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Alan Rusbridger

@arusbridger.bsky.social
64K followers 586 following 581 posts

EX Editor, the Guardian/ prospect magazine. The New World. ARusbridger.com/ Speaking: karen@chartwellspeakers.com.

PostsRepliesMedia
Alan Rusbridger @arusbridger.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Modi, Orban, Erdogan, Trump, Farage. They all learn from each other on how to deal with journalists, and how create their own propaganda channels. app.prospectmagazine.co.uk/story/75066/...
app.prospectmagazine.co.uk
Trump is trying to control the news, and Farage is desperate to follow him
Banning the media from the White House appears to have backfired, but the bigger fight for press freedom—when so much of our information is controlled by a handful of billionaires—is very much on
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Alan Rusbridger @arusbridger.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Last week - when all the front pages headlines were about Farage and his £72m - Farage fronted his own GB News show ….to talk about Farage! He compared his critics to communists and then interviewed other guests - about himself! app.prospectmagazine.co.uk/story/75017/...
app.prospectmagazine.co.uk
Farage and the £130m even his detractors have missed
GB news has provided relentless positive PR for Nigel Farage while racking up tens of millions in financial losses. And now there is a new channel in the offing
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Alan Rusbridger @arusbridger.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
If you add in £130m losses on “Reform TV” (aka GB News) the effective subsidy of Farage’s party from just four men tops £200m. You just have to join the dots app.prospectmagazine.co.uk/story/75017/...
app.prospectmagazine.co.uk
Farage and the £130m even his detractors have missed
GB news has provided relentless positive PR for Nigel Farage while racking up tens of millions in financial losses. And now there is a new channel in the offing
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Alan Rusbridger @arusbridger.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
Many members of the Israeli establishment – from former PMs to judges, generals and academics – vehemently oppose the actions of settlers in the West Bank and support sanctions. You wouldn’t know it from the criticism aimed at Ed Miliband app.prospectmagazine.co.uk/story/74705/...
app.prospectmagazine.co.uk
Confronting Jewish terrorism is not an act of Jew hate
Many members of the Israeli establishment vehemently oppose what is happening in the West Bank. You wouldn’t know it from the criticism aimed at Ed Miliband
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Alan Rusbridger @arusbridger.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
My Avis rental car was pummelled by hail stones in a Biblical storm last week. And I learned a lot about the car hire business and attitudes to climate change www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/world/enviro...
prospectmagazine.co.uk
The climate crisis is upon us—so why are deniers still getting airtime?
Despite the overwhelming scientific consensus on climate change, sceptics are still making their voices heard—helped by journalists who should know be...
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Alan Rusbridger @arusbridger.bsky.social · 29/08/2026
A truly biblical hailstorm brought an abrupt end to our holiday outside Zurich yesterday. I wonder if the climate is changing ?
Windscreen shattered in multiple places by giant hail
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Alan Rusbridger @arusbridger.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
The death of Jason Arday: a modern media morality play. Media Confidential discussion with Lionel Barber )with correct link this time) app.prospectmagazine.co.uk/story/74463/...
app.prospectmagazine.co.uk
The death of Jason Arday: A modern media morality play
Alan and Lionel on why Fleet Street’s crusade against DEI went so wrong
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Alan Rusbridger @arusbridger.bsky.social · 15/08/2026
Maybe Jason Arday’s death can offer us lessons in not rushing to glib judgements; in not joining the unthinking pack; and – above all - in keeping a sense of proportion and plain humanity. www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/politics/pol...
prospectmagazine.co.uk
Jason Arday was a victim of the worst kind of media pile-on
The former Cambridge professor suffered a relentless campaign of coverage against him. His death should teach us an important lesson about keeping a s...
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Kurt Fischer @kurtfischer.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
Die Schubertiade war für mich Liebe auf den ersten Blick & Ton … vor 25 Jahren … Silver Jubilee … Warum das bei manchen schon eine Goldene Beziehung ist, das erklärt dieser Liebesbrief von @arusbridger.bsky.social in den @financialtimes.com www.ft.com/content/0d9d...
ft.com
A love letter to the Schubertiade
World-class chamber music, alpine hikes and military-precision buses: why Austria’s great Schubert festival still inspires devotion after half a century
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Alan Rusbridger @arusbridger.bsky.social · 08/08/2026
Badenoch stands by an ex Neo Nazi candidate but bans anyone who doesn’t sign up to her moratorium on net zero. A weird form of authoritarian cancel culture has gripped the conservatives … app.prospectmagazine.co.uk/story/74332/...
app.prospectmagazine.co.uk
Kemi Badenoch is creating a new—and very odd—type of Conservative party
In her upside-down leadership, former neo-Nazis can run as councillors, but anyone hoping to stop the world from burning is banned
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Alan Rusbridger @arusbridger.bsky.social · 01/08/2026
Ever wondered if Allister Heath is a crazed ideologue or a brilliant satirist? HIs latest column - learn to love climate change and build more swimming pools - settles the question. The man’s a comic genius - and with perfect timing app.prospectmagazine.co.uk/story/74279/...
app.prospectmagazine.co.uk
Climate change sceptics have lost the plot as Europe burns
Reading the Telegraph, it’s hard to work out whether their climate columns are a work of satire
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Prospect Magazine @prospectmagazine.co.uk · 27/07/2026
🎧: Journalist Maggie Haberman joins @arusbridger and @lionelbarber.bsky.social to discuss her and Jonathan Swan’s explosive new book covering the first year of Trump’s second presidency
prospectmagazine.co.uk
Corruption, convictions and vengeance: Maggie Haberman on the inside story of the second Trump presidency
The NYT journalist on her and Jonathan Swan’s explosive new book
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Alan Rusbridger @arusbridger.bsky.social · 26/07/2026
The last prison minister escaped over the wall just hours before the latest scandal to engulf our collapsing criminal justice system. But there have been 13 of them in 10 years. Can Burnham be level with us about the size of the crisis he has to solve ? app.prospectmagazine.co.uk/story/74224/...
app.prospectmagazine.co.uk
We’re addicted to locking people up—but it doesn’t make any of us safer
Does Andy Burnham have the attention span, the will and the courage to tackle a collapsing justice system?
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Alan Rusbridger @arusbridger.bsky.social · 25/07/2026
The UK criminal justice and penal systems are collapsing after years of cutbacks and lousy management. Has Burnham got the will and/or courage to do (and say) what’s necessary ? app.prospectmagazine.co.uk/story/74224/...
app.prospectmagazine.co.uk
We’re addicted to locking people up—but it doesn’t make any of us safer
Does Andy Burnham have the attention span, the will and the courage to tackle a collapsing justice system?
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Alan Rusbridger @arusbridger.bsky.social · 19/07/2026
Farage’s close associate Posh George has written a book called How to Launder Money. Even the late Ronnie Biggs never had the imagination to pen a book entitled “How to Rob Trains”. The stink off Reforn’s funding is overpowering app.prospectmagazine.co.uk/story/74154/...
app.prospectmagazine.co.uk
Nigel Farage is swimming in crypto—and has never looked closer to drowning
The Reform UK leader’s man-of-the-people act is losing its magic
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Alan Rusbridger @arusbridger.bsky.social · 18/07/2026
Nigel Farage is swimming in dodgy crypto dosh – he has never looked closer to drowning app.prospectmagazine.co.uk/story/74154/...
app.prospectmagazine.co.uk
Nigel Farage is swimming in crypto—and has never looked closer to drowning
The Reform UK leader’s man-of-the-people act is losing its magic
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Alan Rusbridger @arusbridger.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
Has the Wordle team taken the week off and left the interns* in charge? * unfair to interns, I know.
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Alan Rusbridger @arusbridger.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
Harry lost; the Mail won - a vindication of sorts. But not for an age of often cruel, intrusive journalism which has hopefully had its day. app.prospectmagazine.co.uk/story/74059/...
app.prospectmagazine.co.uk
The Mail has questions to answer after its victory over Prince Harry
This vindication of sorts for Paul Dacre’s newsrooms has exposed a style of journalism we must leave far behind
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Alan Rusbridger @arusbridger.bsky.social · 04/07/2026
Burnham is proposing Downing Street North. But don’t stop there. Create House of Lords North. Send them to deliberate in Rochdale or Oldham. Many will retire or resign. Sad, but I think Britain can take it. app.prospectmagazine.co.uk/story/74018/...
app.prospectmagazine.co.uk
Andy Burnham wants more power in the north—move the Lords there
For generations, governments have promised devolution while keeping every important institution in London. That can change
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Opinion Today @opiniontoday.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
Media Confidential: @arusbridger.bsky.social talks to Andrew Dodd and Matthew Ricketson, authors of Getting Murdoched: How Murdoch’s Media Wields Power and Punishment. opiniontoday.substack.com/i/204083770/...
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Alan Rusbridger @arusbridger.bsky.social · 27/06/2026
The sums involved in the MPs expenses scandal were chicken feed compared to the Farage £5m. HIs reaction - mind your own business - suggests he may not be cut out for this democracy thing app.prospectmagazine.co.uk/story/73952/...
app.prospectmagazine.co.uk
We must learn the truth about Nigel Farage’s £5m donation
The Reform leader should be made to understand that transparency is part of standing for high office
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Alan Rusbridger @arusbridger.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
A forensic demolition of Michael Grade's nonsense about how @Ofcom should be regulating @GBNEWS from two senior people who worked at the regulator and actually know what they're talking about www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
theguardian.com
Don’t worry, a politician can’t present the Today programme. Michael Grade is wrong about that – and GB News | Stewart Purvis and Chris Banatvala
As the former Ofcom chair says extraordinary things about the rightwing channel and its critics, a factcheck would not go amiss, say Stewart Purvis and Chris Banatvala, both formerly of Ofcom
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Alan Rusbridger @arusbridger.bsky.social · 20/06/2026
We knew GBNews is obsessed with immigration. We didn’t know that the obsession extends to the Jews who fled the Nazis in the 1930s - and that we should be wary even of their grandchildren app.prospectmagazine.co.uk/story/73892/...
app.prospectmagazine.co.uk
The GB News obsession with immigration even extends to antisemitic tropes, and no one is stopping it
One presenter invited her followers to be wary of the grandchild of Jewish émigrés
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Alan Rusbridger @arusbridger.bsky.social · 20/06/2026
When is a riot not a riot? When is the grandson of Jewish emigres who fled Hitler someone to be “extremely wary” of? When @GBNEWS is involved. app.prospectmagazine.co.uk/story/73892/...
app.prospectmagazine.co.uk
The GB News obsession with immigration even extends to antisemitic tropes, and no one is stopping it
One presenter invited her followers to be wary of the grandchild of Jewish émigrés
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The Guardian @theguardian.com · 17/06/2026
As haters and critics circle, will anyone speak up for the BBC? Yes, a huge, loyal army of ordinary Britons | Lindsay Mackie
theguardian.com
As haters and critics circle, will anyone speak up for the BBC? Yes, a huge, loyal army of ordinary Britons | Lindsay Mackie
The BBC debate seems dominated by its foes and commercial rivals, but a new survey reveals a hitherto silent majority in supportive voice, says writer and campaigner Lindsay Mackie
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Alan Rusbridger @arusbridger.bsky.social · 14/06/2026
Some prefer monosyllabic analysis - “Woke!” But those who can handle context and history it’s worth revisiting Hampshire Police’s recent culture and asking its relevance to present events www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/politics/738...
prospectmagazine.co.uk
Violent protests in Belfast are the toxic legacy of Brexit
Dangerous rhetoric about migrants has become mainstream again, writes Alan Rusbridger. The violent impact is now being played out on the streets
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Alan Rusbridger @arusbridger.bsky.social · 13/06/2026
They took back control. And then handed it to a motley bunch of trillionaires, billionaires and multi-millionaires. Enjoy the pure air of sovereignty app.prospectmagazine.co.uk/story/73830/...
app.prospectmagazine.co.uk
Violent protests in Belfast are the toxic legacy of Brexit
Dangerous rhetoric about migrants has become mainstream again, writes Alan Rusbridger. The violent impact is now being played out on the streets
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Annie Leymarie @annieleymarie.bsky.social · 08/06/2026
Nigel Farage "has the extreme good fortune of effectively having his own TV station to amplify his insensitive populist ranting, along with a tribe of nodding journalists..." Will we "allow a talented demagogue to bamboozle us into becoming a country...where rage counts for more than evidence"? 👇
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Alan Rusbridger @arusbridger.bsky.social · 09/06/2026
Joshi Hermann; ‘If we are going to devolve more power to places like Greater Manchester frankly we’re going to need to bulk up the quality of the local media.’ Listen to his discussion with @Lionel barber and myself www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/podcasts/737...
prospectmagazine.co.uk
Joshi Herrmann: ‘If we’re going to devolve more power, we need to bulk up local media’
The Mill Media founder on legal battles, AI and expanding to seven cities
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Alan Rusbridger @arusbridger.bsky.social · 07/06/2026
If Nigel Farage is heading towards power let it not be because journalists forgot the basic craft of their job and because Michael Grade was nodding at the wheel www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/politics/uk/...
prospectmagazine.co.uk
Nigel Farage is a dangerous demagogue—here’s how to stop him
The Reform leader and his media cheerleaders have cynically exploited the murder of Henry Nowak.
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Alan Rusbridger @arusbridger.bsky.social · 06/06/2026
Nigel Farage is a demagogue who has little regard for facts or the truth. Journalists covering him have no such excuse app.prospectmagazine.co.uk/story/73749/...
app.prospectmagazine.co.uk
Nigel Farage is a dangerous demagogue—here’s how to stop him
The Reform leader and his media cheerleaders have cynically exploited the murder of Henry Nowak.
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Alan Rusbridger @arusbridger.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
Those BBC cutbacks are beginning to show 😂
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Peter Geoghegan @petergeoghegan.bsky.social · 29/05/2026
An Irishman talks v fast about libel lawyers lobbying against anti-SLAPP laws - and building an investigative newsroom from scratch. Great to chat to @arusbridger.bsky.social and @lionelbarber.bsky.social on @prospectmagazine.co.uk 's Media Confidential www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/podcasts/med...
prospectmagazine.co.uk
Peter Geoghegan on getting SLAPP’d: ‘It had a huge chilling effect’
The wealthy are using lawsuits to silence critics. Why does the government seem so reluctant to tackle them?
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Alan Rusbridger @arusbridger.bsky.social · 30/05/2026
The impact of the climate crisis is ever more alarming. But much of the press reports record heatwaves as a good news story. app.prospectmagazine.co.uk/story/73684/...
app.prospectmagazine.co.uk
The impact of the climate crisis is now obvious, and terrifying. Why is the press ignoring it?
It’s the most important story of our age, and all we get is pictures of beachgoers basking in the sun
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Alan Rusbridger @arusbridger.bsky.social · 27/05/2026
Crazy idea, opening a Guardian operation in the US - and without a paywall, eh?
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Alan Rusbridger @arusbridger.bsky.social · 23/05/2026
We know that, under Trump, cowardice is contagious. But, with this week’s outlandish corruption, is the worm about to turn ? app.prospectmagazine.co.uk/story/73640/...
app.prospectmagazine.co.uk
Trump is a mentally unstable bully, but his spell has been broken
Republicans are finally standing up to a mind-blowingly corrupt president
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Justin Souter @justingsouter.bsky.social · 18/05/2026
I listened to this last week, and it was an excellent discussion between @liambyrnemp.bsky.social @lionelbarber.bsky.social and @arusbridger.bsky.social ...
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Alan Rusbridger @arusbridger.bsky.social · 16/05/2026
FInally, one regulator will look at Nigel Farage and his (changing) explanation of the secret £5m he pocketed. Even Ofcom has shown a twitch of life But the media regulator still doesn’t get it app.prospectmagazine.co.uk/story/73586/...
independent.co.uk
Farage and GB News have been getting away with it for too long
The Reform leader is finally under investigation by the parliamentary commissioner for standards over a £5m donation he failed to declare. But don’t hold your breath if you expect similar scrutiny of ...
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Alan Rusbridger @arusbridger.bsky.social · 09/05/2026
A wall of crypto money is powering Nigel Farage, both politically and personally. And much of the British media just shrugs app.prospectmagazine.co.uk/story/73421/...
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Alan Rusbridger @arusbridger.bsky.social · 02/05/2026
app.prospectmagazine.co.uk/story/73184/...
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The mob reaction in Epsom paints a dark picture of chaos and populism
The protests and violence that followed an alleged rape that never happened were the result of far-right agitators galvanising fear on our streets
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Ruth @ruthbushi.com · 02/05/2026
"I’ve seen no attempt by any of the above players to update, clarify or correct their statements. For a brief period, the “Epsom gang rape” served a political purpose. The mundane truth was altogether less useful."
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Alan Rusbridger @arusbridger.bsky.social · 02/05/2026
The mob reaction in Epsom to something that - it turned out - never happened is a depressing tale of populism and misinformation, often by people who should know better. That’s the pattern. app.prospectmagazine.co.uk/story/73184/...
app.prospectmagazine.co.uk
The mob reaction in Epsom paints a dark picture of chaos and populism
The protests and violence that followed an alleged rape that never happened were the result of far-right agitators galvanising fear on our streets
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Alan Rusbridger @arusbridger.bsky.social · 27/04/2026
The non-existent “experts” who keep appearing in the news. And the growth of SEO vampires. @DomPonsford talks @mediaconfpod through the black arts of the algorithm age www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/podcasts/med...
prospectmagazine.co.uk
The untimely end of ‘Barbara Santini’
Dominic Ponsford on Press Gazette’s investigation into frequently cited fake experts
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Alan Rusbridger @arusbridger.bsky.social · 27/04/2026
Matthew Doyle was a Labour peer for all of 14 working days, a metaphor for a zombie government. app.prospectmagazine.co.uk/story/73126/...
app.prospectmagazine.co.uk
Starmer is leading a zombie government—the Matthew Doyle saga proves it
The prime minister’s days appear numbered. Dare we hope he might be replaced by someone of vision, competence and integrity?
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Alan Rusbridger @arusbridger.bsky.social · 25/04/2026
The ‘Lord’ Matthew Doyle saga somehow epitomises this zombie government app.prospectmagazine.co.uk/story/73126/...
app.prospectmagazine.co.uk
Starmer is leading a zombie government—the Matthew Doyle saga proves it
The prime minister’s days appear numbered. Dare we hope he might be replaced by someone of vision, competence and integrity?
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Alan Rusbridger @arusbridger.bsky.social · 19/04/2026
Does Trump know that he’s speaking nonsense? Does he care? A DEI label would be “a tendency to externalise first thoughts”. But maybe we could just say the guy is one taco short of a combo plate. app.prospectmagazine.co.uk/story/73055/...
app.prospectmagazine.co.uk
I was already worried about Trump’s mental decline—it just got worse
In the past week alone, the US president has depicted himself as Jesus and picked a row with the pope
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Mary PSYCH @marypsych.bsky.social · 18/04/2026
As a clinical psychologist I have to say that I concur with your diagnosis
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Alan Rusbridger @arusbridger.bsky.social · 18/04/2026
Last week I suggested that maybe Donald Trump was not quite all there. I would like to revise that opinion. I think he may be what we used to call stark raving bonkers. app.prospectmagazine.co.uk/story/73055/...
app.prospectmagazine.co.uk
I was already worried about Trump’s mental decline—it just got worse
In the past week alone, the US president has depicted himself as Jesus and picked a row with the pope
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Peter Geoghegan @petergeoghegan.bsky.social · 12/04/2026
Mathias Corvinus Collegium -which Orban used to fund Christian Right across Europe - has endowment worth *1% of Hungary’s GDP* This money has gone to Matt Goodwin, Frank Furedi, a Roger Scruton foundation run by Michael Gove + James Orr Magyar needs 2/3rd of seats to unpick this. Be huge if he can
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Ben Ansell @benansell.bsky.social · 12/04/2026
A number of British academics and ex-academics just lost a potential pay cheque.
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