Paul Carroll
@supertrain.bsky.social
Deliberative and qualitative social researcher, Thinks Insight & Strategy. Northerner in London. Gigs, Liverpool FC, Dulwich Hamlet, some other stuff
Pinned
Paul Carroll
@supertrain.bsky.social
· Aug 21
I wonder if it’s more that people like Cole always wanted to say this stuff and, now that they have the Nazi echo chamber largely to themselves, they can express themselves freely? Not sure it’s anyone else’s fault but his that he thinks and says this stuff
Timely, having recently spent an enjoyable afternoon in the Bob Hawke Beer and Leisure Centre
Latest piece for the @thehousemag.bsky.social, on the island of strangers speech and similar. Also ft Bob Hawke.
www.politicshome.com/opinion/arti...
www.politicshome.com/opinion/arti...
The Professor Will See You Now: Island of strangers
Lessons in political science. This week: island of strangers
www.politicshome.com
November 21, 2025 at 8:17 AM
Timely, having recently spent an enjoyable afternoon in the Bob Hawke Beer and Leisure Centre
Gutted to hear about Mani. A brilliant bass player in not one but two of my all-time favourite bands. RIP
November 20, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Gutted to hear about Mani. A brilliant bass player in not one but two of my all-time favourite bands. RIP
Big fan of short, 50 minute ish headline sets. And being wrapped up by 10ish.
October 18, 2025 at 8:41 PM
Big fan of short, 50 minute ish headline sets. And being wrapped up by 10ish.
The PA at Oslo remains the best in any London gig venue
October 18, 2025 at 7:28 PM
The PA at Oslo remains the best in any London gig venue
This is bang on
Thinking about starting a Gen X "Shit Old Days" group. For reasons unknown, been having flashbacks to 80s comprehensive school, and honestly I think most people have memory-holed just how racist, homophobic, misogynist and violent everything was. Also: DOGSHIT EVERWHERE (cc @tudoracid.bsky.social)
October 18, 2025 at 11:52 AM
This is bang on
That royal gene pool doesn’t do hair, does it? Apart from the one with all the hair. Who also looks nowt like the rest of them
October 17, 2025 at 9:12 PM
That royal gene pool doesn’t do hair, does it? Apart from the one with all the hair. Who also looks nowt like the rest of them
Very late to the party on this, but Slow Horses is tremendous
October 5, 2025 at 7:52 PM
Very late to the party on this, but Slow Horses is tremendous
I am begging people to read some actual science fiction rather than whatever toss this appears to be. Another novel about a character writing a book? How inventive.
Ian McEwan and fiction’s problem with climate change
In the acclaimed author’s new novel, What We Can Know, Britain has sunk beneath the waves – but literature remains buoyant
📕 Christopher Tayler
In the acclaimed author’s new novel, What We Can Know, Britain has sunk beneath the waves – but literature remains buoyant
📕 Christopher Tayler
Ian McEwan and fiction’s problem with climate change
In the acclaimed author’s new novel, What We Can Know, Britain has sunk beneath the waves – but literature remains buoyant
www.newstatesman.com
October 4, 2025 at 9:47 AM
I am begging people to read some actual science fiction rather than whatever toss this appears to be. Another novel about a character writing a book? How inventive.
An excellent read, this.
And a wonderful reminder of that brilliant 2013 parody review.
And a wonderful reminder of that brilliant 2013 parody review.
I wrote about Dan Brown’s new book, the perils of intellectual snobbery, and why I’m no longer hiding my copy of “The Secret of Secrets” in a paper bag.
In Defense of Dan Brown
Brown's new book doesn't offer award-winning literary prose. But intellectual snobbery and review elitism is foolish in an era of growing cultural ignorance and counterproductive political sneering.
www.forkingpaths.co
September 27, 2025 at 8:47 AM
An excellent read, this.
And a wonderful reminder of that brilliant 2013 parody review.
And a wonderful reminder of that brilliant 2013 parody review.
Much like the man himself
Nicolas Sarkozy’s lawyers will try to ensure his time in prison is ‘as short as possible’
Nicolas Sarkozy’s lawyers will try to ensure his time in prison is ‘as short as possible’
Former French president sentenced to five years for criminal conspiracy over campaign funds scheme with Gaddafi regime
Lawyers for the former French president Nicolas Sarkozy have said they will try to ensure he serves as little time in prison as possible, after he was sentenced to five years for criminal conspiracy over a scheme to get election campaign funds from the regime of the late Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi.
“We’re going to make sure that his incarceration will be as short as possible,” Sarkozy’s lawyer, Jean-Michel Darrois, told the BFMTV news channel on Friday after he became the first French president to go to jail. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
September 26, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Much like the man himself
These people are beyond delusional
Ticketmaster boss Michael Rapino says concert tickets are 'underpriced'
"In sports, I joke it’s like a badge of honor to spend 70 grand for a Knicks courtside seat. They beat me up if we charge $800 for Beyoncé"
"In sports, I joke it’s like a badge of honor to spend 70 grand for a Knicks courtside seat. They beat me up if we charge $800 for Beyoncé"
September 24, 2025 at 6:43 PM
These people are beyond delusional
The thing I understand least about the London-baiting from Trump is that it’s likely one of the most visited non-US places on planet by US tourists. Surely there will be loads of actual voters there who will be, like, “uh, that’s not what it looked like to me”?
September 23, 2025 at 5:21 PM
The thing I understand least about the London-baiting from Trump is that it’s likely one of the most visited non-US places on planet by US tourists. Surely there will be loads of actual voters there who will be, like, “uh, that’s not what it looked like to me”?
Oh, piss off Donald, you fat, stupid prick
Trump to the UN: "I have to say, I look at London where you have a terrible mayor -- terrible terrible mayor -- and it's been so changed, so changed. Now they want to go to Sharia Law ... both their immigration and their suicidal energy ideas will be the death of Western Europe."
September 23, 2025 at 3:59 PM
Oh, piss off Donald, you fat, stupid prick
Roll up, roll up
Today is the last day to vote for us to be nominated for @bifa-film.bsky.social’s brand-new Cinema of the Year Award, supported by Kia!
If you love us and what we do, then cast your vote today 🗳️
www.bifa.film/coty-vote/?c...
If you love us and what we do, then cast your vote today 🗳️
www.bifa.film/coty-vote/?c...
September 22, 2025 at 3:54 PM
Roll up, roll up
I was all in regardless, but this has added a large amount of anticipation on top of that
Ludwig Göransson is officially returning as composer for ‘The Mandalorian & Grogu' 🎵
Releasing in theaters May 22, 2026
Releasing in theaters May 22, 2026
September 22, 2025 at 3:10 PM
I was all in regardless, but this has added a large amount of anticipation on top of that
Concern about ‘free speech’ was always just bad and/or stupid people wanting to say horrible things and weaponising a niche debate in their favour. Well done everyone who fell for it
September 18, 2025 at 7:45 AM
Concern about ‘free speech’ was always just bad and/or stupid people wanting to say horrible things and weaponising a niche debate in their favour. Well done everyone who fell for it
Well, I guess that’s a no then
Be good to see the government, the opposition, and parliament as a whole condemn this bullshit
Elon Musk spoke by video to Tommy Robinson's anti-immigrant rally in the UK today.
"You're in a fundamental situation here where, whether you choose violence or not, violence is coming to you," said Musk. "You either fight back or you die."
"You're in a fundamental situation here where, whether you choose violence or not, violence is coming to you," said Musk. "You either fight back or you die."
September 16, 2025 at 8:45 PM
Well, I guess that’s a no then
We need to keep saying this, over and over again
Also. And I'll keep repeating this one til the Oswald Mosleyites moan.
Modern Britain's foundation myth is that we stood alone against fascism and defeated fascism.
So every single one of those fascists on that fascist march is the very antithesis of patriotic.
Modern Britain's foundation myth is that we stood alone against fascism and defeated fascism.
So every single one of those fascists on that fascist march is the very antithesis of patriotic.
September 15, 2025 at 11:53 AM
We need to keep saying this, over and over again
The right thing to do
I've written to Keir Starmer, Kemi Badenoch and Nigel Farage, urging them to join me in condemning Elon Musk's dangerous remarks inciting violence yesterday.
As leaders, we must stand together and make clear Musk will face serious consequences for these actions.
As leaders, we must stand together and make clear Musk will face serious consequences for these actions.
September 14, 2025 at 8:20 PM
The right thing to do
Be good to see the government, the opposition, and parliament as a whole condemn this bullshit
Elon Musk spoke by video to Tommy Robinson's anti-immigrant rally in the UK today.
"You're in a fundamental situation here where, whether you choose violence or not, violence is coming to you," said Musk. "You either fight back or you die."
"You're in a fundamental situation here where, whether you choose violence or not, violence is coming to you," said Musk. "You either fight back or you die."
September 13, 2025 at 7:29 PM
Be good to see the government, the opposition, and parliament as a whole condemn this bullshit
And now there are tickets available on tout sites for astronomical sums. You really messed this one up, you wallies
Radiohead can get in the bin. If your approach to fairness and being good to fans results in this, you’re saying this stuff as window dressing, lads
September 12, 2025 at 11:18 AM
And now there are tickets available on tout sites for astronomical sums. You really messed this one up, you wallies
Radiohead can get in the bin. If your approach to fairness and being good to fans results in this, you’re saying this stuff as window dressing, lads
September 12, 2025 at 9:46 AM
Radiohead can get in the bin. If your approach to fairness and being good to fans results in this, you’re saying this stuff as window dressing, lads
Lots of chat about ‘left wing this and left wing that’ on here right now. Please remember that left and right are not real categories and are only partially useful mnemonic devices
September 5, 2025 at 11:33 AM
Lots of chat about ‘left wing this and left wing that’ on here right now. Please remember that left and right are not real categories and are only partially useful mnemonic devices
A helpful reminder
net immigration fell by more than half last year and the politics has gone in the complete opposite direction. It's not really about the numbers
September 3, 2025 at 11:20 AM
A helpful reminder
Ok, I’m gonna need a new itsonometer. 4 wins in 4. Playing brilliantly. Old players back on form, new lads settling in immediately. New coaching team delivering. It’s the best we’ve played at least since the promotion season. But…small sample size, etc
August 24, 2025 at 12:22 AM
Ok, I’m gonna need a new itsonometer. 4 wins in 4. Playing brilliantly. Old players back on form, new lads settling in immediately. New coaching team delivering. It’s the best we’ve played at least since the promotion season. But…small sample size, etc