Joe Robbins

Just ten years ago the UK was top of the list - the best place in Europe for LGBT rights. We are now 22nd

The only country to drop faster in one year than us is Hungary

The government needs to act in a major way before this becomes their entire legacy

In 3 years time, Piers Morgan will have the same ‘epiphany’

My latest Substack post - for those interested in the parallels between politics today, and the Roman Macedonians. Can Philippians help us in today’s climate? open.substack.com/pub/joerobbi...

Going down an Aquinas ‘Natural Law Theory’ rabbit hole this week. If anyone could point me towards academically accepted criticisms and alternative theories, that would be great :-)

When they realise that to have a chance of putting their left wing policies into law, they need to also appeal to right wing voters, they generally win. As Labour Prime Minister Tony Blair said, ‘No one ever voted Conservative (Right wing) because Labour weren’t left wing enough.’

as is commonplace when Labour gets elected - it realised it needed to appeal to the right as well as the left, to get the votes it needed. When Labour gets angry with people for not voting for them, it doesn’t get in. When they decide they aren’t left wing enough, they don’t get in.

In the UK we have just defied worldwide trends and voted in a left wing government. In fact our whole parliament is decidedly left wing, for the first time in a long time. This has partly happened because of the shit show of the last ten years. It’s also happened because -

I’m genuinely scared for the next four years - because of the devastating impact it will have on lives in the US, but also because what happens in your country has a huge effect on the rest of us.

I’m guessing you haven’t read the whole conversation 😂. Not in God’s earth will I ever join MAGA, so that accusation is a first for me. I’m centre-left, if anything; a Blairite, in UK terms.

You know what, you’re right to call me out, so sorry and thank you. It’s helped me in my thinking.

You know what, the more I think about it, I think I was wrong to say it. The thing is, as a white man I am in a privileged position in that I am (relatively) safe. When I look at it from outside of that perspective, the more I think it’s safer to assume that it was, for everyone’s sake. I’m sorry.

See I would just say that’s disagreement. I’ve believed he’s been setting everything on fire for years and years. When I think of him and Trump as global leaders, it terrifies me, feels me with despair and dread. I just happen to disagree on ‘that’ gesture. Could be wrong though.

lol. I literally said I think he’s dangerous. Nuance.

You know what, think whatever you want about me, I don’t care.

Of course they are. Not doubting that for one second. As I said, they’re dangerous.

Broad sweeping statements will get us nowhere, but I don’t see that ending, so we’ll lose the next election and wonder why again. Rinse, repeat.

Meanwhile, while we’re debating this, they’re getting on with the delivery of Project 25 (which they said they weren’t going to do)

I think we have a huge problem on the left, in that we make blanket statements like this, which we use as a way of justifying not having to listen to anyone else. Then we are surprised when we don’t get voted into power. We do it continually, and it plays into the hands of the alt right.

Not necessarily. I don’t think it was a Nazi salute, but I still think he’s incredibly dangerous. But you can guarantee that the more we accuse him of a Nazi salute, the more likely it is that the MAGA cult will make it their own.

I think it would depend on the relationship I had with them.

This is Putinesque behaviour. The article may as well have said ‘US Government attempting to install puppet leaders across Europe.’

Well done Jess. I’m fuming at the position Musk has put you in. I note that the same right wing media who wet their pants over Labour members in US Election, don’t have an issue with right wing foreign politicians who actually interfere in our democracy.

The media’s willingness to let one man dictate national conversations, shows unfit for purpose they have become.

I mean… they’re pretty accurate depictions 😂

A new post. I’m really enjoying the self discovery element of writing. You can find my latest post here: open.substack.com/pub/joerobbi...

YouTube video by The Graham Norton Show John Bishop Became A Comedy Star By Accident | The Graham Norton Show

A genuinely heartwarming story - a phoenix rising from the ashes. Got a lot of time for John Bishop. youtu.be/BiWPDU5evVs?...

Riding the January Blues When You Prefer Roller Coasters A Different Kind of New Year's Resolution

My first foray into the world of Substack. open.substack.com/pub/joerobbi...

Erik Erickson, whose seminal work was on the eight stages of development.

‘How did man’s need for identity evolve? Before Darwin the answer was clear; because God created Adam in His image, as a counter player of His identity … I admit to not having come up with any better explanation.‘

Thou shalt pay Amazon workers fairly, for they are as close as it gets to being Santa’s elves. Without them, Christmas doesn’t happen.

A dirt path with tall grasses on either side, and a sunset over the sea in the distance

Time for my annual shoutout to local authority adults and children's social care emergency duty teams who are helping people every night, every holiday, every weekend. You don't see them. But they're one of the most creative, problem-solving teams you'll ever meet. Thanks EDTs 🙏🏻

Perhaps Jesus had the circumstances around his own birth in mind when, later on, he says ‘whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me’