Tam Widmann
@arcofprosperity.org
Exiled New Scot, computational linguist, pro-EU. I stay in Stillebæk (DK) with my Scottish wife, three kids and three cats. I blog at arcofprosperity.org.
Reposted by Tam Widmann
Very interesting point from @chrisgrey.bsky.social on the UK King's speech.
The UK far right was furious about it, and the King's restatement of values and respect for institutions as being British.
This does point to a sliver of hope.
A 🧵
The UK far right was furious about it, and the King's restatement of values and respect for institutions as being British.
This does point to a sliver of hope.
A 🧵
December 26, 2025 at 10:30 AM
Very interesting point from @chrisgrey.bsky.social on the UK King's speech.
The UK far right was furious about it, and the King's restatement of values and respect for institutions as being British.
This does point to a sliver of hope.
A 🧵
The UK far right was furious about it, and the King's restatement of values and respect for institutions as being British.
This does point to a sliver of hope.
A 🧵
Reposted by Tam Widmann
Left: Greta Thunberg arrested for holding a placard in London
Right: Labour's Baron Hain, "This gov is treating Palestine action as equivalent to ISIS or al-Qaeda, which is intellectually bankrupt, politically unprincipled and morally wrong. I'm deeply ashamed"
Right: Labour's Baron Hain, "This gov is treating Palestine action as equivalent to ISIS or al-Qaeda, which is intellectually bankrupt, politically unprincipled and morally wrong. I'm deeply ashamed"
December 23, 2025 at 11:51 AM
Left: Greta Thunberg arrested for holding a placard in London
Right: Labour's Baron Hain, "This gov is treating Palestine action as equivalent to ISIS or al-Qaeda, which is intellectually bankrupt, politically unprincipled and morally wrong. I'm deeply ashamed"
Right: Labour's Baron Hain, "This gov is treating Palestine action as equivalent to ISIS or al-Qaeda, which is intellectually bankrupt, politically unprincipled and morally wrong. I'm deeply ashamed"
Reposted by Tam Widmann
Final Scottish Parliament poll tracker of the year, before the Christmas holidays start in earnest. SNP projected one short of a majority.
Seats (+/- 2021):
SNP: 64 (-)
Lab: 18 (-4)
Ref: 18(+18)
Grn: 12 (+4)
Con: 9 (-22)
LD: 8 (+4)
Alba: 0 (-)
20 marginals: 16 SNP, 3 Labour, 1 Conservative.
1/3
Seats (+/- 2021):
SNP: 64 (-)
Lab: 18 (-4)
Ref: 18(+18)
Grn: 12 (+4)
Con: 9 (-22)
LD: 8 (+4)
Alba: 0 (-)
20 marginals: 16 SNP, 3 Labour, 1 Conservative.
1/3
December 22, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Final Scottish Parliament poll tracker of the year, before the Christmas holidays start in earnest. SNP projected one short of a majority.
Seats (+/- 2021):
SNP: 64 (-)
Lab: 18 (-4)
Ref: 18(+18)
Grn: 12 (+4)
Con: 9 (-22)
LD: 8 (+4)
Alba: 0 (-)
20 marginals: 16 SNP, 3 Labour, 1 Conservative.
1/3
Seats (+/- 2021):
SNP: 64 (-)
Lab: 18 (-4)
Ref: 18(+18)
Grn: 12 (+4)
Con: 9 (-22)
LD: 8 (+4)
Alba: 0 (-)
20 marginals: 16 SNP, 3 Labour, 1 Conservative.
1/3
Reposted by Tam Widmann
Current Economic Conditions are now the worst in history according to Americans 🤯👀
December 22, 2025 at 5:14 AM
Current Economic Conditions are now the worst in history according to Americans 🤯👀
Reposted by Tam Widmann
Belgium's former prime minister calls for a European Awakening.
"Trump's real objective is to weaken us. And he does so through condescending, contemptuous, even insulting rhetoric".
www.TheOwnedContinent.eu
"Trump's real objective is to weaken us. And he does so through condescending, contemptuous, even insulting rhetoric".
www.TheOwnedContinent.eu
« Le vrai objectif de Trump, c’est de nous affaiblir. Et il le fait par le biais d’un verbatim condescendant, méprisant, voire même insultant » : Sophie Wilmès appelle à un réveil de l’Europe !
À l’occasion de la première édition du nouveau concept « Face aux lecteurs » de Sudinfo, Sophie Wilmès a répondu longuement à nos questions sur les grands enjeux du moment. L’Europe cible de Donald Tr...
www.sudinfo.be
December 13, 2025 at 4:23 PM
Belgium's former prime minister calls for a European Awakening.
"Trump's real objective is to weaken us. And he does so through condescending, contemptuous, even insulting rhetoric".
www.TheOwnedContinent.eu
"Trump's real objective is to weaken us. And he does so through condescending, contemptuous, even insulting rhetoric".
www.TheOwnedContinent.eu
Reposted by Tam Widmann
It's not just social media. Looks like visitors to the US from Europe and other countries that are part of the visa waiver program will have to submit an enormous amount of data about themselves and their families, including DNA, if proposed new rules are accepted
December 12, 2025 at 12:24 PM
It's not just social media. Looks like visitors to the US from Europe and other countries that are part of the visa waiver program will have to submit an enormous amount of data about themselves and their families, including DNA, if proposed new rules are accepted
Reposted by Tam Widmann
If the US can seize a Venezuelan tanker carrying sanctioned oil, then can other tankers in other places, say the Baltic or the Black Sea, also be seized?
December 11, 2025 at 12:37 AM
If the US can seize a Venezuelan tanker carrying sanctioned oil, then can other tankers in other places, say the Baltic or the Black Sea, also be seized?
Reposted by Tam Widmann
So this week shall I write about how killing unarmed civilians is murder or about how unwise it would be to limit the human right against torture.
Western liberal democracies in 2025.
Western liberal democracies in 2025.
December 8, 2025 at 7:57 AM
So this week shall I write about how killing unarmed civilians is murder or about how unwise it would be to limit the human right against torture.
Western liberal democracies in 2025.
Western liberal democracies in 2025.
Reposted by Tam Widmann
Sickening. At the very least, the US could have looked for other countries that might be willing to offer them asylum, rather than handing them back to Putin for (at best) imprisonment.
A plane carrying Russian citizens deported from the U.S. touched down in Moscow amid fears that some on board might face unjust imprisonment or forced mobilization.
Asylum-Seeking Russians Deported From U.S. at Risk of Persecution and Forced Mobilization, Activists Warn - The Moscow Times
A plane carrying Russian citizens deported from the U.S. touched down in Moscow on Tuesday amid fears that some on board might face unjust imprisonment.
www.themoscowtimes.com
December 10, 2025 at 12:29 PM
Sickening. At the very least, the US could have looked for other countries that might be willing to offer them asylum, rather than handing them back to Putin for (at best) imprisonment.
Reposted by Tam Widmann
The core thesis of our Brextinction paper, beautifully (or morbidly?) summarized in one flowchart (also based on YouGov data).
@simonhix.bsky.social @juhoharkonen.bsky.social
ejpr.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
@simonhix.bsky.social @juhoharkonen.bsky.social
ejpr.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Absolutely amazing chart from @peterkellner.bsky.social's piece in @thenewworldmag.bsky.social today:
www.thenewworld.co.uk/peter-kellne...
www.thenewworld.co.uk/peter-kellne...
December 10, 2025 at 1:45 PM
The core thesis of our Brextinction paper, beautifully (or morbidly?) summarized in one flowchart (also based on YouGov data).
@simonhix.bsky.social @juhoharkonen.bsky.social
ejpr.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
@simonhix.bsky.social @juhoharkonen.bsky.social
ejpr.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Reposted by Tam Widmann
Slovenia, Spain, Ireland, The Netherlands and now Iceland are boycotting Eurovision.
It's time everyone boycotted it.
It's time everyone boycotted it.
December 10, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Slovenia, Spain, Ireland, The Netherlands and now Iceland are boycotting Eurovision.
It's time everyone boycotted it.
It's time everyone boycotted it.
Reposted by Tam Widmann
Holy moly, do people still think the U.S. is an ally of Europe? It is now an officially stated foreign policy goal to undermine the EU and centrist European governments that don't ideologically align with MAGA.
Europeans are waking up this morning to find the new US National Security Strategy (quietly) released. And what it has to say on Europe could not be clearer. On the „stark prospect of civilizations erasure“ for example. 👇
December 5, 2025 at 5:42 AM
Holy moly, do people still think the U.S. is an ally of Europe? It is now an officially stated foreign policy goal to undermine the EU and centrist European governments that don't ideologically align with MAGA.
Reposted by Tam Widmann
Voting breakdown on whether to discuss Israel participation in european song contest
December 4, 2025 at 6:46 PM
Voting breakdown on whether to discuss Israel participation in european song contest
Reposted by Tam Widmann
At this time of year, I start to think about my annual reviews, which include (for consistency of comparison year-to-year) an average of polls across Q4. I know I keep banging this drum, and there's a few weeks left, but Scotland is unbelievably poorly served by polling at the moment...
December 1, 2025 at 8:27 PM
At this time of year, I start to think about my annual reviews, which include (for consistency of comparison year-to-year) an average of polls across Q4. I know I keep banging this drum, and there's a few weeks left, but Scotland is unbelievably poorly served by polling at the moment...
Reposted by Tam Widmann
An addendum to today's post paulkrugman.substack.com/p/trump-pro-...
December 1, 2025 at 7:39 PM
An addendum to today's post paulkrugman.substack.com/p/trump-pro-...
Reposted by Tam Widmann
The whole premise behind the student loan threshold, and the loans and university attendance, was that it would be worth it because earnings would be high / above average- if they’re minimum wage then what’s the financial point of uni?
November 26, 2025 at 8:19 PM
The whole premise behind the student loan threshold, and the loans and university attendance, was that it would be worth it because earnings would be high / above average- if they’re minimum wage then what’s the financial point of uni?
Reposted by Tam Widmann
Which, you know, is exactly why Labour's new asylum policies won't work, because they'll worsen integration and won't address the racist element of immigration backlash.
November 24, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Which, you know, is exactly why Labour's new asylum policies won't work, because they'll worsen integration and won't address the racist element of immigration backlash.
Reposted by Tam Widmann
After more than 10 years of “the Danish Model”, nativism is hegemonic in the country, the far right polls near level highs again, and the Social Democrats lost Copenhagen and poll at historic low.
European Social Democrats should look at the facts, not the myths!
Me in @theguardian.com
European Social Democrats should look at the facts, not the myths!
Me in @theguardian.com
The ‘Danish model’ is the darling of centre-left parties like Labour. The problem is, it doesn’t even work in Denmark | Cas Mudde
This week’s local elections are the latest reminder that when social democrats move rightwards, they’re making a mistake, says academic and author Cas Mudde
www.theguardian.com
November 22, 2025 at 1:59 PM
After more than 10 years of “the Danish Model”, nativism is hegemonic in the country, the far right polls near level highs again, and the Social Democrats lost Copenhagen and poll at historic low.
European Social Democrats should look at the facts, not the myths!
Me in @theguardian.com
European Social Democrats should look at the facts, not the myths!
Me in @theguardian.com
Reposted by Tam Widmann
“Labour and the BBC don’t understand their enemy – or even know that their enemy exists. They’re running around with bayonets while their adversaries are dropping nukes.” @writesbright.bsky.social
open.substack.com/pub/writesbr...
open.substack.com/pub/writesbr...
What Labour and the BBC have in common
They still don’t get it...
open.substack.com
November 22, 2025 at 9:27 AM
“Labour and the BBC don’t understand their enemy – or even know that their enemy exists. They’re running around with bayonets while their adversaries are dropping nukes.” @writesbright.bsky.social
open.substack.com/pub/writesbr...
open.substack.com/pub/writesbr...
Reposted by Tam Widmann
Jonathan Freedland finally says it:
Britain is drowning bc there’s a Brexit-shaped hole in the roof and Labour refuses to fix it.
Reeves can juggle taxes but nothing improves until we face the truth.
We’re poorer bc of Brexit. We stay poor if Labour protects it.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Britain is drowning bc there’s a Brexit-shaped hole in the roof and Labour refuses to fix it.
Reeves can juggle taxes but nothing improves until we face the truth.
We’re poorer bc of Brexit. We stay poor if Labour protects it.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Rachel Reeves is studiously ignoring the cause of Britain’s woes: the Brexit-shaped hole in its roof | Jonathan Freedland
The autumn budget will mop up some damage, but the true source of the economic crisis is clear. The government should now fix it – tragically, it won’t, says Guardian columnist Jonathan Freedland
www.theguardian.com
November 22, 2025 at 8:24 AM
Jonathan Freedland finally says it:
Britain is drowning bc there’s a Brexit-shaped hole in the roof and Labour refuses to fix it.
Reeves can juggle taxes but nothing improves until we face the truth.
We’re poorer bc of Brexit. We stay poor if Labour protects it.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Britain is drowning bc there’s a Brexit-shaped hole in the roof and Labour refuses to fix it.
Reeves can juggle taxes but nothing improves until we face the truth.
We’re poorer bc of Brexit. We stay poor if Labour protects it.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Tam Widmann
Zack Polanski and the Greens have done incredibly well, like look how quickly and fast we shot up, nearly crossing the Tories and Labour, and in some polls are literally polling 2nd after Reform.
Maybe replacing Labour doesn't seem so distant now!
Maybe replacing Labour doesn't seem so distant now!
November 21, 2025 at 1:01 AM
Zack Polanski and the Greens have done incredibly well, like look how quickly and fast we shot up, nearly crossing the Tories and Labour, and in some polls are literally polling 2nd after Reform.
Maybe replacing Labour doesn't seem so distant now!
Maybe replacing Labour doesn't seem so distant now!
Reposted by Tam Widmann
This is one of my favourite bits on here: the Uk actually taxes its top decile a lot and under taxes the middle, giving us Europes most progressive taxation system. European taxes for the top decile and then they get frozen out of the benefits system because the middle do not pay their share.
November 21, 2025 at 7:34 AM
This is one of my favourite bits on here: the Uk actually taxes its top decile a lot and under taxes the middle, giving us Europes most progressive taxation system. European taxes for the top decile and then they get frozen out of the benefits system because the middle do not pay their share.
Reposted by Tam Widmann
Hopefully US proposals that Ukraine capitulate to Russia will fail. In the meantime Europe needs to be clear: it will never buy oil and gas from Russia unless it withdraws from Ukraine, it will not participate in G8 meetings involving Russia, and if this holds the US-EU trade deal is off.
November 21, 2025 at 8:04 AM
Hopefully US proposals that Ukraine capitulate to Russia will fail. In the meantime Europe needs to be clear: it will never buy oil and gas from Russia unless it withdraws from Ukraine, it will not participate in G8 meetings involving Russia, and if this holds the US-EU trade deal is off.
Reposted by Tam Widmann
VERY funny that Labour are being pointlessly cruel and haemorrhaging support from their base and yet none of what they're offering is ever going to be enough for the people whose approval they're seeking, WHO could have predicted it
November 20, 2025 at 3:20 PM
VERY funny that Labour are being pointlessly cruel and haemorrhaging support from their base and yet none of what they're offering is ever going to be enough for the people whose approval they're seeking, WHO could have predicted it
Reposted by Tam Widmann
Ireland–France trade up 30% since Brexit UK–EU trade down.
Ireland now has 37 direct shipping routes to France (up from 4). France is investing heavily in Ireland & exports are booming.
Britain?
Shrinking farms, collapsing food production, ports dying & a government that is in denial.
#AreYouYesYet
Ireland now has 37 direct shipping routes to France (up from 4). France is investing heavily in Ireland & exports are booming.
Britain?
Shrinking farms, collapsing food production, ports dying & a government that is in denial.
#AreYouYesYet
November 17, 2025 at 8:10 AM
Ireland–France trade up 30% since Brexit UK–EU trade down.
Ireland now has 37 direct shipping routes to France (up from 4). France is investing heavily in Ireland & exports are booming.
Britain?
Shrinking farms, collapsing food production, ports dying & a government that is in denial.
#AreYouYesYet
Ireland now has 37 direct shipping routes to France (up from 4). France is investing heavily in Ireland & exports are booming.
Britain?
Shrinking farms, collapsing food production, ports dying & a government that is in denial.
#AreYouYesYet