Roland Smith
@rolandmcs.bsky.social
Tracking the decay of the Right and patrolling the culture war's boundaries. Former Fellow of the Adam Smith Institute. Now firmly centrist. Telegraph watcher.
https://open.substack.com/pub/rolandmcs
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https://open.substack.com/pub/rolandmcs
buymeacoffee.com/rolandsmith
My longer and no doubt far from perfect look at the trans issue (from a few months ago) is here.
I have to say I'm glad the Govt seem to be drawing back from the flawed EHRC/Falkner guidance.
open.substack.com/pub/rolandmc...
I have to say I'm glad the Govt seem to be drawing back from the flawed EHRC/Falkner guidance.
open.substack.com/pub/rolandmc...
Trans
The Ultimate Culture War
open.substack.com
November 11, 2025 at 8:06 PM
My longer and no doubt far from perfect look at the trans issue (from a few months ago) is here.
I have to say I'm glad the Govt seem to be drawing back from the flawed EHRC/Falkner guidance.
open.substack.com/pub/rolandmc...
I have to say I'm glad the Govt seem to be drawing back from the flawed EHRC/Falkner guidance.
open.substack.com/pub/rolandmc...
All certainly reasons, but none engage directly with what is being argued by the other side (in its less extreme form – populists and angry people will always make a horlicks of their own arguments).
November 11, 2025 at 7:59 PM
All certainly reasons, but none engage directly with what is being argued by the other side (in its less extreme form – populists and angry people will always make a horlicks of their own arguments).
Trans activism (for want of a better term) has taken a legal and political beating in recent years. I do wish supporters would start asking why this might be the case instead of casting everyone else as phobes and fascists.
November 11, 2025 at 7:40 PM
Trans activism (for want of a better term) has taken a legal and political beating in recent years. I do wish supporters would start asking why this might be the case instead of casting everyone else as phobes and fascists.
However, there is no cunning conspiracy here. Just people who think alike and are often socially-connected as a consequence, even if tentatively - "I know he's sound".
bsky.app/profile/rola...
bsky.app/profile/rola...
No, it doesn't necessarily mean that. Their worldview is defined by all the same assumptions and so they all arrive at the same conclusions (and jump on the same bandwagons when they get going).
You can be assured that tendentious memo by Michael Prescott, and the co-ordinated combination of the Telegraph, Mail, Boris Johnson, Nigel Farage and the White House means that the BBC hit job has been long in the planning, and has some insider help
November 11, 2025 at 5:59 PM
However, there is no cunning conspiracy here. Just people who think alike and are often socially-connected as a consequence, even if tentatively - "I know he's sound".
bsky.app/profile/rola...
bsky.app/profile/rola...
OK this is interesting. It was already OK/legal to criticise the religion of Islam, but it seems a recent judgment has concluded that 'Islam-critical' belief is protected under the Equalities Act. That's what the Telegraph, GB News and the Mail are getting excited about.
Will delve further...
Will delve further...
November 11, 2025 at 5:42 PM
I spy a lot of 'usual suspects'.
November 11, 2025 at 4:59 PM
I spy a lot of 'usual suspects'.
See also, Fight Club and The Matrix.
November 11, 2025 at 2:13 PM
See also, Fight Club and The Matrix.
In historic terms, we have nothing much to get upset about. And yet here we are....
November 11, 2025 at 2:10 PM
In historic terms, we have nothing much to get upset about. And yet here we are....
Once again, the BBC enables the now-ridiculous 'newspaper industry' to inject a damaging virus into the national conversation. ITV (GMB) is far worse.
All 'newspaper reviews' on mainstream TV & Radio should be stopped immediately.
If you want to know what the papers say, go and look it up FFS.
All 'newspaper reviews' on mainstream TV & Radio should be stopped immediately.
If you want to know what the papers say, go and look it up FFS.
Emma Barnett mindlessly read this headline out on #r4today this morning (of course); the actual truth is public still think the dangers of climate change have NOT been exaggerated
November 11, 2025 at 1:18 PM
I think we did reach the end of history but a lot of people thought 'is this humdrum existence really *it*?
November 11, 2025 at 1:14 PM
I think we did reach the end of history but a lot of people thought 'is this humdrum existence really *it*?
Those who believe in a more conspiratorial view of the Right seem unable to stand in a Rightwinger's shoes and are therefore completely unable to accept that anyone would truly believe that stuff.
And in a way, that is to their credit.
I put Carole C in this category.
And in a way, that is to their credit.
I put Carole C in this category.
November 11, 2025 at 10:15 AM
Those who believe in a more conspiratorial view of the Right seem unable to stand in a Rightwinger's shoes and are therefore completely unable to accept that anyone would truly believe that stuff.
And in a way, that is to their credit.
I put Carole C in this category.
And in a way, that is to their credit.
I put Carole C in this category.