Stephen Swan
@stephenswan.bsky.social
Barrister (non practising). Constitutional law, criminal law, EU & international law. Legal history, Astronomy & astrophysics, planetary geology, climate science & biodiversity, classics & ancient history, the supernatural & folklore.
Reposted by Stephen Swan
I know how they got to that point.
Because we’re a few steps behind, living through the “getting to that point” right now in the UK.
Because we’re a few steps behind, living through the “getting to that point” right now in the UK.
I don’t know how many times I’ve watched this video.
I don’t know how we’ve gotten to the point where men in full balaclavas can abduct daycare teachers while they’re watching children.
But I do know that this isn’t sustainable. Abolish ICE. There is no way to reform this.
I don’t know how we’ve gotten to the point where men in full balaclavas can abduct daycare teachers while they’re watching children.
But I do know that this isn’t sustainable. Abolish ICE. There is no way to reform this.
Federal agents pulling a woman out of Rayito Del Sol, a daycare by Lane Tech high school
November 6, 2025 at 8:03 AM
I know how they got to that point.
Because we’re a few steps behind, living through the “getting to that point” right now in the UK.
Because we’re a few steps behind, living through the “getting to that point” right now in the UK.
Reposted by Stephen Swan
75-year trend of October temperatures. It's as if something has changed. 🤔
November 5, 2025 at 9:50 PM
75-year trend of October temperatures. It's as if something has changed. 🤔
Reposted by Stephen Swan
Thank you for bringing us together at the gates of the Amazon dear @LulaOficial.
As COP30 begins, you can count on Europe's full support.
Brazil is showing great leadership.
Whether it is about putting a price tag on carbon. Or fighting for our forests.
As COP30 begins, you can count on Europe's full support.
Brazil is showing great leadership.
Whether it is about putting a price tag on carbon. Or fighting for our forests.
November 6, 2025 at 8:57 AM
Thank you for bringing us together at the gates of the Amazon dear @LulaOficial.
As COP30 begins, you can count on Europe's full support.
Brazil is showing great leadership.
Whether it is about putting a price tag on carbon. Or fighting for our forests.
As COP30 begins, you can count on Europe's full support.
Brazil is showing great leadership.
Whether it is about putting a price tag on carbon. Or fighting for our forests.
Reposted by Stephen Swan
That the UK - one of the architects of this fund, designed to save the world’s forests - is now refusing to put any money into it is frankly shameful. Starmer’s claim that he still continues to back the fund is meaningless without resources - so much for climate leadership
November 6, 2025 at 9:54 AM
That the UK - one of the architects of this fund, designed to save the world’s forests - is now refusing to put any money into it is frankly shameful. Starmer’s claim that he still continues to back the fund is meaningless without resources - so much for climate leadership
Reposted by Stephen Swan
When Reform and Tories are goose-stepping ever further towards ethno-nationalist extremism, planning mass deportations of immigrants and Farage talks of a returns deal with the Taliban, it would seem that many of the poppy-police have entirely forgotten what Remembrance Day is all about.
November 6, 2025 at 8:55 AM
When Reform and Tories are goose-stepping ever further towards ethno-nationalist extremism, planning mass deportations of immigrants and Farage talks of a returns deal with the Taliban, it would seem that many of the poppy-police have entirely forgotten what Remembrance Day is all about.
Reposted by Stephen Swan
Stop. Policing. Poppies. That's. Not. What. Remembrance. Is. About.
November 5, 2025 at 7:34 PM
Stop. Policing. Poppies. That's. Not. What. Remembrance. Is. About.
Reposted by Stephen Swan
I think you could abbreviate this to ‘watch likes of Goodwin’.
Well, will you look at that completely expected piece of news.
The very same people who are so quick to blame migrants for all the ills of the world, are the ones posing more of a threat.
Watch likes of Goodwin try and explain this away and still blame migrants.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
The very same people who are so quick to blame migrants for all the ills of the world, are the ones posing more of a threat.
Watch likes of Goodwin try and explain this away and still blame migrants.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Far-right extremists outnumber Islamists in anti-terror programme referrals, data shows
Total referrals reach record high, with 21% being due to ‘extreme rightwing concerns’ and 10% to Islamist ideology
www.theguardian.com
November 6, 2025 at 1:54 PM
I think you could abbreviate this to ‘watch likes of Goodwin’.
Reposted by Stephen Swan
The SNP has renewed its call for disgraced Baroness Michelle Mone to be stripped of her peerage after it emerged that a company linked to her and her husband owes £39 million in tax
November 6, 2025 at 2:05 PM
The SNP has renewed its call for disgraced Baroness Michelle Mone to be stripped of her peerage after it emerged that a company linked to her and her husband owes £39 million in tax
Reposted by Stephen Swan
In this splendid photo from Valerio Minato three wonders were captured in a single shot:
- the Basilica of Superga, located near Turin (Italy)
- the Monviso, the highest mountain of the Cottian Alps
- the setting Moon, captured in a crescent phase
➡️ apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap23122...
🔭 🧪 #sciart
1/2
- the Basilica of Superga, located near Turin (Italy)
- the Monviso, the highest mountain of the Cottian Alps
- the setting Moon, captured in a crescent phase
➡️ apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap23122...
🔭 🧪 #sciart
1/2
November 6, 2025 at 2:10 PM
In this splendid photo from Valerio Minato three wonders were captured in a single shot:
- the Basilica of Superga, located near Turin (Italy)
- the Monviso, the highest mountain of the Cottian Alps
- the setting Moon, captured in a crescent phase
➡️ apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap23122...
🔭 🧪 #sciart
1/2
- the Basilica of Superga, located near Turin (Italy)
- the Monviso, the highest mountain of the Cottian Alps
- the setting Moon, captured in a crescent phase
➡️ apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap23122...
🔭 🧪 #sciart
1/2
Reposted by Stephen Swan
Another 365 bites the dust 🥳
"The International Criminal Court (ICC) exchanges Microsoft 365 for Open Desk, a European open source alternative. This is what the German newspaper Handelsblatt writes. The newspaper expects the ICC to launch a trend within the European public sector with the switch."
"The International Criminal Court (ICC) exchanges Microsoft 365 for Open Desk, a European open source alternative. This is what the German newspaper Handelsblatt writes. The newspaper expects the ICC to launch a trend within the European public sector with the switch."
Internationaal Strafhof neemt afscheid van Microsoft 365
Het Internationaal Strafhof (International Criminal Court, ICC) ruilt Microsoft 365 in voor Open Desk, een Europees open source alternatief. Dat schrijft de Duitse krant Handelsblatt. De krant verwach...
www.binnenlandsbestuur.nl
November 6, 2025 at 6:26 PM
Another 365 bites the dust 🥳
"The International Criminal Court (ICC) exchanges Microsoft 365 for Open Desk, a European open source alternative. This is what the German newspaper Handelsblatt writes. The newspaper expects the ICC to launch a trend within the European public sector with the switch."
"The International Criminal Court (ICC) exchanges Microsoft 365 for Open Desk, a European open source alternative. This is what the German newspaper Handelsblatt writes. The newspaper expects the ICC to launch a trend within the European public sector with the switch."
Reposted by Stephen Swan
A couple weeks ago a friend was telling me about someone she knew who had been on maternity leave, and said she had taken "the full year." I said, "A whole year? Wow, what kind of fancy job does she have that gives her a YEAR of leave?" and my friend looked surprised & said, "... welcome to Canada?"
November 6, 2025 at 5:25 PM
A couple weeks ago a friend was telling me about someone she knew who had been on maternity leave, and said she had taken "the full year." I said, "A whole year? Wow, what kind of fancy job does she have that gives her a YEAR of leave?" and my friend looked surprised & said, "... welcome to Canada?"
Reposted by Stephen Swan
Interesting question. There must be quite a few English examples, in addition to the Lakin which I cited in reply.
The next post reports that the US district judge read the poem in full. Sandburg's "Chicago" is now therefore in the court record. Do we know how many other poems have become part of judicial history by being read aloud in court (aside from obscenity and IP cases)?
Ellis begins by quoting from Carl Sandburg's "Chicago": www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazi...
November 6, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Interesting question. There must be quite a few English examples, in addition to the Lakin which I cited in reply.
Reposted by Stephen Swan
On the subject of the upcoming UK budget. The reason there is a c. 40 billion hole is due to the UK being taken out of the EU by Cameron, May & Johnson.
The sensible medium term remedy is to rejoin the EEA, EU internal market & preferably the EU itself.
The immediate solution is to RAISE
The sensible medium term remedy is to rejoin the EEA, EU internal market & preferably the EU itself.
The immediate solution is to RAISE
November 6, 2025 at 5:46 PM
On the subject of the upcoming UK budget. The reason there is a c. 40 billion hole is due to the UK being taken out of the EU by Cameron, May & Johnson.
The sensible medium term remedy is to rejoin the EEA, EU internal market & preferably the EU itself.
The immediate solution is to RAISE
The sensible medium term remedy is to rejoin the EEA, EU internal market & preferably the EU itself.
The immediate solution is to RAISE
Reposted by Stephen Swan
Kemi Badenoch is absolutely right about this.
At the time she hacked Harriet Harman's emails it was an offence carrying a prison sentence of up to five years
At the time she hacked Harriet Harman's emails it was an offence carrying a prison sentence of up to five years
October 30, 2025 at 6:36 PM
Kemi Badenoch is absolutely right about this.
At the time she hacked Harriet Harman's emails it was an offence carrying a prison sentence of up to five years
At the time she hacked Harriet Harman's emails it was an offence carrying a prison sentence of up to five years
Reposted by Stephen Swan
Another important and thought-provoking discussion of national populism and how to counter it from @jydenham.bsky.social
Can national populism be challenged effectively without a coherent, alternative, story of the nation?
nationstateandpolitics.substack.com/p/national-p...
nationstateandpolitics.substack.com/p/national-p...
October 30, 2025 at 6:42 PM
Another important and thought-provoking discussion of national populism and how to counter it from @jydenham.bsky.social
Reposted by Stephen Swan
🚨Almost 80,000 have now signed the petition. We are getting so close to 100,000🙏
For too long, the UK press have bullied people, harassed grieving families & destroyed lives, all to sell papers.
Support the campaign to change the law by signing the petition👇
you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/a-...
For too long, the UK press have bullied people, harassed grieving families & destroyed lives, all to sell papers.
Support the campaign to change the law by signing the petition👇
you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/a-...
October 30, 2025 at 6:59 PM
🚨Almost 80,000 have now signed the petition. We are getting so close to 100,000🙏
For too long, the UK press have bullied people, harassed grieving families & destroyed lives, all to sell papers.
Support the campaign to change the law by signing the petition👇
you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/a-...
For too long, the UK press have bullied people, harassed grieving families & destroyed lives, all to sell papers.
Support the campaign to change the law by signing the petition👇
you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/a-...
Reposted by Stephen Swan
So either Labour need to ask candidates to step aside for the Greens to take on Reform....
Or actually bring in a fair democratic process where everyone's votes count equally.
It's time for Proportional Representation.
www.thenational.scot/news/2558507...
Or actually bring in a fair democratic process where everyone's votes count equally.
It's time for Proportional Representation.
www.thenational.scot/news/2558507...
'Just getting started': Zack Polanski reacts as Greens SECOND in new poll
ZACK Polanski has welcomed a new poll putting his party in second place at Westminster.
www.thenational.scot
October 30, 2025 at 5:50 PM
So either Labour need to ask candidates to step aside for the Greens to take on Reform....
Or actually bring in a fair democratic process where everyone's votes count equally.
It's time for Proportional Representation.
www.thenational.scot/news/2558507...
Or actually bring in a fair democratic process where everyone's votes count equally.
It's time for Proportional Representation.
www.thenational.scot/news/2558507...
Reposted by Stephen Swan
It isn’t just that what Badenoch did was much worse in that it was a criminal imprisonable offence… but also because the responsibility was all hers…whereas Reeve’s agents have admitted it was their responsibility & fault that the licence was not applied for
October 30, 2025 at 7:36 PM
It isn’t just that what Badenoch did was much worse in that it was a criminal imprisonable offence… but also because the responsibility was all hers…whereas Reeve’s agents have admitted it was their responsibility & fault that the licence was not applied for
Reposted by Stephen Swan
Reform UK supporting Matt Goodwin says because we are broke taxes have to go up
Brexit costs us £40 billion a year in lost tax income from trade with the EU, this is why we are broke
If you vote for Reform you're voting for the same people who made us broke, to fix us being broke 🤷♂️ #BBCQT
Brexit costs us £40 billion a year in lost tax income from trade with the EU, this is why we are broke
If you vote for Reform you're voting for the same people who made us broke, to fix us being broke 🤷♂️ #BBCQT
October 31, 2025 at 12:26 AM
Reform UK supporting Matt Goodwin says because we are broke taxes have to go up
Brexit costs us £40 billion a year in lost tax income from trade with the EU, this is why we are broke
If you vote for Reform you're voting for the same people who made us broke, to fix us being broke 🤷♂️ #BBCQT
Brexit costs us £40 billion a year in lost tax income from trade with the EU, this is why we are broke
If you vote for Reform you're voting for the same people who made us broke, to fix us being broke 🤷♂️ #BBCQT
Reposted by Stephen Swan
Reluctant to give Question Time any time - save for this:
Man with stubble, "Small boats arrivals are 37,000. There are over 4 million kids in child poverty. And 4.5 million who can't get a dentist appointment" #BBCQT
"We spend 90% of the media discourse on the 37,000. How much more could we achieve if we put that effort into the 4.5 million?"
"We spend 90% of the media discourse on the 37,000. How much more could we achieve if we put that effort into the 4.5 million?"
October 30, 2025 at 11:02 PM
Reluctant to give Question Time any time - save for this:
Reposted by Stephen Swan
One question when it comes to the "censures" meted out by the King to his brother is what do with his coat of arms? Will we see a mark of disapproval in the from of an "abatement"? Perhaps some inverting arms, the emasculation of the lions or adding a shovelful of earth...
Abatement (heraldry) - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
October 30, 2025 at 9:34 PM
One question when it comes to the "censures" meted out by the King to his brother is what do with his coat of arms? Will we see a mark of disapproval in the from of an "abatement"? Perhaps some inverting arms, the emasculation of the lions or adding a shovelful of earth...
Reposted by Stephen Swan
The billionaires don't need to give their money away (to corrupt charities that just syphon the money back to them).
It needs to be taken away exactly as it was in the 1970's when the highest tax rate was 90% in nearly every county.
It needs to be taken away exactly as it was in the 1970's when the highest tax rate was 90% in nearly every county.
October 30, 2025 at 3:25 PM
The billionaires don't need to give their money away (to corrupt charities that just syphon the money back to them).
It needs to be taken away exactly as it was in the 1970's when the highest tax rate was 90% in nearly every county.
It needs to be taken away exactly as it was in the 1970's when the highest tax rate was 90% in nearly every county.
Reposted by Stephen Swan
Joke politician. Joke party. Joke award ceremony. Joke magazine.
None of this is serious-minded, responsible politics. It’s nasty culture war bullshit. An entirely partisan and unreflective celebration of the right’s descent into mindless extremism.
None of this is serious-minded, responsible politics. It’s nasty culture war bullshit. An entirely partisan and unreflective celebration of the right’s descent into mindless extremism.
October 30, 2025 at 1:11 PM
Joke politician. Joke party. Joke award ceremony. Joke magazine.
None of this is serious-minded, responsible politics. It’s nasty culture war bullshit. An entirely partisan and unreflective celebration of the right’s descent into mindless extremism.
None of this is serious-minded, responsible politics. It’s nasty culture war bullshit. An entirely partisan and unreflective celebration of the right’s descent into mindless extremism.
Reposted by Stephen Swan
Lib Dems call for Katie Lam to be sacked - as Lam wins Spectator award after calling for mass deportations on cultural grounds - www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...
October 30, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Lib Dems call for Katie Lam to be sacked - as Lam wins Spectator award after calling for mass deportations on cultural grounds - www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...