Stephen Daisley
@stephendaisley.bsky.social
You won’t like anything I post here and I’m sorry for that.
Op-ed journalist, political commentator, and critic. Pauline Kael was right about Hiroshima, Mon Amour.
https://stephendaisley.com/where-to-find-me/
Op-ed journalist, political commentator, and critic. Pauline Kael was right about Hiroshima, Mon Amour.
https://stephendaisley.com/where-to-find-me/
Pinned
Helen Webberley is terrifying
Ben Leo’s interview with Helen Webberley is a chilling dramatisation of what happens when ideology meets reality – and ideology persists.
www.spectator.co.uk
When ideology meets reality and you still choose ideology.
My @thespectator1828.bsky.social bit on Helen Webberley’s GB News appearance — and why the law on both sides of the Atlantic must catch up with an emerging body of evidence on the risks and harms of gender medicine.
My @thespectator1828.bsky.social bit on Helen Webberley’s GB News appearance — and why the law on both sides of the Atlantic must catch up with an emerging body of evidence on the risks and harms of gender medicine.
When ideology meets reality and you still choose ideology.
My @thespectator1828.bsky.social bit on Helen Webberley’s GB News appearance — and why the law on both sides of the Atlantic must catch up with an emerging body of evidence on the risks and harms of gender medicine.
My @thespectator1828.bsky.social bit on Helen Webberley’s GB News appearance — and why the law on both sides of the Atlantic must catch up with an emerging body of evidence on the risks and harms of gender medicine.
Helen Webberley is terrifying
Ben Leo’s interview with Helen Webberley is a chilling dramatisation of what happens when ideology meets reality – and ideology persists.
www.spectator.co.uk
November 18, 2025 at 6:57 PM
When ideology meets reality and you still choose ideology.
My @thespectator1828.bsky.social bit on Helen Webberley’s GB News appearance — and why the law on both sides of the Atlantic must catch up with an emerging body of evidence on the risks and harms of gender medicine.
My @thespectator1828.bsky.social bit on Helen Webberley’s GB News appearance — and why the law on both sides of the Atlantic must catch up with an emerging body of evidence on the risks and harms of gender medicine.
The Parliamentary Labour Party and the Bluesky shut-ins are frothing over Shabana Mahmood’s asylum reforms. Truth be told, they are achingly moderate and to the left of the average Labour voter. But they are a welcome start.
My @thespectator1828.bsky.social take. (Which is the correct take.)
My @thespectator1828.bsky.social take. (Which is the correct take.)
The return of migration centrism
None of Shabana Mahmood’s asylum reforms is as radical as the terms in which she is talking about this issue. In an op-ed teeing up Monday’s announcement, she writes: ‘Unless we act, we risk losing po...
www.spectator.co.uk
November 17, 2025 at 8:23 PM
The Parliamentary Labour Party and the Bluesky shut-ins are frothing over Shabana Mahmood’s asylum reforms. Truth be told, they are achingly moderate and to the left of the average Labour voter. But they are a welcome start.
My @thespectator1828.bsky.social take. (Which is the correct take.)
My @thespectator1828.bsky.social take. (Which is the correct take.)
Out in the Hills, Alan Cumming’s Pitlochry-based LGBTQIA+ festival, will showcase ‘a time and space built on and by nature, community care and trans ancestry’.
We’re about to find out the Picts were non-binary, aren’t we?
Me in @thespectator1828.bsky.social.
We’re about to find out the Picts were non-binary, aren’t we?
Me in @thespectator1828.bsky.social.
Scotland does not need an LGBTQIA+ festival
Alan Cumming is back in Scotland to take up the artistic directorship of the Pitlochry Festival Theatre.
www.spectator.co.uk
November 17, 2025 at 2:57 PM
Out in the Hills, Alan Cumming’s Pitlochry-based LGBTQIA+ festival, will showcase ‘a time and space built on and by nature, community care and trans ancestry’.
We’re about to find out the Picts were non-binary, aren’t we?
Me in @thespectator1828.bsky.social.
We’re about to find out the Picts were non-binary, aren’t we?
Me in @thespectator1828.bsky.social.
‘Every now and then a Green MSP is allowed out unsupervised and, unaware of just how batty their party’s policies are, happily blabs about one of them in all their lunatic detail.’
My latest @dailymail.co.uk column is on Ariane Burgess and THOSE comments.
My latest @dailymail.co.uk column is on Ariane Burgess and THOSE comments.
STEPHEN DAISLEY: Ariane won't be the only Green who hates this country
Every now and then a Green MSP is allowed out unsupervised and, unaware of just how batty their party's policies are, happily blabs about one of them in all their lunatic detail.
www.dailymail.co.uk
November 17, 2025 at 9:35 AM
‘Every now and then a Green MSP is allowed out unsupervised and, unaware of just how batty their party’s policies are, happily blabs about one of them in all their lunatic detail.’
My latest @dailymail.co.uk column is on Ariane Burgess and THOSE comments.
My latest @dailymail.co.uk column is on Ariane Burgess and THOSE comments.
‘All those strategies and processes and cold, official acronyms tasked with safeguarding. None of them safeguarded Taylor. Instead, the state looked the other way. Taylor has a right to know why.’
My sketch of this week’s #fmqs.
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article...
My sketch of this week’s #fmqs.
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article...
Tory leader gave voice to young women robbed of their childhoods
Taylor likely never expected to be the subject of FMQs. The proceedings of the Scottish Parliament seldom concern themselves with the likes of her.
www.dailymail.co.uk
November 14, 2025 at 9:41 AM
‘All those strategies and processes and cold, official acronyms tasked with safeguarding. None of them safeguarded Taylor. Instead, the state looked the other way. Taylor has a right to know why.’
My sketch of this week’s #fmqs.
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article...
My sketch of this week’s #fmqs.
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article...
Don’t get too excited, Tories. Restoring impartiality at the BBC would be a mammoth task — one your party has shown no interest in.
Some thoughts over on my Substack.
Some thoughts over on my Substack.
The crisis at the BBC is no victory for the right
Politics Notebook #30: The Conservatives will only ever conserve progressive institutions, not reform them.
comment.press
November 12, 2025 at 12:57 PM
Don’t get too excited, Tories. Restoring impartiality at the BBC would be a mammoth task — one your party has shown no interest in.
Some thoughts over on my Substack.
Some thoughts over on my Substack.
REVEALED: The right-wing plot to undermine the BBC.
By me, over at the @thespectator1828.bsky.social.
By me, over at the @thespectator1828.bsky.social.
How a right-wing putsch felled the infallible BBC
The BBC’s on-air talent is muttering darkly about political campaigns and the corporation being ‘under attack’.
www.spectator.co.uk
November 11, 2025 at 12:07 PM
REVEALED: The right-wing plot to undermine the BBC.
By me, over at the @thespectator1828.bsky.social.
By me, over at the @thespectator1828.bsky.social.
I’ve written about my favourite movie, and on the most appropriate day of the year: Halloween.
Boogeyman nights
Ticket Stubs #12: Fearing the reaper in John Carpenter’s “Halloween” and fearing him somewhat less in “Halloween II”.
comment.press
October 31, 2025 at 11:10 AM
I’ve written about my favourite movie, and on the most appropriate day of the year: Halloween.
Really good thread on the SNP’s risible energy policies.
1/ In today’s Mail, @stephendaisley.bsky.social mentions a conversation we had about the SNP’s energy policies. Short 🧵 with sources and a little bit of additional explanation…
October 27, 2025 at 8:55 PM
Really good thread on the SNP’s risible energy policies.
Why do police and prosecutors rush to the aid of every other minority but turn a blind eye when it’s Jews under threat?
I’ve written about the harsh realities of multiculturalism for @telegraphnews.bsky.social.
I’ve written about the harsh realities of multiculturalism for @telegraphnews.bsky.social.
The treatment of British Jews proves the lie at the heart of multiculturalism
This ideology cloaks itself in platitudes about tolerance while downplaying attitudes inimical to a free society
www.telegraph.co.uk
October 27, 2025 at 8:54 PM
Why do police and prosecutors rush to the aid of every other minority but turn a blind eye when it’s Jews under threat?
I’ve written about the harsh realities of multiculturalism for @telegraphnews.bsky.social.
I’ve written about the harsh realities of multiculturalism for @telegraphnews.bsky.social.
My latest @dailymail.co.uk column is on how ideology, whether Net Zero fundamentalism or anti-nuclear dogmatism, is a threat to our energy security.
newspaperscotland.mailplus.co.uk/data/6840/re...
newspaperscotland.mailplus.co.uk/data/6840/re...
October 27, 2025 at 12:22 PM
My latest @dailymail.co.uk column is on how ideology, whether Net Zero fundamentalism or anti-nuclear dogmatism, is a threat to our energy security.
newspaperscotland.mailplus.co.uk/data/6840/re...
newspaperscotland.mailplus.co.uk/data/6840/re...
I’ve written about Diane Keaton (1946-2025) and two of the most frustrating directors she worked with.
Everything You Always Wanted to Say About Woody Allen* (*But Were Afraid to Admit)
Ticket Stubs #11: Remembering Diane Keaton in her roles in “Annie Hall” and “Looking for Mr. Goodbar”.
comment.press
October 24, 2025 at 8:53 PM
I’ve written about Diane Keaton (1946-2025) and two of the most frustrating directors she worked with.
University of London students are disrupting Israeli academic Michael Ben-Gad’s lectures as part of a campaign to get him sacked.
This mob must be stopped and future mobs deterred.
Those who are British should be expelled. Those who are not, deported.
This mob must be stopped and future mobs deterred.
Those who are British should be expelled. Those who are not, deported.
The hate-filled campaign against professor Ben-Gad
If I didn’t tell you professor Michael Ben-Gad was an Israeli, you could probably figure it out from his response to a hate-filled campaign to drive him out of his job at City St George’s, University ...
www.spectator.co.uk
October 24, 2025 at 10:58 AM
University of London students are disrupting Israeli academic Michael Ben-Gad’s lectures as part of a campaign to get him sacked.
This mob must be stopped and future mobs deterred.
Those who are British should be expelled. Those who are not, deported.
This mob must be stopped and future mobs deterred.
Those who are British should be expelled. Those who are not, deported.
A British Jew was interrogated by police over his Star of David necklace, which officers thought could be ‘antagonistic’ to pro-Palestine protestors.
That sound you hear is the near-total silence of progressives who clamour to denounce police racism when it’s every other minority group.
That sound you hear is the near-total silence of progressives who clamour to denounce police racism when it’s every other minority group.
Anti-Jewish sentiment has poisoned our police
British Jews have grown concerned at the Metropolitan Police’s handling of pro-Palestine marches. This interview won't reassure them.
www.spectator.co.uk
October 19, 2025 at 7:55 PM
A British Jew was interrogated by police over his Star of David necklace, which officers thought could be ‘antagonistic’ to pro-Palestine protestors.
That sound you hear is the near-total silence of progressives who clamour to denounce police racism when it’s every other minority group.
That sound you hear is the near-total silence of progressives who clamour to denounce police racism when it’s every other minority group.
‘Whenever Donald Trump proposes a policy that runs counter to the progressive consensus, there are three stages of response: it’ll never work, it’s a disaster, it was our idea all along.’
Me in @thespectator1828.bsky.social on Trump’s precarious but pragmatic truce in Gaza.
Me in @thespectator1828.bsky.social on Trump’s precarious but pragmatic truce in Gaza.
Middle East experts got Trump all wrong
Whenever Donald Trump proposes a policy that runs counter to the progressive consensus, there are three stages of response: it’ll never work, it’s a disaster, it was our idea all along. We are at stag...
www.spectator.co.uk
October 14, 2025 at 8:29 PM
‘Whenever Donald Trump proposes a policy that runs counter to the progressive consensus, there are three stages of response: it’ll never work, it’s a disaster, it was our idea all along.’
Me in @thespectator1828.bsky.social on Trump’s precarious but pragmatic truce in Gaza.
Me in @thespectator1828.bsky.social on Trump’s precarious but pragmatic truce in Gaza.
Sometimes you write a column then think: ‘Was I too harsh?’
This isn’t one of those. John Swinney’s independence white paper deserves every ounce of disdain being heaped upon its banal, flaccid, intellectually moribund contents.
From today’s @dailymail.co.uk:
www.mailplus.co.uk/scottish-edi...
This isn’t one of those. John Swinney’s independence white paper deserves every ounce of disdain being heaped upon its banal, flaccid, intellectually moribund contents.
From today’s @dailymail.co.uk:
www.mailplus.co.uk/scottish-edi...
October 13, 2025 at 3:07 PM
Sometimes you write a column then think: ‘Was I too harsh?’
This isn’t one of those. John Swinney’s independence white paper deserves every ounce of disdain being heaped upon its banal, flaccid, intellectually moribund contents.
From today’s @dailymail.co.uk:
www.mailplus.co.uk/scottish-edi...
This isn’t one of those. John Swinney’s independence white paper deserves every ounce of disdain being heaped upon its banal, flaccid, intellectually moribund contents.
From today’s @dailymail.co.uk:
www.mailplus.co.uk/scottish-edi...
The Manchester synagogue attack is a story of mass immigration and multiculturalism. We must bring an end to both.
My latest for the @thespectator1828.bsky.social.
www.spectator.co.uk/article/immi...
My latest for the @thespectator1828.bsky.social.
www.spectator.co.uk/article/immi...
October 7, 2025 at 8:30 AM
The Manchester synagogue attack is a story of mass immigration and multiculturalism. We must bring an end to both.
My latest for the @thespectator1828.bsky.social.
www.spectator.co.uk/article/immi...
My latest for the @thespectator1828.bsky.social.
www.spectator.co.uk/article/immi...
The rumours were true: Bari Weiss has been appointed editor-in-chief of CBS News. Here is a thing I wrote about the move for the @jewishchron.bsky.social a few weeks ago.
Bari Weiss was meant to fade – instead, she’s taking over - The Jewish Chronicle
Driven from the New York Times, she built The Free Press into a powerhouse, challenged the legacy media on everything from Israel to free speech, and may soon rise to top ranks of CBS. For America’s p...
www.thejc.com
October 6, 2025 at 3:04 PM
The rumours were true: Bari Weiss has been appointed editor-in-chief of CBS News. Here is a thing I wrote about the move for the @jewishchron.bsky.social a few weeks ago.
‘Listen to Jews, take their concerns seriously and treat them with the same respect you afford more electorally significant minorities. Until then, take your solidarity and shove it.’
My @dailymail.co.uk column on political posturing and the Manchester synagogue attack.
My @dailymail.co.uk column on political posturing and the Manchester synagogue attack.
STEPHEN DAISLEY: Politicians have left Jews living in fear
Their names were Adrian Daulby and Melvin Cravitz.
www.dailymail.co.uk
October 6, 2025 at 7:53 AM
‘Listen to Jews, take their concerns seriously and treat them with the same respect you afford more electorally significant minorities. Until then, take your solidarity and shove it.’
My @dailymail.co.uk column on political posturing and the Manchester synagogue attack.
My @dailymail.co.uk column on political posturing and the Manchester synagogue attack.
A deradicalised Gaza is impossible for the same reason a two-state solution is impossible: the Palestinians don’t want it.
Me in the @thespectator1828.bsky.social.
Me in the @thespectator1828.bsky.social.
Do Palestinians want Hamas gone?
Discussion of Donald Trump’s peace proposal for Gaza revolves around one question: who is for it and who is against it?
www.spectator.co.uk
September 30, 2025 at 6:26 PM
A deradicalised Gaza is impossible for the same reason a two-state solution is impossible: the Palestinians don’t want it.
Me in the @thespectator1828.bsky.social.
Me in the @thespectator1828.bsky.social.
I’ve written about Menzies Campbell for Saturday’s @mailonlinescot.bsky.social. #buyapaper
‘Menzies Campbell was faithful to his conscience and lived a life of public service with integrity at its heart. It was his longest and final race and he won it by a mile.’
‘Menzies Campbell was faithful to his conscience and lived a life of public service with integrity at its heart. It was his longest and final race and he won it by a mile.’
STEPHEN DAISLEY: Menzies 'Ming' Campbell belonged to a principled age
Menzies Campbell was in the noble tradition of Scottish Liberalism. In tone, he belonged to an earlier political age, one in which principles were held fiercely.
www.dailymail.co.uk
September 26, 2025 at 10:41 PM
I’ve written about Menzies Campbell for Saturday’s @mailonlinescot.bsky.social. #buyapaper
‘Menzies Campbell was faithful to his conscience and lived a life of public service with integrity at its heart. It was his longest and final race and he won it by a mile.’
‘Menzies Campbell was faithful to his conscience and lived a life of public service with integrity at its heart. It was his longest and final race and he won it by a mile.’
‘Nicola Sturgeon has spoken just 12 times in Holyrood in the past 12 months. Half of those were points of order about problems with her voting app. Seventy-five grand for piping up once a month. Nice work if you can get it.’
My latest for @dailymail.co.uk.
My latest for @dailymail.co.uk.
STEPHEN DAISLEY: Nicola Sturgeon is only in it for herself
Political parties are built to weather storms but people less so, and especially those people in Sturgeon's constituency. They need a parliamentarian who is in it for them. Nicola Sturgeon is only in ...
www.dailymail.co.uk
September 26, 2025 at 3:43 PM
‘Nicola Sturgeon has spoken just 12 times in Holyrood in the past 12 months. Half of those were points of order about problems with her voting app. Seventy-five grand for piping up once a month. Nice work if you can get it.’
My latest for @dailymail.co.uk.
My latest for @dailymail.co.uk.
‘Independence means getting powers and then everything works and you never have to make hard choices and everyone lives happily ever after. This isn’t nationalism, it’s Hans Christian Andersen with flags.’
My @dailymail.co.uk sketch of this week’s #FMQs.
My @dailymail.co.uk sketch of this week’s #FMQs.
STEPHEN DAISLEY: Swinney serves up more waffle than an all-night...
'This is Scotland's first ever Innovation Week,' Russell Findlay told the chamber.
www.dailymail.co.uk
September 26, 2025 at 8:28 AM
‘Independence means getting powers and then everything works and you never have to make hard choices and everyone lives happily ever after. This isn’t nationalism, it’s Hans Christian Andersen with flags.’
My @dailymail.co.uk sketch of this week’s #FMQs.
My @dailymail.co.uk sketch of this week’s #FMQs.
Why the UK is about to become much, much more hostile to Israel.
Me on Starmer, Cnut, and the illusion of power in @thespectator1828.bsky.social.
Me on Starmer, Cnut, and the illusion of power in @thespectator1828.bsky.social.
Keir Starmer’s Palestine doesn’t exist
In recognising a state of Palestine, Starmer attempts not to halt a tide but to summon a new one which flows counter to history.
www.spectator.co.uk
September 24, 2025 at 12:03 PM
Why the UK is about to become much, much more hostile to Israel.
Me on Starmer, Cnut, and the illusion of power in @thespectator1828.bsky.social.
Me on Starmer, Cnut, and the illusion of power in @thespectator1828.bsky.social.