Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

James Moules @jamesmoules.bsky.social · 4h

Sam Freedman @samfr.bsky.social · 4h

At some point these imbeciles are going to realise that arts courses are *funding* the courses they do like and if they cut those places unis will just go bankrupt so no maths or science either.

James Moules @jamesmoules.bsky.social · 5h

It’s one thing to say we should bolster standards of arts and humanities teaching at universities. I would completely agree.

But it’s quite another to say we should cut such courses on what seems to be purely ideological grounds. If you value the arts, you should value the study of the arts too.

1 1

James Moules @jamesmoules.bsky.social · 5h

You can cast yourself as a defender of our country’s culture, arts and heritage, or you can say this. You cannot do both.
inews.co.uk/news/badenoc...

Badenoch: Curb students taking 'rip-off' degrees such as English

The performing arts, sociology and anthropology are among the subjects the Conservatives would like to cut

inews.co.uk

1 2

Reposted by James Moules

Lewis Goodall @lewisgoodall.com · 1d

Am wondering if all of those suddenly deciding they’re against communities living “parallel lives” might reconsider their support of religious schools? Or indeed private ones?

75 400 1.8K

James Moules @jamesmoules.bsky.social · 1d

🗳️ Sir John Curtice has warned Labour that Reform UK is not their only electoral threat, with left-wing parties also posing a challenge.

My latest for @labourlist.bsky.social here ⬇️
labourlist.org/2025/10/labo...

Labour making a 'mistake' to focus entirely on Reform, Sir John Curtice warns - LabourList

Sir John Curtice has warned Labour that Reform UK is not their only electoral threat, with left-wing parties also posing a challenge.

labourlist.org

1 1 1

Reposted by James Moules

Euronews @euronews.com · 1d

Two years ago, Hamas launched its largest terrorist attack ever on Israeli soil, targeting military bases, kibbutzim and a music festival. Almost 1,200 people were killed and more than 250 taken hostage.

Hamas and 7 October 2023: The bloodiest day in Israeli history

Two years ago, Hamas launched its largest terrorist attack ever on Israeli soil, targeting military bases, kibbutzim and a music festival. Almost 1,200 people were killed and more than 250 taken hostage.

l.euronews.com

2 4 10

James Moules @jamesmoules.bsky.social · 1d

I’m old enough to remember when a comment like this would have been a resigning matter…

The Guardian @theguardian.com · 1d

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 90-minute visit Robert Jenrick complained about visiting an area of Birmingham where he “didn’t see another white face” and said it was not the kind of country he wanted to live in. After highlighting the lack of white people, the shadow justice secretary said it was not about “the colour of your skin or your faith” and he wanted people to live alongside each other. Continue reading...

www.theguardian.com

26 90 500

Reposted by James Moules

Gabriel Milland @gabrielmilland.bsky.social · 1d

Apparently, some progressives still believe working class kids should be told to stay in their lane when it comes to education, long before they're even allowed to drink in pubs.

Cat Neilan @catneilan.bsky.social · 1d

Burnham says he never supported the 50% university "Blair target", which became "hardwired" by Michael Gove's reforms

8 24 130

James Moules @jamesmoules.bsky.social · 2d

“We’re not so different, you and I…”

2022 United Kingdom government crisis or crises may refer to:
July 2022 United Kingdom government crisis, events culminating in the resignation of Boris Johnson as prime minister
October 2022 United Kingdom government crisis, events in the aftermath of the September mini-budget, culminating in the resignation of Liz Truss as prime minister

This article is about the 2024–2025 government and political crisis. For the 2023 government crisis which brought down the Borne government, see 2023–2024 French government crisis.

James Moules @jamesmoules.bsky.social · 2d

And it frankly speaks to how little attention they clearly paid to local government before being elected. Council budgets are publicly available information!

James Ball @jamesrball.com · 2d

*gasp*

“Everyone thought we’d come in and there were going to be these huge costs we could cut away but there just aren’t,” said a third senior Reform cabinet member in Kent.

3 6

Reposted by James Moules

Eleni Courea @ecourea.bsky.social · 2d

EXC: China threatened to retaliate against the UK govt if ministers targeted parts of its state under foreign influence rules

Chinese officials warned the FCDO the move would have negative consequences for relations after we reported it was being considered

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

China threatened to retaliate against UK over foreign influence rules

Exclusive: Chinese officials warned that targeting its security apparatus would have negative consequences for relations

www.theguardian.com

1 3

Reposted by James Moules

Kaja Kallas @kajakallas.bsky.social · 3d

Russia is masking its failed summer offensive with terror attacks on Ukrainian civilians and infrastructure.

We keep supporting Ukraine as long as needed: finalizing the next sanctions package, ensuring financing, providing weapons.

Russia will not stop until forced to.

40 160 690

Reposted by James Moules

Jeremy Cliffe @jeremycliffe.bsky.social · 3d

Worth nuancing (valid) worries about Babis-led Czechia joining Hungary & Slovakia in trio of EU spoiler states + democratic backsliders.

1/ Czech institutions strong
2/ Babis's ANO has backed off some prior pro-🇷🇺🇨🇳 positions
3/ ANO not all-mighty; will form minority govt or lead fractious coalition

The Associated Press @apnews.com · 3d

BREAKING: Populist Czech billionaire Andrej Babis has won a parliamentary election, marking a political comeback.

Populist billionaire Andrej Babiš wins Czech parliamentary election, official results show

Populist Czech billionaire Andrej Babiš has won a parliamentary election, marking a political comeback.

bit.ly

2 18 50

James Moules @jamesmoules.bsky.social · 4d

5/10 - 1, 2, 4, 5, 6

1 1

James Moules @jamesmoules.bsky.social · 4d

NEW: Sanae Takaichi has won the Japanese Liberal Democratic Party leadership election, making her almost certain to succeed Shigeru Ishiba as Prime Minister.

A hardline conservative, she will be Japan’s first female PM.

1

Reposted by James Moules

Paul Brand @paulbrand.bsky.social · 5d

EXCL: Rabbi Daniel Walker, who helped keep the attacker out of his synagogue in Crumpsall yesterday, has spoken for the first time.

He tells me Al-Shamie shouted “I’m going to get you” as he tried to force his way in, blocked by brave worshippers.

www.itv.com/news/2025-10...

www.itv.com

1 6 21

Reposted by James Moules

Alona Ferber @aloner.bsky.social · 5d

Important 🧵

Nadine Batchelor-Hunt @nadinebh.bsky.social · 5d

2/4 It is wrong to say every pro-Palestine protester is antisemitic, in fact it's a malicious lie

It's also a malicious lie to say there are no antisemitic elements at these protests - I've seen them week after week after week

I was president of the CUSU BME campaign at university...

1 2

James Moules @jamesmoules.bsky.social · 5d

The fact the Tories can only muster 6% of people saying they trust them on business “a great deal” and only 5% on the economy more broadly goes to show just how much their historic brand has been shattered.

YouGov @yougov.co.uk · 5d

Britons are more likely to trust the Tories on business, defence and foreign affairs than in other areas

Supporting businesses: 36% trust at least a fair amount
Defence: 35%
Representing UK abroad: 32%
Managing economy: 26%
[...]
Housing: 16%
Immigration: 15%
Keeping promises: 14%
Poverty: 15%

3

James Moules @jamesmoules.bsky.social · 5d

BREAKING: Bishop of London Dame Sarah Mullally has been selected as the next Archbishop of Canterbury.

She is the first woman to hold the office.

2

Reposted by James Moules

sianushka.bsky.social @sianushka.bsky.social · 5d

Heartbreaking & distressing testimony from children kidnapped by Russia as part of their genocidal acts in Ukraine but we must not look away.

I was kidnapped by Russia at 16 — like so many Ukrainian kids

www.thetimes.com/article/f8e4...

I was kidnapped by Russia at 16 — like so many Ukrainian kids

It’s estimated nearly 20,000 children in Ukraine have been abducted during the war and sent by Russia for ‘re-education’. A new documentary film reveals the horrors they face

www.thetimes.com

110 280

Reposted by James Moules

Michael Savage @michaelsavage.bsky.social · 5d

BREAKING: Reform council ENDS its ban on local journalists after legal threat.

Blames a misunderstanding. Victory here for Nottinghamshire Live and local journalism:

www.theguardian.com/media/2025/o...

Reform UK council in Nottinghamshire ends ban on local journalists

Ban on Nottingham Post and its website reversed after threat of legal action over damaging freedom of expression

www.theguardian.com

6 20 86

Reposted by James Moules

Nadine Batchelor-Hunt @nadinebh.bsky.social · 6d

If your response to Jewish people being stabbed to death and mowed down by a car in Manchester is “Gaza” you’re a charlatan and an antisemite and you need to get in the fucking bin.

I’ve had enough. Jews have had enough.

And you’re no ally of the Palestinian people if you behave like this.

11 140 630

Reposted by James Moules

Sarcophagus Gibbs @sararoseg.bsky.social · 6d

You don’t actually have to both sides this. The Jewish community in the UK is not the Israeli government. You can just condemn the murder of two British Jews killed in their place of worship and you don’t have to say a single other thing.

6 940 3.6K

Reposted by James Moules

Zoë Crowther @zoecrowther.bsky.social · 6d

THIS.

We live in a constant state of information overload. Of course when scrolling your feed you are not going to check every single thing – and days later you'll vaguely recollect things and repeat them to others

Someone said to me they'd "seen it somewhere" but couldn't remember where exactly

James Ball @jamesrball.com · 6d

It was just completely fabricated on X (alongside a truly insane £100 billion price tag) and got widely shared there and here, and just…believed uncritically.

I also heard it multiple times while at Labour conference, including once from a political staffer. People *do not check*.

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

1 14

Reposted by James Moules

Paul Brand @paulbrand.bsky.social · 6d

BREAKING: The Mayor of Manchester Andy Burnham says the suspect in the attack on a synagogue this morning is believed to be dead after being shot by police.

Four have been injured after reports of a car ramming and stabbing at the synagogue in Manchester.

22 55