Today's customs union vote is entirely symbolic, it's true. But what does it symbolise that no one is now arguing *for* Brexit? thecritic.co.uk/regr...

An excellent piece by Yasmin Khan in @theguardian.com – and I’m very relieved the preposterous case against her has been dropped. www.theguardian.com/food/comment...

Excellent place to start on the legal and constitutional implications of the asylum white paper. And, as ever, Mark manages to pen these articulate thoughts so fast.

It really is worth taking the time to hear from people like “Mary,” who fled from Zimbabwe 20 years ago, to understand what life is like when the law denies you the chance to call the country where you’ve made your life home

I'm reading through the white paper or whatever it is. RESTORING ORDER AND CONTROL: A statement on the government’s asylum and returns policy www.gov.uk/government/p...

The Home Secretary says "we have become the destination of choice in Europe, clearly visible to every people smuggler and would-be illegal migrant across the world" That is a factually untrue claim: the Home Office shows that the UK is fifth, getting 1/10 claims, while Germany gets 1/5 claims

"We have become the destination of choice in Europe" according to the Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood. Data from Eurostat & the Home Office shows the UK had the fifth largest number of claims of the EU/UK area in 2025, at 108,000... assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/691ae0...

Today we found something magical, deep in the wild green heart of Sumatra: Rafflesia kemumu in full bloom. One of the world's largest flowers, to see this extremely rare species in full bloom is truly special.

Incredibly powerful victory speech, framing a rare narrative of hope & progress, celebrating immigrants, aunties, even a Nehru quote about stepping out from the old into the new. He talks about NYC being light in a dark political time. That was a speech to watch, @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social.

OVER 1 MILLION VOTES.

Happy Birthday to the European Convention on Human Rights, which has helped to protect #OurRightsAndFreedoms for 75 years. Here are more than 200 examples, from across the continent👇 🔗 www.coe.int/ECHR There are thousands more. #ECHR #ECHR75 @coe.int @echr.coe.int

Please do join us at this HRLA next week. At a time when international law is under strain, & the ECHR is singled out for particular attack, it is important to reflect on the UK’s past and future commitment to international justice, human rights and the international rule of law.

Qué obra maestra de la comunicación política.

On Yom Kippur many Jewish people in Britain have their phones off to mark the holy day. As it ends at 723pm, some will hear the tragic Manchester news for the first time. At that time, please join many of us to send a message of solidarity to British Jews.Thanks Together coalition for proposing.

Wow Starmer finally drawing a line! "If you say or imply that people cannot be English or British because of the colour of their skin, that mixed-heritage families owe you an explanation... If you say that they should now be deported, then mark my words - we will fight you with everything we have".

I’ve said it once, I’ll say it again. Ignore the haters, London is the 🐐

Good news is in short supply right now, but this is genuinely such good news. So pleased to hear this for Alaa Abd el Fattah and his family who have campaigned so hard, after so many long years suffering in prison. #freealaa www.theguardian.com/world/2025/s...

Momentous news that will reverberate far beyond Egypt: A presidential pardon for Alaa Abd el-Fattah. His family worked for years for this moment: His mother went on a hunger strike that very nearly killed her to secure her son's freedom. His sister camped outside the British foreign office.

The UK has just formally announced recognition of the State of Palestine, shortly after Canada and Australia also have recognised Palestine as a sovereign state.

Thank you @sadiqkhanlondon.bsky.social and Kareem Parkins Brown for this beautiful message of hope and positivity - a true reflection of why so many of us #LoveLondon.

In London, hate will never win.

“History will judge how the world responds…the international community is again failing to act —this time,in Gaza. The facts are reported daily.The warnings are unequivocal.The law is clear.The stakes,the survival of a people,could not be higher.” Navi Pillay in NYT: www.nytimes.com/2025/09/16/o...

Politically the most important para is the one reaffirming third states' duty to prevent genocide. It was triggered by the ICJ provisional measures orders on 26.01.2024. The "serious risk of genocide" was clear then. States should have acted then, they must act now.

The three most damning paras in the UN Report alleging that Israel is perpetrating genocide in Gaza: Siege starvation, attacks on health care, direct targeting of children as patterns that cannot be explained except if group destruction is one animating purpose.

Seeing as so many people are making claims about the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement and the ECHR, here's a short but comprehensive explainer from people who have been thinking, writing and talking about this for longer than most 😊

A new Explainer out from @aoifemod.bsky.social and me detailing the UK's ECHR commitments under the 1998 Agreement in response to recent speculation. It is short, because there is very little to say - the UK's obligations are evident on the B/GFA's plain text: caj.org.uk/wp-content/u...

This excellent column is really worth your time.

Part of a very good thread from the excellent @seanjones.org.

I've written to Keir Starmer, Kemi Badenoch and Nigel Farage, urging them to join me in condemning Elon Musk's dangerous remarks inciting violence yesterday. As leaders, we must stand together and make clear Musk will face serious consequences for these actions.

Elon Musk openly called for violence on our streets yesterday. I hope politicians from all parties come together to condemn his deeply dangerous and irresponsible rhetoric. Britain must stand united against this clear attempt to undermine our democracy.

Not that anyone in politics listens to research, but there is a bucket of research (including some excellent recent studies) which show exactly this. Voters listen to leaders and respond to what they say.

EXC - Keir Starmer condemns far right racism and violence at yesterday's march Says there will be "no surrender" of British flag to those who promote hate Our story here - www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

The silence is deafening. A lot of people are feeling anxious and scared tonight. For their loved ones. For themselves. For their community. For their country. For our country. Those who lead us must use their voices, unequivocally, now.

Immensely sad to learn of the passing of Conor Gearty. Professionally, he was sharp, incisive & passionate, as well as clear-sighted and fearless. Personally, he was generous & funny. We have lost someone truly wonderful in our human rights community. He, & his brilliant voice, will be so missed.

Column, on a grimly familiar Farage plot line and Starmer sticking to the script in the Brexit sequel. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

The Times editorial line: "sieve" the entire population so we can put 100s of thousands of people into camps. "Removing a city’s worth of people would be an extended exercise. Identity cards would be a must if the population was to be sieved into legitimate and illegitimate camps" archive.ph/78dcP

Gaza | The scale of human suffering and the stripping of human dignity have long exceeded every acceptable standard, both legal and moral. This tragedy must end now. Mirjana Spoljaric, ICRC President: ms.spr.ly/63327sGyPt

Unreal.

In a week of big decisions in Strasbourg, the ECtHR has given unanimous judgment in Ukraine & the Netherlands v Russia. 500 pages to digest, but it’s a v significant decision on extraterritoriality (Art.1) and on the interaction between IHL and IHRL (esp Art 2). hudoc.echr.coe.int/eng#{%22item...

The ECtHR @echr.coe.int has announced that judgment will be delivered in the case of #CasterSemenya v Switzerland on 10 July. @cloisterslaw.bsky.social #humanrightslaw #sportslaw #internationallaw

My latest @justsecurity.org

EU Member State ministers mostly want to keep negotiating on proposed equality law - in light of "the erosion of equal rights in many parts of the world" www.consilium.europa.eu/en/meetings/...

The ECtHR @echr.coe.int has announced that judgment will be delivered in the case of #CasterSemenya v Switzerland on 10 July. @cloisterslaw.bsky.social #humanrightslaw #sportslaw #internationallaw

So, for those killed and those whose voices are silenced: what more evidence do you need? Will you act now – decisively – to prevent genocide in Gaza and to ensure respect for international humanitarian law? This Council must prevail. Demand this ends.

My main ask to UN Security Council Members: let us work. Food funded by your taxpayers is waiting at the borders to enter Gaza. We could be saving millions of lives. Let us do it.

Absolutely love the atmosphere in London on Marathon Day. Such great community spirit and energy everywhere, fabulous crowds and beautiful sunshine to boot today. Huge luck to everyone running, for such great causes - you are all amazing! 👏🏼👏🏼

BREAKING: The Supreme Court has blocked the Trump administration from deporting foreign nationals under the Alien Enemies Act. Thomas, Alito dissent.

Trump announces his tariffs, which are (somehow?) related to the trade barriers other countries are imposing on the U.S. But... THE NUMBERS HE'S PRESENTING BEAR NO RELATION TO REALITY. It would be absurd to call these reciprocal tariffs. They're grievances.

23/ To be very clear what they've done here, is picked a random number that represents his perceptions of their general vibe... and then charged half of it in tariffs.