Ben Williams
@bpwilliams72.bsky.social
Liberal sort. Rambler. Singer. Gamer. Occasional writer. Recovering politico. Former lots of things (inc. Lib Dem Leader's Chief of Staff, Cabinet Office SpAd, Head of Whips' Office). Yorkshire via Essex. Posting in a strictly personal capacity.
Reposted by Ben Williams
I think I agree with that.
On the other hand, the place making bit of Levelling Up - repainting bandstands, new hanging baskets, tidying-up streets etc - which was often derided, is also good! And works quicker.
Spending money on making places nicer is good policy.
On the other hand, the place making bit of Levelling Up - repainting bandstands, new hanging baskets, tidying-up streets etc - which was often derided, is also good! And works quicker.
Spending money on making places nicer is good policy.
February 18, 2026 at 11:12 AM
I think I agree with that.
On the other hand, the place making bit of Levelling Up - repainting bandstands, new hanging baskets, tidying-up streets etc - which was often derided, is also good! And works quicker.
Spending money on making places nicer is good policy.
On the other hand, the place making bit of Levelling Up - repainting bandstands, new hanging baskets, tidying-up streets etc - which was often derided, is also good! And works quicker.
Spending money on making places nicer is good policy.
Reposted by Ben Williams
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...
Inside Horden, the County Durham town failed by politics
In Horden, County Durham, Westminster slogans have long been left unmet as the population has plummeted.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 18, 2026 at 9:25 AM
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
Reposted by Ben Williams
If you want to know more about James Orr’s many strange and sinister views, we did a mini profile at the top of our last live show
open.spotify.com/episode/6Ove...
open.spotify.com/episode/6Ove...
February 18, 2026 at 10:23 AM
If you want to know more about James Orr’s many strange and sinister views, we did a mini profile at the top of our last live show
open.spotify.com/episode/6Ove...
open.spotify.com/episode/6Ove...
Reposted by Ben Williams
One of the more hopeful signs in UK politics is that Reform consistently struggles to poll above the mid-to-high 20s - despite a deteriorating economy, the simultaneous implosion of both the traditional parties and a pet TV station.
Reform is not some unstoppable force. It's eminently beatable.
Reform is not some unstoppable force. It's eminently beatable.
Reform's polling is ~the lowest its been since last year's local elections
February 17, 2026 at 6:13 PM
One of the more hopeful signs in UK politics is that Reform consistently struggles to poll above the mid-to-high 20s - despite a deteriorating economy, the simultaneous implosion of both the traditional parties and a pet TV station.
Reform is not some unstoppable force. It's eminently beatable.
Reform is not some unstoppable force. It's eminently beatable.
Reposted by Ben Williams
“it’s always a choice when journalists decide to clean up quotes – or not. It’s always revealing which politicians have “uh” or “um” removed...For instance, how often does the mainstream media let Donald Trump’s words speak for themselves?"
Today’s First Draft email, on the media's coverage of AOC:
Today’s First Draft email, on the media's coverage of AOC:
First Draft: AOC Under (Unfair?) Attack
Prem on how reporters and Republicans want to undermine Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's big foreign policy event, Jesse Jackson's death, and more fallout from the Epstein files.
zeteo.com
February 17, 2026 at 6:08 PM
“it’s always a choice when journalists decide to clean up quotes – or not. It’s always revealing which politicians have “uh” or “um” removed...For instance, how often does the mainstream media let Donald Trump’s words speak for themselves?"
Today’s First Draft email, on the media's coverage of AOC:
Today’s First Draft email, on the media's coverage of AOC:
Reposted by Ben Williams
Labour's problem isn't that it isn't "left-wing" enough, it's that it's not *liberal* enough, argues @sjwrenlewis.bsky.social
mainlymacro.blogspot.com/2026/02/how-...
mainlymacro.blogspot.com/2026/02/how-...
How Labour makes fighting right wing populism harder
I must confess that this post will be very similar to one I wrote a fortnight ago. The big difference is that this is about this Labour g...
mainlymacro.blogspot.com
February 17, 2026 at 1:51 PM
Labour's problem isn't that it isn't "left-wing" enough, it's that it's not *liberal* enough, argues @sjwrenlewis.bsky.social
mainlymacro.blogspot.com/2026/02/how-...
mainlymacro.blogspot.com/2026/02/how-...
Reposted by Ben Williams
Farage absolutely clueless on the Epstein/Mandelson story here, where the FT (especially @pickardje.bsky.social) has led the way on recent revelations. His thin skin could easily become a vulnerability.
Nigel Farage lashes out at a FT journalist and refuses to answer the question.
Is this how Reform UK would ignore media questions if they got into government?
Is this how Reform UK would ignore media questions if they got into government?
February 17, 2026 at 1:20 PM
Farage absolutely clueless on the Epstein/Mandelson story here, where the FT (especially @pickardje.bsky.social) has led the way on recent revelations. His thin skin could easily become a vulnerability.
Reposted by Ben Williams
Giving Braverman the education brief is quite a choice for Reform. I was on an education commission with her once before she went completely mad and she knew absolutely nothing at all.
February 17, 2026 at 1:54 PM
Giving Braverman the education brief is quite a choice for Reform. I was on an education commission with her once before she went completely mad and she knew absolutely nothing at all.
Reposted by Ben Williams
The comments. My lord. The Venn Diagram of people who say "a woman can't be President" and say "Gavin Newsom 2028" is a circle
AOC 2028
AOC 2028
from the perspective of someone who might want to be president, the best time to run for the white house is now, not later. so if AOC is thinking about it — if the white house is her ambition — then her best bet is to throw her hat in the ring
You Know What? Maybe the Time Is Right for an AOC Presidential Bid
She’s only 36, and there’s a good argument that she should run for Senate and bide her time. But she also could be a formidable White House candidate.
newrepublic.com
February 16, 2026 at 3:30 PM
The comments. My lord. The Venn Diagram of people who say "a woman can't be President" and say "Gavin Newsom 2028" is a circle
AOC 2028
AOC 2028
Reposted by Ben Williams
What happens when a driverless vehicle commits a road traffic offence. The government isn't sure, but they promise they're working on it.
February 16, 2026 at 11:24 AM
What happens when a driverless vehicle commits a road traffic offence. The government isn't sure, but they promise they're working on it.
Reposted by Ben Williams
This is totally non-standard for any publication. Every pub everywhere pretty much cleans up uhms, uhm, and vocal tics like that, which EVERYONE DOES.
This is extremely intentional.
If I was writing this I’d probably do the quote “this is of course a very longstanding policy of the United States”
This is extremely intentional.
If I was writing this I’d probably do the quote “this is of course a very longstanding policy of the United States”
Have you ever once seen the New York Times quote Trump like this?
February 16, 2026 at 8:15 PM
This is totally non-standard for any publication. Every pub everywhere pretty much cleans up uhms, uhm, and vocal tics like that, which EVERYONE DOES.
This is extremely intentional.
If I was writing this I’d probably do the quote “this is of course a very longstanding policy of the United States”
This is extremely intentional.
If I was writing this I’d probably do the quote “this is of course a very longstanding policy of the United States”
Reposted by Ben Williams
It is absolutely a choice.
Have you ever once seen the New York Times quote Trump like this?
February 16, 2026 at 6:58 PM
It is absolutely a choice.
Reposted by Ben Williams
Pete Hegseth is in the process of banning the U.S. military from using Anthropic’s AI models because of the company’s opposition to their tech being used for weapons or domestic surveillance.
Props to Anthropic for sticking to their principles at the cost of government contracts.
Props to Anthropic for sticking to their principles at the cost of government contracts.
Exclusive: Pentagon warns Anthropic will "pay a price" as feud escalates
The Pentagon may label Anthropic a "supply chain risk," forcing all its vendors to sever ties.
www.axios.com
February 16, 2026 at 7:22 PM
Pete Hegseth is in the process of banning the U.S. military from using Anthropic’s AI models because of the company’s opposition to their tech being used for weapons or domestic surveillance.
Props to Anthropic for sticking to their principles at the cost of government contracts.
Props to Anthropic for sticking to their principles at the cost of government contracts.
Reposted by Ben Williams
Rupert Lowe tweets his Restore Britain party will vet councillors who want to join - to avoid accepting those who "don't have the stomach" for what needs to be done.
His most openly racist supporters say they are "ecstatic".
They believe he will set no boundaries at all on overt racism for members
His most openly racist supporters say they are "ecstatic".
They believe he will set no boundaries at all on overt racism for members
February 15, 2026 at 2:42 PM
Rupert Lowe tweets his Restore Britain party will vet councillors who want to join - to avoid accepting those who "don't have the stomach" for what needs to be done.
His most openly racist supporters say they are "ecstatic".
They believe he will set no boundaries at all on overt racism for members
His most openly racist supporters say they are "ecstatic".
They believe he will set no boundaries at all on overt racism for members
Reposted by Ben Williams
Rupert Lowe wants Restore Britain to be a national party, competing to offer an agenda further right of Reform. (It will be closer to a 2-4% proposition than 10%. There are several < 1% parties in this space like Advance UK & others)
February 14, 2026 at 10:20 PM
Rupert Lowe wants Restore Britain to be a national party, competing to offer an agenda further right of Reform. (It will be closer to a 2-4% proposition than 10%. There are several < 1% parties in this space like Advance UK & others)
Reposted by Ben Williams
Don't you hate it when fighting age men flee their own country, leaving their families behind, then expect other people to give them a handout.
February 14, 2026 at 8:16 PM
Don't you hate it when fighting age men flee their own country, leaving their families behind, then expect other people to give them a handout.
Reposted by Ben Williams
This is a story that has really cut through in Australia - seen as UK adopting hostile attitude to their citizens. Raised spontaneously in conversation.. In papers. Affects those who have been Irish citizens too ..
One can make the case for requiring either a UK passport or some further documentation for dual British nationals to enter the country (this is true for eg the US). But making this change rapidly and getting a certificate so expensive is yet another Home Office cockup. Why always so draconian?
Gabrielle was all set for a routine trip from Australia to the UK. Then the rules for dual citizens suddenly changed
From 25 February all dual citizens visiting the UK must use their British passport, leaving many scrambling to get their documents in order
www.theguardian.com
February 13, 2026 at 3:07 PM
This is a story that has really cut through in Australia - seen as UK adopting hostile attitude to their citizens. Raised spontaneously in conversation.. In papers. Affects those who have been Irish citizens too ..
Reposted by Ben Williams
Hegseth blew up another boat and killed more people. We have no idea who they were or what they were doing because it’s just “trust me, bro” while we kill people.
February 14, 2026 at 1:26 AM
Hegseth blew up another boat and killed more people. We have no idea who they were or what they were doing because it’s just “trust me, bro” while we kill people.
Reposted by Ben Williams
"People who don’t have children should be taxed extra as punishment"
- Reform by-election candidate, Gorton & Denton
"Decreti"
- Romanians born under Decree 770 of dictator Nicolae Ceaușescu to create larger Romanian population
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
- Reform by-election candidate, Gorton & Denton
"Decreti"
- Romanians born under Decree 770 of dictator Nicolae Ceaușescu to create larger Romanian population
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
‘Handmaid’s Tale future’: Reform’s Matt Goodwin sparks outcry with fertility comments
Byelection candidate accused of indulging ‘alt right fantasy’ by suggesting women need ‘biological reality’ check
www.theguardian.com
February 13, 2026 at 11:27 PM
"People who don’t have children should be taxed extra as punishment"
- Reform by-election candidate, Gorton & Denton
"Decreti"
- Romanians born under Decree 770 of dictator Nicolae Ceaușescu to create larger Romanian population
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
- Reform by-election candidate, Gorton & Denton
"Decreti"
- Romanians born under Decree 770 of dictator Nicolae Ceaușescu to create larger Romanian population
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Ben Williams
Reposted by Ben Williams
And just like that, Gilead was no longer dystopian fiction.
“Just like Hitler imprisoned Gypsies, Jews, communists, you know, all of his political rivals, we have to do the same thing with women… So they go to the gulag first. They go to the breeding gulags.”
www.mediamatters.org/nick-fuentes...
“Just like Hitler imprisoned Gypsies, Jews, communists, you know, all of his political rivals, we have to do the same thing with women… So they go to the gulag first. They go to the breeding gulags.”
www.mediamatters.org/nick-fuentes...
Nick Fuentes: “The number one political enemy in America is women. … They have to be imprisoned.”
www.mediamatters.org
February 13, 2026 at 6:44 PM
And just like that, Gilead was no longer dystopian fiction.
“Just like Hitler imprisoned Gypsies, Jews, communists, you know, all of his political rivals, we have to do the same thing with women… So they go to the gulag first. They go to the breeding gulags.”
www.mediamatters.org/nick-fuentes...
“Just like Hitler imprisoned Gypsies, Jews, communists, you know, all of his political rivals, we have to do the same thing with women… So they go to the gulag first. They go to the breeding gulags.”
www.mediamatters.org/nick-fuentes...
Reposted by Ben Williams
Exclusive: Emails appear to show that Andrew tried to facilitate a meeting with Colonel Gaddafi for Jeffrey Epstein.
📩 Read the full newsletter: channel4news.substack.com/p/exclusive-...
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Exclusive: Former Prince Andrew tried to facilitate Epstein-Gaddafi meeting
Emails appear to show that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor tried to facilitate a meeting with Colonel Muammar Gaddafi for Jeffrey Epstein, at Epstein’s request.
channel4news.substack.com
February 13, 2026 at 8:13 PM
Exclusive: Emails appear to show that Andrew tried to facilitate a meeting with Colonel Gaddafi for Jeffrey Epstein.
📩 Read the full newsletter: channel4news.substack.com/p/exclusive-...
🔔To be notified of the latest updates from Channel 4 News on WhatsApp, click the bell in the top-right
📩 Read the full newsletter: channel4news.substack.com/p/exclusive-...
🔔To be notified of the latest updates from Channel 4 News on WhatsApp, click the bell in the top-right
Reposted by Ben Williams
Belatedly realised it would probably be helpful of me to link to the full ruling for those who would like to read it: www.judiciary.uk/wp-content/u...
www.judiciary.uk
February 13, 2026 at 1:15 PM
Belatedly realised it would probably be helpful of me to link to the full ruling for those who would like to read it: www.judiciary.uk/wp-content/u...
Reposted by Ben Williams
Facebook plans to put facial recognition in its glasses and they think we’re too stupid to fight back.
Their internal memo: “We will launch during a dynamic political environment where many civil society groups that we would expect to attack us would have their resources focused on other concerns.”
Their internal memo: “We will launch during a dynamic political environment where many civil society groups that we would expect to attack us would have their resources focused on other concerns.”
Meta Plans to Add Facial Recognition Technology to Its Smart Glasses
www.nytimes.com
February 13, 2026 at 12:16 PM
Facebook plans to put facial recognition in its glasses and they think we’re too stupid to fight back.
Their internal memo: “We will launch during a dynamic political environment where many civil society groups that we would expect to attack us would have their resources focused on other concerns.”
Their internal memo: “We will launch during a dynamic political environment where many civil society groups that we would expect to attack us would have their resources focused on other concerns.”