Patrick Andrews
@patrickandrews.bsky.social
Online teacher of English. Lover of literature and languages. Coventry City fan #PUSB. Tends to the left politically but not dogmatic.
Reposted by Patrick Andrews
Spotted in London...
November 11, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Spotted in London...
Reposted by Patrick Andrews
Reposted by Patrick Andrews
Conservative Shadow Culture Secretary Nigel Huddleston tells GB News that the BBC should "grovel" to Trump.
Amazing how many British 'patriots' are spending their time telling our national broadcaster to prostrate itself before a hostile foreign leader
Amazing how many British 'patriots' are spending their time telling our national broadcaster to prostrate itself before a hostile foreign leader
November 11, 2025 at 11:21 AM
Conservative Shadow Culture Secretary Nigel Huddleston tells GB News that the BBC should "grovel" to Trump.
Amazing how many British 'patriots' are spending their time telling our national broadcaster to prostrate itself before a hostile foreign leader
Amazing how many British 'patriots' are spending their time telling our national broadcaster to prostrate itself before a hostile foreign leader
Reposted by Patrick Andrews
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 Patrick Andrews
New post: Labour’s Brexit stance is as untenable as their tax pledge
mainlymacro.blogspot.com/2025/11/labo...
As public perception and econometric estimates of the damage caused by Brexit rise, Labour's refusal to discuss rejoining the EU's customs union or single market means more self harm.
mainlymacro.blogspot.com/2025/11/labo...
As public perception and econometric estimates of the damage caused by Brexit rise, Labour's refusal to discuss rejoining the EU's customs union or single market means more self harm.
Labour’s Brexit stance is as untenable as their tax pledge
In my last post about the prospect of Labour breaking its tax pledge, I did something I don’t often do, which is indulge in some ‘I told y...
mainlymacro.blogspot.com
November 11, 2025 at 9:07 AM
New post: Labour’s Brexit stance is as untenable as their tax pledge
mainlymacro.blogspot.com/2025/11/labo...
As public perception and econometric estimates of the damage caused by Brexit rise, Labour's refusal to discuss rejoining the EU's customs union or single market means more self harm.
mainlymacro.blogspot.com/2025/11/labo...
As public perception and econometric estimates of the damage caused by Brexit rise, Labour's refusal to discuss rejoining the EU's customs union or single market means more self harm.
Reposted by Patrick Andrews
This is quite the read on @lrb.co.uk
"Anyone who thinks the 21st century will not see the biggest global movement of peoples in history has not been paying attention"
"Anyone who thinks the 21st century will not see the biggest global movement of peoples in history has not been paying attention"
David Runciman · Are we doomed? The End of the Species
Are we doomed to die out? We find ourselves at the only point in the history of the species when the rate of population...
www.lrb.co.uk
November 11, 2025 at 12:20 PM
This is quite the read on @lrb.co.uk
"Anyone who thinks the 21st century will not see the biggest global movement of peoples in history has not been paying attention"
"Anyone who thinks the 21st century will not see the biggest global movement of peoples in history has not been paying attention"
Reposted by Patrick Andrews
Anyone on the left who thinks that the BBC falling would help their politics, here and abroad, is an unbelievable fool
Revealing division in my timeline between (1) my insider friends who have lived privileged lives who are very keen that we defend the BBC and think it's important it survives and (2) my outsider friends who feel (at best) ambivalent about the BBC's survival.
November 11, 2025 at 12:39 PM
Anyone on the left who thinks that the BBC falling would help their politics, here and abroad, is an unbelievable fool
Reposted by Patrick Andrews
What I suspect people will remember (if they notice/remember anything) is the BBC telling the truth and then being bullied for it. And the starting point is they trust the BBC a lot more than the bullies (Trump, the right wing press, the Tories, Farage).
November 11, 2025 at 12:45 PM
What I suspect people will remember (if they notice/remember anything) is the BBC telling the truth and then being bullied for it. And the starting point is they trust the BBC a lot more than the bullies (Trump, the right wing press, the Tories, Farage).
Reposted by Patrick Andrews
I suspect being sued for a billion dollars by Donald Trump, who is about as popular as cholera in Britain, for saying something true about what Trump did (albeit with a bad edit) will probably do the BBC's public trust and approval ratings quite a lot of good in the end.
November 11, 2025 at 12:45 PM
I suspect being sued for a billion dollars by Donald Trump, who is about as popular as cholera in Britain, for saying something true about what Trump did (albeit with a bad edit) will probably do the BBC's public trust and approval ratings quite a lot of good in the end.
Reposted by Patrick Andrews
Lisa Nandy has a tremendous opportunity to do some good here. My personal preference is Robbie Gibb's head on a pike as a warning to others but I'll accept other reforms
November 11, 2025 at 12:16 PM
Lisa Nandy has a tremendous opportunity to do some good here. My personal preference is Robbie Gibb's head on a pike as a warning to others but I'll accept other reforms
Reposted by Patrick Andrews
The Tories' famous popular touch in action again
Conservative Shadow Culture Secretary Nigel Huddleston tells GB News that the BBC should "grovel" to Trump.
Amazing how many British 'patriots' are spending their time telling our national broadcaster to prostrate itself before a hostile foreign leader
Amazing how many British 'patriots' are spending their time telling our national broadcaster to prostrate itself before a hostile foreign leader
November 11, 2025 at 12:08 PM
The Tories' famous popular touch in action again
Reposted by Patrick Andrews
Sorry, am I genuinely being asked to believe that the BBC is biased in favour of trans people?
I cannot remember the last time a trans person was given a voice on the BBC. It's as if they don't exist. They are talked about on the BBC, not talked to.
This entire debate is just fucking stupid.
I cannot remember the last time a trans person was given a voice on the BBC. It's as if they don't exist. They are talked about on the BBC, not talked to.
This entire debate is just fucking stupid.
November 11, 2025 at 11:49 AM
Sorry, am I genuinely being asked to believe that the BBC is biased in favour of trans people?
I cannot remember the last time a trans person was given a voice on the BBC. It's as if they don't exist. They are talked about on the BBC, not talked to.
This entire debate is just fucking stupid.
I cannot remember the last time a trans person was given a voice on the BBC. It's as if they don't exist. They are talked about on the BBC, not talked to.
This entire debate is just fucking stupid.
Reposted by Patrick Andrews
Trump is incredibly unpopular here! including amongst Tory voters. What are they doing?
Conservative Shadow Culture Secretary Nigel Huddleston tells GB News that the BBC should "grovel" to Trump.
Amazing how many British 'patriots' are spending their time telling our national broadcaster to prostrate itself before a hostile foreign leader
Amazing how many British 'patriots' are spending their time telling our national broadcaster to prostrate itself before a hostile foreign leader
November 11, 2025 at 11:22 AM
Trump is incredibly unpopular here! including amongst Tory voters. What are they doing?
Reposted by Patrick Andrews
🏆 Le Booker Prize, équivalent anglophone du Goncourt, a été décerné ce lundi 10 novembre au soir à David Szalay, récompensé pour son roman «Flesh».
📚 Il est le premier auteur britannico-hongrois à recevoir le plus illustre des prix littéraires au Royaume-Uni.
Lire 👇
📚 Il est le premier auteur britannico-hongrois à recevoir le plus illustre des prix littéraires au Royaume-Uni.
Lire 👇
Booker Prize : le Britannico-Hongrois David Szalay remporte l’édition 2025 du prix littéraire
Avec son ouvrage «Flesh», David Szalay a reçu lundi 10 novembre le prestigieux prix littéraire britannique, qui récompense des œuvres de fiction écrites en anglais.
www.liberation.fr
November 11, 2025 at 11:02 AM
🏆 Le Booker Prize, équivalent anglophone du Goncourt, a été décerné ce lundi 10 novembre au soir à David Szalay, récompensé pour son roman «Flesh».
📚 Il est le premier auteur britannico-hongrois à recevoir le plus illustre des prix littéraires au Royaume-Uni.
Lire 👇
📚 Il est le premier auteur britannico-hongrois à recevoir le plus illustre des prix littéraires au Royaume-Uni.
Lire 👇
The BBC used to do quite a few language learning programmes (even including Russian in the 80s). The decline is clear but it still seems to be the best media organisation in English.
I feel the BBC lost its way. I wish the educational peogramming for schools and university remained on 2 - I loved it. I'd rather have more - literature guides, art guides, more of their wonderful wildlife docs. But I support it against these stupid, childish deceitful attacks from Trump.
November 11, 2025 at 11:06 AM
The BBC used to do quite a few language learning programmes (even including Russian in the 80s). The decline is clear but it still seems to be the best media organisation in English.
Reposted by Patrick Andrews
Journalist, "Farage accused the BBC of election interference"
Ed Davey, "The interference we've seen is from Farage's friend, Putin"
"We've seen Russian interference in the most appalling way"
Ed Davey, "The interference we've seen is from Farage's friend, Putin"
"We've seen Russian interference in the most appalling way"
November 10, 2025 at 10:40 PM
Journalist, "Farage accused the BBC of election interference"
Ed Davey, "The interference we've seen is from Farage's friend, Putin"
"We've seen Russian interference in the most appalling way"
Ed Davey, "The interference we've seen is from Farage's friend, Putin"
"We've seen Russian interference in the most appalling way"
One bit of pointless regulation is that universities have to check the passports of external examiners (even though they generally work for other British universities). Perhaps Farage should campaign against this. I doubt he will.
Farage: "I can tell you, a decade on almost from the referendum, that in every single industry, from financial services to fisheries, the burden of regulation, the threat of the regulator is worse now than it was then."
And who's fault is that?
https://bit.ly/4qQJHpS
And who's fault is that?
https://bit.ly/4qQJHpS
Nigel Farage accused of 'disaster' plan that would 'drown' small businesses
Nigel Farage gave a press conference to owners of small firms where he claimed Reform UK is the party of small business - catch up on updates below
bit.ly
November 11, 2025 at 10:33 AM
One bit of pointless regulation is that universities have to check the passports of external examiners (even though they generally work for other British universities). Perhaps Farage should campaign against this. I doubt he will.
Reposted by Patrick Andrews
You may have missed this gem yesterday. From which we learn that:
1. Betting shops are really good for the mental health of isolated people.
2. Most drug-takers are not a problem.
3. Kids put tuppence in slot machines in the hope of getting rich.
4. Farage probably has a gambling industry donor.
1. Betting shops are really good for the mental health of isolated people.
2. Most drug-takers are not a problem.
3. Kids put tuppence in slot machines in the hope of getting rich.
4. Farage probably has a gambling industry donor.
November 11, 2025 at 10:08 AM
You may have missed this gem yesterday. From which we learn that:
1. Betting shops are really good for the mental health of isolated people.
2. Most drug-takers are not a problem.
3. Kids put tuppence in slot machines in the hope of getting rich.
4. Farage probably has a gambling industry donor.
1. Betting shops are really good for the mental health of isolated people.
2. Most drug-takers are not a problem.
3. Kids put tuppence in slot machines in the hope of getting rich.
4. Farage probably has a gambling industry donor.
Reposted by Patrick Andrews
In 1996 I did a little in internship at BBC Westminster. At the time, Robbie Gibb was one of the producers there. Even in that period, he was self evidently a pro-Tory apparatchik, who made no attempt to hide his agenda from his colleagues or even from the little work experience kid.
November 11, 2025 at 9:37 AM
In 1996 I did a little in internship at BBC Westminster. At the time, Robbie Gibb was one of the producers there. Even in that period, he was self evidently a pro-Tory apparatchik, who made no attempt to hide his agenda from his colleagues or even from the little work experience kid.
Reposted by Patrick Andrews
This is the Canadian Premier League soccer finals and we have a bicycle kick goal in the middle of a blizzard … and that’s the most Canadian thing I’ve ever seen 😂
November 10, 2025 at 2:38 AM
This is the Canadian Premier League soccer finals and we have a bicycle kick goal in the middle of a blizzard … and that’s the most Canadian thing I’ve ever seen 😂
Reposted by Patrick Andrews
Another case of Reform saying one thing then doing the other:
A Reform-led council is planning to double council tax on second homes six months after party leader Nigel Farage denounced such policies as “madness” and “extortion”
By me, for Politics Home www.politicshome.com/news/article...
A Reform-led council is planning to double council tax on second homes six months after party leader Nigel Farage denounced such policies as “madness” and “extortion”
By me, for Politics Home www.politicshome.com/news/article...
Reform Council To Double Tax On Second Homes Despite Nigel Farage Calling The Idea 'Madness'
A Reform-led council is planning to double council tax on second homes six months after party leader Nigel Farage denounced such policies as “madne...
www.politicshome.com
November 11, 2025 at 9:32 AM
Another case of Reform saying one thing then doing the other:
A Reform-led council is planning to double council tax on second homes six months after party leader Nigel Farage denounced such policies as “madness” and “extortion”
By me, for Politics Home www.politicshome.com/news/article...
A Reform-led council is planning to double council tax on second homes six months after party leader Nigel Farage denounced such policies as “madness” and “extortion”
By me, for Politics Home www.politicshome.com/news/article...
Reposted by Patrick Andrews
A brilliant example of what Lewis Goodall talks about when he argues why right-wing radicals keep winning. They don't play by the rules and simply don't care. Whereas the institutions they want to destroy do even when said rules are contorted to absurdity and are blatantly being used against them.
The founder of Newsmax was just on the Today programme pontificating about bias. Boy, the BBC loves to submit itself to flagellation.
November 11, 2025 at 8:45 AM
A brilliant example of what Lewis Goodall talks about when he argues why right-wing radicals keep winning. They don't play by the rules and simply don't care. Whereas the institutions they want to destroy do even when said rules are contorted to absurdity and are blatantly being used against them.
Reposted by Patrick Andrews
This a big deal: "China’s carbon dioxide emissions have been flat or falling for 18 months"
China's economy has grown by ~5% in the last year, so this comprehensively debunks the idea (again) that emissions are tied to growth. So yes, faster progress needed, but this is how you turn the corner.
China's economy has grown by ~5% in the last year, so this comprehensively debunks the idea (again) that emissions are tied to growth. So yes, faster progress needed, but this is how you turn the corner.
China’s CO2 emissions have been flat or falling for past 18 months, analysis finds
World’s biggest polluter on track to hit peak emissions target early but miss goal for cutting carbon intensity
www.theguardian.com
November 11, 2025 at 9:20 AM
This a big deal: "China’s carbon dioxide emissions have been flat or falling for 18 months"
China's economy has grown by ~5% in the last year, so this comprehensively debunks the idea (again) that emissions are tied to growth. So yes, faster progress needed, but this is how you turn the corner.
China's economy has grown by ~5% in the last year, so this comprehensively debunks the idea (again) that emissions are tied to growth. So yes, faster progress needed, but this is how you turn the corner.