Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Mark English

@markemuk.bsky.social

3K followers 1.4K following 630 posts

British/European. Policy advisor to European Movement UK. 25 years an EU official and spokesperson. Up the Palace. Allez l'Union. Personal views.

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Pinned

Mark English @markemuk.bsky.social · Jul 17

We at @europeanmovement.co.uk are campaigning for UK to work with our neighbours for net zero, clean growth and jobs and lower energy bills. Meanwhile, the unpatriotic gross zeros of Reform, aka Repel, have written to investors urging them not to finance clean energy and create green jobs in UK.

European Movement UK @europeanmovement.co.uk · Jul 16

Today, we launch a major new report - and a national campaign.

Read the report: www.europeanmovement.co.uk/one_earth_on...

Sign the petition: www.europeanmovement.co.uk/uk-eu-enviro...

We only have one earth. To protect and restore it, we need to be one team.

A New Agenda for UK–EU Energy, Climate, and Environment Cooperation

The Environment Partnership Report 2025 sets out how UK–EU cooperation can cut energy bills, protect health, and tackle the climate crisis.

www.europeanmovement.co.uk

2 32 58

Mark English @markemuk.bsky.social · 11h

It does not mean that. What it means is level in English - Council of Europe B2 - that an anglophone would need in French to pass French A-level. And even that is doubtful - I have a certificate saying I am B2 in Dutch. But I am way below A-level.

1 1

Mark English @markemuk.bsky.social · 11h

Then also misleading - it is not the level of English expected from a native speaker at a A-level. It is the same level as an anglophone would need in French to pass French A-level. And I don't think it is even that - I am officially at level B2 in Dutch and I am nowhere near A-level standard!

Mark English @markemuk.bsky.social · 12h

Despite the misleading headline, it's actually Council of Europe level B2 - some other European countries have similar requirements. The A-level equivalent would be for learning a foreign language....though I am not sure in reality that B2 is even that high.

3 2 4

Reposted by Mark English

European Movement UK @europeanmovement.co.uk · 12h

For the first time in years, senior Labour figures are saying it plainly.

Wes Streeting: “I’m glad that Brexit is a problem whose name we now dare speak.”
Keir Starmer: “They lied to this country, unleashed chaos, and walked away after Brexit.”

The silence is breaking. The damage is undeniable.

Starmer and Streeting break silence on Brexit’s damage

We're the UK's largest pro-European movement. Our goal is to reverse the calamity of Brexit and restore relations with our European neighbours.

www.europeanmovement.co.uk

4 28 98

Mark English @markemuk.bsky.social · 13h

Not usually a Tik-Tok fan but this video is completely and utterly brilliant - don't give up after ten seconds...
bsky.app/profile/maxb...

Max B 💙 🔶 🇺🇦 🇬🇧 🇪🇺 @maxbrockbank.com · 13h

Lern are language. Bloody immigrunts.

1 7

Reposted by Mark English

Best for Britain @bestforbritain.org · 14h

⚠️ Lord Turner: "We are in an environment where we are more exposed than most other countries"

"To be in a world of protectionist activity, when you've not got a continental scale economy in yourself or not part of a continental scale economy is a disadvantage."

4 25 59

Mark English @markemuk.bsky.social · 13h

Can 'growth' alone ever win elections? Few notice a rapid improvement in their life even from 2-3% growth. Positive effects of growth on purchasing power take time, on public services a long time. And even if a government presides over an uptick, voters still blame it for any earlier downturn.

1 3

Mark English @markemuk.bsky.social · 1d

I hated 90% of Thatcher's domestic policies and some of her foreign policy. But she got one other huge call right - how to deal with USSR/Russia. And she had some honour and courage. I'm also sure she would have absolutely hated Farage, Johnson and other charlatans who pathetically claim her mantle

Mark English @markemuk.bsky.social · 1d

True then. True now on Margaret Thatcher's 100th birthday.

1 3 8

Reposted by Mark English

Farrukh @implausibleblog.bsky.social · 2d

BBC News explain that because of Brexit, Brits will be photographed and have their fingerprints taken when going into the EU, as the UK now is a third country

BBC News forget to explain that the UK helped create these rules when we were part of the EU because we wanted stronger border control

85 1K 3K

Mark English @markemuk.bsky.social · 2d

I think you might need two open-minded co-chairs. One who backed Brexit but open to recognising the promised effects have not been achieved, to put it mildly. One who backed Remain but prepared to recognise the UK, world and EU have changed and there is no going back to 2015.

3 9

Mark English @markemuk.bsky.social · 2d

We at @europeanmovement.co.uk included a similar call for an inquiry in our 'manifesto' for last election and continue to back this idea. But must be forward-looking, exploring options from where we are, not looking back wistfully to a long-lost past. www.europeanmovement.co.uk/manifestoone...

Manifesto On Europe

The European Movement’s Manifesto on Europe sets out a clear series of policy asks of candidates standing in the General Election.

www.europeanmovement.co.uk

Mark English @markemuk.bsky.social · 2d

Doesn't how far Labour moves between current policy and rejoin EU depend on which point on spectrum Lab thinks best helps win elections, based on both political+economic factors? Without beating Farage *any* policy towards EU is irrelevant. But if 'seek to rejoin' would beat him, it comes into play

1 1 5

Mark English @markemuk.bsky.social · 3d

Well, given EU citizens already have to pay for a UK visa waiver and that right-wing UK press always claimed EU borders needed tightening up, this stance from the Telegraph is both ignorant and hypocritical.

Mark English @markemuk.bsky.social · 4d

Forêt de Soignes/Zonienwoud in autumn.....wish I could paint...#Brussels

1 4

Mark English @markemuk.bsky.social · 4d

Covid jabs are free in Belgium for everyone covered by Belgian social security and €18 for other residents/long-term visitors. I believe it is similar in France. Why is UK approaching this so differently?

2 9 37

Mark English @markemuk.bsky.social · 4d

Not sure what Nige (Dulwich College, very expensive) or Richard Tice (Uppingham, very expensive indeed) know about state schools?
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Nigel Farage accuses teachers of ‘poisoning our kids’ on race issues

Exclusive: Reform UK leader’s remarks at event for private US college criticised as ‘grossly irresponsible’ by NEU leader

www.theguardian.com

2 2 9

Reposted by Mark English

BremainInSpain @bremaininspain.com · 5d

Con man of the people - 12 Jobs Farage

Since the July 2024 election, Farage, via one job alone, earned roughly £100k more as a brand ambassador for Direct Bullion than Starmer gets as PM, yet you hear more about Starmer's £20,000 donkey field purchase

Otto English @ottoenglish.bsky.social · 5d

Twelve Jobs Nigel has earned over £1 million in additional income since the general election.

To understand the scale of it, since the July 2024 election he's earned roughly £100k more as a brand ambassador for Direct Bullion than Starmer gets as PM.

www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news...

Nigel Farage earns over £1m from 12 'second jobs' - check how much your MP earns

The Reform UK leader's most lucrative second jobs include hosting on GB News, serving as a brand ambassador for Direct Bullion and recording videos for Cameo

www.mirror.co.uk

2 21 43

Mark English @markemuk.bsky.social · 5d

Well, yes but what is the cost to the economy of unvaccinated people needing time off work which they might not have needed if vaccinated?

1 1

Mark English @markemuk.bsky.social · 5d

Man of the people, part 94....

Mark English @markemuk.bsky.social · 5d

Being good at campaigning is no guarantee of being good at governing....

1 4

Mark English @markemuk.bsky.social · 5d

Much UK politics journalism is like Italian football reporting: one win/non-crap speech and you're a saviour. One loss/non-crowd pleasing policy and you're getting sacked in the morning.

1 3 10

Mark English @markemuk.bsky.social · 6d

But it was dominated by the Tories, not an equal-ish partnership like next election might require - and it demolished the Lib Dems for a while. Partly because voters were not used to how coalitions work?

2 1

Mark English @markemuk.bsky.social · 6d

Hesektine calls for close relations with EU, backs ECHR and climate action...and says 'Trump mouthpiece' Farage must be kept out of No 10
www.europeanmovement.co.uk/tide_turning...

'The tide is turning on Europe' - Heseltine makes landmark speech

Lord Heseltine spoke to a full house at European Movement UK’s event at Conservative Party Conference in Manchester. Here is his speech in full.

www.europeanmovement.co.uk

9 15

Mark English @markemuk.bsky.social · 6d

No immigration=no NHS. Simples.