Sign in

Philosophical Phil

@philosophical-phil.bsky.social
623 followers 844 following 409 posts

#FPBE, Rejoin, European, failing to make sense of Brexit Britain, but sailing frees the spirit, cycling keeps me fit, music nourishes the soul. Francophile with genes to back it up. My dog is my master, obviously.

PostsRepliesMedia
Reposted by Philosophical Phil
Niall Ó Conghaile @nialloconghaile.bsky.social · 03/06/2025
Fascinating time capsule from @ottocr.at . A hard read for British nationalists, but the system doesn't work for Scotland (and Ni and Wales). I would argue that it's not just political and administrative; there is now a major cultural chasm, in that not enough people feel British. 1
127232
Philosophical Phil @philosophical-phil.bsky.social · 28/05/2025
Let's Make Pragmatism Sovereign Again.
010
Reposted by Philosophical Phil
Andrew Haslam-Jones @andrewhj.bsky.social · 28/05/2025
I understand Labour is scared of taking on the false narrative of Brexit but the “not in my lifetime” shtick is a tacit admission that Brexit is doing harm to the UK and Labour doesn’t have the wherewithal to counter it. That’s an admission of weakness and people can feel it. 2/2
3256
Reposted by Philosophical Phil
Brain Burning 🔥🧠🔥 @brainburnnow.bsky.social · 28/05/2025
Every stone you turn over, trying to fix what's ailing the UK, you find Brexit. Sometimes a lot, sometimes a little, but always some. Usually of the red line variety that can't be productively worked around. Until addressed, UK will be stuck w/ expensive ugly kludges that don't really work.
182
Philosophical Phil @philosophical-phil.bsky.social · 28/05/2025
So whilst the New Deal was being thrashed out, the Neo-Liberals were planning a different future. It's taken a while, but now they're here - the decades of dark money funding opaque think tanks and infiltrating academic and political institutions is coming to fruition.
010
Reposted by Philosophical Phil
Alexander Clarkson @aphclarkson.bsky.social · 28/05/2025
Where US diplomats now adopt Far Right narratives that accuse the EU and UK of betraying a Western civilisation that Trump's elites believe is now only embodied in MAGA American supremacism. Anti-European fanaticism as American state dogma statedept.substack.com/p/the-need-f...
1214776
Philosophical Phil @philosophical-phil.bsky.social · 28/05/2025
"Like the inquisitors of old, who persecuted Galileo for daring to notice that the sun did not, in fact, revolve around the Earth, they believe that truth-seeking imperils their hold on power."
010
Philosophical Phil @philosophical-phil.bsky.social · 21/05/2025
www.instagram.com/reel/DJ4Aave...
000
Reposted by Philosophical Phil
Best for Britain @bestforbritain.org · 19/05/2025
Salmon Scotland: "We congratulate the UK gov't on securing this deal with the EU, which will slash red tape and speed up the delivery of our premium salmon to market." ~AA #NotAllFish Source: www.theguardian.com/world/live/2...
24m ago
16.10 BST
Trade body for Scottish salmon industry hails EU deal as 'breakthrough'
Severin Carrell
Severin Carrell
Severin Carrell is the Guardian’s Scotland editor.

Salmon Scotland, the trade body which represents the fish farms behind the UK’s largest food export, said the EU trade deal would “slash red tape” and cut export costs.

The organisation estimates that post-Brexit food export rules cost exporters around £3m a year, with France the sector’s biggest customer. The sector sold £844m worth of farmed salmon overseas last year, with £462m sent to France alone.

Tavish Scott, the chief executive of Salmon Scotland and former leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats, is at a reception to celebrate the deal in London later. He said:

We congratulate the UK government on securing this deal with the EU, which will slash red tape and speed up the delivery of our premium salmon to market.

This breakthrough eases the burden on our farmers, processors and the communities they support, and we welcome efforts to implement it at pace. The withdrawal of physical checks is particularly welcome. It means lower costs and quicker deliveries for our customers.
723871
Reposted by Philosophical Phil
Ian Dunt @iandunt.bsky.social · 19/05/2025
Reeves noticeably more enthusiastic on repairing the EU relationship than other ministers. The reason why is obvious. She's the chancellor. She's the one who actually has to deliver on growth
13641106
Reposted by Philosophical Phil
Sarah Murphy @13sarahmurphy.bsky.social · 30/04/2025
It shouldn’t take the “destructive chaos” of Trump for British voters to desert Farage. We’re already living in the Brexit mess he helped make. But tragically, some prefer prejudice to policy and kid themselves that the Trump-loving grifter is the answer, rather than the problem. (Letter, Times)
Michael Dusmet: I am fascinated how the vision of President Trump and his destructive chaos struck Pierre Poilievre and his
Conservative Party dead in the water: a 20-point poll advantage melted like snow in spring and Mark Carney and the Liberals won the Canadian election. So far the Atlantic Ocean seems to be acting as a magic blanket, insulating the Reform party leader Nigel Farage from a similar desertion, despite his being a populist with an equally tenuous respect for facts and the truth.
38541194
Reposted by Philosophical Phil
Bylines Network @bylinesnetwork.co.uk · 30/04/2025
It’s our final day celebrating our birthday and 100 days since Trump’s inauguration. Today our focus turns to America Here is founder @mikegalsworthy.bsky.social to give you all the details on a new Bylines Network initiative bringing a voice to Americans 👇🏻/1
417483
Reposted by Philosophical Phil
Best for Britain @bestforbritain.org · 29/04/2025
🚨It would be extremely damaging for the Government to come away empty-handed from the UK-EU summit in May. "43% to 14% - so three times the number - expect the government to be pursuing a deeper relationship with Europe rather than with the US." @pimlicat.bsky.social 👇
832178
Reposted by Philosophical Phil
Mr RobertBob @mrrobertbob.bsky.social · 29/04/2025
Brexit was, is and always will be an utter disaster and I will not vote for any party that wilfully continues with this madness.
media.tenor.com
a blue flag with yellow stars on it is waving in the wind
Alt: a blue flag with yellow stars on it is waving in the wind
711936
Reposted by Philosophical Phil
Best for Britain @bestforbritain.org · 28/04/2025
Formal declaration is set to commit the UK and EU to a “new strategic partnership... maintaining global economic stability and our mutual commitment to free and open trade,” as well as “unwavering commitment” to Ukraine. ~AA
612531
Reposted by Philosophical Phil
Dave Vetter @davidrvetter.bsky.social · 26/04/2025
This is precisely why renewables are key to energy and national security. No bad actor can simply switch off the supply of sun or wind, or make them more expensive on a whim. Some countries recognized this years ago; some did not.
540781
Reposted by Philosophical Phil
Jacob Öberg @profjacob.bsky.social · 22/04/2025
🚨🚨 @ec.europa.eu president @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu has just declared that Big Tech companies including X, Meta, Apple & TikTok should be aware the bloc is ready to enforce its full digital rulebook no matter who is in charge of these firms or where they're located.🧵 www.politico.eu/article/euro...
politico.eu
Von der Leyen warns X, Meta, TikTok to play by the rules in Europe — no matter who’s CEO
The European Commission will enforce its digital rulebook without fear, said Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
21814308
Reposted by Philosophical Phil
Reform Party UK Exposed @reformexposed.bsky.social · 13/04/2025
British Steel shut site after Richard Tice's firm threatened to hike rent www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/uk-worl...
dailyrecord.co.uk
British Steel shut site after Richard Tice's firm threatened to hike rent
Richard Tice has called for the government to save British Steel but the former boss of the firm is a director of Quidnet REIT, which bought the firm's site in Darlington in 2022
19233141
Reposted by Philosophical Phil
George Takei @georgetakei.bsky.social · 12/04/2025
Strong evidence we are in fact in the “stupid” timeline.
A screenshot of a post on X by user Micah Erfan (@micah_erfan
). The post reads: "REMEMBER WHO PROMISED YOU THIS WASN’T HOW TARIFFS WORKED." Below the post, there is a snippet from NewsWire (@NewsWire_US
) with the headline: "AMAZON CEO: SELLERS WILL PASS COST ON TO CUSTOMERS."
1304324788
Reposted by Philosophical Phil
Pam Jarvis @drpam.bsky.social · 12/04/2025
Excellent. Can we have our water back now too, please, and decrappify it?
theguardian.com
MPs debate emergency law to take control of British Steel after Chinese owners’ ‘excessive’ demands – live
No 10 has published a draft law that would give the business secretary the power to direct the company
510725
Philosophical Phil @philosophical-phil.bsky.social · 12/04/2025
US citizens getting their version of Brexit - the humiliation abroad of admitting what your country has become. www.bbc.com/news/article...
bbc.com
Trump era leaves US tourists in Paris feeling ashamed
American visitors tell the BBC they're keeping quiet about their nationality abroad.
011
Reposted by Philosophical Phil
BRICS News 📄 @bricsinfo.bsky.social · 10/04/2025
JUST IN: 🇨🇳🇪🇺 China and European Union in talks to abolish EU tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles.
35614
Reposted by Philosophical Phil
Ian Dunt @iandunt.bsky.social · 11/04/2025
One man is standing up for the rule of law in Britain. His reward is to be savagely attacked by right wing think tanks, newspapers & politicians. They understand where the battle against populism is taking place. And they've marshalled their forces accordingly. iandunt.substack.com/p/a-good-man...
812067705
Reposted by Philosophical Phil
BladeoftheSun @bladeofthes.bsky.social · 10/04/2025
"He made $2.5bn and he made $900m, that's not bad." The Founding Father's would have had all these guys in front of a firing squad.
42450163
Reposted by Philosophical Phil
Unusual Whales @unusualwhales.bsky.social · 10/04/2025
I want you to understand how unusual the moves were today. Before Trump announced a pause, there was HUGE $QQQ volume on a 460C expiring 04/17. They were bought for $0.85 and ran to as high as $31 per contract!!! This was before any news. Later in the day, it rallied 2000% in ten minutes.
26695231
Reposted by Philosophical Phil
Oliver @oliver48.bsky.social · 10/04/2025
"$304 BILLION in wealth was transferred from the retirement accounts of working-class people to the pockets of the ultra-wealthy by Trump’s manipulation of the markets over the last week. 4D chess if you’re Maga, daylight robbery if you’re anyone else." via @dailypolitik.bsky.social
05438
Reposted by Philosophical Phil
Sen. Adam Schiff @schiff.senate.gov · 10/04/2025
BREAKING: I’m demanding answers from the White House and Office of Government Ethics about whether anyone in the Trump family or administration profited off of this tariff chaos through insider trading.
57064821650
Reposted by Philosophical Phil
Mike Galsworthy @mikegalsworthy.bsky.social · 10/04/2025
Trump tried to force everyone to buy American. Result: No one is buying American.
38773188
Reposted by Philosophical Phil
Peter Jukes @peterjukes.bsky.social · 10/04/2025
Was Trump's Tariff Pause Part of a Massive Insider Trading Scam? open.substack.com/pub/arthursn...
open.substack.com
Was Trump's Tariff Pause Part of a Massive Insider Trading Scam?
Would he have resisted the temptation to make money for his family?
5330098
Reposted by Philosophical Phil
Nick Reeves #FBPE #NAFO @nickreeves.bsky.social · 08/04/2025
Brexit is inflicting far more economic damage on the UK than Trump's tariffs will. Starmer needs to get his head out of the sand and act as rapidly as possible to return the UK to the Single Market and preferably to the EU. It is that or become a US vassal state. #RejoinEU
33414
Philosophical Phil @philosophical-phil.bsky.social · 08/04/2025
It wasn't long ago that getting rid of the Tories felt like a road back to democracy and a govt that could listen. But Labour's red lines on Europe are just extending the misery and damage indefinitely. We need a revolution just as much as the US does.
000
Reposted by Philosophical Phil
Best for Britain @bestforbritain.org · 08/04/2025
Centre-right comedian Geoff Norcott: "Even the most ardent Brexiteer would have to concede there was a price to Brexit" It's finally sinking in for the Brexiteers. Brexit has cost our economy £140 BILLION. It's cost jobs, it's cost opportunities & it's cost our economic growth.
2122864
Reposted by Philosophical Phil
Peter Stefanovic @peterstefanovic.bsky.social · 08/04/2025
Mark Carney says he has 'seen this movie before', and believes that the US economy is heading for a Brexit-style downturn www.thelondoneconomic.com/politics/us-...
26984142313
Reposted by Philosophical Phil
Farrukh @implausibleblog.bsky.social · 08/04/2025
Wes Streeting, "The question of European Union membership is settled" "It's been settled by a referendum and a number of general elections" Labour have coined the phrase builders not blockers, but by keeping the UK outside of a Customs Union with the EU, Labour are the actual blockers to growth
169621168
Reposted by Philosophical Phil
Laurence - highest score ever in the Neasden Cognitive Test!! @laurenceineu.bsky.social · 08/04/2025
This (seriously) is the formula that the White House used to calculate its "reciprocal" tariffs. I particularly like the product ε.φ in the denominator, in which ε = 1/φ (so it has a value of 1 by definition) Also using (export - import) instead of actual tariffs, and retail instead of trade prices
143
Reposted by Philosophical Phil
MAKS 26 👀🇺🇦 @maks23.bsky.social · 07/04/2025
WOW 🇺🇸❌🇨🇳
4618717
Reposted by Philosophical Phil
Peter Foster @pmdfoster.bsky.social · 07/04/2025
Some of the UK “Singapore” Brexit benefit stuff being trotted out is absurdly myopic. In the best traditions of Brexit, of course. The UK is trapped between two increasingly mercantilist trade blocs. It will keep paying a price that exceeds any arbitrage benefits. QED, the last eight years.
18561167
Reposted by Philosophical Phil
Anonymous @youranoncentral.bsky.social · 04/04/2025
Elon Musk’s propaganda tool X faces over $1 billion fine from EU regulators after failing to adhere to the law and curb disinformation - NYT Musk’s empire is going up in flames. #3E
Musk business empire on fire , Tesla burning
29268031456
Philosophical Phil @philosophical-phil.bsky.social · 07/04/2025
Americans need to prove the US is still a democracy and get the current incumbents out of office. Do whatever it takes because if you're an ordinary American, Trump's Republican party hates you.
010
Reposted by Philosophical Phil
East Anglia Bylines @eastangliabylines.co.uk · 06/04/2025
Why kill the government? Because a weak federal system means no anti-trust laws, no regulation, no accountability for the ultra-rich, & no dollar. Crypto kings win. This isn’t just politics. A corporate takeover. #Trump #BigTech
eastangliabylines.co.uk
Trump’s assault on the state: ‘make America vanish’?
Is Trump paving the way for the rule of the oligarchs? How dismantling the US government serves the super-rich
12215
Reposted by Philosophical Phil
Farrukh @implausibleblog.bsky.social · 06/04/2025
Trevor Philips, "Is the 10% tariff on the UK a benefit of Brexit?" Caroline Lucas, "Leaving the EU costs us 5% of GDP" "Trump's 10% tariff has an impact of 0.3%" "And this special relationship with the US is no better than an island with a whole load of penguins on it"
491025346
Reposted by Philosophical Phil
Liberal Party • Parti libéral @liberalca.bsky.social · 05/04/2025
Mark Carney: “I have seen this movie before. I know exactly what’s going to happen.”
371227422
Reposted by Philosophical Phil
Seth Abramson @sethabramson.bsky.social · 06/04/2025
299118342638
Reposted by Philosophical Phil
Mike Galsworthy @mikegalsworthy.bsky.social · 29/03/2025
🇪🇺🇬🇧 Westminster MPs debated a petition to rejoin the EU, with many backing closer ties. Labour’s red lines remain, but momentum for change is growing. 🙌
northeastbylines.co.uk
Parliament debates rejoining the EU: a surprisingly positive response
Westminster MPs debated a petition to rejoin the EU, with many backing closer ties. Labour’s red lines remain, but momentum for change is growing
331116274
Reposted by Philosophical Phil
ChristianG @mryeswecan.eurosky.social · 01/04/2025
This is so Brexit Deja vue. But on steroids. At least over here we’re waking up from the madness.
211
Reposted by Philosophical Phil
Reece Dinsdale @reecedinsdale.bsky.social · 30/03/2025
I have little sympathy with voters who make little investigation or have zero insight about what a party(?) is and what they stand for other than stopping foreigners arriving here. What did you THINK you were voting for with Farage in charge!!!
94588141
Reposted by Philosophical Phil
European Movement West London #FBPE #FBPR #RejoinEU @em-westlondon.bsky.social · 30/03/2025
What depth of insult would convince our PM to stop propping up collapsing transatlantic bridges? We will have to choose. Gradual disengagement from US,and renewed integration in Europe, is the only sane,safe path. Stop feeding the monster.He will devour us all. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
theguardian.com
Britain has been paying a high price for Uncle Sam’s craziness. It’s time to turn to Europe | Simon Tisdall | Simon Tisdall
In his final column, the Observer’s foreign affairs commentator says America under Trump is not the first time it has caused trouble for allies
03515
Reposted by Philosophical Phil
Mark Chadbourn @chadbourn.bsky.social · 30/03/2025
Morning Bluesky. Only 14% of Brits think the country should align more closely with Trump America. The majority believes closer ties with Europe is the way to go.
huffingtonpost.co.uk
Brits Demand Closer Ties With Europe To Counter Donald Trump's Tariffs
Poll reveals voters want Labour to improve trade links with EU.
52768218
Reposted by Philosophical Phil
Sarah Murphy @13sarahmurphy.bsky.social · 30/03/2025
Our govt and the Tories say they want a deal with Trump to avoid tariffs (and to try to assert some desperate Brexit ‘benefit’) Not sure it’s ever been quite so screamingly obvious that the deal we need is with the EU and not this vengefully deranged and dangerous MAGA outfit.
26541146
Reposted by Philosophical Phil
Esther @elhopkins.bsky.social · 30/03/2025
centralbylines.co.uk/news/environ...
centralbylines.co.uk
Climate and nature in peril as bill shelved by Labour
The climate and nature bill aims to jointly address the climate and nature crisis. Can it still be enacted?
064