Silas McGilvray

🇵🇱⚖️President Nawrocki vetoes the law reforming the National Council of Judiciary, dispelling any hopes the Polish government had of reforming the rule of law through new legislation. Major, but expected, defeat for the new MoJ Waldemark Żurek and his plans. 1/

Like Gideon says.

Good column on all the pain that’s still forthcoming in the transatlantic relationship.

Long NHS waits in Scotland are coming down - today’s statistics show they have fallen for 7 months in a row.

At the same time, we are performing more operations.

There is still more to do, but this is real progress for patients and a huge credit to our NHS staff. 👏

Starmer to Carney: No new world order please, we’re British U.K. leader says he’s ‘a British pragmatist applying common sense’ after Canadian counterpart called for mid-sized countries to team up in the era of Trump.

Incredible lack of leadership from Starmer. Just so short-sighted

Please. This is absurd. Europe can certainly deter Russia and defend itself if its focused and determined. Perpetuating a sense of European helplessness may help Rutte bureaucratically but its 1. wrong 2. prevents action. 3. willfully blind: the US ain't coming to defend Europe.

This is absurd in so many ways.

I was told that the EU’s anti-coercion instrument is being discreetly prepared for use against the US. A vote to trigger it would take place if Trump follows through on his tariff threat over Greenland. We’re entering uncharted waters

Meloni will be important to watch for EU unity. Italy is (together with Germany, Ireland+ the NL) amongst the most economically exposed to US trade, Meloni is instinctively atlanticist and Italy did not participate in Greenland deployment, and thus is 'exempted' from Trump's punitive tariffs

Europe and Canada are being forced to do the job that Republican enablers of Trump have failed to do - set limits for an unhinged president who is doing severe damage to US interests. The Rubios, McConnells & Grahams own this. They are the reason China & Russia are winning. This will be their legacy

With the Scottish Government announcing the Budget today, we revisited our latest polling on taxation and spending:

• The Scottish public show a preference for increased spending on public services, even if that means higher taxes (51% Statement A), rather than cutting taxes (26% Statement B).

The atlanticists who have for decades been wilfully blind to these risks and who have actively undermined any attempt to mitigate them have a lot to answer for, but I've yet to see much of a mea culpa

Looks at the moment like the choices for member states are to pull together properly through the EU or else be inexorably picked apart and slide further into irrelevance. While the former course does require boldness and risk, it is difficult to see any alternative but the latter.

Hard to avoid the conclusion that the EU - both its institutions and member states - have been dealt a freakishly bad hand this past year or so that they have not played all that well. The tepid statements on Venezuela are just the latest case in point.

Cutting taxes and 'tough on crime' messaging from Scottish Labour. Looks like Anas Sarwar has decided to try fishing in the tory pond for Holyrood 2026

Reclaiming Britain: The nation against ethno-nationalism | IPPR Last summer, after the most widespread racist rioting since 1919, IPPR wrote it was “a testament to progress” that deporting black and brown people living

The public are nowhere near as consumed with anti-immigrant hatred as the political class believe, but if only one side is making an argument (and has most of the press onside and sets the agenda for the broadcasters) then what do you expect? www.ippr.org/articles/the...

The EU condemns the U.S. travel restrictions against European citizens and officials.

Such measures are unacceptable between allies, partners, and friends.

The EU stands firm in its defense of freedom of expression, fair digital rules, and its regulatory sovereignty.

I do think Europe did well by getting Ukraine funding over the finish line - the EUCO delivered in that sense.

But Ian is right that this was not an optimal outcome, and takes a bearish view here on the geopolitical costs that is very much worth your time.

Scottish Child Payment | Food Insecurity | Deprivation New analysis shows the Scottish child payment sharply reduces child deprivation and food insecurity, with no evidence of work disincentives. Discover the findings.

New study from LSE, York & Glasgow universities shows the Scottish Child Payment is transforming lives.

Without it, 70,000 more children would face deprivation and food insecurity.

We will keep investing in families and lifting children out of poverty.

The EU has just made sure its biggest bargaining chip in the negotiations over Ukraine's future is no longer subject to national vetos. And that is even true independently of the fate of the reparations loan because now a qualified majority is required to unblock the funds again. Well done.

I have long thought the EU simplification fervour was a side show.

Happy to see Jeromin Zettelmeyer and Erik Nielsen forcefully agree.

Where’s the overwhelming evidence that EU red tape is thé key barrier to economic growth in the EU or Germany?

1/

One has to wonder under which rock those Europeans surprised by the Trump administration’s NSS have spent the past 12 months.

European wishful thinking + path dependency + too much time listening to “veteran” US Atlanticists + underlying incuriosity about Trumpism have a lot to answer for.

John Swinney defends immigration as Scotland faces rise of Reform Exclusive: First minister mounts robust defence of diversity as SNP prepares campaign for Holyrood election in May

“I am concerned about it as I believe with every fibre of my body in the importance of inclusion within our society. During my lifetime Scotland has become a much more diverse country. I’m very proud of that." John Swinney tells @libbybrooks.bsky.social Scotland needs and benefits from immigration.

NEW: John Swinney has responded to Nigel Farage's attack on Glasgow schoolchildren, calling it 'quite simply racist' ⬇️

Tackling child poverty is my driving mission - and thanks to our actions, Scotland is the only part of the UK where child poverty is falling.

Glad that Labour was finally shamed into doing the right thing.

Top EU court mandates same-sex marriage recognition across borders The Luxembourg-based court said a decision by Polish authorities infringed on a same-sex couple’s freedom of movement.

The EU’s top court ruled today that when a same-sex couple is legally married in one member country, any other member country where they move or reside must recognize that marriage.

Anas Sarwar can’t decide if he’s for or against the two-child cap - we’re scrapping it in Scotland next March. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

This is what it looks like when the firewall is torn down for good. EPP, under the leadership of Manfred Weber, using the entire extreme and far right (including German AFD, French RN) for trashing sustainability and due diligence requirements for big business. The masks are off for good.

A graphic with an image of a man (Callum) in front of trees. The top text reads: “SNP | By-Election 11th December”. The bottom text reads: “Vote Callum Cox for Whitburn and Blackburn”. Promoted by Allistair Tatton, on behalf of Callum Cox, both at 34 Glenshee, Whitburn, EH47 8NY

I’m stepping up to be your @snp.org candidate for the Whitburn and Blackburn by-election.

West Lothian’s Labour-Tory coalition has been running our services into the ground – I’ve had enough, and I’m sure you have too!

So vote Callum #1 on Dec/11 for a local, fresh and committed voice!

I wouldn't be as generous to Sarwar on this. He intentionally tied Scottish Labour incredibly closely to their UK counterparts and failed to adapt when the UK Party undermined or slighted him.

Caught up in events larger than himself, yes, but also very much brought upon himself.

Justice Sotomayor with a graphic dissent as the Supreme Court allows Alabama to move forward with the execution of Anthony Boyd by lethal gas: