Suz MacLeod
@firmlyaground.bsky.social
Brit (Grade B). Boatperson. Musician. Metaphorist. Snarkophile. Anomalous. Retired Cat Herder and Lost Cause Technician. Culturally incoherent and proud of it.
Sorry: can’t follow you (back) if I can’t see some posts of yours.
Sorry: can’t follow you (back) if I can’t see some posts of yours.
Pinned
Reposted by Suz MacLeod
Starmer: “Brexit vote was a fair, democratic expression, and I .. respect that .. But how it was sold and delivered was simply wrong. Wild promises were made”
If the result was obtained by misselling, then it was not an informed decision and hence not democratic.
www.mirror.co.uk/news/politic...
If the result was obtained by misselling, then it was not an informed decision and hence not democratic.
www.mirror.co.uk/news/politic...
PM slams Brexit 'wild promises' and takes swipe at Reform's 'corrosive' attitude
In his annual foreign policy address in the City of London, Keir Starmer said the UK’s place on the world stage had been restored under the Labour government
www.mirror.co.uk
December 1, 2025 at 11:47 PM
Starmer: “Brexit vote was a fair, democratic expression, and I .. respect that .. But how it was sold and delivered was simply wrong. Wild promises were made”
If the result was obtained by misselling, then it was not an informed decision and hence not democratic.
www.mirror.co.uk/news/politic...
If the result was obtained by misselling, then it was not an informed decision and hence not democratic.
www.mirror.co.uk/news/politic...
Among the multiple idiocies of Brexit: Generational Injustice.
One of my abiding impressions of Brexit is the way it slammed doors of opportunity in the faces of young people several rungs below Boris Johnson’s countless children on the ladders of privilege & advantage.
"Negotiators are aiming to finalise a deal by January that would allow the UK to participate in Erasmus from 2027 onwards, according to two UK and EU officials."
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
December 2, 2025 at 8:14 AM
Among the multiple idiocies of Brexit: Generational Injustice.
Reposted by Suz MacLeod
One of my abiding impressions of Brexit is the way it slammed doors of opportunity in the faces of young people several rungs below Boris Johnson’s countless children on the ladders of privilege & advantage.
"Negotiators are aiming to finalise a deal by January that would allow the UK to participate in Erasmus from 2027 onwards, according to two UK and EU officials."
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
UK aims to secure agreement to rejoin Erasmus student exchange scheme
Britain quit EU programme after Brexit, when Boris Johnson claimed it did not offer good value for money
www.theguardian.com
December 2, 2025 at 7:46 AM
One of my abiding impressions of Brexit is the way it slammed doors of opportunity in the faces of young people several rungs below Boris Johnson’s countless children on the ladders of privilege & advantage.
Reposted by Suz MacLeod
Amid ongoing chatter in London about some Labour figures wanting to go further in EU relations, what does Brussels think of the UK... I've drawn a typical consensus view based on many conversations including with the few there who really care...
encompass-europe.com/comment/ever...
encompass-europe.com/comment/ever...
Everything Brussels really thinks about the UK
Mostly, the Brussels bubble does not consider the UK too much. That rather amorphous group of those working in and around the institutions whether for government or other organisations, that…
encompass-europe.com
December 1, 2025 at 7:20 AM
Amid ongoing chatter in London about some Labour figures wanting to go further in EU relations, what does Brussels think of the UK... I've drawn a typical consensus view based on many conversations including with the few there who really care...
encompass-europe.com/comment/ever...
encompass-europe.com/comment/ever...
Reposted by Suz MacLeod
True, but even now they limit their factual analysis to the economy.
When they equally recognise it has been an unmitigated social, cultural and overall national disaster, a catastrophic collision between their Libertarian fantasies and reality, THEN they'll be on the road to relevance and sense.
When they equally recognise it has been an unmitigated social, cultural and overall national disaster, a catastrophic collision between their Libertarian fantasies and reality, THEN they'll be on the road to relevance and sense.
November 30, 2025 at 4:37 PM
True, but even now they limit their factual analysis to the economy.
When they equally recognise it has been an unmitigated social, cultural and overall national disaster, a catastrophic collision between their Libertarian fantasies and reality, THEN they'll be on the road to relevance and sense.
When they equally recognise it has been an unmitigated social, cultural and overall national disaster, a catastrophic collision between their Libertarian fantasies and reality, THEN they'll be on the road to relevance and sense.
Reposted by Suz MacLeod
Reposted by Suz MacLeod
Less than 4,000 signatures to go to reach the 100,000 milestone.
We need a full investigation into Russian interference in our democracy.
We need to see how deep the rot goes, and hold those responsible to account.
Sign and share!
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
We need a full investigation into Russian interference in our democracy.
We need to see how deep the rot goes, and hold those responsible to account.
Sign and share!
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
November 29, 2025 at 11:35 AM
Less than 4,000 signatures to go to reach the 100,000 milestone.
We need a full investigation into Russian interference in our democracy.
We need to see how deep the rot goes, and hold those responsible to account.
Sign and share!
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
We need a full investigation into Russian interference in our democracy.
We need to see how deep the rot goes, and hold those responsible to account.
Sign and share!
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
Well, there it is. I’ve just seen my first ‘Make England Great Again’ cap in #Hull, on an old boy sounding off about something to his mate in the street.
I’d love to* engage him in a conversation about how he thought England should be made great again and who should be doing it.
*Yeah, right.
I’d love to* engage him in a conversation about how he thought England should be made great again and who should be doing it.
*Yeah, right.
November 28, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Well, there it is. I’ve just seen my first ‘Make England Great Again’ cap in #Hull, on an old boy sounding off about something to his mate in the street.
I’d love to* engage him in a conversation about how he thought England should be made great again and who should be doing it.
*Yeah, right.
I’d love to* engage him in a conversation about how he thought England should be made great again and who should be doing it.
*Yeah, right.
Reposted by Suz MacLeod
🚨BOOM! The Petition calling for a public inquiry into Russian influence on UK politics & democracy has now rocketed past 80,000 signatures! Let’s get it to 100,000 this weekend. If a petition is what it’s going to take let’s get this done!
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
November 28, 2025 at 9:19 AM
🚨BOOM! The Petition calling for a public inquiry into Russian influence on UK politics & democracy has now rocketed past 80,000 signatures! Let’s get it to 100,000 this weekend. If a petition is what it’s going to take let’s get this done!
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
Brexit wasn’t just ‘mishandled’.
It was misbegotten.
It was misbegotten.
‘The way Brexit was mishandled’ is designed to con you into thinking there is a Labour piloted Brexit that won’t carry those costs.
Labour’s James Murray "The report that the OBR put out alongside the budget shows the impact on productivity from the previous government"
"Austerity, the way Brexit was mishandled" #BBCQT
Labour Brexit right now costs us £90 billion a year in lost tax revenue
"Austerity, the way Brexit was mishandled" #BBCQT
Labour Brexit right now costs us £90 billion a year in lost tax revenue
November 28, 2025 at 11:36 AM
Brexit wasn’t just ‘mishandled’.
It was misbegotten.
It was misbegotten.
Reposted by Suz MacLeod
Come on people!
Just 22,000 more signatures needed for a Parliamentary debate on Calling a Public Inquiry into Russian influence on UK Politics and Democracy.
Sign here: petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
Just 22,000 more signatures needed for a Parliamentary debate on Calling a Public Inquiry into Russian influence on UK Politics and Democracy.
Sign here: 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 12:45 AM
Come on people!
Just 22,000 more signatures needed for a Parliamentary debate on Calling a Public Inquiry into Russian influence on UK Politics and Democracy.
Sign here: petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
Just 22,000 more signatures needed for a Parliamentary debate on Calling a Public Inquiry into Russian influence on UK Politics and Democracy.
Sign here: petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
Reposted by Suz MacLeod
💥 This is the economic equivalent of a senior Vatican priest admitting the Pope is wrong about God.
Even the architects of Brexit are confessing the truth 👉while Farage still lies.
Even the architects of Brexit are confessing the truth 👉while Farage still lies.
November 27, 2025 at 3:04 PM
💥 This is the economic equivalent of a senior Vatican priest admitting the Pope is wrong about God.
Even the architects of Brexit are confessing the truth 👉while Farage still lies.
Even the architects of Brexit are confessing the truth 👉while Farage still lies.
Reposted by Suz MacLeod
Today we’ll get latest net immigration figures - They’ll show immigration for work is plummeting.
Why is this not part of the discussion on Rachel Reeves balancing her books & stalled growth?
For every 100,000 drop in net immigration, the OBR adds £7bn to the deficit. #r4today
Why is this not part of the discussion on Rachel Reeves balancing her books & stalled growth?
For every 100,000 drop in net immigration, the OBR adds £7bn to the deficit. #r4today
November 27, 2025 at 8:41 AM
Today we’ll get latest net immigration figures - They’ll show immigration for work is plummeting.
Why is this not part of the discussion on Rachel Reeves balancing her books & stalled growth?
For every 100,000 drop in net immigration, the OBR adds £7bn to the deficit. #r4today
Why is this not part of the discussion on Rachel Reeves balancing her books & stalled growth?
For every 100,000 drop in net immigration, the OBR adds £7bn to the deficit. #r4today
Reposted by Suz MacLeod
Collective, racist punishment.
November 27, 2025 at 3:33 AM
Collective, racist punishment.
Reposted by Suz MacLeod
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 Suz MacLeod
🔥 Rachel Reeves says there’s a “hole” in the public finances.
A new decade-long Brexit study quantifies it:
A 6–8% hit to GDP
That's £180bn-£240bn a year
It means less tax revenue and so less money for everything.
Brexit made Britain MUCH poorer.
A new decade-long Brexit study quantifies it:
A 6–8% hit to GDP
That's £180bn-£240bn a year
It means less tax revenue and so less money for everything.
Brexit made Britain MUCH poorer.
New: Boris Johnson’s ‘Brexit Titanic success’ was half right
Nearly ten years on, the first full assessment of Brexit confirms what millions warned: Britain made itself poorer
eastangliabylines.co.uk
November 25, 2025 at 6:56 AM
🔥 Rachel Reeves says there’s a “hole” in the public finances.
A new decade-long Brexit study quantifies it:
A 6–8% hit to GDP
That's £180bn-£240bn a year
It means less tax revenue and so less money for everything.
Brexit made Britain MUCH poorer.
A new decade-long Brexit study quantifies it:
A 6–8% hit to GDP
That's £180bn-£240bn a year
It means less tax revenue and so less money for everything.
Brexit made Britain MUCH poorer.
Reposted by Suz MacLeod
An absolute scandal compounded in this case by failure of French government and EU institutions to forcefully react and sanction in turn those who have sanctioned ICC judges and prosecutors. Makes a total mockery of FR/EU's repeated commitment to the rule of law/ICC
www.lemonde.fr/en/internati...
www.lemonde.fr/en/internati...
November 21, 2025 at 9:58 AM
An absolute scandal compounded in this case by failure of French government and EU institutions to forcefully react and sanction in turn those who have sanctioned ICC judges and prosecutors. Makes a total mockery of FR/EU's repeated commitment to the rule of law/ICC
www.lemonde.fr/en/internati...
www.lemonde.fr/en/internati...
Reposted by Suz MacLeod
Peace plan from Sanna Marin Former Finnish PM and your daily reminder how to stop this war .
November 23, 2025 at 3:12 PM
Peace plan from Sanna Marin Former Finnish PM and your daily reminder how to stop this war .
On balance I agree with Niall. As a Brit of course I share the suffering and humiliation that Brexit brought us, and it is encouraging that piecemeal ‘cakeist’ voices are being raised.
But as a European I want full-throated EU membership in good faith. Nationalist Britain doesn’t deserve it.
But as a European I want full-throated EU membership in good faith. Nationalist Britain doesn’t deserve it.
Jon Freedlamd in the G.
Are these on offer?
The customs union is reserved for members. Full stop. So not that.
And SM for goods only? Europe will wanr ita own say in how the UK integrates. It won't just allow cherry-picking.
1
Are these on offer?
The customs union is reserved for members. Full stop. So not that.
And SM for goods only? Europe will wanr ita own say in how the UK integrates. It won't just allow cherry-picking.
1
November 24, 2025 at 6:24 AM
On balance I agree with Niall. As a Brit of course I share the suffering and humiliation that Brexit brought us, and it is encouraging that piecemeal ‘cakeist’ voices are being raised.
But as a European I want full-throated EU membership in good faith. Nationalist Britain doesn’t deserve it.
But as a European I want full-throated EU membership in good faith. Nationalist Britain doesn’t deserve it.
Reposted by Suz MacLeod
Jon Freedlamd in the G.
Are these on offer?
The customs union is reserved for members. Full stop. So not that.
And SM for goods only? Europe will wanr ita own say in how the UK integrates. It won't just allow cherry-picking.
1
Are these on offer?
The customs union is reserved for members. Full stop. So not that.
And SM for goods only? Europe will wanr ita own say in how the UK integrates. It won't just allow cherry-picking.
1
November 23, 2025 at 8:13 AM
Jon Freedlamd in the G.
Are these on offer?
The customs union is reserved for members. Full stop. So not that.
And SM for goods only? Europe will wanr ita own say in how the UK integrates. It won't just allow cherry-picking.
1
Are these on offer?
The customs union is reserved for members. Full stop. So not that.
And SM for goods only? Europe will wanr ita own say in how the UK integrates. It won't just allow cherry-picking.
1
Reposted by Suz MacLeod
There are theses to be written.
Not comprehensive, but here are some thoughts on Ireland and Brexit.
It pays to take a wide-angle lens for this type of thing.
The story is nevertheless informative
A 🧵
Not comprehensive, but here are some thoughts on Ireland and Brexit.
It pays to take a wide-angle lens for this type of thing.
The story is nevertheless informative
A 🧵
There's a good thread to be written about ireland responded brexit.
November 21, 2025 at 12:48 PM
There are theses to be written.
Not comprehensive, but here are some thoughts on Ireland and Brexit.
It pays to take a wide-angle lens for this type of thing.
The story is nevertheless informative
A 🧵
Not comprehensive, but here are some thoughts on Ireland and Brexit.
It pays to take a wide-angle lens for this type of thing.
The story is nevertheless informative
A 🧵
It seems like everything that’s happening in the world (and ever did) was accurately depicted in Gene Roddenberry’s original Star Trek. Peoples living in peace, enjoying their planets’
respective bounty to soft music on rudimentary lutes … while vile shitheads smash everything up, laughing.
respective bounty to soft music on rudimentary lutes … while vile shitheads smash everything up, laughing.
November 22, 2025 at 7:46 AM
It seems like everything that’s happening in the world (and ever did) was accurately depicted in Gene Roddenberry’s original Star Trek. Peoples living in peace, enjoying their planets’
respective bounty to soft music on rudimentary lutes … while vile shitheads smash everything up, laughing.
respective bounty to soft music on rudimentary lutes … while vile shitheads smash everything up, laughing.
Not stellar.
But then, I’m not really into stellar.
Wordle 1,616 5/6*
⬛⬛🟨🟨⬛
🟨🟨⬛⬛⬛
⬛🟩⬛🟩🟩
⬛🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
But then, I’m not really into stellar.
Wordle 1,616 5/6*
⬛⬛🟨🟨⬛
🟨🟨⬛⬛⬛
⬛🟩⬛🟩🟩
⬛🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
November 21, 2025 at 7:00 AM
Not stellar.
But then, I’m not really into stellar.
Wordle 1,616 5/6*
⬛⬛🟨🟨⬛
🟨🟨⬛⬛⬛
⬛🟩⬛🟩🟩
⬛🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
But then, I’m not really into stellar.
Wordle 1,616 5/6*
⬛⬛🟨🟨⬛
🟨🟨⬛⬛⬛
⬛🟩⬛🟩🟩
⬛🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
I wonder how many reformistas are worked about small boats but relaxed about the much bigger Russian ‘research’ vessel pushing its luck in the North Sea.
November 20, 2025 at 7:14 AM
I wonder how many reformistas are worked about small boats but relaxed about the much bigger Russian ‘research’ vessel pushing its luck in the North Sea.
Reposted by Suz MacLeod
We will probably be the last country in the world to realise we are in a global competition for people.
November 19, 2025 at 5:57 PM
We will probably be the last country in the world to realise we are in a global competition for people.