simonreynell.bsky.social
@simonreynell.bsky.social
yes, unfortunately for a proportion of Reform voters, this will only confirm a sense that Farage is 'one of us', and so deepen their support. (I've no idea if this is a majority of potential Reform voters or not)
November 26, 2025 at 8:47 AM
yes, unfortunately for a proportion of Reform voters, this will only confirm a sense that Farage is 'one of us', and so deepen their support. (I've no idea if this is a majority of potential Reform voters or not)
I can't to judge if Polanski's comments or your criticisms are valid, but given the level of inequality in the UK, and the failure of mainstream / Treasury economic policy to alleviate it since 2008, I feel all criticisms of Polanski should come with an alternative strategy for reducing inequality.
November 24, 2025 at 11:56 AM
I can't to judge if Polanski's comments or your criticisms are valid, but given the level of inequality in the UK, and the failure of mainstream / Treasury economic policy to alleviate it since 2008, I feel all criticisms of Polanski should come with an alternative strategy for reducing inequality.
Hasn't politics in most (developed) countries become more polarised? Declining productivity & rising inequality have led to the centre-ground imploding, & those who cling to what was the common sense of the political class over the past 30 years are floundering.
November 7, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Hasn't politics in most (developed) countries become more polarised? Declining productivity & rising inequality have led to the centre-ground imploding, & those who cling to what was the common sense of the political class over the past 30 years are floundering.
now that he's (unofficially) launched his leadership campaign, he's going to be making all sorts of left-wing statements that he doesn't believe in & won't enact
November 5, 2025 at 10:27 AM
now that he's (unofficially) launched his leadership campaign, he's going to be making all sorts of left-wing statements that he doesn't believe in & won't enact
Mamdani's election makes no sense to them as they're totally locked into the dominant ideology of the political-media class. Having said that, it'll be difficult for him to deliver his programme because there'll be massive efforts & huge amounts of money poured in to block & disrupt his mayorship.
November 5, 2025 at 10:03 AM
Mamdani's election makes no sense to them as they're totally locked into the dominant ideology of the political-media class. Having said that, it'll be difficult for him to deliver his programme because there'll be massive efforts & huge amounts of money poured in to block & disrupt his mayorship.
I'm not sure how horseshoe theory applies to Gaza though; centrist governments supporting & arming a genocide. But do carry on, it's useful for the research for my Dictionary of Received Political Ideas...
October 28, 2025 at 10:05 PM
I'm not sure how horseshoe theory applies to Gaza though; centrist governments supporting & arming a genocide. But do carry on, it's useful for the research for my Dictionary of Received Political Ideas...
The Greens are a much more democratic party, have an incomparably better leader, are prepared to tax wealth, are much stronger on nationalisation, are much more committed to combating climate change, don't support genocide, and don't parrot Farage's racist talking points.
October 3, 2025 at 3:07 PM
The Greens are a much more democratic party, have an incomparably better leader, are prepared to tax wealth, are much stronger on nationalisation, are much more committed to combating climate change, don't support genocide, and don't parrot Farage's racist talking points.
Polanski is extremely good: clear, principled and unapologetic. The best leader the left in this country has had. I hope everyone from the left & centre-left unites behind him.
October 3, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Polanski is extremely good: clear, principled and unapologetic. The best leader the left in this country has had. I hope everyone from the left & centre-left unites behind him.
Have you read Cory Doctorow's latest blast on AI, Will? I know nothing, but his extreme scepticism seems plausible: x.com/doctorow/sta...
x.com
September 29, 2025 at 12:17 PM
Have you read Cory Doctorow's latest blast on AI, Will? I know nothing, but his extreme scepticism seems plausible: x.com/doctorow/sta...
the trouble is that a huge chunk of Labour's MPs were hand-picked by Starmer / McSweeney, & so 'including' them more in day-to-day government is unlikely to change anything much, alas
September 12, 2025 at 4:41 PM
the trouble is that a huge chunk of Labour's MPs were hand-picked by Starmer / McSweeney, & so 'including' them more in day-to-day government is unlikely to change anything much, alas
Yes, & this is good for progressives. The Labour right have effectively locked out both the left & soft left. The latter have no chance of winning back control before the next GE, when Lab will get stuffed. Any energy expended trying is a waste. Best support, join & vote for 💚
September 8, 2025 at 2:28 PM
Yes, & this is good for progressives. The Labour right have effectively locked out both the left & soft left. The latter have no chance of winning back control before the next GE, when Lab will get stuffed. Any energy expended trying is a waste. Best support, join & vote for 💚
which country? Japan? France? UK? If all are struggling it suggests that something systemic is wrong.
September 8, 2025 at 10:33 AM
which country? Japan? France? UK? If all are struggling it suggests that something systemic is wrong.
...or perhaps they're struggling with a broken, dysfunctional system that no longer works for the majority
September 8, 2025 at 7:25 AM
...or perhaps they're struggling with a broken, dysfunctional system that no longer works for the majority
As you enthusiastically endorsed Starmer, it's convenient to blame the system of government for his failings. But it wasn't the state machine that chose to reduce benefits rather than tax the wealthy, who supported a genocide, or who decided to ape Farage on migration & the EU. Those were choices.
September 4, 2025 at 10:16 AM
As you enthusiastically endorsed Starmer, it's convenient to blame the system of government for his failings. But it wasn't the state machine that chose to reduce benefits rather than tax the wealthy, who supported a genocide, or who decided to ape Farage on migration & the EU. Those were choices.
yes, but the sad thing is you can't imagine Laura K or any current BBC political presenter / journalist holding Farage to account in this way.
September 3, 2025 at 8:44 PM
yes, but the sad thing is you can't imagine Laura K or any current BBC political presenter / journalist holding Farage to account in this way.
What are the other things you're hearing? I'd guess that right now Hamas will have regained some popularity, though it may not last very long.
January 19, 2025 at 11:19 PM
What are the other things you're hearing? I'd guess that right now Hamas will have regained some popularity, though it may not last very long.
Absolutely this, and it's what makes me so pessimistic about Starmer's gov. They could have been prepared & started changing things on day 2. Instead we have waffle about missions but hardly any concrete plans, nor ambition, to significantly improve society.
January 3, 2025 at 9:06 AM
Absolutely this, and it's what makes me so pessimistic about Starmer's gov. They could have been prepared & started changing things on day 2. Instead we have waffle about missions but hardly any concrete plans, nor ambition, to significantly improve society.
Nesrine Malik is great, but there are so many journalists on BSky who think they're decent or even progressive, but have stayed completely quiet about Gaza.
December 23, 2024 at 8:10 AM
Nesrine Malik is great, but there are so many journalists on BSky who think they're decent or even progressive, but have stayed completely quiet about Gaza.
Yup, many voters here in South Yorks (100% Labour at last GE) are turning to Reform as an anti-establishment vote - a process redoubled by Starmer's dull institutional style.
December 15, 2024 at 5:42 PM
Yup, many voters here in South Yorks (100% Labour at last GE) are turning to Reform as an anti-establishment vote - a process redoubled by Starmer's dull institutional style.
That's a tiny - and declining - fraction of the left, most of whom are increasingly pro-EU (unlike the government, alas).
December 14, 2024 at 8:59 PM
That's a tiny - and declining - fraction of the left, most of whom are increasingly pro-EU (unlike the government, alas).
Yes, but being anti-EU may be wrong but is not racist per se. The point of the original post was that mainstream politicians were engaging with UKIP-style discourse on migration. I can only think of 2 prominent leftists who were guilty of that. Any more?
December 14, 2024 at 6:14 PM
Yes, but being anti-EU may be wrong but is not racist per se. The point of the original post was that mainstream politicians were engaging with UKIP-style discourse on migration. I can only think of 2 prominent leftists who were guilty of that. Any more?
One is not many & please provide a quote.
December 14, 2024 at 5:24 PM
One is not many & please provide a quote.
'Many' left figures embraced Eurosceptic narratives on migration??? Centrists yes, but I can't think of more than 2 prominent leftists who did. Name names.
December 14, 2024 at 12:16 PM
'Many' left figures embraced Eurosceptic narratives on migration??? Centrists yes, but I can't think of more than 2 prominent leftists who did. Name names.
Colchester, Chester, Wells
November 25, 2024 at 4:25 PM
Colchester, Chester, Wells
the only starter pack where I've just ticked 'follow all'
November 24, 2024 at 4:32 PM
the only starter pack where I've just ticked 'follow all'