William Lane
@williamjtlane.bsky.social
Policy, Public Affairs and Electoral Analysis
'Political Analyst' - Aaron H. Ellis
Views my own
Writes at https://thepartyanimal.substack.com/
'Political Analyst' - Aaron H. Ellis
Views my own
Writes at https://thepartyanimal.substack.com/
Pinned
Is Labour's Support Draining Out of the South?
Only a year on from a stunning political upset in the South East, Labour’s support appears to be draining away incredibly fast. Is this trend reversible, or are Labour on course for a major reversal?
open.substack.com
NEW ARTICLE
Well I promised a deep electoral dive for Labour's Conference special, and here it is!
Read about the ongoing fall of Labour's 2024 success in the South of England, and what that could mean for a potential Lib-Lab pact in 2029.
open.substack.com/pub/williamj...
Well I promised a deep electoral dive for Labour's Conference special, and here it is!
Read about the ongoing fall of Labour's 2024 success in the South of England, and what that could mean for a potential Lib-Lab pact in 2029.
open.substack.com/pub/williamj...
Seems like the Commonwealth Games has pulled through their rough patch last year, for now at least.
Ahmedabad to host 2030 Centenary Commonwealth Games reut.rs/48lePFs
Ahmedabad to host 2030 Centenary Commonwealth Games
Ahmedabad has pledged to "lay the foundation" for the next 100 years of the Commonwealth Games after the Indian city was formally named as host of the 2030 Centenary Games on Wednesday.
reut.rs
November 26, 2025 at 10:03 PM
Seems like the Commonwealth Games has pulled through their rough patch last year, for now at least.
Reposted by William Lane
this is amazing news - the HPV vaccine promises to eliminate cervical cancer in countries where uptake is high.
November 26, 2025 at 6:57 PM
this is amazing news - the HPV vaccine promises to eliminate cervical cancer in countries where uptake is high.
Genuinely good bit of government policy this.
Let's take a moment to applaud the fact the two-child limit has been scrapped, a measure which has been described as "the worst social policy ever", writes @ruthpatrick0.bsky.social for @prospectmagazine.co.uk /1
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/politics/716...
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/politics/716...
At last: a budget that ends the two-child limit
The government should be applauded for scrapping the cruel policy, but tackling poverty requires more
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk
November 26, 2025 at 4:36 PM
Genuinely good bit of government policy this.
Out and about in London today, and im enjoying that crisp, blue winter sky!
I do love 'crisp' winter, but 'wet' winter can get in the bin.
I do love 'crisp' winter, but 'wet' winter can get in the bin.
November 26, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Out and about in London today, and im enjoying that crisp, blue winter sky!
I do love 'crisp' winter, but 'wet' winter can get in the bin.
I do love 'crisp' winter, but 'wet' winter can get in the bin.
Well this is a truly staggering leak.
Heads will roll for this.
Heads will roll for this.
BREAKING The entire Budget has leaked early
- £22BN of headroom
- £26bn tax rises
- Freeze on tax thresholds
- Pay per mileage confirmed
- Changes to capital gains
- £22BN of headroom
- £26bn tax rises
- Freeze on tax thresholds
- Pay per mileage confirmed
- Changes to capital gains
November 26, 2025 at 12:12 PM
Well this is a truly staggering leak.
Heads will roll for this.
Heads will roll for this.
Reposted by William Lane
NEW: Plans are underway for a tourist levy to supercharge London's economy. It could raise *millions* to fund major improvements in our city.
London is the greatest city in the world, but there’s always more to do! A tourist levy would make it an even better place to live and visit for everyone.
London is the greatest city in the world, but there’s always more to do! A tourist levy would make it an even better place to live and visit for everyone.
November 25, 2025 at 2:33 PM
NEW: Plans are underway for a tourist levy to supercharge London's economy. It could raise *millions* to fund major improvements in our city.
London is the greatest city in the world, but there’s always more to do! A tourist levy would make it an even better place to live and visit for everyone.
London is the greatest city in the world, but there’s always more to do! A tourist levy would make it an even better place to live and visit for everyone.
I'm playing Dragon's Dogma again, and for the first time I'm wondering if a game could be made *better* by being licenced/tie in game?
Everything good about this game is in the nuts and bolts combat and gameplay, everything bad about it is in the Temu Beserk world and characters.
Everything good about this game is in the nuts and bolts combat and gameplay, everything bad about it is in the Temu Beserk world and characters.
November 25, 2025 at 7:01 PM
I'm playing Dragon's Dogma again, and for the first time I'm wondering if a game could be made *better* by being licenced/tie in game?
Everything good about this game is in the nuts and bolts combat and gameplay, everything bad about it is in the Temu Beserk world and characters.
Everything good about this game is in the nuts and bolts combat and gameplay, everything bad about it is in the Temu Beserk world and characters.
Ah, a true summary of 50% of the self-employed life!
(The other half is you desperately trying to fit 7 days worth of work into a 5 day working week).
(The other half is you desperately trying to fit 7 days worth of work into a 5 day working week).
genuinely trying very very hard to do some work here but between editors and potential interviewees not getting back to me it really is looking like I may have no choice but to simply play Hades II with my inbox vaguely in my eyeline
November 25, 2025 at 2:45 PM
Ah, a true summary of 50% of the self-employed life!
(The other half is you desperately trying to fit 7 days worth of work into a 5 day working week).
(The other half is you desperately trying to fit 7 days worth of work into a 5 day working week).
Would it kill people to refer to others how they would like to be referred to?
It's just basic decency. If an article was written about me, I would expect to be referred to as He/Him. If someone told me that their political beliefs required them to misgender me, I would be incredulous.
It's just basic decency. If an article was written about me, I would expect to be referred to as He/Him. If someone told me that their political beliefs required them to misgender me, I would be incredulous.
the refusal to use any pronouns for the woman involved here is so bizarre
Graham Linehan cleared of harassing trans activist but convicted of damaging phone
November 25, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Would it kill people to refer to others how they would like to be referred to?
It's just basic decency. If an article was written about me, I would expect to be referred to as He/Him. If someone told me that their political beliefs required them to misgender me, I would be incredulous.
It's just basic decency. If an article was written about me, I would expect to be referred to as He/Him. If someone told me that their political beliefs required them to misgender me, I would be incredulous.
Reposted by William Lane
Big news: the European Court of Justice rules that all member states are obliged to recognise a same-sex marriage lawfully concluded in another member state.
November 25, 2025 at 10:04 AM
Big news: the European Court of Justice rules that all member states are obliged to recognise a same-sex marriage lawfully concluded in another member state.
Looking for something to read before the budget? How about a look at how Labour's sister party is doing!
Based in my experience at the 2025 Co-op Party conference, I have a feeling the Co-op Party may become more assertive in the future...
Based in my experience at the 2025 Co-op Party conference, I have a feeling the Co-op Party may become more assertive in the future...
New Substack!
Over the weekend I travelled to the Co-op Party Conference in central london. Read my reflections below to find out what's happening inside Britain's fourth largest parliamentary party, and what this could mean for the Labour gov.
thepartyanimal.substack.com/p/the-people...
Over the weekend I travelled to the Co-op Party Conference in central london. Read my reflections below to find out what's happening inside Britain's fourth largest parliamentary party, and what this could mean for the Labour gov.
thepartyanimal.substack.com/p/the-people...
November 25, 2025 at 9:57 AM
Looking for something to read before the budget? How about a look at how Labour's sister party is doing!
Based in my experience at the 2025 Co-op Party conference, I have a feeling the Co-op Party may become more assertive in the future...
Based in my experience at the 2025 Co-op Party conference, I have a feeling the Co-op Party may become more assertive in the future...
Hitchen's perspective is the kind you only get if you dont engage much with the outside world.
When I talk to people from other Euro & Anglo nations about issues in their countries, guess what?
They talk about rent, house prices, poor public services, high cost of living, poor job markets etc etc.
When I talk to people from other Euro & Anglo nations about issues in their countries, guess what?
They talk about rent, house prices, poor public services, high cost of living, poor job markets etc etc.
This nonsense is not just mad and pernicious, it is just wildly entitled. Of course there are problems in Britain. But have a little look at the world around you, or indeed at the past. Where will you have such a nice free secure future? Genuine question.
good to see people keeping a sense of perspective
November 24, 2025 at 7:54 PM
Hitchen's perspective is the kind you only get if you dont engage much with the outside world.
When I talk to people from other Euro & Anglo nations about issues in their countries, guess what?
They talk about rent, house prices, poor public services, high cost of living, poor job markets etc etc.
When I talk to people from other Euro & Anglo nations about issues in their countries, guess what?
They talk about rent, house prices, poor public services, high cost of living, poor job markets etc etc.
I genuinely think a big reason 343 never did a Halo 3 Anniversary Edition remake is because Halo 3 still looks gorgeous almost 20 years later.
Those later levels (The Ark, The Covenant, Halo) are a perfect blend of the eerie space future of Halo: CE and the military grittiness of Halo 2.
Those later levels (The Ark, The Covenant, Halo) are a perfect blend of the eerie space future of Halo: CE and the military grittiness of Halo 2.
November 23, 2025 at 1:19 PM
I genuinely think a big reason 343 never did a Halo 3 Anniversary Edition remake is because Halo 3 still looks gorgeous almost 20 years later.
Those later levels (The Ark, The Covenant, Halo) are a perfect blend of the eerie space future of Halo: CE and the military grittiness of Halo 2.
Those later levels (The Ark, The Covenant, Halo) are a perfect blend of the eerie space future of Halo: CE and the military grittiness of Halo 2.
This This 1000x This.
They've already lost! And lost *badly*!
We've had non-white heads of government across all the nations of GB! Every great office of state has had a non-white holder! We've had a muslim Mayor of London for almost ten years!
This is a reaction to successful integration.
They've already lost! And lost *badly*!
We've had non-white heads of government across all the nations of GB! Every great office of state has had a non-white holder! We've had a muslim Mayor of London for almost ten years!
This is a reaction to successful integration.
A country where Sadiq Khan can lead London, Humza Yousaf can lead Scotland, and Rishi Sunak can lead Britain is a country where the racists had *lost*. So much of this vicious bile has come directly after that and almost no one seems to draw the connection
November 22, 2025 at 2:24 PM
This This 1000x This.
They've already lost! And lost *badly*!
We've had non-white heads of government across all the nations of GB! Every great office of state has had a non-white holder! We've had a muslim Mayor of London for almost ten years!
This is a reaction to successful integration.
They've already lost! And lost *badly*!
We've had non-white heads of government across all the nations of GB! Every great office of state has had a non-white holder! We've had a muslim Mayor of London for almost ten years!
This is a reaction to successful integration.
I feel this in my bones.
Veilguard's story is the kind of thing that's mostly just bad on its own, but managed to gum up the entire setting to the point that the series probably needs a reboot.
It's a Rise of Skywalker/Halo 5 level situation, but unlike those DA:O would be quite easy to remake...
Veilguard's story is the kind of thing that's mostly just bad on its own, but managed to gum up the entire setting to the point that the series probably needs a reboot.
It's a Rise of Skywalker/Halo 5 level situation, but unlike those DA:O would be quite easy to remake...
Been reminded of Dragon Age: The Veilguard and I think what I find so deflating about it is not just that the story botches the setting, it’s that it burns through basically every potential future storyline whilst botching it
November 22, 2025 at 12:45 PM
I feel this in my bones.
Veilguard's story is the kind of thing that's mostly just bad on its own, but managed to gum up the entire setting to the point that the series probably needs a reboot.
It's a Rise of Skywalker/Halo 5 level situation, but unlike those DA:O would be quite easy to remake...
Veilguard's story is the kind of thing that's mostly just bad on its own, but managed to gum up the entire setting to the point that the series probably needs a reboot.
It's a Rise of Skywalker/Halo 5 level situation, but unlike those DA:O would be quite easy to remake...
Reposted by William Lane
Sun coming through the archway tonight at sunset. Have a fabulous weekend everyone.
November 21, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Sun coming through the archway tonight at sunset. Have a fabulous weekend everyone.
Yeah I think this has been the most shocking development of the 2010s/2020s.
The idea that you could get a sizeable chunk (if not an outright majority) of the middle class vote by being economically left wing would have got you laughed out of town even 20 years ago.
The idea that you could get a sizeable chunk (if not an outright majority) of the middle class vote by being economically left wing would have got you laughed out of town even 20 years ago.
And this is intimately linked to what I got completely wrong in autumn 2015, which is I just did not think you could get enough middle class votes with a leftwing economic pitch, which has in different ways been disproved by 2017, 2024 and in failure since 2024.
November 21, 2025 at 12:15 PM
Yeah I think this has been the most shocking development of the 2010s/2020s.
The idea that you could get a sizeable chunk (if not an outright majority) of the middle class vote by being economically left wing would have got you laughed out of town even 20 years ago.
The idea that you could get a sizeable chunk (if not an outright majority) of the middle class vote by being economically left wing would have got you laughed out of town even 20 years ago.
I never realised that the first openly gay elected official in the UK was a Liberal!
It does make sense given the Liberal Party's support for social issues in the 20th century. Annoyingly I can't find who he won his seat from, but given that it was in Durham it was probably a Labour councillor.
It does make sense given the Liberal Party's support for social issues in the 20th century. Annoyingly I can't find who he won his seat from, but given that it was in Durham it was probably a Labour councillor.
Mel Metcalf, Chair of Durham Pride, said: "The Reform-led Council may have taken our Pride flags down at County Hall, but Sam Green’s undeniable legacy will live on in the hearts and minds of everyone attending Durham Pride 2026."
Chair of Durham Pride helps unveil plaque for UK's first openly gay elected politician
Mel Metcalf, Chair of Durham Pride, was invited to represent the annual Pride event in north east England at the unveiling of a Blue Plaque for Liberal Democrats Councillor Sam Green, the UK’s first o...
www.scenemag.co.uk
November 21, 2025 at 11:21 AM
I never realised that the first openly gay elected official in the UK was a Liberal!
It does make sense given the Liberal Party's support for social issues in the 20th century. Annoyingly I can't find who he won his seat from, but given that it was in Durham it was probably a Labour councillor.
It does make sense given the Liberal Party's support for social issues in the 20th century. Annoyingly I can't find who he won his seat from, but given that it was in Durham it was probably a Labour councillor.
Reposted by William Lane
London is wonderful.
A friend from US has been staying in London this week - sight-seeing, culture, bars and restaurants. Central London has been buzzing. It’s been great and I’ve been proud of it. So there
November 21, 2025 at 9:51 AM
London is wonderful.
Great day in Parliament supporting the important work of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Respiratory Health.
Our chair Jim Shannon organised a Westminister Hall debate for World COPD Day, raising awareness of a disabling condition suffered by up to 2.3 million people in the UK.
Our chair Jim Shannon organised a Westminister Hall debate for World COPD Day, raising awareness of a disabling condition suffered by up to 2.3 million people in the UK.
November 20, 2025 at 6:23 PM
Great day in Parliament supporting the important work of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Respiratory Health.
Our chair Jim Shannon organised a Westminister Hall debate for World COPD Day, raising awareness of a disabling condition suffered by up to 2.3 million people in the UK.
Our chair Jim Shannon organised a Westminister Hall debate for World COPD Day, raising awareness of a disabling condition suffered by up to 2.3 million people in the UK.
This is a great article by a new Labour thinker who is well worth subscribing to!
There is a deep tradition of liberal (and Liberal) thought within Labour, running all the way back to the 1920s. If given the space to breathe, this tradition could help Labour recover electorally and politically.
There is a deep tradition of liberal (and Liberal) thought within Labour, running all the way back to the 1920s. If given the space to breathe, this tradition could help Labour recover electorally and politically.
Finally got round to setting up a Substack! And I've published the piece I shared with a few of you last month - on the intellectual crisis within Labour's liberal wing.
thenewsocialdemocrat.substack.com/p/intellectu...
thenewsocialdemocrat.substack.com/p/intellectu...
Intellectually adrift, where does Labour’s liberal wing go from here?
The tradition of Gaitskell, Crosland, Jenkins, Blair and Brown stands at a crossroads.
thenewsocialdemocrat.substack.com
November 20, 2025 at 1:55 PM
This is a great article by a new Labour thinker who is well worth subscribing to!
There is a deep tradition of liberal (and Liberal) thought within Labour, running all the way back to the 1920s. If given the space to breathe, this tradition could help Labour recover electorally and politically.
There is a deep tradition of liberal (and Liberal) thought within Labour, running all the way back to the 1920s. If given the space to breathe, this tradition could help Labour recover electorally and politically.
Reposted by William Lane
👏 UK on US peace plan: Russia can end war by withdrawing its troops
UK on US peace plan: Russia can end war by withdrawing its troops – Reuters
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has stated that the country supports US President Donald Trump's plan for peace in Ukraine, saying that Russia can end the war immediately by withdr...
www.pravda.com.ua
November 20, 2025 at 6:57 AM
👏 UK on US peace plan: Russia can end war by withdrawing its troops
This is both immoral and utterly unworkable.
EHRC guidance leaked and it's so bad even The Times can't put a positive spin on it
www.thetimes.com/article/82ee...
www.thetimes.com/article/82ee...
Trans people could be banned from single-sex spaces based on how they look
The Times has seen the equalities watchdog’s final guidance, which Whitehall figures fear Bridget Phillipson is delaying to avoid a political backlash
www.thetimes.com
November 19, 2025 at 10:54 PM
This is both immoral and utterly unworkable.
New Substack!
Over the weekend I travelled to the Co-op Party Conference in central london. Read my reflections below to find out what's happening inside Britain's fourth largest parliamentary party, and what this could mean for the Labour gov.
thepartyanimal.substack.com/p/the-people...
Over the weekend I travelled to the Co-op Party Conference in central london. Read my reflections below to find out what's happening inside Britain's fourth largest parliamentary party, and what this could mean for the Labour gov.
thepartyanimal.substack.com/p/the-people...
November 19, 2025 at 1:39 PM
New Substack!
Over the weekend I travelled to the Co-op Party Conference in central london. Read my reflections below to find out what's happening inside Britain's fourth largest parliamentary party, and what this could mean for the Labour gov.
thepartyanimal.substack.com/p/the-people...
Over the weekend I travelled to the Co-op Party Conference in central london. Read my reflections below to find out what's happening inside Britain's fourth largest parliamentary party, and what this could mean for the Labour gov.
thepartyanimal.substack.com/p/the-people...
While I understand this perspective I disagree, progressive does have a meaning in UK politics that is distinct from the US.
That's because it refers to the broad swathe of centre-left liberals that exist across the three main left parties (Lab, Lib, Grn). It's mainly used in a cross-party context.
That's because it refers to the broad swathe of centre-left liberals that exist across the three main left parties (Lab, Lib, Grn). It's mainly used in a cross-party context.
It is very sad that we are adopting the US term 'progressives'. It doesn't actually mean anything here
November 19, 2025 at 11:32 AM
While I understand this perspective I disagree, progressive does have a meaning in UK politics that is distinct from the US.
That's because it refers to the broad swathe of centre-left liberals that exist across the three main left parties (Lab, Lib, Grn). It's mainly used in a cross-party context.
That's because it refers to the broad swathe of centre-left liberals that exist across the three main left parties (Lab, Lib, Grn). It's mainly used in a cross-party context.