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Ben Ansell @benansell.bsky.social · 9d

On the morning of Keir Starmer's conference speech here's a new post on an odd psychopathology in British politics - our main parties don't like the people who vote for them - the dreaded Professional Managerial Class. And so they are acting out like a divorced dad seeking cooler voters. 1/n

British Politics' Midlife Crisis

Why British Parties Can't Make Peace with Their Actual Voters

benansell.substack.com

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The Atlantic @theatlantic.com · 19d

“Is Donald Trump a staunch capitalist, a secret socialist, a blend of the two, or none of the above?” @dkthomp.bsky.social investigates what Trumponomics really is:

Trump’s Formula to Conquer the Economy, and Everything Else

Trumponomics isn’t about economics. It’s about creating pain and demanding tribute.

bit.ly

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Mathew Guest @mathewjguest.bsky.social · Sep 4

Happy to confirm I'll be serving as a panel member for UK REF 2029 on UoA 31: Theology & Religious Studies. Looking forward to working with excellent colleagues, including Gordon Lynch, @johnmaiden.bsky.social & @profjasjitsingh.bsky.social 2029.ref.ac.uk/news/expert-... #REF #UKHE

Expert panels appointed for REF 2029 – REF 2029

2029.ref.ac.uk

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Mathew Guest @mathewjguest.bsky.social · Aug 29

Well over time the uk government called out Nigel Farage’s greatest achievement - Brexit - for what it is. A total disaster on every front, including in tackling immigration.

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Peace education from Quakers in Britain @peaceedu.quaker.org.uk · Aug 29

Could you train children to be peacemakers? Then book to join our Peer Mediation Train the Trainer, Leeds | Tue 7 – Thu 9 Oct 2025
Learn the essentials of mediation and how to equip children for conflict resolution in schools
#edusky #backtoschool
peermediationtttleedsoct25.eventbrite.co.uk

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Eliot Higgins @eliothiggins.bsky.social · Jun 27

🧵 THREAD: Why the Cato Institute’s new paper on “misinformation panic” is dangerously wrong, and why it completely misunderstands the real crisis we face.
www.cato.org/policy-analy...

The Misleading Panic over Misinformation

People can’t agree on how to define misinformation and its related terms, making regulation nearly impossible. Instead, free expression serves as a better tool for discovering truth.

www.cato.org

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Mathew Guest @mathewjguest.bsky.social · Jun 18

Fascinating piece by Netanyahu’s former bodyguard. A terrifying reflection on the dangers of unchecked power.

The New Statesman @handle.invalid · Jun 18

As Benjamin Netanyahu’s bodyguard, I saw him transform into the gangster he is today.

🌎 Ami Dror: Inside the mind of Benjamin Netanyahu www.newstatesman.com/world/...

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Eliot Higgins @eliothiggins.bsky.social · Jun 9

🧵 Several people have raised questions about what I meant by "deservedly so" when referring to the decline of institutional trust. It's a fair question, so I want to explain that, because it sits at the heart of my work on how democracies collapse when their epistemic foundations rot.

Eliot Higgins @eliothiggins.bsky.social · Jun 7

The conditions that have led to what’s happening in the US today exist in democracies around the world.
They are an inevitable outcome of our collective failure to adapt to fundamental changes in the information ecosystem on which our democracies were originally built.

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Mathew Guest @mathewjguest.bsky.social · May 31

www.theneweuropean.co.uk/james-ball-i...

If universities sink, then so will Starmer

Some Labour figures believe Britain has too many unis. But if they start failing, local economies – and Starmer’s re-election prospects – will go with them

www.theneweuropean.co.uk

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Mathew Guest @mathewjguest.bsky.social · May 31

Great piece in @theneweuropean.bsky.social on ‘If universities sink, then so will Starmer’. Would @therestpolitics.bsky.social consider picking this up? Not enough discussion about the economic significance of universities and risks uk govt is taking in ignoring them. @alastaircampbell2.bsky.social

Bluesky

ontherestpolitics.bsky.social

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Faith Spear FRSA @faithspear.bsky.social · May 28

CAMPAIGNING LAWYER CALLS ON PRIME MINISTER TO END SHOCKING IPP SCANDAL

thecriminaljusticeblog.com/2025/05/28/c...

CAMPAIGNING LAWYER CALLS ON PRIME MINISTER TO END SHOCKING IPP SCANDAL

Campaigning Lawyer and CEO of CAMPAIGN FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE Peter Stefanovic – who’s films have been watched hundreds of millions of times online – has posted a new film, this time callin…

thecriminaljusticeblog.com

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Mathew Guest @mathewjguest.bsky.social · May 27

An important statement of truth to power. I hope other organisations will feel able to join Quakers in calling out the suffering in Gaza for what it is.

Quakers first British church to state belief that genocide underway in Gaza

At their annual gathering this weekend, Quakers in Britain became the first British church to state their belief that the Israeli government is committing genocide in Gaza.

www.quaker.org.uk

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Mathew Guest @mathewjguest.bsky.social · May 11

Whether the raid on a Quaker Meeting House is down to an overly zealous Met or excessively cautious govt, @teamlabouruk.bsky.social needs to work harder in reclaiming its reputation as a party of social justice. This is not a good look…

Why did 30 Met officers kick the door down at a teenage tea and biscuits meeting in a Quaker house?

When six young women hired a room to discuss the war in Gaza, the gathering ended with 30 officers storming in to make arrests

www.theguardian.com

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Quakers in Britain @quaker.org.uk · Apr 11

We have been uplifted by the incredible reaction to the police raid on Westminster Meeting House.

Many Friends have asked us what actions they could now take to push back against the erosion of protest rights in the UK.

Here are 7 ideas 👇

www.quaker.org.uk/blog/7-actio...

7 actions to take now to defend our right to protest

After the meeting for worship outside New Scotland Yard, Joe Cox suggests 7 things people can do next.

www.quaker.org.uk

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Mathew Guest @mathewjguest.bsky.social · Apr 6

Astonishing to hear of this alarming development in Trump’s America. Sadly not surprising though… #EDI #Trump

Robert P. Jones @robertpjones.bsky.social · Apr 5

Here's my response to the banning of my book, White Too Long, at the US Naval Academy. And why this is so heartbreaking and chilling for our democracy.
www.whitetoolong.net/p/my-book-wh...

My Book, "White Too Long," Banned from US Naval Academy

The book bans are coming for American universities.

www.whitetoolong.net

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Mathew Guest @mathewjguest.bsky.social · Mar 31

Hopefully @teamlabouruk.bsky.social will see this as an opportunity to sharply differentiate itself from its shambolic Tory predecessors. Time to repeal their draconian laws. @ukparliament.parliament.uk should be in business of enabling democratic participation, not closing it down. #freespeech

Mathew Guest @mathewjguest.bsky.social · Mar 31

This story just gets worse by the day. Being allowed to engage in ‘Plotting’ (i.e. planning) disruptive, but peaceful, protest is surely a precondition of a functional liberal democracy. Where are the human rights lawyers when you need them…oh, hang on… www.standard.co.uk/news/london/...

Quakers condemn ‘aggressive’ Met Police arrests at London meeting house

More than 30 officers made the arrests at a welcome talk held in Westminster

www.standard.co.uk

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Mathew Guest @mathewjguest.bsky.social · Mar 30

Whether due to limited religious literacy or motivation by click bait, BBC should know better. Welby’s forgiveness is not the story, as he tries to make clear himself. www.bbc.com/news/article...

Justin Welby: Former Archbishop of Canterbury forgives serial abuser John Smyth - BBC News

In his first interview since resigning, the former Archbishop of Canterbury reflects on the scandal which led him to quit.

www.bbc.com

Mathew Guest @mathewjguest.bsky.social · Mar 12

Great tool from @dkernohan.bsky.social at @wonkhe.bsky.social for identifying proportions of commuter students at UK universities. About time we used evidence based knowledge to address the needs of this neglected group.

Wonkhe @wonkhe.bsky.social · Mar 12

NEW on Wonkhe: A new analysis of HESA data helps us to begin to understand where commuter students may be studying. David Kernohan has the details buff.ly/kOOGfQQ

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Naomi L. Jacobs @naomijacobs.bsky.social · Mar 7

ICYMI - one day conference on #religion, #disability & #neurodivergence. Online & in London. Social science research & practice. Also welcome: teachers, religious leaders/community, theologians, practitioners, anyone with an interest in how we learn & share knowledge about disability & religion.

Dr Krysia Waldock @krysiawally.bsky.social · Mar 3

The booking link for our one day conference (response day) on religion, disability and neurodivergent is up!

You can book here - attendance can be in person or virtual. 29th March 2025, 10am - 5pm at King's College London.

www.britsoc.co.uk/events/key-b...

Religion, Disability and Neurodivergence – Reflecting on the SocRel Response Day 2025

www.britsoc.co.uk

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Mathew Guest @mathewjguest.bsky.social · Mar 3

Great to see UK govt taking Islamophobia seriously again, especially with group under solid leadership of Dominic Grieve. #islam

Religion news 3 March 2025 - Religion Media Centre

The importance of Jewish heritage for President Zelensky; JD Vance in conciliatory tone with Catholic bishops; Government sets up group set up to define Islamophobia; Pope is stable but with ‘risk of ...

religionmediacentre.org.uk

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Mathew Guest @mathewjguest.bsky.social · Mar 2

All the best with your new adventure Siobhan!! Hopefully our paths will cross again before too long!

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Mathew Guest @mathewjguest.bsky.social · Mar 1

Absolutely. The office itself is in danger of falling into disrepute. The soft power of ex-presidents across the two parties could exert some desperately needed pressure right now.

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Mathew Guest @mathewjguest.bsky.social · Jan 17

New report from Rights & Security International on #Prevent duty. Suggests UK govt have more work to do to ensure Prevent doesn’t remain an engine of racial & religious prejudice. www.rightsandsecurity.org/impact/entry...

Caught in the Web: ‘Prevent’ databases and the policing of children | Rights and Security International

www.rightsandsecurity.org

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Ros Atkins @rosatkins.bsky.social · Jan 11

Elon Musk has had a lot to say about the grooming gangs scandal. We looked at 24 hours on Musk's X timeline and found a range of false and misleading information being amplified. www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/...

Ros Atkins on...24 hours on Elon Musk's X timeline

The BBC's Analysis editor, Ros Atkins, investigates Elon Musk's recent posts on X about grooming gangs - and looks at how one day unfolded on his timeline.

www.bbc.co.uk

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