William Simpson
@williamsimpson.bsky.social
Head of Content at Airship. We make podcasts like American Scandal and History Daily.
British but work with Americans so I've basically forgotten the way round dates go, which is unfortunate for someone writing about history all day.
British but work with Americans so I've basically forgotten the way round dates go, which is unfortunate for someone writing about history all day.
Ooo, Keir Starmer is going to be furious when he finds out what Keir Starmer has been up to!
🚨BREAKING PMQs🚨
Starmer: "On energy policy, she follows Reform. On the European Convention, she follows the man who wants her job."
"And when her Shadow Minister said we should deport people lawfully here to achieve cultural coherence, she pretended that it didn't happen."
Starmer: "On energy policy, she follows Reform. On the European Convention, she follows the man who wants her job."
"And when her Shadow Minister said we should deport people lawfully here to achieve cultural coherence, she pretended that it didn't happen."
November 19, 2025 at 12:33 PM
Ooo, Keir Starmer is going to be furious when he finds out what Keir Starmer has been up to!
This reflects a common issue on how infrastructure developments are covered. Because people who back the plans don't usually form pressure groups, they are ignored, even when they far outnumber the complainers. The benefits of a scheme then go almost unreported in favour of constant negativity.
East West Rail’s “You Said, We Did” Autumn update is out. We’ve summarised the key maps, updates and local reaction so you can see what this could mean for Bedford and the surrounding area...
#Bedford #BedfordNews #EWR #Transport #Rail #Universal
#Bedford #BedfordNews #EWR #Transport #Rail #Universal
East West Rail plan promises new Bedford station, hospital hub and Universal-ready line as leaders warn ‘big questions remain’ - Bedford Independent
East West Rail has published a 277-page update including plans for a rebuilt Bedford station, a new Bedford St Johns next to the hospital...
www.bedfordindependent.co.uk
November 19, 2025 at 11:48 AM
This reflects a common issue on how infrastructure developments are covered. Because people who back the plans don't usually form pressure groups, they are ignored, even when they far outnumber the complainers. The benefits of a scheme then go almost unreported in favour of constant negativity.
This is just as bad as the "will of the people" nonsense the Tories came out with on Brexit. There is no one "public" with one set of views that enables you to dismiss any opposition. Even individuals contain fucking multitudes!
Asked if Keir Starmer believes British people want to "see refugee children pulled out of school and deported after 10 years in this country”, his spokesman says that “what the British public wants and what this government was elected on a mandate to deliver was to secure our borders"
November 17, 2025 at 12:22 PM
This is just as bad as the "will of the people" nonsense the Tories came out with on Brexit. There is no one "public" with one set of views that enables you to dismiss any opposition. Even individuals contain fucking multitudes!
It's a political project that seems to dislike its MPs, its party membership and its voters, delights in kicking them in the shins and then wonders why it's at 18% in the polls.
The strangest thing about Starmerism is that the Parliamentary Labour Party is still distinctly soft left, as is the membership. It lacks either an ideology or a constituency... other than seemingly a few political strategists.
November 16, 2025 at 7:50 AM
It's a political project that seems to dislike its MPs, its party membership and its voters, delights in kicking them in the shins and then wonders why it's at 18% in the polls.
Tearing the country apart? Just keep ratcheting up the salience of immigration, guys, keep telling everyone how important and terrible it is, that will definitely stop people voting Reform.
Honestly. What on earth are they playing at. Don't they get people voted for them to stop this shit.
Honestly. What on earth are they playing at. Don't they get people voted for them to stop this shit.
Shabana Mahmood tells Sunday Times it should take 20 years for somebody granted refugee status in UK to secure permanent status (ie, reapply 6 times) if came without permission.
Paper says Denmark has toughest settlement timeline (8 years) but UK govt wants longer
www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
Paper says Denmark has toughest settlement timeline (8 years) but UK govt wants longer
www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
Shabana Mahmood: ‘Illegal migration is tearing Britain apart’
The home secretary is planning to introduce a 20-year wait for permanent stay to end a ‘golden ticket’ for asylum seekers
www.thetimes.com
November 15, 2025 at 10:38 PM
Tearing the country apart? Just keep ratcheting up the salience of immigration, guys, keep telling everyone how important and terrible it is, that will definitely stop people voting Reform.
Honestly. What on earth are they playing at. Don't they get people voted for them to stop this shit.
Honestly. What on earth are they playing at. Don't they get people voted for them to stop this shit.
Reposted by William Simpson
This statement not acceptable and I suspect not sustainable. Large majority of public support principle of asylum, support letting people stay permanently. Majority for that among Labour and other progressive parties’ voters is overwhelming. The Reform voters this is aimed at will never vote Labour
"The era of permanent protection is over"
Is this Labour government really saying it was wrong in principle to let these refugees of the last 75 years to stay, settle and become British - and they believe that should NEVER happen again in principle or practice?
www.youtube.com/watch?v=TiuR...
Is this Labour government really saying it was wrong in principle to let these refugees of the last 75 years to stay, settle and become British - and they believe that should NEVER happen again in principle or practice?
www.youtube.com/watch?v=TiuR...
Refugees from 7 decades gather to commemorate 70 years of refugee in protection in the UK
YouTube video by Refugee Council
www.youtube.com
November 15, 2025 at 12:49 PM
This statement not acceptable and I suspect not sustainable. Large majority of public support principle of asylum, support letting people stay permanently. Majority for that among Labour and other progressive parties’ voters is overwhelming. The Reform voters this is aimed at will never vote Labour
Reposted by William Simpson
If only someone had written a book about this www.panmacmillan.com/authors/agne...
November 14, 2025 at 9:49 AM
If only someone had written a book about this www.panmacmillan.com/authors/agne...
Increasingly clear the government has no idea what it wants to do and even less idea how to do it.
There really is no word that says "strategic clarity" more than "smorgasbord".
November 14, 2025 at 8:06 AM
Increasingly clear the government has no idea what it wants to do and even less idea how to do it.
It feels heroically naive to think that you can help foster an anti-immigrant environment as step one in a plan to introduce a more "sensible" position later.
And here’s what a source close to No10 had to say, arguing that the tough rhetoric on migration was about "earning permission to set out a sensible position" further down the line
November 13, 2025 at 3:26 PM
It feels heroically naive to think that you can help foster an anti-immigrant environment as step one in a plan to introduce a more "sensible" position later.
Kinda heart-breaking looking at this and comparing it to our miserable car-clogged streets. No real reason we couldn't have this in the UK, except that too few of our leaders at any level have the vision or bravery to champion it.
Bollards & one-way systems stop through traffic. Play signs tell drivers kids are in the street. Paving, build-outs & planting slow cars. People add benches, hang out, share drinks. The street becomes an extension of home - a social space, not a shortcut. This is what neighbourhoods should feel like
November 13, 2025 at 9:53 AM
Kinda heart-breaking looking at this and comparing it to our miserable car-clogged streets. No real reason we couldn't have this in the UK, except that too few of our leaders at any level have the vision or bravery to champion it.
Reposted by William Simpson
Noah Smith is paid in the high six-figures to write a blog read by Americans who believe themselves to be intelligent. Yet, he is both unable to read a sign and also for some reason chose to have a 90 minute layover for a flight that takes 90 minutes.
onemileatatime.com/news/economi...
onemileatatime.com/news/economi...
Economist Doesn't Follow Signs At Heathrow: Proof The UK Is Failing?
A economist had a bad experience connecting at Heathrow, suggesting it's reflective of bigger issues in the UK. There's only one issue...
onemileatatime.com
November 11, 2025 at 1:28 PM
Noah Smith is paid in the high six-figures to write a blog read by Americans who believe themselves to be intelligent. Yet, he is both unable to read a sign and also for some reason chose to have a 90 minute layover for a flight that takes 90 minutes.
onemileatatime.com/news/economi...
onemileatatime.com/news/economi...
A lot of people seem to say this guy is a breath of fresh air, but I don't know if supplementing the easy-answer simplism of the right with the easy-answer simplism of the left is a great improvement.
November 5, 2025 at 11:09 AM
A lot of people seem to say this guy is a breath of fresh air, but I don't know if supplementing the easy-answer simplism of the right with the easy-answer simplism of the left is a great improvement.
It's one of the unexpected "joys" of parenting. No more does "fall back" mean an extra hour in bed. It means the 2 year old is wide awake before 5 am and the day has *how* many hours left in it, you say?
Whoever came up with daylight savings time didn’t have small children did they 🙄
October 26, 2025 at 6:22 AM
It's one of the unexpected "joys" of parenting. No more does "fall back" mean an extra hour in bed. It means the 2 year old is wide awake before 5 am and the day has *how* many hours left in it, you say?
The ravens are leaving the Tower Ballroom
BREAKING - Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman are to leave Strictly at the end of the current series.
October 23, 2025 at 9:27 AM
The ravens are leaving the Tower Ballroom
As far as I can tell, this policy would deport my Swedish wife (who has a well-paying job and pays thousands in tax each year, not that that should decide these things) because she "took" from society by going on maternity leave when our kids were born.
Tory policy is to revoke permanent residence (ILR) for everybody who does not earn £38k - deporting most nurses who have ILR
This is put in the video as "who is unlikely to contribute more than they cost"
NB: video does not say EU settled status is exempt
No govt since Idi Amin has done this
This is put in the video as "who is unlikely to contribute more than they cost"
NB: video does not say EU settled status is exempt
No govt since Idi Amin has done this
October 22, 2025 at 6:13 AM
As far as I can tell, this policy would deport my Swedish wife (who has a well-paying job and pays thousands in tax each year, not that that should decide these things) because she "took" from society by going on maternity leave when our kids were born.
It took them a day to come up with this tortured, insulting nonsense. I'm not sure which is more depressing - the thought that No. 10 really does hate immigrants as much as they imply, or whether they think the British public are just so awful they have to pretend.
“We welcome those who come to this country, legally, and give more than they take. We believe the right to stay here must not be automatic, but that those who play their part should be able to earn that right."
October 21, 2025 at 10:20 AM
It took them a day to come up with this tortured, insulting nonsense. I'm not sure which is more depressing - the thought that No. 10 really does hate immigrants as much as they imply, or whether they think the British public are just so awful they have to pretend.
Reposted by William Simpson
the Command & Conquer series is 30 years old today we so have an excuse to share this iconic moment with Tim Curry
September 26, 2025 at 5:05 PM
the Command & Conquer series is 30 years old today we so have an excuse to share this iconic moment with Tim Curry
Everyone, ever since the election
September 11, 2025 at 10:30 AM
Everyone, ever since the election
Reposted by William Simpson
Reposted by William Simpson
This remains one of my favourite anecdotes from the English Civil War.
July 30, 2025 at 9:44 AM
This remains one of my favourite anecdotes from the English Civil War.
Reposted by William Simpson
On the one hand, far fewer people are being killed. On the other, some people get to work two minutes later. So it's impossible to say whether it's good or not.
Journey times up, deaths down: Welsh 20mph speed limit still divisive two years on
Protests continue against default lower limit in urban areas that supporters say is working ‘exactly as intended’
www.theguardian.com
August 4, 2025 at 8:40 AM
On the one hand, far fewer people are being killed. On the other, some people get to work two minutes later. So it's impossible to say whether it's good or not.
Reposted by William Simpson
Just asked my eight year old daughter if she'd be inspired to play more football now, she looked at me witheringly and said no.
July 27, 2025 at 7:49 PM
Just asked my eight year old daughter if she'd be inspired to play more football now, she looked at me witheringly and said no.
Reposted by William Simpson
Not saying my 7yo son has been terminally tech-poisoned, but he's watching the English victory celebrations and has just said, in full seriousness, "look how many apps she has".
July 27, 2025 at 6:59 PM
Not saying my 7yo son has been terminally tech-poisoned, but he's watching the English victory celebrations and has just said, in full seriousness, "look how many apps she has".