Jack Serle
@jackserle.bsky.social
Procurement and life sciences correspondent at HSJ, formerly natsec/GWOT geek.
Reposted by Jack Serle
GB News now broadcasting calls to remove the ethnic minority MPs from parliament
December 3, 2025 at 7:07 PM
GB News now broadcasting calls to remove the ethnic minority MPs from parliament
Back in the day we could have had a 12-part podcast series on the subject. But now we’ll end up with two old farts prattling into mics paid for by Global or Gary Lineker. Oh well.
Would love a deep dive into what's gone weird in her algorithm to lead to this.
Finally, someone is coming for the Norwegians, and not a moment too soon
December 2, 2025 at 9:12 AM
Back in the day we could have had a 12-part podcast series on the subject. But now we’ll end up with two old farts prattling into mics paid for by Global or Gary Lineker. Oh well.
Presumably, when told, they’re thrilled about the new homes, useful civic amenity, and spaces for creative and lucrative businesses coming to their neighbourhood!
December 2, 2025 at 8:59 AM
Presumably, when told, they’re thrilled about the new homes, useful civic amenity, and spaces for creative and lucrative businesses coming to their neighbourhood!
Reposted by Jack Serle
The Prime Minister and Home Secretary want to drive net migration lower than net 205k. The Chancellor could reduce borrowing £7.4 billion/year in 2029/30 using the OBR projection that it will return to net 340k later in the parliament
obr.uk/box/the-impa...
obr.uk/box/the-impa...
The impact of migration on the fiscal forecast - Office for Budget Responsibility
Following the upwards revision to our migration forecast, this box explored the implications of higher migration on our central forecasts for tax revenues, spending and borrowing. We also drew on alte...
obr.uk
December 1, 2025 at 10:33 AM
The Prime Minister and Home Secretary want to drive net migration lower than net 205k. The Chancellor could reduce borrowing £7.4 billion/year in 2029/30 using the OBR projection that it will return to net 340k later in the parliament
obr.uk/box/the-impa...
obr.uk/box/the-impa...
Reposted by Jack Serle
He's not an MP. So it's not so much 'defecting' as 'changing a direct debit'.
December 1, 2025 at 11:04 AM
He's not an MP. So it's not so much 'defecting' as 'changing a direct debit'.
Reposted by Jack Serle
The important bit for those in the UK who keep throwing around Customs Union with the EU... Brussels red lines are that goods won't move any more freely than people or the UK's financial contributions (unless it suits the EU to cherry-pick)
December 1, 2025 at 7:22 AM
The important bit for those in the UK who keep throwing around Customs Union with the EU... Brussels red lines are that goods won't move any more freely than people or the UK's financial contributions (unless it suits the EU to cherry-pick)
Reposted by Jack Serle
Maybe reconsider dressing slightly like a magician while doing the imaginary tits.
November 28, 2025 at 4:53 PM
Maybe reconsider dressing slightly like a magician while doing the imaginary tits.
“We can create [insert public good] but it’ll cost money we don’t want to spend” does rather sum up everything right now.
All the people I know in politics are smart, well-educated and intellectual, they just don't actually have time to think about big ideas or underlying concepts - even during summer recess etc. We can create a system that makes for better MPs (staff etc), but it'll cost money we don't want to spend.
I don’t think this is a “politicians have got dumber” issue for the most part. If you look at the *actual CVs* of previous cohorts of MPs, their background is not radically different when you account for, you know, the fact the economy is different! It is primarily a media and ecosystem issue.
November 28, 2025 at 4:01 PM
“We can create [insert public good] but it’ll cost money we don’t want to spend” does rather sum up everything right now.
Reposted by Jack Serle
Fewer workers. Fewer international students. More people leaving.
A "step in the right direction" according to the PM.
Impossible to take PM/govt seriously on growth if they are deliberately reducing it (and making the fiscal position worse) *as a matter of policy*.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
A "step in the right direction" according to the PM.
Impossible to take PM/govt seriously on growth if they are deliberately reducing it (and making the fiscal position worse) *as a matter of policy*.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
UK net migration falls sharply with drop in arrivals for work and study
Provisional figures for net migration to the UK show levels dropped to 204,000 in the year to June 2025.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 27, 2025 at 8:17 PM
Fewer workers. Fewer international students. More people leaving.
A "step in the right direction" according to the PM.
Impossible to take PM/govt seriously on growth if they are deliberately reducing it (and making the fiscal position worse) *as a matter of policy*.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
A "step in the right direction" according to the PM.
Impossible to take PM/govt seriously on growth if they are deliberately reducing it (and making the fiscal position worse) *as a matter of policy*.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
To quote the great thinker of our time, Bender Bending Rodriguez, “we’re boned”.
I'm not sure how much it is appreciated that there will be significant emigration coming. Those here on graduate visas coming to an end, the toughening up of skilled worker rules re. salaries/sponsorable roles and the 'earned settlement' changes to come. Lots of people are going to leave.
November 27, 2025 at 4:04 PM
To quote the great thinker of our time, Bender Bending Rodriguez, “we’re boned”.
Reposted by Jack Serle
i mean not to prejudge this, but the cyber expert is likely to say 'yeah you hit publish, mate'
OBR calls in cyber expert over botched release of Budget analysis
OBR calls in cyber expert over botched release of Budget analysis
Rachel Reeves's statement was thrown into chaos after journalists were able to access the document early.
www.bbc.com
November 27, 2025 at 11:25 AM
i mean not to prejudge this, but the cyber expert is likely to say 'yeah you hit publish, mate'
Reposted by Jack Serle
Good morning to Brazilian reporter Manuela Borges, who’s been waiting eleven years for this petty moment. ❤️ 🇧🇷
November 26, 2025 at 1:04 PM
Good morning to Brazilian reporter Manuela Borges, who’s been waiting eleven years for this petty moment. ❤️ 🇧🇷
Reposted by Jack Serle
"having changed my mind about the OBR, my internship there has begun smoothly"
November 26, 2025 at 12:28 PM
"having changed my mind about the OBR, my internship there has begun smoothly"
Reposted by Jack Serle
HYPNOBOOBS JOKE AT THE DESPATCH BOX
November 26, 2025 at 12:55 PM
HYPNOBOOBS JOKE AT THE DESPATCH BOX
Can we have a new role alongside the Local Democracy Reporter, a Local Court Reporter? To supplement local paper/broadcast court reporting capacity, or fill in where there is none. If juries go then I have a strong feeling we'll need more people in there keeping tabs on goings on.
Having served on a jury in a rape trial, I'd have preferred a judge to decide guilt/innocence than a bunch of people who were sadly incapable of applying any logic to the clear evidence they were presented with and prepared, given their blatant sexism, to see the defence counsel destroy the victim.
November 26, 2025 at 11:46 AM
Can we have a new role alongside the Local Democracy Reporter, a Local Court Reporter? To supplement local paper/broadcast court reporting capacity, or fill in where there is none. If juries go then I have a strong feeling we'll need more people in there keeping tabs on goings on.
Finally it's here!
November 26, 2025 at 10:39 AM
Finally it's here!
Reposted by Jack Serle
Ireland can’t receive messages from other country’s security services because it doesn’t have secure communications.
Must read FT piece today on neutral Ireland, the soft underbelly of European defence
By @judewebber.bsky.social and @helenwarrell.bsky.social
By @judewebber.bsky.social and @helenwarrell.bsky.social
How Ireland became the weak spot in Europe’s defences
With few ships and limited intelligence-sharing, some say the country cannot hope to protect itself or its infrastructure
www.ft.com
November 25, 2025 at 1:22 PM
Ireland can’t receive messages from other country’s security services because it doesn’t have secure communications.
Reposted by Jack Serle
11 days apart. Brutal.
November 25, 2025 at 11:27 AM
11 days apart. Brutal.
When they say crypto food delivery idea, do they mean crypto as in the old meaning? As in, secret or hidden. Delivery vans masquerading as FBI vehicles, teams of "agents" leaving noodles at dead drops in parks.
Oh wait, maybe they tried to invent the Milk Tray Man?!
Oh wait, maybe they tried to invent the Milk Tray Man?!
Founders on LinkedIn still seem to be struggling with the difference between telling people about their humble beginnings and admitting to straight up committing fraud.
November 25, 2025 at 1:22 PM
When they say crypto food delivery idea, do they mean crypto as in the old meaning? As in, secret or hidden. Delivery vans masquerading as FBI vehicles, teams of "agents" leaving noodles at dead drops in parks.
Oh wait, maybe they tried to invent the Milk Tray Man?!
Oh wait, maybe they tried to invent the Milk Tray Man?!
Reposted by Jack Serle
Times headline: ‘BBC failing to tackle systemic bias, says author of leaked memo’. In fact, when asked by MPs, this man, Michael Prescott, said he didn’t believe the BBC was institutionally biased. The Times failed to quote that, in an article about the issue of truthful reporting.
November 25, 2025 at 12:42 PM
Times headline: ‘BBC failing to tackle systemic bias, says author of leaked memo’. In fact, when asked by MPs, this man, Michael Prescott, said he didn’t believe the BBC was institutionally biased. The Times failed to quote that, in an article about the issue of truthful reporting.
Watching a cloud bank descend towards the roof ridge of terrace opposite, slowly shutting out the last of the daylight and creating an early dusk. Bodes ill. Suspect Duncan's horses will be eating each other before long.
November 24, 2025 at 4:40 PM
Watching a cloud bank descend towards the roof ridge of terrace opposite, slowly shutting out the last of the daylight and creating an early dusk. Bodes ill. Suspect Duncan's horses will be eating each other before long.
For the love of God can we please stop all this and finally start playing some cricket!
www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricke...
www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricke...
The Ashes: Ex-England spinner Monty Panesar hits back at Steve Smith's Mastermind jibe
Former England spinner Monty Panesar responds to Steve Smith's recent swipe by saying he made his mistakes
www.bbc.co.uk
November 20, 2025 at 4:27 PM
For the love of God can we please stop all this and finally start playing some cricket!
www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricke...
www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricke...
Reposted by Jack Serle
When I arrive at the party
November 19, 2025 at 5:53 AM
When I arrive at the party
Such an odd picture.
New Chapter
🤝
Welcome to
Nvidia
New Chapter
🤝
Welcome to
Nvidia
I don’t want to seem out of touch but I don’t actually understand the economy anymore.
November 18, 2025 at 11:48 AM
Such an odd picture.
New Chapter
🤝
Welcome to
Nvidia
New Chapter
🤝
Welcome to
Nvidia
Reposted by Jack Serle
Starmer’s anti-asylum policies show how utterly clueless he is about the right-wing media’s role in politics.
He’s trying to fix a “problem” contrived by Farage, GB News and The Telegraph. He’ll never win, because ultimately he’s fighting a ghost – he’s fighting something that doesn’t really exist
He’s trying to fix a “problem” contrived by Farage, GB News and The Telegraph. He’ll never win, because ultimately he’s fighting a ghost – he’s fighting something that doesn’t really exist
November 17, 2025 at 2:57 PM
Starmer’s anti-asylum policies show how utterly clueless he is about the right-wing media’s role in politics.
He’s trying to fix a “problem” contrived by Farage, GB News and The Telegraph. He’ll never win, because ultimately he’s fighting a ghost – he’s fighting something that doesn’t really exist
He’s trying to fix a “problem” contrived by Farage, GB News and The Telegraph. He’ll never win, because ultimately he’s fighting a ghost – he’s fighting something that doesn’t really exist