Peter Wasson
@weterpasson.bsky.social
ln Manchester via London and Belfast, public affairs bod at manmetuni.bsky.social, adoptive Dad, politics geek, book worm, classical/choral music fan 🏳️🌈. All views my own
Kicking off Monday at Labour Party Conference with a breakfast panel on mental health with @manmetuni.bsky.social’s Deputy Pro-Vice Chancellor, Prof Deborah James
September 29, 2025 at 7:50 AM
Kicking off Monday at Labour Party Conference with a breakfast panel on mental health with @manmetuni.bsky.social’s Deputy Pro-Vice Chancellor, Prof Deborah James
Lots happening this year for Man Met at Labour Party Conference!
We're taking part in a number of events at this year’s Labour Party Conference in Liverpool.
Our experts and Vice-Chancellor Prof Malcolm Press, will join panels and discussions across three days.
Find out more 🔗 https://bit.ly/427LD2A
Our experts and Vice-Chancellor Prof Malcolm Press, will join panels and discussions across three days.
Find out more 🔗 https://bit.ly/427LD2A
Join Manchester Met at Labour Party Conference 2025!
Manchester Metropolitan University is taking part in a number of events at this year’s Labour Party Conference in Liverpool
www.mmu.ac.uk
September 28, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Lots happening this year for Man Met at Labour Party Conference!
Anyone at Lib Dem conference this year? Give me a shout if you fancy a pint and a chat!
September 20, 2025 at 3:54 PM
Anyone at Lib Dem conference this year? Give me a shout if you fancy a pint and a chat!
Reposted by Peter Wasson
The world "Habemus Papam?!"
The chorister who's nicked off with the thurible:
The chorister who's nicked off with the thurible:
May 8, 2025 at 4:12 PM
The world "Habemus Papam?!"
The chorister who's nicked off with the thurible:
The chorister who's nicked off with the thurible:
I realise this isn't the story (Habemus Papam!) but I was suddenly reminded of the social media fame that a seagull garnered during the last Conclave
May 8, 2025 at 4:12 PM
I realise this isn't the story (Habemus Papam!) but I was suddenly reminded of the social media fame that a seagull garnered during the last Conclave
Reposted by Peter Wasson
Sharing this because so much nonsense is written about Eostre. This is a great article, and the blog is great. (And - name dropping - I sat next to Ronald Hutton at a conference once. Lovely man. His books are the gold standard.)
Wrong, wrong, and wrong. Just some basic fact-checking would be nice.
Anyway, I wrote about Eostre here:
florencehrs.substack.com/p/eostre-pag...
Anyway, I wrote about Eostre here:
florencehrs.substack.com/p/eostre-pag...
April 19, 2025 at 2:11 PM
Sharing this because so much nonsense is written about Eostre. This is a great article, and the blog is great. (And - name dropping - I sat next to Ronald Hutton at a conference once. Lovely man. His books are the gold standard.)
It’s been a while since I worked in health policy, but then question of what is going to happen to ICSs in the latest revamp of the NHS has been bothering me. Interesting to see discussion of it here
Last week, the PM announced the abolition of NHS England. And at @reformthinktank.bsky.social we were very pleased to hear this!
But now, important questions about who will take over NHS England's responsibilities need to be decided.
Read my thoughts on this👇
reform.uk/comment/wher...
But now, important questions about who will take over NHS England's responsibilities need to be decided.
Read my thoughts on this👇
reform.uk/comment/wher...
Where are NHS England's powers going? - REFORM
reform.uk
March 19, 2025 at 2:24 PM
It’s been a while since I worked in health policy, but then question of what is going to happen to ICSs in the latest revamp of the NHS has been bothering me. Interesting to see discussion of it here
Not just SpAds. Years ago I was able to give my now husband a tour of the Houses of Parliament. Towards the end he leaned over and whispered “who are all these children?” referring to all the parliamentary researchers walking around. To which I responded “they run the country”
1/17 the ‘youth’ of spads 🧵 Robert Hazell at @conunitucl.bsky.social and I wrote a book on spads over a decade ago. We looked at about 600+ spads (1979-2013).
www.bloomsbury.com/uk/special-a...
www.bloomsbury.com/uk/special-a...
March 17, 2025 at 8:22 AM
Not just SpAds. Years ago I was able to give my now husband a tour of the Houses of Parliament. Towards the end he leaned over and whispered “who are all these children?” referring to all the parliamentary researchers walking around. To which I responded “they run the country”
I’m just sat here minding my own business on the bus and unbidden into my head pops the memory of the weird part of the lockdown when there was a debate *among Government Ministers* about whether a scotch egg constituted a substantial meal
March 10, 2025 at 8:24 AM
I’m just sat here minding my own business on the bus and unbidden into my head pops the memory of the weird part of the lockdown when there was a debate *among Government Ministers* about whether a scotch egg constituted a substantial meal
Reposted by Peter Wasson
Ah "probably" the kind of word markets just love.
Breaking news: US commerce secretary Howard Lutnick has said that all goods compliant with the sweeping 2020 trade deal with Canada and Mexico will probably be granted a one-month reprieve from tariffs. www.ft.com/content/cd33...
March 6, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Ah "probably" the kind of word markets just love.
Reposted by Peter Wasson
It’s hard now to comprehend the levels of hysteria and hostility directed at #Eastenders and the actors (Michael Cashman and Gary Hailes) for allowing gays to be seen on TV.
Questions were raised in Parliament; some MPs demanded the BBC lose its licence.
It was courageous.
#LGBTHistoryMonth
Questions were raised in Parliament; some MPs demanded the BBC lose its licence.
It was courageous.
#LGBTHistoryMonth
February 22, 2025 at 10:57 AM
It’s hard now to comprehend the levels of hysteria and hostility directed at #Eastenders and the actors (Michael Cashman and Gary Hailes) for allowing gays to be seen on TV.
Questions were raised in Parliament; some MPs demanded the BBC lose its licence.
It was courageous.
#LGBTHistoryMonth
Questions were raised in Parliament; some MPs demanded the BBC lose its licence.
It was courageous.
#LGBTHistoryMonth
Reposted by Peter Wasson
In honour of #EastEnders 40th anniversary, here’s its first gay kiss, which sparked tabloid outrage at the time.
Brace yourself, it’s a bit racy!
Brace yourself, it’s a bit racy!
February 21, 2025 at 2:06 PM
In honour of #EastEnders 40th anniversary, here’s its first gay kiss, which sparked tabloid outrage at the time.
Brace yourself, it’s a bit racy!
Brace yourself, it’s a bit racy!
Reposted by Peter Wasson
Ugh, Piero della Francesca sliding into my DMs again with his unsolicited diptychs.
February 21, 2025 at 9:11 AM
Ugh, Piero della Francesca sliding into my DMs again with his unsolicited diptychs.
So one of the things that I can’t quite get my head around is *how many eggs are Americans eating!?*. I realise I’m probably an outlier not liking eggs on their own (as an ingredient- grand). But are they all eating like five a day, or something?
February 19, 2025 at 4:44 PM
So one of the things that I can’t quite get my head around is *how many eggs are Americans eating!?*. I realise I’m probably an outlier not liking eggs on their own (as an ingredient- grand). But are they all eating like five a day, or something?
Reposted by Peter Wasson
Historians Politely Remind Nation To Check What's Happened In Past Before Making Any Big Decisions
theonion.com/historians-p...
theonion.com/historians-p...
February 18, 2025 at 5:17 PM
Historians Politely Remind Nation To Check What's Happened In Past Before Making Any Big Decisions
theonion.com/historians-p...
theonion.com/historians-p...
Reposted by Peter Wasson
Just reposting this again. Parliament is a *really* peculiar institution. And this can create issues for understanding who is in control. This becomes clearer if we look at the Restoration and Renewal of the Palace of Westminster.
Ben Yong: What—and Who—is Parliament? ukconstitutionallaw.org/2025/02/13/b...
Ben Yong: What—and Who—is Parliament?
The Palace of Westminster is a symbol of British democracy, and it is falling apart. It is a serious danger to those who work within it: a recent news report suggested the Palace could be the next …
ukconstitutionallaw.org
February 17, 2025 at 8:05 AM
Just reposting this again. Parliament is a *really* peculiar institution. And this can create issues for understanding who is in control. This becomes clearer if we look at the Restoration and Renewal of the Palace of Westminster.
How long until there’s an Antipope in Pittsburgh or somewhere similar?
Leaving aside the small matter of what the US Constitution says about that, a bit of reading on the Investiture Crisis (and especially the papacy of Innocent III), might be worthwhile.
conclave 2 is here and it sucks
February 16, 2025 at 11:14 AM
How long until there’s an Antipope in Pittsburgh or somewhere similar?
Reposted by Peter Wasson
Been thinking about this speech a lot lately.
One for all those happy to burn the rule of law because it's their side doing it this time.
youtu.be/PDBiLT3LASk?...
One for all those happy to burn the rule of law because it's their side doing it this time.
youtu.be/PDBiLT3LASk?...
A Man for All Seasons - The Devil Speech
YouTube video by dniete97
youtu.be
February 15, 2025 at 7:17 PM
Been thinking about this speech a lot lately.
One for all those happy to burn the rule of law because it's their side doing it this time.
youtu.be/PDBiLT3LASk?...
One for all those happy to burn the rule of law because it's their side doing it this time.
youtu.be/PDBiLT3LASk?...
Delighted to be in Parliament today to talk to MPs and peers about the value of degree apprenticeships at the APPG for Apprenticeships’s Annual Fair for @manmetuni.bsky.social
February 12, 2025 at 2:13 PM
Delighted to be in Parliament today to talk to MPs and peers about the value of degree apprenticeships at the APPG for Apprenticeships’s Annual Fair for @manmetuni.bsky.social
Reposted by Peter Wasson
I am begging you people who claim to be smart to read one (1) history book.
February 11, 2025 at 5:28 PM
I am begging you people who claim to be smart to read one (1) history book.
Reposted by Peter Wasson
Love this thread. My absolute favourite thing in any museum of the ancient world is when you happen upon a letter or a carving or a past time that makes you go 'oh, right. We're still the same dumb monkeys'. I find it magical and oddly comforting.
In this ancient Assyrian letter, astronomers complain that they can’t do their jobs or teach astronomy “because of the ilku-duty”, a type of taxation in the form of labour.
“we cannot keep the watch of the king, and the pupils do not learn the scribal craft” cdli.mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de/artifacts/33...
“we cannot keep the watch of the king, and the pupils do not learn the scribal craft” cdli.mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de/artifacts/33...
February 11, 2025 at 12:11 PM
Love this thread. My absolute favourite thing in any museum of the ancient world is when you happen upon a letter or a carving or a past time that makes you go 'oh, right. We're still the same dumb monkeys'. I find it magical and oddly comforting.
Explaining to our son that you only press the red ‘help’ button on the tram in an emergency. He nods, looking serious, and says “like tigers…or leopards on the track”.
Not my first thought, but yes, that would certainly qualify as an emergency.
Not my first thought, but yes, that would certainly qualify as an emergency.
February 1, 2025 at 12:27 PM
Explaining to our son that you only press the red ‘help’ button on the tram in an emergency. He nods, looking serious, and says “like tigers…or leopards on the track”.
Not my first thought, but yes, that would certainly qualify as an emergency.
Not my first thought, but yes, that would certainly qualify as an emergency.
Not to mention the diminution of the power of the Tribunes of the patrician people in favour of the patrician class in the Senate, which feels prescient.
Though Sulla is not the late Republic figure I associate Musk most with. That would be Crassus, one of the richest men in history
Though Sulla is not the late Republic figure I associate Musk most with. That would be Crassus, one of the richest men in history
This is Musk's new pinned tweet.
- It's Latin meaning "no one provokes me and gets away with it."
- He attributes it to Sulla, the Roman general who marched on Rome, named himself dictator and launched a notorious reign of terror, executing much of the city's elite.
- It's never linked to Sulla.
- It's Latin meaning "no one provokes me and gets away with it."
- He attributes it to Sulla, the Roman general who marched on Rome, named himself dictator and launched a notorious reign of terror, executing much of the city's elite.
- It's never linked to Sulla.
January 27, 2025 at 4:41 PM
Not to mention the diminution of the power of the Tribunes of the patrician people in favour of the patrician class in the Senate, which feels prescient.
Though Sulla is not the late Republic figure I associate Musk most with. That would be Crassus, one of the richest men in history
Though Sulla is not the late Republic figure I associate Musk most with. That would be Crassus, one of the richest men in history
Deleted my Twitter (X) account. Been putting it off for a while but couldn't in good conscience stay.
January 21, 2025 at 10:00 PM
Deleted my Twitter (X) account. Been putting it off for a while but couldn't in good conscience stay.
Sweet God in Heaven
January 20, 2025 at 8:37 PM
Sweet God in Heaven