Sydney Nash
@nashsgc.bsky.social
Former civil servant, U.K./EU negotiator, U.K. automotive Brexit & international trade lead, former this, that and the other, always Palace
Reposted by Sydney Nash
I do think that the Anas Sarwar press conference was just too nakedly cynical to be effective, frankly.
February 9, 2026 at 2:45 PM
I do think that the Anas Sarwar press conference was just too nakedly cynical to be effective, frankly.
Reposted by Sydney Nash
NEW: Sources close to Eluned Morgan, Labour first minister in Wales, insist that she is not planning to say anything on Keir Starmer's leadership today - despite reports to the contrary.
February 9, 2026 at 2:20 PM
NEW: Sources close to Eluned Morgan, Labour first minister in Wales, insist that she is not planning to say anything on Keir Starmer's leadership today - despite reports to the contrary.
If (and it’s a big if), this results in a bump in the polls for Scottish Labour, expect Welsh Labour to follow suit and call for Starmer to resign.
Breaking news: Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar will call for Sir Keir Starmer to resign, deepening the crisis engulfing his premiership, according to a person familiar with the matter.
Follow our live blog for the latest developments: ft.trib.al/Fq0xSIX
Follow our live blog for the latest developments: ft.trib.al/Fq0xSIX
February 9, 2026 at 1:49 PM
If (and it’s a big if), this results in a bump in the polls for Scottish Labour, expect Welsh Labour to follow suit and call for Starmer to resign.
Reposted by Sydney Nash
Trump is a known racist and a known s?*t stirrer who combined these two passions to deliberately cause offence and to distract from the real news of the day. When Trump says look over there, don’t.
President Donald Trump's Thursday night post was deleted Friday and blamed on a staffer after widespread backlash, from civil rights leaders to veteran Republican senators, for its treatment of the nation's first Black president and first lady.
https://to.pbs.org/4rVubcf
https://to.pbs.org/4rVubcf
Trump's racist post about Obamas is deleted after backlash despite White House earlier defending it
The Republican president’s Thursday night post was deleted Friday and blamed on a staffer after widespread backlash, from civil rights leaders to veteran Republican senators, for its treatment of the ...
www.pbs.org
February 6, 2026 at 10:15 PM
Trump is a known racist and a known s?*t stirrer who combined these two passions to deliberately cause offence and to distract from the real news of the day. When Trump says look over there, don’t.
Trump is a known racist and a known s?*t stirrer who combined these two passions to deliberately cause offence and to distract from the real news of the day. When Trump says look over there, don’t.
President Donald Trump's Thursday night post was deleted Friday and blamed on a staffer after widespread backlash, from civil rights leaders to veteran Republican senators, for its treatment of the nation's first Black president and first lady.
https://to.pbs.org/4rVubcf
https://to.pbs.org/4rVubcf
Trump's racist post about Obamas is deleted after backlash despite White House earlier defending it
The Republican president’s Thursday night post was deleted Friday and blamed on a staffer after widespread backlash, from civil rights leaders to veteran Republican senators, for its treatment of the ...
www.pbs.org
February 6, 2026 at 10:15 PM
Trump is a known racist and a known s?*t stirrer who combined these two passions to deliberately cause offence and to distract from the real news of the day. When Trump says look over there, don’t.
This is spot on. The US has always used its money and soft power to influence political discourse and outcomes in Europe (e.g. with the objective of keeping communists away from power throughout the Cold War). What’s changed is the objective, the means of delivering it is the same.
Not to take away from a really important story, but what is important about it is tells is what the US new national security strategy means in practice:
US government to fund Maga-aligned think-tanks and charities in Europe
State department grants to spread ‘American values’ are part of Washington’s 250th anniversary celebrations
www.ft.com
February 6, 2026 at 4:32 PM
This is spot on. The US has always used its money and soft power to influence political discourse and outcomes in Europe (e.g. with the objective of keeping communists away from power throughout the Cold War). What’s changed is the objective, the means of delivering it is the same.
Reposted by Sydney Nash
Not to take away from a really important story, but what is important about it is tells is what the US new national security strategy means in practice:
US government to fund Maga-aligned think-tanks and charities in Europe
State department grants to spread ‘American values’ are part of Washington’s 250th anniversary celebrations
www.ft.com
February 6, 2026 at 3:46 PM
Not to take away from a really important story, but what is important about it is tells is what the US new national security strategy means in practice:
Reposted by Sydney Nash
For years, I've criticised countries like Russia & Georgia that try to prevent foreign funding of civil society. Now I'm starting to wonder whether we need similar rules: to stop Russian influence operations, certainly, but also to stop the US boosting the far right in Europe. What times we live in!
Not to take away from a really important story, but what is important about it is tells is what the US new national security strategy means in practice:
US government to fund Maga-aligned think-tanks and charities in Europe
State department grants to spread ‘American values’ are part of Washington’s 250th anniversary celebrations
www.ft.com
February 6, 2026 at 4:13 PM
For years, I've criticised countries like Russia & Georgia that try to prevent foreign funding of civil society. Now I'm starting to wonder whether we need similar rules: to stop Russian influence operations, certainly, but also to stop the US boosting the far right in Europe. What times we live in!
Beautifully handled.
Child at the podium: “A woo woo woo.”
Mamdani: That’s how I felt when we came up with this plan. Together, we will expand the idea of what is possible in our city—and what sounds and noises we can make at a press conference.
Mamdani: That’s how I felt when we came up with this plan. Together, we will expand the idea of what is possible in our city—and what sounds and noises we can make at a press conference.
February 6, 2026 at 1:02 PM
Beautifully handled.
Spot on by Lewis Goodall.
"Starmer didn't pick Mandelson in spite of his Epstein connections… He picked him because of them."
Would he have made the same choice if Kamala Harris had won?
"Absolutely not", says @lewisgoodall.com.
Would he have made the same choice if Kamala Harris had won?
"Absolutely not", says @lewisgoodall.com.
February 6, 2026 at 8:48 AM
Spot on by Lewis Goodall.
Reposted by Sydney Nash
It is refreshing (if also depressing) to see a journalist honest enough to recognise what the Mandelson appointment and defenestration tells us about our media and our politics.
"Starmer didn't pick Mandelson in spite of his Epstein connections… He picked him because of them."
Would he have made the same choice if Kamala Harris had won?
"Absolutely not", says @lewisgoodall.com.
Would he have made the same choice if Kamala Harris had won?
"Absolutely not", says @lewisgoodall.com.
February 6, 2026 at 7:15 AM
It is refreshing (if also depressing) to see a journalist honest enough to recognise what the Mandelson appointment and defenestration tells us about our media and our politics.
Reposted by Sydney Nash
February 5, 2026 at 11:31 PM
Reposted by Sydney Nash
This should worry everyone.
FT exclusive:
“The US state department is set to fund Maga-aligned think-tanks and charities across Europe to disseminate Washington’s policy positions and challenge perceived threats to free speech.”
via @annasophiegross.bsky.social and colleagues
“The US state department is set to fund Maga-aligned think-tanks and charities across Europe to disseminate Washington’s policy positions and challenge perceived threats to free speech.”
via @annasophiegross.bsky.social and colleagues
February 6, 2026 at 12:04 AM
This should worry everyone.
Hear this.
Sir Ian McKellen performing a monologue from Shakespeare’s Sir Thomas More on the Stephen Colbert show. Never have I heard this monologue performed with such a keen sense of prescience. Nor have I ever been in this exact historical moment.TY Sir Ian, for reaching us once again.
#Pinks #ProudBlue
#Pinks #ProudBlue
February 5, 2026 at 1:37 PM
Hear this.
I think that what is happening here is that having tried so hard and ultimately failed to define Britishness as White, England’s far right is now fighting to define Englishness as White.
I really don't get the 'Britishness is a national identity, English is an ethnicity' argument. Have these people ever lived in the borderlands? I think of my Scottish cousins with whom I share some genes but a different national identity, how does this work?
February 5, 2026 at 1:01 PM
I think that what is happening here is that having tried so hard and ultimately failed to define Britishness as White, England’s far right is now fighting to define Englishness as White.
Reposted by Sydney Nash
If Congress doesn’t act, the last nuclear arms control treaty between the U.S. and Russia will expire. It would pointlessly wipe out decades of diplomacy, and could spark another arms race that makes the world less safe. This piece is worth the read.
Opinion | Let the Arms Race Begin
www.nytimes.com
February 2, 2026 at 2:01 PM
If Congress doesn’t act, the last nuclear arms control treaty between the U.S. and Russia will expire. It would pointlessly wipe out decades of diplomacy, and could spark another arms race that makes the world less safe. This piece is worth the read.
Yes, it’s about time we had a proper Brexit. The type of Brexit where we can have our cake and bloody well eat it as well.
A Brexit where the border is firmly shut but we still get to trade freely without whoever we want, whenever we want, and on the terms that we want…
A Brexit where the border is firmly shut but we still get to trade freely without whoever we want, whenever we want, and on the terms that we want…
Daily Express: NOW YOU MUST GIVE BRITAIN A PROPER BREXIT #TomorrowsPapersToday
January 30, 2026 at 10:14 PM
Yes, it’s about time we had a proper Brexit. The type of Brexit where we can have our cake and bloody well eat it as well.
A Brexit where the border is firmly shut but we still get to trade freely without whoever we want, whenever we want, and on the terms that we want…
A Brexit where the border is firmly shut but we still get to trade freely without whoever we want, whenever we want, and on the terms that we want…
Matt Goodwin and the end of England
How one man's career explains our public life.
open.substack.com
January 30, 2026 at 9:56 PM
So that was some pretty shorted lived drama.
No matter what he says, Andy Burnham is not trying to get back into Parliament just so he can be a loyal backbencher.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Starmer allies urge him to block Andy Burnham from running in byelection
Greater Manchester mayor has applied to stand for Labour in Gorton and Denton, setting up potential fight for PM’s political future
www.theguardian.com
January 25, 2026 at 4:19 PM
So that was some pretty shorted lived drama.
Reposted by Sydney Nash
The Vice-President of Germany's Football Association calls for a debate about boycotting this year's World Cup because of Trump
January 24, 2026 at 10:29 PM
The Vice-President of Germany's Football Association calls for a debate about boycotting this year's World Cup because of Trump
Highly recommend this conversation with Prime Minister Mia Mottley who stands out as a genuine, thoughtful, and articulate leader at a time when so many of her peers are nowhere near making the cut.
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/w...
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/w...
Prime Minister Mia Mottley: Climate, Immigration, and the Power of Small Nations
Podcast Episode · What Now? with Trevor Noah · 20/01/2026 · 1h 35m
podcasts.apple.com
January 24, 2026 at 10:52 PM
Highly recommend this conversation with Prime Minister Mia Mottley who stands out as a genuine, thoughtful, and articulate leader at a time when so many of her peers are nowhere near making the cut.
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/w...
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/w...
Reposted by Sydney Nash
If you're living somewhere outside the USA, one thing you can do is pressure your leaders to boycott World Cup and Olympic events here.
January 24, 2026 at 8:29 PM
If you're living somewhere outside the USA, one thing you can do is pressure your leaders to boycott World Cup and Olympic events here.
Reposted by Sydney Nash
Someone should ask Kemi Badenoch (or whichever Tory is up for Sunday shows) if the Tories’ proposed “removals force” with “sweeping new powers” will be modelled on ICE www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Tories to pledge to create immigration taskforce modelled on Trump’s Ice
Proposed ‘removals force’ will be tasked with deporting 150,000 people a year in bid to tackle illegal immigration
www.theguardian.com
January 24, 2026 at 10:15 PM
Someone should ask Kemi Badenoch (or whichever Tory is up for Sunday shows) if the Tories’ proposed “removals force” with “sweeping new powers” will be modelled on ICE www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
No matter what he says, Andy Burnham is not trying to get back into Parliament just so he can be a loyal backbencher.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Starmer allies urge him to block Andy Burnham from running in byelection
Greater Manchester mayor has applied to stand for Labour in Gorton and Denton, setting up potential fight for PM’s political future
www.theguardian.com
January 24, 2026 at 9:47 PM
No matter what he says, Andy Burnham is not trying to get back into Parliament just so he can be a loyal backbencher.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...