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Charlotte O'Brien

@cobrien.bsky.social
2.4K followers 1.3K following 284 posts

Professor of Law, University of York (she/her). Social security; EU law; discrimination; migration; social justice.

PostsRepliesMedia
Reposted by Charlotte O'Brien
Helen Lovatt @helenlovatt.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
The interpretation of hope at the end of the Pandora myth is much disputed: but this is a good one. Also, it is my sister’s middle name.
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Reposted by Charlotte O'Brien
Charlotte O'Brien @cobrien.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
“Hope is the warrior emotion” 🔥🔥🔥
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Charlotte O'Brien @cobrien.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
“Hope is the warrior emotion” 🔥🔥🔥
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Charlotte O'Brien @cobrien.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Ah, but judges are simply chosen for their exceptional capacity for 'legal reasoning' (per Reed), and women have taken themselves out of the mix, because 'life choices' (per Sumption). I guess only white men have judge brains.
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Charlotte O'Brien @cobrien.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
'Thuggery' somehow does not seem quite serious enough to name what we are seeing in the increasing violence of anti-migrant hate-spinning. Thugs steal your lunch-money. These guys want to steal your humanity.
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Reposted by Charlotte O'Brien
Mic Wright @brokenbottleboy.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
NEW | I’m not surprised, but I am livid. BBC NEWS, ‘DANNY TOMMO’ AND THE DINGHY ATTACK THAT DISAPPEARED While the rest of the media – even the very worst parts – report on Daniel Thomas’ actions, BBC News fails to give its audience the facts. brokenbottleboy.substack.com/p/bbc-news-d...
brokenbottleboy.substack.com
BBC News, ‘Danny Tommo’ and the dinghy attack that disappeared
While the rest of the media – even the very worst parts – report on Daniel Thomas’ actions, BBC News fails to give its audience the facts.
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Charlotte O'Brien @cobrien.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
New profile pic in honest concession to the relentless march of time and all it has wrought upon me. Wrinkles and all.
Head shot of Charlotte O’Brien, having aged about a thousand years since her last work photo.
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Charlotte O'Brien @cobrien.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
‘Needless to say, I had the last laugh’
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Charlotte O'Brien @cobrien.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
Sure, sure, obsessively trying to kill people makes for a ‘turbulent life’
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Charlotte O'Brien @cobrien.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
It finally happened! Been offered a dentist appointment at two-thirty.
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Reposted by Charlotte O'Brien
Roland Pierik @roleo.eurosky.social · 08/09/2026
The number of cases of cervical cancer reported in Scotland among women given the HPV vaccine at 12-13 years of age is now zero. Zero. Zero. Zero. Zero. Zero. Zero. Zero. Zero. Zero. Zero. Zero. Zero. Zero. Zero. Zero. Zero. Zero. Zero. Zero. Zero. Zero. Zero. Zero. www.bbc.com/news/article...
bbc.com
No cervical cancer cases in fully HPV-vaccinated women in Scotland
A study published by Public Health Scotland finds that the HPV vaccine is "highly effective".
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Charlotte O'Brien @cobrien.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
💯 the first thing I thought of!
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Reposted by Charlotte O'Brien
Steve Peers @stevepeers.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
What happens if a UK government removes benefits from EU citizens in breach of the withdrawal agreement? My analysis of the likely EU response to Reform Party policy, if ever enacted - eulawanalysis.blogspot.com/2026/08/what...
eulawanalysis.blogspot.com
What happens if a UK government removes benefits from EU citizens in breach of the withdrawal agreement?
Professor Steve Peers , Law School, Royal Holloway University of London   Photo credit : Martin Robson , via Wikimedia Commons  ...
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Charlotte O'Brien @cobrien.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
opting out of social security coordination rules would also mean stopping people (including British nationals! In the UK!) getting bens which are paid by another country. So, it would not be a coherent position.
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Charlotte O'Brien @cobrien.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
the whole WA is dissolved), is to earmark some money for Brits to return to the UK and 'immediately draw benefits'. No discussion of which bens. All in all, no clear distinction between types of benefits - soc sec/social assistance/SNCBs etc which would suggest it's all for the chop. *HOWEVER*
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Charlotte O'Brien @cobrien.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
in the claim '58% of foreigners on benefits' have EU settled status, but I would guess that (if it is based on anything) it includes soc sec. Also, the curious solution, expecting the EU to pull the plug on UK nats' benefits (which as your analysis states, they won't/can't unless
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Charlotte O'Brien @cobrien.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
I like that the question almost implies I have 'insider' knowledge of Reform plans! 😂 The proposal is, shall we say, imprecise. But the line 'All non-CTA citizens lose access to British benefits' is so broad, it sounds like it includes social security. No indication of where the '58%' fig comes from
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Reposted by Charlotte O'Brien
Charlotte O'Brien @cobrien.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
Judicial review, or judicial blessing ceremony? When @lewisgrahamlaw.bsky.social suggested co-authoring a case note on Jwanczuk, in which the UKSC underlines its distaste for human rights based challenges to primary social security legislation, I figuratively bit his hand off.
Screen shot of a couple of quotes from Graham and O'Brien's piece, which read: The separation of powers doctrine was never meant to divide organs of the state along socio-economic lines... Judicial review for primary social security legislation is transmogrifying into a judicial blessing ceremony.
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Reposted by Charlotte O'Brien
rightsnet @rightsnet.org.uk · 14/08/2026
Many thanks Charlotte ... have shared: www.rightsnet.org.uk/now/post/72296
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Charlotte O'Brien @cobrien.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
Coming out in the LQR early next year, but pre-pub version available on SSRN here: papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
papers.ssrn.com
No Legal Standards for Adjudicating the Proportionality of Primary Social Security Law
<span>Case note commenting on the UK Supreme Court's recent judgment in </span><i>R (Jwanczuk) v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions </i><span>[2025]
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Charlotte O'Brien @cobrien.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
All of which overlooks the point that the Human Rights Act creates strong duties of judicial review, which are in danger of being shrugged off, while the Court adopts an extremely dubious approach to disability discrimination. So - we do not hold back, as the quotes in the image in the OP indicates
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Charlotte O'Brien @cobrien.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
We keep coming back to the UK Supreme Court's problematic framing of social security as a matter of 'politics' rather than law, hence the striking line in Jwanczuk that "There is no proper basis, consistent with the separation of powers, on which to overturn Parliament’s judgement".
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Charlotte O'Brien @cobrien.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
He is kind, clever, patient and precise - making jointly dissecting this case rewarding even while the judgment itself is troubling.
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Charlotte O'Brien @cobrien.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
Judicial review, or judicial blessing ceremony? When @lewisgrahamlaw.bsky.social suggested co-authoring a case note on Jwanczuk, in which the UKSC underlines its distaste for human rights based challenges to primary social security legislation, I figuratively bit his hand off.
Screen shot of a couple of quotes from Graham and O'Brien's piece, which read: The separation of powers doctrine was never meant to divide organs of the state along socio-economic lines... Judicial review for primary social security legislation is transmogrifying into a judicial blessing ceremony.
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Reposted by Charlotte O'Brien
Lewis Graham @lewisgrahamlaw.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
New case note from me and @cobrien.bsky.social on the Supreme Court's judgment in R (Jwanczuk) v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions [2025] UKSC 42. Commentary is coming in the Law Quarterly Review next year, but is available to read and download on SSRN here: papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
papers.ssrn.com
<p>No legal standards for adjudicating the proportionality of primary social security law: <i>R (Jwanczuk) v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions </i>[2025] UKSC 42</p>
<span>Case note commenting on the UK Supreme Court's recent judgment in </span><i>R (Jwanczuk) v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions </i><span>[2025]
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Reposted by Charlotte O'Brien
Lisa O’Carroll @lisaocarroll.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
Sweden accounts for 12% of all post Brexit residency refusals across the EU member states, even though UK nationals in Sweden makes up only 1.55% of the total population of WA beneficiaries in EU member states. www.theguardian.com/world/2026/a...
theguardian.com
British widow, 78, told to leave Sweden under Brexit rules after living there for 21 years
Authorities say application to stay was made too late, as UK officials say Sweden takes ‘stricter approach’ than other EU countries
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Charlotte O'Brien @cobrien.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
Cyrano de Balzac sorry
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Charlotte O'Brien @cobrien.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
Thanks! When I looked back at it yesterday my first thought was ‘how naive I was to be worried about the *Remain* side’s take on free movement, given what happened’. But on reflection I think that paved the way to where we are now.
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Charlotte O'Brien @cobrien.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
StOp trYing To uSe YouR eviDencE to Make the WorlD a BeTteR pLacE
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Charlotte O'Brien @cobrien.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
Scientists be like:
static.klipy.com
Do Not Press Priest
ALT: Do Not Press Priest
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Charlotte O'Brien @cobrien.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
Scientists be like:
static.klipy.com
Do Not Press Priest
ALT: Do Not Press Priest
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Charlotte O'Brien @cobrien.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
Right? THE PAIN IS THE POINT!
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Charlotte O'Brien @cobrien.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
The more I see of Goodhart, the more vindicated I feel about criticising the Cameron government’s huge reliance upon his source-free rhetoric as evidence in their free movement of persons’ report in the balance of competences review: ukandeu.ac.uk/camerons-ren...
ukandeu.ac.uk
Cameron’s renegotiation and the burying of the balance of competencies review  - UK in a changing Europe
Many UK politicians are engaged in a collective charade on the subject of EU renegotiation and reform. Following UKIP’s dramatic wins in...
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Charlotte O'Brien @cobrien.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
Just had to stop myself making a Scylla and Charybdis reference, dammit. Why must popular culture steal my esoteric references?!
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Charlotte O'Brien @cobrien.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
Also: "I can't give you any pain relief because there wouldn't be any point". I. Was. In. Active. Labour.
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Charlotte O'Brien @cobrien.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
"Google it". [actual prescription].
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Reposted by Charlotte O'Brien
Madeleine Sumption @msumption.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
If you're looking for some light summer reading, there's still time to snap up your copy! bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/trade/what-i...
bristoluniversitypress.co.uk
What Is Immigration Policy For?
What Is Immigration Policy For?; This book explores what immigration policy seeks to achieve and why so many people end up unhappy with the outcome. Drawing on decades of research and examples from hi...
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Reposted by Charlotte O'Brien
Liam Thorp @liamthorp.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
Andy Burnham correctly points out in an interview that small boat crossings are massively down this year compared with last. The comments in the post are filled with people suggesting he is lying about this very clear, data-evidenced fact. It’s almost as though they don’t want it to he true…
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Reposted by Charlotte O'Brien
Greg Jenner (Historian) @gregjenner.bsky.social · 20/07/2026
Zelenskyy hasn’t just defied odds by surviving the Russian invasion, he’s already onto his 5th British PM!
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Charlotte O'Brien @cobrien.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
Thanks so much! Blinking in disbelief - just need to persuade people it’s going to be worth reading now… ❤️
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Charlotte O'Brien @cobrien.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
Just: wow
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Charlotte O'Brien @cobrien.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
100% their loss!
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Charlotte O'Brien @cobrien.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
Ooh, brilliant - can’t wait to read it! (Yes, I was def inspired by the ‘punishing the poor’ literature and crimmigration in the proposal) Congratulations - when is it out?
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Charlotte O'Brien @cobrien.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
But did she drink all of Daddy’s beer and eat all the food in the cupboards?
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Charlotte O'Brien @cobrien.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
Thank you! And - #sorrynotsorry! 😂
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Charlotte O'Brien @cobrien.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
Thanks so much, Steve!
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Reposted by Charlotte O'Brien
Jo VanEvery @jovanevery.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
Much needed.
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Charlotte O'Brien @cobrien.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
Massive shout-out to the A-MAZ-ING people who read the proposal and advised me along the way, especially @colinyeo.bsky.social, @drproudman.bsky.social, Zoe Forbes and Rebecca Tomlinson. YOU ROCK! ❤️
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Charlotte O'Brien @cobrien.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
PS: Working title: "Tainted Law" - but will revisit once it's written!
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Charlotte O'Brien @cobrien.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
BUP publish a select range of general non-fiction; this project relied on the incredible support of FIVE anonymous peer reviewers (some quotes on first post, some below). Watch this space – and to those supportive of the ideas and the mission, please *let’s help change the brutalising discourse*!
Quotes from peer reviews of the proposal: I think it is very powerful the way Charlotte has weaved a thread between the different ways xenophobia has been used that build on each other to create a cumulative effect of division and discrimination across society. She has such a wealth of experience 

Charlotte has an excellent reputation across academia and policy, as well as years of experience in advice-led research and public engagement. She writes clearly and accessibly and will be a fabulous advocate for the book. 

Charlotte O’Brien has produced excellent academic work on these issues and is entirely qualified to write this book

a distinctive intellectual contribution/framework and a strong public-facing rationale.

an imaginative, interesting and important proposal that would provide some real intellectual heft in an otherwise rather underpowered field of thinking and campaigning.
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