Marc Cooper
@marccooper.bsky.social
This is my politics account, which I keep separate from my personal/real life account. In general, I only engage if I believe I have something useful to contribute, otherwise I'm mostly watching from the sidelines.
Remember: Marketing is a psychopathy.
Remember: Marketing is a psychopathy.
Pinned
Marc Cooper
@marccooper.bsky.social
· Mar 12
This is not a Labour government.
Reposted by Marc Cooper
New substack: a portion of a dictionary of politics: chrisdillow.substack.com/p/a-short-le...
A short lexicon of politics
A brief guide to understanding political terms.
chrisdillow.substack.com
December 10, 2025 at 9:42 AM
New substack: a portion of a dictionary of politics: chrisdillow.substack.com/p/a-short-le...
Reposted by Marc Cooper
This is great, and much misunderstood
The feedback John refers to in his article from his recent book tour - about autism not being linear - is an issue many autistic people wish was understood widely. It’s recognised by the best of autism specialists but not understood by many in media, govt or GPs etc. Think ‘spidergram’ not line 😊👇
December 7, 2025 at 3:53 PM
This is great, and much misunderstood
Reposted by Marc Cooper
My dad abhors any negative comments about immigrants. Asked him recently why he’s so strong on it: ‘Because we’re always happy to take the rich and clever ones. Which means it’s not about disliking immigrants. It’s about disliking the poor and vulnerable. And that’s a bad human instinct.’
December 7, 2025 at 8:31 AM
My dad abhors any negative comments about immigrants. Asked him recently why he’s so strong on it: ‘Because we’re always happy to take the rich and clever ones. Which means it’s not about disliking immigrants. It’s about disliking the poor and vulnerable. And that’s a bad human instinct.’
Reposted by Marc Cooper
I suspect you have to be quite racist to stand out as "the racist guy" at a boys public school of the 1980s.
December 5, 2025 at 8:25 AM
I suspect you have to be quite racist to stand out as "the racist guy" at a boys public school of the 1980s.
Reposted by Marc Cooper
This is scary. "Three of the five worst harvests on record have now occurred since 2020, leaving some farmers asking whether the growing impacts of the climate crisis are making it too financially risky to sow their crops." www.theguardian.com/environment/...
UK farmers lose £800m after heat and drought cause one of worst harvests on record
Many now concerned about ability to make living in fast-changing climate after one of worst grain harvests recorded
www.theguardian.com
December 4, 2025 at 8:16 AM
This is scary. "Three of the five worst harvests on record have now occurred since 2020, leaving some farmers asking whether the growing impacts of the climate crisis are making it too financially risky to sow their crops." www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Reposted by Marc Cooper
One of the most common replies in any discussion of universal basic income is "but how do we pay for it?" and not once do those same people ever question the costs incurred by not doing UBI. We spend $1.5 trillion every year on the costs of child poverty alone. Poverty ain't free, folks. WE ALL PAY.
December 3, 2025 at 2:41 PM
One of the most common replies in any discussion of universal basic income is "but how do we pay for it?" and not once do those same people ever question the costs incurred by not doing UBI. We spend $1.5 trillion every year on the costs of child poverty alone. Poverty ain't free, folks. WE ALL PAY.
Reposted by Marc Cooper
Which bit of Magna Carta is supposed to guarantee trial by jury?
Chapter 39 famously says no free man will be arrested, imprisoned, etc., 'except by the lawful judgement of his peers or by the law of the land'.
That final 'or' clause means Magna Carta does NOT guarantee judgement by peers.
Chapter 39 famously says no free man will be arrested, imprisoned, etc., 'except by the lawful judgement of his peers or by the law of the land'.
That final 'or' clause means Magna Carta does NOT guarantee judgement by peers.
December 2, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Which bit of Magna Carta is supposed to guarantee trial by jury?
Chapter 39 famously says no free man will be arrested, imprisoned, etc., 'except by the lawful judgement of his peers or by the law of the land'.
That final 'or' clause means Magna Carta does NOT guarantee judgement by peers.
Chapter 39 famously says no free man will be arrested, imprisoned, etc., 'except by the lawful judgement of his peers or by the law of the land'.
That final 'or' clause means Magna Carta does NOT guarantee judgement by peers.
For anyone interested in the facts behind the OBR Budget leak, the OBR themselves have published a 17-page report on it.
obr.uk/docs/dlm_upl...
obr.uk/docs/dlm_upl...
December 1, 2025 at 7:51 PM
For anyone interested in the facts behind the OBR Budget leak, the OBR themselves have published a 17-page report on it.
obr.uk/docs/dlm_upl...
obr.uk/docs/dlm_upl...
Reposted by Marc Cooper
I really wish we'd stop calling them climate "skeptics" or "vaccine skeptics", if you jump off a cliff we don't call you a "gravity skeptic"
November 25, 2025 at 8:18 PM
I really wish we'd stop calling them climate "skeptics" or "vaccine skeptics", if you jump off a cliff we don't call you a "gravity skeptic"
Reposted by Marc Cooper
The real BBC bias story, narrated by Anna Ford
November 19, 2025 at 12:12 PM
The real BBC bias story, narrated by Anna Ford
Reposted by Marc Cooper
This stuff is honestly so far gone now, it would take a political generation to rebuild. And none of the incentives in British politics are taking us that way.
At some point, for the love of God, will someone ANYONE at long last take the council funding crisis seriously?!?
Because THIS is what will break down a society, not some poor soul escaping incredible dangers, arriving on our shores.
Because THIS is what will break down a society, not some poor soul escaping incredible dangers, arriving on our shores.
English councils plan to sell off social clubs and sports centres to balance books
November 15, 2025 at 8:57 PM
This stuff is honestly so far gone now, it would take a political generation to rebuild. And none of the incentives in British politics are taking us that way.
Reposted by Marc Cooper
New Substack: chrisdillow.substack.com/p/on-incompe... Parts of the Labour party and BBC simply don't know what their jobs should be.
On incompetence
Much of our political culture is fundamentally incompetent.
chrisdillow.substack.com
November 15, 2025 at 10:47 AM
New Substack: chrisdillow.substack.com/p/on-incompe... Parts of the Labour party and BBC simply don't know what their jobs should be.
Reposted by Marc Cooper
I agree with @arusbridger.bsky.social about BBC governance. Although v hesitant about another rearrangement, the single corporate-style board is massively flawed, not least because there needs to be some distance for the governors/board members from editorial decisions
Michael Prescott and Sir Robbie Gibb both bailed out of journalism years ago, and enjoy lucrative careers in corporate PR. And now they are the arbiters of BBC editorial standards. Go figure www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/media/...
The BBC has bigger impartiality problems than its coverage of Trump
It is the BBC’s entire governance structure–rather than individual stories–that should cause most concern
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 7:46 AM
I agree with @arusbridger.bsky.social about BBC governance. Although v hesitant about another rearrangement, the single corporate-style board is massively flawed, not least because there needs to be some distance for the governors/board members from editorial decisions
Reposted by Marc Cooper
Tips for the next DG:
1 - Don't stake your future on impartiality. Perfect impartiality is impossible. Focus on accuracy and accountability. Let journalists and producers do their job. If they get it badly wrong, sack them.
2 - Reverse the deliberate, prolonged cut to arts programming.
1 - Don't stake your future on impartiality. Perfect impartiality is impossible. Focus on accuracy and accountability. Let journalists and producers do their job. If they get it badly wrong, sack them.
2 - Reverse the deliberate, prolonged cut to arts programming.
November 9, 2025 at 9:07 PM
Tips for the next DG:
1 - Don't stake your future on impartiality. Perfect impartiality is impossible. Focus on accuracy and accountability. Let journalists and producers do their job. If they get it badly wrong, sack them.
2 - Reverse the deliberate, prolonged cut to arts programming.
1 - Don't stake your future on impartiality. Perfect impartiality is impossible. Focus on accuracy and accountability. Let journalists and producers do their job. If they get it badly wrong, sack them.
2 - Reverse the deliberate, prolonged cut to arts programming.
Reposted by Marc Cooper
Sobering news for a lot of top Democrats, tonight, as they realize people would prefer they actually fucking do something.
November 5, 2025 at 3:51 AM
Sobering news for a lot of top Democrats, tonight, as they realize people would prefer they actually fucking do something.
Reposted by Marc Cooper
A wonderful article on Royal privilege & the colossal resources of the British monarchy. Resources that in my own opinion should be national not private assets. It is time for the Royal Collection of art in particular to be in public ownership & used for the nation's benefit.
Last Wednesday a colossal statue seen by millions at Kew Gardens for 60 years was removed. The King, whose mother sent the work to Kew in 1963, wanted it back. A curious story of the exercise of Royal will www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/world/monarc...
The curious case of the King and the statue
A statue of Hercules admired by millions has disappeared from Kew Gardens. Why has Charles decided to remove a prime piece of public art?
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk
October 30, 2025 at 10:38 AM
A wonderful article on Royal privilege & the colossal resources of the British monarchy. Resources that in my own opinion should be national not private assets. It is time for the Royal Collection of art in particular to be in public ownership & used for the nation's benefit.
Reposted by Marc Cooper
Makes his own kimchi and likes the warm sound you only get with vinyl.
October 29, 2025 at 7:42 PM
Makes his own kimchi and likes the warm sound you only get with vinyl.
Reposted by Marc Cooper
This is why the Greens are rising in the polls, and why Labour have fallen so far. Labour’s ’natural supporters’ aren’t anti-immigrant. They’re not xenophobic. Labour’s leadership are alienating them, and now they have somewhere to go.
Well said.
Well said.
October 16, 2025 at 7:44 PM
This is why the Greens are rising in the polls, and why Labour have fallen so far. Labour’s ’natural supporters’ aren’t anti-immigrant. They’re not xenophobic. Labour’s leadership are alienating them, and now they have somewhere to go.
Well said.
Well said.
Reposted by Marc Cooper
In A Glass of Blessings (1958) Barbara Pym says the post arrived 2-3 times a day in the run-up to Xmas. Which reminds us that technical regress is a thing: enshittification isn't just for the internet. Here's one I wrote earlier: chrisdillow.substack.com/p/technical-...
October 15, 2025 at 11:18 AM
In A Glass of Blessings (1958) Barbara Pym says the post arrived 2-3 times a day in the run-up to Xmas. Which reminds us that technical regress is a thing: enshittification isn't just for the internet. Here's one I wrote earlier: chrisdillow.substack.com/p/technical-...
Reposted by Marc Cooper
Limited liability is one of our weird silences. It's a massive free gift society makes to plutocrats, seldom remarked upon, let alone contested.
Shareholders should have to buy limited liability, like any other insurance. The insurers would then be liable. 🧵
www.theguardian.com/news/ng-inte...
Shareholders should have to buy limited liability, like any other insurance. The insurers would then be liable. 🧵
www.theguardian.com/news/ng-inte...
Will UK taxpayers get their £122m back from PPE Medpro?
The high court told the company linked to Michelle Mone to pay up over the supply of defective gowns, but there appears no clear route to reclaim the funds
www.theguardian.com
October 11, 2025 at 8:22 AM
Limited liability is one of our weird silences. It's a massive free gift society makes to plutocrats, seldom remarked upon, let alone contested.
Shareholders should have to buy limited liability, like any other insurance. The insurers would then be liable. 🧵
www.theguardian.com/news/ng-inte...
Shareholders should have to buy limited liability, like any other insurance. The insurers would then be liable. 🧵
www.theguardian.com/news/ng-inte...
Reposted by Marc Cooper
Ah, happy 88th anniversary of the day Oswald Mosley tried to sell fascism to Liverpudlians – and someone concussed him with a brick
October 10, 2025 at 7:53 AM
Ah, happy 88th anniversary of the day Oswald Mosley tried to sell fascism to Liverpudlians – and someone concussed him with a brick
Reposted by Marc Cooper
“You can’t blame austerity on one hand, but then say it’s the immigrants. The immigrants haven’t caused austerity.”
Zack Polanski takes on Reform’s Zia Yusuf over spreading of misinformation on #BBCQT
Zack Polanski takes on Reform’s Zia Yusuf over spreading of misinformation on #BBCQT
October 9, 2025 at 8:56 PM
“You can’t blame austerity on one hand, but then say it’s the immigrants. The immigrants haven’t caused austerity.”
Zack Polanski takes on Reform’s Zia Yusuf over spreading of misinformation on #BBCQT
Zack Polanski takes on Reform’s Zia Yusuf over spreading of misinformation on #BBCQT
Reposted by Marc Cooper
Woke Pope Says Nope To DisInfo Slope
Pope Leo XIV has encouraged international news agencies to stand firm as a bulwark against the "ancient art of lying" and manipulation.
Pope urges news agencies to stand as bulwark against lies, manipulation and post-truths
Pope Leo XIV has encouraged international news agencies to stand firm as a bulwark against the “ancient art of lying” and manipulation.
bit.ly
October 9, 2025 at 2:18 PM
Woke Pope Says Nope To DisInfo Slope
Reposted by Marc Cooper
We will rebuild
Horrible, horrible images from Portland:
It was a beautiful Sunday in Portland. Farmer’s markets, the Portland Marathon, peaceful protests, and some views of Mt. Hood. This city is vibrant, peaceful, and resilient. We do not need a federal occupation, and we sure as hell don’t want one.
October 7, 2025 at 4:14 PM
We will rebuild
Reposted by Marc Cooper
Prof. Gurdon was Master at Magdalene when I was an undergraduate. I remember trying to make small talk while he had students over (generously) for Sunday lunch. But I also remember him making a magnificent job of introducing Nelson Mandela, who was being made an honorary fellow of the college..(1/n)
It is with great sadness that the University shares the news of the death of Professor Sir John Gurdon, founder of the @gurdoninstitute.bsky.social
Read our tribute to the visionary Nobel Laureate and watch an interview from 2012, just after he won: https://bit.ly/4mM8o3r
Read our tribute to the visionary Nobel Laureate and watch an interview from 2012, just after he won: https://bit.ly/4mM8o3r
October 8, 2025 at 7:15 AM
Prof. Gurdon was Master at Magdalene when I was an undergraduate. I remember trying to make small talk while he had students over (generously) for Sunday lunch. But I also remember him making a magnificent job of introducing Nelson Mandela, who was being made an honorary fellow of the college..(1/n)