Sign in

Tim Maynard

@timmaynard.bsky.social
219 followers 583 following 198 posts

Politics | cricket | rugby | European history, mostly

PostsRepliesMedia
Tim Maynard @timmaynard.bsky.social · 9h
The language here is grotesque. When my mum died earlier this year, the final throes of MS, the comfort from the team in her care home was extraordinary. I dread to think how threadbare the care may have been in those confusing weeks without the benefit of immigration.
1170
Tim Maynard @timmaynard.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
I found Queen Camilla’s statement odd in a similar vein. ‘Not without flaw’..’but an irrepressible life force’ - having spent time at her late majesty’s pleasure…
110
Tim Maynard @timmaynard.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Sounds like they need to review William Pettigrew’s book (review from the times)
1230
Tim Maynard @timmaynard.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Absolutely, and also the long term, ie having the right support if a career takes a trajectory of Alli or Sterling. Bellingham’s parents seem to have got the balance better
020
Tim Maynard @timmaynard.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
Absolutely, immense progress has been made and will continue. The comparison higher up was with Copenhagen, and having spent time there I don’t think it works.
000
Tim Maynard @timmaynard.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
Not being doomerism as I say positive change is possible, ambition just needs to be realistic for each city.
210
Tim Maynard @timmaynard.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
Yes, agreed, and should always learn lessons from success in other cities, for the ambition to then be rooted in what’s realistic.
100
Tim Maynard @timmaynard.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
Not just the make up of the city. Everything together, including what draws people to live and work in the city. I’m not saying a positive shift isn’t possible or desirable, but I don’t think the level of Copenhagen is a realistic ambition for the points already made.
100
Tim Maynard @timmaynard.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
The entire make up of a city influences how people would cycle, not just a cycling network. And that’s why the comparison with Copenhagen doesn’t work.
100
Tim Maynard @timmaynard.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
Its scale? Copenhagen-wide boulevards, more compact city, suiting shorter rides. London, sprawling footprint-needing longer rides, many narrow streets, patchwork approach. People will always cycle quite differently as a result. So I don’t think it a realistic ambition, even if preferable
100
Tim Maynard @timmaynard.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
Copenhagen’s cycling infrastructure goes back to the 1880s so embedded in the city and its population is a fraction of the size. People cycle very differently there than in London
100
Tim Maynard @timmaynard.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
It’s just a different scale. It just wouldn’t be possible to map out cycling infrastructure for an 8.8mn population city as it is for 679,000. How would it work around Bank of England or into parliament square? Copenhagen is less intense, people cycle v differently so it’s not realistic
100
Tim Maynard @timmaynard.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
Have long heard people cite Copenhagen as comparison, but just don’t think it would be viable to create similar infrastructure in London, plus people cycle very differently: Copenhagen more leisurely to get from a to b, whereas in London it’s dress like Bradley Wiggins and more aggressive
100
Tim Maynard @timmaynard.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
I don’t think she’s stupid - her career prior to politics is testament to that - but she is profoundly ill suited to politics and media interviews, which is an issue..
000
Tim Maynard @timmaynard.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
There is a weird school of thought in the right wing that the RNLI has become ‘political’; in reality just operating in line with its founding purpose, and right wing has tried to impose its politics on RNLI. So they will look at the intimidation and think ‘ok we don’t agree with the methods but..’
190
Reposted by Tim Maynard
Jonn Elledge @jonnelledge.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
I want the Prime Minister to look into a TV camera and say the RNLI are heroes, that we do not change policy by street violence in this country, and that he expects any criminal action to face the full force of the law. That's it. That's all he has to do.
632781881
Tim Maynard @timmaynard.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
Thank you, and likewise sorry for your loss. You are completely right that so little is said about it, and yet it is absolutely a before and after moment in life.
000
Tim Maynard @timmaynard.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
‘He may have to pay more attention to what’s going on’, is the final reflection. As if it’s all a careless oversight
0123
Tim Maynard @timmaynard.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
Thanks for writing this. I lost my mum earlier this year, similar age after struggling with MS, a lot resonates and very helpful to hear
100
Tim Maynard @timmaynard.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
I don’t understand the need for a history podcast format where you have one expert balanced by a comedian, as if to make the discussion more accessible for the present day. It adds zero to the discussion and takes time away from the experts who are more interesting to listen to
140
Tim Maynard @timmaynard.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
I just don’t think Jukes will go in any meaningful sense. As you say, at Farage’s side for years, whether accompanying him to media interviews at Millbank, constituency visits, or going to the cricket at lords. Can’t imagine any investigation will change that
140
Tim Maynard @timmaynard.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
It’s not just main news programmes. On Radio 2 this am, led with Reform resignations-fine-but only quote in bitesize report was Tice, saying everything above board, as ‘government in waiting’ they’re ‘focused on first 100 days’. Millions listen to R2, &BBC is misinforming its audience at this point
0131
Tim Maynard @timmaynard.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
Can we assume channel 4 has been added to the ‘not welcome’ list at reform party conference
040
Tim Maynard @timmaynard.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
More both sides here from Chris Mason. Surface level summary, seeking to provide understanding to Farage’s claims, and as if written for a Newsround audience. All combined it borders on misinformation www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Chris Mason: Reform face headwinds as they gather for conference
The party's continued prominence has brought what prominence always brings: scrutiny, says BBC political editor Chris Mason.
100
Tim Maynard @timmaynard.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
It’s a problem for Griffith in particular. He looked visibly uncomfortable at Burnham’s comments now and of course it will be a recurring theme..
040
Tim Maynard @timmaynard.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
Partly the role of tech providers. Eg google can provide parents with info on internet, social media use, screen time, website access. Through this same platform parents can keep tabs on where their teenagers are. Extending a sensible approach inside the home extends to excessive scrutiny outside
000
Tim Maynard @timmaynard.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
Think that’s right. Players themselves said they didn’t want any logos on the kit, and for it to stand test of time, so perhaps artist chose to link that to heritage too
010
Tim Maynard @timmaynard.bsky.social · 08/08/2026
It’s stunningly beautiful
010
Tim Maynard @timmaynard.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
At least we have forewarning as to the likely focus of Matthew Syed’s next column..
020
Tim Maynard @timmaynard.bsky.social · 01/08/2026
And the opportunity to explore this was when Jenrick and Braverman defected. It was a clear, damaging choice not to do so
021
Tim Maynard @timmaynard.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
George Osborne made a point that from recent family experience I agree with: the reason palliative and social care is so challenged at societal level is that at family level we are uncomfortable having end of life conversations. He draws a direct link between the 2
030
Tim Maynard @timmaynard.bsky.social · 15/07/2026
I think the point is already made. If a gov can’t make the argument with conviction and clarity, be clear on the trade offs, but why the end goal is worth it, if people aren’t clear what all of that is, in the context of rising costs it is going to be harder to bring people with you
110
Tim Maynard @timmaynard.bsky.social · 10/07/2026
Although to be selected he would have to denounce the net zero commitment in his own manifesto..
160
Tim Maynard @timmaynard.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
As Badenoch said when he moved, ‘he’s their problem now..’
070
Tim Maynard @timmaynard.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
The ICC are a bit late on to this, given England were releasing dressing room clips throughout the Oval test too: www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricke...
bbc.co.uk
Ben Stokes: ICC contacts ECB over retirement video announcement
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is contacted by the International Cricket Council (ICC) over Ben Stokes’ retirement announcement.
010
Tim Maynard @timmaynard.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
Not if you’re on the RNLI’s mailing list…
020
Tim Maynard @timmaynard.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
Having watched Mason’s report I’m not convinced the article was originally written for pictures. Written with the website in mind, and oversimplifies. His broadcast report was, curiously, better
010
Tim Maynard @timmaynard.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
at 10 in his live comments not report he made reference to ‘postcode whose currency is power’, but that was it. It’s a clunky article &think it’s more that BBC journos are too aware of the channel they are using, as opposed to audience. They oversimplify, with effect of talking down. Eg Newsbeat
030
Tim Maynard @timmaynard.bsky.social · 17/06/2026
I’d have Michael Heseltine in there as a success too
110
Tim Maynard @timmaynard.bsky.social · 16/06/2026
Really bizarre, and was similarly out of place in Burnham’s launch video
000
Tim Maynard @timmaynard.bsky.social · 14/06/2026
Beyond his nonsensical positions and pseudo intellectual lens to embrace the culture war, it’s remarkable how clunky his writing consistently is: usually in the first person and, bizarrely, often nodding his head…
160
Tim Maynard @timmaynard.bsky.social · 12/06/2026
Such a massive loss. From Yorkshire countryside to California, incredible portraits, so many epic works to consider (and I can’t think of any other artist able to capture the scale and splendour of the Grand Canyon). In addition his conversations with Martin Gayford are fascinating.
170
Reposted by Tim Maynard
Maggie LaNoue @maggielanoue.bsky.social · 12/06/2026
David Hockney art. An artist may have passed on but the art remains for us to enter into.
151
Tim Maynard @timmaynard.bsky.social · 12/06/2026
A print of this sits on my wall and I have spent many hours lost in it. A huge loss, though his paintings will continue to be a strength for so many.
2444
Tim Maynard @timmaynard.bsky.social · 10/06/2026
It’s for this timidity, more than any other issue, that Labour has to make a change. It’s genuinely in the national interest
010
Tim Maynard @timmaynard.bsky.social · 09/06/2026
Mark Nicholas?
100
Tim Maynard @timmaynard.bsky.social · 09/06/2026
It would be so sad. I hope he doesn’t. But the fact he was even in the club in the small hours suggests that at some level, however inebriated, he disagreed with the curfew he was part of bringing in. That suggests a rupture within the leadership team from which something very sadly has to give
000
Tim Maynard @timmaynard.bsky.social · 09/06/2026
Arrest him at Heathrow?
130
Tim Maynard @timmaynard.bsky.social · 08/06/2026
At least there’s Harry Brook waiting in the wings to steady the ship if need be…
040
Tim Maynard @timmaynard.bsky.social · 03/06/2026
He cites PG Wodehouse… has he come across Spode..?
110