@andrewgmccormick.bsky.social
Reposted
V Important piece from @andrewgmccormick.bsky.social for @ukandeu.bsky.social on why UK guarantees would be inadequate replacement for ECHR for GFA/Belfast agreement. UK govts are joint guarantors of that agreement with Irish counterpart
"The underlying point is that, given the history, there was nothing like sufficient trust that the UK state could, or would, provide the safeguards and protections of minority rights in Northern Ireland, and that remains the case today."
ukandeu.ac.uk/the-belfast-...
ukandeu.ac.uk/the-belfast-...
The Belfast/Good Friday Agreement and Human Rights - UK in a changing Europe
Andrew McCormick explains the role ECHR membership plays in the Belfast / Good Friday Agreement.
ukandeu.ac.uk
October 9, 2025 at 3:20 PM
V Important piece from @andrewgmccormick.bsky.social for @ukandeu.bsky.social on why UK guarantees would be inadequate replacement for ECHR for GFA/Belfast agreement. UK govts are joint guarantors of that agreement with Irish counterpart
Reposted
"The underlying point is that, given the history, there was nothing like sufficient trust that the UK state could, or would, provide the safeguards and protections of minority rights in Northern Ireland, and that remains the case today."
ukandeu.ac.uk/the-belfast-...
ukandeu.ac.uk/the-belfast-...
ukandeu.ac.uk
September 18, 2025 at 3:32 PM
"The underlying point is that, given the history, there was nothing like sufficient trust that the UK state could, or would, provide the safeguards and protections of minority rights in Northern Ireland, and that remains the case today."
ukandeu.ac.uk/the-belfast-...
ukandeu.ac.uk/the-belfast-...
Reposted
✍️ @andrewgmccormick.bsky.social explains the political and historical reasons why the European Convention on Human Rights is an integral part of the peace settlement in Northern Ireland
September 18, 2025 at 3:32 PM
✍️ @andrewgmccormick.bsky.social explains the political and historical reasons why the European Convention on Human Rights is an integral part of the peace settlement in Northern Ireland
Reposted
"Hence, however strong and clear British legislation on human rights might be, it would require only one general election to make it null and void, if a majority in a new parliament was to so decide."
The Belfast/Good Friday Agreement and Human Rights - UK in a changing Europe
Andrew McCormick explains the role ECHR membership plays in the Belfast / Good Friday Agreement.
ukandeu.ac.uk
September 14, 2025 at 4:00 PM
"Hence, however strong and clear British legislation on human rights might be, it would require only one general election to make it null and void, if a majority in a new parliament was to so decide."
Reposted
"The uniqueness of the UK constitution further underscores this. Its foundation is the sovereignty of Parliament, which means that no parliament can bind its successor."
@andrewgmccormick.bsky.social on the political & historical reasons why the ECHR is integral to the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement
@andrewgmccormick.bsky.social on the political & historical reasons why the ECHR is integral to the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement
September 14, 2025 at 4:00 PM
"The uniqueness of the UK constitution further underscores this. Its foundation is the sovereignty of Parliament, which means that no parliament can bind its successor."
@andrewgmccormick.bsky.social on the political & historical reasons why the ECHR is integral to the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement
@andrewgmccormick.bsky.social on the political & historical reasons why the ECHR is integral to the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement
Reposted
"The underlying point is that, given the history, there was nothing like sufficient trust that the UK state could, or would, provide the safeguards and protections of minority rights in Northern Ireland, and that remains the case today."
ukandeu.ac.uk/the-belfast-...
ukandeu.ac.uk/the-belfast-...
The Belfast/Good Friday Agreement and Human Rights - UK in a changing Europe
Andrew McCormick explains the role ECHR membership plays in the Belfast / Good Friday Agreement.
ukandeu.ac.uk
September 11, 2025 at 2:42 PM
"The underlying point is that, given the history, there was nothing like sufficient trust that the UK state could, or would, provide the safeguards and protections of minority rights in Northern Ireland, and that remains the case today."
ukandeu.ac.uk/the-belfast-...
ukandeu.ac.uk/the-belfast-...
Reposted
✍️ Andrew McCormick explains the role ECHR membership plays in the Belfast / Good Friday Agreement.
September 11, 2025 at 2:42 PM
✍️ Andrew McCormick explains the role ECHR membership plays in the Belfast / Good Friday Agreement.
Reposted
NEW Pivotal report - Policy delivery in Northern Ireland
How do we make sure policy goals are achieved in practice? We asked 30 former senior civil servants, ministers, business and voluntary sector leaders to tell us about their experiences and ideas.
www.pivotalpolicy.org/assets/files...
How do we make sure policy goals are achieved in practice? We asked 30 former senior civil servants, ministers, business and voluntary sector leaders to tell us about their experiences and ideas.
www.pivotalpolicy.org/assets/files...
June 19, 2025 at 5:04 AM
NEW Pivotal report - Policy delivery in Northern Ireland
How do we make sure policy goals are achieved in practice? We asked 30 former senior civil servants, ministers, business and voluntary sector leaders to tell us about their experiences and ideas.
www.pivotalpolicy.org/assets/files...
How do we make sure policy goals are achieved in practice? We asked 30 former senior civil servants, ministers, business and voluntary sector leaders to tell us about their experiences and ideas.
www.pivotalpolicy.org/assets/files...
Reposted
Read Pivotal's statement on yesterday's UK Spending Review.
"The Spending Review gives Northern Ireland a 3-year funding settlement but means difficult choices ahead. The money will have to be spent wisely, with strong emphasis on public service transformation"
www.pivotalpolicy.org/our-work/new...
"The Spending Review gives Northern Ireland a 3-year funding settlement but means difficult choices ahead. The money will have to be spent wisely, with strong emphasis on public service transformation"
www.pivotalpolicy.org/our-work/new...
Pivotal media statement on UK Spending Review
www.pivotalpolicy.org
June 12, 2025 at 11:42 AM
Read Pivotal's statement on yesterday's UK Spending Review.
"The Spending Review gives Northern Ireland a 3-year funding settlement but means difficult choices ahead. The money will have to be spent wisely, with strong emphasis on public service transformation"
www.pivotalpolicy.org/our-work/new...
"The Spending Review gives Northern Ireland a 3-year funding settlement but means difficult choices ahead. The money will have to be spent wisely, with strong emphasis on public service transformation"
www.pivotalpolicy.org/our-work/new...
Excellent article by Gideon Rachman!
February 25, 2025 at 8:10 PM
Excellent article by Gideon Rachman!
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If you still believe, after today‘s UN resolution, that Trump will change his mind, just as soon as the Europeans finally spend more on defence, I can‘t help you.
Of course Europe must spend more on defence. But not as a gesture to please Trump. To protect ourselves & stand on our own 2 feet.
Of course Europe must spend more on defence. But not as a gesture to please Trump. To protect ourselves & stand on our own 2 feet.
February 24, 2025 at 7:29 PM
If you still believe, after today‘s UN resolution, that Trump will change his mind, just as soon as the Europeans finally spend more on defence, I can‘t help you.
Of course Europe must spend more on defence. But not as a gesture to please Trump. To protect ourselves & stand on our own 2 feet.
Of course Europe must spend more on defence. But not as a gesture to please Trump. To protect ourselves & stand on our own 2 feet.
Reposted
After we let Russia occupy part of your country and steal your resources, we will occupy the other part and do the same. Quite the starting point for the Americans.
The U.S. seeks to obtain 50% of Ukraine's rare minerals and has signaled openness to deploy American troops to guard them if there is a deal with Russia to end the war, NBC reported on Feb. 15, citing unnamed American officials.
Ukraine war latest: US wants 50% of Ukraine's minerals, may deploy troops to guard them; Zelensky says nearly 250,000 Russian soldiers killed in war
Key developments on Feb. 15-16:
* US wants to get 50% of Ukrainian minerals, may deploy its troops to guard them, NBC reports
* Almost 250,000 Russian soldiers killed in Ukraine war, Zelensky says
...
kyivindependent.com
February 18, 2025 at 4:28 PM
After we let Russia occupy part of your country and steal your resources, we will occupy the other part and do the same. Quite the starting point for the Americans.
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Nick Thomas-Symonds at UK-EU forum calls for ‘ruthless pragmatism’. Which is at least less oxymoronic than ‘progressive realism’
February 4, 2025 at 9:56 AM
Nick Thomas-Symonds at UK-EU forum calls for ‘ruthless pragmatism’. Which is at least less oxymoronic than ‘progressive realism’
www.irishnews.com/opinion/bria...
Self determination happened in May 1998 when the people of Ireland, N and S, voted for the GFA, which accepted that Irish Unity is subject to the consent of a majority in the north, and created new NS institutions to share aspects of administration. @irishnews.com
Self determination happened in May 1998 when the people of Ireland, N and S, voted for the GFA, which accepted that Irish Unity is subject to the consent of a majority in the north, and created new NS institutions to share aspects of administration. @irishnews.com
Brian Feeney: Unity is the Irish state’s constitutional imperative, so why aren’t Simon Harris and Micheál Martin planning for it?
They ignore the central point of the Good Friday Agreement
www.irishnews.com
January 31, 2025 at 9:16 AM
www.irishnews.com/opinion/bria...
Self determination happened in May 1998 when the people of Ireland, N and S, voted for the GFA, which accepted that Irish Unity is subject to the consent of a majority in the north, and created new NS institutions to share aspects of administration. @irishnews.com
Self determination happened in May 1998 when the people of Ireland, N and S, voted for the GFA, which accepted that Irish Unity is subject to the consent of a majority in the north, and created new NS institutions to share aspects of administration. @irishnews.com
Essential reading - much here that could be helpful to the Executive in the current challenging context.
🚨New Pivotal report published today
Our new tracker report looks at the Northern Ireland Executive’s actions since its return a year ago, and suggests priorities for 2025
Read the report here pivotalppf.org/cmsfiles/Pub...
Our new tracker report looks at the Northern Ireland Executive’s actions since its return a year ago, and suggests priorities for 2025
Read the report here pivotalppf.org/cmsfiles/Pub...
January 27, 2025 at 9:09 AM
Essential reading - much here that could be helpful to the Executive in the current challenging context.
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The astonishing cognitive dissonance of a health secretary who insists he'll save the NHS - yet kicks the social care crisis into touch until 2028.
1 in 8 medically fit NHS patients cannot leave hospital for lack of social care.
Of course A&E is overwhelmed 🤷♀️
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
1 in 8 medically fit NHS patients cannot leave hospital for lack of social care.
Of course A&E is overwhelmed 🤷♀️
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Ambulance handover delays in England may harm 1,000 patients a day
Exclusive: 414,137 people believed to have experienced some level of harm in last year, Guardian analysis finds
www.theguardian.com
January 5, 2025 at 7:48 PM
The astonishing cognitive dissonance of a health secretary who insists he'll save the NHS - yet kicks the social care crisis into touch until 2028.
1 in 8 medically fit NHS patients cannot leave hospital for lack of social care.
Of course A&E is overwhelmed 🤷♀️
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
1 in 8 medically fit NHS patients cannot leave hospital for lack of social care.
Of course A&E is overwhelmed 🤷♀️
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
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So where do we go from here? Devolution is a work in progress – need to build relationships and trust. Strong leadership is vital, including a full commitment to continued operation of the institutions. Must have a joint focus on improving the big issues that affect people’s lives day to day 7/
December 2, 2024 at 10:22 AM
So where do we go from here? Devolution is a work in progress – need to build relationships and trust. Strong leadership is vital, including a full commitment to continued operation of the institutions. Must have a joint focus on improving the big issues that affect people’s lives day to day 7/
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Devolution of justice in 2010 including cross-community support for policing was big milestone. Otherwise difficult to name significant successes. Some strong sectors e.g. screen, IT, tourism. Some welfare mitigations. NI politicians good at getting extra funding from UK Govt 6/
December 2, 2024 at 10:22 AM
Devolution of justice in 2010 including cross-community support for policing was big milestone. Otherwise difficult to name significant successes. Some strong sectors e.g. screen, IT, tourism. Some welfare mitigations. NI politicians good at getting extra funding from UK Govt 6/
Reposted
When has devolution worked well? Leadership, trust, courage and relationships have all been important, as is a constructive and business-like attitude to getting on with the job. Probably the most effective period was 2007-11, which was Paisley/McGuinness then Robinson/McGuinness 5/
December 2, 2024 at 10:22 AM
When has devolution worked well? Leadership, trust, courage and relationships have all been important, as is a constructive and business-like attitude to getting on with the job. Probably the most effective period was 2007-11, which was Paisley/McGuinness then Robinson/McGuinness 5/
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Unstable govt does not make for good govt. Parties have struggled to work with common purpose or to make strategic decisions for the long-term. Unpopular choices have been avoided e.g. health reform, water funding, public finances. Big challenges remain e.g. productivity, housing, reconciliation 4/
December 2, 2024 at 10:22 AM
Unstable govt does not make for good govt. Parties have struggled to work with common purpose or to make strategic decisions for the long-term. Unpopular choices have been avoided e.g. health reform, water funding, public finances. Big challenges remain e.g. productivity, housing, reconciliation 4/
Reposted
The institutions have been very unstable – absent for more than 40% of the time since 1999, including 5 out of last 8 years. Power-sharing between parties who have hugely different views has not surprisingly been very difficult to sustain. The threat of collapse is never far away 3/
December 2, 2024 at 10:22 AM
The institutions have been very unstable – absent for more than 40% of the time since 1999, including 5 out of last 8 years. Power-sharing between parties who have hugely different views has not surprisingly been very difficult to sustain. The threat of collapse is never far away 3/
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Devolution was a momentous time with high expectations. Local Ministers taking decisions about local issues was and remains the preferred form of government here, rather than the direct rule that preceded it. It may be difficult, but for now it’s the best option available 2/
December 2, 2024 at 10:22 AM
Devolution was a momentous time with high expectations. Local Ministers taking decisions about local issues was and remains the preferred form of government here, rather than the direct rule that preceded it. It may be difficult, but for now it’s the best option available 2/
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It’s 25 years today since powers were devolved from UK Govt to the Northern Ireland Assembly. How has it gone and what have we learnt?
The Belfast Good Friday Agreement has been a success in bring cross-community government and peace, but has it brought effective government? 🧵 1/
The Belfast Good Friday Agreement has been a success in bring cross-community government and peace, but has it brought effective government? 🧵 1/
December 2, 2024 at 10:22 AM
It’s 25 years today since powers were devolved from UK Govt to the Northern Ireland Assembly. How has it gone and what have we learnt?
The Belfast Good Friday Agreement has been a success in bring cross-community government and peace, but has it brought effective government? 🧵 1/
The Belfast Good Friday Agreement has been a success in bring cross-community government and peace, but has it brought effective government? 🧵 1/
Reposted
Hello, Bluesky!
We are Northern Ireland's independent public policy think tank, using evidence–based ideas to improve our society, economy, and public services.
We will be posting our thoughts, comments, and reports here, as well as on Twitter and LinkedIn. Follow us @pivotalppf.bsky.social
We are Northern Ireland's independent public policy think tank, using evidence–based ideas to improve our society, economy, and public services.
We will be posting our thoughts, comments, and reports here, as well as on Twitter and LinkedIn. Follow us @pivotalppf.bsky.social
November 18, 2024 at 3:27 PM
Hello, Bluesky!
We are Northern Ireland's independent public policy think tank, using evidence–based ideas to improve our society, economy, and public services.
We will be posting our thoughts, comments, and reports here, as well as on Twitter and LinkedIn. Follow us @pivotalppf.bsky.social
We are Northern Ireland's independent public policy think tank, using evidence–based ideas to improve our society, economy, and public services.
We will be posting our thoughts, comments, and reports here, as well as on Twitter and LinkedIn. Follow us @pivotalppf.bsky.social
Reposted
Economic inactivity in Northern Ireland - what is it, what do the data tell us, and how should policy respond?
Thanks to AgendaNi Magazine for the invitation to speak at yesterday's Northern Ireland Economic Conference - a great day with many interesting and engaging speakers.
Thanks to AgendaNi Magazine for the invitation to speak at yesterday's Northern Ireland Economic Conference - a great day with many interesting and engaging speakers.
November 21, 2024 at 9:56 AM
Economic inactivity in Northern Ireland - what is it, what do the data tell us, and how should policy respond?
Thanks to AgendaNi Magazine for the invitation to speak at yesterday's Northern Ireland Economic Conference - a great day with many interesting and engaging speakers.
Thanks to AgendaNi Magazine for the invitation to speak at yesterday's Northern Ireland Economic Conference - a great day with many interesting and engaging speakers.