sigrund.bsky.social
@sigrund.bsky.social
Reposted by sigrund.bsky.social
Reposted by sigrund.bsky.social
My assessment of Starmer's latest EU gambit. His rhetoric on "alignment" may be getting bolder but the trade-offs remain the same.
The UK will not get much closer alignment with the single market unless it accepts free movement + budget contributions.
ukandeu.ac.uk/new-year-sam...
The UK will not get much closer alignment with the single market unless it accepts free movement + budget contributions.
ukandeu.ac.uk/new-year-sam...
New year, same old Brexit trade-offs - UK in a changing Europe
Joël Reland argues that while the UK has indicated that it is keen to align more closely with the EU, the inherent tradeoffs remain the same as the EU will not allow the UK to 'cherry pick' further ac...
ukandeu.ac.uk
January 6, 2026 at 10:51 AM
My assessment of Starmer's latest EU gambit. His rhetoric on "alignment" may be getting bolder but the trade-offs remain the same.
The UK will not get much closer alignment with the single market unless it accepts free movement + budget contributions.
ukandeu.ac.uk/new-year-sam...
The UK will not get much closer alignment with the single market unless it accepts free movement + budget contributions.
ukandeu.ac.uk/new-year-sam...
Reposted by sigrund.bsky.social
Not since the Trojans wheeled a wooden horse into the city has anyone made such a huge a mistake of letting an enemy in as the UK government.
To be fair on the Trojans, they didn’t already know the enemy was inside the horse.
To be fair on the Trojans, they didn’t already know the enemy was inside the horse.
Palantir lands biggest ever UK defense deal
The £240 million contract with the Ministry of Defence has renewed a debate about Britain’s dependence on American technology.
www.politico.eu
January 6, 2026 at 10:57 AM
Not since the Trojans wheeled a wooden horse into the city has anyone made such a huge a mistake of letting an enemy in as the UK government.
To be fair on the Trojans, they didn’t already know the enemy was inside the horse.
To be fair on the Trojans, they didn’t already know the enemy was inside the horse.
Happy New Year from Reykjavik- spectacular, city-wide fireworks show!
January 1, 2026 at 12:27 AM
Happy New Year from Reykjavik- spectacular, city-wide fireworks show!
Reposted by sigrund.bsky.social
Happy new year everybody!
It’s gonna be a fun ride this year! ⚔️🇺🇦❤️🔥
It’s gonna be a fun ride this year! ⚔️🇺🇦❤️🔥
December 31, 2025 at 7:38 PM
Happy new year everybody!
It’s gonna be a fun ride this year! ⚔️🇺🇦❤️🔥
It’s gonna be a fun ride this year! ⚔️🇺🇦❤️🔥
Just under two hours to midnight: #Reykjavik warming up for the greatest fireworks show on this planet, with the sounds to match! #Iceland
December 31, 2025 at 10:13 PM
Just under two hours to midnight: #Reykjavik warming up for the greatest fireworks show on this planet, with the sounds to match! #Iceland
Reposted by sigrund.bsky.social
The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Vladimir Putin is the one who picked Steve Witkoff to be Trump's special envoy to Russia. Why would anyone think this is not a red flag?
December 23, 2025 at 12:20 PM
Reposted by sigrund.bsky.social
Emmanuel #Macron
@EmmanuelMacron
In #Nuuk, I reaffirmed #France ’s unwavering support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of #Denmark & #Greenland.
Greenland belongs to its people.
#Denmark stands as its guarantor.
I join my voice to that of #Europeans in expressing our full solidarity.
@EmmanuelMacron
In #Nuuk, I reaffirmed #France ’s unwavering support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of #Denmark & #Greenland.
Greenland belongs to its people.
#Denmark stands as its guarantor.
I join my voice to that of #Europeans in expressing our full solidarity.
December 23, 2025 at 12:22 PM
Emmanuel #Macron
@EmmanuelMacron
In #Nuuk, I reaffirmed #France ’s unwavering support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of #Denmark & #Greenland.
Greenland belongs to its people.
#Denmark stands as its guarantor.
I join my voice to that of #Europeans in expressing our full solidarity.
@EmmanuelMacron
In #Nuuk, I reaffirmed #France ’s unwavering support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of #Denmark & #Greenland.
Greenland belongs to its people.
#Denmark stands as its guarantor.
I join my voice to that of #Europeans in expressing our full solidarity.
Things often seem to spread from US to UK. So, Trump owns a media company, Patel director of FBI is on the board. Somehow, I don’t expect any time soon that Starmer will be setting up a media company with the director of MI5 on the board - complicated indeed! 🤔 giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...
Trump family deal with fusion energy firm adds to complicated UK-US ties
TAE Technologies has already agreed joint venture with UK government’s atomic laboratory
giftarticle.ft.com
December 23, 2025 at 12:23 PM
Things often seem to spread from US to UK. So, Trump owns a media company, Patel director of FBI is on the board. Somehow, I don’t expect any time soon that Starmer will be setting up a media company with the director of MI5 on the board - complicated indeed! 🤔 giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...
Reposted by sigrund.bsky.social
I've signed. Have you?
Petition: Call a public inquiry into Russian influence on UK politics & democracy petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
Petition: Call a public inquiry into Russian influence on UK politics & democracy 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 4:46 PM
I've signed. Have you?
Petition: Call a public inquiry into Russian influence on UK politics & democracy petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
Petition: Call a public inquiry into Russian influence on UK politics & democracy petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
Reposted by sigrund.bsky.social
Getting Ready to Party Like It’s 2008. Trump’s cronies are undermining financial stability open.substack.com/pub/paulkrug...
Getting Ready to Party Like It’s 2008
Trump’s cronies are undermining financial stability
open.substack.com
November 28, 2025 at 11:44 AM
Getting Ready to Party Like It’s 2008. Trump’s cronies are undermining financial stability open.substack.com/pub/paulkrug...
Reposted by sigrund.bsky.social
@columnist.bsky.social this is interesting on this subject www.derekthompson.org/p/why-everyt...
Everything Is Television
A theory of culture and attention
www.derekthompson.org
November 26, 2025 at 9:57 AM
@columnist.bsky.social this is interesting on this subject www.derekthompson.org/p/why-everyt...
Reposted by sigrund.bsky.social
On budget, Brexit and UK politics paddling in the shallow end of a problem that goes way deeper than just tax rises. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Rachel Reeves has many problems. She’s realising that her Brexit bind may be the biggest of all | Rafael Behr
Brutal economic realities are prompting a shift in Labour’s tone on Europe. But will it dare tell the whole truth about Britain’s predicament, asks Guardian columnist Rafael Behr
www.theguardian.com
November 26, 2025 at 8:15 AM
On budget, Brexit and UK politics paddling in the shallow end of a problem that goes way deeper than just tax rises. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
A sad example of how Trump’s poisonous practice spreads in politics… on.ft.com/4ojelG6
Rachel Reeves asks banks to praise her plans as they escape Budget tax raid
Chancellor under pressure from some Labour MPs to raise levies on business this week
on.ft.com
November 25, 2025 at 12:19 PM
A sad example of how Trump’s poisonous practice spreads in politics… on.ft.com/4ojelG6
Reposted by sigrund.bsky.social
This is extremely unfortunate to say the least. Not sure how I would have reacted to having my Reith lectures censored - the world has changed in an ill way in the two years since.
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 10:39 AM
This is extremely unfortunate to say the least. Not sure how I would have reacted to having my Reith lectures censored - the world has changed in an ill way in the two years since.
So, what’s the bright idea @financialtimes.com ?! Why wrap the paper in compostable wrap (great) and then wrap this horrible indestructible band around it?! 🤔🤔🤔
November 25, 2025 at 9:47 AM
So, what’s the bright idea @financialtimes.com ?! Why wrap the paper in compostable wrap (great) and then wrap this horrible indestructible band around it?! 🤔🤔🤔
Reposted by sigrund.bsky.social
What Trump has made me realise is how much the post-Cold War relationship hinged on shared values rather than shared interests. Trump is illustrating how, whether on Ukraine and Gaza, our interests diverge and, absent those values, there's not much holding us together.
November 25, 2025 at 9:14 AM
What Trump has made me realise is how much the post-Cold War relationship hinged on shared values rather than shared interests. Trump is illustrating how, whether on Ukraine and Gaza, our interests diverge and, absent those values, there's not much holding us together.
Reposted by sigrund.bsky.social
"If political journalists are invariably going on about how a policy plays with the electorate, rather than whether the policy works, don’t be surprised if politicians begin to worry less about whether policies will actually work."
New post: Expertise, Government, the Media and Covid
mainlymacro.blogspot.com/2025/11/expe...
The Covid inquiry shows not just political failure on a deadly scale, but of media failure to transmit expertise and to hold to account politicians that let tens of thousands die unnecessarily.
mainlymacro.blogspot.com/2025/11/expe...
The Covid inquiry shows not just political failure on a deadly scale, but of media failure to transmit expertise and to hold to account politicians that let tens of thousands die unnecessarily.
Expertise, Government, the Media and Covid
It is now generally (although not universally) accepted that those of us who campaigned vigorously against the government’s auster...
mainlymacro.blogspot.com
November 25, 2025 at 9:07 AM
"If political journalists are invariably going on about how a policy plays with the electorate, rather than whether the policy works, don’t be surprised if politicians begin to worry less about whether policies will actually work."
Reposted by sigrund.bsky.social
I was honored to speak at a conference “Intent to Destroy: Confronting Russia’s Campaign to Erase Ukraine & Its People” at Georgetown. The mere suggestion of amnesty for Russia's war crimes and genocidal actions against Ukrainians, contained in Trump's 28-point plan, is an unconscionable obscenity.
November 22, 2025 at 1:15 AM
I was honored to speak at a conference “Intent to Destroy: Confronting Russia’s Campaign to Erase Ukraine & Its People” at Georgetown. The mere suggestion of amnesty for Russia's war crimes and genocidal actions against Ukrainians, contained in Trump's 28-point plan, is an unconscionable obscenity.
Reposted by sigrund.bsky.social
X has changed their policy and now you can see where the accounts are based.
Here’s an “influencer from Texas”
Here’s an “influencer from Texas”
November 21, 2025 at 6:36 PM
X has changed their policy and now you can see where the accounts are based.
Here’s an “influencer from Texas”
Here’s an “influencer from Texas”
Reposted by sigrund.bsky.social
"Sir Keir told the BBC: 'Every minute that is spent talking about anything other than cost-of-living is a wasted minute in my book.'"
OK, so why does his government keep banging on about immigration?
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
OK, so why does his government keep banging on about immigration?
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Judge me at next election, Keir Starmer tells doubters
The PM tells the BBC he has made
www.bbc.co.uk
November 21, 2025 at 6:25 PM
"Sir Keir told the BBC: 'Every minute that is spent talking about anything other than cost-of-living is a wasted minute in my book.'"
OK, so why does his government keep banging on about immigration?
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
OK, so why does his government keep banging on about immigration?
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by sigrund.bsky.social
Trump is pushing Ukraine to commit strategic suicide by Thanksgiving.
November 21, 2025 at 9:11 PM
Trump is pushing Ukraine to commit strategic suicide by Thanksgiving.
Europe must come out loud & clear that Putin isn’t dictating the division of Europe although Trump seems to be fine with it! If Europe doesn’t, it’s the end of Europe as we have known it since 1945…
November 21, 2025 at 8:22 PM
Europe must come out loud & clear that Putin isn’t dictating the division of Europe although Trump seems to be fine with it! If Europe doesn’t, it’s the end of Europe as we have known it since 1945…
@financialtimes.com I hugely appreciate the FT, my subscription improves my life! Some years ago the wrapping became compostable, wholly welcomed - but now, since ca 10 days, the bundled paper has a horrible (& unnecessary?!) INDESTRUCTIBLE PLASTIC BAND around it - why on earth is that done?!
November 19, 2025 at 3:48 PM
@financialtimes.com I hugely appreciate the FT, my subscription improves my life! Some years ago the wrapping became compostable, wholly welcomed - but now, since ca 10 days, the bundled paper has a horrible (& unnecessary?!) INDESTRUCTIBLE PLASTIC BAND around it - why on earth is that done?!