Clara W
@claraw.bsky.social
Ex journo & diplomat, current Comms Manager in the public sector . When I think of it, I'll put something wry here.
My weird hobby is following obscure US elections via this website and I'm happy to report this morning that the Democrats seem to be winning all of the ones from last night (not yet on the website but you can find the results here on Blue Sky if you look).
boltsmag.org/whats-on-the...
boltsmag.org/whats-on-the...
The 25 Elections to Watch This December - Bolts
On the heels of their sweeping wins in November, Democrats have opportunities to gain further ground in December runoffs and special elections. They’re hoping for upsets in conservative territory, fro...
boltsmag.org
December 10, 2025 at 7:17 AM
My weird hobby is following obscure US elections via this website and I'm happy to report this morning that the Democrats seem to be winning all of the ones from last night (not yet on the website but you can find the results here on Blue Sky if you look).
boltsmag.org/whats-on-the...
boltsmag.org/whats-on-the...
It's going to be a blast ...
December 3, 2025 at 6:52 PM
It's going to be a blast ...
Reposted by Clara W
Think this is exactly right - political journalism that is completely abstracted from policy, which was not the norm before 2017, has become the default. Impossible to have a serious attempt to either shrink what the state does or widen the tax base (have to do at least one) on that basis.
All this budget news, claims, counter claims is confusing, but two things of consequence.
1. We're all talking about that, not any financial benefits (or losses) of the budget.
2. Yet more focus on the very weird few weeks and politics of it all. Starting to feel dangerously like a norm.
1. We're all talking about that, not any financial benefits (or losses) of the budget.
2. Yet more focus on the very weird few weeks and politics of it all. Starting to feel dangerously like a norm.
December 1, 2025 at 1:12 PM
Think this is exactly right - political journalism that is completely abstracted from policy, which was not the norm before 2017, has become the default. Impossible to have a serious attempt to either shrink what the state does or widen the tax base (have to do at least one) on that basis.
Reposted by Clara W
Today's 70% fall in net migration to 205,000 was not one of the six stories in BBC ten o'clock news.
Ta massive assymetry in whether rises in immigration and falls in immigration are considered newsworthy by broadcasters
Down by 140k isn't thought to be.
Up by 140k undoubtedly would be.
Ta massive assymetry in whether rises in immigration and falls in immigration are considered newsworthy by broadcasters
Down by 140k isn't thought to be.
Up by 140k undoubtedly would be.
November 27, 2025 at 10:05 PM
Today's 70% fall in net migration to 205,000 was not one of the six stories in BBC ten o'clock news.
Ta massive assymetry in whether rises in immigration and falls in immigration are considered newsworthy by broadcasters
Down by 140k isn't thought to be.
Up by 140k undoubtedly would be.
Ta massive assymetry in whether rises in immigration and falls in immigration are considered newsworthy by broadcasters
Down by 140k isn't thought to be.
Up by 140k undoubtedly would be.
We're all feeling rightly disgusted by Trump and his attacks on immigrants, but we've not got much to be proud of here:
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
UK rejects visa for girl left destitute in Jamaica by Hurricane Melissa
Lati-Yana Brown’s parents had asked for application to be expedited so she could join them in UK after house ruined
www.theguardian.com
November 28, 2025 at 6:39 AM
We're all feeling rightly disgusted by Trump and his attacks on immigrants, but we've not got much to be proud of here:
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Seriously if any political party wants my vote, sort this mess out and you've got it.
I can't even begin to tell you how bad the driving test booking system is. Another of those things that is completely broken but under the radar unless you're one of the people trying to book a test.
November 24, 2025 at 7:27 AM
Seriously if any political party wants my vote, sort this mess out and you've got it.
I can't even begin to tell you how bad the driving test booking system is. Another of those things that is completely broken but under the radar unless you're one of the people trying to book a test.
November 24, 2025 at 6:49 AM
I can't even begin to tell you how bad the driving test booking system is. Another of those things that is completely broken but under the radar unless you're one of the people trying to book a test.
Today's weather report from the West country:
a man with ice on his face is standing in a snowy field
ALT: a man with ice on his face is standing in a snowy field
media.tenor.com
November 20, 2025 at 8:57 AM
Today's weather report from the West country:
It's not going well for Labour. There was a pretty fierce reaction to the Islands of Strangers speech, I imagine this will be worse.
Tommy Robinson is claiming credit for the language/policy being used by the Labour government (about deporting people found to be refugees once their home country is deemed safe)
November 16, 2025 at 8:48 AM
It's not going well for Labour. There was a pretty fierce reaction to the Islands of Strangers speech, I imagine this will be worse.
Reposted by Clara W
That’s why “blue Labour” is doomed and was doomed from the start: you cannot make water run uphill. A party whose core electorate for over a decade has been socially liberal university graduates and ethnic minorities cannot sell itself as a party hostile to socially liberal values.
November 15, 2025 at 12:49 PM
That’s why “blue Labour” is doomed and was doomed from the start: you cannot make water run uphill. A party whose core electorate for over a decade has been socially liberal university graduates and ethnic minorities cannot sell itself as a party hostile to socially liberal values.
Reposted by Clara W
This is the Home Secretary's video about "why"
A government which had the principle of *defusing* the salience by getting a grip with control, while maintaining compassion, would not use the rhetorical devices here to stoke up the salience of the issue they hope to defuse
x.com/ShabanaMahmo...
A government which had the principle of *defusing* the salience by getting a grip with control, while maintaining compassion, would not use the rhetorical devices here to stoke up the salience of the issue they hope to defuse
x.com/ShabanaMahmo...
Shabana Mahmood MP on X: "On Monday, I will announce the most significant changes to our asylum system in modern times 👇 https://t.co/eXAVYdD4kD" / X
On Monday, I will announce the most significant changes to our asylum system in modern times 👇 https://t.co/eXAVYdD4kD
x.com
November 15, 2025 at 9:02 AM
This is the Home Secretary's video about "why"
A government which had the principle of *defusing* the salience by getting a grip with control, while maintaining compassion, would not use the rhetorical devices here to stoke up the salience of the issue they hope to defuse
x.com/ShabanaMahmo...
A government which had the principle of *defusing* the salience by getting a grip with control, while maintaining compassion, would not use the rhetorical devices here to stoke up the salience of the issue they hope to defuse
x.com/ShabanaMahmo...
I've been wondering what's going on with Gaza. It turns out, predictably, nothing very good ☹️
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
November 14, 2025 at 6:53 PM
I've been wondering what's going on with Gaza. It turns out, predictably, nothing very good ☹️
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
Reposted by Clara W
I had my disagreements with the BBC under Tim Davie but he was a decent man doing a difficult job.
To see Trump's White House claiming credit for his downfall and attacking the BBC should worry us all.
To see Trump's White House claiming credit for his downfall and attacking the BBC should worry us all.
November 9, 2025 at 8:00 PM
I had my disagreements with the BBC under Tim Davie but he was a decent man doing a difficult job.
To see Trump's White House claiming credit for his downfall and attacking the BBC should worry us all.
To see Trump's White House claiming credit for his downfall and attacking the BBC should worry us all.
I may be wrong but this doesn't feel like a very workable plan from the Tories. Also, the last point: has anyone mentioned this was working a lot better before their Brexit??
November 9, 2025 at 1:12 PM
I may be wrong but this doesn't feel like a very workable plan from the Tories. Also, the last point: has anyone mentioned this was working a lot better before their Brexit??
We'll be seeing a lot of this picture in years to come.
incredible photo that's definitely worth at least 1,000 words from Andrew Harnik of Getty
November 6, 2025 at 6:28 PM
We'll be seeing a lot of this picture in years to come.
Reposted by Clara W
Racists saying the train worker injured protecting passengers during the knife attack is a hero, then finding out his name:
a baby wearing a black shirt that says rock n roll is running on a wooden floor
Alt: A baby with a higher IQ than Matt Goodwin doing a u turn.
media.tenor.com
November 4, 2025 at 1:32 PM
Racists saying the train worker injured protecting passengers during the knife attack is a hero, then finding out his name:
Reposted by Clara W
The online baying mob shouting "Vote Reform" after Saturday's train stabbing attack may wish to note that not a single Reform MP has turned up for the Home Secretary's statement on the incident.
November 3, 2025 at 5:39 PM
The online baying mob shouting "Vote Reform" after Saturday's train stabbing attack may wish to note that not a single Reform MP has turned up for the Home Secretary's statement on the incident.
Can you mute words on Blue Sky like you could on Twitter? Only my entire timeline appears to be discussing a baseball game 🙄
November 2, 2025 at 5:13 AM
Can you mute words on Blue Sky like you could on Twitter? Only my entire timeline appears to be discussing a baseball game 🙄
Reposted by Clara W
The Carbon Budget and Growth Delivery Plan may sound dry, but it proposes the near complete decarbonisation of the economy inside a decade and is the closest thing the government has to a growth strategy. Surely that’s worth a press conference?
October 29, 2025 at 3:59 PM
The Carbon Budget and Growth Delivery Plan may sound dry, but it proposes the near complete decarbonisation of the economy inside a decade and is the closest thing the government has to a growth strategy. Surely that’s worth a press conference?
Reposted by Clara W
was trying to work out why people were posting their passwords and then I realized it was potential Dutch electoral coalitions
October 29, 2025 at 8:39 PM
was trying to work out why people were posting their passwords and then I realized it was potential Dutch electoral coalitions
Reposted by Clara W
Everything is a distraction from this.
‘Change course now’: humanity has missed 1.5C climate target, says UN head
Exclusive: ‘Devastating consequences’ now inevitable but emissions cuts still vital, says António Guterres in sole interview before Cop30
www.theguardian.com
October 28, 2025 at 12:11 AM
Everything is a distraction from this.
So many hot takes on the Caerphilly by-election this morning, but this one is probably the best - and most informed - I've seen.
My latest newsletter with all the analysis from a historic Caerphilly byelection
willhaywardwales.substack.com/p/plaid-smas...
willhaywardwales.substack.com/p/plaid-smas...
Plaid smash Reform to win in Caerphilly
These are the key takeaways from a massive night in Welsh politics
willhaywardwales.substack.com
October 24, 2025 at 6:50 AM
So many hot takes on the Caerphilly by-election this morning, but this one is probably the best - and most informed - I've seen.