Roland Smith
@rolandmcs.bsky.social
Tracking the moral decay of the Right and patrolling the culture war's boundaries. Once a Fellow of the Adam Smith Institute but now firmly centrist. Telegraph watcher.
https://open.substack.com/pub/rolandmcs
buymeacoffee.com/rolandsmith
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Roland Smith
@rolandmcs.bsky.social
· Nov 10
Long thread on how Brexitism started and evolved over 75 years, drawing from Benjamin Grob-Fitzgibbon's 'Continental Drift'.
Global Britain, Free Trade, Cakeism, Federalism, anti-federalism, EEA, Winston Churchill, Empire, 52-48 referendums, Enoch Powell, 1975, Thatcher.... It's all here. /1
Global Britain, Free Trade, Cakeism, Federalism, anti-federalism, EEA, Winston Churchill, Empire, 52-48 referendums, Enoch Powell, 1975, Thatcher.... It's all here. /1
Reposted by Roland Smith
new allegation concerning Farage’s behaviour when he was 18 years old
November 26, 2025 at 7:59 AM
new allegation concerning Farage’s behaviour when he was 18 years old
My Budget Day opinion:
Budget Day should be abolished. Performative nonsense that (by accident) leans into 'politics as entertainment'.
Measures should instead be announced when they are individually ready to be announced – at any time in the parliamentary calendar.
Budget Day should be abolished. Performative nonsense that (by accident) leans into 'politics as entertainment'.
Measures should instead be announced when they are individually ready to be announced – at any time in the parliamentary calendar.
November 26, 2025 at 6:28 AM
My Budget Day opinion:
Budget Day should be abolished. Performative nonsense that (by accident) leans into 'politics as entertainment'.
Measures should instead be announced when they are individually ready to be announced – at any time in the parliamentary calendar.
Budget Day should be abolished. Performative nonsense that (by accident) leans into 'politics as entertainment'.
Measures should instead be announced when they are individually ready to be announced – at any time in the parliamentary calendar.
Viewers are complaining about GMB.
But wait, they're complaining because GMB spent time talking about the '50 year-old story' of Farage's bigotry, which these viewers saw as ancient, irrelevant news (about their hero).
Goes to show that GMB is 'GB News-lite'.
www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/g...
But wait, they're complaining because GMB spent time talking about the '50 year-old story' of Farage's bigotry, which these viewers saw as ancient, irrelevant news (about their hero).
Goes to show that GMB is 'GB News-lite'.
www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/g...
Good Morning Britain reaches a 'new low' as ITV show flooded with complaints
Good Morning Britain viewers were left feeling frustrated on Tuesday
www.mirror.co.uk
November 26, 2025 at 6:22 AM
Viewers are complaining about GMB.
But wait, they're complaining because GMB spent time talking about the '50 year-old story' of Farage's bigotry, which these viewers saw as ancient, irrelevant news (about their hero).
Goes to show that GMB is 'GB News-lite'.
www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/g...
But wait, they're complaining because GMB spent time talking about the '50 year-old story' of Farage's bigotry, which these viewers saw as ancient, irrelevant news (about their hero).
Goes to show that GMB is 'GB News-lite'.
www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/g...
Reposted by Roland Smith
Three more school contemporaries who witnessed Nigel Farage’s teenage racism reject the Reform UK leader’s suggestion it was just “banter”, describing it as targeted, persistent and nasty.
Three more ex-pupils at school with Nigel Farage reject ‘banter’ claims
Exclusive: Dulwich college contemporaries ‘rubbish’ Reform UK leader’s suggestion alleged racist taunts not intended to hurt
www.theguardian.com
November 25, 2025 at 10:03 PM
Three more school contemporaries who witnessed Nigel Farage’s teenage racism reject the Reform UK leader’s suggestion it was just “banter”, describing it as targeted, persistent and nasty.
Reposted by Roland Smith
My experience of jury service (when the courts were not a mess) led me to the same view
My view is anecdotal and I do think we got the verdict right in the two cases I sat in. We were dismissed in the third because a witness revealed the defendant’s criminal past. That was obvious from the guards
My view is anecdotal and I do think we got the verdict right in the two cases I sat in. We were dismissed in the third because a witness revealed the defendant’s criminal past. That was obvious from the guards
We should abolish juries because
1. The don't give reasons
2. There is little evidence of their competence
3. We don't use them outside a narrow area of the criminal law, other jurisdictions don't use them and are perfectly just
/1
1. The don't give reasons
2. There is little evidence of their competence
3. We don't use them outside a narrow area of the criminal law, other jurisdictions don't use them and are perfectly just
/1
November 25, 2025 at 7:45 PM
My experience of jury service (when the courts were not a mess) led me to the same view
My view is anecdotal and I do think we got the verdict right in the two cases I sat in. We were dismissed in the third because a witness revealed the defendant’s criminal past. That was obvious from the guards
My view is anecdotal and I do think we got the verdict right in the two cases I sat in. We were dismissed in the third because a witness revealed the defendant’s criminal past. That was obvious from the guards
I'm remarkably relaxed about this. No I don't want my neighbours – Mail and Telegraph-reading berks – judging me. I'd rather have legal experts who've learned how to think.
www.theguardian.com/law/2025/nov...
www.theguardian.com/law/2025/nov...
David Lammy considers scrapping jury trials for all but the most serious cases
Senior lawyers criticise justice secretary’s radical plan, saying it could ‘destroy justice as we know it’
www.theguardian.com
November 25, 2025 at 7:38 PM
I'm remarkably relaxed about this. No I don't want my neighbours – Mail and Telegraph-reading berks – judging me. I'd rather have legal experts who've learned how to think.
www.theguardian.com/law/2025/nov...
www.theguardian.com/law/2025/nov...
Has the entire budget been announced yet?
November 25, 2025 at 12:23 PM
Has the entire budget been announced yet?
Reform... Greens... Greens.... Reform...
*Such* a tough balance of judgment.
*Such* a tough balance of judgment.
November 25, 2025 at 12:22 PM
Reform... Greens... Greens.... Reform...
*Such* a tough balance of judgment.
*Such* a tough balance of judgment.
I'd guess Linehan will be quite pleased with this verdict, with the judge labelling him and his side as honest, credible witnesses – less so his accuser, Sophia Brooks.
Graham Linehan cleared of harassing trans activist but convicted of damaging phone
Graham Linehan cleared of harassing trans activist but convicted of damaging phone
Irish comedy writer cleared at Westminster magistrates court of harassing Sophia Brooks on social media
The Father Ted co-creator Graham Linehan has been cleared of harassing a transgender activist on social media but found guilty of criminal damage of their mobile phone outside a conference in London last year.
The 57-year-old flew in from Arizona to appear at Westminster magistrates court in person on Tuesday, where judgment was delivered by district judge Briony Clarke. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
November 25, 2025 at 12:16 PM
I'd guess Linehan will be quite pleased with this verdict, with the judge labelling him and his side as honest, credible witnesses – less so his accuser, Sophia Brooks.
Reposted by Roland Smith
This is exactly what the recent Trump-BBC 'scandal' was designed to achieve. The BBC is now self-censoring criticisms of Trump in the name of "impartiality"
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
November 25, 2025 at 10:26 AM
This is exactly what the recent Trump-BBC 'scandal' was designed to achieve. The BBC is now self-censoring criticisms of Trump in the name of "impartiality"
Reposted by Roland Smith
I think that's the biggest lesson I've had from the Social Media Commentariat Politician Journalist Era ... huge numbers of people in British public life are in fact Galaxy Class, three-masted-under-full-sail oceangoing morons.
Out of their depth in a roadside puddle.
Couldn't lace velcro shoes.
Out of their depth in a roadside puddle.
Couldn't lace velcro shoes.
November 25, 2025 at 5:58 AM
I think that's the biggest lesson I've had from the Social Media Commentariat Politician Journalist Era ... huge numbers of people in British public life are in fact Galaxy Class, three-masted-under-full-sail oceangoing morons.
Out of their depth in a roadside puddle.
Couldn't lace velcro shoes.
Out of their depth in a roadside puddle.
Couldn't lace velcro shoes.
It is significant that Martin Lewis (and not, say, Richard Tice) is blaming government 'policy costs' for energy price rises.
November 25, 2025 at 6:30 AM
It is significant that Martin Lewis (and not, say, Richard Tice) is blaming government 'policy costs' for energy price rises.
The great thing about this is the fearless interviewer. Imagine if all journalists were fearless seekers of truth instead of folding in the face of Farage's prickly blustering.
“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 25, 2025 at 6:14 AM
The great thing about this is the fearless interviewer. Imagine if all journalists were fearless seekers of truth instead of folding in the face of Farage's prickly blustering.
'Musk may have revealed that the platform he’s long called “the number 1 source of news on Earth” is really just a worthless, poisoned hall of mirrors.'
November 25, 2025 at 6:06 AM
'Musk may have revealed that the platform he’s long called “the number 1 source of news on Earth” is really just a worthless, poisoned hall of mirrors.'
Margaret Thatcher in 2025.
There's no such thing as an emergency podcast
November 25, 2025 at 6:01 AM
Margaret Thatcher in 2025.
Populism has peaked.
MAGA is falling apart. The Republicans are falling apart. Trump is falling apart. They will continue to do terrible (and in some cases irreparable) damage at home and abroad but something has changed. You can feel it
November 25, 2025 at 5:55 AM
Populism has peaked.
Reposted by Roland Smith
I read “It is hard to imagine that taking place in Britain” initially as “thank goodness”. Then I realised that Phillips *wants* this for Britain! He wants a Britain where visible minorities live in fear of abduction and deportation? WTAF?
Just a jaw-dropping paragraph in Trevor Phillips's column for The Times.
This is a policy that, by his own account, has left parents of a particular race too frightened to walk their children to school.
And that's the example he chooses of the "vigour" we "need".
www.thetimes.com/comment/colu...
This is a policy that, by his own account, has left parents of a particular race too frightened to walk their children to school.
And that's the example he chooses of the "vigour" we "need".
www.thetimes.com/comment/colu...
November 24, 2025 at 11:40 PM
I read “It is hard to imagine that taking place in Britain” initially as “thank goodness”. Then I realised that Phillips *wants* this for Britain! He wants a Britain where visible minorities live in fear of abduction and deportation? WTAF?
Reposted by Roland Smith
We are not yet a year into Trump’s second term and already DOGE has been mothballed, MTG has bailed from Congress, the administration tried and failed to present a Russian plan to end the war, and the ‘Secretary of War’ is trying to court-martial a US Senator. Time for a reminder of this I think…
November 24, 2025 at 8:20 PM
We are not yet a year into Trump’s second term and already DOGE has been mothballed, MTG has bailed from Congress, the administration tried and failed to present a Russian plan to end the war, and the ‘Secretary of War’ is trying to court-martial a US Senator. Time for a reminder of this I think…
Reposted by Roland Smith
When I asked Nigel Farage's spokesman last week, he flatly denied that his boss had ever racially abused anyone.
Now Farage is only saying he never did so in a "hurtful way".
Does he think there's a non-hurtful way to racially abuse someone?
Now Farage is only saying he never did so in a "hurtful way".
Does he think there's a non-hurtful way to racially abuse someone?
November 24, 2025 at 8:21 PM
When I asked Nigel Farage's spokesman last week, he flatly denied that his boss had ever racially abused anyone.
Now Farage is only saying he never did so in a "hurtful way".
Does he think there's a non-hurtful way to racially abuse someone?
Now Farage is only saying he never did so in a "hurtful way".
Does he think there's a non-hurtful way to racially abuse someone?
Reposted by Roland Smith
Nigel Farage has addressed the recollections of twenty contemporaries about his use of racism + antisemitism at school, saying it was "banter in a playground" many decades ago, but did not in his view amount to "direct unpleasant genuine abuse"
www.itv.com/news/2025-11...
www.itv.com/news/2025-11...
November 24, 2025 at 8:10 PM
Nigel Farage has addressed the recollections of twenty contemporaries about his use of racism + antisemitism at school, saying it was "banter in a playground" many decades ago, but did not in his view amount to "direct unpleasant genuine abuse"
www.itv.com/news/2025-11...
www.itv.com/news/2025-11...
Reposted by Roland Smith
I'd like to see the response to this if the question added "if that that means universities have less money to spend on UK students".
With Rachel Reeves reportedly set to apply a new tax on tuition fees paid by overseas students, most Britons support such a move at the previously mooted level of 6%
Support: 57%
Oppose: 18%
yougov.co.uk/topics/socie...
Support: 57%
Oppose: 18%
yougov.co.uk/topics/socie...
November 24, 2025 at 4:41 PM
I'd like to see the response to this if the question added "if that that means universities have less money to spend on UK students".
Reposted by Roland Smith
Gibb; “ I had no editorial role whatsoever at the Jewish Chronicle”. Lee Harpin, reporter at the paper; “RG made a habit of calling into the office on print days to check up on what stories were topping the news list, and offering a view’”
November 24, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Gibb; “ I had no editorial role whatsoever at the Jewish Chronicle”. Lee Harpin, reporter at the paper; “RG made a habit of calling into the office on print days to check up on what stories were topping the news list, and offering a view’”
Substackers: New Substack posts seem to now default to a serif font. When did that change and how can one revert to the old style?
November 24, 2025 at 12:56 PM
Substackers: New Substack posts seem to now default to a serif font. When did that change and how can one revert to the old style?
Reposted by Roland Smith
I hope they can eventually test Trump's DNA, as they have Hitler's.
November 23, 2025 at 7:55 PM
I hope they can eventually test Trump's DNA, as they have Hitler's.