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Philippa Budgen

@philippabudgen.bsky.social
252 followers 425 following 207 posts

Freelance Media Consultant for charities & campaigns. Loves justice. Hates injustice. Reformed journalist. Sometimes found in cold water.

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Philippa Budgen @philippabudgen.bsky.social · 16/12/2025
The comfort of strangers. Reminded of this today on a train jouney to a family friend’s funeral. A man opposite me unplugged from all devices (as did I). An hour later, we’d covered global war/peace, civic responsibilities & history. And he listened to me solve a practical conundrum!
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Philippa Budgen @philippabudgen.bsky.social · 19/11/2025
Snow in mid November in London
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Philippa Budgen @philippabudgen.bsky.social · 29/09/2025
This morning when I woke up my to-do list was a tad daunting. Glad I squeezed in a run. Where I swim, there’s a sign saying ‘you never forget a swim’. Well, you rarely regret a run too!
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Philippa Budgen @philippabudgen.bsky.social · 22/09/2025
Autumn beckons
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Philippa Budgen @philippabudgen.bsky.social · 05/09/2025
Interesting. David Lammy to Justice Secretary- as well as Deputy PM. www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c0...
bbc.co.uk
Starmer appoints David Lammy as deputy PM to replace Rayner after resignation
Yvette Cooper replaces Lammy as foreign secretary, while Shabana Mahmood takes over as home secretary.
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Philippa Budgen @philippabudgen.bsky.social · 03/09/2025
After epic downpour
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Philippa Budgen @philippabudgen.bsky.social · 25/08/2025
What did you get up to this Bank Holiday? Had the most brilliant behind-the-scenes tour of British Library. Absolutely fascinating. Saw a Hansard record of parliament from 1806, world’s largest book (until 2012) & details I never thought I’d want to know. All for a tenner. Recommend. #BankHoliday
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Philippa Budgen @philippabudgen.bsky.social · 11/08/2025
Guess what this is propping up the window on a scorchiio day…… #heatwave
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Philippa Budgen @philippabudgen.bsky.social · 06/08/2025
There’s a phrase at the reservoir, ‘You never regret a swim’. Yup, so true.
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Philippa Budgen @philippabudgen.bsky.social · 05/08/2025
A series of crises….brewing over several decades’: highly respected Anne Owers lays bare the reality of prisons’ decision-making. Shame it’s August, this story definitely doesn’t belong in ‘silly season’. It’s serious stuff. www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
theguardian.com
Prison system was days from collapse three times under Sunak, review finds
Emergency measures bailed out jails at last minute as No 10 refused to cut prisoner numbers until ‘cliff edge’ reached, former watchdog reports
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Philippa Budgen @philippabudgen.bsky.social · 01/08/2025
Last night I caught ‘Inter Alia’ the play starring Rosamund Pike as a judge at National Theatre. It’s due as a National Theatre Live (more reasonable cost). Electric performance with troubling reflections similar but different to Adolescence. If you can, I thoroughly recommend.
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Philippa Budgen @philippabudgen.bsky.social · 29/07/2025
Wish I could be at this. Shame tech hasn’t found the way to clone us to be in two places at once! What a party. #GoLionesses www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Lionesses to hold victory parade after historic Euro 2025 win
The event in London will begin along The Mall and end with a ceremony in front of Buckingham Palace.
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Laura Phillips @lauraphillips.bsky.social · 27/07/2025
Lucy Bronze: "I just played the whole tournament with a fractured tibia" 💪
Lucy Bronze : “I just played the whole tournament with a fractured tibia"
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Philippa Budgen @philippabudgen.bsky.social · 27/07/2025
They did it! #Lionesses #Euros2025
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Philippa Budgen @philippabudgen.bsky.social · 29/05/2025
A mega busy media 24 hours. Check out ‘LGBT+ veterans fury at delays to reparation payments’ - Today programme, R 4 Independent, Standard & more. Loved a screen-detox run. Mum swan (presume it’s mum?) gets her perch back.
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Philippa Budgen @philippabudgen.bsky.social · 29/05/2025
A film, Lollipop, hits cinema screens on 13th June. I was lucky enough to have a sneak preview, courtesy of @sohohouse.bsky.social @bigissue.com @isabellamcrae.bsky.social Wrote some thoughts over on LinkedIn. www.linkedin.com/posts/philip...
linkedin.com
#lollipop #lifeafterprison #women #cinematips | Philippa Budgen
Wow! It’s not often I can say I’ve been treated to a film premiere. Today ‘Lollipop’ was screened pre-release at Soho House & Co. About life after prison for Molly, a mum-of-two (played by Posy ...
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Philippa Budgen @philippabudgen.bsky.social · 26/05/2025
Love a buttercup
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Philippa Budgen @philippabudgen.bsky.social · 22/05/2025
Beyond the headlines… Prisons building not a silver bullet to our criminal justice crisis. Better ways to address crime & the impact of crime lie in the community. But A key focus must be properly bolstering (staff/resources) probation to cope with new responsibilities Ditto for third sector
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Philippa Budgen @philippabudgen.bsky.social · 22/05/2025
The Gauke sentencing review is out…. www.bbc.com/news/article...
bbc.com
Violent criminals could be let out early for good behaviour under new proposals
The landmark sentencing review calls for fewer custodial sentences and earlier prison releases.
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Philippa Budgen @philippabudgen.bsky.social · 18/05/2025
@rachelsylvester.bsky.social led Times Crime & Justice Commission before moving to revamped @theobserveruk.bsky.social under @tortoisemedia.bsky.social. Here’s her take on the direction of travel for prisons ⬇️ observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
observer.co.uk
Starmer backs radical reform as jail population doubles and cell space runs out | The Observer
Increasingly long sentences have left the service on its knees. Now a raft of solutions will be unveiled to tackle a growing crisis
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Philippa Budgen @philippabudgen.bsky.social · 18/05/2025
Releasing people in prison a third of way into their sentence ‘Digital prisons’ Reducing short prison sentences…. More community payback work. All floated in upcoming sentencing review. But govt adherence to prison-building persists. Probation in desperate need of investment.
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Philippa Budgen @philippabudgen.bsky.social · 18/05/2025
Prepare yourselves. This week is expected to bring a much-needed sentencing review. For many justice & prison reformers it’s unlikely to hit the spot. Justice Secretary in @telegraphnews.bsky.social ⬇️ www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/05...
telegraph.co.uk
I will do what it takes to make sure our prisons never run out of space
We have no choice but to do things differently. That does not have to mean going easy on criminals
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Philippa Budgen @philippabudgen.bsky.social · 15/05/2025
Hard to believe this story even needs to be written. Liz Stead is an incredible example of someone who absolutely NEVER should have had a criminal record. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Liz Stead had a criminal record for being a lesbian but nobody told her
She was thrown out of the RAF in 1969 when bosses discovered a love letter from her then-girlfriend.
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Philippa Budgen @philippabudgen.bsky.social · 14/05/2025
This goes on my catch-up list. Thanks @madlinsudn.bsky.social for flagging.
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Philippa Budgen @philippabudgen.bsky.social · 08/05/2025
Prisons still in crisis, says prisons minister. Shame he - who knows the reality of people in/after prison well - has slipped into the ‘soft/tough’ binary presentation of responses to crime. www.bbc.com/news/article...
bbc.com
More offenders could be tagged, as James Timpson insists he’s ‘not soft on crime’
The prisons minister tells the BBC more criminals could be tagged in future, rather than sent to prison.
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Philippa Budgen @philippabudgen.bsky.social · 05/05/2025
Stumbled upon this poem on the wall of a house in a Peak District village this weekend. By Paul Muldoon. #poetry #prison #PeakDistrict #BankHolidayMonday
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Philippa Budgen @philippabudgen.bsky.social · 29/04/2025
On an April day - which pretended to be August - I’m lucky enough to have met & facilitated an influencing workshop with Roma community leader Simona Lazar in Ipswich. She has so much to say for positive change. With thanks to @lbfew.bsky.social for making it possible. I learnt so much. Buzzing!
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Philippa Budgen @philippabudgen.bsky.social · 27/04/2025
Ooh. And The Observer goes digital…. Today is the first Sunday of the Observer online- under new owner @tortoisemedia.bsky.social. Been scratching my head as to why Tortoise wants to enter the ailing newspaper market. Not been easy transition. Let’s see.
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Philippa Budgen @philippabudgen.bsky.social · 24/04/2025
Where would we be without @bigissue.com Issue? The incredible Lord Bird and team at the Big Issue must continue to shape our thinking on poverty. Really struck by this note this morning. bigissue-25501189.hs-sites-eu1.com/where-the-go...
bigissue-25501189.hs-sites-eu1.com
Where the government is going wrong on poverty
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Philippa Budgen @philippabudgen.bsky.social · 22/04/2025
Historic moment yesterday. This is the last Observer under the @theguardian.com Next Sunday the paper hopes to put a turmultuous few months behind it with a fresh start under @tortoisemedia.bsky.social #newspapers #Observer #Tortoise
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Philippa Budgen @philippabudgen.bsky.social · 21/04/2025
A bluebell theme to the long weekend. Is it just me or are they especially beautiful this year?
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Philippa Budgen @philippabudgen.bsky.social · 09/04/2025
Golden hour treat #blossom
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Philippa Budgen @philippabudgen.bsky.social · 09/04/2025
The cost of giving into a binary view of soft and hard justice is evident in letters to @theguardian.com today. See the frontline criminal defence solicitor’s letter, in particular. The prisons crisis is time to re-think. Not dig deep on failing approaches www.theguardian.com/law/2025/apr...
theguardian.com
Minority groups have always faced two-tier justice in Britain | Letters
Letters: In response to the suspension of new sentencing rules, Cordella Bart-Stewart highlights the racial disparities that continue to dog the criminal justice system. Plus Francesca Cociani on the ...
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Philippa Budgen @philippabudgen.bsky.social · 05/04/2025
Courts: places of ‘messy human realities’. Director Prof Jessica Jacobson of Birkbeck, University of London has delivered a fantastic lecture, ‘Reimagining the courtroom’. You can read about it ⬇️ www.linkedin.com/posts/philip...
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Philippa Budgen @philippabudgen.bsky.social · 05/04/2025
Anna Foster smashed it this week. A brilliant first week at @bbcradio4.bsky.social Today programme where she co-presented from the Mynmar/Thailand border (earthquake). Only to be back on air for TV’s News at Ten. Have high hopes for Anna. #Today #news #Myanmar
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Sounddelivery Media @sounddeliverymedia.bsky.social · 02/04/2025
Join Sounddelivery Media for a free online Learning Lunch on April 10th, 1-2pm! We’ll be in conversation with Jacob Dunne about his #livedexperience and its impact on the acclaimed play ‘PUNCH’ @oldvictheatre.bsky.social Register here: bit.ly/3E3SIs5 #SDMTalks #restorativejustice #theatre
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Philippa Budgen @philippabudgen.bsky.social · 01/04/2025
Sentencing guidelines ditched after 'two-tier' row. That’s the headline. The sad subtext is that pre-sentence probation reports are a good idea across the board. Alas, those days seem to be over. Shame. www.bbc.com/news/article... @taniabassett.bsky.social @harryannison.bsky.social
bbc.com
Sentencing guidelines delayed after 'two-tier' row
It comes after the government said it would pass an emergency law to override the guidance.
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Bluesky @bsky.app · 01/04/2025
We're listening to your feedback and updating the character count for posts on Bluesky. Posts can now be 299 characters long!
bsky.social
New Character Limit Now Available! - Bluesky
You asked, we listened.
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Philippa Budgen @philippabudgen.bsky.social · 31/03/2025
Ooh, new presenter on BBC’s flagship radio news programne is on air today. If you don’t know Anna Foster, she’s on the Today programme now. Good luck, Anna! @bbcradio4.bsky.social #Today
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Philippa Budgen @philippabudgen.bsky.social · 27/03/2025
Everyone’s talking about it. Adolescece, THE TV drama of 2025 has got the nation talking: manosphere, teenage boys & toxic masculinity. The best interview IMO comes from @newsagents.bsky.social. An honest exploration with writer Jack Thorne (second half) . ⬇️ open.spotify.com/episode/4qyA...
open.spotify.com
How Trump's secret war plans were leaked in a group chat
The News Agents · Episode
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Philippa Budgen @philippabudgen.bsky.social · 27/03/2025
I went with friends outside the justice sector. So wanted to reflect their perspective on ‘Punch’. ⬇️ The relevance feels even greater after Netflix hit, Adolescence has surfaced important questions re masculinity and teenage boys. www.linkedin.com/posts/philip...
linkedin.com
#bemorejoan | Philippa Budgen | 23 comments
"The people I harmed the most, helped me the most" - the words of Jacob in the play Punch which is currently playing at Young Vic theatre in London. The… | 23 comments on LinkedIn
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Philippa Budgen @philippabudgen.bsky.social · 25/03/2025
Love a magnolia. Spring has well & truly sprung.
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Philippa Budgen @philippabudgen.bsky.social · 25/03/2025
New police figures out this week about the link between suicide & domestic abuse. Such an important wake-up call. My eyes were opened by the report by @agenda-alliance.bsky.social @mcmanussally.bsky.social - well worth a look ⬇️ @nazirafzal.bsky.social
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Philippa Budgen @philippabudgen.bsky.social · 21/03/2025
And then I realised there’s radio 4 series about the real lives behind the drama. Toxic Waste Scandal by reporter George Taylor who himself was affected. www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/serie...
bbc.co.uk
BBC Sounds - In Detail... - Available Episodes
Listen to the latest episodes of In Detail... on BBC Sounds.
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Reposted by Philippa Budgen
Alan S. Morrison @alansmorrison.bsky.social · 13/03/2025
Is this in line with Meta's recent declarations on free speech? www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... To be trusted, your actions need to be in line with your rhetoric. If not, your #reputation will suffer. #PR
bbc.co.uk
Meta stops former Facebook director from promoting critical memoir
Social media company wins US emergency ruling preventing ex-director from publicising her book.
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Philippa Budgen @philippabudgen.bsky.social · 13/03/2025
Saw Punch at Young Vic theatre, London. Some impressions from me. www.linkedin.com/posts/philip...
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Philippa Budgen @philippabudgen.bsky.social · 12/03/2025
Went to Punch at Young Vic last night . So much to think about. Crime & punishment, responses to both. The human cost of our current dominant vengeful approach as a society. More to say, for now thinking. Brilliant play, highly recommend. @longfordtrust.bsky.social
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Philippa Budgen @philippabudgen.bsky.social · 10/03/2025
Hi @cleaskopeliti.bsky.social Got a story think would be up your street. Can you follow me and I’ll dm you. Thanks! Philippa
cleaskopeliti.bsky.social
Clea Skopeliti (@cleaskopeliti.bsky.social)
Freelance reporter with work in the Guardian, the Observer, the Independent, the i, Vice, i-D, & more. Previously: community journalist at the Guardian. In Madrid these days.
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Philippa Budgen @philippabudgen.bsky.social · 10/03/2025
Good to be back in Brighton- meeting first year criminologists to talk about the media & justice. Each year Jon Robins lecturer & editor of Justice Gap invites me to do a doubleact with him, sharing insights from my radio journalism & media campaigning career. It’s always good to reflect.
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Philippa Budgen @philippabudgen.bsky.social · 10/03/2025
Starting the week thinking about the cracking Toxic Town series. It looks at the terrible health consequences of steel industry in Corby. Starring Jodie Whittaker who is utterly believable. Got last ep to go so no spoilers pls! #ToxicTown #JodieWhittaker #justice
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