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Michael Spicer @michaelspicer.bsky.social · Sep 8

it's real support from actual racists

Alex Mac 🇪🇺🇬🇧🇺🇦 @alexjmac.bsky.social · Jul 13

Also special shout out to the entire @bylinetimes.bsky.social team who I had the pleasure of getting to meet. It was also great to bump into @mikegalsworthy.bsky.social and see people from @europeanmovement.co.uk. Thank you so much all of you for shining a light and giving hope in these tough times!

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Alex Mac 🇪🇺🇬🇧🇺🇦 @alexjmac.bsky.social · Jul 13

Having such a great time at @bylinefestival.bsky.social, I have heard some amazing and inspiring talks over the last few days and the sense of community here is wonderful! It was great to hear @carolecadwalla.bsky.social interview @carolvorders.bsky.social and meet Carol (without the e) afterwards

Photo of a sunny table with a pint and the Byline Festival schedule sheet next to it at Union Square at Keele University.

Photo of myself and my mother alongside Carol Vorderman in The Chapel at Keele University.

Photo of the band “The Farm” on stage at Keele University’s Music Hall, surrounded by stage lighting.

Photo of the structure monument at Keele University’s Union Square at nighttime. It shows metal bars protruding out of the ground and blue spotlights shining up from the floor illuminating them all, given the impression of trees amongst a forest.

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Byline Times @bylinetimes.bsky.social · Jul 12

Some highlights from day 1 of @bylinefestival.bsky.social. For those who can’t make it we’ll have filmed interviews and podcasts coming soon from @bylinetimespod.bsky.social and @bylinetv.bsky.social

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Alex Mac 🇪🇺🇬🇧🇺🇦 @alexjmac.bsky.social · Jun 25

There is more “uhh” in that statement than a Boris Johnson speech, which suggests to me he doesn’t believe anything he’s just been saying… Especially given he was a lawyer so will know how to speak clearly 🤦‍♂️

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Dan Sohege @danielsohege.bsky.social · May 19

It is the year 30,567 and somewhere in a dark cave, far away from the scorched planet once known as earth, the remnants of the human race exist in twisted and mutated ways. Deep in the shadows can be heard the traditional screams of "Brexit betrayal".

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Alex Mac 🇪🇺🇬🇧🇺🇦 @alexjmac.bsky.social · May 16

How ridiculous! Even in a supposedly ‘perfect society’ I wouldn’t want to leave my belongings unattended in public. Especially when we’re always advised to be cautious of suspicious packages and unattended bags in airports, train stations and other public places...

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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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Nadia Whittome MP @nadiawhittomemp.bsky.social · May 14

The government is legitimising Reform with anti-migrant rhetoric while alienating long-time Labour voters by shifting to the right.

This won't defeat the far right, nor will it improve lives ruined by austerity - it's clearly a lose-lose strategy.

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Nadia Whittome MP @nadiawhittomemp.bsky.social · May 12

Anti-immigration policies stoke division and harm people, our public services and economy, while doing nothing to address the real problems caused by austerity.

Let’s offer solutions not scapegoating.

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Tanja Bueltmann @tanjabueltmann.net · May 12

My letter to the Prime Minister. #immigration

Slightly amended so I can fit this here:

I am writing to you as an immigrant who chose to make the UK my home. As someone who is now also a British citizen. And as a German-born historian who understands where the complete normalisation of the far right can end. I write to say: For shame!

I first came to the UK in the 1990s for a visit with my grandmother. Objectively, much was backwards here. No mixer taps in the bathroom; awful ‘bread’; and strings had to be pulled to switch on lights. But however I felt about this, my own string had been pulled: I loved this Cool Britannia. It was quite possibly then that I decided that the UK was to be my home. When I arrived to settle here permanently, I made a choice: to contribute my skills, my knowledge—all I have to offer—to this country rather than another one.

I am deeply disgusted by your comment today that immigration has done ‘incalculable damage’ to the country.

This is the language of the far right. It is insulting, hateful & will fuel xenophobia. And it is just wrong.

Migration is a normal part of the human existence. None of us would be where we are without it. Open your fridge and you will see migration. Immigrants help make the UK tick every single day, whether we clean toilets in our hospitals or provide care for the elderly; whether we empty our bins or carry out cancer research. We are mothers, sons-in-law, aunts and uncles, friends, neighbours and colleagues.

I ask you not tell me that you do not mean me. I know that you do not—at least not primarily—mean a white woman from Europe who has a PhD. But who do you mean? And, much more importantly, who do you think those racists who were engaged in riots on our streets last summer think you mean?

Anti-immigration narratives have defined UK policymaking for the best part of two decades. And fundamentally so. They were the key driver in delivering Brexit, for example, and, as such, have directly limited the rights and opportunities of British citizens.

This obsessive focus on immigration as the ‘problem’—that is the real problem. And it is consistently delivering poor outcomes for the UK. Instead of tackling this, you are choosing to consolidate it, sowing divisions along the way.

You may point me to polling and tell me that this is what voters want. Do they? I am not surprised at all that over 50% of voters might say they want to see immigration reduced if that is the question they are being asked. What we need to know is what they would answer to the question: “Would you like to see immigration reduced? What this would mean for you and your local community is XYZ.” That is not how surveys can ask questions, but governments absolutely can choose to make policy using such a more informed position.

Prime Minister, you continue to talk a lot about making the tough choices. But let’s be clear: setting immigrants up as the ‘other’, as a scapegoat—describing us as a threat ‘pulling the country apart’, a ‘squalid chapter’, a risk that might make the UK an ‘island of strangers’—these are not tough choices at all. These are the easy choices. They are the choices that populists make who have no solutions to the real problems a country faces.

What I would like to know, Prime Minister, is what you will do when your policies lead to the implosion of the UK’s Higher Education sector. What you will tell communities when they can no longer provide any care for the elderly.

The policies you announced today will not solve anything at all. They will have exclusively negative impacts. For those immediately affected; for our communities; and for our economy.

Being pro-immigration—it is progressive, yes, but the much more crucial point is that it is also the most pro-UK policy approach that any politician in the country can pursue. And you are choosing to do the opposite. This, Prime Minister, is the real damage—and it will be very calculable indeed.

Tanja Bueltmann

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European Commission @ec.europa.eu · May 4

Today we celebrate 25 years of the EU’s motto ‘United in Diversity’.

More than words - it’s the heart of Europe. 🇪🇺

A group of people dressed in coordinated outfits are gathered in front of the Berlaymont building of the European Commission in Brussels. They are tossing various European national flags into the air in celebration. A large yellow sign in the centre reads "UNITED IN DIVERSITY," echoing the European Union's motto. Spectators watch the vibrant and festive scene from the background.

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The Movement Forward @mvtfwd.bsky.social · Apr 27

Keeping Reform out now will be easier than getting Reform later.

StopReformUK.vote

Vote tactically on May 1st, this Thursday.

And join with your email to build this voting movement for more and more leverage in future elections.

Together we build the independent political alternative.

Thread /1

Stop the Tories and Reform

Your vote is your power. Use it tactically to get the Tories and Reform out, then influence your new MP and the next government.

stopreformuk.vote

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Alex Mac 🇪🇺🇬🇧🇺🇦 @alexjmac.bsky.social · Mar 16

Derbyshire, UK 🇬🇧❤️🇺🇦

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Lisa Burton 🇪🇺 @lisaburton.bsky.social · Mar 10

Very proud of my host nation and the Spanish government. In a time of creeping far right populism they have been making great reforms, praising the benefits of immigration, and according to preliminary official data for 2024, Spain’s GDP grew by 3.2%, almost five times the eurozone average

Best for Britain @bestforbritain.org · Mar 10

A message from Spain's left-wing government to the UK: take heart from our success on workers' rights. Raising living standards is the key to combating the far right.

"If you fall into the dialogue of the far right, the far right wins."
www.theguardian.com/business/202...

‘If you fall into the dialogue of the far right, the far right wins’: Spain’s deputy PM on the need for workers’ rights

Yolanda Díaz Pérez’s leftwing government has championed employment reform similar to Labour’s proposals – and she tells British business there is nothing to fear

www.theguardian.com

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Terry Reintke @terryreintke.bsky.social · Mar 8

Authoritarian movements around the world are attempting to restrict women’s freedom.

When women’s rights are under attack, democracy is under attack.

We must stand up to this.

That is why today is our common day to fight inequality and oppression.

#IWD2025 💜

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Anonymous @youranoncentral.bsky.social · Mar 7

As Musk was busy blowing up Space X rockets, Europe's new rocket Ariane 6 successfully carried out its first commercial mission, placing a French military satellite into orbit and confirming the continent's independent access to space and further cutting reliance on US systems. #StandWithUkraine

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Ursula von der Leyen @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu · Mar 7

We are coming out of this European Council determined.

These are extraordinary times.

They call for extraordinary measures.

With REARM Europe, we'll equip our Union with the capabilities it needs to support Ukraine and defend itself ↓

europa.eu/!XQhQdX

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News Eye @newseye.bsky.social · Mar 2

NEW: This is a powerhouse summit gathered in London.

Starmer has confirmed UK & France are now leading the peace process, with Ukraine.

Trump has disqualified himself & the US.

UK has also agreed to use profits from seized Russian assets to fund Ukraine 👏

Leaders attending:
🇬🇧🇺🇦🇫🇷🇩🇪🇮🇹🇨🇦🇪🇸🇵🇱🇩🇰🇳🇴🇫🇮🇸🇪🇳🇱🇨🇿🇷🇴🇹🇷🇪🇺

A picture of the world leaders at the summit in Lancaster House in London. The from row has Starmer in the middle flanked by Rutte from NATO, Macron, Zelenskyy and Scholz

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Peter Jukes @peterjukes.bsky.social · Mar 1

Note the layout - an echo of Oval Office - with warmth rather than venom

Sky News @news.sky.com · Mar 1

The Ukrainian President appeared touched as Starmer pointed out cheers from the crowds gathered outside as the president's motorcade approached Downing Street.

Latest: trib.al/lELH6Gj

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Ursula von der Leyen @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu · Feb 28

Your dignity honors the bravery of the Ukrainian people.

Be strong, be brave, be fearless.
You are never alone, dear President Zelenskyy.

We will continue working with you for a just and lasting peace.

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Alex Mac 🇪🇺🇬🇧🇺🇦 @alexjmac.bsky.social · Feb 27

The new US administration has been in for just over a month now and the world feels transformed. In the UK it seemed we were nearing normality with the Tories gone, sadly that feeling faded quickly. We must stay resilient, believing better days are ahead despite how it may feel currently.

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European Commission @ec.europa.eu · Feb 24

603,628 KM² 🇺🇦🇪🇺

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Byline Times @bylinetimes.bsky.social · Feb 21

🚨BREAKING CROSSPOST AFTER DDOS ATTACK

Donald Trump Was Recruited by the KGB Under Codename ‘Krasnov’ Claims Former Soviet Spy Chief

A former senior KGB chief claims Trump was recruited by them in 1987 due to his role as a prominent US businessman

www.bylinesupplement.com/p/breaking-c...

BREAKING CROSSPOST: Donald Trump Was Recruited by the KGB Under Codename ‘Krasnov’ Claims Former Soviet Spy Chief

Byline Times has crashed due to a DDOS attack and the original story blocked: a former senior KGB chief claims Trump was recruited by them in 1987 due to his role as a prominent US businessman

www.bylinesupplement.com

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Josh Marshall @joshtpm.bsky.social · Feb 21

I’m not sure the world has seen a genuine supervillain until 2025. Of course there’ve been countless monsters: hitler, Stalin, pol pot. But a real life figure who fits the Gotham/Metropolis model. Plutocrat bigwig who is actually deeply evil & wants to run the world for cartoonishly stupid reasons.

News Eye @newseye.bsky.social · Feb 20

Despicable. Elon Musk has just suggested Zelenskyy is sending soldiers to die so he can make money.

“What are they dying for? I’ll tell you what for. For the biggest graft machine I’ve seen in my life. Poor guys are getting sent into a meat grinder for money.”

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