iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

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Peter Jukes @peterjukes.bsky.social · 7h

New Mystic Meg prediction by Daniel Hannan who famously predicted the ‘blue eyed Sheikhs’ of Iceland Banking would would save us in 2004, Brexit Britain would be booming in 2026, and that Covid wouldn’t kill anyone in 2020 In other words, we will be rejoining the EU

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George Peretz KC @georgeperetzkc.bsky.social · 6h

Important - and on the nail - point by the Prime Minister here. (www.ft.com/content/ef10... Burnham clears path to EU summit with post-Brexit breakthrough - £).

He noted that the proposed deal on removing barriers to agrifood trade would mean that Britain would have to adopt EU rules, a step that he said raised legitimate questions about whether the UK should start to reverse Brexit.
He told the BBC: "But then we're a rule taker, and then people will say, 'Well, hang on a minute, should Britain be that?'
"So we're in this position now where we can't really avoid the question anymore as to what is our long-term relationship."

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Richard Haviland @rfhaviland.bsky.social · 6h

A true force for evil

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Chris Grey @chrisgrey.bsky.social · 10h

This illustrates not just the hypocrisy but the self-defeating nature of Trump's policies. Under MAGA doctrine, he enacts protectionism, trashes the alliance with Europe, and demands Europe take more responsibility for its own defence, and then finds it has consequences the US dislikes.

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Sarah Murphy @13sarahmurphy.bsky.social · 10h

“The question is not whether we can afford to remain within the Convention [ECHR]. It is whether, in an increasingly dangerous world, we can afford not to” Political liars and lightweights, like Badenoch and Farage, must never be allowed to take that risk. www.lawgazette.co.uk/commentary-a...

The Law Society
Gazette

In short, if Britain were to leave the ECHR, it would not be
'taking back control. It would be surrendering influence over the rules and institutions that help keep us safe.
The debate about the ECHR is too often conducted as though it were a choice between national sovereignty and international law. That is a false choice.
The Convention advances British interests because it reflects British values: liberty under law, democratic government and the accountability of power.
Walking away would not make Britain freer. It would make Britain weaker.

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Sarah Murphy @13sarahmurphy.bsky.social · 10h

Politicians who demand we leave the ECHR and don’t actually believe in freedom of speech or a free press. What could possibly go wrong for the rest of us with that?

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Carole Cadwalladr @carolecadwalla.bsky.social · 20h

Here’s the moment @labourlewis.bsky.social read out the letter at a fringe event at Labour conference hosted by @the-citizens.bsky.social bsky.app/profile/the-...

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Rosemary Thomas @rozzthomas.bsky.social · 11h

Don’t stop talking about #Oleshky.

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Simon Pease @simonpease.bsky.social · 11h

1/9 Just for the fun of it, how would you conduct discussion with those member os the public opposed to, or uncertain about the relationship with the EU, based on the lines Burnham roughed out in his speech? My approach would be; the status quo is neither tolerable, nor stable...

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Adam Bienkov @adambienkov.bsky.social · 13h

Kemi Badenoch condemned Reform's ban on critical journalists covering their conference as "authoritarian", saying her own party would never do the same as "we believe in free speech. We believe in a free press." Now the Conservatives have banned Byline Times from their conference

bylinetimes.com

Kemi Badenoch's Conservatives Ban Byline Times From Conference After Condemning Reform for Journalist Ban

The ban comes just weeks after the Conservative leader called Reform's barring of critical journalists from their conference an "authoritarian" attack on the free press

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Jo Wolff @jowolff.bsky.social · 12h

Soft Power ruined by Trump’s cutting off funding and friendship around the world. Hard Power ruined by using most of the country’s munitions to fight a hopeless war. Anyone know what Medium Power is?

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Dr Stylite @columnist.bsky.social · 15h

And now Burnham has completely changed the British political situation — just like that, it’s not so difficult.

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Ian Dunt @iandunt.bsky.social · 18h

This is testament to No.10's frankly astonishing degree of political competence. A policy which was branded electoral suicide 48 hours ago now showing signs of robust popularity.

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Paul Bernal @paulbernal.bsky.social · 17h

“Stop accusing us of spying! We’ve been watching you!”

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David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 19h

No, the difference between "join" and "rejoin" really doesn't matter, just as in the past it didn't mater if it was an "association agreement" or a "free trade agreement", and it continues not to matter if the EU is or is not the organisation the UK left. Wood. Trees.

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Tim Bale @timbale.bsky.social · 18h

Knee, meet Jerk.

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Simon Pease @simonpease.bsky.social · 19h

I can understand the desire to know everything in exact detail. I think like that myself. But it was a conference speech, the main purpose of which is enthusing the members. And it’s the day after.

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Jonathan Portes @jdportes.bsky.social · 20h

A very good start. The unions should make clear that there should be no retrospection - any changes to settlement should only apply to new arrivals. inews.co.uk/news/politic...

inews.co.uk

How migration reforms could be watered down - as Mahmood plans talks on concessions

The Home Secretary is weighing up how to soften indefinite leave to remain changes

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Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 29/09/2026

Jack Smith: "Our investigation developed proof beyond a reasonable doubt that President Trump engaged in serious crimes against our nation ... rather than accept his defeat in the 2020 election, he engaged in a criminal scheme to overturn the results and prevent the lawful transfer of power"

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Alex Hall Hall @alexhh.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Burnham’s speech is the best from a British politician in yrs. He’s the first leader with policies that I can truly get behind in over a decade. He actually said everything I wish Starmer had said months ago, as per my article below. The similarities are uncanny!!!🧵 bylinetimes.com/2026/05/12/t...

bylinetimes.com

'The Speech I Wish Keir Starmer Had Given'

Alexandra Hall Hall delivers the big reset speech she wishes the Prime Minister actually had made after Labour's local elections defeats

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Sarah Murphy @13sarahmurphy.bsky.social · 21h

This mindset is the least we deserve from a leader. Of course it has to be turned into action. But this kind of ambition and love for the country, this kind of personal but positive vision is what takes people with you. How feeble-minded Farage and Badenoch seem. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Photo of Burnham waving to the audience in front of HOPE AGAIN backdrop

Burnham was not going to die wondering. He knew he might be delivering one of the longest suicide notes in history, but he did it anyway. Because he couldn't not do it. Better to go down remaining true to his principles than being slowly airbrushed out of history like the previous six prime ministers. Failures all. Andy was prepared to burn through all his political capital right there in Liverpool, right then. Not just for his own legacy but for a country he wanted to rebuild. It was the only way he could look himself in the mirror.
Honour his parents.

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Roland Smith @rolandmcs.bsky.social · 21h

Remarkable that the Telegraph is not screaming this morning about Burnham's pledge of a closer/rejoining EU relationship because Brexit has failed.

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Mark Pack @markpackuk.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

After all Labour's previous dalliances with PR for the Commons, let's hope they see this through - first past the post cannot cope with the modern state of politics.

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Russ Jones @russincheshire.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

It only feels “radically progressive” because we’ve spent 40 years normalising radically regressive ideas. This was broadly how Britain worked from 1945–79, when average GDP growth was 2.6% a year — compared with 1.9% in the post-Thatcher years. It works www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

theguardian.com

Burnham gambles on radical progressive plan to help Britain ‘rise again’

PM accepts some of his plan could be difficult and admits he ‘may pay a political price’

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Euan MacDonald @euanmacdonald.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

It's been quite doomy and gloomy in Kyiv since fascist Russia launched its practically non-stop jet drone attacks on the Ukrainian capital, but there are still signs of hope:

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Euan MacDonald @euanmacdonald.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Whatever happens, as ever, the war is set to rise in intensity and expand in geography - unless the West gives democratic Ukraine sufficient military, economic and political support for it to be able to defeat fascist Russia more quickly.

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Simon Pease @simonpease.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

I think this is a good assessment

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Simon Pease @simonpease.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

1/2 Burnham/speech. Lots of talk, naturally, about what it all means, and quite fairly, pointing out all the practical obstacles. But the Omertà is broken, and there is acknowledgement that Brexit is as well...

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David Higham @oldtrotter.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

As a matter of logic you cannot be “hard working” if you rely on the state pension. I hope ministers will keep (start?) explaining that the state pension isn’t paid out of an investment fund but by the contributions of those currently working.

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Farrukh @implausibleblog.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Chris Byrant on Northern Ireland having the fastest growing economy in the UK, "And we're open to business like nowhere else on earth with unique dual access to enormous markets: the UK and the European Union - our potential is enormous"

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Richard Haviland @rfhaviland.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

An ex-PM, an ex-AG and an ex-Justice Secretary have spent today undermining the police on social media and siding with a blackshirted fascist and a woman who called for people to be burned alive in their beds. They all strike me as candidates for referral to Prevent. Just another normal day eh?

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Peter Jukes @peterjukes.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

The number of times Nigel Farage has fallen over himself to get a racist xenophobic slant on some breaking news SHOULD be a wake up call to anyone who thinks he isn’t just a hate monger, trying to distract from his crypto millions with some new scapegoat

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David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Whatever Andy Burnham says later about the EU, a UK government serious about EU relations must increase its efforts in Brussels in particular otherwise it isn't. And deal with the fact that the EU is becoming more protectionist. encompass-europe.com/comment/how-...

encompass-europe.com

How to achieve UK aims in Brussels

(a companion piece to everything Brussels really thinks about the UK) There are 27 countries present and permanently negotiating almost every policy area in Brussels. These are the member…

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David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

This will also be the case next week when the Conservatives revive no-deal Brexit under the guise of leaving the ECHR, and will ignore the consequences which forced climbdown in the past (industry leaving, no data adequacy, US pressure on Northern Ireland)

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Sarah Murphy @13sarahmurphy.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Burnham edges Labour closer to finally, maybe, being sane about Brexit. Over 10 years, £Billions of cost, thousands of business failures, mountains of red tape, wasted resources and lost opportunities later…. our govt may, at last, cautiously, start to be honest about the Brexit moronathon. Yay.

The Independent front page headline:

Burnham edges Labour closer to rejoining EU
After Ed Miliband tells party conference Britain's future is at the heart of Europe, ministers say it is 'not if but how' prime minister will include Brexit reversal in next election manifesto

There is growing optimism that a way back into the EU could be put to voters at the next election after the prime minister and senior ministers made it clear they believe Brexit has been a failure at this year's party conference.
When The Independent asked Mr Burnham about whether Rejoin would be in Labour's next election manifesto on his recent trip to the UN in New York, he refused to rule it out - having said a year ago when he was
Manchester mayor that he believes the
UK should rejoin the EU.

Andy Burnham has already warned about the 'drift and division' in the decade since Brexit (Getty)

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Roland Smith @rolandmcs.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Why might that be, Telegraph?

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Sarah Murphy @13sarahmurphy.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Farage honks his mouth off about ongoing police investigations, when told not to. His Welsh leader is in prison for taking bribes from Russia. He whips up riots. He’s in bed with Trump, foreign money, crooks and crypto billionaires…. A massive problem with national security is Farage himself.

sky news

'We have a massive problem with national security': Farage challenged on Fairford speculation
Reform UK leader told his social media followers the five men arrested after an RAF Fairford situation were "Iranian nationals". Sky's Rob Powell spoke to him after it was confirmed the men arrested are British nationals.

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Roland Smith @rolandmcs.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Farage posted this at 12.38 today. It has been hopelessly overtaken by events and shown to be entirely wrong (British nationals involved and they've been released on bail - not very terrorist-like). And if you believe anything Trump says, you are a credulous moron.

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Otto English @ottoenglish.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

We still don't know what's happened but Farage making a serious twit of himself here.

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Roland Smith @rolandmcs.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

The stupidest suggestion in Britain right now is that Reform supporters are also the country's best critical thinkers. No, they make their first observation their conclusion. Genuine critical thinkers make the same first observation but they then delve several layers deeper in search of truth.

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Chris Grey @chrisgrey.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Meanwhile, the hare is up and running, in both the US & UK, that 'terrorists have been released on bail' (with a side order of 'two-tier justice, what about 'Tommo'?' nonsense) and will no doubt lodge in section of public memory (along with e.g. 'cat prevents deportation' that still does the rounds)

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Arthur Snell @snellarthur.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

"The big problem is the war my friend Putin started and which he needs my help to win, not the one I started and lost."

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Tony Yates @t0nyyates.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

There's never an ask for Russia. Ukraine are going after the refineries to bring their economy and war economy to a halt so that they stop killing Ukranians and leave Ukraine.

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David Higham @oldtrotter.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

It never stops

Robert Jenrick

The 5 RAF base terror suspects have been released on bail.

Meanwhile Danny Tommo has his bail denied.

It looks insane on the face of it. Are the police going to explain what's going on?

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Rosemary Thomas @rozzthomas.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Are you listening Greece and Spain?

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Dan Neidle @danneidle.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Luxury retailers want taxpayers to fund a 20% tax break for foreign tourists. They paid consultancy Cebr to claim this will raise £2.6bn for the UK. That convinced Sadiq Khan and Kemi Badenoch. But it's false: a free lunch. Four basic errors mask a £600m loss. Thread:

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Dan Neidle @danneidle.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Fixing these four errors turns the £2.6bn gain into a £600m loss to the Exchequer.

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Jonathan Portes @jdportes.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

This was an entirely predictable act of economic self-harm - both the Sunak and Starmer government decided that the priority was to cut migration *when it was already falling fast*. ukandeu.ac.uk/immigration-...

ukandeu.ac.uk

Immigration is falling but the economic cost may be high - UK in a changing Europe

Jonathan Portes analyses the latest immigration figures from the Home Office and Office for National Statistics.

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Jonathan Portes @jdportes.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

This is *not* the result of "the success of Mahmood's reforms", but of earlier measures/other factors. Her proposals could make it considerably *worse* in future years. A few other points linked below.. archive.ph/0psJ8

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 significantly 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 seen net migration cut to the low hundreds of thousands, could cost Healey some £4bn.

Labour sources familiar with the budget process, however, said that the figure was now closer to £6.5bn. The OBR’s migration forecasts have been consistently higher than real numbers in recent years.

Treasury officials, who have long expected Mahmood’s reforms to cause a hit to headroom, described the number as “pure speculation” but did not deny that Healey would have to contend with a larger funding gap than expected because of falling migration

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