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eumovemacc.bsky.social
European Movement: Macclesfield and East Cheshire
@eumovemacc.bsky.social
3.5K followers 730 following 34 posts
An active branch of the European Movement. We always welcome new members. For details of our events/how you can join in, find us on Facebook at facebook.com/EUmoveMacc/
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eumovemacc.bsky.social
European Movement: Macclesfield and East Cheshire @eumovemacc.bsky.social · Nov 17
Hello everyone! We’ve migrated from the other place. We’re a small but active local campaign group and would love to be part of the progressive pro-European community here on Bluesky.
Reposted by European Movement: Macclesfield and East Cheshire
13sarahmurphy.bsky.social
Farage the politician *is* Farage the schoolboy losing his shit over seeing the name ‘Patel’ on the school roll and telling black pupils to go back to Africa. There’s really no difference. Except now he wants (and may be bought) the power to deport those people.
It’s not the past. It’s now.
#NeverPM
December 7, 2025 at 10:58 AM
Reposted by European Movement: Macclesfield and East Cheshire
eddavey.libdems.org.uk
Fortunately David Lammy you have the chance to vote for a customs union by backing our bill next week.

See you in the Aye lobby?
“Lammy breaks ranks on Brexit. Rejoining the customs union would boost growth, says Deputy Prime Minister, days after Starmer ruled it out.”
December 5, 2025 at 9:45 AM
Reposted by European Movement: Macclesfield and East Cheshire
petergeoghegan.bsky.social
🔴 Nigel Farage’s Reform is more reliant on super-rich backers than any major party in modern British political history

75% of *all* Reform donations *ever* have come from just three rich men

Is this what democracy looks like?

New on Democracy for Sale
democracyforsale.substack.com/p/75-of-refo...
75% of Reform UK’s donations have come from just three rich men
Calls grow for donation caps as Democracy for Sale research reveals that three-quarters of Reform’s funding comes from a trio of wealthy donors
democracyforsale.substack.com
December 5, 2025 at 10:55 AM
Reposted by European Movement: Macclesfield and East Cheshire
iandunt.bsky.social
Thank God for Bluesky: A little love letter to the people who would not compromise with Nazis iandunt.substack.com/p/thank-god-...
Thank God for Bluesky
Yes, it's eager. Yes, it's censorious. But it has the very considerable advantage of not being fascist.
iandunt.substack.com
December 5, 2025 at 1:10 PM
Reposted by European Movement: Macclesfield and East Cheshire
13sarahmurphy.bsky.social
“We want growth. We know this is the single best way of getting it…
We could then challenge Farage… to either continue with our economic recovery, or to halt it in its tracks and take us backwards.”

Finally. Weaken Farage by doing something that actually works.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
‘The only idea around’: will Labour return to a customs union with the EU?
The desperate search for economic growth is pushing the party to confront the issue that dare not speak its name
www.theguardian.com
December 6, 2025 at 9:33 AM
Reposted by European Movement: Macclesfield and East Cheshire
thomaswpenny.bsky.social
This little boy was 9, Farage was 17. The epitome of a school bully.
adambienkov.bsky.social Adam Bienkov @adambienkov.bsky.social · 4d
"'Where are you from?’ he asked. Within seconds of offering my rather confused and sputtering answers, he had a clear response: ‘That’s the way back to Africa,’ with an accompanying hand gesture pointing towards a place far away."
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Former Dulwich pupil says Farage told him: ‘That’s the way back to Africa’
Exclusive: Yinka Bankole says he felt compelled to speak out after Reform leader’s attempts to ‘dismiss’ hurt of alleged targets
www.theguardian.com
December 6, 2025 at 8:24 AM
Reposted by European Movement: Macclesfield and East Cheshire
reformexposed.bsky.social
I’ll never forget the look of hatred Nigel Farage had for me at school, simply for existing
Yinka Bankole
I’ll never forget the look of hatred Nigel Farage had for me at school, simply for existing
The Reform UK leader doubts people can recall their abuse from years ago. I’ve never forgotten his – it felt malicious
www.theguardian.com
December 6, 2025 at 6:28 AM
Reposted by European Movement: Macclesfield and East Cheshire
peterjukes.bsky.social
Here is the whole Trump, Brexit, Russia story neatly summed up for you

The battle started about Ukraine, now it’s about big tech monopoly power
December 6, 2025 at 5:36 PM
Reposted by European Movement: Macclesfield and East Cheshire
13sarahmurphy.bsky.social
On why Farage doesn’t apologise for his schoolboy racism:
“if he apologised, he would be turning to his own support base and saying, ‘You’re all guilty too.’ ”
Exactly.
He is racist. So are his voters. He can’t be pissing them off by saying sorry.
#NeverPM

www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
With his party riding high in the polls, toasting a game-changing £9m donation and welcoming its first Tory defector in the Lords, Nigel Farage seems to be sitting pretty. But creeping allegations of racist schoolboy behaviour — and his belligerent response to them — could harm his chances of winning over wavering voters, writes Josh Glancy (Cartoon of shocked? angry? frightened? people under the money bags holding placards saying ‘BIGOT’, ‘RACIST’ and ‘NAZI NIGEL’) Crick believes that there is a clear line to be drawn between Farage the sixth-former and Farage the politician. "So much of his character is the same as you can see at Dulwich," he says. "The boy who's desperate for attention, who loves debating, who loves division. The English nationalism, the interest - almost obsession - with immigration, the admiration for Enoch Powell, the free-market Thatcherism; all of that began at Dulwich." Much of the public has already made up its mind on Farage. In as much as this story cuts through to the wider elector-ate, some will think it deeply unfair to judge Farage on his adolescence; while others will see it as fair game and reflective of the man he later became. But there will be many who are still undecided on Farage and, for this last camp, his belligerent response to the allegations will be a test. He has the polling support. He has the Tory defections. He has the money now too. But does he have the ability to woo and keep voters who once found him unsavoury? Farage is unlikely to change tack now. "He's got to be true to him-self," says the senior Reform source. "There is precious little point in apologising to people like Ed Davey." Additional Reporting: Harry Yorke
December 7, 2025 at 9:24 AM
Reposted by European Movement: Macclesfield and East Cheshire
ottoenglish.bsky.social
Interesting what Crick notes.

Farage like Mogg and Johnson are really just grown up versions of their teenage selves. Lots of public school boys leave fully formed - and armed with an entitlement and a sense of empowerment that takes them through the rest of their lives.
13sarahmurphy.bsky.social Sarah Murphy @13sarahmurphy.bsky.social · 3d
On why Farage doesn’t apologise for his schoolboy racism:
“if he apologised, he would be turning to his own support base and saying, ‘You’re all guilty too.’ ”
Exactly.
He is racist. So are his voters. He can’t be pissing them off by saying sorry.
#NeverPM

www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
With his party riding high in the polls, toasting a game-changing £9m donation and welcoming its first Tory defector in the Lords, Nigel Farage seems to be sitting pretty. But creeping allegations of racist schoolboy behaviour — and his belligerent response to them — could harm his chances of winning over wavering voters, writes Josh Glancy (Cartoon of shocked? angry? frightened? people under the money bags holding placards saying ‘BIGOT’, ‘RACIST’ and ‘NAZI NIGEL’) Crick believes that there is a clear line to be drawn between Farage the sixth-former and Farage the politician. "So much of his character is the same as you can see at Dulwich," he says. "The boy who's desperate for attention, who loves debating, who loves division. The English nationalism, the interest - almost obsession - with immigration, the admiration for Enoch Powell, the free-market Thatcherism; all of that began at Dulwich." Much of the public has already made up its mind on Farage. In as much as this story cuts through to the wider elector-ate, some will think it deeply unfair to judge Farage on his adolescence; while others will see it as fair game and reflective of the man he later became. But there will be many who are still undecided on Farage and, for this last camp, his belligerent response to the allegations will be a test. He has the polling support. He has the Tory defections. He has the money now too. But does he have the ability to woo and keep voters who once found him unsavoury? Farage is unlikely to change tack now. "He's got to be true to him-self," says the senior Reform source. "There is precious little point in apologising to people like Ed Davey." Additional Reporting: Harry Yorke
December 7, 2025 at 10:28 AM
Reposted by European Movement: Macclesfield and East Cheshire
mrjamesob.bsky.social
Oh look. They’ve actually drawn a diagram for all the people stupid enough to need a bloody diagram.
eunews.social European News @eunews.social · 3d
Elon Musk and his Russian friends call for the abolishment of the EU
On Twitter/X, Elon Musk says: “The EU should be abolished and sovereignty returned to individual countries, so that governments can better represent their people.” Dmitry Medvedev, ex-President and ex-Prime Minister of Russia, a close ally of Vladimir Putin and currently the deputy chairman of the Security Council of Russia, then replies to Elon Musk’s post approvingly, saying “Exactly.”
December 6, 2025 at 6:05 PM
Reposted by European Movement: Macclesfield and East Cheshire
adambienkov.bsky.social
The sheer scale of media outrage this week about plans to lift hundreds of thousands children out of poverty, by taxing millionaire homeowners, tells you everything you need to know about the real priorities of the British press
www.adambienkov.co.uk/p/the-real-b...
The Real 'Benefits Street' Protecting Britain's Wealthiest
The sheer scale of outrage about plans to lift children out of poverty, by taxing millionaire homeowners, tells you everything you need to know about the priorities of the British press
www.adambienkov.co.uk
November 29, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Reposted by European Movement: Macclesfield and East Cheshire
13sarahmurphy.bsky.social
The scale of the Brexit damage forces the less dishonest Brexiters to admit reality.

(Sunak, same paper, continues to delude himself and his readers)
(Farage would rip up any reset and plunge business into more costly uncertainty)

“Such evidence cannot be dismissed as Project Fear. It is data”
三 THE SUNDAY TIMES RYAN BOURNE We Brexiteers must acknowledge the costs of leaving Europe Breaking free from the EU has undoubtedly deepened the UK's malaise, and it's no use denying it The microeconomic, firm-level data is crystal clear that Brexit has had a significant, depressive impact. The authors use the Bank of England's decision-maker panel - about 7,000 firms surveyed - to show that the more EU-exposed a company was, the more likely it cut investment and slowed hiring after the referendum. By 2023, average business investment was 12 per cent lower than otherwise. Productivity within firms was 3 to 4 per cent weaker. Roughly half of firms listed Brexit as a top source of uncertainty for years after the vote. Yes, remainer foot-dragging in parliament exacerbated this uncertainty. But wherever you ascribe blame, managers devoted hours each week to planning for new post-Brexit customs arrangements, regulation and precautionary stockpiles. This displacement activity weakened innovation, delayed investment and distracted managers from core business.
November 30, 2025 at 9:50 AM
Reposted by European Movement: Macclesfield and East Cheshire
13sarahmurphy.bsky.social
Why wouldn’t you want to know? What have you got to fear? Losing your precious Brexit? Being revealed as a traitor and a liar?
Surely, anyone decent and honest who genuinely cares about our country and our democracy has nothing to lose from this. So, sign up.
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
Petition: Call a public inquiry into Russian influence on UK politics & democracy
We are concerned about reported efforts from Russia to influence democracy in the US, UK, Europe and elsewhere. We believe we must establish the depth and breadth of possible Russian influence campaig...
petition.parliament.uk
November 28, 2025 at 8:11 PM
Reposted by European Movement: Macclesfield and East Cheshire
13sarahmurphy.bsky.social
The British press poses a genuine and profound threat to our democracy and our shared prosperity. They howl out their right wing, wealth-protecting agenda and want Farage as PM. We will all pay a very high price for their selfish greed and their utter indifference to social inequality.
Photo of Farage In this, the attacks on the Budget and the attempts to protect Farage are closely related. In both cases these publications are seeking to attack even the mildest form of social democracy, because of the potential financial impact on their owners, while protecting someone who has explicitly pledged to cut their taxes, by slashing services for everyone else.
November 29, 2025 at 5:26 PM
Reposted by European Movement: Macclesfield and East Cheshire
eddavey.libdems.org.uk
The tide is turning. Even the Telegraph is now admitting the damage the Brexit deal has done to the economy.
November 29, 2025 at 6:15 PM
Reposted by European Movement: Macclesfield and East Cheshire
realcaptainhaddock.bsky.social
Brexit continues to deliver for Russia

www.ft.com/content/22db...
UK talks to join EU defence fund break down
Discussions failed after Britain refused to pay billions of euros in fees
www.ft.com
November 28, 2025 at 1:28 PM
Reposted by European Movement: Macclesfield and East Cheshire
oxford4europe.bsky.social
On the chaos & failure of those who delivered Covid & pushed through Brexit… Russia, the disastrous economic cost & the dishonesty of the immigration debate - a ludicrous country indeed.
This is another excellent piece from @chrisgrey.bsky.social

chrisgreybrexitblog.blogspot.com/2025/11/brex...
Brexit reminders
<a rel="me" href="https://mastodon.online/@ChrisGrey">Mastodon</a>
chrisgreybrexitblog.blogspot.com
November 28, 2025 at 8:35 AM
Reposted by European Movement: Macclesfield and East Cheshire
gailmyerscough.co.uk
The EU are removing their de minimis threshold next year. So that will be the EU added to the growing list of places that I can’t sell to.
As a small business it’s getting harder and harder to keep going.
Fuck brexit and all who sail in her. 🤬
a man sitting at a desk with a panda bear on his arm
Alt: A Panda smashing up an office
media.tenor.com
November 30, 2025 at 10:40 AM
Reposted by European Movement: Macclesfield and East Cheshire
13sarahmurphy.bsky.social
Is Farage still the racist bully he was at school?
“there’s a substantive case that Farage did change. He’s seen the strategic necessity of maintaining a clear boundary with the far right”
Cynical political manoeuvring should not shield him.
So yes, he still is.
www.thenewworld.co.uk/sunder-katwa...
How Farage fails the racism test
Would a person from an ethnic minority trust Nigel Farage in power? So long as the answer remains “no”, Farage and the Reform party are unfit for office
www.thenewworld.co.uk
November 28, 2025 at 7:40 AM
Reposted by European Movement: Macclesfield and East Cheshire
sundersays.bsky.social
PM describes net migration of 205k as "a step in the right direction". His govt has no public position on a sustainable level of immigration is, nor any known process to decide what, why & how. Starmer is now implying he wants it significantly lower
www.standard.co.uk/news/politic...
Net migration drop ‘step in the right direction’ – Starmer
Net migration peaked at a record 944,000 in the year to March 2023 but has fallen sharply since then.
www.standard.co.uk
November 27, 2025 at 2:35 PM
Reposted by European Movement: Macclesfield and East Cheshire
adamjschwarz.bsky.social
Lib Dem leader Edward Davey calls for a national investigation into Russian political interference in British politics:

"Given Reform won't, he must. So will he know launch a national investigation into Russian infiltration into our politics?"

Starmer: "Reform is riddled with pro-Putin propaganda"
November 26, 2025 at 12:27 PM
Reposted by European Movement: Macclesfield and East Cheshire
robertsaunders.bsky.social
Even @channel4news.bsky.social opens its budget coverage by asking "What will this do for Labour's position in the polls?"

Polls are not even a good predictor of future elections. They're certainly not a test by which budgets should be measured.

We have to break their cold, dead grip on politics.
November 26, 2025 at 7:15 PM
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13sarahmurphy.bsky.social
Quick analysis of The Times today:
Wall to wall negative coverage of Labour’s budget. An editorial that tuts about lack of growth but takes no responsibility. And a double page ad to join Farage/Reform.
Absolutely no analysis on how rightwing ideology - including Brexit - has been utterly ruinous.
November 27, 2025 at 8:22 AM
Reposted by European Movement: Macclesfield and East Cheshire
liamthorp.bsky.social
The UK, where the day after a decision to take half a million children out of poverty, the media & political world has been full of sneering at those same children & their families, labelling them as ‘Benefits Street’, while the same people are moaning about a tax on £2m mansions. Shameful stuff.
November 27, 2025 at 8:22 PM