Lewis Baston
@lewisbaston.bsky.social
Author of ‘Borderlines’ (Hodder, 2024). Psephologist, cat ‘owner’, traveller, flâneur. https://www.hodder.co.uk/titles/lewis-baston/borderlines/9781399723763/
Pinned
Lewis Baston
@lewisbaston.bsky.social
· Sep 22
Delighted to announce that Borderlines is one of @waterstones.bsky.social paperbacks of the year!
I’m pro ‘tourist taxes’ (they’re in effect across a lot of Europe and they’re small and you can often pay them without noticing). But they are the ultimate case of ‘raise taxes on someone else.’
BREAKING | Labour announces ‘tourist tax’ to boost England’s cities
Labour announces ‘tourist tax’ to boost England’s cities
www.independent.co.uk
November 25, 2025 at 3:11 PM
I’m pro ‘tourist taxes’ (they’re in effect across a lot of Europe and they’re small and you can often pay them without noticing). But they are the ultimate case of ‘raise taxes on someone else.’
Reposted by Lewis Baston
ianvisits.co.uk is such a superb website - been to so many events in London that I wouldn’t have heard of without it. Also, while I’m re-tweeting him, Borderlines by @lewisbaston.bsky.social is a brilliant exploration of Europe, seen through its frontier zones - politics, history, folklore and war.
November 25, 2025 at 1:13 PM
ianvisits.co.uk is such a superb website - been to so many events in London that I wouldn’t have heard of without it. Also, while I’m re-tweeting him, Borderlines by @lewisbaston.bsky.social is a brilliant exploration of Europe, seen through its frontier zones - politics, history, folklore and war.
This is interesting and it reflects extremely well on the civil engineering profession.
The hidden chemical attack that forced the Northern line’s extraordinary repair
www.ianvisits.co.uk/articles/the...
www.ianvisits.co.uk/articles/the...
The hidden chemical attack that forced the Northern line’s extraordinary repair
Thirty years ago, an entire section of the Northern line had to be replaced because it was under attack from acid, and hardly anyone noticed that it was happening.
www.ianvisits.co.uk
November 25, 2025 at 12:48 PM
This is interesting and it reflects extremely well on the civil engineering profession.
‘Waiting/ to put on the black shirt/ to smash in their windows and kick in their doors’
Reform's Twitter account is showcasing the new range of black shirts they plan to start selling soon.
The metaphors write themselves, and they know it.
The metaphors write themselves, and they know it.
November 24, 2025 at 11:32 PM
‘Waiting/ to put on the black shirt/ to smash in their windows and kick in their doors’
I do. I was working for a television production company (on a history of the John Major government) and there was some grim humour about the prospects for a TV company where everyone had blinded themselves thanks to not reading the cautions about looking at the eclipse.
Do you remember where you were for the solar eclipse in the UK on August 11th 1999?
November 24, 2025 at 9:51 PM
I do. I was working for a television production company (on a history of the John Major government) and there was some grim humour about the prospects for a TV company where everyone had blinded themselves thanks to not reading the cautions about looking at the eclipse.
I'm distracted (I'm supposed to be writing about Labour leadership election rules and history), sort of loose and listening to Tangled Up in Blue and reflecting on my life. Ask me questions, you might get an answer en clair or DM, but I reserve the right to give an ironic response, swerve or ignore.
November 24, 2025 at 8:21 PM
I'm distracted (I'm supposed to be writing about Labour leadership election rules and history), sort of loose and listening to Tangled Up in Blue and reflecting on my life. Ask me questions, you might get an answer en clair or DM, but I reserve the right to give an ironic response, swerve or ignore.
Reposted by Lewis Baston
This reminds me of a Radio 4 doc I once made in which we asked Clegg, Cameron, Osborne & D. Miliband if they'd taken cocaine in their youth. The answers from the first three were elegantly constructed: references to the important of politicians being allowed a private past etc.
Miliband said: 'No'.
Miliband said: 'No'.
“I would never ever do it in a hurtful or insulting way”
Nigel Farage responds to allegations of racist behaviour from when he was a teenager at school
@itvnewspolitics.bsky.social
Nigel Farage responds to allegations of racist behaviour from when he was a teenager at school
@itvnewspolitics.bsky.social
November 24, 2025 at 6:40 PM
This reminds me of a Radio 4 doc I once made in which we asked Clegg, Cameron, Osborne & D. Miliband if they'd taken cocaine in their youth. The answers from the first three were elegantly constructed: references to the important of politicians being allowed a private past etc.
Miliband said: 'No'.
Miliband said: 'No'.
Reminder that there's a week left before Unzoomed goes over to subscription-only. It's a snip at £3 a month (10p a go, more or less, for something that's fun) to an independent creator rather than a corporation. I've paid up.
November 24, 2025 at 1:52 PM
Reminder that there's a week left before Unzoomed goes over to subscription-only. It's a snip at £3 a month (10p a go, more or less, for something that's fun) to an independent creator rather than a corporation. I've paid up.
Unzoomed #676 3/6 🔴🔴🟢⚪️⚪️⚪️
unzoomed.com ha!
unzoomed.com ha!
Unzoomed
Identify cities using satellite images in this daily puzzle game, where each guess zooms out for enhanced clues.
unzoomed.com
November 24, 2025 at 10:57 AM
Unzoomed #676 3/6 🔴🔴🟢⚪️⚪️⚪️
unzoomed.com ha!
unzoomed.com ha!
Did I detect a little nod of respect from the person sitting next to me on the tube for this? Connections
Puzzle #897
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Puzzle #897
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November 24, 2025 at 10:15 AM
Did I detect a little nod of respect from the person sitting next to me on the tube for this? Connections
Puzzle #897
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Puzzle #897
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Reposted by Lewis Baston
The honest budget speech...
"This year we're putting pensioners ahead of growth. We're prioritising reform voters over growth. Incumbent businesses. Tax advisors...
And the party opposite can complain, but they did exactly the same thing.
In UK politics, this is called change"
"This year we're putting pensioners ahead of growth. We're prioritising reform voters over growth. Incumbent businesses. Tax advisors...
And the party opposite can complain, but they did exactly the same thing.
In UK politics, this is called change"
i: Reeves to unveil £600m raid on foreign student
university fees #TomorrowsPapersToday
university fees #TomorrowsPapersToday
November 24, 2025 at 7:21 AM
The honest budget speech...
"This year we're putting pensioners ahead of growth. We're prioritising reform voters over growth. Incumbent businesses. Tax advisors...
And the party opposite can complain, but they did exactly the same thing.
In UK politics, this is called change"
"This year we're putting pensioners ahead of growth. We're prioritising reform voters over growth. Incumbent businesses. Tax advisors...
And the party opposite can complain, but they did exactly the same thing.
In UK politics, this is called change"
My score is 1. And I still use paper maps sometimes. I’ve become an old fogey haven’t I?
7 (I am 37; I am counting any rental video store as a Blockbuster as they weren't common here).
November 23, 2025 at 7:13 PM
My score is 1. And I still use paper maps sometimes. I’ve become an old fogey haven’t I?
I see Glasman is at it again. People more connected than me, is it a case of a) the guy actually has some influence, God help us; or b) he’s a carnival geek who entertains the media?
November 23, 2025 at 5:41 PM
I see Glasman is at it again. People more connected than me, is it a case of a) the guy actually has some influence, God help us; or b) he’s a carnival geek who entertains the media?
Unzoomed #675 5/6 🔴🔴🟡🟡🟢⚪️
unzoomed.com poor but in my defence, mapless.
unzoomed.com poor but in my defence, mapless.
Unzoomed
Identify cities using satellite images in this daily puzzle game, where each guess zooms out for enhanced clues.
unzoomed.com
November 23, 2025 at 9:15 AM
Unzoomed #675 5/6 🔴🔴🟡🟡🟢⚪️
unzoomed.com poor but in my defence, mapless.
unzoomed.com poor but in my defence, mapless.
TANSTAGI (there ain’t no such thing as government intervention) as Robert Anton Wilson put it back along. The government’s activities and extent are determined by the same economic and social forces that determine market outcomes; the Invisible Hand shapes them too…
The state is not a tumour on a preexisting society that can be separated and extracted from it, it's a form of social organisation that forms part of a society.
November 23, 2025 at 7:05 AM
TANSTAGI (there ain’t no such thing as government intervention) as Robert Anton Wilson put it back along. The government’s activities and extent are determined by the same economic and social forces that determine market outcomes; the Invisible Hand shapes them too…
I’ve paid my subscription to the puzzle creator today
Unzoomed #674 4/6 🔴🟡🟡🟢⚪️⚪️
unzoomed.com that was quirky and I found it confusing for some reason.
unzoomed.com that was quirky and I found it confusing for some reason.
Unzoomed
Identify cities using satellite images in this daily puzzle game, where each guess zooms out for enhanced clues.
unzoomed.com
November 22, 2025 at 12:14 PM
I’ve paid my subscription to the puzzle creator today
Unzoomed #674 4/6 🔴🟡🟡🟢⚪️⚪️
unzoomed.com that was quirky and I found it confusing for some reason.
unzoomed.com that was quirky and I found it confusing for some reason.
Unzoomed
Identify cities using satellite images in this daily puzzle game, where each guess zooms out for enhanced clues.
unzoomed.com
November 22, 2025 at 12:13 PM
Unzoomed #674 4/6 🔴🟡🟡🟢⚪️⚪️
unzoomed.com that was quirky and I found it confusing for some reason.
unzoomed.com that was quirky and I found it confusing for some reason.
I can only agree!
November 22, 2025 at 10:03 AM
I can only agree!
I’ll have to think about Unzoomed today. Looks familiar but I can’t place it.
November 22, 2025 at 10:01 AM
I’ll have to think about Unzoomed today. Looks familiar but I can’t place it.
Didn’t do much tourist-posting from the trip but I’ll share a few. I find Hong Kong fascinating - architecturally, socially, politically - and the dining options are incredible. The skyline of Hong Kong Island by night is an incredible spectacle.
November 22, 2025 at 8:36 AM
Didn’t do much tourist-posting from the trip but I’ll share a few. I find Hong Kong fascinating - architecturally, socially, politically - and the dining options are incredible. The skyline of Hong Kong Island by night is an incredible spectacle.
Transferred to the care of the British Herpetological Society. Thanks to their staff and volunteers for looking out for travelling creatures www.thebhs.org
November 21, 2025 at 7:36 PM
Transferred to the care of the British Herpetological Society. Thanks to their staff and volunteers for looking out for travelling creatures www.thebhs.org
Reposted by Lewis Baston
Good piece from @joxley.jmoxley.co.uk
Government by Breakage
What a failed appliance promotion shows us about our state
open.substack.com
November 21, 2025 at 2:46 PM
Good piece from @joxley.jmoxley.co.uk
Reposted by Lewis Baston
We need a full investigation into Russian interference in our politics.
Nathan Gill has been sentenced to 10.5 years for endangering national security and taking Russian bribes.
Nigel Farage and Reform are a danger to national security, the Liberal Democrats will continue to hold them to account and defend our democracy.
Nigel Farage and Reform are a danger to national security, the Liberal Democrats will continue to hold them to account and defend our democracy.
November 21, 2025 at 2:18 PM
We need a full investigation into Russian interference in our politics.
All of this, but particularly this.
November 21, 2025 at 2:18 PM
All of this, but particularly this.