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Ed Owen

@ed-owen.bsky.social

Brit in Washington DC working in strategy, comms & politics. Fellow of Third Way & Atlantic Council. Ex-UK government adviser, always Man City 🩡 πŸ‡¬πŸ‡§πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ

101 Followers  |  193 Following  |  22 Posts  |  Joined: 15.11.2024  |  2.2148

Latest posts by ed-owen.bsky.social on Bluesky

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Let's level on Net Zero Tone Langengen lays out how progressives must face the reality that people won’t back net zero unless it means cheaper energy and credible growth.

On our latest episode @tonelangengen.bsky.social joins the herd to lay out how progressives must face the reality that people won’t back Net Zero unless it means cheaper energy and credible growth. Out now wherever you get your pods, and in links below. nocows.substack.com/p/lets-level...

07.11.2025 08:46 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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'There can be no sacred cows if we are to reconnect to win' - LabourList Unless we are willing to have no-holds-barred conversations with voters the left on both sides of the Atlantic will not win back trust.

If we on the centre-left are to reconnect with voters to win there can be No Sacred Cows. Here’s a piece I’ve written for @labourlist.bsky.social
labourlist.org/2025/10/no-s...

12.10.2025 15:57 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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🚨 NEW EPISODE OUT NOW 🚨 Former Clinton advisor Mark Medish sets out how we need to let go of preconceptions about the UN-led international order and recognise it's no longer fit for purpose. Listen wherever you get your pods or nocows.substack.com. open.spotify.com/episode/5ng2...

25.10.2025 11:49 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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'There can be no sacred cows if we are to reconnect to win' - LabourList Unless we are willing to have no-holds-barred conversations with voters the left on both sides of the Atlantic will not win back trust.

It’s time for a much needed and overdue debate in order to secure the future of mainstream, democratic politics. There can be no holding back, no pulling punches, and no sacred cows. labourlist.org/2025/10/no-s... @ed-owen.bsky.social speaks about the show in @labourlist.bsky.social today.

12.10.2025 17:50 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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'There can be no sacred cows if we are to reconnect to win' - LabourList Unless we are willing to have no-holds-barred conversations with voters the left on both sides of the Atlantic will not win back trust.

If we on the centre-left are to reconnect with voters to win there can be No Sacred Cows. Here’s a piece I’ve written for @labourlist.bsky.social
labourlist.org/2025/10/no-s...

12.10.2025 15:57 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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🚨NEW EPISODE - We've turned our attention to immigration - an issue some dare not speak of, or perhaps now you cannot talk about enough. @FrankSharry joins the herd to talk about whether the centre-left needs to ditch its timidity and worry. Listen now. open.spotify.com/episode/7r4z...

11.10.2025 11:59 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 2
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Can the EU-UK summit lead to a new post-Brexit partnership? With shared challenges at home and abroad, the United Kingdom and European Union have an opportunity to renew their trade and security ties.

My take on Monday’s UK/EU summit for @atlanticcouncil.bsky.social www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/new-at...

15.05.2025 17:02 β€” πŸ‘ 5    πŸ” 4    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Can the EU-UK summit lead to a new post-Brexit partnership? With shared challenges at home and abroad, the United Kingdom and European Union have an opportunity to renew their trade and security ties.

My take on Monday’s UK/EU summit for @atlanticcouncil.bsky.social www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/new-at...

15.05.2025 17:02 β€” πŸ‘ 5    πŸ” 4    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Other contributors (cont'd):

@ed-owen.bsky.social (@atlanticcouncil.bsky.social, @thirdway.bsky.social)

@james-rogers.bsky.social (@congeostrategy.bsky.social)

Peter Watkins (UK Ministry of Defence [2014-2018], King’s College London)

25.04.2025 15:38 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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How should the next National Security Strategy differ from the integrated reviews? The Big Ask | No. 16.2025

β€˜The boundaries between foreign and domestic policy are increasingly blurred, and national security can no longer be an issue left only to diplomatic and defence specialists,’ writes @ed-owen.bsky.social, @atlanticcouncil.bsky.social

#BigAsk #BritainsWorld

24.04.2025 12:01 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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How should the next National Security Strategy differ from the integrated reviews? The Big Ask | No. 16.2025

Did you catch the latest Big Ask?

How should the next National Security Strategy differ from the integrated reviews?

✍️ @evieaspinall.bsky.social, Dr Hillary Briffa, Robert Clark, Dr Michael Clarke, Ruth Harris, @ed-owen.bsky.social, @james-rogers.bsky.social, Peter Watkins

#BritainsWorld

24.04.2025 11:27 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 3    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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'Starmer's US trip was a diplomatic triumph, but many more challenges lie ahead' - LabourList Returning to London from Washington early this morning, Keir Starmer and his team were justifiably delighted at how…

Starmer achieved a diplomatic triumph in D.C. but the challenges will keep on coming @labourlist.bsky.social labourlist.org/2025/02/keir...

28.02.2025 14:24 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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'The US sell-out of Ukraine can be Starmer’s moment to define the purpose of his government' - LabourList For many, this Labour government has lacked a defining vision, an overriding purpose for existing. Through events beyond…

πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ "Bruised by attacks from Elon Musk and JD Vance, most European leaders are considerably less charitable and see Trump as, at best, an unreliable partner and, at worst, outright hostile."

✍️ Ed Owen previews Keir Starmer's meeting with Trump today:
labourlist.org/2025/02/us-u...

27.02.2025 08:44 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 3    πŸ“Œ 0
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'The US sell-out of Ukraine can be Starmer’s moment to define the purpose of his government' - LabourList For many, this Labour government has lacked a defining vision, an overriding purpose for existing. Through events beyond…

Ukraine is Starmer’s opportunity to define his government’s purpose. My comment for @labourlist.bluesky.social labourlist.org/2025/02/us-u...

27.02.2025 12:26 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Ed Owen on LinkedIn: Starmer's calling - a letter from London I'm just back from a short trip to a damp London where I got a chance to speak to a few people in and around the UK Government. Here are my reflections on the…

A few thoughts on Starmer & the UK government following my brief trip to London just days before his visit to D.C. later this week www.linkedin.com/posts/ed-owe...

23.02.2025 21:54 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Important. Gosh.

The PM: β€œThese crucial days ahead will determine the future security of our continent. As I will say in Paris, peace comes through strength. But the reverse is also true. Weakness leads to war.”

www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/202...

16.02.2025 22:44 β€” πŸ‘ 284    πŸ” 109    πŸ’¬ 20    πŸ“Œ 29
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β€˜Trump’s presidency is a brutal application of raw political power – but one we have to engage with’ – LabourList No one can say they weren’t warned. Yet even seasoned politicos in Washington DC have been left stunned by the first weeks of the Trump…

β€œThe Trump Presidency is a brutal application of raw political power - but one we have to deal with.” My take on the first weeks of Trump 2.0 for @labourlist.bsky.social labourlist.org/2025/02/trum...

15.02.2025 13:23 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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We shouldn't take anything off the table before the negotiations have even started.

It is clear that any deal behind our backs will not work.
You need the Europeans, you need the Ukrainians.

Extracts from my doorstep ahead of NATO Defence Ministers meeting ↓

13.02.2025 14:58 β€” πŸ‘ 4451    πŸ” 1270    πŸ’¬ 187    πŸ“Œ 136

A revealing remark from Trump & gives the lie to recent nonsense that somehow he was going to be tougher on Russia than previously thought. He has never had any interest in supporting Ukraine & this is process is destined only to marginalise Kiyv & reward Moscow

13.02.2025 02:19 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

He needs Europeans to provide peacekeeping force and security guarantees so not sure he can completely ignore them

13.02.2025 02:10 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Ukraine's independence and territorial integrity are unconditional.

Our priority must now be strengthening Ukraine and providing robust security guarantees.

In any negotiation, Europe must have a central role.

Our Weimar+ statement ↓

12.02.2025 22:15 β€” πŸ‘ 3867    πŸ” 1291    πŸ’¬ 172    πŸ“Œ 153

Absolutely this!

12.02.2025 21:06 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Trump-Putin Ukraine peace talks mustn’t exclude Kyiv, EU allies warn U.S. and Russian leaders spoke on the phone Wednesday about ending the war β€” and agreed to start negotiations β€œimmediately.”

When it comes to durable peace in Ukraine, Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braze understands what the Trump team appears not to: "Degrading Russia's military capabilities is the way to peace". Weakness, of the kind Trump & Hegseth showed today, only encourages Putin. www.politico.eu/article/ukra...

12.02.2025 21:02 β€” πŸ‘ 63    πŸ” 22    πŸ’¬ 5    πŸ“Œ 1
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Hegseth calls Ukraine’s peace goals β€˜unrealistic’ in meeting with allies Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said any deal must come with international oversight between Russian and Ukrainian forces, and no NATO membership for Ukraine.

And so the sell-out of Ukraine begins alongside the weakening of the US’s commitment to European security www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...

12.02.2025 17:02 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Thx Tom. I’m fascinated by Keir’s propensity to outsource political strategy matters. For the govt to succeed he must 100% own, lead, live & breathe this. A PM isn’t there to fix problems but to set & drive a clear direction for govt & wider society. Is he capable & willing to do this, do you think?

12.02.2025 15:10 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Many thx to @financialtimes.com for publishing my piece on the lessons we can learn from the significant fall in the US prison population over the last 15 years

10.02.2025 05:20 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Lessons from the US on combating mass incarceration | Opinion Fiscal hawks have moulded America into an unlikely exemplar of justice reform

Lessons from the US on combating mass incarceration | Opinion

https://www.ft.com/content/098315bd-2205-46f8-8c40-73c79f1978e1

09.02.2025 16:00 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 1

Good piece, Robert!

08.02.2025 21:41 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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What is Mandelson's strategy for charming Trumpworld? As Peter Mandelson takes up the role of ambassador to the US, No 10 is determined the UK builds a strong relationship with Donald Trump.

Good piece on Mandelson’s plans in D.C. by @joepike.bsky.social www.bbc.com/news/article...

08.02.2025 12:07 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

This act & subsequent laws effectively denied enslaved & non-white people the right to become citizens - & is why the 14th amendment was so important. Yet many Americans believe it remains essential today too. As a liberal Brit, I’d be genuinely interested to know why

21.01.2025 19:08 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

@ed-owen is following 19 prominent accounts