Julian Webb
julianwebb.bsky.social
Julian Webb
@julianwebb.bsky.social
Politics. Humanism. Writing.
Reposted by Julian Webb
A hateful thing to say. People whose approach to life is not faith-based have done enormous good, majority non-religious societies have been some of the strongest proponents of human dignity and solidarity. Why is the BBC just printed this unchallenged? If it's "news", it should be balanced.
May 9, 2025 at 4:22 PM
Reposted by Julian Webb
Improving parental leave is one thing that could result in both economic growth and people feeling "better off", as in, their lives feel fairer, more grounded, more equal. It also gives off an impression that Labour understands the everyday stressors of working people. Seems a no-brainer to me
January 29, 2025 at 2:13 PM
Reposted by Julian Webb
NATION ASKS FOR ALEXANDER'S HAND IN MARRIAGE
January 24, 2025 at 10:06 PM
Reposted by Julian Webb
I wrote about Neil Gaiman, and the women accusing him of sexual coercion, assault and abuse. www.vulture.com/article/neil...
There Is No Safe Word
How the best-selling fantasy author Neil Gaiman hid the darkest parts of himself for decades.
www.vulture.com
January 13, 2025 at 12:20 PM
I just wrote to my MP asking them to oppose plans in the Schools Bill that could allow 100% religious admissions in new schools. You should too! humanists.uk/action/stop-...
Stop faith school expansion in schools bill
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has introduced the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, which includes changing the types of new schools that can open. But as currently drafted, the Bill ris...
humanists.uk
January 10, 2025 at 7:53 PM
Reposted by Julian Webb
Well that lasted long.

So much for Farage's 'principled' opposition to Tommy Robinson
January 8, 2025 at 7:53 AM
Reposted by Julian Webb
This is bang on. Starmer has firmly identified the enemy while the terminally online Badenoch is doing her best to give Labour a second term by toxifying the Tories with gusto. These are the choices being made.
Have written about Starmer's speech- his best moment yet as PM. He implicitly identified what sits at the heart of this story: the emergence of a common UK/US online right, headed by the radicalised Musk.

It is making extremist, until recently fringe politics mainstream in British conservatism.
Starmer's best moment as PM
And the Powellisation of conservative thought
open.substack.com
January 6, 2025 at 9:24 PM
Reposted by Julian Webb
There will be no National Care Service..another report concluding in 2028 is too close to the next election for any ‘consensus’. In this potentially historic policy area the government- stifled by Treasury orthodoxy and fear of making a case-has wasted its landslide majority.
January 3, 2025 at 9:18 AM
Reposted by Julian Webb
LinkedIn is cool because I was always wondering what it would be like if people I sort of knew wrote mediocre press releases about themselves.
December 31, 2024 at 2:07 AM
Reposted by Julian Webb
The US is about to experience what the UK did after the EU Referendum: a mandate won on empty rhetoric creates a vaccum that demands filling, but is impossible to fill, since there is no consensus as to the contents - and zero chance of consensus among narcissists to whom only domination matters.
December 28, 2024 at 1:56 PM
This article really gets to the heart of what made Shogun so majestic and beautiful. If you haven’t already, treat yourself to it over Christmas!
Yes
The 50 best TV shows of 2024: No 1 – Shōgun
December 23, 2024 at 1:03 PM
Who doesn’t have a favourite dinosaur??
% who say they don't have a favorite dinosaur:

U.S. adult citizens: 41%

18-29: 37%
30-44: 33%
45-64: 39%
65+: 54%

Men: 34%
Women: 47%

Parents: 35%
Non-parents: 42%

Liberals: 33%
Moderates: 44%
Conservatives: 39%

More data & analysis here: today.yougov.com/entertainmen...
December 17, 2024 at 10:55 PM
Reposted by Julian Webb
I heard RFK Jr. is floating the banning of the polio vaccine so seems like a good time to remind folks that RFK Jr. was vaccinated with this same vaccine & therefore is at no risk of harm himself

Kinda like when he publicly was against the covid vaccine yet privately required his guests to have it🙃
December 14, 2024 at 2:21 AM
Reposted by Julian Webb
Also Badenoch not liking Love Actually is the final definitive proof, as if any were needed, that it is a great film.
December 12, 2024 at 11:27 AM
Reposted by Julian Webb
This is very good. I find it terrifying that someone can be as openly racist as Murray and still be feted by supposedly mainstream pundits and publications.
December 4, 2024 at 10:00 PM
Reposted by Julian Webb
Two stages of writing:

1) This shouldn't take too long
2) Oh no
December 4, 2024 at 7:36 PM
All too often our politics can seem bleak and transformative change can feel unreachable. Today MPs have taken a significant step towards progress, and that should be celebrated!
The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill has passed its Second Reading.

A historic first step to meet the aspirations of the public, who overwhelmingly support having choice, dignity, and compassion at the end of their lives.

#AssistedDyingBill #YestoDignity #AssistedDying
November 29, 2024 at 2:46 PM
Fantastic news! A victory for dignity and compassion
BREAKING: The Assisted Dying Bill passes second reading.

YES - 330
NO - 275
November 29, 2024 at 2:42 PM
Reposted by Julian Webb
"Good palliative care and assisted dying are not at odds. They are not in conflict. they both aim for the same thing: a good death, surrounded by the people you live, with minimal pain and without fear."
November 29, 2024 at 1:11 PM
Reposted by Julian Webb
Finally someone says it. "We have to be honest with ourselves, this bill has been read far more vociferously than most bills that come before this House. Most bills... have come to parliament with far less than 14 days to consider. The policing bill - six days. Illegal migration bill - six days."
November 29, 2024 at 12:45 PM
‘Maintaining a cruel status quo is not a neutral choice.’

www.newstatesman.com/comment/2024...
Why MPs should vote to legalise assisted dying
Maintaining a cruel status quo is not a neutral choice.
www.newstatesman.com
November 26, 2024 at 10:45 AM
Reposted by Julian Webb
Interesting. New YouGov poll shows strong support for assisted dying across just about every demographic/political grouping.
November 22, 2024 at 9:42 AM
Reposted by Julian Webb
The assisted dying bill now before parliament will bring clarity and certainty to the current legal mess, argues @davidallengreen.bsky.social.
www.prospectmagazine...
It is time to end the “slippery slope” of assisted dying
The bill now before parliament will bring clarity and certainty to the current legal mess
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk
November 23, 2024 at 12:17 PM
What a dark day for the free world when the US abandons decency, liberty and aspiration in favour of a barbaric demagogue (again)
November 6, 2024 at 8:01 AM
Reposted by Julian Webb
The far right now feel they have an ally in Elon Musk. “For the first time, they feel like they see their ideologies and their activities being normalised and legitimised,” says Julie Ebner, extremism expert.

✍🏼 @emilylawford.bsky.social www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/views/people...
How the far right became organised
During the recent riots, formerly disparate factions coalesced in fury, says the extremism researcher Julia Ebner
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk
August 16, 2024 at 2:05 PM