Alan Lester
@alanlester.bsky.social
British Empire Professor, University of Sussex. Co-editor, MUP Studies in Imperialism series. Views here own.
Blogs on politics of colonial history here: https://alanlester.co.uk Editor https://www.hurstpublishers.com/book/the-truth-about-empire/
Blogs on politics of colonial history here: https://alanlester.co.uk Editor https://www.hurstpublishers.com/book/the-truth-about-empire/
Pinned
Alan Lester
@alanlester.bsky.social
· Apr 30
HOW TO PODCAST | David Olusoga & Alan Lester - The Truth About the British Empire
David Olusoga and Alan Lester reveal the dark realities of the British Empire, and reflect on the importance of historians amid the resurgence of nationalism and misinformation.
howtoacademy.com
The podcast of David Olusoga and I discussing Empire & the rewriting of history:
howtoacademy.com/podcasts/dav...
howtoacademy.com/podcasts/dav...
Flag raisers have complained they’re misunderstood. Their real intention was the benign expression of national pride. No hint of racism. Since they’re well-intentioned I wonder how many will take them down once they know how they’re seen by NHS workers?
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
NHS staff who visit patients at home say St George’s flags can mean ‘no-go zones’
Black and Asian staff left feeling ‘deliberately intimidated’, according to chief executive of one NHS trust
www.theguardian.com
November 11, 2025 at 8:03 AM
Flag raisers have complained they’re misunderstood. Their real intention was the benign expression of national pride. No hint of racism. Since they’re well-intentioned I wonder how many will take them down once they know how they’re seen by NHS workers?
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
It’s astonishing that a man who was director of communications for a political party & who helped set up a right wing propaganda TV channel should have ever been placed on the board of a supposedly impartial & independent broadcasting service.
www.theguardian.com/media/2025/n...
www.theguardian.com/media/2025/n...
BBC board member with Tory links ‘led charge’ in systemic bias claims, say insiders
Sources say Robbie Gibb amplified criticisms of Trump, Gaza and trans rights coverage, and had ‘a lot of oxygen in the room’
www.theguardian.com
November 11, 2025 at 7:47 AM
It’s astonishing that a man who was director of communications for a political party & who helped set up a right wing propaganda TV channel should have ever been placed on the board of a supposedly impartial & independent broadcasting service.
www.theguardian.com/media/2025/n...
www.theguardian.com/media/2025/n...
The power of the extreme right’s propaganda machine is nowhere more evident than in brainwashed Britons’ reaction to the BBC story. They love 99% of the Beeb’s output but are now so radicalised they’ll happily support an attack on it from foreign presidents and media moguls.
Outgoing BBC director general to address staff after Trump threatens to sue for $1bn
Trump says he will file legal action by Friday if the BBC does not apologise and
www.bbc.co.uk
November 11, 2025 at 7:37 AM
The power of the extreme right’s propaganda machine is nowhere more evident than in brainwashed Britons’ reaction to the BBC story. They love 99% of the Beeb’s output but are now so radicalised they’ll happily support an attack on it from foreign presidents and media moguls.
Reposted by Alan Lester
Thought for the day:
On Bluesky, it's "nice" to "Like", but it's (more) effective to Repost. Be effective. (You can also be nice).
On Bluesky, it's "nice" to "Like", but it's (more) effective to Repost. Be effective. (You can also be nice).
November 10, 2025 at 1:35 PM
Thought for the day:
On Bluesky, it's "nice" to "Like", but it's (more) effective to Repost. Be effective. (You can also be nice).
On Bluesky, it's "nice" to "Like", but it's (more) effective to Repost. Be effective. (You can also be nice).
Who’d have guessed it? The main BBC board member resisting a simple apology and reinforcing the right wing attack on the BBC from within, was a Tory government appointee and founder of GB TV. If you want impartiality, Gibb has to go. Nick Robinson on X:
November 10, 2025 at 8:25 AM
Who’d have guessed it? The main BBC board member resisting a simple apology and reinforcing the right wing attack on the BBC from within, was a Tory government appointee and founder of GB TV. If you want impartiality, Gibb has to go. Nick Robinson on X:
1/2 When organisations that try to be impartial, like the BBC or universities or the National Trust, try to resist culture war attacks from a mendacious right wing lobby, they are fighting with one hand tied behind their backs.
November 10, 2025 at 7:58 AM
1/2 When organisations that try to be impartial, like the BBC or universities or the National Trust, try to resist culture war attacks from a mendacious right wing lobby, they are fighting with one hand tied behind their backs.
1/3 For years now a nexus of well funded right wing groups has been trying either to capture or undermine one of the world’s, & certainly the UK’s most effective media organisation with an impartiality ethic.
November 10, 2025 at 7:39 AM
1/3 For years now a nexus of well funded right wing groups has been trying either to capture or undermine one of the world’s, & certainly the UK’s most effective media organisation with an impartiality ethic.
Reposted by Alan Lester
Important conversation about how vile the racist rhetoric is becoming around the mainstream Right in Britain. Absolutely white ethnostate trash.
www.bylinesupplement.com/p/nigel-fara...
www.bylinesupplement.com/p/nigel-fara...
Nigel Farage's Reform a Bigger Far-Right Threat Than the BNP, Says UK’s Leading Anti-Racism Campaigner
Hope not Hate's CEO Nick Lowles says Reform's rise is mainstreaming ideas that were previously taboo even on parts of the far-right
www.bylinesupplement.com
November 10, 2025 at 3:16 AM
Important conversation about how vile the racist rhetoric is becoming around the mainstream Right in Britain. Absolutely white ethnostate trash.
www.bylinesupplement.com/p/nigel-fara...
www.bylinesupplement.com/p/nigel-fara...
The Telegraph being praised by a foreign autocrat for undermining the BBC.
November 9, 2025 at 9:40 PM
The Telegraph being praised by a foreign autocrat for undermining the BBC.
This is really scary: even former Tory Davie, the disproportionate coverage of Reform and relentless attention to right wing anti-immigrant talking points have not been enough. Right wing networks want complete capture.
Davie and Turness resignation statements in full www.bbc.com/news/article...
Davie and Turness resignation statements in full www.bbc.com/news/article...
Tim Davie and Deborah Turness resign: BBC statements in full
Director general says "mistakes have been made" but "allegations that BBC News is institutionally biased are wrong".
www.bbc.com
November 9, 2025 at 7:35 PM
This is really scary: even former Tory Davie, the disproportionate coverage of Reform and relentless attention to right wing anti-immigrant talking points have not been enough. Right wing networks want complete capture.
Davie and Turness resignation statements in full www.bbc.com/news/article...
Davie and Turness resignation statements in full www.bbc.com/news/article...
The private company Restore Trust’s attempt to take over the @nationaltrust.org.uk failed again. Will they stop now? No, because they are part of the well-funded nexus of right wing activist organisations that’s determined to control national institutions.
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/who-we-are/a...
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/who-we-are/a...
Voting results from the AGM
Read about the National Trust's 2025 Annual General Meeting and the results from the day.
www.nationaltrust.org.uk
November 9, 2025 at 4:26 PM
The private company Restore Trust’s attempt to take over the @nationaltrust.org.uk failed again. Will they stop now? No, because they are part of the well-funded nexus of right wing activist organisations that’s determined to control national institutions.
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/who-we-are/a...
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/who-we-are/a...
Reposted by Alan Lester
Bit of a visual metaphor for the Restore Trust/History reclaimed crew, given their losses in the AGM elections.
November 9, 2025 at 1:58 PM
Bit of a visual metaphor for the Restore Trust/History reclaimed crew, given their losses in the AGM elections.
In 1962 Parliament debated Britain's responsibility for the development of its former colonies. The results were surprising. They suggest that even Conservatives might have understood @Caricom’s contemporary insistence on a reparative conversation. alanlester.co.uk/blog/britain...
Britain’s Responsibilities to Former Colonies: A Debate
Alan Lester In 1962 Britain was losing an empire and figuring out what place it might occupy on the new world stage. Decolonisation was clearly irreversible, but not all of Britain’s colonies were …
alanlester.co.uk
November 8, 2025 at 7:40 PM
In 1962 Parliament debated Britain's responsibility for the development of its former colonies. The results were surprising. They suggest that even Conservatives might have understood @Caricom’s contemporary insistence on a reparative conversation. alanlester.co.uk/blog/britain...
1/2 This orchestrated right wing backlash against the BBC suggests three things:
1. Concern that mounting criticism of genocide-denying & anti-immigrant reporting might be gaining traction.
2. Fear that it’s moving on from the populist culture war over gender …
www.thetimes.com/uk/media/art...
1. Concern that mounting criticism of genocide-denying & anti-immigrant reporting might be gaining traction.
2. Fear that it’s moving on from the populist culture war over gender …
www.thetimes.com/uk/media/art...
Damning dossier on Trump, Gaza and trans coverage has BBC reeling
Michael Prescott, a former adviser, warned of ‘serious and systemic problems’ in a blistering attack on the corporation’s news coverage
www.thetimes.com
November 8, 2025 at 8:10 AM
1/2 This orchestrated right wing backlash against the BBC suggests three things:
1. Concern that mounting criticism of genocide-denying & anti-immigrant reporting might be gaining traction.
2. Fear that it’s moving on from the populist culture war over gender …
www.thetimes.com/uk/media/art...
1. Concern that mounting criticism of genocide-denying & anti-immigrant reporting might be gaining traction.
2. Fear that it’s moving on from the populist culture war over gender …
www.thetimes.com/uk/media/art...
The Traitors’ castle was built by Alexander Matheson, whose uncle Co-founded the opium smuggling firm Jardine Matheson & Co., the key instigator the Opium Wars. Finalist @davidolusoga.bsky.social happens to be hosting a great new series about Empire now on BBC 2.
November 7, 2025 at 9:44 PM
The Traitors’ castle was built by Alexander Matheson, whose uncle Co-founded the opium smuggling firm Jardine Matheson & Co., the key instigator the Opium Wars. Finalist @davidolusoga.bsky.social happens to be hosting a great new series about Empire now on BBC 2.
Don’t forget to watch this much needed and long overdue series on the British Empire. Remarkably, it’s not based on the opinions of a travelling ‘personality’, but on what historians who’ve actually researched it say!
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
BBC Two - Empire with David Olusoga, Series 1, Episode 1
David Olusoga tells the story of the beginnings of the British Empire under Elizabeth I.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 6, 2025 at 9:42 AM
Don’t forget to watch this much needed and long overdue series on the British Empire. Remarkably, it’s not based on the opinions of a travelling ‘personality’, but on what historians who’ve actually researched it say!
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
We all know progressive taxes have to rise to pay for better public services. If Labour had said they’d raise them before the election we might have been stuck with the dysfunctional Tories for another 4 years. At least Reeves is now trying to educate voters. Populist parties will just keep lying.
November 6, 2025 at 8:44 AM
We all know progressive taxes have to rise to pay for better public services. If Labour had said they’d raise them before the election we might have been stuck with the dysfunctional Tories for another 4 years. At least Reeves is now trying to educate voters. Populist parties will just keep lying.
Sensible Letter to @thetimes.com today.
November 6, 2025 at 8:08 AM
Sensible Letter to @thetimes.com today.
Reposted by Alan Lester
Hu bloody hurray!
About time too
Hiding under the blanket of charity status is so typically neoliberal deceit
About time too
Hiding under the blanket of charity status is so typically neoliberal deceit
🚨 BREAKING 🚨
18 months after we submitted a formal complaint, the charities regulator has told the IEA that it has to act on transparency and balance:
https://goodlaw.social/8vmm
18 months after we submitted a formal complaint, the charities regulator has told the IEA that it has to act on transparency and balance:
https://goodlaw.social/8vmm
Charity Commission: IEA must change to address political bias | Good Law Project
After a formal complaint from Good Law Project, the charities regulator has told a radical rightwing think-tank to act on transparency and balance.
goodlaw.social
November 6, 2025 at 6:11 AM
Hu bloody hurray!
About time too
Hiding under the blanket of charity status is so typically neoliberal deceit
About time too
Hiding under the blanket of charity status is so typically neoliberal deceit
Reposted by Alan Lester
"Fine-grained...[and] painstakingly researched." Read @alanlester.bsky.social's review of Roquinaldo Ferreira's Worlds of Unfreedom in @historytoday.com: www.historytoday.com/archive/revi...
‘The Heretic of Cacheu’ and ‘Worlds of Unfreedom’ review
www.historytoday.com
November 5, 2025 at 7:05 PM
"Fine-grained...[and] painstakingly researched." Read @alanlester.bsky.social's review of Roquinaldo Ferreira's Worlds of Unfreedom in @historytoday.com: www.historytoday.com/archive/revi...
The Royal British Legion is having to ask far right activists not to tarnish the remembrance of people who fought against fascism with flags symbolising a fascistic hostility to immigrants.
www.kentonline.co.uk/faversham/ne...
www.kentonline.co.uk/faversham/ne...
Royal British Legion urges activists not to hijack Remembrance Day parade
Royal British Legion bosses are urging political activists not to hijack Remembrance Sunday this weekend.
www.kentonline.co.uk
November 5, 2025 at 6:52 PM
The Royal British Legion is having to ask far right activists not to tarnish the remembrance of people who fought against fascism with flags symbolising a fascistic hostility to immigrants.
www.kentonline.co.uk/faversham/ne...
www.kentonline.co.uk/faversham/ne...
Reposted by Alan Lester
A masterclass in forensic examination of an argument by @alanlester.bsky.social. Worth reading in full. It's very good.
Oh and @ottoenglish.bsky.social might enjoy.
Oh and @ottoenglish.bsky.social might enjoy.
Most of the historical & moral arguments against reparations avoid the issue and revive justifications for colonialism instead: bellacaledonia.org.uk/2025/11/04/t...
The Empire is Alive and Kicking and its Legacy Still With Us
The Empire is Alive and Kicking and its Legacy Still With Us Nigel Biggar, Reparations: Slavery and the Tyranny of Imaginary Guilt, Forum, £20. Review by Alan Lester Nigel Biggar is the right-wing’…
bellacaledonia.org.uk
November 5, 2025 at 4:00 PM
A masterclass in forensic examination of an argument by @alanlester.bsky.social. Worth reading in full. It's very good.
Oh and @ottoenglish.bsky.social might enjoy.
Oh and @ottoenglish.bsky.social might enjoy.
British settler dominions’ justifications of Indigenous erasure in the late C19/early C20 are being reincarnated by today’s transnational right wing nexus. Canada’s branch focuses on Residential School denialism. Great analysis of Australia’s here.
My review of former Australian PM Tony Abbott's new book out today: Tony Abbott’s history of Australia wants us to be proud of men like him theconversation.com/tony-abbotts...
Tony Abbott’s history of Australia wants us to be proud of men like him
Tony Abbott begins his book Australia: A History, by telling off professional historians – and laments the “cultural confusion” of our present moment.
theconversation.com
November 5, 2025 at 10:37 AM
British settler dominions’ justifications of Indigenous erasure in the late C19/early C20 are being reincarnated by today’s transnational right wing nexus. Canada’s branch focuses on Residential School denialism. Great analysis of Australia’s here.
Reposted by Alan Lester
My review of former Australian PM Tony Abbott's new book out today: Tony Abbott’s history of Australia wants us to be proud of men like him theconversation.com/tony-abbotts...
Tony Abbott’s history of Australia wants us to be proud of men like him
Tony Abbott begins his book Australia: A History, by telling off professional historians – and laments the “cultural confusion” of our present moment.
theconversation.com
November 3, 2025 at 1:06 AM
My review of former Australian PM Tony Abbott's new book out today: Tony Abbott’s history of Australia wants us to be proud of men like him theconversation.com/tony-abbotts...