Ben Phillips
Ben Phillips
@benphillips.bsky.social
A bearded man. The product of a union of a Mancunian and a Londoner. Microsoft | Technology | EFTA4UK supporter | pro HS2 | Travel | Politics | British TV Comedy | Running | still listening to happy hardcore and drum & bass | anti cricket
Reposted by Ben Phillips
Long thread on how Brexitism started and evolved over 75 years, drawing from Benjamin Grob-Fitzgibbon's 'Continental Drift'.

Global Britain, Free Trade, Cakeism, Federalism, anti-federalism, EEA, Winston Churchill, Empire, 52-48 referendums, Enoch Powell, 1975, Thatcher.... It's all here. /1
November 10, 2024 at 5:41 PM
Reposted by Ben Phillips
Stopping HS2 rail and using that money to fix potholes is so depressingly indicative of the state of the UK.
November 17, 2023 at 10:02 AM
Reposted by Ben Phillips
🎬 Latest Video 🎬 Handsacre, The End of the Line for HS2? youtu.be/oXBl_9fgCFY
November 14, 2023 at 7:42 PM
Reposted by Ben Phillips
Though 🇬🇧 is not an Arctic state, its strategic position neighbouring the region, reliance on sea lines, its role in NATO & its leadership on climate-change issues all entail a need for close engagement with developments in the High North.
That means hard & soft power
www.rand.org/pubs/researc...
UK strategy for the High North
This report offers a perspective on how the UK could maximise its influence in the High North through enhanced cooperation across government and within multilateral fora in order to tackle environment...
www.rand.org
November 4, 2023 at 12:16 AM
Reposted by Ben Phillips
This is quite fascinating if you have time to read it
The Maastricht Treaty was the founding moment of modern 🇬🇧 euroscepticism.
What’s entirely lacking from this 👇 is any sense of needing to defend the EU as an idea

johnmajorarchive.org.uk/1992/05/20/m...
Mr Major’s Commons Statement on the European Community – 20 May 1992 – The Rt. Hon. Sir John M...
johnmajorarchive.org.uk
November 3, 2023 at 7:42 AM
Reposted by Ben Phillips
‘The Network North plans lack clear commitments and timelines. Few if any have been fully scoped or costed’ - Sunak’s replacement for HS2 is political gaslighting.
www.politicshome.com/members/arti...
Message to Government on rail projects: please tell us what you want to be delivered and when
The decision to scrap the HS2 Phase 2 leg between Birmingham and Manchester has received much media coverage in recent weeks. However, there has been less focus on what comes after.
www.politicshome.com
October 29, 2023 at 7:18 AM
Not sure I'm keen on the font here in Bluesky.
October 31, 2023 at 2:55 PM