Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Josh Westerling @joshwesterling.bsky.social · 2h

I like this (but not everything is about growth!!!)

Basically think we should pay as much attention to supporting pubs as the Italians do to coffee. We can protect these places (and others like them) if we choose too.

www.theguardian.com/business/202...

Pubs to stay open until early hours in push for UK growth

Exclusive: Plans for England and Wales would help the ailing hospitality sector but have attracted criticism from health experts

www.theguardian.com

1

Josh Westerling @joshwesterling.bsky.social · 1d

In general, I'm not sure where the home for small 'c' English conservatism is anymore.

Josh Westerling @joshwesterling.bsky.social · 1d

Rather than there being a genuine strategy to demonstrate economic credentials they're holding out hope for a fiscal crisis to tip things in their favour. So without anything real to say in that regard my sense is they'll keep going hard on culture and will be to the right of Reform.

1 1

Josh Westerling @joshwesterling.bsky.social · 1d

More so as they'll keep leaning into it in part due to their economic agenda being empty. They want to position as fiscally responsible whilst there has been little mea culpa about the Truss disaster - people giggle about it at panel events or come up with weak excuses for why it failed.

1

Josh Westerling @joshwesterling.bsky.social · 1d

Sadly I saw very little evidence at Tory conference that there is any significant counterweight to the direction Jenrick has gone in - indeed, many were supportive of it - and that is a very worrying development in our politics.

1 1

Reposted by Josh Westerling

British Future @britishfuture.bsky.social · 1d

Profile in @theguardian.com today of our Director @sundersays.bsky.social – talking about immigration, race, prejudice, flags and patriotism – and why he's still optimistic about Britain
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...

Sunder Katwala on race, patriotism and flag-waving: ‘The far right is vocal and angry because it is shrinking’

The director of British Future has spent his career trying to find common ground when it comes to race and immigration. He describes his own experience of racism – and why he’s still hopeful for the U...

www.theguardian.com

7 16

Josh Westerling @joshwesterling.bsky.social · 5d

Striking both the populist left and right are pitching toward this section of the public which I've only really seen Dan Evans write about. Gap for the govt?

2

Josh Westerling @joshwesterling.bsky.social · 5d

This is an important point especially when political parties (partic Labour?) seem to be putting more energy into slowly adjusting their politicians communication style rather than encouraging this wider cultivation.

And then how much that rubs against an ingrained party culture.

1 4

Reposted by Josh Westerling

We're Right Here @right-here.org · 7d

Our new essay collection explores Labour’s relationship to the politics of community.

In her essay, MP @kirstymcneill.bsky.social writes:
“long-term, relational, power-building work should be our guide as we navigate the 2nd year of this still-young Labour government.”

🧵 1/2

Bright yellow essay collection front cover. "Britain Renewed: Labour and the Communitarian Tradition"

1 3 4

Reposted by Josh Westerling

David Klemperer @dmk1793.bsky.social · 10d

I was delighted to contribute to this excellent @uclpolicylab.bsky.social & @powertochange.org.uk essay collection on “Labour and the communitarian tradition”, alongside @ewallis.bsky.social, @mds49.bsky.social, @caitprowle.bsky.social, @kirstymcneill.bsky.social & @andyburnham.bsky.social

1 10 21

Josh Westerling @joshwesterling.bsky.social · 11d

Good PM has now got onto this ground and is clear on the policy being wrong. bsky.app/profile/sund...

Sunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · 11d

It is "immoral" and "it is fundamental to who we are as a country"

"It is a completely different thing to sat we are going to reach in to people who are legally here and remove them. They are our neighbours" + it is about the type of country we are.

"It goes to the soul of our future"

Josh Westerling @joshwesterling.bsky.social · 11d

On way to Liverpool and looking forward to kicking off conference with this great panel to launch a new essay collection exploring communitarianism and social democracy, with lots of fresh voices to the debate.

UCL Policy Lab @uclpolicylab.bsky.social · 11d

Next up Beyond Blue Labour: does communitarianism present a roadmap for renewing Britain with @powertochange.org.uk and We're Right Here.

1 3

Josh Westerling @joshwesterling.bsky.social · 11d

Walking and Ravilious in Eastbourne perfect pre-conference

1

Josh Westerling @joshwesterling.bsky.social · 12d

Overheard at the game on Saturday that an unfortunate scheduling of Everton away and Labour conference means that there are about 3,000 West Ham fans who are pissed off they can't get a hotel in Liverpool on Monday. Could come back to bite Labour in East London / South Essex marginals

2

Josh Westerling @joshwesterling.bsky.social · 12d

Obviously people don't like divided parties but might as well be divided in a productive way?

Josh Westerling @joshwesterling.bsky.social · 12d

I'd like to see the anonymous briefing going on from different factions brought into the open. Have it out! Develop an argument not a meme of Liz Truss!

Challenge could clarify either sides arguments and strengthen the muscle of arguing not just with each other but with the other side.

1

Josh Westerling @joshwesterling.bsky.social · 12d

Conferences after that saw debates, yes, but about the party rulebook. 2023 had the unity of the election coming into view (and one of Keir's better speeches). 2024 was a glum affair where party discipline held up and the party line was trotted out across panel events.

It couldn't last.

1

Josh Westerling @joshwesterling.bsky.social · 12d

I don't think that the divisions in the party will go away after conference but I do think an actual debate is overdue and could be cathartic - even constructive in different circumstances. The party is becoming staid.

The 2020 leadership contest was not really a debate about ideas...

1 1

Josh Westerling @joshwesterling.bsky.social · 13d

Similarly the stuff on Reform's 'simple slogans' and there being 'no silver bullet' is weak and won't work politically.

Saying they're morally wrong > saying their plans won't work.

1

Josh Westerling @joshwesterling.bsky.social · 13d

2. need to act on illegal migration and visible signs of lack of control [needs more on legal migration, but again should be about control + accountability and trade offs]

3. then *actually* go on the attack against the right. Call out Reform's plan on ILR don't be vague about 'stoking division'.

1 1

Josh Westerling @joshwesterling.bsky.social · 13d

Weird experience reading the Telegraph op-ed in that hiding behind a combination of bad writing, pointless punching-self-in-face, and unnecessary language there is essentially a fairly solid moderate Labour position that

1. current system not working and is wrong (+ is Tories fault!)...

1

Reposted by Josh Westerling

John Denham @jydenham.bsky.social · 13d

The Tories allowed record legal migration and the establishment of small boats as a migrant route. Why say this was Labour’s fault?

3 2 14

Josh Westerling @joshwesterling.bsky.social · 13d

Good @robertshrimsley.bsky.social piece. And agree v much with this bit in particular.

www.ft.com/content/e895...

1 2

Reposted by Josh Westerling

John Merrick @johnmerrick.bsky.social · 13d

For @dispatchmedia.bsky.social i went on the trail of the Totley Communists and the radical history of Sheffield.

dispatch-media.com/the-commune-...

The commune on the moors

A spectre is haunting Sheffield • The spectre of Communism • And Coronation Street

dispatch-media.com

5 9 27

Josh Westerling @joshwesterling.bsky.social · 14d

e.g. neighbourhood renewal under Blair was couched in moralistic language around the scourge of social exclusion.

There are the bones of an account of *why* govt is doing this in the briefing and PR (and maybe some frustration on how the Guardian have reported it) but could be more fleshed out.

1