Dan Jones
@dantjon.bsky.social
Twitter refuge 🌿 Reconnecting with like-minded progressives and rebuilding my feed—safe, sane, toxin-free.
What exactly is “not acceptable” here: Scotland setting normal citizenship criteria (birth/ancestry/residence), or Scotland having the right to decide its own future at all?
January 26, 2026 at 6:09 AM
What exactly is “not acceptable” here: Scotland setting normal citizenship criteria (birth/ancestry/residence), or Scotland having the right to decide its own future at all?
It excludes people who have no connection and that’s the point of citizenship.
Every country draws a line: birth, ancestry, residence. If you’re arguing for “anyone can opt in”, that isn’t citizenship.
Every country draws a line: birth, ancestry, residence. If you’re arguing for “anyone can opt in”, that isn’t citizenship.
January 26, 2026 at 5:58 AM
It excludes people who have no connection and that’s the point of citizenship.
Every country draws a line: birth, ancestry, residence. If you’re arguing for “anyone can opt in”, that isn’t citizenship.
Every country draws a line: birth, ancestry, residence. If you’re arguing for “anyone can opt in”, that isn’t citizenship.
It's not limited to Scots but all residents, as well as by birth and/ or ancestry.
Citizenship isn’t a free-for-all pick & mix.
The recognised criteria are as noted birth, ancestry or residence, not just “Brits who fancy it”.
Citizenship isn’t a free-for-all pick & mix.
The recognised criteria are as noted birth, ancestry or residence, not just “Brits who fancy it”.
January 26, 2026 at 5:17 AM
It's not limited to Scots but all residents, as well as by birth and/ or ancestry.
Citizenship isn’t a free-for-all pick & mix.
The recognised criteria are as noted birth, ancestry or residence, not just “Brits who fancy it”.
Citizenship isn’t a free-for-all pick & mix.
The recognised criteria are as noted birth, ancestry or residence, not just “Brits who fancy it”.
Guarantees for Scots living elsewhere should absolutely be part of any settlement - that doesn’t override Scotland’s right to determine its own future.
January 26, 2026 at 5:03 AM
Guarantees for Scots living elsewhere should absolutely be part of any settlement - that doesn’t override Scotland’s right to determine its own future.
Those rights would be protected.
Everyone resident in Scotland would have their residency/settled rights guaranteed in law (and Scots in rUK should too).
Everyone resident in Scotland would have their residency/settled rights guaranteed in law (and Scots in rUK should too).
January 26, 2026 at 4:53 AM
Those rights would be protected.
Everyone resident in Scotland would have their residency/settled rights guaranteed in law (and Scots in rUK should too).
Everyone resident in Scotland would have their residency/settled rights guaranteed in law (and Scots in rUK should too).
Scotland didn’t “rebel” to join the Union, it chose it.
That choice means Scotland gets to reconsider it now. Self-government isn’t rebellion, it’s democracy.
That choice means Scotland gets to reconsider it now. Self-government isn’t rebellion, it’s democracy.
January 25, 2026 at 9:10 PM
Scotland didn’t “rebel” to join the Union, it chose it.
That choice means Scotland gets to reconsider it now. Self-government isn’t rebellion, it’s democracy.
That choice means Scotland gets to reconsider it now. Self-government isn’t rebellion, it’s democracy.
It “worked” because Scotland was forced to live with decisions made in England.
That’s not a success story, it’s exactly why self-determination matters.
That’s not a success story, it’s exactly why self-determination matters.
January 25, 2026 at 9:05 PM
It “worked” because Scotland was forced to live with decisions made in England.
That’s not a success story, it’s exactly why self-determination matters.
That’s not a success story, it’s exactly why self-determination matters.
That can and will only be done by joining the EU. Piggy backing of Scotland is not a credible option.
January 25, 2026 at 6:06 PM
That can and will only be done by joining the EU. Piggy backing of Scotland is not a credible option.
Well said, it’s citizenship and democratic accountability.
If you live in Scotland, you should choose who governs you. Self-determination shouldn’t be controversial… but plenty in England still treat it like an alien concept.
If you live in Scotland, you should choose who governs you. Self-determination shouldn’t be controversial… but plenty in England still treat it like an alien concept.
January 25, 2026 at 6:05 PM
Well said, it’s citizenship and democratic accountability.
If you live in Scotland, you should choose who governs you. Self-determination shouldn’t be controversial… but plenty in England still treat it like an alien concept.
If you live in Scotland, you should choose who governs you. Self-determination shouldn’t be controversial… but plenty in England still treat it like an alien concept.
No “mistakes” were made: ending FoM was a deliberate choice.
And trying to block Scottish self-determination by waving the Union flag isn’t “avoiding mistakes”, it’s repeating them.
And trying to block Scottish self-determination by waving the Union flag isn’t “avoiding mistakes”, it’s repeating them.
January 25, 2026 at 5:54 PM
No “mistakes” were made: ending FoM was a deliberate choice.
And trying to block Scottish self-determination by waving the Union flag isn’t “avoiding mistakes”, it’s repeating them.
And trying to block Scottish self-determination by waving the Union flag isn’t “avoiding mistakes”, it’s repeating them.
EU FoM is a treaty-based right between member states.
We chose to leave that framework, so UK-wide FoM can’t be “guaranteed” by the EU, it’s for us to negotiate, not demand.
We chose to leave that framework, so UK-wide FoM can’t be “guaranteed” by the EU, it’s for us to negotiate, not demand.
January 25, 2026 at 5:45 PM
EU FoM is a treaty-based right between member states.
We chose to leave that framework, so UK-wide FoM can’t be “guaranteed” by the EU, it’s for us to negotiate, not demand.
We chose to leave that framework, so UK-wide FoM can’t be “guaranteed” by the EU, it’s for us to negotiate, not demand.
Feels like this isn’t about principle at all, but a workaround to secure FoM benefits for Brits who don’t qualify for Scottish citizenship.
January 25, 2026 at 5:39 PM
Feels like this isn’t about principle at all, but a workaround to secure FoM benefits for Brits who don’t qualify for Scottish citizenship.
That's absurd.
Only people with a genuine Scottish connection (birth, parentage, or residency) qualify for citizenship.
Someone born/living in Cornwall with no link to Scotland doesn’t qualify.
Only people with a genuine Scottish connection (birth, parentage, or residency) qualify for citizenship.
Someone born/living in Cornwall with no link to Scotland doesn’t qualify.
January 25, 2026 at 5:33 PM
That's absurd.
Only people with a genuine Scottish connection (birth, parentage, or residency) qualify for citizenship.
Someone born/living in Cornwall with no link to Scotland doesn’t qualify.
Only people with a genuine Scottish connection (birth, parentage, or residency) qualify for citizenship.
Someone born/living in Cornwall with no link to Scotland doesn’t qualify.
I’m sceptical Starmer will ever make the EU pivot, even if it’s clearly in the national interest.
He’s timid, too cautious, too scared of the Mail/Reform backlash, and too indecisive when it comes to taking a big political bet. Without courage, we’re stuck with half-measures and managed decline.
He’s timid, too cautious, too scared of the Mail/Reform backlash, and too indecisive when it comes to taking a big political bet. Without courage, we’re stuck with half-measures and managed decline.
January 25, 2026 at 10:24 AM
I’m sceptical Starmer will ever make the EU pivot, even if it’s clearly in the national interest.
He’s timid, too cautious, too scared of the Mail/Reform backlash, and too indecisive when it comes to taking a big political bet. Without courage, we’re stuck with half-measures and managed decline.
He’s timid, too cautious, too scared of the Mail/Reform backlash, and too indecisive when it comes to taking a big political bet. Without courage, we’re stuck with half-measures and managed decline.
And the biggest gap is still growth. There’s no credible, coherent plan that shifts the dial, just slogans, small change and constant triangulation.
Without real economic growth, everything else is firefighting and people won’t feel a Labour government in their pay packets or public services.
Without real economic growth, everything else is firefighting and people won’t feel a Labour government in their pay packets or public services.
January 25, 2026 at 10:10 AM
And the biggest gap is still growth. There’s no credible, coherent plan that shifts the dial, just slogans, small change and constant triangulation.
Without real economic growth, everything else is firefighting and people won’t feel a Labour government in their pay packets or public services.
Without real economic growth, everything else is firefighting and people won’t feel a Labour government in their pay packets or public services.
And “behind the scenes” only gets you so far when Starmer keeps making avoidable gaffs such as aid cuts, culture-war signalling, and U-turns.
If you want patience from voters, you’ve got to look serious, consistent and values-led too.
If you want patience from voters, you’ve got to look serious, consistent and values-led too.
January 25, 2026 at 10:04 AM
And “behind the scenes” only gets you so far when Starmer keeps making avoidable gaffs such as aid cuts, culture-war signalling, and U-turns.
If you want patience from voters, you’ve got to look serious, consistent and values-led too.
If you want patience from voters, you’ve got to look serious, consistent and values-led too.
True, you can’t undo 14 years of malfeasance in 18 months.
But that cuts both ways: if results take time, he (& his Government) need stop wasting political capital on headline-chasing and Reform-apeing instead of building consent for the hard yards.
cont…
But that cuts both ways: if results take time, he (& his Government) need stop wasting political capital on headline-chasing and Reform-apeing instead of building consent for the hard yards.
cont…
January 25, 2026 at 10:04 AM
True, you can’t undo 14 years of malfeasance in 18 months.
But that cuts both ways: if results take time, he (& his Government) need stop wasting political capital on headline-chasing and Reform-apeing instead of building consent for the hard yards.
cont…
But that cuts both ways: if results take time, he (& his Government) need stop wasting political capital on headline-chasing and Reform-apeing instead of building consent for the hard yards.
cont…
Reposted by Dan Jones
My TL is alternating between Americans shooting their own citizens and speculation on who's going to stand in the Gorton by-election, and it's like trying to take a nice warm bath by jumping between a lake of lava and tub of liquid nitrogen.
January 25, 2026 at 9:39 AM
My TL is alternating between Americans shooting their own citizens and speculation on who's going to stand in the Gorton by-election, and it's like trying to take a nice warm bath by jumping between a lake of lava and tub of liquid nitrogen.
Same, I want Labour getting on with the job too. That’s why people are frustrated: after 18 months there’s precious little most people can point to in daily life that feels better. And obsessing over chasing the Reform vote isn’t helping.
January 25, 2026 at 9:55 AM
Same, I want Labour getting on with the job too. That’s why people are frustrated: after 18 months there’s precious little most people can point to in daily life that feels better. And obsessing over chasing the Reform vote isn’t helping.
Good point. Will rectify. Have a good day!
January 24, 2026 at 4:59 PM
Good point. Will rectify. Have a good day!