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GylesNaMopaleen

@gylesnamopaleen.bsky.social

2.1K followers 2.5K following 16K posts

Irish migrant living in Switzerland.. Post mostly about brexit with an Irish/European slant. Pseudonym is a deliberately misspelt hat tip to Brian O Nolan, the Irish novelist, playwright & contrarian. No DMs please.

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GylesNaMopaleen @gylesnamopaleen.bsky.social · Jan 29

As we edge closer to "brexit day" starting midnight 31st Jan, I'm reminded of how an old neighbour in London sent me this clip of his british sovereignty that was delivered, bang on time - in fairness, the next day.

I'm also minded to share my Favourite Brexit Benefits 🧵

"Happy Brexit day"!

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GylesNaMopaleen @gylesnamopaleen.bsky.social · 10m

I pass through london often, from CH and prefer train to plane now. Much more pleasant experience.

My favourite thing to do is to go up to the "they're just punishing us" or "we were never in schengen" types onboard and explain this is all because of brexit. quietly. as if it's a big secret.

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The new EES checks starting after Paris 2024 requires all non-EU nationals to provide:

☑️ETIAS visa
☑️Fingerprints
☑️Criminal Check
☑️Full Bio Scan
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/british-travellers-told-to-expect-checks-under-eus-entry-exit-system

infographic explaining the EES checks.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/british-travellers-told-to-expect-checks-under-eus-entry-exit-system

GylesNaMopaleen @gylesnamopaleen.bsky.social · 10m

yep. thing is, some think it's all new. it's not. britons became non-eu nationals in 2021 and I have had to put up with the massive eejits in the queues at St Pancras for the Eurostar since.

the "they're just punishing us" brigade, clueless to schengen checks or joining the dots with brexit.

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GylesNaMopaleen @gylesnamopaleen.bsky.social · 52m

for those interested, the mid term polls in NI look like this.

Reunification/EU: 54%
Unionist/brexit: 41%
Independents: 5%

Sinn Fein 26% (Reunification)
DUP 17% (british unionist)
TUV 13% (british unionist)
Alliance Party 12% (unaligned)
SDLP 11% (Reunification)
UUP 11% (british unionist)
Others 3%
Green Party 3% (Unaligned)
Aontu 2% (reunification)

Screengrab of a post:

"Quick splainer of the party names for thos unfamiliar:"
Sinn Fein 26% (Reunification)
DUP 17% (british unionist)
TUV 13% (british unionist)
Alliance Party 12% (unaligned)
SDLP 11% (Reunification)
UUP 11% (british unionist)
Others 3%
Green Party 3% (Unaligned)
Aontu 2% (reunification)

GylesNaMopaleen @gylesnamopaleen.bsky.social · 53m

spot on. Nesbitts UUP party knew what was coming and didn't campaign for brexit like the DUP did.

this is from may 2016 before the vote. 👇

The preferred option for the UKG was always a sea border. PM (David Cameron): "not on the physical separation of NI from Republic"

highlighted text from a report from may 2016.

"The UUP told us they had been told by the UK Government that it did not envisage policing the border with the Republic and that the Government’s preferred solution would be to put in place a more robust system of checks at relevant ports and airports on the mainland. Mike Nesbitt told us: “The Prime Minister indicated pretty clearly that it would not be on the physical separation of Northern Ireland from the Republic but it is more likely to be at Stranraer, Cairnryan, Heathrow, Gatwick, our ports and our airports"

https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201617/cmselect/cmniaf/48/4806.htm#_idTextAnchor026

front page of a NI Affairs committee report from May 2016 highlighting that the preferred solution for the UK Gov (for policing & security) in the event of brexit, was a border in the Irish sea.

https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201617/cmselect/cmniaf/48/4806.htm#_idTextAnchor026

Reposted by GylesNaMopaleen

Aoife Nolan @aoifenolan.bsky.social · 2h

Conor Gearty died a month ago yesterday. He was deeply committed to human rights law without idealising it. He recognised its power & value while acknowledging its limitations (& those of the people engaging with it). He was also an exceptional lawyer. This is a fitting final piece in the @lrb.co.uk

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GylesNaMopaleen @gylesnamopaleen.bsky.social · 1h

fun fact: NI leaving the UK, to re-join Ireland, brings an end to the gov of Ireland act 1920 & Act of Union 1801.

An end to the UK Union of GB & NI.

I don't remember that on the side of a big red bus in 2016, do you?

graphic depicting how isolated brexit britain is in the European community, sitting alongside Belarus & Russia, outside EU Schengen, EU Customs Union, EEA, EU and EFTA.

Northern Ireland is still largely in the EU SM for goods.
Gibraltar joins EU schengen (via Spain) and the EU Customs Union

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GylesNaMopaleen @gylesnamopaleen.bsky.social · 17h

no way. uncanny? right?

GylesNaMopaleen @gylesnamopaleen.bsky.social · Mar 5

one of the strangest reactions from the british is the way they point the finger across the pond, aghast at Americans for electing a hopeless incompetent narcissist, from a wealthy background, peddling r/w populism and spaffing nonsense into high office!!

It's truly extraordinary.

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One of my favourite things right now is watching britons pointing the finger across the pond, laughing at americans for electing a hopeless narcissist, from a wealthy background, peddling r/w populism, into high office.

GylesNaMopaleen @gylesnamopaleen.bsky.social · 19h

arlene foster did spearhead a "UK Together" conference in London 3 years ago but I hear it didn't get much traction.

The tradition of inheriting religion, poliitics & hate from your parents in NI has diminished a lot recently.

NI youth see their future in the EU, with Ireland. Not england.

Arlene Foster launches Together UK Foundation…

Ireland’s Future has been getting all the attention lately, and many people have been asking where is the organisation advocating for staying in the Union? Arlene Foster thinks she has the answer with...

sluggerotoole.com

GylesNaMopaleen @gylesnamopaleen.bsky.social · 19h

Anyone paying attention for the last few decades would say the same, Ruth.

I'm amazed people were surprised in england when the Jewish leader of the Green party in the UK said this 👇

I visit england often and was genuinely surprised an english politician was speaking with honesty.

GylesNaMopaleen @gylesnamopaleen.bsky.social · 2d

okay, brace yourselves for this folks.

An english politician speaking honestly and (in my view) accurately, without a hint of spin, racism or rhetoric. And the audience clapped!

This is not AI. this actually happened on BBC last night. 👇

(the new leader of the UK Greens Party: Zack Polanski)

Reposted by GylesNaMopaleen

Robert Reich @rbreich.bsky.social · 20h

Cartoon by John Deering.

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GylesNaMopaleen @gylesnamopaleen.bsky.social · 20h

Nesbitt is correct. the three main parties in britain are all pro brexit with ECHR "concerns". pandering to english nationalists...not people in Scotland or NI.

Latest YouGov Westminster voting intention (5-6 October 2025)

Reform UK: 27% (-2 from 28-29 Sept)
Labour: 20% (-2)
Conservatives: 17% (+1)
Lib Dems: 17% (+2)
Greens: 12% (+1)
SNP: 4% (+1)

GylesNaMopaleen @gylesnamopaleen.bsky.social · 20h

he's right. the three main parties are all pro brexit with ECHR "concerns".

pandering to english nationalists...not people in Scotland or NI.

GylesNaMopaleen @gylesnamopaleen.bsky.social · 20h

Nesbitt is correct. the three parties in england: labour, reform & cons are all pro brexit with ECHR concerns.

that is pandering to english nationalists, not voters in Scotland or NI.

RTÉ News @news.rte.ie · 22h

English nationalism is the biggest threat to Northern Ireland's place in the union, according to the leader of the Ulster Unionist Party.

English nationalism biggest threat to union, says Nesbitt

English nationalism is the biggest threat to Northern Ireland's place in the union, according to the leader of the Ulster Unionist Party.

www.rte.ie

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GylesNaMopaleen @gylesnamopaleen.bsky.social · 20h

GBeebies

GylesNaMopaleen @gylesnamopaleen.bsky.social · 22h

cheers J. you're welcome.

A few unionists in there, like the DUP leader Gavin Robinson, who don't post often on here. Some are reluctant to even discuss the possibility of reunification.

GylesNaMopaleen @gylesnamopaleen.bsky.social · 22h

the maga meltdown over the nobel prize was quite something.

GylesNaMopaleen @gylesnamopaleen.bsky.social · 2d

BREAKING: Norway wins the Nobel Prize for Trolling.......after giving the peace price to a pro-democracy, woke, woman who is also latino from Venuzuela.

GylesNaMopaleen @gylesnamopaleen.bsky.social · 2d

GylesNaMopaleen @gylesnamopaleen.bsky.social · 23h

quite something when even hamas (whose leaders have an ICC war crimes arrest warrant issues against them) don't want anything to do with Tony Blair too.

GylesNaMopaleen @gylesnamopaleen.bsky.social · 23h

the UKgov famously gave oligarchs 30-days notice to "unwind their assets", even sell football clubs.

bearded guys dad is so close to putin, he's personally sanctioned by Ukraine. bearded guy is also a member of UK parliament for life - in the House of Lards (sic).

Englands Trump, boris johnson, standing beside bearded russian guy, whose father is so close to putin, he is personally sanctioned by Ukraine. Bearded russian guy is also a member of UK parliament now for life!

https://www.bazonline.ch/oligarchen-freund-macht-boris-johnson-aerger-951580909395

GylesNaMopaleen @gylesnamopaleen.bsky.social · 23h

(for those not familiar with that cultural reference, google liz truss)

GylesNaMopaleen @gylesnamopaleen.bsky.social · 23h

I'm going for iceberg lettuce.

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GylesNaMopaleen @gylesnamopaleen.bsky.social · 23h

I hear they have a tv channel called GBNEWS in the UK now for people who can't read.

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GylesNaMopaleen @gylesnamopaleen.bsky.social · 23h

This is an interesting topic. The EUs new Single Capital Market has supplementary pensions as part of the goals/strategy.

I'm not an expert on it but remember a policy paper on same a while back.

www.suerf.org/publications...

5 goals for the EU single market for capital.

Pensions & Welfare
Green / Digital transition
Innovation
Private Risk Sharing & resilians
Inclusiveness & convergence.

GylesNaMopaleen @gylesnamopaleen.bsky.social · 23h

passing through Charles De Gaulle in 2023, I spent 30 minutes waiting for an english pal who was told to "GET IN THE BREXIT QUEUE!!" when he chanced his arm in the EU/EEA one with an old burgundy red british passport.

In Germany, I hear EES gates for non-EU Nationals say "good luck" in english.

Ken Tindell @kentindell.bsky.social · 23h

Another one for that book Benefits Of Brexit: four hours to catch up on all one’s podcasts.

UK travellers should expect

UK holidaymakers are being warned to expect four-hour queues as a new EU border system comes into force.

apple.news

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GylesNaMopaleen @gylesnamopaleen.bsky.social · 1d

in fairness, Zack Polanski didn't call trump a "Racist". He called him a "Racist Misogynist".

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GylesNaMopaleen @gylesnamopaleen.bsky.social · 1d

I often post the same on both and marvel at the difference in engagement.

My Top #10 brexit benefits got almost 1million engagements on the other place (if the stats are to be believed) x.com/gylesnamopal...

on here, less than a few hundred.
bsky.app/profile/gyle...

The opposite is true now.