Tim Read
@teread.bsky.social
Interested in politics, art, archaeology, music ,football and food. Slow runner.
Exactly this
Fascinating that the cause of collapse of both major parties has not just been basically identical (cost of living and service failings creating unpopularity, chasing radical right tail on immigration fuelling in-bloc schism), but that doubling down has persisted long after failure became clear.
November 16, 2025 at 9:20 PM
Exactly this
Reposted by Tim Read
Everyday a little more Alan Moore dystopia than the last
November 11, 2025 at 1:46 PM
Everyday a little more Alan Moore dystopia than the last
Reposted by Tim Read
These days, believers in free trade are generally found on the Left and Centre. The Right is now intellectually incoherent on this front.
Frost looks ready to embody this incoherence – someone who actively damaged free trade but then heads up a free trade think tank.
Frost looks ready to embody this incoherence – someone who actively damaged free trade but then heads up a free trade think tank.
November 6, 2025 at 8:25 PM
These days, believers in free trade are generally found on the Left and Centre. The Right is now intellectually incoherent on this front.
Frost looks ready to embody this incoherence – someone who actively damaged free trade but then heads up a free trade think tank.
Frost looks ready to embody this incoherence – someone who actively damaged free trade but then heads up a free trade think tank.
Reposted by Tim Read
A great day for the golden rule of political analysis: when the right wins it is a resounding ideological victory that humiliates the left and when the left wins it is a precarious fluke that will surely end up humiliating the left. Conservatives are power’s landlords and the left merely tenants
November 5, 2025 at 10:35 AM
A great day for the golden rule of political analysis: when the right wins it is a resounding ideological victory that humiliates the left and when the left wins it is a precarious fluke that will surely end up humiliating the left. Conservatives are power’s landlords and the left merely tenants
Reposted by Tim Read
I’ve said it once, I’ll say it again.
Ignore the haters, London is the 🐐
Ignore the haters, London is the 🐐
September 23, 2025 at 4:17 PM
I’ve said it once, I’ll say it again.
Ignore the haters, London is the 🐐
Ignore the haters, London is the 🐐
Reposted by Tim Read
Starmer's remarks were deplorable, not because they echoed Powell (they didn't) but because they endorsed the core claims of *modern* populism:
- that a "squalid" establishment conspired against the people; and
- that immigration is to blame for Britain's poor economy, housing & public services.
- that a "squalid" establishment conspired against the people; and
- that immigration is to blame for Britain's poor economy, housing & public services.
May 14, 2025 at 10:50 AM
Starmer's remarks were deplorable, not because they echoed Powell (they didn't) but because they endorsed the core claims of *modern* populism:
- that a "squalid" establishment conspired against the people; and
- that immigration is to blame for Britain's poor economy, housing & public services.
- that a "squalid" establishment conspired against the people; and
- that immigration is to blame for Britain's poor economy, housing & public services.
Reposted by Tim Read
*very* cheeky of the Guardian to illustrate this with a picture of Farthing Down, a site of special scientific interest and thus absolutely not the sort of horrible scrubland the mayor's talking about here
Sadiq Khan to announce plans to build houses on London green belt
Sadiq Khan to announce plans to build houses on London green belt
Mayor to make major policy shift and say scale of housing crisis requires breaking taboo
Sadiq Khan is announcing plans to build on parts of London’s green belt, in a dramatic shift in housing policy aimed at tackling “the most profound housing crisis in the capital’s history”.
In a major speech on Friday, the mayor of London is expected to say the scale of the challenge, which could need about 1m new homes built in the next decade, requires a break from longstanding taboos. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
May 9, 2025 at 7:52 AM
*very* cheeky of the Guardian to illustrate this with a picture of Farthing Down, a site of special scientific interest and thus absolutely not the sort of horrible scrubland the mayor's talking about here
Really good point. A lesson that needs to be absorbed by Labour. Focus on actual delivery.
Lynton Crosby's guidance provided the Australian Liberal Party and the UK Conservative Party with short term tactical wins at the expense of long term strategic viability
May 3, 2025 at 11:12 AM
Really good point. A lesson that needs to be absorbed by Labour. Focus on actual delivery.
Reposted by Tim Read
Reposted by Tim Read
Lots of differences but the similarity with Truss is that a lot of the market response is less about the specific event and more the realisation that these people really are total clowns and there's no clever plan behind the public statements of blathering ignorance.
April 9, 2025 at 8:31 AM
Lots of differences but the similarity with Truss is that a lot of the market response is less about the specific event and more the realisation that these people really are total clowns and there's no clever plan behind the public statements of blathering ignorance.
Really interesting observation here. Reinforces sense of US isolating itself.
In the past, this kind of stock market meltdown would bring world leaders together to stabilize markets. But incentives are different now. The world wants this sell-off to get worse, as it raises the cost to the US of its tariff policy, raising odds the US backs down. Falling SPX pressures the US...
April 6, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Really interesting observation here. Reinforces sense of US isolating itself.
Reposted by Tim Read
Inspired by @mark-carney.bsky.social and Canadians everywhere. We’re all fighting back on our home ice!
April 3, 2025 at 4:40 AM
Inspired by @mark-carney.bsky.social and Canadians everywhere. We’re all fighting back on our home ice!
Reposted by Tim Read
The only reason a thing has not been abolished, a thing has not been banned, or an individual or firm has not had some measure against them, is…
…Trump has not thought of it yet.
Authoritarianism as stream-of-consciousness.
…Trump has not thought of it yet.
Authoritarianism as stream-of-consciousness.
March 22, 2025 at 6:24 AM
The only reason a thing has not been abolished, a thing has not been banned, or an individual or firm has not had some measure against them, is…
…Trump has not thought of it yet.
Authoritarianism as stream-of-consciousness.
…Trump has not thought of it yet.
Authoritarianism as stream-of-consciousness.
Reposted by Tim Read
just a reminder that me and @lollardfish.bsky.social wrote a book that just came out about an empire that falls apart when elites abandon the public good and serve only their own selfish interests... but in the 9th century. you can even buy it (paper, audio, ebook)! #medievalsky #booksky
Oathbreakers
“Fascinating.” — The Wall Street Journal
“An enlightening portrait of the medieval mindset.” — Publishers Weekly
The authors of The Bright Ages return with ...
www.harpercollins.com
March 3, 2025 at 4:53 PM
just a reminder that me and @lollardfish.bsky.social wrote a book that just came out about an empire that falls apart when elites abandon the public good and serve only their own selfish interests... but in the 9th century. you can even buy it (paper, audio, ebook)! #medievalsky #booksky
Reposted by Tim Read
Vance was right on just one thing: Europe lacks a clear positive vision of what it wants to defend.
The answer must be "the things Vance rejects": truth, science, liberal democracy, rule of law, resisting dictators, climate action.
It will have to do that without, & sometimes against, the US Govt.
The answer must be "the things Vance rejects": truth, science, liberal democracy, rule of law, resisting dictators, climate action.
It will have to do that without, & sometimes against, the US Govt.
February 15, 2025 at 9:47 AM
Vance was right on just one thing: Europe lacks a clear positive vision of what it wants to defend.
The answer must be "the things Vance rejects": truth, science, liberal democracy, rule of law, resisting dictators, climate action.
It will have to do that without, & sometimes against, the US Govt.
The answer must be "the things Vance rejects": truth, science, liberal democracy, rule of law, resisting dictators, climate action.
It will have to do that without, & sometimes against, the US Govt.
The definition of pointlessness, bringing Antony on when you need a goal
December 30, 2024 at 9:41 PM
The definition of pointlessness, bringing Antony on when you need a goal
Different Drum
The Lemonheads · Favorite Spanish Dishes · Song · 1990
open.spotify.com
December 14, 2024 at 11:23 PM
Storm Bert has taken out the Norwegian Blue
November 24, 2024 at 2:28 PM
Storm Bert has taken out the Norwegian Blue
Autumn in all it's glory bringing joy and hope. In a week a bucket loads of leaves to pick up.
November 17, 2024 at 4:10 PM
Autumn in all it's glory bringing joy and hope. In a week a bucket loads of leaves to pick up.
Bluesky will have become the place I want to be when I can spend six hours in various medical waiting rooms and have new engaging content every time I refresh.
September 9, 2024 at 3:50 PM
Bluesky will have become the place I want to be when I can spend six hours in various medical waiting rooms and have new engaging content every time I refresh.