Richard Corbett

IMF chief tells Europe to drop the doom loop Seven of the 10 best-performing economies in 2025 were EU countries — so Europe should stop talking itself down, says Kristalina Georgieva.

IMF chief tells Europe to stop talking itself down - 7 of the 10 best-performing economies in 2025 were EU countries...
www.politico.eu/article/euro...

We are opening an investigation into Grok because we believe that X may have breached the DSA.

We have seen antisemitic content, non-consensual deepfakes of women, and child sexual abuse material.

In Europe, no company will make money by violating our fundamental rights.

link.europa.eu/Fh8h84

The political spectrum of those calling for Britain to rejoin the European Union is getting wider, now including former Conservative cabinet minister Dominic Grieve on the right and the Green party previous leader Caroline Lucas on the left:

EU countries gain by negotiating jointly.
Mark Carney said:
“When we only negotiate bilaterally with a hegemon,we negotiate from weakness, competing with each other to be the most accommodating.This is not sovereignty. It’s the performance of sovereignty while accepting subordination”

Inside the Labour factions pressuring Starmer to rejoin Europe Caught between Donald Trump and his own party, the Prime Minister faces a moment of truth

EUROPE IS BACK

This week's New Statesman cover story is on the changing conversation about Europe in the Labour party - including among those close to Keir Starmer...

Cover illustration by Mona Eing & Michael Meißner

www.newstatesman.com/cover-story/...

Paul Nowak Column: 'solidarity doesn’t stop at the border. It never has' - LabourList From Venezuela to Ukraine, global instability is rising. TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak on why peace, international law and stronger EU ties matter for working people and jobs in Britain.

TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak calls on the government to “get serious about rebuilding our trading & political relationship with the European Union” with a more ambitious reset and “no red lines”:
@LabourList
labourlist.org/2026/01/paul...

Trump shenanigans contributing to Iceland decision to hold a referendum on joining the European Union.
It will be the 11th non-EU country to apply to join.
If this continues, Britain will be almost alone in Europe in being outside the EU, isolated, poorer and weaker.

Note the contrast:

US Republican President Eisenhower in 1958:
“We cannot and will not condone armed aggression - no matter who the attacker, and no matter who the victim. We cannot - in the world, any more than in our own nation - subscribe to one law for the weak, another law for the strong”

BREAKING: Keir Starmer says President Trump changed his view on the Chagos Islands 'for the express purpose of putting pressure on me and Britain in relation to my values and principles on the future of Greenland

'He wants me to yield on my position and I'm not going to do so'

#PMQs 👏

NEW: NEW: Standards commissioner finds Nigel Farage committed seventeen breaches of MPs code of conduct.

He failed to declare £333,000 in outside interests (more than 3x MPs annual salary)…

Trump’s tariff threat must be the final straw for Starmer – time to rejoin the EU President’s threat to impose a 10 per cent tariff is another sign that the UK should turn away from Washington and towards its allies in Europe, world affairs editor Sam Kiley writes

The Independent: “Trump’s tariff threat must be the final straw for Starmer – time to rejoin the EU”
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/e...

Canada’s PM Carney in Davos:
"In a world of great power rivalry, the countries in between have a choice: to compete with each other for favour or to combine to create a third path. (..) The power of legitimacy, integrity & rules will remain strong — if we choose to wield it together”

In the face of Trump’s threats, Britain’s best path is clearer than ever: hurry back to Europe | Stella Creasy Labour must urgently seek new roles and alliances, while also enhancing the UK’s own military capabilities, says Stella Creasy, MP and chair of the Labour Movement for Europe

In the face of Trump’s threats, Britain’s best path is clearer than ever: hurry back to Europe | Stella Creasy

Why is Donald Trump changing his mind every five minutes and saying completely mad stuff an embarrassment for Keir Starmer? It feels like it should chiefly be seen as an embarrassment for the United States.

Trump (and right wingers in Britain & EU) often claim that the USA economy outperforms “sclerotic” Europe.
A more comprehensive comparison gives a different perspective about the quality of life in each:

Trumps tariffs today brings into sharp relief how our isolated status post Brexit leaves us vulnerable - We must urgently and ambitiously reset our relationship with the EU as part of strengthening NATO so we can stand up to bullies wherever they are and whatever they threaten.

Germany and France's joint statement on the US' Trump economic terrorism:

"Germany and France are united and we will not allow blackmail." "we are already preparing joint countermeasures." "We Europeans must make it clear: The limit has been reached,"

Trump administration demands Britain adopt US standards in trade talks The U.S. push would derail Britain’s post-Brexit relationship with the European Union.

Trump administration demands Britain adopt lower US trading standards instead of European ones.
Capitulating to US pressure on this would allow sub-standard products on our market and severely damage trade with our most important trading partner - the EU
www.politico.eu/article/dona...

This is what you need to have in your car to drive in the USA without fear of arrest or death:

Labour's EU ultras are organising Tom Watson has a new mission: putting Britain back at the heart of Europe

Labour’s overwhelming pro-European majority is getting more vociferous and ambitious…
www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-...

A Year of Living Dangerously in Trump's America I no longer feel safe to speak or act freely in a country where people are being arbitrarily detained and killed and where the truth is becoming whatever Donald Trump says it is, reports Alexandra Hal...

🔴A Year of Living Dangerously in Trump’s America

I no longer feel safe to speak or act freely in a country where people are being arbitrarily detained and killed and where the truth is becoming whatever Donald Trump says it is, reports @alexhh.bsky.social

bylinetimes.com/2026/01/15/a...

Trump (and right wingers in Britain & EU) often claim that the USA economy outperforms “sclerotic” Europe.
A more comprehensive comparison gives a different perspective about the quality of life in each:

Interesting new newsletter...

Reform UK (REFUK) is a retirement home for failed and discredited Conservatives who created the mess the country is in…

Good question 🎯

"Mr. Farage, you say you're a new reforming force in politics. How can you claim that if - by your own definition - you're bringing in so many people that cause the mess you're trying to clear up?"

Vote for Reform UK and get the very worst of the Tories...

‘I’ve had vets chasing lorries down the motorway’: The ‘hell’ of post-Brexit paperwork Toby Ovens of Broughton Transport called Brexit a nightmare, and said he hoped a reset with the EU would mean ‘light at the end of the tunnel’

‘I’ve had vets chasing lorries down the motorway’: The ‘hell’ of post-Brexit paperwork…
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

86% of 18-24 year olds want to rejoin the EU

A Deltapoll survey for The Mirror found that 86% of 18-24 year olds want to rejoin the EU. It is time for the Government to listen; young people are the future.

Ukip have submitted a new logo and slogan to the Electoral Commission, swapping the £ pound sterling symbol for a cross, that looks very much like it is modelled on the Iron Cross used by Prussia & Germany 1871-1918 and Hitler's Nazi regime from 1933-45

YouTube video by Peter Stefanovic When are UK News Shows going to start calling out Nigel Farage and his completely rubbished claims?

If UK news shows are going to give Nigel Farage a platform to spout this absolute boll**** about Brexit & the vaccine rollout (unchallenged) I’ll happily come back every week to correct it.

We cannot allow him & others to rewrite history.

youtu.be/vL7_mwSNMvc?...