Robert Saunders
@robertsaunders.bsky.social
Historian of modern Britain, singer and political nerd. Author of "Yes to Europe! The 1975 Referendum & Seventies Britain". "A jaw-dislocating page turner"(Andrew Marr). Deputy-director @mileendinstitute.bsky.social, Reader @QMHistory
Reposted by Robert Saunders
As those who follow these things know. other than the steel tariffs which are covered separately, my own view is that Trump's tariffs have no basis in law at all, and that this is so obvious that it is a test of whether SCOTUS is a court in meaningful sense.
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Hassett on tariffs: "Even if the Supreme Court disagrees with us, we have a backup plan that'll get these things in place right away. So we're gonna win either way."
December 5, 2025 at 1:18 PM
As those who follow these things know. other than the steel tariffs which are covered separately, my own view is that Trump's tariffs have no basis in law at all, and that this is so obvious that it is a test of whether SCOTUS is a court in meaningful sense.
/1
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Just a vicious, lawless regime.
The spectacle of masked gangs of state vigilantes, ripping people out of cars in full view of the street, is a terrible reminder of how quickly the unthinkable can become normal in a democratic society.
The spectacle of masked gangs of state vigilantes, ripping people out of cars in full view of the street, is a terrible reminder of how quickly the unthinkable can become normal in a democratic society.
Agents in Key Largo, Florida ripped this woman wearing medical scrubs out of her car as she screamed she is a US citizen. Agents cuffed her and put her in one of their cars.
She was eventually let go, per David Goodhue of the Miami Herald, who also took this footage:
She was eventually let go, per David Goodhue of the Miami Herald, who also took this footage:
December 4, 2025 at 2:20 PM
Just a vicious, lawless regime.
The spectacle of masked gangs of state vigilantes, ripping people out of cars in full view of the street, is a terrible reminder of how quickly the unthinkable can become normal in a democratic society.
The spectacle of masked gangs of state vigilantes, ripping people out of cars in full view of the street, is a terrible reminder of how quickly the unthinkable can become normal in a democratic society.
One of the pleasures of a day working at home is listening to Elizabeth Alker on Radio 3. The heir to David Attenborough as the loveliest voice in broadcasting.
December 4, 2025 at 2:05 PM
One of the pleasures of a day working at home is listening to Elizabeth Alker on Radio 3. The heir to David Attenborough as the loveliest voice in broadcasting.
Crypto-investor who lives in Thailand gives record-breaking donation to Reform UK, to help it win power in a country he doesn't live in.
Britain's political funding laws are a charred and smoking ruin. Ducking change was a catastrophic mistake by Labour.
www.ft.com/content/db73...
Britain's political funding laws are a charred and smoking ruin. Ducking change was a catastrophic mistake by Labour.
www.ft.com/content/db73...
Reform UK gets record £9mn donation from Christopher Harborne
Nigel Farage’s party attracts far more funding than both Labour and the Conservatives
www.ft.com
December 4, 2025 at 9:31 AM
Crypto-investor who lives in Thailand gives record-breaking donation to Reform UK, to help it win power in a country he doesn't live in.
Britain's political funding laws are a charred and smoking ruin. Ducking change was a catastrophic mistake by Labour.
www.ft.com/content/db73...
Britain's political funding laws are a charred and smoking ruin. Ducking change was a catastrophic mistake by Labour.
www.ft.com/content/db73...
December 3, 2025 at 1:33 PM
"I think the country owes Nigel Farage a debt of gratitude for what he did to help us regain control of our own laws. That was a substantial achievement and he had to fight the establishment at that time".
Andrew Griffith, Conservative Shadow Business Secretary, sending up a flare on WATO just now.
Andrew Griffith, Conservative Shadow Business Secretary, sending up a flare on WATO just now.
December 3, 2025 at 1:33 PM
"I think the country owes Nigel Farage a debt of gratitude for what he did to help us regain control of our own laws. That was a substantial achievement and he had to fight the establishment at that time".
Andrew Griffith, Conservative Shadow Business Secretary, sending up a flare on WATO just now.
Andrew Griffith, Conservative Shadow Business Secretary, sending up a flare on WATO just now.
Great post by @samfr.bsky.social on the 2024 election, based on the new study by Tim Bale, Rob Ford, Paula Surridge & Will Jennings.
We'll be exploring this book with two of the authors plus @stephenkb.bsky.social & @rmcunliffe.bsky.social on 10 Dec. Free tickets at www.qmul.ac.uk/mei/events/m...
We'll be exploring this book with two of the authors plus @stephenkb.bsky.social & @rmcunliffe.bsky.social on 10 Dec. Free tickets at www.qmul.ac.uk/mei/events/m...
December 3, 2025 at 9:11 AM
Great post by @samfr.bsky.social on the 2024 election, based on the new study by Tim Bale, Rob Ford, Paula Surridge & Will Jennings.
We'll be exploring this book with two of the authors plus @stephenkb.bsky.social & @rmcunliffe.bsky.social on 10 Dec. Free tickets at www.qmul.ac.uk/mei/events/m...
We'll be exploring this book with two of the authors plus @stephenkb.bsky.social & @rmcunliffe.bsky.social on 10 Dec. Free tickets at www.qmul.ac.uk/mei/events/m...
What a wonderful story - and a beautiful illustration of the power of the arts.
Great writing expands our imagination. It helps us to see the world in new ways.
And that has consequences that can never be measured by "average starting salaries" or "contribution to GDP".
Great writing expands our imagination. It helps us to see the world in new ways.
And that has consequences that can never be measured by "average starting salaries" or "contribution to GDP".
December 2, 2025 at 9:35 AM
What a wonderful story - and a beautiful illustration of the power of the arts.
Great writing expands our imagination. It helps us to see the world in new ways.
And that has consequences that can never be measured by "average starting salaries" or "contribution to GDP".
Great writing expands our imagination. It helps us to see the world in new ways.
And that has consequences that can never be measured by "average starting salaries" or "contribution to GDP".
I wonder if it's time to retire the role of "political editor" altogether
Return most of the coverage to the Economics Editor, the Health Editor, the Home Affairs team & so on.
Leave the "who-said-what-to-whom" & "what-does-it-mean-for-the-polls" to others. The BBC doesn't need to foreground this.
Return most of the coverage to the Economics Editor, the Health Editor, the Home Affairs team & so on.
Leave the "who-said-what-to-whom" & "what-does-it-mean-for-the-polls" to others. The BBC doesn't need to foreground this.
Watched BBC 6 o clock news. Just a completely unserious broadcast. Chris Mason, acting like a children's entertainer, giving a prolonged impenetrable editorial. Not a whiff of informative content about the Budget or what it means for the country. Just playschool blah blah bollocks.
December 1, 2025 at 10:17 PM
I wonder if it's time to retire the role of "political editor" altogether
Return most of the coverage to the Economics Editor, the Health Editor, the Home Affairs team & so on.
Leave the "who-said-what-to-whom" & "what-does-it-mean-for-the-polls" to others. The BBC doesn't need to foreground this.
Return most of the coverage to the Economics Editor, the Health Editor, the Home Affairs team & so on.
Leave the "who-said-what-to-whom" & "what-does-it-mean-for-the-polls" to others. The BBC doesn't need to foreground this.
On 10 December, 18:00, join @timbale.bsky.social @stephenkb.bsky.social @rmcunliffe.bsky.social & @psurridge.bsky.social to discuss "The British General Election of 2024".
Join us to explore how the election was won, where it was lost & what's changed since July 2024.
www.qmul.ac.uk/mei/events/m...
Join us to explore how the election was won, where it was lost & what's changed since July 2024.
www.qmul.ac.uk/mei/events/m...
December 1, 2025 at 7:46 PM
On 10 December, 18:00, join @timbale.bsky.social @stephenkb.bsky.social @rmcunliffe.bsky.social & @psurridge.bsky.social to discuss "The British General Election of 2024".
Join us to explore how the election was won, where it was lost & what's changed since July 2024.
www.qmul.ac.uk/mei/events/m...
Join us to explore how the election was won, where it was lost & what's changed since July 2024.
www.qmul.ac.uk/mei/events/m...
Reposted by Robert Saunders
Think this is exactly right - political journalism that is completely abstracted from policy, which was not the norm before 2017, has become the default. Impossible to have a serious attempt to either shrink what the state does or widen the tax base (have to do at least one) on that basis.
All this budget news, claims, counter claims is confusing, but two things of consequence.
1. We're all talking about that, not any financial benefits (or losses) of the budget.
2. Yet more focus on the very weird few weeks and politics of it all. Starting to feel dangerously like a norm.
1. We're all talking about that, not any financial benefits (or losses) of the budget.
2. Yet more focus on the very weird few weeks and politics of it all. Starting to feel dangerously like a norm.
December 1, 2025 at 1:12 PM
Think this is exactly right - political journalism that is completely abstracted from policy, which was not the norm before 2017, has become the default. Impossible to have a serious attempt to either shrink what the state does or widen the tax base (have to do at least one) on that basis.
Precisely. We have an ageing society, a productivity problem & a crisis in local govt. The costs of defence & climate change are all growing, & we have a US president addicted to tariffs, who may be about to start a war in Venezuela.
The budget was *not pessimistic enough* about the public finances
The budget was *not pessimistic enough* about the public finances
Feel like I'm going mad. The Budget's 'headroom' is based on frankly irresponsible and wildly optimistic claims about what Labour will do in the final year of the forecast, and on ignoring a bunch of upward pressures on spending, and the claim is that she was being exaggeratedly *pessimistic*?
Suggestion Rachel Reeves exaggerated fiscal pressures is absurd
Chancellor was instead far too optimistic about public finances and government’s ability to secure cuts
www.ft.com
December 1, 2025 at 11:51 AM
Precisely. We have an ageing society, a productivity problem & a crisis in local govt. The costs of defence & climate change are all growing, & we have a US president addicted to tariffs, who may be about to start a war in Venezuela.
The budget was *not pessimistic enough* about the public finances
The budget was *not pessimistic enough* about the public finances
Reposted by Robert Saunders
NEW EPISODE OUT NOW!
Today’s episode is the second part of David’s conversation with historian @robertsaunders.bsky.social about the life and legacy of Margaret Thatcher. What is the meaning of Thatcherism in the twenty-first century?
Find us at...🎧 ppfideas.com
Today’s episode is the second part of David’s conversation with historian @robertsaunders.bsky.social about the life and legacy of Margaret Thatcher. What is the meaning of Thatcherism in the twenty-first century?
Find us at...🎧 ppfideas.com
November 30, 2025 at 8:47 AM
NEW EPISODE OUT NOW!
Today’s episode is the second part of David’s conversation with historian @robertsaunders.bsky.social about the life and legacy of Margaret Thatcher. What is the meaning of Thatcherism in the twenty-first century?
Find us at...🎧 ppfideas.com
Today’s episode is the second part of David’s conversation with historian @robertsaunders.bsky.social about the life and legacy of Margaret Thatcher. What is the meaning of Thatcherism in the twenty-first century?
Find us at...🎧 ppfideas.com
Tory Shadow Cabinet, April 1975:
Heseltine: On TV we don't look like any one people know.
Whitelaw: The most fatal thing in politics is to try and look different from what we are. People always complain that I look very large on TV. What would they say if I appeared in a bathing dress?
Fowler: -
Heseltine: On TV we don't look like any one people know.
Whitelaw: The most fatal thing in politics is to try and look different from what we are. People always complain that I look very large on TV. What would they say if I appeared in a bathing dress?
Fowler: -
November 29, 2025 at 9:45 PM
Tory Shadow Cabinet, April 1975:
Heseltine: On TV we don't look like any one people know.
Whitelaw: The most fatal thing in politics is to try and look different from what we are. People always complain that I look very large on TV. What would they say if I appeared in a bathing dress?
Fowler: -
Heseltine: On TV we don't look like any one people know.
Whitelaw: The most fatal thing in politics is to try and look different from what we are. People always complain that I look very large on TV. What would they say if I appeared in a bathing dress?
Fowler: -
For what it's worth - & without questioning Jes's experience - my students this term have been a joy.
They talk in classes, they do the reading, they're interested, and they hand in assignments.
It really feels like the Covid effect (which is underrated for that generation) is starting to ease.
They talk in classes, they do the reading, they're interested, and they hand in assignments.
It really feels like the Covid effect (which is underrated for that generation) is starting to ease.
An issue we're seeing at all levels of university is that many students are simply refusing to do *anything*. They aren't reading the syllabus, aren't following assignment guidelines, aren't engaging with material, ignoring deadlines. And this might seem like old news, but it truly has ramped up.
November 29, 2025 at 1:30 PM
For what it's worth - & without questioning Jes's experience - my students this term have been a joy.
They talk in classes, they do the reading, they're interested, and they hand in assignments.
It really feels like the Covid effect (which is underrated for that generation) is starting to ease.
They talk in classes, they do the reading, they're interested, and they hand in assignments.
It really feels like the Covid effect (which is underrated for that generation) is starting to ease.
Top headline on Radio 4 just now: "The government is being pressed to explain the real costs of taxis for asylum seekers".
There's clearly some misuse of money going on here, but is this genuinely THE most important thing happening in the world today?
There's clearly some misuse of money going on here, but is this genuinely THE most important thing happening in the world today?
Radcliffe and Maconie on BBC 6 music is one of my favourite things
Having it interrupted by breathless news bulletin telling me ‘government has banned taxis for asylum seekers’ *really isn’t*
New lines like ‘Home Office spent £1k over weekend on taxis’ would struggle to make a local newspaper
Having it interrupted by breathless news bulletin telling me ‘government has banned taxis for asylum seekers’ *really isn’t*
New lines like ‘Home Office spent £1k over weekend on taxis’ would struggle to make a local newspaper
November 29, 2025 at 1:20 PM
Top headline on Radio 4 just now: "The government is being pressed to explain the real costs of taxis for asylum seekers".
There's clearly some misuse of money going on here, but is this genuinely THE most important thing happening in the world today?
There's clearly some misuse of money going on here, but is this genuinely THE most important thing happening in the world today?
Reposted by Robert Saunders
Could there have been "Thatcherism" without Thatcher?
Why was she such a polarising figure?
What was the impact of the Falklands War and the Miners' Strike?
Why did she fall in 1990?
Join David Runciman & me to explore "Thatcher at 100", on @ppfideas.bsky.social.
www.ppfideas.com/episodes/now...
Why was she such a polarising figure?
What was the impact of the Falklands War and the Miners' Strike?
Why did she fall in 1990?
Join David Runciman & me to explore "Thatcher at 100", on @ppfideas.bsky.social.
www.ppfideas.com/episodes/now...
Now & Then with Robert Saunders: Thatcher@100 – Her Life
241
www.ppfideas.com
November 26, 2025 at 9:54 AM
Could there have been "Thatcherism" without Thatcher?
Why was she such a polarising figure?
What was the impact of the Falklands War and the Miners' Strike?
Why did she fall in 1990?
Join David Runciman & me to explore "Thatcher at 100", on @ppfideas.bsky.social.
www.ppfideas.com/episodes/now...
Why was she such a polarising figure?
What was the impact of the Falklands War and the Miners' Strike?
Why did she fall in 1990?
Join David Runciman & me to explore "Thatcher at 100", on @ppfideas.bsky.social.
www.ppfideas.com/episodes/now...
Diplomacy as real estate.
Everyone from Putin to FIFA knows that you no longer need to appeal to American interests, let alone values; you appeal to the greed of its president and his circle.
A more honest slogan than MAGA would have been "Make Donald Rich Again".
www.wsj.com/world/russia...
Everyone from Putin to FIFA knows that you no longer need to appeal to American interests, let alone values; you appeal to the greed of its president and his circle.
A more honest slogan than MAGA would have been "Make Donald Rich Again".
www.wsj.com/world/russia...
Make Money Not War: Trump’s Real Plan for Peace in Ukraine
The Kremlin pitched the White House on peace through business. To Europe’s dismay, the president and his envoy are on board.
www.wsj.com
November 29, 2025 at 10:25 AM
Diplomacy as real estate.
Everyone from Putin to FIFA knows that you no longer need to appeal to American interests, let alone values; you appeal to the greed of its president and his circle.
A more honest slogan than MAGA would have been "Make Donald Rich Again".
www.wsj.com/world/russia...
Everyone from Putin to FIFA knows that you no longer need to appeal to American interests, let alone values; you appeal to the greed of its president and his circle.
A more honest slogan than MAGA would have been "Make Donald Rich Again".
www.wsj.com/world/russia...
💯 this. Thatcher & Kinnock were probably no cleverer than most politicians today. But read their speeches: they made serious arguments about the nature of the state & the meaning of democracy.
No one wants philosophers in charge. But you do need a compass if you're going to steer in a straight line
No one wants philosophers in charge. But you do need a compass if you're going to steer in a straight line
We have got to make politics intellectual again. It is the only way that societies thrive is when politicians have the capability to actually think and reflect deeply:
![I confess that I always had difficulty with interpreting the Biblical precept to love our neighbours “as ourselves” until I read some of the words of C.S. Lewis. He pointed out that we don't exactly love ourselves when we fall below the standards and beliefs we have accepted. Indeed we might even hate ourselves for some unworthy deed.
None of this, of course, tells us exactly what kind of political and social institutions we should have. On this point, Christians will very often genuinely disagree, though it is a mark of Christian manners that they will do so with courtesy and mutual respect. [Applause] What is certain, however, is that any set of social and economic arrangements which is not founded on the acceptance of individual responsibility will do nothing but harm.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:xbnsfdtxoothg654ujxe3p25/bafkreicrdgbtvm54qnmttwe6crhxwt4be5v3izjmqtnvlxmaljwg5wolai@jpeg)
November 28, 2025 at 8:58 PM
💯 this. Thatcher & Kinnock were probably no cleverer than most politicians today. But read their speeches: they made serious arguments about the nature of the state & the meaning of democracy.
No one wants philosophers in charge. But you do need a compass if you're going to steer in a straight line
No one wants philosophers in charge. But you do need a compass if you're going to steer in a straight line
There's something mesmerising about Badenoch's combination of supreme intellectual confidence and "Jesus? Didn't he play for Real Madrid?" command of detail.
It's like somebody spliced the certainty of Margaret Thatcher with the work ethic of Boris Johnson.
It's like somebody spliced the certainty of Margaret Thatcher with the work ethic of Boris Johnson.
November 28, 2025 at 8:53 PM
There's something mesmerising about Badenoch's combination of supreme intellectual confidence and "Jesus? Didn't he play for Real Madrid?" command of detail.
It's like somebody spliced the certainty of Margaret Thatcher with the work ethic of Boris Johnson.
It's like somebody spliced the certainty of Margaret Thatcher with the work ethic of Boris Johnson.
On this day in 1990, Margaret Thatcher left office, ending the longest continuous premiership since 1827.
In this week's @ppfideas.bsky.social, David & I explored the making & breaking of Britain's first female prime minister, & the "ism" to which she gave her name.
www.ppfideas.com/episodes/now...
In this week's @ppfideas.bsky.social, David & I explored the making & breaking of Britain's first female prime minister, & the "ism" to which she gave her name.
www.ppfideas.com/episodes/now...
Now & Then with Robert Saunders: Thatcher@100 – Her Life
241
www.ppfideas.com
November 28, 2025 at 11:24 AM
On this day in 1990, Margaret Thatcher left office, ending the longest continuous premiership since 1827.
In this week's @ppfideas.bsky.social, David & I explored the making & breaking of Britain's first female prime minister, & the "ism" to which she gave her name.
www.ppfideas.com/episodes/now...
In this week's @ppfideas.bsky.social, David & I explored the making & breaking of Britain's first female prime minister, & the "ism" to which she gave her name.
www.ppfideas.com/episodes/now...
Reposted by Robert Saunders
Removing the two-child limit accounts for less than 1 per cent of social security bill. To remove 450,000 children out of poverty, that's pretty good return on investment.
November 27, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Removing the two-child limit accounts for less than 1 per cent of social security bill. To remove 450,000 children out of poverty, that's pretty good return on investment.
Reposted by Robert Saunders
70% of the additional spending from removing the two-child limit will go to families who are in work. This is targeting support for low-income working households who are being priced out of a decent standard of living despite doing everything asked of them.
November 27, 2025 at 4:38 PM
70% of the additional spending from removing the two-child limit will go to families who are in work. This is targeting support for low-income working households who are being priced out of a decent standard of living despite doing everything asked of them.
Reposted by Robert Saunders
It's part of the electionification of everything, which is why we as a country are failing to have a proper conversation about our actual problems. It's bad for the left *and* the right.
It's such a bizarre framing. Labour MPs think taking 450k kids out of poverty is putting the country first! That's why they wanted it to happen! It's not because they personally benefit.
Headline on The World at One just now:
"Sir Keir Starmer has denied putting the Labour Party before the country by ending the two-child benefit cap".
Can we please go back to reporting the actual news, not someone's partisan take on it?
"Sir Keir Starmer has denied putting the Labour Party before the country by ending the two-child benefit cap".
Can we please go back to reporting the actual news, not someone's partisan take on it?
November 27, 2025 at 10:17 PM
It's part of the electionification of everything, which is why we as a country are failing to have a proper conversation about our actual problems. It's bad for the left *and* the right.
Yes, govt bent to pressure from MPs over the benefit cap.
That's how parliamentary democracy works - and why it's a good thing.
It means a leader has to carry a wider movement with them. There's a counter-pressure to the strategists in No. 10.
It matters that we elect a Parliament, not just a PM.
That's how parliamentary democracy works - and why it's a good thing.
It means a leader has to carry a wider movement with them. There's a counter-pressure to the strategists in No. 10.
It matters that we elect a Parliament, not just a PM.
November 27, 2025 at 10:52 PM
Yes, govt bent to pressure from MPs over the benefit cap.
That's how parliamentary democracy works - and why it's a good thing.
It means a leader has to carry a wider movement with them. There's a counter-pressure to the strategists in No. 10.
It matters that we elect a Parliament, not just a PM.
That's how parliamentary democracy works - and why it's a good thing.
It means a leader has to carry a wider movement with them. There's a counter-pressure to the strategists in No. 10.
It matters that we elect a Parliament, not just a PM.