Philip Redhair
@philipredhair.bsky.social
Enthusiast for many things (master of none)
Reposted by Philip Redhair
whatever The Sensibles are, they are not this.
July 1, 2025 at 4:53 PM
whatever The Sensibles are, they are not this.
Reposted by Philip Redhair
Today will be written up as Govt chaos, but it should also be a wake up call
1. Parliament matters
2. MPs are not lobby fodder
3. Govts should not hardwire symbolic intentions and fiscal rules into law
4. The way our laws are made is not fit for purpose in a 21st century economy
1. Parliament matters
2. MPs are not lobby fodder
3. Govts should not hardwire symbolic intentions and fiscal rules into law
4. The way our laws are made is not fit for purpose in a 21st century economy
July 1, 2025 at 6:37 PM
Today will be written up as Govt chaos, but it should also be a wake up call
1. Parliament matters
2. MPs are not lobby fodder
3. Govts should not hardwire symbolic intentions and fiscal rules into law
4. The way our laws are made is not fit for purpose in a 21st century economy
1. Parliament matters
2. MPs are not lobby fodder
3. Govts should not hardwire symbolic intentions and fiscal rules into law
4. The way our laws are made is not fit for purpose in a 21st century economy
Reposted by Philip Redhair
this is obv mental but also worth saying that even the most incompetent Tory MPs/No10 operations were able to do this, just give backbenchers enough of an interaction that they can have their "and as I was telling the PM..." anecdote, it shouldn't be this hard
Labour MP in the Sunday Times on the welfare rebels:
"One of my colleagues described it as main character syndrome. These complaints about the prime minister not talking to new MPs — well he’s a bit f***ing busy talking to President Trump."
"One of my colleagues described it as main character syndrome. These complaints about the prime minister not talking to new MPs — well he’s a bit f***ing busy talking to President Trump."
June 29, 2025 at 8:34 AM
this is obv mental but also worth saying that even the most incompetent Tory MPs/No10 operations were able to do this, just give backbenchers enough of an interaction that they can have their "and as I was telling the PM..." anecdote, it shouldn't be this hard
Reposted by Philip Redhair
in a crowded field this has to be one of the stupidest things ive read about LLMs and it astonishes me that this quote is from a humanist, a historian! by definition, what these tools cannot do is original novel research of the kind we do in monographs!
www.newyorker.com/culture/the-...
www.newyorker.com/culture/the-...
June 29, 2025 at 10:40 AM
in a crowded field this has to be one of the stupidest things ive read about LLMs and it astonishes me that this quote is from a humanist, a historian! by definition, what these tools cannot do is original novel research of the kind we do in monographs!
www.newyorker.com/culture/the-...
www.newyorker.com/culture/the-...
Reposted by Philip Redhair
This letter, in today’s Times, stopped me in my tracks.
The assisted dying Bill will affect all of society, in ways that have barely been considered.
Indeed, it already is…
The assisted dying Bill will affect all of society, in ways that have barely been considered.
Indeed, it already is…
May 18, 2025 at 4:15 PM
This letter, in today’s Times, stopped me in my tracks.
The assisted dying Bill will affect all of society, in ways that have barely been considered.
Indeed, it already is…
The assisted dying Bill will affect all of society, in ways that have barely been considered.
Indeed, it already is…
Reposted by Philip Redhair
Starmer's remarks were deplorable, not because they echoed Powell (they didn't) but because they endorsed the core claims of *modern* populism:
- that a "squalid" establishment conspired against the people; and
- that immigration is to blame for Britain's poor economy, housing & public services.
- that a "squalid" establishment conspired against the people; and
- that immigration is to blame for Britain's poor economy, housing & public services.
May 14, 2025 at 10:50 AM
Starmer's remarks were deplorable, not because they echoed Powell (they didn't) but because they endorsed the core claims of *modern* populism:
- that a "squalid" establishment conspired against the people; and
- that immigration is to blame for Britain's poor economy, housing & public services.
- that a "squalid" establishment conspired against the people; and
- that immigration is to blame for Britain's poor economy, housing & public services.
Reposted by Philip Redhair
Starmer's language was deplorable.
It was grotesquely offensive, accusing people who have brought their gifts to this country of doing "incalculable" "damage"; & politically foolish, in endorsing Farage's claims of an establishment conspiracy.
But bad analogies with Powell miss the key problem. 🧵
It was grotesquely offensive, accusing people who have brought their gifts to this country of doing "incalculable" "damage"; & politically foolish, in endorsing Farage's claims of an establishment conspiracy.
But bad analogies with Powell miss the key problem. 🧵
May 14, 2025 at 10:50 AM
Starmer's language was deplorable.
It was grotesquely offensive, accusing people who have brought their gifts to this country of doing "incalculable" "damage"; & politically foolish, in endorsing Farage's claims of an establishment conspiracy.
But bad analogies with Powell miss the key problem. 🧵
It was grotesquely offensive, accusing people who have brought their gifts to this country of doing "incalculable" "damage"; & politically foolish, in endorsing Farage's claims of an establishment conspiracy.
But bad analogies with Powell miss the key problem. 🧵
Reposted by Philip Redhair
In short, Starmer has taken a massive hit among Labour voters, for no gain elsewhere, while boosting Farage's popularity, including doubling his ceiling among Labour voters.
I.e., the political scientists were right, Morgan McSweeney was horrendously wrong.
I.e., the political scientists were right, Morgan McSweeney was horrendously wrong.
Keir Starmer's net favourability rating has dropped 12pts in a month to -46, his lowest level ever, including a 34pt drop among Labour voters
All Britons: -46 net rating (down 12 from 13-14 Apr)
By 2024 vote
Labour: -5 (down 34)
Lib Dem: -13 (down 12)
Conservative: -76 (up 1)
Reform: -94 (down 5)
All Britons: -46 net rating (down 12 from 13-14 Apr)
By 2024 vote
Labour: -5 (down 34)
Lib Dem: -13 (down 12)
Conservative: -76 (up 1)
Reform: -94 (down 5)
May 16, 2025 at 7:58 AM
In short, Starmer has taken a massive hit among Labour voters, for no gain elsewhere, while boosting Farage's popularity, including doubling his ceiling among Labour voters.
I.e., the political scientists were right, Morgan McSweeney was horrendously wrong.
I.e., the political scientists were right, Morgan McSweeney was horrendously wrong.
Reposted by Philip Redhair
🧵 Journalists keep saying this morning that it’s rare for a Bill to pass through Parliament in a single day. That’s worth unpicking. 👇
April 12, 2025 at 8:19 AM
🧵 Journalists keep saying this morning that it’s rare for a Bill to pass through Parliament in a single day. That’s worth unpicking. 👇
Reposted by Philip Redhair
The phrase "trapped on disability benefits", which I've seen used several times this week, is quite like "wheelchair-bound". Both phrases take something that can be a means of liberation and describe it as a prison.
“There is this terrible misconception that disabled people just take, but actually by taking from us, you prevent us from being able to give – we want to be able to participate in life equally the same as anyone else, and that includes going to work.” Disability campaigner Tanni Gray-Thompson
March 19, 2025 at 9:25 AM
The phrase "trapped on disability benefits", which I've seen used several times this week, is quite like "wheelchair-bound". Both phrases take something that can be a means of liberation and describe it as a prison.
Reposted by Philip Redhair
Some in Labour HQ may want to reflect on this - here’s a policy which has drastically improved air quality, benefitting the poorest citizens. But Starmer’s LOTO started criticising it because a couple of Clarkson bigmouths complained in focus groups & they (wrongly imho) blamed it for Uxbridge loss
Still, opposing it did win the Tories the Uxbridge by-election and encouraged Rishi Sunak to slow down on net zero, so....
London air pollution down since Ulez extended to outer boroughs, study finds
Levels of deadly pollutants have dropped, with significant improvements in capital’s most deprived areas
www.theguardian.com
March 7, 2025 at 8:20 AM
Some in Labour HQ may want to reflect on this - here’s a policy which has drastically improved air quality, benefitting the poorest citizens. But Starmer’s LOTO started criticising it because a couple of Clarkson bigmouths complained in focus groups & they (wrongly imho) blamed it for Uxbridge loss
Reposted by Philip Redhair
February 8, 2025 at 10:18 AM
Reposted by Philip Redhair
"I had a crisis of conscience halfway through writing my biography of Gene Roddenberry, when I realised I just really did not like this guy..." Great guest post by @lanceparkin.bsky.social, on the relationship between an artist, their work, and their audience
Guest post: Lance Parkin on the problematic artist
The author of “The Impossible Has Happened: The Life and Work of Gene Roddenberry, Creator of Star Trek”, asks whether the impurity of the creator inevitably stain the creation.
jonn.substack.com
February 8, 2025 at 10:07 AM
"I had a crisis of conscience halfway through writing my biography of Gene Roddenberry, when I realised I just really did not like this guy..." Great guest post by @lanceparkin.bsky.social, on the relationship between an artist, their work, and their audience
Reposted by Philip Redhair
failing country update
Hammersmith Bridge 'could stay closed until 2035', MP says
MP Fleur Anderson said issues in the five years since the bridge closed may further delay reopening.
www.bbc.com
January 24, 2025 at 8:36 AM
failing country update
Reposted by Philip Redhair
Reposted by Philip Redhair
So... Remember that guy who took Newport Council to court for £600m because he accidentally threw out the hard drive with his bitcoin private key on it?
Judge just summarily dismissed his case.
And even if you're not a lawyer, the judgement is a pretty fun read... /1
Judge just summarily dismissed his case.
And even if you're not a lawyer, the judgement is a pretty fun read... /1
January 10, 2025 at 12:19 PM
So... Remember that guy who took Newport Council to court for £600m because he accidentally threw out the hard drive with his bitcoin private key on it?
Judge just summarily dismissed his case.
And even if you're not a lawyer, the judgement is a pretty fun read... /1
Judge just summarily dismissed his case.
And even if you're not a lawyer, the judgement is a pretty fun read... /1
Reposted by Philip Redhair
i'm sure the same vitriol reserved for Just Stop Oil on this basis is just around the corner in the finest bits of right-wing social media
Ok tractors are blocking ambulances in central London now by Waterloo. Not deliberately, but it's having an impact
December 11, 2024 at 2:40 PM
i'm sure the same vitriol reserved for Just Stop Oil on this basis is just around the corner in the finest bits of right-wing social media
Reposted by Philip Redhair
Reflecting on Starmer’s comments on the CS yday and on the response it’s got in Whitehall since.
If there’s any piece of advice I’d give Starmer - and at this fragile juncture I want to shout it from the rooftops - it would be:
‘Blame the system, not the people’.
🧵
If there’s any piece of advice I’d give Starmer - and at this fragile juncture I want to shout it from the rooftops - it would be:
‘Blame the system, not the people’.
🧵
December 6, 2024 at 4:28 PM
Reflecting on Starmer’s comments on the CS yday and on the response it’s got in Whitehall since.
If there’s any piece of advice I’d give Starmer - and at this fragile juncture I want to shout it from the rooftops - it would be:
‘Blame the system, not the people’.
🧵
If there’s any piece of advice I’d give Starmer - and at this fragile juncture I want to shout it from the rooftops - it would be:
‘Blame the system, not the people’.
🧵
Reposted by Philip Redhair
Tory members elected her in the knowledge - and perhaps because of the fact - that she speaks without thinking and does politics on instinct. Whether it occurred to them that that meant her politics would meander all over the shop is another Q.
narrator:
Kemi Badenoch has declared herself a champion of free speech for years
news.sky.com/story/amp/st...
Kemi Badenoch has declared herself a champion of free speech for years
news.sky.com/story/amp/st...
Starmer's McDonald's joke would be called racist if made by a Tory, Kemi Badenoch claims
Sir Keir Starmer joked about the Tory leader saying she "became working class" through her job at McDonald's. Kemi Badenoch says a Conservative PM making the same joke would have been asked to resign.
news.sky.com
December 6, 2024 at 4:21 PM
Tory members elected her in the knowledge - and perhaps because of the fact - that she speaks without thinking and does politics on instinct. Whether it occurred to them that that meant her politics would meander all over the shop is another Q.
Reposted by Philip Redhair
There is something at the heart of this story that doesn’t add up, legally speaking.
Quick fraud lecture for y’all.
🧵
Quick fraud lecture for y’all.
🧵
🔺NEW: Louise Haigh was convicted of fraud after a mobile phone that she reported to police as stolen was used to call one of her relatives, The Times has been told ⬇️
Louise Haigh’s ‘stolen’ phone was ‘used to call relatives’
The former transport secretary was forced to resign after it emerged that the phone she reported as stolen to police was later used to call her contacts
www.thetimes.com
November 29, 2024 at 11:35 PM
There is something at the heart of this story that doesn’t add up, legally speaking.
Quick fraud lecture for y’all.
🧵
Quick fraud lecture for y’all.
🧵
Reposted by Philip Redhair
One reason that James Dyson is so angry could be that he bought 36,000 acres of British farmland with a view to saving roughly £100 million in inheritance tax. Curiously The Times’ news article fails to mention this. 🤔
November 4, 2024 at 7:53 AM
One reason that James Dyson is so angry could be that he bought 36,000 acres of British farmland with a view to saving roughly £100 million in inheritance tax. Curiously The Times’ news article fails to mention this. 🤔
Reposted by Philip Redhair
The last line of this is incorrect. The infected blood and Horizon compensation schemes were created in legislation in the last months of the last government; the costs merely crystalised for the first time in this budget.
www.ft.com/content/862e...
www.ft.com/content/862e...
November 1, 2024 at 9:50 PM
The last line of this is incorrect. The infected blood and Horizon compensation schemes were created in legislation in the last months of the last government; the costs merely crystalised for the first time in this budget.
www.ft.com/content/862e...
www.ft.com/content/862e...
Reposted by Philip Redhair
The campaign to abolish VAT on suncreen ignores a pile of evidence that cutting VAT on specific products doesn't reduce the price of those products. It just puts more £ in the hands of retailers and suppliers.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Sunscreen is taxed as a ‘cosmetic’ in the UK. As a skin cancer survivor, I’m appalled | Jessica Zbinden-Webster
I was only 26 when I learned I had the disease. I now use SPF religiously – but it shouldn’t cost me an extra 20% on every bottle, says campaigner Jessica Zbinden-Webster
www.theguardian.com
August 16, 2024 at 12:48 PM
The campaign to abolish VAT on suncreen ignores a pile of evidence that cutting VAT on specific products doesn't reduce the price of those products. It just puts more £ in the hands of retailers and suppliers.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...