Robert Saunders
@robertsaunders.bsky.social
Historian of modern Britain, singer and political nerd. Author of "Yes to Europe! The 1975 Referendum & Seventies Britain". "A jaw-dislocating page turner"(Andrew Marr). Deputy-director @mileendinstitute.bsky.social, Reader @QMHistory
Governing is hard, & govts today face huge challenges in a world of 24-hour media, disinformation & polarisation.
But that makes the quality of leadership even more vital.
At some point we have to ask if we're just unlucky or if something's gone wrong with the pipeline.
Otherwise, this is up next
But that makes the quality of leadership even more vital.
At some point we have to ask if we're just unlucky or if something's gone wrong with the pipeline.
Otherwise, this is up next
November 15, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Governing is hard, & govts today face huge challenges in a world of 24-hour media, disinformation & polarisation.
But that makes the quality of leadership even more vital.
At some point we have to ask if we're just unlucky or if something's gone wrong with the pipeline.
Otherwise, this is up next
But that makes the quality of leadership even more vital.
At some point we have to ask if we're just unlucky or if something's gone wrong with the pipeline.
Otherwise, this is up next
Cameron based his strategy for the 2016 referendum on the elections of 2010/15 & the 2014 Indy Ref.
When that strategy failed - when "the physics of politics" changed - he was totally disorientated.
By contrast, Harold Wilson in 1975 could draw on 10 election campaigns over 30 years - 5 as leader.
When that strategy failed - when "the physics of politics" changed - he was totally disorientated.
By contrast, Harold Wilson in 1975 could draw on 10 election campaigns over 30 years - 5 as leader.
November 15, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Cameron based his strategy for the 2016 referendum on the elections of 2010/15 & the 2014 Indy Ref.
When that strategy failed - when "the physics of politics" changed - he was totally disorientated.
By contrast, Harold Wilson in 1975 could draw on 10 election campaigns over 30 years - 5 as leader.
When that strategy failed - when "the physics of politics" changed - he was totally disorientated.
By contrast, Harold Wilson in 1975 could draw on 10 election campaigns over 30 years - 5 as leader.
I enjoyed teaching the British anti-apartheid movement today. It's always nice to be able to feature a former student - in this case the future cabinet minister Peter Hain.
November 14, 2025 at 4:59 PM
I enjoyed teaching the British anti-apartheid movement today. It's always nice to be able to feature a former student - in this case the future cabinet minister Peter Hain.
Me, struggling to open a file from a student: "What kind of file is it?"
Student: "A Cahoot".
Me: "A Who?"
[Class gapes at me like I've never heard of water, or tables or the letter B]
Student: "How have you never heard of Cahoot?"
Me: "Because I'm old".
Student: "Yes, I know that. But still!"
Student: "A Cahoot".
Me: "A Who?"
[Class gapes at me like I've never heard of water, or tables or the letter B]
Student: "How have you never heard of Cahoot?"
Me: "Because I'm old".
Student: "Yes, I know that. But still!"
November 11, 2025 at 10:13 PM
Me, struggling to open a file from a student: "What kind of file is it?"
Student: "A Cahoot".
Me: "A Who?"
[Class gapes at me like I've never heard of water, or tables or the letter B]
Student: "How have you never heard of Cahoot?"
Me: "Because I'm old".
Student: "Yes, I know that. But still!"
Student: "A Cahoot".
Me: "A Who?"
[Class gapes at me like I've never heard of water, or tables or the letter B]
Student: "How have you never heard of Cahoot?"
Me: "Because I'm old".
Student: "Yes, I know that. But still!"
I wrote about this a bit here:
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
November 4, 2025 at 10:37 PM
I wrote about this a bit here:
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Nobody puts Cowley in the corner.
November 4, 2025 at 7:52 PM
Nobody puts Cowley in the corner.
I'm all for another ginger prime minister, but we need a warrior right now, carrying the battle to Reform at Midlothian. And someone who ACTUALLY believes in "reform", rather than corrupting that word...
November 1, 2025 at 10:40 AM
I'm all for another ginger prime minister, but we need a warrior right now, carrying the battle to Reform at Midlothian. And someone who ACTUALLY believes in "reform", rather than corrupting that word...
<Heading down now to a secret cryogenic facility to reactivate Mr Gladstone - the Soldier Boy of British politics - for the battle against Trump and Farage.>
October 31, 2025 at 7:04 PM
<Heading down now to a secret cryogenic facility to reactivate Mr Gladstone - the Soldier Boy of British politics - for the battle against Trump and Farage.>
I wondered how James Cleverly felt about presenting the award, given the chaos she's caused for the party?
October 30, 2025 at 2:34 PM
I wondered how James Cleverly felt about presenting the award, given the chaos she's caused for the party?
This is like complaining that George Washington hasn't chopped down any cherry trees lately.
Larry has taken on higher responsibilities. He is the thin mew line between order and chaos.
Larry has taken on higher responsibilities. He is the thin mew line between order and chaos.
October 29, 2025 at 10:49 AM
This is like complaining that George Washington hasn't chopped down any cherry trees lately.
Larry has taken on higher responsibilities. He is the thin mew line between order and chaos.
Larry has taken on higher responsibilities. He is the thin mew line between order and chaos.
On a smaller point: do these people ever actually read Tolkien?
The whole point of the LoTR is that power corrupts; that no one can be trusted with the ring except the little people who want to destroy it; & that it's "the pity of Bilbo", not "the hard men of Gondor", that saves Middle Earth.
The whole point of the LoTR is that power corrupts; that no one can be trusted with the ring except the little people who want to destroy it; & that it's "the pity of Bilbo", not "the hard men of Gondor", that saves Middle Earth.
October 29, 2025 at 10:11 AM
On a smaller point: do these people ever actually read Tolkien?
The whole point of the LoTR is that power corrupts; that no one can be trusted with the ring except the little people who want to destroy it; & that it's "the pity of Bilbo", not "the hard men of Gondor", that saves Middle Earth.
The whole point of the LoTR is that power corrupts; that no one can be trusted with the ring except the little people who want to destroy it; & that it's "the pity of Bilbo", not "the hard men of Gondor", that saves Middle Earth.
The only senior minister who appears to recognise the scale of the threat is Ed Miliband - who was also one of the first leading politicians to challenge Rupert Murdoch.
This is what he said in his conference speech last month, before making it clear to journalists he thought govt should leave X.
This is what he said in his conference speech last month, before making it clear to journalists he thought govt should leave X.
October 29, 2025 at 10:11 AM
The only senior minister who appears to recognise the scale of the threat is Ed Miliband - who was also one of the first leading politicians to challenge Rupert Murdoch.
This is what he said in his conference speech last month, before making it clear to journalists he thought govt should leave X.
This is what he said in his conference speech last month, before making it clear to journalists he thought govt should leave X.
If the model here is that you let a private company conquer a country, co-opt local elites to exploit it for profit and govern it by force, while providing no public services and never worrying about elections, then, yes - this is a really good analogy, Mr Kruger.
October 29, 2025 at 9:51 AM
If the model here is that you let a private company conquer a country, co-opt local elites to exploit it for profit and govern it by force, while providing no public services and never worrying about elections, then, yes - this is a really good analogy, Mr Kruger.
What should the UK be doing to support Ukraine?
What does this mean for taxes, defence spending & energy security?
Or for Britain's relations with the EU, NATO & Trump's America?
Join our brilliant panel to discuss all this, online on Tuesday at 12:00. All welcome!
us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
What does this mean for taxes, defence spending & energy security?
Or for Britain's relations with the EU, NATO & Trump's America?
Join our brilliant panel to discuss all this, online on Tuesday at 12:00. All welcome!
us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
October 27, 2025 at 9:33 AM
What should the UK be doing to support Ukraine?
What does this mean for taxes, defence spending & energy security?
Or for Britain's relations with the EU, NATO & Trump's America?
Join our brilliant panel to discuss all this, online on Tuesday at 12:00. All welcome!
us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
What does this mean for taxes, defence spending & energy security?
Or for Britain's relations with the EU, NATO & Trump's America?
Join our brilliant panel to discuss all this, online on Tuesday at 12:00. All welcome!
us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
If you'd told me after the Grimsby match that - with nearly a quarter of the season gone - United would be above Liverpool in the table & level on points with Man City, I'd have assumed you were Liz Truss in disguise.
But for the first time in years, there's a bit of joy in the air at Old Trafford!
But for the first time in years, there's a bit of joy in the air at Old Trafford!
October 26, 2025 at 4:02 PM
If you'd told me after the Grimsby match that - with nearly a quarter of the season gone - United would be above Liverpool in the table & level on points with Man City, I'd have assumed you were Liz Truss in disguise.
But for the first time in years, there's a bit of joy in the air at Old Trafford!
But for the first time in years, there's a bit of joy in the air at Old Trafford!
From George Wilson's 1858 book "Electricity and the Electric Telegraph, Together With the Chemistry of the Stars".
October 23, 2025 at 2:08 PM
From George Wilson's 1858 book "Electricity and the Electric Telegraph, Together With the Chemistry of the Stars".
A Victorian writer anticipates the age of the internet, as a force for peace and "sympathy"...
"Such a network of wires, we may hope, will one day connect together the ends of the earth; and, like the great nerves of the human body, unite in living sympathy all the far-scattered children of men".
"Such a network of wires, we may hope, will one day connect together the ends of the earth; and, like the great nerves of the human body, unite in living sympathy all the far-scattered children of men".
October 23, 2025 at 2:08 PM
A Victorian writer anticipates the age of the internet, as a force for peace and "sympathy"...
"Such a network of wires, we may hope, will one day connect together the ends of the earth; and, like the great nerves of the human body, unite in living sympathy all the far-scattered children of men".
"Such a network of wires, we may hope, will one day connect together the ends of the earth; and, like the great nerves of the human body, unite in living sympathy all the far-scattered children of men".
Both! Mill argues that, if we never confront truth with error, we forget the grounds on which we holds those truths and how to oppose error.
But he also argues for human fallibility: our own grasp of truth can only ever be partial, so we should actively seek out perspectives different to our own.
But he also argues for human fallibility: our own grasp of truth can only ever be partial, so we should actively seek out perspectives different to our own.
October 22, 2025 at 8:19 PM
Both! Mill argues that, if we never confront truth with error, we forget the grounds on which we holds those truths and how to oppose error.
But he also argues for human fallibility: our own grasp of truth can only ever be partial, so we should actively seek out perspectives different to our own.
But he also argues for human fallibility: our own grasp of truth can only ever be partial, so we should actively seek out perspectives different to our own.
We'll be joined by
@evieaspinall.bsky.social (Director, the British Foreign Policy Group)
@patporter76.bsky.social (Chair of International Security & Strategy, Birmingham)
@elkeschwarz.bsky.social (Professor of Political Theory, QMUL)
@drjamesstrong.bsky.social (Reader in British Politics, QMUL)
@evieaspinall.bsky.social (Director, the British Foreign Policy Group)
@patporter76.bsky.social (Chair of International Security & Strategy, Birmingham)
@elkeschwarz.bsky.social (Professor of Political Theory, QMUL)
@drjamesstrong.bsky.social (Reader in British Politics, QMUL)
October 22, 2025 at 1:28 PM
We'll be joined by
@evieaspinall.bsky.social (Director, the British Foreign Policy Group)
@patporter76.bsky.social (Chair of International Security & Strategy, Birmingham)
@elkeschwarz.bsky.social (Professor of Political Theory, QMUL)
@drjamesstrong.bsky.social (Reader in British Politics, QMUL)
@evieaspinall.bsky.social (Director, the British Foreign Policy Group)
@patporter76.bsky.social (Chair of International Security & Strategy, Birmingham)
@elkeschwarz.bsky.social (Professor of Political Theory, QMUL)
@drjamesstrong.bsky.social (Reader in British Politics, QMUL)
"‘Whatever It Takes?’ The Policy Implications of Supporting Ukraine".
What does supporting Ukraine mean in practice?
What are the implications for national security, tax policy, EU relations, energy security & more?
28 Oct 12:00 at @mileendinstitute.bsky.social.
us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
What does supporting Ukraine mean in practice?
What are the implications for national security, tax policy, EU relations, energy security & more?
28 Oct 12:00 at @mileendinstitute.bsky.social.
us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
October 22, 2025 at 1:28 PM
"‘Whatever It Takes?’ The Policy Implications of Supporting Ukraine".
What does supporting Ukraine mean in practice?
What are the implications for national security, tax policy, EU relations, energy security & more?
28 Oct 12:00 at @mileendinstitute.bsky.social.
us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
What does supporting Ukraine mean in practice?
What are the implications for national security, tax policy, EU relations, energy security & more?
28 Oct 12:00 at @mileendinstitute.bsky.social.
us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
For the preacher, Canon Frederic Farrar, Darwin manifested "the profoundly religious conviction that nothing was beneath the earnest study of man which had been worthy of the mighty hand of God".
The sermon becomes almost pantheistic in its middle section.
The sermon becomes almost pantheistic in its middle section.
October 16, 2025 at 6:06 PM
For the preacher, Canon Frederic Farrar, Darwin manifested "the profoundly religious conviction that nothing was beneath the earnest study of man which had been worthy of the mighty hand of God".
The sermon becomes almost pantheistic in its middle section.
The sermon becomes almost pantheistic in its middle section.
For next week's classes on C19th "Religion & Science", I want to show students the sermon preached at Darwin's funeral in Westminster Abbey.
It's a hymn of praise to "the great naturalist", whose work contained "no word irreconcilable with faith in Christianity". Let's see what students make of it!
It's a hymn of praise to "the great naturalist", whose work contained "no word irreconcilable with faith in Christianity". Let's see what students make of it!
October 16, 2025 at 6:06 PM
For next week's classes on C19th "Religion & Science", I want to show students the sermon preached at Darwin's funeral in Westminster Abbey.
It's a hymn of praise to "the great naturalist", whose work contained "no word irreconcilable with faith in Christianity". Let's see what students make of it!
It's a hymn of praise to "the great naturalist", whose work contained "no word irreconcilable with faith in Christianity". Let's see what students make of it!
Getting some help with today's lecture-writing. #catsitting
October 16, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Getting some help with today's lecture-writing. #catsitting