James Barr
@jamesbarr.bsky.social
I write history. Last book: LORDS OF THE DESERT; before that: A LINE IN THE SAND. Next book: THE ARENA.
More at/contact me via https://www.historythatmatters.org
Signal - jamesbarr.62
Currently reading Jason Burke's The Revolutionists
More at/contact me via https://www.historythatmatters.org
Signal - jamesbarr.62
Currently reading Jason Burke's The Revolutionists
Pinned
James Barr — The British and French Mandates
YouTube video by The Engelsberg Seminars
m.youtube.com
“This is one of the most infamous maps of the Middle East that you will ever see”
Reposted by James Barr
Ultra-processed foods – what’s the impact?
In a new Lancet Series, experts warn a global rise in #UPFs presents a growing public health threat.
Read the evidence & policy recommendations ⬇️
spkl.io/63327AduhR
In a new Lancet Series, experts warn a global rise in #UPFs presents a growing public health threat.
Read the evidence & policy recommendations ⬇️
spkl.io/63327AduhR
November 19, 2025 at 2:33 PM
Ultra-processed foods – what’s the impact?
In a new Lancet Series, experts warn a global rise in #UPFs presents a growing public health threat.
Read the evidence & policy recommendations ⬇️
spkl.io/63327AduhR
In a new Lancet Series, experts warn a global rise in #UPFs presents a growing public health threat.
Read the evidence & policy recommendations ⬇️
spkl.io/63327AduhR
Reposted by James Barr
Trying to catch up on what has been announced in the Budget and what it all means?
Our top @instituteforgovernment.org.uk team has you covered- tune into this at 4pm for everything you need to know. And no, we will not accidentally be starting the webinar a couple of hours early.
Our top @instituteforgovernment.org.uk team has you covered- tune into this at 4pm for everything you need to know. And no, we will not accidentally be starting the webinar a couple of hours early.
Sign up for our webinar at 4pm, where a panel of IfG experts will be bringing you analysis of what we've learnt on the government's fiscal rules, changes to the productivity forecasts, the two-child benefit limit, council tax and more.
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/autumn...
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/autumn...
November 26, 2025 at 2:21 PM
Trying to catch up on what has been announced in the Budget and what it all means?
Our top @instituteforgovernment.org.uk team has you covered- tune into this at 4pm for everything you need to know. And no, we will not accidentally be starting the webinar a couple of hours early.
Our top @instituteforgovernment.org.uk team has you covered- tune into this at 4pm for everything you need to know. And no, we will not accidentally be starting the webinar a couple of hours early.
Another good budget for accountants and tax advisors
November 26, 2025 at 2:19 PM
Another good budget for accountants and tax advisors
Reposted by James Barr
I seem to have turned John Deakin into King Charles
November 25, 2025 at 8:17 PM
I seem to have turned John Deakin into King Charles
Reposted by James Barr
Idea for Rachel Reeves: an updated Windows Tax on everyone who uses Microsoft’s operating system.
November 25, 2025 at 12:08 PM
Idea for Rachel Reeves: an updated Windows Tax on everyone who uses Microsoft’s operating system.
This long interview on the state of farming and our food system with @herdyshepherd.bsky.social is really interesting. The bit from about 45 minutes in especially so.
Radical with Amol Rajan - Beyond Ultra-Processed Foods: Can Farmers Fix Our Health and the Planet? (James Rebanks) - BBC Sounds
James Rebanks on how to build a secure, sustainable and healthy food system.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 26, 2025 at 6:59 AM
This long interview on the state of farming and our food system with @herdyshepherd.bsky.social is really interesting. The bit from about 45 minutes in especially so.
Reposted by James Barr
Last week the UK warned Russia to rein in its spy ship Yantar, which was heading to Irish waters. This is how Ireland's neutrality & lack of naval clout has become a security liability, threatening its economy & unsettling its neighbours. By @judewebber.bsky.social & me www.ft.com/content/4748...
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 9:39 AM
Last week the UK warned Russia to rein in its spy ship Yantar, which was heading to Irish waters. This is how Ireland's neutrality & lack of naval clout has become a security liability, threatening its economy & unsettling its neighbours. By @judewebber.bsky.social & me www.ft.com/content/4748...
I seem to have turned John Deakin into King Charles
November 25, 2025 at 8:17 PM
I seem to have turned John Deakin into King Charles
Reposted by James Barr
The Nepalese EV transition.
In simple terms, brown on this graph is India's share and blue is China's share.
The trigger? India effectively halted all imports of petroleum into Nepal in 2015, an "undeclared blockade", which was "masked as constitutional concern".
robbieandrew.github.io/carsales/
In simple terms, brown on this graph is India's share and blue is China's share.
The trigger? India effectively halted all imports of petroleum into Nepal in 2015, an "undeclared blockade", which was "masked as constitutional concern".
robbieandrew.github.io/carsales/
November 25, 2025 at 1:53 PM
The Nepalese EV transition.
In simple terms, brown on this graph is India's share and blue is China's share.
The trigger? India effectively halted all imports of petroleum into Nepal in 2015, an "undeclared blockade", which was "masked as constitutional concern".
robbieandrew.github.io/carsales/
In simple terms, brown on this graph is India's share and blue is China's share.
The trigger? India effectively halted all imports of petroleum into Nepal in 2015, an "undeclared blockade", which was "masked as constitutional concern".
robbieandrew.github.io/carsales/
Reposted by James Barr
Idea for Rachel Reeves: an updated Windows Tax on everyone who uses Microsoft’s operating system.
November 25, 2025 at 12:08 PM
Idea for Rachel Reeves: an updated Windows Tax on everyone who uses Microsoft’s operating system.
Reposted by James Barr
It’s especially ironic because the lecture is exactly about the ‘paralyzing cowardice’ of today’s elites.
About universities, corporations and media networks bending the knee to authoritarianism. /4
About universities, corporations and media networks bending the knee to authoritarianism. /4
November 25, 2025 at 9:26 AM
It’s especially ironic because the lecture is exactly about the ‘paralyzing cowardice’ of today’s elites.
About universities, corporations and media networks bending the knee to authoritarianism. /4
About universities, corporations and media networks bending the knee to authoritarianism. /4
Reposted by James Barr
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
November 25, 2025 at 9:26 AM
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
Reposted by James Barr
The top two posts on my Instagram feed are from two Labour cabinet ministers and are slightly different in tone, approach, and engagement.
November 25, 2025 at 9:04 AM
The top two posts on my Instagram feed are from two Labour cabinet ministers and are slightly different in tone, approach, and engagement.
Reposted by James Barr
Towards the tunnel
November 24, 2025 at 7:55 PM
Towards the tunnel
Towards the tunnel
November 24, 2025 at 7:55 PM
Towards the tunnel
Might set up the Higher Taxes for Other People party: think it could be popular.
November 24, 2025 at 5:58 PM
Might set up the Higher Taxes for Other People party: think it could be popular.
Reposted by James Barr
An interesting piece and the first one to properly grapple with what Nathan Gill did by a figure from within Reform
gawaintowler.substack.com/p/the-deep-b...
gawaintowler.substack.com/p/the-deep-b...
The Deep Betrayal of Nathan Gill
A Personal Reckoning
gawaintowler.substack.com
November 24, 2025 at 5:33 PM
An interesting piece and the first one to properly grapple with what Nathan Gill did by a figure from within Reform
gawaintowler.substack.com/p/the-deep-b...
gawaintowler.substack.com/p/the-deep-b...
Reposted by James Barr
I represented @houseoflords.parliament.uk at a Summit in Stockholm to remind the world of Crimea’s plight since 2014: killings, children sent to Russian camps, cultural heritage destroyed etc. Zelensky put it powerfully in his speech to us ‘Putin wants legal recognition for what he has stolen’.
November 24, 2025 at 4:53 PM
I represented @houseoflords.parliament.uk at a Summit in Stockholm to remind the world of Crimea’s plight since 2014: killings, children sent to Russian camps, cultural heritage destroyed etc. Zelensky put it powerfully in his speech to us ‘Putin wants legal recognition for what he has stolen’.
What’s the best history of culture in 1980s Britain?
November 24, 2025 at 3:06 PM
What’s the best history of culture in 1980s Britain?
Reposted by James Barr
You never see recluses anymore
November 24, 2025 at 1:02 PM
You never see recluses anymore
This is very good by @chrisdillow.bsky.social
The fiscal challenge
Reeves' problem isn't raising money: it's much more difficult than that.
chrisdillow.substack.com
November 24, 2025 at 8:45 AM
This is very good by @chrisdillow.bsky.social
Reposted by James Barr
Top-notch story and timeline from @thenerve.news on Nathan Gill and his Russian bribes. www.thenerve.news/p/nathan-gil...
Reform UK and Russian bribes: a Nathan Gill timeline
As Reform’s former leader in Wales is sentenced to ten and a half years for taking bribes from a pro-Russian actor, here's a chronology of his actions and the wider context of Putin, Ukraine and Brexi...
www.thenerve.news
November 23, 2025 at 8:58 PM
Top-notch story and timeline from @thenerve.news on Nathan Gill and his Russian bribes. www.thenerve.news/p/nathan-gil...
Reposted by James Barr
Historians and lovers of history – this one is for you: on.ft.com/4rcr4wL
Best books of 2025: History
Frederick Studemann selects his must-read titles
on.ft.com
November 23, 2025 at 6:31 PM
Historians and lovers of history – this one is for you: on.ft.com/4rcr4wL
Reposted by James Barr
View from the castle across the Euphrates (2009)
January 10, 2024 at 2:25 PM
View from the castle across the Euphrates (2009)