Phil Syrpis
@syrpis.bsky.social
Professor of EU Law at the University of Bristol.
On here mainly for inexpert political noodling and discussion, with occasional forays into EU law. And, puns. Sorry.
On here mainly for inexpert political noodling and discussion, with occasional forays into EU law. And, puns. Sorry.
The BBC is the latest part of ‘the public realm’ to feel the wrath of the right.
The playbook is wearyingly similar.
Underfund them. Hold them (piously) to the highest standards. Pillory them for all errors. And then co-opt, or neuter, them. 1/2
The playbook is wearyingly similar.
Underfund them. Hold them (piously) to the highest standards. Pillory them for all errors. And then co-opt, or neuter, them. 1/2
November 10, 2025 at 8:32 AM
The BBC is the latest part of ‘the public realm’ to feel the wrath of the right.
The playbook is wearyingly similar.
Underfund them. Hold them (piously) to the highest standards. Pillory them for all errors. And then co-opt, or neuter, them. 1/2
The playbook is wearyingly similar.
Underfund them. Hold them (piously) to the highest standards. Pillory them for all errors. And then co-opt, or neuter, them. 1/2
Reposted by Phil Syrpis
I have a new blog post out with The UK In A Changing Europe on how lower migration will be bad for the UK economy: ukandeu.ac.uk/lower-migrat...
Lower migration is bad news for the UK economy - UK in a changing Europe
Lauren Gilbert argues that migrants to the UK are net fiscal contributors, adding much more to the economy than they take out, and that the recent collapse in immigration will harm the UK's economic p...
ukandeu.ac.uk
November 6, 2025 at 3:30 PM
I have a new blog post out with The UK In A Changing Europe on how lower migration will be bad for the UK economy: ukandeu.ac.uk/lower-migrat...
I may have got today’s *big* news stories confused, but is Andrew really moving into Rachel’s pad?
October 30, 2025 at 7:30 PM
I may have got today’s *big* news stories confused, but is Andrew really moving into Rachel’s pad?
Reposted by Phil Syrpis
The ‘Prince’ Andrew story is going to keep on annoying me.
We are embarking on an absurd process which involves trying to match ‘what he’s done’ with an appropriate level of response from not just the Royal Family, but Parliament and the government.
It can’t be done. Did I say it was absurd? 1/5
We are embarking on an absurd process which involves trying to match ‘what he’s done’ with an appropriate level of response from not just the Royal Family, but Parliament and the government.
It can’t be done. Did I say it was absurd? 1/5
October 20, 2025 at 9:54 PM
The ‘Prince’ Andrew story is going to keep on annoying me.
We are embarking on an absurd process which involves trying to match ‘what he’s done’ with an appropriate level of response from not just the Royal Family, but Parliament and the government.
It can’t be done. Did I say it was absurd? 1/5
We are embarking on an absurd process which involves trying to match ‘what he’s done’ with an appropriate level of response from not just the Royal Family, but Parliament and the government.
It can’t be done. Did I say it was absurd? 1/5
The ‘Prince’ Andrew story is going to keep on annoying me.
We are embarking on an absurd process which involves trying to match ‘what he’s done’ with an appropriate level of response from not just the Royal Family, but Parliament and the government.
It can’t be done. Did I say it was absurd? 1/5
We are embarking on an absurd process which involves trying to match ‘what he’s done’ with an appropriate level of response from not just the Royal Family, but Parliament and the government.
It can’t be done. Did I say it was absurd? 1/5
October 20, 2025 at 9:54 PM
The ‘Prince’ Andrew story is going to keep on annoying me.
We are embarking on an absurd process which involves trying to match ‘what he’s done’ with an appropriate level of response from not just the Royal Family, but Parliament and the government.
It can’t be done. Did I say it was absurd? 1/5
We are embarking on an absurd process which involves trying to match ‘what he’s done’ with an appropriate level of response from not just the Royal Family, but Parliament and the government.
It can’t be done. Did I say it was absurd? 1/5
Reposted by Phil Syrpis
The near consensus view was that Keir Starmer's conference speech was his best yet. I heard something different. I think it was born of a profound weakness- and in its own way set up his own future failure.
My latest
goodallandgoodluck.substack.com/p/keir-starm... open.substack.com/pub/goodalla...
My latest
goodallandgoodluck.substack.com/p/keir-starm... open.substack.com/pub/goodalla...
Keir Starmer: the new Joe Biden?
The consensus view was that Keir Starmer's speech was his best yet. I think it was born of deep frailty.
open.substack.com
October 3, 2025 at 6:47 AM
The near consensus view was that Keir Starmer's conference speech was his best yet. I heard something different. I think it was born of a profound weakness- and in its own way set up his own future failure.
My latest
goodallandgoodluck.substack.com/p/keir-starm... open.substack.com/pub/goodalla...
My latest
goodallandgoodluck.substack.com/p/keir-starm... open.substack.com/pub/goodalla...
Reposted by Phil Syrpis
When I was a teenager there was a bus direct from my hometown in Germany to London - we had a British army base, and this direct bus connection was one of the benefits of that. One summer I went on that bus to go volunteer in an old people's home in Southend-on-Sea. I had just turned 18 and was... 🧵
September 29, 2025 at 12:32 PM
When I was a teenager there was a bus direct from my hometown in Germany to London - we had a British army base, and this direct bus connection was one of the benefits of that. One summer I went on that bus to go volunteer in an old people's home in Southend-on-Sea. I had just turned 18 and was... 🧵
I’ve now read a lot of commentary on Starmer’s speech, and it’s mainly positive. I tend to agree with that positive assessment, and welcome the long-overdue critique of Reform.
But, in the rush to find and enjoy the positives, one aspect seems to have been overlooked. 1/3
But, in the rush to find and enjoy the positives, one aspect seems to have been overlooked. 1/3
October 2, 2025 at 7:50 AM
I’ve now read a lot of commentary on Starmer’s speech, and it’s mainly positive. I tend to agree with that positive assessment, and welcome the long-overdue critique of Reform.
But, in the rush to find and enjoy the positives, one aspect seems to have been overlooked. 1/3
But, in the rush to find and enjoy the positives, one aspect seems to have been overlooked. 1/3
Reposted by Phil Syrpis
🧵 The left in most countries comprises factions arguing that progressive party X must be more left, more centre, or split the difference. The often poor result is then bent into validating the thesis, amplify in-fighting. In fact, data points to in-fighting as the most influential voter turn-off. 1/
September 23, 2025 at 2:22 PM
🧵 The left in most countries comprises factions arguing that progressive party X must be more left, more centre, or split the difference. The often poor result is then bent into validating the thesis, amplify in-fighting. In fact, data points to in-fighting as the most influential voter turn-off. 1/
This lavishing a state visit on the President thing - how’s it going, one week on?
Trump to the UN: "I have to say, I look at London where you have a terrible mayor -- terrible terrible mayor -- and it's been so changed, so changed. Now they want to go to Sharia Law ... both their immigration and their suicidal energy ideas will be the death of Western Europe."
September 23, 2025 at 4:29 PM
This lavishing a state visit on the President thing - how’s it going, one week on?
What’s most depressing and divisive is that it feels like there is always a lot riding on the ethnicity, and political beliefs, of those doing ‘bad things’.
Statistics don’t make a difference.
The ‘bad things’ are just a pretext for condemning others.
Statistics don’t make a difference.
The ‘bad things’ are just a pretext for condemning others.
September 13, 2025 at 7:42 AM
What’s most depressing and divisive is that it feels like there is always a lot riding on the ethnicity, and political beliefs, of those doing ‘bad things’.
Statistics don’t make a difference.
The ‘bad things’ are just a pretext for condemning others.
Statistics don’t make a difference.
The ‘bad things’ are just a pretext for condemning others.
Note to self: Do not confuse Calvin and Tyler Robinson again.
September 12, 2025 at 10:25 PM
Note to self: Do not confuse Calvin and Tyler Robinson again.
There is something about a man whose job was to ignore moral scruples and endeavour to maintain a close relationship with a controversial, volatile, criminal acting outside societal norms, being sacked from that job for… you know the rest.
September 11, 2025 at 11:27 AM
There is something about a man whose job was to ignore moral scruples and endeavour to maintain a close relationship with a controversial, volatile, criminal acting outside societal norms, being sacked from that job for… you know the rest.
Last few hours. lol.
My main observation from the last few hours of monitoring US social media is that Democrats are universally denouncing political violence and calling for calm while MAGA are escalating language and openly lusting for retribution against broad categories of people they identity as their enemies.
September 10, 2025 at 9:42 PM
Last few hours. lol.
Reposted by Phil Syrpis
NEW: The law is supposed to protect unaccompanied migrant children from being summarily whisked out of the country by ICE in the dead of night.
But that didn't seem to matter on Labor Day weekend, when the Trump administration tried to do just that.
My latest: www.lawfaremedia.org/article/the-...
But that didn't seem to matter on Labor Day weekend, when the Trump administration tried to do just that.
My latest: www.lawfaremedia.org/article/the-...
September 9, 2025 at 10:04 PM
NEW: The law is supposed to protect unaccompanied migrant children from being summarily whisked out of the country by ICE in the dead of night.
But that didn't seem to matter on Labor Day weekend, when the Trump administration tried to do just that.
My latest: www.lawfaremedia.org/article/the-...
But that didn't seem to matter on Labor Day weekend, when the Trump administration tried to do just that.
My latest: www.lawfaremedia.org/article/the-...
Reposted by Phil Syrpis
Politicians need to be pushed on this. Ask them, what they expect to happen if they manage to stop all the boats? Protesters go home happy? No. You could get immigration down to zero and they still wond be satisfied
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
What is the endgame in this toxic immigration debate: is it friends and neighbours thrown out of the country? | Jonthan Liew
The notion of remigration was abstract, but the right is dragging it towards respectability. If the goal is homogeneous whiteness, they should say it, says Guardian columnist Jonathan Liew
www.theguardian.com
September 10, 2025 at 7:27 AM
Politicians need to be pushed on this. Ask them, what they expect to happen if they manage to stop all the boats? Protesters go home happy? No. You could get immigration down to zero and they still wond be satisfied
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
One of the big political themes of recent years is a move from evidence and reality, to faith and fantasy.
This move, unsurprisingly, has a lot of negative consequences.
Many things are proposed, and done, which simply do not, and cannot, work. 1/4
This move, unsurprisingly, has a lot of negative consequences.
Many things are proposed, and done, which simply do not, and cannot, work. 1/4
September 10, 2025 at 7:30 AM
One of the big political themes of recent years is a move from evidence and reality, to faith and fantasy.
This move, unsurprisingly, has a lot of negative consequences.
Many things are proposed, and done, which simply do not, and cannot, work. 1/4
This move, unsurprisingly, has a lot of negative consequences.
Many things are proposed, and done, which simply do not, and cannot, work. 1/4
Reposted by Phil Syrpis
The Government is doing its best at the moment to imply it has no problem with the ethnonationalism now rearing its ugly head. And I don't understand why. 1/5
September 1, 2025 at 5:56 PM
The Government is doing its best at the moment to imply it has no problem with the ethnonationalism now rearing its ugly head. And I don't understand why. 1/5
It seems relevant to ask why it is said to be important to leave the ECHR.
I can get to ‘so we can abuse the rights of asylum seekers’; or ‘so we can abuse the rights of immigrants’; or ‘so we can abuse everybody’s rights’.
Not the most attractive proposition.
I can get to ‘so we can abuse the rights of asylum seekers’; or ‘so we can abuse the rights of immigrants’; or ‘so we can abuse everybody’s rights’.
Not the most attractive proposition.
September 1, 2025 at 8:43 AM
It seems relevant to ask why it is said to be important to leave the ECHR.
I can get to ‘so we can abuse the rights of asylum seekers’; or ‘so we can abuse the rights of immigrants’; or ‘so we can abuse everybody’s rights’.
Not the most attractive proposition.
I can get to ‘so we can abuse the rights of asylum seekers’; or ‘so we can abuse the rights of immigrants’; or ‘so we can abuse everybody’s rights’.
Not the most attractive proposition.
Reposted by Phil Syrpis
A really good read on the Labour Government’s bad (inept, even) political strategy.
It fits well with a lot of literature (the world over) on how (not) to tackle the far right.
It fits well with a lot of literature (the world over) on how (not) to tackle the far right.
NEW BLOGPOST
On the folly of attacking the practicality of Farage's deportation plans.
Saying "it won't work" ignores that voters are looking for resonance - not practicality - and plays into Farage's pitch as the outsider who'll try.
www.joxleywrites.jmoxley.co.uk/p/it-wont-wo...
On the folly of attacking the practicality of Farage's deportation plans.
Saying "it won't work" ignores that voters are looking for resonance - not practicality - and plays into Farage's pitch as the outsider who'll try.
www.joxleywrites.jmoxley.co.uk/p/it-wont-wo...
"It won't work" Won't Work
Labour's response to Farage is bound to founder
www.joxleywrites.jmoxley.co.uk
August 29, 2025 at 6:57 PM
A really good read on the Labour Government’s bad (inept, even) political strategy.
It fits well with a lot of literature (the world over) on how (not) to tackle the far right.
It fits well with a lot of literature (the world over) on how (not) to tackle the far right.
A really good read on the Labour Government’s bad (inept, even) political strategy.
It fits well with a lot of literature (the world over) on how (not) to tackle the far right.
It fits well with a lot of literature (the world over) on how (not) to tackle the far right.
NEW BLOGPOST
On the folly of attacking the practicality of Farage's deportation plans.
Saying "it won't work" ignores that voters are looking for resonance - not practicality - and plays into Farage's pitch as the outsider who'll try.
www.joxleywrites.jmoxley.co.uk/p/it-wont-wo...
On the folly of attacking the practicality of Farage's deportation plans.
Saying "it won't work" ignores that voters are looking for resonance - not practicality - and plays into Farage's pitch as the outsider who'll try.
www.joxleywrites.jmoxley.co.uk/p/it-wont-wo...
"It won't work" Won't Work
Labour's response to Farage is bound to founder
www.joxleywrites.jmoxley.co.uk
August 29, 2025 at 6:57 PM
A really good read on the Labour Government’s bad (inept, even) political strategy.
It fits well with a lot of literature (the world over) on how (not) to tackle the far right.
It fits well with a lot of literature (the world over) on how (not) to tackle the far right.
Reposted by Phil Syrpis
NEW BLOGPOST
On the folly of attacking the practicality of Farage's deportation plans.
Saying "it won't work" ignores that voters are looking for resonance - not practicality - and plays into Farage's pitch as the outsider who'll try.
www.joxleywrites.jmoxley.co.uk/p/it-wont-wo...
On the folly of attacking the practicality of Farage's deportation plans.
Saying "it won't work" ignores that voters are looking for resonance - not practicality - and plays into Farage's pitch as the outsider who'll try.
www.joxleywrites.jmoxley.co.uk/p/it-wont-wo...
"It won't work" Won't Work
Labour's response to Farage is bound to founder
www.joxleywrites.jmoxley.co.uk
August 29, 2025 at 7:57 AM
NEW BLOGPOST
On the folly of attacking the practicality of Farage's deportation plans.
Saying "it won't work" ignores that voters are looking for resonance - not practicality - and plays into Farage's pitch as the outsider who'll try.
www.joxleywrites.jmoxley.co.uk/p/it-wont-wo...
On the folly of attacking the practicality of Farage's deportation plans.
Saying "it won't work" ignores that voters are looking for resonance - not practicality - and plays into Farage's pitch as the outsider who'll try.
www.joxleywrites.jmoxley.co.uk/p/it-wont-wo...
Reposted by Phil Syrpis
Let's cut the "Farage's plan is impractical" line eh? People said the same of Trump and now ICE goons are rounding people up into alligator-infested camps and sending people to Uganda. Need to defend principle of asylum and defend human rights and be against sending people to be tortured and killed
August 27, 2025 at 7:34 AM
Let's cut the "Farage's plan is impractical" line eh? People said the same of Trump and now ICE goons are rounding people up into alligator-infested camps and sending people to Uganda. Need to defend principle of asylum and defend human rights and be against sending people to be tortured and killed
Reposted by Phil Syrpis
It is in fact wild that the actual experts on migration, i.e. service providers, caseworkers, advisors and migrants themselves, are the only people who Downing St is ignoring on migration. Everyone else has a Legitimate Concern, except those Legitimately Concerned.
August 27, 2025 at 2:30 PM
It is in fact wild that the actual experts on migration, i.e. service providers, caseworkers, advisors and migrants themselves, are the only people who Downing St is ignoring on migration. Everyone else has a Legitimate Concern, except those Legitimately Concerned.
Reposted by Phil Syrpis
What lessons should we learn from the rise of Europe’s radical right?
Read our new blog post here ⬇️
https://www.bestforbritain.org/what_lessons_can_be_learnt_from_the_rise_of_europe_s_radical_right
Read our new blog post here ⬇️
https://www.bestforbritain.org/what_lessons_can_be_learnt_from_the_rise_of_europe_s_radical_right
What lessons can be learnt from the rise of Europe’s radical right?
The summer of 2025 has been marked by rising nationalism both at home and abroad. From the much-discussed “Raise the colours” campaign to the weaponisation of vulnerable asylum seekers, we have seen t...
www.bestforbritain.org
August 27, 2025 at 4:16 PM
What lessons should we learn from the rise of Europe’s radical right?
Read our new blog post here ⬇️
https://www.bestforbritain.org/what_lessons_can_be_learnt_from_the_rise_of_europe_s_radical_right
Read our new blog post here ⬇️
https://www.bestforbritain.org/what_lessons_can_be_learnt_from_the_rise_of_europe_s_radical_right