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...
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
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
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.
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.
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.
Reposted by Philip Stephens
Picking Mandelson as ambassador was based on totally wonky thinking. Especially as we had an excellent one already. Massive mistake by Starmer. But PM is not responsible for mandelson’s wrongdoing and other PMs eg Johnson have done far worse eg Covid. Is it really in country’s interest to oust him?
February 9, 2026 at 10:52 AM
Picking Mandelson as ambassador was based on totally wonky thinking. Especially as we had an excellent one already. Massive mistake by Starmer. But PM is not responsible for mandelson’s wrongdoing and other PMs eg Johnson have done far worse eg Covid. Is it really in country’s interest to oust him?
Really good read....
On the Big German transatlantic heartbreak : “The transatlantic relationship has a far more emotional foundation than in the UK or in France...The Americans taught the Germans democracy. It feels like a betrayal," says Claudia Major
www.ft.com/content/ef3c...
www.ft.com/content/ef3c...
‘It feels like a betrayal.’ Germany’s painful estrangement from the US
The unravelling of transatlantic ties has shocked a country that had an emotional attachment to the relationship
www.ft.com
February 9, 2026 at 10:52 AM
Really good read....
Reposted by Philip Stephens
"Britain isn’t broken. It is in serious need of repair. The suggestion among Labour MPs that the best way to begin rebuilding political trust is to throw out Starmer in favour of someone else merely insults the electorate". Inside-Out column.
philipstephens.substack.com/p/epstein-ma...
philipstephens.substack.com/p/epstein-ma...
Epstein, Mandelson and the rise of Farage
The scandal that brought down Peter Mandelson describes a world that is driving voters into the arms of populism
philipstephens.substack.com
February 8, 2026 at 3:10 PM
"Britain isn’t broken. It is in serious need of repair. The suggestion among Labour MPs that the best way to begin rebuilding political trust is to throw out Starmer in favour of someone else merely insults the electorate". Inside-Out column.
philipstephens.substack.com/p/epstein-ma...
philipstephens.substack.com/p/epstein-ma...
Reposted by Philip Stephens
"The irony is that what’s required of politicians now is pretty much what Starmer and Labour promised in 2024. Steady competence, a commitment to return integrity and fairness to the business of governance, and an effort to restore the public realm and widen economic opportunity." So now let's see.
"Britain isn’t broken. It is in serious need of repair. The suggestion among Labour MPs that the best way to begin rebuilding political trust is to throw out Starmer in favour of someone else merely insults the electorate". Inside-Out column.
philipstephens.substack.com/p/epstein-ma...
philipstephens.substack.com/p/epstein-ma...
Epstein, Mandelson and the rise of Farage
The scandal that brought down Peter Mandelson describes a world that is driving voters into the arms of populism
philipstephens.substack.com
February 8, 2026 at 6:42 PM
"The irony is that what’s required of politicians now is pretty much what Starmer and Labour promised in 2024. Steady competence, a commitment to return integrity and fairness to the business of governance, and an effort to restore the public realm and widen economic opportunity." So now let's see.
McSweeney is huge Westminster story that will scarcely scratch wider public consciousness.
February 8, 2026 at 5:45 PM
McSweeney is huge Westminster story that will scarcely scratch wider public consciousness.
Given the global storms I have one question for Labour figures chasing Starmers job …does any of them have a passport?
February 8, 2026 at 4:45 PM
Given the global storms I have one question for Labour figures chasing Starmers job …does any of them have a passport?
Whether or not you call it chief of staff no 10 does need someone who can 1 speak with authority of PM and 2. Command respect/authority from Whitehall machine …the late Jeremy Heywood was model
February 8, 2026 at 4:40 PM
Whether or not you call it chief of staff no 10 does need someone who can 1 speak with authority of PM and 2. Command respect/authority from Whitehall machine …the late Jeremy Heywood was model
"Britain isn’t broken. It is in serious need of repair. The suggestion among Labour MPs that the best way to begin rebuilding political trust is to throw out Starmer in favour of someone else merely insults the electorate". Inside-Out column.
philipstephens.substack.com/p/epstein-ma...
philipstephens.substack.com/p/epstein-ma...
Epstein, Mandelson and the rise of Farage
The scandal that brought down Peter Mandelson describes a world that is driving voters into the arms of populism
philipstephens.substack.com
February 8, 2026 at 3:10 PM
"Britain isn’t broken. It is in serious need of repair. The suggestion among Labour MPs that the best way to begin rebuilding political trust is to throw out Starmer in favour of someone else merely insults the electorate". Inside-Out column.
philipstephens.substack.com/p/epstein-ma...
philipstephens.substack.com/p/epstein-ma...
Inside-Out column. Some thoughts on the political meaning of Epstein and Mandelson
philipstephens.substack.com/p/epstein-ma...
philipstephens.substack.com/p/epstein-ma...
Epstein, Mandelson and the rise of Farage
The scandal that brought down Peter Mandelson describes a world that is driving voters into the arms of populism
philipstephens.substack.com
February 8, 2026 at 2:37 PM
Inside-Out column. Some thoughts on the political meaning of Epstein and Mandelson
philipstephens.substack.com/p/epstein-ma...
philipstephens.substack.com/p/epstein-ma...
Reposted by Philip Stephens
This, from the @smfthinktank.bsky.social's @jtmigratory.bsky.social, is excellent - really useful for anyone studying or just wanting to get a sense of where we've been and where we might be going on this issue.
Brexit and Immigration: the Arc of the Pendulum
My report out today for @consoc.bsky.social trying to make sense of the last 25 years of the UK's immigration politics and policy. And where next?
consoc.org.uk/wp-content/u...
My report out today for @consoc.bsky.social trying to make sense of the last 25 years of the UK's immigration politics and policy. And where next?
consoc.org.uk/wp-content/u...
consoc.org.uk
February 8, 2026 at 12:49 PM
This, from the @smfthinktank.bsky.social's @jtmigratory.bsky.social, is excellent - really useful for anyone studying or just wanting to get a sense of where we've been and where we might be going on this issue.
Reposted by Philip Stephens
The main point in this is that the much-hyped ‘Review’ in 2026 of the TCA will not take place.
EU-UK relations take more and more the form of ‘normal’ trade deal negotiations. This means:
- ‘snails pace’ - 5 years is nothing
- ‘minimal gains’ - no one wants to give up anything
(1/2)
EU-UK relations take more and more the form of ‘normal’ trade deal negotiations. This means:
- ‘snails pace’ - 5 years is nothing
- ‘minimal gains’ - no one wants to give up anything
(1/2)
Count to one hundred. New post on my Brexit & Brexitism Blog reflecting on a frenetic fortnight of domestic and international news, the state of the reset, the significance of the latest calls for 'proper Brexit', and the anger suffusing our politics: chrisgreybrexitblog.blogspot.com/2026/02/coun...
February 8, 2026 at 10:43 AM
The main point in this is that the much-hyped ‘Review’ in 2026 of the TCA will not take place.
EU-UK relations take more and more the form of ‘normal’ trade deal negotiations. This means:
- ‘snails pace’ - 5 years is nothing
- ‘minimal gains’ - no one wants to give up anything
(1/2)
EU-UK relations take more and more the form of ‘normal’ trade deal negotiations. This means:
- ‘snails pace’ - 5 years is nothing
- ‘minimal gains’ - no one wants to give up anything
(1/2)