Ian Stevens
@ianstev91.bsky.social
Former teacher and lawyer, Liberal, pro-Europe.🇪🇺
Reposted by Ian Stevens
The Trump National Security Strategy is bonkers in many ways but this objective stood out:
"Cultivating resistance to Europe’s current trajectory within European nations"
Making their strategy of supporting radical right and extremist parties explicit.
"Cultivating resistance to Europe’s current trajectory within European nations"
Making their strategy of supporting radical right and extremist parties explicit.
December 5, 2025 at 12:06 PM
The Trump National Security Strategy is bonkers in many ways but this objective stood out:
"Cultivating resistance to Europe’s current trajectory within European nations"
Making their strategy of supporting radical right and extremist parties explicit.
"Cultivating resistance to Europe’s current trajectory within European nations"
Making their strategy of supporting radical right and extremist parties explicit.
Reposted by Ian Stevens
European reaction to the new American national strategy document
The headline, the main takeaway from a European viewpoint is this:
The transatlantic relationship as we know it is over. Yes, we kinda knew this. But this is now official US White House policy. Not a sppech, not a statement. The West as it used to be no longer exists.
The transatlantic relationship as we know it is over. Yes, we kinda knew this. But this is now official US White House policy. Not a sppech, not a statement. The West as it used to be no longer exists.
December 5, 2025 at 11:47 AM
European reaction to the new American national strategy document
Reposted by Ian Stevens
Reposted by Ian Stevens
I think that Labour resetting (more) towards the EU is very likely but I think the chances of Labour screwing that up are extremely likely.
December 3, 2025 at 11:14 AM
I think that Labour resetting (more) towards the EU is very likely but I think the chances of Labour screwing that up are extremely likely.
Reposted by Ian Stevens
Column. British politicians do a lot claiming to face the world as it is, while their actions speak of yearning for the world as it was. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Fear of facing the future has British politics stuck in the past | Rafael Behr
Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves claim to be dealing with the world as it is, but seem to yearn for a world that has disappeared, says the Guardian columnist Rafael Behr
www.theguardian.com
December 3, 2025 at 8:08 AM
Column. British politicians do a lot claiming to face the world as it is, while their actions speak of yearning for the world as it was. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Ian Stevens
Today the news will be about the government's proposals for juries.
Please read this thread so as to be informed about the actual practical problems in the criminal justice system - problems which will not be solved by this misconceived and illiberal tinkering.
Please read this thread so as to be informed about the actual practical problems in the criminal justice system - problems which will not be solved by this misconceived and illiberal tinkering.
Here is a list of reasons why some of my hearings and trials this year have been delayed and kicked off into the long grass, stuck in our record court backlog. Serious allegations which will now be tried *years* after the event. 🧵👇
December 2, 2025 at 7:11 AM
Today the news will be about the government's proposals for juries.
Please read this thread so as to be informed about the actual practical problems in the criminal justice system - problems which will not be solved by this misconceived and illiberal tinkering.
Please read this thread so as to be informed about the actual practical problems in the criminal justice system - problems which will not be solved by this misconceived and illiberal tinkering.
Reposted by Ian Stevens
What a Public Inquiry Into Russian Influence in British Politics Must Also Investigate: Boris Johnson and Alexander Lebedev
If you think the Nathan Gill conviction is bad, wait to you hear about another Leave campaigner and his connections to Putin's inner circle
open.substack.com/pub/pdjukes/...
If you think the Nathan Gill conviction is bad, wait to you hear about another Leave campaigner and his connections to Putin's inner circle
open.substack.com/pub/pdjukes/...
What a Public Inquiry Into Russian Influence in British Politics Must Also Investigate: Boris Johnson and Alexander Lebedev
If you think the Gill conviction is bad, linking the Reform UK Party leader's closest aide to the Kremlin, wait to you hear about another Leave campaigner and his connections to Putin's inner circle
open.substack.com
December 1, 2025 at 12:00 PM
What a Public Inquiry Into Russian Influence in British Politics Must Also Investigate: Boris Johnson and Alexander Lebedev
If you think the Nathan Gill conviction is bad, wait to you hear about another Leave campaigner and his connections to Putin's inner circle
open.substack.com/pub/pdjukes/...
If you think the Nathan Gill conviction is bad, wait to you hear about another Leave campaigner and his connections to Putin's inner circle
open.substack.com/pub/pdjukes/...
Reposted by Ian Stevens
Why is Glasman in Labour, not Reform? Because these are the sort of ideas Farage's lot would come out with on a bad day.
Not sure - 14 years into project - Blue Labour ever previously set out actual proposals before, so this is new
1. Abolish Treasury
2. Leave ECHR
3. Closr/refound half of unis
4. Double army size for anti-EU alliance with Ukraine
5. PM to lead grooming inquiry with arrest powers + televised trials
1. Abolish Treasury
2. Leave ECHR
3. Closr/refound half of unis
4. Double army size for anti-EU alliance with Ukraine
5. PM to lead grooming inquiry with arrest powers + televised trials
November 30, 2025 at 8:02 AM
Why is Glasman in Labour, not Reform? Because these are the sort of ideas Farage's lot would come out with on a bad day.
Reposted by Ian Stevens
Brexit reminders. New post on my Brexit & Brexitism Blog. Brexit may not be in the headlines, but many current news stories carry reminders of it, including the Hallett Inquiry report, the Gill scandal, the Budget & the latest net migration figures: chrisgreybrexitblog.blogspot.com/2025/11/brex...
November 28, 2025 at 7:24 AM
Brexit reminders. New post on my Brexit & Brexitism Blog. Brexit may not be in the headlines, but many current news stories carry reminders of it, including the Hallett Inquiry report, the Gill scandal, the Budget & the latest net migration figures: chrisgreybrexitblog.blogspot.com/2025/11/brex...
Reposted by Ian Stevens
Reposted by Ian Stevens
Kinnock voice - "I’ll tell you what happens with impossible promises. You start with far-fetched resolutions....and you end up in the grotesque chaos of a Labour government, a *Labour* government, rejecting visas for homeless 8 yr olds trying to joing their parents"
November 28, 2025 at 10:43 AM
Kinnock voice - "I’ll tell you what happens with impossible promises. You start with far-fetched resolutions....and you end up in the grotesque chaos of a Labour government, a *Labour* government, rejecting visas for homeless 8 yr olds trying to joing their parents"
Reposted by Ian Stevens
Funny to think a year ago, most Tory MPs thought Starmer had a clever but cynical plan to bank the changes Sunak made on immigration and declare victory, rather than to keep holing himself under the waterline.
PM describes net migration of 205k as "a step in the right direction". His govt has no public position on a sustainable level of immigration is, nor any known process to decide what, why & how. Starmer is now implying he wants it significantly lower
www.standard.co.uk/news/politic...
www.standard.co.uk/news/politic...
Net migration drop ‘step in the right direction’ – Starmer
Net migration peaked at a record 944,000 in the year to March 2023 but has fallen sharply since then.
www.standard.co.uk
November 27, 2025 at 2:45 PM
Funny to think a year ago, most Tory MPs thought Starmer had a clever but cynical plan to bank the changes Sunak made on immigration and declare victory, rather than to keep holing himself under the waterline.
Reposted by Ian Stevens
Today's migration stats illustrate the migration doom loop in action...
(from my presentation at the IMF last week)
(from my presentation at the IMF last week)
November 27, 2025 at 11:02 AM
Today's migration stats illustrate the migration doom loop in action...
(from my presentation at the IMF last week)
(from my presentation at the IMF last week)
Reposted by Ian Stevens
I have thoughts on this excellent piece which (naturally) I agree with.
What might have caused this strange absence of attention to substance which we find across government, opposition, and criticism / commentary (the cult of savviness)?
What might have caused this strange absence of attention to substance which we find across government, opposition, and criticism / commentary (the cult of savviness)?
On budget, Brexit and UK politics paddling in the shallow end of a problem that goes way deeper than just tax rises. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Rachel Reeves has many problems. She’s realising that her Brexit bind may be the biggest of all | Rafael Behr
Brutal economic realities are prompting a shift in Labour’s tone on Europe. But will it dare tell the whole truth about Britain’s predicament, asks Guardian columnist Rafael Behr
www.theguardian.com
November 26, 2025 at 8:41 AM
I have thoughts on this excellent piece which (naturally) I agree with.
What might have caused this strange absence of attention to substance which we find across government, opposition, and criticism / commentary (the cult of savviness)?
What might have caused this strange absence of attention to substance which we find across government, opposition, and criticism / commentary (the cult of savviness)?
Reposted by Ian Stevens
Good morning, while everyone is waiting for the budget to be announced it’s a good time to say that immigration is a source of prosperity for the UK and painting Britain as a hostile state is sabotaging the country. Thanks!
November 26, 2025 at 7:44 AM
Good morning, while everyone is waiting for the budget to be announced it’s a good time to say that immigration is a source of prosperity for the UK and painting Britain as a hostile state is sabotaging the country. Thanks!
Reposted by Ian Stevens
They remain the only government in my lifetime without a theory of how economic growth happens and a determination that it definitely not be through universities, immigration, high skilled services, tax simplification, trade relations etc
November 24, 2025 at 8:34 AM
They remain the only government in my lifetime without a theory of how economic growth happens and a determination that it definitely not be through universities, immigration, high skilled services, tax simplification, trade relations etc
Reposted by Ian Stevens
As many of you know, I do a lot of volunteer work with asylum seekers and refugees. One thing that’s going on is that Labour’s hostility towards migrants and the counterbattery from Tories and Reform is causing horrific fear and anxiety among vulnerable people who deserve our protection.
November 23, 2025 at 5:21 PM
As many of you know, I do a lot of volunteer work with asylum seekers and refugees. One thing that’s going on is that Labour’s hostility towards migrants and the counterbattery from Tories and Reform is causing horrific fear and anxiety among vulnerable people who deserve our protection.
Reposted by Ian Stevens
I realise this is simplistic, but it seems to me that rather than starting from the position that Russia will win in the end and that, if UKR doesn’t accept that, the US will help accelerate the process, the US could say to Putin “we’re not going to let you win”. The dynamic depends on US will.
November 23, 2025 at 10:41 AM
I realise this is simplistic, but it seems to me that rather than starting from the position that Russia will win in the end and that, if UKR doesn’t accept that, the US will help accelerate the process, the US could say to Putin “we’re not going to let you win”. The dynamic depends on US will.
Reposted by Ian Stevens
as Phillips O'Brien also points out, this plan has been in negotiation for a long time, probably since Trump took office.
open.substack.com/pub/phillips...
open.substack.com/pub/phillips...
The Long Con Comes To An End
The Trump Administration Takes Off The Mask (Again)
open.substack.com
November 22, 2025 at 12:33 PM
as Phillips O'Brien also points out, this plan has been in negotiation for a long time, probably since Trump took office.
open.substack.com/pub/phillips...
open.substack.com/pub/phillips...
Reposted by Ian Stevens
Farage can now be easily boxed in to a corner where his only ‘defence’ becomes: “Yes I spouted Kremlin propaganda & Putin worship but, unlike Nathan Gill, I didn’t need bribes to do it.”
It is, once again, a question of whether interviewers have the temerity to shut down his whining obfuscations.
It is, once again, a question of whether interviewers have the temerity to shut down his whining obfuscations.
November 22, 2025 at 11:04 AM
Farage can now be easily boxed in to a corner where his only ‘defence’ becomes: “Yes I spouted Kremlin propaganda & Putin worship but, unlike Nathan Gill, I didn’t need bribes to do it.”
It is, once again, a question of whether interviewers have the temerity to shut down his whining obfuscations.
It is, once again, a question of whether interviewers have the temerity to shut down his whining obfuscations.
Reposted by Ian Stevens
Project Fear but slowly (inexorably)
@jonathanfreedland.bsky.social, citing our paper, says the government should seek a much more comprehensive Brexit deal. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Rachel Reeves is studiously ignoring the cause of Britain’s woes: the Brexit-shaped hole in its roof | Jonathan Freedland
The autumn budget will mop up some damage, but the true source of the economic crisis is clear. The government should now fix it – tragically, it won’t, says Guardian columnist Jonathan Freedland
www.theguardian.com
November 22, 2025 at 9:28 AM
Project Fear but slowly (inexorably)
Reposted by Ian Stevens
Eurosceptics went on about traitors for years, but it turns out the traitors are among them.
Stench of corruption inside Reform UK. Strong report from C4 News' Jane Deith on the 10½-year sentence given to Nigel Farage's ex lieutenant Nathan Gill for making pro-Russia speeches in the European Parliament and on TV in exchange for £40,000 in bribes.
Wales Reform UK ex-leader jailed for taking Russian bribes
YouTube video by Channel 4 News
youtu.be
November 22, 2025 at 5:56 AM
Eurosceptics went on about traitors for years, but it turns out the traitors are among them.
Reposted by Ian Stevens
It is indisputable that Brexit has been an economic disaster, and notable that none of its political architects have paid any price.
Brexit has caused almost twice as much damage to the UK economy than estimated by official forecasts, according to new paper from a group of experts including a senior Bank of England economist
Brexit Hit to UK Economy Double Official Estimate, Study Finds
Brexit has caused almost twice as much damage to the UK economy than estimated by official forecasts, according to new paper from a group of experts including a senior Bank of England economist.
bloom.bg
November 21, 2025 at 10:15 AM
It is indisputable that Brexit has been an economic disaster, and notable that none of its political architects have paid any price.
Reposted by Ian Stevens
This is a clown-car government elected on a seriousness ticket iandunt.substack.com/p/a-clown-go...
November 21, 2025 at 12:08 PM
This is a clown-car government elected on a seriousness ticket iandunt.substack.com/p/a-clown-go...