Christopher Silver
@silverscribed.bsky.social
Recovering freelance journalist/embattled early career academic: researching journalism, culture and place. 🏳️🌈🏴✊
https://www.christopher-silver.com/
https://www.christopher-silver.com/
Pinned
Ian Hamilton Finlay’s revolutionary instincts
What the centenary of Scotland’s avant-gardener reveals about the crisis in our cultural life
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk
Lots of debate recently on the state of Scottish cultural life - with plenty of omissions. For me it all comes back to the bigger (older) challenge of accommodating an avant-garde in a small country. Some provocative lessons from IHF here:
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/culture/art/...
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/culture/art/...
Reposted by Christopher Silver
Incredible that Robbie Gibb - most influential person on BBC board by many accounts and from journalists I speak in BBC - was involved in setting up GB News.
GB News of course has breached Ofcom rules on *multiple* occasions - no sign of resignations though
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
GB News of course has breached Ofcom rules on *multiple* occasions - no sign of resignations though
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
‘Enforced veganism’: Ofcom lets GB News flout accuracy rules, say climate campaigners
Exclusive: Regulator has received 1,221 complaints about UK broadcasters since 2020 but found no breaches of its code
www.theguardian.com
November 10, 2025 at 8:25 AM
Incredible that Robbie Gibb - most influential person on BBC board by many accounts and from journalists I speak in BBC - was involved in setting up GB News.
GB News of course has breached Ofcom rules on *multiple* occasions - no sign of resignations though
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
GB News of course has breached Ofcom rules on *multiple* occasions - no sign of resignations though
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Without a reigning liberal consensus there can be no public service media.
bsky.app/profile/thei...
bsky.app/profile/thei...
🔴 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 6:40 PM
Without a reigning liberal consensus there can be no public service media.
bsky.app/profile/thei...
bsky.app/profile/thei...
Reposted by Christopher Silver
The UK is behaving abysmally.
Environmental protesters are being given licence conditions on release from jail that are supposed to be limited to extremism cases.
Ella Ward, 22, was banned from going to any meetings or gatherings, except for worship, without permission.
www.theguardian.com/law/2025/nov...
Ella Ward, 22, was banned from going to any meetings or gatherings, except for worship, without permission.
www.theguardian.com/law/2025/nov...
Jailed UK climate protesters facing conditions reserved for extremists on release
Exclusive: Just Stop Oil activist was banned from attending gatherings, including meeting a friend in a cafe, without permission
www.theguardian.com
November 8, 2025 at 11:37 AM
The UK is behaving abysmally.
Reposted by Christopher Silver
Today marks just six months to go until the 2026 Scottish Parliament Election! As is now usual, I'll be looking to commission a pre-election poll. If you can, please chip in to the crowdfunder here - all donations gratefully received, and even if you can't donate, please share!
gofund.me/cf862de1a
gofund.me/cf862de1a
Donate to Ballot Box Scotland SP26 Fundraiser, organized by Allan Faulds
This funding will support Ballot Box Scotland's reporting ahead of the 2026 Scottish … Allan Faulds needs your support for Ballot Box Scotland SP26 Fundraiser
gofund.me
November 7, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Today marks just six months to go until the 2026 Scottish Parliament Election! As is now usual, I'll be looking to commission a pre-election poll. If you can, please chip in to the crowdfunder here - all donations gratefully received, and even if you can't donate, please share!
gofund.me/cf862de1a
gofund.me/cf862de1a
Reposted by Christopher Silver
It shouldn’t be forgotten that a big piece of Mamdani’s campaign was simply “cities are cool and lots of people enjoy living in them” which in and of itself dismantles alot of rightwing talking points
November 7, 2025 at 12:02 PM
It shouldn’t be forgotten that a big piece of Mamdani’s campaign was simply “cities are cool and lots of people enjoy living in them” which in and of itself dismantles alot of rightwing talking points
Reposted by Christopher Silver
The perfect photo to challenge narratives of progress.
November 7, 2025 at 8:08 AM
The perfect photo to challenge narratives of progress.
Reposted by Christopher Silver
Imagine a country where hundreds of thousands of legal permanent residents find stripped of their status and forced to reapply for their right to remain. Many no longer meet the criteria, plunged into illegality, subject to deportation.
@emile-chabal.bsky.social
foreignpolicy.com/2025/11/05/b...
@emile-chabal.bsky.social
foreignpolicy.com/2025/11/05/b...
Britain Is Having the World’s Most Extreme Immigration Debate
The British discourse makes even the Trump administration look moderate.
foreignpolicy.com
November 6, 2025 at 6:57 AM
Imagine a country where hundreds of thousands of legal permanent residents find stripped of their status and forced to reapply for their right to remain. Many no longer meet the criteria, plunged into illegality, subject to deportation.
@emile-chabal.bsky.social
foreignpolicy.com/2025/11/05/b...
@emile-chabal.bsky.social
foreignpolicy.com/2025/11/05/b...
Reposted by Christopher Silver
So pleased to get my book "Travels through the Spanish Civil War". @HurstPublishers publishers have done a wonderful job in producing it.
Advanced copies available thru
www.hurstpublishers.com/book/travels... with 25% off with code TRAVELS25. Otherwise 20 November in UK/Europe and 5 Jan for US, etc
Advanced copies available thru
www.hurstpublishers.com/book/travels... with 25% off with code TRAVELS25. Otherwise 20 November in UK/Europe and 5 Jan for US, etc
November 1, 2025 at 10:43 AM
So pleased to get my book "Travels through the Spanish Civil War". @HurstPublishers publishers have done a wonderful job in producing it.
Advanced copies available thru
www.hurstpublishers.com/book/travels... with 25% off with code TRAVELS25. Otherwise 20 November in UK/Europe and 5 Jan for US, etc
Advanced copies available thru
www.hurstpublishers.com/book/travels... with 25% off with code TRAVELS25. Otherwise 20 November in UK/Europe and 5 Jan for US, etc
David was a truly inveterate critical friend, editor, and mentor. He brought internationalism, impish enthusiasm for the new and memories of '68 to the NUJ and the wider Scottish public sphere. His legacy will remain a ward against the insular and dogmatic for generations.
bsky.app/profile/theg...
bsky.app/profile/theg...
November 3, 2025 at 7:13 PM
David was a truly inveterate critical friend, editor, and mentor. He brought internationalism, impish enthusiasm for the new and memories of '68 to the NUJ and the wider Scottish public sphere. His legacy will remain a ward against the insular and dogmatic for generations.
bsky.app/profile/theg...
bsky.app/profile/theg...
Reposted by Christopher Silver
We’re deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Elspeth King — a dear friend and great supporter of Alasdair Gray. 💛
Link in bio to read Gray’s piece on King for Workers City.
Link in bio to read Gray’s piece on King for Workers City.
November 1, 2025 at 11:06 AM
We’re deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Elspeth King — a dear friend and great supporter of Alasdair Gray. 💛
Link in bio to read Gray’s piece on King for Workers City.
Link in bio to read Gray’s piece on King for Workers City.
At some point it became socially acceptable to shit in the public sphere. We’re now rapidly descending into a prolonged rightist dirty protest. Disgust grabs attention and it’s all designed to make terrain of informed debate a cesspit- because that’s where they always lose
bsky.app/profile/youg...
bsky.app/profile/youg...
27% of white Britons say they don't feel well represented in advertising in terms of their race, with Reform MP Sarah Pochin causing a row on the subject
White Britons
Well represented: 65%
Not well represented: 27%
Ethnic minority Britons
Well: 42%
Not well: 51%
yougov.co.uk/politics/art...
White Britons
Well represented: 65%
Not well represented: 27%
Ethnic minority Britons
Well: 42%
Not well: 51%
yougov.co.uk/politics/art...
November 1, 2025 at 1:12 PM
At some point it became socially acceptable to shit in the public sphere. We’re now rapidly descending into a prolonged rightist dirty protest. Disgust grabs attention and it’s all designed to make terrain of informed debate a cesspit- because that’s where they always lose
bsky.app/profile/youg...
bsky.app/profile/youg...
Reposted by Christopher Silver
I'm saddened to learn of the passing of Dr Elspeth King, the legendary curator of the People's Palace, and a fierce advocate for Glasgow and its history.
This was fascinating on the release of the film adaptation of Alasdair Gray's "Poor Things".
yoursforscotlandcom.wordpress.com/2024/01/10/p...
This was fascinating on the release of the film adaptation of Alasdair Gray's "Poor Things".
yoursforscotlandcom.wordpress.com/2024/01/10/p...
November 1, 2025 at 8:52 AM
I'm saddened to learn of the passing of Dr Elspeth King, the legendary curator of the People's Palace, and a fierce advocate for Glasgow and its history.
This was fascinating on the release of the film adaptation of Alasdair Gray's "Poor Things".
yoursforscotlandcom.wordpress.com/2024/01/10/p...
This was fascinating on the release of the film adaptation of Alasdair Gray's "Poor Things".
yoursforscotlandcom.wordpress.com/2024/01/10/p...
“The future of the House of Windsor will be a conveyor belt of cloistered and confused men attempting to force consensus on an ungovernable country.”
www.newstatesman.com/politics/202...
www.newstatesman.com/politics/202...
Abolish the monarchy
It’s more than Prince Andrew – the whole House of Windsor is rotten to the core
www.newstatesman.com
October 30, 2025 at 8:21 PM
“The future of the House of Windsor will be a conveyor belt of cloistered and confused men attempting to force consensus on an ungovernable country.”
www.newstatesman.com/politics/202...
www.newstatesman.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Christopher Silver
Reposted by Christopher Silver
Poet, writer, artist, & avant-gardener Ian Hamilton Finlay (1925–2006) was born 100 years ago #OTD, 28 Oct, in Nassau, Bahamas. His father was a bootlegger, & Finlay was sent, aged 6, to Larchfield, a boarding school in Helensburgh, Scotland, where WH Auden had recently joined the staff
A 🎂🧵
1/9
A 🎂🧵
1/9
October 28, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Poet, writer, artist, & avant-gardener Ian Hamilton Finlay (1925–2006) was born 100 years ago #OTD, 28 Oct, in Nassau, Bahamas. His father was a bootlegger, & Finlay was sent, aged 6, to Larchfield, a boarding school in Helensburgh, Scotland, where WH Auden had recently joined the staff
A 🎂🧵
1/9
A 🎂🧵
1/9
Reposted by Christopher Silver
who creates the lively art and music scenes if the rent is too high? who makes cultural life? who serves you food or washes your dishes? who creates the fancy little restaurants that draw you to urban living? affordable housing is at the heart of what makes city life worthwhile.
October 26, 2025 at 6:04 AM
who creates the lively art and music scenes if the rent is too high? who makes cultural life? who serves you food or washes your dishes? who creates the fancy little restaurants that draw you to urban living? affordable housing is at the heart of what makes city life worthwhile.
Know what else was generative? Ridding the planet of billionaires through post-war social democracy.
October 24, 2025 at 10:37 AM
Know what else was generative? Ridding the planet of billionaires through post-war social democracy.
Reposted by Christopher Silver
The only truly ethical response that a self-described artist can make. Anything else is a betrayal of one's colleagues.
“I am not interested, nor will I ever be interested. I'm 61, and I hope to be able to remain uninterested in using it at all until I croak. ... The other day, somebody wrote me an email, said, ‘What is your stance on AI?’ And my answer was very short. I said, ‘I'd rather die.’” 🫡
Filmmaker Guillermo del Toro says 'I'd rather die' than use generative AI
Del Toro's new Frankenstein adaption reimagines Mary Shelley's 1818 Gothic novel. Frankenstein was like a tech bro: "creating something without considering the consequences," he explains.
www.npr.org
October 23, 2025 at 11:00 PM
The only truly ethical response that a self-described artist can make. Anything else is a betrayal of one's colleagues.
Reposted by Christopher Silver
my band Shinlifter have their EP launch on Saturday and with impeccable timing our Instagram has been hacked so we’ve lost our main channel for promoting it. if anyone wanted to help share this brilliant poster by my pal Grace there, here or elsewhere we’d be very grateful!
October 23, 2025 at 6:51 PM
my band Shinlifter have their EP launch on Saturday and with impeccable timing our Instagram has been hacked so we’ve lost our main channel for promoting it. if anyone wanted to help share this brilliant poster by my pal Grace there, here or elsewhere we’d be very grateful!
Reposted by Christopher Silver
Actually, this one feels more suitable for the current situation
October 23, 2025 at 11:21 AM
Actually, this one feels more suitable for the current situation
Breaking news:
Mike Graham sacked following the racist Facebook post.
www.thelondoneconomic.com/news/mike-gr...
Mike Graham sacked following the racist Facebook post.
www.thelondoneconomic.com/news/mike-gr...
Mike Graham 'axed from Talk show' after racist posts on Facebook account
Mike Graham has reportedly been suspended from his Talk UK show after a racist post was shared on his Facebook account, which he denies was by him.
www.thelondoneconomic.com
October 22, 2025 at 8:07 PM
Reposted by Christopher Silver
For anyone who didn't fund the imminent (and amazing) Dick Gaughan box via Kickstarter, the good news is that 600 copies are available for general sale via Last Night From Glasgow. Out early '26, it can be preordered now. Once they're gone, they're gone. shop.lastnightfromglasgow.com/products/dic...
Dick Gaughan - R/Evolution - 7CD & 1DVD Box Set
In March–April 2025, a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign ran with the twin goals of: (1) creating the 7CD+DVD box set R/evolution: 1969–83; (2) raising some funds for Dick Gaughan himself, retired and...
shop.lastnightfromglasgow.com
October 22, 2025 at 6:39 PM
For anyone who didn't fund the imminent (and amazing) Dick Gaughan box via Kickstarter, the good news is that 600 copies are available for general sale via Last Night From Glasgow. Out early '26, it can be preordered now. Once they're gone, they're gone. shop.lastnightfromglasgow.com/products/dic...
We fixate on culture wars (cause they make for cheap copy) but forget too easily that they are the direct result of an unprecedented expansion in the range of cultural expression and representation. Riot Women is a joyous reminder of why the latter will outlast the former.
October 22, 2025 at 7:58 PM
We fixate on culture wars (cause they make for cheap copy) but forget too easily that they are the direct result of an unprecedented expansion in the range of cultural expression and representation. Riot Women is a joyous reminder of why the latter will outlast the former.
Reposted by Christopher Silver
GB News paid a visit to Govanhill recently to find out what ‘the locals’ think about the Palestine-Saltire flags on Vicky Road.
They only managed to speak to three people – who unsurprisingly were not happy.
We asked the same question…results may vary 👀
www.greatergovanhill.com/latest/local...
They only managed to speak to three people – who unsurprisingly were not happy.
We asked the same question…results may vary 👀
www.greatergovanhill.com/latest/local...
Locals respond to GB News in Govanhill — Greater Govanhill
Right wing media outlet GB News paid a visit to Govanhill recently to find out what ‘the locals’ think about the Palestine-Saltire flags on Vicky Road. But they only managed to speak to three people –...
www.greatergovanhill.com
October 22, 2025 at 1:29 PM
GB News paid a visit to Govanhill recently to find out what ‘the locals’ think about the Palestine-Saltire flags on Vicky Road.
They only managed to speak to three people – who unsurprisingly were not happy.
We asked the same question…results may vary 👀
www.greatergovanhill.com/latest/local...
They only managed to speak to three people – who unsurprisingly were not happy.
We asked the same question…results may vary 👀
www.greatergovanhill.com/latest/local...