Caption competition

MI6 Officers began affectionately calling the Chinese spy ‘Peking Duck’

Great thread. Without a grown-up conversation about adopting the Euro (and Schengen for that matter), Rejoiners are kidding themselves. It’s vitally important to get across the pro’s and cons as early as possible.

in a battle between the catholic church and the trump administration, how do you choose which ped0 ring to root for?

The UK is a long way from such a circumstance because no-one is making the case. It’s a massive gap between pro-EU polling as we see currently and the reality of the terms of accession.

*is doing the EU a disservice

An application that in and of itself is divisive between MS (because it’s being made by a UK whose electorate are divided and for which the majority still expect exceptional treatment) are doing the EU a disservice. That’s not a pro-European attitude IMO.

I further think that if a super majority of cross party voters can’t accept the acquis substantively then EU membership is not for the UK. Schengen and the Euro included.

That background established then when an application is made then Europe’s say is made much easier.

Even as a staunch advocate of the EU, and fan of the UK (and fan of the UK in the EU), I can’t see the case for an application in terms of UK internal politics until it’s seen as a vote winner by MP’s across the spectrum. So by default that application becomes much more palatable to BXL one hopes.

The weird resilience of the EU A decade into the age of nationalism, the idea of quitting the club is still remarkably taboo

"The debasement of its own political elite post-2016 has brought the UK closer to the European experience" On the resilience of the EU that I think is seen as a fact more by the UK public than a Westminster still inherently Brussels-sceptic www.ft.com/content/927e...

Trump's move to withdraw from NATO is a treacherous betrayal of the West.

NATO is a defensive alliance. It is not an extension of the US Military for Trump to order around to compensate for his lack of competence and planning on the Iran war.

Good to discuss on FirstPost.

Add another follower to the list mate. #COYG

What an extraordinarily insightful thread.

With kitties.

Accept Britain is not a Christian Country so we can work Towards Real Equality When people talk of growing 'diversity' in the context of religion or belief in Britain, they're usually speaking in a sort of code. For many, recognising diversity is a byword for widening participat...

Just over ten years ago I wrote this on what we could do next after accepting Britain is not a Christian country. Ten years later we're back arguing over the basic premise and the party leading the polls is threatening to take us backwards. We can't allow it! andrewcopson.com/2015/12/acce...

Incredibly proud to be chairing this editorial board. I mean, just look at it. Actually a bit ridiculous how impressive it is.

a stuffed bird with a black headband is standing in front of a picture ALT: a stuffed bird with a black headband is standing in front of a picture

Mikel Merino in the stands:

And it would be very Spursy for them to do us a favour…so even when they win they lose…

Fascinating correlation. I’m sure it’s because GC’s and anti-AD’s have a blind spot when it comes to human suffering outside of their narrow experience. I bet if an objective test for empathy could be designed these people might be surprised at what it tells them. Or maybe they wouldn’t give a shit.

His description of the GFA as a ‘moral stain’ says all one needs to know about the character of the man. An ignorant fool who cares not for the Irish; not even the loyalists who he would have happily consigned to another 30 years of strife.

From Viz, three years ago: The Brexit Opportunity Detector.
Still looking.

Another death in Minnesota The significance of the killing of Alex Pretti

NEW

Another death in Minnesota

The significance of the killing of Alex Pretti

By me, at @prospectmagazine.co.uk

www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/law/th...

They very much do.

Agree with all this and the thread. Perhaps I would argue that a fairer statistic would be 32% of the electorate rather than 22% of the population. It’s still far from the mandate CN’s lie about.

A very nicely worded post.

Freedom of belief and conscience, protected by a secular constitution, benefits religious believers too and we should try at all times to bring theists who doubt secularism onside with this. Too many conflate it with anti-theism - which it is not!

Their allegiance was to the easiest strategy that would also win them the most seats.

Blunting Tory/Reform attack lines was more important than standing up for what was/is best for the UK.

A total lack of ambition and integrity to win power without even trying to do the right thing.

Attrape-gogo is a new phrase to me; but so appropriate 👍

You might at least be civil enough to acknowledge that I cleared your query up for you.

However, I entirely agree with your point. And where the UK defence industrial base is insufficient on its own then bilaterally/multilaterally with Europe, Japan, ROK etc partners but with risk spread.

The UK needs US permission to sell/donate US-made weapons, or UK-made with US components in them, to third parties. It does not need US permission to use such weapons on targets being attacked by the UK military.

"He wasn’t even wearing a poppy!”

<sprays tea everywhere>

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