Andrew Duff
@andrewduffeu.bsky.social
Former Member of the European Parliament. Federalist. epc.eu cambridge-connect.uk @volteuropa.org @libdems.org.uk
This just may be the reason Thomas-Simonds was sacked.
Niall Ó Conghaile@nialloconghaile.bsky.social · 3w agoEh, no. The opposite is true. European governments were royally fed up of feeding the British euroskeptic crocodile. They wanted to tell Cameron to do one. Opt-out from ever-closer union was too much. An optout from the 4 freedoms would have destroyed the union. 1 H/T @dextercrisp.bsky.social
Thomas-Symonds is talking deluded nonsense. In fact, the EU conceded too much to the Brits over the years, fooling Cameron & co into thinking EU norms did not matter. They did and do!
The News Agents@thenewsagents.co.uk · 3w ago"I don't think it was fully realised how clear and present the danger was of the UK leaving the EU." Nick Thomas_symonds, (former EU relations minister) and Lewis Goodall on whether the EU was "crazy" not to give the UK more when Brexit happened
📢 We are hiring The EPC is looking for a Brussels-based Programme Assistant to join our Europe in the World Programme’s Ukraine Team. Interested in Ukraine, EU affairs and the broader Eurasia region? This could be for you. Apply by 21 August 👇 www.epc.eu/vacancies/pr...
NEW BLOGPOST (Sorry!) "Draft Gtr Cambridge Local Plan: 7) Transport Mitigation Measures for New Strategic Sites" cambridgetownowl.com/2026/08/06/d... There are some bold assumptions and big rail-based gaps. CC @cambridge-connect.bsky.social @cambstravelall.bsky.social @camcycle.bsky.social
Draft Gtr Cambridge Local Plan: 7) Transport Mitigation Measures for New Strategic Sites
I was tipped off by the Cambridge Bus Users for this blogpost – there are a host of assumptions that local residents living near the proposed new large development sites may want to scrutinis…
cambridgetownowl.com
I was attacked in Thetford riots for trying to do my job By Henry Durand www.edp24.co.uk/news/2644352...
I've been attacked as a journalist twice in a year... I'm just trying to do my job
I was attacked for a second time in a year while covering the Thetford riots, here's what happened and why I'm going back.
edp24.co.uk
NEW BLOGPOST: @cambridgebiocampus.bsky.social – the challenges are significant cambridgetownowl.com/2026/08/06/d... “There are eighteen of them. Breathe in everyone! This could get messy – because it is a ***monster urban design challenge***” Scroll halfway down @cambstravelall.bsky.social
Draft Gtr Cambridge Local Plan: 7) Transport Mitigation Measures for New Strategic Sites
I was tipped off by the Cambridge Bus Users for this blogpost – there are a host of assumptions that local residents living near the proposed new large development sites may want to scrutinis…
cambridgetownowl.com
Listening to Chris Philp telling a French cop he must 'protect the border', meaning the UK border. The little weirdo.
Our latest voting intention sees cross over. Labour move ahead by 4. Their first lead since March 2025 & highest share since Nov 24 🌹 LAB 28% (+4) ⏩ REF 24% (-2) 🌳 CON 22% (nc) 🔶 LIB DEM 12% (+1) 🟢 GREEN 8% (-3) 🟡 SNP 2% (nc) N = 2061| Dates 24-27/7| Change w 22/7
“The clash at the top boiled over on Friday when Kaczyński expelled Morawiecki and some three dozen MPs from PiS. The party has been weakening in the polls and has been rocked by a battle over its trajectory between iron-fisted party leader Jarosław Kaczyński & former PM Mateusz Morawiecki”
POLITICO Europe@politico.eu · last mo.The nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party that ruled Poland from 2015 to 2023 has split in a political rupture that undermines the conservative camp’s attempts to topple pro-EU Prime Minister Donald Tusk in an election next year. 🔗 www.politico.eu/article/poli...
Polish opposition PiS party set to split, with over 30 MPs being expelled More than 30 MPs from the national-conservative Law and Justice (PiS), Poland’s main opposition party, have effectively resigned after refusing to sign a loyalty pledge, party leader Jarosław Kaczyński has announced.
Polish opposition PiS party set to split, with over 30 MPs being expelled
More than 30 MPs from the national-conservative Law and Justice (PiS), Poland’s main opposition party, have effectively resigned after refusing to sign a loyalty pledge, party leader Jarosław Kaczyński has announced.
notesfrompoland.com
Apparently BBC Proms can’t afford or don’t bother any more to show surtitles of libretti. WTF. The Finzi piece with Blunden poem was completely mysterious. @bbc
Oh dear. Yet again a Labour politician misrepresents the EU’s freedom of movement policy as a dangerous free for all. It’s not.
UK in a Changing Europe@ukandeu.bsky.social · 2mo ago"The Brexit referendum caused us to look inwards for a decade, as the world outside passed us by. To rise to the challenge of the decade to come, we need a new partnership with the EU" ✍️ @gareththomasmp.bsky.social makes his case for an ambitious new offer to the EU 🔗 ukandeu.ac.uk/time-for-lab...
Cambridge Connect proposes East West Rail and Mass Rapid Transit for Cambridge & its local region should be planned & delivered in an integrated way. This could save hundreds of millions of pounds & yield better outcomes. A joined-up approach is essential. www.cambridge-connect.uk/east-west-ra...
East West Rail integrated with Mass Rapid Transit - Cambridge Connect
Cambridge Connect proposes East West Rail (EWR) should be planned and delivered with a Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system for Cambridge. An integrated approach would yield better outcomes and it could sa...
cambridge-connect.uk
Vive la Belgique/Hup België 🇧🇪 #SPAvBEL #WorldCupFootball
Read here Nick Witney's scathing critique of the UK defence policy. ecfr.eu/article/behi...
Behind the curve: Britain’s defence investment plan in Trump’s world – European Council on Foreign Relations
The new defence investment plan is weighed down by the habits of Britain’s defence establishment. By contrast, the British public appear readier to accept chang
ecfr.eu
"Orr’s extensive Cambridge compound provides accommodation for at least half a dozen postgraduate students, though it is not clear whether this is on a fee-paying basis … Orr has defended the practice as being common in Cambridge, though fellow academics say that it is highly unusual."
Josiah Mortimer@josiahmortimer.bsky.social · 2mo agoA six-month investigation by Byline Times reveals that with the support of Palantir's Peter Thiel, Reform's policy chief James Orr has used the University of Cambridge as a student recruitment ground for a hard-right, theocratic political project aimed at bolstering talent in Farage’s party
A six-month investigation by Byline Times reveals that with the support of Palantir's Peter Thiel, Reform's policy chief James Orr has used the University of Cambridge as a student recruitment ground for a hard-right, theocratic political project aimed at bolstering talent in Farage’s party
Palantir Co-Founder Peter Thiel and Reform UK's Cambridge University Recruitment Pipeline Project Revealed
The world-renowned academic institution has nothing to say in response to a six-month investigation by Byline Times raising serious concerns about the safeguarding of students and foreign influence at...
bylinetimes.com
Jordan Bardella is so mad that he had to stand aside for convicted criminal Marine Le Pen
"That fence, that scar across our story as a people, which this treaty now begins to dissolve. Unlocking, at last, the movement, the fluidity and the prosperity that our geography always offered and that history for so long denied us” - Gibraltar Chief Minister. www.chronicle.gi/treaty-to-be...
Treaty to be signed July 14 in Brussels
The UK/EU treaty on Gibraltar will be signed in Brussels next Tuesday, Chief Minister Fabian Picardo revealed during a Budget address in Parliament on Tuesday. Ahead of that, Mr Picardo said he would...
chronicle.gi
Quite a significant Brexit moment happening, with the removal of Spain-Gibraltar border posts in preparation for the UK-EU agreement being signed & implemented next week. Effectively, this marks the end of the process triggered by invoking Article 50 in 2017: etias.com/articles/spa... 1/3
Spain removes Gibraltar border checkpoints after 300 years
Spain tore down its border checkpoints at Gibraltar for the first time in 300 years. See what the new frontier deal changes for daily crossers.
etias.com
And you think fascists care? What about all the progressive voters in Clacton, what about those who are sick of not being represented, what about the non-voters who are now open to alternative arguments? You want to abandon them all – only to expect them to vote for you later?
So who’s going to stand up for Europe in Clacton ? And Clacton in Europe ?
Peter Stefanovic@peterstefanovic.bsky.social · 2mo agoKemi Badenoch says the Tories will not stand against Nigel Farage in the Clacton by-election "We're not standing in a fake by-election" Labour has also said it won't stand against Nigel Farage in Clacton. As it stands, only Count Binface will run against Farage
Oh dear. But I hope there’s a European Federalist prepared to stand and fight for Clacton.
Ed Davey@eddavey.libdems.org.uk · 2mo agoNigel Farage has spent his whole life dodging responsibility for his actions. This new stunt is his latest attempt to escape consequences for his biggest grift. We won’t let him.
So who’s going to stand up for Europe in Clacton ? And Clacton in Europe ?
Otto English@ottoenglish.bsky.social · 2mo agoNigel Farage's brilliant by election wheeze is horribly backfiring on him. Currently fewer prospective candidates than guests at a Toby Young stag night
A mistake in my view. Someone needs to stand up for Europe in Clacton. And Clacton in Europe.
Liberal Democrats@libdems.org.uk · 2mo agoNigel Farage is a Temu Trump who's spent his whole life dodging responsibility for his actions. He has done nothing for his constituents and instead focused on lining his own pockets. This new stunt is his latest attempt to escape consequences for his biggest grift. We won’t let him.
Someone needs to stand up for Europe in Clacton. And Clacton in Europe.
Stephen Bush@stephenkb.bsky.social · 2mo agoI think it’s a mistake on the part of the Conservatives not to stand, because it’s an excuse to spend the summer going at Farage with all the questions Kevin Hollinrake has been hurling at him but with a national spotlight, and otherwise what’s their summer story?
