Elena Adaal
@elenaadaal.bsky.social
I post mostly on Brexit. I try to think carefully before I post.
Canada in? Sure! Closer to us than Australia and that was/is also never a problem.
I would advise the Canadians to first go see a Eurovision 😀
I would advise the Canadians to first go see a Eurovision 😀
November 13, 2025 at 1:15 PM
Canada in? Sure! Closer to us than Australia and that was/is also never a problem.
I would advise the Canadians to first go see a Eurovision 😀
I would advise the Canadians to first go see a Eurovision 😀
You can call this indecision, but it can also be called simply for what it is: amateurism.
UK gov should be well aware of what the EU and the MS think is important - be helpful and not tranactional .
Even taking into account all the institutional turf wars, UK gov plays like its in 3rd league.
UK gov should be well aware of what the EU and the MS think is important - be helpful and not tranactional .
Even taking into account all the institutional turf wars, UK gov plays like its in 3rd league.
This sums up how narrowminded UK Treasury penny-pinching and Home Office paranoia are sabotaging efforts by UK negotiators to make gains in areas where there is less EU unity like SPS and SAFE which also happen to involve far more money.
Another sign of Downing Street indecision.
on.ft.com/4oZhtHC
Another sign of Downing Street indecision.
on.ft.com/4oZhtHC
November 13, 2025 at 11:01 AM
You can call this indecision, but it can also be called simply for what it is: amateurism.
UK gov should be well aware of what the EU and the MS think is important - be helpful and not tranactional .
Even taking into account all the institutional turf wars, UK gov plays like its in 3rd league.
UK gov should be well aware of what the EU and the MS think is important - be helpful and not tranactional .
Even taking into account all the institutional turf wars, UK gov plays like its in 3rd league.
For sure the rearmament of the EU should include a full nuclear component.
As is clear from the message below, we cannot count on third parties doing that for us.
As is clear from the message below, we cannot count on third parties doing that for us.
The U.K. maintains, at great expense, a nuclear deterrent- which is assigned to the defence of NATO (unlike the French - whose policy is to defend French ‘vital interests’).
If the U.K. is to accept a role as a medium sized nation with little power, why should it continue to do this?
If the U.K. is to accept a role as a medium sized nation with little power, why should it continue to do this?
November 13, 2025 at 10:53 AM
For sure the rearmament of the EU should include a full nuclear component.
As is clear from the message below, we cannot count on third parties doing that for us.
As is clear from the message below, we cannot count on third parties doing that for us.
This is right and proper.
Labour offers timidity and a future with empty words and tax increases.
Labour offers timidity and a future with empty words and tax increases.
🚨Exclusive: Half of voters who backed Labour at the last general election have deserted the party, according to internal polling shared with Labour MPs www.politicshome.com/news/article...
Half of 2024 Labour Voters Have Gone Elsewhere, Party Privately Tells MPs
Half of voters who backed Labour at the last general election have deserted the party, according to internal polling shared with Labour MPs.
www.politicshome.com
November 12, 2025 at 3:45 PM
This is right and proper.
Labour offers timidity and a future with empty words and tax increases.
Labour offers timidity and a future with empty words and tax increases.
Nice thread. My comment would be that tax raises would have been unavoidable even without Brexit.
If the UK wants to be a European nation - and they want that - they need to have tax levels that are comparable with that.
Brexit is not the sole reason for that but it merely makes it worse.
If the UK wants to be a European nation - and they want that - they need to have tax levels that are comparable with that.
Brexit is not the sole reason for that but it merely makes it worse.
The mansion house speech last week was really more for financial markets than UKvoters. Reeves was waving a big sign saying "I won't do a Truss!".
Quick 🧵on why tax rises means the majority of brits can't say "Brexit hasn't really affected me" anymore.
TL;DR: There's no Sunlit uplands Shocker!
Quick 🧵on why tax rises means the majority of brits can't say "Brexit hasn't really affected me" anymore.
TL;DR: There's no Sunlit uplands Shocker!
Rachel Reeves avoids answering question on tax rises in pre-budget speech
YouTube video by Guardian News
www.youtube.com
November 12, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Nice thread. My comment would be that tax raises would have been unavoidable even without Brexit.
If the UK wants to be a European nation - and they want that - they need to have tax levels that are comparable with that.
Brexit is not the sole reason for that but it merely makes it worse.
If the UK wants to be a European nation - and they want that - they need to have tax levels that are comparable with that.
Brexit is not the sole reason for that but it merely makes it worse.
Very true.
With a large majority and still years to govern, it should not be too difficult for Labour to get its act together.
With a large majority and still years to govern, it should not be too difficult for Labour to get its act together.
On a more serious note: British politics have been in crisis mode for ten years and this is a real problem whatever your politics. It undermines trust in government and democracy, fuels populism, and makes the UK an unstable partner at a time when the geopolitical situation is very dangerous.
The important story behind this story is that someone in Downing Street is having a breakdown:
November 12, 2025 at 7:11 AM
Very true.
With a large majority and still years to govern, it should not be too difficult for Labour to get its act together.
With a large majority and still years to govern, it should not be too difficult for Labour to get its act together.
Very good if this stalls, together with the Reset.
The UK is simply not ready yet to be a partner and a team player.
We can try again in a few years.
The UK is simply not ready yet to be a partner and a team player.
We can try again in a few years.
The EU expect the UK to "pay to play".
Seems we're not willing to - still expecting something for nothing because we're special?
inews.co.uk/news/politic...
Seems we're not willing to - still expecting something for nothing because we're special?
inews.co.uk/news/politic...
UK ready to quit crucial Brexit reset defence deal due to EU demanding billions
Defence exports are a key part of the Government's plan to grow the economy
inews.co.uk
November 12, 2025 at 6:49 AM
Very good if this stalls, together with the Reset.
The UK is simply not ready yet to be a partner and a team player.
We can try again in a few years.
The UK is simply not ready yet to be a partner and a team player.
We can try again in a few years.
Reposted by Elena Adaal
Lots of stuff here that you won't read in most of the legacy media which seems completely uninterested in the backgrounds, associations and possible motivations of those behind the BBC crisis.
Why was the BBC having its homework marked by a lobbyist who hasn't worked as a journalist for 20 years?
Why was the BBC having its homework marked by a lobbyist who hasn't worked as a journalist for 20 years?
🧵On our revelations today about the BBC Coup and the Prescott Dossier.
The leaked ‘BBC Bias’ memo Trump used to attack the BBC was authored by Michael Prescott — a Hanover lobbyist paid by US tech/media giants tied to Trump. Full story: bylinetimes.com/2025/11/11/b... 1/12
The leaked ‘BBC Bias’ memo Trump used to attack the BBC was authored by Michael Prescott — a Hanover lobbyist paid by US tech/media giants tied to Trump. Full story: bylinetimes.com/2025/11/11/b... 1/12
'BBC Bias' Memo Was Authored by Lobbyist Tied to Pro-Trump Tech Giants
The leaked memo that fuelled Trump’s attack on the BBC was written by a lobbyist at a firm paid by US tech giants tied to the President
bylinetimes.com
November 11, 2025 at 9:25 PM
Lots of stuff here that you won't read in most of the legacy media which seems completely uninterested in the backgrounds, associations and possible motivations of those behind the BBC crisis.
Why was the BBC having its homework marked by a lobbyist who hasn't worked as a journalist for 20 years?
Why was the BBC having its homework marked by a lobbyist who hasn't worked as a journalist for 20 years?
Very good from @sjwrenlewis.bsky.social.
Note this:
"...the boost to growth that either joining the EU's customs union or single market would give. This is likely to be bigger than anything else this government could do to increase living standards."
Note this:
"...the boost to growth that either joining the EU's customs union or single market would give. This is likely to be bigger than anything else this government could do to increase living standards."
~ mainly macro: Labour’s Brexit stance is as untenable as their tax pledge ~
https://mainlymacro.blogspot.com/2025/11/labours-brexit-stance-is-as-untenable.html
https://mainlymacro.blogspot.com/2025/11/labours-brexit-stance-is-as-untenable.html
mainly macro: Labour’s Brexit stance is as untenable as their tax pledge
In my last post about the prospect of Labour breaking its tax pledge, I did something I don’t often do, which is indulge in some ‘I told y...
mainlymacro.blogspot.com
November 11, 2025 at 11:08 AM
Very good from @sjwrenlewis.bsky.social.
Note this:
"...the boost to growth that either joining the EU's customs union or single market would give. This is likely to be bigger than anything else this government could do to increase living standards."
Note this:
"...the boost to growth that either joining the EU's customs union or single market would give. This is likely to be bigger than anything else this government could do to increase living standards."
Key point on the EU-UK Reset talks: The UK has deliberately chosen not to build popular support for the "Reset". This means that its heart is not in it. The slightest wind blows this off-track.
In that case, we as EU should accept that UK is not ready yet, end the Reset, and try again later.
In that case, we as EU should accept that UK is not ready yet, end the Reset, and try again later.
That brings up a real risk: what if UKG isn't in a position politically to make the push necessary to keep things on track? What if it doesn't care? Some of this reset looks like a façade to be seen to be doing something, to keep pro-Europeans happy, while not upsetting the Brexit status quo.
2
2
November 11, 2025 at 8:03 AM
Key point on the EU-UK Reset talks: The UK has deliberately chosen not to build popular support for the "Reset". This means that its heart is not in it. The slightest wind blows this off-track.
In that case, we as EU should accept that UK is not ready yet, end the Reset, and try again later.
In that case, we as EU should accept that UK is not ready yet, end the Reset, and try again later.
On the UK’s awful media:
November 11, 2025 at 6:21 AM
On the UK’s awful media:
Both Tories and Reform will relish any chance to diminish the UK.
If Trump does sue the BBC for $1bn it may leave some of his ideological fellow travellers here in a tricky situation. Do the Conservatives and Reform join in with BBC bashing? Or will doing so be seen as unpatriotic? After all, it would be the British public who would ultimately pay for any damages.
November 10, 2025 at 7:08 PM
Both Tories and Reform will relish any chance to diminish the UK.
Reposted by Elena Adaal
I fear we are seeing in the UK what has become abundantly clear in the US: for all their power and privilege, elites and institutions are absolute cowards in the face of right-wing authoritarianism. Weak, weak, weak, as Tony Blair once said
November 10, 2025 at 4:26 PM
I fear we are seeing in the UK what has become abundantly clear in the US: for all their power and privilege, elites and institutions are absolute cowards in the face of right-wing authoritarianism. Weak, weak, weak, as Tony Blair once said
Excellent to talk about UK's payments to the EU.
As always, the UK is fully free not to pay anything.
We as EU will then directly end the corresponding programmes.
As always, the UK is fully free not to pay anything.
We as EU will then directly end the corresponding programmes.
Me, for @ukandeu.bsky.social, on why we might be going back to talking about money in the UK-EU relationship
@oupolitics.bsky.social @openuniversity.bsky.social
@oupolitics.bsky.social @openuniversity.bsky.social
💶"But as the UK has started to develop new links with the EU, so too has it generated new financial obligations."
✍️ @simonusherwood.bsky.social explains financial flows between the UK and the EU since the UK’s withdrawal & how they may be affected by the UK-EU reset
🔗 ukandeu.ac.uk/the-sleeping...
✍️ @simonusherwood.bsky.social explains financial flows between the UK and the EU since the UK’s withdrawal & how they may be affected by the UK-EU reset
🔗 ukandeu.ac.uk/the-sleeping...
November 10, 2025 at 1:19 PM
Excellent to talk about UK's payments to the EU.
As always, the UK is fully free not to pay anything.
We as EU will then directly end the corresponding programmes.
As always, the UK is fully free not to pay anything.
We as EU will then directly end the corresponding programmes.
Great that some serious research has been done on the impacts of Brexit.
Most remarkable: an impact of 6-8%. This was originally the expectation (before 2016), but once it happened 4% was more the consensus.
Two remarks:
1. 6-8% Brexit damage to the UK economy is mindblowingly huge...
(1/2)
Most remarkable: an impact of 6-8%. This was originally the expectation (before 2016), but once it happened 4% was more the consensus.
Two remarks:
1. 6-8% Brexit damage to the UK economy is mindblowingly huge...
(1/2)
Headline from a serious and long working paper on the economic impact of Brexit. Possible that this has been feeding into OBR and HMT discussions?
November 10, 2025 at 11:36 AM
Great that some serious research has been done on the impacts of Brexit.
Most remarkable: an impact of 6-8%. This was originally the expectation (before 2016), but once it happened 4% was more the consensus.
Two remarks:
1. 6-8% Brexit damage to the UK economy is mindblowingly huge...
(1/2)
Most remarkable: an impact of 6-8%. This was originally the expectation (before 2016), but once it happened 4% was more the consensus.
Two remarks:
1. 6-8% Brexit damage to the UK economy is mindblowingly huge...
(1/2)
Remarkable.
I would think that printing "alsmost everything is prohibited" is also prohibited.
Amateur totalitarians.
I would think that printing "alsmost everything is prohibited" is also prohibited.
Amateur totalitarians.
In today’s Russian papers: “Budget revenues still falling, trade with China declining" & ”petrol supply problems in the regions.” Plus an interesting editorial: “In a situation where almost everything is prohibited, a little something at least should be permitted” #ReadingRussia
Russian paper points out that "almost everything is prohibited" in Russia
YouTube video by Steve Rosenberg
youtu.be
November 10, 2025 at 9:14 AM
Remarkable.
I would think that printing "alsmost everything is prohibited" is also prohibited.
Amateur totalitarians.
I would think that printing "alsmost everything is prohibited" is also prohibited.
Amateur totalitarians.
The BBC is part of the UK dismal media landscape, which systematically platforms the extreme right, and fosters hostility towards Europe and all Europeans. And this (see link).
Yes, absolutely there is an impartiality crisis at the BBC. But it's not the one the billionaire media insists it is. novaramedia.com/2025/06/16/b...
BBC Gives Israeli Deaths 33 Times More Coverage, New Study Reveals | Novara Media
An analysis of over 35,000 broadcast segments and articles found that the BBC referenced the 7 October attacks in at least 40% of its coverage - but only 0.5% of articles referenced Israel’s decades o...
novaramedia.com
November 10, 2025 at 9:11 AM
The BBC is part of the UK dismal media landscape, which systematically platforms the extreme right, and fosters hostility towards Europe and all Europeans. And this (see link).
For sure the EU demand that the UK pays into regional funds is a new one, and not agreed earlier.
However, the UK approach of regarding such a negotiation as a zero sum game, where every cooperation is a concession from your side, you should not be surprised that the EU has no enthousiasm.
However, the UK approach of regarding such a negotiation as a zero sum game, where every cooperation is a concession from your side, you should not be surprised that the EU has no enthousiasm.
EU reset getting a bit stuck according to @financialtimes.com www.ft.com/content/03ef... (£). For free you can join our expert panel @instituteforgovernment.org.uk @ukandeu.bsky.social to hear about it on 19/11. Sign up here www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/six-mo...
Von der Leyen dodged Starmer request for meeting on EU money demands
European Commission president had ‘scheduling’ issues at COP30 summit in Brazil and did not meet the UK premier
www.ft.com
November 10, 2025 at 8:44 AM
For sure the EU demand that the UK pays into regional funds is a new one, and not agreed earlier.
However, the UK approach of regarding such a negotiation as a zero sum game, where every cooperation is a concession from your side, you should not be surprised that the EU has no enthousiasm.
However, the UK approach of regarding such a negotiation as a zero sum game, where every cooperation is a concession from your side, you should not be surprised that the EU has no enthousiasm.
Hard to see how the UK system could become more stringent.
The Tories tried this and it led to a system clogged up - because no applications approved, expensive hotel costs “temporary stays” and an imaginary ‘solution’ (Rwanda) that costed half a billion with zero results.
The Tories tried this and it led to a system clogged up - because no applications approved, expensive hotel costs “temporary stays” and an imaginary ‘solution’ (Rwanda) that costed half a billion with zero results.
Every single time Labour behave more like Reform, it helps Reform.
They will have plenty of time to reflect on their car crash level stupidity after they've been obliterated at the 2029 GE.
Unfortunately, all the rest of us will be left facing the consequences.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
They will have plenty of time to reflect on their car crash level stupidity after they've been obliterated at the 2029 GE.
Unfortunately, all the rest of us will be left facing the consequences.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
November 9, 2025 at 9:29 AM
Hard to see how the UK system could become more stringent.
The Tories tried this and it led to a system clogged up - because no applications approved, expensive hotel costs “temporary stays” and an imaginary ‘solution’ (Rwanda) that costed half a billion with zero results.
The Tories tried this and it led to a system clogged up - because no applications approved, expensive hotel costs “temporary stays” and an imaginary ‘solution’ (Rwanda) that costed half a billion with zero results.
A more eloquent expression of the view that the problems with the EU-UK relation - and the obstacles to removing these - are in Londen rather than in Brussels.
UK is a veeeryyyy sloooow learner.
Is that bad? Not from an EU viewpoint. UK talks big and then caves.
UK is a veeeryyyy sloooow learner.
Is that bad? Not from an EU viewpoint. UK talks big and then caves.
The Starmer government repeating many of the same cackhanded blunders that reflect a lack of strategic vision which Johnson and May stumbled into are another datapoint for the hypothesis that the UK has deeper structural dysfunctions towards the EU beyond party politics
November 7, 2025 at 11:06 AM
A more eloquent expression of the view that the problems with the EU-UK relation - and the obstacles to removing these - are in Londen rather than in Brussels.
UK is a veeeryyyy sloooow learner.
Is that bad? Not from an EU viewpoint. UK talks big and then caves.
UK is a veeeryyyy sloooow learner.
Is that bad? Not from an EU viewpoint. UK talks big and then caves.
This is the level of discourse in UK.
Frost is joining the IEA - which was spectacularly wrong on the Truss budget and is getting a tax credit because it is a 'charity'. Their lead man (Singham) is proclaiming that the Trump tariffs are a form of free trade.
An embarrassment for UK.
Frost is joining the IEA - which was spectacularly wrong on the Truss budget and is getting a tax credit because it is a 'charity'. Their lead man (Singham) is proclaiming that the Trump tariffs are a form of free trade.
An embarrassment for UK.
November 7, 2025 at 9:57 AM
This is the level of discourse in UK.
Frost is joining the IEA - which was spectacularly wrong on the Truss budget and is getting a tax credit because it is a 'charity'. Their lead man (Singham) is proclaiming that the Trump tariffs are a form of free trade.
An embarrassment for UK.
Frost is joining the IEA - which was spectacularly wrong on the Truss budget and is getting a tax credit because it is a 'charity'. Their lead man (Singham) is proclaiming that the Trump tariffs are a form of free trade.
An embarrassment for UK.
If negotiations are so slow on everything else, there is no need for progress on SAFE.
The EU can perfectly manage SAFE - defence procurement cooperation, combined with EU funds - without UK participation.
The EU can perfectly manage SAFE - defence procurement cooperation, combined with EU funds - without UK participation.
An update of progress on EU-UK negotiations of the Strategic Partnership/Common Understanding agenda from May's summit
tl;dr barring SAFE, not much to see
PDF: bit.ly/UshGraphic141
tl;dr barring SAFE, not much to see
PDF: bit.ly/UshGraphic141
November 6, 2025 at 9:18 AM
If negotiations are so slow on everything else, there is no need for progress on SAFE.
The EU can perfectly manage SAFE - defence procurement cooperation, combined with EU funds - without UK participation.
The EU can perfectly manage SAFE - defence procurement cooperation, combined with EU funds - without UK participation.
Interesting thread discussing the UK misunderstandings of EU.
With the UK now out of the EU for years already, this will only get worse.
With the UK now out of the EU for years already, this will only get worse.
I am not a lawyer, just a historian, but one fundamental problem with the political debate about the EU, especially in English publications is that the whole principle of the acquis communnitaire is not understood or taken seriously. The EU is a framework of rules, not an alliance.
November 6, 2025 at 8:21 AM
Interesting thread discussing the UK misunderstandings of EU.
With the UK now out of the EU for years already, this will only get worse.
With the UK now out of the EU for years already, this will only get worse.
Excellent work done by the Good Law Project:
It is hard to phantom that the IEA is a charity, so it should not be eligible for favourable tax treatment.
It is hard to phantom that the IEA is a charity, so it should not be eligible for favourable tax treatment.
Remarkably complacent about the inclination of the Leopards of 55 Tufton Street to change their spots, is the Charity Commission. But we're pleased it has recognized the IEA has not been adhering to Charity law. And we're not going to let the matter rest here. goodlaw.social/npit
Charity Commission: IEA must change to address political bias | Good Law Project
After a formal complaint from Good Law Project, the charities regulator has told a radical rightwing think-tank to act on transparency and balance.
goodlaw.social
November 5, 2025 at 12:57 PM
Excellent work done by the Good Law Project:
It is hard to phantom that the IEA is a charity, so it should not be eligible for favourable tax treatment.
It is hard to phantom that the IEA is a charity, so it should not be eligible for favourable tax treatment.
Wonderful thread on the images of contraditions between 'the city' and 'the countryside'.
This clash of worldviews is not new, and is being played out in many countries in many forms.
One - extreme - example of this was of course the Kmer Rouge in Cambodia.
This clash of worldviews is not new, and is being played out in many countries in many forms.
One - extreme - example of this was of course the Kmer Rouge in Cambodia.
1. In the wake on Mamdani’s win, we’ll see a lot more far right anti-urban sentiment. Here’s a thread on its roots and evolution.
The idea that the city is evil and corrupt, and the countryside innocent and pure, goes back a long way: to Theocritus in Alexandria, and to the Old Testament. 🧵
The idea that the city is evil and corrupt, and the countryside innocent and pure, goes back a long way: to Theocritus in Alexandria, and to the Old Testament. 🧵
November 5, 2025 at 8:25 AM
Wonderful thread on the images of contraditions between 'the city' and 'the countryside'.
This clash of worldviews is not new, and is being played out in many countries in many forms.
One - extreme - example of this was of course the Kmer Rouge in Cambodia.
This clash of worldviews is not new, and is being played out in many countries in many forms.
One - extreme - example of this was of course the Kmer Rouge in Cambodia.