Scott Newton
@1956historian.bsky.social
Old fashioned Democratic Socialist.
Emeritus Professor of History, Cardiff University.
Most recent book:
The Reinvention of Britain 1960-2016. A Political and Economic History (London: Routledge 2018).
Contributor to Lobster Magazine since 1990
Emeritus Professor of History, Cardiff University.
Most recent book:
The Reinvention of Britain 1960-2016. A Political and Economic History (London: Routledge 2018).
Contributor to Lobster Magazine since 1990
Pinned
Scott Newton
@1956historian.bsky.social
· Nov 14
Nairn argued, plausibly, that 'a democratic and progressive society in the British Isles can only emerge with the fundamental transformation' or abolition and replacement of the British State. See my 'Historical Notes on Tom Nairn and the British State', lobster-magazine.co.uk/article/issu...
Has capitalism always existed or did its appearance 450 years ago mark an entirely new manner of supplying humanity's needs, one capable in its own turn of being superseded? Ellen Meiksins Wood's robust and scholarly 'The Origin of Capitalism' reviewed: www.lobster-magazine.co.uk/article/issu...
The Origin of Capitalism: A Longer View by Ellen Meiksins Wood - Lobster
www.lobster-magazine.co.uk
November 26, 2025 at 6:20 PM
Has capitalism always existed or did its appearance 450 years ago mark an entirely new manner of supplying humanity's needs, one capable in its own turn of being superseded? Ellen Meiksins Wood's robust and scholarly 'The Origin of Capitalism' reviewed: www.lobster-magazine.co.uk/article/issu...
Reposted by Scott Newton
This is exactly what the recent Trump-BBC 'scandal' was designed to achieve. The BBC is now self-censoring criticisms of Trump in the name of "impartiality"
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
November 25, 2025 at 10:26 AM
This is exactly what the recent Trump-BBC 'scandal' was designed to achieve. The BBC is now self-censoring criticisms of Trump in the name of "impartiality"
Reposted by Scott Newton
"Another way of looking at it, the socialist way, understands that tax isn't about balancing the books. It's a tool for remaking society."
The Joy of Wealth Taxes
With the budget set to land on Wednesday, there's been a wealth of speculation and, of course, several leaks . Tax has frequently come up in...
averypublicsociologist.blogspot.com
November 25, 2025 at 12:16 PM
"Another way of looking at it, the socialist way, understands that tax isn't about balancing the books. It's a tool for remaking society."
Reposted by Scott Newton
This was pretty obvious at the time.
Covid inquiry: Lockdown could have been avoided and other key findings
The long-awaited report is published into how well or badly the government handled the Covid pandemic.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 20, 2025 at 6:48 PM
This was pretty obvious at the time.
This is well said.
"Starmer, Mahmood, and McSweeney are testing to destruction the idea that stealing the far right's clothes will win them far right votes. They are about to be disappointed."
From Reform-Lite to Reform-Plus
Do you remember the lies Keir Starmer told to secure Labour's leadership? Under pledge six, 'Defend immigrants' rights', among other things ...
averypublicsociologist.blogspot.com
November 18, 2025 at 10:41 PM
This is well said.
Reposted by Scott Newton
imagine if Nick Griffin had proposed in 2010 that we should be stealing jewellery from refugees who arrive here, we’d have spent 15 years pointing to it as a low point in the political discourse around immigration, but now we’re just suppose to accept it from our “””centre-left””” government
November 17, 2025 at 12:47 PM
imagine if Nick Griffin had proposed in 2010 that we should be stealing jewellery from refugees who arrive here, we’d have spent 15 years pointing to it as a low point in the political discourse around immigration, but now we’re just suppose to accept it from our “””centre-left””” government
'Every day I meet homeless people who have fallen through the cracks.... And yet in singling out asylum seekers we are laying the burden of society’s problems on less than 1% of the UK population – when the number of millionaires and billionaires is on the rise.'
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Anglican bishop shaken ‘to the core’ by home secretary’s asylum seeker comments
Bishop of Edmonton says people coming to UK are being ‘scapegoated’ for years of policy failures
www.theguardian.com
November 17, 2025 at 4:54 PM
'Every day I meet homeless people who have fallen through the cracks.... And yet in singling out asylum seekers we are laying the burden of society’s problems on less than 1% of the UK population – when the number of millionaires and billionaires is on the rise.'
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Reposted by Scott Newton
@owenjones.bsky.social has every right to express this.
He predicted, and kept on predicting, that Starmer would fail.
He was right, yet still some in the Labour Party, the Guardian, Independent & other “centrists” seem to think otherwise.
Centrism is dead. Good riddance.
He predicted, and kept on predicting, that Starmer would fail.
He was right, yet still some in the Labour Party, the Guardian, Independent & other “centrists” seem to think otherwise.
Centrism is dead. Good riddance.
I warned you Starmer would implode in office
I don't care if this sounds smug. I predicted what should have been obvious
www.owenjones.news
November 15, 2025 at 8:22 AM
@owenjones.bsky.social has every right to express this.
He predicted, and kept on predicting, that Starmer would fail.
He was right, yet still some in the Labour Party, the Guardian, Independent & other “centrists” seem to think otherwise.
Centrism is dead. Good riddance.
He predicted, and kept on predicting, that Starmer would fail.
He was right, yet still some in the Labour Party, the Guardian, Independent & other “centrists” seem to think otherwise.
Centrism is dead. Good riddance.
Reposted by Scott Newton
Is this what Labour politicians came into politics for?
To get cheered on by Tommy Robinson as they kick some of the most vulnerable people on earth?
How are they not all dying of shame
To get cheered on by Tommy Robinson as they kick some of the most vulnerable people on earth?
How are they not all dying of shame
November 17, 2025 at 1:44 PM
Is this what Labour politicians came into politics for?
To get cheered on by Tommy Robinson as they kick some of the most vulnerable people on earth?
How are they not all dying of shame
To get cheered on by Tommy Robinson as they kick some of the most vulnerable people on earth?
How are they not all dying of shame
Reposted by Scott Newton
This rancid trash understands the significance of Labour's anti-refugee policies.
November 16, 2025 at 10:43 AM
This rancid trash understands the significance of Labour's anti-refugee policies.
Reposted by Scott Newton
Good morning to all those people who wasted the last decade saying, "there's no point tackling climate change in the UK, because China."
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
China’s CO2 emissions have been flat or falling for past 18 months, analysis finds
World’s biggest polluter on track to hit peak emissions target early but miss goal for cutting carbon intensity
www.theguardian.com
November 11, 2025 at 7:08 AM
Good morning to all those people who wasted the last decade saying, "there's no point tackling climate change in the UK, because China."
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
Reposted by Scott Newton
'Policies that favour the interests of the working class are routinely dismissed as a fantasy, whereas those that push wealth and power towards the rich come to be seen as a realistic status quo.'
@theguardian.com having a 💡 moment. Zack Polanski has hit a switch.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
@theguardian.com having a 💡 moment. Zack Polanski has hit a switch.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Labour’s rebuttal to the Green party this week sums up the double standard that dogs our politics | Frances Ryan
Why is it that the politics of hope offered up by the left is dismissed as naive, while the policies of the centre and right are portrayed as all that is possible? asks Guardian columnist Frances Ryan
www.theguardian.com
November 12, 2025 at 11:51 PM
'Policies that favour the interests of the working class are routinely dismissed as a fantasy, whereas those that push wealth and power towards the rich come to be seen as a realistic status quo.'
@theguardian.com having a 💡 moment. Zack Polanski has hit a switch.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
@theguardian.com having a 💡 moment. Zack Polanski has hit a switch.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Scott Newton
New report: The far Right in Britain has become an industry, with its influencers increasingly earning big money.
"A cottage industry of digital vigilantes and migrant hunters
now acts as viral content creators" and supposed "citizen journalists"
irr.org.uk/wp-content/u...
"A cottage industry of digital vigilantes and migrant hunters
now acts as viral content creators" and supposed "citizen journalists"
irr.org.uk/wp-content/u...
November 13, 2025 at 3:08 PM
New report: The far Right in Britain has become an industry, with its influencers increasingly earning big money.
"A cottage industry of digital vigilantes and migrant hunters
now acts as viral content creators" and supposed "citizen journalists"
irr.org.uk/wp-content/u...
"A cottage industry of digital vigilantes and migrant hunters
now acts as viral content creators" and supposed "citizen journalists"
irr.org.uk/wp-content/u...
Reposted by Scott Newton
How interesting
NEWS: The UK is no longer sharing intelligence with the US about suspected drug trafficking vessels in the Caribbean because it does not want to be complicit in US military strikes and believes the attacks are illegal, sources familiar with the matter told CNN. edition.cnn.com/2025/11/11/p...
Exclusive: UK suspends some intelligence sharing with US over boat strike concerns in major break | CNN Politics
The United Kingdom is no longer sharing intelligence with the US about suspected drug trafficking vessels in the Caribbean because it does not want to be complicit in US military strikes and believes ...
edition.cnn.com
November 11, 2025 at 8:03 PM
How interesting
Reposted by Scott Newton
This is absolutely bang on.
"... from the standpoint of British capital, Starmer's disastrous leadership is on the verge of liquidating organised labour as a political force. Something worth a shower of damehoods, gongs, and knights garter."
The Man Who Would Liquidate Labour
In the week, The Times published polling that suggested large number of Liberal Democrat and Green voters would be prepared to support Lab...
averypublicsociologist.blogspot.com
November 8, 2025 at 12:22 AM
This is absolutely bang on.
Reposted by Scott Newton
This is great, and useful. Search for “Gordon Findlay” on here to see who’s cosplaying as a journalist and block them.
A man collapsed in the Oval Office yesterday. The internet got the story wrong.
My experience struggling to correct the record — including on Bluesky! — and the warning signs as AI, aggregation, and social media increasingly drive our news consumption.
My experience struggling to correct the record — including on Bluesky! — and the warning signs as AI, aggregation, and social media increasingly drive our news consumption.
A man collapsed in the Oval Office. The internet got the story wrong.
A case study in how bad information can spread — and how hard it is to correct it.
dandiamond.substack.com
November 7, 2025 at 1:45 PM
This is great, and useful. Search for “Gordon Findlay” on here to see who’s cosplaying as a journalist and block them.
Reposted by Scott Newton
Which one is more English?
November 6, 2025 at 11:58 AM
Which one is more English?
Reposted by Scott Newton
New York had shown it would be the “light” in a “moment of political darkness” say newly elected Mayor Mamdani 👏
Indeed it, and he has. It gives progressives around the world hope. It feels like beating the far right is not just possible, but inevitable.
Indeed it, and he has. It gives progressives around the world hope. It feels like beating the far right is not just possible, but inevitable.
‘Turn the volume up’: Mamdani invokes Trump in fiery speech that laid out plan of action
As New York City’s mayor-elect reiterated his policies, the president posted ‘And so it begins!’ on his social media
www.theguardian.com
November 5, 2025 at 9:37 AM
New York had shown it would be the “light” in a “moment of political darkness” say newly elected Mayor Mamdani 👏
Indeed it, and he has. It gives progressives around the world hope. It feels like beating the far right is not just possible, but inevitable.
Indeed it, and he has. It gives progressives around the world hope. It feels like beating the far right is not just possible, but inevitable.
The Treasury-Bank of England-City nexus is central to understanding the class politics of this country. Of course Reeves was always going to let this happen.
Have City lobbyists been helping write Rachel Reeves’ budget? open.substack.com/pub/abolishw...
November 4, 2025 at 6:48 PM
This is excellent.
All day, many of you have been asking for a Cheney obituary from me. Get ready:
His Works Completed, Dick Cheney, Mass Murderer of Iraqis and American Democracy, Dies
As much as the Trumpists claim to disavow the War on Terror, they walk a path paved by the most powerful vice president in U.S. history.
www.thenation.com
November 4, 2025 at 6:47 PM
This is excellent.
Reposted by Scott Newton
Is the Reform leader losing his "populist" touch?
Nigel Farage's Tory Economics
That Nigel Farage, he's proven himself a dab hand at politics. Having replaced the Conservatives as the main party of the right, at least in...
averypublicsociologist.blogspot.com
November 3, 2025 at 10:11 PM
Is the Reform leader losing his "populist" touch?
Reposted by Scott Newton
Second class England
No free bus passes for under 22s in England
Under 21s don't get full minimum wage; pay rent, food, groceries, transport, tax, NIC at full rate.
Scotland: 5- 22yr olds and over 60 get free bus travel, England at 66 rising to 67.
No uni fees, prescription charges in Scotland.
No free bus passes for under 22s in England
Under 21s don't get full minimum wage; pay rent, food, groceries, transport, tax, NIC at full rate.
Scotland: 5- 22yr olds and over 60 get free bus travel, England at 66 rising to 67.
No uni fees, prescription charges in Scotland.
No free bus passes for under 22s, says goverment
The Commons Transport Committee recommended scrapping bus fares for young people in August.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 2, 2025 at 7:39 AM
Second class England
No free bus passes for under 22s in England
Under 21s don't get full minimum wage; pay rent, food, groceries, transport, tax, NIC at full rate.
Scotland: 5- 22yr olds and over 60 get free bus travel, England at 66 rising to 67.
No uni fees, prescription charges in Scotland.
No free bus passes for under 22s in England
Under 21s don't get full minimum wage; pay rent, food, groceries, transport, tax, NIC at full rate.
Scotland: 5- 22yr olds and over 60 get free bus travel, England at 66 rising to 67.
No uni fees, prescription charges in Scotland.
Peter Oborne: Why the UK allows Israeli settlers to terrorise the West Bank www.middleeasteye.net/opinion/why-...
Why the UK allows Israeli settlers to terrorise the West Bank
Rather than acting to uphold international law, Starmer remains subservient to his American and Israeli allies
www.middleeasteye.net
October 31, 2025 at 10:31 PM
Peter Oborne: Why the UK allows Israeli settlers to terrorise the West Bank www.middleeasteye.net/opinion/why-...
Reposted by Scott Newton
The people of Bradford seemed genuinely angry with Matt Goodwin over his incessant attempts to promote a divisive, anti-immigration agenda on #bbcqt
Goodwin, who's no longer an academic, should definitely have been described as an "anti-immigration activist" on the pre-publicity material.
Goodwin, who's no longer an academic, should definitely have been described as an "anti-immigration activist" on the pre-publicity material.
My goodness Matt Goodwin comes across as an obnoxious hateful one-trick pony. Glad much of the #bbcqt audience saw through his schtick and agree.
October 31, 2025 at 12:14 AM
The people of Bradford seemed genuinely angry with Matt Goodwin over his incessant attempts to promote a divisive, anti-immigration agenda on #bbcqt
Goodwin, who's no longer an academic, should definitely have been described as an "anti-immigration activist" on the pre-publicity material.
Goodwin, who's no longer an academic, should definitely have been described as an "anti-immigration activist" on the pre-publicity material.