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Bill Bowring

@billbowring.bsky.social

550 followers 540 following 22 posts

Law teacher, barrister, political activist

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Political science 76%

Law 11%

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Reposted by Bill Bowring

Alison Phipps አሊሰን @alisonphipps.bsky.social · 16d

“Frustrate”

Please will someone in the HO send their new boss on a training course led by people with lived experience who have survived trafficking so she can discover whether she has a heart of stone or a heart of flesh or is just out of her depth in the complication of immigration visas

Jonathan Tranter @jonathantranter.bsky.social · 17d

"Shabana Mahmood has announced plans to change modern slavery laws to prevent migrants from making last minute attempts to 'frustrate a removal' after her bid to appeal in a trafficking case was thrown out by the court of appeal" 💀 www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

Mahmood vows to change modern slavery laws after bid to deport Eritrean man thwarted

Appeal court rejects home secretary’s attempt to appeal against blocking of return of man to France under ‘one in, one out’ deal

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by Richard Hall, Bill Bowring

Jonathan Portes @jdportes.bsky.social · 27d

Good to see my colleague @gsamaras.bsky.social on Channel 4 News discussing the dangers posed by the far-right racists marching through London today - and the need for the government to push back on their hatred and lies. [about 8 minutes in]

www.channel4.com/programmes/c...

Channel 4 News - Sat 13 Sep 2025

Channel 4's flagship news programme. Including the weather.

www.channel4.com

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Reposted by Steve Peers, Bill Bowring

anita72.bsky.social @anita72.bsky.social · 27d

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Reposted by Bill Bowring

Declassified UK @declassifieduk.org · 29d

🤩 More than 500 people have signed up to become regular monthly donors - THANK YOU!

We're hoping to reach a total of 3,000 regular givers.

If you want to support our fearless reporting please sign up today 👇 secure.declassifieduk.org/page/175488/...

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Reposted by Bill Bowring, David Whyte

The Centre for Climate Crime and Climate Justice @ccccjustice.bsky.social · Sep 9

Today we launch a major new report that reveals how British investors profit from the destruction of the third largest rainforest in the world, in West Papua.

Those investors are implicated in a brutal campaign of political repression.

Read the report here 👇👇👇

ccccjustice.org/publications/

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Reposted by Bill Bowring, David Whyte

The Centre for Climate Crime and Climate Justice @ccccjustice.bsky.social · Sep 3

Yesterday the police raided the houses of our close colleagues in Defend Our Juries. They are facing very serious charges just for protesting against a genocide.

We demand their immediate release.

Read our statement here 👇👇

ccccjustice.org/2025/09/03/e...

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Reposted by Bill Bowring

Sharon Graham @unitesharon.bsky.social · Sep 1

STRIKE!

Paying poverty wages, refusing sick pay, refusing to recognise unions and bullying our members.

Disgraceful behaviour! @unitetheunion.bsky.social and our members will not stand for it. We have tried negotiating to no avail so now GFM will see the anger of our members on the picket line.

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Reposted by Steve Peers, Bill Bowring, Glen O’Hara

Aoife O'Donoghue @aoifemod.bsky.social · Sep 1

There is nothing to this claim. Defeats all the rules of interpretation - including the object and purpose of the 1998 Agreement & subsequent practice by the UK - it is also a deeply destabilising political position (it is entirely a political position, not legal) to take.
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Glen O'Hara @gsoh31.bsky.social · Sep 1

This is just sophistry. I cannot understand how any academic has got drawn into this quagmire. All it means is 'the UK can break or try to renegotiate the two treaties and the principles that underpin them'. Of course that's true! One might as well say 'moon made of rock'. So what? 🤷‍♂️

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Reposted by Bill Bowring

Steve Peers @stevepeers.bsky.social · Sep 1

"unlawful and unfounded asylum seekers" is just gibberish. Presumably Straw means unlawful *entrants* and unfounded *claims*. But given that he is being sold here as a Big Ass Lawyer, his lack of legal precision is just embarrassing.

Anthony Glees @anthonyglees.bsky.social · Sep 1

I’ve never been a Straw fan, from his earlier NUS & anti-EEC Barbara Castle days (he also let Nazi war criminal Kalejs evade justice in 2000).
Now he pops up to support Ekins Policy Exchange’s house lawyer. Ugh.

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Reposted by Bill Bowring

Douwe Korff @douwekorff.bsky.social · Sep 1

“Few have made it easier for Reform to fill the void than Starmer, who could have hardly done more if he had subletted Downing Street out to Farage and washed the towels.”

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Did Labour really think it was a good idea to let Farage hijack the summer headlines? | Frances Ryan

The entire frontbench seemed to be asleep on the beach while the Reform leader made hay with his anti-migrant bile, says Guardian columnist Frances Ryan

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by Bill Bowring

Douwe Korff @douwekorff.bsky.social · Sep 1

As @davidallengreen.bsky.social points out: “The ECHR is integral to the Good Friday Agreement. And under Article 1 it may not be open to the United Kingdom to be a party to the ECHR and pick-and-choose who within its jurisdiction can have the benefit of the rights.”

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Reposted by Steve Peers, Bill Bowring, Rory O’Connell

Colm O'Cinneide @colmocinneide.bsky.social · Sep 1

The report also glosses over - in a single paragraph! - how the GFA refers to the ECHR (not 'ECHR righs') as being a key 'safeguard' of the Agreement. That's the single most relevant clause in the whole text, and the report just wriggles away from it.

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Reposted by Steve Peers, Bill Bowring, Anand Menon , and 3 more Steve Peers, Bill Bowring, Anand Menon, Tom Griffin, Rory O’Connell, Glen O’Hara

John Springford @johnspringford.bsky.social · Sep 1

It's fascinating watching the same cycle of f%¥£ing around and finding out happening. Some anti-ECHR lawyers in Britain might say this, but Irish and EU politicians think differently, and politics will determine their reaction, not law alone.

archive.ph/BpWNN

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Reposted by Bill Bowring, Jeremy Ginges

Lawyers for Palestinian Human Rights @lphr-lawyers.bsky.social · Sep 1

RSF and Avaaz launch international media operation calling for the protection of Palestinian journalists: “At the rate journalists are being killed in Gaza by the Israeli army, there will soon be no one left to keep you informed” rsf.org/en/rsf-and-a...

RSF and Avaaz launch international media operation: “At the rate journalists are being killed in Gaza by the Israeli army, there will soon be no one left to keep you informed”

Hundreds of media outlets, brought together by the campaigning platform Avaaz and Reporters Without Borders (RSF), are waging a campaign calling for the protection of Palestinian journalists in Gaza, ...

rsf.org

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Reposted by Bill Bowring

Prem Sikka @premnsikka.bsky.social · Sep 1

Curse of private equity.

PE has devoured retail, supermarkets, vets, care homes, healthcare.

Now it is skateboarding in the US.

Staff cuts, up to 90% wage cut, asset stripping, high debt, low investment, price hikes.

PE has no long term interest. It devours and is expanding in the UK.

Private Equity Ripped the Heart Out of Skateboarding

Multiple buyouts and bankruptcies have ruined iconic brands and hollowed out skateboarding culture. It’s our financialized economy in miniature.

prospect.org

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Reposted by Jonathan Portes, Bill Bowring, Sarah Hall

Anand Menon @anandmenon.bsky.social · Sep 1

‘The legal position is therefore clear: yes there is provision for a state to leave the ECHR and the Refugee Convention. But doing so comes with both legal and political consequences.’ H/T @cbarnard.bsky.social ukandeu.ac.uk/leaving-the-...

Leaving the ECHR and the Refugee Convention - UK in a changing Europe

Catherine Barnard explains the political and legal consequences of leaving the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and the Refugee Convention.

ukandeu.ac.uk

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Reposted by Bill Bowring

HEKS - Hilfswerk der Evangelisch-reformierten Kirche Schweiz @heks-ch.bsky.social · Sep 1

Holcim und die Frage: Wer zahlt für die Klimakrise?

Ausführlicher Artikel auf republik.ch mit Blick auf die Hauptversammlung vom 3. September in Zug.

@ecchr.bsky.social @republikatv.bsky.social
www.republik.ch/2025/09/01/h...

Holcim und die Frage: Wer zahlt für die Klimakrise?

Holcim muss sich als erstes Schweizer Unternehmen einer Klimaklage stellen.

www.republik.ch

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Reposted by Bill Bowring

Steve Peers @stevepeers.bsky.social · Sep 1

Essex police have contradicted a false far right claim retweeted by Musk to millions of followers

Sunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · Aug 31

The X owner Elon Musk has got 3 milliion views for sharing the view she was arrested for flying a Union flag

A spokesperson for Essex Police said her arrest was "categorically not for flying a Union Flag", but because the Civic Centre was not an area where protesters were allowed.

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Reposted by Steve Peers, Steven French, Bill Bowring , and 3 more Steve Peers, Steven French, Bill Bowring, Simon Wren‐Lewis, Alison Phipps, James Connelly

The Guardian @theguardian.com · Aug 31

UK to make it harder for refugees to bring family members to country

Home secretary to announce overhaul of family reunion policy in attempt to quell fractious immigration debate Ministers are planning to make it harder for refugees to bring family members to the UK as part of a package of measures that Yvette Cooper will announce on Monday as she looks to get a grip on the fractious debate over irregular migration. The home secretary will tell MPs she plans to make a number of changes to the way asylum cases are treated, including to the family reunion policy, which officials believe is acting as a magnet for people crossing the Channel. Continue reading...

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by Jonathan Portes, Bill Bowring, Laurent Pech , and 2 more Jonathan Portes, Bill Bowring, Laurent Pech, Glen O’Hara, Nikki Fairchild

Steve Peers @stevepeers.bsky.social · Aug 31

Again - the reason that the Good Friday Agreement locks in the ECHR is that the UK had repeatedly been held accountable by the European Court of Human Rights for human rights breaches during the Troubles - while national courts had failed to do so, even upholding miscarriages of justice

Naomi Smith @pimlicat.bsky.social · Aug 31

In 30 pages, the Good Friday Agreement cites the ECHR seven times as an essential safeguard

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...

Claims NI peace deal stops UK leaving ECHR ‘entirely groundless’ – think tank

The Policy Exchange claims public debate on human rights law reform had been ‘distorted’.

www.independent.co.uk

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Reposted by Steve Peers, Mark E. Schaffer, Bill Bowring , and 5 more Steve Peers, Mark E. Schaffer, Bill Bowring, Tom Griffin, Margot C. Finn, Rory O’Connell, Glen O’Hara, Colm O’Cinneíde

dag @davidallengreen.bsky.social · Aug 31

Apparently “leading” lawyers and “experts” say that the Good Friday Agreement is no obstacle to UK leaving ECHR.

Me, being neither, merely sets out what the Good Friday Agreement expressly says.

davidallengreen.com/2023/07/why-...

Why the United Kingdom government cannot leave the ECHR without either breaching or re-negotiating the Good Friday Agreement

1st July 2023 * The overlooked obstacle to the United Kingdom withdrawing from the ECHR * From time to time the demand comes from a government minister, or from one of their political and media sup…

davidallengreen.com

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Reposted by Bill Bowring, John L. Cotter

Steve Peers @stevepeers.bsky.social · Aug 31

For a view on the ECHR/Good Friday Agreement from a leading lawyer who is *not* writing for a hyperpartisan "thinktank"/RW lobbying outfit, see @davidallengreen.bsky.social -
davidallengreen.com/2023/07/why-...

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Reposted by Bill Bowring

Labour Hub @labour-hub.bsky.social · Aug 31

Biggest ever aid flotilla sets sail for Gaza

Two dozen boats left Barcelona today, Sunday 31st August, carrying hundreds of people and kilos of food towards Gaza, in the largest ever bid to break Israel’s siege and open a humanitarian aid corridor, report Novara Media. Greta Thunberg and Brazilian…

Biggest ever aid flotilla sets sail for Gaza

Two dozen boats left Barcelona today, Sunday 31st August, carrying hundreds of people and kilos of food towards Gaza, in the largest ever bid to break Israel’s siege and open a humanitarian aid corridor, report Novara Media. Greta Thunberg and Brazilian humanitarian Thiago Ávila are among a steering committee of activists leading the mission from on board. Boats varying in size from small sailing yachts to large cruisers left the Spanish city at 3pm, carrying delegations from 44 countries, including South Africa, Ireland, Malaysia, Great Britain and the United States.

labourhub.org.uk

Reposted by Steve Peers, Bill Bowring

Ed Davey @eddavey.libdems.org.uk · Aug 31

Tomorrow I will be a tabling a motion to force the government to release the legal advice it has received on Israel's military action in Gaza and breaches of international law.

Ministers cannot turn a blind eye to this humanitarian catastrophe any longer.

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Reposted by Jan W. Mueller, Elizabeth Saunders, Richard S.J. Tol , and 5 more Jan W. Mueller, Elizabeth Saunders, Richard S.J. Tol, Will Jennings, Steve Peers, Bill Bowring, Jacob T. Levy, Amy W. Ando

Daniel Drezner @dandrezner.bsky.social · Aug 31

No big whoop, just Donald Trump pissing away three decades of U.S. diplomacy due to a fit of personal pique. danieldrezner.substack.com/p/donald-tru...

Donald Trump's Biggest, Dumbest Personalist Foreign Policy Flop Yet

The Toddler in Chief pisses away three decades of patient U.S. diplomacy towards India.

danieldrezner.substack.com

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Reposted by Steven French, Bill Bowring, Holger Nehring

Farrukh @implausibleblog.bsky.social · Aug 31

Bridget Phillipson, "Labour believes there needs to be reform to the ECHR"

Trevor Philips, "You want to see changes in the ECHR?"

Bridget Phillipson, "Home Secretary Yvette Cooper is looking at Article 8 Provisions to see if they need updating"

*Article 8: Right for private and family life*

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Reposted by Olga Onuch, Steve Peers, Bill Bowring

Lawrence Freedman @ldfreedman.bsky.social · Aug 31

Latest post examines the continuing Ukrainian campaign against Russian oil refineries, which has caused shortages and price rises, looking at its history and assessing its impact (£/free trial), samf.substack.com/p/the-energy...

The Energy War Intensifies

Ukraine’s Campaign against Russia’s Oil Refineries

samf.substack.com

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Reposted by Steve Peers, Bill Bowring

Full Fact @fullfact.org · Aug 29

A fake Daily Mail article about the government considering a ban on displaying England flags in public is circulating online.

The Daily Mail said it published no such article, and the government also confirmed it has no plans to do this. Our fact check: fullfact.org/culture-and-...

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Reposted by Bill Bowring

Steve Peers @stevepeers.bsky.social · Aug 28

The CJEU has ruled that the rulings of the Court of Arbitration for Sport must be subject to judicial review in courts in the EU, as regards issues of EU public policy.

Analysis by Saksham Agrawal - eulawanalysis.blogspot.com/2025/08/rfc-...

RFC Seraing v FIFA: Compulsory Arbitration, Judicial Review, and a move to Dublin?

Saksham Agrawal , student at National Law School of India University, Bangalore Photo credit : Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausan...

eulawanalysis.blogspot.com

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Reposted by Bill Bowring, David Whyte

The Centre for Climate Crime and Climate Justice @ccccjustice.bsky.social · Aug 1

Just published!!!!

CCCCJ member @billspence.bsky.social‬ reviews 'Overshoot', a book which seeks to explain why the world is carrying on as if climate change is a conspiracy (if though we all know its real)..

👇👇👇

ccccjustice.org/2025/07/31/t...

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