Matt Bennett
@matt1066.bsky.social
Historian: medieval warfare and literature. FSA. FRHS. Rejoin EU.
Reposted by Matt Bennett
I wonder if the United States can learn anything from the last time a major industrialized country decided to isolate itself from the rest of the world?
Almost a decade after the Brexit vote, GDP in the UK is around 6-8% lower relative to peer countries. (Source: www.nber.org/papers/w34459)
Almost a decade after the Brexit vote, GDP in the UK is around 6-8% lower relative to peer countries. (Source: www.nber.org/papers/w34459)
November 11, 2025 at 3:35 PM
I wonder if the United States can learn anything from the last time a major industrialized country decided to isolate itself from the rest of the world?
Almost a decade after the Brexit vote, GDP in the UK is around 6-8% lower relative to peer countries. (Source: www.nber.org/papers/w34459)
Almost a decade after the Brexit vote, GDP in the UK is around 6-8% lower relative to peer countries. (Source: www.nber.org/papers/w34459)
Reposted by Matt Bennett
The government must remove Robbie Gibb from the BBC board immediately – and end the practice of political appointments, which so badly undermines the BBC, altogether.
November 13, 2025 at 5:58 PM
The government must remove Robbie Gibb from the BBC board immediately – and end the practice of political appointments, which so badly undermines the BBC, altogether.
Reposted by Matt Bennett
Apparently we can't afford to help President Lula save the rainforest, but we can afford to pay Drax to burn 250 year old Canadian trees…
November 13, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Apparently we can't afford to help President Lula save the rainforest, but we can afford to pay Drax to burn 250 year old Canadian trees…
Reposted by Matt Bennett
I have spent today with my fellow volunteers at both the Commons and the Lords, and am weak with happiness and tears. We have fought so hard and so long for this formal recognition of our memorial to our beloved covid dead. ❤️
The volunteers were at Parliament today to hear the government announce that our beautiful memorial is to be made permanent. It was an emotional day, as we have fought so long and hard to ensure that our beloved dead are not forgotten. We are grateful and happy. ❤️
November 13, 2025 at 4:36 PM
I have spent today with my fellow volunteers at both the Commons and the Lords, and am weak with happiness and tears. We have fought so hard and so long for this formal recognition of our memorial to our beloved covid dead. ❤️
Reposted by Matt Bennett
Right now there’s an artificial bottleneck in English football - the EFL only allow two promotions from the National League. From within the EFL they allow four promotions from its own L2 to L1 - you can see the disparity. But can you explain it.
November 13, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Right now there’s an artificial bottleneck in English football - the EFL only allow two promotions from the National League. From within the EFL they allow four promotions from its own L2 to L1 - you can see the disparity. But can you explain it.
Reposted by Matt Bennett
"Those last four weeks of her life when she was in the hospice, I think it's odd to say, but were some of the happiest of her life."
Sir Michael Palin reflects on the care his wife received in a hospice, as he calls for more support for hospices in the budget.
#Newsnight
Sir Michael Palin reflects on the care his wife received in a hospice, as he calls for more support for hospices in the budget.
#Newsnight
November 13, 2025 at 12:42 PM
"Those last four weeks of her life when she was in the hospice, I think it's odd to say, but were some of the happiest of her life."
Sir Michael Palin reflects on the care his wife received in a hospice, as he calls for more support for hospices in the budget.
#Newsnight
Sir Michael Palin reflects on the care his wife received in a hospice, as he calls for more support for hospices in the budget.
#Newsnight
Very much up my street!
#Postpunk history made this day in 1978 with the release of "The Scream" - the debut album by #SiouxsieAndTheBanshees
Four Decades of Face-to-Face: “The Scream” released this day in 1978
One of the most recognizable bands in the goth pantheon, Siouxsie and the Banshees released their debut album “The Scream” on 13th November 1978. They had impeccable punk credentials, w…
theblogginggoth.com
November 13, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Very much up my street!
Madness!
About half of what it was going to cost to fully fund SNAP in November during the shutdown.
November 13, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Madness!
Reposted by Matt Bennett
You’ve got to wonder about a Labour government that’s this furious about frontline NHS staff fighting for fair working conditions. Many resident doctors cant even find work in the NHS right now, because Starmer and Streeting are failing to create jobs for them.. 🚨🚨🚨
November 13, 2025 at 7:19 AM
You’ve got to wonder about a Labour government that’s this furious about frontline NHS staff fighting for fair working conditions. Many resident doctors cant even find work in the NHS right now, because Starmer and Streeting are failing to create jobs for them.. 🚨🚨🚨
Reposted by Matt Bennett
Well, this looks like a reading-list-freshen-uppoer 😜!
www.oxbowbooks.com/979888857186...
www.oxbowbooks.com/979888857186...
November 12, 2025 at 6:10 PM
Well, this looks like a reading-list-freshen-uppoer 😜!
www.oxbowbooks.com/979888857186...
www.oxbowbooks.com/979888857186...
Reposted by Matt Bennett
🚨 Breaking: Our latest investigation reveals that Labour’s move to bring the PFI-style model back has followed intense lobbying from companies that operate PFI contracts + from major construction firms.
We can’t let history repeat itself.
Read full report here👉 everydoctor.org.uk/talking-poin...
We can’t let history repeat itself.
Read full report here👉 everydoctor.org.uk/talking-poin...
November 12, 2025 at 7:55 PM
🚨 Breaking: Our latest investigation reveals that Labour’s move to bring the PFI-style model back has followed intense lobbying from companies that operate PFI contracts + from major construction firms.
We can’t let history repeat itself.
Read full report here👉 everydoctor.org.uk/talking-poin...
We can’t let history repeat itself.
Read full report here👉 everydoctor.org.uk/talking-poin...
Reposted by Matt Bennett
Nearly two years ago, I wrote about the extraordinary influence of former Tory spin doctor Sir Robbie Gibb on the BBC. It's still a helpful backgrounder for what's going on now. New readers start here: www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/media/...
How the government captured the BBC
A right-wing cabal, largely unaccountable, is waging war on the principles that made our public broadcaster great. It must not succeed
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Nearly two years ago, I wrote about the extraordinary influence of former Tory spin doctor Sir Robbie Gibb on the BBC. It's still a helpful backgrounder for what's going on now. New readers start here: www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/media/...
Reposted by Matt Bennett
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 Matt Bennett
Good news.
Rachel Reeves’s left turn – on tax and spending her second Budget is being shaped by social democratic choices. www.newstatesman.com/politics/mor...
Rachel Reeves’s left turn
The Chancellor’s second Budget is being shaped by distinctly social democratic choices.
www.newstatesman.com
November 11, 2025 at 2:21 PM
Good news.
Reposted by Matt Bennett
The headline to this one is - Daily Mail owner seeks to dodge tax. It’s not really a shocking story, it’s not like we would expect anything better.
November 10, 2025 at 9:37 AM
The headline to this one is - Daily Mail owner seeks to dodge tax. It’s not really a shocking story, it’s not like we would expect anything better.
It's farcical, isn't it?
Listening to Charles Moore on R4 Today, he described the BBC as "Left Wing". The same channel that platforms Reform PLC at every opportunity.
November 10, 2025 at 10:23 AM
It's farcical, isn't it?
Reposted by Matt Bennett
Shout this as loud as possible over and over again. It should be the central, fundamental argument. (And see the whole of this excellent thread. No more tinkering. Grasp the nettle that many/most of us need to pay more, but also - on the grounds of fairness- tax wealth.)
They are needed because the ordinary tax payer also needs to pay more. Here, some old fashioned social-democratic arguments need to be made much more forcefully.
November 10, 2025 at 8:17 AM
Shout this as loud as possible over and over again. It should be the central, fundamental argument. (And see the whole of this excellent thread. No more tinkering. Grasp the nettle that many/most of us need to pay more, but also - on the grounds of fairness- tax wealth.)
Exactly my take, too…
Once every 20 years or so, the director-general of the BBC is forced to resign for being insufficiently rightwing. Alastair Milne in 1987. Greg Dyke in 2004. Tim Davie in 2025. The great irony is that the BBC was in all cases profoundly biased towards established power. But just not biased enough …
November 10, 2025 at 8:51 AM
Exactly my take, too…
Reposted by Matt Bennett
Awful
1/ The US Government has quietly removed a memorial to Black soldiers who died in World War II from the Netherlands American Cemetery in Margraten, South Limburg. The move follows a complaint from the right-wing Heritage Foundation to the American Battle Monuments Commission. ⬇️
November 9, 2025 at 8:44 PM
Awful
Reposted by Matt Bennett
The resignations of Tim Davie and Deborah Turness must be an opportunity for the BBC to turn a new leaf, rebuild trust and resist those like Nigel Farage who want to destroy it
We must stand up for a strong, independent BBC, to stop Trump’s America becoming Farage's Britain.
We must stand up for a strong, independent BBC, to stop Trump’s America becoming Farage's Britain.
November 9, 2025 at 6:45 PM
The resignations of Tim Davie and Deborah Turness must be an opportunity for the BBC to turn a new leaf, rebuild trust and resist those like Nigel Farage who want to destroy it
We must stand up for a strong, independent BBC, to stop Trump’s America becoming Farage's Britain.
We must stand up for a strong, independent BBC, to stop Trump’s America becoming Farage's Britain.
Reposted by Matt Bennett
The sight of Johnson, Truss and Sunak at the Remembrance day service is a stark reminder of the absolute mess the Tories left behind. Three PM's in 5 years, shambolic.
November 9, 2025 at 11:41 AM
The sight of Johnson, Truss and Sunak at the Remembrance day service is a stark reminder of the absolute mess the Tories left behind. Three PM's in 5 years, shambolic.
Reposted by Matt Bennett
👀 Extremely excited to see Aleksander Pluskowski has a new history of the Baltic Crusades coming soon with @yalepress.bsky.social ⚔️✝️ yalebooks.co.uk/book/9780300...
The Black Cross - Yale University Press London
A wide-ranging new history of the Baltic Crusades and their legacy Between the twelfth and fifteenth centuries, crusading armies unleashed a relentles...
yalebooks.co.uk
November 7, 2025 at 4:31 PM
👀 Extremely excited to see Aleksander Pluskowski has a new history of the Baltic Crusades coming soon with @yalepress.bsky.social ⚔️✝️ yalebooks.co.uk/book/9780300...
Instructive model to follow in the UK, I reckon.
"Prosecuting a former president or prime minister is a normal and healthy thing for advanced democracies to do." foreignpolicy.com/2025/10/28/d...
Prosecuting the Powerful
Historical data shows putting leaders on trial is a healthy democratic practice.
foreignpolicy.com
November 8, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Instructive model to follow in the UK, I reckon.
Reposted by Matt Bennett
Ah. Private equity.
November 8, 2025 at 1:08 PM
Ah. Private equity.
Reposted by Matt Bennett
Socialism is what they called public power.
Socialism is what they called social security.
Socialism is what they called the growth of free and independent labor organizations.
Socialism is their name for almost anything that helps all the people.
—Harry Truman, 1952
Socialism is what they called social security.
Socialism is what they called the growth of free and independent labor organizations.
Socialism is their name for almost anything that helps all the people.
—Harry Truman, 1952
November 7, 2025 at 9:30 PM
Socialism is what they called public power.
Socialism is what they called social security.
Socialism is what they called the growth of free and independent labor organizations.
Socialism is their name for almost anything that helps all the people.
—Harry Truman, 1952
Socialism is what they called social security.
Socialism is what they called the growth of free and independent labor organizations.
Socialism is their name for almost anything that helps all the people.
—Harry Truman, 1952