What Does “Far Right” Mean?

Once upon a time, defining the far right was easy. Britain had fringe parties like the BNP and the National Front. Mainstream politicians kept their distance. Their ideas were toxic, and everyone knew it. That boundary has now broken down. The far right has been partially absorbed into mainstream politics. Just as Jeremy Corbyn opened … Read more

Return of the PornBots

How much activity on social media is actually real? How much is bots? How much is click farms? And at what point does the distinction stop mattering? Readers with long memories might remember a slightly unorthodox survey I ran a while back: counting PornBots across platforms. The logic was simple—PornBots are easy to spot, so … Read more

Asylum Seekers and Hotels. Rage Bait vs Reality

Asylum Hotels The Anger People are angry about asylum seekers in hotels. I spent a long time trying to contact people who had expressed concerns online, asking them why they were angry. The most common response was abuse. Many resented being asked to explain themselves and responded with more anger. They seemed genuinely stunned to … Read more

Immigration, Crime and the Lie That Won’t Die

criminal immigration

Does immigration increase crime? Every time I log onto Facebook, old school friends share horror stories about crime waves supposedly driven by immigrants. London, apparently, is now a crime-ridden hell hole plagued by gangs of foreign criminals. Other big cities, we’re told, are heading the same way. They’re so convinced this is true that it’s … Read more

Counting People, Counting Votes: Immigration in Britain Today — Have Your Say

Immigration in Britain has become one of the defining political issues of the last decade. From Brexit to the rise of Reform UK, arguments over net migration shape headlines and elections alike. This survey is your chance to cut through the noise and share your own view on what immigration means for Britain today. Loading…