Maurice Mauve
@samhufton1.bsky.social
Had a blog. Sometimes still write. Do marketing for pubs. Did European Studies at Kings College London. Like cooking. Am Mauritian. Like Ukraine to win. Democracy in Europe. Up the spurs.
Pinned
Maurice Mauve
@samhufton1.bsky.social
· Nov 8
Reflections on the European Idea in theory and in practise
Continued potential for peaceful change is the principal condition; politics must be a process. That is why politics must be transnational,and Europe a transnational democracy.
www.opendemocracy.net
Public service announcement I used to have pinned on the other place
Those interested in reading my contribution in @visionforeurope, here is an extended version I published on oD earlier this year:
Reflections on the European Idea in theory and in practice
www.opendemocracy.net/en/can-europ...
Those interested in reading my contribution in @visionforeurope, here is an extended version I published on oD earlier this year:
Reflections on the European Idea in theory and in practice
www.opendemocracy.net/en/can-europ...
Reposted by Maurice Mauve
America is led by a government so out of touch with global realities, basic contemporary history, and rational insight that I wonder if the nation will be able to regain sanity in the future.
Joseph de Maistre was right about at least one thing: “Toute nation a le gouvernement qu'elle mérite.”
Joseph de Maistre was right about at least one thing: “Toute nation a le gouvernement qu'elle mérite.”
🚨🚨 God #America, this is grim and a very stark wake-up call to European political ledaders on the (non) future of the "transatlantic alliance":
December 5, 2025 at 7:33 AM
America is led by a government so out of touch with global realities, basic contemporary history, and rational insight that I wonder if the nation will be able to regain sanity in the future.
Joseph de Maistre was right about at least one thing: “Toute nation a le gouvernement qu'elle mérite.”
Joseph de Maistre was right about at least one thing: “Toute nation a le gouvernement qu'elle mérite.”
Reposted by Maurice Mauve
Anyway, it’s a fascinating study of american incomprehension at rejection and at Europe at large. But is sort of a love letter to Berlin too, just a fully u comprehending one.
December 4, 2025 at 10:53 PM
Anyway, it’s a fascinating study of american incomprehension at rejection and at Europe at large. But is sort of a love letter to Berlin too, just a fully u comprehending one.
Reposted by Maurice Mauve
Labour bearing down on immigration will fix this any day now.
GB News now broadcasting calls to remove the ethnic minority MPs from parliament
December 4, 2025 at 9:57 AM
Labour bearing down on immigration will fix this any day now.
Reposted by Maurice Mauve
This feels personal. My child is in school in Glasgow. She's likely recorded as not speaking English as first language, even though it is basically her first. Everybody I know is extremely impressed that she's fully bilingual (me, too). Now these people are coming after her. Coming after children.
2 in 3 of Nigel Farage’s current and former partners do not speak English as their first language.
December 4, 2025 at 12:16 AM
This feels personal. My child is in school in Glasgow. She's likely recorded as not speaking English as first language, even though it is basically her first. Everybody I know is extremely impressed that she's fully bilingual (me, too). Now these people are coming after her. Coming after children.
Reposted by Maurice Mauve
Nigel Farage’s Legacy — Brexit: the trillion pound ‘mistake’
The National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)… confirms the Treasury’s 2016 analysis, claiming a relative fall in GDP of between 6% and 8%.
yorkshirebylines.co.uk/opinion/brex...
The National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)… confirms the Treasury’s 2016 analysis, claiming a relative fall in GDP of between 6% and 8%.
yorkshirebylines.co.uk/opinion/brex...
Brexit: the trillion pound ‘mistake’
The recent NBER report suggests the Treasury’s 2016 analysis – slammed by Brexiters as a ‘hoax’– actually understated the impact of Brexit
yorkshirebylines.co.uk
December 2, 2025 at 9:32 AM
Nigel Farage’s Legacy — Brexit: the trillion pound ‘mistake’
The National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)… confirms the Treasury’s 2016 analysis, claiming a relative fall in GDP of between 6% and 8%.
yorkshirebylines.co.uk/opinion/brex...
The National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)… confirms the Treasury’s 2016 analysis, claiming a relative fall in GDP of between 6% and 8%.
yorkshirebylines.co.uk/opinion/brex...
Reposted by Maurice Mauve
Keir Starmer has said a number of things in his speech today where you look at it and go 'uh, this is complete nonsense that isn't backed up by anything the government is *actually* doing'. All going essentially unscrutinised.
December 1, 2025 at 1:17 PM
Keir Starmer has said a number of things in his speech today where you look at it and go 'uh, this is complete nonsense that isn't backed up by anything the government is *actually* doing'. All going essentially unscrutinised.
Reposted by Maurice Mauve
More of an art installation, really...
November 30, 2025 at 6:06 PM
More of an art installation, really...
Reposted by Maurice Mauve
Except you have, Torsten.
Rail electrification has been slashed to nought because it’s “too expensive” … all while the Chancellor wastes £3bn on the fuel duty freeze - which is ~ twice the cost of completing the MML electrification programme.
Rail electrification has been slashed to nought because it’s “too expensive” … all while the Chancellor wastes £3bn on the fuel duty freeze - which is ~ twice the cost of completing the MML electrification programme.
We’ve refused to copy previous chancellors who’ve responded to any bad fiscal news by slashing public investment - cancelling infrastructure = taking easiest short term political decision with worst long term economic consequences.
November 30, 2025 at 5:34 PM
Except you have, Torsten.
Rail electrification has been slashed to nought because it’s “too expensive” … all while the Chancellor wastes £3bn on the fuel duty freeze - which is ~ twice the cost of completing the MML electrification programme.
Rail electrification has been slashed to nought because it’s “too expensive” … all while the Chancellor wastes £3bn on the fuel duty freeze - which is ~ twice the cost of completing the MML electrification programme.
Reposted by Maurice Mauve
I hope Your Party keeps going for at least the next ten years
November 30, 2025 at 10:57 AM
I hope Your Party keeps going for at least the next ten years
Reposted by Maurice Mauve
ideally I'd like them to have a conference once a month, for morale
November 30, 2025 at 10:57 AM
ideally I'd like them to have a conference once a month, for morale
Reposted by Maurice Mauve
Reposted by Maurice Mauve
I don’t think this is a “politicians have got dumber” issue for the most part. If you look at the *actual CVs* of previous cohorts of MPs, their background is not radically different when you account for, you know, the fact the economy is different! It is primarily a media and ecosystem issue.
We have got to make politics intellectual again. It is the only way that societies thrive is when politicians have the capability to actually think and reflect deeply:
![I confess that I always had difficulty with interpreting the Biblical precept to love our neighbours “as ourselves” until I read some of the words of C.S. Lewis. He pointed out that we don't exactly love ourselves when we fall below the standards and beliefs we have accepted. Indeed we might even hate ourselves for some unworthy deed.
None of this, of course, tells us exactly what kind of political and social institutions we should have. On this point, Christians will very often genuinely disagree, though it is a mark of Christian manners that they will do so with courtesy and mutual respect. [Applause] What is certain, however, is that any set of social and economic arrangements which is not founded on the acceptance of individual responsibility will do nothing but harm.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:xbnsfdtxoothg654ujxe3p25/bafkreicrdgbtvm54qnmttwe6crhxwt4be5v3izjmqtnvlxmaljwg5wolai@jpeg)
November 28, 2025 at 2:17 PM
I don’t think this is a “politicians have got dumber” issue for the most part. If you look at the *actual CVs* of previous cohorts of MPs, their background is not radically different when you account for, you know, the fact the economy is different! It is primarily a media and ecosystem issue.
Reposted by Maurice Mauve
Not just a UK problem either. Even if you look at the populist Right or Left of European politics in the 1990s, the skill of figures like Jörg Haider or Gregor Gysi at engaging in debate would make them elite policy wonks compared to the intellectual standard of debate now
November 28, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Not just a UK problem either. Even if you look at the populist Right or Left of European politics in the 1990s, the skill of figures like Jörg Haider or Gregor Gysi at engaging in debate would make them elite policy wonks compared to the intellectual standard of debate now
Reposted by Maurice Mauve
"Bread and circuses" is an actual expression actually used metaphorically today by actual people.
November 28, 2025 at 12:21 PM
"Bread and circuses" is an actual expression actually used metaphorically today by actual people.
Reposted by Maurice Mauve
There was no state. Who does she think crucified him, an anarchist collective?
November 28, 2025 at 11:22 AM
There was no state. Who does she think crucified him, an anarchist collective?
Reposted by Maurice Mauve
The "don't have an extra kid if you can't afford it" brigade get awfully upset when you suggest they don't stay in their £2m house if they can't afford it, don't they?
November 27, 2025 at 6:09 PM
The "don't have an extra kid if you can't afford it" brigade get awfully upset when you suggest they don't stay in their £2m house if they can't afford it, don't they?
Reposted by Maurice Mauve
So, my dear German followers...some News "in eigener Sache"!
Und bitte nicht schreien, 😚....ich bleibe in London !
Und bitte nicht schreien, 😚....ich bleibe in London !
Annette Dittert war für die ARD als Korrespondentin in verschiedenen Ländern, über viele Jahre geprägt hat sie aber vor allem die Berichterstattung aus Großbritannien. Nun verabschiedet sie sich von der ARD, aber nicht aus London
London-Korrespondentin Annette Dittert sagt der ARD Goodbye
Annette Dittert war für die ARD als Korrespondentin in verschiedenen Ländern, über viele Jahre geprägt hat sie aber vor allem die Berichterstattung aus Großbritannien. Nun verabschiedet sie sich von der ARD, aber nicht aus London
dlvr.it
November 27, 2025 at 3:37 PM
So, my dear German followers...some News "in eigener Sache"!
Und bitte nicht schreien, 😚....ich bleibe in London !
Und bitte nicht schreien, 😚....ich bleibe in London !
Reposted by Maurice Mauve
Would love some in-depth numbers on what the majority of 20-30 somethings basically paying a 9% higher marginal tax rate has actually done to economic behaviour. Feels very under-discussed bsky.app/profile/igma...
Student loan repayment thresholds frozen for a further three years.
More debt burden falling on graduates.
And even more reason to cut university places by 20-30%.
More debt burden falling on graduates.
And even more reason to cut university places by 20-30%.
November 26, 2025 at 1:00 PM
Would love some in-depth numbers on what the majority of 20-30 somethings basically paying a 9% higher marginal tax rate has actually done to economic behaviour. Feels very under-discussed bsky.app/profile/igma...
Reposted by Maurice Mauve
This is something that really bothers me in so much talk about benefits including from some policy wonks.
Not everyone who is given something from the state is Oliver Twist, nor should they be.
The state should provide help to all sorts of people in different circs, not just gruel for the needy
Not everyone who is given something from the state is Oliver Twist, nor should they be.
The state should provide help to all sorts of people in different circs, not just gruel for the needy
Sorry, no, Motability was not about 'helping the most vulnerable' - it was about providing people who need modified vehicles modified vehicles!
November 26, 2025 at 1:19 PM
This is something that really bothers me in so much talk about benefits including from some policy wonks.
Not everyone who is given something from the state is Oliver Twist, nor should they be.
The state should provide help to all sorts of people in different circs, not just gruel for the needy
Not everyone who is given something from the state is Oliver Twist, nor should they be.
The state should provide help to all sorts of people in different circs, not just gruel for the needy
Reposted by Maurice Mauve
Has no one in the BBC heard of the Streisand effect?
Did everyone think, "oh, Rutger Bregman, he'll be cool with this"?
Did everyone think, "oh, Rutger Bregman, he'll be cool with this"?
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
November 25, 2025 at 9:56 AM
Has no one in the BBC heard of the Streisand effect?
Did everyone think, "oh, Rutger Bregman, he'll be cool with this"?
Did everyone think, "oh, Rutger Bregman, he'll be cool with this"?
Reposted by Maurice Mauve
It’s especially ironic because the lecture is exactly about the ‘paralyzing cowardice’ of today’s elites.
About universities, corporations and media networks bending the knee to authoritarianism. /4
About universities, corporations and media networks bending the knee to authoritarianism. /4
November 25, 2025 at 9:26 AM
It’s especially ironic because the lecture is exactly about the ‘paralyzing cowardice’ of today’s elites.
About universities, corporations and media networks bending the knee to authoritarianism. /4
About universities, corporations and media networks bending the knee to authoritarianism. /4
Reposted by Maurice Mauve
This has happened against my wishes, and I’m genuinely dismayed by it.
Not because people can’t disagree with my words, but because self-censorship driven by fear (Trump threatening to sue the BBC) should concern all of us. /3
Not because people can’t disagree with my words, but because self-censorship driven by fear (Trump threatening to sue the BBC) should concern all of us. /3
November 25, 2025 at 9:26 AM
This has happened against my wishes, and I’m genuinely dismayed by it.
Not because people can’t disagree with my words, but because self-censorship driven by fear (Trump threatening to sue the BBC) should concern all of us. /3
Not because people can’t disagree with my words, but because self-censorship driven by fear (Trump threatening to sue the BBC) should concern all of us. /3
Reposted by Maurice Mauve
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
November 25, 2025 at 9:26 AM
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
Reposted by Maurice Mauve
Just a periodic reminder.
Wish people would stop saying Trump has done a U-turn on Ukraine. He does this every few weeks. Putin then makes a violent point of ignoring him. Trump's alleged change of heart is just a prelude to his next humiliation by Putin.
November 25, 2025 at 11:41 AM
Just a periodic reminder.
Reposted by Maurice Mauve
You can tell she really didn't work in any kind of job that required her to be numerate because any old dickhead would be able to divide £600m by the government's total expenditure and multiply it by 100 to see what % it is and go "huh, probably not worth it then"
November 24, 2025 at 10:40 AM
You can tell she really didn't work in any kind of job that required her to be numerate because any old dickhead would be able to divide £600m by the government's total expenditure and multiply it by 100 to see what % it is and go "huh, probably not worth it then"