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Helen Johnston

@hj4euinspain.bsky.social
1.1K followers 1.9K following 37 posts

British resident in Spain, translator, pro-EU, lefty, green. Human rights are not a matter of opinion. Council member and newsletter editor @bremaininspain.com Council member @grassrootsforeurope.org Writer @yorkshirebylines.co.uk

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Reposted by Helen Johnston
LilyL @lilyleonard.bsky.social · 20/06/2026
#rejoineu
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Ian Bond @cerianbond.bsky.social · 20/06/2026
Neil Kinnock at #RejoinMarch showing he's still quite an orator, as he tells the crowd that outside the EU the UK is in limbo, & standing still means slipping backwards - rejoining the EU is our imperative: "Argue for it with reason, campaign for it with energy, but do it!".
Neil Kinnock on the stage at the National Rejoin March 2026.
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Bremain in Spain @bremaininspain.com · 30/05/2026
Thanks to @andrewhesselden.bsky.social in this month’s Bremainers Ask feature Andrew is the founder of the Save Freedom of Movement campaign @savefom.bsky.social Read his answers to all our member questions here
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Bremain in Spain @bremaininspain.com · 30/04/2026
This month's Bremainers Ask Big thanks to Christina Pagal, Prof of Operational Research, University College London, President Elect of the UK Operational Research Society, who tracks authoritarian actions by the Trump administration trumptractiontracker.info, for taking part @chrischirp.bsky.social
bremaininspain.com
Bremainers Ask Christina Pagel
Bremain in Spain is campaigning for a strong & close relationship with the EU and to protect the rights of British migrants living in Spain.
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Bremain in Spain @bremaininspain.com · 27/02/2026
Huge thanks to David Knopfler, founder & former guitarist of the legendary rock band Dire Straits, for taking part in our monthly feature of 'Bremainers Ask' @davidknopfler.bsky.social is a highly knowledgeable pro-EU and anti-Brexit commentator, writer Read his answers to all our questions below
bremaininspain.com
Bremainers Ask – David Knopfler - Bremain in Spain
Bremain in Spain is campaigning for a strong & close relationship with the EU and to protect the rights of British migrants living in Spain.
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Allison Gill @muellershewrote.com · 04/02/2026
I’m sharing Aliya’s entire opening statement. We owe it to her, and those who no longer have a voice, to watch. youtu.be/zrcW8SZtYpI?...
youtu.be
WATCH: Minneapolis resident and U.S. citizen Aliya Rahman describes being detained by ICE
YouTube video by PBS NewsHour
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Helen Johnston @hj4euinspain.bsky.social · 24/12/2025
Fixing Brexit’s damage isn’t ‘betrayal’ yorkshirebylines.co.uk/news/brexit/... @suewilson91.bsky.social @bremaininspain.com @yorkshirebylines.co.uk @grassrootsforeurope.org
yorkshirebylines.co.uk
Fixing Brexit’s damage isn’t ‘betrayal’
Every attempt to limit Brexit’s damage is branded a “betrayal” – but it’s the broken promises of 2016 that still haunt Britain
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Helen Johnston @hj4euinspain.bsky.social · 19/12/2025
Another excellent, and very scary @grassrootsforeurope.org webinar from @chrischirp.bsky.social . My latest article for @yorkshirebylines.co.uk
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Prof Christina Pagel @chrischirp.bsky.social · 19/12/2025
Great @yorkshirebylines.co.uk write up of my recent talk about Trump for grassroots Europe yorkshirebylines.co.uk/politics/tru... Thanks @colinngordon.bsky.social for inviting me back!
yorkshirebylines.co.uk
Trump’s authoritarian threat to Europe and the UK
No room for complacency: the signs are that US authoritarianism will spread here – and we must be prepared
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Yorkshire Bylines @yorkshirebylines.co.uk · 09/10/2025
A new report finds that the UK’s arm’s length public bodies are highly vulnerable to politicisation By Helen Johnston
yorkshirebylines.co.uk
Strengthening the institutions we rely on
A new report finds that the UK’s arm’s length public bodies are highly vulnerable to politicisation
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Helen Johnston @hj4euinspain.bsky.social · 09/10/2025
New report finds UK’s top scientific institutions have inadequate institutional defences to prevent potential political interference. yorkshirebylines.co.uk/politics/str... @yorkshirebylines.co.uk @grassrootsforeurope.org @chrischirp.bsky.social
yorkshirebylines.co.uk
Strengthening the institutions we rely on
A new report finds that the UK’s arm’s length public bodies are highly vulnerable to politicisation
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Bremain in Spain @bremaininspain.com · 17/09/2025
Some photos from our fellow campaigners out at the Stop Trump demo #StopTrump @grassrootsforeurope.org @hj4euinspain.bsky.social
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Yorkshire Bylines @yorkshirebylines.co.uk · 22/09/2025
✍️ Tracking Trump’s actions Democracy under siege: how Trump’s authoritarian playbook threatens both US and European institutions By Helen Johnston @hj4euinspain.bsky.social
yorkshirebylines.co.uk
Tracking Trump’s actions
Democracy under siege: how Trump’s authoritarian playbook threatens both US and European institutions
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Nick Reeves #FBPE #NAFO @nickreeves.bsky.social · 22/08/2025
The two main Leave campaigns broke the law in 2016 & robbed us of a fair referendum. Had the referendum been mandatory, as the Brexit elite pretended, it would have been ruled void. Like Mafia lawyers, the government exploited a legal loophole. Brexit was a coup.
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Helen Johnston @hj4euinspain.bsky.social · 13/08/2025
EU Passport checks finally go digital yorkshirebylines.co.uk/news/brexit/... @suewilson91.bsky.social @bremaininspain.com
yorkshirebylines.co.uk
EU Passport checks finally go digital
The European Union’s new entry/exit system (EES) replaces passport stamping with facial recognition technology and fingerprint ID
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OC Media @ocmedia.bsky.social · 03/08/2025
📩 We’re introducing our new monthly newsletter: Tracking the Rise of Authoritarianism in Georgia. This isn’t just news — it’s context, connections, and clarity. ▶️ Sign up here: oc-media.org/pages/tracki...
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Alex Hall Hall @alexhh.bsky.social · 03/08/2025
This is a write up of a recent webinar, in which I share my views on threats to American democracy under Trump; joined by @richardcorbett to consider implications for UK/Europe. In short - it’s bad. Very bad. I also think Republicans will rig 2026 elections, and Trump try to run for 3rd term.
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Helen Johnston @hj4euinspain.bsky.social · 03/08/2025
Resisting the Trump assault: will American democracy survive and what can we do to help? yorkshirebylines.co.uk/politics/res... @alexhh.bsky.social @richardcorbett.bsky.social @grassrootsforeurope.org
yorkshirebylines.co.uk
Resisting the Trump assault: will American democracy survive and what can we do to help?
Trump’s assault on democracy is real and escalating – Europe should be alarmed, warns ex-diplomat Alex Hall Hall in a recent webinar
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Yorkshire Bylines @yorkshirebylines.co.uk · 29/07/2025
✍️ Democracy on the Brink in Georgia “Democracy can collapse faster than we think”: urgent warnings from Georgia spotlight rising authoritarian threats across Europe and the West By Helen Johnston @hj4euinspain.bsky.social
yorkshirebylines.co.uk
Democracy on the Brink in Georgia
“Democracy can collapse faster than we think”: urgent warnings from Georgia spotlight rising authoritarian threats across Europe and the West
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aidThompsin (live, fridays @ 19:30) @aidthompsin.bsky.social · 22/07/2025
How can anyone look at State-level comms putting out shit like this, and do anything other than envelope into a vacuum of eternal embarrassment FUCK ME
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Helen Johnston @hj4euinspain.bsky.social · 22/07/2025
Crackdown on Palestine protesters sparks outrage across UK yorkshirebylines.co.uk/politics/cra... @suewilson91.bsky.social @bremaininspain.com
yorkshirebylines.co.uk
Crackdown on Palestine protesters sparks outrage across UK
Protesters face arrest for wearing pro-Palestine badges as UK cracks down on dissent amid growing global outcry over Israel’s actions in Gaza
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Helen Johnston @hj4euinspain.bsky.social · 22/07/2025
‘The growth strategy no one will say out loud: rejoin the European Union’ labourlist.org/2025/07/uk-r... – via LabourList @richardcorbett.bsky.social @bremaininspain.com @grassrootsforeurope.org
labourlist.org
'The growth strategy no one will say out loud: rejoin the European Union' - LabourList
By the time the next election manifestoes are written, it might be an idea whose time has come.
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Zoe Gardner @zoejardiniere.bsky.social · 15/07/2025
Every oppressive structure we put in place today, Nigel Farage will be able to use tomorrow. The Democrats made huge mistakes setting up Donald Trump with these unaccountable powers to strip citizenship - we can still fix it here before it's too late!
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Jelger Groeneveld @jelgerg.bsky.social · 15/07/2025
EU is looking into sanctioning Georgia for its democratic backslide, crackdown against political opposition and civil activists - but the usual suspects (Hungary, Slowakia) are blocking a united response. Meanwhile, Latvia has added 55 Georgians as persona non grata. www.rferl.org/a/eu-georgia...
rferl.org
EU Eyes Sanctions And Visa Moves Over Georgia's Political Crackdown
EU foreign ministers will meet in Brussels on July 15 with Georgia high on the agenda amid deepening political tensions. Measures under consideration include sanctions, suspending visa-free travel, an...
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The News Agents @thenewsagents.co.uk · 15/07/2025
“A catastrophic data breach.” For two years, the government took The News Agents to court over a leaked MOD document - under a super injunction. Now it’s lifted. @lewisgoodall.com reports on the hidden court that tried to silence us. Watch here. ▶️ www.globalplayer.com/videos/2JsSc...
globalplayer.com
The secret court that silenced the News Agents...until now Video | Global Player
For nearly two years the government has taken The News Agents and other journalists to a secret court to prevent us from reporting a story of huge public interest.
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Rusudan Djakeli @rusudandjakeli.bsky.social · 13/07/2025
For the 228th consecutive day, Rustaveli avenue is blocked. ✅ Georgians keep resisting and protesting every day in 8+ cities. 🇬🇪✊
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Yorkshire Bylines @yorkshirebylines.co.uk · 27/06/2025
✍️ Democracy in Hungary and Poland Fears of far-right rise as Nawrocki wins in Poland and Orbán clamps down in Hungary, warn experts at pro-Europe forum By Helen Johnston @hj4euinspain.bsky.social
yorkshirebylines.co.uk
Democracy in Hungary and Poland
Fears of far-right rise as Nawrocki wins in Poland and Orbán clamps down in Hungary, warn experts at pro-Europe forum
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James O’Brien @mrjamesob.bsky.social · 19/05/2025
Coverage of idiots claiming ‘betrayal’ or ‘surrender’ isn’t just bad journalism, it’s a dereliction of our duty to explain things. I’d actually forgotten just how bad it got but here we are, straight back to treating liars & spivs like authorities of equal weight to experts & honest brokers.
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Annette Dittert @annettedittert.bsky.social · 14/05/2025
Appalling response from Starmer. Had to watch it twice to believe it. And Angela Rayner staring into a void like she’s being held hostage. It’s just sad.
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Bremain in Spain @bremaininspain.com · 02/05/2025
Huge thanks to @carolinelucas.bsky.social for taking part in this month’s Bremainers Ask feature Caroline is Co-President of @europeanmovement.co.uk served as UK’s 1st Green Party MP 2010 - 2024 & 10 yrs as an MEP in European Parliament Read in full here www.bremaininspain.com/bremainers-a...
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Helen Johnston @hj4euinspain.bsky.social · 02/05/2025
Some lessons I took from last Monday power cuts for anyone planning to travel abroad this summer
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Roland Smith @rolandmcs.bsky.social · 03/04/2025
The Telegraph's inevitable main headline. Good Morning.
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Helen Johnston @hj4euinspain.bsky.social · 02/04/2025
**** EU citizens travelling to UK today is the first day of new ETA system. I am flying from Spain to UK now and I've just seen a couple of Spanish people turned back at passport control who didn't know they needed it. @bremaininspain.com
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RE-enlightenment 🇪🇺 @handle.invalid · 30/03/2025
Let's not forget this Brexit scam on British citizens started with Putin's wish to separate the UK from the EU, his agressive campaign in the shadows and the greed of a few politicians with no real interest for the citizens.
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Otto English @ottoenglish.bsky.social · 31/03/2025
That rarest of things. Truly excellent news. www.theguardian.com/world/live/2...
theguardian.com
Marine Le Pen banned from running for French presidency in 2027 and given four-year sentence in embezzlement trial – live
French far right leader barred from running for public office for five years with immediate effect after guilty verdict in trial
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Dmitry Grozoubinski @explaintrade.com · 25/03/2025
To be serious here for a moment: The most worrisome aspect of this incident isn't that they were conducting war planning on Signal, or even that they didn't clock who was in the group. It's the response. A government incapable of EVER admitting error and a Congress unwilling to force them to.
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Helen Johnston @hj4euinspain.bsky.social · 25/03/2025
Rachel Reeves is all about growth. So why won’t she admit that Brexit is its worst enemy? | Polly Toynbee www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
theguardian.com
Rachel Reeves is all about growth. So why won’t she admit that Brexit is its worst enemy? | Polly Toynbee
Our exit from the EU won’t be a focus of the spring statement, but it should be. Most now accept the need for closer ties, writes Guardian columnist Polly Toynbee
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Mark Hamill @markhamillofficial.bsky.social · 23/03/2025
See, it's funny cuz it's true. 🤣 (also: #sad) 😞
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Bremain in Spain @bremaininspain.com · 24/03/2025
The British Embassy in Spain is urging all British nationals resident in Spain to get a Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero (TIE card) as soon as possible following new information from the Spanish government that the old ‘Green Certificate’ will not be recognised by the EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES)
spainenglish.com
EU's Entry/Exit System will not recognise Spain's green residency certificate - Spain in English
The British Embassy in Spain is urging all British nationals resident in Spain to get a Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero (TIE card) as soon as possible
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The Washington Post @washingtonpost.com · 18/03/2025
A page on the Defense Department’s website celebrated Pfc. Ira Hayes, a Pima Indian who was one of the six Marines photographed hoisting a U.S. flag at Iwo Jima in 1945. The page, along with many others about minority service members, has now been erased.
washingtonpost.com
Amid ‘DEI’ purge, Pentagon removes webpage on Iwo Jima flag-raiser
Pages celebrating Navajo code talkers and other minority service members were also erased.
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Bremain in Spain @bremaininspain.com · 18/03/2025
Bravo 👏 London Mayor Sadiq Khan continues to go against the Labour Party line on Brexit Set to tell EU diplomats “Brexit was a mistake” & renew calls for closer alignment & youth mobility scheme & will tell delegates Britain’s withdrawal from the trading bloc “continues to have a negative impact”
politics.co.uk
Sadiq Khan: ‘Brexit was a mistake’ - Politics.co.uk
Sadiq Khan is set to tell European Union (EU) diplomats that “Brexit was a mistake” as he renews calls for closer alignment and a youth mobility scheme. At a summit hosted by the London mayor and atte...
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Bremain in Spain @bremaininspain.com · 13/03/2025
An open admission here that the UK outside of the EU is too weak to stand up to Trump’s tariffs We will say it again. Brexit weakened Britain and was a gift to Putin
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Bylines Scotland @bylines.scot · 06/03/2025
Some photo!
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⚫️🐦‍⬛ 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 @theskyisnotblue.bsky.social · 06/03/2025
Tbilisi. Day 99 of nonstop, nationwide protests in Georgia. 🇬🇪🇪🇺 #GeorgiaProtests chants: “Police everywhere, justice nowhere! No justice, no peace! Unjust court! Fear the power of the people! We won’t stop! Schedule new elections! Listen to the voice of the people! People demand justice!” ✊🔥🔥🔥
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Ian Dunt @iandunt.bsky.social · 06/03/2025
There's no end to it, is there. Every day, every hour, another concerted effort to sabotage and sacrifice Ukraine. The idea that Trump might offer something even approximating an acceptable peace is increasingly impossible to maintain.
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Bremain in Spain @bremaininspain.com · 06/03/2025
Donald Trump tried and failed to find a chink in the EU’s armor through a trade war in his first term. But now he’s found a more vulnerable spot: The massive security crisis he’s engineered by withdrawing U.S. support for Ukraine is exposing potentially lethal cracks in the 27-nation bloc.
politico.eu
Trump wants to destroy the EU — and rebuild it in his image
Donald Trump won’t deal with the EU. The EU can’t deal with Trump.
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Bremain in Spain @bremaininspain.com · 03/03/2025
So basically Farage is doing what he’s always done. He toes the Russian line, repeats the Russian narrative The man is a traitor to the UK. Not content in damaging Britain & gifting Brexit to Putin he would happily see Europe exposed & suffer further too He’s the lowest of the low.
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Leeds for Europe @leedseurope.bsky.social · 02/03/2025
@europeanmovement.co.uk President and former Attorney General Dominic Grieve
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Russell England @russellengland.bsky.social · 02/03/2025
Dominic Grieve, former UK government Attorney General "It is hard not to see the entire week as a performative pantomime orchestrated by Trump. A deliberate and choreographed attack on President Zelensky, a visiting head of state, that guaranteed the failure of his visit."
Screenshot of a Tweet from Dominic Grieve on Mar 1, 2025

The events this week confirm for me the opinion I expressed in my last post.
Pleased as I am that our PMs visit to Washington seemed to be reasonably successful, it is hard not to see the entire week as a performative pantomime orchestrated by Trump. He placated France and the U.K., whilst preparing for a deliberate and choreographed attack on President Zelensky, a visiting head of  state,  that guaranteed the failure of his visit. The behaviour of Trump and vice President Vance was outrageous-as a piece  of theatre it was straight from the playbook of Hitler's summons of President Hacha of Czechoslovakia to Berlin in 1939 to sign away its independence. Zelensky was entitled to say what he did. There was nothing remotely disrespectful about it. He stood up to the crude bullying that now seems the hallmark of the Trump administration. 
Even more chilling is the sense that we are seeing much more clearly Trump's motives. It is not about "peace" but doing a deal with Putin's Russia-Ukrainian land and people to be traded for the benefit of Russian raw materials. Just like the Hitler-Stalin Pact and we know how that ended.
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Pippa Crerar @pippacrerar.bsky.social · 28/02/2025
Almost 20 European leaders, incl Emmanuel Marcon & Friedrich Merz, plus VDL, have posted in support of @ZelenskyyUa after White House showdown. Notably, Keir Starmer has not. No 10 is referring reporters to PM’s comments this week on a just & lasting peace, with Ukraine at heart of talks.
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