alexandra hall hall 🇬🇪🇺🇦🌻
@alexhallhall
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Frmr UK Amb. Resigned 2019 re Brexit lies. Co-host @disordershow pod; Trustee Eurasia Found'n; Writer @bylinetimes. Free to speak at last. @AlexHH.bsky.social
Joined April 2013
I woke up this morning feeling strangely unsettled. and realised that despite (or perhaps, because of) 30+yrs in conventional govt service, I'm now starting to question everything I thought I once knew about my country and its institutions.
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I'm absolutely livid with all those people who now claim that Brexit hasn't turned out as well as they expected. No! It's turned out exactly as badly as we predicted. They just refused to listen.
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Why do so many find it hard to understand that one can be BOTH genuinely sad about Queen’s death, and impressed by her service, AND question some aspects of the instit’n; LOVE one’s country, AND question some of its history, and current direction. Patriotism can take many forms.
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He does NOT speak in my name. This is vile, dishonest, and disgusting. I’m embarrassed that this man is our PM. I’m appalled that this is considered acceptable language. I’m horrified by what UK has become under the Tories. NOT in my name.
This is what we’re up against. The Labour Party, a subset of lawyers, criminal gangs - they're all on the same side, propping up a system of exploitation that profits from getting people to the UK illegally. I have a plan to stop it. Here’s how 🧵.
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I thought I was a fairly conventional, middle class, middle of the road, Brit - aware that the UK was not perfect, but fundamentally ok. Now, I'm much less sure, and believe a lot needs to change. Perhaps my parents were right. I am a radical after all. Anyone feel the same?.
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I can’t stop tweeting about this. That this kind of language is considered acceptable in a democracy! In the UK. A British PM (whose own parents once immigrated to UK). It’s mortifying, humiliating, horrifying. Shame, shame, shame. I simply can’t wrap my head around this new low.
This is what we’re up against. The Labour Party, a subset of lawyers, criminal gangs - they're all on the same side, propping up a system of exploitation that profits from getting people to the UK illegally. I have a plan to stop it. Here’s how 🧵.
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Rant alert. For those of sensitive disposition, look away 🧵.
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Brexit by a thousand cuts: lost jobs, crushed dreams, separated families, more expensive goods, tedious paperwork, supply shortages, staff shortages, fewer uni exchanges, no ski chalets, less music tours, poorer medical treatment, no retirement in the sun. on and on and on.
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I’m a former head of human rights at the UK Foreign Office. I understand this man’s anger. We are guilty of double standards. We are disgraced by our failure to denounce sufficiently robustly, let alone try to prevent, Israeli brutality and violations of international law.
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I often get lambasted for "going on" about Brexit when we need to "move on". But Brexit begat Boris, Boris begat this incompetent govt, this govt begat these scandals, and all undermine our ability to deal with today's problems. Brexit is the cancer at the heart of this govt.
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So pleased to see Liz Truss become a genuine expert on Irish matters: she was, after all, the Minister who told a US audience three years ago that Brexit would not have any serious impact in Ireland…it would merely “affect a few farmers with turnips in the back of their trucks”.
Our first priority is to uphold the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement. 💬 Read my statement to @HouseofCommons:
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It’s ironic that Truss calls out so called “Brexit deniers” as being part of the so called “anti growth” coalition, when Brexit did more to damage growth than any other action by this govt, something that they refuse to acknowledge. We are not the Brexit deniers, THEY are.
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@guyverhofstadt As a former British diplomat, I feel deeply ashamed by our PM. All EU foreign ministries should call in British Ambassadors and ask them to explain Johnson’s remarks, which are grossly offensive to Ukrainians and the EU.
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First, Sheer f'ing hypocrisy of Frost. Blaming "weakness" of UK position for outcome of Brexit deal? After Brexiteers spent effing years insisting "we held all the cards". FFS!.
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As a civil servant, I used to think I only cared about policy, not politics. Now, I realize that you can't get good policy without good politicians - preferably ones motivated by more than self-interest, with a degree of self-respect and integrity. That's why this lot need to go.
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Populace kept distracted and entertained with never ending diet of shallow news and gossip about royals, toffs, socialites, models, sports, pop, soaps, crime, etc. Feelgood stories or trivia which gloss over the challenges and inequities which actually prevail in our society.
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I’m actually starting to get very scared. The path the US and UK are on is terrifying. Even if Labour and Democrats comfortably win next year, the norms of political discourse, honesty, decency have been trashed so much, they will face uphill struggle to repair our countries.
Do watch this. Even now, I can’t quite believe what has become of Britain in such a short period. We have a Republican Trump loving party in government.
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Top down, our system is undemocratic - prerogative powers exercised on behalf of the Crown, unelected House of Lords, system that gives disproportionate powers to govt, elected with less than 50% vote, imbalance in powers across the Union, cozy nexus of donors, media, politicians.
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I respectfully content that Brexit is not "done"; the consequences are growing more evident, and that many people are not "over it". I decided I will therefore not be silenced, as someone who loves my country, will speak out.
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And most sickening of all, shameless posturing and co-option of supposed "patriotic" icons - flags, Churchill, WW2, Britannia, the monarchy, the army, Spirit of the Blitz, pint glasses, and invented rows with external so-called enemies - the French, the EU, the Irish;.
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🧵I wrote this article about Braverman's disgusting speech last week. I've been brewing/stewing on it since. I want to add a few more points. First, as someone who used to advise Home Office on refugee admissions, I can say she is utterly wrong to say 1/
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No, it was stupid, facile, gratuitously insulting and attention seeking.
Here is the question of the night from audience member Robert Blackstock👇
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Ignoring real threats confronting us - internal and external. Incompetent, self-serving govt at home, failing to tackle domestic challenges; posturing on global issues and our values overseas, while accepting dirty money, selling arms to dubious regimes, and cutting aid.
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But getting so much worse under this govt, with its systematic efforts to attack and undermine any institutions which counter its narrative or try to hold it to account - parl't, judiciary, NGOs, human rights experts, investigative journalists, standards watchdogs, liberals, etc;.
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I just can’t take any of this stuff seriously any more. What a nonsense it all is.
On the occasion of The Duke of Edinburgh’s 60th birthday tomorrow, His Majesty The King has been graciously pleased to appoint His Royal Highness to the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle. 📷 Chris Jelf
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I finally read “The Spare” last week. Simply cannot understand the hyperbolic reaction to it….; it’s a story of a young man persecuted by the press since birth, every youthful prank magnified, mother hounded to death, girlfriends chased away, now his wife facing vile abuse. 🧵.
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I can’t understand the sheer conceit of someone like this having the sheer nerve to accept this honour, despite all the public opprobrium. No awareness, no shame. No wonder she was so favored by Johnson.
Baroness Owen of Alderley Edge signs herself as a member of the House of Lords. Nominated by the disgraced former PM Boris Johnson, she’s the youngest life peer in British history.
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In my last few months as Ambassador in Tbilisi a senior British colleague privately told me “we have a problem with the Foreign Secretary (ie Johnson) over Russia….he wants a reset”. This was after Russia’s seizure of Crimea, and while war in Donbas was ongoing. No excuse.
My jaw hit the floor when I discovered Boris Johnson left an emergency NATO meeting after the Kremlin’s chemical warfare attack on Britain & flew to an off-the-books meeting with an ex-KGB spy. Yours should too. This is how it happened. 1/.
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I truly gape: how is it possible that Johnson still clings to power, spineless Tories cling to him, unprincipled civil servants cower behind their anonymity, no one stands up, nobody is accountable, nothing is achieved in govt, voters treated like idiots, and all decency is gone?.
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Feeling v depressed today. Govt defeated in courts; MPs found in contempt; economy struggling. Response is not course correction, let alone any apology, humility or reflection, but doubling down on their flawed policies, blaming everyone else, and fanning political polarization.
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I can't wrap my head around this: through my career, I had to justify even a cup of coffee on expense claims - and keep ALL receipts for 3 years, for surprise fraud checks. Yet the current Foreign Sec can do this? While also announcing FCO staff cuts? Revealing priorities.
EXC: Liz Truss overruled officials to demand £1.4K lunch at Tory donor's gentleman's club in Mayfair. Officials warned 5 Hertford St was "incredibly expensive". But per emails, she "refused to consider anywhere else" and "explicitly" rejected alternatives.
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Liz Truss's mantra is "growth, growth, growth". But there's more to life than growth. There's community, compassion, and . dare I say it. competence. Greed is not always good.
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Rant alert 🧵This moron, and dozens like him, voted FOR Johnson's so-called "oven ready" Brexit deal, which explicitly KEPT NI in the single market and subject to EU law.
It could be an important week. We should not agree anything that keeps Northern Ireland subject to EU law or in the single market. Ultimately the Protocol legislation remains a clean solution to ensure *all* parts of our country are treated equally.
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Yesterday I posted my outrage at this @thetimes and @Channel4News exposure of royal family finances. I regretted my intemperate language and so deleted the tweet. But, re-reading the reports again, I feel there are ample grounds to be genuinely shocked. Consider these snippets 🧵.
Revealed: the property empires that make Charles and William millions.
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What makes me most mad about this news clip is the smirk on the PM's face as he claims no rules were broken. My anger goes way beyond Brexit; it's about the utter contempt this govt displays towards the people it's there to serve, day after day after day.
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Make it end. Please. When will this farce of govt END? The lack of professionalism, competence, decency, integrity or shame. The selfishness, arrogance, entitlement. The disregard for norms, laws ethics. It's exhausting, damaging, and humiliating. Allies gape. Foes rejoice. Go.
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Second, sheer F'ing hypocrisy of Frost. The only reason there was pressure to cut a deal, was because of Frost and his boss's insistence that we had to "get Brexit done" by an artificial, self-imposed deadline. They could have asked for more time. Might have got it, if sincere.
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Third, sheer f'ing hypocrisy of Frost. The only reason the NIP was necessary, was because of the form of Brexit, which Frost and his boss chose - the very hardest form of Brexit short of no deal, for which there was no explicit mandate from the referendum.
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Liz Truss doesn't accept the premise of our questions. I don't accept the premise of Liz Truss.
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Absolutely surreal and shocking story, of deliberate malfeasance and mistreatment. She has to go.
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A small anecdote. I attended a DEI awareness course at FCO. Everyone there thought they were already sensitive, aware, “right-on types”, who of course, would never endorse racist, sexist or other discriminatory behaviour. The attendees were completely stunned when….🧵1/5.
There will be an end to civil service jobs dedicated to 'equality, diversity and inclusion' (EDI) - money can’t be wasted on 'woke hobby horses' ….
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Finally put some bio details on my profile: "Former diplomat 33+ yrs, fmr Ambassador. Resigned from FCO 2019 over Brexit lies. Trustee Eurasia Foundation & Europe Foundation Georgia; Free to speak at last". I'm still getting used to not having to clear my lines with anyone!.
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Reported for hateful content.
This is what we’re up against. The Labour Party, a subset of lawyers, criminal gangs - they're all on the same side, propping up a system of exploitation that profits from getting people to the UK illegally. I have a plan to stop it. Here’s how 🧵.
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My America husband (who's lived and worked in countries around world) reaction was to say "this is the kind of thing which I thought only happened in developing countries, or failed states." Quite. It's simply unbelievable, and I feel both revolted and outraged.
Beaches in #Bexhill, #NormansBay and #Hastings remain closed after raw sewage is pumped into the sea .
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Fourth, sheer f'ing hyprocrisy of Frost. A majority of voters in NI did NOT want to leave the EU, and DO now wish to keep the Protocol. When he talks about democratic consent (and I DO understand diff communities have diff feelings), he needs to remember that.
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How does Sunak explain this, next time he meets Biden? This crosses every line in terms of our relationship with US…wading unacceptably into their domestic politics. It won’t make dime of difference to their elections, but it will harm US-UK relations. Democrats won’t forget.
Liz Truss, "Joe Biden needs to be kicked out of the White House". "I felt safer for the west when President Trump was in power"
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Repeat, Repeat, Repeat. The ONLY reason Good Friday Agreement is imperiled is because of form of Brexit 🇬🇧 govt chose, OVER objections of maj of voters in NI. The ONLY reason Protocol exists is because seen as least bad option for protecting GFA, which maj of voters want to keep.
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Fifth, sheer f'ing hypocrisy of Frost. One reason Brexiteers put forward for wanting to leave the EU was because of its alleged bureaucratic, regulatory mindset. They're now complaining that the EU is applying the rules which were agreed?.
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The UK should withdraw the State Visit invitation to Trump. A man who can behave so atrociously towards a principled hero like @ZelenskyyUa should not be honoured.
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Never heard such bollocks …wait, oh, son of a KGB spy, right? Colluded to get Johnson elected as mayor and PM and deliver Putin’s Brexit. You are no friend of Britain and deserve to be sanctioned and expelled back to Russia. If “Virtue signaling” means getting rid of you then👍.
The hilariously miscalculated closure of @Nigel_Farage’s account tells a wider story: one of corporate virtue signalling which, since last February, has weaponised Russophobia for the sake of moral posturing.
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How is deterring bright people willing to pay a lot of money for a British education “delivering for the British people?” All it will do is impoverish our universities, weaken our soft power, and make our society less open or attractive.
From today, the majority of foreign university students cannot bring family members to the UK. In 2024, we’re already delivering for the British people.
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The UK is poorer, weaker, less influential, productive, or welcoming. On almost every indicator we’re falling behind European countries that used to be comparators. Instead of worrying how to keep migrants out, govt should probably focus more on how to keep young people in.
Blistering attack on the state of Britain Tom Bradby ITV News
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This is obscene abuse. Most civil servants work loyally and impartially, even for the most obnoxious and ungrateful Ministers, and whether they privately agree with them or not. They also have to cover up for Ministers’ ignorance, and mistakes caused by bad policy not officials.
Kemi Badenoch says 'five to ten per cent' of civil servants 'should be in prison'. Speaking at a @spectator event, the Tory leadership hopeful says some civil servants 'leak official secrets' and 'undermine their ministers'
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So, I get it, it's not clear if Brexit is reversible (if the EU would even have us back). But we could at least try for a better Brexit than the one we've got-one that doesn't penalise ordinary folk for things we used to take for granted, like sending parcels to family in the EU.
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Sixth, sheer f'ing hypocrisy of Frost. One reason so hard to revise Protocol to address concerns is because of fund'l lack of trust betw UK and EU. Caused by Frost and boss's willful misrep'n of its terms, failure to implement it properly, and unilateral proposal to renege on it.
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Eighth, sheer f'ing hypocrisy of Frost. He and his boss campaigned against May's deal, and NI backstop, which was designed to avoid border across Irish Sea, which May said no British PM could accept. Until Johnson did.
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I don't know why I bother. but this cannot be allowed to pass unchallenged. Fuelled by coffee, my first monster rant of 2023🧵.
It was @Keir_Starmer & his friends who forced the Surrender Act on us in 2019. That destroyed our leverage & stopped us fixing the N Ireland issue properly then. The only purity cult was in these ideologues' efforts to sabotage the referendum.
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Sunak should find the courage to ignore the ERG and do what’s right for the country. He may go down in flames, but at least with some dignity. ERG have done nothing but harm, and it’s time they were consigned to the lunatic fringe where they belong.
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An emergency EU summit on Ukraine crisis, which UK cannot attend because of Brexit. No ability to influence discussion in the room. UK Ministers and diplomats will instead have to chase attendees around afterwards, to try to find out what happened w/o us. "Global Britain".
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I’m genuinely shocked by the awful comments on this post. He pledged allegiance,whilst making clear his opposition to the principle of monarchy. That seems reasonable. One can respect tradition but not be a fawning slave to it. How I wish we could break this servile mindset.
To be sworn in as an MP, you have to make an oath to the King. This is what I decided to say, in protest.
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Ninth, sheer f'ing selfishness of Frost. We have a growing cost of living crisis. Rising demands on NHS and pub services. Inflation. Rising food and fuel prices. Labour shortages. Reduced trade with EU - thanks to him and his mates. Is now the time to precipitate a trade war?.
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Two months ago I joked that I couldn’t tweet as fast as scandals broke. to which one wag replied “why wait. you could just make something up, and eventually it will happen”. I laughed then. now I realize, nothing I invent could match what this govt comes up with by itself.
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Seventh, sheer f'ing hypocrisy of Frost. One reason Unionists are so angry is because they were falsely assured by Frost and boss that there wd be minimal friction across Irish Sea. Despite terms of the deal, and the fact that checks inevitable somewhere, once UK left CU and SM.
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As Irish FM Coveney said recently, would be disgraceful if Govt chose to weaponise NIP in order to manufacture further row with EU and distract from ongoing problems of PM Johnson. Yet that is the course we are headed on.
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How anyone can call this “sport” is beyond me. Serves no purpose, except cruelty. Hunters shoot exhausted stag after 3-hour pursuit with dogs.
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Tenth, sheer f'ing selfishness of Frost. He and his ilk laud Johnson's heroic leadership on Ukraine. Yet, they would precipitate a row with allies, right at the point when it's even more vital to sustain unity in face of ongoing Russian aggression, and Ukraine's incr exhaustion.
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Many will know I've been going through a slowly unrolling identity crisis, as I try to grapple with the UK I thought I knew, and the UK I'm beginning to see with fresh eyes. The events around the Queen's death have brought this into sharper focus. What country are we? 🧵.
I woke up this morning feeling strangely unsettled. and realised that despite (or perhaps, because of) 30+yrs in conventional govt service, I'm now starting to question everything I thought I once knew about my country and its institutions.
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Johnson obv thinks Rwanda refugee policy is political genius. guaranteed to stir outrage by "woke, liberal elites". But while it panders to anti immigrant base, has he considered it might also offend many trad Tory voters with humanitarian instincts?.
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This is excruciating. it’s such a blatant effort to boost her domestic political image. ; this is a real crisis, and we, the officials working seriously on this issue (and indeed the Ukrainians) deserve better. FCO should NOT become a politician’s propaganda machine.
This week I have been in Moscow to urge the Kremlin to abide by international agreements, de-escalate its aggression against Ukraine and engage in meaningful talks. 👇
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First, it was fault of EU. Then, lefty lawyers, civil servants, BBC - enemies of the people. Then, Harry and Meghan; "woke" and "anti-growth" brigades. Then Covid. Russia. Now, migrants, foreign courts and conventions. Nothing to do with govt actually in power for last 13 yrs.😠.
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Dan helpfully sets out the case for why everyone should support @BylineTimes in its work to expose wrongdoing, hypocrisy, and cronyism in our system! It is not a “hard left blog”, but an honest paper, staffed by professionals, performing huge public service. Support @BylineTimes!.
A hard left blog is on a deranged campaign of harassment designed to destroy me financially, mentally and professionally – but, with your help, they will not succeed. Please support my legal case against Byline Times so I can keep fighting for you.
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Sheer f'ing selfishness, hypocrisy, and stupidity. For UK will be hurt most.
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Yes, I understand that the NIP is causing problems. But the way to resolve it is not by more deceit and duplicity, but by honest recognition of the implications of Brexit, genuine engagement with all sides, and rebuilding trust with EU and communities.
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I feel self-conscious asking this, but if you ever feel frustrated, as I do, about the poor quality of much UK media, and wonder why some stories seem to get buried, then I strongly urge you to subscribe to @bylinetimes - which genuinely does report without fear or favour.
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The proposed Rwanda scheme reminds me strongly of old mentality. "ship undesirables to the colonies, where they can provide cheap labour". The scheme effectively compounds the problem of illegal trafficking, by creating a system of state sponsored trafficking. Obscene.
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Anyone else observe that the smirk is back? At least yesterday’s mask obscured his contempt for us.
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I’m rubbing my eyes here. Surely, the right response from Labour is “no way are we accepting Natalie Elphicke into our ranks: she represents everything we abhor in modern day politics.” Labour accepting her completely cheapens their brand. What am I missing?.
🚨The shocking moment it's revealed Dover MP Natalie Elphicke has defected to Labour moments before #PMQs 👇. That's two MPs defecting to Labour in less than 2 weeks
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This is good news; but the sheer gall to present this as some sort of amazing achievement is breathtaking; given that it’s only restoring what we once had before Brexit; and on less favourable terms. The Tories are completely shameless.
Fantastic opportunities as the UK officially joins Horizon from today 🌍. Alongside the EU and global partners, 🇬🇧 UK scientists, researchers and businesses can lead the way in scientific innovation, creating new jobs and boosting the economy🚀🔬. Apply 👇.
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I attended the senior heads of mission conference for all UK ambassadors very soon after the referendum. @SimonMcDonaldUK was scrupulous, adamant and insistent that our duty was to help the govt deliver Brexit. He and senior leadership were 100% professional. This is muckraking.
Civil servants are meant to be totally impartial … but here’s what the former foreign office chief did in the aftermath of the EU vote
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What’s really deplorable is that NONE of this. neither Sunak or Javid’s mild rebukes of Johnson, nor the defense of Johnson by his allies . is motivated by anything other than self interest. None of it. It’s only ever about them, not us.
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Some might wonder why I have suddenly decided to be come so vocal, after two years of relative quiet since my resignation. .
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I'm tired of it all. Lies. Scandals. Incompetence. Dodgy contracts. Dogwhistle politics. One rule for them/us. Contorted justifications for Brexit. Contempt for voters. Insincere paeans to NHS, teachers etc. Tuning out today, wishing all Happy New Year, and for change in 2022.
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Does anyone else share my deep distaste at this? I wholeheartedly applaud UK support to Ukr, but this tacky video, with its too-obvious attempts at Churchillian rhetoric, is such shameless self-promotion. Exploiting Ukraine's suffering for a promo ad is a new low.
The Ukrainians have the courage of a lion. President @ZelenskyyUa has given the roar of that lion. The UK stands unwaveringly with the people of Ukraine. Slava Ukraini 🇬🇧 🇺🇦
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No, it doesn’t. We only need to leave ECHR if we plan to violate human rights and international law.
Britain will need to leave the ECHR to control its border and immigration system. My column today is on how it can be done.
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“Weaponised Russophobia?” Russia deserves every opprobrium…yet you, the son of. KGB spy, dare to defend Russia, despite pretending to be British; holding an undeserved position in House of Lords, where you don’t belong and where you have made no contribution whatsoever. STFU.
The hilariously miscalculated closure of @Nigel_Farage’s account tells a wider story: one of corporate virtue signalling which, since last February, has weaponised Russophobia for the sake of moral posturing.
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I wish British Ministers could be this clear.
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When people like this, our elected representatives, are so willfully stupid, selfish and dishonest it’s hard to retain any hope. Yes, I have become increasingly undiplomatic. It’s tiring, depressing, and not who I want to be. But the lies need to be called out, all the time.
Why should Northern Ireland be subject to EU law when the U.K. as a whole voted to Leave the EU. Windsor Framework imbeds the Protocol leaving part of U.K. under EU law and court #ALutaContinua
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@JohnSimpsonNews @maitlis I have huge respect for @JohnSimpsonNews but strongly disagree on this. It’s distortion of @maitlis concert, that laying out equally both sides of argument is not actually providing true balance, if one side demonstrably less supported by facts than the other. False equivalence.
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It's true I am neither important or in a position of power. But I am a British citizen, a taxpayer, and a voter.
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Extraordinary thread about the extraordinary outpouring of hate towards Meghan and Harry, despite lowest key presence at coronation possible. We are a deeply sick society. And if King and Queen are such kindly souls, why do they not call this out and ask it to stop?.
I've summarised the facts about Harry and Meghan below. There's frankly very little to say about them. Despite this, The Express managed to publish over 100 articles about the couple over the last 72H, more than 90% negative. Some articles were brutally aggressive and insulting.
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As a former diplomat, I can also say that no amount of soothing efforts by our skilled embassy staff can mitigate the damage done daily to our international reputation and relationships by our boorish, buffoonish, Billy Bunter leader. It’s heartbreaking.
Brilliant analysis of Johnson’s shallow, puerile, gratuitously offensive approach to int’l relations…and acidly ruthless: “Johnson’s convictions run about as deep as a pavement puddle“. IMO, he’s a textbook case of “How to lose friends and Influence”.
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I wasn’t always this way. I was once a loyal civil servant, trying to do my job conscientiously. Even after I resigned, I largely kept my head down, until the growing dysfunction and dishonesty in govt compelled me to speak out, and say “this is NOT normal!” It’s been a journey🧵.
I really do feel that @alexhallhall should get around to saying exactly what she thinks of the UK Conservative Party and the government they have led for the last 14 years 🙂.
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2012. Olympics. Cool Britannia. Respected. Global. Thriving. Aspirational. Open. Influential. How did we fall, so far, and so fast? The great unraveling of the US and the UK is terrifying.
Lewis Goodall, "You could have been at a UKIP or Brexit party conference. The way in which in policy terms, and the way in which the Conservative party talks about politics. The move to the Farage agenda has been extraordinary. This is the story of 13 years of Tory gov" #CPC23
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There was a time when I welcomed Sunak as PM, hoping he’d bring back a degree of competence, common sense and decency to govt after the chaos of his predecessors. I was certainly willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. How naive and foolish I was.
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I'll just note that - at least while I was in govt - British diplomats, no matter what their grade, Ambos included, were always required to fly economy, except flights over 14 hours long, when business class was permitted. And take public transport to airport wherever possible.
Liz Truss flew by private jet to Australia at cost of £500,000 to taxpayers
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I listened to this with mounting disappointment. Attempt at Churchillian rhetoric, but no specific commitments to help Ukr. Digs at Eur allies for dependence on R’n gas, but no mention of R’n money in UK. A total failure to meet the moment. Still just posturing and point scoring.
Putin labelled 'dictator' by Boris Johnson after Russian invasion of Ukraine
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You don’t get to cosplay “statesman/man of honour”, when members of your party have consistently whipped up anti immigrant, anti Muslim sentiment; or claim to be upholding democracy, when no one elected you as PM. Call an election. Let “the people” you claim to speak for decide.
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The thing that drives me most mad about these people is their absolute, fundamental, dishonesty. Their ability to “forget” inconvenient facts or deny claims they made pre-Brexit, distort information, and willfully keep propagating lies. It’s not stupidity. It’s utter immorality.
John Redwood accuses @campbellclaret of trying to "crowd out" all the good things that Brexit has brought, by challenging him about a trade deal with the USA promised on the 2019 Tory manifesto. "I never said that", Redwood claims. ~AA
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Sir Bufton Tufton of the Shires continuing to display pig ignorance of Brexit deal his govt concluded and he supported. No wonder UK is in trouble, with MPs who have a gap where their brain should be. Sorry, not v diplomatic of me, but I’m running out of patience for these morons.
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