Will
@willandrews01.bsky.social
European Politics/King's College London
Can we stop using Eurovision as an accurate judgment of public opinion
May 18, 2025 at 11:39 AM
Can we stop using Eurovision as an accurate judgment of public opinion
Feel like in the past few weeks, the other site's algorithm seems more muted and in line with my consumption habits - less conspiracy nuts
April 18, 2025 at 11:03 AM
Feel like in the past few weeks, the other site's algorithm seems more muted and in line with my consumption habits - less conspiracy nuts
Reposted by Will
Donald Trump just threatened to tax Guinness.
Right before St. Patrick’s Day.
Right before St. Patrick’s Day.
March 13, 2025 at 4:23 PM
Donald Trump just threatened to tax Guinness.
Right before St. Patrick’s Day.
Right before St. Patrick’s Day.
Reposted by Will
I wonder if this will be Badenoch’s Salisbury moment? Like Corbyn’s desire to give Putin the benefit of the doubt, this is a statement of obvious, politically motivated myopia at a time of political crisis. Voters saw what Corbyn was doing and never forgave or forgot. Same could happen to Kemi.
March 4, 2025 at 2:19 PM
I wonder if this will be Badenoch’s Salisbury moment? Like Corbyn’s desire to give Putin the benefit of the doubt, this is a statement of obvious, politically motivated myopia at a time of political crisis. Voters saw what Corbyn was doing and never forgave or forgot. Same could happen to Kemi.
Reposted by Will
This is the most awful Trump moment to date. And as for Vance. . .
February 28, 2025 at 5:54 PM
This is the most awful Trump moment to date. And as for Vance. . .
Huge respect to Zelensky for standing up to bullies like this, however unfortunately this is terrible diplomacy and any minor Trump sympathy for Ukraine's position now utterly erroded
ZELENSKYY: Putin broke the ceasefire. What kind of diplomacy, JD, are you speaking about?
VANCE: I think it's disrespectful to come into the Oval Office and try to litigate this in front of the American media
VANCE: I think it's disrespectful to come into the Oval Office and try to litigate this in front of the American media
February 28, 2025 at 7:50 PM
Huge respect to Zelensky for standing up to bullies like this, however unfortunately this is terrible diplomacy and any minor Trump sympathy for Ukraine's position now utterly erroded
Reposted by Will
I hope Ukraine wins the war and Zelenskyy gets to live the rest of his long, long life in complete and utter peace, jesus christ
February 28, 2025 at 6:33 PM
I hope Ukraine wins the war and Zelenskyy gets to live the rest of his long, long life in complete and utter peace, jesus christ
Shows how much more serious Europe is about defence in spite of commentary otherwise. (Although I disagree how its funded)
NEW: Big moment in the Commons. Keir Starmer confirms that UK defence spending will rise to 2.5% of GDP by 2027. Commits to 3% in the next parliament.
That's a much more rapid increase than anyone was expecting. Starmer says it'll be paid for by cuts in foreign aid.
That's a much more rapid increase than anyone was expecting. Starmer says it'll be paid for by cuts in foreign aid.
February 25, 2025 at 2:54 PM
Shows how much more serious Europe is about defence in spite of commentary otherwise. (Although I disagree how its funded)
International aid cuts are wrong. We need more defence spending, but it's counterproductive to abandon soft power for a bit more hard power. We need both.
UK defence spending to rise to 2.5% of GDP by 2027, funded by cut in international aid - live updates
The announcement comes ahead of a high-stakes meeting between Keir Starmer and Donald Trump at the White House on Thursday.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 25, 2025 at 2:17 PM
International aid cuts are wrong. We need more defence spending, but it's counterproductive to abandon soft power for a bit more hard power. We need both.
Reposted by Will
Why does 25% AfD among young men spark a thousand "what is going on with young men?" posts yet Die Linke 34% among young women generates...nothing at all?
Yes, young men voting for the radical right is an important phenomenon. But so is young women going rad left *at even higher rates*.
Yes, young men voting for the radical right is an important phenomenon. But so is young women going rad left *at even higher rates*.
February 24, 2025 at 10:58 AM
Why does 25% AfD among young men spark a thousand "what is going on with young men?" posts yet Die Linke 34% among young women generates...nothing at all?
Yes, young men voting for the radical right is an important phenomenon. But so is young women going rad left *at even higher rates*.
Yes, young men voting for the radical right is an important phenomenon. But so is young women going rad left *at even higher rates*.
Not a Merz fan but his Ukraine and defence policy stance is great news for Europe. Shame CDU/CSU and Greens couldn't get a majority and form a cohesive majority government (I know Söder ruled out black/green)
NEW: Incoming German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has said his priority is to strengthen Europe to “achieve independence from the US.” 🇩🇪
He also compared Trump’s administration to Putin’s, blasting Washington’s election interference as “no less brazen than Moscow’s.”
The global order has upended.
He also compared Trump’s administration to Putin’s, blasting Washington’s election interference as “no less brazen than Moscow’s.”
The global order has upended.
February 24, 2025 at 10:59 AM
Not a Merz fan but his Ukraine and defence policy stance is great news for Europe. Shame CDU/CSU and Greens couldn't get a majority and form a cohesive majority government (I know Söder ruled out black/green)
I think Linke's shift to a more West German progressive left party is strategically positive, as being an eastern interest leftist party concurrently with AfD consolidation in East Germany wasn't sustainable
Big gains for Die Linke in the west, compared to much weaker results in the east, where BSW performed better
February 24, 2025 at 9:53 AM
I think Linke's shift to a more West German progressive left party is strategically positive, as being an eastern interest leftist party concurrently with AfD consolidation in East Germany wasn't sustainable
This
2. Labour strategists may look over this chart which, shows the extent to which an unpopular centre left party can bleed votes right and left. Though stands out they lost more votes to traditional centre right than left and far right combined.
February 24, 2025 at 9:45 AM
This
Need to stop using twitter for German election coverage. The American takes on it are incredibly uneducated and batshit. Suddenly everyone thinks they're an expert in German politics and history
February 23, 2025 at 10:03 PM
Need to stop using twitter for German election coverage. The American takes on it are incredibly uneducated and batshit. Suddenly everyone thinks they're an expert in German politics and history
Reposted by Will
Still internalising the Vance Munich speech. A sitting Vice President goes to Europe, barely says a word about the despotic murderous regime which has invaded its neighbour, and instead lectures his allies about freedom of speech. It’d be funny if it weren’t so serious.
February 15, 2025 at 10:08 AM
Still internalising the Vance Munich speech. A sitting Vice President goes to Europe, barely says a word about the despotic murderous regime which has invaded its neighbour, and instead lectures his allies about freedom of speech. It’d be funny if it weren’t so serious.
These are genuinely terrible policies. If I was leading a populist right party (which I'm happily not) and promoting cutting energy bills, how the f*ck do you justify taxing solar farms and putting energy cables underground as a way of cutting bills? Stupid policy from a stupid party
Reform UK sets out plan to tax renewable energy
Deputy leader Richard Tice argues net-zero policies are to blame for higher energy bills in the UK.
www.bbc.com
February 13, 2025 at 4:16 PM
These are genuinely terrible policies. If I was leading a populist right party (which I'm happily not) and promoting cutting energy bills, how the f*ck do you justify taxing solar farms and putting energy cables underground as a way of cutting bills? Stupid policy from a stupid party
Absolutely fascinating situation in Canada happening right now. Longstanding contingent of left-wing nationalism in Canada has been unleashed following tariff wars. MAGA world fundamentally misunderstands that the US isn't the only nationalistic country.
Canada’s Liberal party was left for dead, but Trump might have just given it a second chance
Experts say the US president’s takeover threat will shift election priorities to who seems best suited to face Trump
www.theguardian.com
February 11, 2025 at 1:55 PM
Absolutely fascinating situation in Canada happening right now. Longstanding contingent of left-wing nationalism in Canada has been unleashed following tariff wars. MAGA world fundamentally misunderstands that the US isn't the only nationalistic country.
Labour's specific migration policy is a smart centre-left response in many ways- emphasising competence and delivery on asylum processing within frameworks of international law, however they risk repeating previous mistakes of elevating migration as an electoral issue, playing into Reform's hands
Labour launches ads in Reform-style branding to boast about deportations
Exclusive: Some MPs and activists upset at tone of party’s Facebook campaign aimed at countering Farage
www.theguardian.com
February 6, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Labour's specific migration policy is a smart centre-left response in many ways- emphasising competence and delivery on asylum processing within frameworks of international law, however they risk repeating previous mistakes of elevating migration as an electoral issue, playing into Reform's hands
Do not understand the media obsession with Birbalsingh. Undoubtedly a good headteacher, but does not give her credibility as a political commentator or engineer of education policy. Accusing the education secretary of being a Marxist shows a lack of substantive alternative ideas for education policy
Britain’s strictest headteacher accuses minister of ‘hating’ academy schools
Bridget Phillipson hits back as Katharine Birbalsingh claims she doesn’t know her own brief
www.standard.co.uk
February 6, 2025 at 3:38 PM
Do not understand the media obsession with Birbalsingh. Undoubtedly a good headteacher, but does not give her credibility as a political commentator or engineer of education policy. Accusing the education secretary of being a Marxist shows a lack of substantive alternative ideas for education policy
still don't understand what's taking her so long to defect to reform
Suella Braverman, "The US needs its allies.. It may not have Starmer and his woke socialists in the cabinet, but he does have a majority of British public opinion on his side"
January 29, 2025 at 11:20 AM
still don't understand what's taking her so long to defect to reform
Thought this was Charlotte from the traitors at first
Prime Minister: Jacinda Ardern documentary featuring home videos premieres at Sundance
The film includes footage shot by Clarke Gayford, the husband of the former New Zealand prime minister
www.theguardian.com
January 28, 2025 at 10:47 AM
Thought this was Charlotte from the traitors at first
Tariff wars begin
Trump orders tariffs on Colombia over rejection of US military deportation flights
Trump made the announcement Sunday on his social media platform Truth Social.
apnews.com
January 26, 2025 at 10:45 PM
Tariff wars begin
Feels like he's making the same mistakes as the UK Tories last year. Trying to prioritise migration as a top issue, and legitimising radical right opponents as a result
Friedrich Merz, favorite to be German chancellor after next month’s election, signaled he’d try to push tougher migration measures through parliament even if passage depends on the support of the far-right Alternative for Germany party.
Germany’s far-right firewall weakens as Merz pledges migration crackdown
Germany’s conservative candidate, Friedrich Merz, suggested he’d push through tougher migration measures even with AfD support.
ow.ly
January 24, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Feels like he's making the same mistakes as the UK Tories last year. Trying to prioritise migration as a top issue, and legitimising radical right opponents as a result
This looks look more like a reversion to normality back to 2-3 months ago. Trudeau's resignation and Trump's accession doesn't fundamentally change Liberal fortunes in the medium term.
January 23, 2025 at 3:43 PM
This looks look more like a reversion to normality back to 2-3 months ago. Trudeau's resignation and Trump's accession doesn't fundamentally change Liberal fortunes in the medium term.
Territorial threats are historically the strongest fuel for nationalism. This man represents a far-right party, but plain nationalism trumps (no pun intended) any admiration abroad towards Trump
Anders Vistisen, member of the European Parliament, responds to Donald Trump’s interest in purchasing Greenland:
“Listen very carefully… [Greenland] is not for sale. Let me put it in words you might understand — Mr. Trump, fuck off.”
“Listen very carefully… [Greenland] is not for sale. Let me put it in words you might understand — Mr. Trump, fuck off.”
January 23, 2025 at 12:55 PM
Territorial threats are historically the strongest fuel for nationalism. This man represents a far-right party, but plain nationalism trumps (no pun intended) any admiration abroad towards Trump