Brian Mcleish
@bmcleish.bsky.social
Public sector public affairs bod, charity trustee and minirugby coach. I post about economic development, social mobility, rugby, TTRPGs and anything else that comes to mind.
Reposted by Brian Mcleish
Did a speedrun of our new "four hour" AI in education online course; completed in <15 minutes, 100% on every test without watching any videos & skimming content. Now I have a certificate and a skill endorsement on LinkedIn. This is good. This is excellent education. Well done everyone.
February 4, 2026 at 3:35 PM
Did a speedrun of our new "four hour" AI in education online course; completed in <15 minutes, 100% on every test without watching any videos & skimming content. Now I have a certificate and a skill endorsement on LinkedIn. This is good. This is excellent education. Well done everyone.
Reposted by Brian Mcleish
I’m not sure ‘our national security developed vetting technique can be beaten if a candidate is prepared to lie’ is an especially helpful line to push.
February 4, 2026 at 12:49 PM
I’m not sure ‘our national security developed vetting technique can be beaten if a candidate is prepared to lie’ is an especially helpful line to push.
For those expressing outrage about Helen possibly being black in the new film (the usual suspects), Homer never actually gave her a physical description in either the Illiad or Odyssey. There are (based on the trailer) A LOT of things to criticise about this movie but this isn't one of them.
February 1, 2026 at 11:09 PM
For those expressing outrage about Helen possibly being black in the new film (the usual suspects), Homer never actually gave her a physical description in either the Illiad or Odyssey. There are (based on the trailer) A LOT of things to criticise about this movie but this isn't one of them.
Reposted by Brian Mcleish
February 1, 2026 at 9:59 PM
Reposted by Brian Mcleish
The best name I’ve ever come across for the triangular checkout divider at supermarkets is the colloquial Swiss word Kassentoblerone, or “cash register Toblerone.”
January 28, 2026 at 5:55 PM
The best name I’ve ever come across for the triangular checkout divider at supermarkets is the colloquial Swiss word Kassentoblerone, or “cash register Toblerone.”
Bovino doesn't realise he is Remirro di Orca in this situation.....
He's throwing that chemical weapon at Minneapolis council member Jason Chavez.
U.S. Customs and Border Patrol Cmdr. Greg Bovino is seen deploying a gas canister at Mueller Park in south Minneapolis this afternoon.
Video by Ben Luhmann.
Video by Ben Luhmann.
January 22, 2026 at 2:28 PM
Bovino doesn't realise he is Remirro di Orca in this situation.....
Reposted by Brian Mcleish
I came to Minneapolis to report on what's going on, and one of the main questions I showed up with is "just what is the scale of the resistance?" After all, we're all used to the news calling Portland a "war zone" or whatever when it's just some protests in one part of town.
January 22, 2026 at 3:58 AM
I came to Minneapolis to report on what's going on, and one of the main questions I showed up with is "just what is the scale of the resistance?" After all, we're all used to the news calling Portland a "war zone" or whatever when it's just some protests in one part of town.
Reposted by Brian Mcleish
The US granted visas to Jews but only allowed 30,000 in from Germany a year. You had to wait for your number to come up.
Meet Robert Smallbones. An unassuming British diplomat who 'hacked' this system so effectively (saving 48 THOUSAND Jews) the UK government kept his scheme secret for decades /1 🧵
Meet Robert Smallbones. An unassuming British diplomat who 'hacked' this system so effectively (saving 48 THOUSAND Jews) the UK government kept his scheme secret for decades /1 🧵
January 21, 2026 at 12:52 PM
The US granted visas to Jews but only allowed 30,000 in from Germany a year. You had to wait for your number to come up.
Meet Robert Smallbones. An unassuming British diplomat who 'hacked' this system so effectively (saving 48 THOUSAND Jews) the UK government kept his scheme secret for decades /1 🧵
Meet Robert Smallbones. An unassuming British diplomat who 'hacked' this system so effectively (saving 48 THOUSAND Jews) the UK government kept his scheme secret for decades /1 🧵
Reposted by Brian Mcleish
Adam Mastroianni has such a gift for an evocative image, you should all read his stuff open.substack.com/pub/experime...
January 20, 2026 at 9:10 PM
Adam Mastroianni has such a gift for an evocative image, you should all read his stuff open.substack.com/pub/experime...
Reposted by Brian Mcleish
Key point from Fiona Hill at @instituteforgovernment.org.uk event this evening about the Trump presidency, both domestic and foreign: “This is not a normal time and we should not rationalise and analyse this into normalcy”
January 20, 2026 at 7:22 PM
Key point from Fiona Hill at @instituteforgovernment.org.uk event this evening about the Trump presidency, both domestic and foreign: “This is not a normal time and we should not rationalise and analyse this into normalcy”
This is it. How the FF can the US hope to occupy Greenland? Look at Afghanistan as a model and then replace the Taliban 'gifted amateurs' with highly trained Danish commandos with the full support of the local population.
January 20, 2026 at 8:45 PM
This is it. How the FF can the US hope to occupy Greenland? Look at Afghanistan as a model and then replace the Taliban 'gifted amateurs' with highly trained Danish commandos with the full support of the local population.
Reposted by Brian Mcleish
A particularly difficult challenge for a government committed to increasing living standards. We're not in the 1930s when unused capacity could be brought back into use. Spending more on defence (and investment) comes at the expense of consumption.
A thousand times this.
If we want to take defence spending from circa 2.5% of GDP to circa 3.5-4% of GDP the question isn’t “how do we pay for it?”. That’s the easy bit - a combination of taxes and borrowing.
The real question is about real resources and what do we want to do less of?
If we want to take defence spending from circa 2.5% of GDP to circa 3.5-4% of GDP the question isn’t “how do we pay for it?”. That’s the easy bit - a combination of taxes and borrowing.
The real question is about real resources and what do we want to do less of?
There's a lot of talk about rearmament and breaking US dependence. I understand the logic completely. But I wonder if people have fully absorbed the economic/consumption implications of serious rearmament, especially when we also consider the state of public opinion and the information environment.
January 19, 2026 at 12:10 PM
A particularly difficult challenge for a government committed to increasing living standards. We're not in the 1930s when unused capacity could be brought back into use. Spending more on defence (and investment) comes at the expense of consumption.
The Faithfuls are falling into the same trap they always do - human nature in full display. She is lovely = faithful; she was nasty to me = traitor. He voted for me, must a traitor; he didn't vote for a traitor, he must be a traitor #TheTraitors
January 14, 2026 at 9:41 PM
The Faithfuls are falling into the same trap they always do - human nature in full display. She is lovely = faithful; she was nasty to me = traitor. He voted for me, must a traitor; he didn't vote for a traitor, he must be a traitor #TheTraitors
Yeah, anyone hoping for free and fair elections in November is living in a fantasy.
January 14, 2026 at 3:00 PM
Yeah, anyone hoping for free and fair elections in November is living in a fantasy.
Reposted by Brian Mcleish
Professor Peterson response to censorship at Texas A&M. (philosopher) king
Some have pointed out that the whole letter would have fit in the alt text window, so here is a version with the whole letter in alt text.
January 8, 2026 at 9:32 PM
Professor Peterson response to censorship at Texas A&M. (philosopher) king
Reposted by Brian Mcleish
Hello! I'm in the market for New Year coffees ☕
Policy areas I'm interested in:
👩💻 AI & tech (regulation & impact on politics/society)
📱 Social media, online safety & misinformation
👩⚕️ Health & the NHS
And happy to chat about other big themes in British politics 🇬🇧
Get in touch via comments or DMs 📩
Policy areas I'm interested in:
👩💻 AI & tech (regulation & impact on politics/society)
📱 Social media, online safety & misinformation
👩⚕️ Health & the NHS
And happy to chat about other big themes in British politics 🇬🇧
Get in touch via comments or DMs 📩
January 6, 2026 at 11:26 AM
Hello! I'm in the market for New Year coffees ☕
Policy areas I'm interested in:
👩💻 AI & tech (regulation & impact on politics/society)
📱 Social media, online safety & misinformation
👩⚕️ Health & the NHS
And happy to chat about other big themes in British politics 🇬🇧
Get in touch via comments or DMs 📩
Policy areas I'm interested in:
👩💻 AI & tech (regulation & impact on politics/society)
📱 Social media, online safety & misinformation
👩⚕️ Health & the NHS
And happy to chat about other big themes in British politics 🇬🇧
Get in touch via comments or DMs 📩
Reposted by Brian Mcleish
Any school still using twitter, let alone posting photos of children, is a danger to its pupils.
Adam could you highlight that many schools/academies are still using X for social media - including posting photos of children?
I’ve managed to bring it to the attention of our CEO, who has asked the schools in the trust not to use it - but MPs are blanking me. It’s a safeguarding issue.
I’ve managed to bring it to the attention of our CEO, who has asked the schools in the trust not to use it - but MPs are blanking me. It’s a safeguarding issue.
January 5, 2026 at 4:56 PM
Any school still using twitter, let alone posting photos of children, is a danger to its pupils.
In news that surprised nobody, Reform is now the most favoured party by the denizens of Prosecco Stormfront. The only surprising thing is that previously (since 2009) it was Labour.
January 5, 2026 at 9:13 AM
In news that surprised nobody, Reform is now the most favoured party by the denizens of Prosecco Stormfront. The only surprising thing is that previously (since 2009) it was Labour.
'Captured' is an interesting framing..... 'kidnapped' might be a more accurate one.
January 3, 2026 at 9:53 AM
'Captured' is an interesting framing..... 'kidnapped' might be a more accurate one.
That is Napoleon, not Sun Tzu!
January 2, 2026 at 8:51 PM
That is Napoleon, not Sun Tzu!
Not sure why this is surprising. Perceived failings of capability are always judged less harshly than perceived failings of ethics. They don't think he is bad at his job, they think he is dishonest - giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/... via @FT
‘There’s a real dislike, even loathing’: why voters hate Starmer and Reeves
Allies concede the prime minister and chancellor have made mistakes yet the level of disdain towards them is still striking
giftarticle.ft.com
December 31, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Not sure why this is surprising. Perceived failings of capability are always judged less harshly than perceived failings of ethics. They don't think he is bad at his job, they think he is dishonest - giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/... via @FT
Reposted by Brian Mcleish
I already agree with this in principle - citizenship is an untouchable status or it is nothing - but also for reasons of prudence. “The Home Sec can revoke citizenship when he/she deems someone’s online output sufficiently offensive” is a v dangerous precedent to set with Reform leading all polls.
December 29, 2025 at 11:18 AM
I already agree with this in principle - citizenship is an untouchable status or it is nothing - but also for reasons of prudence. “The Home Sec can revoke citizenship when he/she deems someone’s online output sufficiently offensive” is a v dangerous precedent to set with Reform leading all polls.
Herald headlines email this morning had 3 stories that were de facto For Women Scotland press releases. Slow news day?
December 29, 2025 at 12:47 PM
Herald headlines email this morning had 3 stories that were de facto For Women Scotland press releases. Slow news day?
Make a Bond film casual.
From Ruislip with Love
Dine another Day
Zirconia are Forever
From Ruislip with Love
Dine another Day
Zirconia are Forever
Make a bond film casual
Ladbrokes Royale
Ladbrokes Royale
Make a bond film casual
Physician Associate No
Physician Associate No
December 26, 2025 at 9:15 PM
Make a Bond film casual.
From Ruislip with Love
Dine another Day
Zirconia are Forever
From Ruislip with Love
Dine another Day
Zirconia are Forever