Oonagh Gay
@oonaghgay.bsky.social
Retired House of Commons official and walking tour guide specialising in women and political history. Upcoming walks can be found at the following link. https://www.eventbrite.com/o/11054676824
Reposted by Oonagh Gay
From star jumps to job cuts: how Ovo Energy fell from grace
From star jumps to job cuts: how Ovo Energy fell from grace
One-time wunderkind of UK energy market faces battle for new investment – but it continues to pay out millions to its founder’s company
www.theguardian.com
December 1, 2025 at 8:38 AM
From star jumps to job cuts: how Ovo Energy fell from grace
Reposted by Oonagh Gay
Eleven years ago, I wrote to Tom Stoppard to ask about this coup de théâtre from 1949. It took me down an unexpected rabbit hole - in memory of Stoppard, here's what I found.
November 30, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Eleven years ago, I wrote to Tom Stoppard to ask about this coup de théâtre from 1949. It took me down an unexpected rabbit hole - in memory of Stoppard, here's what I found.
Reposted by Oonagh Gay
Imagine if they just subsidized newspapers and magazines the way they’re subsidizing this slop
"All of this falls apart if humans don't adopt the tech. This is why you've seen Meta cram its lame chatbots into WhatsApp and Instagram. This is why Notepad and Paint now have useless Copilot buttons on Windows. This is why Google Gemini wants to "help you" read and reply to your emails."
Analysis: OpenAI is a loss-making machine, how can it survive?
Don't call it a bubble! Loss-making monster OpenAI is on the hook for $1.4 trillion (with a T) in compute commitments. How can this go on?
www.windowscentral.com
November 30, 2025 at 12:35 PM
Imagine if they just subsidized newspapers and magazines the way they’re subsidizing this slop
Reposted by Oonagh Gay
Just 13k more signatures and the call for a public inquiry into Russian interference has to be debate in Parliament
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
Petition: Call a public inquiry into Russian influence on UK politics & democracy
We are concerned about reported efforts from Russia to influence democracy in the US, UK, Europe and elsewhere. We believe we must establish the depth and breadth of possible Russian influence campaig...
petition.parliament.uk
November 28, 2025 at 7:53 PM
Just 13k more signatures and the call for a public inquiry into Russian interference has to be debate in Parliament
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
Reposted by Oonagh Gay
This image highlights that one of the most important perks of the job is working with @alanrenwick.bsky.social
Join and help to lead the Constitution Unit!
@uclspp.bsky.social is looking for a Lecturer in British and Comparative Politics who will also join our senior team and contribute to our research and impact activities.
Applicants must have, or be near to finishing, a PhD.
Apply 👇
@uclspp.bsky.social is looking for a Lecturer in British and Comparative Politics who will also join our senior team and contribute to our research and impact activities.
Applicants must have, or be near to finishing, a PhD.
Apply 👇
Job opportunity: Lecturer in British and Comparative Politics
The UCL Department of Political Science and Constitution Unit are seeking to appoint a Lecturer in British and Comparative Politics. The successful candidate will join the senior team at the Unit.
www.ucl.ac.uk
November 28, 2025 at 5:28 PM
This image highlights that one of the most important perks of the job is working with @alanrenwick.bsky.social
Reposted by Oonagh Gay
Wikimedia UK has been awarded a grant of £56,198 from National Lottery Heritage Fund towards our ‘UK Heritage 3D Data at Risk: Developing a Strategy for Long Term Access & Storage’ project. The grant will help ensure future access to the UK’s 3D heritage data.
More info: tinyurl.com/3ma28psr
More info: tinyurl.com/3ma28psr
November 26, 2025 at 11:20 AM
Wikimedia UK has been awarded a grant of £56,198 from National Lottery Heritage Fund towards our ‘UK Heritage 3D Data at Risk: Developing a Strategy for Long Term Access & Storage’ project. The grant will help ensure future access to the UK’s 3D heritage data.
More info: tinyurl.com/3ma28psr
More info: tinyurl.com/3ma28psr
Reposted by Oonagh Gay
I’m a past winner of the Orwell Prize & won partly because I exposed Vote Leave’s unlawful activities.
Michael Gove was its co-convener & refused to answer a single q. He’s now a judge of the prize & our world is truly one that Orwell would recognise
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/25/m...
Michael Gove was its co-convener & refused to answer a single q. He’s now a judge of the prize & our world is truly one that Orwell would recognise
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/25/m...
Michael Gove Made Orwell Prize Judge Despite Record of Attacking Journalists and Dodging Scrutiny
Critics say "Orwell would have enjoyed the irony" of the former Conservative minister's appointment
bylinetimes.com
November 25, 2025 at 5:53 PM
I’m a past winner of the Orwell Prize & won partly because I exposed Vote Leave’s unlawful activities.
Michael Gove was its co-convener & refused to answer a single q. He’s now a judge of the prize & our world is truly one that Orwell would recognise
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/25/m...
Michael Gove was its co-convener & refused to answer a single q. He’s now a judge of the prize & our world is truly one that Orwell would recognise
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/25/m...
Reposted by Oonagh Gay
"having changed my mind about the OBR, my internship there has begun smoothly"
November 26, 2025 at 12:28 PM
"having changed my mind about the OBR, my internship there has begun smoothly"
Reposted by Oonagh Gay
The government’s progress on constitutional & ethical standards has been welcome but underwhelming. It should go further to put the business appointments rules and the new standards regulator on a statutory basis, protect the electoral process and ensure the independence of the Electoral Commission
ON THE BLOG: Monitor 91: Starmer's constitutional timidity
In the lead article from the latest issue of Monitor, Meg Russell & @alanrenwick.bsky.social argue that the government could be seeking to lead, and to set the tone on constitutional standards, but changes instead feel timid and reluctant.
In the lead article from the latest issue of Monitor, Meg Russell & @alanrenwick.bsky.social argue that the government could be seeking to lead, and to set the tone on constitutional standards, but changes instead feel timid and reluctant.
Monitor 91: Starmer's constitutional timidity
In the lead article from the latest issue of Monitor, Meg Russell & @alanrenwick.bsky.social argue that the government could be seeking to lead, and to set the tone on constitutional standards, but changes instead feel timid and reluctant.
constitution-unit.com
November 25, 2025 at 11:07 AM
The government’s progress on constitutional & ethical standards has been welcome but underwhelming. It should go further to put the business appointments rules and the new standards regulator on a statutory basis, protect the electoral process and ensure the independence of the Electoral Commission
Reposted by Oonagh Gay
A rather different blog from us, hosted by @ihr.bsky.social, & written by Dr Christopher Tinmouth.
Christopher reflects on his involvement with the VCH in Cumbria and the benefits that supporting neurodivergent people can bring to a broad-based community history project like the VCH. #Skystorians
Christopher reflects on his involvement with the VCH in Cumbria and the benefits that supporting neurodivergent people can bring to a broad-based community history project like the VCH. #Skystorians
The Value of Encouraging Neurodivergent Participation in Community Research Initiatives for the Victoria County History of England - On History
Dr Christopher Tinmouth addresses the value of encouraging neurodivergent participation in community research initiatives.
blog.history.ac.uk
November 25, 2025 at 10:42 AM
A rather different blog from us, hosted by @ihr.bsky.social, & written by Dr Christopher Tinmouth.
Christopher reflects on his involvement with the VCH in Cumbria and the benefits that supporting neurodivergent people can bring to a broad-based community history project like the VCH. #Skystorians
Christopher reflects on his involvement with the VCH in Cumbria and the benefits that supporting neurodivergent people can bring to a broad-based community history project like the VCH. #Skystorians
Reposted by Oonagh Gay
This is exactly what the recent Trump-BBC 'scandal' was designed to achieve. The BBC is now self-censoring criticisms of Trump in the name of "impartiality"
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
November 25, 2025 at 10:26 AM
This is exactly what the recent Trump-BBC 'scandal' was designed to achieve. The BBC is now self-censoring criticisms of Trump in the name of "impartiality"
Reposted by Oonagh Gay
May took part in window-smashing campaign March 1912, and was sentenced to one month’s hard labour. This embroidery contains names women prisoners TWL.2012.24
www.flickr.com/photos/lseli...
@lselibrary.bsky.social @scotsuffragette.bsky.social @womenslibrary.bsky.social @womenshistnet.bsky.social
www.flickr.com/photos/lseli...
@lselibrary.bsky.social @scotsuffragette.bsky.social @womenslibrary.bsky.social @womenshistnet.bsky.social
November 25, 2025 at 9:22 AM
May took part in window-smashing campaign March 1912, and was sentenced to one month’s hard labour. This embroidery contains names women prisoners TWL.2012.24
www.flickr.com/photos/lseli...
@lselibrary.bsky.social @scotsuffragette.bsky.social @womenslibrary.bsky.social @womenshistnet.bsky.social
www.flickr.com/photos/lseli...
@lselibrary.bsky.social @scotsuffragette.bsky.social @womenslibrary.bsky.social @womenshistnet.bsky.social
Reposted by Oonagh Gay
The organisers of a recent witness seminar @ihr.bsky.social on Conservatism and Unionism reflect in this new opinion article on the tensions that emerged in the final third of the twentieth century and their implications for the present. historyandpolicy.org/opinion-arti...
Conservatism and Unionism in the UK - History & Policy
The team of historians behind an AHRC-funded research project reflect on the fracturing of Conservatism and Unionism in the the UK in the final third of the twentieth century, and the insights into th...
historyandpolicy.org
November 24, 2025 at 12:47 PM
The organisers of a recent witness seminar @ihr.bsky.social on Conservatism and Unionism reflect in this new opinion article on the tensions that emerged in the final third of the twentieth century and their implications for the present. historyandpolicy.org/opinion-arti...
Reposted by Oonagh Gay
Five things we learned from the UK Covid-19 Inquiry report on Module II
Our IfG experts unpack what the inquiry's report tells us about governance and decision making by ministers and the civil service during the pandemic www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/covi...
Our IfG experts unpack what the inquiry's report tells us about governance and decision making by ministers and the civil service during the pandemic www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/covi...
Five things we learned from the UK Covid-19 Inquiry report on Module II | Institute for Government
What does the report tell us about governance and decision making by ministers and the civil service during the pandemic?
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk
November 21, 2025 at 1:29 PM
Five things we learned from the UK Covid-19 Inquiry report on Module II
Our IfG experts unpack what the inquiry's report tells us about governance and decision making by ministers and the civil service during the pandemic www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/covi...
Our IfG experts unpack what the inquiry's report tells us about governance and decision making by ministers and the civil service during the pandemic www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/covi...
Reposted by Oonagh Gay
This is a fabulous read:
"Bovino’s Border Patrol raiders have one playbook — terror — and it’s less effective each time they deploy it. So far, it’s aging in nuclear half-lives. The shock value is wearing off..."
"Bovino’s Border Patrol raiders have one playbook — terror — and it’s less effective each time they deploy it. So far, it’s aging in nuclear half-lives. The shock value is wearing off..."
Trump, Border Patrol Retreat in Failure from Chicago
Five important lessons of the first six months of Trump’s immigration raids — and why CBP’s Greg Bovino is the Nathan Bedford Forrest of the Trump era.
www.doomsdayscenario.co
November 21, 2025 at 2:03 PM
This is a fabulous read:
"Bovino’s Border Patrol raiders have one playbook — terror — and it’s less effective each time they deploy it. So far, it’s aging in nuclear half-lives. The shock value is wearing off..."
"Bovino’s Border Patrol raiders have one playbook — terror — and it’s less effective each time they deploy it. So far, it’s aging in nuclear half-lives. The shock value is wearing off..."
Reposted by Oonagh Gay
Inquiry also finds that Johnson was incredibly indecisive and chaotic. Hard to believe I know.
November 20, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Inquiry also finds that Johnson was incredibly indecisive and chaotic. Hard to believe I know.
Reposted by Oonagh Gay
Have made it into the House politics lesson series and can now happily retire
www.politicshome.com/opinion/arti...
www.politicshome.com/opinion/arti...
November 20, 2025 at 1:18 PM
Have made it into the House politics lesson series and can now happily retire
www.politicshome.com/opinion/arti...
www.politicshome.com/opinion/arti...
Reposted by Oonagh Gay
New for OnLondon by Brent Council leader, Muhammed Butt. Yes to "tourist tax" power for London government: www.onlondon.co.uk/muhammed-but... #london
Muhammed Butt: London visitor levy should meet borough needs
A so-called "tourist tax" for the capital is long overdue and will work best if designed to meet boroughs' distinctive needs
www.onlondon.co.uk
November 19, 2025 at 7:30 PM
New for OnLondon by Brent Council leader, Muhammed Butt. Yes to "tourist tax" power for London government: www.onlondon.co.uk/muhammed-but... #london
Reposted by Oonagh Gay
The UK isn’t a “soft touch” on asylum.
UK asylum seeker benefits are similar to European neighbours
No right to work before 12 months (it’s 6 months in France, Spain, Belgium, Netherlands)
UK settlement after 5 years (it’s 3 or 4 in Germany)
Let’s cut out the alarmist rhetoric.
UK asylum seeker benefits are similar to European neighbours
No right to work before 12 months (it’s 6 months in France, Spain, Belgium, Netherlands)
UK settlement after 5 years (it’s 3 or 4 in Germany)
Let’s cut out the alarmist rhetoric.
November 19, 2025 at 11:52 AM
The UK isn’t a “soft touch” on asylum.
UK asylum seeker benefits are similar to European neighbours
No right to work before 12 months (it’s 6 months in France, Spain, Belgium, Netherlands)
UK settlement after 5 years (it’s 3 or 4 in Germany)
Let’s cut out the alarmist rhetoric.
UK asylum seeker benefits are similar to European neighbours
No right to work before 12 months (it’s 6 months in France, Spain, Belgium, Netherlands)
UK settlement after 5 years (it’s 3 or 4 in Germany)
Let’s cut out the alarmist rhetoric.
Reposted by Oonagh Gay
"Labour must fix the asylum system - but I have two very real concerns with Mahmood's plans"
My op-ed in LBC on the Government's asylum plan
t.co/06PtJfT4NJ
My op-ed in LBC on the Government's asylum plan
t.co/06PtJfT4NJ
https://www.lbc.co.uk/article/labour-fix-asylum-system-real-concerns-opinion-5HjdN4X_2
t.co
November 19, 2025 at 11:54 AM
"Labour must fix the asylum system - but I have two very real concerns with Mahmood's plans"
My op-ed in LBC on the Government's asylum plan
t.co/06PtJfT4NJ
My op-ed in LBC on the Government's asylum plan
t.co/06PtJfT4NJ
Reposted by Oonagh Gay
I was just thinking the other day that it is mad that if this continues then the book I'm writing, about London 1560-1630, will contain basically no British Library manuscript material. Would have been unthinkable to me but there hasn't been a manuscript catalogue for two years now!
I’ve written a piece on the curious lack of media and political interest in the issues faced by our national @britishlibrary.bsky.social. This is strange given we live in a world where ideas, knowledge and research are a long-term source of innovation and insight
www.cityam.com/the-british-...
www.cityam.com/the-british-...
The British library is in crisis: why does nobody care?
The widespread indifference to the British Library's crippling cyberattack demonstrates a perilous failure to value the knowledge infrastructure vital for national prosperity
www.cityam.com
November 18, 2025 at 1:51 PM
I was just thinking the other day that it is mad that if this continues then the book I'm writing, about London 1560-1630, will contain basically no British Library manuscript material. Would have been unthinkable to me but there hasn't been a manuscript catalogue for two years now!
Reposted by Oonagh Gay
Labour needs a way out of the infernal circle of immigration policy on.ft.com/3XByP1C | opinion
Labour needs a way out of the infernal circle of immigration policy
Politics today is about ‘open vs closed’, but the UK government’s approach risks appeasing no one
on.ft.com
November 18, 2025 at 5:35 AM
Labour needs a way out of the infernal circle of immigration policy on.ft.com/3XByP1C | opinion
Reposted by Oonagh Gay
It's been a long wait, but at last: www.standard.co.uk/news/politic...
Tourist tax set to be introduced in London with small levy for overnight stays
Rachel Reeves is expected to give London mayor Sir Sadiq Khan the power to impose a levy on an overnight stay
www.standard.co.uk
November 17, 2025 at 2:48 PM
It's been a long wait, but at last: www.standard.co.uk/news/politic...
Reposted by Oonagh Gay
Why I changed my mind about the shutdown.
fallows.substack.com/p/why-i-chan...
(Paywall near the end.)
fallows.substack.com/p/why-i-chan...
(Paywall near the end.)
Why I Changed My Mind About the Shutdown ‘Surrender.’
Seven days ago, I thought we were seeing another episode of ‘DACO’: Dems Always Chicken Out. Now I think a deal I opposed is giving anti-Trump forces a stronger hand.
fallows.substack.com
November 17, 2025 at 4:35 AM
Why I changed my mind about the shutdown.
fallows.substack.com/p/why-i-chan...
(Paywall near the end.)
fallows.substack.com/p/why-i-chan...
(Paywall near the end.)
Reposted by Oonagh Gay
I feel like the pope being an American cinephile is God finally rewarding Scorsese for a lifetime of devotion
November 17, 2025 at 4:35 AM
I feel like the pope being an American cinephile is God finally rewarding Scorsese for a lifetime of devotion