Dr Nigel Fletcher
@nigelfletcher.bsky.social
UK political historian, lecturer and writer;
Co-founder of the Centre for Opposition Studies.
Cake, campery & historical/constitutional trivia. 🍰🏳️🌈 📖 🇬🇧
Website: www.nigelfletcher.org
Subscribe to my newsletter:
https://nigelfletcher.substack.com
Co-founder of the Centre for Opposition Studies.
Cake, campery & historical/constitutional trivia. 🍰🏳️🌈 📖 🇬🇧
Website: www.nigelfletcher.org
Subscribe to my newsletter:
https://nigelfletcher.substack.com
The onward march of breakfast cereals in our political discourse continues (yes @mattchorley.bsky.social I’m looking at you) - my Coco-Pops obsessed cohost has competition from Kemi Badenoch...
See what we made of the Budget response on our latest podcast ep!
See what we made of the Budget response on our latest podcast ep!
Chancellors and Cheerios! It’s the #OppositionCast Budget special, live(ish) from Westminster as Rachel Reeves tries to quell opposition on the Labour benches and Kemi Badenoch brings another breakfast cereal to the table:
pod.link/oppositionca...
pod.link/oppositionca...
November 26, 2025 at 4:56 PM
The onward march of breakfast cereals in our political discourse continues (yes @mattchorley.bsky.social I’m looking at you) - my Coco-Pops obsessed cohost has competition from Kemi Badenoch...
See what we made of the Budget response on our latest podcast ep!
See what we made of the Budget response on our latest podcast ep!
Reposted by Dr Nigel Fletcher
Chancellors and Cheerios! It’s the #OppositionCast Budget special, live(ish) from Westminster as Rachel Reeves tries to quell opposition on the Labour benches and Kemi Badenoch brings another breakfast cereal to the table:
pod.link/oppositionca...
pod.link/oppositionca...
November 26, 2025 at 4:03 PM
Chancellors and Cheerios! It’s the #OppositionCast Budget special, live(ish) from Westminster as Rachel Reeves tries to quell opposition on the Labour benches and Kemi Badenoch brings another breakfast cereal to the table:
pod.link/oppositionca...
pod.link/oppositionca...
Reposted by Dr Nigel Fletcher
Kemi Badenoch has been handed a paper copy of the (mistakenly published) OBR report. Mel Stride is helping her annotate it ahead of her response to Reeves. Opposition leaders don’t usually get this sort of prep opportunity
November 26, 2025 at 12:41 PM
Kemi Badenoch has been handed a paper copy of the (mistakenly published) OBR report. Mel Stride is helping her annotate it ahead of her response to Reeves. Opposition leaders don’t usually get this sort of prep opportunity
Reposted by Dr Nigel Fletcher
So disrespectful that people read the leaked budget. The effects shots weren't even done yet, and no music. So unfair to the creatives who put it together.
November 26, 2025 at 12:46 PM
So disrespectful that people read the leaked budget. The effects shots weren't even done yet, and no music. So unfair to the creatives who put it together.
The Deputy Speaker not holding back here in condemning Budget leaks. Quite the way to start the Budget speech.
With the OBR leak being the final straw, it’s hard to see how the Speaker now doesn’t make a statement to condemn the unprecedented Budget leaks.
Might not be the most important Budget issue, but I find the extensive pre-briefings mystifying. And I think Mr Speaker might well delay the speech for a few minutes to give the Chancellor and the government a serious telling off for them. Is it even worth still tuning in for the Budget speech?!
November 26, 2025 at 12:35 PM
The Deputy Speaker not holding back here in condemning Budget leaks. Quite the way to start the Budget speech.
Fair play to the OBR for demonstrating their impartiality by ensuring they get a kicking from both Labour and Conservative governments.
November 26, 2025 at 12:22 PM
Fair play to the OBR for demonstrating their impartiality by ensuring they get a kicking from both Labour and Conservative governments.
Reposted by Dr Nigel Fletcher
Both the OBR's cock-up (v funny), and the multiple briefings from the Treasury and Chancellor (v explicit) could be an opportunity to have a sensible discussion about what is and isn't allowed in advance of the speech.
Dalton resigned for much less than almost everyone does these days.
Dalton resigned for much less than almost everyone does these days.
November 26, 2025 at 12:09 PM
Both the OBR's cock-up (v funny), and the multiple briefings from the Treasury and Chancellor (v explicit) could be an opportunity to have a sensible discussion about what is and isn't allowed in advance of the speech.
Dalton resigned for much less than almost everyone does these days.
Dalton resigned for much less than almost everyone does these days.
Reposted by Dr Nigel Fletcher
Just been reading Simon Hart's diaries and he says of Jeremy Hunt's last budget: "As ever with budgets, if it unravels it will be tomorrow"
Little did he know...
Little did he know...
November 26, 2025 at 12:18 PM
Just been reading Simon Hart's diaries and he says of Jeremy Hunt's last budget: "As ever with budgets, if it unravels it will be tomorrow"
Little did he know...
Little did he know...
Reposted by Dr Nigel Fletcher
What in the name of Hugh Dalton is going on in government?!
BREAKING The entire Budget has leaked early
- £22BN of headroom
- £26bn tax rises
- Freeze on tax thresholds
- Pay per mileage confirmed
- Changes to capital gains
- £22BN of headroom
- £26bn tax rises
- Freeze on tax thresholds
- Pay per mileage confirmed
- Changes to capital gains
November 26, 2025 at 12:16 PM
What in the name of Hugh Dalton is going on in government?!
With the OBR leak being the final straw, it’s hard to see how the Speaker now doesn’t make a statement to condemn the unprecedented Budget leaks.
Might not be the most important Budget issue, but I find the extensive pre-briefings mystifying. And I think Mr Speaker might well delay the speech for a few minutes to give the Chancellor and the government a serious telling off for them. Is it even worth still tuning in for the Budget speech?!
a man and a woman are standing next to each other in a room and the man is yelling at the woman .
ALT: a man and a woman are standing next to each other in a room and the man is yelling at the woman .
media.tenor.com
November 26, 2025 at 12:14 PM
With the OBR leak being the final straw, it’s hard to see how the Speaker now doesn’t make a statement to condemn the unprecedented Budget leaks.
Sounds like the experience of looking around the National Liberal Club.
Who’s that portrait of? And that one? That statue? Whose is that bag? That… er… axe?(!)
Who’s that portrait of? And that one? That statue? Whose is that bag? That… er… axe?(!)
Researching a bit of historic Budget trivia and TL;DR- it's Gladstone. It's always Gladstone.
The red box? Gladstone. The tradition the Chancellor can drink while speaking? Gladstone. Longest Budget speech? Gladstone. Most Budget speeches? Gladstone.
The red box? Gladstone. The tradition the Chancellor can drink while speaking? Gladstone. Longest Budget speech? Gladstone. Most Budget speeches? Gladstone.
November 25, 2025 at 10:49 PM
Sounds like the experience of looking around the National Liberal Club.
Who’s that portrait of? And that one? That statue? Whose is that bag? That… er… axe?(!)
Who’s that portrait of? And that one? That statue? Whose is that bag? That… er… axe?(!)
Reposted by Dr Nigel Fletcher
Researching a bit of historic Budget trivia and TL;DR- it's Gladstone. It's always Gladstone.
The red box? Gladstone. The tradition the Chancellor can drink while speaking? Gladstone. Longest Budget speech? Gladstone. Most Budget speeches? Gladstone.
The red box? Gladstone. The tradition the Chancellor can drink while speaking? Gladstone. Longest Budget speech? Gladstone. Most Budget speeches? Gladstone.
November 25, 2025 at 10:08 PM
Researching a bit of historic Budget trivia and TL;DR- it's Gladstone. It's always Gladstone.
The red box? Gladstone. The tradition the Chancellor can drink while speaking? Gladstone. Longest Budget speech? Gladstone. Most Budget speeches? Gladstone.
The red box? Gladstone. The tradition the Chancellor can drink while speaking? Gladstone. Longest Budget speech? Gladstone. Most Budget speeches? Gladstone.
And whilst I’m at it, the news tonight just mentioned “the first confirmed policy from tomorrow’s budget” before going on to ask what else might be announced tomorrow.
If it’s “confirmed”, then it’s not an announcement tomorrow, is it? It’s been announced *today*.
Because that’s how time works.
If it’s “confirmed”, then it’s not an announcement tomorrow, is it? It’s been announced *today*.
Because that’s how time works.
Timeywimey Dr GIF
ALT: Timeywimey Dr GIF
media.tenor.com
November 25, 2025 at 10:12 PM
And whilst I’m at it, the news tonight just mentioned “the first confirmed policy from tomorrow’s budget” before going on to ask what else might be announced tomorrow.
If it’s “confirmed”, then it’s not an announcement tomorrow, is it? It’s been announced *today*.
Because that’s how time works.
If it’s “confirmed”, then it’s not an announcement tomorrow, is it? It’s been announced *today*.
Because that’s how time works.
Just put the BBC 10 o’clock News on- I know they like to beat themselves up, but they literally just put the corporation’s latest HR spat above the Ukraine war and potential end of trial by jury.
November 25, 2025 at 10:06 PM
Just put the BBC 10 o’clock News on- I know they like to beat themselves up, but they literally just put the corporation’s latest HR spat above the Ukraine war and potential end of trial by jury.
A day on, I'm still somewhat in awe of the pun.
But it's making me fear I've now set the bar way too high for the rest of the chapter titles.
#AuthorLife
But it's making me fear I've now set the bar way too high for the rest of the chapter titles.
#AuthorLife
Not to brag too much, but I've just come up with a chapter title that is such a brilliantly clever pun that I feel like taking the rest of the week off writing and just basking in its glow.*
[*NB: If my agent or publisher see this - don't worry, I won't.]
[*NB: If my agent or publisher see this - don't worry, I won't.]
a woman wearing glasses is waving her hand while sitting in front of a window .
ALT: a woman wearing glasses is waving her hand while sitting in front of a window .
media.tenor.com
November 25, 2025 at 3:33 PM
A day on, I'm still somewhat in awe of the pun.
But it's making me fear I've now set the bar way too high for the rest of the chapter titles.
#AuthorLife
But it's making me fear I've now set the bar way too high for the rest of the chapter titles.
#AuthorLife
Not to brag too much, but I've just come up with a chapter title that is such a brilliantly clever pun that I feel like taking the rest of the week off writing and just basking in its glow.*
[*NB: If my agent or publisher see this - don't worry, I won't.]
[*NB: If my agent or publisher see this - don't worry, I won't.]
a woman wearing glasses is waving her hand while sitting in front of a window .
ALT: a woman wearing glasses is waving her hand while sitting in front of a window .
media.tenor.com
November 24, 2025 at 11:54 PM
Not to brag too much, but I've just come up with a chapter title that is such a brilliantly clever pun that I feel like taking the rest of the week off writing and just basking in its glow.*
[*NB: If my agent or publisher see this - don't worry, I won't.]
[*NB: If my agent or publisher see this - don't worry, I won't.]
Just surfacing here briefly to make a few public service announcements for the greater good:
No, it is not Christmas, it's November.
No, it's not "Black Friday" this week. We live in the UK. (And anyway, today is Monday).
Thank you.
No, it is not Christmas, it's November.
No, it's not "Black Friday" this week. We live in the UK. (And anyway, today is Monday).
Thank you.
November 24, 2025 at 12:33 PM
Just surfacing here briefly to make a few public service announcements for the greater good:
No, it is not Christmas, it's November.
No, it's not "Black Friday" this week. We live in the UK. (And anyway, today is Monday).
Thank you.
No, it is not Christmas, it's November.
No, it's not "Black Friday" this week. We live in the UK. (And anyway, today is Monday).
Thank you.
Earnest rent-a-quote #DoctorWho experts:
“The unique and special thing about the Doctor is he abhors violence, preferring instead to outwit his opponents with logic and wit…”
Jon Pertwee: Nah.
“The unique and special thing about the Doctor is he abhors violence, preferring instead to outwit his opponents with logic and wit…”
Jon Pertwee: Nah.
November 22, 2025 at 9:40 PM
Earnest rent-a-quote #DoctorWho experts:
“The unique and special thing about the Doctor is he abhors violence, preferring instead to outwit his opponents with logic and wit…”
Jon Pertwee: Nah.
“The unique and special thing about the Doctor is he abhors violence, preferring instead to outwit his opponents with logic and wit…”
Jon Pertwee: Nah.
Reposted by Dr Nigel Fletcher
U-Turns, polls and disaffection...
On #OppositionCast this week: anger on the Labour benches, a battle of the press conferences, and a poll showing the Greens level with the Conservatives. Can the main parties do anything about the disaffection driving these trends?
pod.link/oppositionca...
On #OppositionCast this week: anger on the Labour benches, a battle of the press conferences, and a poll showing the Greens level with the Conservatives. Can the main parties do anything about the disaffection driving these trends?
pod.link/oppositionca...
November 20, 2025 at 9:43 AM
U-Turns, polls and disaffection...
On #OppositionCast this week: anger on the Labour benches, a battle of the press conferences, and a poll showing the Greens level with the Conservatives. Can the main parties do anything about the disaffection driving these trends?
pod.link/oppositionca...
On #OppositionCast this week: anger on the Labour benches, a battle of the press conferences, and a poll showing the Greens level with the Conservatives. Can the main parties do anything about the disaffection driving these trends?
pod.link/oppositionca...
Reposted by Dr Nigel Fletcher
Briefing against themselves: As calls grow for the Prime Minister to sack his Chief of Staff over briefings attacking the Health Secretary, this week's #OppositionCast asks if Labour is doing the Opposition's job for them.
Listen wherever you get your podcasts from via:
pod.link/oppositionca...
Listen wherever you get your podcasts from via:
pod.link/oppositionca...
November 13, 2025 at 3:11 PM
Briefing against themselves: As calls grow for the Prime Minister to sack his Chief of Staff over briefings attacking the Health Secretary, this week's #OppositionCast asks if Labour is doing the Opposition's job for them.
Listen wherever you get your podcasts from via:
pod.link/oppositionca...
Listen wherever you get your podcasts from via:
pod.link/oppositionca...
Working from the barn today- and checking the weather station, temperatures inside and out have slumped about ten degrees since last week. Heater is now on, but this is still going to require blankets and tea...
🥶
🥶
November 18, 2025 at 9:07 AM
Working from the barn today- and checking the weather station, temperatures inside and out have slumped about ten degrees since last week. Heater is now on, but this is still going to require blankets and tea...
🥶
🥶
It’s been one of *those* days in the archive again. 🤩
November 14, 2025 at 8:12 PM
It’s been one of *those* days in the archive again. 🤩
If YouTubers (and politicians) are going to insist on this maddening trend of holding their lapel mics instead of clipping them on, then at least go the full Terry Wogan and clip them onto a long stick.
November 13, 2025 at 8:19 AM
If YouTubers (and politicians) are going to insist on this maddening trend of holding their lapel mics instead of clipping them on, then at least go the full Terry Wogan and clip them onto a long stick.
What could possibly go wrong?
November 12, 2025 at 9:30 PM
What could possibly go wrong?