Nathan Lester
@nlest.bsky.social
Interested in politics, public health, inequalities, transport and cycling
Reposted by Nathan Lester
It's New Year, so time to look back and forward. These are 10 things I think we need to recognise in 2026. It’s a response to what I think are profoundly damaging mistaken assumptions I’ve heard and read from practitioners, journalists, and analysts in 2025. Warning: very long🧵
January 1, 2026 at 4:55 PM
It's New Year, so time to look back and forward. These are 10 things I think we need to recognise in 2026. It’s a response to what I think are profoundly damaging mistaken assumptions I’ve heard and read from practitioners, journalists, and analysts in 2025. Warning: very long🧵
Reposted by Nathan Lester
UK Covid inquiry:
Chairwoman of the inquiry, former judge Baroness Hallett, said the UK's response could be summarised as "too little, too late"
Lockdown could have been avoided - but action came too late
'Chaotic' government with key figures criticised including Dominic Cummings & Boris Johnson
Chairwoman of the inquiry, former judge Baroness Hallett, said the UK's response could be summarised as "too little, too late"
Lockdown could have been avoided - but action came too late
'Chaotic' government with key figures criticised including Dominic Cummings & Boris Johnson
November 20, 2025 at 5:26 PM
UK Covid inquiry:
Chairwoman of the inquiry, former judge Baroness Hallett, said the UK's response could be summarised as "too little, too late"
Lockdown could have been avoided - but action came too late
'Chaotic' government with key figures criticised including Dominic Cummings & Boris Johnson
Chairwoman of the inquiry, former judge Baroness Hallett, said the UK's response could be summarised as "too little, too late"
Lockdown could have been avoided - but action came too late
'Chaotic' government with key figures criticised including Dominic Cummings & Boris Johnson
Reposted by Nathan Lester
Robbie Gibb was appointed to the BBC Board by Boris Johnson, was an editorial advisor for GB News, and worked as Theresa May's Director of Comms.
He is not impartial or neutral. The government should remove him from the Board immediately to protect the BBC's independence.
He is not impartial or neutral. The government should remove him from the Board immediately to protect the BBC's independence.
November 11, 2025 at 1:00 PM
Robbie Gibb was appointed to the BBC Board by Boris Johnson, was an editorial advisor for GB News, and worked as Theresa May's Director of Comms.
He is not impartial or neutral. The government should remove him from the Board immediately to protect the BBC's independence.
He is not impartial or neutral. The government should remove him from the Board immediately to protect the BBC's independence.
Reposted by Nathan Lester
Trump and his cronies have the BBC in their sights. Leaders can’t stay silent while one of our great institutions is attacked.
We must defend its independence, end political appointments, and remove Robbie Gibb from the Board.
We must defend its independence, end political appointments, and remove Robbie Gibb from the Board.
November 10, 2025 at 6:15 PM
Trump and his cronies have the BBC in their sights. Leaders can’t stay silent while one of our great institutions is attacked.
We must defend its independence, end political appointments, and remove Robbie Gibb from the Board.
We must defend its independence, end political appointments, and remove Robbie Gibb from the Board.
Reposted by Nathan Lester
Nothing on the BBC Radio news this morning. Nothing I could find on their website. This is an MP from the party whose lead in the opinion polls normally ensures them wall-to-wall coverage. She spouts racist nonsense for which even she feels obliged to apologise. What on earth are they playing at?
Reform’s Sarah Pochin forced to apologise after claiming adverts 'full of black people' drive her 'mad’ | LBC
The Runcorn and Helsby MP was responding to a viewer live on air who complained about the demographics of advertising.
www.lbc.co.uk
October 26, 2025 at 6:57 AM
Nothing on the BBC Radio news this morning. Nothing I could find on their website. This is an MP from the party whose lead in the opinion polls normally ensures them wall-to-wall coverage. She spouts racist nonsense for which even she feels obliged to apologise. What on earth are they playing at?
Reposted by Nathan Lester
Oh my god.
Have I Got News For You just referred to this completely false claim as a fact!!
Have I Got News For You just referred to this completely false claim as a fact!!
October 3, 2025 at 9:25 PM
Oh my god.
Have I Got News For You just referred to this completely false claim as a fact!!
Have I Got News For You just referred to this completely false claim as a fact!!
Reposted by Nathan Lester
One of these rich dudes invested in a food company with all proceeds going to kids in need. The other started Sundance Institute, boosting the lives of countless artists. Hey modern rich dudes, don't be a typical greedy AI crypto-prick, be like these two.
September 16, 2025 at 7:31 PM
One of these rich dudes invested in a food company with all proceeds going to kids in need. The other started Sundance Institute, boosting the lives of countless artists. Hey modern rich dudes, don't be a typical greedy AI crypto-prick, be like these two.
Reposted by Nathan Lester
The ever-impressive @iandunt.bsky.social speaks for many of us.*
* It looks like things might be starting to change at the top of the Govt since this was filmed.
* It looks like things might be starting to change at the top of the Govt since this was filmed.
September 15, 2025 at 8:37 PM
The ever-impressive @iandunt.bsky.social speaks for many of us.*
* It looks like things might be starting to change at the top of the Govt since this was filmed.
* It looks like things might be starting to change at the top of the Govt since this was filmed.
Reposted by Nathan Lester
Elon Musk openly called for violence on our streets yesterday.
I hope politicians from all parties come together to condemn his deeply dangerous and irresponsible rhetoric.
Britain must stand united against this clear attempt to undermine our democracy.
I hope politicians from all parties come together to condemn his deeply dangerous and irresponsible rhetoric.
Britain must stand united against this clear attempt to undermine our democracy.
September 14, 2025 at 10:30 AM
Elon Musk openly called for violence on our streets yesterday.
I hope politicians from all parties come together to condemn his deeply dangerous and irresponsible rhetoric.
Britain must stand united against this clear attempt to undermine our democracy.
I hope politicians from all parties come together to condemn his deeply dangerous and irresponsible rhetoric.
Britain must stand united against this clear attempt to undermine our democracy.
Reposted by Nathan Lester
“But even if you don’t have hope, it doesn’t really matter. This is about defiance. It’s about doing the right thing, fighting for democracy and for people to not be exploited.” Luke Kemp, on his new book Goliath’s Curse.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
‘Self-termination is most likely’: the history and future of societal collapse
An epic analysis of 5,000 years of civilisation argues that a global collapse is coming unless inequality is vanquished
www.theguardian.com
August 2, 2025 at 8:17 AM
“But even if you don’t have hope, it doesn’t really matter. This is about defiance. It’s about doing the right thing, fighting for democracy and for people to not be exploited.” Luke Kemp, on his new book Goliath’s Curse.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Reposted by Nathan Lester
@willhaycardiff.bsky.social tells UK to be more like Wales www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Here is the single thing Labour can do to see off Reform and make British politics work | Will Hayward
Farage’s party could win 42% of Commons seats with only 26% of the vote. That’s not the way civilised countries do democracy, says Guardian columnist Will Hayward
www.theguardian.com
June 27, 2025 at 10:52 AM
@willhaycardiff.bsky.social tells UK to be more like Wales www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Nathan Lester
In all seriousness, it’s ridiculous that this wasn’t on the table when it came to Wales.
April 9, 2025 at 8:41 AM
In all seriousness, it’s ridiculous that this wasn’t on the table when it came to Wales.
Reposted by Nathan Lester
One of the best photos I have seen in response to “why don’t you wear a suit”
March 17, 2025 at 3:05 PM
One of the best photos I have seen in response to “why don’t you wear a suit”
Reposted by Nathan Lester
Thousands of people are ditching Tesla. Here’s one of them with a message you can see from space.
Location: Black Rock Sands, Wales, UK
Led By Donkeys is 100% funded by small donations.
Location: Black Rock Sands, Wales, UK
Led By Donkeys is 100% funded by small donations.
March 17, 2025 at 6:15 PM
Thousands of people are ditching Tesla. Here’s one of them with a message you can see from space.
Location: Black Rock Sands, Wales, UK
Led By Donkeys is 100% funded by small donations.
Location: Black Rock Sands, Wales, UK
Led By Donkeys is 100% funded by small donations.
Reposted by Nathan Lester
Wales has been screwed over by its own Labour MPs.
The 27 Welsh Labour MPs voted to deny Wales millions of £ in the coming years.
When I approached them they gave very weak excuses for their actions.
Stay with me here because it's a bit fiddly but really matters.
[Thread]
The 27 Welsh Labour MPs voted to deny Wales millions of £ in the coming years.
When I approached them they gave very weak excuses for their actions.
Stay with me here because it's a bit fiddly but really matters.
[Thread]
March 10, 2025 at 12:27 PM
Wales has been screwed over by its own Labour MPs.
The 27 Welsh Labour MPs voted to deny Wales millions of £ in the coming years.
When I approached them they gave very weak excuses for their actions.
Stay with me here because it's a bit fiddly but really matters.
[Thread]
The 27 Welsh Labour MPs voted to deny Wales millions of £ in the coming years.
When I approached them they gave very weak excuses for their actions.
Stay with me here because it's a bit fiddly but really matters.
[Thread]
Reposted by Nathan Lester
We live in Britain, and there are now profound questions to ask our government. There's no conceivable bridge between Europe & this US administration. Whether we escape tariffs is a laughably parochial question. Yesterday is now an awfully long time ago.
February 28, 2025 at 8:42 PM
We live in Britain, and there are now profound questions to ask our government. There's no conceivable bridge between Europe & this US administration. Whether we escape tariffs is a laughably parochial question. Yesterday is now an awfully long time ago.
Reposted by Nathan Lester
one of the bravest Republicans of her generation
February 28, 2025 at 11:06 PM
one of the bravest Republicans of her generation
Reposted by Nathan Lester
Reposted by Nathan Lester
Of course it’s a coup. Miss the obvious, lose your republic.
open.substack.com/pub/snyder/p...
open.substack.com/pub/snyder/p...
Of course it’s a coup
Miss the obvious, lose your republic
open.substack.com
February 5, 2025 at 2:59 PM
Of course it’s a coup. Miss the obvious, lose your republic.
open.substack.com/pub/snyder/p...
open.substack.com/pub/snyder/p...
Reposted by Nathan Lester
My latest Guardian piece.
Until I moved to Wales, I never knew how badly it was treated.
Working at a journo it became clear that not only is Wales treated like less of a country than Scotland, but that it has come to just accept this poor treatment.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Until I moved to Wales, I never knew how badly it was treated.
Working at a journo it became clear that not only is Wales treated like less of a country than Scotland, but that it has come to just accept this poor treatment.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
The most infuriating thing isn’t that Wales is treated as a non-country – it’s that we accept it | Will Hayward
From the the Barnett formula to the humiliation of having an English ‘Prince of Wales’, you’d never catch Scotland allowing this treatment, says Guardian columnist Will Hayward
www.theguardian.com
November 30, 2024 at 9:17 AM
My latest Guardian piece.
Until I moved to Wales, I never knew how badly it was treated.
Working at a journo it became clear that not only is Wales treated like less of a country than Scotland, but that it has come to just accept this poor treatment.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Until I moved to Wales, I never knew how badly it was treated.
Working at a journo it became clear that not only is Wales treated like less of a country than Scotland, but that it has come to just accept this poor treatment.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Nathan Lester
Some have said the assisted dying debate has been "parliament at its best". I'm not so sure. Instead I think religion has quietly played a dominant role in the debate, distorted the conversation, with few believing MPs being straightforward about why. My piece for the i. inews.co.uk/opinion/mps-...
MPs are being dishonest about why they oppose assisted dying
For many, religious belief plays a part - and MPs should make clear when that is the case
inews.co.uk
November 29, 2024 at 8:54 AM
Some have said the assisted dying debate has been "parliament at its best". I'm not so sure. Instead I think religion has quietly played a dominant role in the debate, distorted the conversation, with few believing MPs being straightforward about why. My piece for the i. inews.co.uk/opinion/mps-...