When politicians can just bring in the people they want, instead of working with experienced, independent civil servants, you end up ... well, with Fox News types running govt departments and giving whatever advice the 'Leader' wants to hear. henry-tam.blogspot.com/2025/11/civi...

MPs are to question the BBC over its giving the impression of what the US House of Representatives has confirmed happened in the attack on the Capitol. Meanwhile, not a word about the 'accuracy', 'impartiality', and 'reliability' of GB News ... www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Why talk about capping Ukraine' armed forces at all? Given that Russia invaded Ukraine, We should have proposals on capping Russian armed forces' personnel.

Real community empowerment can only come from effective engagement, power sharing, and genuine partnerships. @citizennetwork.bsky.social citizen-network.org/news/a-respo...

Russia invades Ukraine. Russia interferes with US elections in support of Trump. Trump becomes US president, Cuts support for Ukraine, & presses Ukraine to accept Russian demands. #NoSurprise www.independent.co.uk/news/world/e...

It is said that we should not worry about new technology's impact on employment as it will create more jobs. But when the essence of the new tech is to take over as many human functions as possible, we need to rethink the entire economic system of work-and-income. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

If it walks like it was hatched in Russia, Talks like it was hatched in Russia, It most likely was hatched in Russia. Just ask the US Secretary of State ... apnews.com/article/ukra...

To plan for tackling climate change without mentioning fossil fuel, is like trying to deal with a pandemic without referring to the virus. www.theguardian.com/environment/... #Cop30 #ClimateCrisis

Russia claims it hasn't seen the US-drafted proposals for Ukraine. That could well be true if the proposals were drafted in Moscow.

Has the BBC given the world the wrong impression? The US Congress investigations concluded: “The central cause of January 6th was one man, former President Donald Trump." “None of the events of January 6th would have happened without him.” The defense rests. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022...

On what basis can Trump sue the BBC? That it wrongly caused ppl to lower their esteem of the man a US Congressional Committee recommended for criminal charges for his role in the Capitol riots? Perhaps a high profile trial can help publicise the committee's findings. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Politics matters ... Exclusive offer for any direct order with Bristol University Press/Policy Press, until the end of November - get 50% off any of my political books with code: BUP11. Check out these works: bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/henry-tam @brisunipress.bsky.social

It all seemed hopeless, Until a Clemenceau came along, A Churchill stepped forth. Tyrants count on resistance crumbling, & US Democrats need someone to rally the fightback ... www.axios.com/2025/11/05/2...

Many politicians and public servants still think they can best help communities by working technocratically without local ppl's involvement. They really should learn the lessons from state-community collaboration & start building real partnerships. www.transformingsociety.co.uk/2021/07/30/c...

Against the championing of moral sensitivity and evidential examination, the Counter-Enlightenment was born. Riled by the promotion of universal compassion and empirical objectivity, the Anti-Woke strikes back. Their continuing mission - keep people in the dark henry-tam.blogspot.com/2023/09/coun...

Local govt reorganisation, eh? Simplified system - perhaps Good for economic growth - where's the evidence? Savings - excuses for more cuts, & high transitional costs? Local connections - diminished with big, remote unitaries. Democracy - further weakened www.bennettschool.cam.ac.uk/blog/should-...

Always thought that a political system that demands support for every single budget proposal, or else cuts off the pay for all public workers, is a recipe for chaos. Funds should not be held back except in those specific cases where the proposal in question has been voted down. #ChangeTheSystem

Some right-wingers are doing their best 'fuming' act over the BBC allegedly misleading the world by giving the impression that Trump was in any way connected with the Capitol attacks. Quick reminder: Trump pardoned all those involved in the attacks; they have always had his full support.

It costs very little to engage with local people in a deliberative way to work out together what should be done. Its benefits are immeasurable in terms of effective policy designs and higher public satisfaction. Find out more: citizen-network.org/library/civi... @barryquirk.bsky.social

Americans were warned about Trump's intention to undermine democracy; He still got elected & democracy is on life support in the US. Brits are warned about mini-Trump's polling figures & similarities to his role model. Here are 5 counter-measures to activate: henry-tam.blogspot.com/2025/11/the-...

Can the rule of law still stand in a country when judges are concerned they may have to set up their own armed security arrangements, as the government threatens those who won't bow down to executive intimidation: www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddo...

If people were asked if they would like a strong unelected leader to solve all their problems, they might say 'yes' if no one would warn them a dictator's more likely to throw ppl in jail for no good reason at all. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Show solidarity with Sweden's workers, members of the union IF Metall, on strike against Tesla for its refusal to recognise workers' right to organise a union. There are other cars to buy, but no concession should be made to those who autocratically lord over workers. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

A voting system that can be manipulated by wealthy donors and the circulation of malicious disinformation poses a threat to us all. We need to save democracy before it's too late: citizen-network.org/news/democra... @simonduffy.bsky.social @compassoffice.bsky.social

A report in 2024 found that 92% of donations to Reform UK came from fossil fuel groups and climate change deniers. Any wonder they are against all policies for cutting carbon emission into the atmosphere ... www.desmog.com/2024/06/04/n...

In these polarised times, there is actually much that can be done at the community level to overcome misunderstanding and support consensus-building. Consider these tried and tested approaches: citizen-network.org/library/comm...

A written Constitution becomes an instrument of oppression when one presidential win along with the narrowest senate majority can secure a Supreme Court that will endorse pretty much whatever the Leader commands. #NoKings

Diversity is good on so many levels. Just look at the Premiership. For those who can't stand our love of cultural enrichment, perhaps they should go to their spiritual home somewhere around the Führerbunker. henry-tam.blogspot.com/2024/01/prem...

The 1930s showed us that if authoritarian-minded leaders were given an inch, they would go miles to subjugate everyone. Let's stop the world sliding into another fascist nightmare as we head towards 2030. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

Why would people support political figures who push policies that harm the environment, hurt the vulnerable, and cut public services to fund tax cuts for the superrich? Ignorance prevails in the absence of good political education: policy.bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/whos-afraid-...

Was there ever any doubt that Trump's sole role was to keep giving Putin more time to attack Ukraine? www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Lie, cheat, commit frauds - as far as the Don is concerned, all criminal members of 'the family' are to be released from prison under his order. After all, the only crime to be punished is the crime of standing up to him. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

What's happening in politics these days? Picture this scene ... henry-tam.blogspot.com/2025/10/a-pl...

Trump has slashed $723 billion from Medicaid, took healthcare away from 13.7 million Americans, which would cause 21,000 preventable deaths every year, and added $3.94 trillion to the national deficit to fund tax cuts for billionaires. How can anyone still support Trump, or back mini-Trump?

Long, long overdue indictment of what Brexit and its reckless advocates did to damage our country's economy & deplete the capacity to fund vital public services: www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...

An authoritarian regime moves forward by each oppressive step - violence, anonymity, no accountability, pervasive intimidation. Will the US survive another 3 years? Can the UK avoid a similar fate if the Xenophobic Party wins? www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

The Govt sets a target of 1.5 million new homes to be built, & says planning controls must be relaxed. If only developers would build the 1.4 million new homes they already have planning permissions for, instead of moaning about the planning system ... citizen-network.org/library/citi...

In 1939, Molotov and Ribbentrop negotiated the 10 year non-aggression pact btw the Soviet Union and Germany. Would anyone think they (or, heaven forbid, their respective bosses) should have been given the Nobel Peace Prize? #ContextIsEverything

Robert Jenrick walks into a room with other Tory leadership contenders. What's that he said angrily about "not seeing another white face around"? (Better tell Javid, Patel, Sharma, Sunak, Zahawi, Jayawardena, and others to keep away in case Bob loses it completely ...)

If you have not heard of the political thinker, Mozi, it's really worth a few minutes of your time to check out why his ideas should be taken seriously: henry-tam.blogspot.com/2025/10/lear...

Arsonists rely on fire. The Fourth Reich counts on ICE.

There are those who hear about immigrants who have lived and worked here for years, paid taxes, helped others, contributed to our country, & yet they don't want them settling here because of (whisper it) the colour of their skin. What word other than 'racist' would they like for their attitude?

Never shrug when some amass great wealth & power while others are thus weakened. Growth in power inequalities leads inexorably to exploitation and oppressive rule: citizen-network.org/library/the-...

Farage claimed that Liz Truss gave our country "the best Conservative budget since 1986", & he pushed for Brexit which cost the UK billions of pound in lost GDP and investment. We need to share this with anyone who thinks he'd be good for the economy: www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Trump will sanction Russia, but ... and there will always be a 'but', because the chain of command only goes one way, and everyone knows who's really in charge.

How will every Tory/Reform/Republican politician parrot the 'tax cuts' sales pitch, and pretend the doorway to paradise will fly open ... Read this 'Tax Cuts Q&A' for all seasons: henry-tam.blogspot.com/2022/07/tax-...

If 'democracy' is just a basic voting process, not only could it be cut off from what concerns citizens, it is susceptible to being subverted by manipulators. We need Citizen Democracy to connect & empower us as equal citizens in an informed and inclusive manner: citizen-network.org/work/citizen...

If we don't save democracy, There won't be a strong enough democratic system to save us from oppression and arbitrary rule: henry-tam.blogspot.com/2025/09/demo...

For ppl who love to defend the use of words like 'invasion' and 'legitimate concerns', would it be fair to say that we all have legitimate concerns about the invasion of hate & prejudice into our British culture of tolerance and compassion? www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... #1930s

Don't just tell communities help will eventually arrive. But work with them, listen, empower them to develop real improvements with public support. 12 'Putting Communities First' recommendations: citizen-network.org/library/putt... @cormacrussell.bsky.social