Brian Mcleish
@bmcleish.bsky.social
Public sector public affairs bod, charity trustee and minirugby coach. I post about economic development, social mobility, rugby, TTRPGs and anything else that comes to mind.
Reposted by Brian Mcleish
SCOTTISH LITERARY REVIEW 17/2 (Autumn/Winter 2025)
The latest issue of Scottish Literary Review is online now via @projectmuse.bsky.social (institutional access required). Print copies will be in the mail to subscribers shortly!
#litstudies
muse.jhu.edu/issue/55415
The latest issue of Scottish Literary Review is online now via @projectmuse.bsky.social (institutional access required). Print copies will be in the mail to subscribers shortly!
#litstudies
muse.jhu.edu/issue/55415
![Joanna Martin: ‘He in alle thing wele temperite was’: The Emotional Language of The Buik of King Alexander The Conquerour
Ian Cameron Robertson: Green Blades Among the Rubble – Posterity’s Judgement on The Minstrel?
Angus Sutherland: Hogg and the Ettrick Clearances
Annalisa Nicholson: Octonaries upon the Vanitie and Inconstancie of the World, by Esther Inglis; an essay, by Jamie Reid Baxter (review)
Trish Reid: Plays in Scots, Volume 1 and Volume 2, by Michel Tremblay (review)
Honor Rieley: The Edinburgh History of the British and Irish Press, Volume 1: Beginnings and Consolidation, 1640–1800, edited by Nicholas Brownlees (review)
Désha Osborne: Robert Wedderburn, Abolition, and the Commons: Romanticism’s Black Geographies, by Katey Castellano (review)
Adam Kozaczka: Law, Equity and Romantic Writing: Seeking Justice in the Age of Revolutions, edited by Michael Demson and Regina Hewitt (review)
Zsuzsanna Varga: A modern skót irodalom a 19. század végétől napjainkig [Modern Scottish Literature from the End of the Nineteenth Century to the Present Day], by Attila Dósa (review)](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:vmd2oqboco524fhpqdu7pnbn/bafkreic6jkewat3o6orxceacfngef5kw7q2iyduhtmotbhakcz65m2e4ci@jpeg)
December 8, 2025 at 4:23 PM
SCOTTISH LITERARY REVIEW 17/2 (Autumn/Winter 2025)
The latest issue of Scottish Literary Review is online now via @projectmuse.bsky.social (institutional access required). Print copies will be in the mail to subscribers shortly!
#litstudies
muse.jhu.edu/issue/55415
The latest issue of Scottish Literary Review is online now via @projectmuse.bsky.social (institutional access required). Print copies will be in the mail to subscribers shortly!
#litstudies
muse.jhu.edu/issue/55415
Reposted by Brian Mcleish
The exact people now saying "Nigel Farage was young and foolish at school" (to excuse his racism, bullying and harassment of fellow pupils at Dulwich College) are the same people who said "Shamima Begum was old enough to know what she was doing".
December 7, 2025 at 12:05 PM
The exact people now saying "Nigel Farage was young and foolish at school" (to excuse his racism, bullying and harassment of fellow pupils at Dulwich College) are the same people who said "Shamima Begum was old enough to know what she was doing".
Reposted by Brian Mcleish
My free advice to this couple? Instead of paying £47k a year in school fees and scraping by, stick 15k a year in each kid's bank account so that they each have around £100k at age 18 to spend on a house, business or uni. You then have £17k/year leftover to spend on luxuries. Better life all round
One couple — she works for the NHS and he for the RAF — are doing everything they can to give their children an independent education ⬇️
We’re almost broke and still paying for private school
One couple — she works for the NHS and he for the RAF — are doing everything they can to give their children an independent education
www.thetimes.com
December 8, 2025 at 11:38 AM
My free advice to this couple? Instead of paying £47k a year in school fees and scraping by, stick 15k a year in each kid's bank account so that they each have around £100k at age 18 to spend on a house, business or uni. You then have £17k/year leftover to spend on luxuries. Better life all round
A new album at 340? Guy really ought to think about retiring......
December 6, 2025 at 8:44 AM
A new album at 340? Guy really ought to think about retiring......
Reposted by Brian Mcleish
I’m sure this sleeping will transfix the marquee media just as Biden’s infirmities did.
Trump dozes while Marco Rubio speaks to him directly next to him. Just insane optics.
December 2, 2025 at 7:25 PM
I’m sure this sleeping will transfix the marquee media just as Biden’s infirmities did.
And I guarantee you that none of those predicting a mass exodus will now come back to the rostrum to admit they were wrong.
Some policy analysis about VAT on private school fees, why it is set to raise more than originally forecast, and why this matters.
Please read, share, and subscribe for more!
open.substack.com/pub/barrybla...
Please read, share, and subscribe for more!
open.substack.com/pub/barrybla...
Policy Analysis: Why VAT on private school fees will raise more than planned, and why it matters
Policy analysis of a debate I was privileged enough to be involved in last year
open.substack.com
December 2, 2025 at 7:39 PM
And I guarantee you that none of those predicting a mass exodus will now come back to the rostrum to admit they were wrong.
Reposted by Brian Mcleish
From today, Gaelic and Scots are recognised as official languages.
A significant moment on St Andrew’s Day. 🏴
www.bbc.com/news/article...
A significant moment on St Andrew’s Day. 🏴
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Gaelic and Scots now recognised as official languages
The milestone is one of a number of new measures taking effect on St Andrew's Day from the Scottish Languages Act.
www.bbc.com
November 30, 2025 at 2:34 PM
From today, Gaelic and Scots are recognised as official languages.
A significant moment on St Andrew’s Day. 🏴
www.bbc.com/news/article...
A significant moment on St Andrew’s Day. 🏴
www.bbc.com/news/article...
I feel personally attacked............ 😂
“Wow this is the hardest escape room ever. I may never get out!”
“Ma’am, this is a bookstore.”
“Ma’am, this is a bookstore.”
November 29, 2025 at 6:41 PM
I feel personally attacked............ 😂
Reposted by Brian Mcleish
She is so profoundly intellectually incurious that I find myself fascinated how she ever learnt how to *speak*.
Also the Romans literally had a welfare system that included cash transfers for poor children. (And subsidised grain for low income workers...).
There was no state. Who does she think crucified him, an anarchist collective?
November 28, 2025 at 11:28 AM
She is so profoundly intellectually incurious that I find myself fascinated how she ever learnt how to *speak*.
I know this story. It ends with Sean Connery and Christopher Lambert fighting Michael Ironside.
www.politico.com/news/magazin...
www.politico.com/news/magazin...
The Strange and Totally Real Plan to Blot Out the Sun and Reverse Global Warming
A 25-person startup is developing technology to block the sun and turn down the planet’s thermostat. The stakes are huge — and the company and its critics say regulations need to catch up.
www.politico.com
November 24, 2025 at 7:41 AM
I know this story. It ends with Sean Connery and Christopher Lambert fighting Michael Ironside.
www.politico.com/news/magazin...
www.politico.com/news/magazin...
Reposted by Brian Mcleish
In case you're not across the Budget next Wednesday, it looks like it's going to be really bad for helping Britain reduce its carbon emissions. I'll explain... 🧵
November 19, 2025 at 2:14 PM
In case you're not across the Budget next Wednesday, it looks like it's going to be really bad for helping Britain reduce its carbon emissions. I'll explain... 🧵
Reposted by Brian Mcleish
It really is worth taking the time to hear from people like “Mary,” who fled from Zimbabwe 20 years ago, to understand what life is like when the law denies you the chance to call the country where you’ve made your life home
In 2023 @tom-clark.bsky.social got me to write a chapter for his book on UK poverty about how immigration limbo, which Labour wants more of, makes people destitute. It was the most distressing piece I've ever worked on. We sent a copy to every MP. www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/society/6081...
Destitute by design: trapped in the immigration system
Migration policy is not only failing people forced to arrive in Britain by
boats. In an extract from a new edited volume, Daniel Trilling reports on t...
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk
November 16, 2025 at 7:54 PM
It really is worth taking the time to hear from people like “Mary,” who fled from Zimbabwe 20 years ago, to understand what life is like when the law denies you the chance to call the country where you’ve made your life home
Somebody has to take the rap for Scotland's inability to close out a match. I'm not one to rush to 'sack the coach' every time we lose a match, I'm not English, but this is a pattern of play and the buck needs to stop with the coach.
November 16, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Somebody has to take the rap for Scotland's inability to close out a match. I'm not one to rush to 'sack the coach' every time we lose a match, I'm not English, but this is a pattern of play and the buck needs to stop with the coach.
Reposted by Brian Mcleish
This is the point. Policy *should not* be adjusted or fine-tuned in response to minor forecasting judgements. Decisions about whether or not to break a prominent manifesto promise *should not* depend on minor forecasting judgements. This stuff matters. We've got to do better than this.
I know it’s always like this. But one striking thing from the budget kite flying and kite pulling back in, is how major policy decisions are constantly being buffeted around by iterative forecast changes.
All feels a bit of a silly way to be making major economic policy & political decisions.
All feels a bit of a silly way to be making major economic policy & political decisions.
November 14, 2025 at 3:23 PM
This is the point. Policy *should not* be adjusted or fine-tuned in response to minor forecasting judgements. Decisions about whether or not to break a prominent manifesto promise *should not* depend on minor forecasting judgements. This stuff matters. We've got to do better than this.
Reposted by Brian Mcleish
The University of Strathclyde is looking for unpaid carers to take part in this survey investigating the support, training and recognition needed by carers.
To get involved, or find out more, visit: strathsci.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...
To get involved, or find out more, visit: strathsci.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...
November 7, 2025 at 9:30 AM
The University of Strathclyde is looking for unpaid carers to take part in this survey investigating the support, training and recognition needed by carers.
To get involved, or find out more, visit: strathsci.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...
To get involved, or find out more, visit: strathsci.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...
Reposted by Brian Mcleish
2025 Dalrymple Lectures: "Prof Stephen Driscoll @uofglasgow.bsky.social will outline the contribution of archaeology to our understanding of Glasgow for over a millennium. This will include his own excavations at Govan Old & Glasgow Cathedral."
20&21 Nov 2025, 6:30pm, hybrid. tinyurl.com/bdz6yc3j
20&21 Nov 2025, 6:30pm, hybrid. tinyurl.com/bdz6yc3j
November 2, 2025 at 4:24 PM
2025 Dalrymple Lectures: "Prof Stephen Driscoll @uofglasgow.bsky.social will outline the contribution of archaeology to our understanding of Glasgow for over a millennium. This will include his own excavations at Govan Old & Glasgow Cathedral."
20&21 Nov 2025, 6:30pm, hybrid. tinyurl.com/bdz6yc3j
20&21 Nov 2025, 6:30pm, hybrid. tinyurl.com/bdz6yc3j
Reposted by Brian Mcleish
I know this is obvious. And I know we all know this.
But if the President can raise taxes because an advert annoyed him, without even consulting Congress, then the US constitution is simply not functioning as intended.
But if the President can raise taxes because an advert annoyed him, without even consulting Congress, then the US constitution is simply not functioning as intended.
October 26, 2025 at 8:00 AM
I know this is obvious. And I know we all know this.
But if the President can raise taxes because an advert annoyed him, without even consulting Congress, then the US constitution is simply not functioning as intended.
But if the President can raise taxes because an advert annoyed him, without even consulting Congress, then the US constitution is simply not functioning as intended.
Reposted by Brian Mcleish
It’s a little known clause of the Labour party rulebook (Ch.5,sect.xii). “When the party is in office, no clear statement can be made until half a dozen people on Bluesky have embarrassed themselves by claiming that the silence is actually part of a grand strategy“.
why did this take two fucking days though? did the Prime Minister have his notifications switched off? was he stuck in the bath? why, exactly, is this obviously true thing something that apparently needs running past the boss anyway? what is *wrong* with their comms operation?
NEW: Labour condemn Tory plan to strip people of indefinite leave to remain:
“It’s utterly grotesque that Tories want to deport people with the lawful right to be here to achieve ‘cultural coherence’.
“This policy would mean tearing families apart and ripping out our neighbours from communities."
“It’s utterly grotesque that Tories want to deport people with the lawful right to be here to achieve ‘cultural coherence’.
“This policy would mean tearing families apart and ripping out our neighbours from communities."
October 22, 2025 at 7:01 PM
It’s a little known clause of the Labour party rulebook (Ch.5,sect.xii). “When the party is in office, no clear statement can be made until half a dozen people on Bluesky have embarrassed themselves by claiming that the silence is actually part of a grand strategy“.
Reposted by Brian Mcleish
The average age of U.S. homebuyers is now 56, up from 49 last year.
In 1981, the year trickledown economics began, it was 31.
In 1981, the year trickledown economics began, it was 31.
October 21, 2025 at 8:15 PM
The average age of U.S. homebuyers is now 56, up from 49 last year.
In 1981, the year trickledown economics began, it was 31.
In 1981, the year trickledown economics began, it was 31.
American Christianity is a completely new religion. We just haven't had the official schism yet.
heartbroken to learn the pope sympathizes with the poor. how can i continue to believe in god
October 17, 2025 at 7:12 PM
American Christianity is a completely new religion. We just haven't had the official schism yet.
A moody and atmospheric scene this morning
October 13, 2025 at 8:24 AM
A moody and atmospheric scene this morning
To be replaced with "Welcoming oppression and injustice with a marching band and ticker tape parade"
October 12, 2025 at 2:31 PM
To be replaced with "Welcoming oppression and injustice with a marching band and ticker tape parade"
Reposted by Brian Mcleish
Milngavie.
If you're not from here, I dare you to try.
If you're not from here, I dare you to try.
What’s the word where you’re from that, when pronounced exactly as it looks, identifies a tourist immediately?
October 9, 2025 at 6:48 AM
Milngavie.
If you're not from here, I dare you to try.
If you're not from here, I dare you to try.
Reposted by Brian Mcleish
Somewhere in America, a young Hispanic girl is hiding in an attic writing a diary.
October 4, 2025 at 4:48 AM
Somewhere in America, a young Hispanic girl is hiding in an attic writing a diary.