@fipunchard.bsky.social
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Labour isn't just following same short-termist, inhumane, anti-asylum strategy as Conservatives did, they are actively going farther. They have become one of the most hostile governments in the world, and for what? Measures which make things worse in every way. #r4today
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
UK asylum system hit by inefficiencies and wasted funds, watchdog finds
In a new analysis, the National Audit Office finds “reactive” government policies moved problems elsewhere.
www.bbc.co.uk
December 10, 2025 at 6:48 AM
Labour isn't just following same short-termist, inhumane, anti-asylum strategy as Conservatives did, they are actively going farther. They have become one of the most hostile governments in the world, and for what? Measures which make things worse in every way. #r4today
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
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It's also emblematic of Starmer's government having the worst comms instincts imaginable.
A policy of fast tracking settlement as an incentive is, at least by the standards of modern immigration debate, relatively inoffensive...
... but then they couch it in Reform talking points about "takers".
A policy of fast tracking settlement as an incentive is, at least by the standards of modern immigration debate, relatively inoffensive...
... but then they couch it in Reform talking points about "takers".
December 7, 2025 at 10:24 AM
It's also emblematic of Starmer's government having the worst comms instincts imaginable.
A policy of fast tracking settlement as an incentive is, at least by the standards of modern immigration debate, relatively inoffensive...
... but then they couch it in Reform talking points about "takers".
A policy of fast tracking settlement as an incentive is, at least by the standards of modern immigration debate, relatively inoffensive...
... but then they couch it in Reform talking points about "takers".
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December 1, 2025 at 6:48 PM
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Here's this week's column. Please - please - can we stop talking about migration in a way that's completely detached from the facts? www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Net migration is plummeting. Why can’t Labour say so? | Heather Stewart
An honest debate is needed on this polarising topic as sectors such as social care struggle with recruitment
www.theguardian.com
November 30, 2025 at 12:35 PM
Here's this week's column. Please - please - can we stop talking about migration in a way that's completely detached from the facts? www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Well, that's an interesting quirk on my Samsung keyboard.Type in the word matriarchal and it autoselects/corrects to patriarchal.
November 29, 2025 at 8:54 PM
Well, that's an interesting quirk on my Samsung keyboard.Type in the word matriarchal and it autoselects/corrects to patriarchal.
Going home along the quayside after another trip down south. I don't know why, but seeing the Christmas lights along the quay brings a smile to my tired face. ❤️NCL
November 27, 2025 at 11:24 PM
Going home along the quayside after another trip down south. I don't know why, but seeing the Christmas lights along the quay brings a smile to my tired face. ❤️NCL
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This is a massively dumb way to fund things. Just fund local government properly through fiscal devolution, council tax reform, and social care reform. Oh, wait, you ducked all of those again....
November 26, 2025 at 3:28 PM
This is a massively dumb way to fund things. Just fund local government properly through fiscal devolution, council tax reform, and social care reform. Oh, wait, you ducked all of those again....
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was already feeling insane from the Trump/Mamdani meeting but I now worry that my brain chemistry will simply never be the same
He said "Amen" straight into the drop
Lmao Pope Leo threw a rave for an archbishop's 75th birthday this is kind of incredible
Lmao Pope Leo threw a rave for an archbishop's 75th birthday this is kind of incredible
November 21, 2025 at 9:39 PM
was already feeling insane from the Trump/Mamdani meeting but I now worry that my brain chemistry will simply never be the same
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Every time I hear a politician say that an issue is “dividing” this country they always then come down on the side of the right wing view of it. Just once I’d love to hear someone say “this issue is divisive, which is why I’m making the argument that kindness and compassion is important”
November 16, 2025 at 9:58 AM
Every time I hear a politician say that an issue is “dividing” this country they always then come down on the side of the right wing view of it. Just once I’d love to hear someone say “this issue is divisive, which is why I’m making the argument that kindness and compassion is important”
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Labour policy is being celebrated by Tommy Robinson.
That's it.
That's all you ever need to say to explain who Labour are.
That's it.
That's all you ever need to say to explain who Labour are.
November 16, 2025 at 10:07 AM
Labour policy is being celebrated by Tommy Robinson.
That's it.
That's all you ever need to say to explain who Labour are.
That's it.
That's all you ever need to say to explain who Labour are.
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Love being reminded to do this every year. It's a win/win all round
November 11, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Love being reminded to do this every year. It's a win/win all round
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Good blog this. I think another reason why this comes up so often (“put it on the curriculum” was far and away the most repeated ask when I chaired the BoD’s commission on racial inclusivity) is that the kind of person who submits to inquiries liked school, likes learning, had an inspiring teacher.
For political hacks like myself, 'put it in the curriculum' is the oldest and hattiest of old hat policy ideas.
Why do we think schools should solve all our problems? What if we thought differently about life skills and civic education?
howtorunacountry.substack.com/p/schools-ca...
Why do we think schools should solve all our problems? What if we thought differently about life skills and civic education?
howtorunacountry.substack.com/p/schools-ca...
Schools cannot solve all our problems
The limits of ‘put it in the curriculum’ politics
howtorunacountry.substack.com
November 7, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Good blog this. I think another reason why this comes up so often (“put it on the curriculum” was far and away the most repeated ask when I chaired the BoD’s commission on racial inclusivity) is that the kind of person who submits to inquiries liked school, likes learning, had an inspiring teacher.
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There is no silver bullet to reducing the number of people stuck in hotels, but by fast tracking claims and providing asylum for those from high grant rate countries, providing those seeking asylum with the right to work, and investing in community schemes this government could make a difference.
October 27, 2025 at 9:36 PM
There is no silver bullet to reducing the number of people stuck in hotels, but by fast tracking claims and providing asylum for those from high grant rate countries, providing those seeking asylum with the right to work, and investing in community schemes this government could make a difference.
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Yay. Priceless. The right column at the right time. And a gleefully English two fingers to the haters.
October 25, 2025 at 7:38 AM
Yay. Priceless. The right column at the right time. And a gleefully English two fingers to the haters.
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Niche Political Journalism Request: I'm looking for political recipe books. I have the Conservative Party's "Corridors of Flour", but surely there are Labour and Lib Dem versions? Or even ones from further afield...
October 23, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Niche Political Journalism Request: I'm looking for political recipe books. I have the Conservative Party's "Corridors of Flour", but surely there are Labour and Lib Dem versions? Or even ones from further afield...
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‘Supreme Court Gender Decision Achieved Nothing And Was A Waste Of Money’
Eleven weeks after the ruling, Mathilda Mallinson and Helena Wadia tear it apart and explain how the media is making matters worse
Eleven weeks after the ruling, Mathilda Mallinson and Helena Wadia tear it apart and explain how the media is making matters worse
‘Supreme Court Gender Decision Achieved Nothing And Was A Waste Of Money’
Eleven weeks after the ruling, Mathilda Mallinson and Helena Wadia tear it apart and explain how the media is making matters worse
bylinetimes.com
July 7, 2025 at 7:00 AM
‘Supreme Court Gender Decision Achieved Nothing And Was A Waste Of Money’
Eleven weeks after the ruling, Mathilda Mallinson and Helena Wadia tear it apart and explain how the media is making matters worse
Eleven weeks after the ruling, Mathilda Mallinson and Helena Wadia tear it apart and explain how the media is making matters worse
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Bertrand Russell to Oswald Mosley. Perfection.
October 16, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Bertrand Russell to Oswald Mosley. Perfection.
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I focused this, far too long, thread primarily on policy and tried, as much as possible, to keep personal views limited. Here's what really pisses me off though, at least Conservatives and Reform are honest about who they target with anti-immigration bs, Labour still pretends to be "progressive" 1/5
Very long thread: As with many of Labour's anti-immigration policies, this isn't new. British police have been stationed in other countries for this purpose for a long time
It does however show how Labour is pushing more on anti-immigration than previous governments. 1/
www.lbc.co.uk/article/shab...
It does however show how Labour is pushing more on anti-immigration than previous governments. 1/
www.lbc.co.uk/article/shab...
Home Secretary orders police and border 'hit squads' to Albania to stamp out people smugglers | LBC
Shabana Mahmood will send hit squads of police and border force teams to Albania in a fresh drive to stamp out people-smuggling gangs upstream.
www.lbc.co.uk
October 16, 2025 at 5:31 PM
I focused this, far too long, thread primarily on policy and tried, as much as possible, to keep personal views limited. Here's what really pisses me off though, at least Conservatives and Reform are honest about who they target with anti-immigration bs, Labour still pretends to be "progressive" 1/5
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Making life more difficult for migrants helps nobody.
Making it harder for people fleeing war and persecution to find safety helps nobody.
Labour pushing xenophobia as policy helps nobody.
Pandering to far right politics doesn't combat far right rhetoric or "build trust in politicians"
#r4today
Making it harder for people fleeing war and persecution to find safety helps nobody.
Labour pushing xenophobia as policy helps nobody.
Pandering to far right politics doesn't combat far right rhetoric or "build trust in politicians"
#r4today
We can all bitch and moan and call out the utterly contemptible policies suggested by the likes of Reform and the Conservatives, but if that same condemnation is not applied to Labour then it shows it is not about supporting migrants, it is about being party political. 2/
October 15, 2025 at 5:57 AM
Making life more difficult for migrants helps nobody.
Making it harder for people fleeing war and persecution to find safety helps nobody.
Labour pushing xenophobia as policy helps nobody.
Pandering to far right politics doesn't combat far right rhetoric or "build trust in politicians"
#r4today
Making it harder for people fleeing war and persecution to find safety helps nobody.
Labour pushing xenophobia as policy helps nobody.
Pandering to far right politics doesn't combat far right rhetoric or "build trust in politicians"
#r4today
When the deciding factor of which Only Connect team you support is if they've watched Porridge or not.
October 14, 2025 at 7:12 PM
When the deciding factor of which Only Connect team you support is if they've watched Porridge or not.
Create a different narrative.
In honour of spooky month, share a 4 word horror story that only someone in your profession would understand.
rm -rf ~/
rm -rf ~/
"The chancellor approved it"
October 12, 2025 at 1:08 PM
Create a different narrative.
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It is also deeply unhealthy to have local govts who don’t provide many visible/valuable services for most residents (because they lack the resources). Encourages distrust and populism - “what am I paying my council tax for? The council does nothing for me.”
Amazed this is still going ahead - basic and obvious problem is that essentially everything local government does now is for the poor. You can’t move it around without really hurting poor people somewhere!
Some of London’s poorest areas could see their share of the children’s services funding formula halved under Labour’s plans to reform local government grants.
By me, for Politics Home: www.politicshome.com/news/article...
By me, for Politics Home: www.politicshome.com/news/article...
October 7, 2025 at 1:10 PM
It is also deeply unhealthy to have local govts who don’t provide many visible/valuable services for most residents (because they lack the resources). Encourages distrust and populism - “what am I paying my council tax for? The council does nothing for me.”
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Am wondering if all of those suddenly deciding they’re against communities living “parallel lives” might reconsider their support of religious schools? Or indeed private ones?
October 7, 2025 at 10:45 AM
Am wondering if all of those suddenly deciding they’re against communities living “parallel lives” might reconsider their support of religious schools? Or indeed private ones?