factor in Tim Davie's resignation, after other accumulating reasons.
And it's not an awful final factor, allowing Starmer to wink through diplomatic channels that 'the matter is sorted'.
Just shit that it was about the criminal 6th Jan event.
And it's not an awful final factor, allowing Starmer to wink through diplomatic channels that 'the matter is sorted'.
Just shit that it was about the criminal 6th Jan event.
November 9, 2025 at 7:28 PM
The Trump incident was merely the final precipitating factor in Tim Davie's resignation, after other accumulating reasons.
And it's not an awful final factor, allowing Starmer to wink through diplomatic channels that 'the matter is sorted'.
Just shit that it was about the criminal 6th Jan event.
And it's not an awful final factor, allowing Starmer to wink through diplomatic channels that 'the matter is sorted'.
Just shit that it was about the criminal 6th Jan event.
Simon tackles the idea that we've passed peak populism.
Peak Everything? My latest on whether we have passed peak Trump, peak stocks, peak populism and peak Farage, plus how to fight back against ethno-nationalists
Peak Everything
Thoughts on whether we have passed peak Trump, peak stocks, peak populism and peak Farage plus how to fight back against the ethno-nationalists
open.substack.com
November 9, 2025 at 7:10 PM
Simon tackles the idea that we've passed peak populism.
Reposted by Roland Smith
The resignations of Tim Davie and Deborah Turness must be an opportunity for the BBC to turn a new leaf, rebuild trust and resist those like Nigel Farage who want to destroy it
We must stand up for a strong, independent BBC, to stop Trump’s America becoming Farage's Britain.
We must stand up for a strong, independent BBC, to stop Trump’s America becoming Farage's Britain.
November 9, 2025 at 6:45 PM
The resignations of Tim Davie and Deborah Turness must be an opportunity for the BBC to turn a new leaf, rebuild trust and resist those like Nigel Farage who want to destroy it
We must stand up for a strong, independent BBC, to stop Trump’s America becoming Farage's Britain.
We must stand up for a strong, independent BBC, to stop Trump’s America becoming Farage's Britain.
Reposted by Roland Smith
This is the most abysmal, pathetic thing. The BBC head resigning because the corporation is not supine *enough* to the far-right.
🔴 Breaking I Davie faced mounting criticism that a Panorama documentary misled viewers by editing a speech by Donald Trump
➡️ Read more: trib.al/I0iw7aP
➡️ Read more: trib.al/I0iw7aP
November 9, 2025 at 6:16 PM
This is the most abysmal, pathetic thing. The BBC head resigning because the corporation is not supine *enough* to the far-right.
Reposted by Roland Smith
Bulletin: BBC director general Tim Davie and BBC News CEO Deborah Turness are resigning "following criticism that a BBC Panorama documentary misled viewers by editing a speech by US President Donald Trump."
November 9, 2025 at 6:06 PM
Bulletin: BBC director general Tim Davie and BBC News CEO Deborah Turness are resigning "following criticism that a BBC Panorama documentary misled viewers by editing a speech by US President Donald Trump."
Reposted by Roland Smith
Tim Davie and Deborah Turness both resigning at the BBC. 💥
November 9, 2025 at 6:09 PM
Tim Davie and Deborah Turness both resigning at the BBC. 💥