Reposted by Maureen NicholsonRoland Smith @rolandmcs.bsky.social · 28/09/2026'Which taxes do you want to raise instead?' should be the default question to anyone who calls for reductions in immigration. 14433152
Reposted by Maureen NicholsonSarah Murphy @13sarahmurphy.bsky.social · 28/09/2026The Times - which has v much joined in the rightwing clamour to reduce immigration - now reporting that Mahmood’s “success” has cost the economy £4- to £7Bn. Would they like to now honestly confirm that fewer people = less spending power for all. There’s a high price to pay for this nasty obsession. 631162453
Reposted by Maureen NicholsonHenry Mance @henrymance.ft.com · 11/09/2026How it started / How it's going 31777325
Reposted by Maureen NicholsonAlex von Tunzelmann @alexvont.bsky.social · 10/09/2026If you feel like donating to the RNLI, here’s a link. I just have. Their minimum donation is £2: I think it might be nice for them to receive a lot of donations this week, even if they’re mostly very modest. Just so they know a lot of people out here appreciate their work. rnli.org/support-us/g...rnli.orgDonate to the RNLI and help save lives at seaYour donations really make a difference. We depend on your generosity to educate people to stay safe and prevent tragedies on and offshore. Donate here. 4920921247
Reposted by Maureen NicholsonCharles Fourier @charlesfourier.bsky.social · 08/09/2026Bill Bryson’s words seem appropriate to post right now 5145111505
Reposted by Maureen NicholsonLarry the Cat @number10cat.bsky.social · 08/09/2026Since its foundation in 1824 the bravery of Royal National Lifeboat Institution volunteers has saved more than 146,700 lives at sea. Hundreds of those volunteers have died attempting to save others. They are the best of us. 493597941
Reposted by Maureen NicholsonLibération @liberation.fr · 07/09/2026Un passage du document, stipulant en anglais que la France va «accepter» sur son sol les migrants interceptés dans les eaux britanniques, ne figure pas dans la traduction française. ➡️ l.liberation.fr/1sJ 155535
Reposted by Maureen NicholsonJo Kibble (Political Animal) @politicanimal.bsky.social · 03/09/2026The problem with Muslim migrants is they don’t really subscribe to British values like letting women play a full part in public life. [Muslim woman becomes leader of a London council] This is an affront to British values. 420144
Reposted by Maureen NicholsonThe Secret Barrister @barristersecret.bsky.social · 02/09/2026The legitimate investigations into a proven and convicted fraudster? Interesting choice of parallel. 1528665
Reposted by Maureen NicholsonStephen Bush @stephenkb.bsky.social · 18/08/2026I don't disagree but I would add that in any case, the Good Law Project's 'we need an inquiry/we need regulation' campaign is unhelpful because it moves the focus away from an issue of individual editorial judgement to a call for regulation that a) not gonna happen and b) is not that relevant. 915011
Reposted by Maureen NicholsonArthur Snell @snellarthur.bsky.social · 13/08/2026My LinkedIn is full of an endless stream of UK diplomats announcing they’ve left govt service. This due to extreme cuts to foreign aid and diplomacy (much of it spearheaded by Olly Robbins). It’s hard to look at the world today and think “this is a good time to be losing experienced diplomats.” 9483108
Reposted by Maureen NicholsonDavid Dayen @ddayen.bsky.social · 28/05/2026Immigrant detainees at Delaney Hall ICE prison in Newark, NJ have been forced to cook, clean, & repair the facility for as little as $1/day and sometimes for free. They are on a hunger & labor strike; protesters outside have been tear-gassed. Here's our report, including a quote from a detainee:prospect.orgDelaney Hall ICE Detainees Take Aim at GEO Group’s Bottom Line - The American ProspectImmigrants held at GEO Group’s Delaney Hall in Newark are on a labor strike and a hunger strike, refusing to perform the jobs that keep the place running. 521427768
Reposted by Maureen NicholsonAdam Bienkov @adambienkov.bsky.social · 27/05/2026Tony Blair, a lobbyist with close ties to the Trump administration and fossil fuel industries, says the UK should drill more oil and get closer to the Trump administration 60931284
Reposted by Maureen NicholsonJames Ball @jamesrball.com · 26/05/2026"When did we start calling any flat that isn’t designated as affordable ‘luxury’? Anyone who’s seen a new-build one-bed or studio flat in London knows it’s not ‘luxury’. Liveable, yes. But no one is building Peckham flats for Russian oligarchs or Middle Eastern royalty."capx.coThe Nimbys have conquered PeckhamA cabal of influential Nimbys have blocked 867 new homes in Peckham 1112027
Reposted by Maureen NicholsonJonathan Portes @jdportes.bsky.social · 26/05/2026Deeply pathetic that BBC is reporting this as a Reform power struggle rather than explaining that Reform's policies would require deporting people -including pensioners - who have lived and worked here legally for decades. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...bbc.co.ukYusuf in clash with Jenrick over Reform's deportation policyReform's home affairs chief has publicly disagreed with its Treasury spokesman over what party policy is. 621722681
Reposted by Maureen NicholsonGiles Wilkes @gilesyb.bsky.social · 25/05/2026UK universities cut jobs, research and teaching amid squeeze in overseas students - www.ft.com/content/ded7... I don't really understand why any administration would not try to reverse the fall in overseas student numbers, but I guess I'm a naive liberalft.comUK universities cut jobs, research and teaching amid squeeze in overseas students‘Very sharp downturn’ in enrolments risks hitting economic innovation and academic pipeline, lobby group says 29333106
Reposted by Maureen NicholsonDavid Ho @davidho.bsky.social · 26/05/2026ICE agents pepper-sprayed Senator Andy Kim of New Jersey.nj.comICE agents pepper spray protesters, N.J. senator in clash outside Delaney Hall in Newark“It’s sad, it’s a sad day," says pepper-sprayed senator. 5062432637
Reposted by Maureen NicholsonFred Guttenberg @fredguttenberg.bsky.social · 26/04/2026If you were horrified watching elected leaders run & scramble because of gun violence, just imagine how my daughter Jaime felt in school running from an active shooter before she was killed. Now, become a part of the solution & only vote for people determined to address gun violence in America. 8004112411463
Reposted by Maureen NicholsonAlan Lester @alanlester.bsky.social · 15/04/20261/6 🧵The Pope has put his finger on Trump’s greatest weakness on foreign policy. With his narcissistic delusion of omnipotence, he doesn’t understand how Great Powers maintain hegemony. Along with Hegseth he thinks it’s all a matter of brute force. Alliances, diplomacy & soft power are ‘woke’. 11328116
Reposted by Maureen NicholsonIan Dunt @iandunt.bsky.social · 12/04/2026Your regular reminder that the US had a pain-stakingly negotiated and workable deal with Iran when Trump came to power, but he tore it up. He's now desperately trying to secure a deal much worse than the one he set aside. 511364446
Reposted by Maureen NicholsonDon Moynihan @donmoyn.bsky.social · 12/04/2026Marathon talks? Compared to what? It took years for Obama to deliver a detailed Iran deal. The Trump admin are packing it in after 20 hours. (H/T @bgrueskin.bsky.social) 1402556665
Reposted by Maureen NicholsonRon Filipkowski @ronfilipkowski.bsky.social · 01/04/2026Just a reminder that the senator who sponsored the bill which became law with broad bipartisan support that states a president cannot pull the US out of NATO without congressional approval was … Marco Rubio. 1876192137163
Reposted by Maureen NicholsonAlex Hall Hall @alexhh.bsky.social · 31/03/2026This is HUGE mistake. I would understand continuing with the visit, despite humiliating circumstances, if it had any genuine chance of restoring transatlantic relations. But it won’t. Trump will bask in the spotlight, and go back to slagging off the UK one day later. www.nbcnews.com/world/united...nbcnews.comKing Charles III will undertake state visit to the United States in late AprilCharles has visited the U.S. 19 times, but it will be his first state visit to the country. His mother, Queen Elizabeth II, undertook four state visits to the U.S. 71631165
Reposted by Maureen NicholsonJim Pickard @pickardje.bsky.social · 31/03/2026❗❗ FT exclusive: A broker for Pete Hegseth, the US defence secretary, attempted to make a big investment in major defence companies in the weeks leading up to the US-Israeli attack on Iran, according to three people familiar with the matter www.ft.com/content/744e...ft.comPete Hegseth’s broker looked to buy defence fund before Iran attackMorgan Stanley wealth manager approached BlackRock about multimillion-dollar investment for US defence secretary 27266126
Reposted by Maureen NicholsonTim Carvell @timcarvell.bsky.social · 30/03/2026Golden retriever runs 15 feet after owner mimes throwing tennis ball 140145873491
Maureen Nicholson @coddme.bsky.social · 29/03/2026So do we think Robert Jenrick is busy reading loads of Psalms this morning? 🌴 000
Reposted by Maureen NicholsonSunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · 27/03/2026Afghan women have now been banned from applying to study in British universities by the Labour government www.gov.uk/government/s...gov.ukThe UK unequivocally condemns the Taliban’s ban on girls' education in Afghanistan: UK statement at the UN Security CouncilStatement by Ambassador James Kariuki, UK Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on Afghanistan. 25367276
Maureen Nicholson @coddme.bsky.social · 24/03/2026What an embarrassment from Yvette Cooper and Baroness Chapman at the Intl Dev Committee right now. Patting themselves on the back for moving away from “paternalistic” aid funding - is that how they saw all development cooperation? What a disgrace that this is happening under Labour. 121
Reposted by Maureen NicholsonMehdi Hasan @mehdirhasan.bsky.social · 13/03/2026"The sooner David Ellison takes over that network, the better." The Defense Secretary calling for a billionaire ally of the government to take over a media outlet & make it more pro-government. This is what authoritarianism looks like. But in other countries they try & hide it. 1152372743
Reposted by Maureen NicholsonBrian Finucane @bcfinucane.bsky.social · 13/03/2026✋ Former USG war crimes lawyer here. Apropos of SecDef's remarks this morning: Denial of quarter—even the declaration of no quarter—is a war crime. And recognized as such by the US Government. From DoD's Manual for Military Commissions. 641162616971
Reposted by Maureen NicholsonIan Bond @cerianbond.bsky.social · 13/03/2026Such a dismal tale about the UK govt: so obsessed w competing with far-right to keep out foreigners that it won’t let in the brightest & best from war-torn countries even when they’re hand-picked by the FCDO, lest they ask to stay. Soft power sacrificed, but how many Reform voters will it convert? 22497234
Maureen Nicholson @coddme.bsky.social · 13/03/2026As someone with the honour to know and work with many bright young Sudanese - this breaks my heart. For the students, for the universities, for their communities (and ours in the UK) who will miss out on this opportunity. What a cruel and short-sighted policy. 141
Maureen Nicholson @coddme.bsky.social · 12/03/2026The word on this morning’s episode of Yakka Dee is “hedgehog” and I love the idea that someone scheduled this to get the nation’s toddlers trolling the right by shouting HEDGEHOG all day 🦔 🦔 000
Reposted by Maureen NicholsonDmitry Grozoubinski @explaintrade.com · 11/03/2026I'm not a commodities guy but I don't know how many more events like this the markets will be willing to overlook because Trump occasionally shouts, "nearly done!" at a reporter from his golf cart. 443247636
Reposted by Maureen NicholsonEmma Jacobs @emmavj.bsky.social · 11/03/2026Actually, this on a banknote 391328221
Reposted by Maureen NicholsonChris Murphy @chrismurphyct.bsky.social · 11/03/2026I was in a 2 hour briefing today on the Iran War. All the briefings are closed, because Trump can't defend this war in public. I obviously can't disclose classified info, but you deserve to know how incoherent and incomplete these war plans are. 1/ Here's what I can share: 514177367129
Reposted by Maureen NicholsonPeter Stefanovic @peterstefanovic.bsky.social · 10/03/2026This is appalling. The Home Office rejected an appeal from the foreign secretary, Yvette Cooper, that would have protected outstanding students in some of the world’s most dangerous countries from changes to the UK’s immigration system www.theguardian.com/politics/202...theguardian.comHome Office refuses to exempt exceptional students from tough immigration rulesExclusive: Foreign secretary Yvette Cooper concerned about student visa ban on female Chevening scholars from volatile countries such as Afghanistan 32353128
Reposted by Maureen NicholsonBen Ansell @benansell.bsky.social · 10/03/2026Can anyone explain to me what the Blue Labour justification for this is? Who out there will vote Labour because Mahmood prevented a Sudanese Chevening Scholar? And to be honest, why won’t the PM simply overrule her? 36940306
Reposted by Maureen NicholsonRory Cellan-Jones @rorycj.bsky.social · 10/03/2026This very straight news piece buried deep within the FT never uses words like corruption or insider dealing but every detail is quietly devastating. Why is the FT virtually alone in the UK media in covering this important story? 701741876
Reposted by Maureen NicholsonElizabeth N. Saunders @profsaunders.bsky.social · 06/03/2026🧵Feels like shouting into the void, but it is essential to note that the Trump/Rubio gutting of the State Department and blowtorching of US diplomatic capacity and credibility is an accelerant to this spiraling war and will seriously undercut US/allied efforts to pick up the pieces after. 1/ 532852939
Reposted by Maureen NicholsonDan Snow @thehistoryguy.bsky.social · 06/03/2026Absolutely insupportable. Labour have a massive majority. It’s a hugely popular issue. To fail to act would be a dereliction of historic proportions, and utterly inexplicable. 411024357
Reposted by Maureen NicholsonToby Earle 🇺🇦 @tobyontv.bsky.social · 03/03/2026I see the papers which screamed ‘tAKe bACK ConTRol’ now want the UK to be nothing but an obedient servant of the USA 1954717779
Reposted by Maureen Nicholsonderek guy @dieworkwear.bsky.social · 28/02/2026manufacturing consent through lowly paid influencers 8769391537
Reposted by Maureen NicholsonFinancial Times @financialtimes.com · 28/02/2026Just months ago, US President Donald Trump said Iran’s nuclear programme was 'obliterated'. Just this week, he told the US Congress his preference was to 'solve this problem via diplomacy'. What changed? ft.trib.al/cFtYAJ7 239639