Richard Barfield
@richardbarfield.bsky.social
Management consultant. Adviser on governance, risk and regulation in financial services. Developing skills in semi-retired activities and caretaker of https://BrexitFactBase.com London-based.
Pinned
'Trump's Embrace of Putin Should Push the UK Back Towards the EU'
The UK must accept that its economic and political interests now lean heavily towards Europe, argues Richard Barfield
bylinetimes.com
bylinetimes.com/2025/03/03/u...
‘Trump’s Embrace of Putin Should Push the UK Back Towards the EU’
In this article, I argue that the UK must accept that its economic and political interests now lean heavily towards Europe.
‘Trump’s Embrace of Putin Should Push the UK Back Towards the EU’
In this article, I argue that the UK must accept that its economic and political interests now lean heavily towards Europe.
Reposted by Richard Barfield
Nowhere in the hysterical pile-on against the BBC in the British press has anyone mentioned that BBC News now has 77 million viewers & listeners in the US and has established itself as the second most trusted news source there.
November 11, 2025 at 8:37 AM
Nowhere in the hysterical pile-on against the BBC in the British press has anyone mentioned that BBC News now has 77 million viewers & listeners in the US and has established itself as the second most trusted news source there.
Reposted by Richard Barfield
Quick thread on the BBC and the political and societal significance of recent developments:
One of the main reasons the UK has historically been so much less polarised than the US, is that Britain has a shared source of information, consumed and trusted by most people regardless of their politics.
One of the main reasons the UK has historically been so much less polarised than the US, is that Britain has a shared source of information, consumed and trusted by most people regardless of their politics.
November 10, 2025 at 1:43 PM
Quick thread on the BBC and the political and societal significance of recent developments:
One of the main reasons the UK has historically been so much less polarised than the US, is that Britain has a shared source of information, consumed and trusted by most people regardless of their politics.
One of the main reasons the UK has historically been so much less polarised than the US, is that Britain has a shared source of information, consumed and trusted by most people regardless of their politics.
Reposted by Richard Barfield
The reaction to the Panorama edit has been nothing short of hysterical. Yes the BBC has some impartiality problems. But its biggest isn't the one you think.
New piece from me.
open.substack.com/pub/goodalla...
New piece from me.
open.substack.com/pub/goodalla...
The truth about impartiality at the BBC
And the hysteria of the current "crisis"
open.substack.com
November 10, 2025 at 7:22 PM
The reaction to the Panorama edit has been nothing short of hysterical. Yes the BBC has some impartiality problems. But its biggest isn't the one you think.
New piece from me.
open.substack.com/pub/goodalla...
New piece from me.
open.substack.com/pub/goodalla...
Reposted by Richard Barfield
Great to see people catching up on Sir Robbie Gibb's role in setting up GB News - five years after @nafeez.bsky.social explained on @bylinetimes.bsky.social
November 10, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Great to see people catching up on Sir Robbie Gibb's role in setting up GB News - five years after @nafeez.bsky.social explained on @bylinetimes.bsky.social
Reposted by Richard Barfield
The BBC isn't perfect, but it belongs to Britain not Trump.
Political leaders across the UK must unite in defending its independence from the White House.
Political leaders across the UK must unite in defending its independence from the White House.
November 10, 2025 at 4:24 PM
The BBC isn't perfect, but it belongs to Britain not Trump.
Political leaders across the UK must unite in defending its independence from the White House.
Political leaders across the UK must unite in defending its independence from the White House.
Reposted by Richard Barfield
Incredible that Robbie Gibb - most influential person on BBC board by many accounts and from journalists I speak in BBC - was involved in setting up GB News.
GB News of course has breached Ofcom rules on *multiple* occasions - no sign of resignations though
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
GB News of course has breached Ofcom rules on *multiple* occasions - no sign of resignations though
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
‘Enforced veganism’: Ofcom lets GB News flout accuracy rules, say climate campaigners
Exclusive: Regulator has received 1,221 complaints about UK broadcasters since 2020 but found no breaches of its code
www.theguardian.com
November 10, 2025 at 8:25 AM
Incredible that Robbie Gibb - most influential person on BBC board by many accounts and from journalists I speak in BBC - was involved in setting up GB News.
GB News of course has breached Ofcom rules on *multiple* occasions - no sign of resignations though
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
GB News of course has breached Ofcom rules on *multiple* occasions - no sign of resignations though
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Reposted by Richard Barfield
🎯 Davey is spot on. "We can have criticism of the BBC, but within that, we need to recognise how valuable an institution it is [and how] precious to our country. And that's one of the reasons why people like President Trump and Nigel Farage, want to undermine the BBC." 👏🏽~AA
November 10, 2025 at 2:35 PM
🎯 Davey is spot on. "We can have criticism of the BBC, but within that, we need to recognise how valuable an institution it is [and how] precious to our country. And that's one of the reasons why people like President Trump and Nigel Farage, want to undermine the BBC." 👏🏽~AA
Reposted by Richard Barfield
How by attempting to appease the forces on the right seeking to destroy them, the BBC has helped trigger a crisis that now threatens its very future
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/10/t...
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/10/t...
The BBC’s Attempts to Appease the 'Right-Wing Coup' Against It Are Now Seeding Its Own Destruction
By attempting to appease those forces seeking to destroy them, the BBC has helped trigger a crisis that now threatens its very future, argues Adam Bienkov
bylinetimes.com
November 10, 2025 at 12:39 PM
How by attempting to appease the forces on the right seeking to destroy them, the BBC has helped trigger a crisis that now threatens its very future
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/10/t...
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/10/t...
Reposted by Richard Barfield
Yeah, this is a serious failing. Same as when Thatcher's pick, Marmaduke Hussey, forced out Alasdair Milne: hushed up, opaque, behind closed doors, secretive. This is a public body, using licence fee funds, operating according to the scrutiny of an elected government. It should be transparent.
Question are the BBC Board minutes in the public domain? Or is it just a summary? Wondering why other 'independent' institutions like the BoE Monetary Committee do put out reports & not the BBC @iandunt.bsky.social
@peterjukes.bsky.social
@hardeepmatharu.bsky.social
@johnsweeneyroar.bsky.social
@peterjukes.bsky.social
@hardeepmatharu.bsky.social
@johnsweeneyroar.bsky.social
November 10, 2025 at 3:13 PM
Yeah, this is a serious failing. Same as when Thatcher's pick, Marmaduke Hussey, forced out Alasdair Milne: hushed up, opaque, behind closed doors, secretive. This is a public body, using licence fee funds, operating according to the scrutiny of an elected government. It should be transparent.
Reposted by Richard Barfield
Should Gibb be sacked? yes, obviously. He's an abomination of basic journalistic standards. His GB News channel spreads conspiracy theory & disinformation. His Jewish Chronicle newspaper spreads invented stories. He is plainly trying to undermine the BBC so it's as bad as everything else he touches.
November 10, 2025 at 12:47 PM
Should Gibb be sacked? yes, obviously. He's an abomination of basic journalistic standards. His GB News channel spreads conspiracy theory & disinformation. His Jewish Chronicle newspaper spreads invented stories. He is plainly trying to undermine the BBC so it's as bad as everything else he touches.
Reposted by Richard Barfield
A good day to listen to our proud, joyous history of the BBC: One of the greatest British inventions of the 20th Century. An institution which, even at its worst, is far better than its detractors podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t...
podcasts.apple.com
November 10, 2025 at 11:02 AM
A good day to listen to our proud, joyous history of the BBC: One of the greatest British inventions of the 20th Century. An institution which, even at its worst, is far better than its detractors podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t...
Reposted by Richard Barfield
See also the prison service, universities, local government, and the rest.
And the response of this government?
No - not to fund and run them better and prepare the ground for success.
But to join the baying mob. 2/2
And the response of this government?
No - not to fund and run them better and prepare the ground for success.
But to join the baying mob. 2/2
November 10, 2025 at 8:32 AM
See also the prison service, universities, local government, and the rest.
And the response of this government?
No - not to fund and run them better and prepare the ground for success.
But to join the baying mob. 2/2
And the response of this government?
No - not to fund and run them better and prepare the ground for success.
But to join the baying mob. 2/2
Reposted by Richard Barfield
The BBC's depressing lack of inherent institutional strength
The BBC needs to be a robust, independent institution
By me
Substack emptycity.substack.com/p/the-bbcs-d...
Personal blog davidallengreen.com/2025/11/the-...
The BBC needs to be a robust, independent institution
By me
Substack emptycity.substack.com/p/the-bbcs-d...
Personal blog davidallengreen.com/2025/11/the-...
The BBC's depressing lack of of inherent institutional strength
The BBC needs to be a robust, independent institution
emptycity.substack.com
November 10, 2025 at 11:11 AM
The BBC's depressing lack of inherent institutional strength
The BBC needs to be a robust, independent institution
By me
Substack emptycity.substack.com/p/the-bbcs-d...
Personal blog davidallengreen.com/2025/11/the-...
The BBC needs to be a robust, independent institution
By me
Substack emptycity.substack.com/p/the-bbcs-d...
Personal blog davidallengreen.com/2025/11/the-...
Reposted by Richard Barfield
“There will be those who will clap and cheer at the senior BBC resignations … but such elation is misconceived. For the BBC to be this weak as an institution when faced with outside (and politically motivated) criticism is not a sign of a healthy mixed polity.”
By @davidallengreen.bsky.social
By @davidallengreen.bsky.social
The BBC’s depressing lack of inherent institutional strength
10th November 2025 The BBC needs to be a robust, independent institution * The British (or Bullied) Broadcasting Corporation is suffering another kicking. Of course, the BBC is not perfect, and nor…
davidallengreen.com
November 10, 2025 at 11:23 AM
“There will be those who will clap and cheer at the senior BBC resignations … but such elation is misconceived. For the BBC to be this weak as an institution when faced with outside (and politically motivated) criticism is not a sign of a healthy mixed polity.”
By @davidallengreen.bsky.social
By @davidallengreen.bsky.social
Reposted by Richard Barfield
What you’re witnessing is a populist assault on the BBC.
This is not an institutional scandal in any meaningful sense of the word. It is an attack on public service broadcasting.
iandunt.substack.com/p/extra-edit...
This is not an institutional scandal in any meaningful sense of the word. It is an attack on public service broadcasting.
iandunt.substack.com/p/extra-edit...
November 10, 2025 at 10:52 AM
What you’re witnessing is a populist assault on the BBC.
This is not an institutional scandal in any meaningful sense of the word. It is an attack on public service broadcasting.
iandunt.substack.com/p/extra-edit...
This is not an institutional scandal in any meaningful sense of the word. It is an attack on public service broadcasting.
iandunt.substack.com/p/extra-edit...
Reposted by Richard Barfield
"You, like Nigel Farage, are simply lying about what the ONS says."
I somewhat lost my patience with Reform Councillor Bill Piper here.. (from about 1h 27 min in)
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
I somewhat lost my patience with Reform Councillor Bill Piper here.. (from about 1h 27 min in)
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
Stephen Nolan - 08/11/2025 - BBC Sounds
The day's main news stories, topical debate and interviews.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 7:41 AM
"You, like Nigel Farage, are simply lying about what the ONS says."
I somewhat lost my patience with Reform Councillor Bill Piper here.. (from about 1h 27 min in)
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
I somewhat lost my patience with Reform Councillor Bill Piper here.. (from about 1h 27 min in)
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
Reposted by Richard Barfield
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 Richard Barfield
Depressing that the BBC has so little inherent institutional strength, it is kicked about so easily.
This is not good sign for our polity.
This is not good sign for our polity.
November 9, 2025 at 8:13 PM
Depressing that the BBC has so little inherent institutional strength, it is kicked about so easily.
This is not good sign for our polity.
This is not good sign for our polity.
Reposted by Richard Barfield
The BBC's senior leadership resigning en masse over one dodgy edit in one programme, simply because the right wing press demands it, tells you everything you need to know about where the power really lies in that relationship
November 9, 2025 at 8:04 PM
The BBC's senior leadership resigning en masse over one dodgy edit in one programme, simply because the right wing press demands it, tells you everything you need to know about where the power really lies in that relationship
Reposted by Richard Barfield
Just absolutely classic BBC. You've just broadcast the most successful programme of the year, uniting Gen Z kids online and Boomers on broadcast in a return to appointment television. And instead of celebrating, your DG reigns due to a made-up right-wing scandal.
November 9, 2025 at 8:10 PM
Just absolutely classic BBC. You've just broadcast the most successful programme of the year, uniting Gen Z kids online and Boomers on broadcast in a return to appointment television. And instead of celebrating, your DG reigns due to a made-up right-wing scandal.
By any chance, is this related to the assisted dying bill?
Call for retirees to be paid state pension for five years even if they die
Call for retirees to be paid state pension for five years even if they die
Call for retirees to be paid state pension for five years even if they die
www.independent.co.uk
November 9, 2025 at 1:02 PM
By any chance, is this related to the assisted dying bill?
Reposted by Richard Barfield
Trevor Philips, "Prime Minister Keir Starmer is coming back from #COP30 having refused to put money into the tropical forest fund on the grounds that we can't afford it. He's right, isn't he?"
Zack Polanski, "No, it's outrageous. When it comes to climate, we have to look at the cost of inaction"
Zack Polanski, "No, it's outrageous. When it comes to climate, we have to look at the cost of inaction"
November 9, 2025 at 10:27 AM
Trevor Philips, "Prime Minister Keir Starmer is coming back from #COP30 having refused to put money into the tropical forest fund on the grounds that we can't afford it. He's right, isn't he?"
Zack Polanski, "No, it's outrageous. When it comes to climate, we have to look at the cost of inaction"
Zack Polanski, "No, it's outrageous. When it comes to climate, we have to look at the cost of inaction"
Just a thought, the basis for paying into the EU budget could be set at an equivalent basis to membership, where the UK’s economic benefits were about 10 times the UK’s contribution to the EU budget.
November 9, 2025 at 10:17 AM
Just a thought, the basis for paying into the EU budget could be set at an equivalent basis to membership, where the UK’s economic benefits were about 10 times the UK’s contribution to the EU budget.
“Drax still burning 250-year-old trees sourced from forests in Canada, experts say”
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Drax still burning 250-year-old trees sourced from forests in Canada, experts say
Exclusive: report by Stand.earth says subsidiary of power plant received truckloads of whole logs at biomass pellet sites
www.theguardian.com
November 9, 2025 at 9:11 AM
“Drax still burning 250-year-old trees sourced from forests in Canada, experts say”
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Reposted by Richard Barfield
Dear GOD if you want to save money in the asylum system
1. LET ASYLUM SEEKERS WORK
2. FAST TRACK STATUS FOR EVERYONE FROM CLEARLY UNDAFE COUNTRIES like Sudan, Syria, etc
3. Run an asylum accommodation system that is NOT FOR PROFIT #r4today
1. LET ASYLUM SEEKERS WORK
2. FAST TRACK STATUS FOR EVERYONE FROM CLEARLY UNDAFE COUNTRIES like Sudan, Syria, etc
3. Run an asylum accommodation system that is NOT FOR PROFIT #r4today
November 7, 2025 at 7:35 AM
Dear GOD if you want to save money in the asylum system
1. LET ASYLUM SEEKERS WORK
2. FAST TRACK STATUS FOR EVERYONE FROM CLEARLY UNDAFE COUNTRIES like Sudan, Syria, etc
3. Run an asylum accommodation system that is NOT FOR PROFIT #r4today
1. LET ASYLUM SEEKERS WORK
2. FAST TRACK STATUS FOR EVERYONE FROM CLEARLY UNDAFE COUNTRIES like Sudan, Syria, etc
3. Run an asylum accommodation system that is NOT FOR PROFIT #r4today