Philip Ralph

Dear Shabana, I notice today that you referred to me in your speech on immigration at the IPPR think tank. You said: “A party leader should not be on the beaches of France encouraging people to make a perilous crossing on small boats.” I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised especially after the hateful Labour campaign in Gorton and Denton, but this is just the latest in a string of lies peddled by a discredited Government who intentionally fan the flames of racism and division. When I went to Calais, I was not there to encourage people to travel to the UK. I was there to see at first hand the suffering your Government and successive Governments have done in demonising migrants in a pathetic bid to pander to the base instincts of Reform and the flawed strategy of Morgan McSweeney. As you will know, if you even bothered to research my visit instead of taking Reform talking points, I was there to witness the brutality of families living in tents in freezing temperatures. I filled water tanks and picked up litter. What that visit did do is confirm my belief that if we are to smash the boat gangs and stop the boats, we need to offer safer and managed routes for migrants to come to this country. Showing compassion as a politician is not a crime. In fact, we need to see much more of it. It reminded me of a young MP who in October 2015 spent three days in Lesbos helping migrants fleeing war-torn Syria. She posted videos on X, talked about handing out water and croissants to refugees and food parcels. When she returned to the UK, she wrote a very moving piece in the New Statesman. She said “we have to work with our European partners and create new, safe, and legal routes for refugees to get to Europe. We cannot abandon them to their fate, left as prey for smugglers whilst risking death on the seas.” She said “maybe we can make ourselves feel better by saying no-one is making them get on the boats. And again, the Home Secretary is not entirely wrong when …

Dear Shabana,

Let's clear some things up around migration and remember we're talking about people's lives.

Thoughts and prayers…

Nigel Farage's Long History of Crying ‘Fraud’ Whenever His Party Loses Elections The Reform UK leader has a long record of blaming his own party's election defeats on "cheating" by ethnic minorities, yet no evidence of it can ever be found

Every time Nigel Farage's parties have lost an election he has blamed it on "cheating" by ethnic minorities and every time he receives huge amounts of media attention for doing so.

The only problem? No evidence of cheating is ever found
bylinetimes.com/2026/03/02/n...

Places are booking now for our deep-dive immersion into self-generated ceremony, Nature Quest. 4 days and nights alone fasting in peaceful mid-Wales. Join us if you're ready to mark a turning point or transition in your life. Powerful, vital, nurturing, this is the work for our times. 16-25 July.

Our March newsletter is here with reflections on the coming of spring in the northern hemisphere, all our retreats for 2026 and much more. Dive in!

mailchi.mp/65d3bd23b544...

Sickening. This is a betrayal of every screenwriter, playwright, poet and novelist in the UK. We’ve had copyright laws since around 1710 and they intend to upend all of that to help feed billionaire tech companies. 😡

#ScriptSkyUK #ScriptSky #WritingCommunity

Thank you Carole 🙏🏻🙏🏻

Nobody here needs to be told that Reform's claims of cheating are utterly absurd but it's worth noting that the anti-Reform vote was so large that even if the Greens and Labour had split it 50/50 Reform would still have lost — in fact they would have come third. They only value democracy if they win

I’m seeing takes talking about ‘the centre ground is gone’ etc, and I don’t think that’s accurate - voters haven’t changed their motivations, the major parties have just failed to cater to them. Those people who voted green would’ve voted Labour had Labour not been too busy flirting with the right.

As we thought. Made up. And made up Islamphobia.
They only have one tune.
#GortonAndDenton
#r4today #reform

Channel 5 Making Factual Drama About Interrogation Of Madeleine McCann’s Mother Channel 5 is making a 'Suspect' drama about Madeleine McCann, Kate McCann and her interrogation.

It was an absolute career highlight to write Suspect: Kate McCann, the first drama about the Madeleine McCann case, for Channel 5. The entire team gave it absolutely everything and the results are all there on screen. I can't wait for people to see this stunning film.

deadline.com/2026/02/chan...

Thank you, Fritha 🙏

Scotland Yard Reveal Latest Findings in Search for Madeleine In a world exclusive with the BBC, Scotland Yard reveals their latest findings in the search for Madeleine McCann

Madeleine McCann is still missing and her family still hope for her safe return. If you have any information, contact - findmadeleine.com/home.html

In these challenging, changing times for TV in the UK, it is so important that we continue to make work that pushes the envelope of what is possible in drama especially when time and money are at a premium. I'm so proud to have been part of the team who made this film.

The film was superbly produced by Orchard Studios and brilliantly directed by Paula Wittig who brought it to life in a visceral, real, grounded way. We were incredibly blessed to cast the extraordinary Laura Bayston to play Kate McCann. She is never off screen and gives a performance for the ages.

Channel 5 Making Factual Drama About Interrogation Of Madeleine McCann’s Mother Channel 5 is making a 'Suspect' drama about Madeleine McCann, Kate McCann and her interrogation.

It was an absolute career highlight to write Suspect: Kate McCann, the first drama about the Madeleine McCann case, for Channel 5. The entire team gave it absolutely everything and the results are all there on screen. I can't wait for people to see this stunning film.

deadline.com/2026/02/chan...

Come write with us @emergenceuk.bsky.social in beautiful mid-Wales this April... two places remaining...

Father Brown - Series 13: 9. The Power of Suggestion Father Brown investigates when a Hollywood starlet is murdered while filming an advert for washing powder.

This was a work of absolute genius and humanity. Tony Marchant a superb writer we haven’t seen enough of in recent years. Still in my DVD collection. And Phil Daniels - astonishingly - cameos in my recent ep of Father Brown… 🤯🤯

www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...

bsky.app/profile/equi...

This is just part one, @philralph.bsky.social

Why we're boycotting the government's BBC Charter Survey:

👉Absence of workforce consideration
👉Limited detail and scope
👉Possible use of AI to aggregate responses, likely to generate overly simplistic conclusions

Read what we're calling for instead 👇

This is an important intervention from @equityuk.bsky.social to the paltry and skewed @dcmsgovuk.bsky.social BBC Charter Renewal Survey & should be taken seriously at the highest levels. The future of a sustainable UK TV industry relies on a strong, independent BBC that responds to freelancers. 👏✊🏻

These people are poison. They will unleash racist thugs on the streets of this country and call it security. They will subjugate us to the US and call it patriotism. They must be stopped. There is no more important task in politics.

a man in a suit and tie is talking into a microphone with the words talk about it written below him ALT: a man in a suit and tie is talking into a microphone with the words talk about it written below him

As we enjoy today’s @bafta.org Film Awards, the glitz, the glamour, the stars, it would be really great if there was *some* acknowledgement from presenters and winners of the dire crisis the industry is in and the thousands of freelancers who are struggling to survive…

a man in a blue shirt and tie is sitting next to another man in a white shirt and tie . ALT: a man in a blue shirt and tie is sitting next to another man in a white shirt and tie .

If you’re on that stage today - please speak out to support your colleagues and friends who make our film and TV the best in the world. Let’s fight for the future of UK film & TV before it collapses for good… ✊🏻✊🏻✊🏻 #EEBaftas

Film & TV in the UK is no longer a thriving sustainable industry. It is a hobby for the wealthy & privileged. This is a disaster and we need action from our industry leaders and from @dcmsgovuk.bsky.social @lisanandymp.bsky.social before our world leading culture is a thing of the past.

This week’s report from @filmtvcharity.bsky.social highlights 74% of freelancers are considering leaving the industry, 43% have taken concrete steps to do so & 22% are experiencing “sustained worklessness”… this is an existential crisis for the UK screen arts.

filmtvcharity.org.uk/assets/docum...

a man in a suit and tie is talking into a microphone with the words talk about it written below him ALT: a man in a suit and tie is talking into a microphone with the words talk about it written below him

As we enjoy today’s @bafta.org Film Awards, the glitz, the glamour, the stars, it would be really great if there was *some* acknowledgement from presenters and winners of the dire crisis the industry is in and the thousands of freelancers who are struggling to survive…

Awesome two days... double bills on both days which offered a fascinating insight into Redford... definitely not a 'character actor' but my God what presence and charisma! Just the most beautiful man and the camera adored him. Never dull, never anything other than right in the moment. Loved it.

Filling some holes in Redford’s filmography - a still biting political satire; the ur-text for spy capers; a too-old Redford in a baseball cornfest; a now problematic still stunning Best Pic winner with Streep & Redford never more gorgeous. #LastFourSeen #LetterboxdFriday

Just been asked to moderate panels at a big event with a high ticket price. But "sorry, they cannot offer a fee" to the moderators who make it possible. I didn't say no because of the money for me, but because of the exploitative business model (similar to academic publishing). This needs to stop.