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Reposted by Josh Westerling

Sunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · 1h

Not sure if will be noticed (by the public) until more control of boats + hotels. There should be an elite awareness that we will drop below 2016 levels in 2025: can reduce further if pressures > gains but narrative of record immig true for 2022-24/5, prob not by 2025-26

bsky.app/profile/jame...

James Bowes @jamesbowes01.bsky.social · 10d

The most recent net immigration figures were 431,000 year ending Dec 25. However, net immigration was already far lower than that even before the rules tightened Jul 25. Visa grants are much lower now than in the first half of 2024 primarily because of the Mar/Apr 24 salary threshold rises (2/x)

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Reposted by Josh Westerling

Anoosh Chakelian @anooshc.bsky.social · 2h

Really interesting piece by James Baggaley on the dangers of policy without people - and the real divide within Labour:

www.newstatesman.com/politics/202...

Steve Reed’s Yimbyism can’t win

To connect to voters, politics needs to be rooted in place and community

www.newstatesman.com

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Josh Westerling @joshwesterling.bsky.social · 2h

The challenge now to the argument set out is whether you can 'keep the family together' if we are in 'bloc' politics, where the electoral incentives are to consolidate your bloc. I still think dialogue and seeking common ground are still worth defending on their own terms if not solely electoral.

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Josh Westerling @joshwesterling.bsky.social · 2h

Wrote back in Feb that Labour should pay more attention to its left flank and not take it for granted.
renewal.org.uk/blog/checkin...

Checking in on the family

In 2010, as Labour began what would become fourteen years in opposition, a group of academics, political strategists, thinkers, and politicians attended a series of seminars in Oxford and London. From...

renewal.org.uk

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Josh Westerling @joshwesterling.bsky.social · 2h

Interesting to see this recognised by No.10 especially given implicit to the current strategy is that these voters will come back when push comes to shove vs. Reform.

George Eaton @georgeeaton.bsky.social · 3h

Labour has a Green problem – why Zack Polanski’s first month as leader shows he’s the biggest threat the party has faced from the left. www.newstatesman.com/politics/mor...

Labour has a Green problem

Zack Polanski’s first month as leader shows he’s the biggest threat Keir Starmer has faced from the left.

www.newstatesman.com

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Josh Westerling @joshwesterling.bsky.social · 3h

Yeah. It should be an animating concern of this government, consistently.

It's retail and tangible, at the same time as being foundational to having the freedom to choose how you live, and live a good life with dignity and respect (as well as other aspects of the govt's policy agenda).

Anoosh Chakelian @anooshc.bsky.social · 1d

“I think politicians are ignoring prices and bills and hoping we’ll forget about them and find something else to complain about…”

My report on how the flighty Westminster bubble forgot about the cost-of-living crisis, which certainly isn't over:

Energy bills rise while Westminster talks immigration

Why have our politicians forgotten about the cost-of-living crisis?

www.newstatesman.com

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Josh Westerling @joshwesterling.bsky.social · 4h

Also wonder if combined authorities may want to request to central government the workers they think they need for growth strategies or that they are happy to take X number of asylum seekers. Particularly given the political traditions of some of those cities that dominate the CAs.

Josh Westerling @joshwesterling.bsky.social · 4h

On migration and asylum, for example, you could exercise state control at the same time as opening up the conversation through e.g. British Future rec for a 'Budget style' event to discuss migration numbers and asylum policy, or more localised citizen assembly style discussions.

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Josh Westerling @joshwesterling.bsky.social · 4h

Another is arguably embodied by Burnham who has hinted towards a more pluralist and dispersed form of power through devolution, approach to party management, and possibilities of electoral reform.

Wonder whether there are opportunities for the two to combine...

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Josh Westerling @joshwesterling.bsky.social · 4h

There are two democratising visions of Labour's future beginning to emerge. One is embodied by Mahmood and is primarily about the state's power and credibility to exercise the political will - perceived or otherwise - of 'the people' that is distilled by the issues with the border.

Mahmood: UK has lost control of its borders

Home Secretary says failures on migration are eroding trust as she calls for international response

www.telegraph.co.uk

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Reposted by Josh Westerling

Polly Billington @pollybillington.bsky.social · 3d

observer.co.uk/news/columni... spot on here by @kenanmalik.bsky.social

Hidden here is the assumption that ordinary people are unable to grasp anything challenging or complex. It is a wretchedly patronising claim imposed upon working class people by middle class gatekeepers who define what is “relevant” and have no grasp of working class history.

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Josh Westerling @joshwesterling.bsky.social · 3d

You can support here www.totalgiving.co.uk/appeal/evict...

Donate to Evicted Castle Square Traders' Costs!

Latin Elephant. Donate at https://givi.ng/akw5

www.totalgiving.co.uk

Josh Westerling @joshwesterling.bsky.social · 3d

Starmer channelled this in his conference speech, and spoke specifically about Chinese takeaways being targeted.

Yesterday Big John went to show his support for the Dragon House in York.

Time to find and support more Big John's.

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Josh Westerling @joshwesterling.bsky.social · 3d

For West Ham fans this is a rather welcome reprieve

Josh Westerling @joshwesterling.bsky.social · 3d

Finally got round to reading this, everyone should. It is excellent.

And speak to anyone in their teens if you need convincing that the left is ceding this ideological battleground. Not just on cultural issues, but everything from economic aspiration to ideas of the good life.

Renewal @renewaljournal.bsky.social · 28d

FREE TO READ: Renewal co-editor Jack Jeffrey talks to @profafinlayson.bsky.social about the subcultures of the online right and how they are transforming political communication

renewal.org.uk/articles/the...

The left (still) doesn't understand the internet

Renewal 33.2_Finlayson & JeffreyRenewal 33.2_Finlayson & Jeffrey.pdf161 KBdownload-circle In June 2025, Nigel Farage boasted on Facebook and X that he had more TikTok subscribers than all other 649...

renewal.org.uk

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Josh Westerling @joshwesterling.bsky.social · 3d

Nice defence and extolling of the UK's culture and traditions in the FT by Tristram Hunt, pleading someone tells that story. Given that 'collision between the past and present' I think this is fertile ground for the left to develop a thicker patriotism.

www.ft.com/content/6cc5...

Don’t move to Dubai — this is still the place to be

Better to buy the dip and celebrate the UK as an enduring cultural behemoth

www.ft.com

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Reposted by Josh Westerling

David Klemperer @dmk1793.bsky.social · 4d

Reading @londoncentric.media and reflecting on how everything wrong with Britain can be seen through Deliveroo:
- much of the economy is fraudulent
- people don’t go outside
- workers are underpaid and insecure
- the immigration system is broken
- society is being eroded by Big Tech

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Josh Westerling @joshwesterling.bsky.social · 5d

Just came across a relic from 2021

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Josh Westerling @joshwesterling.bsky.social · 5d

Think politicians are actually more comfortable with the shift from TV -> short-form video, less so with longer-form formats. Process of writing good speeches might help with that by thinking through an argument and feeling confident to discuss it at length.

Josh Westerling @joshwesterling.bsky.social · 5d

Given their conference speeches seem to have bought both Badenoch and Starmer some time, it does I think support the case that frontline politicians should have bigger teams of speechwriters.

It's still a form of communication that matters, not just the speech itself but the process of writing it.

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Josh Westerling @joshwesterling.bsky.social · 5d

Kate - seems 'fake' because she's different to how she is on TV and that is assumed to be her real self?

Could argue both are being themselves whilst other TV people are playing themselves. Was nice how Stephen Fry defended Niko.

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Josh Westerling @joshwesterling.bsky.social · 5d

Quite interesting watching the different ways TV personalities vs. YouTubers behave on the Traitors and how that's perceived both by the people on the show and watching at home.

Niko - accused of being a traitor because he does pranks on YouTube? Hasn't really played a 'TV part' on the show.

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Josh Westerling @joshwesterling.bsky.social · 5d

We need more, not less, warm and welcoming places (with amazing food) like Kaieteur Kitchen in London. What seems like pernicious behaviour from landlords and agents might close one of London's best restaurants. www.vittlesmagazine.com/p/theres-one...

There's one week left to save one of London's best restaurants

The battle for Castle Square, and suspicious goings on in Southwark, by Jonathan Nunn and Gavin Cleaver

www.vittlesmagazine.com

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Josh Westerling @joshwesterling.bsky.social · 6d

I like this (but not everything is about growth!!!)

Basically think we should pay as much attention to supporting pubs as the Italians do to coffee. We can protect these places (and others like them) if we choose too.

www.theguardian.com/business/202...

Pubs to stay open until early hours in push for UK growth

Exclusive: Plans for England and Wales would help the ailing hospitality sector but have attracted criticism from health experts

www.theguardian.com

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Josh Westerling @joshwesterling.bsky.social · 7d

In general, I'm not sure where the home for small 'c' English conservatism is anymore.