Philip Stephens
@philipstephens.bsky.social
Writer, historian, Contrib Ed, FT, Robert Bosch Fellow, Berlin, author These Divided Isles, and Britain Alone (both Faber), British, Irish and European. philipstephens.substack.com, philipstephens.net
Pinned
The book I always wanted to write. How Partition turned the Irish Question in British politics into the British Question in Irish politics. And the extraordinary mix of enmity and intimacy that finally mapped a path to a different future. Now open for advance orders:
linktr.ee/thesedivided...
linktr.ee/thesedivided...
cergrant.bsky.social always worth reading.
February 13, 2026 at 12:27 PM
cergrant.bsky.social always worth reading.
Reposted by Philip Stephens
Good work. Hopefully other reporters will follow up, especially those who may have inadvertently misled their readers
FACTCHECK: Centrica's Chris O'Shea got blanket coverage for claiming electricity will cost more in 2030 than in energy crisis (Chris Stark: "he's wrong on this")
I asked Centrica for evidence – they didn’t reply
(Bills in crisis were >2x today, before huge govt subsidies)
1/4
I asked Centrica for evidence – they didn’t reply
(Bills in crisis were >2x today, before huge govt subsidies)
1/4
February 13, 2026 at 11:44 AM
Good work. Hopefully other reporters will follow up, especially those who may have inadvertently misled their readers
I cannot think of a politician who has been so assiduous in the trashing of his own reputation since leaving office...
February 13, 2026 at 11:47 AM
I cannot think of a politician who has been so assiduous in the trashing of his own reputation since leaving office...
FT: "Sir Tony Blair’s think-tank has called on the UK government to reverse its ban on new North Sea exploration licences and scrap the windfall tax on the oil and gas sector".
Since his institute is now effectively owned by Trump cheerleader and donor Larry Ellison, this is unsurprising.
Since his institute is now effectively owned by Trump cheerleader and donor Larry Ellison, this is unsurprising.
February 13, 2026 at 11:31 AM
FT: "Sir Tony Blair’s think-tank has called on the UK government to reverse its ban on new North Sea exploration licences and scrap the windfall tax on the oil and gas sector".
Since his institute is now effectively owned by Trump cheerleader and donor Larry Ellison, this is unsurprising.
Since his institute is now effectively owned by Trump cheerleader and donor Larry Ellison, this is unsurprising.
Reading lots about Starmer now being in the thrall of the left but nothing as to what this means in terms of specific policy changes?
February 13, 2026 at 10:32 AM
Reading lots about Starmer now being in the thrall of the left but nothing as to what this means in terms of specific policy changes?
Sometimes names tell you everything. Only Pete Hegseth could be Pete Hegseth and Pam Bondi, Pam Bondi
February 12, 2026 at 5:30 PM
Sometimes names tell you everything. Only Pete Hegseth could be Pete Hegseth and Pam Bondi, Pam Bondi
I am not sure. Pretty much everyone in Whitehall agreed Starmer had made the wrong pick. The sacking was not ideological as was that of Scholar. That said, the handling of his departure has been scandalous, for which the PM is absolutely to blame
February 12, 2026 at 5:20 PM
I am not sure. Pretty much everyone in Whitehall agreed Starmer had made the wrong pick. The sacking was not ideological as was that of Scholar. That said, the handling of his departure has been scandalous, for which the PM is absolutely to blame
Reposted by Philip Stephens
Am obviously hating the way Radio Four, rather than binning vox pops on this and other issues, now just uses a few comments from Radio Five Live's morning phone-in. Cheaper, and saves a reporter having to stand in the cold recruiting jobless and retired passers-by. But it's still rubbish journalism.
Ratcliffe says sorry his language 'offended some people' after criticism of immigration comments - live updates
The Man Utd co-owner says it's important to talk about
www.bbc.co.uk
February 12, 2026 at 2:28 PM
Am obviously hating the way Radio Four, rather than binning vox pops on this and other issues, now just uses a few comments from Radio Five Live's morning phone-in. Cheaper, and saves a reporter having to stand in the cold recruiting jobless and retired passers-by. But it's still rubbish journalism.
Reposted by Philip Stephens
just billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe throwing out some serious made-up numbers on TV
February 11, 2026 at 6:48 PM
just billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe throwing out some serious made-up numbers on TV
British politics, and not just Brexiters, very bad at looking beyond Dover - witness Labour MPs fighting among themselves completely oblivious to the collapse of the international system that has kept Britain secure for the past 80 years....
February 11, 2026 at 12:01 PM
British politics, and not just Brexiters, very bad at looking beyond Dover - witness Labour MPs fighting among themselves completely oblivious to the collapse of the international system that has kept Britain secure for the past 80 years....
Reposted by Philip Stephens
No-one seems to have noticed, but many of the core developments in the Mandelson/Epstein story these last few days have been broken on this website. @pickardje.bsky.social and @petergeoghegan.bsky.social are both posting each breaking development on BlueSky, not X.
February 10, 2026 at 11:40 AM
No-one seems to have noticed, but many of the core developments in the Mandelson/Epstein story these last few days have been broken on this website. @pickardje.bsky.social and @petergeoghegan.bsky.social are both posting each breaking development on BlueSky, not X.
Perhaps officialdom will slowly discover that letting others take a view is not the end of the world. That obsession with secrecy and control can work against it. Was once on advisory committee in MOD - everything down to photocopier stamped Secret, UK Eyes Only.
February 10, 2026 at 3:04 PM
Perhaps officialdom will slowly discover that letting others take a view is not the end of the world. That obsession with secrecy and control can work against it. Was once on advisory committee in MOD - everything down to photocopier stamped Secret, UK Eyes Only.
Reposted by Philip Stephens
The conditions in detention centres are beyond horrific. No human should be treated like this.
Seamus Culleton, who is held in a Texas detention centre, said: "It's like a modern day concentration camp."
Seamus Culleton, who is held in a Texas detention centre, said: "It's like a modern day concentration camp."
Irish man held in ICE detention for five months despite having valid work permit
Seamus Culleton has been in a Texas detention centre for more than four months
www.independent.co.uk
February 10, 2026 at 1:10 PM
The conditions in detention centres are beyond horrific. No human should be treated like this.
Seamus Culleton, who is held in a Texas detention centre, said: "It's like a modern day concentration camp."
Seamus Culleton, who is held in a Texas detention centre, said: "It's like a modern day concentration camp."
Reposted by Philip Stephens
new clown car meme just dropped
Plans to invade Greenland have just been cancelled after this
February 10, 2026 at 10:20 AM
new clown car meme just dropped
Edelman annual trust survey makes for interesting reading. Looking forward to many self-reflective pieces on why trust in British media (39 pct) is barely above that (36pct) in nation's venal politicians.
PS: Shocked to discover this morning that Starmer still in No 10
PS: Shocked to discover this morning that Starmer still in No 10
February 10, 2026 at 10:08 AM
Edelman annual trust survey makes for interesting reading. Looking forward to many self-reflective pieces on why trust in British media (39 pct) is barely above that (36pct) in nation's venal politicians.
PS: Shocked to discover this morning that Starmer still in No 10
PS: Shocked to discover this morning that Starmer still in No 10
So if Sarwar ever claims a footnote in history it will be as the politician who saved Keir Starmer
February 9, 2026 at 10:11 PM
So if Sarwar ever claims a footnote in history it will be as the politician who saved Keir Starmer
This was John Major's response to the onslaught of the Eurosceptic "bastards" in and outside the cabinet during the 1990s. Survived much greater pressure than Starmer facing now.
Keir Starmer has told Labour MPs he will not "walk away" from No 10 and that he will keep fighting "as long as I have breath left in my body”
A minister told PolHome the Prime Minister was “stronger than he was at the beginning of the day” after addressing a restless Parliamentary Labour Party
A minister told PolHome the Prime Minister was “stronger than he was at the beginning of the day” after addressing a restless Parliamentary Labour Party
Keir Starmer Says He Will Keep Fighting 'As Long As I Have Breath Left In My Body'
Keir Starmer has said he will not 'walk away' from Downing Street as the Prime Minister looks to strengthen his position among Labour MPs.
www.politicshome.com
February 9, 2026 at 8:54 PM
This was John Major's response to the onslaught of the Eurosceptic "bastards" in and outside the cabinet during the 1990s. Survived much greater pressure than Starmer facing now.
Sarwar now looking a little but lonely out there after no further resignations. Was he mislead?
February 9, 2026 at 5:59 PM
Sarwar now looking a little but lonely out there after no further resignations. Was he mislead?
Reposted by Philip Stephens
Almost like feeling the blade itself
February 9, 2026 at 5:29 PM
Almost like feeling the blade itself
I really felt for Sarwar when he explained how personally painful it had been for him to put the knife into Starmer....
February 9, 2026 at 5:28 PM
I really felt for Sarwar when he explained how personally painful it had been for him to put the knife into Starmer....
Assume Labour MPs calling for someone to "steady the ship" intentionally ironic. One lead pretender closely associated with Mandelson, another under investigation by HMRC...
February 9, 2026 at 2:08 PM
Assume Labour MPs calling for someone to "steady the ship" intentionally ironic. One lead pretender closely associated with Mandelson, another under investigation by HMRC...
Reposted by Philip Stephens
When I tell my American friends that I'd be scared to travel to the US right now, this is the kind of thing I'm thinking of.
Kerryman who is married, living and working legally in the United States for >20 years has been incarcerated by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) since September 2025.
Profoundly disturbing report by Karlin Lillington @klillington.bsky.social
www.irishtimes.com/world/us/202...
Profoundly disturbing report by Karlin Lillington @klillington.bsky.social
www.irishtimes.com/world/us/202...
‘Absolute hell’: Irish man with valid US work permit held by Ice since September
Seamus Culleton has been in a detention facility in Texas for nearly five months despite having no criminal record
www.irishtimes.com
February 9, 2026 at 12:29 PM
When I tell my American friends that I'd be scared to travel to the US right now, this is the kind of thing I'm thinking of.
Yes, it's thought-provoking - welcome counter to all the hysteria...
February 9, 2026 at 12:08 PM
Yes, it's thought-provoking - welcome counter to all the hysteria...