Feargal Cochrane
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feargalc.bsky.social
Feargal Cochrane
@feargalc.bsky.social

Professor (Emeritus) University of Kent. Also Prof at University of Warwick.
Have taught & written about political conflict & peacebuilding for last 30 years. Still learning. Living in Peak District England but FROM Belfast in NI.
Politics nerd .. more

Political science 56%
Sociology 33%

Smile when you’re winning…

There’s another way of looking at it though -other than the PM is just a gullible fool. It’s more in cynical fecker territory -how better to wrangle a convicted sex offender serial liar & harasser, just elected US President, than appoint someone who ‘understands’ him?
Marriage made in hell perhaps?
He was literally called the Prince of Darkness. And now the position is that they couldn't have possibly guessed he was lying.
He was literally called the Prince of Darkness. And now the position is that they couldn't have possibly guessed he was lying.

Nice obit of the great man here
-no one did Alex Higgins impressions as well as JV -including Alex Higgins! Saw him ambling into the Crucible at last years World Championships -dandering along talking to all the punters. #RIP

They are definitely leaning into their Mountbatten legacy these days 😉

Reposted by Feargal Cochrane

John Virgo obituary: The snooker star who was player, broadcaster and entertainer
John Virgo obituary: The snooker star who was player, broadcaster and entertainer
The Englishman became one of the sport’s best-loved commentators, best known for his trademark cry of ‘Where’s the cue ball going?’
www.irishtimes.com

👏 seems a good case for misconduct in public office and significant jail time if convicted.

(ironically nothing to do with his friend being a convicted pedophile -but due his leaking of sensitive information from Cabinet to a hostile foreign actor).
We've updated our report - it's probably the most complete running list of Mandelson's email leaks: taxpolicy.org.uk/2026/02/02/m...

Reposted by Feargal Cochrane

We've updated our report - it's probably the most complete running list of Mandelson's email leaks: taxpolicy.org.uk/2026/02/02/m...

Been a farcical pantomime so far -an awful ordeal for their victims to endure. Hopefully lawyers will now get on with it - finally.

Reposted by Feargal Cochrane

A date has been set for the trial of ex-DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson and his wife Eleanor on charges of alleged historical sex offences.
Trial date set for Jeffrey Donaldson and wife Eleanor on alleged historical sex offences
A date has been set for the trial of ex-DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson and his wife Eleanor on charges of alleged historical sex offences.
www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk

GBeebies level of ignorance on this show - woeful 2 minute ‘discussion’ of current Troubles Bill which Philips refers to as, ‘sort of domestic affairs’, while Baroness Cavendish 🤷‍♂️ opines gravely about 100s of soldiers being prosecuted! Sonia Sodha: ‘yeah I agree. It’s a difficult message to send’ 🤦‍♂️

The totalitarian turn of US is well underway. Closing down the media print & broadcast, show trials & suspension of constitution are next -with rule via emergency legislation while a new (territorially larger) America is built.
Killing US citizens in the street & denying due process only the start.

Reposted by Feargal Cochrane

Former CNN anchor Don Lemon arrested on charges connected to Minnesota church protest
Former CNN anchor Don Lemon arrested on charges connected to Minnesota church protest
Lemon taken into custody in Los Angeles, where he was covering the Grammy awards
www.irishtimes.com

UK clearly needs to rejoin EU for Nat security and economic reasons.
But As I recall it, the UK was the author of its own misfortune in #Brexit.
EU merely backed Ireland as a remaining member state in its negotiations with UK which proved a very unreliable and amateurish negotiating partner.
Newton Emerson: EU ‘used Ireland as a battering ram’ against Britain. It’s time to repair the damage
Newton Emerson: EU ‘used Ireland as a battering ram’ against Britain. It’s time to repair the damage
The implication that Brexit has been a setback for unity runs counter to received wisdom, but it makes sense
www.irishtimes.com

Reposted by Anne Applebaum, Mariana Mazzucato, Stephen M. Walt , and 181 more

I wrote this song on Saturday, recorded it yesterday and released it to you today in response to the state terror being visited on the city of Minneapolis. It’s dedicated to the people of Minneapolis, our innocent immigrant neighbors and in memory of Alex Pretti and Renee Good.

Stay free
Bruce Springsteen - Streets Of Minneapolis (Official Audio)
YouTube video by Bruce Springsteen
youtu.be
"Top UK universities increase their reliance on China for overseas recruitment: Data shows that two in five overseas [NB OVERSEAS] students at Russell Group institutions last year were from China" (though that figure hides considerable variation!) www.ft.com/content/9db6...

Correct! And when he was an academic he ate his own books as a penalty for getting it completely wrong! This was his inevitable destiny.
This is how the BBC is reporting Matt Goodwin's selection as Reform's candidate in Gorton and Denton.

He's not an academic. He holds no academic position and hasn't done for quite some time.
This is how the BBC is reporting Matt Goodwin's selection as Reform's candidate in Gorton and Denton.

He's not an academic. He holds no academic position and hasn't done for quite some time.

Agreed and probably a great boost for Andy Burnham in the long term as well as others like Angela Raynner. Starmer looks increasingly weak and vulnerable.

Reposted by Feargal Cochrane

Absolutely terrible decision - fundamentally anti-democratic and a sign of utter weakness. It will come back to bite them …
Andy Burnham blocked from byelection race by Labour ruling committee
Decision likely to set off ferocious row between Keir Starmer loyalists and allies of Greater Manchester mayor
www.theguardian.com

Reminds me of Dick Tracy’s ragbag of villains -he is Bigboy Caprice of course but Mumbles, Pruneface, Flattop and the Rodent are all on board. Oh and Tony Blair who has clearly now found his tribe,
Trump's "Board of Peace" is a blatant attempt to replace the UN with an organisation that he can dominate for self-interest and the imposition of a world order where 'might makes right'.

His rampage through international law will make our world more violent & unjust.

Good to discuss on First Post.

Reposted by Feargal Cochrane

Trump's "Board of Peace" is a blatant attempt to replace the UN with an organisation that he can dominate for self-interest and the imposition of a world order where 'might makes right'.

His rampage through international law will make our world more violent & unjust.

Good to discuss on First Post.

Reposted by Rosaleen Duffy

Solidarity with colleagues @sheffielducu.bsky.social at the latest example of institutional cruelty within HE.
Not an isolated case of course, but indicative of the current mismanagement within the sector and further evidence that converting mediocre academics into managers isn’t the solution.
Myself & many colleagues are facing this at Sheffield Uni - double punishment for strike action. In the midst of this, yesterday many departments got an email announcing imminent structural reviews (ie redundancies). @sheffielducu.bsky.social
The University of Sheffield has stopped paying staff.

Not for striking but for refusing to work unpaid to make up for strike days they were already docked for.

This is punishment, not negotiation. And it’s completely reckless.

www.ucu.org.uk/article/1438...
Myself & many colleagues are facing this at Sheffield Uni - double punishment for strike action. In the midst of this, yesterday many departments got an email announcing imminent structural reviews (ie redundancies). @sheffielducu.bsky.social

Rejoining the #EU as quickly as possible is now a UK national security imperative.
You’re welcome.
Middle powers assemble? Trump disorder prompts talk of new liberal alliances
Middle powers assemble? Trump disorder prompts talk of new liberal alliances
As Mark Carney, Emmanuel Macron and Ursula von der Leyen decide ‘to live in truth’, what will it take for Starmer to call out Trump?
www.theguardian.com

Delighted to have this piece on attitudes in GB towards constitutional change in Northern Ireland published in the forthcoming 500th issue of Fortnight. Yes that’s 500 issues going back to 1970!
Full magazine is out next week 👍

(Spoiler -don’t hold your breath for a BP-but change is coming anyway)