David Lidington

Sunday at the garden party for Curtis Yarvin and the new, new right What you learn at a gathering of neoreactionaries, Very Online rightwingers and the formerly cancelled

Magnificently written piece by @jemima.bsky.social www.ft.com/content/0e24...

Starmer and Macron: Le spécial relationship? | Institute for Government Former Europe minister David Lidington joins the podcast team to assess the state of UK–French relations.

PODCAST 🎙️ Starmer and Macron: Le spécial relationship?

Former Europe minister @davidlidington.bsky.social joins the podcast team to assess the state of UK–French relations.

PLUS: The Leveson review of criminal courts and the new bill on devolution www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/podcast/insi...

@davidlidington.bsky.social

And I stand by that comment. When I worked for Douglas Hurd at HO in 1987-89, the Home Sec knew that decisions he took on policing & sentencing would have an impact on prisons & probation- & they all had to come out of his Department's budget

Here's hoping for a successful summit meeting on 19 May. And why not ?

Helsing | Artificial intelligence to protect our democracies Artificial intelligence to protect our democracies.

Happy to share some great news!
I just started a new job - with Helsing, the AI Defence Company.

Helsing is at the forefront of the fight to develop the emerging defence tech we need to deter authoritarian threats & compete long term by attaining tech leadership.

helsing.ai

We take tariffs on our beautiful Heard Island very seriously. We will be consulting all mammals and flightless birds and will make an announcement in the near future detailing our response. #heardisland #tariff #mcdonaldisland #trumptariff

No, Britain has not escaped lightly from Trump's tariffs And it is not a very convincing vindication of Brexit.

No, Britain did not get off lightly in the Trump tariffs. And no, it is not much of a vindication of Brexit. Or at the least seeing it is an economic dividend is to conveniently look away from the more substantial economic costs.

New writing from me.

open.substack.com/pub/goodalla...

Trump’s new rules (of origin) It ain’t where you’re at, it’s where you’re from

In my latest for @alphaville.ft.com I discuss why the new Trump tariff measures are a recipe for … crime!

(Yes, I’m writing about rules of origin again.)

on.ft.com/44cO71p Trump’s new rules (of origin)

The full statement reads: The President of the United States has again reiterated the desire for annexation and control of Greenland at a meeting with the Secretary General of NATO on March 13, 2025. In this connection, the chairmen of all the parties elected to Inatsisartut - Demokraatit, Naleraq, Inuit Ataqatigiit, Siumut and Atassut - have the following statement: "We - all party chairmen - cannot accept the repeated statements about annexation and control of Greenland. As party chairmen, we find this behavior unacceptable to friends and allies in a defense alliance. We, as the leaders of all parties in Inatsisartut in Greenland, must emphasize that Greenland continues the work for Greenland, which is already going on through diplomatic channels in accordance with international laws and regulations. We all stand behind this effort and strongly distance ourselves from attempts to create divisions. Greenland is one country that everyone wants to stand behind."| Inussiarnersumik/ Best regards Jens Frederik Nielsen, Demokraatit Pele Broberg, Naleraq Múte B. Egede, Inuit Ataqatigiit Vivian Motzfeldt, Siumut Aqgalu C. Jeremiassen, Atassut

NEW: The leaders of every major political party in Greenland have united in a joint statement against Trump.

"We cannot accept the repeated statements about annexation & control of Greenland. We find this behavior unacceptable.

“Greenland is one country that everyone wants to stand behind."

🇬🇱🇩🇰

Trump on NATO: "If the United States was in trouble and we called them. We said, 'We got a problem, France.' Do you think they're gonna come and protect us? Hmm. They're supposed to. I'm not so sure." (Literally the only time NATO Article 5 was invoked was after 9/11 on behalf of the US.)

She is giving regular master classes on political communication and crisis management, and I hope global leaders are taking notes.

The pitch perfect substance and tone match her policy posture of being willing to work with Trump, but on condition of mutual respect and honesty.

A mostly blank page with the words Strong and Free, from the English version of the Canadian national anthem ) Below the fold of this newspaper sheet , in smaller type, news and editorial references to the trade war

This is the first page of this morning’s edition of the Globe and Mail (arguably the English Canadian paper of record)
I don’t remember seeing anything like this before

Elbows up. 🇨🇦🇪🇺

👇👇👇👇

Heartening news in dark times to see Germany willing to take on a leading role in the rearmament of democratic Europe. This decision is welcome news for UK, France & other European allies.

Thank you to Inigo Lambertini, Ambassador of Italy to the United Kingdom for hosting the @centreeuropeanref.bsky.social 27th birthday reception on 26/02 & to @davidlidington.bsky.social for delivering the keynote speech, listen to the speeches here: buff.ly/9LhRJi2

Keir Starmer Says He Is “Full Of Admiration” For British Troops After JD Vance Remarks Keir Starmer is 'full of admiration for all British troops' who have served their country, the Prime Minister's spokesperson has said.

"The Prime Minister — and I think the whole country — is full of admiration for all British troops who have served for instance in Iraq and Afghanistan, many of whom have lost their lives in the process and fought obviously alongside allies including the US," says the PM’s spokesperson

"It's a time of existential crisis for European democracies", David Lidington tells @centreeuropeanref.bsky.social birthday party. He warns of the end of period of history that began with US entry into WW2. Is there European political will to meet the challenges, starting with Putin's attacks on us?

Reality check.
Thank you, Financial Times.

Good rule of thumb is that if you're getting flak in roughly equal measures from the ultras on each flank of this debate, then you've probably got it about right

Perceptive comments on Merz from @jillongovt.bsky.social @instituteforgov.bsky.social . As he'll be the most influential centre-right leader in Europe, I certainly hope both PM & Kemi make it a priority to establish a good working relationship with Merz. It's in our national interest that they do

Insightful thread by @bctallis.bsky.social, easier to read in this format:
skywriter.blue/pages/bctall...

Europe and US clash over Ukraine in G7 and UN EU and Trump administration differ over blaming Russia in rival draft resolutions

The reality is that Keir Starmer's government is increasing sanctions on Russia at the same time that the United States looks to all intents and purposes to be getting closer to them. That is a decision with big implications for the UK that I think is not sufficiently obvious in their coverage.

This is truly shameful. Even China and Iran abstained. The US has put itself in the company of some of the worst states in the world - Russia, Belarus, North Korea. Hungary showing its true colours as Russia's Trojan horse in the EU as well.

This is the world we’re in. The Trump administration are extortionists and we have to protect ourselves.

Fortunately we have the means. We just need the political will.

I don't think people here have forgotten the murder of Andrei Litvinenko nor the chemical weapons attack in Salisbury that killed one British citizen, left others gravely ill & recklessly risked the lives & health of hundreds.

What European nations can & should do now to strengthen deterrence & defence: compelling arguments from @garvanwalshe.org

Clear point-by-point rebuttal by former Defence Secretary Ben Wallace of the disinformation on Ukraine coming from Russian & now (sadly) US sources. Hope current Conservative shadow ministers are equally firm in their comments.

A massive gulf between the views of #Conservative and Reform voters on Putin, Trump & Ukraine.