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Gary Kent

@garykent.bsky.social

Worked in parliament since 1987 as Labour adviser. Focus on foreign policy. Columnist for Progressive Britain. https://www.progressivebritain.org/author/gary-kent/page/2/

136 Followers  |  354 Following  |  18 Posts  |  Joined: 15.11.2024
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Posts by Gary Kent (@garykent.bsky.social)

Stop the war's Lindsey German writes on their website about โ€œthe growing drive to militarism and rearmament across Europe to which its leaders are now compulsively addicted.โ€ Pathetic drivel. And Pat McFadden isn't Defence Secretary.

17.12.2025 21:18 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Truly shocking that Rachel Reeves had the audacity to call herself the U14 girls chess champions when she won the U14 girls chess championship but some bloke thought she was talking about something else.

03.12.2025 12:41 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1650    ๐Ÿ” 331    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 160    ๐Ÿ“Œ 69
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The New Political Circus Acts - Progressive Britain Longtime contributor Gary Kent provides insight into two of the most talked about political figures, Zarah Sultana and Zack Polanski

Latest column assesses the ZZ Tops of politics and concludes that social democrats who understand that dangerous times require strong deterrence and a robust alliance need to win informed support in the Labour Party and more widely for Nato. www.progressivebritain.org/the-new-poli...

04.11.2025 17:52 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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A Tale of Two Solidarity Networks - Progressive Britain An informed party base can help our government end and prevent war and build peace. Ukraine needs more of the same from the British government and public. Palestine and Israel deserve much better soli...

My new column concludes that Ukraine needs more of the same from the British government and public but Palestine and Israel deserve much better solidarity. Please share if you like.

18.10.2025 16:50 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 3    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Making the case for defence in every generation - Progressive Britain The adage that โ€˜America eventually does the right thing after exhausting all other optionsโ€™ is apocryphally, and probably falsely attributed to Winston Churchill. Churchill or at least his bust, is ba...

Labour needs to stick to our guns and thereโ€™s a strong case for grassroots European networks to bolster collective security

13.09.2025 06:40 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 2    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Brian Wilson doesn't miss them and hit the wall in today's Scotsman. It's game on for 2026.

07.06.2025 13:04 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 4    ๐Ÿ” 2    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Gary Kent: Conservatives should be proud of Major's legacy in Kurdistan - and strive to maintain it today | Conservative Home As a lifelong Labour member, I never thought I would recommend naming a street after a Tory prime minister. But in Erbil, he earned it.

Kurdish achievements would not have happened without John Major. A fitting tribute to him would be a continuing interest by Conservative MPs in the plight and potential of Iraqi Kurdistan.

23.05.2025 13:26 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 3    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Kurdish Lessons for Labour - Progressive Britain The small town of Ranya in Iraqi Kurdistan once loomed large in British foreign policy, now it plays a key role in informing migration policy

I visited Ranya last month to meet the Mayor and his aides who want us to understand this potentially existential exodus of entrepreneurs and workers

14.05.2025 12:58 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 2    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Impressive at the Cenotaph tonight. Letโ€™s remember all those who fell in fighting fascism.

08.05.2025 21:40 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Should Britain have a foreign policy doctrine? The Big Ask | No. 18.2025

Should ๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ง have a foreign policy doctrine?

We asked 5 experts in todayโ€™s #BigAsk

โœ๏ธ @willfreer.bsky.social, @garykent.bsky.social @james-rogers.bsky.social, @gracetheodoulou.bsky.social, @rgwhitman.bsky.social

#BritainsWorld

02.05.2025 13:03 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 2    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Should Britain have a foreign policy doctrine? The Big Ask | No. 18.2025

โ€˜It is difficult to finalise a foreign policy doctrine in a world which is changing at such a frenetic and frightening pace. Progressive Realism will do just fine,โ€™ argues @garykent.bsky.social, @progbrit.bsky.social

#BritainsWorld #BigAsk

02.05.2025 13:08 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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KRG Honors Pro-Kurdish Advocate Gary Kent KRG Honors Pro-Kurdish Advocate Gary Kent

Personal news. After 40 visits to the Kurdistan Region (and Baghdad and Mosul) in two decades, Iโ€™m deeply honoured by this. The journey has been stimulating and enjoyable and isnโ€™t entirely over.

22.04.2025 14:37 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 3    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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The Trumplications for Labour - Progressive Britain In his latest piece for PB, Gary Kent sets out the complex nature of the Trump administration and how Labour must approach dealing with it.

My new column examines various Trumplications for Labour.

08.04.2025 12:00 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Top-quality childcare places boost childrenโ€™s life chances and parentโ€™s work choices!

Iโ€™m delighted that two schools in Beckenham & Penge are amongst the first to get new school-based nurseries - and will support more schools to do so!

02.04.2025 14:46 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 6    ๐Ÿ” 2    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

my step father will not shut up about it, I think it might be his favourite book about borders

31.03.2025 22:25 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 66    ๐Ÿ” 2    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 6    ๐Ÿ“Œ 1
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A brilliant morning with @serailway.bsky.social to celebrate Clock House and Elmers End stations turning 161 years old!

And it was great to see so many people thanking the wonderful staff who are an important part of our community.

Looking forward to more #Railway200 celebrations soon!

01.04.2025 11:25 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 7    ๐Ÿ” 2    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Liam Conlon MP, Karin Smyth MP, Deirdre Costigan MP with Mayor of London Sadiq Khan

Liam Conlon MP, Karin Smyth MP, Deirdre Costigan MP with Mayor of London Sadiq Khan

St Patrickโ€™s Day in Trafalgar Square

St Patrickโ€™s Day in Trafalgar Square

Liam with London GAA

Liam with London GAA

Liam with Irish in Britain

Liam with Irish in Britain

Incredible atmosphere as London is awash with green for the St Patrickโ€™s Day Parade!

Iโ€™m proud to be London Irish, and to join our Mayor Sadiq Khan to celebrate the enormous contributions the Irish community make to our great city!

Lรก Fhรฉile Pรกdraig sona daoibh! โ˜˜๏ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ช

16.03.2025 15:57 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 17    ๐Ÿ” 2    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Had a great time visiting the Beckenham Dementia Cafe at St Edmundโ€™s Church today.

The Cafe provides invaluable support and friendship for people living with dementia and their carers.

All run by wonderful volunteers - and a very cute comfort dog!

06.03.2025 18:51 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 2    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Lots of teams out today in the Spring sun speaking to residents in West Wickham with a great response!

Thanks to everyone who took the time to talk to us! โ˜€๏ธ๐ŸŒน

01.03.2025 20:18 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 4    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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The Politics of Organisation and the Organisation of Politics - Progressive Britain Frequent contributor Gary Kent reflects on the ways in which political engagement can be encouraged on all levels.

Some tips on making meetings more interesting.

18.02.2025 07:17 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

clever campaigning by the TUC here

11.02.2025 10:50 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 433    ๐Ÿ” 108    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 23    ๐Ÿ“Œ 8
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๐ŸŽพ A pleasure to spend the morning with Lucas De Gouveia from Beckenham - who at 14 is already representing GB in wheelchair tennis!

Iโ€™m really proud of everything Lucas is achieving - and looking forward to supporting him to access more opportunities to play sport and excel!

08.02.2025 13:52 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 14    ๐Ÿ” 2    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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It was an honour to re-open the Beckenham Library today with the Mayor of Bromley and my friend the Baroness of Beckenham, Floella Benjamin.

Our refurbished library will be invaluable in promoting education and literacy, and building community.

Delighted to see it reopen! ๐Ÿ“š

05.02.2025 13:26 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 16    ๐Ÿ” 4    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Pleasure to meet Anthony Smith of the Westminster Foundation for Democracy which does great work as I have in the past seen in Iraqi Kurdistan. All power to his elbow.

29.01.2025 21:32 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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The referendum result - UK in a changing Europe Robert Ford examines the 2016 EU referendum [An extract from UK in a Changing Europe's report: โ€˜The Brexit Files: from referendum to resetโ€™].

๐Ÿ‘€ Would you like a sneak peek at our major new report on Brexit thatโ€™s launching tomorrowโ€ฆ?

๐Ÿ“– Have a read of our chapter on the 2016 EU referendum by @robfordmancs.bsky.social one of our fantastic expert contributors ๐Ÿ‘‡

ukandeu.ac.uk/the-referend...

27.01.2025 12:53 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 26    ๐Ÿ” 17    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 3
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Euroscepticism v. Euro-Enthusiasm: 50 Years on from the Common Market Referendum - Progressive Britain Frequent contributor Gary Kent reflects on the 50 year anniversary of the Common Market referendum and the lessons Labour must learn from its outcomes.

My latest column looks at some lessons from the Common Market referendum of 50 years ago and being on the losing side in two European polls. Feel free to repost www.progressivebritain.org/eurosceptici...

23.01.2025 16:02 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Great to meet students from St Anthonyโ€™s Primary School in Penge on their school trip to Parliament

Also enjoyed a brilliant Q&A covering everything from education, the NHS to the very popular new 358 electric bus!

22.01.2025 15:31 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 6    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

My latest column looks at social democracy in a dangerous world.

07.01.2025 16:38 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 2    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Happy New Year! ๐ŸŽ‡๐Ÿฅณ

The best fireworks weโ€™ve had yet - with thanks to our Mayor, Sir Sadiq Khan!

#NewYearsEve #LondonFireworks

01.01.2025 00:23 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 21    ๐Ÿ” 2    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0