Daniel Trilling
@trillingual.bsky.social
Journalist and author in London. LRB, Guardian Long Read and others. Books about refugees in Europe and Britain's far right. danieltrilling.co.uk for contact details etc
Pinned
Daniel Trilling
@trillingual.bsky.social
· Jul 29
Starmer v Starmer: why is the former human rights lawyer so cautious about defending human rights?
The long read: Given his career as a human rights barrister, it was hoped Keir Starmer would be the PM to restore the UK’s commitment to international law. The reality tells a different story
www.theguardian.com
Good morning, I've written a piece about the prime minister. I spoke to several dozen sources, including government insiders, former legal colleagues and campaigners to ask: what happened to Keir Starmer the heroic human rights lawyer? www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Piece on how the British right has managed to convince a significant minority that it would be in their interests to get rid of the European Convention on Human Rights. My suggestion: rather than capitulate, make human rights part of a wider politics of equality.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
How the European convention on human rights became a battleground between the centre and the right | Daniel Trilling
For 20 years, populists have been blaming the ECHR for endangering Britain by offering basic protections to immigrants, says author Daniel Trilling
www.theguardian.com
November 3, 2025 at 1:20 PM
Piece on how the British right has managed to convince a significant minority that it would be in their interests to get rid of the European Convention on Human Rights. My suggestion: rather than capitulate, make human rights part of a wider politics of equality.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Daniel Trilling
Equator Magazine just launched today. It’s the sort of venture we need like we need air- erudite, cosmopolita, merciless and brave. Congratulations my brilliant friends
@equatormag.bsky.social
www.equator.org
@equatormag.bsky.social
www.equator.org
Equator
Equator is a magazine of politics, culture and art.
www.equator.org
October 29, 2025 at 1:08 PM
Equator Magazine just launched today. It’s the sort of venture we need like we need air- erudite, cosmopolita, merciless and brave. Congratulations my brilliant friends
@equatormag.bsky.social
www.equator.org
@equatormag.bsky.social
www.equator.org
Reposted by Daniel Trilling
Make no mistake. Those who spearheaded the Gaza genocide will try to relaunch it in a more ruthless manner, at the earliest opportunity.
They will fail only if there will be an alternative vision, one of recognition, life and equality for everyone.
They will fail only if there will be an alternative vision, one of recognition, life and equality for everyone.
October 9, 2025 at 8:12 AM
Make no mistake. Those who spearheaded the Gaza genocide will try to relaunch it in a more ruthless manner, at the earliest opportunity.
They will fail only if there will be an alternative vision, one of recognition, life and equality for everyone.
They will fail only if there will be an alternative vision, one of recognition, life and equality for everyone.
A first foray into podcast script-writing... helped make this series on what to do now that we're overshooting 1.5c global warming. Presented by Laurie Laybourn and produced by Planet B. More things soon I hope!
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/o...
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/o...
Episode 1: Uncharted Territory
Podcast Episode · Overshoot: Navigating a world beyond 1.5°C · 05/10/2025 · 35m
podcasts.apple.com
October 6, 2025 at 10:20 AM
A first foray into podcast script-writing... helped make this series on what to do now that we're overshooting 1.5c global warming. Presented by Laurie Laybourn and produced by Planet B. More things soon I hope!
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/o...
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/o...
The last time I went into a synagogue, I found out it had the Torah scroll rescued from what had once been my family's synagogue in Berlin, shortly before Kristallnacht. I was the first person in my family to see it in over 80 years.
October 3, 2025 at 7:31 AM
The last time I went into a synagogue, I found out it had the Torah scroll rescued from what had once been my family's synagogue in Berlin, shortly before Kristallnacht. I was the first person in my family to see it in over 80 years.
Will try to have something more constructive to say eventually but this is unbelievably spiteful and stupid.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Starmer to end asylum ‘golden ticket’ of resettlement and family reunion rights
People granted asylum will have to earn right to invite family in plan charities call ‘straight from populist playbook’
www.theguardian.com
October 2, 2025 at 7:13 AM
Will try to have something more constructive to say eventually but this is unbelievably spiteful and stupid.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Once again, if you're interested in how and why a leading human rights barrister can end up suggesting the UK might water down its commitment to such protections as the absolute ban on torture in article 3 of the Human Rights Act, ECHR, etc...
Good morning, I've written a piece about the prime minister. I spoke to several dozen sources, including government insiders, former legal colleagues and campaigners to ask: what happened to Keir Starmer the heroic human rights lawyer? www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Starmer v Starmer: why is the former human rights lawyer so cautious about defending human rights?
The long read: Given his career as a human rights barrister, it was hoped Keir Starmer would be the PM to restore the UK’s commitment to international law. The reality tells a different story
www.theguardian.com
October 1, 2025 at 1:06 PM
Once again, if you're interested in how and why a leading human rights barrister can end up suggesting the UK might water down its commitment to such protections as the absolute ban on torture in article 3 of the Human Rights Act, ECHR, etc...
Labour's current position is that it's racist to make life much harder for people who have immigrated to the UK legally, but also that it will make life a little bit harder for people who have immigrated to the UK legally. The morality of that aside, what is the message here to the Reform-curious?
September 29, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Labour's current position is that it's racist to make life much harder for people who have immigrated to the UK legally, but also that it will make life a little bit harder for people who have immigrated to the UK legally. The morality of that aside, what is the message here to the Reform-curious?
Just to illustrate how much worse it's got, I have received more abuse over the past year and a bit - including death threats and a large volume of antisemitism - for what I write than in the previous 15 years of covering migration and the far right put together.
More than 150 lawyers and refugee NGOs report being ‘pressured into silence’ by far-right protesters.
At least two groups supporting UK asylum seekers have closed their offices after credible threats to their safety
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
At least two groups supporting UK asylum seekers have closed their offices after credible threats to their safety
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
More than 150 lawyers and refugee NGOs report being ‘pressured into silence’ by far-right protesters
At least two groups supporting UK asylum seekers have closed their offices after credible threats to their safety
www.theguardian.com
September 22, 2025 at 6:45 AM
Just to illustrate how much worse it's got, I have received more abuse over the past year and a bit - including death threats and a large volume of antisemitism - for what I write than in the previous 15 years of covering migration and the far right put together.
Last year I wrote for @lrb.co.uk about the families of Majella O'Hare, a young girl killed by a British soldier, and Tony Harrison, a British soldier killed by the IRA, who were campaigning together against the Legacy Act - and the vested interests supporting it.
www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
September 19, 2025 at 8:06 AM
Last year I wrote for @lrb.co.uk about the families of Majella O'Hare, a young girl killed by a British soldier, and Tony Harrison, a British soldier killed by the IRA, who were campaigning together against the Legacy Act - and the vested interests supporting it.
www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
Reposted by Daniel Trilling
2/ This by @trillingual.bsky.social in @lrb.co.uk from June (ostensibly a review of @leninology.bsky.social’s important book, but much more than that) is a brilliant account of the new global and UK far right.
www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
Daniel Trilling · Is this fascism?
Are we, as Richard Seymour suggests, ‘in the early days of a new fascism’? In Disaster Nationalism, Seymour...
www.lrb.co.uk
September 16, 2025 at 5:26 PM
2/ This by @trillingual.bsky.social in @lrb.co.uk from June (ostensibly a review of @leninology.bsky.social’s important book, but much more than that) is a brilliant account of the new global and UK far right.
www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
If you want to know what the UK government's position is on its obligations under the Genocide Convention in relation to its support for Israel, here's what it argued in court this summer.
September 16, 2025 at 8:39 AM
If you want to know what the UK government's position is on its obligations under the Genocide Convention in relation to its support for Israel, here's what it argued in court this summer.
Reposted by Daniel Trilling
An independent UN commission has concluded that Israel has committed and continues to commit genocide against Palestinians in Gaza
Israel committing genocide in Gaza - UN commission
An independent UN commission has concluded that Israel has committed and continues to commit genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.
www.rte.ie
September 16, 2025 at 7:07 AM
An independent UN commission has concluded that Israel has committed and continues to commit genocide against Palestinians in Gaza
Had a few conversations recently that make me think, for the first time in ages, there are some exciting things happening in media. This is one of the highlights: Equator, a new magazine set up by Nesrine Malik, Pankaj Mishra, Jonathan Shainin and others. Sign up for info here: www.equator.org
September 15, 2025 at 10:14 AM
Had a few conversations recently that make me think, for the first time in ages, there are some exciting things happening in media. This is one of the highlights: Equator, a new magazine set up by Nesrine Malik, Pankaj Mishra, Jonathan Shainin and others. Sign up for info here: www.equator.org
Reposted by Daniel Trilling
I wrote this with the aim that it would be a durable piece, relevant every time there's a flare-up of far right violence or as far right ideas make further advances into the mainstream. Hope people find it useful.
‘Are we, as Richard Seymour suggests, “in the early days of a new fascism”? In 𝘋𝘪𝘴𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘕𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘮, Seymour argues that in trying to understand the new far right, we have been looking in the wrong places.’
@trillingual.bsky.social on far-right populism:
www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
@trillingual.bsky.social on far-right populism:
www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
Daniel Trilling · Is this fascism?
Are we, as Richard Seymour suggests, ‘in the early days of a new fascism’? In Disaster Nationalism, Seymour...
www.lrb.co.uk
August 26, 2025 at 7:30 AM
I wrote this with the aim that it would be a durable piece, relevant every time there's a flare-up of far right violence or as far right ideas make further advances into the mainstream. Hope people find it useful.
Reposted by Daniel Trilling
So brilliant. RIP Conor Gearty, the British government's essential critical friend
September 12, 2025 at 12:34 PM
So brilliant. RIP Conor Gearty, the British government's essential critical friend
Regardless of whether Reform's deportation plan "works", if they get a chance to try it - like the Tories' Rwanda policy, or Trump's deportations - it will ostentatiously torment thousands of people and further engrain racism in British politics. It must be opposed on that basis.
August 27, 2025 at 7:23 AM
Regardless of whether Reform's deportation plan "works", if they get a chance to try it - like the Tories' Rwanda policy, or Trump's deportations - it will ostentatiously torment thousands of people and further engrain racism in British politics. It must be opposed on that basis.
Reposted by Daniel Trilling
¿Esto es fascismo? Tribuna de @trillingual.bsky.social
en la revista Nueva Sociedad
n9.cl/qh9vf
¿Cómo comprender este fenómeno? ¿Qué fuerzas podrían hacerle frente? ¿Hasta qué punto sirve pensar todos estos fenómenos bajo la etiqueta de «fascismo»?
@ccoo.bsky.social @crisfaciaben.bsky.social
en la revista Nueva Sociedad
n9.cl/qh9vf
¿Cómo comprender este fenómeno? ¿Qué fuerzas podrían hacerle frente? ¿Hasta qué punto sirve pensar todos estos fenómenos bajo la etiqueta de «fascismo»?
@ccoo.bsky.social @crisfaciaben.bsky.social
¿Esto es fascismo? | Nueva Sociedad
El libro Disaster Nationalism, de Richard Seymour, plantea que no solo hay que centrar el foco en los líderes carismáticos ultras, sino en un estado de ánimo más amplio, en un caldero hirviente que me...
n9.cl
August 27, 2025 at 7:08 AM
¿Esto es fascismo? Tribuna de @trillingual.bsky.social
en la revista Nueva Sociedad
n9.cl/qh9vf
¿Cómo comprender este fenómeno? ¿Qué fuerzas podrían hacerle frente? ¿Hasta qué punto sirve pensar todos estos fenómenos bajo la etiqueta de «fascismo»?
@ccoo.bsky.social @crisfaciaben.bsky.social
en la revista Nueva Sociedad
n9.cl/qh9vf
¿Cómo comprender este fenómeno? ¿Qué fuerzas podrían hacerle frente? ¿Hasta qué punto sirve pensar todos estos fenómenos bajo la etiqueta de «fascismo»?
@ccoo.bsky.social @crisfaciaben.bsky.social
I wrote this with the aim that it would be a durable piece, relevant every time there's a flare-up of far right violence or as far right ideas make further advances into the mainstream. Hope people find it useful.
‘Are we, as Richard Seymour suggests, “in the early days of a new fascism”? In 𝘋𝘪𝘴𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘕𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘮, Seymour argues that in trying to understand the new far right, we have been looking in the wrong places.’
@trillingual.bsky.social on far-right populism:
www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
@trillingual.bsky.social on far-right populism:
www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
Daniel Trilling · Is this fascism?
Are we, as Richard Seymour suggests, ‘in the early days of a new fascism’? In Disaster Nationalism, Seymour...
www.lrb.co.uk
August 26, 2025 at 7:30 AM
I wrote this with the aim that it would be a durable piece, relevant every time there's a flare-up of far right violence or as far right ideas make further advances into the mainstream. Hope people find it useful.
Reposted by Daniel Trilling
Terrific essay by @trillingual.bsky.social. "The far-right ... thrives on failures in the existing system, yet offers remedies that would make everything much worse. It is difficult, but necessary, to give both parts of the equation due attention."
‘Are we, as Richard Seymour suggests, “in the early days of a new fascism”? In 𝘋𝘪𝘴𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘕𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘮, Seymour argues that in trying to understand the new far right, we have been looking in the wrong places.’
@trillingual.bsky.social on far-right populism:
www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
@trillingual.bsky.social on far-right populism:
www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
Daniel Trilling · Is this fascism?
Are we, as Richard Seymour suggests, ‘in the early days of a new fascism’? In Disaster Nationalism, Seymour...
www.lrb.co.uk
August 26, 2025 at 7:25 AM
Terrific essay by @trillingual.bsky.social. "The far-right ... thrives on failures in the existing system, yet offers remedies that would make everything much worse. It is difficult, but necessary, to give both parts of the equation due attention."
Reposted by Daniel Trilling
‘Are we, as Richard Seymour suggests, “in the early days of a new fascism”? In 𝘋𝘪𝘴𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘕𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘮, Seymour argues that in trying to understand the new far right, we have been looking in the wrong places.’
@trillingual.bsky.social on far-right populism:
www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
@trillingual.bsky.social on far-right populism:
www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
Daniel Trilling · Is this fascism?
Are we, as Richard Seymour suggests, ‘in the early days of a new fascism’? In Disaster Nationalism, Seymour...
www.lrb.co.uk
August 25, 2025 at 11:19 AM
‘Are we, as Richard Seymour suggests, “in the early days of a new fascism”? In 𝘋𝘪𝘴𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘕𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘮, Seymour argues that in trying to understand the new far right, we have been looking in the wrong places.’
@trillingual.bsky.social on far-right populism:
www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
@trillingual.bsky.social on far-right populism:
www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
Reposted by Daniel Trilling
Important read 👇
My long read on Keir Starmer and human rights - for which a I spoke to dozens of current and former colleagues, campaigners and legal experts - is now a podcast. www.theguardian.com/news/audio/2...
Starmer v Starmer: why is the former human rights lawyer so cautious about defending human rights? – podcast
Many of his supporters hoped the prime minister would restore the UK’s commitment to international law. Yet Labour’s record over the past year has been curiously mixedBy Daniel Trilling. Read by Simon...
www.theguardian.com
August 21, 2025 at 6:20 AM
Important read 👇
My long read on Keir Starmer and human rights - for which a I spoke to dozens of current and former colleagues, campaigners and legal experts - is now a podcast. www.theguardian.com/news/audio/2...
Starmer v Starmer: why is the former human rights lawyer so cautious about defending human rights? – podcast
Many of his supporters hoped the prime minister would restore the UK’s commitment to international law. Yet Labour’s record over the past year has been curiously mixedBy Daniel Trilling. Read by Simon...
www.theguardian.com
August 20, 2025 at 7:30 AM
My long read on Keir Starmer and human rights - for which a I spoke to dozens of current and former colleagues, campaigners and legal experts - is now a podcast. www.theguardian.com/news/audio/2...
Reposted by Daniel Trilling
Relevant passage from @trillingual.bsky.social's recent piece in The Guardian regarding the Starmer government's own deployment of the 'Genocide only applicable as a post-facto designation' line. (Speaker: Yasmine Ahmed, UK Director, Human Rights Watch.)
Article: www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Article: www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
August 18, 2025 at 3:32 PM
Relevant passage from @trillingual.bsky.social's recent piece in The Guardian regarding the Starmer government's own deployment of the 'Genocide only applicable as a post-facto designation' line. (Speaker: Yasmine Ahmed, UK Director, Human Rights Watch.)
Article: www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Article: www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Daniel Trilling
Important read 👇
I wrote this to explain how we reached this point, in the hope it would be a resource for people arguing with friends and family, people with questions, perhaps even people thinking of joining a protest. Do share with anyone who might find it useful. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Targeted by the right, Britain’s asylum hotels are places of fear and disorder. Bad political decisions made it so | Daniel Trilling
In the frenzy of racism and culture warring, the issue of why hotels are used gets overlooked, says author Daniel Trilling
www.theguardian.com
August 10, 2025 at 8:01 AM
Important read 👇