Charlie Maynard
@charleswmaynard.bsky.social
Politics, history, geopolitics, and business. Interested in UK–EU relations and a move towards closer cooperation. Likes and reposts reflect interest, not endorsement.
Reposted by Charlie Maynard
Reposted by Charlie Maynard
Went on LBC News earlier to discuss the BBC shambles.
I said the BBC has kowtowed to Trump in the US and conservative outlets here - both of which want the Beeb dead.
Two of the most senior people quit over a 10-second clip using Trump’s exact words, albeit put closer together than he’d like.
I said the BBC has kowtowed to Trump in the US and conservative outlets here - both of which want the Beeb dead.
Two of the most senior people quit over a 10-second clip using Trump’s exact words, albeit put closer together than he’d like.
November 10, 2025 at 9:06 PM
Went on LBC News earlier to discuss the BBC shambles.
I said the BBC has kowtowed to Trump in the US and conservative outlets here - both of which want the Beeb dead.
Two of the most senior people quit over a 10-second clip using Trump’s exact words, albeit put closer together than he’d like.
I said the BBC has kowtowed to Trump in the US and conservative outlets here - both of which want the Beeb dead.
Two of the most senior people quit over a 10-second clip using Trump’s exact words, albeit put closer together than he’d like.
Reposted by Charlie Maynard
For anyone who missed her post
Elon Musk gets roasted on his own platform by Joyce Carol Oates.
Like an ancient cyborg culling through the ruins of a post-apocalyptic planet (twitter, derogatory), Joyce Carol Oates recently fired her full-power death ray at aspiring trillionaire Elon Musk, wh…
lithub.com
November 10, 2025 at 5:57 PM
For anyone who missed her post
Reposted by Charlie Maynard
Found the tweet that Joyce Carol Oates bodied Elon Musk with and it's so beautiful in its eloquent, simple take down. So much so he's crashing out trying to prove he reads books now. Put this in the Louvre.
November 10, 2025 at 8:26 PM
Found the tweet that Joyce Carol Oates bodied Elon Musk with and it's so beautiful in its eloquent, simple take down. So much so he's crashing out trying to prove he reads books now. Put this in the Louvre.
Reposted by Charlie Maynard
The reaction to the Panorama edit has been nothing short of hysterical. Yes the BBC has some impartiality problems. But its biggest isn't the one you think.
New piece from me.
open.substack.com/pub/goodalla...
New piece from me.
open.substack.com/pub/goodalla...
The truth about impartiality at the BBC
And the hysteria of the current "crisis"
open.substack.com
November 10, 2025 at 7:22 PM
The reaction to the Panorama edit has been nothing short of hysterical. Yes the BBC has some impartiality problems. But its biggest isn't the one you think.
New piece from me.
open.substack.com/pub/goodalla...
New piece from me.
open.substack.com/pub/goodalla...
Reposted by Charlie Maynard
Very interesting piece, including the extract below which has the ring of truth
November 10, 2025 at 7:42 PM
Very interesting piece, including the extract below which has the ring of truth
Reposted by Charlie Maynard
"The problem isn’t that we have a deliberately biased BBC, it’s that we have a BBC that has been consciously reduced in its scope and bullied into dumbing down and retreating." @stephenkb.bsky.social's newsletter today
November 10, 2025 at 9:40 AM
"The problem isn’t that we have a deliberately biased BBC, it’s that we have a BBC that has been consciously reduced in its scope and bullied into dumbing down and retreating." @stephenkb.bsky.social's newsletter today
Reposted by Charlie Maynard
Turned on the BBC and Nigel Farage was delivering another speech. Does he now have a weekly slot? He was expressing concern that a betting tax would mean that children would no longer be able to put “tuppence” into a slot machine in seaside amusement arcades. Which I’m sure is a real thing.
November 10, 2025 at 2:36 PM
Turned on the BBC and Nigel Farage was delivering another speech. Does he now have a weekly slot? He was expressing concern that a betting tax would mean that children would no longer be able to put “tuppence” into a slot machine in seaside amusement arcades. Which I’m sure is a real thing.
Reposted by Charlie Maynard
The BBC isn't perfect, but it belongs to Britain not Trump.
Political leaders across the UK must unite in defending its independence from the White House.
Political leaders across the UK must unite in defending its independence from the White House.
November 10, 2025 at 4:24 PM
The BBC isn't perfect, but it belongs to Britain not Trump.
Political leaders across the UK must unite in defending its independence from the White House.
Political leaders across the UK must unite in defending its independence from the White House.
Reposted by Charlie Maynard
I wonder when he will start suing news outlets for describing his barefaced lies about the 2020 election as barefaced lies…
November 10, 2025 at 4:30 PM
I wonder when he will start suing news outlets for describing his barefaced lies about the 2020 election as barefaced lies…
Reposted by Charlie Maynard
It's increasingly clear that Labour are going to pitch the Budget as "yes, we raised your taxes and broke a manifesto promise, but look at what we're spending on child poverty" (e.g. by lifting the two-child cap).
I can't say that I'm confident that will land as they hope it will.
I can't say that I'm confident that will land as they hope it will.
November 10, 2025 at 4:45 PM
It's increasingly clear that Labour are going to pitch the Budget as "yes, we raised your taxes and broke a manifesto promise, but look at what we're spending on child poverty" (e.g. by lifting the two-child cap).
I can't say that I'm confident that will land as they hope it will.
I can't say that I'm confident that will land as they hope it will.
Reposted by Charlie Maynard
The fact that the BBC has made serious culpable errors does not negate the point that there is a real and concerted right-wing media campaign to destroy it. Both points can be true at the same time and the campaign would not end even if the errors did.
November 10, 2025 at 1:08 PM
The fact that the BBC has made serious culpable errors does not negate the point that there is a real and concerted right-wing media campaign to destroy it. Both points can be true at the same time and the campaign would not end even if the errors did.
Reposted by Charlie Maynard
![Cartoon by Stephen Collins for The Guardian. Script as follows:
[scene is Winston Churchill in a bbc studio, giving his 'finest hour' speech]
1
CHURCHILL:
The whole fury and might of the enemy must very soon be turned on us.
2
CHURCHILL:
Hitler knows that he will have to break us in this Island or lose the war.
3
CHURCHILL:
If we can stand up to him, all Europe may be free
and the life of the world may move forward into broad, sun-
BBC PRESENTER:
Thank you prime minister
4
BBC PRESENTER:
Mr hitler, your response?
5
HITLER [in the studio]:
Vell zis is hysterical woke nonsense as usual from mr Churchill
6
HITLER:
What we are proposing -
CHURCHILL:
Hang on
7
HITLER:
Let me finish - what we are proposing eez a simple power-sharing arrangement -
8
CHURCHILL:
What's he doing here
BBC PRESENTER:
It's important we hear both sides of the debate
9
CHURCHILL:
This isn't a debate
You don't debate fascists
10
HITLER:
Oh here we go with ze Godwins law!
11
HITLER:
Why must you people always compare ze things you don't like to 'fascists, Nazis, Hitler'...
CHURCHILL:
Because you are a fascist Nazi Hit-
12
HITLER [standing up, saluting]:
RAUSS!
BBC PRESENTER:
*Please* Mr Churchill let him speak
[ends]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:4m3we4apbjayclzcnhwe3pfp/bafkreibw4ldc3fhslbvxgy2oqrof2oys5kpgh7zu6a5f3usmx3lf4547qm@jpeg)
Reposted by Charlie Maynard
the right winger who was appointed to lead the BBC in the hope of appeasing right wingers has been driven out by right wingers for not appeasing right wingers enough and the BBC has the chance to do the funniest thing ever
November 9, 2025 at 6:38 PM
the right winger who was appointed to lead the BBC in the hope of appeasing right wingers has been driven out by right wingers for not appeasing right wingers enough and the BBC has the chance to do the funniest thing ever
Reposted by Charlie Maynard
I suspect similarly, UK suffering from wider EU politics. bsky.app/profile/juli...
I'm willing to put my money where my mouth is and bet that this is some kind of revenge for Ursula von der Leyen forcing through Mercosur when France was politically weak.
November 8, 2025 at 10:10 PM
I suspect similarly, UK suffering from wider EU politics. bsky.app/profile/juli...
Reposted by Charlie Maynard
In light of Dominic Cummings' latest brain vomit, here's my reply to the moment when he had a dig at me (and several others) as a "charlatan campaigning lawyer"
eulawanalysis.blogspot.com/2021/07/i-ne...
eulawanalysis.blogspot.com/2021/07/i-ne...
I never promised you a rose garden: a response to Dominic Cummings
Professor Steve Peers , University of Essex Last night Dominic Cummings, after a long day of asserting his own brilliance, tweeted ab...
eulawanalysis.blogspot.com
November 6, 2025 at 10:46 PM
In light of Dominic Cummings' latest brain vomit, here's my reply to the moment when he had a dig at me (and several others) as a "charlatan campaigning lawyer"
eulawanalysis.blogspot.com/2021/07/i-ne...
eulawanalysis.blogspot.com/2021/07/i-ne...
Reposted by Charlie Maynard
"By reflecting the city’s mix of cultures and communities, productions which use different languages and accents can help theatres reach new audiences"
In A City of 300 Languages, London’s Theatre Speaks Mostly One
Why language diversity is the future of British culture.
londonist.com
November 7, 2025 at 11:29 AM
"By reflecting the city’s mix of cultures and communities, productions which use different languages and accents can help theatres reach new audiences"
Reposted by Charlie Maynard
🚨OUT NOW🚨 Are unis about to collapse? 🎓
Ex-minister Jo Johnson, UUK's Vivienne Stern, Public First's Jess Lister and Russell Group's Sarah Stevens join PolHome's @matildamartin.bsky.social & @alaintolhurst.bsky.social to discuss the strain on higher education
Listen: podfollow.com/politicshome...
Ex-minister Jo Johnson, UUK's Vivienne Stern, Public First's Jess Lister and Russell Group's Sarah Stevens join PolHome's @matildamartin.bsky.social & @alaintolhurst.bsky.social to discuss the strain on higher education
Listen: podfollow.com/politicshome...
November 7, 2025 at 10:43 AM
🚨OUT NOW🚨 Are unis about to collapse? 🎓
Ex-minister Jo Johnson, UUK's Vivienne Stern, Public First's Jess Lister and Russell Group's Sarah Stevens join PolHome's @matildamartin.bsky.social & @alaintolhurst.bsky.social to discuss the strain on higher education
Listen: podfollow.com/politicshome...
Ex-minister Jo Johnson, UUK's Vivienne Stern, Public First's Jess Lister and Russell Group's Sarah Stevens join PolHome's @matildamartin.bsky.social & @alaintolhurst.bsky.social to discuss the strain on higher education
Listen: podfollow.com/politicshome...
Reposted by Charlie Maynard
Jordan Bardella is France’s most popular politician. His ideas would set 🇫🇷 on a collision path with not only EU institutions but with France’s main partner, Germany. For the RN leader, this seems to be the point
In @economist.com this week
economist.com/europe/2025/...
In @economist.com this week
economist.com/europe/2025/...
Jordan Bardella starts to lay out his plans
The 30-year-old French populist who is preparing for power
economist.com
November 6, 2025 at 8:48 AM
Jordan Bardella is France’s most popular politician. His ideas would set 🇫🇷 on a collision path with not only EU institutions but with France’s main partner, Germany. For the RN leader, this seems to be the point
In @economist.com this week
economist.com/europe/2025/...
In @economist.com this week
economist.com/europe/2025/...
Reposted by Charlie Maynard
EN DIRECT, guerre en Ukraine : une dizaine de sites, dont ceux d’installations énergétiques, touchés par des drones russes, selon l’armée ukrainienne
EN DIRECT, guerre en Ukraine : une dizaine de sites, dont ceux d’installations énergétiques, touchés par des drones russes, selon l’armée ukrainienne
www.lemonde.fr
November 7, 2025 at 10:47 AM
EN DIRECT, guerre en Ukraine : une dizaine de sites, dont ceux d’installations énergétiques, touchés par des drones russes, selon l’armée ukrainienne
Reposted by Charlie Maynard
If you don't actually rehabilitate prisoners, you are just making more prisoners for longer sentences in the future. This has been blindingly obvious ever since the first (bad) attempts at "penitentiary" institutions 200 years ago.
davidallengreen.com/2025/11/the-...
davidallengreen.com/2025/11/the-...
The real problem which blights our prison and punishment system
7th November 2025 The way we think about custodial sentences is what needs to change * Today’s news is about prisons: * Let us take a step back. There is a serious addiction problem which blights o…
davidallengreen.com
November 7, 2025 at 10:14 AM
If you don't actually rehabilitate prisoners, you are just making more prisoners for longer sentences in the future. This has been blindingly obvious ever since the first (bad) attempts at "penitentiary" institutions 200 years ago.
davidallengreen.com/2025/11/the-...
davidallengreen.com/2025/11/the-...
Reposted by Charlie Maynard
New, by me
The real problem which blights our prison and punishment system
The way we think about custodial sentences is what needs to change
Reflections on the wrongful prison release news
Substack: emptycity.substack.com/p/the-real-p...
Personal blog: davidallengreen.com/2025/11/the-...
The real problem which blights our prison and punishment system
The way we think about custodial sentences is what needs to change
Reflections on the wrongful prison release news
Substack: emptycity.substack.com/p/the-real-p...
Personal blog: davidallengreen.com/2025/11/the-...
The real problem which blights our prison and punishment system
7th November 2025 The way we think about custodial sentences is what needs to change * Today’s news is about prisons: * Let us take a step back. There is a serious addiction problem which blights o…
davidallengreen.com
November 7, 2025 at 8:59 AM
New, by me
The real problem which blights our prison and punishment system
The way we think about custodial sentences is what needs to change
Reflections on the wrongful prison release news
Substack: emptycity.substack.com/p/the-real-p...
Personal blog: davidallengreen.com/2025/11/the-...
The real problem which blights our prison and punishment system
The way we think about custodial sentences is what needs to change
Reflections on the wrongful prison release news
Substack: emptycity.substack.com/p/the-real-p...
Personal blog: davidallengreen.com/2025/11/the-...
Reposted by Charlie Maynard
“The medium-term problem, at least in England and Wales, is the structural craziness of having the prison system as part of the ministry of justice, a small department (also responsible for courts and probation) that has little or no political gravity in Whitehall.”
Couldn’t agree more.
Couldn’t agree more.
November 7, 2025 at 9:55 AM
“The medium-term problem, at least in England and Wales, is the structural craziness of having the prison system as part of the ministry of justice, a small department (also responsible for courts and probation) that has little or no political gravity in Whitehall.”
Couldn’t agree more.
Couldn’t agree more.
Reposted by Charlie Maynard
Word of the Day is ‘catchfart’ (17th century): an obsequious individual who sucks up to the boss and always follows the political wind.
November 7, 2025 at 10:12 AM
Word of the Day is ‘catchfart’ (17th century): an obsequious individual who sucks up to the boss and always follows the political wind.
Reposted by Charlie Maynard
In addition to everything Dylan says in this thread, it’s just a bit tragic for *a government four years from an election* to be saying “they hate him more than us“. That just shouldn’t be your focus four years out!
The crucial bit of this tactical 'only Labour or Reform can win here' VI poll, though, is that Labour and Reform would be tied.
Not enough Lib Dem or Green voters are (right now) prepared to tactically vote for Labour to offset the number of Tories willing to tactically vote for Reform.
Not enough Lib Dem or Green voters are (right now) prepared to tactically vote for Labour to offset the number of Tories willing to tactically vote for Reform.
Inspiring campaign messages of our time
November 5, 2025 at 6:28 PM
In addition to everything Dylan says in this thread, it’s just a bit tragic for *a government four years from an election* to be saying “they hate him more than us“. That just shouldn’t be your focus four years out!