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Elena Adaal @elenaadaal.bsky.social · 3h

Few to none of the Brexiters I see and hear say "well, I am actually quite happy and I don't want to change a thing"

Mostly its something like "burn everything, hate, destroy, drown, boat people aaaaaahhhh".

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Elena Adaal @elenaadaal.bsky.social · 3h

The ECHR angle is funny, but the main point - to me - is this:

Deliberately burning someone's Holy Book is insulting and degrading. Even if legal, who wants to stand beside someone who does that?

Roland Smith @rolandmcs.bsky.social · 7h

I see Robert Jenrick is supporting Hamit Coskun who is appealing his conviction by reference to the ECHR (which Jenrick wants to withdraw from).

Who knew that the ECHR could be useful, even to the anti-ECHR Hard Right?

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Elena Adaal @elenaadaal.bsky.social · 6h

The statement of the Nobel Peace Prize committee is telling:

"When authoritarians seize power, it is crucial to recognise courageous defenders of freedom who rise and resist...."

www.nobelprize.org/prizes/peace...

Nobel Peace Prize 2025

The Nobel Peace Prize 2025 was awarded to Maria Corina Machado "for her tireless work promoting democratic rights for the people of Venezuela and for her struggle to achieve a just and peaceful transi...

www.nobelprize.org

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Elena Adaal @elenaadaal.bsky.social · 7h

This is indeed a bad development, and shame to France for agreeing to this.

UK did Brexit, and should deal with its own refugee 'problems'.

The only deals that are acceptable are the ones were UK takes in refugees from EU.

Dan Sohege @danielsohege.bsky.social · 11h

Out of curiosity, are BBC going to be acting as the government's stenographer like this for the whole year the utterly pointless PR stunt "one in one out" policy is running, or could they try actually ensuring context and balance in all stories about migration?
www.bbc.com/news/article...

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Elena Adaal @elenaadaal.bsky.social · 8h

Good to see @antonspisak in the Economist.

My guess would be that UK is not the target of the EU tariffs, and some serious engagement with EU (with emphasis on serious) could be beneficial for UK.

Centre for European Reform @centreeuropeanref.bsky.social · 9h

@antonspisak.bsky.social of the @centreeuropeanref.bsky.social, a think-tank, observes that, after Brexit took effect at the end of 2020, Britain’s goods exports have grown less than those of any other economy in the G7 club of rich countries.

A dangerous post-Brexit world

Britain risks being an unwitting victim of EU-US trade wars

buff.ly

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Elena Adaal @elenaadaal.bsky.social · 8h

The Lib Dems are the heirs of what once was the Conservative party:

Josiah Mortimer @josiah.writes.news · 9h

Only one by-election, but there's no doubt Lib Dems are performing strongly in many (previously) Conservative areas right now

Election Maps UK @electionmaps.uk · 17h

Kenn Valley (Teignbridge) Council By-Election Result:

🔶 LDM: 50.4% (+11.0)
➡️ RFM: 23.1% (New)
🌳 CON: 9.6% (-19.0)
🙋 Ind: 8.2% (New)
🌍 GRN: 5.5% (-13.9)
🌹 LAB: 2.7% (-9.9)
🙋 Ind: 0.5% (New)

Liberal Democrat GAIN from Conservative.
Changes w/ 2023.

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Reposted by Elena Adaal

Niall Ó Conghaile @nialloconghaile.bsky.social · 1d

1. This does not target the UK

2. This is clear evidence of being inside a customs union rather than floating alone

3. It was inevitable that Trump's actions at the head of such a large economy would result in dumping elsewhere.. Europe has to be able to take action to counter that.

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Elena Adaal @elenaadaal.bsky.social · 22h

…but after 5 years, there is apparently still no full access to IT systems for parcel and freight tracking…

This is IT systems! How hard can it be…

At some point niceties will be perceived as smokescreens.

(2/2)

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Elena Adaal @elenaadaal.bsky.social · 22h

This is really not good:

Brexit was in 2020, and in 2025 the Northern Ireland part - the Sea Border - is still not implemented.

Worse: in the article the EU notes that UK checks are slipping….

The UK has a bad reputation on this, of saying one thing and doing another…

(1/2)

David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 1d

Over-optimistic UK briefings on how quickly an SPS deal can be agreed meet the reality of a very cautious EU that think existing arrangements show a lot more work is needed before they can trust food and drink coming from Great Britain. www.ft.com/content/7238...

EU warns UK must improve NI border checks before veterinary deal is signed

Officials say London must comply before it can start serious talks on a sweeping agrifood agreement

www.ft.com

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Elena Adaal @elenaadaal.bsky.social · 1d

Hard to see it working, as ‘more booze’ does not spell exactly ‘more economic growth’ but there have been more daft ideas.

At least going to the pub is now a ‘civic duty’.

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Reposted by Elena Adaal

Nicolai von Ondarza @nvondarza.bsky.social · 2d

Elon Musk invested so much in warping the political opinions of his AI, and yet grok remains a fan of European Union membership as a key factor of Poland's economic success compared to the UK.

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Elena Adaal @elenaadaal.bsky.social · 2d

For sure they will have, but the goal is not to stop each and everyone all the time, but to stop massive overuse.

In the Netherlands we have a ban on mobile phones in secondary education schools which seems to work pretty well. Not 100%, but good enough to combat serious problems

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Elena Adaal @elenaadaal.bsky.social · 2d

Just one recent example.

bsky.app/profile/anne...

Anne Applebaum @anneapplebaum.bsky.social · 6d

President Macron:
“We were very naive to leave our public space to social media networks controlled by US or Chinese companies that don’t share our interests and not interested in survival of our democracies.”
www.youtube.com/watch?v=MggN...

French President Macron Speaks at German Unity Day Ceremony | WION LIVE

YouTube video by WION

www.youtube.com

Elena Adaal @elenaadaal.bsky.social · 2d

It won't happen.

It did not at the height of the Johnson Brexit folly and it won't happen now.

Amateur Badenoch fails to account for the effect of her actions on others: If you take measures that are detrimental to Ireland/EU, you will get responses that will cause severe damage to UK.

Elena Adaal @elenaadaal.bsky.social · 2d

Indeed Macron is not doing so well inside France, but the difference with Starmer (my point) is huge.

In short: Starmer: idea-less accountant, Macron: visionary.

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Elena Adaal @elenaadaal.bsky.social · 2d

Typical example of the folly of the Tories.

Unserious amateurs.

The Original Cry-Wanker™ @andyking.bsky.social · 2d

Kemi Badenoch wanting to cut "English" is delicious, possibly not as delicious as chocolate tho.

Yea I'm spoll all the time, but I don't want to cut English as an area of study for others

A hand with painted nails holding Kemi Badenoch Tory conference promotional chocolate bar with Britain spelt Britian

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Elena Adaal @elenaadaal.bsky.social · 2d

The basic problem was lack of respect in UK for Europe and especially Eastern Europeans.

It is right and proper that the UK is confronted with this in a way that has actual consequences.

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Elena Adaal @elenaadaal.bsky.social · 2d

I see social media a bit as alcohol: It can be ok and enjoyable, but too much is not good for you.

Children have difficulties in moderating, and negative effects of excessive social media on mental health have been established, so a ban is justifiable - even if it is not that liberal.

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Elena Adaal @elenaadaal.bsky.social · 2d

France has domestic issues, mostly related to the fact that the annual deficit and total debt is too high, but there is no political will for reform.

This has not a lot to do with Macron.

Any leader in France would have the same problem, and it has little to do with his international work.

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Elena Adaal @elenaadaal.bsky.social · 2d

This could not be further from the truth.

Starmer is a lawyer - carefull, measured, no risk taker and basically no new ideas. A bookkeeper.

Macron instills enthousiasm and has great ideas. A serious thinker, visionary and leader.

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Elena Adaal @elenaadaal.bsky.social · 2d

Note the passivity of UK gov.:

From the article: "..A U.K. official said Brussels hasn’t yet approached the British government about the issue."

In other news it was said that UK gov has approached EU states (so not the EU).

UK gov are sleepwalkers.

www.politico.eu/article/dona...

‘Worse than Trump’s tariffs’: EU steel protections are poised to pummel British industry

The EU is preparing to reduce foreign steel quotas by almost half as part of new measures set to be proposed next week.

www.politico.eu

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Elena Adaal @elenaadaal.bsky.social · 2d

The UK should get over itself. These steel tariffs are all about China, and not about UK.

The Bear @bearlypolitics.co.uk · 2d

Once again, the Telegraph seems shocked that the EU is acting like… the EU.

This is exactly what sovereignty looks like when you’re on the outside.

Ruthless EU has just taught Starmer a painful lesson
Steel tariff threats are a reminder of how Brussels really feels towards post-Brexit Britain

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Elena Adaal @elenaadaal.bsky.social · 2d

Note the sensible voting intention in Scotland - as opposed tot the radicalisation going on in England and Wales:

Andrew Sharpe 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿|🇪🇺 @andrew.sharpe.scot · 2d

And if we had a federal system, instead of one nation always dominanting the union, things would be quite different too.

PR on its own would make no difference in this respect.

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Elena Adaal @elenaadaal.bsky.social · 2d

It seems far fetched to expect any serious upside with regards to India:
- India wants visa's and access above all - just the thing Starmer does not want.
- India is a federation with little to offer to other countries due to internal opposition/inertia.

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Reposted by Elena Adaal

Anne Applebaum @anneapplebaum.bsky.social · 6d

President Macron:
“We were very naive to leave our public space to social media networks controlled by US or Chinese companies that don’t share our interests and not interested in survival of our democracies.”
www.youtube.com/watch?v=MggN...

French President Macron Speaks at German Unity Day Ceremony | WION LIVE

YouTube video by WION

www.youtube.com

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