Matthew Hamlyn
@matthewhamlyn.bsky.social
Ex-House of Commons official. Parliament, project delivery, heritage buildings, urban green spaces, food, travel, cats. Trustee at The Woodfield Project: www.thewoodfield.org Chair, Tooting Commons Management Advisory Committee tootingcommons.wordpress
Reposted by Matthew Hamlyn
So it turns out the content-stealing Politics UK Twitter account is actually 50% owned by a former Tory MP turned lobbyist and charged thousands of pounds for posting pro-China posts on its own feed democracyforsale.substack.com/p/breaking-o...
December 3, 2025 at 10:08 PM
So it turns out the content-stealing Politics UK Twitter account is actually 50% owned by a former Tory MP turned lobbyist and charged thousands of pounds for posting pro-China posts on its own feed democracyforsale.substack.com/p/breaking-o...
Reposted by Matthew Hamlyn
Royal Mail have written a GDPR policy for their letter to Santa scheme that is a) pitched at children explaining how their data is used and b) fully committed to the existence of Father Christmas and it’s just… really cute
December 2, 2025 at 10:12 PM
Royal Mail have written a GDPR policy for their letter to Santa scheme that is a) pitched at children explaining how their data is used and b) fully committed to the existence of Father Christmas and it’s just… really cute
Reposted by Matthew Hamlyn
And Baum did cite Arcadia as inspiration for the new paradigm in a NEJM article ten years ago, so perhaps Stoppard knew of his impact.
www.nejm.org/doi/10.1056/...?
www.nejm.org/doi/10.1056/...?
December 2, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Reposted by Matthew Hamlyn
A wonderful example of why disinvestment in arts and humanities is too clever by half. These are fundamental to a society's curiosity and imagination!
December 2, 2025 at 9:43 AM
A wonderful example of why disinvestment in arts and humanities is too clever by half. These are fundamental to a society's curiosity and imagination!
Reposted by Matthew Hamlyn
Energy transitions can happen faster than we think:
In 2000 almost 90% of Denmark's electricity was from fossil fuels.
In 2024 less than 10% of Danish electricity was from fossil fuels.
In 2000 almost 90% of Denmark's electricity was from fossil fuels.
In 2024 less than 10% of Danish electricity was from fossil fuels.
December 1, 2025 at 4:18 PM
Energy transitions can happen faster than we think:
In 2000 almost 90% of Denmark's electricity was from fossil fuels.
In 2024 less than 10% of Danish electricity was from fossil fuels.
In 2000 almost 90% of Denmark's electricity was from fossil fuels.
In 2024 less than 10% of Danish electricity was from fossil fuels.
Reposted by Matthew Hamlyn
Eleven years ago, I wrote to Tom Stoppard to ask about this coup de théâtre from 1949. It took me down an unexpected rabbit hole - in memory of Stoppard, here's what I found.
November 30, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Eleven years ago, I wrote to Tom Stoppard to ask about this coup de théâtre from 1949. It took me down an unexpected rabbit hole - in memory of Stoppard, here's what I found.
Reposted by Matthew Hamlyn
German is a beautiful language.
November 28, 2025 at 7:18 PM
German is a beautiful language.
Reposted by Matthew Hamlyn
Australia just recorded zero cervical cancer cases in women under 25 for the first time since records began in 1982. The amazing result of HPV vaccination.
November 28, 2025 at 8:44 PM
Australia just recorded zero cervical cancer cases in women under 25 for the first time since records began in 1982. The amazing result of HPV vaccination.
Reposted by Matthew Hamlyn
That 1 in 3 NHS doctors were overseas born in 1971 and that this has remained roughly the case ever since (despite changes in EU membership, migration policy and figures) seems less understood than it should be?
Note also: even in 1971 a British patient was somewhat likely to know a migrant doctor
Note also: even in 1971 a British patient was somewhat likely to know a migrant doctor
November 28, 2025 at 9:57 AM
That 1 in 3 NHS doctors were overseas born in 1971 and that this has remained roughly the case ever since (despite changes in EU membership, migration policy and figures) seems less understood than it should be?
Note also: even in 1971 a British patient was somewhat likely to know a migrant doctor
Note also: even in 1971 a British patient was somewhat likely to know a migrant doctor
Reposted by Matthew Hamlyn
The number of British citizens emigrating hasn’t increased, btw. Outward migration is up, but the increase is mostly non-EU migrants leaving the UK.
The methodology counting emigration of British citizens changed in 2021, which increased the number, and it’s been pretty much flat ever since…
The methodology counting emigration of British citizens changed in 2021, which increased the number, and it’s been pretty much flat ever since…
November 27, 2025 at 4:48 PM
The number of British citizens emigrating hasn’t increased, btw. Outward migration is up, but the increase is mostly non-EU migrants leaving the UK.
The methodology counting emigration of British citizens changed in 2021, which increased the number, and it’s been pretty much flat ever since…
The methodology counting emigration of British citizens changed in 2021, which increased the number, and it’s been pretty much flat ever since…
an old favourite pops up again
November 27, 2025 at 4:22 PM
an old favourite pops up again
Reposted by Matthew Hamlyn
NEW: Net migration falls sharply to 204,000 in the year to June.
That’s a fall from 649,000 in the year to June 2024. It is a drop of nearly 80% from its 2023 peak.
That’s a fall from 649,000 in the year to June 2024. It is a drop of nearly 80% from its 2023 peak.
November 27, 2025 at 9:49 AM
NEW: Net migration falls sharply to 204,000 in the year to June.
That’s a fall from 649,000 in the year to June 2024. It is a drop of nearly 80% from its 2023 peak.
That’s a fall from 649,000 in the year to June 2024. It is a drop of nearly 80% from its 2023 peak.
Reposted by Matthew Hamlyn
Nus Ghani MP - the Deputy Speaker - moved to the UK as a small child. She has been elected by the voters in Wealden in 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2024
More outright racism from the regular GB News & Talk TV contributor Lucy White - who previously called (on GB News) for all Muslims to leave Britain
More outright racism from the regular GB News & Talk TV contributor Lucy White - who previously called (on GB News) for all Muslims to leave Britain
November 26, 2025 at 9:54 PM
Nus Ghani MP - the Deputy Speaker - moved to the UK as a small child. She has been elected by the voters in Wealden in 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2024
More outright racism from the regular GB News & Talk TV contributor Lucy White - who previously called (on GB News) for all Muslims to leave Britain
More outright racism from the regular GB News & Talk TV contributor Lucy White - who previously called (on GB News) for all Muslims to leave Britain
Reposted by Matthew Hamlyn
Can we just take a moment for the fact that the speakers today are all women. Chancellor, deputy speaker, leader of the opposition.
November 26, 2025 at 1:44 PM
Can we just take a moment for the fact that the speakers today are all women. Chancellor, deputy speaker, leader of the opposition.
Strong agree. The best IT people I worked with knew this, though often the problem was with the clients who wanted the Shiny Stuff
User needs first
Service design second
Operating model third
Technology fourth
This order is still reversed way too often.
Service design second
Operating model third
Technology fourth
This order is still reversed way too often.
November 26, 2025 at 11:51 AM
Strong agree. The best IT people I worked with knew this, though often the problem was with the clients who wanted the Shiny Stuff
Reposted by Matthew Hamlyn
You may be cool, but you'll never be as cool as these two cats wearing sunglasses in the window of an optician's Boulevard St Germain in 1925
November 26, 2025 at 10:43 AM
You may be cool, but you'll never be as cool as these two cats wearing sunglasses in the window of an optician's Boulevard St Germain in 1925
Magnificent
November 24, 2025 at 8:22 PM
Magnificent
Reposted by Matthew Hamlyn
The 🏴 fake patriots are the worst of the worst.
Ryan Bridge - the driving force behind the 'Raise the Flags' campaign of a few months ago - is wanted by Spain, in connection with a holiday compensation fraud
www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news...
www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news...
Flag campaign chief praised by Tommy Robinson facing jail over ‘holiday scam’
Ryan Bridge, ringleader of the Raise the Colours movement heralded by ex-EDL leader Tommy Robinson, is being pursued for an eight-year sentence in Spain
www.mirror.co.uk
November 24, 2025 at 10:20 AM
The 🏴 fake patriots are the worst of the worst.
Reposted by Matthew Hamlyn
what a surprise, majority of fash "Ireland is full" posts on shitter are from outside Ireland
November 23, 2025 at 5:27 PM
what a surprise, majority of fash "Ireland is full" posts on shitter are from outside Ireland
Reposted by Matthew Hamlyn
It remains insane to me that DOGE was treated at the time as an impressive shock and awe accomplishment - “you can’t deny he’s getting stuff done!” - and then instantly memory holed by the press once if became clear it was a total failure by every possible standard including Musk’s own
Difficult to overstate how profound a failure DOGE was. Spending in FY2025 was not only than in FY2024 – but higher than it was projected to be when Trump first took office.*
The little bit of spending DOGE cut has already killed hundreds of thousands and will eventually lead to millions of deaths.
The little bit of spending DOGE cut has already killed hundreds of thousands and will eventually lead to millions of deaths.
Bye bye, “DOGE”.
It no longer exists as a “centralized entity”, according to the Office of Personnel Management.
@reuters.com
www.reuters.com/world/us/dog...
It no longer exists as a “centralized entity”, according to the Office of Personnel Management.
@reuters.com
www.reuters.com/world/us/dog...
November 23, 2025 at 3:52 PM
It remains insane to me that DOGE was treated at the time as an impressive shock and awe accomplishment - “you can’t deny he’s getting stuff done!” - and then instantly memory holed by the press once if became clear it was a total failure by every possible standard including Musk’s own
Reposted by Matthew Hamlyn
Footage has surfaced online showing unarmed Ukrainian prisoners of war executed while lying face down, accompanied by the approving shouts of those filming the scene.
This is not an isolated atrocity, it is russia’s pattern. Execution. Torture. Destruction.
This is not an isolated atrocity, it is russia’s pattern. Execution. Torture. Destruction.
November 22, 2025 at 2:18 PM
Footage has surfaced online showing unarmed Ukrainian prisoners of war executed while lying face down, accompanied by the approving shouts of those filming the scene.
This is not an isolated atrocity, it is russia’s pattern. Execution. Torture. Destruction.
This is not an isolated atrocity, it is russia’s pattern. Execution. Torture. Destruction.
Reposted by Matthew Hamlyn
I saw a mouse!
Where?
There on the stair!
Where on the stair?
Right there!
For #FindsFriday this lovely little Roman toy or joke mouse made from a scrap of leather at marvellous @vindolandatrust.bsky.social
Where?
There on the stair!
Where on the stair?
Right there!
For #FindsFriday this lovely little Roman toy or joke mouse made from a scrap of leather at marvellous @vindolandatrust.bsky.social
November 21, 2025 at 8:11 AM
I saw a mouse!
Where?
There on the stair!
Where on the stair?
Right there!
For #FindsFriday this lovely little Roman toy or joke mouse made from a scrap of leather at marvellous @vindolandatrust.bsky.social
Where?
There on the stair!
Where on the stair?
Right there!
For #FindsFriday this lovely little Roman toy or joke mouse made from a scrap of leather at marvellous @vindolandatrust.bsky.social
Reposted by Matthew Hamlyn
Quite the correction by the Telegraph. The publication in question is @freemovement.bsky.social
November 21, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Quite the correction by the Telegraph. The publication in question is @freemovement.bsky.social
Reposted by Matthew Hamlyn
Now that’s a lede.
Story by @taracopp.bsky.social and @michelleboorstein.bsky.social.
Read here: www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
Story by @taracopp.bsky.social and @michelleboorstein.bsky.social.
Read here: www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
November 20, 2025 at 6:39 PM
Now that’s a lede.
Story by @taracopp.bsky.social and @michelleboorstein.bsky.social.
Read here: www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
Story by @taracopp.bsky.social and @michelleboorstein.bsky.social.
Read here: www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
Reposted by Matthew Hamlyn
This does feel like a major crossing of the Rubicon – the world's best-funded and in many ways most powerful public health agency is now actively pushing disinformation.
I know there's a *lot* going on to care about at the moment, but this one really is significant, and matters well beyond the US.
I know there's a *lot* going on to care about at the moment, but this one really is significant, and matters well beyond the US.
The CDC website now disseminates disinformation about vaccines, claiming erroneously that infant vaccines might cause autism, when we know conclusively that they do not. It is difficult to overstate just how dangerous this is. www.cdc.gov/vaccine-safe...
November 20, 2025 at 2:03 PM
This does feel like a major crossing of the Rubicon – the world's best-funded and in many ways most powerful public health agency is now actively pushing disinformation.
I know there's a *lot* going on to care about at the moment, but this one really is significant, and matters well beyond the US.
I know there's a *lot* going on to care about at the moment, but this one really is significant, and matters well beyond the US.