David Irwin
@davidirwin1987.bsky.social
Former journo, left for pastures news. I enjoy good books, old footpaths, folklore, writing, watching wildlife and tennis and most geeky things involving goblins.
Govt needs to push home a lot of things they do care about - esp cost of living but also immigration and public finances more generally - are intrisically linked to Brexit.
December 4, 2025 at 12:21 PM
Govt needs to push home a lot of things they do care about - esp cost of living but also immigration and public finances more generally - are intrisically linked to Brexit.
Loved the D&D segment, bringing back fond memories of playing with my schoolmates in the noughties. We requisitioned a garden shed for campaigns...
December 4, 2025 at 10:16 AM
Loved the D&D segment, bringing back fond memories of playing with my schoolmates in the noughties. We requisitioned a garden shed for campaigns...
Other than the OBR leak this budget has differed only from other recent budgets in the volume and intensity of media commentary
December 3, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Other than the OBR leak this budget has differed only from other recent budgets in the volume and intensity of media commentary
I was pleasantly surprised, there are always things you can find fault with and some policies are still too timid but overall this is a thoroughly soft left budget
November 28, 2025 at 3:50 PM
I was pleasantly surprised, there are always things you can find fault with and some policies are still too timid but overall this is a thoroughly soft left budget
To be honest though we shouldn't be in a place where an unelected upper chamber should be blocking explicit manifesto policies.
November 28, 2025 at 3:34 PM
To be honest though we shouldn't be in a place where an unelected upper chamber should be blocking explicit manifesto policies.
I do think the increasingly deranged interventions should encourage the govt to be bolder. If you are going to be constantly accused of radicalism you may as well be radical and at least get some benefit from it.
November 27, 2025 at 9:19 AM
I do think the increasingly deranged interventions should encourage the govt to be bolder. If you are going to be constantly accused of radicalism you may as well be radical and at least get some benefit from it.
Another way of looking at this is the Lab left's first major policy ask following the election has become the tentpole announcement of the 2nd budget - in other words they do still have pull in the PLP.
November 26, 2025 at 10:04 PM
Another way of looking at this is the Lab left's first major policy ask following the election has become the tentpole announcement of the 2nd budget - in other words they do still have pull in the PLP.
I am reminded of a moment towards the end of my time in journalism and some news editor sent me a whole list of questions about a new council waste contract, including the likely colour of bin...
November 26, 2025 at 9:57 PM
I am reminded of a moment towards the end of my time in journalism and some news editor sent me a whole list of questions about a new council waste contract, including the likely colour of bin...
Thanks for highlighting this, we don't always stop to appreciate bad stuff avoided.
November 26, 2025 at 8:07 PM
Thanks for highlighting this, we don't always stop to appreciate bad stuff avoided.
Sadly his comments did have a lot of public support then, his fall from grace was more down to decisive action from Heath and pushback from papers like The Times.
November 25, 2025 at 10:11 AM
Sadly his comments did have a lot of public support then, his fall from grace was more down to decisive action from Heath and pushback from papers like The Times.
Nothing shaped my politics more than my first job twice "promoting" me without pay, ending up with me acting up for a guy on 20k more than me. Stronger rights at work much needed.
November 24, 2025 at 1:02 PM
Nothing shaped my politics more than my first job twice "promoting" me without pay, ending up with me acting up for a guy on 20k more than me. Stronger rights at work much needed.
The earlier volte face was a pretty clear indication of how much he valued commitment to his supporters
November 21, 2025 at 1:41 PM
The earlier volte face was a pretty clear indication of how much he valued commitment to his supporters
The fact is however that Starmer had already won a mandate based on sweeping nationalisation, wealth taxes and scrapping tuition fees/universal credit, all thrown overboard in favour of the bland centrism a different group are now so angry he is retreating from.
November 21, 2025 at 1:39 PM
The fact is however that Starmer had already won a mandate based on sweeping nationalisation, wealth taxes and scrapping tuition fees/universal credit, all thrown overboard in favour of the bland centrism a different group are now so angry he is retreating from.
The vulnerable minority of choice 5 years ago...
November 21, 2025 at 10:07 AM
The vulnerable minority of choice 5 years ago...
It should be noted there are about 7 named MPs in the caucus - regrettably including Mahmood. But for context the Socialist Campaign Group, hardly considered a major influence, has 3x that.
November 19, 2025 at 5:32 PM
It should be noted there are about 7 named MPs in the caucus - regrettably including Mahmood. But for context the Socialist Campaign Group, hardly considered a major influence, has 3x that.
The original Blue Labour tendency was to be left on economy and more right on social issues, much of which I had issues with but Glasman has since embraced outright crankery.
November 19, 2025 at 5:29 PM
The original Blue Labour tendency was to be left on economy and more right on social issues, much of which I had issues with but Glasman has since embraced outright crankery.
Is he not the bloke who claimed the failure of the most recent renewables round showed the crumbling of net zero, apart from the fact last year's was massively success and the current one is still going through?
November 18, 2025 at 6:13 PM
Is he not the bloke who claimed the failure of the most recent renewables round showed the crumbling of net zero, apart from the fact last year's was massively success and the current one is still going through?
I like the Greens but under FPTP I cannot see a path to a majority that isn't an alliance of left and centre - about the only way it would be halfway possible would be a formal LD/Green coalition.
November 18, 2025 at 12:18 AM
I like the Greens but under FPTP I cannot see a path to a majority that isn't an alliance of left and centre - about the only way it would be halfway possible would be a formal LD/Green coalition.
And what did Starmer do to address that other than very publicly cack his pants?
November 17, 2025 at 10:41 PM
And what did Starmer do to address that other than very publicly cack his pants?
Reform pitch inevitably "we said it first, we really believe it..." It is the Uxbridge by-election scenario, but on a much more toxic issue.
November 17, 2025 at 7:41 PM
Reform pitch inevitably "we said it first, we really believe it..." It is the Uxbridge by-election scenario, but on a much more toxic issue.
Thank you for speaking out Andy.
November 17, 2025 at 7:11 PM
Thank you for speaking out Andy.
I am old enough to recall Starmer repudiating gesture politics.
November 17, 2025 at 6:59 PM
I am old enough to recall Starmer repudiating gesture politics.
Unless taxes are the medicine eh?
November 17, 2025 at 5:53 PM
Unless taxes are the medicine eh?
Is this not the sort of thing that gets you to the 80 rebels threshold?
November 17, 2025 at 5:43 PM
Is this not the sort of thing that gets you to the 80 rebels threshold?