Steven Fielding

@polprofsteve2024.bsky.social

4.3K followers 1.4K following 7.1K posts

Emeritus Prof, stalled writing about Labour’s existential struggles since 1976 for Polity.
“'Tis a muddle, and that's aw.”

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Steven Fielding is an academic in the School of Politics at the University of Nottingham where he is professor of political history and director of the Centre for British Politics. His most recent work A State of Play sets out the qualified constructivist view that how individuals regard real politics can be shaped by fictional works about politics. .. more

Political science 73%

History 11%

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Steven Fielding @polprofsteve2024.bsky.social · Dec 21

What is Labour’s record on multiculturalism & how does this government measure up? We talk to the author of this highly recommended book. www.progressivebritain.org/multicultura...

Steven Fielding @polprofsteve2024.bsky.social · 1d

Sometimes circumstances mean you have to print the legend when you’re trying to build alliances as opposed to tearing them apart. I’m not quite sure what you would have Burnham say in that statement at this time in response to Ratcliffe.

Steven Fielding @polprofsteve2024.bsky.social · 1d

It did have the taint of Burnham saying something convenient in the moment that he would regret if he ever did become PM. There’s a lot of that about.

Steven Fielding @polprofsteve2024.bsky.social · 1d

He is certainly more adroit when it comes to thinking on his feet than is Starmer who too often resembles an oil tanker trying to turn in the middle of a typhoon.

Steven Fielding @polprofsteve2024.bsky.social · 1d

Well, Andy Burnham once co-wrote a book which advocated abolishing the whipping system - so there is that 🧐

Steven Fielding @polprofsteve2024.bsky.social · 1d

What has she said?

Steven Fielding @polprofsteve2024.bsky.social · 1d

To be fair to Ratcliffe, he doesn’t appear to know much about football either.

Steven Fielding @polprofsteve2024.bsky.social · 1d

I’m not sure exactly how true this is, but if it is, surely it’s a more democratic way of running the country, instead of having an all-powerful centralising and sometimes-bonkers prime minister ordering people about?

Duncan Robinson @duncanrobinson.bsky.social · 1d

The alternatives to Sir Keir: Starmer doesn’t command a majority, the majority commands him
economist.com/britain/2026...
from The Economist

Steven Fielding @polprofsteve2024.bsky.social · 1d

Anybody who was followed the fate of Manchester United under his influence will realise that the club has been colonised by a complete idiot. www.theguardian.com/business/202...

Starmer tells Jim Ratcliffe to apologise for saying UK ‘colonised’ by immigrants

PM calls comments by Man United co-owner, who also hit out at people on benefits, ‘offensive and wrong’

www.theguardian.com

Steven Fielding @polprofsteve2024.bsky.social · 1d

If nothing else, this suggests there is no easy progressive route to managing immigration in the west. www.nytimes.com/2026/02/12/o...

Opinion | Spain’s Approach to Migration Is Overrated and Harmful

www.nytimes.com

Reposted by Steven Fielding

Duncan Robinson @duncanrobinson.bsky.social · 1d

The alternatives to Sir Keir: Starmer doesn’t command a majority, the majority commands him
economist.com/britain/2026...
from The Economist

Steven Fielding @polprofsteve2024.bsky.social · 1d

Not only the unacceptable face of capitalism, also the unacceptable face of humanity. ☠️

Sky News @news.sky.com · 1d

'The UK has been colonised by immigrants', says INEOS boss and Man Utd co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe

Britain has been "colonised" by immigrants, who are draining resources from the state, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, one of the country's richest and most influential men, has told Sky News.

news.sky.com

Reposted by Dorothy Bishop, Philip Cowley, Steven Fielding

Robert Hutton @roberthutton.co.uk · 1d

Will you like him when he's angry? My SKETCH of Keir Starmer trying out a new dynamic persona.
thecritic.co.uk/morg...

The worm has turned. Keir Starmer’s usual approach to Prime Minister’s Questions is that of a weary headmaster who can’t believe the sixth form have trashed their common room again, because they’re only hurting themselves. On Wednesday we saw a new Starmer, a Starmer who has frankly had enough of your nonsense. This Starmer wasn’t disappointed. He was angry.

Ever since Monday evening, when Labour MPs assured us they had seen a new side of the prime minister, we had been waiting to find out whether this version of him was going to be available to the rest of us, and if so, what it would be like. It turned out that it was, and he is absolutely bloody furious. Spitting. Mad as hell, not taking it any more. It was like one of those films where a florist, goaded beyond endurance, reveals that they used to be a Navy SEAL, and sets out to massacre a biker gang. Sort of.

Sky News @news.sky.com · 1d

'The UK has been colonised by immigrants', says INEOS boss and Man Utd co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe

Britain has been "colonised" by immigrants, who are draining resources from the state, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, one of the country's richest and most influential men, has told Sky News.

news.sky.com

Steven Fielding @polprofsteve2024.bsky.social · 1d

In the UK edited books almost don’t exist in terms of status despite all the work that can go into them. Authored books are the only thing that matters along with journal articles. It’s all a bit depressing.

Steven Fielding @polprofsteve2024.bsky.social · 1d

🤷‍♀️

Steven Fielding @polprofsteve2024.bsky.social · 1d

Not in the UK in my experience. It looks like you’re trying too hard to big up yourself just a bit too
much.

Steven Fielding @polprofsteve2024.bsky.social · 1d

But these aren’t - for want of a better term - stupid people. Something far worse is going on.

Steven Fielding @polprofsteve2024.bsky.social · 1d

I didn’t spot that, in which case there may be some hope of her departure.

Steven Fielding @polprofsteve2024.bsky.social · 1d

I’m repeating myself, but McSweeney and his creatures are as much ideologists as any Corbynite, arguably much more so.

Steven Fielding @polprofsteve2024.bsky.social · 1d

This is somebody who also needs to go in any post McSweeney purge. But I don’t get the impression that she will which means McSweeney’s departure is likely to be completely meaningless.

PoliticsHome @politicshome.bsky.social · May 14

On Tuesday, Starmer's political director briefed Labour MPs on how government plans to fight Reform. She said:

- Reform voters are "our people" but "pissed off" with the state of the country
- At Runcorn, Farage mobilised habitual non-voters, while Labour voters stayed at home
- Comms must improve

Top Starmer Aide: Reform Voters Are 'Labour People' – They're Just 'Pissed Off'

Reform UK voters are “our people” but are “pissed off” with Keir Starmer’s government, Labour’s political director has said.

www.politicshome.com

Steven Fielding @polprofsteve2024.bsky.social · 1d

From what we know from surveys and their attitudes, a small percentage of reform voters might be called our people but the vast majority are not, never were or it’s so long ago they have forgotten they were, and are not ever coming back. This is an incredibly bad sign that nothing is changing.

Steven Fielding @polprofsteve2024.bsky.social · 1d

We should all be so lucky as to be treated like that.

Steven Fielding @polprofsteve2024.bsky.social · 1d

But his perspective which informs his analysis of what’s going on in the labour party and its likely consequences is also the one which led to the conservative party’s present mess.

Steven Fielding @polprofsteve2024.bsky.social · 1d

Yes, but he makes it clear that he has his own perspective and his own perspective is one which underpins the complete collapse of the old Conservative party.

Steven Fielding @polprofsteve2024.bsky.social · 1d

It’s like a beauty contest for blind people.

Steven Fielding @polprofsteve2024.bsky.social · 1d

I’m not exactly sure for whom Finkelstein speaks given that his particular brand of conservatism is even more screwed than McSweeney‘s. But what he says is more than possible if Starmer has any political sense.

John Rentoul @rentouljohn.bsky.social · 2d

The departure of Morgan McSweeney clears the way for Labour to embrace its inner Ed Miliband – Daniel Finkelstein thetimes.com/comment/colu...

Steven Fielding @polprofsteve2024.bsky.social · 1d

It was a 1974 play for today and so far as the audience research went, it was not well received. But the last I looked it was on YouTube.

Steven Fielding @polprofsteve2024.bsky.social · 1d

The only way he wins is thru a coronation & I doubt he’s getting that. A Starmer reshuffle that shifts the party to the left (if only in terms of personne) & a salutary demotion for Streeting is much more likely.

Steven Fielding @polprofsteve2024.bsky.social · 2d

🧐

Steven Fielding @polprofsteve2024.bsky.social · 2d

I don’t think the next 25 years of British politics is going to make you any happier. I strongly suggest you take up bowls or knitting.

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