Bradley Hillier-Smith
@bradleyhsmith.bsky.social
Philosopher and teacher in moral, legal, and political philosophy at St Andrews.
Author of The Ethics of State Responses to Refugees.
Charity worker. Political campaigner. Drummer.
Website: https://www.bradleyhilliersmith.com/
Author of The Ethics of State Responses to Refugees.
Charity worker. Political campaigner. Drummer.
Website: https://www.bradleyhilliersmith.com/
Pinned
The Ethics of State Responses to Refugees
This book appears at a time of intense debate on how states should respond to refugees: some philosophers argue states are not necessarily obligated to admit a single refugee, others argue states shou...
www.routledge.com
My book The Ethics of State Responses to Refugees is out now.
It outlines what an ethical response to refugees would be based on states' obligations towards the world's displaced. It argues an ethical response is not only urgently required but is within our reach.
www.routledge.com/The-Ethics-o...
It outlines what an ethical response to refugees would be based on states' obligations towards the world's displaced. It argues an ethical response is not only urgently required but is within our reach.
www.routledge.com/The-Ethics-o...
Great that the two child benefit cap is abolished! Will make a huge difference to lift children out of poverty
November 26, 2025 at 1:33 PM
Great that the two child benefit cap is abolished! Will make a huge difference to lift children out of poverty
Now I’ve had a chance to fully read the government’s plans in their asylum and returns policy statement, my initial assessment is the plans are dangerous and completely unacceptable. A thread:
November 18, 2025 at 11:10 AM
Now I’ve had a chance to fully read the government’s plans in their asylum and returns policy statement, my initial assessment is the plans are dangerous and completely unacceptable. A thread:
Happy to have also signed this open letter calling for an international panel to assess and address growing global economic inequality.
www.independent.co.uk/news/south-a...
www.independent.co.uk/news/south-a...
Top economists call on world leaders to set up an international panel on inequality
Hundreds of top economists and other experts including former U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen are calling for the world to set up an independent international panel on income and wealth inequalit...
www.independent.co.uk
November 14, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Happy to have also signed this open letter calling for an international panel to assess and address growing global economic inequality.
www.independent.co.uk/news/south-a...
www.independent.co.uk/news/south-a...
A review of my book The Ethics of State Responses to Refugees in Ethical Theory and Moral Practice
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Bradley Hillier-Smith: The Ethics of State Responses To Refugees - Ethical Theory and Moral Practice
Ethical Theory and Moral Practice -
link.springer.com
November 6, 2025 at 8:07 AM
A review of my book The Ethics of State Responses to Refugees in Ethical Theory and Moral Practice
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
An utter disgrace. Shutting the door on thousands in desperate need and discriminating on racial grounds
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Trump limits refugee admissions to 7,500 and gives priority to white South Africans
Trump limits refugee admissions to 7,500 and gives priority to white South Africans
www.bbc.co.uk
October 30, 2025 at 5:34 PM
An utter disgrace. Shutting the door on thousands in desperate need and discriminating on racial grounds
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
The government has suspended refugee family reunion — the main safe route for children to join their parents in the UK. This means more families will be torn apart.
👉 Take action now: fill in the form and send a message to the Home Secretary.
act.safepassage.org.uk/email-home-s...
👉 Take action now: fill in the form and send a message to the Home Secretary.
act.safepassage.org.uk/email-home-s...
Stop the family reunion suspension: Email the Home Secretary
The government has just suspended refugee family reunion – the main safe route for children to join their refugee parents in the UK. We can’t let them tear families apart in our name. This cruel decis...
act.safepassage.org.uk
October 28, 2025 at 11:37 AM
The government has suspended refugee family reunion — the main safe route for children to join their parents in the UK. This means more families will be torn apart.
👉 Take action now: fill in the form and send a message to the Home Secretary.
act.safepassage.org.uk/email-home-s...
👉 Take action now: fill in the form and send a message to the Home Secretary.
act.safepassage.org.uk/email-home-s...
Lawyers taking action against EU officials for inhumane treatment of migrants
Lawyers report EU officials to ICC for 'crimes against migrants'
Human rights lawyers led by Omer Shatz and Juan Branco have filed a request to investigate over 100 officials from European Union institutions and member states to the International Criminal Court (IC...
www.infomigrants.net
October 27, 2025 at 10:02 AM
Lawyers taking action against EU officials for inhumane treatment of migrants
Reposted by Bradley Hillier-Smith
Our very own @bradleyhsmith.bsky.social recently published an article in The Independent outlining how homelessness is a moral problem. Read it here: www.independent.co.uk/voices/homel...
Homeless deaths hit a record high last year – and every one of them was preventable
Britain’s housing crisis is not just a policy failure but a moral one, says Bradley Hillier-Smith. When we treat the homeless as ‘nuisances’ and ‘pests’, we deny their humanity – and our own
www.independent.co.uk
October 17, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Our very own @bradleyhsmith.bsky.social recently published an article in The Independent outlining how homelessness is a moral problem. Read it here: www.independent.co.uk/voices/homel...
I wrote this piece for the Independent on how homelessness and the record deaths are avoidable: they should not be an accepted feature of our social landscapes
St Andrews Philosopher Bradley Hillier-Smith wrote this piece, based on his research, for The Independent on the record number of homeless deaths.
It argues homelessness and these deaths are entirely avoidable and should not be an accepted feature of our social landscapes
It argues homelessness and these deaths are entirely avoidable and should not be an accepted feature of our social landscapes
Homeless deaths hit a record high last year – and every one of them was preventable
Britain’s housing crisis is not just a policy failure but a moral one, says Bradley Hillier-Smith. When we treat the homeless as ‘nuisances’ and ‘pests’, we deny their humanity – and our own
www.independent.co.uk
October 13, 2025 at 4:32 PM
I wrote this piece for the Independent on how homelessness and the record deaths are avoidable: they should not be an accepted feature of our social landscapes
I wrote this piece, based on my research, for The Independent @IndyVoices on the record number of homeless deaths.
I argue homelessness and these deaths are entirely avoidable such that neither should be an accepted feature of our social landscapes.
www.independent.co.uk/voices/homel...
I argue homelessness and these deaths are entirely avoidable such that neither should be an accepted feature of our social landscapes.
www.independent.co.uk/voices/homel...
Homeless deaths hit a record high last year – and every one of them was preventable
Britain’s housing crisis is not just a policy failure but a moral one, says Bradley Hillier-Smith. When we treat the homeless as ‘nuisances’ and ‘pests’, we deny their humanity – and our own
www.independent.co.uk
October 13, 2025 at 10:13 AM
I wrote this piece, based on my research, for The Independent @IndyVoices on the record number of homeless deaths.
I argue homelessness and these deaths are entirely avoidable such that neither should be an accepted feature of our social landscapes.
www.independent.co.uk/voices/homel...
I argue homelessness and these deaths are entirely avoidable such that neither should be an accepted feature of our social landscapes.
www.independent.co.uk/voices/homel...
Shami Chakrabarti giving the inaugural lecture at the Centre for the Critical Imagining of Human Rights at the University of St Andrews
October 8, 2025 at 5:44 PM
Shami Chakrabarti giving the inaugural lecture at the Centre for the Critical Imagining of Human Rights at the University of St Andrews
These deaths are preventable. It's unbelievable that we as a society allow our fellow citizens to die in this way www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
UK deaths of 1,611 homeless people in 2024 is record high
Most are linked to suicide or drugs, with spice and nitazines increasingly deadly.
www.bbc.co.uk
October 8, 2025 at 9:29 AM
These deaths are preventable. It's unbelievable that we as a society allow our fellow citizens to die in this way www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
'The Ethics of State Responses to Refugees offers a novel, thoughtful, and persuasive ethical analysis
of how states should respond to refugees.'
From a recent review of my book in Ethics and International Affairs!
You can read the full review here:
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
#PhilSky
of how states should respond to refugees.'
From a recent review of my book in Ethics and International Affairs!
You can read the full review here:
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
#PhilSky
The Ethics of State Responses to Refugees, by Bradley Hillier-Smith (New York: Routledge, 2025), 286 pp., cloth $170, eBook $48.44. | Ethics & International Affairs | Cambridge Core
The Ethics of State Responses to Refugees, by Bradley Hillier-Smith (New York: Routledge, 2025), 286 pp., cloth 48.44. - Volume 39 Issue 2
www.cambridge.org
October 6, 2025 at 12:10 PM
'The Ethics of State Responses to Refugees offers a novel, thoughtful, and persuasive ethical analysis
of how states should respond to refugees.'
From a recent review of my book in Ethics and International Affairs!
You can read the full review here:
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
#PhilSky
of how states should respond to refugees.'
From a recent review of my book in Ethics and International Affairs!
You can read the full review here:
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
#PhilSky
Excited to be back to teaching at St Andrews this week! This year will be teaching on Moral and Political Controversies, Global Justice, Philosophy of Law, and Timely Topics in Political Philosophy x
September 23, 2025 at 3:19 PM
Excited to be back to teaching at St Andrews this week! This year will be teaching on Moral and Political Controversies, Global Justice, Philosophy of Law, and Timely Topics in Political Philosophy x
Reposted by Bradley Hillier-Smith
St Andrews Philosopher Alex Douglas @axdouglas.bsky.social was invited onto BBC Free Thinking to discuss his recent thoughts, research and book on Against Identity
You can hear the interview here: www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
And Alex's book is here: www.penguin.co.uk/books/456203...
#PhilSky
You can hear the interview here: www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
And Alex's book is here: www.penguin.co.uk/books/456203...
#PhilSky
Free Thinking - Friendship - BBC Sounds
Matthew Sweet discusses the mythology, psychology and politics getting along with people.
www.bbc.co.uk
September 12, 2025 at 11:48 AM
St Andrews Philosopher Alex Douglas @axdouglas.bsky.social was invited onto BBC Free Thinking to discuss his recent thoughts, research and book on Against Identity
You can hear the interview here: www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
And Alex's book is here: www.penguin.co.uk/books/456203...
#PhilSky
You can hear the interview here: www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
And Alex's book is here: www.penguin.co.uk/books/456203...
#PhilSky
This is awful. These are needless and avoidable deaths of innocent people, including children, looking for safety.
An ethical alternative is possible
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
An ethical alternative is possible
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Four dead, including two children, attempting to cross Channel to UK in last 24 hours
Number of attempts to cross Channel has been particularly high for several days, say French authorities
www.theguardian.com
September 10, 2025 at 11:58 AM
This is awful. These are needless and avoidable deaths of innocent people, including children, looking for safety.
An ethical alternative is possible
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
An ethical alternative is possible
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Response from @safepassageint to the UK governments plans to suspend family reunification
www.safepassage.org.uk/news/2025/9/...
www.safepassage.org.uk/news/2025/9/...
Responding to refugee family reunion suspension — Safe Passage
In a statement in the House of Commons today, the Home Secretary announced reforms to family reunion that will be coming in the next few months, and a suspension to start this week on refugee family r...
www.safepassage.org.uk
September 2, 2025 at 2:28 PM
Response from @safepassageint to the UK governments plans to suspend family reunification
www.safepassage.org.uk/news/2025/9/...
www.safepassage.org.uk/news/2025/9/...
Our UK government aims to shut down safe routes and family reunification for refugees.
It should not be this way. An ethical response is possible
aeon.co/essays/a-phi...
It should not be this way. An ethical response is possible
aeon.co/essays/a-phi...
September 1, 2025 at 6:58 PM
Our UK government aims to shut down safe routes and family reunification for refugees.
It should not be this way. An ethical response is possible
aeon.co/essays/a-phi...
It should not be this way. An ethical response is possible
aeon.co/essays/a-phi...
With all the volatile debate on how to respond to small boats, and refugees, I wrote this piece on what an ethical response to refugees would be and how we can achieve it
aeon.co/essays/a-phi...
aeon.co/essays/a-phi...
A philosophical view of our ethical obligations to refugees | Aeon Essays
You can believe in border control yet protect those fleeing to safety. So what is our ethical obligation to refugees?
aeon.co
September 1, 2025 at 11:07 AM
With all the volatile debate on how to respond to small boats, and refugees, I wrote this piece on what an ethical response to refugees would be and how we can achieve it
aeon.co/essays/a-phi...
aeon.co/essays/a-phi...
It's not illegal to seek asylum via irregular travel You know this. You were a human rights lawyer. Stop deliberately inflaming tensions. You can see how dangerous it it
August 31, 2025 at 8:45 AM
It's not illegal to seek asylum via irregular travel You know this. You were a human rights lawyer. Stop deliberately inflaming tensions. You can see how dangerous it it
At demonstration outside hotel housing asylum seekers saying refugees welcome here, against those here trying to intimidate the people inside the hotel
August 30, 2025 at 12:49 PM
At demonstration outside hotel housing asylum seekers saying refugees welcome here, against those here trying to intimidate the people inside the hotel
A lot of evidence demonstrates targeted cash grants for homeless persons can be transformative
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
A charity is giving people money to stop homelessness - and it says it's working
Providing money gives people at risk of losing their home the
www.bbc.co.uk
August 29, 2025 at 11:41 AM
A lot of evidence demonstrates targeted cash grants for homeless persons can be transformative
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Farage’s proposals would deprive innocent people of their freedom and result in immense suffering and human rights violations, with some returned to face torture and death, all for the ‘crime’ for exercising their legal and moral right to seek safety
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Farage attacked for ‘ugly’ rhetoric of plan for mass deportation of asylum seekers
Reform UK leader says he will rip up UK’s human rights commitments and pay despotic regimes to take people back
www.theguardian.com
August 27, 2025 at 9:04 AM
Farage’s proposals would deprive innocent people of their freedom and result in immense suffering and human rights violations, with some returned to face torture and death, all for the ‘crime’ for exercising their legal and moral right to seek safety
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
My last paper 'Rights, Duties, and Inviolability' is now published in the latest issue of the Journal of Applied Philosophy onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Rights, Duties, and Inviolability
Rights entail corresponding negative duties not to violate those rights. On this, all rights theorists agree. Yet, in our non-ideal world, these negative duties and thereby persons’ rights are pervas...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
August 26, 2025 at 8:44 AM
My last paper 'Rights, Duties, and Inviolability' is now published in the latest issue of the Journal of Applied Philosophy onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
August 16, 2025 at 10:19 AM