Praṇay Manocha
@pranman.com
Providing an immigrant's perspective on Western politics
If we all agree that the NHS is one of Britain's crowning achievements and health services should be free at the point of use, why not food?
Why should food not be freely available to everyone?
We can still have private food for those who want it.
But most of us, we can eat healthy and free.
Why should food not be freely available to everyone?
We can still have private food for those who want it.
But most of us, we can eat healthy and free.
September 16, 2026 at 10:59 PM
If we all agree that the NHS is one of Britain's crowning achievements and health services should be free at the point of use, why not food?
Why should food not be freely available to everyone?
We can still have private food for those who want it.
But most of us, we can eat healthy and free.
Why should food not be freely available to everyone?
We can still have private food for those who want it.
But most of us, we can eat healthy and free.
I'm only just discovering the layers of hypocrisy of Ed Sheeran and I'm a bit blown away
September 15, 2026 at 3:34 PM
I'm only just discovering the layers of hypocrisy of Ed Sheeran and I'm a bit blown away
Reposted by Praṇay Manocha
Reform says it wants to take us back to “the country that was”.
What a lie.
They want to tear up institutions this country helped create, turn our backs on Europe and abandon the international order we helped build.
That isn’t patriotism. It’s national vandalism.
What a lie.
They want to tear up institutions this country helped create, turn our backs on Europe and abandon the international order we helped build.
That isn’t patriotism. It’s national vandalism.
September 14, 2026 at 6:53 PM
Reform says it wants to take us back to “the country that was”.
What a lie.
They want to tear up institutions this country helped create, turn our backs on Europe and abandon the international order we helped build.
That isn’t patriotism. It’s national vandalism.
What a lie.
They want to tear up institutions this country helped create, turn our backs on Europe and abandon the international order we helped build.
That isn’t patriotism. It’s national vandalism.
Reposted by Praṇay Manocha
THE INDEPENDENT: Lancashire councillor Nigel Swales has defected from Reform UK to Labour, saying Reform was embroiled in scandal and lacked a serious plan or leadership to deliver change. It is the first defection from Reform to Labour.
- by Millie Cooke
- by Millie Cooke
Councillor becomes first politician in the country to defect from Reform to Labour
A Reform councillor has decided to leave the party, saying he had seen ‘first-hand’ how it ‘simply doesn't have a serious plan’
www.independent.co.uk
September 8, 2026 at 9:58 AM
THE INDEPENDENT: Lancashire councillor Nigel Swales has defected from Reform UK to Labour, saying Reform was embroiled in scandal and lacked a serious plan or leadership to deliver change. It is the first defection from Reform to Labour.
- by Millie Cooke
- by Millie Cooke
Fewer international students means the fee burden will only keep going up.
The problem starts when we start counting international students as immigrants, thus making the government want to reduce their numbers to bring "net migration" down, even though they each contribute £140K to the UK economy.
The problem starts when we start counting international students as immigrants, thus making the government want to reduce their numbers to bring "net migration" down, even though they each contribute £140K to the UK economy.
THE INDEPENDENT: English tuition fees have risen 879% since 1998, leaving graduates with average debts of £53,010 - and up to £81,000 in London - while Scotland’s graduates owe £35,000 less.
- by Katrine Bussey
- by Katrine Bussey
Burnham accused of ‘hiking university tuition fees to record levels’
Burnham previously pledged he would replace tuition fees with a graduate tax, saying this would ‘lift the millstone of debt’ from students
www.independent.co.uk
September 5, 2026 at 1:52 PM
Fewer international students means the fee burden will only keep going up.
The problem starts when we start counting international students as immigrants, thus making the government want to reduce their numbers to bring "net migration" down, even though they each contribute £140K to the UK economy.
The problem starts when we start counting international students as immigrants, thus making the government want to reduce their numbers to bring "net migration" down, even though they each contribute £140K to the UK economy.
My brain is unable to reconcile with the irony of celebrations at the return of the Bayeux Tapestry to the very museum that hoards and denies access to historical treasures of so many other countries.
September 4, 2026 at 4:05 PM
My brain is unable to reconcile with the irony of celebrations at the return of the Bayeux Tapestry to the very museum that hoards and denies access to historical treasures of so many other countries.
Remembered this delightful photo I took of Tibetan kids playing cricket at a refugee camp in South India. Brings me joy.
September 4, 2026 at 12:07 PM
Remembered this delightful photo I took of Tibetan kids playing cricket at a refugee camp in South India. Brings me joy.
Reposted by Praṇay Manocha
I've long argued that every newsroom should have an immigration correspondent who travels beyond Westminster to meet local communities, those on the frontline and, of course, new arrivals.
Pleased to contribute to this excellent report @reutersinstitute.bsky.social.
Pleased to contribute to this excellent report @reutersinstitute.bsky.social.
NEW on our site
This year's Digital News Report showed people are unhappy with immigration news coverage
Our own Gretel Kahn spoke with four experts on why newsrooms often fail when reporting on this issue and how they can do better
Click to read
reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/news/fixing-...
This year's Digital News Report showed people are unhappy with immigration news coverage
Our own Gretel Kahn spoke with four experts on why newsrooms often fail when reporting on this issue and how they can do better
Click to read
reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/news/fixing-...
Fixing immigration coverage: Why newsrooms often fail and how they can do better
Our Digital News Report showed people are unhappy with this kind of reporting. Four experts argue journalists should add nuance, context and migrant voices.
reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk
September 4, 2026 at 10:23 AM
I've long argued that every newsroom should have an immigration correspondent who travels beyond Westminster to meet local communities, those on the frontline and, of course, new arrivals.
Pleased to contribute to this excellent report @reutersinstitute.bsky.social.
Pleased to contribute to this excellent report @reutersinstitute.bsky.social.
Some good news. This still doesnt grant access to all worker rights (eg unfair pay, harassment etc) but skilled migrants' interests were ignored by recent worker rights' legislation and policy, so this is refreshing.
PS: I could have used stronger worker rights when I arrived as a skilled worker
PS: I could have used stronger worker rights when I arrived as a skilled worker
September 4, 2026 at 8:37 AM
Some good news. This still doesnt grant access to all worker rights (eg unfair pay, harassment etc) but skilled migrants' interests were ignored by recent worker rights' legislation and policy, so this is refreshing.
PS: I could have used stronger worker rights when I arrived as a skilled worker
PS: I could have used stronger worker rights when I arrived as a skilled worker
Reposted by Praṇay Manocha
THE GUARDIAN: The UK’s “one in, one out” asylum scheme has not deterred desperate crossings: it has returned people to homelessness, violence and exploitation, pushing some to risk the Channel again.
- by Diane Taylor
- by Diane Taylor
‘I would rather die than return to France’: the brutal reality of the UK’s one in, one out scheme
www.theguardian.com
September 3, 2026 at 9:30 AM
THE GUARDIAN: The UK’s “one in, one out” asylum scheme has not deterred desperate crossings: it has returned people to homelessness, violence and exploitation, pushing some to risk the Channel again.
- by Diane Taylor
- by Diane Taylor
There are 47 people alive today who have won the Fields Medal, a top honour in the field of Mathematics.
One of these people came as a refugee to Britain.
One of these people came as a refugee to Britain.
August 31, 2026 at 3:37 PM
There are 47 people alive today who have won the Fields Medal, a top honour in the field of Mathematics.
One of these people came as a refugee to Britain.
One of these people came as a refugee to Britain.
I think the fundamental reason many people feel a lack of sympathy for Palestine and defend Israel, is that they believe that October 7th was fundamentally an attack on Jewish identity and Israel's survival, rather than attack on Israel's actions.
August 30, 2026 at 6:23 PM
I think the fundamental reason many people feel a lack of sympathy for Palestine and defend Israel, is that they believe that October 7th was fundamentally an attack on Jewish identity and Israel's survival, rather than attack on Israel's actions.
When supporting migrants, people often use terms like poor, essential, hard-working, desperate.
These may be true, but why not use words like persistent, innovative, exceptional, inspiring - all of which are equally true.
These may be true, but why not use words like persistent, innovative, exceptional, inspiring - all of which are equally true.
August 30, 2026 at 12:23 PM
When supporting migrants, people often use terms like poor, essential, hard-working, desperate.
These may be true, but why not use words like persistent, innovative, exceptional, inspiring - all of which are equally true.
These may be true, but why not use words like persistent, innovative, exceptional, inspiring - all of which are equally true.
Somehow, people with such inane opinions never have any problem funding the royal family. But Notting Hill, where 2 million people celebrate their culture for just one weekend? No no no 🙄
August 29, 2026 at 5:36 PM
Somehow, people with such inane opinions never have any problem funding the royal family. But Notting Hill, where 2 million people celebrate their culture for just one weekend? No no no 🙄
Norway is my favourite country in the world, but for all its virtues, the country has two deep flaws.
1. Its national wealth is based off oil.
2. It has a monarchy, which is at odds with the liberal, progressive values the country exports so enthusiastically.
1. Its national wealth is based off oil.
2. It has a monarchy, which is at odds with the liberal, progressive values the country exports so enthusiastically.
All this works because it's a government designed to look after the welfare of its people - and not, as is the case in most of the developed world, the interests of corporations and billionaires.
August 29, 2026 at 1:23 AM
Norway is my favourite country in the world, but for all its virtues, the country has two deep flaws.
1. Its national wealth is based off oil.
2. It has a monarchy, which is at odds with the liberal, progressive values the country exports so enthusiastically.
1. Its national wealth is based off oil.
2. It has a monarchy, which is at odds with the liberal, progressive values the country exports so enthusiastically.
Reposted by Praṇay Manocha
Reform has already polled at a level at which First-past-the-post could turn roughly three votes in ten into majority government **
Nearly 100 Labour MPs already support a commission into electoral reform. We need more to come out in support.
Nearly 100 Labour MPs already support a commission into electoral reform. We need more to come out in support.
August 28, 2026 at 10:50 AM
Reform has already polled at a level at which First-past-the-post could turn roughly three votes in ten into majority government **
Nearly 100 Labour MPs already support a commission into electoral reform. We need more to come out in support.
Nearly 100 Labour MPs already support a commission into electoral reform. We need more to come out in support.
Nay-Paul is colonial pronunciation by the way. Reject it.
It's Nay-paal.
It's very easy to switch to the correct way, try it when you're on your own, then keep it when you're with others.
It's Nay-paal.
It's very easy to switch to the correct way, try it when you're on your own, then keep it when you're with others.
August 28, 2026 at 8:14 AM
Nay-Paul is colonial pronunciation by the way. Reject it.
It's Nay-paal.
It's very easy to switch to the correct way, try it when you're on your own, then keep it when you're with others.
It's Nay-paal.
It's very easy to switch to the correct way, try it when you're on your own, then keep it when you're with others.
The Nepal/Tibet flash flood is terrifying.
Not just because the Hindu Kush & Himalayas hold 54,000 glaciers, the most outside polar regions; but because this region is the most concentrated populated area anywhere in the world.
If climate change is a threat anywhere, it is here.
Not just because the Hindu Kush & Himalayas hold 54,000 glaciers, the most outside polar regions; but because this region is the most concentrated populated area anywhere in the world.
If climate change is a threat anywhere, it is here.
August 26, 2026 at 9:17 PM
The Nepal/Tibet flash flood is terrifying.
Not just because the Hindu Kush & Himalayas hold 54,000 glaciers, the most outside polar regions; but because this region is the most concentrated populated area anywhere in the world.
If climate change is a threat anywhere, it is here.
Not just because the Hindu Kush & Himalayas hold 54,000 glaciers, the most outside polar regions; but because this region is the most concentrated populated area anywhere in the world.
If climate change is a threat anywhere, it is here.
Maybe this will inspire British politicians to adopt moderately bolder policies?
August 24, 2026 at 10:30 PM
Maybe this will inspire British politicians to adopt moderately bolder policies?
If we weren't already concerned about misuse of AI, here's a disturbing development. Russia used retail off the shelf components to build an autonomous drone that went inside Ukraine and killed people.
But wait...there's more. A lot more to be worried about than just this one off.
Thread:
But wait...there's more. A lot more to be worried about than just this one off.
Thread:
A Drone Killed Three Ukrainians. It Was Guided Entirely by A.I. (Gift Article)
An attack by what Ukrainian officials said was a Russian drone with an Nvidia chip presages a dystopian future of weaponry untethered to humans.
www.nytimes.com
August 24, 2026 at 8:47 PM
If we weren't already concerned about misuse of AI, here's a disturbing development. Russia used retail off the shelf components to build an autonomous drone that went inside Ukraine and killed people.
But wait...there's more. A lot more to be worried about than just this one off.
Thread:
But wait...there's more. A lot more to be worried about than just this one off.
Thread:
Tamil Nadu - southern Indian state, approximately the same size as England with 77 million people and a GDP that's 1/5th of the UK, just announced free bus travel for women and transgender people.
This will cost Tamil Nadu around £500m, about the same as Burnham's £2 fare cap will cost the UK.
This will cost Tamil Nadu around £500m, about the same as Burnham's £2 fare cap will cost the UK.
August 24, 2026 at 10:36 AM
Tamil Nadu - southern Indian state, approximately the same size as England with 77 million people and a GDP that's 1/5th of the UK, just announced free bus travel for women and transgender people.
This will cost Tamil Nadu around £500m, about the same as Burnham's £2 fare cap will cost the UK.
This will cost Tamil Nadu around £500m, about the same as Burnham's £2 fare cap will cost the UK.
Reposted by Praṇay Manocha
LABOURLIST: Jo needed £1,200 for childcare, but could not get an overdraft or bank loan; the only loan available was over 50% interest. The article warns deregulation could deepen exclusion, while closing the gap could add £6bn a year.
- by Laura Aznar Herranz
- by Laura Aznar Herranz
‘It’s people on low incomes who’ll pay for financial services deregulation’
labourlist.org
August 22, 2026 at 9:11 AM
LABOURLIST: Jo needed £1,200 for childcare, but could not get an overdraft or bank loan; the only loan available was over 50% interest. The article warns deregulation could deepen exclusion, while closing the gap could add £6bn a year.
- by Laura Aznar Herranz
- by Laura Aznar Herranz