Angus French
@angusjfrench.bsky.social
Likes chess, reading, music, cooking and watching #SurreyCricket.
Streatham, SW London.
Streatham, SW London.
Reposted by Angus French
Shabana Mahmood said this month that her migration policies are a "moral mission".
Where is the morality in blocking an eight-year-old girl made destitute by a Hurricane from coming to the UK to join her parents?
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Where is the morality in blocking an eight-year-old girl made destitute by a Hurricane from coming to the UK to join her parents?
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
UK rejects visa for girl left destitute in Jamaica by Hurricane Melissa
Lati-Yana Brown’s parents had asked for application to be expedited so she could join them in UK after house ruined
www.theguardian.com
November 28, 2025 at 11:18 AM
Shabana Mahmood said this month that her migration policies are a "moral mission".
Where is the morality in blocking an eight-year-old girl made destitute by a Hurricane from coming to the UK to join her parents?
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Where is the morality in blocking an eight-year-old girl made destitute by a Hurricane from coming to the UK to join her parents?
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Nice game by Abdusattorov against Mishra in the London Chess Classic today: lichess.org/broadcast/20.... Abdusattorov ended up with more time on his clock than he started with - so did he benefit from opening prep?
2025 London Chess Classic | Elite • Round 2
10-player round-robin | 90 minutes / 40 moves + 30 min + 30 sec / move | standard | The Emirates Stadium, London, England | Firouzja, Abdusattorov, Elja…
lichess.org
November 27, 2025 at 7:09 PM
Nice game by Abdusattorov against Mishra in the London Chess Classic today: lichess.org/broadcast/20.... Abdusattorov ended up with more time on his clock than he started with - so did he benefit from opening prep?
Reposted by Angus French
New Substack: chrisdillow.substack.com/p/on-incompe... Parts of the Labour party and BBC simply don't know what their jobs should be.
On incompetence
Much of our political culture is fundamentally incompetent.
chrisdillow.substack.com
November 15, 2025 at 10:47 AM
New Substack: chrisdillow.substack.com/p/on-incompe... Parts of the Labour party and BBC simply don't know what their jobs should be.
Reposted by Angus French
This week's post: Expertise, Government, the Media and Covid mainlymacro.blogspot.com/2025/11/expe...
Why did the media hold Johnson to account for allowing lockdown parties in No.10, but did not hold him to account for allowing tens of thousands of preventable deaths from Covid?
Why did the media hold Johnson to account for allowing lockdown parties in No.10, but did not hold him to account for allowing tens of thousands of preventable deaths from Covid?
Expertise, Government, the Media and Covid
It is now generally (although not universally) accepted that those of us who campaigned vigorously against the government’s auster...
mainlymacro.blogspot.com
November 27, 2025 at 9:16 AM
This week's post: Expertise, Government, the Media and Covid mainlymacro.blogspot.com/2025/11/expe...
Why did the media hold Johnson to account for allowing lockdown parties in No.10, but did not hold him to account for allowing tens of thousands of preventable deaths from Covid?
Why did the media hold Johnson to account for allowing lockdown parties in No.10, but did not hold him to account for allowing tens of thousands of preventable deaths from Covid?
Reposted by Angus French
Net migration has fallen again to 204,000, the lowest level since 2021 and is forecast to continue falling over the coming years.
Not that you would know it from the endless coverage of Britain's supposed "immigration crisis"
Not that you would know it from the endless coverage of Britain's supposed "immigration crisis"
November 27, 2025 at 12:18 PM
Net migration has fallen again to 204,000, the lowest level since 2021 and is forecast to continue falling over the coming years.
Not that you would know it from the endless coverage of Britain's supposed "immigration crisis"
Not that you would know it from the endless coverage of Britain's supposed "immigration crisis"
An interesting, revealing and, in my view, concerning interview with Danny Kruger, son of Prue Leith, former Tory MP and speechwriter for David Cameron (also political secretary to Boris Johnson), now a Reform MP.
The Charlotte Edwardes interview with Danny Kruger is as good as everyone says. A great skill to get someone to open up in such revealing ways, like this bit about how much he disliked Eton, but still sent his son to it.
There is a deep natural order to things…
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
There is a deep natural order to things…
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
November 25, 2025 at 6:43 PM
An interesting, revealing and, in my view, concerning interview with Danny Kruger, son of Prue Leith, former Tory MP and speechwriter for David Cameron (also political secretary to Boris Johnson), now a Reform MP.
Reposted by Angus French
Here’s a timeline going back to 2013 when Michael Crick first questioned Farage about his schooldays, showing Farage’s varying responses to allegations of racism and antisemitism while at Dulwich, all the way to today.
November 24, 2025 at 9:22 PM
Here’s a timeline going back to 2013 when Michael Crick first questioned Farage about his schooldays, showing Farage’s varying responses to allegations of racism and antisemitism while at Dulwich, all the way to today.
Reposted by Angus French
I suppose it's beyond the remit of the OBR to say what measures would, in their estimation, produce the highest long term growth - or to model different budget scenarios and report the results.
November 24, 2025 at 5:21 PM
I suppose it's beyond the remit of the OBR to say what measures would, in their estimation, produce the highest long term growth - or to model different budget scenarios and report the results.
Reposted by Angus French
Reposted by Angus French
EXCL with @geraldinemckelvie.bsky.social
Johnson told Covid inquiry of the Feb 2020 half-term: "I was working throughout the period and the tempo did increase.”
But log shows at country house Chevening, Johnson did not conduct any official government business on 15, 16, 17 and 21 February.
Johnson told Covid inquiry of the Feb 2020 half-term: "I was working throughout the period and the tempo did increase.”
But log shows at country house Chevening, Johnson did not conduct any official government business on 15, 16, 17 and 21 February.
Boris Johnson took four days off as NHS warned Covid could ‘overwhelm’ system
Files show then PM was walking dog, riding motorbike and hosting guests as pandemic planning stalled in ‘lost month’
www.theguardian.com
November 22, 2025 at 5:08 PM
EXCL with @geraldinemckelvie.bsky.social
Johnson told Covid inquiry of the Feb 2020 half-term: "I was working throughout the period and the tempo did increase.”
But log shows at country house Chevening, Johnson did not conduct any official government business on 15, 16, 17 and 21 February.
Johnson told Covid inquiry of the Feb 2020 half-term: "I was working throughout the period and the tempo did increase.”
But log shows at country house Chevening, Johnson did not conduct any official government business on 15, 16, 17 and 21 February.
Reposted by Angus French
1/ How does the COVID Inquiry's Module 2 report align with what we said in @independentsage.bsky.social at the time? A 🧵on Transparency, Early & Decisive Action, Scientific Advice, Integration of Social & Economic Harms, Communication and Behavioural Science, Governance, Data and Preparedness
November 20, 2025 at 4:43 PM
1/ How does the COVID Inquiry's Module 2 report align with what we said in @independentsage.bsky.social at the time? A 🧵on Transparency, Early & Decisive Action, Scientific Advice, Integration of Social & Economic Harms, Communication and Behavioural Science, Governance, Data and Preparedness
The latest podcast from @zaphmann.bsky.social before a well-deserved break: inmemoryofjohnpeel.com/2025/11/02/t.... Has, for my money at least, four really good, if not outstanding, tracks.
The Beat Goes On – 20251101 036 – Podcast & Playlist
Episode 1036: Battling through the studio meltdown to bring you the latest great or merely fascinating music Listen to > THIS EPISODE < (Playlist below) Unfolding by Jessica Moss the best new…
inmemoryofjohnpeel.com
November 7, 2025 at 9:15 PM
The latest podcast from @zaphmann.bsky.social before a well-deserved break: inmemoryofjohnpeel.com/2025/11/02/t.... Has, for my money at least, four really good, if not outstanding, tracks.
Reposted by Angus French
Ed Luce watching democracy die in the United States of America
October 24, 2025 at 6:53 AM
Ed Luce watching democracy die in the United States of America
I wondered if any academic economists had a take on Tom Calver's recent piece in the Sunday Times (archive.ph/Sf8L9) on the impact to the UK economy of Brexit? @sjwrenlewis.bsky.social or @jdportes.bsky.social perhaps? I note Simon's piece from last year (mainlymacro.blogspot.com/2024/04/the-....
October 28, 2025 at 3:11 PM
I wondered if any academic economists had a take on Tom Calver's recent piece in the Sunday Times (archive.ph/Sf8L9) on the impact to the UK economy of Brexit? @sjwrenlewis.bsky.social or @jdportes.bsky.social perhaps? I note Simon's piece from last year (mainlymacro.blogspot.com/2024/04/the-....
Theme for Great Cities - Simple Minds cover by Open Mind: www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_s5...
Theme for Great Cities - Simple Minds cover by Open Mind
YouTube video by OpenMindNL
www.youtube.com
October 25, 2025 at 10:22 PM
Theme for Great Cities - Simple Minds cover by Open Mind: www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_s5...
Reposted by Angus French
Deal 🤝 inktober day 18
October 18, 2025 at 4:37 PM
Deal 🤝 inktober day 18
107 days, zero ideas:
www.persuasion.community/p/107-days-z...
HT John Naughton (memex.naughtons.org/friday-17-oc...).
www.persuasion.community/p/107-days-z...
HT John Naughton (memex.naughtons.org/friday-17-oc...).
107 Days, Zero Ideas
Kamala Harris’s new book proves she fell far short of being the candidate Democrats needed.
www.persuasion.community
October 18, 2025 at 8:30 PM
107 days, zero ideas:
www.persuasion.community/p/107-days-z...
HT John Naughton (memex.naughtons.org/friday-17-oc...).
www.persuasion.community/p/107-days-z...
HT John Naughton (memex.naughtons.org/friday-17-oc...).
Reposted by Angus French
Great write up of IfG's findings on local government by the Guardian
EXC: English councils will still be poorer in 2029 than they were in 2010, according to the IfG.
Report finds councils are increasingly providing social care and little else. Libraries, youth services, parks, all falling by the wayside.
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Report finds councils are increasingly providing social care and little else. Libraries, youth services, parks, all falling by the wayside.
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
English councils to remain poorer than in 2010 despite funding rise, says report
Exclusive: Impact of austerity cannot be undone by end of parliament despite above-inflation funding, analysis finds
www.theguardian.com
October 15, 2025 at 6:08 PM
Great write up of IfG's findings on local government by the Guardian
Watch this! It's fantastic and made me cry. www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...
Storyville - Mr Nobody Against Putin
A Storyville documentary that follows a Russian schoolteacher as he risks everything to expose rising militarism in his classroom.
www.bbc.co.uk
October 14, 2025 at 10:40 PM
Watch this! It's fantastic and made me cry. www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...
Reposted by Angus French
Heavy 🎈 inktober day 9
October 9, 2025 at 5:17 PM
Heavy 🎈 inktober day 9
Just listening to Radio 4 and a woman is talking about swifts. And I thought: I recognise those words... Katherine Rundell on the Swift: www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/.... There's a fuller version: www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4....
A Carnival of Animals - The Swift - BBC Sounds
Katherine Rundell explores wonderful stories of 20 astonishing but endangered animals.
www.bbc.co.uk
October 8, 2025 at 10:08 AM
Just listening to Radio 4 and a woman is talking about swifts. And I thought: I recognise those words... Katherine Rundell on the Swift: www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/.... There's a fuller version: www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4....
"Don't you try to bully me, you shameful, cowardly bastard", says the Aussie Bloke.
Was that Nick Cave to Roger Waters?
www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMCu...
Was that Nick Cave to Roger Waters?
www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMCu...
“Complete Pr**k”: Roger Waters DESTROYS Bono Over Israel
YouTube video by Katie Halper
www.youtube.com
October 6, 2025 at 8:54 PM
"Don't you try to bully me, you shameful, cowardly bastard", says the Aussie Bloke.
Was that Nick Cave to Roger Waters?
www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMCu...
Was that Nick Cave to Roger Waters?
www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMCu...
Reposted by Angus French
As well as the fantasy £234 bn, journalists should also be clear Farage's claims most new migrants don't work, and those who do are on low wages, are entirely false.
In fact, 1.8 million recent migrants are on payrolls (others will be self employed).
migrationobservatory.ox.ac.uk/resources/co...
In fact, 1.8 million recent migrants are on payrolls (others will be self employed).
migrationobservatory.ox.ac.uk/resources/co...
September 22, 2025 at 12:43 PM
As well as the fantasy £234 bn, journalists should also be clear Farage's claims most new migrants don't work, and those who do are on low wages, are entirely false.
In fact, 1.8 million recent migrants are on payrolls (others will be self employed).
migrationobservatory.ox.ac.uk/resources/co...
In fact, 1.8 million recent migrants are on payrolls (others will be self employed).
migrationobservatory.ox.ac.uk/resources/co...
Reposted by Angus French
Good reporting here by @annasophiegross.bsky.social of Farage's nonsense numbers.
www.ft.com/content/4e16...
www.ft.com/content/4e16...
Nigel Farage vows to ditch indefinite leave to remain for migrants
Reform UK leader says people with settled status would be forced to reapply for a new visa after five years
www.ft.com
September 22, 2025 at 9:07 AM
Good reporting here by @annasophiegross.bsky.social of Farage's nonsense numbers.
www.ft.com/content/4e16...
www.ft.com/content/4e16...