My longer take on UK politics - we've become addicted to simple solutions to run away from the Brexit contradictions, and they inevitably don't work causing a vicious cycle of discontent. The necessary reset must seek to make a services economy popular. ecipe.org/insights/res...

Please give @oxford4europe.bsky.social a follow 😊🇪🇺

Nick Robinson ends Ben Chu’s Brexit analysis by loftily saying how we don’t agree on the outcome of Brexit.. Once again MSM gives cover for a monumental act of self harm by those on the Right. Privatisation, Austerity, Brexit - all RW catastrophes barely discussed. ukandeu.ac.uk/brexits-impa...

The new Hungarian government of Peter Magyar has been sworn in, but how is work to restore democracy and rule of law progressing? Join our online discussion with @martapardavi.bsky.social of the @hungarianhelsinki.bsky.social on Mon 18 May, 7pm. Register us02web.zoom.us/meeting/regi... (1/2)

Oxford Town Hall, today. @oxfordcitycouncil.bsky.social @oxford4europe.bsky.social @europeanmovement.co.uk

"30 European Green parties have adopted a declaration in Brussels urging the UK to consider rejoining the EU." #RejoinEU 🇬🇧🇪🇺

Former Lord Mayor, John Tanner, now chair of Oxford for Europe will say “I’m thrilled at this local support for a closer Europe. Brexit has been very damaging, cutting us off from the rest of Europe. We need not just to reset our links but also to rejoin the Customs Union and in due course the EU.”

Oxford City Council is to mark Europe Day today, by flying the European flag. Louise Upton, Lord Mayor of Oxford, fresh from her visit to twin town Leiden's Liberation Day celebration, (and re-election on Thursday), is hosting a European Reception in her Parlour at Oxford Town Hall.

Sky News projecting a national vote share for Reform of 27%, based on results so far. That’s four points down on what they achieved in local elections last year. Somewhat of a counter to the prevailing narrative. More evidence that Reform appears to have peaked.

The local election results coming in make grim viewing. Voters are angry, but that so many are turning to the charlatans of Reform, who will make things much worse, is worrying. Ming-vase managerialism and appeasement of anti-immigration sentiment has failed. www.bbc.co.uk/news/electio... (1/3)

Morning. Tempted to say something rude about those areas that have dominated English politics for over ten years still being unhappy despite their agenda largely being followed. A vicious democratic cycle that we see also in other countries.

A “hero voter” is an older, white Brexiter apparently. “Hero” FGS. Building your governing strategy around the prejudices and fears of that narrow-minded demographic is doomed. We’ve been pandering to Brexiters for a decade and it’s been utterly shit. Maybe the rest of us could get a look-in now.

📌 The moment of geopolitical transformation we are going through is forcing democracies to adapt to a new context and be resilient, while safeguarding the values and freedoms on which they depend. 🧵

Witney Town Council flew the Council of Europe flag yesterday to mark its “commitment to peace, co-operation, and shared values across Europe”; today, it is flying the Union Flag to celebrate the third anniversary of the coronation of King Charles and Queen Camilla, followed by VE Day on Friday.

Saturday is Europe Day, and the Council of Europe Flag – which happens to be the same as the EU flag – will fly from Oxford Town Hall in celebration. The UK co-founded the Council of Europe in 1949 and remains a member today, making its flag legal to fly from public buildings.

Join our online discussion with @martapardavi.bsky.social of the @hungarianhelsinki.bsky.social about: Hungary after the elections: The first weeks of restoring democracy and the rule of law 🗓 Monday 18th May 2026, 7pm (UK) Register at us02web.zoom.us/meeting/regi... (1/2)

This is exactly what will happen in the UK should Reform get in or near power. With Brexit we saw many ppl leave - ppl who were huge contributors to our economy, from construction to science & research, and of course our NHS. With Reform many more will go, and very few will want to come.

Brexiters frothing about paying for Single Market access. Pretending that we are fine - despite all the evidence of failure - and creating division is all they have. open.substack.com/pub/jonty/p/...

The play was to swap the EU for America. Anyone sentient knows that hasn't worked and they don't really have another plan.

“The end of the Brexit taboo: how Rejoin became respectable” www.euractiv.com/opinion/reth...

Agree with this. It’s not who comes next, it’s what comes next: •rejoin the EU •impose a wealth tax •invest in universities & young ppl •reduce inequality •recognise the value of immigration •bring in PR. Come on Labour. Be bolder before you run out of road. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Well this will have the Brexit folk frothing. But it reflects their failure, indeed the failure of pretty much the whole UK political class to understand the world and the realistic options available - which don't include vast regulatory or trade gains from sovereignty.

CORRECTED Man in charge of getting Brexit done now says we should get it undone as do Times readers - so far in a small sample. Why not cast your vote? bit.ly/4sOfs2B

People should feel free to add further factoids about the life of St. George to this thread. We’ll round up the best in this Friday’s newsletter. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

More expense and red tape because of Brexit. From 8% hit to the economy to delays & expense for travel. No upsides, but massive and ever growing downsides. Pet owners hit with steep bills after EU passport rule change www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

🚨🚨New @bestforbritain.org report argues I think convincingly that a push for UK membership of the EU would galvanise support among progressive voters, recognising that other halfway options such as customs union or EEA are would offer to limited benefits. 🧵 www.bestforbritain.org/push_for_eu_...

It’s not just the remarkable 63% who say they’d vote to rejoin the EU. It’s also the fact that this figure continues to rise slowly but steadily. Brexit has failed and is seen to have failed. And geopolitics brings Britain and its neighbours, with whom it shares interests & values, closer together.

Sure but Europe didn’t choose this rupture; America did. And we have to plan accordingly. We cannot assume that we can count on the US to have our backs.

It doesn't take a forensic accountant to work out whose interests Nigel Farage really serves

Don’t let our young ppl have opportunities. They might just see what the Tories destroyed for them. Insane.

Tory MPs talking about Erasmus as if it’s a sleeper cell recruitment programme.

Calling all EU citizens. Genuine question..... would you/your country support the UK rejoining the EU? Please state your country in comments. @bremaininspain.com

Two takeaways from the “Hormuz Summit” involving 40 nations which at the Elysée Palace yesterday. The most significant fact may be the near unanimity of view of the leaders of the Big Four western European countries: France, UK, Germany and Italy. 1/ www.lemonde.fr/internationa...

Rejoin is coming: Talk of the customs union and single market is a distraction. Only full membership offers a compelling vision of Britain's future iandunt.substack.com/p/rejoin-is-...

“The damage that Brexit has done to this country is obvious now to everyone. We wasted years of our lives pursuing a project whose only possible outcome was to mutilate and embarrass us.” Rejoin. open.substack.com/pub/iandunt/...

This BBC immigration and asylum story is a moral panic. Poorly evidenced, generalised panic about a marginalised social group. Next week, the government will respond with a new 'crackdown'. This will then further exacerbate public anxiety. You know who wins from all of this, Nigel Farage.

This is why Russia is still fighting, why the war continues and why people are dying: Because Trump and Vance encouraged Putin to believe he could win

Starmer needs to erase his own red lines. The geopolitical situation demands it. His promises of growth demand it. The British ppl want it. Brexit has failed & the world has changed. This is no time for cautious incrementalism. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

The victory of the opposition in Hungary yesterday, like the Polish election in 2023, is a victory for democracy, not just in Europe but around the world.

Hungary has voted for Remain. Britain next, please.

The Hungarian people wisely refused to listen to these grifting scumbags.

Hungary has chosen Europe. Europe has always chosen Hungary. A country reclaims its European path. The Union grows stronger.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy calls on UK to rejoin the EU for sake of European security The Ukrainian leader said the UK could help Europe fight the security threat of Russia. www.thelondoneconomic.com/news/volodym...

This is on brand for Farage and Reform. Whether it’s taking Russian bribes, soliciting murky crypto donations or associating with convicted money launderers, and now banking millions from someone who a US court found was helping criminals clean their dirty money. They should hand back every penny.

So when Reform accepts £4 million from this man, are they sure of where this money actually coming from? A man convicted of running a platform deliberately designed to hide the origins of money is now pouring cash into British politics. Red flag, red flag, red flag.

Ben Delo isn't just a "billionaire expat" with a soft spot for Farage. In 2022 he was found guilty of serious criminal charges in the United States. American prosecutors said he deliberately built a dodgy crypto platform designed to help people hide dirty money. He admitted as much in court.

The Telegraph just gave a convicted criminal a two-page spread to explain why he's pumping £4 million into Reform UK. They tucked his criminal record away in the small print. So as a former financial crime specialist I’ll do their job for them👇

1/2. Notice that after losing the war Trump threatens his allies rather than Russia — even though Russia quite literally helped Iran defeat the US and he knows it.

DiscoverEU is part of Erasmus+, so when the UK rejoins Erasmus+ next year young people from the UK will be able to benefit from this programme.

What can individuals do? Contact your MP and tell them that the UK must: 🇪🇺 Rejoin the EU 💷 Invest in our collective defence & energy security with renewable infrastructure 🇺🇦 Invest in & work with Ukraine to defend freedom And join @europeanmovement.co.uk www.europeanmovement.co.uk/membership