John Denham
@jydenham.bsky.social
Professor | Former Labour MP and Cabinet Minister | Director, Centre for English Identity and Politics | Writing about how ideas of nation and nationhood shape politics today at nationstateandpolitics.substack.com ✍️
The write round only exists because there is no machinery of governance for England. Can’t be dealt with unless the power of HMT is tackled
A decision-making procedure used by ministers for years could be overhauled as part of Labour's effort to make Whitehall more efficient
Frustrated government insiders say the 'write-round' process creates unnecessary delays and needs shaking up, report PolHome's Adam Payne and Tom Scotson
Frustrated government insiders say the 'write-round' process creates unnecessary delays and needs shaking up, report PolHome's Adam Payne and Tom Scotson
Whitehall Decision Making Procedure Could Be Overhauled To Stop Delays
The government is considering scrapping Whitehall's 'write-round' process as part of its bid to speed up decision making, PoliticsHome understands
www.politicshome.com
November 13, 2025 at 9:13 PM
The write round only exists because there is no machinery of governance for England. Can’t be dealt with unless the power of HMT is tackled
The status quo will not defeat national populism eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com?url=https%3A...
November 12, 2025 at 7:33 PM
The status quo will not defeat national populism eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com?url=https%3A...
Supermarkets should put all their price data on line to enable real time price comparisons.
If we’re going to tackle prices here’s a price comparison proposal from 12 years ago. But all the more relevant with the growth of loyalty scheme confusion hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2013...
November 12, 2025 at 6:21 PM
Supermarkets should put all their price data on line to enable real time price comparisons.
Reposted by John Denham
If we’re going to tackle prices here’s a price comparison proposal from 12 years ago. But all the more relevant with the growth of loyalty scheme confusion hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2013...
November 12, 2025 at 5:31 PM
If we’re going to tackle prices here’s a price comparison proposal from 12 years ago. But all the more relevant with the growth of loyalty scheme confusion hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2013...
If we’re going to tackle prices here’s a price comparison proposal from 12 years ago. But all the more relevant with the growth of loyalty scheme confusion hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2013...
November 12, 2025 at 5:31 PM
If we’re going to tackle prices here’s a price comparison proposal from 12 years ago. But all the more relevant with the growth of loyalty scheme confusion hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2013...
The case for a National Social Cohesion Strategy (and its part in tackling division, extremism and terrorism) open.substack.com/pub/nationst...
The case for a National Social Cohesion Strategy
Recommendations from the Report of the Independent Commission on UK Counter-Terrorism Law, Policy and Practice
open.substack.com
November 12, 2025 at 2:52 PM
The case for a National Social Cohesion Strategy (and its part in tackling division, extremism and terrorism) open.substack.com/pub/nationst...
Perhaps it is because the gap between the power voters think leaders wield (and what leaders claim they wield) and the diminishing power they actually wield open.substack.com/pub/nationst...
November 12, 2025 at 11:12 AM
Perhaps it is because the gap between the power voters think leaders wield (and what leaders claim they wield) and the diminishing power they actually wield open.substack.com/pub/nationst...
One cause is the increasing emptiness of what they have won open.substack.com/pub/nationst...
November 12, 2025 at 10:50 AM
One cause is the increasing emptiness of what they have won open.substack.com/pub/nationst...
On the appeal of national populism eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com?url=https%3A...
November 12, 2025 at 9:15 AM
On the appeal of national populism eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com?url=https%3A...
How not to tackle national populism
eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com?url=https%3A...
eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com?url=https%3A...
November 11, 2025 at 6:58 PM
How not to tackle national populism
eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com?url=https%3A...
eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com?url=https%3A...
Reposted by John Denham
Conservative Shadow Culture Secretary Nigel Huddleston tells GB News that the BBC should "grovel" to Trump.
Amazing how many British 'patriots' are spending their time telling our national broadcaster to prostrate itself before a hostile foreign leader
Amazing how many British 'patriots' are spending their time telling our national broadcaster to prostrate itself before a hostile foreign leader
November 11, 2025 at 11:21 AM
Conservative Shadow Culture Secretary Nigel Huddleston tells GB News that the BBC should "grovel" to Trump.
Amazing how many British 'patriots' are spending their time telling our national broadcaster to prostrate itself before a hostile foreign leader
Amazing how many British 'patriots' are spending their time telling our national broadcaster to prostrate itself before a hostile foreign leader
From my latest post on the rise of national populism
eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com?url=https%3A...
eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com?url=https%3A...
November 11, 2025 at 10:01 AM
From my latest post on the rise of national populism
eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com?url=https%3A...
eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com?url=https%3A...
Reposted by John Denham
Six posts, one theme: how national populism reshaped European politics.
Here’s what we’ve learned so far 🧵 👇
Here’s what we’ve learned so far 🧵 👇
November 10, 2025 at 10:30 AM
Six posts, one theme: how national populism reshaped European politics.
Here’s what we’ve learned so far 🧵 👇
Here’s what we’ve learned so far 🧵 👇
Six posts, one theme: how national populism reshaped European politics.
Here’s what we’ve learned so far 🧵 👇
Here’s what we’ve learned so far 🧵 👇
November 10, 2025 at 10:30 AM
Six posts, one theme: how national populism reshaped European politics.
Here’s what we’ve learned so far 🧵 👇
Here’s what we’ve learned so far 🧵 👇
Reposted by John Denham
Six posts, one theme: how national populism reshaped European politics.
Here’s what we’ve learned so far 🧵 👇
Here’s what we’ve learned so far 🧵 👇
November 9, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Six posts, one theme: how national populism reshaped European politics.
Here’s what we’ve learned so far 🧵 👇
Here’s what we’ve learned so far 🧵 👇
Reposted by John Denham
The Nation Returns
Across Europe, voters are turning to movements that promise to restore national control.
The question is not only why they believe it — but why so few opponents of national populism offer a convincing alternative.
nationstateandpolitics.substack.com/p/how-we-got...
Across Europe, voters are turning to movements that promise to restore national control.
The question is not only why they believe it — but why so few opponents of national populism offer a convincing alternative.
nationstateandpolitics.substack.com/p/how-we-got...
November 9, 2025 at 1:11 PM
The Nation Returns
Across Europe, voters are turning to movements that promise to restore national control.
The question is not only why they believe it — but why so few opponents of national populism offer a convincing alternative.
nationstateandpolitics.substack.com/p/how-we-got...
Across Europe, voters are turning to movements that promise to restore national control.
The question is not only why they believe it — but why so few opponents of national populism offer a convincing alternative.
nationstateandpolitics.substack.com/p/how-we-got...
Six posts, one theme: how national populism reshaped European politics.
Here’s what we’ve learned so far 🧵 👇
Here’s what we’ve learned so far 🧵 👇
November 9, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Six posts, one theme: how national populism reshaped European politics.
Here’s what we’ve learned so far 🧵 👇
Here’s what we’ve learned so far 🧵 👇
Reposted by John Denham
This has been an interesting series to date, as you'd expect. John will now turn to his own 'convincing alternative.
FWIW, here's my attempt at something similar (more UK specific), from a year or two back medium.com/@bickerrecor... Nobody read it, as you'd expect.
FWIW, here's my attempt at something similar (more UK specific), from a year or two back medium.com/@bickerrecor... Nobody read it, as you'd expect.
November 9, 2025 at 1:31 PM
This has been an interesting series to date, as you'd expect. John will now turn to his own 'convincing alternative.
FWIW, here's my attempt at something similar (more UK specific), from a year or two back medium.com/@bickerrecor... Nobody read it, as you'd expect.
FWIW, here's my attempt at something similar (more UK specific), from a year or two back medium.com/@bickerrecor... Nobody read it, as you'd expect.
The Nation Returns
Across Europe, voters are turning to movements that promise to restore national control.
The question is not only why they believe it — but why so few opponents of national populism offer a convincing alternative.
nationstateandpolitics.substack.com/p/how-we-got...
Across Europe, voters are turning to movements that promise to restore national control.
The question is not only why they believe it — but why so few opponents of national populism offer a convincing alternative.
nationstateandpolitics.substack.com/p/how-we-got...
November 9, 2025 at 1:11 PM
The Nation Returns
Across Europe, voters are turning to movements that promise to restore national control.
The question is not only why they believe it — but why so few opponents of national populism offer a convincing alternative.
nationstateandpolitics.substack.com/p/how-we-got...
Across Europe, voters are turning to movements that promise to restore national control.
The question is not only why they believe it — but why so few opponents of national populism offer a convincing alternative.
nationstateandpolitics.substack.com/p/how-we-got...
National populism connects economics, identity and democracy into one story of the nation.
Its critics rarely offer a story of their own. That’s why moral disapproval keeps failing.
Its critics rarely offer a story of their own. That’s why moral disapproval keeps failing.
How we got here: recapping the rise of national populism in Europe
In this post, my seventh on the rise of national populism in Europe, I summarise the issues covered to date.
nationstateandpolitics.substack.com
November 8, 2025 at 3:01 PM
National populism connects economics, identity and democracy into one story of the nation.
Its critics rarely offer a story of their own. That’s why moral disapproval keeps failing.
Its critics rarely offer a story of their own. That’s why moral disapproval keeps failing.
Reposted by John Denham
Populism’s appeal is coherent: it links economics, democracy and belonging through the idea of the nation.
Its opponents rarely offer a story of their own.
Its opponents rarely offer a story of their own.
November 8, 2025 at 10:24 AM
Populism’s appeal is coherent: it links economics, democracy and belonging through the idea of the nation.
Its opponents rarely offer a story of their own.
Its opponents rarely offer a story of their own.
National populism keeps advancing. Each time its critics express shock - then carry on as before.
Why does opposition keep failing?🧵
Why does opposition keep failing?🧵
November 8, 2025 at 10:24 AM
National populism keeps advancing. Each time its critics express shock - then carry on as before.
Why does opposition keep failing?🧵
Why does opposition keep failing?🧵
Idea for BBC R4: quality BBC journos, serious investigative reports, interviewers on top of subjects, balanced coverage of parties. No breathless reporting of Reform, journos as ‘experts’, book pluggers, pop song lyrics, football banter. Could be broadcast 06:00-09:00.
November 5, 2025 at 8:11 PM
Idea for BBC R4: quality BBC journos, serious investigative reports, interviewers on top of subjects, balanced coverage of parties. No breathless reporting of Reform, journos as ‘experts’, book pluggers, pop song lyrics, football banter. Could be broadcast 06:00-09:00.
Reposted by John Denham
‘Sovereingtist’ voters who supported Brexit are also opposed to leading on climate change action. nationstateandpolitics.substack.com/p/englands-w...
England’s World
UK Foreign Policy in a multi-nation state
nationstateandpolitics.substack.com
November 5, 2025 at 2:42 PM
‘Sovereingtist’ voters who supported Brexit are also opposed to leading on climate change action. nationstateandpolitics.substack.com/p/englands-w...
‘Sovereingtist’ voters who supported Brexit are also opposed to leading on climate change action. nationstateandpolitics.substack.com/p/englands-w...
England’s World
UK Foreign Policy in a multi-nation state
nationstateandpolitics.substack.com
November 5, 2025 at 2:42 PM
‘Sovereingtist’ voters who supported Brexit are also opposed to leading on climate change action. nationstateandpolitics.substack.com/p/englands-w...