Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Alan Lester @alanlester.bsky.social · 2h

Brilliant analysis of Kemi Badenoch’s self-destructive addiction to culture war from @rafaelbehr.bsky.social

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Badenoch’s ‘thoughtful Conservatism’ turns out to be just the slower road to Faragism | Rafael Behr

The Tory leader’s intellectual meanderings have shrunk her party into little more than a holding pen for future Reform party candidates, says Guardian columnist Rafael Behr

www.theguardian.com

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Alan Lester @alanlester.bsky.social · 3h

2/2 CLR James urged the League of Nations to act against modern slavery as he called for reparative help for the Caribbean.
What, I wonder, has Philip Hensher done for those victims aside from using their plight as a bogus argument against reparations?

alanlester.co.uk/blog/the-ant...

The Anti-Reparations Bible

Alan Lester Promoting the Anti-Reparations Bible Britain’s right-wing press has mobilised to promote Nigel Biggar’s latest book, Reparations: Slavery and the Tyranny of Imaginary Guilt as the defin…

alanlester.co.uk

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Alan Lester @alanlester.bsky.social · 3h

1/2 Actually, Philip & the Spectator, quite a lot. TF Buxton first argued for compensation to the enslaved before agreeing to pay it to slave owners instead. He founded what’s now Antislavery International.

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Alan Lester @alanlester.bsky.social · 14h

@channel4news.bsky.social reported David Norris’ belated confession of involvement in Stephen Lawrence’s racist murder immediately after highlighting that being openly, blatantly racist is no longer an impediment to an ambitious politician, but an asset. History is not progress.

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Alan Lester @alanlester.bsky.social · 20h

Robert Jenrick’s comments did not have “undertones of racism" as the local MP says in this clip. They were explicitly, unequivocally, racist. He equates a lack of integration with the absence of "a white face". If this not racist what is?

www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...

Jenrick accused of racism over ‘no white faces’ comments as he also claims ‘collapse of old order is in sight’ – UK politics live

Labour mayor of the West Midlands says Jenrick’s comments about Handsworth were racist

www.theguardian.com

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Alan Lester @alanlester.bsky.social · 22h

I’m only just catching up with Sam Dalrymple talking about his innovative book Shattered Lands on Empire pod. Well worth a listen to understand the genesis of both South Asian & Middle Eastern geopolitics amidst the demise of British imperialism.

open.spotify.com/episode/0cmP...

Spotify – Web Player

open.spotify.com

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Reposted by Alan Lester

Dave Andress @davidandress.bsky.social · 1d

The “arguments” that Nigel Biggar is lauded for making are confused, self-serving humbug, but more importantly, the “facts” he purports to base them on are simply, profoundly, wrong.

Alan Lester @alanlester.bsky.social · 5d

The @telegraphnews.bsky.social, @dailymail.co.uk and @thespectator1828.bsky.social have all promoted Nigel Biggar’s latest book as the definitive riposte to reparations claims. But what exactly are its arguments and how do they stand up to scrutiny?

alanlester.co.uk/blog/the-ant...

The Anti-Reparations Bible

Alan Lester Promoting the Anti-Reparations Bible Britain’s right-wing press has mobilised to promote Nigel Biggar’s latest book, Reparations: Slavery and the Tyranny of Imaginary Guilt as the defin…

alanlester.co.uk

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Reposted by Alan Lester

Alex Renton @axrenton.bsky.social · 1d

Thank you @alanlester.bsky.social for keeping eye on the mad, racist right-wing media so we don't have to.

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Alan Lester @alanlester.bsky.social · 1d

Follow the money

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Asylum hotel provider makes £180m profit despite claims of inedible food and rationed loo paper

Asylum seekers and charities tell BBC of

www.bbc.co.uk

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Reposted by Alan Lester

Jo Kershaw @mthrjo.bsky.social · 1d

Robert Jenrick is another person who has cooked his brain on Twitter (“Activist judges” is a very American-brained phrase, and I’m also sceptical that 30 judges and mags are really in favour of “open borders”, as opposed to a slightly more liberal regime, or just helping immigrants get their rights)

Colin Murray @colinmurray.bsky.social · 1d

More in the breathless, breaking stop-the-presses, and not at all confected story, that judges, before they were judges, were involved in practising law. Take 5 seconds to appreciate just how hard into "swivel-eyed loon" Robert Jenrick is being allowed to lean:

www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/202...

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Alan Lester @alanlester.bsky.social · 1d

It’s amazing how Trump’s sole motivation for politics - extreme & childish narcissism- is now priced into global geopolitics. Commentators are linking his role in Gaza with his petulant insistence on a Nobel Peace Prize with just a shrug of the shoulders 🤷‍♀️

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Reposted by Alan Lester

Dave Andress @davidandress.bsky.social · 2d

The subtext here is "Israel is doing what it has to do because of antisemitism, and we ought to support it no matter how high the pile of bodies grows."

This is of course a vile antihuman construction, that smears the Jewish people as much as it smears Palestinian suffering.

Alan Lester @alanlester.bsky.social · 2d

What a deeply problematic column from Lord Sewell in today’s @thetimes.com. Makes you wonder whether why those on the right are so unwilling to distinguish between objecting to a UN-recognised GENOCIDE and anti-semitism?

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Alan Lester @alanlester.bsky.social · 2d

What a deeply problematic column from Lord Sewell in today’s @thetimes.com. Makes you wonder whether why those on the right are so unwilling to distinguish between objecting to a UN-recognised GENOCIDE and anti-semitism?

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Alan Lester @alanlester.bsky.social · 2d

Mason sees Islam as the only disruptive religious identity, prone to ‘radicalism’. Aren’t Christian nationalism imported from the US far right & a form of Zionism supporting a genocide unBritish too?

Chris Mason: Why protests have started a debate over 'Britishness' www.bbc.com/news/article...

Chris Mason: Why protests have started a debate over 'Britishness'

Against the backdrop of grief after the Manchester attack, there is debate about which tenets should be fundamental in our society, writes Chris Mason.

www.bbc.com

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Alan Lester @alanlester.bsky.social · 4d

Reactions to this horror fall into two categories. Those, including the terrorist himself, who frame opposition to the Israeli government’s genocide as hating Jews. And those, including many Jews, who insist on marking the difference.

www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...

Kemi Badenoch: Dial down rhetoric on Israel after synagogue attack

The Tory leader said Jews faced a ‘climate of fear and aggression’ as senior figures from the community lined up to criticise the government over antisemitism

www.thetimes.com

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Reposted by Alan Lester

Dan Snow @thehistoryguy.bsky.social · 6d

The idea that someone can become British but never English is so agonisingly stupid that it makes me fear for the future of the species.

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Reposted by Alan Lester

Huw C. Davies @huwcdavies.bsky.social · 5d

Dan, this is exactly what the hosts of Trigonometry believe too. I hope you were able to challenge them about this on their show? Really enjoy HH btw.

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Reposted by Alan Lester

Christian @ceebarnacles.bsky.social · 5d

An excellent, blistering exposition of the History Reclaimed & Nigel Biggar wagon wheel of British ‘history’ pressed through their culture wars mangle.
Having recently spoken with a flag-flying neighbour professing to be a ‘woman of faith’, Christian Nationalism is not abstract, but proselytising.

Alan Lester @alanlester.bsky.social · 5d

In the current issue of Ab Imperio: a defence of scholarly integrity against right wing historical propaganda:
Full text here:

alanlester.co.uk/blog/accusat...

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Alan Lester @alanlester.bsky.social · 5d

If you have a moment could you send me a link please? Thanks

Alan Lester @alanlester.bsky.social · 5d

No but will take a look thanks Anna.

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Alan Lester @alanlester.bsky.social · 5d

In the current issue of Ab Imperio: a defence of scholarly integrity against right wing historical propaganda:
Full text here:

alanlester.co.uk/blog/accusat...

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Alan Lester @alanlester.bsky.social · 5d

Yes I mean Biggar’s and other arguments are intended to stop a conversation. Glad we agree one is needed. I’m not being hypocritical since I’m not arguing that any of us owe individual reparations. Both racist & anti-racist arguments have been pushed & held by a wide X section, not just elites.

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Alan Lester @alanlester.bsky.social · 5d

You’re anticipating discussions that these arguments are designed to prevent. I wouldn’t be a stakeholder in them so I can’t answer your queries. And no I won’t be making personal reparations. Debt relief & assistance with climate change preparedness would be most likely form at state level.

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Alan Lester @alanlester.bsky.social · 5d

The @telegraphnews.bsky.social, @dailymail.co.uk and @thespectator1828.bsky.social have all promoted Nigel Biggar’s latest book as the definitive riposte to reparations claims. But what exactly are its arguments and how do they stand up to scrutiny?

alanlester.co.uk/blog/the-ant...

The Anti-Reparations Bible

Alan Lester Promoting the Anti-Reparations Bible Britain’s right-wing press has mobilised to promote Nigel Biggar’s latest book, Reparations: Slavery and the Tyranny of Imaginary Guilt as the defin…

alanlester.co.uk

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Alan Lester @alanlester.bsky.social · 5d

Lots of media discussion and condemnation of the racism & Islamophobia expressed by police in the Panorama documentary last night. Somewhat less reflection on the media’s role in legitimising precisely such views.

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