Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Helene von Bismarck @helenebismarck.bsky.social · 2h

Great piece by @stephenkb.bsky.social

Edward Burke @edwardburke.bsky.social · 2h

“Israel seems more important — and less desirable — than ever for British Jews”
www.ft.com/content/14d4...

Israel seems more important — and less desirable — than ever for British Jews

Amid rising antisemitism at home, our lifeboat abroad seems less attractive

www.ft.com

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Helene von Bismarck @helenebismarck.bsky.social · 2h

Absolutely.
Predictions are a risky business but right now, I don‘t see Farage in Downing Street. I see a hung Parliament where 5 different parties get 15-20% of the vote. And then what?

John Oxley @joxley.jmoxley.co.uk · 2h

Think an underpriced 2029 scenario is "ungovernable mess".

Rob Ford @robfordmancs.bsky.social · 22h

Four parties within a 5 point swing of first place and five parties on 12% plus.

This would be pure chaos under first past the post.

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Reposted by Helene von Bismarck

Colm Murphy @colmpm.bsky.social · 20h

*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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Helene von Bismarck @helenebismarck.bsky.social · 12h

Oh that takes me back

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Helene von Bismarck @helenebismarck.bsky.social · 13h

Excellent article. BTW @sathnam.bsky.social ‘s memoir is a wonderful, moving book.
Highly recommended.

Sathnam Sanghera @sathnam.bsky.social · 18h

I've responded to Robert Jenrick's vile comments in @thetimes.com

www.thetimes.com/life-style/c...

I sang Jerusalem with Robert Jenrick at school — he’s wrong about race

The Conservative MP has complained that, visiting Handsworth in Birmingham, he didn’t see ‘another white face’. You can’t judge whether someone is integrated by skin colour, argues fellow Wulfrunian S...

www.thetimes.com

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Reposted by Helene von Bismarck

Robert Saunders @robertsaunders.bsky.social · 13h

Still, a good opportunity to advertise our next event at the @mileendinstitute.bsky.social on 20 October:

"Still Thatcher's Britain? The Thatcher Legacy, 1925-2025".

Featuring Gillian Shephard, Simone Finn, @philipjcowley.bsky.social and me.
www.qmul.ac.uk/mei/events/m...

Still “Thatcher’s Britain”? The Thatcher Legacy, 1925-2025

www.qmul.ac.uk

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Reposted by Helene von Bismarck

BBC Newsnight @bbcnewsnight.bsky.social · 15h

“You described Reform and other parties across Europe today as among the 'right wing equivalents of the fascists in the 1930s'. Why?”

“Because that’s what they are”

@vicderbyshire.bsky.social asks Lord Heseltine about remarks he made at Conservative Party Conference.

#Newsnight

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Helene von Bismarck @helenebismarck.bsky.social · 14h

Micheal Heseltine is a person with principles and a spine.

Best for Britain @bestforbritain.org · 17h

Michael Heseltine tells @europeanmovement.co.uk event that the Farage's Reform and European populist far right parties are “equivalents to the fascists of the thirties” and adds: ”We have to deal with President Trump for the next 3 years. We don't need his mouthpiece anywhere near No.10.” ~AA 🔥

Robert Peston
@Peston
Heseltine has just addressed a packed meeting of the European Movement at Tory conference. He does not show the restraint of most party leaders in his critique of Farage and Reform: “right wing equivalents to the fascists of the thirties are back on the march: Le Pen in France, AfD in Germany, Fdl in Italy, Vox in Spain and conspicuously Reform in this country. Much of President Trump's language in America coincides with words here in Europe. The immigrant has replaced the Jew as the problem which needs a solution although recent events here have cast a dark shadow…We must make clear that we will never have any part in the populist extremism of Nigel Farage. We have to deal with President Trump for the next 3 years. we don't need his mouthpiece anywhere near Number 10.”
4:26 PM · Oct 7, 2025
·
16.2K
Views

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Dov Waxman @dovwaxman.bsky.social · 4d

An excellent op-ed on the antisemitic terrorist attack in Manchester: www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

In a time of hate and rancour, two Jews sought to pray – and were killed. Let Manchester be a turning point | Jonathan Freedland

This was a horror but with so much intolerance and antisemitism, no one can say it was a surprise. There are lessons to learn, and that must start now, says Guardian columnist Jonathan Freedland

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by Helene von Bismarck

Dov Waxman @dovwaxman.bsky.social · 20h

On the second anniversary of the outbreak of the Gaza war that Hamas initiated with its horrific surprise attack in southern Israel, it’s worth taking stock of the war’s devastating toll. Here's a long thread, which is not exhaustive, of the toll:

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Reposted by Helene von Bismarck

Ben Stanley @benstanley.eu · 20h

“The advantages of a first past the post system, of course, are that it prevents an overly fragmented parliament in which a stable governing majority cannot be found, and that it keeps the radical right down.”

Election Maps UK @electionmaps.uk · 23h

Westminster Voting Intention:

RFM: 27% (-2)
LAB: 20% (-2)
CON: 17% (+1)
LDM: 17% (+2)
GRN: 12% (+1)
SNP: 4% (+1)

Via @yougov.co.uk, 5-6 Oct.
Changes w/ 28-29 Sep.

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Helene von Bismarck @helenebismarck.bsky.social · 22h

Book

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Helene von Bismarck @helenebismarck.bsky.social · 22h

"AI could write your book“
😡

Brendan Greeley @bhgreeley.bsky.social · 22h

Had another conversation with someone who asked whether I had used AI to write my book. I have a hard time conveying how offensive that question is. Not because they think I cheated, but because the question reveals that to them, my whole life’s never added that much value to begin with.

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Helene von Bismarck @helenebismarck.bsky.social · 22h

The short, sweet, ecstatic exhileration when you finish a chapter,
followed by the agonizing feeling of doom when you remember what you still have to write.

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Robert Heinze @rheinze.bsky.social · 22h

It’s unsettling to work at an institution that is this dedicated to global collaborative and critical knowledge work and feel the contraction nearly everywhere, in small and big ways.

Mischa Honeck @honeckmischa.bsky.social · 1d

I’m a German historian of the US, and I remember how I said to myself a few years ago man it must suck to be a German historian of Russia with all the repression bearing down on the GHI in Moscow and the dangers of doing critical scholarship there and all.

Well…

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Reposted by Helene von Bismarck

Mischa Honeck @honeckmischa.bsky.social · 1d

I’m a German historian of the US, and I remember how I said to myself a few years ago man it must suck to be a German historian of Russia with all the repression bearing down on the GHI in Moscow and the dangers of doing critical scholarship there and all.

Well…

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Helene von Bismarck @helenebismarck.bsky.social · 23h

I enjoyed this interview.

Writing as a way of dealing with the fact that you don‘t quite fit into the world.

Jonathan Coe @jonathancoe.bsky.social · 23h

In which I talk about anxiety as a motivating force, never being considered for the Booker, and an early novel that's become problematic.

Jonathan Coe: ‘I have a fascination with the right’

The author on keeping his liberal instincts in check, his love of breaking the literary fourth wall, and not fitting comfortably into the world

observer.co.uk

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Reposted by Helene von Bismarck

Jacob Öberg @profjacob.bsky.social · 1d

Full article is available here via @conservativehome.bsky.social: conservativehome.com/2025/10/05/r...

Robert Buckland: Leaving the ECHR would be a grave mistake | Conservative Home

Withdrawal from the ECHR would upset the delicate political balance in Northern Ireland, compromise our extradition and security arrangements, and damage our moral authority abroad. Above all, it woul...

conservativehome.com

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Reposted by Helene von Bismarck

Jacob Öberg @profjacob.bsky.social · 1d

🚨🚨 "The ECHR is not some foreign imposition that curtails our sovereignty. It was born of British leadership after the horrors of the Second World War, drafted with heavy British influence, and championed by Winston Churchill himself". Great stuff by Sir Robert Buckland KC:

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Helene von Bismarck @helenebismarck.bsky.social · 1d

The Economist tends to be very well-briefed when it comes to matters of British security. This is the second article I have seen in as many days warning about Russia‘s hybrid warfare against the West.
I would take this seriously.

The Economist @economist.com · 1d

The escalating grey-zone conflict between the West and Russia is being contested on the sea as well as in the air. A rise in worrying maritime incidents is forcing NATO to step up econ.st/3ILHiM8

Photo: Reuters

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Henning Hoff @henninghoff.bsky.social · 1d

About to defect to Reform, are we? Or straight to Robinson’s lot? Mind-boggling to see what is becoming of the Conservative Party which put Mosley in his place and threw Powell out after the “Rivers of Blood” speech…
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Robert Jenrick complained of ‘not seeing another white face’ in part of Birmingham

Shadow justice secretary criticised for suggesting he could tell how integrated Handsworth was based on short visit

www.theguardian.com

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Helene von Bismarck @helenebismarck.bsky.social · 1d

Guys, 10 days to go until Season 3 of
The Diplomat
comes out, and, according to the trailer,
"The Pentagon is drawing up battle plans for a war with Great Britain” 👀👀👀🍿🍿🍿
"No Alliance lasts forever", apparently.
I wonder how the screen writers got that idea. 🤔

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Reposted by Helene von Bismarck

Aviel Roshwald @avielroshwald.bsky.social · 1d

Definitely not a bubble.

Justin Hendrix @justinhendrix.bsky.social · 1d

"The hundreds of billions of dollars companies are investing in AI now account for an astonishing 40 per cent share of US GDP growth this year... In a way, then, America has become one big bet on AI."

America is now one big bet on AI

It’s seen as the magic fix for every threat to the US economy

www.ft.com

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Helene von Bismarck @helenebismarck.bsky.social · 1d

This is worth reading in full.
He doesn‘t just warn against the rising danger of terrorism and political violence. He also warns against overreactions.

One in five terror suspects in the UK is younger than 18 years old.

The Economist @economist.com · 1d

“When attacks against Jews are rationalised, it creates an environment in which society becomes inured to the likelihood of violence,” warns the former GCHQ director in a guest essay econ.st/3WqrscO

Illustration: Dan Williams

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Prof Sensible @profsensible.bsky.social · 1d

Mark Twain once said “ if I had more time I would have written less”

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