Sign in

Dr Andrew Smith

@56degreesnorth.bsky.social
391 followers 142 following 109 posts

Looking at life from 56 degrees north

PostsRepliesMedia
Reposted by Dr Andrew Smith
Ted McCormick @tedmccormick.bsky.social · 6h
US policy is: if you’re smart, don’t come, and if you’re already here, leave.
713239
Reposted by Dr Andrew Smith
Chris Grey @chrisgrey.bsky.social · 6h
Social science figures, in one way or another, in just about every public debate (prisons, immigration, housing etc. etc.) Notably, even those who insist it is nonsense, unscientific, woke or whatever invariably rely upon their own 'social science' claims, even if not expressed or examined as such.
2243
Reposted by Dr Andrew Smith
Chris Grey @chrisgrey.bsky.social · 6h
UK has c.30K SocSci academics, supported by taxpayers, c.900K SocSci students & many UK unis are highly globally ranked for SocSci. Surely it's not too much to expect the BBC to devote 30 minutes a week, for part of the year, to it? [Disclosure, FWIW: I've appeared on TA a couple of times]
1274
Reposted by Dr Andrew Smith
Chris Grey @chrisgrey.bsky.social · 6h
Coming on top of the axing of The World Tonight it really seems as if #BBC are determined to wreck R4. Especially depressing that Thinking Allowed will go - SFAIK it's the only programme in UK media dedicated to (mainly academic) social science research. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
BBC to cut raft of Radio 4 programmes including You and Yours
The corporation said it would be investing in a new consumer programme, while announcing more cuts.
118338
Reposted by Dr Andrew Smith
Chris Murphy @chrismurphyct.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
Something unprecedented happened during my visit to the Gulf. For the first time in 20 years in Congress, I was denied entry to U.S. military facilities and even meetings with military leaders. An order from Hegseth - that applies to both parties - to hide the cost of the war.
22646422115
Reposted by Dr Andrew Smith
Helene von Bismarck @helenebismarck.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
Good thread by Georgina, and an opportunity for me to reiterate what I told a senior civil servant over a year ago: any successful British strategy towards the EU must include staying up-to-date not just with developments within all member states, but with the relationship between those states.
56514
Reposted by Dr Andrew Smith
Timothy Snyder @timothysnyder.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
I spelled out "superpower suicide" in this essay from May 2026. Empires have risen and failed before, but to my knowledge no state has ever chosen to kill its own power, and succeeded with such rapidity. snyder.substack.com/p/on-superpo...
snyder.substack.com
On Superpower Suicide
And the recovery of justice
431306451
Reposted by Dr Andrew Smith
Timothy Snyder @timothysnyder.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
Of course when Russia said Ukraine had bioweapons labs what they really meant was that they did. There's a lot we don't know about the current situation. Russia should be bringing in experts from the WHO to clarify and advise. Will they? www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
washingtonpost.com
U.S. officials seeking details of reported Russian plague death, quarantines
Officials said they need to learn more about the evolving situation before determining the potential threat to the United States.
39997327
Reposted by Dr Andrew Smith
Timothy Snyder @timothysnyder.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
Yes, the White House sometimes serves as a branch Kremlin press office, which would be humiliating for anyone who had the slightest hint of patriotism or for that matter personal dignity.
511428504
Reposted by Dr Andrew Smith
Ada Palmer @adapalmer.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
Highly recommended for all language lovers!
04618
Reposted by Dr Andrew Smith
Best for Britain @bestforbritain.org · 06/10/2026
🎯 "Burham has to decide whether Britain’s security, in an increasingly turbulent world, can best be protected through the obsessive pursuit of some purist notion of sovereignty, or through pooling some sovereignty with like-minded allies in pursuit of greater collective resilience."
bylinetimes.com
'Why Andy Burnham Will Ultimately Back Rejoining the EU'
The logic of the Prime Minister's argument that Brexit has done more harm than good only points in one direction, argues
1225374
Reposted by Dr Andrew Smith
Best for Britain @bestforbritain.org · 06/10/2026
I wonder why Badenoch couldn't say that London benefitted from Brexit 🤔 The reality is that neither London nor any other region in the UK has benefitted from Brexit - the opposite is the case. That's why our polling with YouGov shows that 628 out of 632 constituencies want to rejoin the EU.
independent.co.uk
Kemi Badenoch refuses to say if Brexit has benefitted London
The Tory leader insisted that voters were not interested ‘in having a row’ over the debate to rejoin the EU
26446161
Reposted by Dr Andrew Smith
Best for Britain @bestforbritain.org · 06/10/2026
🎯 @pimlicat.bsky.social: "Half-baked calls to enter a customs union or join the single market won’t bring the economic heft to avoid further decline or the political payoff to prevent Nigel Farage’s Reform UK gaining power. "The choice Burnham must face is whether to go big – or go nowhere at all."
eu.boell.org
Could the UK really return to the EU? | Heinrich Böll Stiftung | Brussels office - European Union
Britain’s new prime minister has said that Brexit was a mistake and Britain should have a much closer relationship with
59731
Reposted by Dr Andrew Smith
Best for Britain @bestforbritain.org · 06/10/2026
The hypocrisy 👀 Sarah Pochin MP bought an £800,000 second home on a Welsh island two days after raising concerns in Parliament about the impact of second homes on rural communities.
theguardian.com
Reform MP raises concerns about second homes – then buys one for £800,000
Sarah Pochin bought Anglesey property two days after writing to minister about impact of second homes on rural communiti
35571242
Reposted by Dr Andrew Smith
Best for Britain @bestforbritain.org · 07/10/2026
@alastaircampbell2.bsky.social: "The biggest reasons for the shift are the economy-shrinking, trade-undermining, rights-losing facts, which so powerfully spell out the scale of the mistake the country made in cutting ourselves off from our nearest and biggest trading partner."
thenewworld.co.uk
Alastair Campbell's diary: The door that leads back to the EU is finally open. Now let's walk through it
How fitting that new talk of joining again coincided with the 500th issue of The New World, originally founded to oppose
412344
Reposted by Dr Andrew Smith
Best for Britain @bestforbritain.org · 07/10/2026
Spot on 🎯 "There are several reasons for the UK to adopt a more proportional voting system of which the most important is the moral one: it’s fairer."
theguardian.com
Why a PR voting system is the best bet for Britain | Letters
Letters: Tom Walker responds to a letter that said first past the post is the lesser of two evils for voters. Plus lette
35418
Reposted by Dr Andrew Smith
Best for Britain @bestforbritain.org · 07/10/2026
Kemi Badenoch hits out at Reform UK: "I don't want to live in a country run by people who threaten journalists, who call veterans traitors, and who debate whether my mixed-race children are English."
235111
Reposted by Dr Andrew Smith
Best for Britain @bestforbritain.org · 07/10/2026
We don't often agree with Kemi Badenoch, but she's spot on here 🚨
2114646
Reposted by Dr Andrew Smith
Best for Britain @bestforbritain.org · 07/10/2026
The fight against the modern far-right will, like Cable Street before it, be a movement powered by people. Whether that is attending a march, leafleting, writing to your MP or a regulator, it will require all of us taking action - together.
bestforbritain.substack.com
Fighting Farage every step of the way
“The fight against the modern far-right will, like Cable Street before it, be a movement powered by people.”
125267
Reposted by Dr Andrew Smith
Best for Britain @bestforbritain.org · 07/10/2026
Multiple nights a week, Nigel Farage hosts his hour-long show on GB News But Ofcom says politicians cannot be used as newsreaders or reporters in a news programme So we're pushing them to investigate. bestforbritain.org/petition/farage-…
117251
Reposted by Dr Andrew Smith
Michael Warburton @michaelwarburton.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
Remembering the Oscar-winning EVA MARIE SAINT — who left us yesterday aged 102 — after a career spanning an incredible 8 decades.
311601181
Reposted by Dr Andrew Smith
Agnes C. Poirier @agnescpoirier.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
85924
Reposted by Dr Andrew Smith
paulusthewoodgnome @paulusthewoodgnome.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
"I'm not a defence expert." Even by Kemi Badenoch's lamentable standards, this is agonising. Just give thanks she will never, ever be Prime Minister. 🙏 #politicslive
145574148
Reposted by Dr Andrew Smith
David Anderson @bricksilk.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
Letter printed in The Times today
8591240
Reposted by Dr Andrew Smith
Phillips OBrien @phillipspobrien.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
Midweek update just out (half free). Trump seems to have lost his political touch at exactly the worst time (for him). His political handling of the Iran war is the worst of his career. Also, more winning as the US hastily pulls its bombers out of the UK. phillipspobrien.substack.com/p/midweek-up...
phillipspobrien.substack.com
Midweek Update #30: Trump Has Lost His Political Touch
The US Pulls Back Its Bombers: More Winning, Obviously; Hegseth’s Frightening Speech
821949
Reposted by Dr Andrew Smith
Steve Carter @shieldaig.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
Strath Torridon yesterday morning.
Mountains and a clear sky.
21277
Reposted by Dr Andrew Smith
Just Treatment @justtreatment.org · 06/10/2026
🚨The government is looking for UK alternatives to Palantir to run the NHS data platform, the FT reports. This follows a week of protests in 40+ places across England and a rally of hundreds at Palantir's London HQ. Help keep the pressue up: nopalantirinthenhs.com
51874336
Reposted by Dr Andrew Smith
Jim Pickard @pickardje.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
FT exclusive: UK tax authorities probed Manchester City in 2018 over whether it used complex arrangements to underpay tax, nearly a decade before the club was found to have breached the Premier League’s financial rules. www.ft.com/content/796e...
ft.com
HMRC opened probe into Man City’s tax affairs in 2018
Investigation into whether English football club was underpaying tax began after its internal emails were leaked
88034
Reposted by Dr Andrew Smith
Arthur Snell @snellarthur.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
One of the most interesting debates in current international security is the degree to which we’re reliant on undersea cables and the degree to which these aren’t at all protected! I spoke to @katjabego.bsky.social about her excellent new book on the subject. podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/b...
podcasts.apple.com
Deep Connections: Kaja Bego on the undersea cables that underpin the global economy.
Podcast Episode · Behind The Lines with Arthur Snell · 5 October · 53min
518672
Reposted by Dr Andrew Smith
The Kyiv Independent @kyivindependent.com · 04/10/2026
Germany announces $1.46 billion in aid for Ukraine, including interceptor drones, air defense missiles; Russian Su-35, Su-34 fighter jets hit by drones at airfield in Adygea, SBU says; Russia targets Kyiv bridges for fourth consecutive day, hits Northern Bridge; and more.
kyivindependent.com
Ukraine war latest: Germany supplies Kyiv with interceptors, air defense missiles in $1.5 billion aid package
Key developments on Oct. 3-4: * Germany announces $1.46 billion in aid for Ukraine, including interceptor drones, air defense missiles * Russian Su-35, Su-34 fighter jets hit by drones at airfield ...
631964
Reposted by Dr Andrew Smith
Chris Hewson @chrishewson.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
So in summary, they'll now be paying slightly above the national average as a worst case scenario.
373
Reposted by Dr Andrew Smith
Jessica Elgot @jessicaelgot.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
I’m afraid if this kind of motion falls, intention is pretty clear
817926
Reposted by Dr Andrew Smith
Timothy Snyder @timothysnyder.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Post-human necropolitics by the numbers www.economist.com/graphic-deta...
economist.com
In MAGA-land people are dying faster than they are being born
Our analysis suggests Trump country is only growing because of migration
31738239
Reposted by Dr Andrew Smith
Best for Britain @bestforbritain.org · 04/10/2026
While Farage slurps oysters and sips champagne with billionaires, the people elected to represent Britain’s communities are walking out the door. Read here: www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/nige…
1422899
Reposted by Dr Andrew Smith
Best for Britain @bestforbritain.org · 04/10/2026
Well said 👏♥️ "Without immigration, we would be much poorer, actually, as a country as a whole, not just as a city."
16609158
Reposted by Dr Andrew Smith
Edinburgh Images 📷 @colognuh.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Princes Street, Edinburgh from Calton Hill
0266
Reposted by Dr Andrew Smith
Discover Cullen @discovercullen.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
Goodnight from Cullen 😴
Cullen at nightCullen at nightCullen at nightCullen at night
0194
Reposted by Dr Andrew Smith
Phillips OBrien @phillipspobrien.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Also, more and more reports are confirming what should have been admitted for years. The Trump administration has business deals ready to go with Putin, once they can bully the Ukrainians into surrendering more of their land and people. This is the real Trump/Kushner win-win.
220877
Reposted by Dr Andrew Smith
Phillips OBrien @phillipspobrien.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Free weekend update is out. Russia has a strategy for this winter--massive war crimes to make Ukraine unlivable. We need to speak the truth on that. One reason they need to do this is that they are struggling in other parts of the war--see Vivaldi. phillipspobrien.substack.com/p/weekend-up...
phillipspobrien.substack.com
Weekend Update #205: Russia’s Strategy In Two Words: “War Crimes”
Operation Vivaldi, Even More Robots; The Trump-Putin Quid Pro Quo
11345153
Reposted by Dr Andrew Smith
Andrew Rait @andrewrait.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
But I enjoyed the current Govts comms dept response 😂
18525160
Reposted by Dr Andrew Smith
Spooky Snigdha @snig.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
The Conservative party's joke Bayeaux Tapestry, whilst having some funny moments, is basically cringe. What is unforgiveable is the racism. #ToryRacism [H/T @eberlmat.bsky.social @generalboles.bsky.social @seanjones.org]
Part of the border of a scene from the Conservative party's joke Bayeaux Tapestry
Migrants who are clearly not white in a small boat
Rats from the small boat chase cats
Tax payers lying on the ground dead
The implication being the migrants brought disease with themA scene from the Conservative party's joke Bayeaux Tapestry
Keir Starmer giving money and a key to some non white peopleA scene from the Conservative party's joke Bayeaux Tapestry
Kemi Badenoch giving a key to a white couple
2228782
Reposted by Dr Andrew Smith
Robert Saunders @robertsaunders.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
The ability to pour hundreds of millions of pounds into a loss-making TV channel, bent on wrenching British politics sharply to the right, is yet another of the ways in which extreme wealth is trying to remake UK democracy. It needs to be part of any serious conversation about political funding.
541903772
Reposted by Dr Andrew Smith
Timothy Snyder @timothysnyder.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Got your Super Intelligence right here at the origins of the Iran War. AI also implicated in the signature war crime the US committed.
16547195
Reposted by Dr Andrew Smith
Timothy Snyder @timothysnyder.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Good to be reminded of the young people who helped bring communism in central Europe to a peaceful end. substack.com/home/post/p-...
substack.com
Americans Can Stop Trump’s Unconstitutional Coup at Any Stage
Trump's ambassador reportedly threatened to overthrow Greece's elected government, as the Justice Department criminally investigates Jack Smith.
13648225
Reposted by Dr Andrew Smith
Timothy Snyder @timothysnyder.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Of course Trump flatters AI. It flattered him first.
12407103
Reposted by Dr Andrew Smith
Timothy Snyder @timothysnyder.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
So Americans pay more taxes in order to get AI centers in their backyards. www.nytimes.com/2026/09/30/t...
nytimes.com
How Meta Uses A.I. Data Centers to Avoid Billions in Federal Taxes
Meta is exploiting a lucrative tax break intended to support research and experimentation. Its own accountants say the gambit is risky.
20809355
Reposted by Dr Andrew Smith
Timothy Snyder @timothysnyder.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
It appears that the National Guard shot and killed an unarmed man (in the back). www.bbc.com/news/article...
bbc.com
Autopsy shows National Guard fatally shot Memphis man in the back
The report conflicts with the authorities’ initial account, which said Tyrin Johnson had been shot in the chest.
7723621271
Reposted by Dr Andrew Smith
Best for Britain @bestforbritain.org · 01/10/2026
🇧🇷 "A Bolsonaro presidency would be bad for women, the poor and minorities. Democracy would probably be its first, local victim. But the climate would surely be another – with consequences for us all."
theguardian.com
The Guardian view on Lula v the Bolsonaros: the decision of Brazilian voters will affect us all | Editorial
Editorial: Sunday’s general election is too close to call, with the incumbent president facing the son of the man who at
14718
Reposted by Dr Andrew Smith
Best for Britain @bestforbritain.org · 01/10/2026
French President Emmanuel Macron: "If the British want to come back and if the Prime Minister is moving in that direction, I think that is very good news, both for his country and for the Europeans." ♥️
15528115
Reposted by Dr Andrew Smith
Best for Britain @bestforbritain.org · 01/10/2026
Naomi Smith, CEO of Best for Britain: "When the facts change, the environment changes, and the geopolitical situation changes, it is also normal for voters to change their minds."
47525