Mike Buckley
@mdbuckley.bsky.social
Director, Independent Commission on UK EU Relations. Writer. Commentator. Yorkshireman. Labour. Former aid worker. 🇺🇦 ukeucommission.org
Entirely right for Keir Starmer to call out Sarah Pochin’s blatantly racist comments. The fact that Nigel Farage hasn’t removed her whip, nor accepted the racist core of her comments, tells us all we need to know about him and his failure to lead.
www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...
www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...
Starmer condemns Farage for failing to take action against Reform MP’s ‘racist’ comments about black and Asian people – UK politics live
Farage repeatedly refuses to call Sarah Pochin’s remarks racist, saying they were ‘ugly, clumsy’ and should be taken in context of ‘DEI madness’
www.theguardian.com
October 27, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Entirely right for Keir Starmer to call out Sarah Pochin’s blatantly racist comments. The fact that Nigel Farage hasn’t removed her whip, nor accepted the racist core of her comments, tells us all we need to know about him and his failure to lead.
www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...
www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...
This is welcome - and correct. Brexit caused huge harm to the economy, and more to our global standing, and our ability to collaborate with the EU on defence, policing, climate and more.
www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...
www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...
Impact of Brexit on UK economy even worse than critics predicted, says chancellor – UK politics live
Rachel Reeves also highlights austerity and lack of capital spending as key harms to UK economy
www.theguardian.com
October 21, 2025 at 1:42 PM
This is welcome - and correct. Brexit caused huge harm to the economy, and more to our global standing, and our ability to collaborate with the EU on defence, policing, climate and more.
www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...
www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...
Horrific mews. If Trump and alliés really want peace they need to commit to ongoing, painstakimg action. This cannot go on.
www.theguardian.com/world/live/2...
www.theguardian.com/world/live/2...
Israel suspends aid into Gaza and launches ‘massive wave of attacks’ – Middle East crisis live
Ceasefire close to total collapse as Israeli military says it has launched strikes in response to ‘blatant violation’ of agreement by Hamas
www.theguardian.com
October 19, 2025 at 5:36 PM
Horrific mews. If Trump and alliés really want peace they need to commit to ongoing, painstakimg action. This cannot go on.
www.theguardian.com/world/live/2...
www.theguardian.com/world/live/2...
Lord Stern was right in 2006 and he’s right now - investing to prevent climate chaos is the only viable growth story of the 21st century, and a far cheaper way to power our économies due to lower upfront costs and the saved cost of avoided harms.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Climate investment is only growth opportunity of 21st century, says leading economist
Lord Stern says fossil-fuelled growth is futile as the damage it causes ends in economic self-destruction
www.theguardian.com
October 16, 2025 at 9:32 PM
Lord Stern was right in 2006 and he’s right now - investing to prevent climate chaos is the only viable growth story of the 21st century, and a far cheaper way to power our économies due to lower upfront costs and the saved cost of avoided harms.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Trump campaign to block global shipping emissions deal falters
Unequivocally good news - and testament to the limits of Trump’s anti-climate agenda
on.ft.com/47wjMv1
Unequivocally good news - and testament to the limits of Trump’s anti-climate agenda
on.ft.com/47wjMv1
Trump campaign to block global shipping emissions deal falters
US set to be faced down by industry powers, including China, EU, India and UK
on.ft.com
October 16, 2025 at 7:25 AM
Trump campaign to block global shipping emissions deal falters
Unequivocally good news - and testament to the limits of Trump’s anti-climate agenda
on.ft.com/47wjMv1
Unequivocally good news - and testament to the limits of Trump’s anti-climate agenda
on.ft.com/47wjMv1
‘If we act now, we still have time to shape our future, and positively impact national security, national health, economic growth and climate change. If we do not, change will be forced on us by crisis.’
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com
October 15, 2025 at 5:49 AM
‘If we act now, we still have time to shape our future, and positively impact national security, national health, economic growth and climate change. If we do not, change will be forced on us by crisis.’
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
It’s been a long time coming. With an honest debate about the all
too real harms caused by Brexit we can finally move on and talk about how to fix them. The opportunities this could open - for the economy, trade, defence and culture - are huge.
www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/202...
too real harms caused by Brexit we can finally move on and talk about how to fix them. The opportunities this could open - for the economy, trade, defence and culture - are huge.
www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/202...
Access Restricted
www.telegraph.co.uk
October 14, 2025 at 12:17 AM
It’s been a long time coming. With an honest debate about the all
too real harms caused by Brexit we can finally move on and talk about how to fix them. The opportunities this could open - for the economy, trade, defence and culture - are huge.
www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/202...
too real harms caused by Brexit we can finally move on and talk about how to fix them. The opportunities this could open - for the economy, trade, defence and culture - are huge.
www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/202...
For all today’s real and justified relief a huge task remains. The path to peace must include a recognition of harms committed and true justice.
October 13, 2025 at 5:28 PM
For all today’s real and justified relief a huge task remains. The path to peace must include a recognition of harms committed and true justice.
There is much to be hoped for, an grateful for, in news coming from Gaza and negotiations between the US, Israel, Hamas and Gulf States
The tragedy is that these discussions and decisions are happening now, and not at any other point in the last 2 years
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...
The tragedy is that these discussions and decisions are happening now, and not at any other point in the last 2 years
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...
‘Trump is like a juggernaut’: how the Gaza ceasefire deal was done
Sidelines chat at UN was turning point for US president, but others also have right to claim role in end of two-year war
www.theguardian.com
October 10, 2025 at 10:52 AM
There is much to be hoped for, an grateful for, in news coming from Gaza and negotiations between the US, Israel, Hamas and Gulf States
The tragedy is that these discussions and decisions are happening now, and not at any other point in the last 2 years
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...
The tragedy is that these discussions and decisions are happening now, and not at any other point in the last 2 years
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...
Reposted by Mike Buckley
Huge thanks to Nick Thomas-Symonds MP, Stephen Doughty MP, Sam Peacock (SSE), Karen Northey (The IA), Sara Hyde (Fabian Society), Chris Hayward (City of London) & @mdbuckley.bsky.social for co-hosting and contributing to our panel on UK-EU security - climate, energy, defence and economy - at #Lab25
October 2, 2025 at 11:34 AM
Huge thanks to Nick Thomas-Symonds MP, Stephen Doughty MP, Sam Peacock (SSE), Karen Northey (The IA), Sara Hyde (Fabian Society), Chris Hayward (City of London) & @mdbuckley.bsky.social for co-hosting and contributing to our panel on UK-EU security - climate, energy, defence and economy - at #Lab25
Full room at the @chrleft.bsky.social church service at #Lab25 - great to hear from @annadixonmp.bsky.social and many more.
September 28, 2025 at 8:47 AM
Full room at the @chrleft.bsky.social church service at #Lab25 - great to hear from @annadixonmp.bsky.social and many more.
This is both incredibly welcome and - sadly - insufficient to end the carnage in Gaza or prevent further settlements and violence in the West Bank. All credit to Keir and his team, but this step has to be built on, and soon.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
UK recognises Palestine as an independent state
Keir Starmer’s announcement comes seven decades after end of British mandate in Palestine and creation of state of Israel
www.theguardian.com
September 21, 2025 at 5:28 PM
This is both incredibly welcome and - sadly - insufficient to end the carnage in Gaza or prevent further settlements and violence in the West Bank. All credit to Keir and his team, but this step has to be built on, and soon.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Very glad to see this - it needed to be said loud and clear.
‘Jesus calls us to love both our neighbours and our enemies and to welcome the stranger. Any co-opting or corrupting of the Christian faith to exclude others is unacceptable’
www.mirror.co.uk/news/politic...
‘Jesus calls us to love both our neighbours and our enemies and to welcome the stranger. Any co-opting or corrupting of the Christian faith to exclude others is unacceptable’
www.mirror.co.uk/news/politic...
Church leaders' condemn Tommy Robinson march 'co-opting and corrupting' crosses
Dozens of bishops and Christian leaders wrote: "Jesus calls us to love both our neighbours and our enemies and to welcome the stranger. Any co-opting or corrupting of the Christian faith to exclude ot...
www.mirror.co.uk
September 21, 2025 at 9:30 AM
Very glad to see this - it needed to be said loud and clear.
‘Jesus calls us to love both our neighbours and our enemies and to welcome the stranger. Any co-opting or corrupting of the Christian faith to exclude others is unacceptable’
www.mirror.co.uk/news/politic...
‘Jesus calls us to love both our neighbours and our enemies and to welcome the stranger. Any co-opting or corrupting of the Christian faith to exclude others is unacceptable’
www.mirror.co.uk/news/politic...
‘By our commitment to social justice, our country can reaffirm that we will never lose sight of our moral compass.’
Well said Gordon Brown - a call to action.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Well said Gordon Brown - a call to action.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Nothing prepared me for the child poverty I see in Britain. November’s budget can and must halt its inexorable rise | Gordon Brown
Homes without heating, bedrooms with beds. If we are to offer any hope to the children of austerity, the next few weeks will be decisive, says former prime minister Gordon Brown
www.theguardian.com
September 15, 2025 at 7:30 AM
‘By our commitment to social justice, our country can reaffirm that we will never lose sight of our moral compass.’
Well said Gordon Brown - a call to action.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Well said Gordon Brown - a call to action.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Mike Buckley
I am running to be Deputy Leader of the Labour Party.
As a proud working-class woman from the North East, I have come from a tough council street all the way to the Cabinet.
I will be a strong voice to unite our Party, take the fight to Reform, and deliver for our country.
As a proud working-class woman from the North East, I have come from a tough council street all the way to the Cabinet.
I will be a strong voice to unite our Party, take the fight to Reform, and deliver for our country.
September 9, 2025 at 7:05 AM
I am running to be Deputy Leader of the Labour Party.
As a proud working-class woman from the North East, I have come from a tough council street all the way to the Cabinet.
I will be a strong voice to unite our Party, take the fight to Reform, and deliver for our country.
As a proud working-class woman from the North East, I have come from a tough council street all the way to the Cabinet.
I will be a strong voice to unite our Party, take the fight to Reform, and deliver for our country.
“So long as safe and legal routes for asylum seekers are inadequate we collude in illegal systems which create communities for whose safety and integration govt is unable to plan, who are trapped in a situation dehumanising for them, challenging for localities”
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Ordinary people outside hotels raging at ordinary people inside them: that’s the tragedy of this refugee controversy | Rowan Williams
Anyone who has met refugees sees the ordinariness of their hopes and dreams. If we reject their humanity, how can we be proud of ourselves, asks former archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams
www.theguardian.com
August 31, 2025 at 8:16 AM
“So long as safe and legal routes for asylum seekers are inadequate we collude in illegal systems which create communities for whose safety and integration govt is unable to plan, who are trapped in a situation dehumanising for them, challenging for localities”
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
We know disaster awaits unless we act, swiftly, to cut emissions deeply and permanently, yet still our collective action isn’t coming close to the ambition required. With the US absent it’s up to the UK, EU and other willing nations to step up.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Collapse of critical Atlantic current is no longer low likelihood, study finds
Scientists say ‘shocking’ discovery shows rapid cuts in carbon emissions are needed to avoid catastrophic fallout
www.theguardian.com
August 28, 2025 at 4:43 PM
We know disaster awaits unless we act, swiftly, to cut emissions deeply and permanently, yet still our collective action isn’t coming close to the ambition required. With the US absent it’s up to the UK, EU and other willing nations to step up.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Reposted by Mike Buckley
The Office, but in the Oval Office
Trump: "This one chart really says it better than anything, if you look at this. This is great. But this chart is pretty amazing. Right here. All new numbers."
August 7, 2025 at 8:45 PM
The Office, but in the Oval Office
“Child poverty has incalculably long effects, disabling whole generations from becoming the active and grateful givers they could be, binding us all more tightly into patterns of anxiety, hostility and isolation. It is time to face this honestly, and ask why we tolerate it.”
on.ft.com/4583SXH
on.ft.com/4583SXH
We can end the scandal of child poverty if we want to
Too often the very young are made to carry the consequences of decisions they haven’t made
on.ft.com
August 6, 2025 at 8:09 PM
“Child poverty has incalculably long effects, disabling whole generations from becoming the active and grateful givers they could be, binding us all more tightly into patterns of anxiety, hostility and isolation. It is time to face this honestly, and ask why we tolerate it.”
on.ft.com/4583SXH
on.ft.com/4583SXH
Sadly true - and it’s now worse given we have multiple TV / radio channels which spread lies and panic about migration to boost viewer numbers and build support for extremist parties. The public deserve far better from politicians and journalists; OFCOM also needs to enforce impartiality.
New YouGov polling. A monumental failure of our political class to educate, a monumental failure of our media to report fairly, for a generation
August 6, 2025 at 9:23 AM
Sadly true - and it’s now worse given we have multiple TV / radio channels which spread lies and panic about migration to boost viewer numbers and build support for extremist parties. The public deserve far better from politicians and journalists; OFCOM also needs to enforce impartiality.
Limited, qualified, uncertain good news - but welcome nonetheless. Leaders need to ensure this becomes a full ceasefire and end to the war, and the first step toward rebuilding and safety.
on.ft.com/3H5uGyj
on.ft.com/3H5uGyj
Israeli military begins ‘pauses’ to ease aid restrictions on Gaza
Reversal comes after fierce global condemnation of ‘appalling’ humanitarian conditions inside besieged enclave
on.ft.com
July 27, 2025 at 12:52 PM
Limited, qualified, uncertain good news - but welcome nonetheless. Leaders need to ensure this becomes a full ceasefire and end to the war, and the first step toward rebuilding and safety.
on.ft.com/3H5uGyj
on.ft.com/3H5uGyj
If ‘the West’ doesn’t act soon there won’t be any Gazans left to save. The fact there are no easy solutions does not excuse us from finding one, and from finding it now.
www.theguardian.com/world/live/2...
www.theguardian.com/world/live/2...
Mass starvation spreading across Gaza, aid agencies warn, as pressure on Israel grows – Middle East crisis live
More than 100 aid agencies, including Doctors Without Borders, Save the Children and Oxfam, say ‘our colleagues and those we serve are wasting away’
www.theguardian.com
July 23, 2025 at 8:32 AM
If ‘the West’ doesn’t act soon there won’t be any Gazans left to save. The fact there are no easy solutions does not excuse us from finding one, and from finding it now.
www.theguardian.com/world/live/2...
www.theguardian.com/world/live/2...
Aid is supposed to sustain life in conflict and disaster. In Gaza it is used as a tool of violence and death.
Where the UN ran 400 distribution points in the last ceasefire today there is one, for 2 million people. Those who approach it risk death, injury.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...
Where the UN ran 400 distribution points in the last ceasefire today there is one, for 2 million people. Those who approach it risk death, injury.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...
Nearly 800 killed at Gaza food hubs and aid convoy routes since end of May, UN says
UN human rights office says 615 of the deaths were in vicinity of sites run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation
www.theguardian.com
July 11, 2025 at 8:27 PM
Aid is supposed to sustain life in conflict and disaster. In Gaza it is used as a tool of violence and death.
Where the UN ran 400 distribution points in the last ceasefire today there is one, for 2 million people. Those who approach it risk death, injury.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...
Where the UN ran 400 distribution points in the last ceasefire today there is one, for 2 million people. Those who approach it risk death, injury.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...
“MPs should take time to consider the fundamental flaws in the bill that have been exposed during the debates of recent months.”
Well said Gordon Brown
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Well said Gordon Brown
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
MPs have personal beliefs, but also solemn duties: that’s why they must reject the assisted dying bill this week | Gordon Brown
Our obligations to each other are ill served if laws focus unduly on those who want assisted dying. The priority should be the best palliative care, says former prime minister Gordon Brown
www.theguardian.com
June 16, 2025 at 4:55 PM
“MPs should take time to consider the fundamental flaws in the bill that have been exposed during the debates of recent months.”
Well said Gordon Brown
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Well said Gordon Brown
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...