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simonreynell.bsky.social

@simonreynell.bsky.social
179 followers 398 following 235 posts
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simonreynell.bsky.social @simonreynell.bsky.social · 10/10/2026
Correct, and the media pundits ignore the fact that the leader is democratically elected, not appointed by a conmmittee of the 'great and good'. If they could force an election, Zack would win again easily.
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simonreynell.bsky.social @simonreynell.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
And inevitably I'm away this evening. Damn
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simonreynell.bsky.social @simonreynell.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
This thread is rather to the point, highlighting several weaknesses in your article, Jonathan: bsky.app/profile/yair...
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simonreynell.bsky.social @simonreynell.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
No, this was a minor detail. Starmer was a dreadful politician, dependent on McSweeney, who was good at internal manoeuvring but useless in government. Gaza, disability benefits & anti-migrant positions were far more important, along with a perverse pleasure in insulting their 'natural' supporters.
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simonreynell.bsky.social @simonreynell.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
I'm not sure. Most Reform voters where I live detest the Tories & are more likely to either shift to Restore or not vote at all in bitter (& dangerous) alienation.
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simonreynell.bsky.social @simonreynell.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
'Life'
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simonreynell.bsky.social @simonreynell.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
It's a fascinating article, worth reading in full
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simonreynell.bsky.social @simonreynell.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
This is a great discussion. I ordered a copy of Raboteau's book immediately after listening to the podcast
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simonreynell.bsky.social @simonreynell.bsky.social · 15/08/2026
A period of silence would be good, @soniasodha.bsky.social You could self-critically appraise what you have become & think through your desire to become part of a hateful bullying process.
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simonreynell.bsky.social @simonreynell.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
If this week is 'the politics of can', does Burnham's silence on climate change mean that in a week of worsening drought & wildfires he reckons we can't do anything about it? Yes we can spend billions more on arms. No we can't invest in protecting people from the effects of climate change.
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simonreynell.bsky.social @simonreynell.bsky.social · 28/07/2026
Yes, absolutely. Blaming schools for the lack of leavers getting apprenticeships is like blaming farmers for the lack of rain.
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simonreynell.bsky.social @simonreynell.bsky.social · 27/07/2026
Sadly not true. While ever there's an oil industry, there'll be plenty of politicians and commentators happy to be paid to deny & obfuscate, and plenty of gullible fools who will believe them.
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simonreynell.bsky.social @simonreynell.bsky.social · 25/07/2026
Despite wanting to be hopeful & liking his presentational saviness, the timidity/hypocrisy/silence on climate change, rent controls, Gaza, immigration & civil liberties makes me pessimistic tbh.
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simonreynell.bsky.social @simonreynell.bsky.social · 25/07/2026
Starmer had no ability to learn from his errors. He left office as flat-footed & uninspiring as he entered. His many re-launches were dull & meaningless. The current heatwaves & wildfires remind us that time is short; we can't afford to wait till leaders finally grasp the urgency of climate change.
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simonreynell.bsky.social @simonreynell.bsky.social · 24/07/2026
The Labour right systematically undermined Miliband when he was leader. Burnham has broader support, so it's more difficult, but factional manoeuvring is what they like and do best (having to govern, much less so). So expect low level sniping, becoming deafening if Burnham hits any real trouble.
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simonreynell.bsky.social @simonreynell.bsky.social · 24/07/2026
Luke, do you have word charts for when Starmer (a) became Labour leader, & (b) became PM?
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simonreynell.bsky.social @simonreynell.bsky.social · 20/07/2026
As someone who worked (freelance) for the BBC over many years, it's common for reasonably normal people to become entitled arsenal's within 2 years of becoming 'onscreen talent'. There are exceptions, but that's the usual path.
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simonreynell.bsky.social @simonreynell.bsky.social · 19/07/2026
Starmer redoubled cynicism among voters ("they're all the same - freebies, broken promises etc.") It'll be hard for Burnham to overcome those sky-high levels of cynicism while sticking to what the Labour right & bond markets demand (even if he actually wants to).
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simonreynell.bsky.social @simonreynell.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
...and if the rumours about the composition of Burnham's cabinet are correct, expect Labour's polling to collapse as quickly & dramatically as it did under Starmer.
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simonreynell.bsky.social @simonreynell.bsky.social · 14/07/2026
Yes, but you need to factor in the way the Labour right will work to sabotage the progressive parts of Burnham's agenda - blocking & briefing against him in the same way as they did Miliband when he was leader. IMO he has 18 months before frustration & disillusion kick in.
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simonreynell.bsky.social @simonreynell.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
Good piece
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simonreynell.bsky.social @simonreynell.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
And owns 5 luxury homes
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simonreynell.bsky.social @simonreynell.bsky.social · 05/07/2026
Sorry but Starmer was a terrible PM. With a majority of over 100 he could have made transformational changes, but came to power unprepared & with no clear direction. Deceitful in many areas & actually criminal with regard to Gaza.
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simonreynell.bsky.social @simonreynell.bsky.social · 27/06/2026
Depressing detail from the article on Mainstream: "Some of the MPs who signed up were seen by others in the party as too far left, such as Clive Lewis and Nadia Whittome." The Burnham project will fail if it only faces rightwards and is unable to ally with the energy & policy ideas of the left.
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simonreynell.bsky.social @simonreynell.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
Likely alternative scenario: England are knocked out in the quarter finals on penalties after a mediocre performance, and after 9 months of dithering & growing media attacks, disillusion with Burnham kicks in.
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simonreynell.bsky.social @simonreynell.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
Agree, but will the current Labour Party & its media outriders allow such ideas to be enacted? It's miles away from Labour Together's vision. The latter may be losing some control, but they still have a lot of power to disrupt & undermine any radical initiatives.
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simonreynell.bsky.social @simonreynell.bsky.social · 21/06/2026
Blocking Burnham in Gorton was one of Starmer/McSweeney's dumbest moves (of many). It boosted the Greens, helped lose hundreds of Labour councillors & failed to stop Burnham anyway. Sadly they were always more interested in short-term factional gain than progressive government.
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simonreynell.bsky.social @simonreynell.bsky.social · 20/06/2026
fascinating piece, thank you
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simonreynell.bsky.social @simonreynell.bsky.social · 18/06/2026
Yes, though there's 'less negative content' in part because the Greens are no threat in Makerfield (unlike Gorton). Labour go in much harder against the Greens, and are relatively soft on Reform.
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simonreynell.bsky.social @simonreynell.bsky.social · 16/06/2026
This is an excellent discussion
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simonreynell.bsky.social @simonreynell.bsky.social · 27/05/2026
For some reason I'm sceptical that any policy commitments made during this Labour leadership campaign will actually be followed through.
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simonreynell.bsky.social @simonreynell.bsky.social · 27/05/2026
Alternative view: don't take whatever Wes says about policy too seriously. Like Starmer last time, he's trying to appeal to the soft left, but once in power would happily jettison any & every policy commitment.
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simonreynell.bsky.social @simonreynell.bsky.social · 23/05/2026
Really good piece, thanks Phil
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simonreynell.bsky.social @simonreynell.bsky.social · 14/05/2026
The internal weakness in Labour is largely the fault of the Labour Together faction. They expelled members with even mildly different views & banned or discouraged discussion of policy within the party. They are strong on internal manoeuvring but weak on developing & implementing actual policies.
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simonreynell.bsky.social @simonreynell.bsky.social · 13/05/2026
Don't worry, Wes Streeting is just the guy to sort this out. (He'll be hated even more than Starmer by most Green & Reform voters)
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simonreynell.bsky.social @simonreynell.bsky.social · 12/05/2026
Starmer did his bit for the growth of racism & hate: the island of strangers speech, & constantly repeating Reform's agenda on immigration & small boats.
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simonreynell.bsky.social @simonreynell.bsky.social · 11/05/2026
Very good, but I still find it odd to assert that Labour are 'regicide-averse' when lots of MPs & Party staff spent 2016-2019 trying to destroy their leader.
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simonreynell.bsky.social @simonreynell.bsky.social · 09/05/2026
tbh I think that for the Labour Together faction who control the Party, celebrating 'hero voters' is as much about alienating & punishing the left as about actually having a worked-out strategy for winning, let alone for governing, which they've been woefully bad at.
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simonreynell.bsky.social @simonreynell.bsky.social · 06/05/2026
Madness. At some point Labour need to stop their gutter sectarianism & work in collaboration with 💚 and LibDems to defeat Farage. But I just don't they've got it in them to be constructive & build bridged.
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simonreynell.bsky.social @simonreynell.bsky.social · 02/05/2026
Is this all about manoeuvres on the Labour right to try to block the possibility of Burnham (whose chances The Guardian are currently bigging up)?
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simonreynell.bsky.social @simonreynell.bsky.social · 01/05/2026
Alternative take from outside the Party: Labour is heading for oblivion under incredibly unpopular Starmer. It'd be easier for Burnham to do his full term as mayor, but he feels an obligation to try to rescue the Party even though it may already be too late.
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simonreynell.bsky.social @simonreynell.bsky.social · 27/04/2026
Yes, same for my mum. They do a great job with long hours and low pay.
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simonreynell.bsky.social @simonreynell.bsky.social · 24/04/2026
Not automatically under Labour's current rules / practice. In his leadership campaign Starmer promised that local parties would select candidates, but once leader gave the NEC the power to intervene in by-elections. And in practice a lot of Labour's 2024 candidates were selected by Party HQ.
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simonreynell.bsky.social @simonreynell.bsky.social · 21/04/2026
lots of people have been saying for 5 years that (1) Starmer is perfectly happy to tell lies to advance his interests/career, and (2) he is not a 'decent man'. Why has it taken so many journalists so long to accept this? Why were those journalists so determined to boost his reputation?
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simonreynell.bsky.social @simonreynell.bsky.social · 20/04/2026
I think Ed is the best minister in a poor cabinet, but he's (unfairly) very unpopular, so would be a disaster for Labour.
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simonreynell.bsky.social @simonreynell.bsky.social · 20/04/2026
So The Guardian is once again regretfully - and with such heart-wrenching sadness - going to smear the political movement that stands for policies that they pretend to support because anti-semitism (alleged by a Labour Together activist who himself had to apologise for anti-semitic comments)
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simonreynell.bsky.social @simonreynell.bsky.social · 17/04/2026
great to see you again, Philip x
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simonreynell.bsky.social @simonreynell.bsky.social · 08/04/2026
Yes, difficult for Trump to convince anyone that this is anything other than humiliating - though of course he'll say it's a triumph. And Israel won't wait a month before breaking the agreement & starting bombing again.
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simonreynell.bsky.social @simonreynell.bsky.social · 07/04/2026
I detest Kanye (and his music), but I can't believe how wound up people are getting about this on a day when the leader of the free world is proposing to destroy a country of 90 million people and its culture.
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simonreynell.bsky.social @simonreynell.bsky.social · 07/04/2026
yes, but The Guardian doesn't like to notice that. x.com/danhind/stat...
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