Ed White
@idleconcern.bsky.social
Teacher of English, former lower leagues Miltonist, married to the CofE, father of two
Pinned
Reposted by Ed White
Having had a day to think through everything about El-Fattah, here's where I stand. Yes, it's possible to believe all of these things at once! In fact, it really shouldn't be that hard.
December 29, 2025 at 11:10 AM
Having had a day to think through everything about El-Fattah, here's where I stand. Yes, it's possible to believe all of these things at once! In fact, it really shouldn't be that hard.
Obsessive, idiosyncratic, intergalactic collector of space oddities bound for eternity in a body of Living Metal ...
Well, now I'm an English professor...
December 30, 2025 at 12:27 PM
Obsessive, idiosyncratic, intergalactic collector of space oddities bound for eternity in a body of Living Metal ...
Reposted by Ed White
Toby Young - who now sits as Baron Young of Acton in the House of Lords following his 2024 political peerage from the Conservative Leader of the Opposition - has tweeted bemoaning "handing out honours to a motley crew of woke failures" in policing, the NHS and the National Trust
December 30, 2025 at 12:08 PM
Toby Young - who now sits as Baron Young of Acton in the House of Lords following his 2024 political peerage from the Conservative Leader of the Opposition - has tweeted bemoaning "handing out honours to a motley crew of woke failures" in policing, the NHS and the National Trust
Reposted by Ed White
We've always had these dead-eyed socipaths around. It's just a few years ago they were ignored and now they're "senior fellow" at places funded by evil millionaires + going on podcasts with a brain-rotted ex-PM.
Harrison Pitt accuses the King of treachery. Pitt is a Senior Policy Fellow for Rupert Lowe's Restore Britain, who also regularly co-hosts podcasts with his ally Tomlinson (who advocates banning all ethnic and faith minorities from public office). Like Lowe, Pitt is keen to dissolve boundaries/norms
December 26, 2025 at 9:08 AM
We've always had these dead-eyed socipaths around. It's just a few years ago they were ignored and now they're "senior fellow" at places funded by evil millionaires + going on podcasts with a brain-rotted ex-PM.
@phlaimeaux.bsky.social thanks for providing my 8yo son with the gift of laughter this Boxing Day! 'Danger is Everywhere' - bought on the back of a year and half of listening to you and @maxrushden.bsky.social waffle on 'WDYDY?' - going down a treat.
December 26, 2025 at 12:02 PM
@phlaimeaux.bsky.social thanks for providing my 8yo son with the gift of laughter this Boxing Day! 'Danger is Everywhere' - bought on the back of a year and half of listening to you and @maxrushden.bsky.social waffle on 'WDYDY?' - going down a treat.
Reposted by Ed White
This is pretty obviously entirely the correct approach.
The Government should not be intervening in judicial decisions, or setting policy on the basis of whether people are prepared to self harm in protest.
The Government should not be intervening in judicial decisions, or setting policy on the basis of whether people are prepared to self harm in protest.
December 23, 2025 at 11:45 AM
This is pretty obviously entirely the correct approach.
The Government should not be intervening in judicial decisions, or setting policy on the basis of whether people are prepared to self harm in protest.
The Government should not be intervening in judicial decisions, or setting policy on the basis of whether people are prepared to self harm in protest.
Reposted by Ed White
Kemi Badenoch needs to have a massive rethink about excluding “British” men when discussing “cultures that don’t respect women”
This was a White British Tory who brutalized his wife for over a decade with other men, while having an enormous paedophilic pornographic stash…
7/
This was a White British Tory who brutalized his wife for over a decade with other men, while having an enormous paedophilic pornographic stash…
7/
December 23, 2025 at 11:11 AM
Kemi Badenoch needs to have a massive rethink about excluding “British” men when discussing “cultures that don’t respect women”
This was a White British Tory who brutalized his wife for over a decade with other men, while having an enormous paedophilic pornographic stash…
7/
This was a White British Tory who brutalized his wife for over a decade with other men, while having an enormous paedophilic pornographic stash…
7/
Reposted by Ed White
The government desperately needs to recognise this is not a force to indulge or embrace, that they cannot simply ignore it, and yet they do not seem to see any urgency to do so, and their lack of will is being gleefully exploited by an increasingly openly racist right.
December 18, 2025 at 6:28 PM
The government desperately needs to recognise this is not a force to indulge or embrace, that they cannot simply ignore it, and yet they do not seem to see any urgency to do so, and their lack of will is being gleefully exploited by an increasingly openly racist right.
Reposted by Ed White
Suspect some female Tory MPs are quietly dying inside at this. When you’re so desperate to get in a bit of gratuitous foreigner-bashing that you find yourself arguing *against* preventative strategies that try to prevent sexual violence, ffs, what have you become?
Dog-whistle and factually incorrect. Ladies, raise your hand if you were sexually assaulted by a boy at school? I’d wager this or a family member is most women’s first experience of sexual violence
December 18, 2025 at 6:37 PM
Suspect some female Tory MPs are quietly dying inside at this. When you’re so desperate to get in a bit of gratuitous foreigner-bashing that you find yourself arguing *against* preventative strategies that try to prevent sexual violence, ffs, what have you become?
Reposted by Ed White
US government is going to extreme lengths to help Putin and hurt Ukraine.
Now threatening European states that if they use Russian assets to help Ukraine, they will have to pay it all back.
Trump is desperate to give Putin his money back.
Now threatening European states that if they use Russian assets to help Ukraine, they will have to pay it all back.
Trump is desperate to give Putin his money back.
December 17, 2025 at 8:00 PM
US government is going to extreme lengths to help Putin and hurt Ukraine.
Now threatening European states that if they use Russian assets to help Ukraine, they will have to pay it all back.
Trump is desperate to give Putin his money back.
Now threatening European states that if they use Russian assets to help Ukraine, they will have to pay it all back.
Trump is desperate to give Putin his money back.
Listening to this this evening - and wincing whenever there's a reference to the cricket... I think this may have cursed the whole series. Loose lips...
What are your legs? Steel springs! This week we're watching a young Mel Gibson in Peter Weir's unforgettable Gallipoli. With special guest, the amazing @chriskempshall.bsky.social. champ.ly/zTuwgmef
December 13, 2025 at 7:35 PM
Listening to this this evening - and wincing whenever there's a reference to the cricket... I think this may have cursed the whole series. Loose lips...
Reposted by Ed White
This entire grift relies on convincing people that they don't know how to do the things they have always known how to do, and ironically, if it works, we will, in a very short amount of time, forget how to do all the things we have always known how to do.
Jimmy Fallon: "And do you use ChatGPT when raising your baby?"
Sam Altman: "I cannot imagine figuring out how to raise a newborn without ChatGPT."
Sam Altman: "I cannot imagine figuring out how to raise a newborn without ChatGPT."
December 9, 2025 at 3:40 PM
This entire grift relies on convincing people that they don't know how to do the things they have always known how to do, and ironically, if it works, we will, in a very short amount of time, forget how to do all the things we have always known how to do.
Reposted by Ed White
Zarah Sultana voted with the Tories in every vote on the Employment Rights Bill last night.
That includes voting to keep the Lords' wrecking amendments on strike ballot thresholds and to keep the 2016 Trade Union Act's restrictions on unions' political funds.
That includes voting to keep the Lords' wrecking amendments on strike ballot thresholds and to keep the 2016 Trade Union Act's restrictions on unions' political funds.
December 9, 2025 at 11:58 AM
Zarah Sultana voted with the Tories in every vote on the Employment Rights Bill last night.
That includes voting to keep the Lords' wrecking amendments on strike ballot thresholds and to keep the 2016 Trade Union Act's restrictions on unions' political funds.
That includes voting to keep the Lords' wrecking amendments on strike ballot thresholds and to keep the 2016 Trade Union Act's restrictions on unions' political funds.
Reposted by Ed White
![Title panel:
The Art of Christmas Party Conversation - by ANGEL.
[Scene is a SILENT, STARRY HILLSIDE in Biblical times. Three shepherds are having a quiet chat as their sheep calmly chew the grass. This scene repeats unchanged apart from the gentle movements of the Shepherds chatting, for several panels. Then suddenly a MASSIVE, CHEESY, WHITE-TOOTHED ANGEL appears above them saying "HELLLOOOO"]
ANGEL:
HELLLOOOO
SHEPHERS:
ARGH
ANGEL [Talking 'to camera]:
Christmas is such a social time - here's some top tips for making sparkling conversation!
1.
Use body language to convey approachability.
[The giant angel, hovering in the air, cheerfully flaps his massive wings at the terrified shepherds]
FLAP FLAP FLAP
2.
Start with a gentle icebreaker to put people at ease
[The giant angel looms over the terrified shepherds bellowing]:
DO NOT BE AFRAAAAAID
3.
Avoid 'Angelsplaining': Always introduce topics of conversation by asking interested, open questions.
[The Angel shoves his massive, cheery face into the terrified Shepherds' personal space and bellows]:
SEEN ANY GOOD BABIES LATELY?
4.
If there's a lull in the conversation, try summoning the Company of the Heavenly Host.
[The bAngel summons thousands more angels, filling the sky with sublime, terrifying fire as they all sing]:
GLOOOOORY TO GOD
[The Heavenly Host all disappear. There is an awkward silent pause, the Shepherds now cowering on the floor, quietly weeping.]
ANGEL:
So do you like sheep?
SHEPHERDS:
*sob*
[Ends]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:4m3we4apbjayclzcnhwe3pfp/bafkreibqzm7jkc6u6kb3mdcitos5rst5ruhivic7f6r4v4e73j53qjh6jm@jpeg)
Reposted by Ed White
"I did not leave the Labour Party to create another Labour Party" says woman standing in front of some burning wreckage set on fire by petty factionalism
Sultana drew parallels to "the Labour right's playbook", including alleged "witch-hunts, smears, intimidation, the bullying, the legal threats and leaks to the Murdoch press" from Corbyn's allies.
She said she "did not leave the Labour Party to create another Labour Party".
She said she "did not leave the Labour Party to create another Labour Party".
November 30, 2025 at 10:18 PM
"I did not leave the Labour Party to create another Labour Party" says woman standing in front of some burning wreckage set on fire by petty factionalism
Reposted by Ed White
ℑ𝔫 𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔊𝔯𝔦𝔪 𝔇𝔞𝔯𝔨𝔫𝔢𝔰𝔰 𝔬𝔣 𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔉𝔞𝔯 𝔉𝔲𝔱𝔲𝔯𝔢, 𝔱𝔥𝔢𝔯𝔢 𝔦𝔰 𝔒𝔫𝔩𝔶 𝔐𝔬𝔦
November 30, 2025 at 7:29 PM
ℑ𝔫 𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔊𝔯𝔦𝔪 𝔇𝔞𝔯𝔨𝔫𝔢𝔰𝔰 𝔬𝔣 𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔉𝔞𝔯 𝔉𝔲𝔱𝔲𝔯𝔢, 𝔱𝔥𝔢𝔯𝔢 𝔦𝔰 𝔒𝔫𝔩𝔶 𝔐𝔬𝔦
Reposted by Ed White
Every case study like this should be balanced by one such as a 15-year-old with suicidal ideation unable to receive any help because CAMHS has been cut to virtual non-existence.
Huge respect to the papers for finding both an 88 year old worried about the tax bill on her 6 bedroom Kensington house and a 20 year old fretting about only being able to save £12k a year tax free.
Top work all around. These are not easy case studies to find.
Top work all around. These are not easy case studies to find.
November 29, 2025 at 9:46 AM
Every case study like this should be balanced by one such as a 15-year-old with suicidal ideation unable to receive any help because CAMHS has been cut to virtual non-existence.
Reposted by Ed White
The UK, where the day after a decision to take half a million children out of poverty, the media & political world has been full of sneering at those same children & their families, labelling them as ‘Benefits Street’, while the same people are moaning about a tax on £2m mansions. Shameful stuff.
November 27, 2025 at 8:22 PM
The UK, where the day after a decision to take half a million children out of poverty, the media & political world has been full of sneering at those same children & their families, labelling them as ‘Benefits Street’, while the same people are moaning about a tax on £2m mansions. Shameful stuff.
Reposted by Ed White
It's such a bizarre framing. Labour MPs think taking 450k kids out of poverty is putting the country first! That's why they wanted it to happen! It's not because they personally benefit.
Headline on The World at One just now:
"Sir Keir Starmer has denied putting the Labour Party before the country by ending the two-child benefit cap".
Can we please go back to reporting the actual news, not someone's partisan take on it?
"Sir Keir Starmer has denied putting the Labour Party before the country by ending the two-child benefit cap".
Can we please go back to reporting the actual news, not someone's partisan take on it?
November 27, 2025 at 1:16 PM
It's such a bizarre framing. Labour MPs think taking 450k kids out of poverty is putting the country first! That's why they wanted it to happen! It's not because they personally benefit.
Reposted by Ed White
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
November 25, 2025 at 9:26 AM
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
Reposted by Ed White
there are some of you who i will not name who basically can't speak full sentences without referencing star wars but when you are confronted with the Empire in real life every second thing out of your mouth is "I, a bold free thinker, refuse to die for an idea"
November 22, 2025 at 1:15 PM
there are some of you who i will not name who basically can't speak full sentences without referencing star wars but when you are confronted with the Empire in real life every second thing out of your mouth is "I, a bold free thinker, refuse to die for an idea"
Reposted by Ed White
the screen, screaming at you: "THERE ARE WORSE FATES THAN DEATH"
you: haha what a nice work of fiction. why do we even have armies again anyway
you: haha what a nice work of fiction. why do we even have armies again anyway
November 22, 2025 at 1:08 PM
the screen, screaming at you: "THERE ARE WORSE FATES THAN DEATH"
you: haha what a nice work of fiction. why do we even have armies again anyway
you: haha what a nice work of fiction. why do we even have armies again anyway
Reposted by Ed White
The basic problem with the temporary refugee status policy - especially one lasting up to 20 years - is it leads to very few removals (based on Denmark's experience) but does significantly worsen integration.
November 18, 2025 at 9:05 AM
The basic problem with the temporary refugee status policy - especially one lasting up to 20 years - is it leads to very few removals (based on Denmark's experience) but does significantly worsen integration.
Reposted by Ed White
Thinking about my own father, who arrived in 1946 with the Free Polish Army - when would Labour have sent him back to communist Poland? How could he have done anything to build a life and have children in the UK if he had had to beg to stay every two years? Disgusting. www.bbc.com/news/article...
UK set to limit refugees to temporary stays
Shabana Mahmood is expected to say the era of permanent protection for refugees is over, in major changes to the UK's asylum and immigration system.
www.bbc.com
November 15, 2025 at 9:28 AM
Thinking about my own father, who arrived in 1946 with the Free Polish Army - when would Labour have sent him back to communist Poland? How could he have done anything to build a life and have children in the UK if he had had to beg to stay every two years? Disgusting. www.bbc.com/news/article...