Ben Williams
@bpwilliams72.bsky.social
Liberal sort. Rambler. Singer. Gamer. Occasional writer. Recovering politico. Former lots of things (inc. Lib Dem Leader's Chief of Staff, Cabinet Office SpAd, Head of Whips' Office). Yorkshire via Essex. Posting in a strictly personal capacity.
Reposted by Ben Williams
Imagine paying £500,000 to be a founder-member of a private members club fronted by Liz Truss.
Robert Tchenguiz hopes Liz Truss-fronted club will help pay off debt to Reubens
Companies linked to financier owe property moguls £130mn for mortgage on Leconfield House
www.ft.com
December 11, 2025 at 4:35 PM
Imagine paying £500,000 to be a founder-member of a private members club fronted by Liz Truss.
Reposted by Ben Williams
If I were a reporter: Cool story, bro. Now answer the fucking question.
Q: Can you explain what's going on with the bandages on Trump's hand?
LEAVITT: We've given you an explanation. The president is literally constantly shaking hands.
LEAVITT: We've given you an explanation. The president is literally constantly shaking hands.
December 11, 2025 at 7:16 PM
If I were a reporter: Cool story, bro. Now answer the fucking question.
Reposted by Ben Williams
THE NEW AXIS OF EVIL
🇷🇺
🇨🇳
🇰🇵
🇸🇦
🇦🇪
🇺🇲
Now that America has endorsed the Russian invasion of Europe, declared tariff wars against all democratic nations, begun committing war crimes daily, and taken to the high seas in acts of contemptible piracy, we deserve this new status.
🇷🇺
🇨🇳
🇰🇵
🇸🇦
🇦🇪
🇺🇲
Now that America has endorsed the Russian invasion of Europe, declared tariff wars against all democratic nations, begun committing war crimes daily, and taken to the high seas in acts of contemptible piracy, we deserve this new status.
December 10, 2025 at 11:33 PM
THE NEW AXIS OF EVIL
🇷🇺
🇨🇳
🇰🇵
🇸🇦
🇦🇪
🇺🇲
Now that America has endorsed the Russian invasion of Europe, declared tariff wars against all democratic nations, begun committing war crimes daily, and taken to the high seas in acts of contemptible piracy, we deserve this new status.
🇷🇺
🇨🇳
🇰🇵
🇸🇦
🇦🇪
🇺🇲
Now that America has endorsed the Russian invasion of Europe, declared tariff wars against all democratic nations, begun committing war crimes daily, and taken to the high seas in acts of contemptible piracy, we deserve this new status.
Reposted by Ben Williams
House Intel Chair Rick Crawford on why he doesn't want video of the second Sept 2 boat strike released: "What the trained eye can detect from these videos may reveal sources and methods that would imperil troops." (But releasing video of the first strike didn't?)
December 11, 2025 at 12:59 AM
House Intel Chair Rick Crawford on why he doesn't want video of the second Sept 2 boat strike released: "What the trained eye can detect from these videos may reveal sources and methods that would imperil troops." (But releasing video of the first strike didn't?)
Reposted by Ben Williams
A longer, unpublished version of the NNS identifies Poland as one of four countries the US should try to “pull away” from the EU, according to leaked excerpts reported by the Defense One news website. It also calls for US to support parties and movements that
December 11, 2025 at 10:06 AM
A longer, unpublished version of the NNS identifies Poland as one of four countries the US should try to “pull away” from the EU, according to leaked excerpts reported by the Defense One news website. It also calls for US to support parties and movements that
Reposted by Ben Williams
🚨🚨This is worse than we could have imagined: Full version of #Trump's national #securitystrategy reportedly calls for “pulling Poland away from #EU”. 🧵 notesfrompoland.com/2025/12/10/f...
Fuller version of Trump security strategy reportedly calls for "pulling Poland away from EU"
notesfrompoland.com
December 11, 2025 at 10:04 AM
🚨🚨This is worse than we could have imagined: Full version of #Trump's national #securitystrategy reportedly calls for “pulling Poland away from #EU”. 🧵 notesfrompoland.com/2025/12/10/f...
Reposted by Ben Williams
I hope people understand that if Trump gets his way America will soon be part of the global axis of evil if we aren't already. You see it in the Caribbean, you see it in Ukraine, and you see it with Trump trying to buddy up to Xi. We are a malevolent force.
December 10, 2025 at 9:23 PM
I hope people understand that if Trump gets his way America will soon be part of the global axis of evil if we aren't already. You see it in the Caribbean, you see it in Ukraine, and you see it with Trump trying to buddy up to Xi. We are a malevolent force.
Reposted by Ben Williams
part 2, in which he demonstrates how he's taking his cognitive and physical decline very well
December 10, 2025 at 3:38 PM
part 2, in which he demonstrates how he's taking his cognitive and physical decline very well
Reposted by Ben Williams
you'd think that the fact the president of the united states is completely fucking insane would be a bigger news story
December 10, 2025 at 3:35 PM
you'd think that the fact the president of the united states is completely fucking insane would be a bigger news story
Reposted by Ben Williams
Labour’s shift away from “immigration is good but it needs to be managed” to “it is bad” is a gift to essentially everyone they compete with, because it means that they don’t have the right position to be able to attack *anyone*.
I'm sorry, but these attacks are just not going to convince Green-curious voters, because Labour is so visibly out of step with those voters' core values
This by @umakumaran.bsky.social is good - and a example of exactly how Labour should be taking on the Greens; on values, direct and on Labour territory. Taking them seriously.
December 10, 2025 at 4:25 PM
Labour’s shift away from “immigration is good but it needs to be managed” to “it is bad” is a gift to essentially everyone they compete with, because it means that they don’t have the right position to be able to attack *anyone*.
Reposted by Ben Williams
My former hardcore Brexit friend tonight:
Words to the effect
'we need a stronger and more united Europe, and leaving the EU was a massive mistake'
Words to the effect
'we need a stronger and more united Europe, and leaving the EU was a massive mistake'
December 10, 2025 at 11:02 PM
My former hardcore Brexit friend tonight:
Words to the effect
'we need a stronger and more united Europe, and leaving the EU was a massive mistake'
Words to the effect
'we need a stronger and more united Europe, and leaving the EU was a massive mistake'
Reposted by Ben Williams
Imagine the poor immigration officer who has to read 5 whole years of your social media posts. You may not kill them but surely you've diminished their capacity to truly love again
December 10, 2025 at 10:36 PM
Imagine the poor immigration officer who has to read 5 whole years of your social media posts. You may not kill them but surely you've diminished their capacity to truly love again
Reposted by Ben Williams
India shows how BritCard Digital ID could be weaponised
Starmer’s BritCards have cited India’s Digital ID system as a positive example – here’s why that should scare you | Dean Conway
@deanconway.bsky.social
Starmer’s BritCards have cited India’s Digital ID system as a positive example – here’s why that should scare you | Dean Conway
@deanconway.bsky.social
India shows how BritCard Digital ID could be weaponised
Starmer’s BritCards have cited India’s Digital ID system as a positive example – here’s why that should scare you
centralbylines.co.uk
December 10, 2025 at 10:58 PM
India shows how BritCard Digital ID could be weaponised
Starmer’s BritCards have cited India’s Digital ID system as a positive example – here’s why that should scare you | Dean Conway
@deanconway.bsky.social
Starmer’s BritCards have cited India’s Digital ID system as a positive example – here’s why that should scare you | Dean Conway
@deanconway.bsky.social
Reposted by Ben Williams
The after the fact justification will either be “it would have worked if we hadn’t been couped” or “we laid the groundwork for Bridget Rayner to win”, with a side order of “Morgan always warned that Labour’s strategy was not working” and “Keir always wanted to pursue a different approach”.
I can’t help thinking that when, in future, people ask what UK political leaders said as it became undeniable that US saw European liberal democracy as its no1 strategic foe, Starmer and others will regret that the answer is “not much, shuffled awkwardly, looked at their feet”.
December 10, 2025 at 11:20 AM
The after the fact justification will either be “it would have worked if we hadn’t been couped” or “we laid the groundwork for Bridget Rayner to win”, with a side order of “Morgan always warned that Labour’s strategy was not working” and “Keir always wanted to pursue a different approach”.
Reposted by Ben Williams
"The big question for Europe is: when are you gonna fight back, guys?" ask former Obama staffers Tommy Vietor and Ben Rhodes.
"He doesn't respect you, he's interfering in your political affairs, he's talking shit...at some point stop lathering him with praise"
open.spotify.com/episode/6USY...
"He doesn't respect you, he's interfering in your political affairs, he's talking shit...at some point stop lathering him with praise"
open.spotify.com/episode/6USY...
December 10, 2025 at 1:18 PM
"The big question for Europe is: when are you gonna fight back, guys?" ask former Obama staffers Tommy Vietor and Ben Rhodes.
"He doesn't respect you, he's interfering in your political affairs, he's talking shit...at some point stop lathering him with praise"
open.spotify.com/episode/6USY...
"He doesn't respect you, he's interfering in your political affairs, he's talking shit...at some point stop lathering him with praise"
open.spotify.com/episode/6USY...
Reposted by Ben Williams
Self-declared Free Speech Capital of the World Deeply Concerned about European Censorship proposes pre-screening tweets for wrongthink as part of the ESTA application process.
Cool. Cool cool cool.
Cool. Cool cool cool.
December 10, 2025 at 10:58 AM
Self-declared Free Speech Capital of the World Deeply Concerned about European Censorship proposes pre-screening tweets for wrongthink as part of the ESTA application process.
Cool. Cool cool cool.
Cool. Cool cool cool.
Reposted by Ben Williams
How many times do we need to point this out?
By appeasing the far right, you do not weaken it. You strengthen it.
While weakening your own position.
There's a vast amount of academic research showing this.
But Labour will not listen.
www.theguardian.com/law/2025/dec...
By appeasing the far right, you do not weaken it. You strengthen it.
While weakening your own position.
There's a vast amount of academic research showing this.
But Labour will not listen.
www.theguardian.com/law/2025/dec...
Starmer urges Europe’s leaders to curb ECHR to halt rise of far right
Exclusive: PM calls for members of European convention on human rights to allow tougher action to protect borders
www.theguardian.com
December 10, 2025 at 10:56 AM
How many times do we need to point this out?
By appeasing the far right, you do not weaken it. You strengthen it.
While weakening your own position.
There's a vast amount of academic research showing this.
But Labour will not listen.
www.theguardian.com/law/2025/dec...
By appeasing the far right, you do not weaken it. You strengthen it.
While weakening your own position.
There's a vast amount of academic research showing this.
But Labour will not listen.
www.theguardian.com/law/2025/dec...
This gets straight to the point as regards the position we find ourselves in, stranded between the US and the EU. We need to pick a lane. And it should be the European liberal view of the west.
Excellent piece by @gideonrachman.bsky.social - which frames the NSS correctly and walks through the three plausible implications for Europe. All of them are worrying, and will be a big part of our research coverage at Eurasia Group going forward
December 10, 2025 at 1:04 PM
This gets straight to the point as regards the position we find ourselves in, stranded between the US and the EU. We need to pick a lane. And it should be the European liberal view of the west.
Reposted by Ben Williams
The NSS insists: “We must protect our country from invasion . . . from unchecked migration.” That idea is then extended across the Atlantic to Europe. This is what underpins the NSS’s controversial claim that Europe stands on the brink of “civilisational erasure”.
www.ft.com/content/9536...
www.ft.com/content/9536...
December 10, 2025 at 11:29 AM
The NSS insists: “We must protect our country from invasion . . . from unchecked migration.” That idea is then extended across the Atlantic to Europe. This is what underpins the NSS’s controversial claim that Europe stands on the brink of “civilisational erasure”.
www.ft.com/content/9536...
www.ft.com/content/9536...
Reposted by Ben Williams
This is the cost of racism. And white people pay it, too.
Alt-text and more in thread.
1/
Alt-text and more in thread.
1/
Tighter visa rules will cost UK up to £10.8bn giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...
December 10, 2025 at 12:26 PM
This is the cost of racism. And white people pay it, too.
Alt-text and more in thread.
1/
Alt-text and more in thread.
1/
Reposted by Ben Williams
Labour as a government is fundamentally racist and xenophobic. Yes, you absolutely can say that a Reform or Conservative government would be worse for people, but you're still arguing over which flavour of racism you are prepared to swallow for a quiet life. 1/7
December 10, 2025 at 8:58 AM
Labour as a government is fundamentally racist and xenophobic. Yes, you absolutely can say that a Reform or Conservative government would be worse for people, but you're still arguing over which flavour of racism you are prepared to swallow for a quiet life. 1/7
Reposted by Ben Williams
The AP has called the Miami mayor’s race for Democrat Eileen Higgins. She defeated a Trump-endorsed Republican and became the first Democrat in nearly 30 years to win the office.
December 10, 2025 at 1:10 AM
The AP has called the Miami mayor’s race for Democrat Eileen Higgins. She defeated a Trump-endorsed Republican and became the first Democrat in nearly 30 years to win the office.
Reposted by Ben Williams
THIS IS HUGE: Democrat Eileen Higgins has flipped the Miami mayor’s office, defeating Republican Emilio Gonzalez and marking the latest sign of the party’s momentum heading into next year’s midterms.
Higgins is the first Democrat to become mayor of Miami since 1997.
Higgins is the first Democrat to become mayor of Miami since 1997.
thehill.com
December 10, 2025 at 1:07 AM
THIS IS HUGE: Democrat Eileen Higgins has flipped the Miami mayor’s office, defeating Republican Emilio Gonzalez and marking the latest sign of the party’s momentum heading into next year’s midterms.
Higgins is the first Democrat to become mayor of Miami since 1997.
Higgins is the first Democrat to become mayor of Miami since 1997.
Reposted by Ben Williams
Congratulations to my Lib Dem colleagues in Parliament who are keeping up the pressure to reverse the damage done by Brexit.
This is symbolic - but most things are until you win!
This is symbolic - but most things are until you win!
The UK is rejoining the customs union! The Commons has just said so!*
*Not really, but the Lib Dems' ten-minute rule bill to do so has just passed, after a 100-100 tie with the deputy speaker casting a tie-break vote to allow the process to go on rather than stop.
*Not really, but the Lib Dems' ten-minute rule bill to do so has just passed, after a 100-100 tie with the deputy speaker casting a tie-break vote to allow the process to go on rather than stop.
December 9, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Congratulations to my Lib Dem colleagues in Parliament who are keeping up the pressure to reverse the damage done by Brexit.
This is symbolic - but most things are until you win!
This is symbolic - but most things are until you win!