Lothar
@lotharschmid.bsky.social
And this might be the reason why Starmer agreed to have documents released, but with an "exemption (...) in relation to things that would prejudice international relations."
If the considerations you describe played any role, disclose would certainly prejudice relations with Trump.
If the considerations you describe played any role, disclose would certainly prejudice relations with Trump.
It occurs to me that It was thought that Mandelson would have unique access to anyone you might need to know in the Trump administration and beyond through the Epstein network
February 4, 2026 at 4:05 PM
And this might be the reason why Starmer agreed to have documents released, but with an "exemption (...) in relation to things that would prejudice international relations."
If the considerations you describe played any role, disclose would certainly prejudice relations with Trump.
If the considerations you describe played any role, disclose would certainly prejudice relations with Trump.
Reposted by Lothar
I think what we have overlooked that has made society go haywire is that social pressures are the single strongest force acting on human beings, and the human brain doesn’t really distinguish between real-life, media-sourced, and internet social pressures. Our phones and feeds are pressure cookers
January 31, 2026 at 12:57 PM
I think what we have overlooked that has made society go haywire is that social pressures are the single strongest force acting on human beings, and the human brain doesn’t really distinguish between real-life, media-sourced, and internet social pressures. Our phones and feeds are pressure cookers
This is an excellent speech indeed:
www.weforum.org/stories/2026...
www.weforum.org/stories/2026...
Davos 2026: Special address by Mark Carney, PM of Canada
Canadian PM Mark Carney stressed the end of the rules-based international order and urged middle powers to act together to counter the great power rivalry.
www.weforum.org
January 20, 2026 at 9:11 PM
This is an excellent speech indeed:
www.weforum.org/stories/2026...
www.weforum.org/stories/2026...
Reposted by Lothar
Further to the Carney speech - there's still the danger that we over-react to every Trump provocation and under-react to the long-term changes. There is still a world order, and world rules. These are however evolving, mostly independently of the US President.
Decent analysis, solutions still rather a work in progress not least the balancing of openness and dependencies which is admittedly an incredibly difficult question.
Here is the full text of Carney's speech. Very much worth reading.
paulwells.substack.com/p/the-carney...
paulwells.substack.com/p/the-carney...
January 20, 2026 at 5:46 PM
Further to the Carney speech - there's still the danger that we over-react to every Trump provocation and under-react to the long-term changes. There is still a world order, and world rules. These are however evolving, mostly independently of the US President.
Reposted by Lothar
In any other context, requiring a high-productivity sector to offshore the production of its highest value-added exports would be seen as the economic illiteracy it so obviously is...
www.ft.com/content/a23c...
www.ft.com/content/a23c...
UK drops target for international student recruitment
Government to encourage education providers to open campuses overseas as it focuses on reducing migration
www.ft.com
January 20, 2026 at 8:01 AM
In any other context, requiring a high-productivity sector to offshore the production of its highest value-added exports would be seen as the economic illiteracy it so obviously is...
www.ft.com/content/a23c...
www.ft.com/content/a23c...
Reposted by Lothar
Holy hell, what an obituary
Renfrew Christie Dies at 76; Sabotaged Racist Regime’s Nuclear Program
www.nytimes.com
January 15, 2026 at 4:57 PM
Holy hell, what an obituary
Reposted by Lothar
Let's talk about generative AI, contaminated information, and rhubarb.
Once upon a time, Europe was at war.
Food was scarce, and the government of the quote-unquote United Kingdom looked for alternatives. 1/
Once upon a time, Europe was at war.
Food was scarce, and the government of the quote-unquote United Kingdom looked for alternatives. 1/
January 6, 2026 at 3:07 AM
Let's talk about generative AI, contaminated information, and rhubarb.
Once upon a time, Europe was at war.
Food was scarce, and the government of the quote-unquote United Kingdom looked for alternatives. 1/
Once upon a time, Europe was at war.
Food was scarce, and the government of the quote-unquote United Kingdom looked for alternatives. 1/
Reposted by Lothar
Very sad that I felt I had no choice but to resign from The Infinite Monkey Cage - a victory for the transphobes and other bigots - I did it because so much of the media has chosen to believe the kind and empathetic people are a fiction - they are real and so often unrepresented.
December 13, 2025 at 12:02 AM
Very sad that I felt I had no choice but to resign from The Infinite Monkey Cage - a victory for the transphobes and other bigots - I did it because so much of the media has chosen to believe the kind and empathetic people are a fiction - they are real and so often unrepresented.
I predict Trump will win again next year, possibly for stopping the US-Venezuelan war before it started.
December 5, 2025 at 10:02 PM
I predict Trump will win again next year, possibly for stopping the US-Venezuelan war before it started.
Reposted by Lothar
Die CDU hätte Walter Lübcke längst ein Denkmal setzen sollen.
December 3, 2025 at 11:55 PM
Die CDU hätte Walter Lübcke längst ein Denkmal setzen sollen.
Reposted by Lothar
Anyone posted this one yet?
November 22, 2025 at 1:58 AM
Anyone posted this one yet?
Reposted by Lothar
Happy Birthday to the European Convention on Human Rights, which has helped to protect #OurRightsAndFreedoms for 75 years.
Here are more than 200 examples, from across the continent👇
🔗 www.coe.int/ECHR
There are thousands more.
#ECHR #ECHR75 @coe.int @echr.coe.int
Here are more than 200 examples, from across the continent👇
🔗 www.coe.int/ECHR
There are thousands more.
#ECHR #ECHR75 @coe.int @echr.coe.int
November 4, 2025 at 6:38 AM
Happy Birthday to the European Convention on Human Rights, which has helped to protect #OurRightsAndFreedoms for 75 years.
Here are more than 200 examples, from across the continent👇
🔗 www.coe.int/ECHR
There are thousands more.
#ECHR #ECHR75 @coe.int @echr.coe.int
Here are more than 200 examples, from across the continent👇
🔗 www.coe.int/ECHR
There are thousands more.
#ECHR #ECHR75 @coe.int @echr.coe.int
Now that Andrew has been excluded from all honorary positions and lost his curtesy titles, can we please exclude him from the only position that really matters?
His place in the line of succession?
His place in the line of succession?
October 31, 2025 at 9:52 PM
Now that Andrew has been excluded from all honorary positions and lost his curtesy titles, can we please exclude him from the only position that really matters?
His place in the line of succession?
His place in the line of succession?
Reposted by Lothar
Sleep's amazing, folks, really amazing. But when you go, maybe forever, who knows, you might dream. Some dreams are beautiful, the best, others not so good, total disasters. And that’s the thing. Makes you stop, makes you think. Big decision, believe me.
Trump: "I don't think there's anything that's gonna get me in heaven. I think I'm not maybe heaven bound. I may be in heaven right now as we fly on Air Force One. I'm not sure I'm gonna be able to make heaven."
October 12, 2025 at 10:19 PM
Sleep's amazing, folks, really amazing. But when you go, maybe forever, who knows, you might dream. Some dreams are beautiful, the best, others not so good, total disasters. And that’s the thing. Makes you stop, makes you think. Big decision, believe me.
Reposted by Lothar
Reform's ‘plan’ to revoke the legal status of millions of UK residents is morally abhorrent & economic madness
The public believe in fairness & mutual respect, not this cruel Trumpian policy that would leave us all poorer. We are not America - we must resist this dangerous turn in British politics.
The public believe in fairness & mutual respect, not this cruel Trumpian policy that would leave us all poorer. We are not America - we must resist this dangerous turn in British politics.
September 22, 2025 at 1:13 PM
Reform's ‘plan’ to revoke the legal status of millions of UK residents is morally abhorrent & economic madness
The public believe in fairness & mutual respect, not this cruel Trumpian policy that would leave us all poorer. We are not America - we must resist this dangerous turn in British politics.
The public believe in fairness & mutual respect, not this cruel Trumpian policy that would leave us all poorer. We are not America - we must resist this dangerous turn in British politics.
Reposted by Lothar
"You may not see them that way, because you have the right look and accent, but you are not the intended audience of most of the people putting them up. I am. And they intend to send precisely the message that I receive." @sturdyalex.bsky.social speaking for many who don't look or sound 'English'.
I wrote something about feeling like a guest in a country that is my home.
bestforbritain.substack.com/p/my-place-o...
bestforbritain.substack.com/p/my-place-o...
My place or yours? - Flags and the far right from someone who looks different to you
By Alex Andreou
bestforbritain.substack.com
September 17, 2025 at 4:13 PM
"You may not see them that way, because you have the right look and accent, but you are not the intended audience of most of the people putting them up. I am. And they intend to send precisely the message that I receive." @sturdyalex.bsky.social speaking for many who don't look or sound 'English'.
Reposted by Lothar
Statt den Kulturkampf weiter anzufachen: Wie wäre es, diese Anforderungen an guten Journalismus zu stellen: wahrheitsgetreu, sorgfältig recherchiert, relevant, unabhängig und verständlich präsentiert mit klarer Trennung zwischen Fakten und Meinung bei Achtung der Persönlichkeitsrechte.
September 17, 2025 at 8:20 PM
Statt den Kulturkampf weiter anzufachen: Wie wäre es, diese Anforderungen an guten Journalismus zu stellen: wahrheitsgetreu, sorgfältig recherchiert, relevant, unabhängig und verständlich präsentiert mit klarer Trennung zwischen Fakten und Meinung bei Achtung der Persönlichkeitsrechte.
I am glad that the government is finally waking up to the far right threat and positions itself against racism, homo- and transphobia.
The majority of British people want a society without division and hatred, where people of all backgrounds can build a future for themselves and their communities.
The majority of British people want a society without division and hatred, where people of all backgrounds can build a future for themselves and their communities.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting says the government must recognise and respond to a "increasingly visible tide of racism" . He acknowledges trans people feel less safe today than a decade ago.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
September 16, 2025 at 7:02 PM
I am glad that the government is finally waking up to the far right threat and positions itself against racism, homo- and transphobia.
The majority of British people want a society without division and hatred, where people of all backgrounds can build a future for themselves and their communities.
The majority of British people want a society without division and hatred, where people of all backgrounds can build a future for themselves and their communities.
Reposted by Lothar
Members of my family were tortured and killed in the Holocaust because countries like Britain said it wasn't their problem. Everyone said never again. And here we are. It's sickening beyond belief.
August 22, 2025 at 7:37 PM
Members of my family were tortured and killed in the Holocaust because countries like Britain said it wasn't their problem. Everyone said never again. And here we are. It's sickening beyond belief.
Reposted by Lothar
Who’s with me for a campaign to stop politicians wearing hi viz jackets and hard hats when talking about the economy and instead being filmed playing Total War: Warhammer
In Britain video games generate more revenue (£4.3bn) than the film (excluding streaming) and music industries combined (£3.4bn).
economist.com/britain/2025...
economist.com/britain/2025...
Britain is a global gaming superpower
Can it remain one?
economist.com
August 18, 2025 at 5:54 PM
Who’s with me for a campaign to stop politicians wearing hi viz jackets and hard hats when talking about the economy and instead being filmed playing Total War: Warhammer
Reposted by Lothar
August 17, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Insightful thread.
It's conclusions might apply to European democracies as well, even if the path there plays out differently...
It's conclusions might apply to European democracies as well, even if the path there plays out differently...
Once it seems like the government can’t govern, a lot of people are going to opt for a sense of order over hopeless paralysis, even if they think that order is bad.
August 12, 2025 at 8:15 AM
Insightful thread.
It's conclusions might apply to European democracies as well, even if the path there plays out differently...
It's conclusions might apply to European democracies as well, even if the path there plays out differently...
Reposted by Lothar
The EU, UK and Ukraine will pragmatically extract whatever arms and sanctions against Russia they can from Donald Trump rather than seeking confrontation with the US.
Europeans are not going to solve America's Trump problem for anti-Trump Americans, only Americans can do that.
Europeans are not going to solve America's Trump problem for anti-Trump Americans, only Americans can do that.
August 6, 2025 at 4:12 PM
The EU, UK and Ukraine will pragmatically extract whatever arms and sanctions against Russia they can from Donald Trump rather than seeking confrontation with the US.
Europeans are not going to solve America's Trump problem for anti-Trump Americans, only Americans can do that.
Europeans are not going to solve America's Trump problem for anti-Trump Americans, only Americans can do that.
Reposted by Lothar
Worrye not about 'being productive,' for thou art not a product. Thou art a star daunsinge yn a hopeful skye. A signal blinking across centuryes and worldes. Thou art a song performid just once and perfectlye.
August 1, 2025 at 9:34 PM
Worrye not about 'being productive,' for thou art not a product. Thou art a star daunsinge yn a hopeful skye. A signal blinking across centuryes and worldes. Thou art a song performid just once and perfectlye.