Julian Petley
@julian-petley.bsky.social
Writer, editor, mythfinder general.
Reposted by Julian Petley
If the model here is that you let a private company conquer a country, co-opt local elites to exploit it for profit and govern it by force, while providing no public services and never worrying about elections, then, yes - this is a really good analogy, Mr Kruger.
October 29, 2025 at 9:51 AM
If the model here is that you let a private company conquer a country, co-opt local elites to exploit it for profit and govern it by force, while providing no public services and never worrying about elections, then, yes - this is a really good analogy, Mr Kruger.
Reposted by Julian Petley
Reposted by Julian Petley
A perfect tactic if the plan is for Labour to fall behind the Greens and/or Lib Dems in the polls...
I’m told Labour MPs have been told by whips to *abstain* in the vote on Nigel Farage’s ten-min rule bill on leaving the ECHR, which has left some furious. Whips’ arguments seems to be to just ignore it. Labour MPs worry it leaves Lib Dems/Greens looking like only they care on this.
October 29, 2025 at 1:40 PM
A perfect tactic if the plan is for Labour to fall behind the Greens and/or Lib Dems in the polls...
Reposted by Julian Petley
The political debate about immigration is completely divorced from the reality of what is happening, which is that it has been falling quite rapidly for some time now and is likely to continue doing so
bsky.app/profile/jdpo...
bsky.app/profile/jdpo...
Net migration to the UK is falling rapidly. But how far will it fall? A new, detailed estimate by @jamesbowes01.bsky.social projects net migration in 2026 will be 70K to 170K.
This will have significant consequences, both economic and political.
ukandeu.ac.uk/the-coming-c...
This will have significant consequences, both economic and political.
ukandeu.ac.uk/the-coming-c...
October 29, 2025 at 1:39 PM
The political debate about immigration is completely divorced from the reality of what is happening, which is that it has been falling quite rapidly for some time now and is likely to continue doing so
bsky.app/profile/jdpo...
bsky.app/profile/jdpo...
Reposted by Julian Petley
Minority representation on TV causes outrage
From the new Private Eye, in shops now.
From the new Private Eye, in shops now.
October 29, 2025 at 12:01 PM
Minority representation on TV causes outrage
From the new Private Eye, in shops now.
From the new Private Eye, in shops now.
Reposted by Julian Petley
Nathan Gill is no fringe politician.
He was the leader of the Reform Party and before that UKIP in Wales.
A Brexit Party MEP.
A friend and ally of Nigel Farage, who in 2016 called him:
"terrific," and "as honest as the day is long."
This is a MASSIVE story
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
He was the leader of the Reform Party and before that UKIP in Wales.
A Brexit Party MEP.
A friend and ally of Nigel Farage, who in 2016 called him:
"terrific," and "as honest as the day is long."
This is a MASSIVE story
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reform UK's ex-Wales leader Nathan Gill admits pro-Russia bribery
Nathan Gill admits eight charges of bribery while being a Member of the European Parliament.
www.bbc.co.uk
September 27, 2025 at 10:05 AM
Nathan Gill is no fringe politician.
He was the leader of the Reform Party and before that UKIP in Wales.
A Brexit Party MEP.
A friend and ally of Nigel Farage, who in 2016 called him:
"terrific," and "as honest as the day is long."
This is a MASSIVE story
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
He was the leader of the Reform Party and before that UKIP in Wales.
A Brexit Party MEP.
A friend and ally of Nigel Farage, who in 2016 called him:
"terrific," and "as honest as the day is long."
This is a MASSIVE story
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Julian Petley
Sky News and the BBC repeatedly mention the "migrant crisis" in doing so they are normalising and legitimising far right talking points. There is no "migrant crisis", there is only migrant hysteria, which the British media is feeding into instead of countering.
September 27, 2025 at 11:21 AM
Sky News and the BBC repeatedly mention the "migrant crisis" in doing so they are normalising and legitimising far right talking points. There is no "migrant crisis", there is only migrant hysteria, which the British media is feeding into instead of countering.
Reposted by Julian Petley
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
Reposted by Julian Petley
"Keir Starmer’s Government’s refusal to explicitly condemn the Reform leader’s plans to tear thousands of families and communities apart is only clearing his path to Downing Street" @adambienkov.bsky.social writes
Where Is the Opposition to Nigel Farage's Immoral Mass Deportation Plan?
Keir Starmer's Government's refusal to explicitly condemn the Reform leader's plans to tear thousands of families and communities apart is only clearing his path to Downing Street, argues Adam Bienkov
bylinetimes.com
September 22, 2025 at 4:01 PM
"Keir Starmer’s Government’s refusal to explicitly condemn the Reform leader’s plans to tear thousands of families and communities apart is only clearing his path to Downing Street" @adambienkov.bsky.social writes
Isn't this partly because the right-wing press, GB News and parts of the Tory party believe that the Labour government is actually illegitmate, and thus must be deposed as soon as possible?
It just straightforwardly *insane* how much political chatter in the United Kingdom is about the next general election, an event that is a long way in the future, and how basically none of it is about 'uh, this policy agenda doesn't look adequate to the scale of the inherited problem'.
September 22, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Isn't this partly because the right-wing press, GB News and parts of the Tory party believe that the Labour government is actually illegitmate, and thus must be deposed as soon as possible?
Reposted by Julian Petley
Keir Starmer’s spokesperson asked for the PM's response to Nigel Farage’s plan to deport hundreds of thousands of people living and working completely legally in the UK, replies that he thinks it is “unworkable” and “unfunded”.
So his objection is that they’ve got their sums wrong
So his objection is that they’ve got their sums wrong
September 22, 2025 at 11:25 AM
Keir Starmer’s spokesperson asked for the PM's response to Nigel Farage’s plan to deport hundreds of thousands of people living and working completely legally in the UK, replies that he thinks it is “unworkable” and “unfunded”.
So his objection is that they’ve got their sums wrong
So his objection is that they’ve got their sums wrong
Reposted by Julian Petley
Someone said to me today, "I didn't have a clue who Charlie Kirk was while he was alive, but now I am absolutely sick of him."
September 22, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Someone said to me today, "I didn't have a clue who Charlie Kirk was while he was alive, but now I am absolutely sick of him."
Reposted by Julian Petley
Reform's ‘plan’ to revoke the legal status of millions of UK residents is morally abhorrent & economic madness
The public believe in fairness & mutual respect, not this cruel Trumpian policy that would leave us all poorer. We are not America - we must resist this dangerous turn in British politics.
The public believe in fairness & mutual respect, not this cruel Trumpian policy that would leave us all poorer. We are not America - we must resist this dangerous turn in British politics.
September 22, 2025 at 1:13 PM
Reform's ‘plan’ to revoke the legal status of millions of UK residents is morally abhorrent & economic madness
The public believe in fairness & mutual respect, not this cruel Trumpian policy that would leave us all poorer. We are not America - we must resist this dangerous turn in British politics.
The public believe in fairness & mutual respect, not this cruel Trumpian policy that would leave us all poorer. We are not America - we must resist this dangerous turn in British politics.
Reposted by Julian Petley
As well as the fantasy £234 bn, journalists should also be clear Farage's claims most new migrants don't work, and those who do are on low wages, are entirely false.
In fact, 1.8 million recent migrants are on payrolls (others will be self employed).
migrationobservatory.ox.ac.uk/resources/co...
In fact, 1.8 million recent migrants are on payrolls (others will be self employed).
migrationobservatory.ox.ac.uk/resources/co...
September 22, 2025 at 12:43 PM
As well as the fantasy £234 bn, journalists should also be clear Farage's claims most new migrants don't work, and those who do are on low wages, are entirely false.
In fact, 1.8 million recent migrants are on payrolls (others will be self employed).
migrationobservatory.ox.ac.uk/resources/co...
In fact, 1.8 million recent migrants are on payrolls (others will be self employed).
migrationobservatory.ox.ac.uk/resources/co...
Reposted by Julian Petley
Big Issue 2023: “The real worry is that true US-style culture war divisions – where our views on a range of social issues become very tightly tied to our political identity – leave no room for compromise and are incredibly difficult to unpick...”
www.bigissue.com/news/politic...
www.bigissue.com/news/politic...
Woke or anti-woke? Culture wars are poisoning politics, eye-opening study finds
What do pronouns, the Met Police and tofu have in common? All three have been accused of being “woke” by senior Tory MPs.
www.bigissue.com
September 22, 2025 at 1:53 PM
Big Issue 2023: “The real worry is that true US-style culture war divisions – where our views on a range of social issues become very tightly tied to our political identity – leave no room for compromise and are incredibly difficult to unpick...”
www.bigissue.com/news/politic...
www.bigissue.com/news/politic...
Reposted by Julian Petley
🔴Where Is the Opposition to Nigel Farage’s Immoral Mass Deportation Plan?
Keir Starmer’s refusal to explicitly condemn Farage's plans to tear thousands of families and communities apart is only clearing his path to Downing Street, argues @adambienkov.bsky.social
bylinetimes.com/2025/09/22/w...
Keir Starmer’s refusal to explicitly condemn Farage's plans to tear thousands of families and communities apart is only clearing his path to Downing Street, argues @adambienkov.bsky.social
bylinetimes.com/2025/09/22/w...
Where Is the Opposition to Nigel Farage's Immoral Mass Deportation Plan?
Keir Starmer's Government's refusal to explicitly condemn the Reform leader's plans to tear thousands of families and communities apart is only clearing his path to Downing Street, argues Adam Bienkov
bylinetimes.com
September 22, 2025 at 3:57 PM
🔴Where Is the Opposition to Nigel Farage’s Immoral Mass Deportation Plan?
Keir Starmer’s refusal to explicitly condemn Farage's plans to tear thousands of families and communities apart is only clearing his path to Downing Street, argues @adambienkov.bsky.social
bylinetimes.com/2025/09/22/w...
Keir Starmer’s refusal to explicitly condemn Farage's plans to tear thousands of families and communities apart is only clearing his path to Downing Street, argues @adambienkov.bsky.social
bylinetimes.com/2025/09/22/w...
Reposted by Julian Petley
This, it seems, is what the BBC had in mind when it drew up plans in March to alter “story selection” to win over Reform voters.
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 3:56 PM
This, it seems, is what the BBC had in mind when it drew up plans in March to alter “story selection” to win over Reform voters.
Reposted by Julian Petley
Far right organisers in this country consistently side with foreign billionaires over our democratic institutions.
They are not patriots.
They are quislings.
They are not patriots.
They are quislings.
September 14, 2025 at 1:24 PM
Far right organisers in this country consistently side with foreign billionaires over our democratic institutions.
They are not patriots.
They are quislings.
They are not patriots.
They are quislings.
Reposted by Julian Petley
The far-right is in its pomp. We will have to fight for our values like never before.
iandunt.substack.com/p/encounteri...
iandunt.substack.com/p/encounteri...
September 14, 2025 at 12:33 PM
The far-right is in its pomp. We will have to fight for our values like never before.
iandunt.substack.com/p/encounteri...
iandunt.substack.com/p/encounteri...
Reposted by Julian Petley
Loath though he is to alienate floating racists, perhaps Starmer could rouse himself to condemn a violent fascist rally teeming with people who want him overthrown and/or killed
September 13, 2025 at 6:25 PM
Loath though he is to alienate floating racists, perhaps Starmer could rouse himself to condemn a violent fascist rally teeming with people who want him overthrown and/or killed
Reposted by Julian Petley
A new blog on the increasingly urgent distinction between serious historical research on colonialism and right wing historical propaganda:
alanlester.co.uk/blog/accusat...
alanlester.co.uk/blog/accusat...
Accusation in the Mirror? Distinguishing Scholarship From Propaganda
Alan Lester The Truth About Empire, a collection of essays for a public readership by fourteen leading historians of British colonialism that I edited and introduced, was the subject of Alexander M…
alanlester.co.uk
September 9, 2025 at 2:23 PM
A new blog on the increasingly urgent distinction between serious historical research on colonialism and right wing historical propaganda:
alanlester.co.uk/blog/accusat...
alanlester.co.uk/blog/accusat...
Please consider signing this petition in light of the BBC's obsessive and uncritical coverage of Farage. www.libdems.org.uk/bbc
Balance the BBC
The BBC is our national broadcaster, people expect and deserve balanced news coverage.
www.libdems.org.uk
September 9, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Please consider signing this petition in light of the BBC's obsessive and uncritical coverage of Farage. www.libdems.org.uk/bbc
Reposted by Julian Petley
Could we please stop pretending that the flags being hung from streetlamps or painted on roundabouts are innocent expressions of patriotic pride? This is the far right marking out its territory. It uses these flags to intimidate its traditional victims and opponents. 🧵1/3
September 9, 2025 at 1:08 PM
Could we please stop pretending that the flags being hung from streetlamps or painted on roundabouts are innocent expressions of patriotic pride? This is the far right marking out its territory. It uses these flags to intimidate its traditional victims and opponents. 🧵1/3
Reposted by Julian Petley
It's no surprise that Nigel Farage hardly ever bothers to visit Clacton or turn up at Parliament. When he was an MEP, his attendance record was 748th out of 751. He's a workshy grifting gobshite.
September 9, 2025 at 2:38 PM
It's no surprise that Nigel Farage hardly ever bothers to visit Clacton or turn up at Parliament. When he was an MEP, his attendance record was 748th out of 751. He's a workshy grifting gobshite.
Reposted by Julian Petley
🔴BBC Accused of Pro-Reform Bias as Lib Dems Launch Campaign to End ‘Wall to Wall’ Farage Coverage
They accuse the BBC of “following Farage around like a lost puppy” and have complained to Ofcom to demand fair coverage
bylinetimes.com/2025/09/09/b...
They accuse the BBC of “following Farage around like a lost puppy” and have complained to Ofcom to demand fair coverage
bylinetimes.com/2025/09/09/b...
BBC Accused of Pro-Reform Bias as Lib Dems Launch Campaign to End 'Wall to Wall' Farage Coverage
They accuse the BBC of "following Farage around like a lost puppy” and have complained to Ofcom to demand fair coverage
bylinetimes.com
September 9, 2025 at 2:41 PM
🔴BBC Accused of Pro-Reform Bias as Lib Dems Launch Campaign to End ‘Wall to Wall’ Farage Coverage
They accuse the BBC of “following Farage around like a lost puppy” and have complained to Ofcom to demand fair coverage
bylinetimes.com/2025/09/09/b...
They accuse the BBC of “following Farage around like a lost puppy” and have complained to Ofcom to demand fair coverage
bylinetimes.com/2025/09/09/b...