The Prof
@hugo-arbuthnot.bsky.social
Far from being an equal actor, the UK needs to accept Europe is the regional power and they can be equal actors within it or subservient minnows outside.
July 6, 2025 at 1:13 PM
Far from being an equal actor, the UK needs to accept Europe is the regional power and they can be equal actors within it or subservient minnows outside.
A lot of Brits (English mainly but not exclusively) look to the Anglo offshoots of the Empire, CANZUS, and think they've more in common with them then with Europe when really they're just another European country.
July 6, 2025 at 1:06 PM
A lot of Brits (English mainly but not exclusively) look to the Anglo offshoots of the Empire, CANZUS, and think they've more in common with them then with Europe when really they're just another European country.
I agree I don't think its "lingering ideas about empire" but I do think a lot of the exceptionalism stems from the legacy of empire and the spread of English as the global language and the resulting lack of language learning in the UK.
July 6, 2025 at 1:06 PM
I agree I don't think its "lingering ideas about empire" but I do think a lot of the exceptionalism stems from the legacy of empire and the spread of English as the global language and the resulting lack of language learning in the UK.
Truss aside, 2-3 years seems to be the going rate for a Brexit PM, I suspect this to continue with Starmer too.
July 5, 2025 at 5:31 PM
Truss aside, 2-3 years seems to be the going rate for a Brexit PM, I suspect this to continue with Starmer too.
Nothing wrong with having a different opinion but constantly copying and pasting the same tweets, attacking people, using multiple accounts to evade bans to continue attacking people is all a bit much.
July 5, 2025 at 5:21 PM
Nothing wrong with having a different opinion but constantly copying and pasting the same tweets, attacking people, using multiple accounts to evade bans to continue attacking people is all a bit much.
I guess some people really do have nothing better to do.
July 5, 2025 at 5:06 PM
I guess some people really do have nothing better to do.
Europe has never been a legitimate actor until very recently. Various European countries were but they were also constantly at war with one another. The French, Dutch, Spanish, Portuguese etc accept the new world order (not that one) but the British exceptionalists don't.
July 5, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Europe has never been a legitimate actor until very recently. Various European countries were but they were also constantly at war with one another. The French, Dutch, Spanish, Portuguese etc accept the new world order (not that one) but the British exceptionalists don't.
What is going on with that Gyles account lately? He's always posted the same cut & paste tweets but never attacked anyone, now I've noticed he's constantly attacking @nialloconghaile.bsky.social with the same post verbatim, very strange, at first I thought it was one of those impostor trolls.
July 5, 2025 at 4:58 PM
What is going on with that Gyles account lately? He's always posted the same cut & paste tweets but never attacked anyone, now I've noticed he's constantly attacking @nialloconghaile.bsky.social with the same post verbatim, very strange, at first I thought it was one of those impostor trolls.
Because he hasn't actually touched it, he just shouts from the sidelines "you're not doing it right"
July 4, 2025 at 3:58 PM
Because he hasn't actually touched it, he just shouts from the sidelines "you're not doing it right"
They managed to do a dumb thing in the dumbest possible way. I'm not surprised many thought hard Brexit was never a real possibility, I mean who could be that stupid?
Sadly they were and now they (and Labour too now) are doubling down.
Definition of insanity.
The future of the UK is bleak indeed.
Sadly they were and now they (and Labour too now) are doubling down.
Definition of insanity.
The future of the UK is bleak indeed.
June 27, 2025 at 9:43 AM
They managed to do a dumb thing in the dumbest possible way. I'm not surprised many thought hard Brexit was never a real possibility, I mean who could be that stupid?
Sadly they were and now they (and Labour too now) are doubling down.
Definition of insanity.
The future of the UK is bleak indeed.
Sadly they were and now they (and Labour too now) are doubling down.
Definition of insanity.
The future of the UK is bleak indeed.
This is a good find. All I see from him (admittedly I avoid as much as possible) is delusional nonsense about Brexit being awesome.
June 27, 2025 at 9:38 AM
This is a good find. All I see from him (admittedly I avoid as much as possible) is delusional nonsense about Brexit being awesome.
Now that (PM Farage making the case for SM) would be interesting indeed.
How would those that scream "Brexit betrayal" at every opportunity react when their messiah proposes the ultimate (short of A49) betrayal?
More importantly how would the EU react?
He's too adversarial I can't see it tbh.
How would those that scream "Brexit betrayal" at every opportunity react when their messiah proposes the ultimate (short of A49) betrayal?
More importantly how would the EU react?
He's too adversarial I can't see it tbh.
June 27, 2025 at 9:34 AM
Now that (PM Farage making the case for SM) would be interesting indeed.
How would those that scream "Brexit betrayal" at every opportunity react when their messiah proposes the ultimate (short of A49) betrayal?
More importantly how would the EU react?
He's too adversarial I can't see it tbh.
How would those that scream "Brexit betrayal" at every opportunity react when their messiah proposes the ultimate (short of A49) betrayal?
More importantly how would the EU react?
He's too adversarial I can't see it tbh.
Europe gets a say if/when the UK actually applies.
I understand your exasperation it does sound arrogant/entitled "lets join EFTA" "lets be like Norway" as if the UK can click its fingers but the first step has to be to challenge trois non Starmer on his redlines and get the conversation started.
I understand your exasperation it does sound arrogant/entitled "lets join EFTA" "lets be like Norway" as if the UK can click its fingers but the first step has to be to challenge trois non Starmer on his redlines and get the conversation started.
June 25, 2025 at 8:25 AM
Europe gets a say if/when the UK actually applies.
I understand your exasperation it does sound arrogant/entitled "lets join EFTA" "lets be like Norway" as if the UK can click its fingers but the first step has to be to challenge trois non Starmer on his redlines and get the conversation started.
I understand your exasperation it does sound arrogant/entitled "lets join EFTA" "lets be like Norway" as if the UK can click its fingers but the first step has to be to challenge trois non Starmer on his redlines and get the conversation started.
I may be wrong but I don't think there are any hard and fast rules about the penalties for overstaying, it's at the discretion of the officials and they're often forgiving of minor infractions, so 3 year ban suggests he's overstayed by a lot as in years not months.
June 18, 2025 at 11:19 PM
I may be wrong but I don't think there are any hard and fast rules about the penalties for overstaying, it's at the discretion of the officials and they're often forgiving of minor infractions, so 3 year ban suggests he's overstayed by a lot as in years not months.
Though I did notice he's been whining about smokey bacon crisps today on his GB News show, but is he in his role as RW media shit stirrer or leader of the party topping the polls?
June 18, 2025 at 11:12 PM
Though I did notice he's been whining about smokey bacon crisps today on his GB News show, but is he in his role as RW media shit stirrer or leader of the party topping the polls?
I think he just wants to avoid the difficult reality of actually dealing with it, what would his solution be? He doesn't have one.
He knows Brexit isn't terribly popular but he's also leading the polls, best to just not talk about it rather than attempt to defend the indefensible.
He knows Brexit isn't terribly popular but he's also leading the polls, best to just not talk about it rather than attempt to defend the indefensible.
June 18, 2025 at 11:12 PM
I think he just wants to avoid the difficult reality of actually dealing with it, what would his solution be? He doesn't have one.
He knows Brexit isn't terribly popular but he's also leading the polls, best to just not talk about it rather than attempt to defend the indefensible.
He knows Brexit isn't terribly popular but he's also leading the polls, best to just not talk about it rather than attempt to defend the indefensible.
A razor thin majority built on lies almost a decade ago is sacrosanct, that's not democracy. It's cowardice.
June 18, 2025 at 3:37 PM
A razor thin majority built on lies almost a decade ago is sacrosanct, that's not democracy. It's cowardice.
Is it too much to hope they're moving to a more pragmatic stance rather than whinging about everything to do with Europe.... probably, but at least they seem to accept some of the reality.
June 18, 2025 at 3:20 PM
Is it too much to hope they're moving to a more pragmatic stance rather than whinging about everything to do with Europe.... probably, but at least they seem to accept some of the reality.
One thing I've found interesting over the last week or so is for all the crying about the "Gibraltar betrayal" by certain Brexiteers Reform have been silent on it. Farage did interview Picardo on GB News and came out with some nonsense but largely accepted it, that's all I've seen.
June 18, 2025 at 3:20 PM
One thing I've found interesting over the last week or so is for all the crying about the "Gibraltar betrayal" by certain Brexiteers Reform have been silent on it. Farage did interview Picardo on GB News and came out with some nonsense but largely accepted it, that's all I've seen.
FAFO as the kids are calling it
June 18, 2025 at 12:15 PM
FAFO as the kids are calling it
I think that's exactly what certain 3rd party nationals were hoping to use Gibraltar for. Why do you think they're so bothered by it?
June 14, 2025 at 3:09 PM
I think that's exactly what certain 3rd party nationals were hoping to use Gibraltar for. Why do you think they're so bothered by it?
Apologies for it being on Farage but Picardo confirms Schengen guards will be able to turn away (non-resident) British citizens. If you're not admissible to Schengen you're not getting into Gibraltar.
Skip to 6.20 if you want to limit your exposure to Farage www.youtube.com/watch?v=I06H...
Skip to 6.20 if you want to limit your exposure to Farage www.youtube.com/watch?v=I06H...
Government hands control of Gibraltar's borders to Europe in post Brexit deal
YouTube video by Anthony Foster
www.youtube.com
June 13, 2025 at 7:48 PM
Apologies for it being on Farage but Picardo confirms Schengen guards will be able to turn away (non-resident) British citizens. If you're not admissible to Schengen you're not getting into Gibraltar.
Skip to 6.20 if you want to limit your exposure to Farage www.youtube.com/watch?v=I06H...
Skip to 6.20 if you want to limit your exposure to Farage www.youtube.com/watch?v=I06H...
*discussing solutions is probably disingenuous. Resisting any solution is probably more applicable.
June 13, 2025 at 10:32 AM
*discussing solutions is probably disingenuous. Resisting any solution is probably more applicable.