Nervous Social Democrat
@nervoussocdem.bsky.social
The display name is pretty self-explanatory. My politics are a mix of left-liberalism and social democracy. I’m also a history geek. I am anonymous so I can give opinions without worrying about doing so: despite this, I promise I am mild-mannered.
I am completely with the rebels on this. However much justice delayed is justice denied, you can't just radically restrict a fundamental right in England and Wales' legal system in the name of backlog management.
Starmer facing new rebellion as dozens of Labour MPs revolt over jury-scrapping plans
After the welfare rebellion before the summer, the PM has a new challenge to his authority on court reform
www.independent.co.uk
December 19, 2025 at 10:43 AM
I am completely with the rebels on this. However much justice delayed is justice denied, you can't just radically restrict a fundamental right in England and Wales' legal system in the name of backlog management.
It is indeed a better response than those we’ve heard elsewhere. But if the UK has managed being a multiethnic, multicultural society better than many others (and I agree it has), then why is Shabana going full steam ahead with shifting our approach towards the old West German Gastarbeiter model?
Shabana Mahmood dismisses White House’s ‘civilisational erasure’ claims
Shabana Mahmood dismisses White House’s ‘civilisational erasure’ claims
Home secretary says UK has managed the challenges of multiculturalism ‘very well’
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UK politics live – latest updates
The US government’s claims that Europe faces “civilisational erasure” because of mass migration are an attempt to score political points against Muslims, the home secretary has suggested.
Shabana Mahmood dismissed the idea that European civilisation and national identities were under threat because of migration and said the UK had managed the challenges of multiculturalism “very well”. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
December 14, 2025 at 12:53 PM
It is indeed a better response than those we’ve heard elsewhere. But if the UK has managed being a multiethnic, multicultural society better than many others (and I agree it has), then why is Shabana going full steam ahead with shifting our approach towards the old West German Gastarbeiter model?
This is the bonkers thing. We’re not talking about sharp differences of opinion on immigration here. The “no one from an ethnic minority should be an MP” position has been restricted to swivel-eyed racist loons for many years. Why are some journalists trying to turn it into an actual talking point?
The "Overton Window" not shifting in that nobody more famousTomlinson, Lucy White, Ant Middleton & an ind councillor are arguing publicly to ban Badenoch from parliament (or remove all practicing Muslims from UK)
What we do have is GB News, Sun willing to platform the advocates of that argument
What we do have is GB News, Sun willing to platform the advocates of that argument
December 14, 2025 at 12:44 PM
This is the bonkers thing. We’re not talking about sharp differences of opinion on immigration here. The “no one from an ethnic minority should be an MP” position has been restricted to swivel-eyed racist loons for many years. Why are some journalists trying to turn it into an actual talking point?
I increasingly think the best test of serious commitment to any policy objective by any government is “Has the Prime Minister told the Treasury to shut up and pay up and that they’re not looking for opinions on the subject?”
This is bang on. If you are genuinely worried about defence, you don't give in to the Treasury's fun and games of only hitting the defence spend target in the first year of the next Parliament. Instead, you fire all the officials who are prioritising accountancy over the fate of democracy.
Big difficulty of this government is Downing Street identifies a £20bn problem, correctly, then puts £2bn behind it. The only place where its policy matches its rhetoric is child poverty, where it had to be dragged into it, protesting that adequate policy was 'un-Labour' all the way.
December 13, 2025 at 1:30 PM
I increasingly think the best test of serious commitment to any policy objective by any government is “Has the Prime Minister told the Treasury to shut up and pay up and that they’re not looking for opinions on the subject?”
Maybe I’m being unfair, but this sounds like a not especially subtle translation of “Wes should basically do whatever the BMA tells him to do for the sake of peace.” My sympathy for the BMA is extremely limited right now, so I’m not inclined to agree!
Brutal on Streeting from colleague: ‘Wes has zero interest in the health service or patients. He has subcontracted the job of secretary of state for health to Alan Milburn so he can concentrate full-time on what he regards as the far more important job of being Wes Streeting’
December 13, 2025 at 10:36 AM
Maybe I’m being unfair, but this sounds like a not especially subtle translation of “Wes should basically do whatever the BMA tells him to do for the sake of peace.” My sympathy for the BMA is extremely limited right now, so I’m not inclined to agree!
I understand that part of the point of this stuff is to make liberals angry so they can be repeatedly “owned”. But dear Lord … if only the Western world had so few foreign-policy problems that the US Secretary of State could justifiably get personally fixated on this.
Marco Rubio ordered diplomats to return to using Times New Roman font in official communications, calling his predecessor's decision to adopt Calibri a “wasteful” diversity move
Rubio Stages Font Coup: Times New Roman Ousts Calibri
The secretary of state called it a "wasteful" diversity move, according to an internal department cable seen by Reuters.
www.huffpost.com
December 10, 2025 at 7:08 AM
I understand that part of the point of this stuff is to make liberals angry so they can be repeatedly “owned”. But dear Lord … if only the Western world had so few foreign-policy problems that the US Secretary of State could justifiably get personally fixated on this.
Does Keir really think the people who hate the ECHR will change their minds if he secures some technocratic change, which lets you off the hook of some cases then deemed borderline between torture and not-torture, but no-one normal understands?
December 9, 2025 at 8:16 PM
Does Keir really think the people who hate the ECHR will change their minds if he secures some technocratic change, which lets you off the hook of some cases then deemed borderline between torture and not-torture, but no-one normal understands?
I usually lean towards "Unfortunately we depend on the Mad, Bad Orange King for our security and have to play nice until that changes." But implying that his guff about European "civilisational decay" is why we need to "return control to our asylum system" outright legitimises a racist narrative.
Keir Starmer’s spokesman refuses to criticise Trump for calling Europe a group of “decaying” nations led by “weak” leaders
Asked about Trump saying European countries will no longer be “viable" thanks to migration, Keir Starmer’s spokesman says the UK is “returning control to our asylum system”
Asked about Trump saying European countries will no longer be “viable" thanks to migration, Keir Starmer’s spokesman says the UK is “returning control to our asylum system”
December 9, 2025 at 4:38 PM
I usually lean towards "Unfortunately we depend on the Mad, Bad Orange King for our security and have to play nice until that changes." But implying that his guff about European "civilisational decay" is why we need to "return control to our asylum system" outright legitimises a racist narrative.
Explaining Labour's 1980s civil war to my Greek teacher: «Φαντάσου ότι ο Βαρουφάκης προσπαθούσε να πάρει τον ελέκχο του ΠΑΣΟΚ και θα έχεις καταλάβει τη κατάσταση.» ("Imagine that Varoufakis was trying to take control of PASOK and you'll have understood the situation.")
December 9, 2025 at 8:12 AM
Explaining Labour's 1980s civil war to my Greek teacher: «Φαντάσου ότι ο Βαρουφάκης προσπαθούσε να πάρει τον ελέκχο του ΠΑΣΟΚ και θα έχεις καταλάβει τη κατάσταση.» ("Imagine that Varoufakis was trying to take control of PASOK and you'll have understood the situation.")
Yes, I know this will be superficially popular, but a) it won't just be applicable to 'migrants' (my best friend's son is a US-UK national and was born here) and b) it's another nail in the coffin of any idea that British citizens are equally citizens irrespective of their backgrounds.
The Conservative party’s policy also includes stripping people of their British citizenship when they are found guilty of a crime ⬇️
All criminals with dual nationality must be deported, say Tories
The Conservative party’s policy also includes stripping people of their British citizenship when they are found guilty of a crime
www.thetimes.com
December 9, 2025 at 7:26 AM
Yes, I know this will be superficially popular, but a) it won't just be applicable to 'migrants' (my best friend's son is a US-UK national and was born here) and b) it's another nail in the coffin of any idea that British citizens are equally citizens irrespective of their backgrounds.
Having moaned a lot about this government, fair’s fair: the child poverty strategy gives me heart. Two (non-new) things leap out at me:
- just how much poverty reduction happens by lifting the two-child limit
- the fact that it was New Labour’s fiscally-straitened first term which cut poverty most.
- just how much poverty reduction happens by lifting the two-child limit
- the fact that it was New Labour’s fiscally-straitened first term which cut poverty most.
December 8, 2025 at 6:59 AM
Having moaned a lot about this government, fair’s fair: the child poverty strategy gives me heart. Two (non-new) things leap out at me:
- just how much poverty reduction happens by lifting the two-child limit
- the fact that it was New Labour’s fiscally-straitened first term which cut poverty most.
- just how much poverty reduction happens by lifting the two-child limit
- the fact that it was New Labour’s fiscally-straitened first term which cut poverty most.
I rather feel that Robert Jenrick is best - or at least partially - explained by watching Boris Johnson and concluding that you really can say anything you think will work with the relevant audience, without truly believing in anything yourself, can do the job.
December 5, 2025 at 10:12 PM
I rather feel that Robert Jenrick is best - or at least partially - explained by watching Boris Johnson and concluding that you really can say anything you think will work with the relevant audience, without truly believing in anything yourself, can do the job.
You know, you could challenge her on things like the inadequacy of her growth agenda (trying to make up for big structural problems plus no single market by harrying small-scale savers via the tax system, etc etc etc) rather than this tedious attempted character assassination.
A former junior champion said Reeves did not hold the official British girls’ under-14 title, and critics ask broader questions about her CV and career claims ⬇️
Rachel Reeves accused of overstating junior chess title
A former junior champion said Reeves did not hold the official British girls’ under-14 title, and critics ask broader questions about her CV and career claims
www.thetimes.com
December 2, 2025 at 10:37 PM
You know, you could challenge her on things like the inadequacy of her growth agenda (trying to make up for big structural problems plus no single market by harrying small-scale savers via the tax system, etc etc etc) rather than this tedious attempted character assassination.
I could happily live with increasing magistrates’ sentencing powers so they can hear more cases (not the same as asking them to give longer sentences to current offences), while preserving the right to elect. Removing that right and creating a new court with no lay element are very different.
December 2, 2025 at 3:47 PM
I could happily live with increasing magistrates’ sentencing powers so they can hear more cases (not the same as asking them to give longer sentences to current offences), while preserving the right to elect. Removing that right and creating a new court with no lay element are very different.
We are putting up a Christmas tree, largely because I like them and my partner is indulging me. But unfortunately, ‘O, Tannenbaum’ is still ‘The Red Flag’ in my head, and probably always will be.
November 30, 2025 at 12:21 PM
We are putting up a Christmas tree, largely because I like them and my partner is indulging me. But unfortunately, ‘O, Tannenbaum’ is still ‘The Red Flag’ in my head, and probably always will be.
More broadly, the idea that a political party having ideological preferences is somehow illegitimate, as opposed to a principal reason we don't just have the civil servants run the country, is an absurd conceit to which the World at One shouldn't give even implicit houseroom.
Headline on The World at One just now:
"Sir Keir Starmer has denied putting the Labour Party before the country by ending the two-child benefit cap".
Can we please go back to reporting the actual news, not someone's partisan take on it?
"Sir Keir Starmer has denied putting the Labour Party before the country by ending the two-child benefit cap".
Can we please go back to reporting the actual news, not someone's partisan take on it?
November 27, 2025 at 1:24 PM
More broadly, the idea that a political party having ideological preferences is somehow illegitimate, as opposed to a principal reason we don't just have the civil servants run the country, is an absurd conceit to which the World at One shouldn't give even implicit houseroom.
On a mildly cheery note, the Government is doing a sensible thing in scrapping Police and Crime Commissioners. The whole notion was obviously bonkers in the first place and has been a perverse experiment in how low-turnout, low-awareness a set of elections you can possibly devise.
November 26, 2025 at 7:24 AM
On a mildly cheery note, the Government is doing a sensible thing in scrapping Police and Crime Commissioners. The whole notion was obviously bonkers in the first place and has been a perverse experiment in how low-turnout, low-awareness a set of elections you can possibly devise.
I choose to believe this means I am still a young adult, and none of you can tell me otherwise. Don’t tell me otherwise. I didn’t ask to be born [in 1986].
Adolescence lasts to 32, say brain scientists
Adolescence lasts to 32, say brain scientists
www.thetimes.com
November 25, 2025 at 10:48 PM
I choose to believe this means I am still a young adult, and none of you can tell me otherwise. Don’t tell me otherwise. I didn’t ask to be born [in 1986].
It strikes me that the combination of giving the OBR so much political centrality with the world’s most cack-handed attempt to circumvent this has created a situation where forecasting tweaks often have a deeply unhealthy effect on public policy, but changing this is untenably risky for now.
The difficult question about how powerful the Budget watchdog is
Ahead of this week's Budget, some have accused the Office for Budget Responsibility of being a
www.bbc.co.uk
November 25, 2025 at 7:59 PM
It strikes me that the combination of giving the OBR so much political centrality with the world’s most cack-handed attempt to circumvent this has created a situation where forecasting tweaks often have a deeply unhealthy effect on public policy, but changing this is untenably risky for now.
Extending summary courts’ jurisdiction is one thing, but removing the right to jury trial for the vast majority of cases, and not even having a lay element for increasingly serious cases, is quite another. This really is a deeply illiberal government in all sorts of ways.
MoJ to remove right to trial by jury for thousands of cases in controversial overhaul
MoJ to remove right to trial by jury for thousands of cases in controversial overhaul
Exclusive: Courts minister says change needed to stop criminals opting for juries to delay cases, sometimes by years, and clear huge backlog
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UK politics live – latest updates
Criminals will be stopped from “gaming the system” by choosing trial by jury in order to increase the chances of proceedings collapsing, the courts minister has said, promising to enact radical changes to limit jury trials by the next election.
Drug dealers and career criminals were “laughing in the dock” knowing cases can take years to come to trial, Sarah Sackman told the Guardian, saying inaction would be a road to “chaos and ruin”. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
November 25, 2025 at 7:12 PM
Extending summary courts’ jurisdiction is one thing, but removing the right to jury trial for the vast majority of cases, and not even having a lay element for increasingly serious cases, is quite another. This really is a deeply illiberal government in all sorts of ways.
It's a pity that there isn't a sensible Green Party, either in England and Wales or in Scotland. They'd be a useful contribution to the political ecosystem if they weren't completely bonkers.
Zack Polanski has invited Zarah Sultana to defect from Your Party to the Greens
Zack Polanski invites Zarah Sultana to defect from Your Party
www.thenational.scot
November 23, 2025 at 8:46 PM
It's a pity that there isn't a sensible Green Party, either in England and Wales or in Scotland. They'd be a useful contribution to the political ecosystem if they weren't completely bonkers.
This is a good example of how quite similar political instincts work well if 15% would be a stunning GE triumph for you and appallingly if you need 33-38% to be a success. Though I do wonder how the NATO stuff goes down with their Home Counties Lib Dem as opposed to their urban Corbynista vote.
I did fall into the trap of "What's his angle with the NATO stuff?" before realising it's not that deep it's just what he believes as a fundamentally unserious individual.
November 23, 2025 at 11:12 AM
This is a good example of how quite similar political instincts work well if 15% would be a stunning GE triumph for you and appallingly if you need 33-38% to be a success. Though I do wonder how the NATO stuff goes down with their Home Counties Lib Dem as opposed to their urban Corbynista vote.
It is deeply depressing to think that the last Tory government was better at drawing some basic anti-racist lines in terms of public rhetoric than the current Labour government, but that actually is where we are.
As soon as politicians stop enforcing norms things can unravel very, very quickly. Currently the Starmer legacy based off the last six months of total capitulation and ceding of ground, bar one decent speech in September.
November 23, 2025 at 1:29 AM
It is deeply depressing to think that the last Tory government was better at drawing some basic anti-racist lines in terms of public rhetoric than the current Labour government, but that actually is where we are.
From an EU plus European NATO perspective, the lesson of the Trump-Witkoff plan is the one we should have absorbed in 2016-21 and again in November 2024. We cannot trust, but remain dependent on, the US. Until the dependency changes, when push comes to shove, we will have to do as we’re told.
November 22, 2025 at 9:26 AM
From an EU plus European NATO perspective, the lesson of the Trump-Witkoff plan is the one we should have absorbed in 2016-21 and again in November 2024. We cannot trust, but remain dependent on, the US. Until the dependency changes, when push comes to shove, we will have to do as we’re told.
I find it remarkable how the UK, whose integration record is in relative terms actually pretty good, is effectively throwing the whole notion of focusing on integration to the winds in favour of a glorified, far less successful Gastarbeiter model.
Home Office media release on new settlement rules.
5 years to settlement for family members of British citizens; BNO Hong Kong visas + public sector workers
Keir Starmer's government proposes 15 year, 20 year + even 30 year settlement routes: deliberately off the charts of any precedent anywhere
5 years to settlement for family members of British citizens; BNO Hong Kong visas + public sector workers
Keir Starmer's government proposes 15 year, 20 year + even 30 year settlement routes: deliberately off the charts of any precedent anywhere
November 21, 2025 at 11:01 AM
I find it remarkable how the UK, whose integration record is in relative terms actually pretty good, is effectively throwing the whole notion of focusing on integration to the winds in favour of a glorified, far less successful Gastarbeiter model.