Sir Anthony Seldon
@AnthonySeldon
Followers
20,066
Following
3,163
Media
232
Statuses
3,059
Head of @EpsomCollegeUK . Former Vice-Chancellor @UniOfBuckingham . Former Master of @WellingtonUK . Author, political commentator & contemporary historian.
Buckingham, England
Joined August 2011
Don't wanna be here?
Send us removal request.
Explore trending content on Musk Viewer
Robert Fico
• 260560 Tweets
Newcastle
• 75519 Tweets
Assassin's Creed
• 61588 Tweets
Amad
• 59062 Tweets
Brighton
• 54978 Tweets
Antony
• 51073 Tweets
Ubisoft
• 44842 Tweets
Gordon
• 44578 Tweets
Yasuke
• 40215 Tweets
Nkunku
• 39380 Tweets
#MUNNEW
• 37897 Tweets
Cole Palmer
• 35860 Tweets
Sevilla
• 27448 Tweets
Mainoo
• 25755 Tweets
Cádiz
• 25529 Tweets
#AtalantaJuve
• 23614 Tweets
Romney
• 22305 Tweets
Nitro
• 19813 Tweets
Bruno Fernandes
• 18057 Tweets
Reece James
• 17855 Tweets
Celta
• 17006 Tweets
Hojlund
• 16423 Tweets
Amrabat
• 16071 Tweets
Rasmus
• 15593 Tweets
Mudryk
• 15333 Tweets
#CoppaItalia
• 12991 Tweets
Reims
• 10528 Tweets
PMs have a duty to behave with dignity and measure when they are in office and beyond. Liz Truss with her essay shows she has learnt nothing. At a still volatile time, ex-PMs cannot make wild accusations without hard evidence. The truth is she fell because of her own errors.
62
364
2K
Sarah and I were married on Saturday by the River Thames. We were blessed to have family and a few friends from different stages in our lives together with us on the day.
250
35
2K
A puzzling error from PM to advise the King not to go to cop 27. He is the country‘s biggest asset now on the world stage: his presence would have proved Britain’s voice still matters on issues of global importance. Can the decision be reviewed?
95
233
1K
The week began with Boris Johnson heading Her Majesty‘s Government. It closes with Liz Truss heading His Majesty’s Government. Not since we became a democracy have we witnessed such a rapid transition of head of state and head of government.
36
244
1K
Neither the trenches, nor indeed I myself, could go any further. The sea has been reached, after a 1000 km walk, 1 million steps, through soil where 10 million spilt their blood. Hard to believe it’s over.
72
50
814
It’s been an absolute privilege to serve as
@UniOfBuckingham
's Vice-Chancellor for the past five years. I’ll be taking a proper break for a few months after I leave - but I’m not retiring, and look forward to seeing what comes next.
83
33
511
Sitting on a breaker in Deal, contemplating my next 65 years.
37
7
440
Finished the 1st draft of book on 300 years of PMs this morning on the beach at Deal: 110,000 words since the beginning of October, thanks to a brilliant team
24
7
338
Just to get this clear, never in the history has there been so much instability and churn in the First Lord and Second Lord of the Treasury. That’s 301 years by the way… that’s one figure that doesn’t need checking by the OBR
8
85
316
Roger Scruton was one of the wisest, bravest, most probing and dignified of thinkers in Britain. We mourn his passing at the University of Buckingham, as do good people everywhere.
4
58
304
I'll be in conversation with the 'Positive Professor',
@ProfKarolSikora
this evening at 6pm. He has published over 300 papers and written or edited 20 books, including his recently published work, 'The Street-Wise Patient's Guide to Surviving Cancer".
3
31
309
Is it surprising that so many young people have been distraught in the past fortnight, when we have been telling them all their lives that exams are all that matters? That their entire worth is to be judged by exam grades?
@thesundaytimes
11
74
308
We need more academic rigour in schools. A-levels, devised 70 yes ago, & GCSEs, 40 yrs ago, no longer provide that. We need a revolution in what’s taught, to provide scope for entrepreneurship & employment skills & a broader curriculum to 18, including maths, humanities & science
33
33
244
A 64% vote for Mrs May to stay is not enough say the Brexiteer head-bangers. Yet 51.9% in the referendum is enough to drive the country into a likely perilous fall if we let their no deal fantasy happen.
15
76
246
MPs should all go for very long walks with their dogs (borrow one if necessary). They all need to calm down and stop being so absurdly hyperbolic. Ask the bloody dog. AS
13
44
231
This is becoming the biggest political crisis since WWII. Suez in 1956 was bad, but a credible PM speedily took over, and normality returned. In 1972–74, the PM had cabinet squarely behind him. Who now? Where now?
28
60
211
Free speech within the law is the only sensible stand for universities. Suppression encourages the tyranny of the minority, and group think. Even if views are wrong-headed, foolish, politically motivated or evil.
@JoJohnsonUK
#FreeSpeech
27
104
213
Starting a new chapter of book on 300 years of prime ministers and new chapter of life
26
7
212
I have always said I think a second wave quite likely. But I believe my own University in particular, but also the sector at large, is very well placed to manage if it occurs. We need to get back to work. The show goes on.
87
21
204
I’m walking along the Rhine path from km zero, where the first world war trenches ended on the border with Switzerland, to Freiburg, looking at a possible extension of the Western Front Way from one great mediaeval city and Cathedral to Canterbury, another such at the other end.
17
17
213
The end of the line - the trenches where the Western frontline ended and where Switzerland began, first day of the walk.
@WesternFrontWay
16
15
199
With thanks to everyone on Twitter who supported me on my walk along the Path for Peace and helped me to keep going.
@WesternFrontWay
See today’s
@timestravel
👇
10
26
196
My new home in Kent for the next weeks - quiet at last to write and think
22
2
178
Completed today the 100km walk from the end of the Western Front Way at Kilometre Zero on the Swiss border to Freiburg – photographs on this and the following Tweets are from today’s 26 km walk from Breisach to the cathedral.
7
9
178
Prince Harry is absolutely spot on about teaching compassion and resilience as well as academic subjects - couldn't agree more.
#PrinceHarry
5
83
168
Prince Charles’ successful monarchy will underpin not undermine democracy in the UK, I argue in The Times today.
22
17
165
Children need the arts like they need sunshine. They are as important as maths
5
111
167
I have never seen better preserved or more extensive trenches in countless trips to the Western front over 40 years, than here at the Mémorial du Linge in the Vosges
7
15
161
Today the Medical School at Buckingham has made history. Our first cohort of 60 Medical students are graduating. I would like to wish them all the best of luck with their future aspirations and hope they have fond memories of Buckingham.
2
21
156
My interview in today's
@ObsNewReview
about
#JohnsonAt10
, co-written with
@RaymondNewell_
.
In bookshops next Thursday.
Amazon:
Waterstones:
18
36
158
Friday was a day of sheer Heaven; walking through glorious sunlit lanes and farm tracks from Winchester Cathedral to Salisbury Cathedral. 45km in preparation for walking the Western front way in three weeks. So great to be alive.
7
2
154
We’re about to have our 57th prime minister since the office was created 301 years ago. The 56th was the biggest pickle of the lot. Can
#57
please note that the country is now pickled out.
9
20
147
The NHS has been brilliant. But when will the PM and Government also start talking up teachers and schools, and show them more respect and professional autonomy? We need more trust, and less megaphones and fear.
12
16
143
Join me this Sunday (12 Nov), 3pm, Speakers Corner for a ‘The Path of Peace’ walk in Hyde Park. Welcome all those committed to finding peaceful resolution to conflict and violence. No placards, no emblems, no chanting, no words (1/2)
8
33
141
Really excited about,
@ProfKarolSikora
my brilliant guest tonight in my evening conversations with great minds. Do join us at 6pm: . Please listen to the 70 other talks in the series:
2
18
136
My 1st cloudburst & found my trousers aren’t waterproof.I'm adding drowning as risk to trip completion,to plague,illness,accident & dog bites (I was bitten on leg by farm dogs).I'll be walking 1 million steps: just 1 step in 1 million in the wrong place & that’s it.I've no Plan B
15
6
135
Without history, we are rudderless and shallow. We don’t even know that we are repeating avoidable mistakes. I was writing about this in The Times (Thunderer) today.
4
17
133
The book no-one in government wants you to read.
#JohnsonAt10
, the explosive inside story of the most controversial and dysfunctional period of politics in a generation.
16
32
133
Delighted to announce the launch of my latest biography May at 10, the Book of the Week in
@thetimes
.
#MayAt10
#britishpolitics
10
25
132
Delighted to share my thoughts on the five steps we can take to improve student wellbeing with
@thetimes
.
#mentalhealth
#happiness
7
45
132
My final day walking, day
#35
, from Dixsmuide to Nieuwpoort, am joined by British Ambassador Martin Shearman and Defence Attaché Justin Fowler
1
9
133
A deeply sad and shocking day. We can best honour our departed Queen by uniting behind our King.
1
11
126
The memorial south of Ypres which commemorates where the Christmas Day football match took place, the trenches on both sides only 50m apart visible on each side.
5
13
126
Devastating story about 1 in 4 young women having mental health problems.Shame on those who've said schools shouldn’t teach mental health
7
78
124
Now back on the trail from daughter Susie’s wedding in St Jean de Cole. In Jewish tradition, a glass was broken in the ceremony, a reminder of melancholy in the midst of joy. Echoes of Edward Thomas’ short The Cherry Trees, symbolic of the challenges and hardships of life.
16
5
129
Children need to spend less time on screens and more time playing outdoors, See today's Telegraph
#mentalhealth
9
94
119
Theresa May spot on in her book about the importance (and the decline) of moral purpose and selflessness in public service.
9
18
120
2nd hospital visit in 3 weeks: Walking from Peronne to Albert this morning van passenger threw some water (I hope) over me. Both sides had much worse thrown at them in the war.Tourist office in Albert panics & sends ambulance crew who say I'm dehydrated. Thankfully being released
36
3
117
And so this Premiership closes with a bang - as publicly humiliating and bloody an end as any in the 300 year history of the office …
14
38
114
The grown-ups/cavalry are returning. Is Rishi Sunak, a PM who knows his history, resorting to the tradition of former PMs Arthur Balfour and Alec Douglas Home by appointing former PM David Cameron For Sec? Peter Carrington was the last For Sec in the Lords, outstanding he was too
81
20
118
Deeply shocking that an MP should be brutally attacked. The violent and abusive language by the vocal minority has to stop. The country is losing its sense of proportion and balance
5
17
117
When I introduced mindfulness to school 10 yrs ago the idea was poo-pooed. Now the Gov has seen sense and 8-yr-olds and up will benefit
3
28
109
Loved hosting the
@UniOfBuckingham
Fireside Talk series, now at an end, after 70 talks. What brilliant and amazing people. Thanks to all the thousands who have joined each evening. Above all, thanks to the speakers for your generosity and life.
5
11
110
Written books on every PM since Major.Blair ridiculed Major,Brown diminished Blair,Cameron had contempt for Brown,May abominated Cameron, etc.A pattern?Yet Britain’s long–seated problems remain unsolved.These PMs had merit: bile diminished them. Our next PM needs to be a grown-up
15
15
102
The Queen, the most admired person in the country, as in much of the rest of the world, was the person she was because of her Christian faith, as she regularly told us. It was never ever about her: always about service to others.
6
15
101
Those who come to power via lies and abuse will rule with lies and abuse
3
91
93
Johnson cannot remain - I thought he would last till the autumn. Now, even October seems wildly ambitious. Standby for our 4th PM in six years in the most turbulent period in British politics for 100 years ….
11
25
98
Not all dogs went bonkers at me when I walked past their homes. This dog gave me a smile (our beloved Toby used to smile too)
@WesternFrontWay
4
2
101
The German cemetery at Langemarck, containing the remains of 44,000 Germans. A myth was allowed to circulate that the young men, all hugely patriotic, were buried here. But a plaque gets it right: “The dead buried in the cemetery a reminder of how precious peace is”
6
13
98
Mays hits the right note again. It's been a long time since a British PM has had such a strong ten days
#primeministers
#PresidentTrump
10
61
94
Hooray for Twitter. Jonathan, who lives in Verdun, contacted me via it to ask if he could help when I was passing through. He could! He’s shown me new WW1 sites & been with me for 2 A&E visits for my dog bite. Great guy. Really good French hospital service btw.
@WesternFrontWay
5
9
95
Never spoken at the Chalke Valley History Festival before. Five star quality in every way - brilliant audiences, volunteers, team & fellow speakers. Had a chat in queue with Boudicca. A big future ahead of her.
3
6
93
Walter Allward’s memorial at Vimy has always struck me as the most moving of the many large memorials on the Western front. I've always seen this as an emblem of the deep cleave that the war made through millions of lives which were never the same ever again
@WesternFrontWay
2
8
93
I introduced mindfulness to schools 10 yrs ago. There's a crisis in student mental health. Mindfulness is being introduced widely in schools. Students would benefit from techniques for dealing with stress such as mindfulness.
#unimentalhealthday
4
29
91
Corbyn, Glastonbury-kissed working class hero.Really? We'd still be in EU if he'd campaigned properly in the Refetendum
11
28
84
One day to go until
#JohnsonAt10
, written with
@RaymondNewell_
, is published.
Amazon:
Waterstones:
14
23
84
Bliss, found an old railway line at start of Day Two from Hirtzbach going NW. Socks drying out on shoulders - lessons
#1
, they don't dry overnight. Thanks for your great response and support.
@WesternFrontWay
5
7
86
Prime ministers come and go - 15 PMs since 1952 but one Monarch. Her passing whenever it comes will be absolutely massive for the country and the world.
4
9
81
Cameron right.Churchill was a European, 2 Wrld Wars taught him working together brings prosperity and peace, nationalism brings war and woes
5
62
70
Wake up America! WW1 cost far more lives than Vietnam, but you've forgotten it. US cemeteries & monuments out here unvisited. This museum is Blérancourt, created by the daughter of JP Morgan, ignored. A country that ignores its past is without depth.
3
16
80
The most stunning CWGC cemetery in the world? This is the ramparts cemetery, at Ypres
3
3
80
Thanks Brendan Cox for turning the tragedy of Jo’s murder
into an opportunity for us to deepen our understanding of humanity at its best
2
33
77
Back on the Western Front for the weekend walking the 20km I missed through injury.This is grave of Ronnie Poulton Palmer who captained England rugby team to grand slam victory in the final games before the war.He features in the play “Into Battle“ now on at the Greenwich Theatre
4
11
80
This is potentially the most dangerous day for Britain constitutionally since the abdication crisis of 1936 AS
7
22
77
Thank you for the kind messages following yesterday’s excitement. Back in action today, helped greatly by WFW’s Rory Forsyth helping carrying my heavy load. Just 20 km today in intense heat, on the British Somme battlefields from Maricourt to the Butte de Warlencourt
4
7
79
It was a pleasure to take part in the Crisis, What Crisis podcast with Andy Coulson. Among other things we spoke about VAT on Independent Schools, and why it is a more nuanced conversation than mere party political grandstanding allows. Full podcast here:
6
14
80
- better still than sending 3,000 mental health therapists into schools is to teach our young how to cope better with life's inevitable hardness AS
8
41
78
At 6pm I'll be in conversation with
@rorystewartUK
. We will focus on contemporary politics in crisis and on international development and intervention in fragile and conflict-affected states. Join our free session:
5
13
78
Spend two minutes a day doing a mindfulness exercise focussing on breathing - inhaling for three seconds and and then letting breath out for five seconds. We need to be humans being not humans doing.
@actionhappiness
@BBCRadio4
1
29
77
Pax proclaims this Vosges memorial. Pax in death. But how can we find peace together in life? That is why the Via Pax, the Western Front Way, must be created. That is why I am walking these 1000 kilometres.
4
18
73
We need to have another referendum within two years - this close margin is no result at all.
16
46
69
VC pay in the news again. I have cut my pay from £191,000 to £150,000. AS
12
24
74
What an amazing
@UniOfBuckingham
and Ipen Ultimate Wellbeing conference today. The calibre of the speakers was superb and issues vital to the wellbeing of our young people were aired. Really delighted that
@DamianHinds
showed he is taking wellbeing seriously
#IPENWellbeingEd
2
13
72
Are we better off slamming the door on someone we deplore or opening it and influencing them? The latter for me.
11
29
68
Verdun with its peace centre, stunning new museum, London quay bristling with empty cafe chairs, is beautifully and thoughtfully done. Do visit!
@WesternFrontWay
1
8
69
The mental health of children: see Telegraph Prince Harry interview and Times letter today - what more will it take for the penny to drop?
4
31
72
An hour long podcast interview I conducted with George Alagiah on his life, recorded in 2021. Very moved by what he said.
2
11
71
Spoke at two remarkable conferences on leadership on Thursday. Who looks after school and university leaders? My strong sense is, often, no one sufficiently.
6
5
69
The most perfect vision imaginable of Gillespie’s Via Pax/Western front way - a track west of Luneville where four bodies have been found, marked by the crosses. A reminder of where war leads from the ‘silent witnesses’ indeed.
1
7
67
I believe in the goodness of human nature. Around the time of the episode yesterday my bag broke & began shedding its load. An unknown French driver appeared & produced my waterproof top which had fallen out – selfless kindness & rain is coming tomorrow
3
5
70
So many brilliant men died young in the war. Today I passed this on a 25km walk through a forest towards Verdun, once the front line. Worth reading the inscriptions, and pausing …
1
5
68
School policy needs consensus,to heed expert advice & strategic thinking. It's dysfunctional. To jump on getting rid of the ed sec as the panacea misses the point. We need dialogue & trust between central & local gov,No 10 & DfE,unions & other stakeholders. Need a body like SAGE
10
11
65
Over the next few months, I will be in conversation with a whole host of interesting and talented people in a series of live streamed Fireside Talks. Tonight at 6pm, Lord Martin Rees, the UK’s Astronomer Royal, will be discussing the future of humanity:
4
16
66