Stephen Swan

Good morning Niall.

I know, words fail me!

Unfortunately most of the American media and MSM in the UK are now owned by the right, any independent thought is not even allowed access to Trump in America. Trump is therefore allowed complete reign to sprout whatever rubbish is in his mind at that particular moment, without challenge.

“He is, of course, a serial liar & prone to espousing completely contradictory positions within moments of each other.” It is extraordinary to me that journalists continue to ‘analyse’ Donald Trump without adding this constant caveat. It does readers, listeners & viewers a grave disservice.

God preserve us. This is not patriotism, it’s fascism in all but name. The Union flag has been hijacked by the far right (which is what, I consider Reform to be).

Will we be forced to salute them all?

Maybe a supervised pledge of allegiance every morning in your workplace, too?

Daily mass meetings where we are expected to shout "Heil Nigel", and non-participants quietly disappear?

It continued:

Reporter: You just suggested that Iran somehow got its hands on a Tomahawk and bombed its own elementary school on the first day of the war.

Why are you the only person saying this?

Trump: Because I just don’t know enough about it.

needs to face down Trump, Farage & Reform once & for all. Cameron wouldn’t do it, May, Johnson, Truss & Sunak wouldn’t either. Starmer has to…

This. The UKG needs to move off its red lines (manifesto commitments can be ignored in the public interest).

Again, the UKG (Labour) needs to make the positive case for immigration (& tbh for the ECHR), the benefits of rejoining the EU internal market, the benefits of, & need for FOM. It also

Some prefer 🍒 😋

The UK Labour government is at the moment heavily invested in anti-foreigner policies. I don't see anything coming from them that is remotely acceptable.

If the UK only wants to be alone on their island there is nothing we can do.

PPS the reset is not dead, or flatlining, but definitely in intensive case

bsky.app/profile/elen...

PS useful to be reminded of the real issues at stake 👇

bsky.app/profile/nial...

As for the reset, UKG has to drive it through. What is on the table is very generous from Brussels and MSs. As Ms Smith indicates, don't pass the time complaining. Sign it, get onto the next step.

Here's a thread detailing Best for Britain's proposal and its issues

Ends

I know this annoys Quiet Riot's fans, and I'm sure there'll be lots of pushback and personal attacks from them on this thread, but it's a waste of what is a good platform to argue for a position that's not in Europe's interests, as stated many times.

7

It’s also right to emphasise the sizeable benefits to the EU of these agreements – not only the UK – when negotiating. (A reminder that independent research by Frontier Economics found deep alignment in goods and services significantly shields Europe from US tariffs.) Once deals on SPS and ETS are bedded in, it’s time to go further and to roll out alignment to all industries, including services.

But it descends into quackery here.

The overwhelming benefit of any deal is to the UK (by her own figures); for most MSs it's negligible.

It does nothing to shield Europe from US tariffs (how could it).

And demanding single market access without FoM or community contributions is puerile.

6

Navigating all this is vital. Britain has regained much-needed warmth from partners across the continent. But there is more to do, including spending far more time visiting member states, not just Brussels, to build genuine and lasting goodwill. To deliver on promises, ministers must avoid cherrypicking, or requesting carve-outs or long transition periods on a food and drink deal.

Ultimately, when Dr Smith hands the script over, it's good news and bad news. A training regime I heartily agree with:
-more and better diplomacy;
-an end to cherrypicking and exceptionalism.

It really pleases me to see that that's at last mainstream in the UK

Brava! This is really good ⬇️

5

4. Come to a shared approach on defence and security. When the headlines increasingly read like a dystopian nightmare, what could be more urgent than this? People in the UK have made their feelings patently clear about Trump’s newly uninhibited wielding of US might – even prior to his actions in Iran – with British trust in the US collapsing since his restoration to the White House. Trump’s methods may relegate the ongoing Russian war in Ukraine and the bravery of the Ukrainian people ever further from the front pages, but we can never forget the shadow of Vladimir Putin on Europe’s doorstep. Our prime minister, a former international lawyer, can be only too aware of the need to collaborate ever-closer with our very nearest allies; the European democracies who share our values, priorities and history of defeating untrammelled aggression. Getting back around the table on the Security Action for Europe commission – the EU’s shared defence fund which the UK has not yet secured access to –

While on defence, if we're to get anywhere if has to be on the basis of solemn commitment, so we don't end up building the capacity in places that won't back us (cf., conversely, Merz's support for Spain). The UK refuses the terms.

4

3. Break the negotiations logjam. Negotiations are always a process of give and take. There are policies that in effect are sitting in a traffic jam, where progress could unlock agreement in other areas. One clear example that can accelerate us towards deeper cooperation is youth mobility. The cross-party, cross-industry UK trade and business commission recommends the UK and the EU should launch a new time-limited youth experience scheme (YES), capped at 44,000 visas in the first year. It would be the UK’s largest and most generous programme of its kind, restoring brilliant opportunities for young Britons and Europeans denied them for too long by the existing Brexit deal. Their clear and cohesive recommendations identify exactly how the UK government can deliver a youth experience scheme with the EU that has the overwhelming (72%) support of the public, while honouring its manifesto pledge to lower net migration. As we’ve long argued, getting YES done will open possibilities to do so m

The lack of progress is in the main down to the UKG's failure to meet standards (although the global situation, and UKG's refusal to back Europe are also slowing the process)

These two examples here. Ms Smith is right identify youth visas, but UKG does not want Euro young people coming to live

3

Starmer must act now, in conjunction with EU leaders and member states, to ensure the promises from last year’s summit become a reality. Here are four things the prime minister can do. 1. Implement a food and drink deal with the EU. It would make trading with our largest market easier and cheaper, and ease prices at the tills. Ministers expect a so-called sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) agreement to add up to £5.1bn a year to the UK economy. This is a boost we sorely need, and it would show voters that politicians understand their struggles and have the tools to “make life affordable”, as the Labour MP Dr Jeevun Sandher put it after the spring statement. 2. Strike a deal on energy (or emissions trading systems (ETS)) with Europe. This would be another vital measure to address the cost of living crisis by getting heating bills down. This will have rocketed up No 10’s risk register in recent days as Donald Trump’s flagrantly unrestrained actions in Iran have turned the global temperat

Dr Smith identifies four areas that need work. Now, bear in mind, these are the areas that *have already been agreed on*. The terms are know

So it is churlish to say European leaders have to do this. This is happening *only* because of UKG's allergy to European law and questioning European norms

2

Thank you for posting this thoughtful and informative thread Niall. I don’t know how you have the patience to do so! I know my patience is growing thin!

Many of us have been there: in the driver’s seat on a tricky hill start, when the engine cuts out and the car judders to a halt. Since the EU-UK summit last May – the event that was supposed to map a new and dynamic way forward – stalling is fast becoming a real risk for Keir Starmer’s most crucial long-term policy area: improving Britain’s relationship with the EU. Today’s report by MPs on parliament’s foreign affairs committee rightly warns that despite the hugely welcome – and essential – progress in relations with our closest allies and neighbours, Starmer’s project is “suffering from a lack of direction, definition and drive”. If Labour is to deliver a growing economy, improve living standards for every UK resident and tackle the very real threat of Reform UK, getting the EU reset back into gear is a matter of urgency.

Naomi Smith in the Guardian. She has diagnosed the problem very well: Starmer's reset is losing blood fast and looks to be in trouble.

However, I don't agree with the prescription.

A 🧵

h/t @markpurch.bsky.social

Exactly so!

Exactly, Niall. Were the UK to rejoin the EU internal market [not proposed here, I know - without opt-outs, cherry picking, or cake’ism] that would help shield the UK from US tariffs!

Any close alignment of standards etc will, of course, benefit the UK businesses rather than the other way round.

Thank you Mark - much appreciated.

Yes, Keir Starmer must do better and go faster in bringing Britain closer to Europe. Here’s how to reset his reset | Naomi Smith MPs warn the plan so far lacks direction and drive, but there are four clear ways to really move on from our disastrous Brexit, says Naomi Smith of Best for Britain

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

We really should hold a minimum of 3 months reserves, as you say thanks to Liz Truss we don’t have more than a few days worth. Everything the Conservative Party touched since 2010 it has done its best to destroy (e.g. the NHS, economy, human rights, our place in Europe, education, our influence).

This is due to Liz Truss as Energy Secretary…she allowed our Centrica storage site to be shut down.

Everything she touches.

And to be fair to Ed Miliband, once closed, surveying in detail & re-opening storage again is not quick I am told.

HE CHEATED.

I question the intelligence of anyone saying this is false and voter suppression.

He's Putin's Puppet, and corrupt Russia has infiltrated our government on every level, and in both parties. The sooner we admit this problem, the sooner we can start fixing it. Until then, we are f****d.

Who exactly are the UK’s hard right talking to when they say we must roll over and let the US do exactly as they like with our military? It’s not us is it? There’s a massive majority who don’t want to get involved in a war to protect a paedo, so who exactly are they talking to?

A black background graphic with the seal of the American Foreign Service Association at the top. In large gold text the headline reads “A Diplomatic Vacuum in the Middle East.” Below it, white text lists several countries and states that U.S. embassies in Egypt, Iraq, Kuwait, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE have no confirmed ambassadors. The phrase “NO confirmed ambassadors” is highlighted in gold for emphasis.

Seven embassies. No ambassadors. Rubio’s 🤮 masterclass in diplomatic failure.