Helen Bush
@bushhelenm.bsky.social
Mum, wife, school governor and governance nerd. Previous life in voluntary sector policy. She/her.
Reposted by Helen Bush
It’s a mark of the corruption of our whole way of thinking about the world that trying to meet a planetary emergency is routinely described as “ideological”, while continuing to accelerate it is presented as “pragmatic” and “economic”.
September 30, 2026 at 7:07 AM
It’s a mark of the corruption of our whole way of thinking about the world that trying to meet a planetary emergency is routinely described as “ideological”, while continuing to accelerate it is presented as “pragmatic” and “economic”.
Reposted by Helen Bush
Liar.
Small boat crossings peaked under Johnson in 2022 reaching 46,000 in 2022.
In current year they are 18,565 and falling.
Also prior to Boris Johnson's Brexit there were none.
Small boat crossings peaked under Johnson in 2022 reaching 46,000 in 2022.
In current year they are 18,565 and falling.
Also prior to Boris Johnson's Brexit there were none.
September 26, 2026 at 7:06 PM
Liar.
Small boat crossings peaked under Johnson in 2022 reaching 46,000 in 2022.
In current year they are 18,565 and falling.
Also prior to Boris Johnson's Brexit there were none.
Small boat crossings peaked under Johnson in 2022 reaching 46,000 in 2022.
In current year they are 18,565 and falling.
Also prior to Boris Johnson's Brexit there were none.
Reposted by Helen Bush
New post out:
England's schools are now the second highest performing in the world outside the far east, according to the OECD's PISA study.
Is this because of policy? Attitude to technology? Cultural factors like immigration? And where can we still improve?
samf.substack.com/p/why-englan...
England's schools are now the second highest performing in the world outside the far east, according to the OECD's PISA study.
Is this because of policy? Attitude to technology? Cultural factors like immigration? And where can we still improve?
samf.substack.com/p/why-englan...
Why England’s schools are doing so well
And what we need to focus on next
samf.substack.com
September 22, 2026 at 8:35 AM
New post out:
England's schools are now the second highest performing in the world outside the far east, according to the OECD's PISA study.
Is this because of policy? Attitude to technology? Cultural factors like immigration? And where can we still improve?
samf.substack.com/p/why-englan...
England's schools are now the second highest performing in the world outside the far east, according to the OECD's PISA study.
Is this because of policy? Attitude to technology? Cultural factors like immigration? And where can we still improve?
samf.substack.com/p/why-englan...
Reposted by Helen Bush
There are so many crimes in this thread you have to wonder what the police and Home Secretary think they are doing at this point.
Worrying scenes in the Channel today, for all interested in asylum policy and maritime tactics.
A small boat from Normandy spent more than 30 hours at sea. Those on board now on their 2nd rescue vessel as Border Force forced to play cat and mouse with far-right activists who have their own boat.
A small boat from Normandy spent more than 30 hours at sea. Those on board now on their 2nd rescue vessel as Border Force forced to play cat and mouse with far-right activists who have their own boat.
September 22, 2026 at 6:56 PM
There are so many crimes in this thread you have to wonder what the police and Home Secretary think they are doing at this point.
Reposted by Helen Bush
Worrying scenes in the Channel today, for all interested in asylum policy and maritime tactics.
A small boat from Normandy spent more than 30 hours at sea. Those on board now on their 2nd rescue vessel as Border Force forced to play cat and mouse with far-right activists who have their own boat.
A small boat from Normandy spent more than 30 hours at sea. Those on board now on their 2nd rescue vessel as Border Force forced to play cat and mouse with far-right activists who have their own boat.
September 22, 2026 at 5:43 PM
Worrying scenes in the Channel today, for all interested in asylum policy and maritime tactics.
A small boat from Normandy spent more than 30 hours at sea. Those on board now on their 2nd rescue vessel as Border Force forced to play cat and mouse with far-right activists who have their own boat.
A small boat from Normandy spent more than 30 hours at sea. Those on board now on their 2nd rescue vessel as Border Force forced to play cat and mouse with far-right activists who have their own boat.
Reposted by Helen Bush
One of the things I wish I could have done for my mum before she died was to buy her a washing machine. It was one of the first things some of my Bangladeshi friends paid for when they got jobs as teenagers. Sadly, millions of women around the world still don’t benefit from having one.
September 21, 2026 at 6:54 AM
One of the things I wish I could have done for my mum before she died was to buy her a washing machine. It was one of the first things some of my Bangladeshi friends paid for when they got jobs as teenagers. Sadly, millions of women around the world still don’t benefit from having one.
Reposted by Helen Bush
Over the last few months these guys made me proud to be British: kind, practical, profoundly moral, a testament to this island. Now they're targeted by the very worst of us. I just gave them a bunch of money. You should too. Show those fascist clowns what's what.
rnli.org/support-us/g...
rnli.org/support-us/g...
Donate to the RNLI and help save lives at sea
Your donations really make a difference. We depend on your generosity to educate people to stay safe and prevent tragedies on and offshore. Donate here.
rnli.org
September 21, 2026 at 3:21 PM
Over the last few months these guys made me proud to be British: kind, practical, profoundly moral, a testament to this island. Now they're targeted by the very worst of us. I just gave them a bunch of money. You should too. Show those fascist clowns what's what.
rnli.org/support-us/g...
rnli.org/support-us/g...
Reposted by Helen Bush
Time is long overdue that the political mainstream in Britain vigorously re-asserts its longstanding anti-racism norms... these have been allowed to be significantly eroded the last few years.
September 19, 2026 at 6:47 PM
Time is long overdue that the political mainstream in Britain vigorously re-asserts its longstanding anti-racism norms... these have been allowed to be significantly eroded the last few years.
Reposted by Helen Bush
School finance leads have hit back at 'misleading' claims schools can now afford this year’s teacher pay increase because of savings on support staff pension contributions
schoolsweek.co.uk/pay-rise-fun...
schoolsweek.co.uk/pay-rise-fun...
Pay rise funding claims 'misleading', say school finance chiefs
NEU hailed 'significant ground conceded by government', but leaders say nothing has changed
schoolsweek.co.uk
September 17, 2026 at 4:19 PM
School finance leads have hit back at 'misleading' claims schools can now afford this year’s teacher pay increase because of savings on support staff pension contributions
schoolsweek.co.uk/pay-rise-fun...
schoolsweek.co.uk/pay-rise-fun...
Reposted by Helen Bush
The most fundamental question in politics is: whose support do you need to win and hold power?
Is it warlords, aristocrats, empires or "the demos"?
If the answer is "billionaires", you are not a democracy but a plutocracy.
That's why democracies *must* erect barricades against capture by the rich
Is it warlords, aristocrats, empires or "the demos"?
If the answer is "billionaires", you are not a democracy but a plutocracy.
That's why democracies *must* erect barricades against capture by the rich
Democratic politics will not serve the people when politicians owe their place and their futures to one or two billionaires.
A serious democratic society simply cannot allow this.
That's £72 million from just two men. (Both, until lately, based overseas).
The average UK earner (full-time) would have to work for over 1,800 years to raise that much.
It's a nuclear strike on any pretence at the equality of political power
That's £72 million from just two men. (Both, until lately, based overseas).
The average UK earner (full-time) would have to work for over 1,800 years to raise that much.
It's a nuclear strike on any pretence at the equality of political power
September 12, 2026 at 12:29 PM
The most fundamental question in politics is: whose support do you need to win and hold power?
Is it warlords, aristocrats, empires or "the demos"?
If the answer is "billionaires", you are not a democracy but a plutocracy.
That's why democracies *must* erect barricades against capture by the rich
Is it warlords, aristocrats, empires or "the demos"?
If the answer is "billionaires", you are not a democracy but a plutocracy.
That's why democracies *must* erect barricades against capture by the rich
Reposted by Helen Bush
The ability of the richest & most powerful men in the world to position themselves against "the elite" - a category that excludes the world's richest man, its biggest media magnates, the UK's richest party & the biggest donors in UK history - may be the most effective lie in modern political history
September 12, 2026 at 8:44 AM
The ability of the richest & most powerful men in the world to position themselves against "the elite" - a category that excludes the world's richest man, its biggest media magnates, the UK's richest party & the biggest donors in UK history - may be the most effective lie in modern political history
Reposted by Helen Bush
Must just be a coincidence that two of Reform's main donors have been convicted of money laundering related offences (Delo and George Cottrell).
🚨 BREAKING: Crypto billionaire Ben Delo has donated £36m to Reform UK - the biggest ever donation to a UK political party
September 11, 2026 at 8:34 PM
Must just be a coincidence that two of Reform's main donors have been convicted of money laundering related offences (Delo and George Cottrell).
Reposted by Helen Bush
"The faster melting of Arctic sea ice, attributed to global warming, made it more feasible for ships to try it out this summer".
This is not a good news story.
news.sky.com/story/contai...
This is not a good news story.
news.sky.com/story/contai...
Container ship arrives in UK after landmark voyage from China via the Arctic
The 575-ft-long Dubai Tower arrived at Teesport in the North East of England after leaving eastern China on 15 August.
news.sky.com
September 10, 2026 at 9:29 PM
"The faster melting of Arctic sea ice, attributed to global warming, made it more feasible for ships to try it out this summer".
This is not a good news story.
news.sky.com/story/contai...
This is not a good news story.
news.sky.com/story/contai...
Reposted by Helen Bush
Having reported on the climate crisis for 20 years I am here to inform you that warnings we've unleashed something with a >10% of destroying humanity will have less of an impact than you'd expect.
September 9, 2026 at 7:30 AM
Having reported on the climate crisis for 20 years I am here to inform you that warnings we've unleashed something with a >10% of destroying humanity will have less of an impact than you'd expect.
Reposted by Helen Bush
If you would like to add your voice to tens of thousands of people thanking RNLI volunteers for their work, 38 Degrees have organised this open letter to express public support (at a time when a hateful fringe have been intimidating & abusing RNLI volunteers)
act.38degrees.org.uk/act/rnli-tha...
act.38degrees.org.uk/act/rnli-tha...
An open letter in support of the volunteers and staff at the RNLI
This is a disgrace. Brave RNLI volunteers being called scum for risking their lives to save others at sea is just plain wrong. So I've signed an open letter of thanks for the RNLI letting them know th...
act.38degrees.org.uk
September 8, 2026 at 4:37 PM
If you would like to add your voice to tens of thousands of people thanking RNLI volunteers for their work, 38 Degrees have organised this open letter to express public support (at a time when a hateful fringe have been intimidating & abusing RNLI volunteers)
act.38degrees.org.uk/act/rnli-tha...
act.38degrees.org.uk/act/rnli-tha...
Reposted by Helen Bush
They'll be a lot of chatter about England's PISA results this morning, but we need to talk just as much about Wales.
They rejected phonics and knowledge-rich curricula in favour of 'areas of learning', 'skills suites' and barely any testing.
Wales is now 40 points below England in every domain.
They rejected phonics and knowledge-rich curricula in favour of 'areas of learning', 'skills suites' and barely any testing.
Wales is now 40 points below England in every domain.
September 8, 2026 at 7:48 AM
They'll be a lot of chatter about England's PISA results this morning, but we need to talk just as much about Wales.
They rejected phonics and knowledge-rich curricula in favour of 'areas of learning', 'skills suites' and barely any testing.
Wales is now 40 points below England in every domain.
They rejected phonics and knowledge-rich curricula in favour of 'areas of learning', 'skills suites' and barely any testing.
Wales is now 40 points below England in every domain.
Reposted by Helen Bush
Ryan Bridge - Founder of "Raise the Colours" flag protests - charged with 14 offences including common assault.
Danny Thomas - ringleader of Dover/Portsmouth thuggery - an ex-con jailed for attempted kidnap at knifepoint.
Almost like they're not "ordinary people with concerns" but criminals.
Danny Thomas - ringleader of Dover/Portsmouth thuggery - an ex-con jailed for attempted kidnap at knifepoint.
Almost like they're not "ordinary people with concerns" but criminals.
September 7, 2026 at 11:38 AM
Ryan Bridge - Founder of "Raise the Colours" flag protests - charged with 14 offences including common assault.
Danny Thomas - ringleader of Dover/Portsmouth thuggery - an ex-con jailed for attempted kidnap at knifepoint.
Almost like they're not "ordinary people with concerns" but criminals.
Danny Thomas - ringleader of Dover/Portsmouth thuggery - an ex-con jailed for attempted kidnap at knifepoint.
Almost like they're not "ordinary people with concerns" but criminals.
Reposted by Helen Bush
The AfD and Reform immigration policies are almost identical. There is no plausible reason for considering one far right and the other not.
Watching BBC News and it's striking to hear the presenters repeatedly referring to the AfD as "far-right" whilst refusing to ever say the same about the hundreds of actual masked blackshirts currently swarming British ports
September 7, 2026 at 12:05 PM
The AfD and Reform immigration policies are almost identical. There is no plausible reason for considering one far right and the other not.
Reposted by Helen Bush
Will the AfD winning in Saxony-Anhalt I've taken the paywall off the post I wrote last year about how memories of WW2 are being distorted by them and other radical right parties.
"Never again?"
samf.substack.com/p/never-agai...
"Never again?"
samf.substack.com/p/never-agai...
Never again?
Memory entrepreneurship and the radical right’s assault on the postwar order
samf.substack.com
September 6, 2026 at 4:57 PM
Will the AfD winning in Saxony-Anhalt I've taken the paywall off the post I wrote last year about how memories of WW2 are being distorted by them and other radical right parties.
"Never again?"
samf.substack.com/p/never-agai...
"Never again?"
samf.substack.com/p/never-agai...
Reposted by Helen Bush
Reform UK Ltd : "Counter Terror Police won’t let Farage on stage"
West Midlands Police : "We can confirm that Counter Terrorism Policing have had no involvement"
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c6...
West Midlands Police : "We can confirm that Counter Terrorism Policing have had no involvement"
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c6...
September 5, 2026 at 5:16 AM
Reform UK Ltd : "Counter Terror Police won’t let Farage on stage"
West Midlands Police : "We can confirm that Counter Terrorism Policing have had no involvement"
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c6...
West Midlands Police : "We can confirm that Counter Terrorism Policing have had no involvement"
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c6...
Reposted by Helen Bush
Will leave this open till tonight....
A little 36-hour Bluesky exclusive back-to-school offer on the substack....
25% off for your first year.
(Please feel free to share the link with friends not on here. Can also be used to buy gift subs for kids starting politics A-level / degrees....)
samf.substack.com/specialoffer
25% off for your first year.
(Please feel free to share the link with friends not on here. Can also be used to buy gift subs for kids starting politics A-level / degrees....)
samf.substack.com/specialoffer
Subscribe to Comment is Freed
Politics, policy analysis, and foreign affairs from Sam and Lawrence Freedman. Click to read Comment is Freed, a Substack publication with tens of thousands of subscribers.
samf.substack.com
September 4, 2026 at 1:36 PM
Will leave this open till tonight....
Reposted by Helen Bush
The image versus The reality.
September 4, 2026 at 7:59 AM
The image versus The reality.
Reposted by Helen Bush
A real test now of the media's appetite for Cambridge professors and their ethics.
September 3, 2026 at 7:23 PM
A real test now of the media's appetite for Cambridge professors and their ethics.
Reposted by Helen Bush
Just a reminder, Professor James Orr, Reform UK head of policy, teaches 'ethics' to undergraduates at Cambridge University
youtu.be/aXut3s90rUI
youtu.be/aXut3s90rUI
September 3, 2026 at 9:56 PM
Just a reminder, Professor James Orr, Reform UK head of policy, teaches 'ethics' to undergraduates at Cambridge University
youtu.be/aXut3s90rUI
youtu.be/aXut3s90rUI