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Dr Andrew Smith

@56degreesnorth.bsky.social
392 followers 144 following 109 posts

Looking at life from 56 degrees north

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Reposted by Dr Andrew Smith
Otto English @ottoenglish.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
Sagal Abdi-Wali came to the UK aged 7 having fled the war in Somalia with her family. She has thrived. Leader of Camden council and now the MP for Holborn and St Pancras. A narrative that runs counter to all we are told about refugees. Congratulations www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
theguardian.com
Labour fends off Green party to win Holborn and St Pancras byelection
Victory by Sagal Abdi-Wali in north London seat will be a relief for Andy Burnham in high-stakes battle for the left of British politics
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Steve Peers @stevepeers.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
The people who say that their main concern is integration of refugees and migrants should be particularly happy today at her success in integrating. But I suspect they are very angry instead. It's almost as if the integration arguments are often made in bad faith.
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Tim Bale @timbale.bsky.social · 10/10/2026
Possibly the most sad and pathetic we’ve yet seen him - and that’s saying something. Embarrassing.
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Jim Pickard @pickardje.bsky.social · 17h
just when you thought it couldn’t get worse
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Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 14h
“Zelenskyy could’ve stopped this war many times, and he chose not to … he better damn well stop” — Trump is no longer trying to conceal that he’s fully on Putin’s side
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Ruth Ben-Ghiat @ruthbenghiat.bsky.social · 10/10/2026
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Best for Britain @bestforbritain.org · 09/10/2026
Lillian Jones MP, Chairwoman @uktradebusiness.bsky.social: "Burnham stressed that the next summit will be a moment to set out the different options for the UK’s relationship with the EU. This is a watershed moment. No PM has put the full range of options on the table since May drew her red lines."
lbc.co.uk
Britain needs a new deal with Europe that works for everyone | LBC
The Prime Minister has opened up a conversation about our long-term relationship with the EU. As Chairwoman of the UK Tr
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Best for Britain @bestforbritain.org · 10/10/2026
Progressive voters across the spectrum want EU membership. Parties and politicians need to catch up. 🚨 Read the piece by @pimlicat.bsky.social here: www.libdemvoice.org/the-halfway-hou…
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Best for Britain @bestforbritain.org · 17h
Go big or go home: Pulling back from Europe to keep Reform UK out is the SUREST way to let Farage in, says @pimlicat.bsky.social. Read here: labourlist.org/2026/10/playing-it-s…
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Best for Britain @bestforbritain.org · 14h
The Tories want you to trust them on the economy. But they can't even get the numbers right on a spreadsheet.
theguardian.com
Tories overstate net zero cost by nearly £500bn in apparent spreadsheet error
Exclusive: Badenoch’s flagship conference policy document cites £957bn estimate, twice the total in climate advisers’ da
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RSPB Scotland @rspbscotland.bsky.social · 22h
It’s World Migratory Bird Day! 🐦️ 🌍️ From Redwings and Fieldfares in our cities to the ducks, geese and wading birds gathering on our coasts and wetlands, Scotland is welcoming some incredible seasonal visitors. And these arrivals are part of a bigger story 👇️
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Phillips OBrien @phillipspobrien.bsky.social · 18h
Maybe the most amazing aspect of the Russo-Ukraine War is that Russia is getting backing from both China and the USA, the two largest powers of the moment--and Ukraine could still emerge triumphant as long as Europe backs it stoutly.
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Tapani Hopkins @tapani-hopkins.bsky.social · 18h
The correct action in times like this. Keep calm and keep the logistics flowing.
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Tapani Hopkins @tapani-hopkins.bsky.social · 18h
The positive side is that it looks (to non-expert me) like Russia is desperate for the help. And so is the current USA leadership.
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warriorseamstress.bsky.social @warriorseamstress.bsky.social · 19h
🎯👇 "The truth of 🇺🇸 behavior has been that 🇺🇸 has been helping Russia, but until now more by hobbling Ukraine and its partners. Now, 🇺🇸 is coming out as a more direct supporter of Russia. The diesel issue is not an end in itself, it is a means to an end. Understand that, and you understand it all."
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Phillips OBrien @phillipspobrien.bsky.social · 10/10/2026
New primer about the news from the last few hours that the US is getting back to business with Russia. This is not Trump being erratic, it is not about diesel, it is not a small move. It is about the US moving to a more active position of helping Putin. phillipspobrien.substack.com/p/this-is-ab...
phillipspobrien.substack.com
This Is About Much More Than Just Diesel
What Really Matters From The Last Few Hours
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Patrick* Neithard @patrickneithard.eurosky.social · 20h
Phillips O’Brien on TrumpPutin DieselPact (traitortraitortraitor) [Now, the US is coming out as a more direct supporter of Russia—and in the process it is blaming the Ukrainians for that. The diesel issue is not an end in itself, it is a means to an end. Understand that, and you understand it all.]
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Timothy Snyder @timothysnyder.bsky.social · 14h
If Americans view, clip, share, and permanently enshrine an American public killing in a million ways on the internet, we will move towards fascist rituals of violence. snyder.substack.com/p/four-wrong...
snyder.substack.com
Four Wrongs of a Public Execution
Psychological, Historical, Political, and Ethical (Video and Text)
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Jo Wolff @jowolff.bsky.social · 10h
Talking to someone in a company where whole divisions are being axed because of AI. Not because AI can do their jobs, but because the company needs to drastically cut the salary bill to pay for AI.
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Steve Bullock @guitarmoog.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
Belarus, for example, is an appalling repressive dictatorship, but even they shoot prisoners in private.
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Steve Bullock @guitarmoog.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
Public executions, rampant open corruption, election interference at home and abroad, extra-judicial killings and a President calling for ethnic cleansing would be grounds for an EU sanctions regime on any other country.
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Jim Pickard @pickardje.bsky.social · 10h
Donald Trump wants regime change in Ukraine but not in Russia, go figure www.thetimes.com/world/russia...
thetimes.com
Time for Zelensky to go, Trump tells Ukraine in diesel row
Andy Burnham pledges ‘solidarity’ with Kyiv after US president strikes Putin oil deal
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The Kyiv Independent @kyivindependent.com · 10h
⚡️️️️️️️'Will only lead to more slaughter' — bipartisan backlash erupts in US over Trump-Russia diesel deal. Lawmakers from both major parties argued the move would undermine recent sanctions, provide Moscow with billions in revenue, and contradict efforts to pressure Putin to end the war in Ukraine.
kyivindependent.com
'Will only lead to more slaughter' — bipartisan backlash erupts in US over Trump-Russia diesel deal
Lawmakers from both major parties argued the move would undermine recently enacted sanctions against Russia, potentially provide Moscow with billions of dollars in revenue, and contradict Congress's e...
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Adam Schwarz @adamjschwarz.bsky.social · 13h
Zelenskyy approval rating: 54% Trump approval rating: 32%
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Ed Davey @eddavey.libdems.org.uk · 09/10/2026
Wow. Donald Trump is giving money to Putin’s war machine so he can keep killing innocent Ukrainians and attacking democracies across Europe. The UK must lead a coalition of the willing that stands up and says no.
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Calum Miller @calummillerld.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
Ed Davey led the Lib Dems to our best election result in 100 years through a campaign that saw me - and many other new MPs - elected. At a time when other parties are led by fantasists and narcissists, many voters tell me they see Ed as a decent and caring man. They are right.
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Guardian US @us.theguardian.com · 09/10/2026
New report on economic cost of anti-immigration campaign projects 8.6% reduction in retirement payments by 2034
theguardian.com
Trump immigrant purge could cut social security for Americans by $2,000 a year
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Jess Piper @piperformissouri.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
Just a reminder that the folks who want to ban children’s books will allow children to watch a public execution…
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Ron Filipkowski @ronfilipkowski.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
This is completely outrageous and disgusting. This must immediately be blocked by Congress and Trump should be impeached for this. The US is now funding Putin’s war machine as he murders civilians including children. We are lost as a country.
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Luke McGee @lukemcgee.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
We've seen Trump do some shitty things to Ukraine since taking office (Oval Office incident; Alaska summit; Patriot U-turn) but today he's chosen to do a diesel deal with Putin that plays to Russia's economic/warchest advantage and restricts Ukraine's ability to defend itself.
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Jo Wolff @jowolff.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
My question answered. He's sanctioned the International Criminal Court. Petty, vainglorious no-mark. (A bit of Scouse slang I learnt from the soap opera Brookside - someone who has made no (worthwhile) mark on the world)
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Holger Hestermeyer @hhesterm.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
The Trump administration sanctions the ICC hours after a former judge wins the Nobel peace prize. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
theguardian.com
US imposes new sanctions on international criminal court
Trump administration says US ‘doesn’t need’ ICC after accusing court of unfairly targeting Americans for war crime charges
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Phillips OBrien @phillipspobrien.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
Trump’s love for Putin is the only pure thing in his life.
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Ted McCormick @tedmccormick.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
US policy is: if you’re smart, don’t come, and if you’re already here, leave.
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Chris Grey @chrisgrey.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
Social science figures, in one way or another, in just about every public debate (prisons, immigration, housing etc. etc.) Notably, even those who insist it is nonsense, unscientific, woke or whatever invariably rely upon their own 'social science' claims, even if not expressed or examined as such.
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Chris Grey @chrisgrey.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
UK has c.30K SocSci academics, supported by taxpayers, c.900K SocSci students & many UK unis are highly globally ranked for SocSci. Surely it's not too much to expect the BBC to devote 30 minutes a week, for part of the year, to it? [Disclosure, FWIW: I've appeared on TA a couple of times]
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Chris Grey @chrisgrey.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
Coming on top of the axing of The World Tonight it really seems as if #BBC are determined to wreck R4. Especially depressing that Thinking Allowed will go - SFAIK it's the only programme in UK media dedicated to (mainly academic) social science research. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
BBC to cut raft of Radio 4 programmes including You and Yours
The corporation said it would be investing in a new consumer programme, while announcing more cuts.
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Chris Murphy @chrismurphyct.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
Something unprecedented happened during my visit to the Gulf. For the first time in 20 years in Congress, I was denied entry to U.S. military facilities and even meetings with military leaders. An order from Hegseth - that applies to both parties - to hide the cost of the war.
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Helene von Bismarck @helenebismarck.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
Good thread by Georgina, and an opportunity for me to reiterate what I told a senior civil servant over a year ago: any successful British strategy towards the EU must include staying up-to-date not just with developments within all member states, but with the relationship between those states.
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Timothy Snyder @timothysnyder.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
I spelled out "superpower suicide" in this essay from May 2026. Empires have risen and failed before, but to my knowledge no state has ever chosen to kill its own power, and succeeded with such rapidity. snyder.substack.com/p/on-superpo...
snyder.substack.com
On Superpower Suicide
And the recovery of justice
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Timothy Snyder @timothysnyder.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
Of course when Russia said Ukraine had bioweapons labs what they really meant was that they did. There's a lot we don't know about the current situation. Russia should be bringing in experts from the WHO to clarify and advise. Will they? www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
washingtonpost.com
U.S. officials seeking details of reported Russian plague death, quarantines
Officials said they need to learn more about the evolving situation before determining the potential threat to the United States.
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Timothy Snyder @timothysnyder.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
Yes, the White House sometimes serves as a branch Kremlin press office, which would be humiliating for anyone who had the slightest hint of patriotism or for that matter personal dignity.
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Ada Palmer @adapalmer.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
Highly recommended for all language lovers!
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Best for Britain @bestforbritain.org · 06/10/2026
🎯 "Burham has to decide whether Britain’s security, in an increasingly turbulent world, can best be protected through the obsessive pursuit of some purist notion of sovereignty, or through pooling some sovereignty with like-minded allies in pursuit of greater collective resilience."
bylinetimes.com
'Why Andy Burnham Will Ultimately Back Rejoining the EU'
The logic of the Prime Minister's argument that Brexit has done more harm than good only points in one direction, argues
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Best for Britain @bestforbritain.org · 06/10/2026
I wonder why Badenoch couldn't say that London benefitted from Brexit 🤔 The reality is that neither London nor any other region in the UK has benefitted from Brexit - the opposite is the case. That's why our polling with YouGov shows that 628 out of 632 constituencies want to rejoin the EU.
independent.co.uk
Kemi Badenoch refuses to say if Brexit has benefitted London
The Tory leader insisted that voters were not interested ‘in having a row’ over the debate to rejoin the EU
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Best for Britain @bestforbritain.org · 06/10/2026
🎯 @pimlicat.bsky.social: "Half-baked calls to enter a customs union or join the single market won’t bring the economic heft to avoid further decline or the political payoff to prevent Nigel Farage’s Reform UK gaining power. "The choice Burnham must face is whether to go big – or go nowhere at all."
eu.boell.org
Could the UK really return to the EU? | Heinrich Böll Stiftung | Brussels office - European Union
Britain’s new prime minister has said that Brexit was a mistake and Britain should have a much closer relationship with
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Best for Britain @bestforbritain.org · 06/10/2026
The hypocrisy 👀 Sarah Pochin MP bought an £800,000 second home on a Welsh island two days after raising concerns in Parliament about the impact of second homes on rural communities.
theguardian.com
Reform MP raises concerns about second homes – then buys one for £800,000
Sarah Pochin bought Anglesey property two days after writing to minister about impact of second homes on rural communiti
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Best for Britain @bestforbritain.org · 07/10/2026
@alastaircampbell2.bsky.social: "The biggest reasons for the shift are the economy-shrinking, trade-undermining, rights-losing facts, which so powerfully spell out the scale of the mistake the country made in cutting ourselves off from our nearest and biggest trading partner."
thenewworld.co.uk
Alastair Campbell's diary: The door that leads back to the EU is finally open. Now let's walk through it
How fitting that new talk of joining again coincided with the 500th issue of The New World, originally founded to oppose
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Best for Britain @bestforbritain.org · 07/10/2026
Spot on 🎯 "There are several reasons for the UK to adopt a more proportional voting system of which the most important is the moral one: it’s fairer."
theguardian.com
Why a PR voting system is the best bet for Britain | Letters
Letters: Tom Walker responds to a letter that said first past the post is the lesser of two evils for voters. Plus lette
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Best for Britain @bestforbritain.org · 07/10/2026
Kemi Badenoch hits out at Reform UK: "I don't want to live in a country run by people who threaten journalists, who call veterans traitors, and who debate whether my mixed-race children are English."
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