Andrew Kerr
@andrewkerr9000.bsky.social
Social liberal, software engineer. #UBI #LVT. May also post about defence and armed conflict. He/him.
I would add that Labour's position:
increases the salience of an issue owned by Farage
endorses the Farage world view
Morally, practically, politically dismal.
increases the salience of an issue owned by Farage
endorses the Farage world view
Morally, practically, politically dismal.
Everything about the current 'debate' around this is dismal, not just morally but because it is so stupid. For example:
It conflates asylum-seeking and illegal immigration (and sometimes with migration generally)
It shows no understanding of why there is AS
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025... 1/3
It conflates asylum-seeking and illegal immigration (and sometimes with migration generally)
It shows no understanding of why there is AS
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025... 1/3
Asylum system in UK ‘out of control’ and dividing country, home secretary says
Shabana Mahmood to unveil new proposals modelled on Denmark’s controversial system
www.theguardian.com
November 16, 2025 at 10:26 PM
I would add that Labour's position:
increases the salience of an issue owned by Farage
endorses the Farage world view
Morally, practically, politically dismal.
increases the salience of an issue owned by Farage
endorses the Farage world view
Morally, practically, politically dismal.
Reposted by Andrew Kerr
"What I think Blue Labour believe is that Labour voters in the marginal Red Wall district have fundamentally different views on social (and maybe economic) issues than Labour voters in safe London seats. They don’t."
open.substack.com/pub/benansel...
open.substack.com/pub/benansel...
Labour at the Margin...
...of survival
open.substack.com
November 12, 2025 at 2:01 PM
"What I think Blue Labour believe is that Labour voters in the marginal Red Wall district have fundamentally different views on social (and maybe economic) issues than Labour voters in safe London seats. They don’t."
open.substack.com/pub/benansel...
open.substack.com/pub/benansel...
Reposted by Andrew Kerr
If you need me, tap me on the shoulder. I’ll be happily working all day listening to this on a loop.
November 13, 2025 at 1:49 PM
If you need me, tap me on the shoulder. I’ll be happily working all day listening to this on a loop.
The current Palace of Westminster was built 1830-1876 after its predecessor burned down.
So which tradition is being kept: the current building, or having to build a replacement after the standing Palace of Westminster burns down?
So which tradition is being kept: the current building, or having to build a replacement after the standing Palace of Westminster burns down?
November 15, 2025 at 7:21 PM
The current Palace of Westminster was built 1830-1876 after its predecessor burned down.
So which tradition is being kept: the current building, or having to build a replacement after the standing Palace of Westminster burns down?
So which tradition is being kept: the current building, or having to build a replacement after the standing Palace of Westminster burns down?
Reposted by Andrew Kerr
A chart from "The British General Election of 2024" (out soon!) which is relevant to this debate - here's what voters wanted (black line) and what they though Labour (red) and Cons (blue) would do on tax and spend during the campaign. Higher figures = "put them up". Some important lessons here 1/?
November 14, 2025 at 10:42 AM
A chart from "The British General Election of 2024" (out soon!) which is relevant to this debate - here's what voters wanted (black line) and what they though Labour (red) and Cons (blue) would do on tax and spend during the campaign. Higher figures = "put them up". Some important lessons here 1/?
Reposted by Andrew Kerr
Thanks to months of pitch rolling, the Labour government has now effectively told anyone paying attention that income tax rises are necessary, but they’re not going to do them because they’re politically weak. Let’s see how that plays!
November 14, 2025 at 8:06 AM
Thanks to months of pitch rolling, the Labour government has now effectively told anyone paying attention that income tax rises are necessary, but they’re not going to do them because they’re politically weak. Let’s see how that plays!
If the "special relationship" means anything it means that US and UK intelligence communities are intertwined.
For UK to end even some intelligence sharing is a significant step.
For UK to end even some intelligence sharing is a significant step.
NEWS: The UK is no longer sharing intelligence with the US about suspected drug trafficking vessels in the Caribbean because it does not want to be complicit in US military strikes and believes the attacks are illegal, sources familiar with the matter told CNN. edition.cnn.com/2025/11/11/p...
Exclusive: UK suspends some intelligence sharing with US over boat strike concerns in major break | CNN Politics
The United Kingdom is no longer sharing intelligence with the US about suspected drug trafficking vessels in the Caribbean because it does not want to be complicit in US military strikes and believes ...
edition.cnn.com
November 12, 2025 at 4:43 AM
If the "special relationship" means anything it means that US and UK intelligence communities are intertwined.
For UK to end even some intelligence sharing is a significant step.
For UK to end even some intelligence sharing is a significant step.
Reposted by Andrew Kerr
NEWS: The UK is no longer sharing intelligence with the US about suspected drug trafficking vessels in the Caribbean because it does not want to be complicit in US military strikes and believes the attacks are illegal, sources familiar with the matter told CNN. edition.cnn.com/2025/11/11/p...
Exclusive: UK suspends some intelligence sharing with US over boat strike concerns in major break | CNN Politics
The United Kingdom is no longer sharing intelligence with the US about suspected drug trafficking vessels in the Caribbean because it does not want to be complicit in US military strikes and believes ...
edition.cnn.com
November 11, 2025 at 3:06 PM
NEWS: The UK is no longer sharing intelligence with the US about suspected drug trafficking vessels in the Caribbean because it does not want to be complicit in US military strikes and believes the attacks are illegal, sources familiar with the matter told CNN. edition.cnn.com/2025/11/11/p...
Reposted by Andrew Kerr
cops tackling and marching off with a giant penis, Kristi Noem menacing a chicken she swears is antifa, feds pepper-spraying a frog
ridicule is an extremely effective protest tactic and foil for authoritarianism
ridicule is an extremely effective protest tactic and foil for authoritarianism
Well, you can finally cross “I’ve seen a handcuffed, inflatable penis” off your bucket list
October 19, 2025 at 2:49 AM
cops tackling and marching off with a giant penis, Kristi Noem menacing a chicken she swears is antifa, feds pepper-spraying a frog
ridicule is an extremely effective protest tactic and foil for authoritarianism
ridicule is an extremely effective protest tactic and foil for authoritarianism
FindOutNow has long had higher numbers for Reform and (to a lesser extent) Green than other pollsters.
Thread:
Thread:
Given FindOutNow polls keep making news it's worth saying a bit more about their methodology.
Unlike other online pollsters it doesn't use a panel of people who've signed up to do polls. Instead they ask a small number of Qs to people playing the Pick my Postcode lottery. (Thread)
Unlike other online pollsters it doesn't use a panel of people who've signed up to do polls. Instead they ask a small number of Qs to people playing the Pick my Postcode lottery. (Thread)
October 16, 2025 at 1:13 PM
FindOutNow has long had higher numbers for Reform and (to a lesser extent) Green than other pollsters.
Thread:
Thread:
Reposted by Andrew Kerr
Before it was illegally destroyed by Musk and co., USAID had a budget of $35 billion (in 2024)
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says the bailout for Argentina, now doubled to $40 billion, is part of an effort to swing Latin America to the right
@jacobbogage.bsky.social @davidjlynch.bsky.social David Feliba report
www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...
@jacobbogage.bsky.social @davidjlynch.bsky.social David Feliba report
www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...
Bessent says bailout for Argentina will double to boost U.S. influence in region
The Trump administration is working to arrange private sector financing for Argentina that would double the total U.S. financial lifeline for the embattled Latin nation.
www.washingtonpost.com
October 15, 2025 at 10:39 PM
Before it was illegally destroyed by Musk and co., USAID had a budget of $35 billion (in 2024)
Reposted by Andrew Kerr
ICE arrested comedian Robby Roadsteamer for singing a parody of Rod Stewart’s “Do Ya Think I’m Sexy” in a Jeffrey Epstein the Giraffe costume outside their facility.
He sings “If you hate brown people / and you are a Nazi” and ICE thugs grab him and drag him into detention. No violence—just speech.
He sings “If you hate brown people / and you are a Nazi” and ICE thugs grab him and drag him into detention. No violence—just speech.
October 15, 2025 at 4:55 PM
ICE arrested comedian Robby Roadsteamer for singing a parody of Rod Stewart’s “Do Ya Think I’m Sexy” in a Jeffrey Epstein the Giraffe costume outside their facility.
He sings “If you hate brown people / and you are a Nazi” and ICE thugs grab him and drag him into detention. No violence—just speech.
He sings “If you hate brown people / and you are a Nazi” and ICE thugs grab him and drag him into detention. No violence—just speech.
Reposted by Andrew Kerr
WATCH: Lord Heseltine pressed on Reform "equivalents to the fascists in the 30s" comments
#Newsnight
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KwvHPRQSGNI
#Newsnight
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KwvHPRQSGNI
Lord Heseltine pressed on Reform "equivalents to the fascists in the 30s" comments
YouTube video by BBC Newsnight
www.youtube.com
October 9, 2025 at 5:59 PM
WATCH: Lord Heseltine pressed on Reform "equivalents to the fascists in the 30s" comments
#Newsnight
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KwvHPRQSGNI
#Newsnight
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KwvHPRQSGNI
Miller here begins to claim that the President has "plenary authority" in the context of deploying the National Guard onto American streets before clamming up mid sentence.
October 9, 2025 at 7:31 AM
Miller here begins to claim that the President has "plenary authority" in the context of deploying the National Guard onto American streets before clamming up mid sentence.
Reposted by Andrew Kerr
This was inevitable, and I very much doubt it will be the last such incident.
I've yet to see any convincing argument why mandating parental control standards wouldn't provide at least as much protection for minors, and they wouldn't have the same risks of ID theft, blackmail etc.
I've yet to see any convincing argument why mandating parental control standards wouldn't provide at least as much protection for minors, and they wouldn't have the same risks of ID theft, blackmail etc.
Discord customer service data breach leaks user info and scanned photo IDs
Discord customer service data breach leaks user info and scanned photo IDs
An “unauthorized party” may have accessed the names of users, the last four digits of credit card numbers, and more.
buff.ly
October 4, 2025 at 11:16 AM
This was inevitable, and I very much doubt it will be the last such incident.
I've yet to see any convincing argument why mandating parental control standards wouldn't provide at least as much protection for minors, and they wouldn't have the same risks of ID theft, blackmail etc.
I've yet to see any convincing argument why mandating parental control standards wouldn't provide at least as much protection for minors, and they wouldn't have the same risks of ID theft, blackmail etc.
Reposted by Andrew Kerr
quick while the government is shut down let’s all switch to metric
October 1, 2025 at 4:11 AM
quick while the government is shut down let’s all switch to metric
Reposted by Andrew Kerr
Terrible news that two people were killed in Manchester attending their place of worship at the synagogue in Manchester, with others seriously injured.
Community Security Trust @cstuk.bsky.social who do so much to keep Jewish people safe at faith and community spaces have issued this advice.
Community Security Trust @cstuk.bsky.social who do so much to keep Jewish people safe at faith and community spaces have issued this advice.
October 2, 2025 at 12:40 PM
Terrible news that two people were killed in Manchester attending their place of worship at the synagogue in Manchester, with others seriously injured.
Community Security Trust @cstuk.bsky.social who do so much to keep Jewish people safe at faith and community spaces have issued this advice.
Community Security Trust @cstuk.bsky.social who do so much to keep Jewish people safe at faith and community spaces have issued this advice.
Reposted by Andrew Kerr
The govt should find 100 small things that piss people off & fix em, such as…
Ta to Politico for the vid, at its Labour fringe event, I explained that as big changes take time, govts should also have a team focused on small winnable change.
What little fixes'd you want?
Ta to Politico for the vid, at its Labour fringe event, I explained that as big changes take time, govts should also have a team focused on small winnable change.
What little fixes'd you want?
September 30, 2025 at 8:22 AM
The govt should find 100 small things that piss people off & fix em, such as…
Ta to Politico for the vid, at its Labour fringe event, I explained that as big changes take time, govts should also have a team focused on small winnable change.
What little fixes'd you want?
Ta to Politico for the vid, at its Labour fringe event, I explained that as big changes take time, govts should also have a team focused on small winnable change.
What little fixes'd you want?
Reposted by Andrew Kerr
One final point - Europeans from countries with universal ID (most of them including many post fascist and post communist state) almost always find the British debate over it bizarre and irrational. Maybe that’s because…it is?
September 26, 2025 at 9:53 AM
One final point - Europeans from countries with universal ID (most of them including many post fascist and post communist state) almost always find the British debate over it bizarre and irrational. Maybe that’s because…it is?
I strongly suspect a significant part of the concern expressed about immigration (that is driving Reform) isn't about immigration per se, but the impression that control of the borders has broken down.
More a fear of lawlessness than of foreigners.
More a fear of lawlessness than of foreigners.
Nearly half of British adults believe a majority of immigrants to this country in the last year came here illegally.
Just under a third (32%) believe the majority came here legally and a further one in five (20%) don't know.
Just under a third (32%) believe the majority came here legally and a further one in five (20%) don't know.
September 26, 2025 at 2:29 PM
I strongly suspect a significant part of the concern expressed about immigration (that is driving Reform) isn't about immigration per se, but the impression that control of the borders has broken down.
More a fear of lawlessness than of foreigners.
More a fear of lawlessness than of foreigners.
Reposted by Andrew Kerr
Ominous theintercept.com/2025/09/25/h...
September 25, 2025 at 6:14 PM
Ominous theintercept.com/2025/09/25/h...
Reposted by Andrew Kerr
#ActuallyAutistic journalist here! I have spoken to #ActuallyAutistic people for my pieces about RFK Jr., Trump and autism.
Here for @msnbc.com
www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnb...
Here for @the-independent.com
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
Here for @msnbc.com
www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnb...
Here for @the-independent.com
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
September 24, 2025 at 3:39 PM
#ActuallyAutistic journalist here! I have spoken to #ActuallyAutistic people for my pieces about RFK Jr., Trump and autism.
Here for @msnbc.com
www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnb...
Here for @the-independent.com
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
Here for @msnbc.com
www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnb...
Here for @the-independent.com
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
Alien: Earth thoughts:
Entertaining but implausibly silly.
Too many characters blundering, excessively convenient abilities.
Undoes the major Alien cosmic horror theme that some things are unknowable, unexploitable and uncontrollable.
Entertaining but implausibly silly.
Too many characters blundering, excessively convenient abilities.
Undoes the major Alien cosmic horror theme that some things are unknowable, unexploitable and uncontrollable.
September 24, 2025 at 7:52 AM
Alien: Earth thoughts:
Entertaining but implausibly silly.
Too many characters blundering, excessively convenient abilities.
Undoes the major Alien cosmic horror theme that some things are unknowable, unexploitable and uncontrollable.
Entertaining but implausibly silly.
Too many characters blundering, excessively convenient abilities.
Undoes the major Alien cosmic horror theme that some things are unknowable, unexploitable and uncontrollable.
Reposted by Andrew Kerr
For 56 minutes Sky News and BBC News interrupted everything else and carried a Reform UK feed live, uninterrupted, unchallenged. The stream spluttered, froze, pixelated - dozens of times - still they stuck with it. FOR ONE HOUR.
This is an editorial choice. No other party gets this coverage. ~AA
This is an editorial choice. No other party gets this coverage. ~AA
September 22, 2025 at 11:01 AM
For 56 minutes Sky News and BBC News interrupted everything else and carried a Reform UK feed live, uninterrupted, unchallenged. The stream spluttered, froze, pixelated - dozens of times - still they stuck with it. FOR ONE HOUR.
This is an editorial choice. No other party gets this coverage. ~AA
This is an editorial choice. No other party gets this coverage. ~AA