Richard Baxell

NHS ‘facing worst-case scenario’ as hospital flu cases jump 55% in a week Number of people in England being treated remains at record level for this time of year with daily average of 2,660

It’s a bad flu year but its not too late to get your flu vaccine but don’t delay as they take a week or so to kick in. Supermarkets with pharmacies have the vax too.

Martin Parr, absolute mensch.

From Colin Wilkinson, founder of Bluecoat Press, on FB

The Institute of Economic Affairs Banked £640,000 from Oil Giants and Murdoch The Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) – the anti-state, anti-climate pressure group – received more than £640,000 from fossil fuel companies and Rupert Murdoch’s media conglomerate between 1957 and ...

🔴 REVEALED 🔴

The Institute of Economic Affairs – the anti-state, anti-climate pressure group that "incubated" Liz Truss – was bankrolled by oil giants and Rupert Murdoch’s media empire.

📝 Exclusive findings from @desmog.com 👇

In what sense is Tommy Robinson a genuine Christian? None that I can see | Ravi Holy The extremist, who is said to have converted in prison, is now planning a mass carol service. But look at his words and deeds: hardly Saint Tommy, is it, says vicar and stand-up comedian Ravi Holy

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Nominative determinism is back!
(Despite the best efforts of James Cleverly).

I don't know, but I'm not prepared to take the chance!

"there's a new serif in town"

Upcoming Deadline!
Applications are open for The Nicholas Crafts Early Career Award in Economic and/or Social History.
It is made in memory of Professor Nicholas ‘Nick’ Crafts, made possible by a generous bequest.
A prize of £1000 is available for early career scholars.
Deadline: 15 December.

Robert Mcintosh Applied History & Policy Fellowship Robert Mcintosh Applied History & Policy Fellowship

If you are a historian with policy-facing interests who has recently submitted their PhD (or will do so imminently), this fantastic new London-based postdoc fellowship in Applied History could be for you. www.history.ac.uk/fellowships/...

The Spanish Ambassador, José Pascual Marco Martìnez, with family members of the International Brigades at the Spanish Embassy in London

The Spanish Ambassador, José Pascual Marco Martìnez, toasting some very happy descendents of International Brigaders who were awarded Spanish citizenship today.

This is actually quite brilliant, up to and including the final sentence 🔥

The #WolfsonHistoryPrize 2025 winner will be announced tomorrow! Don't forget to let us know which book you would like to see win.

Follow tomorrow's live winner announcement on @wolfsonhistory.bsky.social.

On my way to the Spanish Embassy for a ceremony to award citizenship to the descendents of International Brigaders and Republican exiles. ¡Felicidades a todos!

Kirsten Weld: “The Administration Has Made No Secret of Its Admiration for Franco-Style Authoritarianism.” - The Volunteer Kirsten Weld has spent years studying Latin American dictatorships and the citizens who fight to hold them accountable. That experience has proven valuable in her current role as president of the AAUP...

Some colleagues working on the Spanish Civil are also on the frontlines defending academic freedom.

My conversation w @kirstenweld.bsky.social, which appeared in Spanish in @ctxt.es, is now out in English at the #VolunteerForLiberty (@lincolnbrigade.bsky.social).

albavolunteer.org/2025/11/kirs...

Sergio Leone: Something to Do with Death - Film and Furniture Christopher Frayling’s remarkable biography of Sergio Leone explores his body of work and casts light on little-known details of his life.

You'd enjoy this, I think:
filmandfurniture.com/product/serg...

'Looks like we're shy one horse.'
'You bought two too many.'

The pope in a plane. Holding a baseball bat. Now you know what muscular Christianity means.

Go on. I dare you. Lean your seat back just one more time...

Funny - that's exactly what I said.

Just been dragged to a garden centre where they're playing Paul McCartney's Simply Having a Wonderful Christmas Time.
So THAT'S why it's called Black Friday 🤦‍♂️

Revenge is a dish best served cold and all that.

Good morning to Brazilian reporter Manuela Borges, who’s been waiting eleven years for this petty moment. ❤️ 🇧🇷

Highly recommend this @britishacademy.bsky.social scheme: organizing a conference helped consolidate research ideas while making new and serendipitous connections. Would urge applicants to build in cross-disciplinary perspectives from the start, including with the creative arts.

if you are concerned that magistrates are being given more powers and you think that the demographics of magistrates might mean that these powers are unfairly deployed, a good thing to do is to look up the qualifications to become a magistrate and to think seriously about doing that yourself

I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.

They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1

On Writing and Relief Work Ellen Ross on the humanitarian activities of a British Quaker, Francesca Wilson, in the Spanish Civil War and beyond.

Ellen Ross on the humanitarian activities of a British Quaker, Francesca Wilson, in the Spanish Civil War and beyond.

This piece accompanies Ellen Ross and Tammy M Proctor’s recent article in History Workshop Journal Volume 99.

Open for commissions

So it's that time of year when you might be thinking about a unique gift for your loved ones. Well what could be more unique than a hand-sketched or painted picture of your pets, family, best friends and/or worst enemies?

Open for festive commissions with following prices:

Boris Johnson didn't apologise to Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, even when she told him in person the lasting impact his comments about her had on her detention in Iran, her husband tells the BBC

Boris Johnson took four days off as NHS warned Covid could ‘overwhelm’ system Files show then PM was walking dog, riding motorbike and hosting guests as pandemic planning stalled in ‘lost month’

Of course he did.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Don't forget that tomorrow I will be giving a FREE talk on #ChurchillsSpaniards and #EspañolesContraElNazismo at the Manchester Central Hall at 2pm. Email doloreslong@fastmail.fm to guarantee a place. Thanks to IBMT Manchester & Instituto Cervantes Manchester !! #ContinuingtheFight

Spain has too rosy a view of Franco’s regime. Let’s remind ourselves of its horrors | Giles Tremlett Little is taught about the murderous, incompetent dictatorship – and now almost one in five young people say Franco was good for the country, says historian Giles Tremlett

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

UK Covid inquiry:

Chairwoman of the inquiry, former judge Baroness Hallett, said the UK's response could be summarised as "too little, too late"

Lockdown could have been avoided - but action came too late

'Chaotic' government with key figures criticised including Dominic Cummings & Boris Johnson