But there’s really no such thing as a clean break.

The PM says the facts about Peter Mandelson’s appointment are “incredible”.

He’s right. But what’s truly shocking is just how badly he's let the country down. He promised change after years of Conservative scandals and scapegoating. Instead, he’s delivered more of the same.

Interesting proposals for EU constitutional reform bypassing the InterGovernmental Conference route. @europarl.europa.eu may agree, but would @consilium.europa.eu dare?

EU Enlargement: Ukraine as a Special Case – the Western Balkans as the Norm Anchoring Kyiv in the EU through a New Type of Accession Association

An interesting contribution with which I do not entirely disagree. www.swp-berlin.org/10.18449/202...

Setting up a reflection group on the future of Europe with this mandate cannot really be so threatening. Much easier, in fact, than the more simplistic idea of imposing QMV on foreign policy decisions mooted by, er, some colleagues.

Rest in peace the Atlantic Alliance: created by America’s Greatest Generation but undone by one of its worst - Friends of Europe

Jamie Shea in a corker on the end of NATO. @friendsofeurope.bsky.social www.friendsofeurope.org/insights/cri...

Five Surgical Strikes on the Treaties of the European Union European Papers

Five Surgical Strikes on the Treaties of the European Union www.europeanpapers.eu/europeanforu...

A new comment here on my proposals for Lisbon treaty surgery. schuman2030.eu/micro-reform...

In case you missed it 👇

It began with coal and steel. But from the very start, our Union was always meant to be much more.

75 years ago, in Paris, with the signing of the Treaty of Paris, Europe chose a different path.

One of unity over division, of peace over war.

Letter: Hungary’s reckoning with Orbán has finally begun Letter to the editor

From entrenched power to crushing defeat in one election.
What changed in Hungary?
A sharp letter from Cambridge Szeged Society chair Julia Seiber Boyd traces the long build-up to Orbán’s fall.

eastangliabylines.co.uk/democracy/le...

Mandelson made the wrong jump towards the US when the only and obvious option for Britain is Europe.

NEW BLOGPOST: In 1990 Cambridgeshire County Council surveyed residents about transport improvements. Light rail came top. lostcambridge.wordpress.com/2026/04/15/6...

#LostCambridge 1990 local elections and @andrewduffeu.bsky.social makes the case for a Light Rail for Cambridge. (Is there a document or map for the CamTrack proposals anywhere?)

Oh yes. CamTrack. A good idea, a bit before its time. I'll check my papers but the County Archive has the Liberal Party docs. Of interest to @cambridge-connect.bsky.social

🌹 Former Labour Leader Lord Neil Kinnock calls for Proportional Representation!

In an interview with @emmaburnell.bsky.social for @thefabians.bsky.social & @labourlist.bsky.social on Monday, he said electoral reform was "crucial" to renew British democracy for the 21st century.

#FPTP #Elections

The constitutional implications of “dynamic alignment” with EU rules The forthcoming King’s Speech, it is reported, will include a Bill to facilitate “dynamic alignment” with some EU rules, attracting criticism from some politicians that sovereignty regained through…

New post

Some thoughts on the suggestion by pro-Brexit politicians that the government's proposal for "dynamic alignment" with EU rules would be a constitutional affront or would be an undemocratic subversion of the 2016 referendum.

(It wouldn't.)

publiclawforeveryone.com/2026/04/13/t...

'Spend more time on the couch': Ed Davey rips JD Vance over failed Orban campaigning Never change, Ed Davey. The leader of the Lib Dems has come through with the put-down of the weekend for pro-Orban politician.

The leader of the Lib Dems has come through with the put-down of the weekend for pro-Orban politician.

Good man.

Incoming Hungarian PM Péter Magyar calls for the UK to rejoin the European Union:

"I remember when I was a diplomat in Brussels... We were able to influence decisions. At the time, the Brits were also part of the EU. Let's hope they will rejoin."

😂

Very much hoping to crack this open later today. @petermagyar.bsky.social

An outstanding article on how Turkey is failing to turn @ekremimamoglu.com into a criminal. #Silivri

Lawfare that cannot make a criminal of İmamoğlu in the public mind may yet, paradoxically, make him stronger.

March 2026 marks one year since Ekrem İmamoğlu, Istanbul’s elected mayor, was placed in detention and his trial formally began.

DORUK ERHAN explores the surprising inefficacy of this autocratic lawfare, most visible in the political reception of the trial.

verfassungsblog.de/holding-fast/

An outstanding article on how Turkey is failing to turn @ekremimamoglu.com into a criminal. #Silivri

@profpech.bsky.social wants the EU Commission to do much more to uphold the integrity of the judiciary in member states, this time Poland. He's right.

As of today, more than 3,000 persons have been irregularly appointed to judicial posts in Poland.

It took more than 50 preliminary requests for the CJEU to finally call for a new legislative framework to remedy illegal judges. Until such a law is adopted, recusals will be carried out on a case-by-case basis.

LAURENT PECH explains this uneasy twofold solution.

verfassungsblog.de/polands-ille...

The EU Charter on Fundamental Rights becomes more and more important in CJEU jurisprudence, this time on media freedom in Hungary. Bravo !