Martin Calladine
@uglygame.bsky.social
Writer of books, most recently: No Questions Asked: How Football Joined the Crypto Con (amzn.to/42aKE0w). Investigative pieces at http://theuglygame.wordpress.com/
Don't worry, I won't forget - and that's why I have never and would never vote Conservative. But it's also worth noting that the Prime Minister - a Labour PM - had to be dragged kicking and screaming to this.
November 10, 2025 at 7:37 PM
Don't worry, I won't forget - and that's why I have never and would never vote Conservative. But it's also worth noting that the Prime Minister - a Labour PM - had to be dragged kicking and screaming to this.
Should be a Blue Peter badge for those who've watched all nine.
November 10, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Should be a Blue Peter badge for those who've watched all nine.
That means, for the first time ever, that we have three good Predator films in a row: a remake of sorts, an animated movie and now a buddy action movie (which is also the first good Predator v Aliens movie).
With that and Alien: Earth, these are golden times.
With that and Alien: Earth, these are golden times.
November 10, 2025 at 3:10 PM
That means, for the first time ever, that we have three good Predator films in a row: a remake of sorts, an animated movie and now a buddy action movie (which is also the first good Predator v Aliens movie).
With that and Alien: Earth, these are golden times.
With that and Alien: Earth, these are golden times.
What a big surprise. Caught red-handed, refuses to apologise, refuses to answer any questions about it.
I'll be looking for a candidate who understands what integrity, transparency and accountability mean.
I'll be looking for a candidate who understands what integrity, transparency and accountability mean.
November 9, 2025 at 9:10 PM
What a big surprise. Caught red-handed, refuses to apologise, refuses to answer any questions about it.
I'll be looking for a candidate who understands what integrity, transparency and accountability mean.
I'll be looking for a candidate who understands what integrity, transparency and accountability mean.
Why not show that you've got the integrity for the role and answer this question:
On what date did then Councillor Kohler become aware that you were behind Hammond Watch?
On what date did then Councillor Kohler become aware that you were behind Hammond Watch?
November 9, 2025 at 9:01 PM
Why not show that you've got the integrity for the role and answer this question:
On what date did then Councillor Kohler become aware that you were behind Hammond Watch?
On what date did then Councillor Kohler become aware that you were behind Hammond Watch?
Policies are irrelevant in the absence of good character.
November 9, 2025 at 7:50 PM
Policies are irrelevant in the absence of good character.
I am, as I have always been, a strong left-wing supporter of immigration and an opponent of anyone who demonises immigrants.
I've no quarrel with the LibDems nationally. Only with you, who did something deeply dishonorable, and your colleagues who refused to condemn it.
I've no quarrel with the LibDems nationally. Only with you, who did something deeply dishonorable, and your colleagues who refused to condemn it.
November 9, 2025 at 7:50 PM
I am, as I have always been, a strong left-wing supporter of immigration and an opponent of anyone who demonises immigrants.
I've no quarrel with the LibDems nationally. Only with you, who did something deeply dishonorable, and your colleagues who refused to condemn it.
I've no quarrel with the LibDems nationally. Only with you, who did something deeply dishonorable, and your colleagues who refused to condemn it.
If you let people bet on individual pitches, you absolutely guarantee corruption. There are simply no counter-measures you can implement to eradicate this risk.
And frankly, it's reasonable to suppose that anyone who claims they can't manage without this option is either an addict or a fixer.
And frankly, it's reasonable to suppose that anyone who claims they can't manage without this option is either an addict or a fixer.
November 9, 2025 at 7:32 PM
If you let people bet on individual pitches, you absolutely guarantee corruption. There are simply no counter-measures you can implement to eradicate this risk.
And frankly, it's reasonable to suppose that anyone who claims they can't manage without this option is either an addict or a fixer.
And frankly, it's reasonable to suppose that anyone who claims they can't manage without this option is either an addict or a fixer.
Yep. This is an irredeemably cynical industry, purposely destroying lives for profit and sucking the joy out of sport.
November 9, 2025 at 7:28 PM
Yep. This is an irredeemably cynical industry, purposely destroying lives for profit and sucking the joy out of sport.
Sport is infected by predatory gambling companies, both legal and illegal, and by those companies promoting poor-value bets and opportunities to bet on events whose granularity creates an obviously unacceptable risk of spot-fixing.
November 9, 2025 at 7:24 PM
Sport is infected by predatory gambling companies, both legal and illegal, and by those companies promoting poor-value bets and opportunities to bet on events whose granularity creates an obviously unacceptable risk of spot-fixing.
The most immaculate display of cultural soft power in years.
November 9, 2025 at 2:14 PM
The most immaculate display of cultural soft power in years.
He feeds that audience of men who disdain complexity and want parables of about how smart, counterintuitive thinking by lone heroes can transform society if penpushers would just get out of the way.
Which can be attractive, and sometimes right, but is a generally destructive mindset.
Which can be attractive, and sometimes right, but is a generally destructive mindset.
November 9, 2025 at 10:23 AM
He feeds that audience of men who disdain complexity and want parables of about how smart, counterintuitive thinking by lone heroes can transform society if penpushers would just get out of the way.
Which can be attractive, and sometimes right, but is a generally destructive mindset.
Which can be attractive, and sometimes right, but is a generally destructive mindset.
There was definitely a time a decade back when the men who read five or fewer books a year, mostly on WWII and smart business thinking and all bought at airports, were all reading Syed.
November 9, 2025 at 10:17 AM
There was definitely a time a decade back when the men who read five or fewer books a year, mostly on WWII and smart business thinking and all bought at airports, were all reading Syed.
Wonderfully, a couple of years back, he wrote a column about how Labour's failure to select him as a candidate for the 2010 election reflected poorly on the party.
November 9, 2025 at 10:15 AM
Wonderfully, a couple of years back, he wrote a column about how Labour's failure to select him as a candidate for the 2010 election reflected poorly on the party.
I'm pleased to hear it. He got away with his British Malcolm Gladwell shtick for quite a lot longer than he should.
November 9, 2025 at 10:07 AM
I'm pleased to hear it. He got away with his British Malcolm Gladwell shtick for quite a lot longer than he should.
Typo: stray "not."
Should read:
"It is about the way large, complex organisations subtly shape the values, norms and attitudes of those within them."
Apologies.
Should read:
"It is about the way large, complex organisations subtly shape the values, norms and attitudes of those within them."
Apologies.
November 9, 2025 at 9:47 AM
Typo: stray "not."
Should read:
"It is about the way large, complex organisations subtly shape the values, norms and attitudes of those within them."
Apologies.
Should read:
"It is about the way large, complex organisations subtly shape the values, norms and attitudes of those within them."
Apologies.
It's Matthew Syed.*
* It's always Matthew Syed.
* It's always Matthew Syed.
November 9, 2025 at 9:40 AM
It's Matthew Syed.*
* It's always Matthew Syed.
* It's always Matthew Syed.
It is, of course, Matthew Syed.
www.thetimes.com/comment/colu...
www.thetimes.com/comment/colu...
The BBC should treat this shaming as an opportunity to break free
The corporation still has many friends who would be thrilled to see it cast off the progressive blinkers
www.thetimes.com
November 9, 2025 at 9:39 AM
It is, of course, Matthew Syed.
www.thetimes.com/comment/colu...
www.thetimes.com/comment/colu...
"It is not just about the way large, complex organisations subtly shape the values, norms and attitudes of those within them," lectures a man who now trades in opinions that would've been considered extreme a decade ago and who recently joined a Tory party where senior MPs openly trade in racism.
November 9, 2025 at 9:39 AM
"It is not just about the way large, complex organisations subtly shape the values, norms and attitudes of those within them," lectures a man who now trades in opinions that would've been considered extreme a decade ago and who recently joined a Tory party where senior MPs openly trade in racism.