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Tim Bale

@timbale.bsky.social

Professor of Politics at Queen Mary University of London & author of The Conservative Party after Brexit: Turmoil and Transformation (now out in paperback). The bits and pieces I do for websites and newspapers turn up eventually at https://proftimbale.com

27,633 Followers  |  1,036 Following  |  3,381 Posts  |  Joined: 08.10.2023  |  2.0368

Latest posts by timbale.bsky.social on Bluesky

But still doesnโ€™t beat the fact that Cleopatra is closer to us in time than she was to the building of the Great Pyramid.

05.12.2025 17:26 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 74    ๐Ÿ” 23    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 4    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

This seems incredible to read, as it could come straight out of an Orbรกn 2015-16 speech, but this has actually been a dominant position within the broader U.S. Right for decades. ๐Ÿงต

05.12.2025 12:08 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 263    ๐Ÿ” 111    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 6    ๐Ÿ“Œ 7

The new National Security Strategy is a propaganda document, designed to be widely read. It is also a performative suicide. Hard to think of another great power ever abdicating its influence so quickly and so publicly. It will be worth following the reactions around the world, not just in Europe.

05.12.2025 12:17 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1621    ๐Ÿ” 730    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 72    ๐Ÿ“Œ 28

Commiserations, Jack - from me to you ๐Ÿ˜œ

05.12.2025 12:14 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 3    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

It gets increasingly bizarre to deduct your age from your DOB - three more years, and I'll be back into the 19th century. It gives you a rather different perspective on what you thought was 'ancient' history when you were at school.

05.12.2025 11:15 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 4    ๐Ÿ” 2    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 3    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Triumph and Trauma: The British General Election of 2024 Join the Mile End Institute to look back on the 2024 general election, the historic Conservative collapse and Labour's โ€œloveless landslide"!

On 10 December, join @timbale.bsky.social, @stephenkb.bsky.social, @rmcunliffe.bsky.social & @psurridge.bsky.social to discuss "The British General Election of 2024". Join us to explore how the election was won, where it was lost & what's changed since July 2024.
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/triumph-an...

05.12.2025 11:33 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 2    ๐Ÿ” 3    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

I spent upwards of half an hour trying to make sure I got the maths right, and it turns out Love Me Do only got to number one in the US.

05.12.2025 11:45 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 10    ๐Ÿ” 3    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Time catches up with us all When your memories become someone elseโ€™s history

๐Ÿ˜ฑ "For example, the release of The Beatlesโ€™ first UK number one, Love Me Do, is closer to the reign of Queen Victoria than it is to the present day." @jackkessler.bsky.social

05.12.2025 11:13 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 37    ๐Ÿ” 11    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 6    ๐Ÿ“Œ 3
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75% of Reform UKโ€™s donations have come from just three rich men Calls grow for donation caps as Democracy for Sale research reveals that three-quarters of Reformโ€™s funding comes from a trio of wealthy donors

๐Ÿ”ด Nigel Farageโ€™s Reform is more reliant on super-rich backers than any major party in modern British political history

75% of *all* Reform donations *ever* have come from just three rich men

Is this what democracy looks like?

New on Democracy for Sale
democracyforsale.substack.com/p/75-of-refo...

05.12.2025 10:55 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1867    ๐Ÿ” 1071    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 124    ๐Ÿ“Œ 71

In case youโ€™re wondering about the state of the coalition talks in the Netherlandsโ€ฆ

(pictured the five parties talking and the look on the face of the โ€˜informateurโ€™ says it all)

05.12.2025 10:28 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 39    ๐Ÿ” 18    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 2    ๐Ÿ“Œ 3
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The 'Pink Ladies' Laundering Anti-Migrant Views Into the Mainstream An anti-migrant movement backed by Reform and Conservative politicians and regularly invited onto news channels is funded by a far-right group and has platformed a Neo-Nazi activist

A supposedly grassroots anti-migrant movement led by 'ordinary' women, which is backed by Reform and Conservative politicians and is regularly invited onto news channels to promote their views, is funded by a far-right group and has platformed a Neo-Nazi activist

bylinetimes.com/2025/12/05/t...

05.12.2025 10:44 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 571    ๐Ÿ” 320    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 42    ๐Ÿ“Œ 35

๐Ÿ‘‡๐Ÿ‘‡ l

05.12.2025 10:33 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 10    ๐Ÿ” 2    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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The Covid Inquiry shows the importance of ministerial leadership during crises | Institute for Government Clarity of priorities, clear messaging and visible leadership are paramount in any crisis.

The Covid Inquiry shows the importance of ministerial leadership during crises

Clarity of priorities, clear messaging and visible leadership are paramount in any crisis. @sophiedaud.bsky.social @timdurrant.bsky.social

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/article/comm...

05.12.2025 10:33 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 16    ๐Ÿ” 9    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Women/History/Teaching UK
[One of the most shocking findings was that over one third of the papers โ€“ 34.7% โ€“ contained no mention of any women at all. They were not mentioned in questions, in the historical sources provided for students to examine, or in mark schemes.]

05.12.2025 09:51 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 4    ๐Ÿ” 4    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Women are still absent from how history is taught and assessed in England Over a third of GCSE, AS and A-level exam papers in 2023 made no mention of women at all.

Well, I thought this was interesting anyway.

05.12.2025 08:42 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 28    ๐Ÿ” 6    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 1

This is just excellent, every single point is essential to understanding UK politics - and I canโ€™t wait to read the book by @timbale.bsky.social @psurridge.bsky.social @drjennings.bsky.social @robfordmancs.bsky.social

04.12.2025 12:56 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 21    ๐Ÿ” 8    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 2    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Even tactical voting will not help Labour survive a Tory-Reform pact Nigel Farage has been quick to deny reports that, before the next general election, he intends to do a deal with the Conservatives โ€“ but if the right-wing parties ever formalised such an arrangement, ...

โ€œA pact or merger also helps Reform overcome one of the biggest doubts that people have about voting for it โ€“namely its sheer inexperience. Nigel Farage as prime minister and Robert Jenrick as chancellor? Be afraid โ€“ be very afraid.โ€

03.12.2025 19:29 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 48    ๐Ÿ” 27    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 7    ๐Ÿ“Œ 1
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Even tactical voting will not help Labour survive a Tory-Reform pact Nigel Farage has been quick to deny reports that, before the next general election, he intends to do a deal with the Conservatives โ€“ but if the right-wing parties ever formalised such an arrangement, ...

โ€œA pact or merger also helps Reform overcome one of the biggest doubts that people have about voting for it โ€“namely its sheer inexperience. Nigel Farage as prime minister and Robert Jenrick as chancellor? Be afraid โ€“ be very afraid.โ€

03.12.2025 19:29 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 48    ๐Ÿ” 27    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 7    ๐Ÿ“Œ 1
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Disappointed: thought it was going to be yet another Telegraph story about how Kemi Badenoch's improving

03.12.2025 15:17 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 85    ๐Ÿ” 5    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 2    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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This post by @samfr.bsky.social on the new book by @robfordmancs.bsky.social, @timbale.bsky.social, @drjennings.bsky.social and @psurridge.bsky.social is as good as everyone says.

Especially this point busting the myth of the Red Wall and the "hero voter".

samf.substack.com/p/six-lesson...

03.12.2025 17:45 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 20    ๐Ÿ” 10    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Logical step for Labour is to reverse Brexit The political and economic case for the party to campaign in 2028-29 for a return to the single market is overwhelming

Whether an appeal to logic can work with this government is, as we know, something of a moot point.

03.12.2025 18:03 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 32    ๐Ÿ” 2    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 3    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Six lessons from the 2024 election And what they mean for the next one

New post just out:

Six lessons from the 2024 election.

And what they mean for the next one.

Covering: Labour's fatal misunderstanding about why they won; effects of a more fragmented system; changes in media/polling.

(ยฃ/free trial)

samf.substack.com/p/six-lesson...

03.12.2025 08:40 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 126    ๐Ÿ” 36    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 7    ๐Ÿ“Œ 18

Surprise!

03.12.2025 17:18 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 106    ๐Ÿ” 56    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 1
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Disappointed: thought it was going to be yet another Telegraph story about how Kemi Badenoch's improving

03.12.2025 15:17 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 85    ๐Ÿ” 5    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 2    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

how someone has managed to commit war crimes when there is not a war is not a question I expected to answer about actual topical events

03.12.2025 14:52 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 282    ๐Ÿ” 49    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 9    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Chappell Roan - Good Luck, Babe! (Official Lyric Video)
YouTube video by ChappellRoanVEVO Chappell Roan - Good Luck, Babe! (Official Lyric Video)
03.12.2025 14:22 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 2    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Glad I don't do Spotify today. Not sure I want anyone to know that the song I've listened to most is probably

03.12.2025 14:22 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 2    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Monty Python: The North Minehead Bye-Election

"historically Taunton is a part of Minehead already!" (www.ulrikchristensen.dk/scripts/mont...)

03.12.2025 13:48 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

These university types just aren't at the races. Like, Stirling is still using letters when "ยฃ" is just sitting there.

03.12.2025 11:31 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 3    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

It's been interesting seeing such lobbying from a different angle since I joined the Lords. I think a good rule that too many people don't follow is 'ask a backbench opposition politician something different from what you ask the PM'.

03.12.2025 12:19 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 2    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

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