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Prof Colin Talbot

@colintalbot.bsky.social

18K followers 910 following 600 posts

Prof of Government (Emeritus) Manchester ▪️co-ops and cooperation ▪️progressive pluralism▪️ex Aikidoka ▪️Arsenal ▪️Born Dover (that's my Castle)

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Colin Ronald Talbot is a British political scientist. He was until August 2017 a professor at the University of Manchester and held the Chair of Government in the School of Social Sciences. He is now Professor Emeritus at Manchester and a research associate at the University of Cambridge. He has also been an adviser to UK Parliamentary Committees on HM Treasury and on Public Administration. .. more

Political science 54%

Business 17%

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Prof Colin Talbot @colintalbot.bsky.social · Aug 28

Westminster vs Whitehall?
Me for ConSoc
consoc.org.uk/westminster-...

Westminster vs Whitehall: Who will win? - The Constitution Society

Colin Talbot examines how differing interpretations of the UK constitution influence how MPs behave in the House of Commons.

consoc.org.uk

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Prof Colin Talbot @colintalbot.bsky.social · 1d

But what about downsizing? We could accept a lower price for our (now too large house) if we weren’t then going have to pay considerable stamp duty on something smaller?

This isn’t just a pure economic transaction. Houses have uses too.

Prof Colin Talbot @colintalbot.bsky.social · 2d

Einstein: it’s all relative

Freud: no, it’s all relatives

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Reposted by Colin Talbot

Alma Katsu (FIEND is out now) @almakatsu.bsky.social · 4d

New Yorker, naturally

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Prof Colin Talbot @colintalbot.bsky.social · 5d

Slip of the tongue? I guess he meant national socialists?

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Reposted by David Rothschild, Colin Talbot

Ryan Enos @ryanenos.bsky.social · 5d

The executive branch calling the enforcement of the law by judges "insurrection" is a five-alarm fire for democracy.

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Reposted by Rosemary A. Joyce, Leigh Sparks, Julian Petley , and 8 more Rosemary A. Joyce, Leigh Sparks, Julian Petley, Alan Lester, John Foot, Stephen Ryan, Caroline Brown, David Murakami Wood, Vaughan S. Roberts, Nikki Fairchild, Colin Talbot

Otto English @ottoenglish.bsky.social · 13d

Nathan Gill is no fringe politician.

He was the leader of the Reform Party and before that UKIP in Wales.

A Brexit Party MEP.

A friend and ally of Nigel Farage, who in 2016 called him:

"terrific," and "as honest as the day is long."

This is a MASSIVE story

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Reform UK's ex-Wales leader Nathan Gill admits pro-Russia bribery

Nathan Gill admits eight charges of bribery while being a Member of the European Parliament.

www.bbc.co.uk

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Reposted by Colin Talbot

Ruth Fox @ruthfox.bsky.social · 14d

7/ Digital ID may or may not be the right call.

But this is not the best way to make public policy that affects all our lives.

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Reposted by Timothy Snyder, Colin Talbot

Oz Katerji @ozkaterji.bsky.social · 14d

Kind of feels like a big deal that a Reform/Brexit Party former MEP has been convicted of taking bribes to promote Russian interests in Ukraine, and it feels like a bigger deal that this isn’t being treated as the major scandal that it clearly is.

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Reposted by Colin Talbot

Newsroom NZ @newsroom.co.nz · 17d

Comment: As Parliament reviews its Standing Orders, Jonathan Boston suggests potential reforms to protect democratic governance in NZ.

Democracy in NZ isn't inevitable

newsroom.co.nz

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Prof Colin Talbot @colintalbot.bsky.social · 20d

I know which road it is. But thanks.

I spent a lot of time on a farm not far from there. Just behind the Castle and below the radar towers

Reposted by Colin Talbot

Roy Lonergan @roylonergan.bsky.social · 20d

They also used Finsbury Circus and Leadenhall Market as Paris.

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Reposted by Colin Talbot

Rick @flipchartrick.bsky.social · 20d

A comment from @colintalbot.bsky.social on a post I wrote 14 years ago. The image of the 'giant sheet anchor' is a powerful one.

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Prof Colin Talbot @colintalbot.bsky.social · 21d

It is Dover. Folkestone harbour is nothing like Dover - it’s much smaller

Prof Colin Talbot @colintalbot.bsky.social · 21d

The coastal road is also the wrong side of Dover if they were coming from London

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Prof Colin Talbot @colintalbot.bsky.social · 21d

It’s not the castle it’s a church in the castle grounds www.english-heritage.org.uk/siteassets/h...

Reposted by Colin Talbot

Moggs🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🕊️🇪🇺🇺🇦 @moggsee.bsky.social · 22d

If it’s the episode I’m thinking of, seems weird they’d label one town with another’s name, when they’re both mentioned in the filming locations on IMDb 🫣 (& I think the only two locations in the entire episode?) Shoddy 🎬

[screenshot of IMDb Filming Locations info: “INVASION” 2021-2025, S2 Ep 4]
ALL LOCATIONS:

Eurotunnel, Folkestone, Kent, UK
Coastal road, Dover, Kent, UK

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Prof Colin Talbot @colintalbot.bsky.social · 22d

This sort of thing really annoys me. This is a still from an episode of the INVASION tv series.

That is Dover Harbour. Not Folkestone, I was born and grew up in Dover. My Dad ran boats out of there, with me on them.

And they don’t even have the excuse it’s a US production.

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Prof Colin Talbot @colintalbot.bsky.social · 23d

Name that movie?

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Prof Colin Talbot @colintalbot.bsky.social · 25d

Maybe someone could explain why having ID cards is inherently illiberal? Cos I have never seen it that way.

It perfectly reasonable for people to have a verifiable means of ID for public and private purposes. A single one is simply easier for everyone.

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Reposted by Mary Rice, Colin Talbot

NPR @npr.org · 27d

Many teens are using artificial intelligence chatbots like ChatGPT for everything from homework to relationship advice. Experts say parents must lead the way in helping them understand the technology.

Why parents need to talk to their teens about AI — and how to start the conversation

n.pr

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Reposted by Tom Griffin, Christina Pagel, Colin Talbot

James Ball @jamesrball.com · 29d

Keeping Mandelson would mean Number 10 thinks not following a recommendation to take specialist tax advice is a resigning matter, but believing the world’s most notorious paedophile over his victims and lying about your post-conviction contact with him isn’t.

That’s…not a sustainable position.

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Prof Colin Talbot @colintalbot.bsky.social · Sep 7

I agree. But it does also need people in positions to shape policies that aid progress?

Not sure what’s going on with these changes but they do need watching as well?

Reposted by David R. Miller, José Antonio Noguera, Colin Talbot , and 1 more David R. Miller, José Antonio Noguera, Colin Talbot, Stuart Shapiro

Don Moynihan @donmoyn.bsky.social · Sep 7

Excellent piece by Ezra Klein: if Dems really believe that Trump is creating an authoritarian government they should not continue to fund it. The shutdown is their only leverage right now to draw attention to what is happening and maybe force change.

www.nytimes.com/2025/09/07/o...

Opinion | Stop Acting Like This Is Normal

www.nytimes.com

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Reposted by Colin Talbot

David Smith @dsmithwales.bsky.social · Sep 7

Advancing Co-op policies should not be dependent upon two Ministers or one political party. Let’s build upon what has been have achieved. Crucially focus attention on the role of UK Education Ministers driving active citizenship/coop education in the school curriculum /examining bodies!

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Reposted by Colin Talbot

Pollik @pollik.bsky.social · Sep 7

I am wondering if it might be more about inertia than a conscious decision.

Tbh, I don't know anything about the Cooperative Party, except that it is tied to Labour, which is not currently in great shape.

Reposted by Colin Talbot

Paul Evans @pauliewaulie.bsky.social · Sep 7

Honestly, I don’t believe they ever have been.

As someone with a background in worker co-ops and a general preference for mutual (rather that state) solutions, I’ve never had any sense that the Co-Op Party is anything other than a vehicle for wannabe Labour MPs.

And I’m a member!

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Prof Colin Talbot @colintalbot.bsky.social · Sep 7

BTW I’m ex POEU (1979-1985)

Reposted by Colin Talbot

Tom Jenkins @tomoljenkins.bsky.social · Sep 7

Actually I’m a member of both

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Prof Colin Talbot @colintalbot.bsky.social · Sep 7

I am also a member of the Co-op Party but not Labour.

Anyone else?

Prof Colin Talbot @colintalbot.bsky.social · Sep 7

Interesting questions. Which relate to why I am a member of the Co-op Party but not Labour.

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