Stephen Swan @stephenswan.bsky.social · 7hPleasure, as always Niall. Currently bulb planting by way of a distraction! 000
Reposted by Stephen SwanBest for Britain @bestforbritain.org · 09/10/2026Lillian Jones MP, Chairwoman @uktradebusiness.bsky.social: "Burnham stressed that the next summit will be a moment to set out the different options for the UK’s relationship with the EU. This is a watershed moment. No PM has put the full range of options on the table since May drew her red lines."lbc.co.ukBritain needs a new deal with Europe that works for everyone | LBCThe Prime Minister has opened up a conversation about our long-term relationship with the EU. As Chairwoman of the UK Tr 212746
Reposted by Stephen SwanLucie🐈⬛Catnip @luciecatnip.bsky.social · 09/10/2026"The Nobel Peace Prize was awarded Friday to the South African legal pioneer Navanethem “Navi” Pillay for defending international law and institutions in a world in which increasingly “might overtakes right.” www.nbcnews.com/world/europe... 25517
Reposted by Stephen SwanPrem Sikka @premnsikka.bsky.social · 08/10/2026Billionaire David Reuben says he quit UK for Monaco ... actually already there since 2014. Worth £28bn, objects to non-dom tax changes. Doesn't want to be taxed on the same basis as UK residents Super-rich happy to make profits in the UK, want special treatment, hold govts to ransom.theguardian.com‘I reside in Monaco’: billionaire said to have quit UK over potential wealth tax had already leftTaxWatch contradicts claims about David Reuben’s departure and questions stories of super-rich exodus 571032446
Stephen Swan @stephenswan.bsky.social · 20hThis is a brilliant assessment/conversation by Niall and Alex. Please read and share. Any substantive comments by me would be superfluous. 123
Reposted by Stephen SwanNiall Ó Conghaile @nialloconghaile.bsky.social · 09/10/2026Lovely reply, Alex, and open and honest. I feel for those civil servants, like yourself. 071
Reposted by Stephen SwanAlex Hall Hall @alexhh.bsky.social · 08/10/2026For Georgians, joining the EU wasn’t a purely economic matter, but a statement of identity, values, freedom from Russia, escape from their past, and hope for a more prosperous future, secure future. The UK has never viewed the EU through that prism. 24910
Reposted by Stephen SwanAlex Hall Hall @alexhh.bsky.social · 08/10/2026Truly expanded and deepened when I served in third countries, and began to understand how they viewed the EU, how important the EU was to them, and the influence, values and principles which the EU represented. My posting in Georgia was the culmination of my education. 1235
Reposted by Stephen SwanAlex Hall Hall @alexhh.bsky.social · 08/10/2026Anyway, it’s what Ministers think which matters most. I just don’t know if any of our politicians truly “get” the EU. I was myself a bit of a eurosceptic when I worked in the Cabinet Office, and was purely focused on the domestic UK perspective. My understanding and appreciation of the EU only… 1187
Reposted by Stephen SwanAlex Hall Hall @alexhh.bsky.social · 08/10/2026It turns out that much of our bureaucracy goes along- and says and does what will most please Ministers. There’s a fine line between being an honorable , loyal civil servant - who’s job ultimately is, of course , to do Minister’s bidding , and being toadies, derelict in their duty to the public. 5164
Reposted by Stephen SwanAlex Hall Hall @alexhh.bsky.social · 08/10/2026Niall, honestly, I don’t know- I’m no longer in touch with current FCDO staff. Unfortunately, one cause of my disillusionment with the FCDO was that I expected more of them to speak up about the catastrophe of Johnson’s Brexit - but it seems most senior staff valued their job and status more. 1165
Reposted by Stephen SwanNiall Ó Conghaile @nialloconghaile.bsky.social · 07/10/2026And it is sad. The UK is adrift. Question for you: within the FCDO do diplomats understand this, and do they favour the kind of action needed to fix it? 182
Reposted by Stephen SwanNiall Ó Conghaile @nialloconghaile.bsky.social · 07/10/2026Hi Alex, thanks for that. Whatever about the rebalancing after Brexit, Canada recognises the Union as the anchor or Western democracy and treats it as a significant partner in that light. The UK, as yet, does not. The final steps will be hard to take unless leaders make that case. 1152
Reposted by Stephen SwanAlex Hall Hall @alexhh.bsky.social · 06/10/2026Sadly, I agree completely with your analysis @nialloconghaile.bsky.social . This is what I wrote last month (before Burnham’s speech). bylinetimes.com/2026/09/17/w... 3257
Reposted by Stephen SwanNiall Ó Conghaile @nialloconghaile.bsky.social · 06/10/2026Realism still needed for Europe debate in UK. Will Andy Burnham provide it? Me in @eastangliabylines.co.uk Enjoy! eastangliabylines.co.uk/news/brexit/...eastangliabylines.co.ukBritain still hasn’t learnt what being outside the EU meansCloser ties with Europe require Britain to abandon exceptionalism and understand what being outside the EU means 148839
Reposted by Stephen SwanNiall Ó Conghaile @nialloconghaile.bsky.social · 09/10/2026I am always impressed by the courage of people who fight and have fought against Brexit, esp. those who have given up jobs or career advantages to be able to do so. (I fear I would be a coward in the same situation) 2175
Reposted by Stephen SwanNiall Ó Conghaile @nialloconghaile.bsky.social · 09/10/2026Case in point, indeed bsky.app/profile/alex... 083
Stephen Swan @stephenswan.bsky.social · 20hPeople need to be putting in multiple FOI requests and MP’s need to be tabling PQ’s. 000
Reposted by Stephen SwanDiane Coyle @dianecoyle1859.bsky.social · 08/10/2026On the face of it, a very odd refusal to name external advisors 96914
Reposted by Stephen SwanGavin Freeguard @gavinfreeguard.com · 08/10/2026Exclusive: the government doesn’t want you to know who’s advising it on civil service reform medium.com/state-of-the...medium.comExclusive: the government doesn’t want you to know who’s advising it on civil service reformThe short version 23526
Reposted by Stephen SwanSteve Peers @stevepeers.bsky.social · 08/10/2026The CJEU has ruled again on the conflict between data protection rights and transparency of corporate ownership Analysis by Dr Samira Allioui - eulawanalysis.blogspot.com/2026/10/the-...eulawanalysis.blogspot.comThe interplay between corporate transparency and personal data protection: A new stage in the CJEU’s case lawDr Samira Allioui , Centre d'études internationales et européennes, Université de Strasbourg Photo credit : Alexas Fotos, via Wikimedi... 0167
Reposted by Stephen SwanYashar Ali 🐘 @yasharali.bsky.social · 09/10/2026Navi Pillay — the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize laureate and a former International Criminal Court judge — happened to be at the Nuremberg Court in Germany when she learned that she had won the Nobel. 321326276
Reposted by Stephen SwanLe Monde in English @english.lemonde.fr · 22hNobel Peace Prize: Navanethem Pillay, a tireless advocate for international justicelemonde.frNobel Peace Prize: Navanethem Pillay, a tireless advocate for international justiceThe 85-year-old South African judge, who notably served on the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda in the 1990s, recently chaired the United Nations Human Rights Council's Commission of Inquiry, which determined that a 'genocide' was taking place in Gaza. 291698535
Reposted by Stephen SwanSouth-East London for Europe (Selfe) @selfe.bsky.social · 09/10/2026From Aberdeen to Lambeth, Newcastle-under-Lyme to Holborn & St Pancras, Reform contested five by-elections yesterday. 💪 They lost all five… 😬 Five contests. Five defeats. That’s eleven out of eleven lost in a fortnight. Reform are not inevitable. 😉 Have a great weekend! #ReformLose 21462170
Stephen Swan @stephenswan.bsky.social · 21hAnd, of course, Owls can trace their images on coins back to ancient Athens and to the foundations of democracy (limited as it was). And forget Churchill, you wouldn’t want to mess with Athena now would you… 120
Reposted by Stephen SwanPeter Whitewood @pwhitewood.bsky.social · 08/10/2026A shadowy network of hedgehogs and owls, operating at the highest levels of the British establishment. 1511136269
Reposted by Stephen SwanYashar Ali 🐘 @yasharali.bsky.social · 09/10/20261. BREAKING The Norwegian Nobel Committee has awarded the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize to Navi Pillay. Pillay is a South African jurist of Indian Tamil descent. 44921152
Reposted by Stephen SwanInstitute for Government @instituteforgovernment.org.uk · 09/10/2026Kemi Badenoch’s inheritance tax proposals are myth-based policy making at its worst. That's the verdict from @jillongovt.bsky.social following the leader of the opposition’s conference speech this week. Read the full comment here: www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/kemi...instituteforgovernment.org.ukKemi Badenoch’s inheritance tax proposals are myth-based policy making at its worst | Institute for GovernmentThe leader of the opposition’s conference announcement was not well thought through. 33626
Reposted by Stephen SwanRobert Saunders @robertsaunders.bsky.social · 09/10/2026Good piece. The line that really caught my eye here was this one: "Lobby journalists, while being supportive in print, are typically unimpressed with Badenoch in person". It speaks volumes about how the Tory press sees its role, and its attitude towards the truth of what it prints. 47516
Reposted by Stephen SwanSam Freedman @samfr.bsky.social · 09/10/2026New post: The Tory conference represented a clear change in strategy. But so far the shift has been largely superficial and rhetorical. There are three big problems with making the strategy work - and it is not at all clear they're resolvable. samf.substack.com/p/the-three-...samf.substack.comThe three big problems with the Tories’ new strategyThe Tories have finally noticed their only route back to power goes through the prosperous seats in the home counties and city suburbs lost to the Liberal Democrats and Labour. 1412634
Reposted by Stephen SwanOtto English @ottoenglish.bsky.social · 23h*Useful idiot* doesn't do this abject dunderhead justice 119971217
Reposted by Stephen SwanMark Chadbourn @chadbourn.bsky.social · 09/10/2026We’re reaching a tipping point.chadbourn.substack.comThe Next Three MonthsTrump and Putin are now at their most dangerous 31454177
Reposted by Stephen SwanRicky Davila @therickydavila.bsky.social · 09/10/2026The winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 2026 is Navi Pillay, a brave extraordinary woman who has served at the International Criminal Court prosecuting genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. Immediately after being notified she had won, she mocked the orange felon on video. Love her. 💙👊 22072642031
Reposted by Stephen SwanAndrás Forgács W @andraswf.bsky.social · 09/10/2026The idea that any of us is asked to make an argument for our Britishness is not only insulting and patronising but also pretty fucking racist 211516
Reposted by Stephen SwanAnand Menon @anandmenon.bsky.social · 09/10/2026An announcement. There will be plenty of time to reflect on what we've achieved, and on the fantastic colleagues who have helped us achieve it. But for now, sad news ukandeu.ac.uk/announcement... 1/2 6142379
Reposted by Stephen SwanOtto English @ottoenglish.bsky.social · 09/10/2026Sure Trump will take it well 5239143
Reposted by Stephen SwanTheFirstGirlySwotsToJoinBlueSky @thelastgirlyswots.bsky.social · 22h. After Trump's duplicity towards Ukraine by taking oil from Russia in breach of international sanctions, there is no question that the orange plague is a burden on the rest of humanity. #r4today #bbcbreakfast #C4News #bbcaq #toriesgone827 . 22410
Reposted by Stephen SwanAnti-Reform @antireform.bsky.social · 09/10/2026More Reform attacks on RNLI, mean more donations to volunteer heroes, faster Reform falls in polls "Tice, Oakshott (his GF) and Farage attacking the charities that save lives.Tice and Oakshot from the safety of their tax haven in Dubai where they avoid paying tax on their earnings" via Barry James 51665287
Reposted by Stephen SwanDaily Herald #FBPE #NAFO 🇬🇧🇺🇦🇬🇱 @dailyherald.bsky.social · 08/10/2026t.co/EQ34MjLjQ3t.cohttps://www.thelondoneconomic.com/politics/labour-win-majority-general-election-projection-410379/ 061
Reposted by Stephen SwanDaily Herald #FBPE #NAFO 🇬🇧🇺🇦🇬🇱 @dailyherald.bsky.social · 08/10/2026For the first time since October 2024, Labour are projected to win an outright majority if an election were held. 1722140
Reposted by Stephen SwanSathnam Sanghera @sathnam.bsky.social · 09/10/2026Dear tv and radio producers. Thankyou for the invitation. But, no, I do not want to appear on your show to defend the idea that I am English, after 50 years of living and working here, because the increasingly feral right want to turn this into a "debate" and you cannot see how you're being played 10949261094
Reposted by Stephen SwanRyan Goodman @rgoodlaw.bsky.social · 09/10/2026JOINT STATEMENT OF THE FOREIGN MINISTERS OF CANADA, DENMARK, GERMANY, FRANCE, ITALY, JAPAN, THE NETHERLANDS, UNITED KINGDOM "As committed supporters of the ICC we regret and strongly disagree with the announcement of sanctions to be imposed upon the Court by the United States." 511720730
Reposted by Stephen SwanBest for Britain @bestforbritain.org · 09/10/2026For the sake of our own security, we must pursue EU membership. "But it is not Lesvure, or Merz or even Burnham who is propelling the UK back into the EU, but the efforts of Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump that are making the case for a stronger united Europe that can protect its own interests."independent.co.ukWhat the grotesque ‘naked Trump’ statue tells us about the UK’s future back in EuropeAndy Burnham’s state visit to Berlin comes at a moment when Europe – now outwardly disapproving of the US – is more open 426380
Reposted by Stephen SwanPrem Sikka @premnsikka.bsky.social · 09/10/2026Tories overstate net zero cost by nearly £500bn in apparent spreadsheet error. Same error amplified by right-wing think-tanks, press It suited their ideological leanings. Future historians might say - planet earth and human life was shattered by a spreadsheet error.theguardian.comTories overstate net zero cost by nearly £500bn in apparent spreadsheet errorExclusive: Badenoch’s flagship conference policy document cites £957bn estimate, twice the total in climate advisers’ data 64655313
Reposted by Stephen SwanAlison Fisk @alisonfisk.bsky.social · 08/10/2026Some 3,400 years ago, an Egyptian artisan captured a sense of speed and elegance in this beautifully carved handle in the shape of a horse! 🐴 ❤️ New Kingdom, Dynasty 18, reign of Amenhotep III, c. 1390–1352 BC. The Met 📷 by me #Archaeology 10624130