Sign in

@bobhudson.bsky.social

@bobhudson.bsky.social
1.8K followers 2.1K following 3.9K posts

Visiting Professor in Public Policy, Sunderland University. Sunderland AFC loyalist. Inveterate Remainer. Durham City, UK. www.theguardian.com/profile/bob-hud…

PostsRepliesMedia
@bobhudson.bsky.social @bobhudson.bsky.social · 15h
Well…you’d need to be a fully blown cynic not to be elevated in some way by Burnham’s speech. A story, a vision, ideas. Voting reform, Brexit, social care and more. And barely a dry eye in the house!
140
@bobhudson.bsky.social @bobhudson.bsky.social · 22h
Here’s Farage simply washing his hands of his chaotic Reform council here in Durham - says he knows nothing and hasn’t time to find anything out…
231
@bobhudson.bsky.social @bobhudson.bsky.social · 23h
A calm and reasoned debate about migration? Heaven forfend!
063
@bobhudson.bsky.social @bobhudson.bsky.social · 23h
Waking to more wall-to-wall coverage of social care. Everyone has a view on paying for it. Nobody asks what good care looks like.
030
@bobhudson.bsky.social @bobhudson.bsky.social · 23h
Well said Angela - sick of being told these quasi-military thugs have ‘legitimate concerns’… www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...
theguardian.com
‘Intimidatory’ far-right marches should not be allowed, says Angela Rayner
The UK communities secretary decried protests by ‘men in black wearing face masks’ and those ‘whipping up hatred’ towards lifeboat volunteers
4265
@bobhudson.bsky.social @bobhudson.bsky.social · 23h
Rolling back 40 years of Thatcherism can’t be mounted in 40 days. Burnham himself needs some ‘breathing space’ - one of the rarest commodities in UK politics. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
theguardian.com
Burnham promises to roll back privatisation with government-backed grid plan
Exclusive: Creation of GB Grid will be major step towards putting Britain’s utility companies into public control
020
@bobhudson.bsky.social @bobhudson.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Promising - but what does ‘national’ mean and what does ‘care’ mean? It’s not self-evident. x.com/bbcnews/stat...
x.com
BBC News (UK) (@BBCNews) on X
Burnham proposes NHS-style social care system for England https://t.co/XdUIHdNTRX
000
@bobhudson.bsky.social @bobhudson.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
‘Burnham writes his own speeches’…is this as unusual as it sounds? How does he find the time? www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
theguardian.com
‘We will get stuff done’: Burnham seeks to banish ghosts of Starmerism at Labour conference
The PM returns to Liverpool, where he was mocked last year, with a promise that no one will be left wondering what he’s trying to do
211
@bobhudson.bsky.social @bobhudson.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Good! Pandering to their ‘legitimate concerns’ only encourages greater excesses. This needs to be nipped in the bud.
030
@bobhudson.bsky.social @bobhudson.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
What a stupid headline! He’s Prime Minister, not a kid having a scrap in the school yard.
483
@bobhudson.bsky.social @bobhudson.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Well, he’s right isn’t he?
0101
@bobhudson.bsky.social @bobhudson.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Johnson’s lack of shame and absence of integrity have done incalculable damage to our political life.
0184
@bobhudson.bsky.social @bobhudson.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Umm…isn’t re-opening the Strait the holy grail? What’s he talking about!?
010
@bobhudson.bsky.social @bobhudson.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Just ‘noise’…not the most considered verdict on being found guilty on 114 out of 115 charges is it? www.theguardian.com/football/202...
theguardian.com
Manchester City chair Al Mubarak insists ‘nothing has changed’ after guilty verdict
Manchester City’s chair Khaldoon Al Mubarak, has attempted to dismiss the club’s guilty verdict as ‘noise’
000
@bobhudson.bsky.social @bobhudson.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Why can’t governments join things up better? This is an easily predicted running sore… www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
theguardian.com
Angela Rayner stands by attack on care worker visa reforms ahead of Labour conference
Housing secretary says Home Office moved goalposts with ‘disruptive’ change to permanent residence rules
100
@bobhudson.bsky.social @bobhudson.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Reform say it will make the civil service ‘a better place to work’ - by slashing numbers by 50%…
162
@bobhudson.bsky.social @bobhudson.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Waking to #bbcr4 news telling me about ‘the anti-migrant activist, Daniel Thomas, known to his supporters as Danny Tomo’. How about just: ‘A 37 year old white man has been arrested’? www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Daniel Thomas arrested after dinghy slashed in Channel
Police had been looking into footage appearing to show the man, also known as Danny Tommo, slashing at a boat in the English Channel with a knife.
101
@bobhudson.bsky.social @bobhudson.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
When will our political class just confess that Brexit has been a total disaster and needs to be fixed? www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
theguardian.com
UK ‘losing up to £6.5bn a year in EU trade’ without post-Brexit product deal
IPPR finds failure to align testing standards costing 0.18% of national income and has seen companies abandon exporting to EU
001
@bobhudson.bsky.social @bobhudson.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
This shocking story here in the NE is going viral. It raises so many questions - not least about accountability on the part of professionals and managers. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
County Durham breast cancer failure bosses to review 4,500 more cases
The BBC has spoken to women who suffered unnecessary surgery, delayed diagnoses and a lack of care.
010
@bobhudson.bsky.social @bobhudson.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
They won’t be happy until the workhouses re-open will they?
050
@bobhudson.bsky.social @bobhudson.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Reform councils here in NE show their colours - South Tyneside shuts all ten nurseries; deputy leader of Durham questions the whole idea of child care. Voters won’t be happy…
032
@bobhudson.bsky.social @bobhudson.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Oh c’mon Andy! Drink is consumed liberally before the match, gulped down at half-time and swallowed leisurely afterwards… www.theguardian.com/football/202...
theguardian.com
Andy Burnham signals he may lift ban on alcohol in football stands
Prime minister says measure is discriminatory when fans of other sports are not similarly restricted
120
@bobhudson.bsky.social @bobhudson.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Farage’s sense of victimhood is endless isn’t it?
010
@bobhudson.bsky.social @bobhudson.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
A child - yes a child - led chants of ‘let them drown’ using a megaphone! What are we coming to with these masked thugs?
010
@bobhudson.bsky.social @bobhudson.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Correct! 100%?correct! www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...
independent.co.uk
Brexit has left Britain ‘impotent – a bobbing cork in the sea,’ says David Miliband
Exclusive: Former foreign secretary adds to mounting pressure for a new UK deal with EU to repair Brexit damage
001
@bobhudson.bsky.social @bobhudson.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
This makes withdrawal of the winter fuel allowance look like small beer… www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
theguardian.com
Thinktank linked to Reform UK calls for abolition of state pension
‘Radical’ report likely to influence party’s platform also proposes abolishing inheritance and capital gains taxes
020
@bobhudson.bsky.social @bobhudson.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Why isn’t this idiot under arrest? www.theguardian.com/world/2026/s...
theguardian.com
Far-right activist Daniel Thomas slashes dinghy in Channel with blade while rescue worker onboard
Thomas called followers to protest against arrival of asylum seekers in Gosport, but Border Force instead transported them to Dover
140
@bobhudson.bsky.social @bobhudson.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Badenoch: never misses a chance to amplify a problem; never has a realistic solution.
030
@bobhudson.bsky.social @bobhudson.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Trump tramples over our economy while Burnham and Healey get the blame.
063
@bobhudson.bsky.social @bobhudson.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Farage seems to be spending his windfall even though there are question marks about its legality. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
theguardian.com
Reform UK activists squabble over Farage’s plan for £72m donations
Crypto billionaires’ £72m will be used to hire campaign managers and professional staff in target constituencies
010
@bobhudson.bsky.social @bobhudson.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Why is end-of-life care such a lottery? My view in the newly launched NE venture, the Source. Do consider subscribing… eyesandearsnortheast.substack.com/p/dying-to-k...
eyesandearsnortheast.substack.com
Dying to know: Unraveling end-of-life care
And keeping the North East on the rails.
000
@bobhudson.bsky.social @bobhudson.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
The sheer pettiness and nastiness of Sunderland’s Reform council is breathtaking.
083
@bobhudson.bsky.social @bobhudson.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Dear God….its not his fight, it’s ours!?
111
@bobhudson.bsky.social @bobhudson.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
No wonder Trump hates her 👏👏
053
@bobhudson.bsky.social @bobhudson.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
He’s now standing again in the by-election triggered by his own failure to attend any meetings. And, of course, he’s a Reform councillor!
121
@bobhudson.bsky.social @bobhudson.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
Bravo Louise Casey! This has needed to be said for 30 years. Thatcher’s gang strangled local authority social services in their infancy.
1154
@bobhudson.bsky.social @bobhudson.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
What a whinger he is! With Brighton currently thrashing Arsenal he has bigger problems to think about.
000
@bobhudson.bsky.social @bobhudson.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
Well, I’m not happy about this. The final Country Diary from the wonderful and inimitable Phil Gates… www.theguardian.com/environment/...
theguardian.com
Country diary: A lesson from my final diary after nearly 40 years – keep looking closely | Phil Gates
Stanhope, Weardale: I’ve realised in that time that beauty and fascination can lie in the most mundane of plants – in this case, broad-leaved dock
010
@bobhudson.bsky.social @bobhudson.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
This is scandalous! The new CEO says he can’t explain it. His predecessor got a gong for ‘services to the NHS’ and has disappeared, as has the ex-Board Chair. Meanwhile the surgeon responsible is still employed and on full pay. Where’s the accountability?
000
@bobhudson.bsky.social @bobhudson.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
Oh America…what were you thinking?
031
@bobhudson.bsky.social @bobhudson.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
The Telegraph has its finger on the pulse of the nation…
040
@bobhudson.bsky.social @bobhudson.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
Wealthy exile whose business has received massive taxpayer subsidy whinges that the country is ‘on the slide’ … www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Billionaire Manchester United owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe says he has lost confidence in UK
Ineos founder Sir Jim Ratcliffe tells the BBC he thinks the country is "on the slide" and calls for more investment in the North Sea.
041
@bobhudson.bsky.social @bobhudson.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
‘On the outside begging to be let back in’ - but we won’t admit it. Neat encapsulation of our Brexit dilemma by @jontybloom.bsky.social jonty.substack.com/p/they-still...
jonty.substack.com
They still don’t get it
This week the Prime Minister of Canada attended the annual State of the Union speech in the European parliament and was rewarded with the offer of “associate membership”.
000
@bobhudson.bsky.social @bobhudson.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
Listening to #r4today coverage of this scandal. New CEO saying he can’t explain it. Previous CEO gets a gong and disappears. And the rogue surgeon is *still* employed by the trust! www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Twenty women had breasts removed unnecessarily, NHS trust admits
The women were among hundreds who were harmed by their treatment at County Durham health trust.
160
@bobhudson.bsky.social @bobhudson.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
It’s terrifying how this deranged narcissism has become normalised isn’t it?
051
@bobhudson.bsky.social @bobhudson.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
This shocking story rumbles on - fine investigative journalism by @sharonbarbourbbc.bsky.social. Meanwhile the ex-CEO and FT Board Chair have disappeared into the ether. Where’s the accountability? www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Twenty women had breasts removed unnecessarily, NHS trust admits
The women were among hundreds who were harmed by their treatment at County Durham health trust.
061
@bobhudson.bsky.social @bobhudson.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
We seem to be moving inexorably towards the unthinkable - the total closure of a university… www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
University of Brighton considers closing Falmer campus by 2030
The campus houses the university's library, sports and health complex, and two halls of residence.
0109
@bobhudson.bsky.social @bobhudson.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Either we’re in or we’re out - can’t we just be honest about this? www.theguardian.com/world/2026/s...
theguardian.com
‘Made in Europe’ law threatens UK plans for reset with EU
Government sources say legislation aimed at China poses a risk to British businesses and must be addressed
041
@bobhudson.bsky.social @bobhudson.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
The news isn’t all bad… www.politico.eu/article/swed...
politico.eu
Left on brink of victory in Swedish election
Defeat looms for Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and his allies on the far right.
011
@bobhudson.bsky.social @bobhudson.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
JL Partners are trying to keep their heads down after the #C4 exposure but their preferential treatment of Reform runs deep. How can we trust anything they say? www.politico.eu/article/refo...
politico.eu
Reform aide caught in donor sting attended Egypt retreat with JL Partners
The polling company invited a top Farage lieutenant as a guest speaker.
030