Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Colm Murphy

Imogen Shaw @imogenshaw.bsky.social · 8h

“Some people say choosing judges based on their political beliefs makes them politicians’ puppets - what do you think of that?”

“Rubbish!”

Andrew Graystone @andrewgraystone.bsky.social · 1d

The Wigs and the Tories.

Shadow Home Secretary Robert Jenrick is holding up a judge’s wig during a speech

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Sacha Hilhorst @sachahilhorst.bsky.social · 22h

I noticed that too. A disgraceful way to cover it tbh

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Colm Murphy @colmpm.bsky.social · 23h

Read this, if for nothing else than the phrase "the unbearable tightness of credit spreads".

Katie Martin @katie0martin.ft.com · 1d

I'm not saying it makes a huge amount of sense, but I am saying a market melt-up is a distinct possibility. The bad stuff just isn't sticking - on.ft.com/48PHt3p

Brace for a market melt-up

[FREE TO READ] Some say this is a ‘good’ bubble, but investors should remember that all bubbles burst in the end

on.ft.com

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Colm Murphy @colmpm.bsky.social · 1d

If the SW1-focused media doesn't take radicalisation and racism seriously, why should the power seekers who read it?

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Colm Murphy @colmpm.bsky.social · 1d

One of my issues with Politico is that its jaunty, gossipy tone jars with the dangerous turn in UK politics.

A "mostly clanger free conference"? A recording of the Shadow Justice Secretary complaining about seeing "no white faces" surfaced and was the talking point in interviews and coverage...

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Colm Murphy @colmpm.bsky.social · 1d

*Calling PhD students of modern British and imperial history in London*

The @ihrbritainseminar.bsky.social's first session this Thursday (9 Oct.) is dedicated to PhDs, at any stage, for elevator pitches and meet-and-greet. Do come along! Details in the link.

www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...

New PhD Student Session

For the first session of term we will be hosting a meet and greet at the IHR for all PhD students in modern British and imperial history.

www.history.ac.uk

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Colm Murphy @colmpm.bsky.social · 1d

I have a lot of sympathy with @adamtooze.bsky.social's argument here.

Huw Pill's minority vote to maintain QT at existing levels last month did not get the attention that it should have outside of finance circles. An astonishing political choice.

www.ft.com/content/7615...

Britain needs a ‘whatever it takes’ moment

The Bank of England must acknowledge the priority of reviving investment-led growth and stop quantitative tightening

www.ft.com

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Sam Freedman @samfr.bsky.social · 1d

New post just out:

"Staying alive vs taking control"

Labour's big choice at the budget is whether they just want to try and survive it or whether they're willing to take some bigger risks that would have future payoffs.

(£/free trial)

open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/s...

Staying alive vs taking control

Labour's budget choices

open.substack.com

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Reposted by Colm Murphy

Tim Bale @timbale.bsky.social · 1d

ft @qmpoliticsir.bsky.social's @colmpm.bsky.social

How did net zero get so politically toxic?

The cross-party consensus on net zero has shattered. What does that mean for the climate – and for the next election?

www.bigissue.com

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Reposted by Colm Murphy

Karl Pike @karlpike.bsky.social · 2d

Reform in local govt, latest:
www.ft.com/content/277c...

Reform likely to raise Kent council tax after cost-cutting drive falters

Nigel Farage’s party promised to revive local authority finances by slashing wasteful spending

www.ft.com

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POLITICO Europe @politico.eu · 2d

🚨 BREAKING: French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu and his government have resigned.

Read the developing story: ow.ly/6uzZ50X6TAz

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Financial Times @financialtimes.com · 3d

Reform likely to raise Kent council tax after cost-cutting drive falters on.ft.com/4pTvJ62

Reform likely to raise Kent council tax after cost-cutting drive falters

Nigel Farage’s party promised to revive local authority finances by slashing wasteful spending

on.ft.com

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Reposted by Colm Murphy

Sunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · 5d

This Israeli government decision to host Tommy Robinson will widen the growing gulf between the Netanyahu government and the British public, including the broad majority of Jews in Britain (3/4 of whom dsapproved of Netanyahu, before this new link to this anti-Muslim racist UK far right convict).

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Robert Saunders @robertsaunders.bsky.social · 9d

"'As Long As It Takes': What does it mean to commit to Ukraine's security?"

We are delighted to be welcoming Sir Lawrence Freedman to the @mileendinstitute.bsky.social on 8 Oct, 18:30, for this term's distinguished Hennessy Lecture.

Book your free ticket here:
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/as-long-as...

'As Long As It Takes': What does it mean to commit to Ukraine's security?

Join the Mile End Institute for our fourth distinguished Hennessy Lecture by the legendary Professor of War Studies, Sir Lawrence Freedman!

www.eventbrite.co.uk

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Reposted by Colm Murphy

Zoë Crowther @zoecrowther.bsky.social · 6d

I spoke to a few people, including journalists, at Labour conference who had seen and believed claims on X that Multiverse – Tony Blair's son's company – had been chosen to run the government’s new digital ID scheme

@fullfact.org have checked this claim and it is untrue

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Duncan Weldon @duncanweldon.bsky.social · 9d

One of those weeks where I find it hard to square the quite stark Economist leader - Britain is slowly going bust
economist.com/leaders/2025...

With the story in the Britain section -

Why British bond yields are higher than elsewhere
economist.com/britain/2025...

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Sunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · 9d

The Times reported that some Labour MPs are sharing an anonymous memo, characterising an 'ungovernable' country + the polarisation of our times as "whites against whites fighting over the future character of a multi-ethnic nation". My @renewaljournal.bsky.social blog attempts to make sense of it.

Renewal @renewaljournal.bsky.social · 9d

"In the twenty-first century, the success of social democracy depends on narrowing differences between groups"

@sundersays.bsky.social responds to the anonymous essay that @patrickmaguire.bsky.social has reported is being shared around by Labour MPs

False prophecies

What did you manage to read on your summer holidays? I found myself in the early phases of the 14 volume CP Snow Strangers and Brothers series – covering 20th century Britain from the first world war ...

renewal.org.uk

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Colm Murphy @colmpm.bsky.social · 10d

That was a penalty, in my view, and it certainly wasn't a clear and obvious error. Arsenal right to be aggrieved.

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Colm Murphy @colmpm.bsky.social · 10d

Thanks to you both for the blog!

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Jane Green @profjanegreen.bsky.social · 10d

We do this kind of research precisely so everyone can be better informed and the political and media narrative can get things right. It’s relevant for all parties, and free to read!!

Colm Murphy @colmpm.bsky.social · 10d

These are particularly critical points that should be much better understood, not just by the government but also by political commentators, journalists, and broadcast bookers.

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Colm Murphy @colmpm.bsky.social · 10d

These are particularly critical points that should be much better understood, not just by the government but also by political commentators, journalists, and broadcast bookers.

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Reposted by Colm Murphy

Jane Green @profjanegreen.bsky.social · 10d

NEW!
In Liverpool for Labour Conference...

Starmer is concentrating on Reform but Labour shouldn't mistake their threat on the right, even in Leave voting heartlands.

Our new analysis w/ @martamiori.bsky.social explains:

politicscentre.nuffield.ox.ac.uk/news-and-eve...

Article - Nuffield Politics Research Centre

politicscentre.nuffield.ox.ac.uk

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Colm Murphy @colmpm.bsky.social · 10d

I don't know what a stranglewank is (and no, that's not an invitation for you to explain it!)

I watched the first episode. Utter trash. Classic Netflix dialogue exposition, creaking cliches about Ireland everywhere, an implausibly attractive central cast pouting.

Did I have a good time? Yes.

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Colm Murphy @colmpm.bsky.social · 10d

Yet more authoritarian attacks on pluralism from Starmer's Labour Party, smh

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Colm Murphy @colmpm.bsky.social · 10d

Credit where due, Starmer was very clear this morning on ILR.

The structural weakness though is indecision and lack of speed - and this is one of the areas where criticism of the leader becomes relevant. A successful government is shaping, not following, the conversation.

bsky.app/profile/jess...

Jessica Elgot @jessicaelgot.bsky.social · 10d

NEW - Keir Starmer says that Reform UK's policy to abolish indefinite leave to remain is " a racist policy. I do think it is immoral.”

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