@denismacshane.bsky.social
UK migration could be negative this year – how will that hit the economy?
Universities, builders and health trusts are feeling the squeeze, as thinktank says effect of zero net migration could be similar to Brexit
Universities, builders and health trusts are feeling the squeeze, as thinktank says effect of zero net migration could be similar to Brexit
February 14, 2026 at 7:43 PM
UK migration could be negative this year – how will that hit the economy?
Universities, builders and health trusts are feeling the squeeze, as thinktank says effect of zero net migration could be similar to Brexit
Universities, builders and health trusts are feeling the squeeze, as thinktank says effect of zero net migration could be similar to Brexit
"Radical" one of most noble words in the political lexicon. In France, media refer to Marine Le Pen as "extrême-droite". In conversation with Germans they talk of "Nazis" when describing AfD hate politics. But English commentariat bestow "radical" on Farage hate ethnonationalism @samfr.bsky.social
February 14, 2026 at 10:20 AM
"Radical" one of most noble words in the political lexicon. In France, media refer to Marine Le Pen as "extrême-droite". In conversation with Germans they talk of "Nazis" when describing AfD hate politics. But English commentariat bestow "radical" on Farage hate ethnonationalism @samfr.bsky.social
On @TimesRadio Tory party @ClaireCoutinho in interview on how schools handle transition problems is repeatedly corrected by presenter over small factual errors. Tory line remains all so much better when Truss, Johnson, Sunak in charge. Now she’s excusing Tory gov. Can’t move on
February 13, 2026 at 8:08 AM
On @TimesRadio Tory party @ClaireCoutinho in interview on how schools handle transition problems is repeatedly corrected by presenter over small factual errors. Tory line remains all so much better when Truss, Johnson, Sunak in charge. Now she’s excusing Tory gov. Can’t move on
Good to read @alastaircampbell2.bsky.social in New World on what he delicately calls his “complicated” relationship w P Mandelson. As everyone who took advantage of Mandelson’s advice or encouragement now dumps on him as if politics was a clean good honest game good to read something balanced
February 12, 2026 at 2:46 PM
Good to read @alastaircampbell2.bsky.social in New World on what he delicately calls his “complicated” relationship w P Mandelson. As everyone who took advantage of Mandelson’s advice or encouragement now dumps on him as if politics was a clean good honest game good to read something balanced
French radio reporting former Sarkozy aide linked to Epstein now advising far right Marine Le Pen. Socialists calling full public enquiry into links between top French and Epstein. Do we need similar in U.K.
February 12, 2026 at 8:08 AM
French radio reporting former Sarkozy aide linked to Epstein now advising far right Marine Le Pen. Socialists calling full public enquiry into links between top French and Epstein. Do we need similar in U.K.
60 years ago a topTory used very similar language about immigrants to Sir Jim Ratcliffe. He was firmly condemned by Leader of Tories then in opposition who went on to win next election and become PM. Will Kemi Badenoch condemn such hate language as unacceptable or keep flirting with Farage m?
February 12, 2026 at 8:05 AM
60 years ago a topTory used very similar language about immigrants to Sir Jim Ratcliffe. He was firmly condemned by Leader of Tories then in opposition who went on to win next election and become PM. Will Kemi Badenoch condemn such hate language as unacceptable or keep flirting with Farage m?
Antonia Romeo the woman PM favours to head civil service faced charges over an attempt to spend over $100,000 on redecorating her residence, when a dip in New York + she pushed staff to ask British companies for free, high-end, items.
Inspired by MPs exes? @andrewrawnsley.bsky.social
Inspired by MPs exes? @andrewrawnsley.bsky.social
February 11, 2026 at 7:31 PM
Antonia Romeo the woman PM favours to head civil service faced charges over an attempt to spend over $100,000 on redecorating her residence, when a dip in New York + she pushed staff to ask British companies for free, high-end, items.
Inspired by MPs exes? @andrewrawnsley.bsky.social
Inspired by MPs exes? @andrewrawnsley.bsky.social
Robert Buckhurst writing in U.K.biggest circulation paper Metro U.K. is concerned about Farage hostility to helping poor families and writes : “Does Farage really hate his own countryfolk and their offspring so much as to want to leave them destitute?”
U.K.is
February 11, 2026 at 3:06 PM
Robert Buckhurst writing in U.K.biggest circulation paper Metro U.K. is concerned about Farage hostility to helping poor families and writes : “Does Farage really hate his own countryfolk and their offspring so much as to want to leave them destitute?”
Rachel Reeve says "3 big economic blocks" shaping global trade. US, China, EU. Thus "integration" with EU represents the "biggest prize" due to its geographic proximity to the UK. But then goes on to say Johnson-Truss vision of Brexit can't be discussed. Same old, @richardcorbett.bsky.social
February 11, 2026 at 11:46 AM
Rachel Reeve says "3 big economic blocks" shaping global trade. US, China, EU. Thus "integration" with EU represents the "biggest prize" due to its geographic proximity to the UK. But then goes on to say Johnson-Truss vision of Brexit can't be discussed. Same old, @richardcorbett.bsky.social
If Jews have forgotten what far right ethnonationalist politics does to their community that is worrying. In 1930s Daily Mail then openly antisemitic published Chelsea address of British Union of Fascists and urged its readers to sign up as British Nazi party members
Jewish activists from the Jewish Bloc for Palestine have protested and interrupted the launch event of the “Reform Jewish Alliance (RJA)”
As Reform UK leader Nigel Farage addressed the launch at London’s Central Synagogue, protesters accused him of “inciting attacks” on refugees and minority groups
As Reform UK leader Nigel Farage addressed the launch at London’s Central Synagogue, protesters accused him of “inciting attacks” on refugees and minority groups
February 11, 2026 at 8:37 AM
If Jews have forgotten what far right ethnonationalist politics does to their community that is worrying. In 1930s Daily Mail then openly antisemitic published Chelsea address of British Union of Fascists and urged its readers to sign up as British Nazi party members
Reposted
Uncharacteristically mild wording from Ian but unerringly accurate as always.
It is so embarrassing that it has taken nearly a decade for a British minister to say this, a statement of the absolute bloody obvious
February 11, 2026 at 7:48 AM
Uncharacteristically mild wording from Ian but unerringly accurate as always.
Patrick 0’Connell lives in Gorton+Denton by-election constituency writes+writes in UK’s biggest circulation paper @MetroUK “My neighbours and I agree that voting for Reform would be supporting a divisiveness and level of unkindness that would (hurt) our wonderful neighbourhood”
February 10, 2026 at 5:26 PM
Patrick 0’Connell lives in Gorton+Denton by-election constituency writes+writes in UK’s biggest circulation paper @MetroUK “My neighbours and I agree that voting for Reform would be supporting a divisiveness and level of unkindness that would (hurt) our wonderful neighbourhood”
Tim Allan was very nice young French speaking member of Blair écurie 1997 but went off smartish to create own firm doing big biz corporate comms. He was never a Campbell or a Mandelson controlling media agenda. Starmer has never had a comms chief in same league as Ali or Mandy
February 9, 2026 at 1:13 PM
Tim Allan was very nice young French speaking member of Blair écurie 1997 but went off smartish to create own firm doing big biz corporate comms. He was never a Campbell or a Mandelson controlling media agenda. Starmer has never had a comms chief in same league as Ali or Mandy
Kensington Palace expressing concern about Epstein revelations as next King (William) flies to show royal support for a regime that is one of the most systemic abusers of women in the world and doesn’t impose 20 year jail sentences on a critic but has him chopped up in Turkish consulate
February 9, 2026 at 9:48 AM
Kensington Palace expressing concern about Epstein revelations as next King (William) flies to show royal support for a regime that is one of the most systemic abusers of women in the world and doesn’t impose 20 year jail sentences on a critic but has him chopped up in Turkish consulate
Reposted
Three years ago we made an early News Agents on the student loan scandal and the sky high marginal tax rates it creates. Three years on, govts since have made it all worse still. We’ve made a special follow up, centred on our listeners own experiences.
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t...
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t...
How the government became a student loan shark
Podcast Episode · The News Agents · 06/02/2026 · 50m
podcasts.apple.com
February 7, 2026 at 3:58 PM
Three years ago we made an early News Agents on the student loan scandal and the sky high marginal tax rates it creates. Three years on, govts since have made it all worse still. We’ve made a special follow up, centred on our listeners own experiences.
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t...
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t...
Powerful Gordon Brown interview. But lobbying, direct corruption will never end until democracy pays for democracy. As long as Labour, Tories etc rely on money from people, firms, unions who want laws, policy changed in their favour no change possible @rachelblakemp.bsky.social
February 7, 2026 at 8:42 AM
Powerful Gordon Brown interview. But lobbying, direct corruption will never end until democracy pays for democracy. As long as Labour, Tories etc rely on money from people, firms, unions who want laws, policy changed in their favour no change possible @rachelblakemp.bsky.social
By far the best thing you'll read today on l'affaire Mandelson by Lewis Goodall asking why he along with every editor and journalist did not point out the well-known links with Epstein when PM's name was in play as Ambo to US? @lewisgoodall.com @goodallandgoodluck.substack.com/p/what-starmer…
https://goodallandgoodluck.substack.com/p/what-starmer…
February 6, 2026 at 6:36 AM
By far the best thing you'll read today on l'affaire Mandelson by Lewis Goodall asking why he along with every editor and journalist did not point out the well-known links with Epstein when PM's name was in play as Ambo to US? @lewisgoodall.com @goodallandgoodluck.substack.com/p/what-starmer…
Far-Right France. Le Pen, Bardella and the Future of Europe, by @DenisMacShane My note on an important reporter's (not pundit's) examination of how France will vote next year open.substack.com/pub/denismacsh…. .
https://open.substack.com/pub/denismacsh…
February 5, 2026 at 12:18 PM
Far-Right France. Le Pen, Bardella and the Future of Europe, by @DenisMacShane My note on an important reporter's (not pundit's) examination of how France will vote next year open.substack.com/pub/denismacsh…. .
Labour MP calling for AI replace Starmer? It’s a thought
The Al Carns stuff is a real “the PLP has learned nothing and forgotten nothing” thing.
Talk has turned to who replaces Starmer (again).
Labour MP tonight:
“As far as I'm concerned, Starmer is done. What matters is what's next. If it's Angela, the honeymoon lasts a week. If it's Wes, a month. If it's Al, 6 months. Hard to see how it turns around beyond that.”
Labour MP tonight:
“As far as I'm concerned, Starmer is done. What matters is what's next. If it's Angela, the honeymoon lasts a week. If it's Wes, a month. If it's Al, 6 months. Hard to see how it turns around beyond that.”
February 5, 2026 at 7:45 AM
Labour MP calling for AI replace Starmer? It’s a thought
Washington Post to fire 300 journalists as owner Jeff Bezos spends $70 mn on puff film about Melania Trump. This is a global media news story as coverage of Trump is so important. just heard it on @franceinfo - surely worth a BBC line but R4 7 am ran non story on mother of US TV celeb who’s missing
February 5, 2026 at 7:43 AM
Washington Post to fire 300 journalists as owner Jeff Bezos spends $70 mn on puff film about Melania Trump. This is a global media news story as coverage of Trump is so important. just heard it on @franceinfo - surely worth a BBC line but R4 7 am ran non story on mother of US TV celeb who’s missing
BBC R4 runs in its main news bulletin a story on minor US TV personality whose mother has disappeared. I’m sure it’s sad for family but obsession of BBC with covering minor US stories while ignoring important U.K. or European news needs looking at @lewisgoodall.com @soniasodha.bsky.social
February 5, 2026 at 7:21 AM
BBC R4 runs in its main news bulletin a story on minor US TV personality whose mother has disappeared. I’m sure it’s sad for family but obsession of BBC with covering minor US stories while ignoring important U.K. or European news needs looking at @lewisgoodall.com @soniasodha.bsky.social
Just heard Stewart Jackson being pompous on Mandelson on WATO. As MP he had to repay £50k in fiddled exes. Tory and Lib Dem MPs were protected under Cameron-Clegg gov from prosecution. He claimed £66, 772 in home improvements inc swimming pool, refurb of library @stephenkb.bsky.social
February 3, 2026 at 2:13 PM
Just heard Stewart Jackson being pompous on Mandelson on WATO. As MP he had to repay £50k in fiddled exes. Tory and Lib Dem MPs were protected under Cameron-Clegg gov from prosecution. He claimed £66, 772 in home improvements inc swimming pool, refurb of library @stephenkb.bsky.social
EU exports have outperformed US Q1 2024-Q3 2025 reports Bruegel. Brexit UK exports declined sharply over same period. Can we drop rubbish that U.K. doesn’t need Europe economically as US and rest of world will more than replace trade with Europe
February 2, 2026 at 10:11 AM
EU exports have outperformed US Q1 2024-Q3 2025 reports Bruegel. Brexit UK exports declined sharply over same period. Can we drop rubbish that U.K. doesn’t need Europe economically as US and rest of world will more than replace trade with Europe
Stand by for xenophobia from Farage Cult and Tories reaction to Labour’s choice of a Greek immigrant Angeliki Stogia as by election candidate. She came to study at Manchester University 20 years ago and made a successful career in transport engineering in new and as effective Labour Councillor.
February 1, 2026 at 10:49 AM
Stand by for xenophobia from Farage Cult and Tories reaction to Labour’s choice of a Greek immigrant Angeliki Stogia as by election candidate. She came to study at Manchester University 20 years ago and made a successful career in transport engineering in new and as effective Labour Councillor.
French radio reporting that main centre right party Les Républicains can’t run presidential candidate next spring as they have no money to run campaign. French party funding based on number of deputies + like Tories LR don’t have many. If confirmed far right RN Prez in 🇫🇷 2027 @fromtga.bsky.social
January 31, 2026 at 10:22 AM
French radio reporting that main centre right party Les Républicains can’t run presidential candidate next spring as they have no money to run campaign. French party funding based on number of deputies + like Tories LR don’t have many. If confirmed far right RN Prez in 🇫🇷 2027 @fromtga.bsky.social