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Reposted by Richard McNeil-Willson

BISA - British International Studies Association @mybisa.bsky.social · 6d

Make sure you get your #BISA2026 submissions in 🎉
'Is International Studies ready for what comes next? New thinking, new directions' 🌎

‼️Find out more about #BISA2026 & how great Brighton is - a creative, sustainable welcoming and diverse city: https://ow.ly/M0Tu50X5tt7

@julietdryden.bsky.social

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Colin Murray @colinmurray.bsky.social · 24d

After the rivers of blood speech, precisely no one in the major parties patted themselves on the back and declared free speech to be alive and well. They declared Powell a pariah, and he was only able to re-emerge in public life as the incongruous unionist MP for South Down.

The Guardian @theguardian.com · 24d

Scale of ‘Unite the Kingdom’ march shows free speech ‘alive and well’ in UK, says minister – UK politics live

Peter Kyle said he was not ‘disturbed’ by huge Tommy Robinson-organised far-right protest but condemns violence against the police

www.theguardian.com

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Richard McNeil-Willson @mcneilwillson.bsky.social · 24d

We will never surrender our flag, says Tommy Robinson.

Oh, I mean Sir Keir Starmer.

www.bbc.com/news/article...

We will never surrender our flag, Sir Keir Starmer says - BBC News

The prime minister said the flag represents "our diverse country" and he will not allow people to feel intimidated.

www.bbc.com

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Richard McNeil-Willson @mcneilwillson.bsky.social · Sep 8

Police saved the UK from 890 retired and disabled terrorists and a mannequin this weekend.

www.councilestatemedia.uk/p/police-sav...

Police saved the UK from 890 retired and disabled terrorists and a mannequin this weekend

LEGAL DISCLAIMER: Before I begin this article, I must point out that I fully support the police dragging away old ladies on zimmerframes.

www.councilestatemedia.uk

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Dr Bibi van Ginkel, LLM @bibivanginkel.bsky.social · Sep 8

Zeer relevant ihkv aanstaande wetswijziging in Nederland waarmee beoogd wordt verheerlijking van terrorisme steafbaar te stellen.

Richard McNeil-Willson @mcneilwillson.bsky.social · Sep 8

Absolutely jaw-dropping figures of UK Terrorism-related arrests.

Scholars have been warning for years that counterterrorism law is dangerous, racist, poorly conceived, largely unnecessary, and ripe for abuse.

Here is the result - its systematic use against protestors campaigning against genocide.

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BDS movement @bdsmovement.bsky.social · Sep 8

BDS victory! The Scottish Parliament becomes the first in the world to endorse BDS against genocidal Israel.

BDS calls for escalated civil society pressure on all states to impose legal and targeted sanctions against apartheid Israel similar to those that helped abolish apartheid in South Africa.

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Richard McNeil-Willson @mcneilwillson.bsky.social · Sep 8

Absolutely jaw-dropping figures of UK Terrorism-related arrests.

Scholars have been warning for years that counterterrorism law is dangerous, racist, poorly conceived, largely unnecessary, and ripe for abuse.

Here is the result - its systematic use against protestors campaigning against genocide.

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Alasdair Mackenzie @alasdairmackenzie.bsky.social · Aug 23

Every one of these protests is a terrifying experience for the asylum seekers - the wider atmosphere in the country is horrible & Labour’s reaction craven. But it’s worth remembering how much of this is generated by politicians & media openly desperate for broad unrest which simply isn’t happening

Sunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · Aug 22

Times: "Asylum protests swell across the UK " headline, reporting an underwhelming wave.

Leeds "draws 70"
Cardiff "disorganised + small"
Altrincham "*swelled* to around 200"
Cheshunt about 250
Chichester: about 100
Portsmouth: about 70 v 70 on each side

www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...

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Aurelien Mondon @aurelmondon.bsky.social · Aug 21

New article out!

@luke-shuttleworth.bsky.social,
@k8ebrown.bsky.social & I teamed up to explore whether the concept of 'cordon sanitaire' remains useful in the current stage of mainstreaming of far right politics

Read the full article, open access, here

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www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

The pretence of the cordon sanitaire: non-collaboration as a distraction from discursive congruence

Much has been written about how mainstream parties respond to far-right challengers in liberal democracies. Whereas some mainstream parties have become more open to forming coalitions with far-righ...

www.tandfonline.com

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Byline Times @bylinetimes.bsky.social · Aug 19

🔴Robert Jenrick and the Conservative Party’s Embrace of ‘Blood and Soil’ Nationalism

The British right is adopting an increasingly extreme form of ethnic identity politics, while failing to explain what the rest of us should be so worried about, argues @jdportes.bsky.social

Robert Jenrick and the Conservative Party's Embrace of 'Blood and Soil' Nationalism

The British right is adopting an increasingly extreme form of ethnic identity politics, while failing to explain what the rest of us are supposed to be so worried about, argues Jonathan Portes

bylinetimes.com

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Richard McNeil-Willson @mcneilwillson.bsky.social · Aug 19

Whilst proscription of Palestine Action is a mess caused by this Govt, years of legislation led us here.

"A person commits an offence if he wears clothing to arouse reasonable suspicion that he is a member or supporter of a proscribed organisation." (2019 Counterterror & Border Security Act/s.13)

Alan Greene @alangreene.bsky.social · Aug 19

This is hilarious but also underlines the danger of a strict liability offence where the police only have to prove that your slogan gives rise to a reasonable suspicion that you support a proscribed organisation.

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The Author, Séamas O'Reilly @seamas.bsky.social · Aug 18

Perhaps, one day, schoolkids will study this squalid little chapter in British terror-panic history. When they do, I hope these two headlines from today are printed side by side, with clear annotation of which individual faced more outrage and condemnation.

Headline: BBC under pressure to pull Sally Rooney dramas over vow to fund Palestine Action

Headline: Tory minister Robert Jenrick pictured with former Nazi terror chief at far right protest.

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Richard McNeil-Willson @mcneilwillson.bsky.social · Aug 18

Apologies for misunderstanding! Agreed!

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Richard McNeil-Willson @mcneilwillson.bsky.social · Aug 18

I'm sorry to hear you choose to paint those protesting draconian counterterror legislation as having a 'hissy fit'.

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Richard McNeil-Willson @mcneilwillson.bsky.social · Aug 18

Perhaps, although they are interpretating UK law.

It is not conspiracy that, under current UK law, financial and moral support of a proscribed 'terrorist' organisation can see up to 14 years in prison. The law does not differentiate on this point as to whether the accused is a UK citizen or not.

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Richard McNeil-Willson @mcneilwillson.bsky.social · Aug 18

Keir Starmer threatening a prominent Irish author with counterterror legislation is grim and is a threat to UK-Irish relations.

It is a keen reminder that UK counterterrorism was born from generations of bloody acts of British colonialism in Ireland, and seeks the repression of liberation politics.

Adam Bienkov @adambienkov.bsky.social · Aug 18

Keir Starmer's spokesman asked about author Sally Rooney's plans to donate her royalties to Palestine Action, says that supporting the group is a terrorist offence and "obviously the police will implement the law"

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John Lees @johnlees.bsky.social · Aug 18

Welcome to the UK, where holding a sign which says “PALESTINE ACTION” (or could be interpreted as supportive of them) in a public square while protesting genocide = terrorism, but holding a sign saying “KILL EM ALL” in front of a hotel housing migrants = not terrorism, doesn’t even get you arrested.

A group of racist cretins stand in front of a couple of disinterested police officers. The racist at the front and centre holds a sign which reads, “KILL EM ALL. LET GOD SORT ‘EM OUT.”

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Marc de Faoite @marcdefaoite.bsky.social · Aug 16

Sally Rooney putting her money where her mouth is (figuratively of course). Bravo.
www.irishtimes.com/culture/book...

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Adam Bienkov @adambienkov.bsky.social · Aug 18

Keir Starmer's spokesman asked about author Sally Rooney's plans to donate her royalties to Palestine Action, says that supporting the group is a terrorist offence and "obviously the police will implement the law"

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Richard McNeil-Willson @mcneilwillson.bsky.social · Aug 17

The prison system is collapsing from overcrowding and Keir Starmer has young people and grannies locked up for supporting Palestine Action - in this case, for over a year, in a high security prison, without a trial.

observer.co.uk/news/nationa...

‘My daughter Zoe is not a terrorist. Why has she spent a ...

The mother of jailed Palestine Action protester says she is proud of her and angry at the UK government

observer.co.uk

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The Irish Times @irishtimes.com · Aug 16

Sally Rooney: I support Palestine Action. If this makes me a ‘supporter of terror’ under UK law, so be it

I would happily publish this statement in a UK newspaper – but that would now be illegal

www.irishtimes.com

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David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · Aug 10

Arresting 400+ people for the "terrorist" offence of protesting against mass murder while large segments of the right are openly encouraging riots against immigrants is a tale of a very unhappy country and government.

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Miriam @miriamboosh.bsky.social · Aug 10

In the UK people can wave a swastika and throw Nazi salutes at far-right rallies but a pensioner holding a “Palestine Action” sign is where the law draws the line

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Stats for Lefties 🍉🏳️‍⚧️ @leftiestats.bsky.social · Aug 9

🚨 BREAKING | Police confirm 466 people were arrested for "terrorism" for holding signs at a Palestine demo.

This means more people have been arrested under terrorism legislation in 2025 than **any** other year.

(Source: Home Office)

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Netpol @netpol.org · Aug 6

How might the Metropolitan Police respond to a rally on Saturday against the Palestine Action ban, one that nobody thinks poses a risk of serious public disorder? www.theguardian.com/world/2025/a...

How will police respond to rally against Palestine Action ban?

Met’s vow to arrest anyone showing support for proscribed organisation could be tested by big turnout

www.theguardian.com

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