Simon Tilford
@simontilford.bsky.social
Director, Oracle Partnership. Trying to make sense of the future.
Reposted by Simon Tilford
The improvement in the employment rate of non-EU migrants to the UK over the past 15 years is remarkable, especially since the pandemic.
www.ons.gov.uk/employmentan...
www.ons.gov.uk/employmentan...
November 11, 2025 at 8:09 AM
The improvement in the employment rate of non-EU migrants to the UK over the past 15 years is remarkable, especially since the pandemic.
www.ons.gov.uk/employmentan...
www.ons.gov.uk/employmentan...
Reposted by Simon Tilford
The BBC will fuck things up from time to time. Lots of major news organisations do; just look at The Times having to memoryhole several fake news stories in a matter of weeks.
No one is calling for the abolition of The Times, however.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
No one is calling for the abolition of The Times, however.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
UK newspaper editor calls Bill de Blasio fake interview blunder ‘humiliating’
A Times associate editor reportedly addressed situation in an email to staff, saying: ‘We should have been on our guard’
www.theguardian.com
November 10, 2025 at 9:53 AM
The BBC will fuck things up from time to time. Lots of major news organisations do; just look at The Times having to memoryhole several fake news stories in a matter of weeks.
No one is calling for the abolition of The Times, however.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
No one is calling for the abolition of The Times, however.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Reposted by Simon Tilford
One of the most self-destructive things Germany could do is to reverse the green transition now.
Renewables expansion has been on a tear but Germany has seen reversals before, unfortunately. And the country still does not have oil or gas and isn’t getting any anytime soon (ever).
Renewables expansion has been on a tear but Germany has seen reversals before, unfortunately. And the country still does not have oil or gas and isn’t getting any anytime soon (ever).
November 9, 2025 at 3:28 PM
One of the most self-destructive things Germany could do is to reverse the green transition now.
Renewables expansion has been on a tear but Germany has seen reversals before, unfortunately. And the country still does not have oil or gas and isn’t getting any anytime soon (ever).
Renewables expansion has been on a tear but Germany has seen reversals before, unfortunately. And the country still does not have oil or gas and isn’t getting any anytime soon (ever).
Reposted by Simon Tilford
1/ The US Government has quietly removed a memorial to Black soldiers who died in World War II from the Netherlands American Cemetery in Margraten, South Limburg. The move follows a complaint from the right-wing Heritage Foundation to the American Battle Monuments Commission. ⬇️
November 9, 2025 at 9:23 AM
1/ The US Government has quietly removed a memorial to Black soldiers who died in World War II from the Netherlands American Cemetery in Margraten, South Limburg. The move follows a complaint from the right-wing Heritage Foundation to the American Battle Monuments Commission. ⬇️
Reposted by Simon Tilford
In case you missed it yesterday, Britain's main upcoming problem will be that immigration will be far, far too low. Politics may have gone mad, but reality is an unforgiving thing. We need to start encouraging people in and paying them to stay.
ukandeu.ac.uk/the-coming-c...
ukandeu.ac.uk/the-coming-c...
The coming collapse in immigration to the United Kingdom - UK in a changing Europe
James Bowes analyses the fall in net migration to the UK as a result of government policies and explores some of the political and economic consequences.
ukandeu.ac.uk
October 30, 2025 at 11:40 AM
In case you missed it yesterday, Britain's main upcoming problem will be that immigration will be far, far too low. Politics may have gone mad, but reality is an unforgiving thing. We need to start encouraging people in and paying them to stay.
ukandeu.ac.uk/the-coming-c...
ukandeu.ac.uk/the-coming-c...
Reposted by Simon Tilford
Drives me mad that people talk about Danish immigration policy as a *political* success without bothering to look at the polls.
Aside from the crucial voting system difference, the Social Democrats over this period have haemorrhaged votes to progressive parties and are currently on course for their worst result in 110yrs, while the Green Left are set for their best ever.
The Danish People's Party are currently gaining.
The Danish People's Party are currently gaining.
what are the odds that the people in Downing Street briefing this out would also break out in hives at the mere mention of proportional representation?
November 8, 2025 at 10:24 AM
Drives me mad that people talk about Danish immigration policy as a *political* success without bothering to look at the polls.
Reposted by Simon Tilford
*Again* the top story on BBC 6 music is about immigration
How is Shabana Mahmood wanting to introduce a ‘Danish style’ system for refugees the top story this morning?!?
The obsession of 6 Music news on immigration and asylum is frankly bizarre
How is Shabana Mahmood wanting to introduce a ‘Danish style’ system for refugees the top story this morning?!?
The obsession of 6 Music news on immigration and asylum is frankly bizarre
November 8, 2025 at 9:34 AM
*Again* the top story on BBC 6 music is about immigration
How is Shabana Mahmood wanting to introduce a ‘Danish style’ system for refugees the top story this morning?!?
The obsession of 6 Music news on immigration and asylum is frankly bizarre
How is Shabana Mahmood wanting to introduce a ‘Danish style’ system for refugees the top story this morning?!?
The obsession of 6 Music news on immigration and asylum is frankly bizarre
Reposted by Simon Tilford
Jailed UK climate protesters facing conditions reserved for extremists on release
Jailed UK climate protesters facing conditions reserved for extremists on release
Exclusive: Just Stop Oil activist was banned from attending gatherings, including meeting a friend in a cafe, without permission
Environmental protesters are being given licence conditions on release from jail that are supposed to be limited to extremism cases.
Ella Ward, 22, was banned from going to any meetings or gatherings, except for worship, without permission from her probation officer, although the Ministry of Justice dropped the condition after she brought a legal challenge. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
November 8, 2025 at 8:14 AM
Jailed UK climate protesters facing conditions reserved for extremists on release
Reposted by Simon Tilford
This isn't just poverty of aspiration, it is incompetence. www.ft.com/content/5ecd...
UK transport secretary says full electrification of railways ‘not affordable right now’
Heidi Alexander says focus will be on other projects such as HS2
www.ft.com
November 8, 2025 at 7:57 AM
This isn't just poverty of aspiration, it is incompetence. www.ft.com/content/5ecd...
Reposted by Simon Tilford
"Far from draining our welfare system, migrants are supporting the British state’s solvency."
New analysis by @lgilbert.co
ukandeu.ac.uk/lower-migrat...
New analysis by @lgilbert.co
ukandeu.ac.uk/lower-migrat...
November 7, 2025 at 8:17 AM
"Far from draining our welfare system, migrants are supporting the British state’s solvency."
New analysis by @lgilbert.co
ukandeu.ac.uk/lower-migrat...
New analysis by @lgilbert.co
ukandeu.ac.uk/lower-migrat...
Reposted by Simon Tilford
Wrote something with @emile-chabal.bsky.social in @foreignpolicy.com about how the immigration debate in the UK has gotten so off the rails recently: foreignpolicy.com/2025/11/05/b...
Britain Is Having the World’s Most Extreme Immigration Debate
The British discourse makes even the Trump administration look moderate.
foreignpolicy.com
November 6, 2025 at 4:47 PM
Wrote something with @emile-chabal.bsky.social in @foreignpolicy.com about how the immigration debate in the UK has gotten so off the rails recently: foreignpolicy.com/2025/11/05/b...
Reposted by Simon Tilford
Dems just won everything remotely winnable. But I expect the British derp on “we must understand Donald Trump’s popularity and/or imitate Trump” to continue. He’s popular when opposing. He’s deeply unpopular when required to run anything. There’s your lesson.
This is insane. Is there *any* race that was expected to be at all close that the GOP won?
What we know, final edition of the night:
[Now in 3 parts]
—Prop 50 wins
—VA Dems flip Gov, LG, AG
—Dems gain leg seats in VA, NJ, & MS
—Dems defend NJ-Gov
—Dems win NJ+VA trifectas
—Mamdani wins
—PA Dems win state supreme court
—ME anti-mail voting measure loses
—GA Dems flip 2 statewide offices
[Now in 3 parts]
—Prop 50 wins
—VA Dems flip Gov, LG, AG
—Dems gain leg seats in VA, NJ, & MS
—Dems defend NJ-Gov
—Dems win NJ+VA trifectas
—Mamdani wins
—PA Dems win state supreme court
—ME anti-mail voting measure loses
—GA Dems flip 2 statewide offices
November 5, 2025 at 11:33 AM
Dems just won everything remotely winnable. But I expect the British derp on “we must understand Donald Trump’s popularity and/or imitate Trump” to continue. He’s popular when opposing. He’s deeply unpopular when required to run anything. There’s your lesson.
Reposted by Simon Tilford
"You cannot turn a blind eye to conspiracies about Satanic paedophile rings and expect the base will stop at the Protocols of the Elders of Zion." My column on the suppurating neo-Nazism on America's right. on.ft.com/4oxjjQj
Don’t blame the left for US antisemitism
[FREE TO READ] The anti-Jewish threat in America today comes largely from the right
on.ft.com
November 4, 2025 at 12:41 PM
"You cannot turn a blind eye to conspiracies about Satanic paedophile rings and expect the base will stop at the Protocols of the Elders of Zion." My column on the suppurating neo-Nazism on America's right. on.ft.com/4oxjjQj
Reposted by Simon Tilford
“His main theme was that the country was fucked. Largely because of Brexit. Weirdly, he has no memory of being the main architect behind the Brexit vote. He seems to think it happened in a world in which he played no part.”
Farage - the foghorn of failure.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Farage - the foghorn of failure.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Nige is no longer laughing at himself as he ‘performs’ yet another big speech | John Crace
Reform leader is trying to make it as a mainstream politician – which involves contradicting himself and gaslighting voters
www.theguardian.com
November 4, 2025 at 7:51 AM
“His main theme was that the country was fucked. Largely because of Brexit. Weirdly, he has no memory of being the main architect behind the Brexit vote. He seems to think it happened in a world in which he played no part.”
Farage - the foghorn of failure.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Farage - the foghorn of failure.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Simon Tilford
As things stand, child poverty is on track to reach record highs by 2029-30.
By then, we predict that more than one-in-three British children (34 per cent) would be growing up in poverty.
That's the highest rate of child poverty we'd have seen since 1961 ⤵️ buff.ly/qVc9CWs
By then, we predict that more than one-in-three British children (34 per cent) would be growing up in poverty.
That's the highest rate of child poverty we'd have seen since 1961 ⤵️ buff.ly/qVc9CWs
November 3, 2025 at 5:45 PM
As things stand, child poverty is on track to reach record highs by 2029-30.
By then, we predict that more than one-in-three British children (34 per cent) would be growing up in poverty.
That's the highest rate of child poverty we'd have seen since 1961 ⤵️ buff.ly/qVc9CWs
By then, we predict that more than one-in-three British children (34 per cent) would be growing up in poverty.
That's the highest rate of child poverty we'd have seen since 1961 ⤵️ buff.ly/qVc9CWs
Reposted by Simon Tilford
This is quite a story: the US employed every strongarm tactic available, including personal threats against delegates and their families, to derail an agreement on reducing shipping emissions that was almost finalized. on.ft.com/47lq3dZ
November 3, 2025 at 2:11 PM
This is quite a story: the US employed every strongarm tactic available, including personal threats against delegates and their families, to derail an agreement on reducing shipping emissions that was almost finalized. on.ft.com/47lq3dZ
Reposted by Simon Tilford
More generally, there's a wealth of evidence that UK compares relatively well to other OECD countries on labour market outcomes of migrants, and that those outcomes have been improving. As well as integration more broadly. Bizarre not to mention/refer to any of this.
October 31, 2025 at 7:53 AM
More generally, there's a wealth of evidence that UK compares relatively well to other OECD countries on labour market outcomes of migrants, and that those outcomes have been improving. As well as integration more broadly. Bizarre not to mention/refer to any of this.
Reposted by Simon Tilford
The BBC has consistently platformed Matt Goodwin because of his racist views and the veneer of respectability brought by his past life as an academic.
Extract from more recent Goodwin post. He really should never be allowed on the BBC - or any other reputable broadcaster - again.
November 2, 2025 at 6:40 PM
The BBC has consistently platformed Matt Goodwin because of his racist views and the veneer of respectability brought by his past life as an academic.
Reposted by Simon Tilford
He’ll be back on the BBC next week no doubt.
He’s not really trying to hide it. It’s open, unapologetic racism; let’s be plain about it.
November 2, 2025 at 6:01 PM
He’ll be back on the BBC next week no doubt.
Reposted by Simon Tilford
We're now at "black people aren't British". Open sewer racism. Look forward to seeing him on QT again soon.
November 2, 2025 at 2:35 PM
We're now at "black people aren't British". Open sewer racism. Look forward to seeing him on QT again soon.
Reposted by Simon Tilford
The problem with diagnosing "the electorate have unreasonable expectations around tax and spend" is that those expectations did not develop in a vacuum. They are the product of decades of politicians and the media telling them they can have x services with y tax levels, or not contradicting it.
November 1, 2025 at 8:06 PM
The problem with diagnosing "the electorate have unreasonable expectations around tax and spend" is that those expectations did not develop in a vacuum. They are the product of decades of politicians and the media telling them they can have x services with y tax levels, or not contradicting it.
Reposted by Simon Tilford
“The ship is expected to reduce emissions versus a traditional cargo ship by up to 80 percent. The vessel has two rigid sails mounted on Solidsail rigs designed by Chantiers de l’Atlantique” maritime-executive.com/article/sail...
November 1, 2025 at 8:07 AM
“The ship is expected to reduce emissions versus a traditional cargo ship by up to 80 percent. The vessel has two rigid sails mounted on Solidsail rigs designed by Chantiers de l’Atlantique” maritime-executive.com/article/sail...
Reposted by Simon Tilford
We in the UK will work out far too late that this is a bad thing.
NEW from me:
Political hostility, high visa fees and (in the case of the UK) stagnant incomes are making the UK and US less attractive destinations for top international talent.
That steep decline in the appeal of moving to the US after 2016 is 👀
Political hostility, high visa fees and (in the case of the UK) stagnant incomes are making the UK and US less attractive destinations for top international talent.
That steep decline in the appeal of moving to the US after 2016 is 👀
November 1, 2025 at 6:32 AM
We in the UK will work out far too late that this is a bad thing.
Reposted by Simon Tilford
Getting the numbers right on Ukraine‘s funding needs is … tricky. I tried anyway, as part of our cover package.
economist.com/internationa...
economist.com/internationa...
What will it cost to make Vladimir Putin stop?
Europe must offer Ukraine a big enough financial package to deter the Kremlin
economist.com
October 30, 2025 at 5:46 PM
Getting the numbers right on Ukraine‘s funding needs is … tricky. I tried anyway, as part of our cover package.
economist.com/internationa...
economist.com/internationa...
Reposted by Simon Tilford
On the one hand: Interesting just how long post-imperial Britain could cling on to its relative economic position. On the other hand: Yikes.
www.ft.com/content/d70c...
www.ft.com/content/d70c...
October 31, 2025 at 8:23 AM
On the one hand: Interesting just how long post-imperial Britain could cling on to its relative economic position. On the other hand: Yikes.
www.ft.com/content/d70c...
www.ft.com/content/d70c...