Antony Carpen
@acarpen.bsky.social
Ex-Whitehall type still with views on public policy, but now local historian in Cambridge (UK) blogging at https://lostcambridge.com/ - also writing about the future of the city on The Cambridge Town Owl.
Reposted by Antony Carpen
#OTD Lilian Bader was born in 1918. Read Lucia Wallnak’s blog on ‘one of the first Black British women in the Royal Air Force’.
womenshistorynetwork.org/lilian-bader...
#WomensHistory #GenderHist
womenshistorynetwork.org/lilian-bader...
#WomensHistory #GenderHist
Lilian Bader: one of the first Black British women in the Royal Air Force by Lucia Wallbank
In 1990, a group of African and Caribbean ex-service personnel appeared on an episode of the BBC television show ‘Hear-Say’. One woman explained why Britain’s Black citizens chose to take up arms i…
womenshistorynetwork.org
February 18, 2026 at 12:12 PM
#OTD Lilian Bader was born in 1918. Read Lucia Wallnak’s blog on ‘one of the first Black British women in the Royal Air Force’.
womenshistorynetwork.org/lilian-bader...
#WomensHistory #GenderHist
womenshistorynetwork.org/lilian-bader...
#WomensHistory #GenderHist
Reposted by Antony Carpen
On Wednesday at 7pm I'll be joined by the Green Party leader @ZackPolanski for an hour long phone-in.
February 16, 2026 at 10:00 AM
On Wednesday at 7pm I'll be joined by the Green Party leader @ZackPolanski for an hour long phone-in.
The very visible potholes and empty shop units in town centres vs the extreme wealth inequalities paraded in the A-list celebrity & sports press through to publicity on sci-tech & property booms are also hard for politicians to avoid. The inequalities are right in front of them.
There is a difference between rhetorical focus and actual government focus and most people can tell the difference
February 18, 2026 at 12:15 PM
The very visible potholes and empty shop units in town centres vs the extreme wealth inequalities paraded in the A-list celebrity & sports press through to publicity on sci-tech & property booms are also hard for politicians to avoid. The inequalities are right in front of them.
Reposted by Antony Carpen
The thing about promising things like "levelling up" is that if you don't actually follow through (and the government didn't) then voters tend to get more nihilistic than if you hadn't bothered
It’s now quite hard to sustain that ex-mining, pro-Brexit, Labour-to-Reform swing seats (via levelling up) have been overlooked or forgotten by Westminster. They’ve been the axis of politics 15 years. Why it hasn’t worked is the question
This is fine as a snapshot of how things are in the place, but...what do we do?
Whatever it is will almost certainly need spending not tax cuts.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Whatever it is will almost certainly need spending not tax cuts.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
February 18, 2026 at 10:19 AM
The thing about promising things like "levelling up" is that if you don't actually follow through (and the government didn't) then voters tend to get more nihilistic than if you hadn't bothered
Reposted by Antony Carpen
This is actually interesting disclosure, because it makes explicit what a lot of commentators think: that all politics is about orientating yourself relationally with/ against your nearest opponent, rather than having a plan or vision or even a reliable set of values of your own
The article Danny should have written if he wasn’t desperately trying to cope with the extinction of the Tory Party;
“Kemi Badenoch appears to have no view on where her party should stand in relation to Labour or Reform.
“What is the point of the Tory party anymore?”
“Kemi Badenoch appears to have no view on where her party should stand in relation to Labour or Reform.
“What is the point of the Tory party anymore?”
'Ed Davey appears to have no view on where his party should stand in relation to Labour, Tories, Greens or Reform'
February 18, 2026 at 12:09 PM
This is actually interesting disclosure, because it makes explicit what a lot of commentators think: that all politics is about orientating yourself relationally with/ against your nearest opponent, rather than having a plan or vision or even a reliable set of values of your own
Reposted by Antony Carpen
The article Danny should have written if he wasn’t desperately trying to cope with the extinction of the Tory Party;
“Kemi Badenoch appears to have no view on where her party should stand in relation to Labour or Reform.
“What is the point of the Tory party anymore?”
“Kemi Badenoch appears to have no view on where her party should stand in relation to Labour or Reform.
“What is the point of the Tory party anymore?”
'Ed Davey appears to have no view on where his party should stand in relation to Labour, Tories, Greens or Reform'
The Lib Dems have lost all sense of direction
The Lib Dems have lost all sense of direction
www.thetimes.com
February 18, 2026 at 9:40 AM
The article Danny should have written if he wasn’t desperately trying to cope with the extinction of the Tory Party;
“Kemi Badenoch appears to have no view on where her party should stand in relation to Labour or Reform.
“What is the point of the Tory party anymore?”
“Kemi Badenoch appears to have no view on where her party should stand in relation to Labour or Reform.
“What is the point of the Tory party anymore?”
Reposted by Antony Carpen
Malaysia has blocked 200 tonnes of illegally shipped e-waste — a stark reminder that the so-called circular economy is still a distant goal.
There is no “away”. Our waste ends up somewhere — too often poisoning communities in the Global South. Producers must be held responsible.
#CircularEconomy
There is no “away”. Our waste ends up somewhere — too often poisoning communities in the Global South. Producers must be held responsible.
#CircularEconomy
February 18, 2026 at 11:01 AM
Malaysia has blocked 200 tonnes of illegally shipped e-waste — a stark reminder that the so-called circular economy is still a distant goal.
There is no “away”. Our waste ends up somewhere — too often poisoning communities in the Global South. Producers must be held responsible.
#CircularEconomy
There is no “away”. Our waste ends up somewhere — too often poisoning communities in the Global South. Producers must be held responsible.
#CircularEconomy
Now that Andrew is technically no longer a Royal, does that mean the Royal Family exemption no longer applies? 👀
I have tabled a motion in parliament, calling on Buckingham Palace to publish all communication which references the relationship between Jeffrey Epstein and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.
Statements of support for victims of Epstein’s abuse are insufficient if crucial information is still covered up.
Statements of support for victims of Epstein’s abuse are insufficient if crucial information is still covered up.
February 18, 2026 at 10:54 AM
Now that Andrew is technically no longer a Royal, does that mean the Royal Family exemption no longer applies? 👀
Reposted by Antony Carpen
A liking for exotic coffee isn't a class signal in the UK. However, *thinking* that working class people prefer plain boring coffee is a very strong indicator that the speaker is upper middle class. No-one who actually has working class friends could be so deluded.
Please pray for Matthew. He went into a Greggs and the staff held him down and forced him to drink a woke beverage.
February 18, 2026 at 9:56 AM
A liking for exotic coffee isn't a class signal in the UK. However, *thinking* that working class people prefer plain boring coffee is a very strong indicator that the speaker is upper middle class. No-one who actually has working class friends could be so deluded.
Big revenues for chip-maker ARM. You can catch a bus in the opposite side of this potholed-road and in a straight line it’ll take you to the stop outside their HQ. Successive Treasury Ministers won’t let #Localgov tax the huge profits & excess wealth so Cambridge has private wealth & public squalor.
February 18, 2026 at 10:42 AM
Big revenues for chip-maker ARM. You can catch a bus in the opposite side of this potholed-road and in a straight line it’ll take you to the stop outside their HQ. Successive Treasury Ministers won’t let #Localgov tax the huge profits & excess wealth so Cambridge has private wealth & public squalor.
When will Treasury ministers get on with overhauling the broken system of council taxes & business rates? This was only meant to be a temporary replacement for the Poll Tax / Community Charge. Hence rates indexed to house prices in 1991. archive.org/details/9301... explains.
February 18, 2026 at 10:36 AM
When will Treasury ministers get on with overhauling the broken system of council taxes & business rates? This was only meant to be a temporary replacement for the Poll Tax / Community Charge. Hence rates indexed to house prices in 1991. archive.org/details/9301... explains.
Reposted by Antony Carpen
Now that elections are back on, there needs to be clarity around the exceptional circumstances where elections may be postponed in future. Democracy isn't an option extra for local government. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Councils face 'uphill struggle' after elections delay U-turn
Thirty councils across England now have to organise local polls after the government abandoned plans to delay.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 18, 2026 at 10:19 AM
Now that elections are back on, there needs to be clarity around the exceptional circumstances where elections may be postponed in future. Democracy isn't an option extra for local government. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Antony Carpen
They were sitting as various independents - we had Independent Group and Independent Reformers groups at KCC - after being kicked out of Reform. Burns came directly from Reform.
February 18, 2026 at 7:29 AM
They were sitting as various independents - we had Independent Group and Independent Reformers groups at KCC - after being kicked out of Reform. Burns came directly from Reform.
Reposted by Antony Carpen
The basic line between Restore Britain and Reform UK is simple: Restore is openly racist, Reform veils its racism.
Even the BNP wasn't as openly racist as Restore; for them to have Parliamentary and significant local govt representation feels a Rubicon crossed.
Even the BNP wasn't as openly racist as Restore; for them to have Parliamentary and significant local govt representation feels a Rubicon crossed.
Kent County Council latest:
Seven KCC councillors have defected to Rupert Lowe's Restore Britain tonight.
They are Paul Thomas, Brian Black, Oliver Bradshaw, Maxine Fothergill, Isabella Kemp, Robert Ford, and Dean Burns.
Most had already been kicked out of Reform, with the exception of Burns.
Seven KCC councillors have defected to Rupert Lowe's Restore Britain tonight.
They are Paul Thomas, Brian Black, Oliver Bradshaw, Maxine Fothergill, Isabella Kemp, Robert Ford, and Dean Burns.
Most had already been kicked out of Reform, with the exception of Burns.
February 18, 2026 at 10:17 AM
The basic line between Restore Britain and Reform UK is simple: Restore is openly racist, Reform veils its racism.
Even the BNP wasn't as openly racist as Restore; for them to have Parliamentary and significant local govt representation feels a Rubicon crossed.
Even the BNP wasn't as openly racist as Restore; for them to have Parliamentary and significant local govt representation feels a Rubicon crossed.
NEW BLOGPOST: Brookgate are back next week with their detailed plans of their Tory-minister-approved “Great Wall of North East Cambridge” of 2024 cambridgetownowl.com/2026/02/17/d... But Anglian Water’s policy change remains a big barrier
Detailed plans for Cambridge North boxes to be presented to city council
The Cambridge North planning application – outline permission for which was controversially granted on appeal by ministers in the dying days of the Conservative Government in 2024, is back wi…
cambridgetownowl.com
February 18, 2026 at 7:35 AM
NEW BLOGPOST: Brookgate are back next week with their detailed plans of their Tory-minister-approved “Great Wall of North East Cambridge” of 2024 cambridgetownowl.com/2026/02/17/d... But Anglian Water’s policy change remains a big barrier
Reposted by Antony Carpen
Rally tomorrow for Cambridge University Vet School
February 17, 2026 at 6:35 PM
Rally tomorrow for Cambridge University Vet School
Reposted by Antony Carpen
It's now at 3.5 million and it's also the only video I can play on YouTube right now. Where they normally have a million related/recommended videos is just blank black page so all I could do is pay attention lol great work, Bari
Over a million views in 11 hours. Guess the bad guys trying to silence this Colbert interview with @jamestalarico.bsky.social really didn’t work, huh? Such a shame… #StreisandEffect @colbertlateshow.bsky.social youtu.be/oiTJ7Pz_59A?...
Rep. James Talarico On Confronting Christian Nationalism, And Strange Days In The Texas Legislature
YouTube video by The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
youtu.be
February 18, 2026 at 2:14 AM
It's now at 3.5 million and it's also the only video I can play on YouTube right now. Where they normally have a million related/recommended videos is just blank black page so all I could do is pay attention lol great work, Bari
Side-point, Interesting to note how the Department of Health is still using the old Government Offices for the Regions boundaries - scrapped by Eric Pickles in 2011 for most of the rest of Whitehall.
There is a measles outbreak in London, which has been widely reported.
Vaccination rates are low.
And we have been warned that an outbreak could be large.
Some of the reasons are due to misinformation and disinformation. Thankfully the Government appears to be waking up.
A thread.
Vaccination rates are low.
And we have been warned that an outbreak could be large.
Some of the reasons are due to misinformation and disinformation. Thankfully the Government appears to be waking up.
A thread.
February 17, 2026 at 11:37 PM
Side-point, Interesting to note how the Department of Health is still using the old Government Offices for the Regions boundaries - scrapped by Eric Pickles in 2011 for most of the rest of Whitehall.
NEW BLOGPOST: "Detailed plans for Cambridge North boxes to be presented to city council" cambridgetownowl.com/2026/02/17/d... @cambridgeppf.bsky.social slammed the outline design as creating 'The Great Wall of North East Cambridge' at the time. Note Anglian Water's change of policy is a new issue.
Detailed plans for Cambridge North boxes to be presented to city council
The Cambridge North planning application – outline permission for which was controversially granted on appeal by ministers in the dying days of the Conservative Government in 2024, is back wi…
cambridgetownowl.com
February 17, 2026 at 11:14 PM
NEW BLOGPOST: "Detailed plans for Cambridge North boxes to be presented to city council" cambridgetownowl.com/2026/02/17/d... @cambridgeppf.bsky.social slammed the outline design as creating 'The Great Wall of North East Cambridge' at the time. Note Anglian Water's change of policy is a new issue.
Is it possible to build the best *policy operation* in British politics on part-time hours? Only...>
Reform’s new “head of policy” has said Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is a “regional Slavic conflict”.
He added: “It is a conflict happening in the world that I don’t care very much about.”
He added: “It is a conflict happening in the world that I don’t care very much about.”
February 17, 2026 at 8:45 PM
Is it possible to build the best *policy operation* in British politics on part-time hours? Only...>
Reposted by Antony Carpen
Important interview with Gisele Pelicot and the bravery she has shown in her determination that 'shame has to change sides.'
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...
Gisèle Pelicot: The Newsnight Interview
In an exclusive UK interview, Victoria Derbyshire talks to Gisèle Pelicot in Paris about the 2024 trial of her husband and 50 other men, the public's support and her future.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 17, 2026 at 6:52 PM
Important interview with Gisele Pelicot and the bravery she has shown in her determination that 'shame has to change sides.'
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...
NEW VIDEO: Leader of Norfolk County Council, Cllr Kay Mason Billig (Cons - Loddon & Chedgrave) Speech on Devolution in response to Secretary of State Steve Reed MP. www.youtube.com/watch?v=yo_a...
cc @flipchartrick.bsky.social
cc @flipchartrick.bsky.social
Norfolk County Council - Full Council
YouTube video by Norfolk County Council Democratic Services
www.youtube.com
February 17, 2026 at 7:37 PM
NEW VIDEO: Leader of Norfolk County Council, Cllr Kay Mason Billig (Cons - Loddon & Chedgrave) Speech on Devolution in response to Secretary of State Steve Reed MP. www.youtube.com/watch?v=yo_a...
cc @flipchartrick.bsky.social
cc @flipchartrick.bsky.social
***Ooof!*** "A council leader has accused the local government secretary of being a "bully" who made "threats" about funding if she spoke out against local elections being postponed." www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... #Localgov this is getting messy re devolution.
February 17, 2026 at 7:31 PM
***Ooof!*** "A council leader has accused the local government secretary of being a "bully" who made "threats" about funding if she spoke out against local elections being postponed." www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... #Localgov this is getting messy re devolution.
😱 re Norfolk & devolution.
February 17, 2026 at 7:30 PM
😱 re Norfolk & devolution.
Looks like the opening credits of a daytime TV talk show from the noughties - like Vanessa or Trisha. They’re all doing that hands thing!
Nigel’s superheroes come out of the shadows to play dress-up
Nigel’s superheroes come out of the shadows to play dress-up
www.thetimes.com
February 17, 2026 at 6:27 PM
Looks like the opening credits of a daytime TV talk show from the noughties - like Vanessa or Trisha. They’re all doing that hands thing!