Will Cooling
@willcooling.bsky.social
Writes & Hosts the It Could Be Said substack & podcast; https://itcouldbesaid.substack.com/
Has contributed to a variety of outlets on politics, sport or pop culture
Contact email is w.cooling[at]gmail.com
All opinions his own & not of any employer
Has contributed to a variety of outlets on politics, sport or pop culture
Contact email is w.cooling[at]gmail.com
All opinions his own & not of any employer
Utter nonsense. Labour write a bad manifesto for craven reasons, refuse to repudiate it for equally craven reasons & yet somehow we're being too mean to them. Rachel Reeves joked weeks before the election that not having enough money to improve things in government would be a nice problem to have!
But errors in what sense? They did something that was bad for the country or they did something that weakened Starmer or cost the party support in the polls? These are two very different things.
This is the problem, and not just in journalists:
'Savviness is that quality of being shrewd, practical, hyper-informed, perceptive, ironic, “with it,” and unsentimental in all things political. And what is the truest mark of savviness? Winning, of course! Or knowing who the winners are.'
'Savviness is that quality of being shrewd, practical, hyper-informed, perceptive, ironic, “with it,” and unsentimental in all things political. And what is the truest mark of savviness? Winning, of course! Or knowing who the winners are.'
January 16, 2026 at 2:22 PM
Utter nonsense. Labour write a bad manifesto for craven reasons, refuse to repudiate it for equally craven reasons & yet somehow we're being too mean to them. Rachel Reeves joked weeks before the election that not having enough money to improve things in government would be a nice problem to have!
Oh this is really hard:
Sweet Child O' Mine by Guns n Roses
Fantastic Friday by Super Blue
Pretty Woman by Roy Orbison
Kaze Ni Nare by Ayumi Nakamura
Too Real by Kerwin Du Bois
Underground by Broder Daniel
Nancy Boy by Placebo
The Shepherd's Boy by Murray Gold
Sweet Child O' Mine by Guns n Roses
Fantastic Friday by Super Blue
Pretty Woman by Roy Orbison
Kaze Ni Nare by Ayumi Nakamura
Too Real by Kerwin Du Bois
Underground by Broder Daniel
Nancy Boy by Placebo
The Shepherd's Boy by Murray Gold
Alright - so this is todays list, taking into account @stephenkb.bsky.social point that its about memory not music
January 16, 2026 at 1:43 PM
Oh this is really hard:
Sweet Child O' Mine by Guns n Roses
Fantastic Friday by Super Blue
Pretty Woman by Roy Orbison
Kaze Ni Nare by Ayumi Nakamura
Too Real by Kerwin Du Bois
Underground by Broder Daniel
Nancy Boy by Placebo
The Shepherd's Boy by Murray Gold
Sweet Child O' Mine by Guns n Roses
Fantastic Friday by Super Blue
Pretty Woman by Roy Orbison
Kaze Ni Nare by Ayumi Nakamura
Too Real by Kerwin Du Bois
Underground by Broder Daniel
Nancy Boy by Placebo
The Shepherd's Boy by Murray Gold
In perhaps my most English moment ever...I totally didn't know there was a non-slang use of the word nonce
(preemptively: yes I know about the other meaning this is a joke, a j-o-k-e, just having a little bit of fun on the internet)
January 16, 2026 at 1:11 PM
In perhaps my most English moment ever...I totally didn't know there was a non-slang use of the word nonce
Reposted by Will Cooling
Was he wrong though?
Oh god horrible memories of the conference I went to early in the days of crypto, when the guy on the panel with me was an American who just kept on saying "it's a nonce-generating machine", "every transaction has a nonce at both ends" etc and I had to keep a straight face.
January 16, 2026 at 11:16 AM
Was he wrong though?
Reposted by Will Cooling
it’s weird how the international conservative conspiracy is everywhere a traitor to its host country
January 16, 2026 at 4:52 AM
it’s weird how the international conservative conspiracy is everywhere a traitor to its host country
The weird thing with the Lara Croft controversy is that the photo of the actress cast, looks a lot closer to 90s sex symbol Lara than what the games (outside of remasters) have done in well over a decade. Just shows how loose a lot of online "gamers" relationship to actual video games really is
January 16, 2026 at 12:01 PM
The weird thing with the Lara Croft controversy is that the photo of the actress cast, looks a lot closer to 90s sex symbol Lara than what the games (outside of remasters) have done in well over a decade. Just shows how loose a lot of online "gamers" relationship to actual video games really is
The whole thread is wonderful
Just imagine - you’re a cat, with presumably a house, but you ignore that house and come instead to *my* house, and you walk in like you own the place, and come and go as you please and do whatever you like whenever you like. Just imagine how smug you’d be. Pretty smug? Not as smug as this bastard.
January 16, 2026 at 10:57 AM
The whole thread is wonderful
Slow start! SLOW START!?!
January 16, 2026 at 8:46 AM
Slow start! SLOW START!?!
Farage vamping whilst waiting was very interesting. I think it let slip that he's more than a tad bemused/judgmental of Jenrick for letting news of his defection leak
“Later, it emerged that Jenrick had been delayed because he had got lost in the corridors of Millbank Tower, getting stuck one floor below the press conference location after failing to find his way up the stairs.”
Did anyone ever think Honest Bob was clever at anything other than grifting? www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
January 16, 2026 at 8:45 AM
Farage vamping whilst waiting was very interesting. I think it let slip that he's more than a tad bemused/judgmental of Jenrick for letting news of his defection leak
A really bearish sign is Farage seemingly abandoning his previous advocacy of social insurance for healthcare. One of the few things the right can do to make their sums add up, and completely suits their electoral coalition
The noticeable thing here is that Reform is probably on the same trajectory as the 2010-24 Cons, of aiming at all these things without recognising the trade-offs, then probably baulking when they have to be politically responsible for them.
So much in here that's so fascinating. But this, for me at least, really stood out:
"Nigel Farage, meanwhile, has stood – consistently, and often alone – for what’s needed. Ending mass migration. Cheap energy. Cutting waste and taxes and red tape."
Not a single solitary mention of #Brexit....
"Nigel Farage, meanwhile, has stood – consistently, and often alone – for what’s needed. Ending mass migration. Cheap energy. Cutting waste and taxes and red tape."
Not a single solitary mention of #Brexit....
January 16, 2026 at 8:33 AM
A really bearish sign is Farage seemingly abandoning his previous advocacy of social insurance for healthcare. One of the few things the right can do to make their sums add up, and completely suits their electoral coalition
I'm just saying, we have a very prestigious prize we could offer him that allows a royal, a royal as fit and young as Prince William, to wave a sword round his fat neck. I'm just saying....
Right, time for everyone to donate their school prizes to Trump in the hope he might cut us into some deals.
January 16, 2026 at 7:35 AM
I'm just saying, we have a very prestigious prize we could offer him that allows a royal, a royal as fit and young as Prince William, to wave a sword round his fat neck. I'm just saying....
Fundamentally Osborne really believed that public sector workers could not be won over to vote Tory. The idea that if the Tories came in, kept paying them well, was a bit less hyperactive in managing them than Labour, that many state-employed PMCs would happily vote Tory never crossed his mind
I do think we have to understand the Osborne era as being "this is a very clever piece of futzing with the figures that ultimately falls apart the moment anyone asks a question."
Really - how did we end up with a system that's failing students, graduates, universities AND the Treasury? Mathematically, how is that possible?
January 15, 2026 at 10:50 PM
Fundamentally Osborne really believed that public sector workers could not be won over to vote Tory. The idea that if the Tories came in, kept paying them well, was a bit less hyperactive in managing them than Labour, that many state-employed PMCs would happily vote Tory never crossed his mind
For fuck's sake you lunatics. No one is dunking on you. We're scared for you, and by you. We don't want the bad men to hurt you. We don't want them to hurt us. Grow up, FFS!
January 15, 2026 at 10:34 PM
For fuck's sake you lunatics. No one is dunking on you. We're scared for you, and by you. We don't want the bad men to hurt you. We don't want them to hurt us. Grow up, FFS!
The problem with Starmerism is that real Starmerism has never been tried
Thought Labour watchers might be interested in these, which are apparently Mainstream's current priorities
January 15, 2026 at 10:05 PM
The problem with Starmerism is that real Starmerism has never been tried
The thing, it was annoying and naff for the longstanding establishment to rebrand themselves as a populist right party
It's terrifying if they or their successors are the type ethnonationalist party that Robert Jenrick clearly envisages
It's terrifying if they or their successors are the type ethnonationalist party that Robert Jenrick clearly envisages
I think it's extremely important to remember that the Tories were well on their way to becoming an ersatz populist radical right party long before Robert Jenrick got his hardman haircut and his fat-jabs and started banging on about immigration - and the slide won't necessarily stop now he's gone.
January 15, 2026 at 7:42 PM
The thing, it was annoying and naff for the longstanding establishment to rebrand themselves as a populist right party
It's terrifying if they or their successors are the type ethnonationalist party that Robert Jenrick clearly envisages
It's terrifying if they or their successors are the type ethnonationalist party that Robert Jenrick clearly envisages
One thing I'd add to this is that the departure of Jenrick means that the left/centre of the Tory Party can move against Badenock without fear of her being replaced by Jenrick. The Kemback is gonna have to become real or the temptation of replacing her with Cleverly will grow
A brilliant day for the Conservative party. It no longer has Robert Jenrick in it. My initial thoughts on Robert Jenrick's sacking:
Jenrick’s sacking is both threat and opportunity for Badenoch
The surprise departure deprives Farage of some Westminster theatre and gives the Tories a chance to reclaim ground
www.ft.com
January 15, 2026 at 5:29 PM
One thing I'd add to this is that the departure of Jenrick means that the left/centre of the Tory Party can move against Badenock without fear of her being replaced by Jenrick. The Kemback is gonna have to become real or the temptation of replacing her with Cleverly will grow
Sigh. The minute Jenrick came out with his toxic spiel this story stopped being funny. Him boosting Farage's worst tendencies is a bad day for British democracy
January 15, 2026 at 5:26 PM
Sigh. The minute Jenrick came out with his toxic spiel this story stopped being funny. Him boosting Farage's worst tendencies is a bad day for British democracy
In a world where stand-ups increasingly sound like right-wing politicians, it was only time that right-wing politicians would start sounding like they were promoting their latest comedy tour
BREAKING - Jenrick tweets: "It's time for the truth."
Defection imminent.
Defection imminent.
January 15, 2026 at 4:38 PM
In a world where stand-ups increasingly sound like right-wing politicians, it was only time that right-wing politicians would start sounding like they were promoting their latest comedy tour
Reposted by Will Cooling
Reposted by Will Cooling
The broader point here is that New Labour in hindsight looks less socially liberal than it actually was, because we take so many of its achievements for granted
You're failing to account for how controversial (and difficult to get past the HoL) equalizing the age of consent and repealing Section 28 were at the time.
Streeting hasn't taken us slowly forwards on trans rights, he's actually taken us backwards. Therein lies the difference.
Streeting hasn't taken us slowly forwards on trans rights, he's actually taken us backwards. Therein lies the difference.
January 15, 2026 at 2:21 PM
The broader point here is that New Labour in hindsight looks less socially liberal than it actually was, because we take so many of its achievements for granted
What's typical is that Starmer's rushed, off-the-cuff response was much better - he attacked Badenoch for not sacking Jenrick for all the divisive (sic) stuff he had been saying and attacked Reform for taking on another failed Tory minister.
You’d think Labour might want to sit back and pretend to be reasonable while Jenrick and Badenoch knock lumps out of each other, but they decided to try and outflank them in the other direction by regurgitating a far right trope
January 15, 2026 at 1:41 PM
What's typical is that Starmer's rushed, off-the-cuff response was much better - he attacked Badenoch for not sacking Jenrick for all the divisive (sic) stuff he had been saying and attacked Reform for taking on another failed Tory minister.
I also think a lot of this narrative treats the voters like idiots who aren't paying attention:
Did the Tory establishment hate Farage? Yes. Does Farage rule his party's with an iron fist? Yes. Has he ever been in Government? No. So will someone different be running the country if Reform wins? Yes.
Did the Tory establishment hate Farage? Yes. Does Farage rule his party's with an iron fist? Yes. Has he ever been in Government? No. So will someone different be running the country if Reform wins? Yes.
The question of 'is a problem for Reform if they just are seen as the Conservatives with a new leader and brand' (No, imv) comes down to whether you think a fresh leader, who could genuinely signal and show change from the last Tory government, would be able to win an election? (Yes, imv).
I broadly agree with the argument that Reform won't pay an electoral price for absorbing many MPs and former ministers from the Conservatives, but I am less sure that will hold if they eat up the Conservative Party completely. At some point voters may ask 'are we voting for the same lot as before?'.
January 15, 2026 at 1:32 PM
I also think a lot of this narrative treats the voters like idiots who aren't paying attention:
Did the Tory establishment hate Farage? Yes. Does Farage rule his party's with an iron fist? Yes. Has he ever been in Government? No. So will someone different be running the country if Reform wins? Yes.
Did the Tory establishment hate Farage? Yes. Does Farage rule his party's with an iron fist? Yes. Has he ever been in Government? No. So will someone different be running the country if Reform wins? Yes.
Tory Party learning Kemi's secret police...
January 15, 2026 at 12:57 PM
Tory Party learning Kemi's secret police...
Wes is crazy. The man ran for senior NUS roles as NOLS when almost everyone else was hiding behind the Organised Independents "I can't believe its not labour students" faction. He even joined forces with the leftists to kill elements of the OI's reforms that would have strengthened ordinary Sabbs
So many people on here just don't understand Labour and it's characters. Have also seen Wes suggested. There has never been anyone less likely to defect than Wes or Luke. They are Labour in the soul
January 15, 2026 at 12:51 PM
Wes is crazy. The man ran for senior NUS roles as NOLS when almost everyone else was hiding behind the Organised Independents "I can't believe its not labour students" faction. He even joined forces with the leftists to kill elements of the OI's reforms that would have strengthened ordinary Sabbs
Its never stops being funny just how into being dominated by bossy women the Tory Party is. Not just the frontbenchers or wider parliamentary party, but deep into the activist base and general mass of voters.
January 15, 2026 at 12:15 PM
Its never stops being funny just how into being dominated by bossy women the Tory Party is. Not just the frontbenchers or wider parliamentary party, but deep into the activist base and general mass of voters.