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Josh Westerling @joshwesterling.bsky.social · 38m

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 · 43m

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 · 43m

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 · 43m

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 · 2d

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 · 2d

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 · 2d

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 · 3d

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 · 4d

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.

Josh Westerling @joshwesterling.bsky.social · 7d

Rather than there being a genuine strategy to demonstrate economic credentials they're holding out hope for a fiscal crisis to tip things in their favour. So without anything real to say in that regard my sense is they'll keep going hard on culture and will be to the right of Reform.

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Josh Westerling @joshwesterling.bsky.social · 7d

More so as they'll keep leaning into it in part due to their economic agenda being empty. They want to position as fiscally responsible whilst there has been little mea culpa about the Truss disaster - people giggle about it at panel events or come up with weak excuses for why it failed.

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Josh Westerling @joshwesterling.bsky.social · 7d

Sadly I saw very little evidence at Tory conference that there is any significant counterweight to the direction Jenrick has gone in - indeed, many were supportive of it - and that is a very worrying development in our politics.

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Reposted by Josh Westerling

British Future @britishfuture.bsky.social · 7d

Profile in @theguardian.com today of our Director @sundersays.bsky.social – talking about immigration, race, prejudice, flags and patriotism – and why he's still optimistic about Britain
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...

Sunder Katwala on race, patriotism and flag-waving: ‘The far right is vocal and angry because it is shrinking’

The director of British Future has spent his career trying to find common ground when it comes to race and immigration. He describes his own experience of racism – and why he’s still hopeful for the U...

www.theguardian.com

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Josh Westerling @joshwesterling.bsky.social · 11d

Striking both the populist left and right are pitching toward this section of the public which I've only really seen Dan Evans write about. Gap for the govt?

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Josh Westerling @joshwesterling.bsky.social · 11d

This is an important point especially when political parties (partic Labour?) seem to be putting more energy into slowly adjusting their politicians communication style rather than encouraging this wider cultivation.

And then how much that rubs against an ingrained party culture.

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