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?

I would like to hear similar sentiments expressed with as much conviction by leading UK politicians.

Not, alas, on the White House reading list in either the Biden or Trump presidencies - or we wouldn't be in this mess.

Earning influence: lessons from the history of international currencies The European Central Bank (ECB) is the central bank of the European Union countries which have adopted the euro. Our main task is to maintain price stability in the euro area and so preserve the purch...

Very interesting speech by @president.ecb.europa.eu on currency internationalization of the €uro.

She concluded that „The ongoing changes create the opening for a “global euro moment”

Have you seen this @jvtk.bsky.social ?

www.ecb.europa.eu/press/key/da...

Interesting event from @scga.bsky.social on EU, Europe and the wider world. Sunday 11 May, 2pm, Edinburgh. Part of #FestivalofEuropeScotland2025 @festivalofeurope.bsky.social @mikegalsworthy.bsky.social @euromovescotland.bsky.social Details and how to book places, see below.

We’ve just published a new report, based on our annual economics conference. It distils the big policy debates on the European economy post-Draghi, drawing on the brainpower around the table.

Some journalist friends convinced me it’s worth sharing — so here’s a thread.

1/x

eurowalks.scot/st-andrews/

Some thoughts on the European response to the chaos now emanating from the White House - on Ukraine and more broadly, based on chats with senior European policymakers directly or indirectly involved in formulating the bloc's response 1/

I agree.

For all the ongoing nationalist sentiment in Scotland, this is something that Scots almost never do. I'm not sure I can think of a single time I've been told by a Scot that as a Jew I'm not Scottish.

This is interesting, especially the bit about Security and Devolution

US pressures Ukraine to nix its UN resolution demanding Russian forces withdraw The U.S. has pressured Ukraine to withdraw its European-backed U.N. resolution demanding an immediate withdrawal of Russian forces from Ukraine in favor of an American proposal that doesn't mention Mo...

The U.S. pressured Ukraine to withdraw its European-backed U.N. resolution demanding an immediate withdrawal of Russian forces from Ukraine.

But Ukraine refused to pull its draft resolution.

So the US voted... with Russia, Iran, Israel & North Korea... against Ukraine.

Now read that again.

Important to be part of debate on Ukraine and Europe, on this of all days, as well as wider discussion with another hugely impressive group of #JohnSmithTrust fellows from Wider Europe and Central Asia.
johnsmithtrust.org/programmes/

Been a good day today. From morning to evening, European leaders standing up, all around the world, one after another, and speaking clearly against the Trump/Putin agenda.

Trump’s numbers on US & European aid to Ukraine are completely fabricated — Europe has given more to Ukraine and the US hasn’t reached anywhere near $350 billion.

To spare you all from Twitter, here’s @shashj.bsky.social’s great rebuttal.

The US State Department is forcing all of its employees to cancel subscriptions to any Trump-unfriendly media.

Nicola Sturgeon says Starmer and Reeves “wrong” on Europe - “Falling for Trump and Farage – a road to ruin”

When Martin met Nicola...
@cluthaman.bsky.social via GLAD Radio

#Holyrood
#Democracy
#Scotland🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Food for thought yesterday evening from the First Minister and former Taoiseach on the link between local and global and the role small states can play. @scga.bsky.social

This was a great event at The University of St Andrews to mark their taking on the lead of SGCA for the next two years.

Excellent write up of a marvellous event at St Andrews that I was privileged to attend yesterday. Much chat, also, of Brexit and how the conditions in 2025 differ sharply from 2016, with the EU now needing the UK much more both in security and economic terms.

Way too often: on Dunkin Donuts coffee.

Brexit reduced goods exports by £27bn – with smaller firms most affected The Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) reduced total goods exports from the UK by an estimated £27bn (or 6.4 per cent) in 2022.

Feels like a good time to repost this!

Brexit reduced goods exports by £27bn – with smaller firms most affected

#Starmer must respond positively to Sefcovic now.

Rejoining the customs union is a sure way to economic growth

www.lse.ac.uk/News/Latest-...

This is indeed great news and I thought it was interesting that this morning's radio news (RTBF) framed this as a benefit for European energy bills, European energy security, and the climate, in that order.

Promotional graphic with the University of Glasgow and Centre for Public Policy logo. Text reads Season 5 Episode 1: Spotlight, Trump 2.0: What's next? With Michael Frazer and Juliet Kaarbo. The graphic features photos of the two speakers and hosts Kezia Dugdale and Nicola McEwen.

NEW #UofGSpotlight podcast🚨

Hosts @profnicolamcewen.bsky.social and @kezdugdale.bsky.social are joined by expert guests @michaelfrazer.bsky.social and @jkaarbo.bsky.social to discuss the return of President Donald Trump and what's next for US and global politics.

🎧 www.uofgspotlight.com

'Economic Negligence': Labour Slammed For Rejecting EU Offer Of Closer Trading Links With UK "We’re not seeking to participate in that particular arrangement," said a government minister.

“It is alarming that the government is happy to negotiate with China but won’t even look at a better trading arrangement with our closest neighbours in Europe. This is an act of economic negligence”
Ed Davey
www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/econom...

There was a growth plan for Brexit. It didn't work, because there were few gains to be made from UK sovereignty over regulation and trade agreements. That was shown, in detail, by people who understood the issue from the start, and the reality of Brexit proved us right.

The comprehensive cross-party case for Rejoining EU is ready to mail to MPs, influencers and MSM.

Get your copy of the White Paper, Exec summary and template letters via:

mailchi.mp/ff8b169aa3ec...

#Reboot #Rejoin #BrexitDisaster #BrexitElephant

US agency focused on foreign disinformation shuts down A leading US government agency that tracks foreign disinformation has terminated its operations, the State Department said Tuesday, after Congress failed to extend its funding following years of Repub...

Thanks to the Republican Congress, and a tsunami of lies from Musk and others, the only US agency dedicated to tracking and exposing Russian and Chinese propaganda around the world ceases to exist
www.france24.com/en/live-news...

As ever, I don't do Westminster projections myself, but this is a stark reminder of how absurd FPTP is as a system. SNP on roughly same vote share in July and here, but on 9 (16%) versus 33 (58%) seats. The BBS-example open list PR system would instead be 17 (30%) or 18 (32%).