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Reposted by Helen Johnston

Yorkshire Bylines @yorkshirebylines.co.uk · 2d

A new report finds that the UK’s arm’s length public bodies are highly vulnerable to politicisation

By Helen Johnston

Strengthening the institutions we rely on

A new report finds that the UK’s arm’s length public bodies are highly vulnerable to politicisation

yorkshirebylines.co.uk

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Helen Johnston @hj4euinspain.bsky.social · 2d

New report finds UK’s top scientific institutions have inadequate institutional defences to prevent potential political interference.
yorkshirebylines.co.uk/politics/str...

@yorkshirebylines.co.uk
@grassrootsforeurope.org
@chrischirp.bsky.social

Strengthening the institutions we rely on

A new report finds that the UK’s arm’s length public bodies are highly vulnerable to politicisation

yorkshirebylines.co.uk

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Reposted by Helen Johnston

BremainInSpain @bremaininspain.com · 24d

Some photos from our fellow campaigners out at the Stop Trump demo
#StopTrump
@grassrootsforeurope.org
@hj4euinspain.bsky.social

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Reposted by Helen Johnston

Yorkshire Bylines @yorkshirebylines.co.uk · 19d

✍️ Tracking Trump’s actions

Democracy under siege: how Trump’s authoritarian playbook threatens both US and European institutions

By Helen Johnston

@hj4euinspain.bsky.social

Tracking Trump’s actions

Democracy under siege: how Trump’s authoritarian playbook threatens both US and European institutions

yorkshirebylines.co.uk

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Reposted by Helen Johnston

Nick Reeves #FBPE #NAFO @nickreeves.bsky.social · Aug 22

The two main Leave campaigns broke the law in 2016 & robbed us of a fair referendum. Had the referendum been mandatory, as the Brexit elite pretended, it would have been ruled void. Like Mafia lawyers, the government exploited a legal loophole. Brexit was a coup.

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Helen Johnston @hj4euinspain.bsky.social · Aug 13

EU Passport checks finally go digital yorkshirebylines.co.uk/news/brexit/...

@suewilson91.bsky.social
@bremaininspain.com

EU Passport checks finally go digital

The European Union’s new entry/exit system (EES) replaces passport stamping with facial recognition technology and fingerprint ID

yorkshirebylines.co.uk

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Reposted by Helen Johnston

OC Media @ocmedia.bsky.social · Aug 3

📩 We’re introducing our new monthly newsletter: Tracking the Rise of Authoritarianism in Georgia. This isn’t just news — it’s context, connections, and clarity.

▶️ Sign up here: oc-media.org/pages/tracki...

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Reposted by Helen Johnston

Alex Hall Hall @alexhh.bsky.social · Aug 3

This is a write up of a recent webinar, in which I share my views on threats to American democracy under Trump; joined by @richardcorbett to consider implications for UK/Europe. In short - it’s bad. Very bad. I also think Republicans will rig 2026 elections, and Trump try to run for 3rd term.

Helen Johnston @hj4euinspain.bsky.social · Aug 3

Resisting the Trump assault: will American democracy survive and what can we do to help? yorkshirebylines.co.uk/politics/res...

@alexhh.bsky.social @richardcorbett.bsky.social @grassrootsforeurope.org

Resisting the Trump assault: will American democracy survive and what can we do to help?

Trump’s assault on democracy is real and escalating – Europe should be alarmed, warns ex-diplomat Alex Hall Hall in a recent webinar

yorkshirebylines.co.uk

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Helen Johnston @hj4euinspain.bsky.social · Aug 3

Resisting the Trump assault: will American democracy survive and what can we do to help? yorkshirebylines.co.uk/politics/res...

@alexhh.bsky.social @richardcorbett.bsky.social @grassrootsforeurope.org

Resisting the Trump assault: will American democracy survive and what can we do to help?

Trump’s assault on democracy is real and escalating – Europe should be alarmed, warns ex-diplomat Alex Hall Hall in a recent webinar

yorkshirebylines.co.uk

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Reposted by Helen Johnston

Yorkshire Bylines @yorkshirebylines.co.uk · Jul 29

✍️ Democracy on the Brink in Georgia

“Democracy can collapse faster than we think”: urgent warnings from Georgia spotlight rising authoritarian threats across Europe and the West

By Helen Johnston

@hj4euinspain.bsky.social

Democracy on the Brink in Georgia

“Democracy can collapse faster than we think”: urgent warnings from Georgia spotlight rising authoritarian threats across Europe and the West

yorkshirebylines.co.uk

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Reposted by Helen Johnston

aidThompsin @aidthompsin.bsky.social · Jul 22

How can anyone look at State-level comms putting out shit like this, and do anything other than envelope into a vacuum of eternal embarrassment FUCK ME

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Helen Johnston @hj4euinspain.bsky.social · Jul 22

Crackdown on Palestine protesters sparks outrage across UK yorkshirebylines.co.uk/politics/cra...

@suewilson91.bsky.social
@bremaininspain.com

Crackdown on Palestine protesters sparks outrage across UK

Protesters face arrest for wearing pro-Palestine badges as UK cracks down on dissent amid growing global outcry over Israel’s actions in Gaza

yorkshirebylines.co.uk

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Helen Johnston @hj4euinspain.bsky.social · Jul 22

‘The growth strategy no one will say out loud: rejoin the European Union’ labourlist.org/2025/07/uk-r... – via LabourList

@richardcorbett.bsky.social @bremaininspain.com @grassrootsforeurope.org

'The growth strategy no one will say out loud: rejoin the European Union' - LabourList

By the time the next election manifestoes are written, it might be an idea whose time has come.

labourlist.org

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Reposted by Helen Johnston

Zoe Gardner @zoejardiniere.bsky.social · Jul 15

Every oppressive structure we put in place today, Nigel Farage will be able to use tomorrow.

The Democrats made huge mistakes setting up Donald Trump with these unaccountable powers to strip citizenship - we can still fix it here before it's too late!

Reprieve @reprievehq.bsky.social · Jul 15

Think this couldn't happen here in UK🇬🇧 ? Think again.

Until we end citizenship stripping, this extreme power will be available to the Home Secretary, whichever party is in government.

news.sky.com/story/donald...

Donald Trump threatens to revoke Rosie O'Donnell's US citizenship

O'Donnell responded to the US president's threat by posting a photograph of him with Jeffrey Epstein on Instagram.

news.sky.com

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Reposted by Helen Johnston

Jelger Groeneveld @jelgerg.bsky.social · Jul 15

EU is looking into sanctioning Georgia for its democratic backslide, crackdown against political opposition and civil activists - but the usual suspects (Hungary, Slowakia) are blocking a united response.

Meanwhile, Latvia has added 55 Georgians as persona non grata.
www.rferl.org/a/eu-georgia...

EU Eyes Sanctions And Visa Moves Over Georgia's Political Crackdown

EU foreign ministers will meet in Brussels on July 15 with Georgia high on the agenda amid deepening political tensions. Measures under consideration include sanctions, suspending visa-free travel, an...

www.rferl.org

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Reposted by Helen Johnston

The News Agents @newsagents.bsky.social · Jul 15

“A catastrophic data breach.”

For two years, the government took The News Agents to court over a leaked MOD document - under a super injunction.

Now it’s lifted.

@lewisgoodall.com reports on the hidden court that tried to silence us.

Watch here. ▶️
www.globalplayer.com/videos/2JsSc...

The secret court that silenced the News Agents...until now Video | Global Player

For nearly two years the government has taken The News Agents and other journalists to a secret court to prevent us from reporting a story of huge public interest.

www.globalplayer.com

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Reposted by Helen Johnston

Rusudan Djakeli @rusudandjakeli.bsky.social · Jul 13

For the 228th consecutive day, Rustaveli avenue is blocked. ✅

Georgians keep resisting and protesting every day in 8+ cities. 🇬🇪✊

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Reposted by Helen Johnston

Yorkshire Bylines @yorkshirebylines.co.uk · Jun 27

✍️ Democracy in Hungary and Poland

Fears of far-right rise as Nawrocki wins in Poland and Orbán clamps down in Hungary, warn experts at pro-Europe forum

By Helen Johnston

@hj4euinspain.bsky.social

Democracy in Hungary and Poland

Fears of far-right rise as Nawrocki wins in Poland and Orbán clamps down in Hungary, warn experts at pro-Europe forum

yorkshirebylines.co.uk

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Reposted by Helen Johnston

James O’Brien @mrjamesob.bsky.social · May 19

Coverage of idiots claiming ‘betrayal’ or ‘surrender’ isn’t just bad journalism, it’s a dereliction of our duty to explain things. I’d actually forgotten just how bad it got but here we are, straight back to treating liars & spivs like authorities of equal weight to experts & honest brokers.

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Reposted by Helen Johnston

Annette Dittert @annettedittert.bsky.social · May 14

Appalling response from Starmer. Had to watch it twice to believe it.
And Angela Rayner staring into a void like she’s being held hostage.
It’s just sad.

Holyrood @holyroodmag.bsky.social · May 14

Plaid Cymru's Liz Saville Roberts asks about the PM's recent speech on immigration and his comment about an "island of strangers".

"Somebody here has to call this out. Is there any belief he holds which survives a week in Downing Street?" #PMQs

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Reposted by Helen Johnston

BremainInSpain @bremaininspain.com · May 2

Huge thanks to @carolinelucas.bsky.social for taking part in this month’s Bremainers Ask feature

Caroline is Co-President of @europeanmovement.co.uk served as UK’s 1st Green Party MP 2010 - 2024 & 10 yrs as an MEP in European Parliament

Read in full here www.bremaininspain.com/bremainers-a...

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Helen Johnston @hj4euinspain.bsky.social · May 2

Some lessons I took from last Monday power cuts for anyone planning to travel abroad this summer

Yorkshire Bylines @yorkshirebylines.co.uk · May 2

✍️ Lessons from a power cut

Massive power cut across Spain and Portugal became a reminder of just how fragile the threads of modern life are

By Helen Johnston
@hj4euinspain.bsky.social

Lessons from a power cut

Massive power cut across Spain and Portugal became a reminder of just how fragile the threads of modern life are

yorkshirebylines.co.uk

Reposted by Helen Johnston

Roland Smith @rolandmcs.bsky.social · Apr 3

The Telegraph's inevitable main headline.

Good Morning.

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Helen Johnston @hj4euinspain.bsky.social · Apr 2

I'm travelling on an Irish passport and the Spanish guards weren't sure if they are exempt. Showed them this screenshot and all good. First day glitches.

Helen Johnston @hj4euinspain.bsky.social · Apr 2

**** EU citizens travelling to UK today is the first day of new ETA system. I am flying from Spain to UK now and I've just seen a couple of Spanish people turned back at passport control who didn't know they needed it.
@bremaininspain.com

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