Jonathan Potts
@uccellolirico.bsky.social
Maybe I'm a Londoner because
Pinned
Jonathan Potts
@uccellolirico.bsky.social
· Jul 15
This may seem strange, but working on policy in the UK Home Office in my twenties and thirties taught me that everyone should have rights under the law no matter how society views them, and that many who society despises are themselves survivors of trauma and deprivation in one way or another.
Reposted by Jonathan Potts
Such sad news to hear that Geoffrey Bindman KC has passed away. One of the architects of UK equality and human rights law, he was an inspirational figure - as well as being kind & extremely good company. www.bindmans.com/news-insight...
In remembrance of Sir Geoffrey Bindman | Bindmans
We are very sorry to announce the death of our founder, Sir Geoffrey Bindman on 4 November 2025 at the age of 92.
www.bindmans.com
November 8, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Such sad news to hear that Geoffrey Bindman KC has passed away. One of the architects of UK equality and human rights law, he was an inspirational figure - as well as being kind & extremely good company. www.bindmans.com/news-insight...
Reposted by Jonathan Potts
Just in case anyone thought George Galloway retained a sliver of credibility…
November 9, 2025 at 1:33 PM
Just in case anyone thought George Galloway retained a sliver of credibility…
This is sheer incompetence in the making of policy. It's a glaringly obvious risk. Why wasn't it spotted? Maybe, in part, because the consequences of the risk, if realised, would fall on people who are seen merely as a burden, a liability?
I’m old enough to remember when I got scolded on this here website by people who claimed a 3% false positive rate was good actually and well now it turns out to be an order of magnitude bigger! Still good guys?
HMRC trial of child benefit crackdown wrongly suspected fraud in 46% of cases
Exclusive: Almost half of families flagged as emigrants based on Home Office travel data were still living in UK
www.theguardian.com
November 9, 2025 at 1:15 PM
This is sheer incompetence in the making of policy. It's a glaringly obvious risk. Why wasn't it spotted? Maybe, in part, because the consequences of the risk, if realised, would fall on people who are seen merely as a burden, a liability?
Reposted by Jonathan Potts
1/ The “looking to Denmark” stuff re migration shouldn't ignore the social cleansing features in “parallel societies” (parallelsamfund) approaches. This labels neighbourhoods partly by the share of “non-Western” residents and then permits demolitions, forced tenure changes and criminal sanctions...
CURIA - Documents
curia.europa.eu
November 9, 2025 at 11:58 AM
1/ The “looking to Denmark” stuff re migration shouldn't ignore the social cleansing features in “parallel societies” (parallelsamfund) approaches. This labels neighbourhoods partly by the share of “non-Western” residents and then permits demolitions, forced tenure changes and criminal sanctions...
The HO's published objectives for asylum embody a clear and presumably conscious trade-off between the "deterrent" effect of restricting ILR for irregular claimants vs the negative impact on integration (since the same briefings claim integration as a benefit of early ILR for regular arrivals) >>
November 8, 2025 at 2:31 PM
The HO's published objectives for asylum embody a clear and presumably conscious trade-off between the "deterrent" effect of restricting ILR for irregular claimants vs the negative impact on integration (since the same briefings claim integration as a benefit of early ILR for regular arrivals) >>
Thanks Dan. It does seem that the Danish approach is substantially more restrictive than the current UK approach. I also think the Govt must realise it's on a collision course with reality when it keeps labelling Channel crossers as illegal. Perhaps limiting their status will be the face saver.
November 8, 2025 at 2:14 PM
One of the worst features of the 21st century discourse is the "complex problems require complicated solutions" trope. The solutions are generally, at heart, simple. Carrying them through tends to require strategy, planning, leadership, advocacy, persistence, resources. Oh, and courage.
Darren knows that come the next election, Bristol is turning even more Green.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Greens’ ‘undeliverable’ promises will let voters down, says Labour minister
Exclusive: Darren Jones says Labour has to convince young people it is ‘modern party of the future’
www.theguardian.com
November 8, 2025 at 1:22 PM
One of the worst features of the 21st century discourse is the "complex problems require complicated solutions" trope. The solutions are generally, at heart, simple. Carrying them through tends to require strategy, planning, leadership, advocacy, persistence, resources. Oh, and courage.
Oh look another "major shake-up of the immigration and asylum system" incoming. Yet more restrictions on family reunion, most refugees to be granted only temporary protection only, it is reported. How great that will be for integration, don't you think? (Don't they think?)
November 8, 2025 at 1:04 PM
Oh look another "major shake-up of the immigration and asylum system" incoming. Yet more restrictions on family reunion, most refugees to be granted only temporary protection only, it is reported. How great that will be for integration, don't you think? (Don't they think?)
Indeed I wonder how many of today's failing systems - in immigration decisions, in healthcare - are due not to a lack of automation but to automating broken, incomplete or just poorly understood processes
This may well turn out to be the case with the prison releases problem as well. Maybe it's not the trawling through paper files, which bureaucrats of my generation used to do in their sleep? What if it's the process not the platform? Always fix process before changing platforms.
November 8, 2025 at 1:01 PM
Indeed I wonder how many of today's failing systems - in immigration decisions, in healthcare - are due not to a lack of automation but to automating broken, incomplete or just poorly understood processes
On ID cards - there's an old adage: don't try to automate what you haven't yet fixed, and I don't think we can be anywhere near fixing what they want to automate (plus it's far from clear what that is, in any case)
November 8, 2025 at 12:55 PM
On ID cards - there's an old adage: don't try to automate what you haven't yet fixed, and I don't think we can be anywhere near fixing what they want to automate (plus it's far from clear what that is, in any case)
A fascinating corrective - I don't pretend to grasp the science, but I get the drift
If I see one more stupid Rosalind Franklin take I'm going to lose my mind. Thank god for @matthewcobb.bsky.social and @nccomfort.bsky.social. www.nature.com/articles/d41...
What Rosalind Franklin truly contributed to the discovery of DNA’s structure
Franklin was no victim in how the DNA double helix was solved. An overlooked letter and an unpublished news article, both written in 1953, reveal that she was an equal player.
www.nature.com
November 8, 2025 at 12:51 PM
A fascinating corrective - I don't pretend to grasp the science, but I get the drift
A card is now a "digitally enabled physical alternative" and you'll be glad to receive "in-person onboarding support" if you're "struggling to engage digitally". Good luck though if you're seeking a doctor's appointment.
November 8, 2025 at 9:14 AM
A card is now a "digitally enabled physical alternative" and you'll be glad to receive "in-person onboarding support" if you're "struggling to engage digitally". Good luck though if you're seeking a doctor's appointment.
Just heard Amol Rajan say casually "we have had uncontrolled immigration" which is, objectively, false. "We have had fairly well controlled immigration at a higher level than some people wanted (and it is coming down rapidly)" would be a correct line for a BBC broadcaster to take.
November 7, 2025 at 8:28 AM
Just heard Amol Rajan say casually "we have had uncontrolled immigration" which is, objectively, false. "We have had fairly well controlled immigration at a higher level than some people wanted (and it is coming down rapidly)" would be a correct line for a BBC broadcaster to take.
This looks attractive. Tonight on BBC Radio 3.
November 6, 2025 at 5:04 PM
This looks attractive. Tonight on BBC Radio 3.
Reposted by Jonathan Potts
Which one is more English?
November 6, 2025 at 11:58 AM
Which one is more English?
Not to be flippant, but if you need persuading of people's contribution to our society and economy, look right here. Ofc I realise that to be truly British you have to career around town drunk on lager and spend at least a night in A and E harassing the staff with patriotic slogans
New research reveals that while alcohol consumption in Britain is falling, alcohol harm remains high, costing the UK an estimated £40 billion a year, including £5.89 billion to the NHS.
The report finds that British Muslims alone save the government £1.62 billion a year by abstaining from alcohol.
The report finds that British Muslims alone save the government £1.62 billion a year by abstaining from alcohol.
November 6, 2025 at 3:38 PM
Not to be flippant, but if you need persuading of people's contribution to our society and economy, look right here. Ofc I realise that to be truly British you have to career around town drunk on lager and spend at least a night in A and E harassing the staff with patriotic slogans
I've little doubt the ICE thuggery on display in the US, normalised and excused by its leaders in the name of cracking down, will be replicated here in UK if the politics of migration carries on in the direction it's been taking. It's the logic of the hostile environment, the obsessive blaming 1/
November 6, 2025 at 2:59 PM
I've little doubt the ICE thuggery on display in the US, normalised and excused by its leaders in the name of cracking down, will be replicated here in UK if the politics of migration carries on in the direction it's been taking. It's the logic of the hostile environment, the obsessive blaming 1/
Reposted by Jonathan Potts
Prevent stats published today www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crim...
Far-right cases referred to Prevent programme double those for Islamist extremism
A record 8,778 people were referred to the government’s anti-extremism scheme in the year to March 2025
www.independent.co.uk
November 6, 2025 at 1:13 PM
Prevent stats published today www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crim...
No bearded UK Prime Minister since 1902. No moustache even since 1963.
@zohrankmamdani.bsky.social @jenniesvoiceyes.bsky.social proves beards win elections
wp.me/p15p2Q-fqO
wp.me/p15p2Q-fqO
Zohran Mamdani proves beards win elections
Beard Liberation Front 5th November The Beard Liberation Front, the informal network of beard wearers, has said that the victory of hirsute democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani in the New York Mayor…
wp.me
November 6, 2025 at 8:46 AM
No bearded UK Prime Minister since 1902. No moustache even since 1963.
Typical of BBC #Today nowadays to waste time in their showpiece interview scrapping about David Lammy shopping for a suit. I get that there are questions as to his visibility, but it's hardly the most important thing here.
November 6, 2025 at 8:32 AM
Typical of BBC #Today nowadays to waste time in their showpiece interview scrapping about David Lammy shopping for a suit. I get that there are questions as to his visibility, but it's hardly the most important thing here.
This episode of Life Changing with Paul Kohler MP is very inspiring
November 5, 2025 at 9:29 AM
This episode of Life Changing with Paul Kohler MP is very inspiring
If Radio 4 are going to have adverts for what's on Radio 3 - and I'm not against that - can their presenter at least bother to work out how to pronounce Manuel de Falla (it's not even hard - has Emma never been to Spain?)
November 5, 2025 at 8:55 AM
If Radio 4 are going to have adverts for what's on Radio 3 - and I'm not against that - can their presenter at least bother to work out how to pronounce Manuel de Falla (it's not even hard - has Emma never been to Spain?)