Niall Ó Conghaile
@nialloconghaile.bsky.social
🇪🇺
European.
Views my own; RT = interest, not endorsement.
European.
Views my own; RT = interest, not endorsement.
Pinned
I understand. We understand.
We understand the importance that Europe had in your lives and the sense of biting loss for many of you.
We understand what Brexit has done.
2
We understand the importance that Europe had in your lives and the sense of biting loss for many of you.
We understand what Brexit has done.
2
You're free to apply. Maybe start by voting pro-European.
We're not there to facilitate you. You do understand that, don't you?
We'll pursue our interests.
We're not there to facilitate you. You do understand that, don't you?
We'll pursue our interests.
February 5, 2026 at 11:29 AM
You're free to apply. Maybe start by voting pro-European.
We're not there to facilitate you. You do understand that, don't you?
We'll pursue our interests.
We're not there to facilitate you. You do understand that, don't you?
We'll pursue our interests.
I do (golden) wonder if that's still the case?
February 5, 2026 at 11:25 AM
I do (golden) wonder if that's still the case?
There's a chain of shops in Dublin called Tops in Pops ("pops" is Dublin slang for potatoes) that specialises in potatoes. You could often get 15 varieties (when I lived there many years ago).
February 5, 2026 at 11:24 AM
There's a chain of shops in Dublin called Tops in Pops ("pops" is Dublin slang for potatoes) that specialises in potatoes. You could often get 15 varieties (when I lived there many years ago).
You talk like all that matters is what you want
And that's the problem.
And that's the problem.
February 5, 2026 at 11:22 AM
You talk like all that matters is what you want
And that's the problem.
And that's the problem.
Yes, alongside France and the US, but the UK has benefited even more owing to, among many other things, the English language and having a giant financial centre, and communal defence against Soviet agression.
Only a fools would throw that away for a Trump promise
Only a fools would throw that away for a Trump promise
February 5, 2026 at 11:20 AM
Yes, alongside France and the US, but the UK has benefited even more owing to, among many other things, the English language and having a giant financial centre, and communal defence against Soviet agression.
Only a fools would throw that away for a Trump promise
Only a fools would throw that away for a Trump promise
Reposted by Niall Ó Conghaile
It’s one of the tragic ironies of the new British exceptionalism and it’s baby brother euroscepticism that much of the UK body politic has now turned its back on Britain’s leading role in the creation of the modern Rule of Law-based international constitutional order.
February 5, 2026 at 11:06 AM
It’s one of the tragic ironies of the new British exceptionalism and it’s baby brother euroscepticism that much of the UK body politic has now turned its back on Britain’s leading role in the creation of the modern Rule of Law-based international constitutional order.
Reposted by Niall Ó Conghaile
They're fools.
Remember, each of those applications that didn't come to Strasbourg is someone's rights not abused or someone able to get satisfaction before the UK courts.
It's literally the UK working for UK citizens and residents
Remember, each of those applications that didn't come to Strasbourg is someone's rights not abused or someone able to get satisfaction before the UK courts.
It's literally the UK working for UK citizens and residents
February 5, 2026 at 10:58 AM
They're fools.
Remember, each of those applications that didn't come to Strasbourg is someone's rights not abused or someone able to get satisfaction before the UK courts.
It's literally the UK working for UK citizens and residents
Remember, each of those applications that didn't come to Strasbourg is someone's rights not abused or someone able to get satisfaction before the UK courts.
It's literally the UK working for UK citizens and residents
Reposted by Niall Ó Conghaile
Millions of Americans would wish there was someone providing oversight in relation to ICE and Trump's denial of human rights. How many Brits will want it in relation to Farage's excesses if he ever gets any power?
February 5, 2026 at 11:03 AM
Millions of Americans would wish there was someone providing oversight in relation to ICE and Trump's denial of human rights. How many Brits will want it in relation to Farage's excesses if he ever gets any power?
The UK is a major beneficiary from the international rules-based order
On top of that, bloody hell, it's doing well at *eliminating human-rights abuses*
Can't people just be proud of that?
On top of that, bloody hell, it's doing well at *eliminating human-rights abuses*
Can't people just be proud of that?
February 5, 2026 at 11:10 AM
The UK is a major beneficiary from the international rules-based order
On top of that, bloody hell, it's doing well at *eliminating human-rights abuses*
Can't people just be proud of that?
On top of that, bloody hell, it's doing well at *eliminating human-rights abuses*
Can't people just be proud of that?
Reposted by Niall Ó Conghaile
It reveals the arrogance of the Britmind and all the empirical thinking behind it.
"Why should we bow to anyone? We are the mother of Parliaments. We gave democracy to the world." etc
Same types also fail to see why they need any supra national courts. Not The Hague, not anyone. Hubris of empire!
"Why should we bow to anyone? We are the mother of Parliaments. We gave democracy to the world." etc
Same types also fail to see why they need any supra national courts. Not The Hague, not anyone. Hubris of empire!
February 5, 2026 at 10:54 AM
It reveals the arrogance of the Britmind and all the empirical thinking behind it.
"Why should we bow to anyone? We are the mother of Parliaments. We gave democracy to the world." etc
Same types also fail to see why they need any supra national courts. Not The Hague, not anyone. Hubris of empire!
"Why should we bow to anyone? We are the mother of Parliaments. We gave democracy to the world." etc
Same types also fail to see why they need any supra national courts. Not The Hague, not anyone. Hubris of empire!
I think it's not our problem.
You can continue to vote for whoever you want, we'll continue to so what's right for 🇪🇺, its states and its citizens
You can continue to vote for whoever you want, we'll continue to so what's right for 🇪🇺, its states and its citizens
February 5, 2026 at 11:06 AM
I think it's not our problem.
You can continue to vote for whoever you want, we'll continue to so what's right for 🇪🇺, its states and its citizens
You can continue to vote for whoever you want, we'll continue to so what's right for 🇪🇺, its states and its citizens
Honestly, they don't like the UK much do they, even when it's getting things right and is an example to be followed.
(apart form Europe, I reckon the idea of "rights" is a problem for many)
(apart form Europe, I reckon the idea of "rights" is a problem for many)
February 5, 2026 at 11:05 AM
Honestly, they don't like the UK much do they, even when it's getting things right and is an example to be followed.
(apart form Europe, I reckon the idea of "rights" is a problem for many)
(apart form Europe, I reckon the idea of "rights" is a problem for many)
Reposted by Niall Ó Conghaile
Unfortunately the “little Englanders” will look at the 4 as outrageous interference
They’ve travelled so far along this road already that they missed all the off ramps
They’ve travelled so far along this road already that they missed all the off ramps
February 5, 2026 at 10:26 AM
Unfortunately the “little Englanders” will look at the 4 as outrageous interference
They’ve travelled so far along this road already that they missed all the off ramps
They’ve travelled so far along this road already that they missed all the off ramps
There's a lot of truth to that. Anti-European prejudice is ingrained in UK politics and culture.
Let's not forget, however, that the UK's being there and being an example helps other countries improve (making the UK safer). That responsibility to the community is also vital.
Let's not forget, however, that the UK's being there and being an example helps other countries improve (making the UK safer). That responsibility to the community is also vital.
February 5, 2026 at 11:02 AM
There's a lot of truth to that. Anti-European prejudice is ingrained in UK politics and culture.
Let's not forget, however, that the UK's being there and being an example helps other countries improve (making the UK safer). That responsibility to the community is also vital.
Let's not forget, however, that the UK's being there and being an example helps other countries improve (making the UK safer). That responsibility to the community is also vital.
Reposted by Niall Ó Conghaile
The UK judicial system is indeed excellent, even though successive governments have starved it of funds. But the objection to ECHR oversight has nothing to so with this. It’s all do do with the word “European” in its title. I suggest renaming it VCHR (V for Vulcan) - the problem would go away.
February 5, 2026 at 9:16 AM
The UK judicial system is indeed excellent, even though successive governments have starved it of funds. But the objection to ECHR oversight has nothing to so with this. It’s all do do with the word “European” in its title. I suggest renaming it VCHR (V for Vulcan) - the problem would go away.
"Satellite delay" - like it!
February 5, 2026 at 11:00 AM
"Satellite delay" - like it!
They're fools.
Remember, each of those applications that didn't come to Strasbourg is someone's rights not abused or someone able to get satisfaction before the UK courts.
It's literally the UK working for UK citizens and residents
Remember, each of those applications that didn't come to Strasbourg is someone's rights not abused or someone able to get satisfaction before the UK courts.
It's literally the UK working for UK citizens and residents
February 5, 2026 at 10:58 AM
They're fools.
Remember, each of those applications that didn't come to Strasbourg is someone's rights not abused or someone able to get satisfaction before the UK courts.
It's literally the UK working for UK citizens and residents
Remember, each of those applications that didn't come to Strasbourg is someone's rights not abused or someone able to get satisfaction before the UK courts.
It's literally the UK working for UK citizens and residents
Reposted by Niall Ó Conghaile
Sadly, for some (exceptionalist) Brits, the problem lies, not in outcomes, but in the boo-word "oversight".
February 5, 2026 at 9:09 AM
Sadly, for some (exceptionalist) Brits, the problem lies, not in outcomes, but in the boo-word "oversight".
Reposted by Niall Ó Conghaile
Agree talking is essential, also agree with @kathylove.bsky.social that we need to be sanguine in our expectations but then again and as I have often said, never to say never:
bsky.app/profile/madr...
bsky.app/profile/madr...
I agree, but I hope I'm proven wrong in the fullness of time just as I was just four years after I visited Berlin in 1985 (my photo) and feared the Wall would never come down.
February 5, 2026 at 8:31 AM
Agree talking is essential, also agree with @kathylove.bsky.social that we need to be sanguine in our expectations but then again and as I have often said, never to say never:
bsky.app/profile/madr...
bsky.app/profile/madr...
On Starmer, he knew the issues with Mandy from the start, but felt he needed someone to open doors in Washington. He has to hang Mandy out to dry, or be hanged alongside him
February 5, 2026 at 10:53 AM
On Starmer, he knew the issues with Mandy from the start, but felt he needed someone to open doors in Washington. He has to hang Mandy out to dry, or be hanged alongside him
Reposted by Niall Ó Conghaile
As a commissioner, giving financial pieces of information to an adversary superpower ($ against €) is high treason.
First, he should be prosecuted for that.
Secondly, it proves that he’s been an enemy of the EU, from the beginning.
Thirdly, Starmer called that guy in his close team.
1
First, he should be prosecuted for that.
Secondly, it proves that he’s been an enemy of the EU, from the beginning.
Thirdly, Starmer called that guy in his close team.
1
🚨🚨 #Mandelson falls even more in disgrace as @ec.europa.eu is examining and will likely conclude that British politician broke the EU Ethics code due to his contact with convicted sex offender Jeffrey #Epstein. This is welcome news: 🧵
www.politico.eu/article/mand...
www.politico.eu/article/mand...
Mandelson should lose pension if he broke EU rules in Epstein scandal, campaigners say
European officials are “assessing” whether the ex-commissioner contravened the ethics code.
www.politico.eu
February 5, 2026 at 8:19 AM
As a commissioner, giving financial pieces of information to an adversary superpower ($ against €) is high treason.
First, he should be prosecuted for that.
Secondly, it proves that he’s been an enemy of the EU, from the beginning.
Thirdly, Starmer called that guy in his close team.
1
First, he should be prosecuted for that.
Secondly, it proves that he’s been an enemy of the EU, from the beginning.
Thirdly, Starmer called that guy in his close team.
1
There seem reasonable grounds for prosecution, like indeed with Andrew. It's tawdry stuff, to be honest
February 5, 2026 at 10:51 AM
There seem reasonable grounds for prosecution, like indeed with Andrew. It's tawdry stuff, to be honest
Reposted by Niall Ó Conghaile
It is entirely up to 450 million of us and our elected representatives to decide what is acceptable. In any case and as I have said before, relations with a third country like the UK aren't even on the radar screen:
bsky.app/profile/madr...
bsky.app/profile/madr...
Indeed Kathy and as I have said before, EU-UK relations simply does not appear as an issue of concern to Spaniards in opinion polls, is simply not mentioned in statements from the PM's office or Foreign Ministry here (I read them all), in parliamentary debates or media coverage.
February 5, 2026 at 7:37 AM
It is entirely up to 450 million of us and our elected representatives to decide what is acceptable. In any case and as I have said before, relations with a third country like the UK aren't even on the radar screen:
bsky.app/profile/madr...
bsky.app/profile/madr...
Reposted by Niall Ó Conghaile
That's not the view this on side of the Channel, from where I've been reporting on EU affairs for decades. Above all the perspective is different.
February 5, 2026 at 7:21 AM
That's not the view this on side of the Channel, from where I've been reporting on EU affairs for decades. Above all the perspective is different.
February 5, 2026 at 8:03 AM