Thomas Mason

Broadcast journalist @BBCPolitics in Westminster & @BBCBristol. Presenter of @HenleyBSchool's 'Leading Edge' podcast. DJ, cyclist & 🖼️ enthusiast.

[Radha Tripathi @Radha_AI]

INSTEAD OF WATCHING AN HOUR OF NETFLIX TONIGHT.

This 1 hour Stanford lecture by Joel Peterson will teach you more about negotiation and getting what you want than most people learn in years.

Bookmark it and give it an hour, no matter what.

[Thomas Mason @ThomasMason]

An interesting summary of Tony Blair's intervention into British politics this week. Like @ShippersUnbound, would you consider yourself an "honest sensible person"... and just how far apart are those like @AndyBurnhamGM who have expressed points of difference with this broad analysis? @InstituteGC @UKLabour @CommonSenseScty

[Tim Shipman @ShippersUnbound]

Further to Blair. Literally every honest sensible person in all the main parties privately agrees with all these propositions:

- welfare spending is too high and is throwing good people on the scrapheap
- defence spending is too low
- the triple lock is unsustainable
- without cheap energy we cannot exploit the AI revolution
- we should be investing in EVERY form of energy: renewables, nuclear and the North Sea
- migration needs to be controlled to boost social cohesion and because the boats look like a huge failure of the state
- any new relationship with the EU will be imposed on us until we are stronger and cannot involve the closeness some desire without freedom of movement
- we are deeply embedded with America in ways which the public does not understand and cannot be told and however joyous it makes us feel to hate Trump, disengagement at the deep state level is not only wholly unrealistic but also undesirable
- Whitehall needs a total overhaul so specific project expertise and political appointees can be brought in quickly

Blair basically says all that.

The one thing he doesn’t say and which the same group of people agree on is this and it’s something Blair left behind:

- judges and quangos have too much power, are unaccountable and without redressing the balance in favour of parliament it is very difficult to do anything big fast
- the bare minimum that needs to change in this regard is to reform judicial review and planning law so we can put building and economic growth ahead of newts and NIMBYs

None of that above really ought to be up for discussion. It is all common sense but not one of our politicians will publicly say all of it

Whatever you think of Blair, engage with what he’s saying not how he makes you feel. The bare minimum we should expect from any leader is that they have an analysis of the current situation and a plan to deal with it which is as coherent and realistic as his intervention. Pretty well every critique I’ve read so far has failed to meet this requirement.

Over to Andy and Keir and Kemi and Nigel and Zack and all the others

[Thomas Mason @ThomasMason]

@Top_Muppetries @Nigel_Farage @reformparty_uk That's interesting, thanks for sharing. I've been trying to find an account on X for Robert Kenyon and have not done so yet. Will delve into it further.

[Thomas Mason @ThomasMason]

Interesting hyperlocal positioning from @Nigel_Farage’s Reform UK, as the party announces its candidate for the #MakerfieldByelection.

Plumber Robert Kenyon can unblock your pipes, but as @reformparty_uk throws the kitchen sink at this contest, could he do a better job than @AndyBurnhamGM of unblocking the system in Whitehall and Westminster?! 🪠

[Reform UK @reformparty_uk]

Makerfield was Andy Burnham’s back up plan.

For Robert Kenyon, it’s his home.

This battle will be David Vs Goliath.

[Thomas Mason @ThomasMason]

Exciting news: I'll be at Workhuman Forum in London on 20 May. If you're an HR leader and have no plans to go, let's change that! Drop me a message and let's connect there.
#whforum2026
More: https://t.co/gdrcBS0kU1

[Thomas Mason @ThomasMason]

Quite the pugilistic statement from the leader of a party that polled just 1.9% of the vote in the Gorton and Denton by-election.

If Charlotte Cadden @Charlotty was indeed “the only sensible candidate” - as @KemiBadenoch argues - then either the voters there weren’t feeling very sensible, or they seem to disagree.

[Kemi Badenoch @KemiBadenoch]

A statement on the Gorton and Denton by-election result.

[Thomas Mason @ThomasMason]

Why the new trend for Valentine’s Day is eating out alone - The Times and The Sunday Times https://t.co/ONa2pfkVZk

[Thomas Mason @ThomasMason]

Celibacy taught me I’m too clever to find love https://t.co/TC9BomnMrn

[Thomas Mason @ThomasMason]

The Autopsy Report - Vanity Fair UK https://t.co/z124jmPHGX

[Thomas Mason @ThomasMason]

Are you an #otrovert ? Why this personality type could be your greatest gift https://t.co/BKuPNerdNv

[Thomas Mason @ThomasMason]

Can embracing #JOMO reduce #FOMO?!

https://t.co/G2Vj9r0P46

[Thomas Mason @ThomasMason]

UK to be world’s fifth-largest economy by 2040, claims think tank ⁦@Cebr_uk⁩ in ⁦@thetimes⁩. Sounds good, but living standards could fall, making us only 21st richest in terms of GDP per person, cautions ⁦@Telegraph⁩

https://t.co/c1FLkSsVLd

[Thomas Mason @ThomasMason]

https://t.co/WcFNYp9FCa

[British Vogue @BritishVogue]

Everything You Need To Know About London Fashion Week SS26 https://t.co/ReiO94L6M8

[Abundance Investment @AbundanceInv]

Hey, investors! Rather than lining billionaires’ pockets, why not grow your nest egg AND upgrade your borough? Invest in 4 London boroughs today >> https://t.co/KryximsKdY | Investments are long term and illiquid.

[Thomas Mason @ThomasMason]

As @SohoHouse goes private, would you go privately to Soho Farmhouse Ibiza?
https://t.co/p3vgrqBYbI

[Thomas Mason @ThomasMason]

If the 70s are the new 50s, then are the 40s the new 20s?! #longevity https://t.co/cutpd8Pi2D

[Thomas Mason @ThomasMason]

Do you have a strong sense of purpose in your life? Apparently it's great for your brain health! https://t.co/hfc8kJkkpF #longevity

[Thomas Mason @ThomasMason]

“I’m a doctor who helps people live longer, healthier lives – this is one area of research we should all be excited about” - ⁦@StylistMagazine⁩ #longevity https://t.co/2EUF4ks6md