A picture of sir Robbie Gibb’s network of influence

This was a diagram illustrating a piece I wrote in @prospectmagazine.co.uk in January 2024. Some faces have since changed but you get the general gist …

How the government captured the BBC A right-wing cabal, largely unaccountable, is waging war on the principles that made our public broadcaster great. It must not succeed

Nearly two years ago, I wrote about the extraordinary influence of former Tory spin doctor Sir Robbie Gibb on the BBC. It's still a helpful backgrounder for what's going on now. New readers start here: www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/media/...

The resignations of Tim Davie and Deborah Turness must be an opportunity for the BBC to turn a new leaf, rebuild trust and resist those like Nigel Farage who want to destroy it

We must stand up for a strong, independent BBC, to stop Trump’s America becoming Farage's Britain.

Zohran Mamdani’s win as New York Mayor shows that America can still be a land of opportunity | USAPP Mamdani’s election victory is more than a political upset; it marks a generational and cultural shift in American politics

Zohran Mamdani’s win as New York Mayor shows that America can still be a land of opportunity
blogs.lse.ac.uk/usappblog/20...

Idk either, but loving this moment!

Musk versus Mamdani!! 🤣

Gen Z turned out to vote for hope not hate?
And @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social won!
He beat the odds, the bigots and the billionaires' $$?

#TurnTheVolumeUp

Musk on Mamdani!!

Made my day!! 🤣

When pressed on his claim that Mamdani is a ‘charismatic swindler’ Musk eventually has to settle for just ‘charismatic’

@zohrankmamdani.bsky.social

This is hilarious!

Uncharasmatic Musk on Mamdani!!

Drives me mad that people talk about Danish immigration policy as a *political* success without bothering to look at the polls.

This is a must listen not only for political scientists, but especially for journalists and politicians. @valentimvicente.bsky.social book on the normalization of the radical right is one of the FT's book of the year 2024.

EU weighs pausing parts of landmark AI act in face of US and Big Tech pressure Brussels is set to water down part of its strict digital rule book as it aims to make bloc more competitive

As predicted, the EU is ready to dismantle its Digital Rulebook as it did with the Green Deal.

It does so upon US administration’s demand and under Big Tech pressure.

It’s a self-inflicted political decision putting the EU on a deregulatory turn on.ft.com/47vqFOl

As with Brexit,
arguing against ongoing participation in a set of international arrangements is one thing...the harder question is what those adopting such a position are arguing for. The trite answer, of course, is: ‘withdrawal from the ECHR’. But that merely invites the question: ‘And then what?'

Legal expert:
‘bringing facts to a vibe fight’ on ECHR withdrawal!
'nationalistic antagonism..can be seen as the Trojan horse it undoubtedly is, and revealing a deeper antipathy to the very notion of enforceable human rights that impose meaningful constraints on majoritarian political institutions.'

The ‘othering’ of human rights and the agenda underlying calls for UK withdrawal from the ECHR A recent conference marking the 75th anniversary anniversary of the European Convention on Human Rights provided a sobering opportunity for reflection on possible trajectories of human rights prote…

New post

Prompted by an excellent conference at @biicl.bsky.social marking the ECHR's 75th anniversary, I reflect in this piece on key themes about the likely trajectory of the UK's human rights debate, given the current (and developing) political climate.

publiclawforeveryone.com/2025/11/07/t...

Even among those who forget/forgive - Any/every Streeting rival can use Starmer’s faux conversion and Streeting’s past stances as a stick to beat him with in the campaign. “Don’t be fooled again” taglines, Streeting in Starmer’s pocket images etc etc…

Starmer successfully using this ploy - pander to the left, then ignore them - will make it much harder for Streeting to pull off the same trick. Members are high information and engagement electorate, with long memories, and Streeting’s past stances are hardly a secret

Elon Musk is boosting the British right - and this shows how Elon Musk is boosting the British right - and this shows how

Great reporting by Tom Cheshire
on @news.sky.com too.
Read report:

@news.sky.com
'HOW ELON MUSK IS BOOSTING THE BRITISH RIGHT

For nine months, Sky News' Data and Forensics team has been investigating whether X's algorithm amplifies right-wing and extreme content. It does.'

The UK Must Urgently Distance Itself From Elon Musk and Space X, Warns Parliamentary Report The UK's infrastructure has become far too reliant on the far-right billionaire, who could 'politicise' our reliance upon his companies, the report warns

🚨🚨 The UK has become too dependent on #Musk and his Space X company for the success of its space programme, and must urgently seek greater independence from it in order to stop the “politicisation” of these services , a new Parliamentary report has warned. bylinetimes.com/2025/11/04/t...

BBC Two - Empire with David Olusoga, Series 1, Episode 1 David Olusoga tells the story of the beginnings of the British Empire under Elizabeth I.

Don’t forget to watch this much needed and long overdue series on the British Empire. Remarkably, it’s not based on the opinions of a travelling ‘personality’, but on what historians who’ve actually researched it say!

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

Elon Musk is boosting the British right - and this shows how Elon Musk is boosting the British right - and this shows how

A magnificent piece of work. Comprehesive, revelatory & shocking. Journalism this good is always rare & precious but never moreso than at times like this. Latter day Lord Haw Haws being plumped, preened & delivered to your doorstep in plain sight by a Nazi-saluting goon
news.sky.com/story/the-x-...

Elon Musk is boosting the British right - and this shows how Elon Musk is boosting the British right - and this shows how

READ THIS !
"For nine months, Sky News' Data and Forensics team has been investigating whether X's algorithm amplifies right-wing and extreme content. It does."
#Musk #propaganda #X #antifa #fascism
news.sky.com/story/the-x-...

Elon Musk is boosting the British right - and this shows how Elon Musk is boosting the British right - and this shows how

Vital piece of investigative reporting from Sky. They've uncovered the X algorithm which feeds users extremist right wing material from the moment they join the site. It is a far-right radicalisation engine, by design.

news.sky.com/story/the-x-...

Labour’s immigration crackdown could cost the UK £4.4bn, Home Office admits Labour’s immigration crackdown could cost the UK £4.4bn, Home Office admits

Labour’s immigration crackdown could cost the UK £4.4bn, Home Office admits