Antony Carpen
@acarpen.bsky.social
Ex-Whitehall type still with views on public policy, but now local historian in Cambridge (UK) blogging at https://lostcambridge.com/ - also writing about the future of the city on The Cambridge Town Owl.
Reposted by Antony Carpen
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.
NEW BLOGPOST: "Pilbrow and Partners design ugly carbuncles for Parker’s Piece Corner"
cambridgetownowl.com/2025/11/27/p...
*****Boooooo!!!!!******
cambridgetownowl.com/2025/11/27/p...
*****Boooooo!!!!!******
Pilbrow and Partners design ugly carbuncles for Parker’s Piece Corner
Image on Combined Authority pamphlet conflicts with emerging findings in the field of neuroarchitecture, including from one of Cambridge University’s own pioneering researchers You can read m…
cambridgetownowl.com
November 27, 2025 at 10:00 PM
NEW BLOGPOST: "Pilbrow and Partners design ugly carbuncles for Parker’s Piece Corner"
cambridgetownowl.com/2025/11/27/p...
*****Boooooo!!!!!******
cambridgetownowl.com/2025/11/27/p...
*****Boooooo!!!!!******
Reposted by Antony Carpen
Out of the three phone hacking/illegal information trials involving Prince Harry that I covered this was always the messiest and least slam dunk case.
It’s interesting the Mail is wanting to put Paul Dacre in the witness box when the Sun paid enormous sums to keep Rebekah Brooks out of court.
It’s interesting the Mail is wanting to put Paul Dacre in the witness box when the Sun paid enormous sums to keep Rebekah Brooks out of court.
Former Daily Mail editor Paul Dacre to be witness in trial brought by Prince Harry and others
Former Daily Mail editor Paul Dacre to be witness in trial brought by Prince Harry and others
Judge warns he will not permit case ‘to descend into a wide-ranging public inquiry’
The former editor of the Daily Mail, Paul Dacre, is to be called as a witness in the legal action brought by the Duke of Sussex and six other household names against the newspaper’s publishers over allegations of unlawful information gathering, the high court was told.
Antony White KC, for Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL), said Dacre, 77, now the editor-in-chief of ANL’s DMG Media company, and Peter Wright, a former editor of the Mail on Sunday, could be called as early witnesses in the trial, scheduled to begin on 19 January. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
November 27, 2025 at 8:23 PM
Out of the three phone hacking/illegal information trials involving Prince Harry that I covered this was always the messiest and least slam dunk case.
It’s interesting the Mail is wanting to put Paul Dacre in the witness box when the Sun paid enormous sums to keep Rebekah Brooks out of court.
It’s interesting the Mail is wanting to put Paul Dacre in the witness box when the Sun paid enormous sums to keep Rebekah Brooks out of court.
"Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch doubles down on comments about Chancellor Rachel Reeves" www.itv.com/watch/news/c... 👀
www.itv.com
November 27, 2025 at 8:05 PM
"Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch doubles down on comments about Chancellor Rachel Reeves" www.itv.com/watch/news/c... 👀
Reposted by Antony Carpen
We are pushing ahead with the biggest overhaul of our planning system in a generation.
Good to attend the Land, Planning And Development Federation’s Annual Conference earlier today to discuss our plans to boost local plan coverage and further streamline the planning process.
Good to attend the Land, Planning And Development Federation’s Annual Conference earlier today to discuss our plans to boost local plan coverage and further streamline the planning process.
November 27, 2025 at 7:49 PM
We are pushing ahead with the biggest overhaul of our planning system in a generation.
Good to attend the Land, Planning And Development Federation’s Annual Conference earlier today to discuss our plans to boost local plan coverage and further streamline the planning process.
Good to attend the Land, Planning And Development Federation’s Annual Conference earlier today to discuss our plans to boost local plan coverage and further streamline the planning process.
The country will get its first look at the Corbyn/Sultana Your Party movement at their first national conference this weekend www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-... 👀
Jeremy Corbyn: my apology to Your Party members
Labour's former leader has turned his back on his old party – and is ready to lead a new movement
www.newstatesman.com
November 27, 2025 at 7:36 PM
The country will get its first look at the Corbyn/Sultana Your Party movement at their first national conference this weekend www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-... 👀
Reposted by Antony Carpen
Let's try this again... Glad tidings we bring to you and your quim! We are fundraising this festive period. Earlier this year, the future looked bleak for the Vagina Museum. But we're still here, and there's many reasons for you to become a vital part of our future... www.gofundme.com/f/btscc2
November 27, 2025 at 11:23 AM
Let's try this again... Glad tidings we bring to you and your quim! We are fundraising this festive period. Earlier this year, the future looked bleak for the Vagina Museum. But we're still here, and there's many reasons for you to become a vital part of our future... www.gofundme.com/f/btscc2
Interesting to see TeamNigel’s back catalogue getting belated scrutiny that was absent at the time from the broadcast media.
Nigel Farage on Russia Today before the 2014 European Elections talking about the European Union:
"They are fanatical and, and I believe the most dangerous people we've seen in Europe for 70 years."
Make of this what you will.
"They are fanatical and, and I believe the most dangerous people we've seen in Europe for 70 years."
Make of this what you will.
November 27, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Interesting to see TeamNigel’s back catalogue getting belated scrutiny that was absent at the time from the broadcast media.
Reposted by Antony Carpen
Radio 4 PM: “Green Party leader Zack Polanski gives us his view on the budget - and his plans for the future.”
⏩ jump to 32m40s:
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
⏩ jump to 32m40s:
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
PM - Net migration falls dramatically - BBC Sounds
UK net migration sees a significant drop in arrivals for work and study.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 27, 2025 at 6:48 PM
Radio 4 PM: “Green Party leader Zack Polanski gives us his view on the budget - and his plans for the future.”
⏩ jump to 32m40s:
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
⏩ jump to 32m40s:
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
Reposted by Antony Carpen
I like how the graphic makes it look like he's just completed a transfer to Blackpool FC. "Tricky centre-forward Miller comes to the Tangerines from Bicester Town FC, setting a transfer record for the Oxfordshire club"
Tune into BBC1 after the News at 10 or live on BBC iPlayer from 9pm to catch
@CalumMillerLD.bsky.social on Question Time! #BBCQT
@CalumMillerLD.bsky.social on Question Time! #BBCQT
November 27, 2025 at 7:02 PM
I like how the graphic makes it look like he's just completed a transfer to Blackpool FC. "Tricky centre-forward Miller comes to the Tangerines from Bicester Town FC, setting a transfer record for the Oxfordshire club"
****Wow!**** This is rare! 🙃 #BBCQT #ICantBelieveItsNotNigel
Tune into BBC1 after the News at 10 or live on BBC iPlayer from 9pm to catch
@CalumMillerLD.bsky.social on Question Time! #BBCQT
@CalumMillerLD.bsky.social on Question Time! #BBCQT
November 27, 2025 at 7:00 PM
****Wow!**** This is rare! 🙃 #BBCQT #ICantBelieveItsNotNigel
Reposted by Antony Carpen
I’ve now seen the first blatant use of AI in an assignment and boy was it bad. Ugh. It caused more work than it undertook, as the content was dubious, the formatting atrocious, the sourcing wrong, and the language inappropriate.
If this is the best this shit got I’m thinking this thread is right.
If this is the best this shit got I’m thinking this thread is right.
A lot of people are being like 'yeah well XXX million amount of people are using ChatGPT so whether we like it AI is here to stay' and not taking into account that if the underlying companies don't prove profitable the venture capitalists will stop bankrolling them and those services will go down.
November 27, 2025 at 6:50 PM
I’ve now seen the first blatant use of AI in an assignment and boy was it bad. Ugh. It caused more work than it undertook, as the content was dubious, the formatting atrocious, the sourcing wrong, and the language inappropriate.
If this is the best this shit got I’m thinking this thread is right.
If this is the best this shit got I’m thinking this thread is right.
Reposted by Antony Carpen
This is why a con man shouldn’t have been allowed to become President!
This 👇
This 👇
November 27, 2025 at 12:33 PM
This is why a con man shouldn’t have been allowed to become President!
This 👇
This 👇
Reposted by Antony Carpen
A question on #LocalGovernment #Cambridgeshire tabled by Ben Obese-Jecty on 24-11-2025 has been answered by Alison McGovern. https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2025-11-24/93873
November 27, 2025 at 5:01 PM
A question on #LocalGovernment #Cambridgeshire tabled by Ben Obese-Jecty on 24-11-2025 has been answered by Alison McGovern. https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2025-11-24/93873
Umm…planning law *requires* councils to consult with the public on their proposed local plan. And if they don’t prepare one, ministers have said they’ll impose one. Applies across England.
Cambridge City Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council have agreed to consult with the public on the draft joint local plan, which will guide future development in the area.
Councils told they need to plan for Greater Cambridge growth
www.cambridge-news.co.uk
November 27, 2025 at 6:17 PM
Umm…planning law *requires* councils to consult with the public on their proposed local plan. And if they don’t prepare one, ministers have said they’ll impose one. Applies across England.
Reposted by Antony Carpen
Contested Commons: a History of Protest and Public Space in England (Reaktion Books).
An ideal Christmas present. reaktionbooks.co.uk/work/contest...
An ideal Christmas present. reaktionbooks.co.uk/work/contest...
November 27, 2025 at 6:07 PM
Contested Commons: a History of Protest and Public Space in England (Reaktion Books).
An ideal Christmas present. reaktionbooks.co.uk/work/contest...
An ideal Christmas present. reaktionbooks.co.uk/work/contest...
Reposted by Antony Carpen
"We can judge Farage not just by the words he, allegedly, shouted as a child, but by the words and actions he has chosen as an adult."
Zack Polanski on why Farage should be judged on his record as a politician which has seen him echo conspiracy and language of the far right.
Zack Polanski on why Farage should be judged on his record as a politician which has seen him echo conspiracy and language of the far right.
November 27, 2025 at 4:30 PM
"We can judge Farage not just by the words he, allegedly, shouted as a child, but by the words and actions he has chosen as an adult."
Zack Polanski on why Farage should be judged on his record as a politician which has seen him echo conspiracy and language of the far right.
Zack Polanski on why Farage should be judged on his record as a politician which has seen him echo conspiracy and language of the far right.
Livestream of #Cambridge City Council www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYR4...
www.youtube.com
November 27, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Livestream of #Cambridge City Council www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYR4...
Reposted by Antony Carpen
This is mad.
Obviously it was a massive error.
But Richard Hughes resigning would be a huge over-response.
on.ft.com/485r0Yd OBR chair under pressure over early release of Budget analysis
Obviously it was a massive error.
But Richard Hughes resigning would be a huge over-response.
on.ft.com/485r0Yd OBR chair under pressure over early release of Budget analysis
OBR chair under pressure over early release of Budget analysis
Senior Labour MP calls for UK’s fiscal watchdog chair Richard Hughes to ‘consider his position’
on.ft.com
November 27, 2025 at 5:52 PM
This is mad.
Obviously it was a massive error.
But Richard Hughes resigning would be a huge over-response.
on.ft.com/485r0Yd OBR chair under pressure over early release of Budget analysis
Obviously it was a massive error.
But Richard Hughes resigning would be a huge over-response.
on.ft.com/485r0Yd OBR chair under pressure over early release of Budget analysis
At St Columbas/Downing Place for Cambridge City Council’s full council. (Why?) democracy.cambridge.gov.uk/ieListDocume...
November 27, 2025 at 6:01 PM
At St Columbas/Downing Place for Cambridge City Council’s full council. (Why?) democracy.cambridge.gov.uk/ieListDocume...
Reposted by Antony Carpen
Unfortunately C2C and CSET are designed on the wrong routes & do not form a solid, evidence-based, basis for a Mass Transit network.
November 27, 2025 at 5:59 PM
Unfortunately C2C and CSET are designed on the wrong routes & do not form a solid, evidence-based, basis for a Mass Transit network.
Reposted by Antony Carpen
Good to see progress on MRT, updating Mass Transit Options study of 2018 is badly needed. We anticipate light rail will be one of the options considered; it is the most proven, practical and deliverable form of mass transit available, as evidenced in dozens of cities across Europe.
Minutes of last month's meeting of the Cambridge Growth Company's Advisory Council meeting - where our elected representatives can provide input - including an update on planning for Mass Rapid Transit in Cambridge. thecgc.org.uk/files/176416...
November 27, 2025 at 5:59 PM
Good to see progress on MRT, updating Mass Transit Options study of 2018 is badly needed. We anticipate light rail will be one of the options considered; it is the most proven, practical and deliverable form of mass transit available, as evidenced in dozens of cities across Europe.
Reposted by Antony Carpen
NEW - the government poised to water down flagship workers rights bill, ditching day one rights to unfair dismissal but reducing qualifying period from two years to six months.
But in concession to unions, government will remove provisions for up to nine months probation.
But in concession to unions, government will remove provisions for up to nine months probation.
November 27, 2025 at 4:57 PM
NEW - the government poised to water down flagship workers rights bill, ditching day one rights to unfair dismissal but reducing qualifying period from two years to six months.
But in concession to unions, government will remove provisions for up to nine months probation.
But in concession to unions, government will remove provisions for up to nine months probation.
Who lobbied for this and what was the the ‘persuading argument’? 👀
November 27, 2025 at 5:10 PM
Who lobbied for this and what was the the ‘persuading argument’? 👀
Given that the fighting forces historically have had uniforms & logos, what should this new cohort have for both? www.gov.uk/government/n... (One for citizenship classes! 😁)
First fast-track cyber defenders now protecting UK from daily digital threats
More than 30 cyber recruits graduate from Defence Cyber Academy
www.gov.uk
November 27, 2025 at 5:09 PM
Given that the fighting forces historically have had uniforms & logos, what should this new cohort have for both? www.gov.uk/government/n... (One for citizenship classes! 😁)