John McKay
@johnmckay81.bsky.social
liberal anglo-scottish british european real ale drinking cyclist
Well said @alpinkerton.bsky.social
Where is the line? What Rubicon would need to be crossed before the UK acts over Trump’s geopolitical ambitions?
With tariffs now threatened against EU allies simply for respecting the sovereignty of a NATO member, that question is urgent and can no longer go unanswered. #NATO #Greenland #Trump
With tariffs now threatened against EU allies simply for respecting the sovereignty of a NATO member, that question is urgent and can no longer go unanswered. #NATO #Greenland #Trump
January 17, 2026 at 11:06 PM
Well said @alpinkerton.bsky.social
Reposted by John McKay
Territorial integrity and sovereignty are fundamental principles of international law. They are essential for Europe and for the international community as a whole.
January 17, 2026 at 7:32 PM
Territorial integrity and sovereignty are fundamental principles of international law. They are essential for Europe and for the international community as a whole.
Reposted by John McKay
"Trump literally rolled out the red carpet and applauded a dictator and a tyrant. Starmer needs show we remain absolutely united behind Ukraine."
@MonicaHarding.bsky.social
@MonicaHarding.bsky.social
August 18, 2025 at 10:15 AM
"Trump literally rolled out the red carpet and applauded a dictator and a tyrant. Starmer needs show we remain absolutely united behind Ukraine."
@MonicaHarding.bsky.social
@MonicaHarding.bsky.social
According to Liam Byrne “we need to unlock the Brussels dividend”. Who’d have thought it?
May 15, 2025 at 11:03 AM
According to Liam Byrne “we need to unlock the Brussels dividend”. Who’d have thought it?
“More Harvard, less Columbia”
“Lasting protection will surely come only when the free nations of the world don’t merely try to save their own skins, but instead come together to resist an American president bent on destroying so much that we all value – and not only on trade.”
Latest column www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Latest column www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
The art of dealing with Donald Trump? Don’t fight him alone | Jonathan Freedland
This week’s trade deal is a boost for Keir Starmer. But a lasting win will only come by joining forces with other nations to resist the US president’s entire destructive agenda, says Guardian columnis...
www.theguardian.com
May 11, 2025 at 1:51 PM
“More Harvard, less Columbia”
🚨 Thursday’s elections prove it: First Past the Post is broken. 5 parties, chaotic results, millions left unrepresented. We need Proportional Representation — NOW.
✍️ Sign the petition:
actionnetwork.org/petitions/20...
✍️ Sign the petition:
actionnetwork.org/petitions/20...
📢 No More First Past the Post Elections!
Thursday’s election results confirm what so many of us already know: the current voting system is broken.
With 5 parties polling strongly, First Past the Post is delivering chaos and turning election...
actionnetwork.org
May 2, 2025 at 6:15 PM
🚨 Thursday’s elections prove it: First Past the Post is broken. 5 parties, chaotic results, millions left unrepresented. We need Proportional Representation — NOW.
✍️ Sign the petition:
actionnetwork.org/petitions/20...
✍️ Sign the petition:
actionnetwork.org/petitions/20...
Good news from Canada!
April 29, 2025 at 9:12 AM
Good news from Canada!
It’s not “arguable”. Our trading relationship with EU is most important.
April 25, 2025 at 10:53 AM
It’s not “arguable”. Our trading relationship with EU is most important.
Reposted by John McKay
Bannon the latest in the “Britain doesn’t manufacture anything” brigade. It’s a lazy trope you hear repeated in the media a lot.
In fact the UK remains the 8th or 9th biggest manufacturer in the world. 10% of our GDP with some of the most advanced manufacturing anywhere.
In fact the UK remains the 8th or 9th biggest manufacturer in the world. 10% of our GDP with some of the most advanced manufacturing anywhere.
April 17, 2025 at 8:34 AM
Bannon the latest in the “Britain doesn’t manufacture anything” brigade. It’s a lazy trope you hear repeated in the media a lot.
In fact the UK remains the 8th or 9th biggest manufacturer in the world. 10% of our GDP with some of the most advanced manufacturing anywhere.
In fact the UK remains the 8th or 9th biggest manufacturer in the world. 10% of our GDP with some of the most advanced manufacturing anywhere.
The EU, not the US, is our most important and reliable partner.
April 14, 2025 at 10:39 AM
The EU, not the US, is our most important and reliable partner.
Reposted by John McKay
The editor of @TheEconomist on Trump’s tariffs: ‘flawed economics, inaccurate history & cockamamie calculations used to justify the most wrong-headed & damaging policy decision in decades… These mindless tariffs will cause chaos. Almost everything Mr Trump said… was deluded.’
April 3, 2025 at 5:58 PM
The editor of @TheEconomist on Trump’s tariffs: ‘flawed economics, inaccurate history & cockamamie calculations used to justify the most wrong-headed & damaging policy decision in decades… These mindless tariffs will cause chaos. Almost everything Mr Trump said… was deluded.’
Reposted by John McKay
Keir Starmer needs to speak to the nation directly about the danger that is Donald Trump. Latest column www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Trump is the orange hurricane upending everything. Starmer must warn Britain of the danger | Jonathan Freedland
The PM has not been open with his citizens for fear of backlash from Washington. This crisis demands he speak directly to the country, says Guardian columnist Jonathan Freedland
www.theguardian.com
March 28, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Keir Starmer needs to speak to the nation directly about the danger that is Donald Trump. Latest column www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by John McKay
I wrote a new piece for foreign policy.
The US's postwar role as guarantor of Europe’s security is over – and may even turn adversarial. But Europe has an overlooked trump card.
When it comes to manufacturing Europe blows the US out of the water.
Thread.
1/
foreignpolicy.com/2025/03/07/e...
The US's postwar role as guarantor of Europe’s security is over – and may even turn adversarial. But Europe has an overlooked trump card.
When it comes to manufacturing Europe blows the US out of the water.
Thread.
1/
foreignpolicy.com/2025/03/07/e...
Heavy Industry Is Europe’s Trump Card
The continent has an upper hand in its looming security competition with the United States.
foreignpolicy.com
March 10, 2025 at 7:37 AM
I wrote a new piece for foreign policy.
The US's postwar role as guarantor of Europe’s security is over – and may even turn adversarial. But Europe has an overlooked trump card.
When it comes to manufacturing Europe blows the US out of the water.
Thread.
1/
foreignpolicy.com/2025/03/07/e...
The US's postwar role as guarantor of Europe’s security is over – and may even turn adversarial. But Europe has an overlooked trump card.
When it comes to manufacturing Europe blows the US out of the water.
Thread.
1/
foreignpolicy.com/2025/03/07/e...
Apparently this photo has left someone feeling less special. Oh dear! 😂
March 9, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Apparently this photo has left someone feeling less special. Oh dear! 😂
A poignant question…..
Yesterday’s meeting of like-minded Western countries in London was a success. But why weren’t Latvia, Lithuania & Estonia invited? They spend a lot on defence and regard themselves as Putin’s possible next target.
March 3, 2025 at 10:00 AM
A poignant question…..
Monty stood against fascism. So must UK and Europe today. Keep supporting Ukraine!
March 2, 2025 at 2:49 PM
Monty stood against fascism. So must UK and Europe today. Keep supporting Ukraine!
Reposted by John McKay
I keep reading that Zelensky shouldn't have risen to the bait.
The man is human. He's seen tens of thousands of Ukrainians murdered, their cities blown apart & their children stolen.
He was sitting by a man who's looting his country's minerals & praising Putin.
And for 40 minutes, he held it in.
The man is human. He's seen tens of thousands of Ukrainians murdered, their cities blown apart & their children stolen.
He was sitting by a man who's looting his country's minerals & praising Putin.
And for 40 minutes, he held it in.
February 28, 2025 at 10:44 PM
I keep reading that Zelensky shouldn't have risen to the bait.
The man is human. He's seen tens of thousands of Ukrainians murdered, their cities blown apart & their children stolen.
He was sitting by a man who's looting his country's minerals & praising Putin.
And for 40 minutes, he held it in.
The man is human. He's seen tens of thousands of Ukrainians murdered, their cities blown apart & their children stolen.
He was sitting by a man who's looting his country's minerals & praising Putin.
And for 40 minutes, he held it in.
Reposted by John McKay
I don't think most people realise how completely our military and intelligence services are entwined with the US.
We may well need to become more independent, but it's not something that can happen overnight.
We may well need to become more independent, but it's not something that can happen overnight.
I see a lot of "no more", "isolate the US", "stand with Europe", etc. But what does that look like? Do we recall diplomatic staff and kick theirs out? Stop sharing FiVeEYes intel? NATO expulsion (no mechanism)? UN resolution? Scrap AUKUS? What form does "no more" take? What are the consequences?
March 1, 2025 at 9:33 AM
I don't think most people realise how completely our military and intelligence services are entwined with the US.
We may well need to become more independent, but it's not something that can happen overnight.
We may well need to become more independent, but it's not something that can happen overnight.
Trump is all about power and money. History and soft power don’t register.
February 27, 2025 at 12:01 PM
Trump is all about power and money. History and soft power don’t register.
Reposted by John McKay
The government is right to increase defence spending in the face of concerning developments between America & Russia.
But cuts to international aid is worrying and will allow President Putin and Xi to fill the gap left by Britain to increase their soft power.
But cuts to international aid is worrying and will allow President Putin and Xi to fill the gap left by Britain to increase their soft power.
February 25, 2025 at 5:33 PM
The government is right to increase defence spending in the face of concerning developments between America & Russia.
But cuts to international aid is worrying and will allow President Putin and Xi to fill the gap left by Britain to increase their soft power.
But cuts to international aid is worrying and will allow President Putin and Xi to fill the gap left by Britain to increase their soft power.
Wasn’t 1776 about not having a King?
Trump receives widespread backlash to social post calling himself ‘king’
Trump receives widespread backlash to social post calling himself ‘king’
US president made comparison after administration rescinded New York City’s congestion pricing plan
Donald Trump is receiving widespread backlash after he likened himself to a “king” on social media following his administration’s decision to rescind New…
www.theguardian.com
February 20, 2025 at 1:49 PM
Wasn’t 1776 about not having a King?
Reposted by John McKay
Reposted by John McKay
Former Foreign Office head warns Reeves not to cut international aid
Former Foreign Office head warns Reeves not to cut international aid
Exclusive: As chancellor scans budget for savings, Simon McDonald says need for humanitarian spending is ‘greater than ever’
The former head of the Foreign Office has warned Rachel Reeves not to cut Britain’s international aid spending, amid signs the…
www.theguardian.com
February 20, 2025 at 10:49 AM
Former Foreign Office head warns Reeves not to cut international aid