Phil Syrpis
@syrpis.bsky.social
Professor of EU Law at the University of Bristol.
On here mainly for inexpert political noodling and discussion, with occasional forays into EU law. And, puns. Sorry.
On here mainly for inexpert political noodling and discussion, with occasional forays into EU law. And, puns. Sorry.
Reposted by Phil Syrpis
New post: Labour, a supply side explanation for the rise of populism, and the growing acceptability of xenophobic discourse in the UK
mainlymacro.blogspot.com/2025/12/labo...
Labour's 'tougher' stance on immigration/asylum and right wing populists' response has shifted the Overton window.
mainlymacro.blogspot.com/2025/12/labo...
Labour's 'tougher' stance on immigration/asylum and right wing populists' response has shifted the Overton window.
Labour, a supply side explanation for the rise of populism, and the growing acceptability of xenophobic discourse in the UK
I never cease to be amazed at how bad Labour politicians are at politics. It may seem arrogant for an economist to say that, but it’s not ...
mainlymacro.blogspot.com
December 9, 2025 at 8:55 AM
New post: Labour, a supply side explanation for the rise of populism, and the growing acceptability of xenophobic discourse in the UK
mainlymacro.blogspot.com/2025/12/labo...
Labour's 'tougher' stance on immigration/asylum and right wing populists' response has shifted the Overton window.
mainlymacro.blogspot.com/2025/12/labo...
Labour's 'tougher' stance on immigration/asylum and right wing populists' response has shifted the Overton window.
Reposted by Phil Syrpis
There are so many interesting things in this article; a quick thread on what jumps out for me. 🧵1/7
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
We must protect our borders to defend our democracies. Here's how
This is our strong message to our friends in Europe. Unless responsible governments reflect their citizens’ concerns, populists will win, say British PM Keir Starmer and Danish PM Mette Frederiksen
www.theguardian.com
December 10, 2025 at 9:58 AM
There are so many interesting things in this article; a quick thread on what jumps out for me. 🧵1/7
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Let’s keep a count of the wars FIFA’s Man of Peace threatens to start. All in the name of Peace, of course.
Trump on the president of Colombia: "He's gonna have himself some big problems if he doesn't wise up ... he better wise up or he'll be next. I hope he's listening. He's gonna be next."
December 10, 2025 at 10:49 PM
Let’s keep a count of the wars FIFA’s Man of Peace threatens to start. All in the name of Peace, of course.
There are so many interesting things in this article; a quick thread on what jumps out for me. 🧵1/7
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
We must protect our borders to defend our democracies. Here's how
This is our strong message to our friends in Europe. Unless responsible governments reflect their citizens’ concerns, populists will win, say British PM Keir Starmer and Danish PM Mette Frederiksen
www.theguardian.com
December 10, 2025 at 9:58 AM
There are so many interesting things in this article; a quick thread on what jumps out for me. 🧵1/7
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Phil Syrpis
Only to find blocking its way another boulder with the word "Growth" on it.
December 7, 2025 at 3:19 PM
Only to find blocking its way another boulder with the word "Growth" on it.
Reposted by Phil Syrpis
For my last Sunday Scribblings of 2025, back to one of my recurring themes, the future relationship between the UK and the EU. It is not going anywhere, anytime soon.
hayest.substack.com/p/sunday-scr...
hayest.substack.com/p/sunday-scr...
Sunday Scribblings
The UK, Europe and the Myth of Sisyphus
hayest.substack.com
December 7, 2025 at 5:17 AM
For my last Sunday Scribblings of 2025, back to one of my recurring themes, the future relationship between the UK and the EU. It is not going anywhere, anytime soon.
hayest.substack.com/p/sunday-scr...
hayest.substack.com/p/sunday-scr...
Reposted by Phil Syrpis
Keir Starmer Observer interview with @rachelsylvester.bsky.social articulates opportunity for young people as his defining mission for his government
December 7, 2025 at 11:55 AM
Keir Starmer Observer interview with @rachelsylvester.bsky.social articulates opportunity for young people as his defining mission for his government
This (the World Cup draw) would be a much easier watch if I hated football.
December 5, 2025 at 5:31 PM
This (the World Cup draw) would be a much easier watch if I hated football.
I'm concerned not only about the substance of what the government is doing on jury trials and workers' rights, but also by the timing of the announcements, in what, for comms purposes, is surely 'budget week'.
How common is it for big announcements to be made in budget week? 1/3
How common is it for big announcements to be made in budget week? 1/3
November 28, 2025 at 9:59 AM
I'm concerned not only about the substance of what the government is doing on jury trials and workers' rights, but also by the timing of the announcements, in what, for comms purposes, is surely 'budget week'.
How common is it for big announcements to be made in budget week? 1/3
How common is it for big announcements to be made in budget week? 1/3
Reposted by Phil Syrpis
The BBC is the latest part of ‘the public realm’ to feel the wrath of the right.
The playbook is wearyingly similar.
Underfund them. Hold them (piously) to the highest standards. Pillory them for all errors. And then co-opt, or neuter, them. 1/2
The playbook is wearyingly similar.
Underfund them. Hold them (piously) to the highest standards. Pillory them for all errors. And then co-opt, or neuter, them. 1/2
November 10, 2025 at 8:32 AM
The BBC is the latest part of ‘the public realm’ to feel the wrath of the right.
The playbook is wearyingly similar.
Underfund them. Hold them (piously) to the highest standards. Pillory them for all errors. And then co-opt, or neuter, them. 1/2
The playbook is wearyingly similar.
Underfund them. Hold them (piously) to the highest standards. Pillory them for all errors. And then co-opt, or neuter, them. 1/2
Reposted by Phil Syrpis
I have a new blog post out with The UK In A Changing Europe on how lower migration will be bad for the UK economy: ukandeu.ac.uk/lower-migrat...
Lower migration is bad news for the UK economy - UK in a changing Europe
Lauren Gilbert argues that migrants to the UK are net fiscal contributors, adding much more to the economy than they take out, and that the recent collapse in immigration will harm the UK's economic p...
ukandeu.ac.uk
November 6, 2025 at 3:30 PM
I have a new blog post out with The UK In A Changing Europe on how lower migration will be bad for the UK economy: ukandeu.ac.uk/lower-migrat...
I may have got today’s *big* news stories confused, but is Andrew really moving into Rachel’s pad?
October 30, 2025 at 7:30 PM
I may have got today’s *big* news stories confused, but is Andrew really moving into Rachel’s pad?
Reposted by Phil Syrpis
The ‘Prince’ Andrew story is going to keep on annoying me.
We are embarking on an absurd process which involves trying to match ‘what he’s done’ with an appropriate level of response from not just the Royal Family, but Parliament and the government.
It can’t be done. Did I say it was absurd? 1/5
We are embarking on an absurd process which involves trying to match ‘what he’s done’ with an appropriate level of response from not just the Royal Family, but Parliament and the government.
It can’t be done. Did I say it was absurd? 1/5
October 20, 2025 at 9:54 PM
The ‘Prince’ Andrew story is going to keep on annoying me.
We are embarking on an absurd process which involves trying to match ‘what he’s done’ with an appropriate level of response from not just the Royal Family, but Parliament and the government.
It can’t be done. Did I say it was absurd? 1/5
We are embarking on an absurd process which involves trying to match ‘what he’s done’ with an appropriate level of response from not just the Royal Family, but Parliament and the government.
It can’t be done. Did I say it was absurd? 1/5
The ‘Prince’ Andrew story is going to keep on annoying me.
We are embarking on an absurd process which involves trying to match ‘what he’s done’ with an appropriate level of response from not just the Royal Family, but Parliament and the government.
It can’t be done. Did I say it was absurd? 1/5
We are embarking on an absurd process which involves trying to match ‘what he’s done’ with an appropriate level of response from not just the Royal Family, but Parliament and the government.
It can’t be done. Did I say it was absurd? 1/5
October 20, 2025 at 9:54 PM
The ‘Prince’ Andrew story is going to keep on annoying me.
We are embarking on an absurd process which involves trying to match ‘what he’s done’ with an appropriate level of response from not just the Royal Family, but Parliament and the government.
It can’t be done. Did I say it was absurd? 1/5
We are embarking on an absurd process which involves trying to match ‘what he’s done’ with an appropriate level of response from not just the Royal Family, but Parliament and the government.
It can’t be done. Did I say it was absurd? 1/5
Reposted by Phil Syrpis
The near consensus view was that Keir Starmer's conference speech was his best yet. I heard something different. I think it was born of a profound weakness- and in its own way set up his own future failure.
My latest
goodallandgoodluck.substack.com/p/keir-starm... open.substack.com/pub/goodalla...
My latest
goodallandgoodluck.substack.com/p/keir-starm... open.substack.com/pub/goodalla...
Keir Starmer: the new Joe Biden?
The consensus view was that Keir Starmer's speech was his best yet. I think it was born of deep frailty.
open.substack.com
October 3, 2025 at 6:47 AM
The near consensus view was that Keir Starmer's conference speech was his best yet. I heard something different. I think it was born of a profound weakness- and in its own way set up his own future failure.
My latest
goodallandgoodluck.substack.com/p/keir-starm... open.substack.com/pub/goodalla...
My latest
goodallandgoodluck.substack.com/p/keir-starm... open.substack.com/pub/goodalla...
Reposted by Phil Syrpis
When I was a teenager there was a bus direct from my hometown in Germany to London - we had a British army base, and this direct bus connection was one of the benefits of that. One summer I went on that bus to go volunteer in an old people's home in Southend-on-Sea. I had just turned 18 and was... 🧵
September 29, 2025 at 12:32 PM
When I was a teenager there was a bus direct from my hometown in Germany to London - we had a British army base, and this direct bus connection was one of the benefits of that. One summer I went on that bus to go volunteer in an old people's home in Southend-on-Sea. I had just turned 18 and was... 🧵
I’ve now read a lot of commentary on Starmer’s speech, and it’s mainly positive. I tend to agree with that positive assessment, and welcome the long-overdue critique of Reform.
But, in the rush to find and enjoy the positives, one aspect seems to have been overlooked. 1/3
But, in the rush to find and enjoy the positives, one aspect seems to have been overlooked. 1/3
October 2, 2025 at 7:50 AM
I’ve now read a lot of commentary on Starmer’s speech, and it’s mainly positive. I tend to agree with that positive assessment, and welcome the long-overdue critique of Reform.
But, in the rush to find and enjoy the positives, one aspect seems to have been overlooked. 1/3
But, in the rush to find and enjoy the positives, one aspect seems to have been overlooked. 1/3
Reposted by Phil Syrpis
🧵 The left in most countries comprises factions arguing that progressive party X must be more left, more centre, or split the difference. The often poor result is then bent into validating the thesis, amplify in-fighting. In fact, data points to in-fighting as the most influential voter turn-off. 1/
September 23, 2025 at 2:22 PM
🧵 The left in most countries comprises factions arguing that progressive party X must be more left, more centre, or split the difference. The often poor result is then bent into validating the thesis, amplify in-fighting. In fact, data points to in-fighting as the most influential voter turn-off. 1/
This lavishing a state visit on the President thing - how’s it going, one week on?
Trump to the UN: "I have to say, I look at London where you have a terrible mayor -- terrible terrible mayor -- and it's been so changed, so changed. Now they want to go to Sharia Law ... both their immigration and their suicidal energy ideas will be the death of Western Europe."
September 23, 2025 at 4:29 PM
This lavishing a state visit on the President thing - how’s it going, one week on?
What’s most depressing and divisive is that it feels like there is always a lot riding on the ethnicity, and political beliefs, of those doing ‘bad things’.
Statistics don’t make a difference.
The ‘bad things’ are just a pretext for condemning others.
Statistics don’t make a difference.
The ‘bad things’ are just a pretext for condemning others.
September 13, 2025 at 7:42 AM
What’s most depressing and divisive is that it feels like there is always a lot riding on the ethnicity, and political beliefs, of those doing ‘bad things’.
Statistics don’t make a difference.
The ‘bad things’ are just a pretext for condemning others.
Statistics don’t make a difference.
The ‘bad things’ are just a pretext for condemning others.
Note to self: Do not confuse Calvin and Tyler Robinson again.
September 12, 2025 at 10:25 PM
Note to self: Do not confuse Calvin and Tyler Robinson again.
There is something about a man whose job was to ignore moral scruples and endeavour to maintain a close relationship with a controversial, volatile, criminal acting outside societal norms, being sacked from that job for… you know the rest.
September 11, 2025 at 11:27 AM
There is something about a man whose job was to ignore moral scruples and endeavour to maintain a close relationship with a controversial, volatile, criminal acting outside societal norms, being sacked from that job for… you know the rest.
Last few hours. lol.
My main observation from the last few hours of monitoring US social media is that Democrats are universally denouncing political violence and calling for calm while MAGA are escalating language and openly lusting for retribution against broad categories of people they identity as their enemies.
September 10, 2025 at 9:42 PM
Last few hours. lol.
Reposted by Phil Syrpis
NEW: The law is supposed to protect unaccompanied migrant children from being summarily whisked out of the country by ICE in the dead of night.
But that didn't seem to matter on Labor Day weekend, when the Trump administration tried to do just that.
My latest: www.lawfaremedia.org/article/the-...
But that didn't seem to matter on Labor Day weekend, when the Trump administration tried to do just that.
My latest: www.lawfaremedia.org/article/the-...
September 9, 2025 at 10:04 PM
NEW: The law is supposed to protect unaccompanied migrant children from being summarily whisked out of the country by ICE in the dead of night.
But that didn't seem to matter on Labor Day weekend, when the Trump administration tried to do just that.
My latest: www.lawfaremedia.org/article/the-...
But that didn't seem to matter on Labor Day weekend, when the Trump administration tried to do just that.
My latest: www.lawfaremedia.org/article/the-...