Paul Chilton

Ukraine’s future must NOT be decided by two dictators.

“Land for peace” ? Much better, “imperialist annexation”, more like it, as Michael McFaul, former ambassador to Russia has pointed out. That’s the truth. The power of words!

Yesterday I posted two copies of my book “Brexitspeak” to friends in the EU — it took half an hour to fill in the customs form. The postmistress herself is furious about Brexit. If Labour is serious about its “reset” and the economy, then rejoin at least the Customs Union immediately!

Donald T. again. He’s not so much a King as a Don. Mafia-style extortions dressed up as “deals”. That’s Don Trump, the Godfather.

OK, it’s become clearer that Starmer’s conditions include Netanyahu accepting a 2-state solution, which makes sense.

Thank you, Chatham House! To be consistent the UK government must also cease sending arms and associated materiel to Israel — immediately.

UK lawyers have argued that recognition of a Palestine state contravenes international law — a great dilemma for supporters of recognition when international law itself is threatened. Does any legal expert out there know if Israel’s genocidal actions in Gaza would change interpretation of the law?

Apologies everyone… I did of course mean: THE UK MUST NOT SEND ANY ARMS, OR COMPONENTS OF ARMS, TO ISRAEL. OTHERWISE IT RISKS BEING COMPLICIT IN GENOCIDE.

Abdullah, you have great courage. Some of us hear you and are doing our humble best to persuade our politicians to act, and to act fast.

And another big but… the UK must send any arms, or components, to Israel. Otherwise it risks being complicit in genocide.

The UK’s recognition of Palestine is to be welcomed as part of a two-state programme. But, and it’s a big but, it makes no sense to use it as a bargaining chip, which is self-contradictory.

Are there any linguists (I.e language scientists) researching Trumpspeak? There are many relevant questions, from syntax to discourse incoherence.

Are there any linguists out there researching Trumpspeak? There are many linguistic questions to investigate, including Trump’s syntax, semantics, phonetics and discourse incoherence.

No sooner does Trump land on Scottish soil than he insults Europe and starts giving us orders to wake up and repel an “invasion” of migrants. Do we have to put up with that for the sake of a tariff “deal” he’ll drop anyway the moment it suits him?

Scots don’t own the word “havering”. It’s common across all the North of England. I’ve used it all my life and I’m from Manchester.

Take Big Money Out of Our Politics British politics is awash with money from super rich donors. In 2023, two-thirds of all private donations came from just 19 people. These so-called ‘mega donors’ enjoy privileged access to political p...

There’s a HUGE Elon Musk shaped hole in the Government’s new plans to improve our elections: shady billionaires like Musk can still donate massive amounts of money with no cap: effectively buying our democracy. Add your name to call for a cap on donations today: you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/ta...

🌍 One Earth. One Team. The UK and EU must work together to tackle climate change, reduce energy costs, and protect our environment. bsky.app/profile/euro...

Britain is muddling through... ... but with no idea where it's heading.

Timothy Garton-Ash: “If we are prepared to risk …our national existence for the defence of Europe… wouldn’t it make sense to have some say in how that Europe develops? …wouldn’t it help to get closer to your largest single market?”

timothygartonash.substack.com/p/britain-is...

If I may respectfully comment… is it not likely young Russians — and others — are brainwashed by Putin’s propaganda ? They are the psychologically vulnerable. And they too are that vicious dictator’s victims.

Trumpspeak, DeMAGAgoguery and the Destruction of Democracy. The most powerful
of today’s populist demagogues. He’s just one manifestation of the worldwide rise of the authoritarian right. And his methods are the same as I describe in my book “Brexitspeak— Demagoguery and the Decline of Democracy”.

And what is the “wider world”exactly? In today’s world academics need to turn their writings to decrying genocide, defending democracy and protecting their right to write freely in the first place.

I fear his squirming will only make him the more determined to dismantle democratic institutions and deploy his demagogic powers and talent for lying.

Tell The Government: Strengthen UK-EU Environmental Cooperation Climate change and environmental problems don't respect borders. The UK and EU must work together to protect our shared environment, tackle the climate crisis, and preserve biodiversity for future gen...

I just signed this petition calling for better cooperation with the EU on the environment. Will you add your name, too? www.europeanmovement.co.uk/uk-eu-enviro...

Shame on the UK for hosting the biggest current threat to democracy. Shame on the UK government for toadying to this lying narcissistic bully.

Macron’s visit to the UK and meetings with Starmer is more than symbolic. The threat from Russia calls for (1) security cooperation with France, the EU’s principal military power, and (2) ever closer economic cooperation leading to rejoining the EU asap, also for security reasons.

Why is Putin’s latest escalation of his brutal bombardment of Ukraine so low down the headlines? This is a critical moment not just for Ukraine but for the UK and the rest of Europe. We are being way too slow off the mark.

He has a pathological need to be admired, he’ll throw a tantrum if he thinks he’s not respected, he belittles others, and displays absurd grandiosity. These are classic traits of narcissistic personality disorder.
Not just an illness, but part and parcel of being a dictator.

Trump uses the word “beautiful” for anything he approves of, the word “evil”, just as often, for the opposite. His mind thinks in black and white, there’s no in-between for the authoritarian mind.

My Ukrainian colleague in Kyiv tells me there has been no raid like this since the start of the invasion and that it was absolutely terrifying. Not just Putin but also Trump is responsible by withholding air defence systems,