Chris Roberts
@chrisjroberts.bsky.social
Trying to stay sane in an increasingly mad world. Light relief offered by Leyton Orient.
Reposted by Chris Roberts
It's such a bizarre framing. Labour MPs think taking 450k kids out of poverty is putting the country first! That's why they wanted it to happen! It's not because they personally benefit.
Headline on The World at One just now:
"Sir Keir Starmer has denied putting the Labour Party before the country by ending the two-child benefit cap".
Can we please go back to reporting the actual news, not someone's partisan take on it?
"Sir Keir Starmer has denied putting the Labour Party before the country by ending the two-child benefit cap".
Can we please go back to reporting the actual news, not someone's partisan take on it?
November 27, 2025 at 1:16 PM
It's such a bizarre framing. Labour MPs think taking 450k kids out of poverty is putting the country first! That's why they wanted it to happen! It's not because they personally benefit.
Reposted by Chris Roberts
Somebody is briefing the Times that the Home Secretary finds inspiration in Kristi Noem's leading the Trump mass deportation effort - which has gone much too far for Americans
What a kamikaze piece of political madness that is on the eve of their asylum package
www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
What a kamikaze piece of political madness that is on the eve of their asylum package
www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
Shabana Mahmood threatens Trump-style visa ban on three countries
Angola, Namibia and the Democratic Republic of Congo will face Trump-style sanctions if they do not start taking back more illegal migrants and criminals
www.thetimes.com
November 16, 2025 at 7:19 PM
Somebody is briefing the Times that the Home Secretary finds inspiration in Kristi Noem's leading the Trump mass deportation effort - which has gone much too far for Americans
What a kamikaze piece of political madness that is on the eve of their asylum package
www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
What a kamikaze piece of political madness that is on the eve of their asylum package
www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
Reposted by Chris Roberts
If they don't call this the Quorn Laws then the country truly is gone.
November 16, 2025 at 3:46 PM
If they don't call this the Quorn Laws then the country truly is gone.
One of the Kindertransport memorials at Liverpool Street station, taken today. Found out more about the history around providing a safe haven when recently reading Sebald's Austerlitz.
November 16, 2025 at 3:22 PM
One of the Kindertransport memorials at Liverpool Street station, taken today. Found out more about the history around providing a safe haven when recently reading Sebald's Austerlitz.
Reposted by Chris Roberts
Shabana Mahmood: immigration is tearing Britain apart.
Me: the constant politicisation of immigration to appeal to base racist instincts to cover up the constant failures and weakness of central government is tearing Britain apart.
Me: the constant politicisation of immigration to appeal to base racist instincts to cover up the constant failures and weakness of central government is tearing Britain apart.
November 15, 2025 at 11:42 PM
Shabana Mahmood: immigration is tearing Britain apart.
Me: the constant politicisation of immigration to appeal to base racist instincts to cover up the constant failures and weakness of central government is tearing Britain apart.
Me: the constant politicisation of immigration to appeal to base racist instincts to cover up the constant failures and weakness of central government is tearing Britain apart.
Reposted by Chris Roberts
This is as bad as anything proposed by Reform.
Leaving refugees in permanent limbo and unable to build a new life in the UK would be a complete abdication of our humanitarian responsibilities
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Leaving refugees in permanent limbo and unable to build a new life in the UK would be a complete abdication of our humanitarian responsibilities
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
UK set to limit refugees to temporary stays
Shabana Mahmood is expected to say the era of permanent protection for refugees is over, in major changes to the UK's asylum and immigration system.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 15, 2025 at 6:43 AM
This is as bad as anything proposed by Reform.
Leaving refugees in permanent limbo and unable to build a new life in the UK would be a complete abdication of our humanitarian responsibilities
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Leaving refugees in permanent limbo and unable to build a new life in the UK would be a complete abdication of our humanitarian responsibilities
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Chris Roberts
Buckle up - because this now amounts to a direct and deliberate attack on our country and its cultural sovereignty. Which side our politicians take - Trump's or the BBC's - over the coming days and weeks will speak volumes about their patriotism.
Trump says he will sue BBC for at least $1bn over Panorama edit
The US president confirmed he intends to sue the broadcaster for at least $1bn over the Panorama edit of a 2021 speech.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 15, 2025 at 7:10 AM
Buckle up - because this now amounts to a direct and deliberate attack on our country and its cultural sovereignty. Which side our politicians take - Trump's or the BBC's - over the coming days and weeks will speak volumes about their patriotism.
Reposted by Chris Roberts
"Trying to raise large sums with lots of tax changes that we hope no one will notice, although it actually just infuriates everyone. We thought it would work last year, but it didn't. It never does.
But...
It might work for us this year."
But...
It might work for us this year."
November 14, 2025 at 8:06 AM
"Trying to raise large sums with lots of tax changes that we hope no one will notice, although it actually just infuriates everyone. We thought it would work last year, but it didn't. It never does.
But...
It might work for us this year."
But...
It might work for us this year."
Reposted by Chris Roberts
I’ve written to Keir Starmer, Kemi Badenoch and Nigel Farage urging them to condemn Donald Trump’s attack on the BBC.
The BBC belongs to Britain, not Trump. We must defend it together.
The BBC belongs to Britain, not Trump. We must defend it together.
November 10, 2025 at 11:29 AM
I’ve written to Keir Starmer, Kemi Badenoch and Nigel Farage urging them to condemn Donald Trump’s attack on the BBC.
The BBC belongs to Britain, not Trump. We must defend it together.
The BBC belongs to Britain, not Trump. We must defend it together.
As if to prove one of the points, you had the spectacle this morning of the Reform leader, when asked about the BBC, recognise (with big grin) his potential conflict of interest, before pointing out the White House press secretary suggests the UK watches GB News instead. It's preposterous.
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 12:34 PM
As if to prove one of the points, you had the spectacle this morning of the Reform leader, when asked about the BBC, recognise (with big grin) his potential conflict of interest, before pointing out the White House press secretary suggests the UK watches GB News instead. It's preposterous.
I made the mistake of watching media questions at Reform's press conference this morning. The first genuinely challenging question about a Reform policy stance gets described as 'the problem' by Farage, followed by audience boos. What an utter charade.
November 10, 2025 at 11:52 AM
I made the mistake of watching media questions at Reform's press conference this morning. The first genuinely challenging question about a Reform policy stance gets described as 'the problem' by Farage, followed by audience boos. What an utter charade.
Reposted by Chris Roberts
The Mamdani text generator has some important messages to share.
November 10, 2025 at 5:14 AM
The Mamdani text generator has some important messages to share.
Reposted by Chris Roberts
We are so far through the looking glass that the man who tried to overthrow an election becomes president, the people who attacked the Capitol are turned into martyrs, & it's the BBC that gets punished - cheered on by the worst news outlets in the UK & the two most dishonest politicians of our age.
It’s not at all clear to me how the BBC can do any kind of serious journalism if its top two bosses can be forced to quit over such an obviously confected scandal. There is no substantive error here. How can the BBC report on Trump, or Farage, or anyone else, in these circumstances?
November 9, 2025 at 9:08 PM
We are so far through the looking glass that the man who tried to overthrow an election becomes president, the people who attacked the Capitol are turned into martyrs, & it's the BBC that gets punished - cheered on by the worst news outlets in the UK & the two most dishonest politicians of our age.
So, 22 goals scored and 27 conceded sums up the season for #lofc thus far. Comfortably among the higher scoring teams, but the worst team defensively.
November 8, 2025 at 2:58 PM
So, 22 goals scored and 27 conceded sums up the season for #lofc thus far. Comfortably among the higher scoring teams, but the worst team defensively.
This is spot on and could apply to so many policy areas marked 'a bit complicated'.
“What problems are you actually interested in solving?” - a question that I’m not sure most of our current crop of politicians could answer.
November 6, 2025 at 12:01 PM
This is spot on and could apply to so many policy areas marked 'a bit complicated'.
Reposted by Chris Roberts
I’m sorry but this move has been obvious from space since the inception of the electric car. Was the expectation that fuel duty would trend to 0 and politicians would just go “whoops, no more vehicle revenues for us 😔”
November 6, 2025 at 11:48 AM
I’m sorry but this move has been obvious from space since the inception of the electric car. Was the expectation that fuel duty would trend to 0 and politicians would just go “whoops, no more vehicle revenues for us 😔”
Reposted by Chris Roberts
A magnificent piece of work. Comprehesive, revelatory & shocking. Journalism this good is always rare & precious but never moreso than at times like this. Latter day Lord Haw Haws being plumped, preened & delivered to your doorstep in plain sight by a Nazi-saluting goon
news.sky.com/story/the-x-...
news.sky.com/story/the-x-...
Elon Musk is boosting the British right - and this shows how
Elon Musk is boosting the British right - and this shows how
news.sky.com
November 6, 2025 at 9:16 AM
A magnificent piece of work. Comprehesive, revelatory & shocking. Journalism this good is always rare & precious but never moreso than at times like this. Latter day Lord Haw Haws being plumped, preened & delivered to your doorstep in plain sight by a Nazi-saluting goon
news.sky.com/story/the-x-...
news.sky.com/story/the-x-...
Reposted by Chris Roberts
Now, that’s a BEAUTY!
November 5, 2025 at 3:16 PM
Now, that’s a BEAUTY!
Reposted by Chris Roberts
As context to freeing of an Algerian man, here's some info about HMP Wandsworth, where he was:
• Built for 900 prisoners. Holds 1,600.
• Daily roster of prison officers c.70. Up to 15 staff on long-term sick leave.
• 36% of officers have >3yrs service.
• 12% of prison staff leave *each year*.
• Built for 900 prisoners. Holds 1,600.
• Daily roster of prison officers c.70. Up to 15 staff on long-term sick leave.
• 36% of officers have >3yrs service.
• 12% of prison staff leave *each year*.
November 5, 2025 at 2:10 PM
As context to freeing of an Algerian man, here's some info about HMP Wandsworth, where he was:
• Built for 900 prisoners. Holds 1,600.
• Daily roster of prison officers c.70. Up to 15 staff on long-term sick leave.
• 36% of officers have >3yrs service.
• 12% of prison staff leave *each year*.
• Built for 900 prisoners. Holds 1,600.
• Daily roster of prison officers c.70. Up to 15 staff on long-term sick leave.
• 36% of officers have >3yrs service.
• 12% of prison staff leave *each year*.
I find UK politics increasingly baffling/depressing. I may have low expectations, but re. the latest prisoner release story, if it's accepted the justice system has systemic problems given long-term underfunding, how could any government be expected to immediately guarantee no more errors?
November 5, 2025 at 1:26 PM
I find UK politics increasingly baffling/depressing. I may have low expectations, but re. the latest prisoner release story, if it's accepted the justice system has systemic problems given long-term underfunding, how could any government be expected to immediately guarantee no more errors?
Reposted by Chris Roberts
A race to the bottom on pensions will only worsen the crisis in our public services, with the civil service already unable to compete on attracting & retaining talent.
Reforming public services takes investment in people, skills & tech, which Reform need to recognise if serious about governing.
Reforming public services takes investment in people, skills & tech, which Reform need to recognise if serious about governing.
Scoop: As Nigel Farage prepares to make his big economic speech, his deputy gets into a spat with a senior trade union boss ...
www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/exclus...
www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/exclus...
Exclusive: Union Boss Slams Reform's Richard Tice Over Plan To Slash Pensions
The party's deputy leader said public spending needs to fall.
www.huffingtonpost.co.uk
November 3, 2025 at 1:07 PM
A race to the bottom on pensions will only worsen the crisis in our public services, with the civil service already unable to compete on attracting & retaining talent.
Reforming public services takes investment in people, skills & tech, which Reform need to recognise if serious about governing.
Reforming public services takes investment in people, skills & tech, which Reform need to recognise if serious about governing.
Reposted by Chris Roberts
Nigel Farage, who has so far registered a total of £280,500 for four hours a month as a "brand ambassador" for a company selling gold bars, thinks a £10 an hour minimum wage for young people is too high bylinetimes.com/2025/11/03/n...
Nigel Farage Says Minimum Wage Should Be Cut for Young People
The Reform leader said cutting the minimum wage for young people would boost business, as he attacked plans to raise taxes on the wealthy
bylinetimes.com
November 3, 2025 at 1:05 PM
Nigel Farage, who has so far registered a total of £280,500 for four hours a month as a "brand ambassador" for a company selling gold bars, thinks a £10 an hour minimum wage for young people is too high bylinetimes.com/2025/11/03/n...
Reposted by Chris Roberts
Another good day not to be on the racist site, where every tragedy is an opportunity
November 2, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Another good day not to be on the racist site, where every tragedy is an opportunity
Reposted by Chris Roberts
Just took a deep breath & went to look at X. It's an absolute cesspit of hatred & glee: one huge account after another blaming the Huntingdon attacks on immigration, with total disregard for information, evidence or the safety of those at whom they're pointing. The yearning for violence is palpable.
November 2, 2025 at 1:27 PM
Just took a deep breath & went to look at X. It's an absolute cesspit of hatred & glee: one huge account after another blaming the Huntingdon attacks on immigration, with total disregard for information, evidence or the safety of those at whom they're pointing. The yearning for violence is palpable.