Sam Freedman
@samfr.bsky.social
Writes the most popular UK politics Substack (samf.substack.com)
Sunday Times bestselling book "Failed State" out now. (An Economist and Financial Times Book of the Year for 2024).
Senior fellow: Institute for Government
Sunday Times bestselling book "Failed State" out now. (An Economist and Financial Times Book of the Year for 2024).
Senior fellow: Institute for Government
Pinned
Six lessons from the 2024 election
And what they mean for the next one
samf.substack.com
New post just out:
Six lessons from the 2024 election.
And what they mean for the next one.
Covering: Labour's fatal misunderstanding about why they won; effects of a more fragmented system; changes in media/polling.
(£/free trial)
samf.substack.com/p/six-lesson...
Six lessons from the 2024 election.
And what they mean for the next one.
Covering: Labour's fatal misunderstanding about why they won; effects of a more fragmented system; changes in media/polling.
(£/free trial)
samf.substack.com/p/six-lesson...
I think it can be quite a short conversation.
Asked if she would want it to be mandatory for all businesses to become workers' cooperatives under her idea of a nationalised economy, Zarah Sultana tells the BBC: "It has to be something that we have a conversation about." But, she adds, this is not Your Party policy (as it has no platform yet).
December 7, 2025 at 9:55 AM
I think it can be quite a short conversation.
Lot's on the substack this week:
My post on the key lessons from the 2024 election - including why Labour don't understand how they won; and how media/polling are changing.
samf.substack.com/p/six-lesson...
My post on the key lessons from the 2024 election - including why Labour don't understand how they won; and how media/polling are changing.
samf.substack.com/p/six-lesson...
Six lessons from the 2024 election
And what they mean for the next one
samf.substack.com
December 7, 2025 at 9:35 AM
Lot's on the substack this week:
My post on the key lessons from the 2024 election - including why Labour don't understand how they won; and how media/polling are changing.
samf.substack.com/p/six-lesson...
My post on the key lessons from the 2024 election - including why Labour don't understand how they won; and how media/polling are changing.
samf.substack.com/p/six-lesson...
Seen a lot of comments about Reform voters not caring what Farage said at school, which is probably true.
But you've also got to consider people who aren't going to vote Reform but you want to turnout or vote tactically against them.
But you've also got to consider people who aren't going to vote Reform but you want to turnout or vote tactically against them.
December 7, 2025 at 9:18 AM
Seen a lot of comments about Reform voters not caring what Farage said at school, which is probably true.
But you've also got to consider people who aren't going to vote Reform but you want to turnout or vote tactically against them.
But you've also got to consider people who aren't going to vote Reform but you want to turnout or vote tactically against them.
Reposted by Sam Freedman
My dad abhors any negative comments about immigrants. Asked him recently why he’s so strong on it: ‘Because we’re always happy to take the rich and clever ones. Which means it’s not about disliking immigrants. It’s about disliking the poor and vulnerable. And that’s a bad human instinct.’
December 7, 2025 at 8:31 AM
My dad abhors any negative comments about immigrants. Asked him recently why he’s so strong on it: ‘Because we’re always happy to take the rich and clever ones. Which means it’s not about disliking immigrants. It’s about disliking the poor and vulnerable. And that’s a bad human instinct.’
Ffs - had just enough hope half an hour ago to be coaxed out of bed to turn the cricket on. And now I'm too awake to go back to sleep and annoyed.
December 7, 2025 at 7:56 AM
Ffs - had just enough hope half an hour ago to be coaxed out of bed to turn the cricket on. And now I'm too awake to go back to sleep and annoyed.
It's like Elon Musk watching Bladerunner and thinking it was something to aspire to.
the great gatsby is one of the most widely assigned books in america and yet apparently literally nobody understands it www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...
December 6, 2025 at 9:20 PM
It's like Elon Musk watching Bladerunner and thinking it was something to aspire to.
Poetry evening on Bluesky is a lot more enjoyable than our usual "politics is idiotic" evening.
December 6, 2025 at 9:02 PM
Poetry evening on Bluesky is a lot more enjoyable than our usual "politics is idiotic" evening.
Between the idea
And the reality
Between the motion
And the act
Falls the Shadow
And the reality
Between the motion
And the act
Falls the Shadow
Which lines of poetry live rent-free in your head?
December 6, 2025 at 8:48 PM
Between the idea
And the reality
Between the motion
And the act
Falls the Shadow
And the reality
Between the motion
And the act
Falls the Shadow
Reposted by Sam Freedman
Impossible to understand the tech leader zeal for humanoid robots unless you realize their homes are filled with human staff whose presence makes them, in a basic way, uncomfortable. They want servants without the trace of subjectivity.
December 6, 2025 at 7:50 PM
Impossible to understand the tech leader zeal for humanoid robots unless you realize their homes are filled with human staff whose presence makes them, in a basic way, uncomfortable. They want servants without the trace of subjectivity.
Reposted by Sam Freedman
This post by @ldfreedman.bsky.social is exceptionally detailed and informative.
Trump wants to move to next stage of Gaza peace plan. Key issue is the formation of the International Stabilisation Force, which Israel demands must fully disarm Hamas but to which no one will contribute if asked to try. All in new post (£/free trial), samf.substack.com/p/what-happe...
What happened to the Gaza peace plan?
Getting to the next stage
samf.substack.com
December 6, 2025 at 12:25 PM
This post by @ldfreedman.bsky.social is exceptionally detailed and informative.
Reposted by Sam Freedman
If you missed it in the week this is worth a read
‘The challenge of bloc politics is primarily around maximising strength within your own bloc… while staying moderate enough to avoid scaring voters in the other bloc into coordinating themselves more effectively & turning out in higher numbers.’ @samfr.bsky.social
samf.substack.com/p/six-lesson...
samf.substack.com/p/six-lesson...
Six lessons from the 2024 election
And what they mean for the next one
samf.substack.com
December 6, 2025 at 12:25 PM
If you missed it in the week this is worth a read
Reposted by Sam Freedman
Trump wants to move to next stage of Gaza peace plan. Key issue is the formation of the International Stabilisation Force, which Israel demands must fully disarm Hamas but to which no one will contribute if asked to try. All in new post (£/free trial), samf.substack.com/p/what-happe...
What happened to the Gaza peace plan?
Getting to the next stage
samf.substack.com
December 6, 2025 at 9:39 AM
Trump wants to move to next stage of Gaza peace plan. Key issue is the formation of the International Stabilisation Force, which Israel demands must fully disarm Hamas but to which no one will contribute if asked to try. All in new post (£/free trial), samf.substack.com/p/what-happe...
New post just out from @ldfreedman.bsky.social
"Whatever happened to the Gaza peace plan?"
With levels of violence rising again is the ceasefire doomed or can it be made to work?
(£/free trial)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/w...
"Whatever happened to the Gaza peace plan?"
With levels of violence rising again is the ceasefire doomed or can it be made to work?
(£/free trial)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/w...
What happened to the Gaza peace plan?
Getting to the next stage
open.substack.com
December 6, 2025 at 9:35 AM
New post just out from @ldfreedman.bsky.social
"Whatever happened to the Gaza peace plan?"
With levels of violence rising again is the ceasefire doomed or can it be made to work?
(£/free trial)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/w...
"Whatever happened to the Gaza peace plan?"
With levels of violence rising again is the ceasefire doomed or can it be made to work?
(£/free trial)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/w...
Of course they're finishing with YMCA like the world's weirdest barmitzvah.
December 5, 2025 at 7:14 PM
Of course they're finishing with YMCA like the world's weirdest barmitzvah.
You'd think they'd have taught poor Wayne Gretzsky how to pronounce the countries in his pot.
December 5, 2025 at 7:01 PM
You'd think they'd have taught poor Wayne Gretzsky how to pronounce the countries in his pot.
Same teams that were in their group in 1998. They'll be delighted...
Scotland getting Brazil and Morocco
December 5, 2025 at 6:51 PM
Same teams that were in their group in 1998. They'll be delighted...
Of course we get Croatia. FFS.
December 5, 2025 at 6:43 PM
Of course we get Croatia. FFS.
I didn't think a US World Cup would be able to top Diana Ross's "penalty" for embarrassment, but here we are.
December 5, 2025 at 6:00 PM
I didn't think a US World Cup would be able to top Diana Ross's "penalty" for embarrassment, but here we are.
The last remnants of my soul out through my body.
Have they drawn anything in the World Cup draw yet
December 5, 2025 at 5:44 PM
The last remnants of my soul out through my body.
Appropriate that the FIFA peace prize they're giving to Trump looks like a bunch of zombie hands rising up to destroy the globe.
December 5, 2025 at 5:34 PM
Appropriate that the FIFA peace prize they're giving to Trump looks like a bunch of zombie hands rising up to destroy the globe.
Media desperation for narrative shifts is how we got months of "the Sunak fightback is on" in 2023.
December 5, 2025 at 3:58 PM
Media desperation for narrative shifts is how we got months of "the Sunak fightback is on" in 2023.
*Shocked face*
December 5, 2025 at 3:22 PM
*Shocked face*
Though it's a very alarming document I also think it highlights the widening splits within the GOP that will get more profound as Trump loses control.
samf.substack.com/p/maga-meltd...
samf.substack.com/p/maga-meltd...
December 5, 2025 at 1:08 PM
Though it's a very alarming document I also think it highlights the widening splits within the GOP that will get more profound as Trump loses control.
samf.substack.com/p/maga-meltd...
samf.substack.com/p/maga-meltd...
Reposted by Sam Freedman
Just caught up with this and it's fantastic. Essential reading (particularly for government strategists and the media!)
New post just out:
Six lessons from the 2024 election.
And what they mean for the next one.
Covering: Labour's fatal misunderstanding about why they won; effects of a more fragmented system; changes in media/polling.
(£/free trial)
samf.substack.com/p/six-lesson...
Six lessons from the 2024 election.
And what they mean for the next one.
Covering: Labour's fatal misunderstanding about why they won; effects of a more fragmented system; changes in media/polling.
(£/free trial)
samf.substack.com/p/six-lesson...
Six lessons from the 2024 election
And what they mean for the next one
samf.substack.com
December 4, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Just caught up with this and it's fantastic. Essential reading (particularly for government strategists and the media!)
The Trump National Security Strategy is bonkers in many ways but this objective stood out:
"Cultivating resistance to Europe’s current trajectory within European nations"
Making their strategy of supporting radical right and extremist parties explicit.
"Cultivating resistance to Europe’s current trajectory within European nations"
Making their strategy of supporting radical right and extremist parties explicit.
December 5, 2025 at 12:06 PM
The Trump National Security Strategy is bonkers in many ways but this objective stood out:
"Cultivating resistance to Europe’s current trajectory within European nations"
Making their strategy of supporting radical right and extremist parties explicit.
"Cultivating resistance to Europe’s current trajectory within European nations"
Making their strategy of supporting radical right and extremist parties explicit.