Laura Phillips
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lauraphillips.bsky.social
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.
Reposted by Laura Phillips
This time, CNN actually gets it right. No matter what happens in the mid-terms or in 2028, the era that saw the United States as the leader of the free world has ended. We have gone from beacon of hope to pariah, from advocate for democracy to fellow traveler with despots.

This is Trump's America.
Analysis: Trump’s damage is done. Democrats – and Europe – are struggling to define what’s next | CNN Politics
Democratic presidential hopefuls descended on the Munich Security Conference over the weekend as they might normally flood Des Moines, Iowa, or Manchester, New Hampshire. They found a Europe that’s al...
www.cnn.com
February 16, 2026 at 6:11 AM
Reposted by Laura Phillips
Fantastic to see my Mini Switzerland idea covered by the BBC.

It captures so many people’s imaginations because it’s both obvious, simple and yet - from where we are today - unspeakably radical.

Please share!

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
'Mini Switzerland' plan for Peak District transport network
The idea would see buses arriving before trains pull into stations to improve connectivity.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 15, 2026 at 9:34 PM
Reposted by Laura Phillips
Cllr Bowtell on why she fully supports Tomlinson on his call to ban Kemi Badenoch. Rishi Sunak, Priti Patel, Shabana Mahmood & Nus Ghani from parliament (on grounds of ancestry + race) but she is sad that this kind of view can't be expressed by civil servants
February 16, 2026 at 12:15 PM
Reposted by Laura Phillips
Restore Britain have their first ever councillor, Maria Bowtell, ex-Tory & ex-Reform a longstanding Lowe associate (& an employee of Restore). She told me she "fully supports" Conor Tomlinson's proposal to ban all ethnic minorities from parliament & propose a Restore Britain policy paper on it
February 16, 2026 at 12:10 PM
Reposted by Laura Phillips
When were the contacts between Mandelson and Epstein - and when did Keir Starmer know about them?

My Verify analysis about what the documents show us about the timeline 📺 👇

www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cg...
BBC Verify: Wrong date on draft Epstein death statement a typo, US officials tell BBC Verify
Latest updates from the BBC's specialists in fact-checking, verifying video and tackling disinformation.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 10, 2026 at 1:38 PM
Reposted by Laura Phillips
....and a round up on the BBC website from Verify colleagues 📖👇

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Fact-checking Jim Ratcliffe's immigration and benefit claims
BBC Verify has been examining some of the Manchester United owner's claims.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 12, 2026 at 5:02 PM
Reposted by Laura Phillips
Fact check from me on BBC Sounds on Sir Jim Ratcliffe's claims on

- population
- immigration
- benefits
- energy

📻👇...

www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
BBC Verify on Jim Ratcliffe's claims about immigration - BBC Sounds
Sir Jim said he was sorry his ‘choice of language had offended some people’.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 12, 2026 at 5:01 PM
Reposted by Laura Phillips
Nigel Farage has been making the incorrect claim that "one million people living in this country don't speak any English at all"

Facts here 👇

www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c1...
February 13, 2026 at 11:28 AM
Reposted by Laura Phillips
New book coming. Nation of Strangers -Rebuilding Home in the 21st Century. Check it out here buythebook.online/ece-temelkuran
November 5, 2025 at 9:45 PM
Important conversation from #BBC
@tds153.bsky.social at #BBCSounds Turkish writer, @ecetemelkuran.bsky.social’s new book Nation of Strangers: Rebuilding a Home in the 21stC explores the rising global displacement of people who will need to forge stronger connections amid political+social upheaval 1/
Start the Week - Breakage and repair - BBC Sounds
Tom Sutcliffe's guests include Booker Prize-winner George Saunders on his new novel, Vigil
www.bbc.co.uk
February 16, 2026 at 11:03 AM
@joepike.bsky.social please take a look. Thank you.
Dispatches from the #GortonandDenton by-election: local community Facebook groups are being flooded with some really dodgy 💩.

One for my neighbours in Levy and for investigative journalists - not sure whom to talk to about it.

See a few screenshots here, and 🧵on why I think it's sus below.
February 16, 2026 at 10:41 AM
Reposted by Laura Phillips
A High Court claim by nearly a thousand university students who say that they were not given the tuition they had paid for has been settled. See update here:
rozenberg.substack.com/p/student-cl...
Student claim paused for talks
Court freezes claim for eight months and tells parties to use time productively
rozenberg.substack.com
February 16, 2026 at 10:35 AM
The Other Bennet Sister 📸 New images released!

Potential admirers of Mary Bennet feature in the newly released images, including Ryan Sampson as the iconic Mr Collins, Dónal Finn as Mr Hayward, and Laurie Davidson as Mr Ryder
You can read more here 👇🏻
The Other Bennet Sister second look released
New images reveal potential admirers of Mary Bennet...
www.bbc.co.uk
February 16, 2026 at 10:27 AM
“This might be our worst ‘love bomber’ yet...” - Vicky Pattison on the return of #fraudster #podcast, Love Bombed

📻 You can listen to the acclaimed investigative podcast series from #BBCLocal now

More 👇🏻
“This might be our worst ‘love bomber’ yet...” - Vicky Pattison on the return of fraudster podcast Love Bombed for series four on BBC Local
BBC Local has announced the return of Love Bombed, the acclaimed investigative podcast series hosted by Vicky Pattison
www.bbc.co.uk
February 16, 2026 at 10:26 AM
📽️ Harry Clark is on a quest to meet the new #Pope

Blending warmth, wit and emotional honesty, a new documentary on #BBCiPlayer and #BBCTwo follows Harry on a deeply personal journey to #Rome

You can read more 👇🏻
Harry Clark embarks on a quest to meet the new Pope in BBC documentary
From Slough to the Vatican, Harry Clark's audacious quest to meet the pope is coming to BBC iPlayer and BBC Two
www.bbc.co.uk
February 16, 2026 at 9:03 AM
Reposted by Laura Phillips
Rays of Darkness - the lives & imaginations of two writers interweave in this lyrical, autobiographical drama by Gwyneth Lewis, former National Poet of Wales. Stars Eiry Thomas, Sharon Morgan & Clare Corbett as Margiad Evans 2.15pm Weds 11 Feb @BBCRadio4 @BBCSounds

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
BBC Radio 4 - Drama on 4, Rays of Darkness
The lives and imaginations of two writers interweave in this lyric drama by Gwyneth Lewis.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 11, 2026 at 9:13 AM
Reposted by Laura Phillips
Fiction by #OctaviaEButler #Gogol & Lissa Evans - all on A Good Read, Mon 3pm @BBCRadio4 Maria Balshaw, Director of Tate art museums & galleries & Léa Ypi, professor of politics & philosophy at LSE swap books they love with @harriettsg.bsky.social Producer @elizalomas www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
BBC Radio 4 - A Good Read, Maria Balshaw and Léa Ypi
The director of Tate and the political philosopher swap books they love.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 16, 2026 at 8:05 AM
Reposted by Laura Phillips
Composer of the Week - Donald Macleod explores #Rachmaninov’s life in exile from Russia and attachment to the country estate he left behind: Ivanovka. 4pm each weekday @BBCRadio3 or @BBCSounds Producer Megan Jones www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
February 16, 2026 at 8:28 AM
Reposted by Laura Phillips
My book about Britain ends with a memory.
Of the first time I ever worked at Broadcasting House as a guest commentator, what that meant to me, and what the BBC means for 🇬🇧’s place in the world.
The idea that the World Service could end is awful, and frankly embarrassing for the British Government.
February 15, 2026 at 7:58 PM
Reposted by Laura Phillips
Good evidence to believe authoritarian right may significantly overreach on British public appetite for mass deportations & remigration (esp given the dramatic visual evidence from Trump).

BUT also depends on "eıite cues": how media, political voices + online ecosystems legitimise/stigmatise this
February 15, 2026 at 9:31 PM