Reposted by Cosmoiselle
Will be interesting to see how many of the people complaining about the cost of Erasmus are also equally (actually 24 times more) upset about the triple lock on pensions, which costs about £12bn a year more than earnings indexing...
December 17, 2025 at 11:13 AM
Will be interesting to see how many of the people complaining about the cost of Erasmus are also equally (actually 24 times more) upset about the triple lock on pensions, which costs about £12bn a year more than earnings indexing...
Reposted by Cosmoiselle
Ex-Labour metro mayor and Your Party organiser Jamie Driscoll joins Greens
Ex-Labour metro mayor and Your Party organiser Jamie Driscoll joins Greens
Move by former North of Tyne mayor comes days after five London Labour councillors defect to Zack Polanski’s party
*
UK politics live – latest updates
Jamie Driscoll, the former Labour metro mayor for North of Tyne who later played a role setting up Your Party, has joined the Greens, the party has announced.
It comes two days after five Labour councillors in the north London borough of Brent defected to the Greens, saying they were disillusioned about the party’s direction under Keir Starmer. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
December 17, 2025 at 11:06 AM
Ex-Labour metro mayor and Your Party organiser Jamie Driscoll joins Greens
Reposted by Cosmoiselle
It is remarkable how quickly the loonie right has gone from 'young people are pathetic, they would never fight for our great country' to 'we hate Britain so much that we wouldn't even fight Russia for it'
December 17, 2025 at 9:18 AM
It is remarkable how quickly the loonie right has gone from 'young people are pathetic, they would never fight for our great country' to 'we hate Britain so much that we wouldn't even fight Russia for it'
Reposted by Cosmoiselle
Why can't immigrants who come to the UK integrate as well as this?
December 17, 2025 at 9:55 AM
Why can't immigrants who come to the UK integrate as well as this?
Reposted by Cosmoiselle
💥📉 A fresh bombshell poll in Hungary by a reputable pollster shows Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz trailing opposition leader Péter Magyar’s TISZA, 36–53. Despite throwing everything at Magyar in recent weeks, the gap has only widened.
Just four months to go until Hungary's parliamentary election.
Just four months to go until Hungary's parliamentary election.
December 17, 2025 at 10:32 AM
💥📉 A fresh bombshell poll in Hungary by a reputable pollster shows Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz trailing opposition leader Péter Magyar’s TISZA, 36–53. Despite throwing everything at Magyar in recent weeks, the gap has only widened.
Just four months to go until Hungary's parliamentary election.
Just four months to go until Hungary's parliamentary election.
Honestly, makes you want to vomit 😒
IDK ... if the big AI companies really were primarily concerned with serving humanity with their products, then why do they hire people like Osborne (OpenAI) and Sunak (Anthropic) who have a less than stellar record serving wider humanity in their previous roles ...
Good morning, Asia. While you were sleeping, one of our most-read stories was about the former UK chancellor’s role in the start-up’s effort to spread ‘democratic’ artificial intelligence for the world. ft.trib.al/znQubbw
December 17, 2025 at 9:58 AM
Honestly, makes you want to vomit 😒
Reposted by Cosmoiselle
Now confirmed
EXCL: An agreement to rejoin Erasmus – the EU’s student exchange programme – set to be announced on Wednesday as part of UK government’s drive towards closer relations with Brussels.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/d...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/d...
UK to rejoin EU’s Erasmus student exchange programme
Exclusive: British students will be able to participate in EU-wide scheme from January 2027, sources say
www.theguardian.com
December 17, 2025 at 9:41 AM
Now confirmed
Reposted by Cosmoiselle
Britain could have joined Erasmus five years ago; an agreement on funding was completed between negotiators but vetoed “at the very last minute” by Boris Johnson. From Stefaan de Rynck’s book
December 17, 2025 at 9:13 AM
Britain could have joined Erasmus five years ago; an agreement on funding was completed between negotiators but vetoed “at the very last minute” by Boris Johnson. From Stefaan de Rynck’s book
Reposted by Cosmoiselle
Trump’s $10bn lawsuit against the BBC is a threat to our democracy which would hit every licence fee payer in the pocket.
The Prime Minister must stand up for our BBC and call on Trump to drop it.
The Prime Minister must stand up for our BBC and call on Trump to drop it.
December 16, 2025 at 6:32 PM
Trump’s $10bn lawsuit against the BBC is a threat to our democracy which would hit every licence fee payer in the pocket.
The Prime Minister must stand up for our BBC and call on Trump to drop it.
The Prime Minister must stand up for our BBC and call on Trump to drop it.
Reposted by Cosmoiselle
The crucial difference is now they are unpopular with no route to becoming more popular, and a series of tax rises that are hurting growth, making them more unpopular, without raising enough money to turn around public services.
December 16, 2025 at 11:04 AM
The crucial difference is now they are unpopular with no route to becoming more popular, and a series of tax rises that are hurting growth, making them more unpopular, without raising enough money to turn around public services.
Even an ascendent Reform probably wouldn't be able to confront the domestic political implications of an outbreak of international conflict (with which the UK was directly involved), or a global pandemic, but the govt would very much be in 'clutching of straws' territory here... 🤔
Being unpopular is what the first two years of the parliament are *for*. The problem is that it is hard to see, looking at the government's plans, how they are going to become more popular by the end of the parliament by the route they have chosen.
December 16, 2025 at 12:24 PM
Even an ascendent Reform probably wouldn't be able to confront the domestic political implications of an outbreak of international conflict (with which the UK was directly involved), or a global pandemic, but the govt would very much be in 'clutching of straws' territory here... 🤔
Here today, gone tomorrow...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
US puts £31bn tech ‘prosperity deal’ with Britain on ice
Pledge to invest billions in UK paused, with Washington citing lack of progress on trade barriers across pond
www.theguardian.com
December 16, 2025 at 8:14 AM
Here today, gone tomorrow...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Another one...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Fear of crime and migration fuels Chile's swing to the right
Chile has become the latest country in the region to elect a right-wing president.
www.bbc.co.uk
December 15, 2025 at 10:42 PM
Another one...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Cosmoiselle
I mean also like, I *am* a journalist but I don't think it's my solemn duty to get shouted out and get sent death and rape threats most days just because I dare to exist as a woman online lol, amazingly it was never part of the job description, I can do my job without Twitter!
"Bluesky is an echo chamber."
"Bluesky doesn't have enough reach"
"Liberals must return to X to challenge the far right"
I'm not a tech bro or a journalist. Your priorities are not my priorities. Stop telling me I need to do anything other than chat about comics & telly with people who seem nice.
"Bluesky doesn't have enough reach"
"Liberals must return to X to challenge the far right"
I'm not a tech bro or a journalist. Your priorities are not my priorities. Stop telling me I need to do anything other than chat about comics & telly with people who seem nice.
December 15, 2025 at 10:57 AM
I mean also like, I *am* a journalist but I don't think it's my solemn duty to get shouted out and get sent death and rape threats most days just because I dare to exist as a woman online lol, amazingly it was never part of the job description, I can do my job without Twitter!
In the article, a lot of emphasis put on other political parties, as well as media etc., parroting & so enabling/ making acceptable Reform's messaging. Implication they're only jumping on bandwagon.. so why wld they do it? Or, rather, which came first - the racist voters or the racist politicians?
'This is one of those twilight-zone moments in British politics, where it seems something is going to “cut through” any minute now. For a moment it seems as if it absolutely will. And then, there’s a loss of momentum and a return to the status quo.'
Welcome to the twilight zone where Nigel Farage can be accused of racism yet still lead the polls | Nesrine Malik
After weeks of allegations of schoolboy racism, the Reform leader is doubling down. And our political establishment is allowing it, says Guardian columnist Nesrine Malik
www.theguardian.com
December 15, 2025 at 10:44 AM
In the article, a lot of emphasis put on other political parties, as well as media etc., parroting & so enabling/ making acceptable Reform's messaging. Implication they're only jumping on bandwagon.. so why wld they do it? Or, rather, which came first - the racist voters or the racist politicians?
Reposted by Cosmoiselle
Beijing and Hong Kong officials have welcomed the guilty verdict in media mogul Jimmy Lai's national security case, while press freedom watchdogs have slammed the ruling. In full: buff.ly/SkRfBrn
Beijing, HK officials praise Jimmy Lai's verdict, press freedom NGOs slam ruling
Beijing and Hong Kong officials have welcomed the guilty verdict in media mogul Jimmy Lai's national security case, while press freedom watchdogs have slammed the ruling.
buff.ly
December 15, 2025 at 9:30 AM
Beijing and Hong Kong officials have welcomed the guilty verdict in media mogul Jimmy Lai's national security case, while press freedom watchdogs have slammed the ruling. In full: buff.ly/SkRfBrn
Also, obvs, important to look at the rise of Farage in a global context, and how he's been able to ride the crest of an international right-wing wave (although he's likely an original impetus, himself, of that broad wave).
Welcome to the twilight zone where Nigel Farage can be accused of racism yet still lead the polls | Nesrine Malik
Welcome to the twilight zone where Nigel Farage can be accused of racism yet still lead the polls | Nesrine Malik
After weeks of allegations of schoolboy racism, the Reform leader is doubling down. And our political establishment is allowing it, says Guardian columnist Nesrine Malik
www.theguardian.com
December 15, 2025 at 9:30 AM
Also, obvs, important to look at the rise of Farage in a global context, and how he's been able to ride the crest of an international right-wing wave (although he's likely an original impetus, himself, of that broad wave).
Reposted by Cosmoiselle
Maybe I'm being too cynical again, but I thought the racism was *why* he was leading the polls...
It's not like anyone didn't know.
It's not like anyone didn't know.
Welcome to the twilight zone where Nigel Farage can be accused of racism yet still lead the polls | Nesrine Malik
Welcome to the twilight zone where Nigel Farage can be accused of racism yet still lead the polls | Nesrine Malik
After weeks of allegations of schoolboy racism, the Reform leader is doubling down. And our political establishment is allowing it, says Guardian columnist Nesrine Malik
www.theguardian.com
December 15, 2025 at 7:43 AM
Maybe I'm being too cynical again, but I thought the racism was *why* he was leading the polls...
It's not like anyone didn't know.
It's not like anyone didn't know.
Reposted by Cosmoiselle
Robert Sapolsky points out people generally aren't opposed to violence, they are opposed to the out-groups violence. Same here, Farage is racist but part of the English nationalist in-group so his racism isn't as bad as it would be if he was part of an out-group.
Welcome to the twilight zone where Nigel Farage can be accused of racism yet still lead the polls | Nesrine Malik
Welcome to the twilight zone where Nigel Farage can be accused of racism yet still lead the polls | Nesrine Malik
After weeks of allegations of schoolboy racism, the Reform leader is doubling down. And our political establishment is allowing it, says Guardian columnist Nesrine Malik
www.theguardian.com
December 15, 2025 at 7:46 AM
Robert Sapolsky points out people generally aren't opposed to violence, they are opposed to the out-groups violence. Same here, Farage is racist but part of the English nationalist in-group so his racism isn't as bad as it would be if he was part of an out-group.
Reposted by Cosmoiselle
Exclusive: Reform overtook the Tories as the most referenced opposition party on both the BBC and ITV.
“Reform UK was the dominant party in more than twice as many stories as the Conservatives and just under four times more stories than the Liberal Democrats."
www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-...
“Reform UK was the dominant party in more than twice as many stories as the Conservatives and just under four times more stories than the Liberal Democrats."
www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-...
Exclusive: Reform overtakes the Conservatives in media mentions
New research from Cardiff University finds Reform is now treated as the opposition party on mainstream news shows
www.newstatesman.com
December 12, 2025 at 1:42 PM
Exclusive: Reform overtook the Tories as the most referenced opposition party on both the BBC and ITV.
“Reform UK was the dominant party in more than twice as many stories as the Conservatives and just under four times more stories than the Liberal Democrats."
www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-...
“Reform UK was the dominant party in more than twice as many stories as the Conservatives and just under four times more stories than the Liberal Democrats."
www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-...
See recent release of political prisoners in Belarus... joyful and so welcome, whilst also being rather unsettling in terms of an apparent US embrace of Lukushenko 😬
“This is not America having priorities that don’t involve Europe. It is not isolationism. It is America taking sides with Russia against Europe, because one of America’s two political parties now sees Russian autocracy as preferable to European democracy.”
Trump’s Long-Term Damage
The things we won’t be able to fix even if we wanted to.
www.thebulwark.com
December 13, 2025 at 9:13 PM
See recent release of political prisoners in Belarus... joyful and so welcome, whilst also being rather unsettling in terms of an apparent US embrace of Lukushenko 😬
Reposted by Cosmoiselle
BBC coverage of Nigel Farage and Reform UK under scrutiny on latest Newswatch. From midnight Fri on link/Sat 745am on BBC1 Breakfast www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
BBC News - Newswatch, 13/12/2025
Your views on the coverage of events by BBC News.
www.bbc.co.uk
December 12, 2025 at 3:55 PM
BBC coverage of Nigel Farage and Reform UK under scrutiny on latest Newswatch. From midnight Fri on link/Sat 745am on BBC1 Breakfast www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
Can only think wld be helpful for mainstream parties to focus on proving themselves actively, truly listening to ppl, to counteract feelings of exclusion, of being on 'outside' & made to feel stupid, other & 'passe'. Is it feeling 'less than' & outside socially-sanctioned that's fuelling dynamic? 👇
Westminster Voting Intention:
RFM: 31% (=)
LAB: 20% (-1)
CON: 18% (+1)
LDM: 13% (+2)
GRN: 12% (-1)
SNP: 3% (=)
Via @opiniumresearch.bsky.social, 10-12 Dec.
Changes w/ 26-28 Nov.
RFM: 31% (=)
LAB: 20% (-1)
CON: 18% (+1)
LDM: 13% (+2)
GRN: 12% (-1)
SNP: 3% (=)
Via @opiniumresearch.bsky.social, 10-12 Dec.
Changes w/ 26-28 Nov.
December 13, 2025 at 8:39 PM
Can only think wld be helpful for mainstream parties to focus on proving themselves actively, truly listening to ppl, to counteract feelings of exclusion, of being on 'outside' & made to feel stupid, other & 'passe'. Is it feeling 'less than' & outside socially-sanctioned that's fuelling dynamic? 👇
Reposted by Cosmoiselle
Sobering but acute analysis.
"The US can no longer be relied on... Rather any US involvement will be transactional, and the UK needs to rapidly unpick 80 years of defence integration with, and dependence on, the US."
✍️ Andrew Dorman on Starmer's defence dilemma & the US National Security Strategy
ukandeu.ac.uk/starmers-def...
✍️ Andrew Dorman on Starmer's defence dilemma & the US National Security Strategy
ukandeu.ac.uk/starmers-def...
Starmer’s defence dilemma - UK in a changing Europe
Andrew M Dorman reflects on UK defence policy and argues that while the UK must deintegrate its defence capabilities from the US and implement the recommendations of this year's Strategic Defence Revi...
ukandeu.ac.uk
December 12, 2025 at 11:12 AM
Sobering but acute analysis.