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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

941 Posts2477 Follower2716 Folgt
Feargal Cochrane@feargalc.bsky.social · last wk.

So many negative stories from NI focusing on hatred -levered open by journalists in search of clicks and profile -undeniable that bigotry exists but here is the other side. Breathe it in and fill your lungs, a story full of love, courage positivity and hope. ❤️👏

Belfast Telegraph@belfasttelegraph.co.uk · last wk.

“He’s the bravest boy that I know, and I’m so proud that he’s my son...” The father of Dáithí Mac Gabhann has praised the bravery of his young son after his eight-year wait for a heart transplant finally came to an end last week.

Feargal Cochrane@feargalc.bsky.social · 2w ago

Why would they voluntarily go anywhere near him? The biggest headline they could have produced would have been to have him walk into an empty room. The US media is complicit in its own destruction.

Sam Litzinger@samlitzinger.bsky.social · 2w ago

“The White House Correspondents’ Disgrace The WHCA sought to reconvene its annual dinner in celebration of press freedom. Instead, it handed Donald Trump a platform to attack the very journalists the organization exists to represent.” www.status.news/p/the-white-...

The Guardian@theguardian.com · 2w ago

Ex-BBC journalist awarded £20,000 after MI5 and PSNI unlawfully accessed phone data

Ex-BBC journalist awarded £20,000 after MI5 and PSNI unlawfully accessed phone data

Investigatory powers tribunal ruled surveillance aimed at identifying Vincent Kearney’s sources was disproportionate and unlawful A former BBC journalist has been awarded £20,000 in damages after MI5 and the Police Service of Northern Ireland unlawfully obtained data from his mobile phone. A specialist tribunal on Thursday ordered the agencies to pay the compensation to Vincent Kearney for attempts to identify his sources while he was the BBC’s Northern Ireland home affairs correspondent. Continue reading...

theguardian.com

Feargal Cochrane@feargalc.bsky.social · 2w ago

Agreed -not least given the ‘talent pool’ that preceded him. Also, If it is for a more senior Cabinet post there will be strong Willie Whitelaw 1974 vibes! Wouldn’t surprised if Benn is just sent off to the BBs? Could close the circle and give him a peerage?

Jill Rutter@jillongovt.bsky.social · 2w ago

Bad news I think that Hilary Benn is leaving Northern Ireland. NI is in a mess at the moment (no budget etc); Benn got to know it well in opposition and built good relations with the Irish government.

Feargal Cochrane@feargalc.bsky.social · 2w ago

Though of course Labour received less votes in 2024 than his predecessor Jeremy Corbyn delivered in 2019 -so we should really be thanking the Tory omnishambles for that landslide -rather than him.

Paul Brand@paulbrand.bsky.social · 2w ago

“My work is done”. Keir Starmer leaves Downing Street for the last time. He highlights his work taking Labour from its worst electoral defeat since the 1930s to a landslide majority less than five years later.

Feargal Cochrane@feargalc.bsky.social · 3w ago

I think he will be judged as a massive failure -he entered power with huge majority (though of course won less votes than JC in 2019) but squandered most political capital within months. Rudderless & certainly poorly advised. Aping Reform was huge error. Arguably he’s a bigger failure than Truss!

Stephen Bush@stephenkb.bsky.social · 3w ago

The question I would ask the 'Starmer's premiership will be remembered kindly' is 'which Labour premiership do you think he will be remembered as better than?' (Visibly the Starmer ultras cannot bring themselves to recognise the achievements of a Tory prime minister.)