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GylesNaMopaleen @gylesnamopaleen.bsky.social · 8h

a long read from Conor Gearty: Erasing the Human Rights Act.

Conor Gearty · Unwelcome Remnant: Erasing the Human Rights Act

The Supreme Court is quietly editing the Human Rights Act out of existence. None of this is being done in secret – the...

www.lrb.co.uk

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GylesNaMopaleen @gylesnamopaleen.bsky.social · 8h

yeah. remember it well. fantastic time to visit england. Olympics year. So upbeat, welcoming and positive.

the decline since is so dramatic, it's as if by design. and not by the british.

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GylesNaMopaleen @gylesnamopaleen.bsky.social · 9h

interesting piece. it echoes what chris grey was blogging recently but I'm not sold.

the truth is it's not a "british" thing at all.

england (not Gibraltar, Scotland & NI) and parts of Wales fell to the same anti-foreigner anti-EU populism we see right across Europe, in 2016.

GylesNaMopaleen @gylesnamopaleen.bsky.social · 3d

I notice some prominent brexit commentators have now started making up words like "brexitism" & "europeanism".

Quick thread explaining why neither exists and why it is so unhelpful to the discourse.

TL;DR: the EU is just a bunch of trade treaties / travel agreements. It's not a cult.

🧵

chris greys marvellous blog about brexit / brexitism. Grey doesn't take criticism or challenges well but well worth a read. He also appears to have a massive blind spot for pro brexit labour.
https://chrisgreybrexitblog.blogspot.com/

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GylesNaMopaleen @gylesnamopaleen.bsky.social · 10h

Finland says "Hei!"

It's not perfect but it is impressive.

Finland lowered homelessness by 75% — here’s their secret

Years ago, Finland made an argument for ending homelessness based on three core principles. It’s had a lasting impact decades later.

www.goodgoodgood.co

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Brent Toderian @brenttoderian.bsky.social · 14h

“The transformation is astonishing. [Paris] has quietly—& quickly—become one of the most bike-friendly cities in the world. What started as a series of emergency “coronapistes” or pop-up bike lanes, built during the pandemic has evolved into a permanent bike network spanning hundreds of kilometres.”

New Study Shows How Paris Pedaled Its Way to a Cycling Revolution

Cycling through central Paris meant weaving between buses and scooters—a bold choice reserved for the fearless few.

momentummag.com

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Kashana @kashana.blacksky.app · 13h

Very much enjoying the inflatable frog segment of the civil war.

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GylesNaMopaleen @gylesnamopaleen.bsky.social · 17h

#speirgorm #spéirghorm agus #SocharBrexit !👇

GylesNaMopaleen @gylesnamopaleen.bsky.social · 17h

seeing that there is more chat about reunification in Ireland, post brexit, this might interest some.

TL;DR: brexit accidentally gave us a preview of what reunification might mean, economically. And it looks really good!

We're calling it a "Sochar Brexit"!

("brexit benefit" in Irish)

🧵

screengrab from the ALL ISLAND ECONOMY financial report.

"The Projected Public Finances of the Early Years of a United Ireland
This report calculates the subvention in public finances likely to transfer to “Northern Ireland’ at the time of a United Ireland, based on the most up-to-date UK figures. It is the first peer-reviewed report to calculate the cost of unity over the first ten years, which takes account not only of the subvention, but necessary investment and gradual economic convergence with
the rest of the island. The report breaks down the key financial issues such as pensions, debt, defence spending, UK central costs and taxation to justify this figure and calculates that the cost of the subvention, currently paid by the UK, which will transfer to a United Ireland will be £1.5 billion pa – not the, often quoted, figures of £10b to £14b."

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John Raftery @johnraftery.bsky.social · 16h

More good news from my pov this morning. Brexit changed the conversation. One, (maybe the only one) ‘Brexit benefit’ is that reunification in Ireland is closer than it has ever been. Explained very well here by @gylesnamopaleen.bsky.social

GylesNaMopaleen @gylesnamopaleen.bsky.social · 17h

seeing that there is more chat about reunification in Ireland, post brexit, this might interest some.

TL;DR: brexit accidentally gave us a preview of what reunification might mean, economically. And it looks really good!

We're calling it a "Sochar Brexit"!

("brexit benefit" in Irish)

🧵

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GylesNaMopaleen @gylesnamopaleen.bsky.social · 11h

yeah. I thought britain dodged a bullet with johnson getting himself binned, over a slice of cake, but, you're right.

All 3 main parties have swung so far to the right and as someone who visits england regularly - that clip is actually quite shocking - racism & r/w views are so normalised there.

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)

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GylesNaMopaleen @gylesnamopaleen.bsky.social · 11h

oops. forgot the alt text for those images. here they are with ALT.

GylesNaMopaleen @gylesnamopaleen.bsky.social · 16h

Speaking of unaligned....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 · 11h

Here's a quick explainer on the mid term polls in NI two weeks ago.

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

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GylesNaMopaleen @gylesnamopaleen.bsky.social · 11h

british unionists, like the DUP in NI, didn't just campaign for brexit, they pushed for a very hard brexit.

And their brexit is causing all the problems and why people are talking about reunification in Ireland now with urgency.

this guy explains in less than 60seconds 👇

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GylesNaMopaleen @gylesnamopaleen.bsky.social · 11h

BBC news report on the new EES gates didn't emphasise that they were only for non-EU nationals.

Anyone watching would be forgiven for thinking "those damn busybodies in brussels again!".

I hear in Germany, they say "good luck" in english, as britons go through.

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Michael @vivamjm.bsky.social · 1d

"Port of Dover is confident of no delays despite warning it will take six times longer to process each car" 😂

Tick tock...

"My advice: invest in Pontins"

Read more at:
infra.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/ports-s...

share.google/dkThtxCGqjQZ...

New EU border checks to take longer but won't snarl peak travel, says Port of Dover

EU Border Checks: The EU will gradually introduce the new system over six months, meaning different ports and airports within the Schengen open-border zone may have varying requirements until April 20...

infra.economictimes.indiatimes.com

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Barack Obama @barackobama.bsky.social · 12h

Congratulations to new Nobel Peace Prize laureate María Corina Machado for her courageous struggle to bring democracy to Venezuela.

Live Updates: María Corina Machado of Venezuela Is Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize

www.nytimes.com

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GylesNaMopaleen @gylesnamopaleen.bsky.social · 11h

there's an opportunity to do more when NI leaves and an end to the Act of UK Union 1801.

A root & branch reboot of England Scotland & Wales into the 21st century.

Ditch FPTP, replace HoL with elected chamber, codified constitution, a parliament for (a federal?) england. an elected head of state?

photo collage of unelected members of UK parliament, in full 19th century regalia, at work in the house of lards. including michelle mone, lord lebedev and two other unelected members appointed by johnson. One rumoured to be his daughter.

the UKs head of state (and church!) alongside his missus, in full 18th century disney costume complete with crowns ready to helicopter somewhere to open up another food bank.

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GylesNaMopaleen @gylesnamopaleen.bsky.social · 11h

oh that's a given.

his other points about the UK supplying israel weapons, helping Israel gather intelligence and other activities..like arresting pensioners for being against genocide, are also correct.

Post WW2, Germans have a lot of special words for bystanders who know but turn a blind eye.

chart illustration how the UK flew nearly half of all reconnaissance missions over gaza.

Israel 20%
USA 33%
UK 47%

transcript of a british MP, Luke Pollard asking if it is true IDF troops are being trained in britain. The MOD confirms that "the UK is currently training a number of IDF personnel on UK-based training courses".

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Conn MacEvilly @conmachiavel.bsky.social · 12h

I’m so glad Prof P is still doing this.

Prof Christina Pagel @chrischirp.bsky.social · 16h

After a long pause, I've just done another England Covid & NHS update as we head into the autumn/winter season.

TLDR: we're in a significant Covid wave now, the NHS is stretched, get boosted if you're eligible.

christinapagel.substack.com/p/england-is...

England is now experiencing a significant Covid wave, after 10 months of relative quiet

The latest Covid situation in England and a look at where NHS services are as we head into winter

christinapagel.substack.com

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GylesNaMopaleen @gylesnamopaleen.bsky.social · 12h

it was russians spying via hungary, Szabolcs.

britain says hi!

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

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GylesNaMopaleen @gylesnamopaleen.bsky.social · 12h

😂👏

GylesNaMopaleen @gylesnamopaleen.bsky.social · 12h

here's a clip. as an European who visits london often and noticed how lobsided towards the right BBC current affairs programmes have become, I was stunned by this 👇

GylesNaMopaleen @gylesnamopaleen.bsky.social · 16h

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)

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Henry Mance @henrymance.ft.com · 13h

if only he'd renamed it the DEPARTMENT OF PEACE

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GylesNaMopaleen @gylesnamopaleen.bsky.social · 12h

I see that going around. it is true. yep. and it's precisely what you would expect her to say if she needs american support to oust a dictator.

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GylesNaMopaleen @gylesnamopaleen.bsky.social · 12h

I heard she sprinkles tylenol on her cornflakes and eats a live kitten sandwich for lunch.

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GylesNaMopaleen @gylesnamopaleen.bsky.social · 12h

you needed to read a book to find that out?

I'm Irish. We learn about the whole "countries meddling in another country's politics" thing at school. We call it history lessons.

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