Steve Chamberlain
@sjchamberlain.bsky.social
Not sure about this. I acknowledge some arguments made on here for removing the jury - but are we in danger of removing the principles of being judged by your peers?
The judiciary, although experienced, are far removed both professionally and sociologically from the “Everyman experience.”
The judiciary, although experienced, are far removed both professionally and sociologically from the “Everyman experience.”
November 26, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Not sure about this. I acknowledge some arguments made on here for removing the jury - but are we in danger of removing the principles of being judged by your peers?
The judiciary, although experienced, are far removed both professionally and sociologically from the “Everyman experience.”
The judiciary, although experienced, are far removed both professionally and sociologically from the “Everyman experience.”
Absolutely love this movie - it’s in my top 5 of all time. Great acting, cinematography, snappy dialogue, insightful sub text. . All this achieved from a cauldron of chaos in which it was made. Last minute recasting (Bogart for Reagan) and script still being written during the filming of it.
November 26, 2025 at 11:01 AM
Absolutely love this movie - it’s in my top 5 of all time. Great acting, cinematography, snappy dialogue, insightful sub text. . All this achieved from a cauldron of chaos in which it was made. Last minute recasting (Bogart for Reagan) and script still being written during the filming of it.
I’m sure if they found that asylum seekers were selling vapes/cigarettes to young people it would be top of everyone’s agenda.
November 24, 2025 at 2:59 PM
I’m sure if they found that asylum seekers were selling vapes/cigarettes to young people it would be top of everyone’s agenda.
No party has strong ideas/aims anymore - that’s the main takeaway for me. That might be why populism has taken hold so strongly. Another great interview with one of the political old guard from @lewisgoodall.com - you get a sense of the person, their beliefs, and how much politics has changed.
November 24, 2025 at 2:33 PM
No party has strong ideas/aims anymore - that’s the main takeaway for me. That might be why populism has taken hold so strongly. Another great interview with one of the political old guard from @lewisgoodall.com - you get a sense of the person, their beliefs, and how much politics has changed.
To be honest I always struggle with this. On one hand I understand the need for plain English for keeping reader engagement. But equally I love the rhythm and poetry of more “picturesque” wording and evoking emotions from within the prose. Can the two worlds co-exist? Or is it one or the other?
November 24, 2025 at 11:26 AM
To be honest I always struggle with this. On one hand I understand the need for plain English for keeping reader engagement. But equally I love the rhythm and poetry of more “picturesque” wording and evoking emotions from within the prose. Can the two worlds co-exist? Or is it one or the other?
He’s the Japanese knotweed of politics- nobody took Farage seriously in the early years and left him to his own devices. Meanwhile his populist rhetoric grows stronger and takes hold. Now we have Brexit and harsh immigration policies. More scrutiny is needed to fight this. But is it too late?
November 24, 2025 at 10:15 AM
He’s the Japanese knotweed of politics- nobody took Farage seriously in the early years and left him to his own devices. Meanwhile his populist rhetoric grows stronger and takes hold. Now we have Brexit and harsh immigration policies. More scrutiny is needed to fight this. But is it too late?
This is all driven by fear meaning poor knee-jerk decisions. Suggesting new leaders whose policies are unknown. They sought power and got it with a massive majority but now undermine the cabinet and make them look weak - the party needs to work out what they want fast or go the way of the Tories.
November 23, 2025 at 4:05 PM
This is all driven by fear meaning poor knee-jerk decisions. Suggesting new leaders whose policies are unknown. They sought power and got it with a massive majority but now undermine the cabinet and make them look weak - the party needs to work out what they want fast or go the way of the Tories.
I don’t know why Labour are worried about upsetting the press. It’s not as if they are basking in praise from the current majority of right wing media. Nor are they ever going to get their approval - so might as well start looking to make changes.
November 20, 2025 at 2:48 PM
I don’t know why Labour are worried about upsetting the press. It’s not as if they are basking in praise from the current majority of right wing media. Nor are they ever going to get their approval - so might as well start looking to make changes.
Of course it does. And people are worried about the inherent bias in AI models.. what could go wrong?
November 20, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Of course it does. And people are worried about the inherent bias in AI models.. what could go wrong?
For me, this does not have the feel of Labour. This a policy from the Tories and/or Reform. This approach wasn’t in their manifesto. This smacks less of political beliefs and more of vote grabbing. Wherever you are on the political spectrum, if you betray your core values it won’t end well.
November 19, 2025 at 11:31 AM
For me, this does not have the feel of Labour. This a policy from the Tories and/or Reform. This approach wasn’t in their manifesto. This smacks less of political beliefs and more of vote grabbing. Wherever you are on the political spectrum, if you betray your core values it won’t end well.
I maybe politically naive but Blair is right. If you don’t have someone presenting and pushing for fundamental change that vacuum will be filled by populists picking out a reason why everything is wrong. Be it immigrants or the wealthy. And we start looking inwards not forwards as a country.
November 19, 2025 at 11:14 AM
I maybe politically naive but Blair is right. If you don’t have someone presenting and pushing for fundamental change that vacuum will be filled by populists picking out a reason why everything is wrong. Be it immigrants or the wealthy. And we start looking inwards not forwards as a country.
Strategically this makes sense for Team Trump. He has a proven ability to gloss over and manipulate facts and avoid what should have been severe consequences. What he can’t fight is the toxic Maga conspiracies swirling in the info void he’s created. It’s like someone grabbing smoke - it just spreads
November 17, 2025 at 10:11 AM
Strategically this makes sense for Team Trump. He has a proven ability to gloss over and manipulate facts and avoid what should have been severe consequences. What he can’t fight is the toxic Maga conspiracies swirling in the info void he’s created. It’s like someone grabbing smoke - it just spreads
Labour’s election campaign was one of fear. Fear of upsetting the electorate so they had an inoffensive manifesto. And fear from the electorate of continuing with the Tories. It’s why everything has turned stale so quickly and why populism is rife in our politics. We need braver policies of hope.
November 14, 2025 at 8:33 PM
Labour’s election campaign was one of fear. Fear of upsetting the electorate so they had an inoffensive manifesto. And fear from the electorate of continuing with the Tories. It’s why everything has turned stale so quickly and why populism is rife in our politics. We need braver policies of hope.
I don’t know why but all of this reminding me of Shelley’s poem Ozymandias. Not sure his legacy will be what he thinks.
www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/46565/...
www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/46565/...
Ozymandias
Near them, on the sand, Half sunk a shattered visage lies, whose frown, And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command, Tell that its sculptor well those passions read Which yet survive, stamped on these...
www.poetryfoundation.org
November 8, 2025 at 9:56 PM
I don’t know why but all of this reminding me of Shelley’s poem Ozymandias. Not sure his legacy will be what he thinks.
www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/46565/...
www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/46565/...
I think this is a great step forwards but, and this may be contentious, I think we need more guardrails and legislation to not prohibit speech but to make it easier to see sources of information used in a story or the publication to be declared an opinion piece masquerading as fact.
November 6, 2025 at 9:33 AM
I think this is a great step forwards but, and this may be contentious, I think we need more guardrails and legislation to not prohibit speech but to make it easier to see sources of information used in a story or the publication to be declared an opinion piece masquerading as fact.
The danger here is raising taxes just to “balance the books”. If you are going to make people pay more the govt need to raise enough to invest in bold schemes that create some perceived benefit. The public need to see the sacrifices are going to be worthwhile - not just to maintain the status quo.
November 4, 2025 at 10:49 AM
The danger here is raising taxes just to “balance the books”. If you are going to make people pay more the govt need to raise enough to invest in bold schemes that create some perceived benefit. The public need to see the sacrifices are going to be worthwhile - not just to maintain the status quo.
Are Reform learning the harsh reality that populism can grab the headlines but it can’t run a country? Their councils have already discovered this harsh truth.
November 3, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Are Reform learning the harsh reality that populism can grab the headlines but it can’t run a country? Their councils have already discovered this harsh truth.
A really good article and agree populism needs to be dissipated through open argument. Governments need to look at and tackle the root causes of the issues that cause grievance and not where populists direct them. Brexit shows us the errors made when placating populism over acting with pragmatism.
October 31, 2025 at 9:23 AM
A really good article and agree populism needs to be dissipated through open argument. Governments need to look at and tackle the root causes of the issues that cause grievance and not where populists direct them. Brexit shows us the errors made when placating populism over acting with pragmatism.
Great choice!! I’m going to stick my neck out and say this is Jeff Goldblum’s greatest performance to date.
October 28, 2025 at 3:29 PM
Great choice!! I’m going to stick my neck out and say this is Jeff Goldblum’s greatest performance to date.
A sound proposal, but we need reforms in political funding to go a lot further and quickly, particularly in these days of excessive wealth in the hands of the few. But would any govt of any side of the political spectrum want to make changes? After all, a turkey would never vote for Christmas.
October 27, 2025 at 10:23 AM
A sound proposal, but we need reforms in political funding to go a lot further and quickly, particularly in these days of excessive wealth in the hands of the few. But would any govt of any side of the political spectrum want to make changes? After all, a turkey would never vote for Christmas.