Alison Strachan
@alisonstrachan.bsky.social
Grandparent. Retired English teacher. UK/EUropean. Various interests incl environment/🦔/Antarctica🐧🐳/sport/politics/democracy/climate change/space/sci-fi/SC2 😷💉/own views
Reposted by Alison Strachan
Such important context for the scrapping of the two child limit:
70% of the additional spending from removing the two-child limit will go to families who are in work. This is targeting support for low-income working households who are being priced out of a decent standard of living despite doing everything asked of them.
November 28, 2025 at 8:51 AM
Such important context for the scrapping of the two child limit:
Taking half a million children out of poverty is HUGE. Quibbling or whining about it is utterly shameful
The UK, where the day after a decision to take half a million children out of poverty, the media & political world has been full of sneering at those same children & their families, labelling them as ‘Benefits Street’, while the same people are moaning about a tax on £2m mansions. Shameful stuff.
November 27, 2025 at 10:42 PM
Taking half a million children out of poverty is HUGE. Quibbling or whining about it is utterly shameful
Reposted by Alison Strachan
Love being reminded to do this every year. It's a win/win all round
November 11, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Love being reminded to do this every year. It's a win/win all round
Reposted by Alison Strachan
Wikipedia at 25. "Twenty-five years of humanity at its best" with all its imperfections and flaws. And a willingness to engage constructively and creatively with these: wikimediafoundation.org/wikipedia25/...
Wikipedia 25 – Wikimedia Foundation
Celebrate Wikipedia’s 25th birthday and humanity at its best. Your support keeps knowledge reliable, open, and ad free, so it is accessible to everyone.
wikimediafoundation.org
November 25, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Wikipedia at 25. "Twenty-five years of humanity at its best" with all its imperfections and flaws. And a willingness to engage constructively and creatively with these: wikimediafoundation.org/wikipedia25/...
Reposted by Alison Strachan
Who remembers that Brexit campaign slogan from 2016? 🤔
November 25, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Who remembers that Brexit campaign slogan from 2016? 🤔
Reposted by Alison Strachan
This BBC kids tv advert from 1998 is still very impressive and very lovely
November 13, 2025 at 9:56 AM
This BBC kids tv advert from 1998 is still very impressive and very lovely
Reposted by Alison Strachan
One of the most powerful, lucid and actionable blueprints about how to turn the boat around on the UK economy.
Truly excellent - if you want to learn how the UK economy dysfunctions, and how it could work better, read this.
(London should maybe hire John and Andrew as advisors to stoke growth).
Truly excellent - if you want to learn how the UK economy dysfunctions, and how it could work better, read this.
(London should maybe hire John and Andrew as advisors to stoke growth).
New essay out today by me and @acjsissons.bsky.social - ‘Getting Britain out of the hole: a plan for the economy’. You can read the whole thing here getting-out-of-the-hole.uk
A chart mega-thread follows 🧵
A chart mega-thread follows 🧵
Getting Britain out of the hole
A plan for the UK economy
getting-out-of-the-hole.uk
November 17, 2025 at 9:13 AM
One of the most powerful, lucid and actionable blueprints about how to turn the boat around on the UK economy.
Truly excellent - if you want to learn how the UK economy dysfunctions, and how it could work better, read this.
(London should maybe hire John and Andrew as advisors to stoke growth).
Truly excellent - if you want to learn how the UK economy dysfunctions, and how it could work better, read this.
(London should maybe hire John and Andrew as advisors to stoke growth).
Reposted by Alison Strachan
"My NHS colleagues & I weren’t willing to let the bodies pile high in their thousands. Boris no longer mentions them at all."
My piece on the responses to the UK Covid-UK Inquiry report that try to airbrush the dead away.
Sincere thanks, @theobserveruk.bsky.social.
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
My piece on the responses to the UK Covid-UK Inquiry report that try to airbrush the dead away.
Sincere thanks, @theobserveruk.bsky.social.
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
I’ll never forget the horror of the Covid wards | The Observer
observer.co.uk
November 23, 2025 at 9:18 AM
"My NHS colleagues & I weren’t willing to let the bodies pile high in their thousands. Boris no longer mentions them at all."
My piece on the responses to the UK Covid-UK Inquiry report that try to airbrush the dead away.
Sincere thanks, @theobserveruk.bsky.social.
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
My piece on the responses to the UK Covid-UK Inquiry report that try to airbrush the dead away.
Sincere thanks, @theobserveruk.bsky.social.
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
Reposted by Alison Strachan
An honor and dream come true to perform alongside Yo-Yo Ma, presented by Celebrity Series at Boston Symphony Hall. 💜
🎼Ave Maria (Bach/Gounod)
🎼Ave Maria (Bach/Gounod)
November 23, 2025 at 3:32 AM
Reposted by Alison Strachan
Reminder.
November 23, 2025 at 7:37 AM
Reminder.
Reposted by Alison Strachan
Stasis, sanctimony and the liberal paradox. New post on my Brexit & Brexitism Blog with such Brexit news as there is, but mainly analysis of what 'responsible Farage' tells us about the tensions in Reform and what the BBC row tells us about Brexitism: chrisgreybrexitblog.blogspot.com/2025/11/stas...
November 14, 2025 at 7:55 AM
Stasis, sanctimony and the liberal paradox. New post on my Brexit & Brexitism Blog with such Brexit news as there is, but mainly analysis of what 'responsible Farage' tells us about the tensions in Reform and what the BBC row tells us about Brexitism: chrisgreybrexitblog.blogspot.com/2025/11/stas...
Reposted by Alison Strachan
🚨 BREAKING: John Major says Brexit was an act of collective folly.
It made 🇬🇧 poorer, weaker and cut off from 🌍 biggest market.
He’s right and it’s exactly what the data, job losses, exodus of 🇬🇧 citizens, collapsing industries and EU’s new demands all show.
www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/former...
It made 🇬🇧 poorer, weaker and cut off from 🌍 biggest market.
He’s right and it’s exactly what the data, job losses, exodus of 🇬🇧 citizens, collapsing industries and EU’s new demands all show.
www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/former...
Former Tory PM Brands Brexit 'An Act Of Collective Folly' In Outspoken Attack
John Major said "our enemies celebrated and our friends despaired" at the vote to leave the European Union.
www.huffingtonpost.co.uk
November 19, 2025 at 7:08 AM
🚨 BREAKING: John Major says Brexit was an act of collective folly.
It made 🇬🇧 poorer, weaker and cut off from 🌍 biggest market.
He’s right and it’s exactly what the data, job losses, exodus of 🇬🇧 citizens, collapsing industries and EU’s new demands all show.
www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/former...
It made 🇬🇧 poorer, weaker and cut off from 🌍 biggest market.
He’s right and it’s exactly what the data, job losses, exodus of 🇬🇧 citizens, collapsing industries and EU’s new demands all show.
www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/former...
Reposted by Alison Strachan
Interesting to see so many great British patriots right now begging an American president to bankrupt one of Britain’s last remaining truly national institutions.
November 15, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Interesting to see so many great British patriots right now begging an American president to bankrupt one of Britain’s last remaining truly national institutions.
Reposted by Alison Strachan
Brexiters - Project fear they said
We don’t mind being poorer they said
Now they blame migrants and asylum seekers for the mess they made
The ‘Brexit effect’ is only getting worse
We don’t mind being poorer they said
Now they blame migrants and asylum seekers for the mess they made
The ‘Brexit effect’ is only getting worse
November 13, 2025 at 12:28 PM
Brexiters - Project fear they said
We don’t mind being poorer they said
Now they blame migrants and asylum seekers for the mess they made
The ‘Brexit effect’ is only getting worse
We don’t mind being poorer they said
Now they blame migrants and asylum seekers for the mess they made
The ‘Brexit effect’ is only getting worse
Reposted by Alison Strachan
That final point is absolutely crucial.
The fact that the BBC has made serious culpable errors does not negate the point that there is a real and concerted right-wing media campaign to destroy it. Both points can be true at the same time and the campaign would not end even if the errors did.
November 12, 2025 at 8:09 AM
That final point is absolutely crucial.
Reposted by Alison Strachan
🎯 Davey is spot on. "We can have criticism of the BBC, but within that, we need to recognise how valuable an institution it is [and how] precious to our country. And that's one of the reasons why people like President Trump and Nigel Farage, want to undermine the BBC." 👏🏽~AA
November 10, 2025 at 2:35 PM
🎯 Davey is spot on. "We can have criticism of the BBC, but within that, we need to recognise how valuable an institution it is [and how] precious to our country. And that's one of the reasons why people like President Trump and Nigel Farage, want to undermine the BBC." 👏🏽~AA
Reposted by Alison Strachan
A few more photos from tonight’s incredible #aurora. I’m fascinated by the amount of red light tonight. This is generated by oxygen molecules being excited by light plasma at least 600 km above the Earth. The green is also oxygen molecules, but much lower (100-250km). Definitely a great night.
November 12, 2025 at 4:23 AM
A few more photos from tonight’s incredible #aurora. I’m fascinated by the amount of red light tonight. This is generated by oxygen molecules being excited by light plasma at least 600 km above the Earth. The green is also oxygen molecules, but much lower (100-250km). Definitely a great night.
Reposted by Alison Strachan
A short video of the nursery pod of Bottlenose Dolphins in Vidlin Voe, Shetland yesterday. Check out some of those tiny calves! Only the fourth confirmed record of this species in Shetland waters.
#MarineLife #MarineMammals #CetaceansUK #UKWildlife
#MarineLife #MarineMammals #CetaceansUK #UKWildlife
November 9, 2025 at 5:16 PM
A short video of the nursery pod of Bottlenose Dolphins in Vidlin Voe, Shetland yesterday. Check out some of those tiny calves! Only the fourth confirmed record of this species in Shetland waters.
#MarineLife #MarineMammals #CetaceansUK #UKWildlife
#MarineLife #MarineMammals #CetaceansUK #UKWildlife
Reposted by Alison Strachan
FT editorial is right to ask questions about governance and the Board at the BBC
on.ft.com/3WQmPJr
on.ft.com/3WQmPJr
Crucial lessons for the BBC
The broadcaster has made errors, but its board has failed to defend it
on.ft.com
November 11, 2025 at 7:14 AM
FT editorial is right to ask questions about governance and the Board at the BBC
on.ft.com/3WQmPJr
on.ft.com/3WQmPJr
Reposted by Alison Strachan
Trump wants to destroy the BBC and take our money. And Nigel Farage is egging him on.
All true patriots should tell them both: hands off our BBC.
All true patriots should tell them both: hands off our BBC.
November 10, 2025 at 10:07 PM
Trump wants to destroy the BBC and take our money. And Nigel Farage is egging him on.
All true patriots should tell them both: hands off our BBC.
All true patriots should tell them both: hands off our BBC.
Reposted by Alison Strachan
Brexit reduced the UK’s GDP by between 6% and 8%. That is MASSIVE. #ProjectFear #wetoldyouso
www.nber.org/papers/w3445...
www.nber.org/papers/w3445...
November 10, 2025 at 8:11 PM
Brexit reduced the UK’s GDP by between 6% and 8%. That is MASSIVE. #ProjectFear #wetoldyouso
www.nber.org/papers/w3445...
www.nber.org/papers/w3445...
Reposted by Alison Strachan
The reaction to the Panorama edit has been nothing short of hysterical. Yes the BBC has some impartiality problems. But its biggest isn't the one you think.
New piece from me.
open.substack.com/pub/goodalla...
New piece from me.
open.substack.com/pub/goodalla...
The truth about impartiality at the BBC
And the hysteria of the current "crisis"
open.substack.com
November 10, 2025 at 7:22 PM
The reaction to the Panorama edit has been nothing short of hysterical. Yes the BBC has some impartiality problems. But its biggest isn't the one you think.
New piece from me.
open.substack.com/pub/goodalla...
New piece from me.
open.substack.com/pub/goodalla...
Reposted by Alison Strachan
Excellent analysis of this unfolding horror show
What you’re witnessing is a populist assault on the BBC.
This is not an institutional scandal in any meaningful sense of the word. It is an attack on public service broadcasting.
iandunt.substack.com/p/extra-edit...
This is not an institutional scandal in any meaningful sense of the word. It is an attack on public service broadcasting.
iandunt.substack.com/p/extra-edit...
November 10, 2025 at 12:28 PM
Excellent analysis of this unfolding horror show
Reposted by Alison Strachan
See what’s happening. A Trumpist US media company has taken over Channel 5. Another US company is gunning for ITV. Our social media is saturated by Musk’s calls for civil war in the UK. The BBC is the last thing standing, and Trump/Johnson are trying to bring it down
November 9, 2025 at 11:59 PM
See what’s happening. A Trumpist US media company has taken over Channel 5. Another US company is gunning for ITV. Our social media is saturated by Musk’s calls for civil war in the UK. The BBC is the last thing standing, and Trump/Johnson are trying to bring it down
Reposted by Alison Strachan
I had my disagreements with the BBC under Tim Davie but he was a decent man doing a difficult job.
To see Trump's White House claiming credit for his downfall and attacking the BBC should worry us all.
To see Trump's White House claiming credit for his downfall and attacking the BBC should worry us all.
November 9, 2025 at 8:00 PM
I had my disagreements with the BBC under Tim Davie but he was a decent man doing a difficult job.
To see Trump's White House claiming credit for his downfall and attacking the BBC should worry us all.
To see Trump's White House claiming credit for his downfall and attacking the BBC should worry us all.