Vaughan Roberts
@vaughanroberts.bsky.social
Writer and speaker; priest and canon emeritus, spouse, father and grandfather. Interested in sport, culture, religion and how organisations function.
Reposted by Vaughan Roberts
Huge respect to the papers for finding both an 88 year old worried about the tax bill on her 6 bedroom Kensington house and a 20 year old fretting about only being able to save £12k a year tax free.
Top work all around. These are not easy case studies to find.
Top work all around. These are not easy case studies to find.
November 29, 2025 at 9:24 AM
Huge respect to the papers for finding both an 88 year old worried about the tax bill on her 6 bedroom Kensington house and a 20 year old fretting about only being able to save £12k a year tax free.
Top work all around. These are not easy case studies to find.
Top work all around. These are not easy case studies to find.
Reposted by Vaughan Roberts
Lying in politics is wrong and should never be rewarded, says newspaper which pays Boris Johnson £1 million a year to be its star columnist
November 29, 2025 at 10:01 AM
Lying in politics is wrong and should never be rewarded, says newspaper which pays Boris Johnson £1 million a year to be its star columnist
Reposted by Vaughan Roberts
NEW
What do you do with unlawful orders?
The critical - and topical - issue of when the military and security services can refuse to do what they are told
By me
emptycity.substack.com/p/what-do-yo...
What do you do with unlawful orders?
The critical - and topical - issue of when the military and security services can refuse to do what they are told
By me
emptycity.substack.com/p/what-do-yo...
What do you do with unlawful orders?
The critical - and topical - issue of when the military and security services can refuse to do what they are told
emptycity.substack.com
November 29, 2025 at 9:26 AM
NEW
What do you do with unlawful orders?
The critical - and topical - issue of when the military and security services can refuse to do what they are told
By me
emptycity.substack.com/p/what-do-yo...
What do you do with unlawful orders?
The critical - and topical - issue of when the military and security services can refuse to do what they are told
By me
emptycity.substack.com/p/what-do-yo...
Reposted by Vaughan Roberts
1/5 It was entirely predictable that The Telegraph would jump on @DavidOlusoga’s Empire series to fight its right wing culture war for control of our public history. Let’s see what they’ve done:
November 27, 2025 at 8:28 AM
1/5 It was entirely predictable that The Telegraph would jump on @DavidOlusoga’s Empire series to fight its right wing culture war for control of our public history. Let’s see what they’ve done:
Reposted by Vaughan Roberts
In newly leaked audio, Peter Thiel admits he urged JD Vance to ignore Pope Leo XIV on moral questions — including the ethical development of AI.
He goes even further, branding Leo “the woke American pope” and suggesting he’s a tool of the Antichrist.
He goes even further, branding Leo “the woke American pope” and suggesting he’s a tool of the Antichrist.
NEW: JD Vance’s Top Donor Suggests Pope Leo XIV is Antichrist
In a leaked lecture, Peter Thiel says he’s urged Vance to ignore the pope on moral questions — and simply pray for him.
www.thelettersfromleo.com
November 25, 2025 at 10:43 AM
In newly leaked audio, Peter Thiel admits he urged JD Vance to ignore Pope Leo XIV on moral questions — including the ethical development of AI.
He goes even further, branding Leo “the woke American pope” and suggesting he’s a tool of the Antichrist.
He goes even further, branding Leo “the woke American pope” and suggesting he’s a tool of the Antichrist.
My recent encounters with Van Gogh: (1) alongside Anselm Kieffer at the Kieffer – Van Gogh exhibition @royalacademyarts.bsky.social (2) and alongside John Lennon in the play "When Vincent Met John" at the Minerva Theatre. Both most enjoyable!
November 22, 2025 at 11:31 AM
My recent encounters with Van Gogh: (1) alongside Anselm Kieffer at the Kieffer – Van Gogh exhibition @royalacademyarts.bsky.social (2) and alongside John Lennon in the play "When Vincent Met John" at the Minerva Theatre. Both most enjoyable!
Reposted by Vaughan Roberts
1/5 The attack on the BBC is an alignment of four interest groups that has been years in the making:
November 17, 2025 at 8:04 AM
1/5 The attack on the BBC is an alignment of four interest groups that has been years in the making:
Reposted by Vaughan Roberts
Buckle up - because this now amounts to a direct and deliberate attack on our country and its cultural sovereignty. Which side our politicians take - Trump's or the BBC's - over the coming days and weeks will speak volumes about their patriotism.
Trump says he will sue BBC for at least $1bn over Panorama edit
The US president confirmed he intends to sue the broadcaster for at least $1bn over the Panorama edit of a 2021 speech.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 15, 2025 at 7:10 AM
Buckle up - because this now amounts to a direct and deliberate attack on our country and its cultural sovereignty. Which side our politicians take - Trump's or the BBC's - over the coming days and weeks will speak volumes about their patriotism.
Reposted by Vaughan Roberts
Cracking, as per, from @chrisgrey.bsky.social . I particularly loved "[BBC] Radio Four’s Moral Maze (surely the most flatulently self-important and uninformative show in the entire history of broadcasting, but that’s by the way)." #DriveBy
Stasis, sanctimony and the liberal paradox. New post on my Brexit & Brexitism Blog with such Brexit news as there is, but mainly analysis of what 'responsible Farage' tells us about the tensions in Reform and what the BBC row tells us about Brexitism: chrisgreybrexitblog.blogspot.com/2025/11/stas...
November 15, 2025 at 7:18 AM
Cracking, as per, from @chrisgrey.bsky.social . I particularly loved "[BBC] Radio Four’s Moral Maze (surely the most flatulently self-important and uninformative show in the entire history of broadcasting, but that’s by the way)." #DriveBy
Reposted by Vaughan Roberts
"What is certain, and felt instinctively by almost everybody, is that things cannot go on in their present way" – The Times, May 1975
“It is difficult to imagine a previous period when such an all-pervasive hopelessness was exhibited at all levels of British life” – Professor Stephen Haseler, 1975
“It is difficult to imagine a previous period when such an all-pervasive hopelessness was exhibited at all levels of British life” – Professor Stephen Haseler, 1975
November 14, 2025 at 9:13 AM
"What is certain, and felt instinctively by almost everybody, is that things cannot go on in their present way" – The Times, May 1975
“It is difficult to imagine a previous period when such an all-pervasive hopelessness was exhibited at all levels of British life” – Professor Stephen Haseler, 1975
“It is difficult to imagine a previous period when such an all-pervasive hopelessness was exhibited at all levels of British life” – Professor Stephen Haseler, 1975
Excellent MODEM conference yesterday on "The Common Good in Organisations" with two fascinating keynote speakers Stephen Cherry (Dean of Chapel, King's College Cambridge) and Jo Berry CBE (founder of Building Bridges for Peace).
November 14, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Excellent MODEM conference yesterday on "The Common Good in Organisations" with two fascinating keynote speakers Stephen Cherry (Dean of Chapel, King's College Cambridge) and Jo Berry CBE (founder of Building Bridges for Peace).
Reposted by Vaughan Roberts
The story of how an editorial blunder has provided those men of moral probity and honesty, Boris Johnson and Donald Trump with the opportunity they and right wing culture war allies have long sought to undermine independent broadcasting in the UK: bylinetimes.com/2025/11/11/p...
The Pro-Trump Bias of the 'Neutral' Sources in the Leaked BBC 'Prescott Dossier'
Byline Times’ analysis of key sources in the memo about the BBC’s alleged ‘progressive bias’ shows it relied on highly partisan right-wing, Trump-aligned organisations
bylinetimes.com
November 12, 2025 at 10:26 AM
The story of how an editorial blunder has provided those men of moral probity and honesty, Boris Johnson and Donald Trump with the opportunity they and right wing culture war allies have long sought to undermine independent broadcasting in the UK: bylinetimes.com/2025/11/11/p...
Reposted by Vaughan Roberts
Probably too much to ask but I'd love to see @davidallengreen.bsky.social's 'could' turn into the Beeb's 'will'!
The letter the BBC could send to Trump in reply to his $1bn claim
12th November 2025 Yesterday this blog offered a close reading of the letter Trump’s lawyers had sent to the British Broadcasting Corporation. As a follow-up, this is a letter that the BBC could se…
davidallengreen.com
November 12, 2025 at 1:47 PM
Probably too much to ask but I'd love to see @davidallengreen.bsky.social's 'could' turn into the Beeb's 'will'!
Reposted by Vaughan Roberts
NEW
A close look at Trump's $1 billion claim against the BBC
The litigation letter is weak, but his underlying practical position is not weak
By me:
emptycity.substack.com/p/a-close-lo... (Substack)
(Non-Substack link to follow.)
A close look at Trump's $1 billion claim against the BBC
The litigation letter is weak, but his underlying practical position is not weak
By me:
emptycity.substack.com/p/a-close-lo... (Substack)
(Non-Substack link to follow.)
A close look at Trump's $1 billion claim against the BBC
The litigation letter is weak, but his underlying practical position is not weak
emptycity.substack.com
November 11, 2025 at 1:18 PM
NEW
A close look at Trump's $1 billion claim against the BBC
The litigation letter is weak, but his underlying practical position is not weak
By me:
emptycity.substack.com/p/a-close-lo... (Substack)
(Non-Substack link to follow.)
A close look at Trump's $1 billion claim against the BBC
The litigation letter is weak, but his underlying practical position is not weak
By me:
emptycity.substack.com/p/a-close-lo... (Substack)
(Non-Substack link to follow.)
Reposted by Vaughan Roberts
Should Gibb be sacked? yes, obviously. He's an abomination of basic journalistic standards. His GB News channel spreads conspiracy theory & disinformation. His Jewish Chronicle newspaper spreads invented stories. He is plainly trying to undermine the BBC so it's as bad as everything else he touches.
November 10, 2025 at 12:47 PM
Should Gibb be sacked? yes, obviously. He's an abomination of basic journalistic standards. His GB News channel spreads conspiracy theory & disinformation. His Jewish Chronicle newspaper spreads invented stories. He is plainly trying to undermine the BBC so it's as bad as everything else he touches.
Reposted by Vaughan Roberts
Day conference in London (13 Nov) The Common Good in Organisations- enabling ways of organizing to prevent harm and better serve the common good. Speakers @jo-berry.bsky.social (Building bridges for Peace founder) & Stephen Cherry (author of ‘Unforgiveable?’) Details eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-common...
October 31, 2025 at 3:32 PM
Day conference in London (13 Nov) The Common Good in Organisations- enabling ways of organizing to prevent harm and better serve the common good. Speakers @jo-berry.bsky.social (Building bridges for Peace founder) & Stephen Cherry (author of ‘Unforgiveable?’) Details eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-common...
Gosh, what next...?⬇️
Putin's biggest fear has been exposed.
As a Russian dissident who spent 10 years in his prisons, I can tell you it's not sanctions or missiles. It's the rising legitimacy of the Russian opposition.
🧵 And that legitimacy just got a major boost.
As a Russian dissident who spent 10 years in his prisons, I can tell you it's not sanctions or missiles. It's the rising legitimacy of the Russian opposition.
🧵 And that legitimacy just got a major boost.
October 31, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Gosh, what next...?⬇️
Reposted by Vaughan Roberts
REV. BLACK (who was shot in the head with a pepper ball): “If this is what they’re doing to pastors, journalists, teachers, mothers, and the elderly gathered to sing and pray outside ICE facilities… what might they be doing to our neighbors who are behind those walls?”
October 31, 2025 at 2:33 AM
REV. BLACK (who was shot in the head with a pepper ball): “If this is what they’re doing to pastors, journalists, teachers, mothers, and the elderly gathered to sing and pray outside ICE facilities… what might they be doing to our neighbors who are behind those walls?”
Reposted by Vaughan Roberts
Farage: epic grifter
October 27, 2025 at 12:45 PM
Farage: epic grifter
Reposted by Vaughan Roberts
It’s about time the media focus switched, from scapegoating people seeking asylum to examining the Tory government’s reckless disregard for basic governmental functions & its pernicious, structural afterlife.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Home Office 'squandered billions' on asylum accommodation, MPs say
www.bbc.co.uk
October 27, 2025 at 7:56 AM
It’s about time the media focus switched, from scapegoating people seeking asylum to examining the Tory government’s reckless disregard for basic governmental functions & its pernicious, structural afterlife.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Vaughan Roberts
I know this is obvious. And I know we all know this.
But if the President can raise taxes because an advert annoyed him, without even consulting Congress, then the US constitution is simply not functioning as intended.
But if the President can raise taxes because an advert annoyed him, without even consulting Congress, then the US constitution is simply not functioning as intended.
October 26, 2025 at 8:00 AM
I know this is obvious. And I know we all know this.
But if the President can raise taxes because an advert annoyed him, without even consulting Congress, then the US constitution is simply not functioning as intended.
But if the President can raise taxes because an advert annoyed him, without even consulting Congress, then the US constitution is simply not functioning as intended.
Reposted by Vaughan Roberts
The reform party nativity scene.
No unmarried mothers. No Middle Eastern people. No refugees. No people seeking emergency accommodation.
And not a wise fvcking man in sight…
No unmarried mothers. No Middle Eastern people. No refugees. No people seeking emergency accommodation.
And not a wise fvcking man in sight…
October 26, 2025 at 4:17 PM
The reform party nativity scene.
No unmarried mothers. No Middle Eastern people. No refugees. No people seeking emergency accommodation.
And not a wise fvcking man in sight…
No unmarried mothers. No Middle Eastern people. No refugees. No people seeking emergency accommodation.
And not a wise fvcking man in sight…
Reposted by Vaughan Roberts
The Archbishop in Jerusalem, the Most Revd Hosam Naoum, has praised the resilience of #Palestinians and has entreated Christians to “pray for the peace of Jerusalem”, in a discussion following a service at the Cathedral of St John the Divine, in #NYC, on Sunday
Pray for us, Archbishop in Jerusalem tells New York congregation
Resilience, or samud in Arabic, is ‘a quiet, active and strong will to stay to the last’, he says
www.churchtimes.co.uk
October 25, 2025 at 5:20 PM
The Archbishop in Jerusalem, the Most Revd Hosam Naoum, has praised the resilience of #Palestinians and has entreated Christians to “pray for the peace of Jerusalem”, in a discussion following a service at the Cathedral of St John the Divine, in #NYC, on Sunday
Reposted by Vaughan Roberts
That's racism. Plain and simple.
No other word for it.
It's shocking beyond belief that this sort of thing is somehow acceptable.
No other word for it.
It's shocking beyond belief that this sort of thing is somehow acceptable.
Reform UK MP Sarah Pochin, “It drives me mad seeing adverts full of black people, full of Asian people, full of anything other than white"
Followed by that time Sarah Pochin said, "My kids say: mum, you're such a moron" 👀
Followed by that time Sarah Pochin said, "My kids say: mum, you're such a moron" 👀
October 25, 2025 at 12:41 PM
That's racism. Plain and simple.
No other word for it.
It's shocking beyond belief that this sort of thing is somehow acceptable.
No other word for it.
It's shocking beyond belief that this sort of thing is somehow acceptable.