At 23:59 on 31 January 2020 the UK had the most valuable passport in the world in terms of rights of entry and abode in other countries and the best terms in the greatest Political and Trading Union in human history.
One minute later this all vanished in a puff of sovereignty. No magic beans either.
Very hard not to worry that the "Swiss deal" is the next Article XXIV of GATT, bandied about without really being understood properly.
Because, let me let you in on a little secret here, even the Swiss don't have the "Swiss deal".
Clarification needed.
A 🧵
🇫🇷 Sen. Claude Malhuret:
"I compared the Trump presidency to Nero's court. I was wrong. It's a court of miracles. An anti-vax ex heroin addict as Health Sec; a climate skeptic as Econ Sec; an alcoholic TV host as Def Sec; an ex Qatari agent as Attorney Gen; a Putin groupie as Homeland Security Sec."
Ok. My understanding of the electoral fraud situation is this.
1. Democracy volunteers put out a statement at one minute past poll close. They said this was at a level they’d not seen before
With the EU-Australia FTA now being concluded, it is clear that - compared to EU - the independent UK external trade agenda has failed:
- The UK has a little bit more market access to some CPTPP countries
- The EU has clinched the Mercosur FTA (with 4 Latin American Countries).
...
(1/x)
I've been asked over the last few days/weeks what I think will happen on April 12th in Orbán's 🇭🇺 (and the aftermath), so here's my assessment, looking at everything as it stands now 🧵
tldr: It's complicated, and no one really knows (and those who say they do are either lying or overly confident) 1/
How can this go on for another 3 years?
🚨 🔥 Remarkable exchange
When Farmers Weekly asked about misogyny in farming, Nigel Farage replies: “Does it?”
Then he says scrapping Equality Act 2010 is needed bc it makes white working-class men “inferior citizens”.
Female farmers raise concerns about workplace protections.
His response? 🧵
For anyone who would like the clip (including George).
Yep!
And a generic doom loop:
1. challenges and trade-offs in confronting them not explained.
2. politicians feel it's costlier to explain and act on them.
3. instead pretend they don't exist + that we'll be fine + offer seemingly rosier policy options.
4. outcomes poor
back to 1.
Sir, For the first time I totally disagree with one of your editorials, which states that the UK should join the war alongside the Americans. To keep the UK out of this conflict is the bravest, strongest act by Sir Keir Starmer in this parliament. The Iranian regime without doubt is odious but this war is doomed to fail, just like the ones in Iraq and Afghanistan. It is not supported by the majority of Americans and will cost billions of dollars and many lives. At least the prime minister has learnt the lessons of history - unlike his counterpart in the White House. Dr Susan Kempson Haddington, East Lothian
PM is right to be cautious on Iran I read James Ball's balanced column "Trump's Iran gamble could unravel his presidency" (The i Paper, 3 March) with interest and, yes, his all-guns-blazing action might indeed come back to haunt him. He and his gung-ho colleagues may have read the room wrong and the American people will be furious if many of their young people die as a result of this war. Seemingly diplomacy is at an end and his presidential call of "America First" rings eerily empty. There is no doubt that the Iranian regime which targeted its own people had to be stopped, but is this the best way to do it? JUDITH A DANIELS REAT YARMOUTH My son was sent to the Gulf when Blair involved the UK in the last American-led fiasco. He still bears the mental scars. Consequently, Starmer's reluctance to get involved now is good news to me. L DGODDARD ASHFORD Those who criticise Sir Keir Starmer for not supporting Donald Trump might consider the possible consequences. Has it occurred to them that the Prime Minister is trying to minimise the risk of Iranian retaliatory action, either militarily or by individuals, by refusing to participate in this conflict? His duty to protect UK citizens is a priority. S LAWTON KIRTLINGTON
Letters in The Times and iPaper that reflect the views of British people far better than the deeply partisan, stupid and disloyal headlines of the rightwing press. Showing there is simply no issue on which they will just calm down and support a Labour govt. Not one. Not even in a war no one wants.
Whoops!
Just sent out this free post. After more than 2 days of bombing it is clear that this campaign has no national interest goals for the USA but is entirely about getting a personal/political victory for Donald Trump. And because of that, he is flailing around wildly. open.substack.com/pub/phillips...
From Trump’s Maga to Farage’s Reform, they’re all following Putin’s nationalism playbook | Rafael Behr
And total weirdos
Was he trying to claim asylum?
In the UK, the graduate earnings premium shrank as the share of grads in the workforce rose. In the US, Netherlands, Spain, France, Canada the premium kept rising.
Fascinating piece by @jburnmurdoch.ft.com - UK graduate earnings premium is shrinking because the economy is bad and there aren’t enough high paying jobs >> www.ft.com/content/649d... ‘Is university still worth it?’ is the wrong question
Starmer’s real leadership crisis. New post on my Brexit & Brexitism Blog. Fatuous media coverage aside, Starmer’s challenge is to make good on his claim that Britain isn’t the country of the Brexit years in the face of rising ethno-nationalism: chrisgreybrexitblog.blogspot.com/2026/02/star...
Antonia Romeo is the wrong choice for Cabinet secretary. A government which was serious about improving its performance would not select her.
iandunt.substack.com/p/how-one-hi...
A fair amount of nonsense has been written and said about the "security vetting" process for Mandelson's appointment. I wrote about what "Developed Vetting" really involves and why it's perfectly possible that it found nothing useful about Mandelson.
arthursnell.substack.com/p/the-vettin...
Just sent out my free weekend update. The big, tragic, story of the week is that Trump was a direct accomplice in helping Russia commit arguably its largest war crime so far--a double mass attack on Ukrainian civilian life. Trump provided cover for Russian murder. open.substack.com/pub/phillips...
A one-term Labour government is the absolute worst possible outcome of the 2024 GE.
Not long enough to fix anything. Long enough to whitewash away all Tory sins.
I wrote about it at length in 2023. If you take the time to read the article you'll understand my position.
medium.com/@edwinhaywar...
"Chaps, we're all in this together".
This reads like one of the bonkers orders Hitler was issuing to surrounded troops in 1944, insisting they defend to the death. Totally detached from reality.
Robbie is pleased though...
Paging @iaindale.bsky.social x
A message from Greenland…
Shocking! The clearest view of ICE murdering the man in Minnesota
ICE push his friend down
He goes to help them
ICE spray him
ICE pull them apart
ICE jump him
You can see ICE pull out a gun
ICE shoot him multiple times
Witness who filmed it repeatedly shouting,
"What the f*ck did you just do"
