Dr Nigel Fletcher
@nigelfletcher.bsky.social
UK political historian, lecturer and writer;
Co-founder of the Centre for Opposition Studies.
Cake, campery & historical/constitutional trivia. 🍰🏳️🌈 📖 🇬🇧
Website: www.nigelfletcher.org
Subscribe to my newsletter:
https://nigelfletcher.substack.com
Co-founder of the Centre for Opposition Studies.
Cake, campery & historical/constitutional trivia. 🍰🏳️🌈 📖 🇬🇧
Website: www.nigelfletcher.org
Subscribe to my newsletter:
https://nigelfletcher.substack.com
It’s been one of *those* days in the archive again. 🤩
November 14, 2025 at 8:12 PM
It’s been one of *those* days in the archive again. 🤩
Reposted by Dr Nigel Fletcher
Briefing against themselves: As calls grow for the Prime Minister to sack his Chief of Staff over briefings attacking the Health Secretary, this week's #OppositionCast asks if Labour is doing the Opposition's job for them.
Listen wherever you get your podcasts from via:
pod.link/oppositionca...
Listen wherever you get your podcasts from via:
pod.link/oppositionca...
November 13, 2025 at 3:11 PM
Briefing against themselves: As calls grow for the Prime Minister to sack his Chief of Staff over briefings attacking the Health Secretary, this week's #OppositionCast asks if Labour is doing the Opposition's job for them.
Listen wherever you get your podcasts from via:
pod.link/oppositionca...
Listen wherever you get your podcasts from via:
pod.link/oppositionca...
If YouTubers (and politicians) are going to insist on this maddening trend of holding their lapel mics instead of clipping them on, then at least go the full Terry Wogan and clip them onto a long stick.
November 13, 2025 at 8:19 AM
If YouTubers (and politicians) are going to insist on this maddening trend of holding their lapel mics instead of clipping them on, then at least go the full Terry Wogan and clip them onto a long stick.
What could possibly go wrong?
November 12, 2025 at 9:30 PM
What could possibly go wrong?
As it’s Armistice Day, I wanted to share an image of one of the most astonishing things I’ve ever seen in an archive:
This is the pen which ended the First World War.
It was used by British Admiral Rosslyn Wemyss to sign the Armistice on the 11th November 1918 in the Forest of Compiègne.
This is the pen which ended the First World War.
It was used by British Admiral Rosslyn Wemyss to sign the Armistice on the 11th November 1918 in the Forest of Compiègne.
November 11, 2025 at 12:29 PM
As it’s Armistice Day, I wanted to share an image of one of the most astonishing things I’ve ever seen in an archive:
This is the pen which ended the First World War.
It was used by British Admiral Rosslyn Wemyss to sign the Armistice on the 11th November 1918 in the Forest of Compiègne.
This is the pen which ended the First World War.
It was used by British Admiral Rosslyn Wemyss to sign the Armistice on the 11th November 1918 in the Forest of Compiègne.
Heading out out tonight to see @mattchorley.bsky.social starring in Matilda in the West End. Or it might be his latest standup show, I’m not altogether clear.
West End baby! I’m now bringing Making A Meal Of It to London in the incredible Cambridge Theatre, where Matilda is on. See you on Monday November 10.
🎟️ ticketing.lwtheatres.co.uk/event/35061/...
PS No that’s not a real billboard. I faked it ok.
🎟️ ticketing.lwtheatres.co.uk/event/35061/...
PS No that’s not a real billboard. I faked it ok.
November 10, 2025 at 6:55 PM
Heading out out tonight to see @mattchorley.bsky.social starring in Matilda in the West End. Or it might be his latest standup show, I’m not altogether clear.
An eyebrow-raising and head-scrambling thread on the continuing chaos of the Corbyn-Sultana "Your Party" - and the mess they've got into with members' donations...
With their founding conference supposedly taking place at the end of the month, will they be able to get their act together?
With their founding conference supposedly taking place at the end of the month, will they be able to get their act together?
Three people who’d be expected to be Your Party bigwigs have largely walked away from Corbyn’s project: former NE mayor Jamie Driscoll, former Labour MP Beth Winter, and former ANC MP Andrew Feinstein.
I have some new intel on the fall-out, if you’re interested in that sort of thing… 🧵
I have some new intel on the fall-out, if you’re interested in that sort of thing… 🧵
November 10, 2025 at 4:17 PM
An eyebrow-raising and head-scrambling thread on the continuing chaos of the Corbyn-Sultana "Your Party" - and the mess they've got into with members' donations...
With their founding conference supposedly taking place at the end of the month, will they be able to get their act together?
With their founding conference supposedly taking place at the end of the month, will they be able to get their act together?
Reposted by Dr Nigel Fletcher
It's what everyone's talking about... but what does The Traitors tell us about politics? The latest #OppositionCast also contains some lovely clips from the archives on Chancellors who break their promises, and how ministers cope when prisoners get out when they shouldn't...
Traitors, Prisoners and Broken Promises - the latest #OppositionCast considers what lessons hit TV show The Traitors has for our politics, whether Chancellors who break their word should resign, and the problem of prisoners escaping jail when they shouldn't...
Listen via:
pod.link/oppositionca...
Listen via:
pod.link/oppositionca...
November 7, 2025 at 5:38 PM
It's what everyone's talking about... but what does The Traitors tell us about politics? The latest #OppositionCast also contains some lovely clips from the archives on Chancellors who break their promises, and how ministers cope when prisoners get out when they shouldn't...
I think I might have to continue my campaign of wearily replying “It’s November” to all and every piece of inappropriately early Christmas content I see.
It’s getting out of hand, and these people need to be told.
It’s getting out of hand, and these people need to be told.
November 9, 2025 at 8:59 AM
I think I might have to continue my campaign of wearily replying “It’s November” to all and every piece of inappropriately early Christmas content I see.
It’s getting out of hand, and these people need to be told.
It’s getting out of hand, and these people need to be told.
It's what everyone's talking about... but what does The Traitors tell us about politics? The latest #OppositionCast also contains some lovely clips from the archives on Chancellors who break their promises, and how ministers cope when prisoners get out when they shouldn't...
Traitors, Prisoners and Broken Promises - the latest #OppositionCast considers what lessons hit TV show The Traitors has for our politics, whether Chancellors who break their word should resign, and the problem of prisoners escaping jail when they shouldn't...
Listen via:
pod.link/oppositionca...
Listen via:
pod.link/oppositionca...
November 7, 2025 at 5:38 PM
It's what everyone's talking about... but what does The Traitors tell us about politics? The latest #OppositionCast also contains some lovely clips from the archives on Chancellors who break their promises, and how ministers cope when prisoners get out when they shouldn't...
I’m not a game theory nerd, but the endgame on #celebritytraitors almost makes me want to go and start compiling logic trees.
SURELY it’s obvious you have nothing to lose by banishing again when you’re down to three?!
Made for some superb telly though. They couldn’t have scripted that better.
SURELY it’s obvious you have nothing to lose by banishing again when you’re down to three?!
Made for some superb telly though. They couldn’t have scripted that better.
November 6, 2025 at 11:00 PM
I’m not a game theory nerd, but the endgame on #celebritytraitors almost makes me want to go and start compiling logic trees.
SURELY it’s obvious you have nothing to lose by banishing again when you’re down to three?!
Made for some superb telly though. They couldn’t have scripted that better.
SURELY it’s obvious you have nothing to lose by banishing again when you’re down to three?!
Made for some superb telly though. They couldn’t have scripted that better.
I endorse this message.
It’s hardly the most important thing about this story, but could the entire news media please stop getting ‘letters patent’ wrong? It’s a plural noun. The king has issued letters patent. Saying he has issued ‘a letters patent’ is like saying that Wordsworth and Tennyson were ‘a poets laureate’. Bah.
November 6, 2025 at 8:24 PM
I endorse this message.
And just like that... Andrew Mountbatten Windsor is no longer a Prince.
The King issued Letters Patent on Monday declaring that his brother 'shall no longer be entitled to hold and enjoy the style, title or attribute of “Royal Highness” and the titular dignity of “Prince”.'
The King issued Letters Patent on Monday declaring that his brother 'shall no longer be entitled to hold and enjoy the style, title or attribute of “Royal Highness” and the titular dignity of “Prince”.'
November 6, 2025 at 6:57 PM
And just like that... Andrew Mountbatten Windsor is no longer a Prince.
The King issued Letters Patent on Monday declaring that his brother 'shall no longer be entitled to hold and enjoy the style, title or attribute of “Royal Highness” and the titular dignity of “Prince”.'
The King issued Letters Patent on Monday declaring that his brother 'shall no longer be entitled to hold and enjoy the style, title or attribute of “Royal Highness” and the titular dignity of “Prince”.'
That feeling when you just put your feet up at lunchtime for five minutes to reply to some emails, and someone decides you’re not permitted to get up again to go back to work.
November 5, 2025 at 12:45 PM
That feeling when you just put your feet up at lunchtime for five minutes to reply to some emails, and someone decides you’re not permitted to get up again to go back to work.
Is there a scientific way of working out if Christmas marketing really is getting earlier each year? On Saturday, ALL the Christmas ads started on television and are now constant. And Christmas trees and decor popping up in the shops. It’s NOVEMBER, people! Not even past Guy Fawkes night.
November 4, 2025 at 8:44 AM
Is there a scientific way of working out if Christmas marketing really is getting earlier each year? On Saturday, ALL the Christmas ads started on television and are now constant. And Christmas trees and decor popping up in the shops. It’s NOVEMBER, people! Not even past Guy Fawkes night.
Bluesky tonight is like being in the library studying and suddenly hearing cheering and raucous laughter from the Students Union (Threads).
“What’s going on over there?”
Dolly. That’s what.
“What’s going on over there?”
Dolly. That’s what.
November 3, 2025 at 10:10 PM
Bluesky tonight is like being in the library studying and suddenly hearing cheering and raucous laughter from the Students Union (Threads).
“What’s going on over there?”
Dolly. That’s what.
“What’s going on over there?”
Dolly. That’s what.
Reposted by Dr Nigel Fletcher
Trick or treat? On this week's #OppositionCast
Nigel and Sarah discuss Kemi's PMQs "gotcha", Rachel Reeves' problems, a Welsh by-election - and the 75th anniversary of the House of Commons chamber reopening.
Listen wherever you get your podcasts from via:
pod.link/oppositionca...
Nigel and Sarah discuss Kemi's PMQs "gotcha", Rachel Reeves' problems, a Welsh by-election - and the 75th anniversary of the House of Commons chamber reopening.
Listen wherever you get your podcasts from via:
pod.link/oppositionca...
October 31, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Trick or treat? On this week's #OppositionCast
Nigel and Sarah discuss Kemi's PMQs "gotcha", Rachel Reeves' problems, a Welsh by-election - and the 75th anniversary of the House of Commons chamber reopening.
Listen wherever you get your podcasts from via:
pod.link/oppositionca...
Nigel and Sarah discuss Kemi's PMQs "gotcha", Rachel Reeves' problems, a Welsh by-election - and the 75th anniversary of the House of Commons chamber reopening.
Listen wherever you get your podcasts from via:
pod.link/oppositionca...
The morning after…
Joined @afuathescot.bsky.social on BBC News just now to discuss the significance of the King banishing his brother from Royal status, and the difficulty of separating family from Monarchy.
youtu.be/ToFYkaTO_TI?...
Joined @afuathescot.bsky.social on BBC News just now to discuss the significance of the King banishing his brother from Royal status, and the difficulty of separating family from Monarchy.
youtu.be/ToFYkaTO_TI?...
Prince Andrew stripped of Royal titles by the King- BBC News
YouTube video by Dr Nigel Fletcher
youtu.be
October 31, 2025 at 9:46 AM
The morning after…
Joined @afuathescot.bsky.social on BBC News just now to discuss the significance of the King banishing his brother from Royal status, and the difficulty of separating family from Monarchy.
youtu.be/ToFYkaTO_TI?...
Joined @afuathescot.bsky.social on BBC News just now to discuss the significance of the King banishing his brother from Royal status, and the difficulty of separating family from Monarchy.
youtu.be/ToFYkaTO_TI?...
How do you fire a Prince?
That was the question I asked back in January. Then, it was mostly hypothetical.
Now, I think every sanction I envisaged for Andrew is being taken. Extraordinary.
open.substack.com/pub/nigelfle...
That was the question I asked back in January. Then, it was mostly hypothetical.
Now, I think every sanction I envisaged for Andrew is being taken. Extraordinary.
open.substack.com/pub/nigelfle...
How do you fire a Prince?
The Duke of York's latest troubles highlight a problem for the modern monarchy
open.substack.com
October 30, 2025 at 10:36 PM
How do you fire a Prince?
That was the question I asked back in January. Then, it was mostly hypothetical.
Now, I think every sanction I envisaged for Andrew is being taken. Extraordinary.
open.substack.com/pub/nigelfle...
That was the question I asked back in January. Then, it was mostly hypothetical.
Now, I think every sanction I envisaged for Andrew is being taken. Extraordinary.
open.substack.com/pub/nigelfle...
Boom.
This is pretty drastic action from The King on Andrew. Sounds like Letters Patent will remove his Princely titles and HRH, there *might* be legislation on his peerages, and presumably he’ll be struck from the orders of chivalry he still holds. Brutal, but most will agree, quite right.
This is pretty drastic action from The King on Andrew. Sounds like Letters Patent will remove his Princely titles and HRH, there *might* be legislation on his peerages, and presumably he’ll be struck from the orders of chivalry he still holds. Brutal, but most will agree, quite right.
October 30, 2025 at 7:16 PM
Boom.
This is pretty drastic action from The King on Andrew. Sounds like Letters Patent will remove his Princely titles and HRH, there *might* be legislation on his peerages, and presumably he’ll be struck from the orders of chivalry he still holds. Brutal, but most will agree, quite right.
This is pretty drastic action from The King on Andrew. Sounds like Letters Patent will remove his Princely titles and HRH, there *might* be legislation on his peerages, and presumably he’ll be struck from the orders of chivalry he still holds. Brutal, but most will agree, quite right.
Internet problems at home have forced me from my cosy study at home in search of decent wifi- so I find myself in Westminster on a rather nice sunny day.
The political attack ads from the Conservatives provide a useful prompt for this afternoon’s #OppositionCast recording…
The political attack ads from the Conservatives provide a useful prompt for this afternoon’s #OppositionCast recording…
October 30, 2025 at 12:38 PM
Internet problems at home have forced me from my cosy study at home in search of decent wifi- so I find myself in Westminster on a rather nice sunny day.
The political attack ads from the Conservatives provide a useful prompt for this afternoon’s #OppositionCast recording…
The political attack ads from the Conservatives provide a useful prompt for this afternoon’s #OppositionCast recording…
So the BBC is producing a #DoctorWho Christmas special for 2026, which needs to enter production reasonably soon in the New Year, without an incumbent Doctor, and no clear idea when or quite how the subsequent series will follow.
I think we now have a standard drill for this…
I think we now have a standard drill for this…
a man standing in a doorway with the words " did you miss me "
ALT: a man standing in a doorway with the words " did you miss me "
media.tenor.com
October 28, 2025 at 4:06 PM
So the BBC is producing a #DoctorWho Christmas special for 2026, which needs to enter production reasonably soon in the New Year, without an incumbent Doctor, and no clear idea when or quite how the subsequent series will follow.
I think we now have a standard drill for this…
I think we now have a standard drill for this…
Finally, some good news- the BBC confirms #DoctorWho will return… despite Disney pulling out.
www.doctorwho.tv/news-and-fea...
www.doctorwho.tv/news-and-fea...
www.doctorwho.tv
October 28, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Finally, some good news- the BBC confirms #DoctorWho will return… despite Disney pulling out.
www.doctorwho.tv/news-and-fea...
www.doctorwho.tv/news-and-fea...
Pleased to be quoted in The i Paper on this, which has picked up the story I posted yesterday.
inews.co.uk/news/politic...
inews.co.uk/news/politic...
October 22, 2025 at 9:01 AM
Pleased to be quoted in The i Paper on this, which has picked up the story I posted yesterday.
inews.co.uk/news/politic...
inews.co.uk/news/politic...
Reposted by Dr Nigel Fletcher
NEW: Contrary to most reports, Prince Andrew CAN effectively renounce his title of Duke of York and associated peerages without the need for new legislation or any further action by Parliament or The King.
Here's how:
nigelfletcher.substack.com/p/prince-and...
Here's how:
nigelfletcher.substack.com/p/prince-and...
Prince Andrew CAN renounce his peerage without an Act of Parliament
Reports have suggested there is no easy way to remove or renounce the title of Duke of York - but a little-known mechanism could effectively do so easily and immediately
nigelfletcher.substack.com
October 21, 2025 at 3:54 PM
NEW: Contrary to most reports, Prince Andrew CAN effectively renounce his title of Duke of York and associated peerages without the need for new legislation or any further action by Parliament or The King.
Here's how:
nigelfletcher.substack.com/p/prince-and...
Here's how:
nigelfletcher.substack.com/p/prince-and...