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Maureen Nicholson

@coddme.bsky.social
1.1K followers 935 following 23 posts

Development & humanitarian aid. Politics and policy. 🇬🇧🇺🇸. Sudan watcher 🇸🇩 🏡 Scottish Borders 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿❤️ 📍 Currently based in lovely Lilongwe, Malawi 🇲🇼

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Reposted by Maureen Nicholson
Roland 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.
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Sarah Murphy @13sarahmurphy.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
The 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.
Patrick Maguire
Chief Political Commentator Oliver Wright Policy Editor

Falling migration numbers could cost the chancellor as much as £7bn in fiscal headroom as he writes his first budget, The Times has been told.
Government insiders believe that John Healey, who already faced an uphill battle to balance the books next month, is likely to have an even bigger challenge after immigration undershot projections from the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR).
The Institute for Fiscal Studies think tank estimated last month that the success of Shabana
Mahmood's
reforms, which have cut net migration to the low hundreds of thousands, could cost Healey some £4bn.
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Henry Mance @henrymance.ft.com · 11/09/2026
How it started / How it's going
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Alex von Tunzelmann @alexvont.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
If 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.org
Donate to the RNLI and help save lives at sea
Your donations really make a difference. We depend on your generosity to educate people to stay safe and prevent tragedies on and offshore. Donate here.
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Charles Fourier @charlesfourier.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
Bill Bryson’s words seem appropriate to post right now
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Larry the Cat @number10cat.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
Since 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.
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Henry Mance @henrymance.ft.com · 08/09/2026
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Libération @liberation.fr · 07/09/2026
Un 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
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Jo Kibble (Political Animal) @politicanimal.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
The 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.
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The Secret Barrister @barristersecret.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
The legitimate investigations into a proven and convicted fraudster? Interesting choice of parallel.
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Stephen Bush @stephenkb.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
I 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.
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Arthur Snell @snellarthur.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
My 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.”
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Maureen Nicholson @coddme.bsky.social · 18/07/2026
🍿
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Cold War Steve @coldwarsteve.bsky.social · 10/07/2026
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David Dayen @ddayen.bsky.social · 28/05/2026
Immigrant 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.org
Delaney Hall ICE Detainees Take Aim at GEO Group’s Bottom Line - The American Prospect
Immigrants 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.
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Adam Bienkov @adambienkov.bsky.social · 27/05/2026
Tony 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
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James 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.co
The Nimbys have conquered Peckham
A cabal of influential Nimbys have blocked 867 new homes in Peckham
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Jonathan Portes @jdportes.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
Deeply 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.uk
Yusuf in clash with Jenrick over Reform's deportation policy
Reform's home affairs chief has publicly disagreed with its Treasury spokesman over what party policy is.
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Giles Wilkes @gilesyb.bsky.social · 25/05/2026
UK 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 liberal
ft.com
UK 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
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David Ho @davidho.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
ICE agents pepper-sprayed Senator Andy Kim of New Jersey.
nj.com
ICE 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.
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Fred Guttenberg @fredguttenberg.bsky.social · 26/04/2026
If 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.
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Alan Lester @alanlester.bsky.social · 15/04/2026
1/6 🧵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’.
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Ian Dunt @iandunt.bsky.social · 12/04/2026
Your 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.
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Don Moynihan @donmoyn.bsky.social · 12/04/2026
Marathon 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)
series of headlines detailing "marathon talks"series of headlines detailing "marathon talks"series of headlines detailing "marathon talks"series of headlines detailing "marathon talks"
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Ron Filipkowski @ronfilipkowski.bsky.social · 01/04/2026
Just 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.
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Alex Hall Hall @alexhh.bsky.social · 31/03/2026
This 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.com
King Charles III will undertake state visit to the United States in late April
Charles 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.
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Harry Rasmussen 🇨🇦 @harryrasmussen.bsky.social · 31/03/2026
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Jim 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.com
Pete Hegseth’s broker looked to buy defence fund before Iran attack
Morgan Stanley wealth manager approached BlackRock about multimillion-dollar investment for US defence secretary
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Tim Carvell @timcarvell.bsky.social · 30/03/2026
Golden retriever runs 15 feet after owner mimes throwing tennis ball
Headline: 
Dow rises 300 points after Trump says U.S. in ‘serious' talks to end operation in Iran
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Maureen Nicholson @coddme.bsky.social · 29/03/2026
So do we think Robert Jenrick is busy reading loads of Psalms this morning? 🌴
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Sunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · 27/03/2026
Afghan women have now been banned from applying to study in British universities by the Labour government www.gov.uk/government/s...
gov.uk
The UK unequivocally condemns the Taliban’s ban on girls' education in Afghanistan: UK statement at the UN Security Council
Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki, UK Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on Afghanistan.
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Maureen Nicholson @coddme.bsky.social · 24/03/2026
What 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.
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Mehdi 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.
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Brian 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.
(1) The accused declared, ordered, or otherwise indicated that there shall be no survivors
or surrender accepted;
(2) The accused thereby intended to threaten an adversary or to conduct hostilities such
that there would be no survivors or surrender accepted;
(3) It was foreseeable that circumstances would be such that a practicable and reasonable
ability to accept surrender would exist;
(4) The accused was in a position of effective command or control over the subordinate
forces to which the declaration or order was directed; and
(5) The conduct took place in the context of and was associated with hostilities.
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Ian Bond @cerianbond.bsky.social · 13/03/2026
Such 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?
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Maureen Nicholson @coddme.bsky.social · 13/03/2026
As 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.
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Maureen Nicholson @coddme.bsky.social · 12/03/2026
The 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 🦔 🦔
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Dmitry Grozoubinski @explaintrade.com · 11/03/2026
I'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.
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Emma Jacobs @emmavj.bsky.social · 11/03/2026
Actually, this on a banknote
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Chris Murphy @chrismurphyct.bsky.social · 11/03/2026
I 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:
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Peter Stefanovic @peterstefanovic.bsky.social · 10/03/2026
This 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.com
Home Office refuses to exempt exceptional students from tough immigration rules
Exclusive: Foreign secretary Yvette Cooper concerned about student visa ban on female Chevening scholars from volatile countries such as Afghanistan
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Ben Ansell @benansell.bsky.social · 10/03/2026
Can 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?
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Rory Cellan-Jones @rorycj.bsky.social · 10/03/2026
This 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?
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Elizabeth 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/
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Dan Snow @thehistoryguy.bsky.social · 06/03/2026
Absolutely 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.
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Toby Earle 🇺🇦 @tobyontv.bsky.social · 03/03/2026
I see the papers which screamed ‘tAKe bACK ConTRol’ now want the UK to be nothing but an obedient servant of the USA
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derek guy @dieworkwear.bsky.social · 28/02/2026
manufacturing consent through lowly paid influencers
Two photos. The first shows Catturd tweeting: Name one US inspired regime change that hasn't ended in absolute disaster

The next tweet shows him posting an AI illustration of Khamenei turned into a pile of dust. It says "I'm eliminated." Two tweets. The first shows Laura Loomer promoting her show, where she says "A message has been sent that we are not interested in going back to the way politics were prior to Donald Trump, prior to 2016. We don't want warhawks. We don't want any more Neocons. We want American First. Period. End of discussion."

The next tweet says: Today is a great day. 

Our military is amazing. 

@PeteHegseth
 is an absolute killer. 

Now you see why the Deep State worked so hard against him. 

It’s great having a Sec War who has Infidel literally tattooed on his body. 

He actually gets it. 

God bless him.Two tweets. The first shows Will Chamberlain tweeting: The Republican Party is no longer the party of regime change and endless wars. If you want to be its standard-bearer that is a non-negotiable position.

The next tweet shows him posting "Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is dead." The tweet has a USA flag attached. Two tweets. The first shows Gunther Eagleman tweeting: "Warmonger Lindsey Graham just rushed to Fox to advocate for U.S. involvement as soon as he could.

He is also pushing for a US-backed regime change in Iran.

I would like to renominate Graham to get a one-way ticket to the frontlines of every war he wants America involved in." There's an attached video of Graham speaking. 

The next shows Eagleman tweeting: UST IN! President Trump is HARD AT WORK all weekend after the massive strikes on Iran!

He’s already on the phone with Saudi Arabia, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte! 

Trump is a machine!" There's an attached video of a news segment about the war in Iran.
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Financial Times @financialtimes.com · 28/02/2026
Just 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
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The Onion @theonion.com · 28/02/2026
Netanyahu Calls Iran Strikes Necessary To Prevent War He Just Started
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