Ian Bond

I’ve noticed that a lot of people write “ECHR” for the Convention & “ECtHR” for the Court, which helps. But it won’t do anything about the determination of some people to believe that if something starts with “European” it must be another devilish EU plot.

UK courts’ job is to ensure govt only does things legally. Occasionally ppl think UK courts & govt erred, & appeal to European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. On avg, since 2012 the Court has ruled against UK govt 4 times a year. 3. If death penalty deters, why is US murder rate 4x UK’s? 2/2

On the basis that you might be serious about this: 1. The ECHR & the Court have nothing to do with ‘Brussels’. The ECHR was to a large extent the work of former Nuremberg prosecutor & later (hard-line) Tory Home Secretary David Maxwell Fyfe. 2. UK has its own laws on deportation. 1/2

But the Court was established by the Convention to rule on "all matters concerning the interpretation and application of the Convention and the Protocols thereto", & parties to the Convention "undertake to abide by the final judgment of the Court". So the UK can't reject one without rejecting both.

I think that's unfair to Paxman, whose mantra was "Why is this lying liar lying to me?" - perhaps excessively cynical, but at least resulting in him challenging politicians. It's the unwillingness of his successors to challenge even obvious lies that's so destructive.

Just heard Chris Philp on BBC’s Today programme explaining why the Tories want to leave the ECHR. He claimed ECHR isn’t mentioned in Belfast Agreement - which is simply untrue. The UK govt agreed to incorporate it into NI law & give direct access to the courts (Strand 3). Why no BBC fact-check?

Sounds like a recipe for war crimes - or encouragement to commit them. It will potentially make it much harder for the US to fight alongside allies: I remember tortuous debates in NATO in the late 1980s on differing US & allied rules of engagement - & what Hegseth says implies a much bigger gap.

An extremely helpful thread, summarising the threat to subsea infrastructure from Russia, and providing links to useful reporting and analysis. In sum: a serious threat, about which the UK needs to do more than it has done so far.

Good news, and a setback for Moscow, which invested heavily in defeating PAS. But PAS will end up with a very narrow majority. The EU needs to do more to show Moldovans the benefits of aligning with Brussels rather than Moscow.

Good question. If the guarantees are from countries with a common interest in deterring Russsia, yes.

This deserves *way* more attention than it’s getting

Reform’s former Wales leader admits he received corrupt payments in exchange for making statements in the European Parliament to promote Russia’s interests in #Ukraine.

"If [Trump] were serious about punishing Russia for failing to move towards peace, he would have done it long ago." Always good to talk to @kyivindependent.com

Can Europe save Ukraine – and itself – from Putin and Trump? Trump is not on Ukraine’s side, or Europe’s, but he cannot deliver peace on Putin’s terms. Rather than taking their lead from Trump, European leaders should act urgently to stop Russia’s advances and…

A force of Ukrainian and other allied troops could be powerful enough to make Putin think twice. 🇺🇦 🇪🇺

New @centreeuropeanref.bsky.social policy brief by @cerianbond.bsky.social

Read here: buff.ly/r3HJ1Z1

This is indeed a big and welcome development - though I suspect that $140 billion won't last as long as we think, given Ukraine's needs.

Excellent thread.

It's a good piece, & an honest one. It also comes to similar conclusions to @aslak.bsky.social's piece on the trade deal: www.cer.eu/insights/def... ; and mine on building a European defence organisation outside both NATO & the EU www.cer.eu/insights/nat... .

I think this is the right response. Trump will change his mind again (probably after talking to Putin or Orban); & in any case he offered no new US help, in terms of sanctions or military aid. As for "I wish both Countries well" - does that sound like someone working hard for the victory of an ally?

European governments must stop hoping that the war will be resolved with minimal effort from them. 🇺🇦 🇪🇺

New @centreeuropeanref.bsky.social policy brief by @cerianbond.bsky.social

Read here: buff.ly/r3HJ1Z1

If they continue to provide US intelligence support and continue to sell arms, Europe should be able to support Ukraine on its own - do read my colleague @cerianbond.bsky.social's excellent take on this www.cer.eu/publications...

Scones with clotted cream & strawberry jam.

Can Europe save Ukraine – and itself – from Putin and Trump? Trump is not on Ukraine’s side, or Europe’s, but he cannot deliver peace on Putin’s terms. Rather than taking their lead from Trump, European leaders should act urgently to stop Russia’s advances and…

#Ukraine now has the largest and most battle-hardened army in Europe, and an innovative defence industrial sector. 🇺🇦 🇪🇺

New @centreeuropeanref.bsky.social policy brief by @cerianbond.bsky.social

Read here:

Thank you to Malik Azmani, @cerianbond.bsky.social, @richardfoordld.bsky.social,
@wendychambld.bsky.social & Pedro Serrano for speaking at our @centreeuropeanref.bsky.social/ @euinuk.bsky.social fringe event @libdems.org.uk party conference yesterday on 'Building resilient and inclusive societies'

But if you are a Pole, that is scant comfort.

Really tough issue. One thing is to tackle things that people (quite often wrongly) blame on migrants, eg lack of GP appointments or housing shortages. Fairness matters a lot - if people can see or can be persuaded that they & others are being treated equally, that should help.

UK hasn't woken up to that need or scale of the threat. A resilient society is inclusive, but UK & EU need to overcome divisions driven by social & econ unfairness. Europe including UK needs migrants, but voters want to feel it's controlled. Liberal democracy across Europe is under pressure. 2/2

Bournemouth beach in sunshine, with blue sea and small clouds.

It's a tough job, but... Bournemouth looking good. Packed @centreeuropeanref.bsky.social fringe event with @eudelegationuk.bsky.social @wendychambld.bsky.social @richardfoordld.bsky.social Malik Azmani MEP. Takeaways: the UK & EU need to work together more on defence & security. 1/2

The West declared war when Germany invaded Poland, but did nothing to stop Hitler & Stalin conquering & dividing it. In 1945, West let Stalin keep the parts of Poland the Molotov-Ribbentropp Pact had given him. We didn't fail PL as badly as CS, but we shdn't congratulate ourselves too much.

Our @centreeuropeanref.bsky.social/ @euinuk.bsky.social fringe event at @libdems.org.uk party conference on 'Building resilient and inclusive societies' in under way.

With Malik Azmani, @cerianbond.bsky.social @richardfoordld.bsky.social, @wendychambld.bsky.social & Pedro Serrano

We declared war over Poland. We did not go to war till after Poland had been wiped from the map.

Having spent the last few days in Warsaw, I'm more conscious of the echoes of 1939-45 - not just Hitler's aggression & Stalin's treachery, but the fecklessness of the Western allies. Ukraine has had far more help than Poland, but if Putin ultimately wins, W fecklessness will have helped again.