Philip Stephens
@philipstephens.bsky.social
Writer, historian, Contrib Ed, FT, Robert Bosch Fellow, Berlin, author These Divided Isles, and Britain Alone (both Faber), British, Irish and European. philipstephens.substack.com, philipstephens.net
Pinned
The book I always wanted to write. How Partition turned the Irish Question in British politics into the British Question in Irish politics. And the extraordinary mix of enmity and intimacy that finally mapped a path to a different future. Now open for advance orders:
linktr.ee/thesedivided...
linktr.ee/thesedivided...
What puzzles me is all the commentary that says in one breath that Starmer has no real governing purpose or "vision" and then in the next that he is more left wing than any PM in recent memory. Hard to see how both can be right.
November 27, 2025 at 4:33 PM
What puzzles me is all the commentary that says in one breath that Starmer has no real governing purpose or "vision" and then in the next that he is more left wing than any PM in recent memory. Hard to see how both can be right.
Probably unfashionable view but, given the economic and political constraints, I think Rachel Reeves did rather a good job...nice also to see a marriage of political conviction and fairness...
November 26, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Probably unfashionable view but, given the economic and political constraints, I think Rachel Reeves did rather a good job...nice also to see a marriage of political conviction and fairness...
Reposted by Philip Stephens
Decided to provide some budget counter-programming, here’s some London transport trends over the last year. www.londoncentric.media/p/tfl-london...
Less WFH, more Lime, slower buses
What's really going on in London transport?
www.londoncentric.media
November 26, 2025 at 11:45 AM
Decided to provide some budget counter-programming, here’s some London transport trends over the last year. www.londoncentric.media/p/tfl-london...
Reposted by Philip Stephens
I’m a past winner of the Orwell Prize & won partly because I exposed Vote Leave’s unlawful activities.
Michael Gove was its co-convener & refused to answer a single q. He’s now a judge of the prize & our world is truly one that Orwell would recognise
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/25/m...
Michael Gove was its co-convener & refused to answer a single q. He’s now a judge of the prize & our world is truly one that Orwell would recognise
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/25/m...
Michael Gove Made Orwell Prize Judge Despite Record of Attacking Journalists and Dodging Scrutiny
Critics say "Orwell would have enjoyed the irony" of the former Conservative minister's appointment
bylinetimes.com
November 25, 2025 at 5:53 PM
I’m a past winner of the Orwell Prize & won partly because I exposed Vote Leave’s unlawful activities.
Michael Gove was its co-convener & refused to answer a single q. He’s now a judge of the prize & our world is truly one that Orwell would recognise
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/25/m...
Michael Gove was its co-convener & refused to answer a single q. He’s now a judge of the prize & our world is truly one that Orwell would recognise
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/25/m...
Reposted by Philip Stephens
new allegation concerning Farage’s behaviour when he was 18 years old
November 26, 2025 at 7:59 AM
new allegation concerning Farage’s behaviour when he was 18 years old
Reposted by Philip Stephens
Reform UK recently launched a new organisation within the party to boost small businesses. The first entrepreneur chosen to champion the cause is Kevin Byrne, founder of Checkatrade But Byrne is a rather interesting pick by Reform. 🤔
hopenothate.org.uk/2025/11/26/r...
hopenothate.org.uk/2025/11/26/r...
Reform UK's small business champion supports Tommy Robinson and peddles conspiracy theories – HOPE not hate
On 10 November, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage launched Small Business for Reform, an organisation within the party. During the launch, Farage declared that “we...
hopenothate.org.uk
November 26, 2025 at 11:25 AM
Reform UK recently launched a new organisation within the party to boost small businesses. The first entrepreneur chosen to champion the cause is Kevin Byrne, founder of Checkatrade But Byrne is a rather interesting pick by Reform. 🤔
hopenothate.org.uk/2025/11/26/r...
hopenothate.org.uk/2025/11/26/r...
So much for Farage's claim that his youthful anti-semitism was no more than "banter".....
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Three more ex-pupils at school with Nigel Farage reject ‘banter’ claims
Exclusive: Dulwich college contemporaries ‘rubbish’ Reform UK leader’s suggestion alleged racist taunts not intended to hurt
www.theguardian.com
November 26, 2025 at 9:42 AM
So much for Farage's claim that his youthful anti-semitism was no more than "banter".....
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Philip Stephens
Is welfare spending ''out of control''?
Total welfare spending in Britain in 2025-26 is estimated to be 10.8 per cent of GDP.
That's just 0.8 per cent of GDP higher than in 2007-08, and total welfare spending has actually fallen fallen by 1.2 per cent of GDP since 2012-13⤵️
buff.ly/s5mz97u
Total welfare spending in Britain in 2025-26 is estimated to be 10.8 per cent of GDP.
That's just 0.8 per cent of GDP higher than in 2007-08, and total welfare spending has actually fallen fallen by 1.2 per cent of GDP since 2012-13⤵️
buff.ly/s5mz97u
November 25, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Is welfare spending ''out of control''?
Total welfare spending in Britain in 2025-26 is estimated to be 10.8 per cent of GDP.
That's just 0.8 per cent of GDP higher than in 2007-08, and total welfare spending has actually fallen fallen by 1.2 per cent of GDP since 2012-13⤵️
buff.ly/s5mz97u
Total welfare spending in Britain in 2025-26 is estimated to be 10.8 per cent of GDP.
That's just 0.8 per cent of GDP higher than in 2007-08, and total welfare spending has actually fallen fallen by 1.2 per cent of GDP since 2012-13⤵️
buff.ly/s5mz97u
So now we know. Nigel Farage says his youthful admiration for the Nazis and embrace of "Gas 'em all" anti-semitism was just a bit of "banter". Nothing there to apologise for.
November 25, 2025 at 11:38 AM
So now we know. Nigel Farage says his youthful admiration for the Nazis and embrace of "Gas 'em all" anti-semitism was just a bit of "banter". Nothing there to apologise for.
Reposted by Philip Stephens
So wonderful to have launched These Divided Isles in Kiltimagh, my mother's home and the finest town in Ireland's wild west!
www.westernpeople.ie/news/philips...
www.westernpeople.ie/news/philips...
Philip's story spans decades and borders - news - Western People
Philip's story spans decades and borders - news - Western People
www.westernpeople.ie
November 23, 2025 at 11:46 AM
So wonderful to have launched These Divided Isles in Kiltimagh, my mother's home and the finest town in Ireland's wild west!
www.westernpeople.ie/news/philips...
www.westernpeople.ie/news/philips...
Reposted by Philip Stephens
As an admirer of The Economist, sad to see it recycling garbage about chicken nuggets and the ECHR. The former wasn’t why a man’s deportation was halted. The latter worked well in the upper tribunal that decided he should be deported, after all.
November 22, 2025 at 9:26 PM
As an admirer of The Economist, sad to see it recycling garbage about chicken nuggets and the ECHR. The former wasn’t why a man’s deportation was halted. The latter worked well in the upper tribunal that decided he should be deported, after all.
Takeover of Telegraph by Daily Mail would leave Harmsworth dynasty (now led by 4th Viscount Rothermere, Jonathan) as powerful as during the 1930s. That of course was when virulently anti-semitic first Viscount, Harold backed British fascists at home and cheered on Hitler and Mussolini in Europe.
November 22, 2025 at 2:17 PM
Takeover of Telegraph by Daily Mail would leave Harmsworth dynasty (now led by 4th Viscount Rothermere, Jonathan) as powerful as during the 1930s. That of course was when virulently anti-semitic first Viscount, Harold backed British fascists at home and cheered on Hitler and Mussolini in Europe.
Simple point to be made to Trump by Europeans. His proposed deal with Putin is as threatening to the rest of Europe as it is humiliating for Ukraine. Rejecting it is not "siding" with Kyiv, but unavoidable to safeguard security of every European democracy......
November 22, 2025 at 1:45 PM
Simple point to be made to Trump by Europeans. His proposed deal with Putin is as threatening to the rest of Europe as it is humiliating for Ukraine. Rejecting it is not "siding" with Kyiv, but unavoidable to safeguard security of every European democracy......
The definition of hypocrisy. Cantankerous Wetherspoons boss and arch Brexiter Tim Martin wants to open his awful pubs in the EU. But the little England cheerleader has found its no longer easy to open a British business in Alicante. His answer? A new company in Dublin to operate his EU ventures.
November 22, 2025 at 12:18 PM
The definition of hypocrisy. Cantankerous Wetherspoons boss and arch Brexiter Tim Martin wants to open his awful pubs in the EU. But the little England cheerleader has found its no longer easy to open a British business in Alicante. His answer? A new company in Dublin to operate his EU ventures.
Reposted by Philip Stephens
Ex UKIP MEP, and ex Leader of Reform in Wales, Nathan Gill sentenced to 10 ½ years for corruption and bribery by Russians. Met Police anti terrorism unit also has ongoing investigations
How's the Union Jack waving going?
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c8...
How's the Union Jack waving going?
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c8...
Ex-leader of Reform UK in Wales sentenced to 10-and-a-half years for taking pro-Russian bribes
The judge tells Nathan Gill his actions were a
www.bbc.co.uk
November 21, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Ex UKIP MEP, and ex Leader of Reform in Wales, Nathan Gill sentenced to 10 ½ years for corruption and bribery by Russians. Met Police anti terrorism unit also has ongoing investigations
How's the Union Jack waving going?
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c8...
How's the Union Jack waving going?
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c8...
Reposted by Philip Stephens
It's quite a remarkable coincidence that Nigel Farage spent years working for Russia Today (RT) and socialising with prominent Russian and other wealthy individuals also linked with Russia. 🧐
November 21, 2025 at 11:31 AM
It's quite a remarkable coincidence that Nigel Farage spent years working for Russia Today (RT) and socialising with prominent Russian and other wealthy individuals also linked with Russia. 🧐
Reposted by Philip Stephens
Just in case Farage denys every knowing Gill.
November 21, 2025 at 1:46 PM
Just in case Farage denys every knowing Gill.
Nigel Farage now says his former school colleagues have "mis-rembered" him singing vile "Gas 'em all" Nazi songs...Seems odd that they all misremembered the same thing....
November 21, 2025 at 12:42 PM
Nigel Farage now says his former school colleagues have "mis-rembered" him singing vile "Gas 'em all" Nazi songs...Seems odd that they all misremembered the same thing....
I am not in the lets-go-to-war with Beijing camp but the reported confidence of the intelligence services about handling any threat from the new Chinese embassy should invite scepticism. Not so long ago the same services were alleged to be happy for Huawai to control Britain's digital infrastructure
November 21, 2025 at 11:57 AM
I am not in the lets-go-to-war with Beijing camp but the reported confidence of the intelligence services about handling any threat from the new Chinese embassy should invite scepticism. Not so long ago the same services were alleged to be happy for Huawai to control Britain's digital infrastructure
Sad really that Australia is being led into the first Ashes test by a proven cheat....
November 20, 2025 at 8:18 PM
Sad really that Australia is being led into the first Ashes test by a proven cheat....
Today there is one question for Nigel Farage. Does he hold to the truly vile anti-semitic, racist views he expressed as a teenager at the elite Dulwich School?
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
No 10 calls on Farage to urgently address ‘disturbing allegations’ of past racist behaviour
Keir Starmer ramps up pressure on Reform leader, who has dismissed claims as ‘one person’s word against another’
www.theguardian.com
November 20, 2025 at 11:41 AM
Today there is one question for Nigel Farage. Does he hold to the truly vile anti-semitic, racist views he expressed as a teenager at the elite Dulwich School?
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
By the account of contemporaries , as a pupil at London's elite Dulwich School Nigel Farage said Hitler had been right to send Jews to the gas chambers. Has Mr Farage changed his mind? Maybe someone should ask him?
November 19, 2025 at 11:29 PM
By the account of contemporaries , as a pupil at London's elite Dulwich School Nigel Farage said Hitler had been right to send Jews to the gas chambers. Has Mr Farage changed his mind? Maybe someone should ask him?
“He used to say things like, you know, ‘Jude’, to Peter, which is the German for Jew, in the way it was said in the 1930s, a long ‘u’ in a menacing way, you know?”, former friend of Nigel Farage at Dulwich College reported In Guardian......
November 19, 2025 at 11:09 PM
“He used to say things like, you know, ‘Jude’, to Peter, which is the German for Jew, in the way it was said in the 1930s, a long ‘u’ in a menacing way, you know?”, former friend of Nigel Farage at Dulwich College reported In Guardian......
Do Harvard students really want to be taught by this person? Does Harvard consider him a suitable role model?
www.ft.com/content/fbf2...
www.ft.com/content/fbf2...
Lawrence Summers steps down from OpenAI board over Epstein emails
Scandal-hit former Treasury secretary had said he will withdraw from ‘public commitments’
www.ft.com
November 19, 2025 at 10:38 PM
Do Harvard students really want to be taught by this person? Does Harvard consider him a suitable role model?
www.ft.com/content/fbf2...
www.ft.com/content/fbf2...