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Simon Usherwood

@simonusherwood.bsky.social
13K followers 3.5K following 2.9K posts

Researcher of UK-EU relations, euroscepticism and learning & teaching. Open University and formerly UK in a Changing Europe. Renowned for my bubbly personality, I imagine.

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Simon Usherwood @simonusherwood.bsky.social · 7h
Now reading about the Duesseldorf Cow War Maybe time to wrap up work for the week?
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Simon Usherwood @simonusherwood.bsky.social · 10h
Thoughts and prayers with @vgravey.bsky.social as everyone talks about the Barnier staircase again
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Simon Usherwood @simonusherwood.bsky.social · 12h
Good read, if underplaying how we need to act, rather than just hope, when it comes to having an informed and engaged debate
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Simon Usherwood @simonusherwood.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
My blog on Burnham's "let's discuss the EU" move tl;dr might work, but needs more development www.open.ac.uk/blogs/EUatOU... @oupolitics.bsky.social @ou-gcsj.bsky.social @ukandeu.bsky.social
open.ac.uk
“And there are different options” | The European Union and the UK
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Simon Usherwood @simonusherwood.bsky.social · 15h
Today's constitutional
Guildhall, Guildford
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Jack Kessler @jackkessler.bsky.social · 16h
At least Brexit had a theoretical deadline. Rejoin enjoys no such luxury. ✍️ www.linestotake.com/p/brexit-ref...


As any first-year philosophy undergraduate will tell you, finitude gives life meaning. Mortality generates urgency, deadlines make choices weigh something. In that spirit, if the biggest problem with Article 50 was its finality, then Article 49 — the legal basis for any European state to join the EU — appears to suffer from the opposite affliction.
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Simon Usherwood @simonusherwood.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
More interesting that Farage's approach is not to defend the SQ but attach costs of membership, and that he seems to be waiting for Labour to commit to re-accession rather than cutting ditching red lines off at the knees now www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...
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UK in a Changing Europe @ukandeu.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
"For a country on the EU’s doorstep and highly dependent on it as a trade partner, the economic costs of non-membership are becoming ever harder to bear." ✍️ @jreland.bsky.social on how growing EU protectionism could affect what Burnham does next on EU relations. ukandeu.ac.uk/made-in-euro...
ukandeu.ac.uk
'Made in Europe' casts a shadow over Burnham's EU gambit - UK in a changing Europe
Joël Reland argues that the EU’s increasingly protectionist regulatory model is likely to increase the economic costs of non-membership for the UK,...
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Simon Usherwood @simonusherwood.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
and they say Trump does nothing for his wife www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Trump's AI rebrand causes 'unprecedented' demand for Slovenian website names
The president wants AI to be called super intelligence - or SI - the same initials used by Slovenian domains.
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Simon Usherwood @simonusherwood.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
My blog on Burnham's "let's discuss the EU" move tl;dr might work, but needs more development www.open.ac.uk/blogs/EUatOU... @oupolitics.bsky.social @ou-gcsj.bsky.social @ukandeu.bsky.social
open.ac.uk
“And there are different options” | The European Union and the UK
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Simon Usherwood @simonusherwood.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
While I continue to trawl through a blog post, here's some bits to keep you going on how we might tackle the coming debate about future UK relations with the EU
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Simon Usherwood @simonusherwood.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Today in EU preferences are shallow and biddable news
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Simon Usherwood @simonusherwood.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Today's perspectives on modern Surrey architecture
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Simon Usherwood @simonusherwood.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
20 Nov UK-EU summit seems to be on, but without Made in Europe decision (as expected), but also without agreement on uni fees (oddly, given it's a central EU ask) giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...
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Simon Usherwood @simonusherwood.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Good example of how it's important not to confuse what UK might want with what EU might want www.thetimes.com/article/8783...
thetimes.com
Andy Burnham’s four options to rejoin EU — and how likely they are
The prime minister is weighing up the customs union, single market, full bloc membership and a bespoke deal. Brexiteers will find some choices harder to swallow
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Simon Usherwood @simonusherwood.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Handy summary Will Andy Burnham reverse Brexit? - giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...
giftarticle.ft.com
Will Andy Burnham reverse Brexit?
The prime minister has reopened the debate on EU membership, a decade after the Brexit referendum
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Simon Usherwood @simonusherwood.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Think tanks and pollsters can be good sources www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
theguardian.com
No 10 gathering evidence on public support for UK rejoining EU
Senior Downing Street officials reach out to thinktanks and pollsters as they look to test backing for reversing Brexit
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Simon Usherwood @simonusherwood.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
[files this away for the inevitable late-night summit row]
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Simon Usherwood @simonusherwood.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Since there's already plenty of summaries of options around, here's a short guide to some useful things that might be considered when talking about future UK-EU relations PDF: bit.ly/UshGraphic149 @ukandeu.bsky.social @ou-gcsj.bsky.social @oupolitics.bsky.social
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Simon Usherwood @simonusherwood.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Thread
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Stefan Müller @stefanmueller.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Our School of Politics and International Relations at @ucddublin.bsky.social is hiring two permanent (!) Assistant Professors in any field of political science, international relations, political theory, or development. Deadline: 9 November Start date: 30 August 2027 my.corehr.com/pls/coreport...

Lecturer/Assistant Professor in Politics and International Relations (x2), UCD School of Politics and International Relations, Permanent
Applications are invited for a permanent post of a Lecturer/Assistant Professor in Politics and International Relations (x2) within UCD School of Politics and International Relations.
 
The UCD School of Politics & International Relations (SPIRe) is a globally ranked, research-active school with teaching and research expertise across the fields of political science, international relations, normative political theory, international development, and other areas. It is committed to the highest standards in undergraduate and graduate teaching and research supervision. The school is home to a number of research centres, and further information can be found at: https://www.ucd.ie/spire/about/
 
95 Lecturer/Asst Professor Above The Bar (7943) Salary Scale: €66,055  - €104,600 per annum

Appointment will be made on scale and in accordance with the Department of Finance guidelines.
 
Closing date: 12:00 noon (local Irish time) on 9th November 2026.
 
Applications must be submitted by the closing date and time specified. Any applications which are still in progress at the closing time of 12:00 noon (Local Irish Time) on the specified closing date will be cancelled automatically by the system. UCD are unable to accept late applications.
 
UCD do not require assistance from Recruitment Agencies. Any CV's submitted by Recruitment Agencies will be returned.
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Simon Usherwood @simonusherwood.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Thanks to BBC Surrey for the extended opportunity this morning to talk about Burnham's speech and what might come of it @oupolitics.bsky.social @ou-gcsj.bsky.social
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Simon Usherwood @simonusherwood.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Today's constitutional
Autumn colours
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Simon Usherwood @simonusherwood.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Interesting how he's drawing in other parties to this, to try to reinforce the image of building a wider consensus
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Simon Usherwood @simonusherwood.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Also, each option on UK-EU relations has costs and benefits, but unless we agree on what problem we're trying to address, we can't weigh those costs and benefits appropriately
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Simon Usherwood @simonusherwood.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Fair enough that Burnham says he will lay out options for long-term relationship with EU, especially if he's clear about costs and benefits of each But still a bit of can-kicking, given those options are well-known and all take time to achieve, time that isn't in great supply
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Simon Usherwood @simonusherwood.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Another data point for why Burnham might not want to spend a lot of his political capital on a big move on EU relations
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UK in a Changing Europe @ukandeu.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
🎉NEW REPORT OUT🎉 ⬅️The latest edition of the UK-EU divergence tracker by @jreland.bsky.social is here ➡️ "There is plenty happening on the continent which is going to have a profound effect on the UK, whether [the UK] pays attention or not." ukandeu.ac.uk/reports/uk-e...
ukandeu.ac.uk
UK-EU Divergence Tracker Q2 - Q3 2026 - UK in a changing Europe
This is the seventeenth edition of UK in a Changing Europe’s regulatory divergence tracker, outlining how UK and EU rules and regulations have aligned and diverged in the period April-September 2026.
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Simon Usherwood @simonusherwood.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Yes, some of this could come from a big shift on EU red lines, but nothing to suggest that's at the heart of what Burnham's going to talk about this afternoon
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Simon Usherwood @simonusherwood.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Asking for me If UK does agree to domestic fees for EU students, and also wants to compensate UK unis for loss of income, has anyone done work on how that would practically work? Has just occurred to me that it's not simple, however you do it @rachelbrooks.bsky.social @jreland.bsky.social
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Simon Usherwood @simonusherwood.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Left hand, right hand, etc
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Simon Usherwood @simonusherwood.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Three years of production with a great team of colleagues and very excited to be at the start of our new IR module for @openuniversity.bsky.social @oupolitics.bsky.social And an extra shout-out to @preciouschatd.bsky.social for being the best co-chair!
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Simon Usherwood @simonusherwood.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Call my cynical, but if main trail has been Social Care, then I'm doubtful that the EU stuff will be much more than the warm words we've seen to date
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Simon Usherwood @simonusherwood.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Not angry, just disappointed
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Simon Usherwood @simonusherwood.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Today's constitutional
River Wey, Guildford
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Simon Usherwood @simonusherwood.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
"Taking soundings"?? giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...
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Amanda M. Rosen @amandamrosen.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
APSA job ads ask AP candidates to do extensive customization just to apply--11 diff kinds of documents on top of cvs, cover letters, and LoRs. Of the 179 I reviewed in the 2026 cycle, only 9 required just the basics. 48% required 3+ more docs for initial review. activelearningps.com/2026/09/24/s...
activelearningps.com
Stop the job application cruelty. – Active Learning in Political Science ©
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Simon Usherwood @simonusherwood.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Today's constitutional
River Wey,  Guildford
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Simon Usherwood @simonusherwood.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Gibraltar EES arrangements aren't yet working properly Struck by image of people travelling with copies of treaties www.theolivepress.es/spain-news/2...
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Simon Usherwood @simonusherwood.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Good 🧵 on how it's not only the UK that needs to work on its external relations
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Simon Usherwood @simonusherwood.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Member states don't agree on IIA and UK preferences are not going to be central in resolving that www.theguardian.com/world/2026/s...
theguardian.com
France says EU’s ‘Made in Europe’ law should not include the UK
‘If you’re not in the internal market, you don’t get the same protection,’ says French minister of policy designed to curb Chinese competition
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David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Learn from Brexit negotiations. National politicians with warm words do not equal the consensus view of the Brussels bubble. Officials across the EU are right now far more sceptical regarding rejoin chatter, because they do not believe the UK is anything like ready.
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Simon Usherwood @simonusherwood.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Total classic by @stephencollins.bsky.social and one of my touchstones for explaining the last couple of decades of British politics
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Simon Usherwood @simonusherwood.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
My post on this: the bad bits of the TBI report shouldn't totally obscure the good bits www.open.ac.uk/blogs/EUatOU...
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Simon Usherwood @simonusherwood.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Deep breaths, Simon, you're in a safe space now Today's constitutional
Walk, Surrey
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Simon Usherwood @simonusherwood.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Tl;dr. I want everything
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Nicolai von Ondarza @nvondarza.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
"Absolute tosh" is the kind of British understatement I was looking for to describe this warped proposal of wanting to rejoin the EU, but not just the one that is there, and thinking an ex-member can dictate the terms of reforms... The more I think about it, the more absolute tosh it becomes.
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Simon Usherwood @simonusherwood.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Tony Blair is at it again institute.global/insights/geo...
institute.global
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Simon Usherwood @simonusherwood.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Lack of mutual recognition of conformity assessment is indeed a very big gap in UK-EU relations, as UK has argued for several years Its absence from Cmn Understanding isn't accidental but mark of EU unwillingness to discuss it www.ippr.org/media-office...
ippr.org
UK exports to EU could have been £6.5 billion a year higher with a mutual recognition agreement, finds IPPR | IPPR
EU-UK deal recognising each other's product testing would have boosted goods exports by between £3.7bn and £6.5bn a year, finds think tankAutomobiles, elec
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Simon Usherwood @simonusherwood.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
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