Chris Giles
@chrisgiles7.bsky.social
Migrating from twitter.
Left politics and pro EU.
Left politics and pro EU.
Reposted by Chris Giles
How many journeys is this guy taking?
November 15, 2025 at 10:09 AM
How many journeys is this guy taking?
Reposted by Chris Giles
Given that no complaints were received at time of broadcast, Gibb is at least as responsible for the current mess, with the BBC threatened with legal action by a foreign head of government, as those who made the programme. How on earth can he stay in post?
November 15, 2025 at 10:17 AM
Given that no complaints were received at time of broadcast, Gibb is at least as responsible for the current mess, with the BBC threatened with legal action by a foreign head of government, as those who made the programme. How on earth can he stay in post?
Reposted by Chris Giles
“‘He kept putting Robbie’s name on the list and Boris kept taking it off,’” Shipman reported one of his sources recalling, adding: “The plan to send Paul Dacre, the former editor of the Daily Mail, to run broadcasting watchdog Ofcom is from the same playbook.”
@arusbridger.bsky.social on the BBC
@arusbridger.bsky.social on the BBC
The real threat to BBC impartiality
The BBC has suffered a week of mistakes, resignations and the threat of a $1bn lawsuit. But the biggest risks of bias are in the boardroom, not the ne...
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk
November 15, 2025 at 12:04 PM
“‘He kept putting Robbie’s name on the list and Boris kept taking it off,’” Shipman reported one of his sources recalling, adding: “The plan to send Paul Dacre, the former editor of the Daily Mail, to run broadcasting watchdog Ofcom is from the same playbook.”
@arusbridger.bsky.social on the BBC
@arusbridger.bsky.social on the BBC
Reposted by Chris Giles
A levy on foreign students is one of the closest things you're going to see to tariffs on services - except the UK will be putting it on its own exports...
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
Levy on international students’ tuition fees not in best interest of UK, says leader of top university
Duncan Ivison, president of Manchester University, says government’s 6% surcharge plan will ‘hurt the sector’
www.theguardian.com
November 15, 2025 at 10:20 AM
A levy on foreign students is one of the closest things you're going to see to tariffs on services - except the UK will be putting it on its own exports...
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
Reposted by Chris Giles
One version of the future is a pro-Rejoin coalition facing off against the Farage Party after Labour and Cons fall by the wayside. It would certainly reflect society's polarisation.
I don't see it happening but Starmer is doing his utmost to make it happen.
I don't see it happening but Starmer is doing his utmost to make it happen.
November 15, 2025 at 9:45 AM
One version of the future is a pro-Rejoin coalition facing off against the Farage Party after Labour and Cons fall by the wayside. It would certainly reflect society's polarisation.
I don't see it happening but Starmer is doing his utmost to make it happen.
I don't see it happening but Starmer is doing his utmost to make it happen.
Reposted by Chris Giles
If one assumes Starmer will be gone after May, then the more they try to appeal to the right now, the more that leadership election is going to be about tacking back. (Especially if the Greens do well in London and other cities).
November 15, 2025 at 8:57 AM
If one assumes Starmer will be gone after May, then the more they try to appeal to the right now, the more that leadership election is going to be about tacking back. (Especially if the Greens do well in London and other cities).
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Aside from the cruelty of this, I’d just like to know why it’s ok to ignore and disappoint liberal/progressive voters.
Why do governments chase Farage and his voters, thinking that will neutralise them. It’s NEVER worked. He’s leading in the polls and his ideas have ruined us. WTF are you doing?
Why do governments chase Farage and his voters, thinking that will neutralise them. It’s NEVER worked. He’s leading in the polls and his ideas have ruined us. WTF are you doing?
This is as bad as anything proposed by Reform.
Leaving refugees in permanent limbo and unable to build a new life in the UK would be a complete abdication of our humanitarian responsibilities
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Leaving refugees in permanent limbo and unable to build a new life in the UK would be a complete abdication of our humanitarian responsibilities
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
UK set to limit refugees to temporary stays
Shabana Mahmood is expected to say the era of permanent protection for refugees is over, in major changes to the UK's asylum and immigration system.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 15, 2025 at 9:02 AM
Aside from the cruelty of this, I’d just like to know why it’s ok to ignore and disappoint liberal/progressive voters.
Why do governments chase Farage and his voters, thinking that will neutralise them. It’s NEVER worked. He’s leading in the polls and his ideas have ruined us. WTF are you doing?
Why do governments chase Farage and his voters, thinking that will neutralise them. It’s NEVER worked. He’s leading in the polls and his ideas have ruined us. WTF are you doing?
Reposted by Chris Giles
A heartbreaking response
November 15, 2025 at 5:50 AM
A heartbreaking response
Reposted by Chris Giles
If Trump still sues the BBC, notwithstanding their apology, he is in a far less strong position than if the BBC had not apologised.
The apology was tactically a sensible, prudent move by the BBC whether Trump sues or not.
The apology was tactically a sensible, prudent move by the BBC whether Trump sues or not.
November 15, 2025 at 1:23 AM
If Trump still sues the BBC, notwithstanding their apology, he is in a far less strong position than if the BBC had not apologised.
The apology was tactically a sensible, prudent move by the BBC whether Trump sues or not.
The apology was tactically a sensible, prudent move by the BBC whether Trump sues or not.
Reposted by Chris Giles
Chasing the xenophobic vote has destroyed the Conservative Party, why would Labour think it will work for them?
November 15, 2025 at 8:12 AM
Chasing the xenophobic vote has destroyed the Conservative Party, why would Labour think it will work for them?
Reposted by Chris Giles
What is truly pathetic about Labour is that this is all they have got. They have failed so spectacularly already, despite a whacking great majority, to even attempt to govern positively that all they have is punching down on marginalised groups and saying "oh but Reform will be worse".
November 15, 2025 at 7:48 AM
What is truly pathetic about Labour is that this is all they have got. They have failed so spectacularly already, despite a whacking great majority, to even attempt to govern positively that all they have is punching down on marginalised groups and saying "oh but Reform will be worse".
Reposted by Chris Giles
Farage, Boris Johnson & Rees-Mogg apparently plotting assaults on UK democracy with Bannon, who was reporting back to Epstein. Nothing to see here, newspaper folk…
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Emails highlight Jeffrey Epstein and Steve Bannon relationship
New documents show the pair discussing travel arrangements and UK politics in messages from 2018.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 15, 2025 at 7:47 AM
Farage, Boris Johnson & Rees-Mogg apparently plotting assaults on UK democracy with Bannon, who was reporting back to Epstein. Nothing to see here, newspaper folk…
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Chris Giles
Home Office claims changes proposed on Monday are "the most significant shift in the treatment of refugees since the second world war"
These changes are unlikely to significantly shift flows or deliver control.
The language used is questionable in principle - and v likely to be untrue in practice
These changes are unlikely to significantly shift flows or deliver control.
The language used is questionable in principle - and v likely to be untrue in practice
November 15, 2025 at 8:04 AM
Home Office claims changes proposed on Monday are "the most significant shift in the treatment of refugees since the second world war"
These changes are unlikely to significantly shift flows or deliver control.
The language used is questionable in principle - and v likely to be untrue in practice
These changes are unlikely to significantly shift flows or deliver control.
The language used is questionable in principle - and v likely to be untrue in practice
Reposted by Chris Giles
Trump's love of teenagers raises new questions about Biden's advanced age.
November 15, 2025 at 3:53 AM
Trump's love of teenagers raises new questions about Biden's advanced age.
Reposted by Chris Giles
The book cited here is well worth a read. It’s called ‘How They Broke Britain’. Extraordinary to think that any new epilogue would now have to include Jeffrey Epstein.
@mrjamesob.bsky.social @lbc.co.uk The network links are further exposed. ‘The released messages also show Bannon and Epstein discussing UK politics in 2018.’ Bannon texted Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the Brexit thing this morning with Nigel, Boris and Rees Mogg." www.bbc.com/news/article...
November 15, 2025 at 7:51 AM
The book cited here is well worth a read. It’s called ‘How They Broke Britain’. Extraordinary to think that any new epilogue would now have to include Jeffrey Epstein.
Reposted by Chris Giles
This is the politics of blackmail. The alternative is not a Reform government. The alternative is maintaining our international commitments to being a compassionate nation
November 15, 2025 at 6:50 AM
This is the politics of blackmail. The alternative is not a Reform government. The alternative is maintaining our international commitments to being a compassionate nation
Reposted by Chris Giles
This is as bad as anything proposed by Reform.
Leaving refugees in permanent limbo and unable to build a new life in the UK would be a complete abdication of our humanitarian responsibilities
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Leaving refugees in permanent limbo and unable to build a new life in the UK would be a complete abdication of our humanitarian responsibilities
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
UK set to limit refugees to temporary stays
Shabana Mahmood is expected to say the era of permanent protection for refugees is over, in major changes to the UK's asylum and immigration system.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 15, 2025 at 6:43 AM
This is as bad as anything proposed by Reform.
Leaving refugees in permanent limbo and unable to build a new life in the UK would be a complete abdication of our humanitarian responsibilities
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Leaving refugees in permanent limbo and unable to build a new life in the UK would be a complete abdication of our humanitarian responsibilities
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Chris Giles
It took three types of politician to get the Brexit ‘win’. Intensely cynical and dishonest egotists… prejudiced ideologues… and useful idiots.
Absolutely no one in any of those categories is capable of admitting the mistake or accepting it is one.
Absolutely no one in any of those categories is capable of admitting the mistake or accepting it is one.
November 14, 2025 at 6:24 PM
It took three types of politician to get the Brexit ‘win’. Intensely cynical and dishonest egotists… prejudiced ideologues… and useful idiots.
Absolutely no one in any of those categories is capable of admitting the mistake or accepting it is one.
Absolutely no one in any of those categories is capable of admitting the mistake or accepting it is one.
Reposted by Chris Giles
Two stories you may not have seen this week that would be a big deal in a normal country:
1) The ‘dossier’ detailing the BBC’s editing of the Trump speech literally edited Trump’s speech.
2) The NBER calculated that Brexit’s longer term damage to GDP was greater than originally forecast.
1) The ‘dossier’ detailing the BBC’s editing of the Trump speech literally edited Trump’s speech.
2) The NBER calculated that Brexit’s longer term damage to GDP was greater than originally forecast.
November 14, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Two stories you may not have seen this week that would be a big deal in a normal country:
1) The ‘dossier’ detailing the BBC’s editing of the Trump speech literally edited Trump’s speech.
2) The NBER calculated that Brexit’s longer term damage to GDP was greater than originally forecast.
1) The ‘dossier’ detailing the BBC’s editing of the Trump speech literally edited Trump’s speech.
2) The NBER calculated that Brexit’s longer term damage to GDP was greater than originally forecast.
Reposted by Chris Giles
Brexit detonated our economy and our politics. Since then, our country seems to have lost its mind, veering off to the right, reawakening the racism genie, ruining itself to try to hide the dishonesty and snowballing damage of it all.
And now Farage could be PM ffs.
Mindblowing self-inflicted idiocy
And now Farage could be PM ffs.
Mindblowing self-inflicted idiocy
November 14, 2025 at 5:02 PM
Brexit detonated our economy and our politics. Since then, our country seems to have lost its mind, veering off to the right, reawakening the racism genie, ruining itself to try to hide the dishonesty and snowballing damage of it all.
And now Farage could be PM ffs.
Mindblowing self-inflicted idiocy
And now Farage could be PM ffs.
Mindblowing self-inflicted idiocy
Reposted by Chris Giles
Bigger picture of Labour's tax shenanigans is to delay once again, possibly beyond the next election, the point at which UK politics makes some attempt to compromise with reality.
November 14, 2025 at 11:34 AM
Bigger picture of Labour's tax shenanigans is to delay once again, possibly beyond the next election, the point at which UK politics makes some attempt to compromise with reality.
Reposted by Chris Giles
Ultimately it comes down to what you're going to say at the next election.
Would you rather say "we broke our pledge but at least things are better" or "everything's still shit but at least we kept our pledge"?
Would you rather say "we broke our pledge but at least things are better" or "everything's still shit but at least we kept our pledge"?
Too much analysis was still treating breaking the tax pledge as “just another unpopular decision” rather than recognising consequence of breaking a promise which defined an election for the public. If is correct the govt won’t now break it they may have avoided a deeply scarring loss of public trust
November 14, 2025 at 10:43 AM
Ultimately it comes down to what you're going to say at the next election.
Would you rather say "we broke our pledge but at least things are better" or "everything's still shit but at least we kept our pledge"?
Would you rather say "we broke our pledge but at least things are better" or "everything's still shit but at least we kept our pledge"?
Reposted by Chris Giles
Somehow UK governments seem to have decided that political leadership is best demonstrated by a series of leaks to newspapers which are then denied, and daily ministerial media rounds of denial in support of grid announcements nobody notices.
November 14, 2025 at 8:10 AM
Somehow UK governments seem to have decided that political leadership is best demonstrated by a series of leaks to newspapers which are then denied, and daily ministerial media rounds of denial in support of grid announcements nobody notices.
Reposted by Chris Giles
If I was being cynical I'd say they floated the income tax rise to push gilts down during the OBR measurement period. But that would require a level of advanced planning that seems unlikely.
November 14, 2025 at 8:23 AM
If I was being cynical I'd say they floated the income tax rise to push gilts down during the OBR measurement period. But that would require a level of advanced planning that seems unlikely.