Top recent posts by UK Constitutional Lawyers on Bluesky

The President everyone. The original police statement that the shooter was in custody was issued over an hour ago. The correction was issued ten minutes later. Clearly no one is bothering to brief Trump at all. They’ve just left him with his phone.

Large Ukrainian drone attack on Simferopol thermal power plant has blown up a fuel depot. #explodey

Local reports of many victims in a mass shooting at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. Shooter is now believed to be in custody.

Stephen Yaxley Lennon Tommy Robinson is holding a carol service today billed as “Britain belongs to the British People.” He wants to create “a muscular Christianity…separate from the Church.” Meanwhile the Far Right’s next target is to infiltrate the Anglican Church.

“One wants Far Right social destruction, the other to get rich quick and do exactly what they want to do. But that anti-government passion is what gets them both on the same bus.”

This sounds like defensive briefing straight from a Morgan McSweeney Whatsapp group in denial about how an ineffective leader unwilling to face the breakdown of US-Europe relations might not be the best figure to lead the UK into a post-American order

Reform UK is now claiming to be the largest party/business in the UK with 270,000 members, surpassing Labour. Membership figures mean nothing, as we saw during the Corbyn years. What counts is how many will get out to persuade people on the doorstep at election time.

Good Christmas card from Ed Davey this year

Graham Linehan was a guest on The Liz Truss Show this week in what I can only imagine was an attempt to atomise the remnants of his credibility.

Leader of the 2020 Belarus protests Maria Kolesnikova has been released from prison following talks with the US. No doubt part of the Potash deal.

Isn’t it amazing that China leaves Europe in the dust on EVs yet the EU policy response is to be more lenient on regulating combustion engine car emissions?

Wow. Amid horrific news of a shooting at Bondi Beach, this looks like a truly astonishing act of courage.

Meet the new boss, same as the old boss Doubling down on effectively excluding trans and non-binary individuals from public spaces. www.bbc.com/news/article...

It is telling how even high quality outlets like the America's Quarterly podcast often don't think through scenarios where Trump's violent incompetence might cause an electoral collapse of the US Right or even more chaos in Venezuela that affect his ability to shape outcomes

It is quite extraordinary how so many analysts convinced that China will slay any geopolitical competitor just skip over the dire state of China's domestic economy

Cambodia has closed all border crossings with Thailand following more deadly clashes, AFP reports.

I don't think a lot of people get quite how bad the situation has got with targeted attacks on the migrants rights and refugee sector. My wife would be very happy if I left the sector I know that for sure. It's also just getting worse, stoked in no small part by government rhetoric and policies.

"Scritches?"

Charlton Heston and Edward G Robinson were sat on the set of Soylent Green. Heston began moaning about shooting delays. "Charlton." Robinson said smiling, "THIS is what they pay us for. The acting we do for free." Robinson was dying of cancer, although he didn't tell anyone. It was his last film.

Halal butchers in Newham are advertising their “festive Halal turkeys”. Tommy Robinson is scared of Newham but it’s most a place that shows what happen when lots of different faiths and cultures live happily alongside each other.

A lone ISIS gunman has killed two US soldiers and a civilian US interpreter in Palmyra, Syria, The Pentagon says.

Just Harry Cole interviewing the guy who called for ethnicity checks on MPs, by the way

ME: right. Gonna finish my Hospitallers off. THE TORTIE: lol. Hi.

The US is lifting sanctions on Belarusian potash, according to US envoy John Coale.

What is this 'very real prospect of Christmas being cancelled'? Is it the same 'very real prospect' that comes around every year?

As i've said before, the renaissance was just 15th century OnlyFans. Artists discovering rich dudes will pay big bucks for pictures of their favourite Greek god, goddess or bible figure with their bits out.

Just checking in on X

Those opposed to the ECHR will never be satisfied by tinkering, just as Brexiters were never satisfied by the many opt-outs and rebates the UK received, writes @davidallengreen.bsky.social.

Number of posts I've been tagged into from hardcore Starmer fans proclaiming Labour "stopped small boats" in the same vein as "our glorious leader caused the sun to rise" is actually pretty funny. The drop in channel crossings had absolutely nothing to do with government policy. The weather did. 1/3

This piece is so much fun, despite and indeed because of Liz Truss’s stated intention of making everything as un-fun as possible. Here’s a new link www.ft.com/content/6aad...

He could've written this in 2016 and probably did.

I wrote about the Brits who affect to despise migration, and go and live in an autocracy where’s there no income tax. www.thenewworld.co.uk/ros-taylor-d...

Still no public apology from @telegraph.co.uk for having published a lie they then had to delete. But one bit of progress - they’ve emailed in advance with their latest nonsense…

Explaining the other day that the moral puzzle about universal health care is not why poor people get it, but why richer people do. The answer from Beveridge, the Liberal (not Socialist) who recommended the NHS is economic efficiency. Universal healthcare removes huge transaction costs.

Pope: "How many memes do I have? Let's just say I have... 6-7. Matthew: 6:7."

The idea that you mustn't change leader in time of war was one Boris Johnson's team pushed hard. As I wrote at the time, the UK has a long history of doing just that. Indeed, "The ability to change leader during a crisis was once regarded as a strength of the UK system". www.ft.com/content/e131...

Wimbledon Common this morning for #Parkrun Brrrrrrr

Just seen that this is the longest period of no small boat arrivals for seven years.

Deleted a post, yet again, and I do this so often. Thing is I post reactively a lot of the time, I shouldn't. I also spend far more time than is healthy being a burning ball of rage. This Labour government is absolutely discriminating against vulnerable minorities. Sorry, but I lose my rag with that

Tomorrow, Austria’s new Koralm Railway opens. Graz>Klagenfurt cut from over 2h to as little as 41 minutes. Vienna-Klagenfurt cut from 3h55 to 3h10. Also cuts 45 minutes off Vienna-Venice. www.travelmole.com/news/koralmb...

We welcome the support of EU countries for our proposal to introduce a €3 customs duty on small e-commerce parcels under €150. The goal is clear: a modern digital environment that keeps international trade flowing while protecting our Single Market ↓ link.europa.eu/vFQB9Y

Watching Elf for the first time and it might be the greatest film ever made

Stoke Newington Reservoir pumping station. In the days when London water supply was a matter of pride.

This is almost all of them for tonight

Hope there weren't too many "black people, Asian people, people that are basically anything other than white" in the congregation, choir or pulpit. Wouldn't want Ms Pochin - newly released from quarantine - driven mad again.

Completely dazzled by Networks of the Past, a new gallery @CSMVSmumbai charting India's relationship with the ancient world. Its not just one of the best curated museum galleries in South Asia, it is also the best visual representation I have ever seen of the world I describe in The Golden Road...

Fuel economy sounds boring, but Trump's rule changes will make driving more expensive for everyday Americans Find out what happened last week. Actions on www.trumpactiontracker.info? youtube.com/shorts/koEX-...

The US Constitution has the feel of a fine colonial mansion now owned by a slum landlord who now rents it out room by room to wild-eyed misanthropic fanatics each with a messiah complex. Ok, that is a VERY strained figure of speech. But I believe it to be accurate.

We registered a new European Citizens’ Initiative last week. Since 2012, the ECI has enabled citizens to bring their ideas onto the EU’s policy agenda. Once signature collection opens, you will be able to support this new idea. Learn more: link.europa.eu/97PkMD #EUTakeTheInitiative

When Craig retires from #strictly, I have a carbon copy of his views

I’d rather wear a kerosene g-string at a bbq, honestly

Speeding is bad, actually. It kills people. We have speed limits to save lives.

This stuff is just all so BORING. There is a bunch of world changing challenges the right could be forming a view on, instead it's dominated by the bad cover version of outrage.

Strong points here by @georgemonbiot.bsky.social. It is more than possible that Labour's anti-immigration policies will cause a significant decline, on top of that which we already have, in people coming to the UK. The outcome of that is disastrous for everyone. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

The tone of this is awful. Politics as soap opera. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

very weird to see American speeding ticket discourse on this website. just… don’t speed? if you don’t want to get a ticket? or indeed don’t want to seriously endanger yourself, and your passengers, and other people?

That's not a bad outside bet to make

The criminal justice system should not be about the convenience of the prosecutors or saving money for ministers. It should be about, well, justice, writes @davidallengreen.bsky.social.

BEHOLD THE LOAF

Daphne, you can't cancel Saturday. I have to go and have lunch with my stepmother and my niece.

I deeply disagree with Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, convicted criminal who uses the name "Tommy Robinson" on basically everything. But trying to use Christmas, Jesus, and Christmas carols to be mean to people is awful.

I fear this is but a fraction of what Sam has read this year. Very hard to keep up with my son. But all good stuff.

In which Christian populism becomes a shared experience of saying 'yah-boo' at the same horrors, like.... decaffeinated coffee and oat milk. As for colonial inequality, imagine a Christian getting bothered about that....

good grief, this superb, heartbreaking piece. Not all heroes wear capes, eh. www.ft.com/content/cd59...

Europe's response to growing Chinese competitiveness is mostly defensive doomsterism, that maybe we can put off the worst for a few more years. In line with the despair around national politics.

Always nice to hear the review of the year from Laura Kuenssberg. Trump: - moved into the White House - asked Europe to increase defence spending - moved to create a ceasefire in Gaza - didn't create a global trade war Hmm. I sort of thought he did more than that. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

The “real” prospect, Sarah? Real? Really?

That Doctor Who reboot needs a bit of work…

Well said and applies to England too. My kids grew up bilingual and they love this country much more than any politician who uses division to gain votes.

It is, actually, life and death if you do speed

Reading Adam Rutherford's "How To Argue with a Racist". Despite the pugnacious title it's largely a fun, readable and highly educational book about genetics (with the occasional glimpse into the worldview of white supremacists). I learned a lot. amzn.to/4rW29Op

"I kept thinking about all the extremist voices promoting hate & division. They are given so many platforms, while voices that represent kindness, open mindedness & empathy seem to be scarcer & scarcer. I felt I couldn’t pamper myself with the luxury of silence.” www.theguardian.com/media/2025/d...

Siri looking at ChatGPT. "Hahaha .. people thought *I* was hated!!" Clippy joining in "They are even nostalgic for me, now!"

Just a reminder this Xmas, if you have an elderly or vulnerable neighbour who lives on their own, make some time to check up on them, particularly if they have trouble getting out and about.

"Is it time for Strictly yet, human?"

www.nytimes.com/2025/12/12/w... So a sovereign nation tries to sell oil to an ally. Rogue-state pirates seize the cargo. You don’t have to be a fan of Maduro or Cuba to find this profoundly disturbing.

Right. Declaring that a solid afternoon's work. They need some tidying up and a metals wash, but they're basically table-ready.

Wondering how long Labour will hail the one in one out deal as "historic" rather than the absolute cluster forcing people into a cycle of relying on gangs, and increasing risks to trafficking survivors, it has already been demonstrated to be. www.bbc.com/news/article...

There are many things I could say but I do think one thing that’s underpriced in all the noise is how it looks to the electorate, and how the opposition (Reform) will attack, when a backroom deal is done for someone who has always always given it all that about having the best job in the world

John Carey was a brilliant writer and thinker. He was also a very nice man. I had the privilege of working with him many times and would like to think he has found an infinite library now. RIP.

Disenshittificatory countermanoeuvres? www.enlightenmenteconomics.com/blog/index.p...

Europe is turning global collaboration into impactful science.   In 2026-27, Horizon Europe is investing €14 Bn in clean tech, to advance healthcare via ethical AI, boost jobs by backing innovators, and tackle challenges that matter.   More info ↓ link.europa.eu/wVttRj

“Being himself quite influential, he believed there was nothing which could not be sorted out and favourably resolved by a chat between important men.” A line from Proust. Who does it bring to mind now?

This looks Islamic to me

Westminster Voting Intention: RFM: 31% (=) LAB: 20% (-1) CON: 18% (+1) LDM: 13% (+2) GRN: 12% (-1) SNP: 3% (=) Via @opiniumresearch.bsky.social, 10-12 Dec. Changes w/ 26-28 Nov.

Latest in a thread of posts about Farage's past...

I have noticed in the past few months that general commentary around the threat Britain faces from external threats (chiefly Russia) has become less informed than maybe a year ago. Keep seeing clips of people talking about the likelihood of Russia invading UK etc 1/

Dude, the Church of England is not Roman Catholic. Do keep up

The Mail employs someone who's got an equity stake in the hotdog man meme

My mother, an avid reader, age 92, will not read fiction in the day time, having had it drilled into her as a kid that reading too much ruins your eyes and she should be outside playing healthily in the garden. Basic parenting dogma is ‘indoors bad, outdoors good’. It just changes form.

It's things like this which give me a semblance of peace and hope. Little bit closer, you can do it.

Trump creates another loophole in the sanctions regime.

Muscular Christianity separate from the Church? All glute, no brain.

Don’t particularly like or support Wes but this quote says a great deal more about the quoted than the quote subject

POV: you are being genocided and Noam Chomsky and Steve Bannon have walked into the room

That millisecond between stubbing your toe and knowing that it's about to hurt like an absolute bastard 😑

Went on BookSky for a look. I came off it before as it mostly consisted of people posting the cover of their favourite book, or their own book, which, come to think of it, maybe well be the same. But was reminded of the paradox of books. They are so hard to write. But there are so many of them.

The other thing about this is, and I know it is my bugbear, but there is so little consideration of what a positive, civil, conservative message and attitude might be.

This is as good as everyone says. And putting the particular party to one side, I hope it might show there is appetite to read about local government more generally and that newspapers should invest in this. I’d read a weekly column portraying a different council each week…