Tom Hayes

US to require social media disclosure for visa-waiver requests Change would affect visitors from countries including the UK, France and Australia

Presumably, what this means is that if you have expressed an unfavourable opinion on Trump, you will be refused entry. www.ft.com/content/683b...

Who would want to travel to the US if this is what you have to do? They want you to walk socially naked through frontier control. Who needs this indignity? Will this apply to every soccer player in next year's World Cup? These are the policies of Donald "FIFA Peace Prize" Trump.

Britain is stuck with a failed Brexit that neither citizens nor leaders want. Here are three ways to fix that | Stella Creasy While those who defend the status quo and those who say ‘simply rejoin’ the EU are both wrong, there is a new mood and a clear opportunity, says Stella Creasy MP, chair of the Labour Movement for Euro...

I admire Stella Creasy. She has stood up for the pro-European principles she believes in. But let's be honest. This is a pretty tame piece. What is needed is a political leader from the mainstream who stands up and says: The UK's place is in the EU. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Same here in France, where I live. No one is much bothered about the UK. Their view is that it dug itself into a hole, and if it wants to keep digging, let it. No one is going looking for a ladder to help it climb out.

Tony, as an Irish person and an EU citizen, I would very much welcome the UK back into the EU. It would be good for both our countries. But I think we need a sense of realism about what is possible given the current politics of the UK. That is what I tried to say in this piece.

Sunday Scribblings The UK, Europe and the Myth of Sisyphus

Taking the opportunity to again post my take on matters. hayest.substack.com/p/sunday-scr...

Phil, Thanks. You know I would very much like to see the UK back in the EU. But I just cannot see a roadmap the get the UK from here to there.

Thanks Richard, I understand your point of view, but it is just not the way I see things.

I can still afford to buy you "steak-frites" in some shabby restaurant. And a glass or two.

David, thanks. I'll catch up with you in Brussels sometime in early 2026. I'm buying. In the meantime, enjoy the next few weeks.

He only ever seemed to talk to British sources. And mostly Tory ones at that. Little or no European perspective.

Anyway, I already knew the end of the story.

I gave up halfway through Shipman's Book 4 on Brexit. I had read the first 3, but the end came for me when he started to describe who was sitting beside whom in some office or other and what the deep political significance of this was. I decided life was too short....

Because there is no political will to do so.

No offence taken. I make it clear in the piece that I believe the UK belongs in the EU. I just cannot see how it gets there from where it is today. Do you know of anyone who has a decent roadmap? Beyond wishing and hoping. As long as you can have governments in the UK on 30% of the vote....no hope.

Nor pessimistic, utterly realistic.

Sunday Scribblings The UK, Europe and the Myth of Sisyphus

For my last Sunday Scribblings of 2025, back to one of my recurring themes, the future relationship between the UK and the EU. It is not going anywhere, anytime soon.

hayest.substack.com/p/sunday-scr...

On this logic, the US should be abolished so the individual states can better represent their people.

It is just "gesturism", doing things because you know your gesture is of little consequence and will cost you nothing, financially or otherwise. But it makes you feel good.

Reform UK receives record £9mn donation from Christopher Harborne Nigel Farage’s party attracts far more funding than Labour and the Conservatives

What this shows is that Reform is now the party of choice of rich business people. Their biggest donor does not even live in the UK. www.ft.com/content/db73...

I am not sure that anyone makes any money out of Eurovision.

My point is that it is easy to take "moral" stands when you know your stand will have no consequences.

Four countries to boycott Eurovision 2026 as Israel cleared to compete Ireland, Spain, Slovenia and the Netherlands pull out after decision not to hold vote on Israel’s participation

This is hypocrisy on the part of the Irish broadcaster RTE, as everyone in Ireland has access to the BBC, and if they want to watch the contest, they will simply switch to the BBC. You can take such "moral" stands when you know people will not be put out. www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio...

A very long way. If ever. I have a piece on this coming up on Sunday.

Over time, yes, but how "over time" is over time? Years? Decades? Further, the UK debate is always conducted as if all that is required is for the UK to decide it wants to rejoin, in whole or in part, and, hey presto, it is back in. It will not be like that. No fatted calves for prodigal sons.

Trump Renames Institute of Peace for Himself

I did not get the Nobel Peace Prize, so instead I will award myself a building. www.nytimes.com/2025/12/03/u...

I think there is a question to be asked about why the ORB actually exists. What useful function does it fulfil? It is just another bunch of economists with an opinion. Nothing more. And the opinions of economists are not that reliable, are they?

Whoever is playing with him.

Not going to happen for a very long time.

Explain to me why the EU would agree to the UK joining the CU, if a Labour gov asked, which it won't, with Reform and the Tories shouting in the background that they would again pull the UK out if either of them form the gov after the next election.