Laura Phillips
@lauraphillips.bsky.social
Campaigner to support the BBC, (not a BBC employee).It’s affected by savage UK govt cuts: c40% 2010-2024. BBC costs <48 pence/around 62 US cents a day per UK household. It’s a national public service broadcaster, respected worldwide for accurate reporting.
Typically thoughtful. The problem for voters - with funding and priority given to the political ‘stenographers’ - is that many of us struggle to hear enough of the *policies* being enacted, their effects and consequences. This leads to a democratic deficit+further concentration on Westminster drama.
Did our feral political press pack call time on Starmer prematurely? Accusations are flying . markurban.substack.com/p/did-the-lo...
Did the Lobby Misread the Starmer Story?
Our political press can be an asset or liability
markurban.substack.com
February 11, 2026 at 7:18 PM
Typically thoughtful. The problem for voters - with funding and priority given to the political ‘stenographers’ - is that many of us struggle to hear enough of the *policies* being enacted, their effects and consequences. This leads to a democratic deficit+further concentration on Westminster drama.
Reposted by Laura Phillips
BREAKING NEWS | Trump quietly pulls National Guard from Chicago and Los Angeles after series of court losses
Trump quietly pulls National Guard from US cities after series of court losses
Supreme Court blocked Trump’s troop deployment in December in apparent rebuke of his attempt to send troops into cities
trib.al
February 11, 2026 at 4:41 PM
BREAKING NEWS | Trump quietly pulls National Guard from Chicago and Los Angeles after series of court losses
Reposted by Laura Phillips
The CIA shut down its World Factbook. Graham: "This is different from the [Trump] administration’s assault on truth... It’s a series of steps that by design or in effect block access to data, and in doing so erode the concept of a shared frame for all Americans." www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/...
America Is Losing the Facts That Hold It Together
The Trump administration is erasing the country’s shared understanding.
www.theatlantic.com
February 11, 2026 at 4:14 PM
The CIA shut down its World Factbook. Graham: "This is different from the [Trump] administration’s assault on truth... It’s a series of steps that by design or in effect block access to data, and in doing so erode the concept of a shared frame for all Americans." www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/...
What a surprise. @snellarthur.bsky.social:'“security vetting” isn’t carried out by the security services. It’s carried out by something called UK Security Vetting..technically part of the Cabinet Office but basically operates like a private sector business within government.' 1/
A fair amount of nonsense has been written and said about the "security vetting" process for Mandelson's appointment. I wrote about what "Developed Vetting" really involves and why it's perfectly possible that it found nothing useful about Mandelson.
arthursnell.substack.com/p/the-vettin...
arthursnell.substack.com/p/the-vettin...
The Vetting Myth
Understanding the realities of Mandelson's pre-appointment checks
arthursnell.substack.com
February 11, 2026 at 3:50 PM
What a surprise. @snellarthur.bsky.social:'“security vetting” isn’t carried out by the security services. It’s carried out by something called UK Security Vetting..technically part of the Cabinet Office but basically operates like a private sector business within government.' 1/
@rafaelbehr.bsky.social Hard questions ducked in opposition have led to this: 'The number of names swirling around is an expression of panic in paralysis. It can be true that #Starmer is incapable of getting Labour out of trouble and also that the process of replacing him makes the trouble worse.'
On Labour’s certainty that Starmer has failed and paralysing fear of what a leadership contest actually involves www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Keir Starmer is the bandage Labour can’t rip off for fear of opening old wounds | Rafael Behr
The party’s MPs know their leader is failing but they are paralysed by fear of a contest with no obvious successor, says Guardian columnist Rafael Behr
www.theguardian.com
February 11, 2026 at 3:21 PM
@rafaelbehr.bsky.social Hard questions ducked in opposition have led to this: 'The number of names swirling around is an expression of panic in paralysis. It can be true that #Starmer is incapable of getting Labour out of trouble and also that the process of replacing him makes the trouble worse.'
Reposted by Laura Phillips
"Switzerland’s military has terminated its contract with Palantir… following a security audit… concluded that U.S. intelligence agencies could potentially access sensitive Swiss defense data… significant reputational warning for the data analytics firm"
www.newscase.com/palantirs-sw...
#R4Today
www.newscase.com/palantirs-sw...
#R4Today
Palantir's Swiss Exit Highlights Global Data Sovereignty Challenge | NewsCase
Switzerland's military has terminated its contract with Palantir Technologies Inc. following a security audit. The review concluded that U.S. intelligence ag
www.newscase.com
February 11, 2026 at 7:05 AM
"Switzerland’s military has terminated its contract with Palantir… following a security audit… concluded that U.S. intelligence agencies could potentially access sensitive Swiss defense data… significant reputational warning for the data analytics firm"
www.newscase.com/palantirs-sw...
#R4Today
www.newscase.com/palantirs-sw...
#R4Today
Reposted by Laura Phillips
Vernon Bogdanor, The Times
February 11, 2026 at 11:02 AM
Vernon Bogdanor, The Times
Reposted by Laura Phillips
Martin Wolf absolutely on the money here. Declining fertility rates are about structural changes in society- more equal opportunities.
Reform and voices on the right want to turn back the clock on women's opportunity. Progressives should give it short shrift.
giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...
Reform and voices on the right want to turn back the clock on women's opportunity. Progressives should give it short shrift.
giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...
Why are fertility rates collapsing? Gender roles
A big part of female graduates’ decision to have children depends on how they expect their husbands to behave
giftarticle.ft.com
February 11, 2026 at 8:16 AM
Martin Wolf absolutely on the money here. Declining fertility rates are about structural changes in society- more equal opportunities.
Reform and voices on the right want to turn back the clock on women's opportunity. Progressives should give it short shrift.
giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...
Reform and voices on the right want to turn back the clock on women's opportunity. Progressives should give it short shrift.
giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...
@christopherjm.ft.com: ‘NEW: #Ukraine has begun planning presidential #elections alongside a #referendum on any #peace deal with #Russia, after the #Trump administration pressed Kyiv to hold both votes by May 15 or risk losing proposed US security guarantees.
w/ @maxseddon @HenryJFoy’
w/ @maxseddon @HenryJFoy’
Zelenskyy planning elections in Ukraine and vote on peace deal
Trump administration has pressured Ukrainian leader to hold both votes by May 15 or risk losing security guarantees
www.ft.com
February 11, 2026 at 10:27 AM
@christopherjm.ft.com: ‘NEW: #Ukraine has begun planning presidential #elections alongside a #referendum on any #peace deal with #Russia, after the #Trump administration pressed Kyiv to hold both votes by May 15 or risk losing proposed US security guarantees.
w/ @maxseddon @HenryJFoy’
w/ @maxseddon @HenryJFoy’
Reposted by Laura Phillips
Thomas Frank sacked by Tottenham after eight months as head coach
Thomas Frank sacked by Tottenham after eight months as head coach
*
Club five points above drop zone after Newcastle defeat
*
Spurs have not won in the Premier League in 2026
Thomas Frank has been sacked by Tottenham, the final straw for the head coach coming on Tuesday when his team lost at home to Newcastle, leaving them 16th, five points above the relegation zone.
The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium crowd again rebelled against Frank, booing him and chanting that he would be sacked in the morning. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
February 11, 2026 at 10:10 AM
Thomas Frank sacked by Tottenham after eight months as head coach
@jkbjournalist.bsky.social: “To make clear: when #Trump called the chief, it was after the Epstein story became public — when #Epstein was arrested. Palm beach police had been investigating the case since 2005.”
Breaking: Trump told Palm Beach police chief 'everyone' knew about Epstein and 'evil' Maxwell www.miamiherald.com/news/politic...
Trump told Palm Beach police chief ‘everyone’ knew about Epstein, Maxwell was ‘evil’
The new information comes as Ghislaine Maxwell was summoned to appear Monday before a Congressional committee.
www.miamiherald.com
February 11, 2026 at 10:11 AM
@jkbjournalist.bsky.social: “To make clear: when #Trump called the chief, it was after the Epstein story became public — when #Epstein was arrested. Palm beach police had been investigating the case since 2005.”
Reposted by Laura Phillips
🚨🚨Welcome news: The #EU is hatching an unprecedented plan that could give #Ukraine partial #membership in the bloc as early as next year, as Brussels tries to shore up the country’s position in Europe and away from #Moscow. 🧵
www.politico.eu/article/5-st...
www.politico.eu/article/5-st...
5 steps to get Ukraine into the EU in 2027
Plans to bring Kyiv into the tent before it has completed all reforms and to remove Hungary’s veto signal a sense of urgency in Brussels.
www.politico.eu
February 11, 2026 at 9:43 AM
🚨🚨Welcome news: The #EU is hatching an unprecedented plan that could give #Ukraine partial #membership in the bloc as early as next year, as Brussels tries to shore up the country’s position in Europe and away from #Moscow. 🧵
www.politico.eu/article/5-st...
www.politico.eu/article/5-st...
Reposted by Laura Phillips
"I did not have economic relations with that man" was not true
So You Lied About Your Relationship With a Sex Trafficker. Now What?
Howard Lutnick searches for a way out of his Epstein pickle.
lnk.thebulwark.com
February 11, 2026 at 7:00 AM
"I did not have economic relations with that man" was not true
‘A bid to review funding to a theatre because it planned to host a "Mini Pride" event has been defeated.
#Reform councillors on Cheshire West and Chester Council said they had "concerns about the hosting+promotion" of the event at the Storyhouse in Chester..’
#Reform councillors on Cheshire West and Chester Council said they had "concerns about the hosting+promotion" of the event at the Storyhouse in Chester..’
Call for Storyhouse funding review over Mini Pride rejected
A Reform motion calling for a review of Storyhouse funding over a 'Mini Pride' event is defeated.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 11, 2026 at 8:34 AM
‘A bid to review funding to a theatre because it planned to host a "Mini Pride" event has been defeated.
#Reform councillors on Cheshire West and Chester Council said they had "concerns about the hosting+promotion" of the event at the Storyhouse in Chester..’
#Reform councillors on Cheshire West and Chester Council said they had "concerns about the hosting+promotion" of the event at the Storyhouse in Chester..’
Reposted by Laura Phillips
#BBCNews live page: www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cr...
Canada shooting latest: Nine people killed and 25 injured in shootings at school and home in #TumblerRidge
Canada shooting latest: Nine people killed and 25 injured in shootings at school and home in #TumblerRidge
Canada shooting latest: Nine killed and 25 injured in shootings at school and home in Tumbler Ridge
The suspect was also found dead after the shootings in British Columbia, police say, as Prime Minister Mark Carney says he is
www.bbc.co.uk
February 11, 2026 at 7:12 AM
#BBCNews live page: www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cr...
Canada shooting latest: Nine people killed and 25 injured in shootings at school and home in #TumblerRidge
Canada shooting latest: Nine people killed and 25 injured in shootings at school and home in #TumblerRidge
Reposted by Laura Phillips
The Nation of Sanctuary scheme helps #refugees and #asylum seekers placed in Wales to integrate and access public services. Ahead of May's Senedd election, the Welsh Conservatives and Reform UK have pledged to scrap it, citing concerns over the 'message it sends'.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Your Voice: Should Wales be a Nation of Sanctuary?
The policy to help refugees and asylum seekers integrate is attracting attention ahead of the Senedd election.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 11, 2026 at 7:24 AM
The Nation of Sanctuary scheme helps #refugees and #asylum seekers placed in Wales to integrate and access public services. Ahead of May's Senedd election, the Welsh Conservatives and Reform UK have pledged to scrap it, citing concerns over the 'message it sends'.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Laura Phillips
#BBCNews - Sanctions-busting shadow fleet are increasing - the big question is what to do about them
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Sanctions-busting shadow ships are increasing - the big question is what to do about them
What can governments do when countries circumvent or flout the rules to export oil?
www.bbc.co.uk
February 11, 2026 at 7:35 AM
#BBCNews - Sanctions-busting shadow fleet are increasing - the big question is what to do about them
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Laura Phillips
#BBCNews - Russian strikes near Kharkiv kill four people, including children, Ukraine says
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
#UkraineWar
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
#UkraineWar
Russian strikes near Kharkiv kill four, including children, Ukraine says
The bodies of three toddlers and a 34-year-old man were pulled from the wreckage of a house in north-eastern Ukraine.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 11, 2026 at 7:38 AM
#BBCNews - Russian strikes near Kharkiv kill four people, including children, Ukraine says
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
#UkraineWar
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
#UkraineWar
Reposted by Laura Phillips
#BBCNews - UK doubles troops in Norway to counter Russian 'threat to Arctic'
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
UK doubles troops in Norway to counter Russian 'threat to Arctic'
Defence Secretary John Healey says British personnel in Norway will rise from 1,000 to 2,000 over three years.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 11, 2026 at 7:44 AM
#BBCNews - UK doubles troops in Norway to counter Russian 'threat to Arctic'
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Laura Phillips
#BBCNews - Looted African artefacts to be returned by Cambridge University
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
#BeninBronzes
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
#BeninBronzes
Looted African artefacts to be returned by Cambridge University
The items stolen in the late 19th Century by British troops will officially be returned to Nigeria.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 11, 2026 at 7:45 AM
#BBCNews - Looted African artefacts to be returned by Cambridge University
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
#BeninBronzes
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
#BeninBronzes