Lorcan Twomey
@lorcantwomey.bsky.social
Dubliner. Based in London now. Hate Brexit. had enough of the other place.
Reposted by Lorcan Twomey
73% of Europeans believe their countries have benefitted from EU membership. Even in Britain, 62% of the public believe Brexit has been more of a failure than a success.
WTF are our politicians waiting for? Divine inspiration?
WTF are our politicians waiting for? Divine inspiration?
November 13, 2025 at 6:33 AM
73% of Europeans believe their countries have benefitted from EU membership. Even in Britain, 62% of the public believe Brexit has been more of a failure than a success.
WTF are our politicians waiting for? Divine inspiration?
WTF are our politicians waiting for? Divine inspiration?
Reposted by Lorcan Twomey
UK trade figures. Not a happy picture.
The immediate post-Brexit policy was a failure. Despite protests otherwise it seems this year's trade strategy will be only half-heartedly implemented.
The immediate post-Brexit policy was a failure. Despite protests otherwise it seems this year's trade strategy will be only half-heartedly implemented.
Quarterly trade data out this morning. Goods exports were down 0.7% compared to Q2, with weak USA exports certainly contributing. In addition, services trade growth seems to have slowed, with growth of just 0.2%.
November 13, 2025 at 11:13 AM
UK trade figures. Not a happy picture.
The immediate post-Brexit policy was a failure. Despite protests otherwise it seems this year's trade strategy will be only half-heartedly implemented.
The immediate post-Brexit policy was a failure. Despite protests otherwise it seems this year's trade strategy will be only half-heartedly implemented.
Reposted by Lorcan Twomey
1. Time involved
2. Cost
3. Weapons proliferation risks
4. Meltdown risk
5. Lung cancer risk
6. Emissions/pollution
7. Waste risk
www.oneearth.org/the-7-reason...
2. Cost
3. Weapons proliferation risks
4. Meltdown risk
5. Lung cancer risk
6. Emissions/pollution
7. Waste risk
www.oneearth.org/the-7-reason...
November 13, 2025 at 10:38 AM
1. Time involved
2. Cost
3. Weapons proliferation risks
4. Meltdown risk
5. Lung cancer risk
6. Emissions/pollution
7. Waste risk
www.oneearth.org/the-7-reason...
2. Cost
3. Weapons proliferation risks
4. Meltdown risk
5. Lung cancer risk
6. Emissions/pollution
7. Waste risk
www.oneearth.org/the-7-reason...
Reposted by Lorcan Twomey
First part of today's partially shizophrenic votes in - where the EP plenary, based on the 'von der Leyen' majority against the far-right, voted in favour of the 90+% carbon reduction goal for 2040.
November 13, 2025 at 10:35 AM
First part of today's partially shizophrenic votes in - where the EP plenary, based on the 'von der Leyen' majority against the far-right, voted in favour of the 90+% carbon reduction goal for 2040.
Reposted by Lorcan Twomey
Alternate view - the pitiable irrelevant Brits should be honoured to be bullied by the glorious infallible greatness that is the EU. The EU doesn't need anything, put up the walls and everything will be great! bsky.app/profile/nial...
I'm particularly disappointed in @davidheniguk.bsky.social for falling into the easy tropes of "bullying Brussels" and the "dastardly French"
The frustration is that Europe won't give UKG what it wants
Let's acknowledge that the problem lies with the UKG and its redlines, not M et Mme Dupont
Ends
The frustration is that Europe won't give UKG what it wants
Let's acknowledge that the problem lies with the UKG and its redlines, not M et Mme Dupont
Ends
November 12, 2025 at 9:12 AM
Alternate view - the pitiable irrelevant Brits should be honoured to be bullied by the glorious infallible greatness that is the EU. The EU doesn't need anything, put up the walls and everything will be great! bsky.app/profile/nial...
Reposted by Lorcan Twomey
Labour currently has the majority to easily change voting rules to the more democratic proportion system, thereby saving the country from a far right absolute majority - which would even save Labour's own ass.
Dear Britain:
Your polls look very "European" and NOW would be a really really really really really really really good time to switch to PR.
➡️ RFM: 26% | 170 (+74)
🟥 LAB: 19% | 124 (-110)
🟦 CON: 18% | 118 (-38)
🟩 GRN: 15% | 98 (+55)
🟧 LDM: 14% | 91 (+10)
🟨 SNP: 3% | 19 (+2)
🔲 PLC: 2% | 12 (+7)
Your polls look very "European" and NOW would be a really really really really really really really good time to switch to PR.
➡️ RFM: 26% | 170 (+74)
🟥 LAB: 19% | 124 (-110)
🟦 CON: 18% | 118 (-38)
🟩 GRN: 15% | 98 (+55)
🟧 LDM: 14% | 91 (+10)
🟨 SNP: 3% | 19 (+2)
🔲 PLC: 2% | 12 (+7)
November 12, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Labour currently has the majority to easily change voting rules to the more democratic proportion system, thereby saving the country from a far right absolute majority - which would even save Labour's own ass.
Reposted by Lorcan Twomey
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.
Reposted by Lorcan Twomey
Brexit reduced the UK’s GDP by between 6% and 8%. That is MASSIVE. #ProjectFear #wetoldyouso
www.nber.org/papers/w3445...
www.nber.org/papers/w3445...
November 10, 2025 at 8:11 PM
Brexit reduced the UK’s GDP by between 6% and 8%. That is MASSIVE. #ProjectFear #wetoldyouso
www.nber.org/papers/w3445...
www.nber.org/papers/w3445...
Reposted by Lorcan Twomey
EU Commission proposes first annual migration policy cycle, under the asylum pact - ec.europa.eu/commission/p...
Also proposes a two-year plan for resettlement of refugees/humanitarian admission, as provided for in the pact - ec.europa.eu/commission/p...
Also proposes a two-year plan for resettlement of refugees/humanitarian admission, as provided for in the pact - ec.europa.eu/commission/p...
Commission launches first Annual Migration Management Cycle under the Pact on Migration and Asylum
Today, the European Commission is taking a further step in implementing the Pact on Migration and Asylum by launching the first Annual Migration Management Cycle.
ec.europa.eu
November 11, 2025 at 5:46 PM
EU Commission proposes first annual migration policy cycle, under the asylum pact - ec.europa.eu/commission/p...
Also proposes a two-year plan for resettlement of refugees/humanitarian admission, as provided for in the pact - ec.europa.eu/commission/p...
Also proposes a two-year plan for resettlement of refugees/humanitarian admission, as provided for in the pact - ec.europa.eu/commission/p...
Reposted by Lorcan Twomey
Reposted by Lorcan Twomey
It’s out! Here’s @LordsEUCom Report ‘Unfinished Business: resetting the UK- EU relationship’. The Gov’t have made a strong start, esp on security and defence, but there’s still much to do in turning aspirations and goodwill into workable agreements 1/8
publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld5901/ld...
publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld5901/ld...
publications.parliament.uk
November 12, 2025 at 8:15 AM
It’s out! Here’s @LordsEUCom Report ‘Unfinished Business: resetting the UK- EU relationship’. The Gov’t have made a strong start, esp on security and defence, but there’s still much to do in turning aspirations and goodwill into workable agreements 1/8
publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld5901/ld...
publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld5901/ld...
Reposted by Lorcan Twomey
Let’s do this. 👍
Dear Britain:
Your polls look very "European" and NOW would be a really really really really really really really good time to switch to PR.
➡️ RFM: 26% | 170 (+74)
🟥 LAB: 19% | 124 (-110)
🟦 CON: 18% | 118 (-38)
🟩 GRN: 15% | 98 (+55)
🟧 LDM: 14% | 91 (+10)
🟨 SNP: 3% | 19 (+2)
🔲 PLC: 2% | 12 (+7)
Your polls look very "European" and NOW would be a really really really really really really really good time to switch to PR.
➡️ RFM: 26% | 170 (+74)
🟥 LAB: 19% | 124 (-110)
🟦 CON: 18% | 118 (-38)
🟩 GRN: 15% | 98 (+55)
🟧 LDM: 14% | 91 (+10)
🟨 SNP: 3% | 19 (+2)
🔲 PLC: 2% | 12 (+7)
November 11, 2025 at 7:50 PM
Let’s do this. 👍
Reposted by Lorcan Twomey
Brexit has done untold damage to the UK economy, it’s the elephant in the room syndrome!!
I notice lots of "If reform get into power britain faces a fiscal crisis".
Spoiler: Liz Truss's pork markets have not saved brexit britain from ruin. the UK is broke because of brexit and left with Zero growth.
It's why Reeve's is unleashing emergency income tax rises at the end of this month.
Spoiler: Liz Truss's pork markets have not saved brexit britain from ruin. the UK is broke because of brexit and left with Zero growth.
It's why Reeve's is unleashing emergency income tax rises at the end of this month.
November 11, 2025 at 3:07 PM
Brexit has done untold damage to the UK economy, it’s the elephant in the room syndrome!!
Reposted by Lorcan Twomey
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."
Reposted by Lorcan Twomey
Wrote for the Irish news. Will Northern Ireland work? The more pressing question: Do we want it to work?
www.irishnews.com/opinion/sara...
www.irishnews.com/opinion/sara...
Sarah Creighton: As the DUP declines to send anyone to President Connolly in Dublin, the scary question is: do we even want reconciliation here?
Maybe we like the cycle of outrage and hurt. It’s comfortable and it’s all we know
www.irishnews.com
November 11, 2025 at 8:50 AM
Wrote for the Irish news. Will Northern Ireland work? The more pressing question: Do we want it to work?
www.irishnews.com/opinion/sara...
www.irishnews.com/opinion/sara...
Reposted by Lorcan Twomey
Bruegel recently republished an essay written with Leonardo Cadamuro: www.bruegel.org/external-pub.... We try to dispel the despondency too often affecting Europeans and sapping their actions.
Forty years of European History: Crisis, Resilience, Development and Opportunity
www.bruegel.org
November 11, 2025 at 10:53 AM
Bruegel recently republished an essay written with Leonardo Cadamuro: www.bruegel.org/external-pub.... We try to dispel the despondency too often affecting Europeans and sapping their actions.
Reposted by Lorcan Twomey
NI Unionism just missed a golden opportunity to show NI voters they are capable of working with others.
All can see the Israel trip was ill advised. Now all can see is an inability to govern and unaccountability with the trip defended with whataboutery, arrogance & old sectarianism squabbles.
1/2
All can see the Israel trip was ill advised. Now all can see is an inability to govern and unaccountability with the trip defended with whataboutery, arrogance & old sectarianism squabbles.
1/2
November 11, 2025 at 10:42 AM
NI Unionism just missed a golden opportunity to show NI voters they are capable of working with others.
All can see the Israel trip was ill advised. Now all can see is an inability to govern and unaccountability with the trip defended with whataboutery, arrogance & old sectarianism squabbles.
1/2
All can see the Israel trip was ill advised. Now all can see is an inability to govern and unaccountability with the trip defended with whataboutery, arrogance & old sectarianism squabbles.
1/2
Reposted by Lorcan Twomey
~ 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 10:52 AM
~ 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
Reposted by Lorcan Twomey
Another case of Reform saying one thing then doing the other:
A Reform-led council is planning to double council tax on second homes six months after party leader Nigel Farage denounced such policies as “madness” and “extortion”
By me, for Politics Home www.politicshome.com/news/article...
A Reform-led council is planning to double council tax on second homes six months after party leader Nigel Farage denounced such policies as “madness” and “extortion”
By me, for Politics Home www.politicshome.com/news/article...
Reform Council To Double Tax On Second Homes Despite Nigel Farage Calling The Idea 'Madness'
A Reform-led council is planning to double council tax on second homes six months after party leader Nigel Farage denounced such policies as “madne...
www.politicshome.com
November 11, 2025 at 9:32 AM
Another case of Reform saying one thing then doing the other:
A Reform-led council is planning to double council tax on second homes six months after party leader Nigel Farage denounced such policies as “madness” and “extortion”
By me, for Politics Home www.politicshome.com/news/article...
A Reform-led council is planning to double council tax on second homes six months after party leader Nigel Farage denounced such policies as “madness” and “extortion”
By me, for Politics Home www.politicshome.com/news/article...
Reposted by Lorcan Twomey
Lovely evening launching Susan’s new novel The Planter’s Daughter - I’m looking forward to reading it!
All order details for The Planter's Daughter
Plus endorsements from Maybelle Wallis, Ronan McGreevy, Byddi Lee, Awais Khan and Michelle McDonagh!
susanlanigan.com/the-planters-daughter
Plus endorsements from Maybelle Wallis, Ronan McGreevy, Byddi Lee, Awais Khan and Michelle McDonagh!
susanlanigan.com/the-planters-daughter
Susan Lanigan
The Planter’s Daughter “Contentious subjects are handled with a lightness of touch and a humanity rare in public discourse…an impressive achievement.” — Ronan McGreevy, the Irish Ti…
susanlanigan.com
November 7, 2025 at 10:55 PM
Lovely evening launching Susan’s new novel The Planter’s Daughter - I’m looking forward to reading it!
Reposted by Lorcan Twomey
What a result for Italian Rugby!!!
November 8, 2025 at 7:59 PM
What a result for Italian Rugby!!!
Reposted by Lorcan Twomey
Yep. And to think that so many people think this man is some sort of hero is such a sign of our twisted times.
November 8, 2025 at 12:24 PM
Yep. And to think that so many people think this man is some sort of hero is such a sign of our twisted times.
Reposted by Lorcan Twomey
The US is the world's largest oil and gas producer. Yet, "China is now making more money from exporting green technology than America makes from exporting fossil fuels."
China’s clean-energy revolution will reshape markets and politics
The world’s biggest manufacturer now has an interest in the world decarbonising
www.economist.com
November 7, 2025 at 11:05 AM
The US is the world's largest oil and gas producer. Yet, "China is now making more money from exporting green technology than America makes from exporting fossil fuels."
Reposted by Lorcan Twomey
Difficult negotiation issues between UK and EU
www.ft.com/content/8963...
www.ft.com/content/8963...
EU demands UK pay into budget as part of relationship ‘reset’
Growing tension between London and Brussels just six months after summit set out to build stronger ties
www.ft.com
November 7, 2025 at 8:42 AM
Difficult negotiation issues between UK and EU
www.ft.com/content/8963...
www.ft.com/content/8963...
Reposted by Lorcan Twomey
Dear Diary: "skills no longer required" was on my P45 from Wandsworth. Bastards. It was a volunteer week and I needed to fill a gap for when Nigel calls me in to sort out the countrys finances. Reeves tax rises just 2 weeks away now. Must dash. Iceberg lettuce salad for tea.
November 7, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Dear Diary: "skills no longer required" was on my P45 from Wandsworth. Bastards. It was a volunteer week and I needed to fill a gap for when Nigel calls me in to sort out the countrys finances. Reeves tax rises just 2 weeks away now. Must dash. Iceberg lettuce salad for tea.