Feargal Cochrane
@feargalc.bsky.social
Professor (Emeritus) University of Kent. Also Prof at University of Warwick.
Have taught & written about political conflict & peacebuilding for last 30 years. Still learning. Living in Peak District England but FROM Belfast in NI.
Politics nerd
Have taught & written about political conflict & peacebuilding for last 30 years. Still learning. Living in Peak District England but FROM Belfast in NI.
Politics nerd
Brilliant @vicderbyshire.bsky.social interview with James Murray on tonight’s @bbcnewsnight.bsky.social
Precise, sharp but polite questioning & great follow ups when the answers veered towards the formulaic talking points. 👏
Precise, sharp but polite questioning & great follow ups when the answers veered towards the formulaic talking points. 👏
#Newsnight 1030pm BBC 2
• the budget ….with
One of the world’s top economists Mohamed El-Erian
Former Chief Economist at Bank of England Andy Haldane
Director of the IFS Helen Miller
Chief Secretary to the Treasury James Murray
Shadow Business & Trade Minister, Conservative MP Harriet Baldwin
• the budget ….with
One of the world’s top economists Mohamed El-Erian
Former Chief Economist at Bank of England Andy Haldane
Director of the IFS Helen Miller
Chief Secretary to the Treasury James Murray
Shadow Business & Trade Minister, Conservative MP Harriet Baldwin
November 26, 2025 at 11:57 PM
Brilliant @vicderbyshire.bsky.social interview with James Murray on tonight’s @bbcnewsnight.bsky.social
Precise, sharp but polite questioning & great follow ups when the answers veered towards the formulaic talking points. 👏
Precise, sharp but polite questioning & great follow ups when the answers veered towards the formulaic talking points. 👏
Truly a case of life imitating art -in fact he should be entered as an installation for the Turner Prize 🙄
November 25, 2025 at 7:53 PM
Truly a case of life imitating art -in fact he should be entered as an installation for the Turner Prize 🙄
Reposted by Feargal Cochrane
We've just launched a new policy brief series, evaluating the Dayton Agreement at 30. A partnership between @inclusivepeaceora.bsky.social and the Forum of Federations, our first brief examines public opinions on constitutional reform options in BiH. Read it here: www.forumfed.org/collection/f...
Federalism, Power-sharing, and Citizen Inclusion: Evaluating the Dayton Agreement at 30 Archives - Forum of Federations
Policy Brief Series November 21, 2025, marks 30 years since an agreement to end the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina was reached. The Dayton Agreement established an uneasy peace as well as a complex con...
www.forumfed.org
November 23, 2025 at 9:11 PM
We've just launched a new policy brief series, evaluating the Dayton Agreement at 30. A partnership between @inclusivepeaceora.bsky.social and the Forum of Federations, our first brief examines public opinions on constitutional reform options in BiH. Read it here: www.forumfed.org/collection/f...
Wow! Hadn’t seen this version before. Brilliant stuff.
Was thinking for the first half- ‘Prince is a bit quiet’ -then…. 🤩
Was thinking for the first half- ‘Prince is a bit quiet’ -then…. 🤩
Every once in a while I go back and rewatch this performance, and every time I'm glad I did youtu.be/6SFNW5F8K9Y
Prince, Tom Petty, Steve Winwood, Jeff Lynne, more - "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" | 2004 Induction
YouTube video by Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
youtu.be
November 23, 2025 at 12:06 AM
Wow! Hadn’t seen this version before. Brilliant stuff.
Was thinking for the first half- ‘Prince is a bit quiet’ -then…. 🤩
Was thinking for the first half- ‘Prince is a bit quiet’ -then…. 🤩
Back to the Trump default setting -support Russia and bully Ukraine into de facto surrender. Last time Europeans intervened he backed off -bit it is clearly his go to ‘solution’ appeasement of the aggressor.
U.S. pressuring Zelensky to back deal by Thanksgiving or lose support - The Washington Post www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/1...
U.S. pushing Ukraine to sign peace deal by Thanksgiving or lose support
The U.S. is sending “signals” that everything could be off the table if Kyiv does not quickly sign a proposal, which was drawn up by special envoy Witkoff.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 21, 2025 at 3:26 PM
Back to the Trump default setting -support Russia and bully Ukraine into de facto surrender. Last time Europeans intervened he backed off -bit it is clearly his go to ‘solution’ appeasement of the aggressor.
Reposted by Feargal Cochrane
Ex-leader of Reform UK in Wales Nathan Gill is sentenced to 10 & a half years in jail for taking bribes as part of a pro-Russia influence campaign
Gill was paid thousands of pounds to give TV interviews in favour of a key Putin ally and to make speeches in European Parliament, where he was an MEP
Gill was paid thousands of pounds to give TV interviews in favour of a key Putin ally and to make speeches in European Parliament, where he was an MEP
November 21, 2025 at 1:13 PM
Ex-leader of Reform UK in Wales Nathan Gill is sentenced to 10 & a half years in jail for taking bribes as part of a pro-Russia influence campaign
Gill was paid thousands of pounds to give TV interviews in favour of a key Putin ally and to make speeches in European Parliament, where he was an MEP
Gill was paid thousands of pounds to give TV interviews in favour of a key Putin ally and to make speeches in European Parliament, where he was an MEP
At the very least the phrase ‘peace plan’ needs to be in quotation marks to indicate some healthy cynicism over its usage here. It’s basically the US demanding Ukraine surrender to Russian aggression. Difficult to see any Europeans accepting this if reports are accurate.
US and Russian officials draft new peace plan based on capitulation from Ukraine
US and Russian officials draft new peace plan based on capitulation from Ukraine
Unclear if Trump administration backs deal that would mean Kyiv giving up territory and slashing size of military
US and Russian officials have quietly drafted a new plan to end the war in Ukraine that would require Kyiv to surrender territory and severely limit the size of its military, it was reported on Wednesday as Russian drone and missile strikes killed at least 25 people in the city of Ternopil.
. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
November 19, 2025 at 11:11 PM
At the very least the phrase ‘peace plan’ needs to be in quotation marks to indicate some healthy cynicism over its usage here. It’s basically the US demanding Ukraine surrender to Russian aggression. Difficult to see any Europeans accepting this if reports are accurate.
Reposted by Feargal Cochrane
Seems like a good day to remind everyone that Jared Kushner advised Saudi Crown Prince MBS on how to “weather the storm” after his hit squad slaughtered American journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
November 18, 2025 at 5:50 PM
Seems like a good day to remind everyone that Jared Kushner advised Saudi Crown Prince MBS on how to “weather the storm” after his hit squad slaughtered American journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
Reminded me of John Motson shouting ‘Marco Tardelli’ after the Italian scored in 1982 WC -this celebration has the edge though! 🤩
November 18, 2025 at 8:12 PM
Reminded me of John Motson shouting ‘Marco Tardelli’ after the Italian scored in 1982 WC -this celebration has the edge though! 🤩
The planes on this route are small and old. last week when I was on it the left propeller (yes propeller) didn’t start rotating till we’d reached the runway! Perfectly normal I’m sure. But if you can’t make money on a Manchester-Belfast route there is def something wrong somewhere
November 17, 2025 at 11:51 PM
The planes on this route are small and old. last week when I was on it the left propeller (yes propeller) didn’t start rotating till we’d reached the runway! Perfectly normal I’m sure. But if you can’t make money on a Manchester-Belfast route there is def something wrong somewhere
This is very sad news for Downpatrick. While the print media is under huge financial pressure, this has been a great local paper and an important part of cultural capital for the town and wider area.
November 15, 2025 at 9:36 AM
This is very sad news for Downpatrick. While the print media is under huge financial pressure, this has been a great local paper and an important part of cultural capital for the town and wider area.
It’s their version of flooding the zone!
A week of chaos, cowardice and negligence: Labour has managed to pack so many failures into a single five day period that it's becoming difficult to remember all the details iandunt.substack.com/p/a-week-of-...
A week of chaos, cowardice and negligence
Labour has managed to pack so much failure into a single week that it becomes hard to remember all the details.
iandunt.substack.com
November 14, 2025 at 4:11 PM
It’s their version of flooding the zone!
Amazing! This is top level film trivia 👏👏👏
Today I learned that the same prop U-boat was used In Raiders of the Lost Ark and Das Boot
Both films were shot in La Rochelle at the same time (even this blows my mind) and the prop company rented out Das Boot's sub to Steven Spielberg for a week, forgetting to paint the right number back on after
Both films were shot in La Rochelle at the same time (even this blows my mind) and the prop company rented out Das Boot's sub to Steven Spielberg for a week, forgetting to paint the right number back on after
German submarine U-26 (1936) - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
November 12, 2025 at 5:02 PM
Amazing! This is top level film trivia 👏👏👏
Reposted by Feargal Cochrane
"Most immigrants are already net fiscal contributors; decreasing their numbers will only decrease their contributions."
✍️ @lgilbert.co argues that migrants to the UK are net fiscal contributors, adding much more to the economy than they take out,
ukandeu.ac.uk/lower-migrat...
✍️ @lgilbert.co argues that migrants to the UK are net fiscal contributors, adding much more to the economy than they take out,
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 12, 2025 at 4:13 PM
"Most immigrants are already net fiscal contributors; decreasing their numbers will only decrease their contributions."
✍️ @lgilbert.co argues that migrants to the UK are net fiscal contributors, adding much more to the economy than they take out,
ukandeu.ac.uk/lower-migrat...
✍️ @lgilbert.co argues that migrants to the UK are net fiscal contributors, adding much more to the economy than they take out,
ukandeu.ac.uk/lower-migrat...
‘Reliable official statistics’ …are so easy to misinterpret 😂
The Economic and Social Research Council core budget for 24/25 was £134m, not £8 billion.
November 12, 2025 at 2:03 PM
‘Reliable official statistics’ …are so easy to misinterpret 😂
TINA died a while ago!
Amazingly given the stonking majority a year ago -it’s when, not if, now.
(Arguably a more spectacular political failure than the Lettuce).
Amazingly given the stonking majority a year ago -it’s when, not if, now.
(Arguably a more spectacular political failure than the Lettuce).
A newish (and chilling) feature of British politics has been Starmer/Reeves increasingly pitching themselves as a quasi technocratic govt, saying bond markets will accept no other. If that’s the strategy, my impression is that Labour MPs do not want to hear it.
November 12, 2025 at 11:04 AM
TINA died a while ago!
Amazingly given the stonking majority a year ago -it’s when, not if, now.
(Arguably a more spectacular political failure than the Lettuce).
Amazingly given the stonking majority a year ago -it’s when, not if, now.
(Arguably a more spectacular political failure than the Lettuce).
Reposted by Feargal Cochrane
A newish (and chilling) feature of British politics has been Starmer/Reeves increasingly pitching themselves as a quasi technocratic govt, saying bond markets will accept no other. If that’s the strategy, my impression is that Labour MPs do not want to hear it.
November 12, 2025 at 9:27 AM
A newish (and chilling) feature of British politics has been Starmer/Reeves increasingly pitching themselves as a quasi technocratic govt, saying bond markets will accept no other. If that’s the strategy, my impression is that Labour MPs do not want to hear it.
Reposted by Feargal Cochrane
Barely mentioned but that now notorious Trump Panorama *wasn’t made by the BBC*
It was an indie production (as so much is)
Even if was BBC, head of news or DG would wouldn’t have been involved in edits
It was an indie production (as so much is)
Even if was BBC, head of news or DG would wouldn’t have been involved in edits
November 11, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Barely mentioned but that now notorious Trump Panorama *wasn’t made by the BBC*
It was an indie production (as so much is)
Even if was BBC, head of news or DG would wouldn’t have been involved in edits
It was an indie production (as so much is)
Even if was BBC, head of news or DG would wouldn’t have been involved in edits
Reposted by Feargal Cochrane
President Catherine Connolly has called for action on war, genocide and climate change, saying the normalisation of war “has never been and will never be acceptable” to Ireland, a nation with a long tradition of neutrality and peacekeeping.
#VMNews
#VMNews
November 11, 2025 at 1:46 PM
President Catherine Connolly has called for action on war, genocide and climate change, saying the normalisation of war “has never been and will never be acceptable” to Ireland, a nation with a long tradition of neutrality and peacekeeping.
#VMNews
#VMNews
The problem is a lack of any ideological purpose and thus no strategic direction. There is no political compass to guide policy so result is callous incoherence.
Piss off the old the young the vulnerable the farmers then reverse policies after damage is done and do more damage with the reversal. 🤦♂️
Piss off the old the young the vulnerable the farmers then reverse policies after damage is done and do more damage with the reversal. 🤦♂️
In September, HuffPost UK revealed Starmer had decided the 2-child benefit cap must go.
One MP says: “It’s a recognition that we need to show some kind of progressive inclination, and presumably to try and cool the leadership talk.”
www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/amp/entry/st...
One MP says: “It’s a recognition that we need to show some kind of progressive inclination, and presumably to try and cool the leadership talk.”
www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/amp/entry/st...
Starmer Hopes Lifting The 2-Child Benefit Cap Will Cheer Up His Unhappy MPs. But Is It Too Late?
The prime minister is being urged by his allies to use his Labour conference speech to "draw a line" over recent controversies.
www.huffingtonpost.co.uk
November 11, 2025 at 1:44 PM
The problem is a lack of any ideological purpose and thus no strategic direction. There is no political compass to guide policy so result is callous incoherence.
Piss off the old the young the vulnerable the farmers then reverse policies after damage is done and do more damage with the reversal. 🤦♂️
Piss off the old the young the vulnerable the farmers then reverse policies after damage is done and do more damage with the reversal. 🤦♂️
What a lovely post -captures the moment perfectly 👏
So proud of my father for all the passion, courage,care and vision he brought to the last 14 years as President of Ireland. Both my parents have always been driven by a deep wide love for Ireland & the world, for people, planet & possibilities. Looking forward to their next chapter! #Grá #spiergirm
November 11, 2025 at 10:41 AM
What a lovely post -captures the moment perfectly 👏
He’s watched South Park -he knows what’s coming.
President Trump says he was kidding when he said he does't think he will make it into heaven adding,
"You can't be sarcastic or have fun as a politician"
"You can't be sarcastic or have fun as a politician"
November 11, 2025 at 9:23 AM
He’s watched South Park -he knows what’s coming.
Reposted by Feargal Cochrane
What happens if the Greens overtake Labour in the polls? All bets are off | Gaby Hinsliff
What happens if the Greens overtake Labour in the polls? All bets are off | Gaby Hinsliff
They may lack Labour’s party machine, but Zack Polanski’s burgeoning popularity could have seismic consequences for British politics, says Guardian columnist Gaby Hinsliff
www.theguardian.com
November 11, 2025 at 6:31 AM
What happens if the Greens overtake Labour in the polls? All bets are off | Gaby Hinsliff