Reposted by Matthew BaileyPhilip Cowley @philipjcowley.bsky.social · 02/10/2026For the last four weeks, I've been doing a slot on Matt Chorley's programme on Radio 5, in which we take an interesting or historic parliamentary vote and discuss its significance. So far we've done Norway (1940), the Shops Bill (1986), seatbelts (1981) and yesterday we did Iraq (2003). 1256
Reposted by Matthew BaileyPhilip Cowley @philipjcowley.bsky.social · 06/10/2026Latest piece for @thehousemag.bsky.social - on the Norway vote in 1940, drawing on a great piece just published in Parliamentary History. www.politicshome.com/opinion/arti...politicshome.comThe Professor Will See You Now: NorwayLessons in political science. This week: Norway 1610
Reposted by Matthew BaileyGrumpy Philosopher @stevecooke.org · 05/10/2026They asked five consultants about whether universities should spend more money on hiring consultants, guess what they said? It’s embarrassing that this is badged as journalism. 1284
Reposted by Matthew BaileyOdd This Day @oddthisday.bsky.social · 05/10/2026Today, you will be delighted to hear, is the 131st anniversary of George author-of-Grub-Street Gissing writing this in his diary 1115427
Reposted by Matthew BaileyGrumpy Philosopher @stevecooke.org · 05/10/2026Amazing! Apparently, we can blame a lack of recruitment of overseas student on universities not spending enough money on consultants. Government immigration policy & hostile environment not mentioned (Covid & Brexit given a nod). Less of an article more of a plea to give parasitic consultants cash. 64011
Reposted by Matthew BaileyDavid Higham @oldtrotter.bsky.social · 03/10/2026How more thoughtful Conservatives view Thatcher’s legacy centrewrite.brightblue.org.uk/all-voters-w...centrewrite.brightblue.org.ukAll voters want is for Conservatives to forget ThatcherConservatives continue to operate under the delusion that we can have it all. 171
Reposted by Matthew BaileyDavid Higham @oldtrotter.bsky.social · 02/10/2026History is written by the victors. Thatcher broke the power of trade unions by mass unemployment, industrial restructuring, frittered away N Sea Oil, laid the foundations for the current housing crisis, decimated local bus services, hollowed out local government and introduced the poll tax. 94933248
Reposted by Matthew BaileySimon Knott @simonknott.bsky.social · 03/10/2026The writer Henri-Alban Fournier, better known as Alain-Fournier, was born #OTD 3 October 1886. His only novel, 'Le Grand Meaulnes' is a magical book about a romantic friendship between two boys on the verge of adulthood, set in a mysterious, remote wooded countryside. 1/4 🧵 4417
Reposted by Matthew BaileyRoy Kelly @stanyanfan49.bsky.social · 01/10/2026A tiny impromptu for National Poetry Day and Beatle people like @dontlikeyourtie.bsky.social and @beatlespod.bsky.social 1177
Reposted by Matthew BaileyNick Stone @typejunky.bsky.social · 30/09/2026I took some peripheral photos of the current state of the world around the Anglia Square demolition. And it happening as well. It’s still fascinating, all the shapes and lines and alignments of a slowly degrading piece of city opening up and showing a bare layered soul as the world walks by. 1210423
Reposted by Matthew BaileyOut of Context Biffo the Bear @oocbiffo.bsky.social · 01/10/2026Beano #561, April 18, 1953 6489
Reposted by Matthew BaileyJames Austin @jamesdaustin.bsky.social · 01/10/2026As always the right miss the importance of a functioning state and services to enabling growth and the private sector. A nation with crumbling infrastructure and a sick, ill educated population isnt an attractive proposition for investment 3538
Reposted by Matthew BaileyPhil Tinline @philtinline.bsky.social · 01/10/2026Doctor Who has described the BBC's new AI-generated director general as "pretty good", and suggested that the technology now enabled the creation of content "at the standard of an unimaginative man who spent years working at McKinsey then Google". 112136
Reposted by Matthew BaileyLuca Tiratelli @lucatiratelli.bsky.social · 28/09/2026I await the first time a politician proposing some nuts new immigration restriction is asked what is otherwise the media’s favourite question: how are you going to pay for it?? 219067
Reposted by Matthew BaileyGlen O'Hara @gsoh31.bsky.social · 28/09/2026On Friday I gave a @royalhistsoc.org lecture about the battle for rights of way in England and Wales: you can watch and listen here! Many thanks to the @ihr.bsky.social for hosting, and to @ukri.org for funding the project. Much more to come on this front. royalhistsoc.org/glen-ohara-g...royalhistsoc.orgGlen O'Hara gives latest RHS lecture on 'Rights of Way and the Battle for the Land' - RHSOn Friday 25 September the Society hosted the latest lecture in its 2026 programme. Our great thanks to Professor Glen O'Hara (Oxford Brookes University) who spoke on: ‘In All Our Footsteps? Rights of... 1245
Reposted by Matthew BaileyDouglas Cheape @douglascheape.bsky.social · 24/09/2026This, to me, doesn't look like the kind of thing you want to encourage your dog to go for. 741190135
Reposted by Matthew BaileyHugo Gordon @hugogordon.bsky.social · 20/09/2026One of the single biggest societal issues with modern media economics is that it incentivises publishing absurd contrarians like Syed, who in turn get undue influence in shaping people's worldview despite being at best idiotic and wrong, at worst actively extreme 12910
Reposted by Matthew BaileySteven (with a PH) @sjksalisbury.bsky.social · 20/09/2026Christening a baby is nothing like christening a ship. I know that now. Once again I can only apologise. 161191513869
Reposted by Matthew BaileyMatthew Sweet @drmatthewsweet.bsky.social · 19/09/2026I answered some Baillie Gifford Prize questions about Barbara and ended up talking about my Crossroads-related trauma. www.thebailliegiffordprize.co.uk/inside-the-c...thebailliegiffordprize.co.ukMatthew Sweet Longlist InterviewThe Baillie Gifford Prize rewards excellence in non-fiction writing, bringing the best in intelligent reflection on the world to new readers. 0164
Reposted by Matthew BaileyJester mouse @jestermouse.bsky.social · 19/09/2026Coincidentally, most of the UK has lost confidence in billionaires. Will the BBC print that? www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...bbc.co.ukBillionaire Manchester United owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe says he has lost confidence in UKIneos founder Sir Jim Ratcliffe tells the BBC he thinks the country is "on the slide" and calls for more investment in the North Sea. 87923
Matthew Bailey @whyoutloud.bsky.social · 16/09/2026I can recommend a book which covers the film very well: www.amazon.co.uk/David-Britis... 110
Reposted by Matthew BaileyFilm Noir UK @filmnoiruk.bsky.social · 16/09/2026Head over to @talkingpicturestv.bsky.social first thing tomorrow (Thursday) morning (7:45am) for #FilmNoir In A Lonely Place (1950) starring Humphrey Bogart and Gloria Grahame. Directed by Nicholas Ray. 1336
Reposted by Matthew BaileyMelanie Williams @britfilmmelanie.bsky.social · 15/09/2026Excited to be keynote speaker for this essential biennial conference where all the feminist media historians gather! 074
Reposted by Matthew BaileySimonRead @simonread.bsky.social · 15/09/2026#blackandwhitefilm of the day: Seance On A Wet Afternoon, 1964. British psychological kidnapping thriller with Kim Stanley and Dicky Attenborough as a mentally-unstable medium and her cowed husband. It's deliciously disturbing on @talkingpicturestv.bsky.social at 1.30pm youtu.be/oLrtv6YfyVEyoutu.beSeance on a Wet Afternoon (1964) Original Trailer [FHD]YouTube video by HD Retro Trailers 1215
Reposted by Matthew BaileyPaula Surridge @psurridge.bsky.social · 13/09/2026A very British form of resistance popping up on Facebook today. People buying RNLI Christmas cards to send to a Reform UK free post address. 516440
Reposted by Matthew BaileyMatthew Sweet @drmatthewsweet.bsky.social · 12/09/2026Blimey Craig Brown in the Sunday Times! 918512
Reposted by Matthew BaileyLewis Baston @lewisbaston.bsky.social · 12/09/2026This is the only possible redeeming feature. 0188
Reposted by Matthew BaileyPlashing Vole @plashingvole.bsky.social · 12/09/2026Woke up and realised that even before the final sacking next week that my university now employs more people with English Literature PhDs in administration than in the English department. Tells you something about the state of HE. 431182
Reposted by Matthew BaileyTalking Pictures TV @talkingpicturestv.bsky.social · 11/09/2026The New Series of THE CELLAR CLUB with #CarolineMunro continues at 9pm with the #MichaelPowell 60s horror classic PEEPING TOM (1960) starring #CarlBoehm #AnnaMassey #MoiraShearer So bolt the doors and.... don't be late! #TPTVsubtitles 053
Reposted by Matthew BaileyAnnalisa Nicholson @apuddleofmuddle.bsky.social · 11/09/2026It's just weird isn't it when the British Museum is running a sold-out exhibition, when The Odyssey reports $1billion at the box office, when the V&A has just opened the most innovative and accessible museum model in Europe....and this is what our minister for research comes out with. 361220456
Reposted by Matthew BaileyWill Jennings📉🗳️ @drjennings.bsky.social · 10/09/2026Jacqui Smith demonstrating zero understanding of the HE sector here. 36914
Reposted by Matthew BaileyRobert Saunders @robertsaunders.bsky.social · 07/09/202690 years ago, Parliament responded to the rise of Oswald Mosley's Blackshirts by passing the Public Order Act, which banned political uniforms, private militias and the threat of force for political objects. The debates make very resonant reading today. Here's the Liberal Robert Bernays. (Short 🧵) 4123691265
Reposted by Matthew BaileyRobert Hutton @roberthutton.co.uk · 08/09/2026On Andy Burnham's sudden bout of shyness. thecritic.co.uk/sanc... 19957304
Reposted by Matthew BaileyChaminda Jayanetti @cjayanetti.bsky.social · 08/09/2026I think the worst part of Labour's response to the fascist mobilisation is Andy Burnham's absence. He's the most popular politician in the country, with social media reach and actual powers of persuasion, and he's saying nothing in public. He can actually be of use here but he's choosing not to 451458420
Reposted by Matthew BaileySteve Chambers @planningtransport.co.uk · 05/09/2026Yes the travel disruption is what worries me too. 3173
Reposted by Matthew BaileyWill Cooling @willcooling.bsky.social · 05/09/2026Like whatever you think of the policies, the flippant tone is just disgusting isn't? This is the lives of desperate people we're talking about here. And the strain placed on rescue and security services. Show some bloody respect 45710
Reposted by Matthew BaileyJohn Oxley @joxley.jmoxley.co.uk · 05/09/2026My first draft would be something like: "Masked thugs plotting to shut down major infrastructure under the threat of street violence is unacceptable. Those responsible will face the full force of the law". But that's just me, I guess. 619456
Reposted by Matthew BaileyJohn Oxley @joxley.jmoxley.co.uk · 05/09/2026A large group of co-ordinated, masked men blockading a piece of significant infrastructure is a security threat and should be dealt with as one. There should also be serious questions about why police/intelligence services didn't pick up on it in advance. 57944271
Reposted by Matthew BaileyLesley A Hall @erinacean.bsky.social · 04/09/2026Does anyone have a subscription/access to ukpressonline and be willing to download for me ONE article? Please? I do not seem to have institutional access and do not wish to take out a whole year's subscription. Irony alert: the article is from The Daily Worker. 179
Reposted by Matthew BaileyThomas I-G @thomasig.bsky.social · 05/09/2026This was clearly not an act of spontaneity. Dozens and dozens of men travelling down, all wearing black, all wearing masks is anything but a spontaneous protest. An infuriating response. 30470134
Reposted by Matthew BaileyDavid Higham @oldtrotter.bsky.social · 05/09/2026It’s an open challenge to the authority of the state and this is the response of a Labour MP, which comes awfully close to “legitimate concerns”. 43111
Reposted by Matthew BaileyBeth Kitson @drbethkitson.bsky.social · 31/08/2026‘Members of the public keen to see the Bayeux tapestry faced online queues of up to nine hours when tickets went on sale for the first time earlier this summer. There were reports of 40,000 people queueing by mid-morning, with that figure ballooning to almost 80,000 by mid-afternoon.‘ 092
Reposted by Matthew BaileyEggPod Express @eggpod.bsky.social · 26/08/2026New Beatles audio alert! Day Tripper songwriting work tape from the forthcoming Rubber Soul box youtu.be/1m1TFIhlCXgyoutu.beDayTripper - Songwriting Work Tape (Visualiser)YouTube video by The Beatles 5396
Reposted by Matthew BaileyMargot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 26/08/2026“The original sin was the abolition in 2012 of taxpayer support for the arts, humanities and social sciences,” said [Nicholas Barr]...referring to...Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition [reforms] which saw direct government funding for teaching cut and the tuition fee cap rise to £9,000.' 1/3timeshighereducation.comAxe threshold freeze to ‘show loan reform intent’, ministers toldBurnham government seen as more likely than Starmer to act on growing calls to relieve pressure on young graduates 24021
Reposted by Matthew BaileyTim Bale @timbale.bsky.social · 23/08/2026Either every single media organisation in the UK doesn't understand their audience or people are lying to pollsters. I genuinely can't make up my mind which it is. 6939899
Reposted by Matthew BaileySpooky Old Mark Monro | He/Him 🌈 @thatidiotmonro.bsky.social · 16/08/2026Will all policy announcements by parties with a handful of MPs be the top story on the BBC now, or is this a special exception for Reform going after the disabled? 310330
Reposted by Matthew BaileySam Freedman @samfr.bsky.social · 15/08/2026I wish media outlets would describe Nathan Cofnas as a racist rather than a "self-defined race realist" which doesn't mean anything to most people. His writing meets any definition of racism however narrowly and cautiously drawn. 672597570
Reposted by Matthew BaileyLuca @lucagalletti.bsky.social · 15/08/2026Homer Simpson disappearing into hedge (in Lego) Credit to Jason Allemann & Kristal / @jkbrickworks 322647600