Paul Smith
@paulysmith.bsky.social
Doctor of Political Science at RGU Aberdeen UK. Interested in political communication/media pluralism. #NUFC season ticket holder. Living with MS. Shoegazer ♿️
Reposted by Paul Smith
Home Office Ministers state publicly, on the record, that they are deliberately making life worse for older people and people with disabilities who depend on care services, but it's worth it because it reduces net migration.
December 9, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Home Office Ministers state publicly, on the record, that they are deliberately making life worse for older people and people with disabilities who depend on care services, but it's worth it because it reduces net migration.
Reposted by Paul Smith
The exact people now saying "Nigel Farage was young and foolish at school" (to excuse his racism, bullying and harassment of fellow pupils at Dulwich College) are the same people who said "Shamima Begum was old enough to know what she was doing".
December 7, 2025 at 12:05 PM
The exact people now saying "Nigel Farage was young and foolish at school" (to excuse his racism, bullying and harassment of fellow pupils at Dulwich College) are the same people who said "Shamima Begum was old enough to know what she was doing".
Reposted by Paul Smith
More about #farage and racism: www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Former Dulwich pupil says Farage told him: ‘That’s the way back to Africa’
Exclusive: Yinka Bankole says he was compelled to speak out after Reform leader’s attempts to dismiss hurt of alleged targets
www.theguardian.com
December 5, 2025 at 5:43 PM
More about #farage and racism: www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Paul Smith
Welfare spending has held roughly steady as a share of the economy since 2007.
In real terms, it's risen by £44 billion since before the pandemic.
Let's break down what that's going towards ⤵️ 🧵
In real terms, it's risen by £44 billion since before the pandemic.
Let's break down what that's going towards ⤵️ 🧵
December 2, 2025 at 4:40 PM
Welfare spending has held roughly steady as a share of the economy since 2007.
In real terms, it's risen by £44 billion since before the pandemic.
Let's break down what that's going towards ⤵️ 🧵
In real terms, it's risen by £44 billion since before the pandemic.
Let's break down what that's going towards ⤵️ 🧵
Reposted by Paul Smith
Earlier in the day, I'd seen someone post an article, The Twenty Most Overrated Albums of 2025, and I glanced at it with an eye roll, KNOWING that the Geese album would be no 1, as indeed it was, and I just thought OH FUCK OFF. Sometimes people are rated because they're fucking fantastic.
Just saw Cameron Winter at the Roundhouse. My god what a phenomenon he is ❤️
December 2, 2025 at 8:12 AM
Earlier in the day, I'd seen someone post an article, The Twenty Most Overrated Albums of 2025, and I glanced at it with an eye roll, KNOWING that the Geese album would be no 1, as indeed it was, and I just thought OH FUCK OFF. Sometimes people are rated because they're fucking fantastic.
Reposted by Paul Smith
There seems to be a view held by far too many people that if you’re in receipt of benefits then your life, sorry existence should be fucking grim and miserable and visibly so.
December 1, 2025 at 8:05 PM
There seems to be a view held by far too many people that if you’re in receipt of benefits then your life, sorry existence should be fucking grim and miserable and visibly so.
Reposted by Paul Smith
A call for papers!
Hegemonies, Counter-Hegemonies, Anti-Hegemonies: The Theory and Politics of Social Control and Resistance
A call for papers! The Midlands Conference in Critical Thought will be held on 21st and 22nd May 2026 at the University of Warwick. The ca...
averypublicsociologist.blogspot.com
November 28, 2025 at 8:54 AM
A call for papers!
Reposted by Paul Smith
Reposted by Paul Smith
Would love some in-depth numbers on what the majority of 20-30 somethings basically paying a 9% higher marginal tax rate has actually done to economic behaviour. Feels very under-discussed bsky.app/profile/igma...
Student loan repayment thresholds frozen for a further three years.
More debt burden falling on graduates.
And even more reason to cut university places by 20-30%.
More debt burden falling on graduates.
And even more reason to cut university places by 20-30%.
November 26, 2025 at 1:00 PM
Would love some in-depth numbers on what the majority of 20-30 somethings basically paying a 9% higher marginal tax rate has actually done to economic behaviour. Feels very under-discussed bsky.app/profile/igma...
Reposted by Paul Smith
Even after the mansion tax is applied, the owner of a £5m home in Westminster will pay proportionately less in property tax than the owner of a £210k Band B property in Sunderland.
November 26, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Even after the mansion tax is applied, the owner of a £5m home in Westminster will pay proportionately less in property tax than the owner of a £210k Band B property in Sunderland.
Reposted by Paul Smith
There's an advert on his website for a 'Depot Supervisor' that pays £12.75 an hour for shift work.
If he wants to reduce welfare spending maybe he should pay staff enough that they don't need in-work benefits.
If he wants to reduce welfare spending maybe he should pay staff enough that they don't need in-work benefits.
‘Madness’ to increase welfare spending in Budget, says AO World boss
‘Madness’ to increase welfare spending in Budget, says AO World boss
‘Madness’ to increase welfare spending in Budget, says AO World boss
www.independent.co.uk
November 25, 2025 at 12:46 PM
There's an advert on his website for a 'Depot Supervisor' that pays £12.75 an hour for shift work.
If he wants to reduce welfare spending maybe he should pay staff enough that they don't need in-work benefits.
If he wants to reduce welfare spending maybe he should pay staff enough that they don't need in-work benefits.
Reposted by Paul Smith
Starmer’s anti-asylum policies show how utterly clueless he is about the right-wing media’s role in politics.
He’s trying to fix a “problem” contrived by Farage, GB News and The Telegraph. He’ll never win, because ultimately he’s fighting a ghost – he’s fighting something that doesn’t really exist
He’s trying to fix a “problem” contrived by Farage, GB News and The Telegraph. He’ll never win, because ultimately he’s fighting a ghost – he’s fighting something that doesn’t really exist
November 17, 2025 at 2:57 PM
Starmer’s anti-asylum policies show how utterly clueless he is about the right-wing media’s role in politics.
He’s trying to fix a “problem” contrived by Farage, GB News and The Telegraph. He’ll never win, because ultimately he’s fighting a ghost – he’s fighting something that doesn’t really exist
He’s trying to fix a “problem” contrived by Farage, GB News and The Telegraph. He’ll never win, because ultimately he’s fighting a ghost – he’s fighting something that doesn’t really exist
Reposted by Paul Smith
You have to treat the posts of someone as toxic as Yaxley-Lennon with the same cynicism whether they fit into your preferred narrative or not. The reason for his most recent post is plainly not praise. It is to exploit the cracks among progressives and divide us further. Why are you boosting him?
November 16, 2025 at 7:26 PM
You have to treat the posts of someone as toxic as Yaxley-Lennon with the same cynicism whether they fit into your preferred narrative or not. The reason for his most recent post is plainly not praise. It is to exploit the cracks among progressives and divide us further. Why are you boosting him?
Reposted by Paul Smith
Another case of Reform saying one thing then doing the other:
A Reform-led council is planning to double council tax on second homes six months after party leader Nigel Farage denounced such policies as “madness” and “extortion”
By me, for Politics Home www.politicshome.com/news/article...
A Reform-led council is planning to double council tax on second homes six months after party leader Nigel Farage denounced such policies as “madness” and “extortion”
By me, for Politics Home www.politicshome.com/news/article...
Reform Council To Double Tax On Second Homes Despite Nigel Farage Calling The Idea 'Madness'
A Reform-led council is planning to double council tax on second homes six months after party leader Nigel Farage denounced such policies as “madne...
www.politicshome.com
November 11, 2025 at 9:32 AM
Another case of Reform saying one thing then doing the other:
A Reform-led council is planning to double council tax on second homes six months after party leader Nigel Farage denounced such policies as “madness” and “extortion”
By me, for Politics Home www.politicshome.com/news/article...
A Reform-led council is planning to double council tax on second homes six months after party leader Nigel Farage denounced such policies as “madness” and “extortion”
By me, for Politics Home www.politicshome.com/news/article...
Reposted by Paul Smith
It is both ethically wrong & fundamentally anti-democratic for one man to command this much wealth and power.
States spent centuries trying to tame the power of over-mighty subjects. The rise of the global barons is not compatible with democracy as we've understood it.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
States spent centuries trying to tame the power of over-mighty subjects. The rise of the global barons is not compatible with democracy as we've understood it.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Elon Musk's $1tn pay deal approved by Tesla shareholders
The richest man in the world will get hundreds of millions of new shares if he hits his targets.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 7, 2025 at 8:31 AM
It is both ethically wrong & fundamentally anti-democratic for one man to command this much wealth and power.
States spent centuries trying to tame the power of over-mighty subjects. The rise of the global barons is not compatible with democracy as we've understood it.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
States spent centuries trying to tame the power of over-mighty subjects. The rise of the global barons is not compatible with democracy as we've understood it.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Paul Smith
Compare the description of Faiza Shaheen and Matthew Goodwin…it’s not deliberate bias but yet another example of how -in parts of the BBC -the brainwashers have brainwashed themselves:
No more blatant example of Question Time’s bias than this.
Goodwin is a Reform activist and GB News presenter - you’d have to be intentionally blind to think he’s an academic
Goodwin is a Reform activist and GB News presenter - you’d have to be intentionally blind to think he’s an academic
October 30, 2025 at 7:33 PM
Compare the description of Faiza Shaheen and Matthew Goodwin…it’s not deliberate bias but yet another example of how -in parts of the BBC -the brainwashers have brainwashed themselves:
Reposted by Paul Smith
Help us create a sea of black and white when we play Athletic Club on Wednesday 5th November by bringing a scarf with you to the match. Please share this post so we reach as many people as possible!
(There will still be flags at this fixture)
(There will still be flags at this fixture)
October 30, 2025 at 8:00 AM
Help us create a sea of black and white when we play Athletic Club on Wednesday 5th November by bringing a scarf with you to the match. Please share this post so we reach as many people as possible!
(There will still be flags at this fixture)
(There will still be flags at this fixture)
Reposted by Paul Smith
Sitting in the central Gallowgate for Benfica?
Our display includes single-person two-pole flags that need held-up in specific blocks of the Gallowgate; L, M, N, P, G, H, I, B, C, D.
If you can accommodate holding one of the flags, please complete the form below:
forms.office.com/e/geAx1W43PR
Our display includes single-person two-pole flags that need held-up in specific blocks of the Gallowgate; L, M, N, P, G, H, I, B, C, D.
If you can accommodate holding one of the flags, please complete the form below:
forms.office.com/e/geAx1W43PR
October 19, 2025 at 8:15 PM
Sitting in the central Gallowgate for Benfica?
Our display includes single-person two-pole flags that need held-up in specific blocks of the Gallowgate; L, M, N, P, G, H, I, B, C, D.
If you can accommodate holding one of the flags, please complete the form below:
forms.office.com/e/geAx1W43PR
Our display includes single-person two-pole flags that need held-up in specific blocks of the Gallowgate; L, M, N, P, G, H, I, B, C, D.
If you can accommodate holding one of the flags, please complete the form below:
forms.office.com/e/geAx1W43PR
Reposted by Paul Smith
BREAKING: Our client Mario Guevara, an Emmy-winning journalist detained by ICE in retaliation for livestreaming law enforcement activity, will be deported tomorrow to El Salvador.
Mario and his family are being punished for his reporting. This cruelty is meant to stifle our free press.
Mario and his family are being punished for his reporting. This cruelty is meant to stifle our free press.
October 2, 2025 at 10:42 PM
BREAKING: Our client Mario Guevara, an Emmy-winning journalist detained by ICE in retaliation for livestreaming law enforcement activity, will be deported tomorrow to El Salvador.
Mario and his family are being punished for his reporting. This cruelty is meant to stifle our free press.
Mario and his family are being punished for his reporting. This cruelty is meant to stifle our free press.
Reposted by Paul Smith
Thatcher first PM to raise global warming at the UN. Theresa May first G7 leader to legislate to stop unmitigated emissions. The Tories have turned their back on their own leaders, their own global leadership, their own credibility.
October 2, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Thatcher first PM to raise global warming at the UN. Theresa May first G7 leader to legislate to stop unmitigated emissions. The Tories have turned their back on their own leaders, their own global leadership, their own credibility.
Reposted by Paul Smith
Pro-tip: Don’t try to take on Gavin Newsom’s press team. Especially if you’re a dumb dumb.
September 30, 2025 at 9:30 PM
Pro-tip: Don’t try to take on Gavin Newsom’s press team. Especially if you’re a dumb dumb.
Reposted by Paul Smith
Then timings get interesting….
Farage quits UKIP 4th Dec 2018
Gill follows him on the 6th Dec
5 other UKIP MEPs follow Farage within days, including Nuttall (former UKIP leader, now deputy chairman of Reform)
All 6 join the Brexit party in Feb with Farage
By April, another 7 have switched
9/14
Farage quits UKIP 4th Dec 2018
Gill follows him on the 6th Dec
5 other UKIP MEPs follow Farage within days, including Nuttall (former UKIP leader, now deputy chairman of Reform)
All 6 join the Brexit party in Feb with Farage
By April, another 7 have switched
9/14
September 27, 2025 at 1:43 PM
Then timings get interesting….
Farage quits UKIP 4th Dec 2018
Gill follows him on the 6th Dec
5 other UKIP MEPs follow Farage within days, including Nuttall (former UKIP leader, now deputy chairman of Reform)
All 6 join the Brexit party in Feb with Farage
By April, another 7 have switched
9/14
Farage quits UKIP 4th Dec 2018
Gill follows him on the 6th Dec
5 other UKIP MEPs follow Farage within days, including Nuttall (former UKIP leader, now deputy chairman of Reform)
All 6 join the Brexit party in Feb with Farage
By April, another 7 have switched
9/14
Reposted by Paul Smith
Hobbyhorse: at university, lectures remain an incredible format. They introduce & explore a huge amount of content in a short period of time. They scaffold further reading, with a personal twist. Workshops, etc, do their own thing, but don't replace effective lectures:
share.google/AyFxBwYh5BYM...
share.google/AyFxBwYh5BYM...
To save in-person lectures, unis need to provide lessons worth showing up for
In-person lectures have been a staple of university learning for centuries. But they are going out of style in an age of TED Talks and Tiktoks.
share.google
September 23, 2025 at 1:53 PM
Hobbyhorse: at university, lectures remain an incredible format. They introduce & explore a huge amount of content in a short period of time. They scaffold further reading, with a personal twist. Workshops, etc, do their own thing, but don't replace effective lectures:
share.google/AyFxBwYh5BYM...
share.google/AyFxBwYh5BYM...