Ian Birrell
@ianbirrell.bsky.social
2.2K followers 270 following 590 posts
Foreign correspondent, columnist, campaigner, co-founder Aftica Express, citizen of the world and a bit more besides…
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ianbirrell.bsky.social
‘Dior handbags, which retail for between £3-5,000 and which, according to paperwork, cost between £50 and £60 to make’ - interesting Observer‬⁩ expose of slave labour and rip-offs in the luxury fashion industry observer.co.uk/news/busines...
Illegal practices tear the reputation of Italian luxury f...
It is an industry that thrives on quality, yet Italy’s top houses are being investigated for sub-contracting, black market mark-ups and sweat shop labour
observer.co.uk
Reposted by Ian Birrell
samfr.bsky.social
JFC the man has not one ounce of shame in him.

He went to private school and Cambridge. He owns three homes and rents a fourth!
jamesdaustin.bsky.social
I know plenty of politicians 'working classify' their backgrounds, but this from Jenrick is taking the piss.

His father's linked in is here: uk.linkedin.com/in/bill-jenr...

He was a managing accountant who ended up as the Managing Director of Cannon Industries
Reposted by Ian Birrell
Reposted by Ian Birrell
stollmeyer.bsky.social
🔥 Finally an EU leader says it out loud:

“We have been incredibly naive in entrusting our democratic space to social networks that are controlled either by large American entrepreneurs or large Chinese companies, whose interests are not at all the survival or proper functioning of our democracies.”
defenddemocracy.bsky.social
President Macron: “Europeans, let's wake up!

We have been incredibly naive in entrusting our democratic space to social networks.”

defenddemocracy.eu/macron-democ...
ianbirrell.bsky.social
Starmer says we need to look again at ‘this issue of mental health’ and ask if better to put cash into support not benefits, especially for younger people. So what about reforming the care & mental health systems that have been hollowed out and ransacked by private equity sharks?
Reposted by Ian Birrell
ianbirrell.bsky.social
When Shabana Mahmood says migrants can’t get indefinite leave to remain if ‘taking a penny in benefits’, this must mean a couple - maybe working as NHS doctors or nurses - must forget about claiming any care support if they have a child with disabilities. Yes, this is Labour 2025
ianbirrell.bsky.social
When Shabana Mahmood says migrants can’t get indefinite leave to remain if ‘taking a penny in benefits’, this must mean a couple - maybe working as NHS doctors or nurses - must forget about claiming any care support if they have a child with disabilities. Yes, this is Labour 2025
ianbirrell.bsky.social
Fortunately the European Parliament keeps a record of Nigel Farage shamefully repeating Kremlin propaganda about Ukraine and absolving Russia of any responsibility for invading a democratic nation while saying Putin 'is on our side' in a more significant struggle
Reposted by Ian Birrell
Reposted by Ian Birrell
ianbirrell.bsky.social
Betrayal of Britain: the case of a corrupt and treacherous Reform MP exposes how Russian tentacles reach deep into our democracy. My @theipaper column on the Kremlin funding of divisive populism inews.co.uk/opinion/russ...
Russian tentacles are reaching deep into British democracy
Russia is deploying all means at its disposal to shred our way of life
inews.co.uk
ianbirrell.bsky.social
Betrayal of Britain: the case of a corrupt and treacherous Reform MP exposes how Russian tentacles reach deep into our democracy. My @theipaper column on the Kremlin funding of divisive populism inews.co.uk/opinion/russ...
Russian tentacles are reaching deep into British democracy
Russia is deploying all means at its disposal to shred our way of life
inews.co.uk
Reposted by Ian Birrell
theipaper.com
The i Paper has been recognised for its commentators, political journalism and environmental reporting - including @kitty-donaldson.bsky.social @luciemheath.bsky.social @iandunt.bsky.social @yasminalibhaibrown.bsky.social and @ianbirrell.bsky.social

Read more: trib.al/Fg7Nwn2
ianbirrell.bsky.social
Sad to see the death of former Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell, a good man in Westminster who displayed moral leadership opposing the stupidity of the Iraq War. Whenever I saw him, he always took time to ask about my daughter’s health and care. RIP Ming… www.bbc.com/news/article...
Former Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell dies aged 84
Sir Menzies led the Liberal Democrats from 2006 to 2007 and was the MP for North East Fife at Westminster for 28 years.
www.bbc.com
ianbirrell.bsky.social
What a surprise: senior Reform UK figure pocketed cash to promote Russia, following the far-right rulebook seen elsewhere in Europe
spotlightcorruption.org
🚨 BREAKING: The former leader of Reform UK in Wales, Nathan Gill, has pleaded guilty to #bribery, admitting he received corrupt payments as a Brexit Party MEP in exchange for making statements in the European Parliament to promote Russia’s interests in #Ukraine.
Reform UK’s ex-leader in Wales Nathan Gill pleads guilty to bribery charges
Gill admits to eight charges while an elected member of the European parliament
www.theguardian.com
Reposted by Ian Birrell
ianbirrell.bsky.social
If the government’s digital ID card scheme is based on Estonia, it should also impose their rule that the entire apparatus of state can only ask once for citizen’s details such as age, address, marital status etc to drive efficiency and follow their rules on data protection
ianbirrell.bsky.social
If the government’s digital ID card scheme is based on Estonia, it should also impose their rule that the entire apparatus of state can only ask once for citizen’s details such as age, address, marital status etc to drive efficiency and follow their rules on data protection
Reposted by Ian Birrell
Reposted by Ian Birrell
Reposted by Ian Birrell
ianbirrell.bsky.social
Trump’s fanboy wants to round up for deportation people granted settled leave to remain on the basis that they fail to earn what he considers to be high enough wages.