Matt Goodwin

Also, he already has had books published, so he is not a new author.

Quick bucks I imagine Graphite?

Thanks for the link, Casdon.

The work of Noah Webster is a particular interest of mine in connection with the development of different Englishes around the word.

Webster was the driver behind American English and why it now differs in spelling to English English. Amongst other things, it strips out superfluous letters - making it easier for the many migrants in the late 1700s/early 1800s to learn English as a second (or more) language. As well as distinguishing American English from its former colonial past, spelling reform was also a means to stimulate the American print industry which hitherto had imported much of its reading matter from Britain.

If Webster said that “Language is the tie that connects past with future, and binds together the citizens of the same nation.” that’s what he means - not to bolster Goodwin’s fallacious argument that “millions no longer speak the national tongue.” Language reform was to faciliate learning.

Sixmith makes the point that the right is unusually post-literate which begs the question why publish the book? And why is it written, [as i] if he seems to think that the average member of the “forgotten majority” has the reading level of a dimwitted 12-year-old? We often hear supporters ofReform claiming that others assume they are not well-educated. So why is Goodwin, who is very articulate, dumbing down in this way?

I don’t think they will like the criticism of Matthew Goodwin’s use of AI, dubious sources and writing style MaizieD, it destroys his reputation.

I read The Critic article yesterday.

The right wingers will love it because the review writer totally agrees with Goodwin's thesis (so not balanced IMO) but says he's a terrible writer.

I'm hoping for something from the TLS [grin}

This is from The Critic, which is a broadly right wing monthly publication, and may therefore be more credible than the Byline Times to those posters on the right politically.
thecritic.co.uk/suicide-of-an-authors-credibility/

Latest reviews from 271 people, 71% give it one star, 26% give it five stars!

I agree about the AI slop...

MaizieD

I read that, too, Graphite.

I was just waiting for the proper reviews to appear (I really don't count Amazon reviews as being of much value)

There are some decent ones in there that do sound as though the reviewers have actually read the book rather than those simply handclapping someone whose political views they agree with.

What worries me most is that what Goodwin has published will just add to AI slop. The AI hallucinations and fabrications will be regurgitated by AI as fact just as Robert Bates' CMC fabrications for Reform are printed as fact by the DM, DE, Sun and DT (and often then posted here as fact) which is then scraped by AI ... and so it goes on.

Meandrogrog

Allira

Meandrogrog

Oreo

I would say that all public religious displays be banned tbh.
They can take place in churches, synagogues, temples and mosques.Or special venues, but not on the streets.

Yes completely agree with you.

Oh.

Our church is planning a Palm Sunday procession with donkey on Palm Sunday.

This is predominantly and traditionally a Christian country.

I havent seen that in years, the donkey would probably be run over with the amount of traffic on the roads around here! I meant no offence, it is predominantly a Christian country.

It's 20mph on that route and perhaps they'll stop the traffic!

I read that, too, Graphite.

I was just waiting for the proper reviews to appear (I really don't count Amazon reviews as being of much value)

Journalist Andy Twelves (https://x.com/andytwelves) has done some sterling work on fact-checking the first five chapters of Goodwin’s book. He is finding little or no evidence for his claims.

The references show that Goodwin used ChatGPT to write the book which is said to be riddled with, if not outright fabrications, AI hallucinations and falsely attributed quotes. So much for academic rigour.

That explains why I struggled to find any accuracy in what is claimed in the DM extract alone.

Twelves has invited Goodwin to discuss the matter publicly but to date there has been no response.

236 reviews on Amazon now. 71% award it one star.

Byline Times:

bylinetimes.com/2026/03/23/mattgpt-the-sorry-tale-of-matt-goodwins-ai-assisted-fake-quote-filled-new-book/

... fabricated quotes will enter the information stream and, when generative AI gobbles them up, will end up being treated as real.

Goodwin's post-electoral nickname of BadLoser has now been replace with #MattGPT.

Allira

Meandrogrog

Oreo

I would say that all public religious displays be banned tbh.
They can take place in churches, synagogues, temples and mosques.Or special venues, but not on the streets.

Yes completely agree with you.

Oh.

Our church is planning a Palm Sunday procession with donkey on Palm Sunday.

This is predominantly and traditionally a Christian country.

I havent seen that in years, the donkey would probably be run over with the amount of traffic on the roads around here! I meant no offence, it is predominantly a Christian country.

Meandrogrog

Oreo

I would say that all public religious displays be banned tbh.
They can take place in churches, synagogues, temples and mosques.Or special venues, but not on the streets.

Yes completely agree with you.

Oh.

Our church is planning a Palm Sunday procession with donkey on Palm Sunday.

This is predominantly and traditionally a Christian country.

Oreo

I would say that all public religious displays be banned tbh.
They can take place in churches, synagogues, temples and mosques.Or special venues, but not on the streets.

Yes completely agree with you.

Oreo

foxie48

My post was to Meandrogrog .
However, Oreo King Charles has said publicly and explicitly that he is a protector of all faiths. He may be "head of the church of England" but he recognises his duty and responsibility to all his subjects and that they may follow different faiths and have different beliefs. fwiw I am not a royalist but I support his position on this as a complete non believer in any God.

I think KC was being woolly and over diplomatic saying he was the protector of all faiths when he has no claim on other religions other than the C of E and Christianity in general.

I think he was recognising that he is the King of a multicultural, multi faith country and everyone living in the UK is equal and worthy of his protection. For that, I absolutely agree with him.

Graphite

^Absolute rubbish, why are women at the back? We should all be equal and if you are supporting this practice it says everything about you.^

What does it say about me? Please explain rather than make accusations. It is aggressive and uncalled for.

Islam is form of prayer which requires bowing and prostration. It is about modesty. I would rather not be looking at the backside of man or he looking at mine.

It is not meant to be aggressive, rather that is you do indeed believe it is right for segregation and subjection of women, there is nothing further I wish to discuss with you.

Graphite

^Absolute rubbish, why are women at the back? We should all be equal and if you are supporting this practice it says everything about you.^

What does it say about me? Please explain rather than make accusations. It is aggressive and uncalled for.

Islam is form of prayer which requires bowing and prostration. It is about modesty. I would rather not be looking at the backside of man or he looking at mine.

😁I would rather not look at anyone’s backside in the streets.

Oreo

I think it’s pretty obvious that people don’t have a problem with Jews ( unless they’re antisemitic by nature) or Catholics or other religions mentioned as they don’t have dangerous extremists amongst their midst.These Islamist extremists give Muslims a bad name and make people wary of large street gatherings.

Well said.

foxie48

My post was to Meandrogrog .
However, Oreo King Charles has said publicly and explicitly that he is a protector of all faiths. He may be "head of the church of England" but he recognises his duty and responsibility to all his subjects and that they may follow different faiths and have different beliefs. fwiw I am not a royalist but I support his position on this as a complete non believer in any God.

I think KC was being woolly and over diplomatic saying he was the protector of all faiths when he has no claim on other religions other than the C of E and Christianity in general.

Message deleted by Gransnet. Here's a link to our Talk guidelines.

My post was to Meandrogrog .
However, Oreo King Charles has said publicly and explicitly that he is a protector of all faiths. He may be "head of the church of England" but he recognises his duty and responsibility to all his subjects and that they may follow different faiths and have different beliefs. fwiw I am not a royalist but I support his position on this as a complete non believer in any God.

Absolute rubbish, why are women at the back? We should all be equal and if you are supporting this practice it says everything about you.

What does it say about me? Please explain rather than make accusations. It is aggressive and uncalled for.

Islam is form of prayer which requires bowing and prostration. It is about modesty. I would rather not be looking at the backside of man or he looking at mine.

What does it say about Judaism, Mormonism, Roman Catholicism, a large proportion of the Anglican church, Seventh Day Adventists... in none of these religions are women treated "equally" with women able to take up the same roles of men. Why pick on Islam? In Orthodox Judaism, women are separated by a wall or divider and wear a wig to cover their hair. Religion has a historical context which frequently reflects the patriachal society of the past which is slow to change. We even see it in the succession of our own Royalty, that didn't change until 2015!

I would say that all public religious displays be banned tbh.
They can take place in churches, synagogues, temples and mosques.Or special venues, but not on the streets.