banner
LightNews
jamesbarr.bsky.social
James Barr
@jamesbarr.bsky.social
5.2K followers 500 following 6.1K posts
I write history. Last book: LORDS OF THE DESERT; before that: A LINE IN THE SAND. Next book: THE ARENA. More at/contact me via https://www.historythatmatters.org Signal - jamesbarr.62 Currently reading Alanbrooke’s diaries
www.historythatmatters.org
Posts Media Videos Starter Packs
Pinned
jamesbarr.bsky.social
James Barr @jamesbarr.bsky.social · Aug 28
Vague promises made under pressure have a tendency to backfire. I wrote about Britain’s recognition of Palestine and an earlier parallel for @engelsbergideas.bsky.social
When Britain promised Arab independence
Britain's ambiguous support for Arab national aspirations in 1915 is a warning that abstract promises, hastily made, can only generate discontent – a vital lesson for the current UK government as it p...
engelsbergideas.com
4 13 31
jamesbarr.bsky.social
James Barr @jamesbarr.bsky.social · 3h
From this: www.npsa.gov.uk/national-sec...
Protecting our Democratic Institutions: Countering Espionage and Foreign Interference
Protective security advice to safeguard those working in the UK’s democratic institutions who may be targeted by state actors
www.npsa.gov.uk
1 2
jamesbarr.bsky.social
James Barr @jamesbarr.bsky.social · 3h
Pretty clear
2 1 4
Reposted by James Barr
shashj.bsky.social
Shashank Joshi @shashj.bsky.social · 7h
Our story on what an embassy row & spy case say about where UK-China relations are headed. This government came to power aiming to cool down the rhetoric & build a clearer & more consistent China strategy, but it's hard to see much evidence of either. www.economist.com/britain/2025...
Has Britain gone soft on China?
A spying fiasco and a new London embassy feed accusations that Sir Keir is a Red softy
www.economist.com
1 6 39
jamesbarr.bsky.social
James Barr @jamesbarr.bsky.social · 7h
“Years of trouble-free maiming”
1 2
jamesbarr.bsky.social
James Barr @jamesbarr.bsky.social · 8h
I am amazed they don’t run compulsory courses for all MPs and their researchers.
1
jamesbarr.bsky.social
James Barr @jamesbarr.bsky.social · 8h
“Less or fewer?” asks Shabana Mahmood.
2
Reposted by James Barr
jamesbarr.bsky.social
James Barr @jamesbarr.bsky.social · 15h
The timing of this
Protecting our Democratic Institutions: Countering Espionage and Foreign Interference
Protective security advice to safeguard those working in the UK’s democratic institutions who may be targeted by state actors
www.npsa.gov.uk
1 2 7
jamesbarr.bsky.social
James Barr @jamesbarr.bsky.social · 8h
It’s like a particularly bad Oscars speech.
jamesbarr.bsky.social
James Barr @jamesbarr.bsky.social · 9h
Really enjoyed this. Reading your paragraph about American working habits made me wonder how ingrained the Protestant work ethic is (tho I think for the high earning corporate lawyers the driver is always being available to justify their eye-watering fees).
Reposted by James Barr
mrtrellis.bsky.social
Horace Dorrington @mrtrellis.bsky.social · 12h
Introduce yourself using one long number on the front of your card, one sort code on your card, and one three digit number on the back of your card.
2 7
Reposted by James Barr
emile-hokayem.bsky.social
Emile El-Hokayem اميل الحكيّم @emile-hokayem.bsky.social · 4d
My take on the Gaza 'plan' in the Financial Times:

"However imperfect it is, it prevents worse prospects, notably the ethnic cleansing of Gaza.”

on.ft.com/4n3w8jU
Trump’s deal ended the war — but hasn’t yet delivered peace
US pressure led to a breakthrough but it will take Washington’s sustained attention to ensure that a fragile ceasefire holds
on.ft.com
3 3
jamesbarr.bsky.social
James Barr @jamesbarr.bsky.social · 15h
“Perhaps”
2
jamesbarr.bsky.social
James Barr @jamesbarr.bsky.social · 15h
The timing of this
Protecting our Democratic Institutions: Countering Espionage and Foreign Interference
Protective security advice to safeguard those working in the UK’s democratic institutions who may be targeted by state actors
www.npsa.gov.uk
1 2 7
Reposted by James Barr
sandbaggerone.bsky.social
Dr. Dan Lomas @sandbaggerone.bsky.social · 15h
MI5 issues guidance on countering espionage and interference

www.gov.uk/government/n...
MI5 issues guidance on countering espionage and interference
MI5's National Protective Security Authority issues new security guidance to protect democratic institutions from espionage and foreign interference
www.gov.uk
2 4 6
jamesbarr.bsky.social
James Barr @jamesbarr.bsky.social · 15h
Finally
Reposted by James Barr
hetanshah.bsky.social
Hetan Shah @hetanshah.bsky.social · 29d
Age old point that throwing money at things is no guarantee it will work if you can’t be clear on focus, get quality leadership and good governance www.thetimes.com/article/416b...
Is Larry Ellison’s Oxford science project at risk of unravelling?
The tech billionaire wants to boost research with a site designed by Norman Foster — but the institute’s president has left amid claims of a clash at the top
www.thetimes.com
2 4 16
jamesbarr.bsky.social
James Barr @jamesbarr.bsky.social · 15h
I reckon I read 5 per cent of it but I have cast an eye over the headlines and chosen which 5 per cent.
2
jamesbarr.bsky.social
James Barr @jamesbarr.bsky.social · 16h
I really like seeing it as a paper and letting my eye run over the page and picking the pieces that interest me rather than the ones plugged by the website.
1 1
jamesbarr.bsky.social
James Barr @jamesbarr.bsky.social · 16h
Here are two screenshots: one for how I see the paper; the other when I click on the hyperlink to Stephen Bush’s piece
1 1
jamesbarr.bsky.social
James Barr @jamesbarr.bsky.social · 16h
Two things were going on, imho. Tory Remainers cosplaying as Leavers; Leavers angered by the shameless efforts to overturn the referendum vote becoming more hardline themselves.
2 3
jamesbarr.bsky.social
James Barr @jamesbarr.bsky.social · 16h
Alas that you can’t do. Those links are often for new articles published in the following day’s or Saturday’s newspaper. So you hit the paywall but you can read them the next day. It is a bit clunky but it is affordable.
1 2
jamesbarr.bsky.social
James Barr @jamesbarr.bsky.social · 16h
Perfect example
1 3
jamesbarr.bsky.social
James Barr @jamesbarr.bsky.social · 16h
I have a £44 per quarter sub that gives me daily access to the paper via the FT Digital Edition app and a hard copy of the Saturday paper delivered to my door. I think this is amazing value. The only downside is I can’t search for past articles.
1 5
jamesbarr.bsky.social
James Barr @jamesbarr.bsky.social · 16h
And another toxic thing is the way that certain MPs who did support Remain have since tried to reinvent themselves: Jenrick being the obvious example.
1 7
Reposted by James Barr
rachelcoldicutt.bsky.social
Rachel Coldicutt @rachelcoldicutt.bsky.social · 18h
Excellent Guardian piece on Aadhar, India's digital ID system, that captures the dilemma extremely well. Digital-by-default methods create huge convenience for some, double-down on social exclusion for others, and it is easy for their scope to rapidly expand www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...
‘Your basis to live is checked at each and every step’: India’s ID system divides opinion
Keir Starmer is considering Aadhaar as model for UK, but detractors warn of ‘digital coercion’ and security breaches
www.theguardian.com
4 71 110