Simon Usherwood
@simonusherwood.bsky.social
Researcher of UK-EU relations, euroscepticism and learning & teaching. Open University and formerly UK in a Changing Europe. Renowned for my bubbly personality, I imagine.
"it is useful to consider ‘Brexitism’ as a term which captures an ideology which is deeply imbricated with Brexit but which is by no means confined to, or defined by, Brexit itself." Useful from @chrisgrey.bsky.social www-tandfonline-com.libezproxy.open.ac.uk/doi/full/10....
Not reading any more viable in its full version demos.co.uk/research/bey...
Beyond Brexit: A new deal for Britain, Ukraine and Europe
Demos is Britain’s leading cross-party think-tank. We produce original research, publish innovative thinkers and host thought-provoking events.
demos.co.uk
Simon Usherwood@simonusherwood.bsky.social · 9h agoNick Boles on his plan for a European confederation. Paper with Demos coming later www.thetimes.com/article/8459...
Nick Boles on his plan for a European confederation. Paper with Demos coming later www.thetimes.com/article/8459...
Andy Burnham should propose new deal to Europe’s leaders
There is a fresh story to tell about Britain as an engine of prosperity and bulwark of security in Europe
thetimes.com
Nice try, but await the backlash against the West European-centric image choices
European Commission@ec.europa.eu · yesterdayIt’s hot across Europe right now. Millions of us are feeling it - in cities, towns, and villages across the continent. When heatwaves hit, small actions matter ⬇️
Judging from the reaction to Farage's 'policy' announcement today from both Labour and the Tories, it may be that his capacity to do the below is waning. Not sure about Hanson, mind.
Tim Bale@timbale.bsky.social · 2d agoSorry but unless you, as a media outlet, have managed to get someone from the Navy (probably a former sailor because those currently serving maybe disbarred from commenting) to explain that this is extremely unlikely to happen for legal reasons, then, arguably, you haven't really done your job.
Interesting piece, not least that it has been written www.theguardian.com/world/2026/a...
Is Ireland’s unprotected ocean the weak link in European defence?
Russian presence in Irish waters underscores the fact that, rather than being out of sight and out of mind, the country is on the frontline
theguardian.com
Few people understand that the UK university system is in crisis, but even fewer realise that many of the people losing their jobs are amongst the best in their fields
Glen O'Hara@gsoh31.bsky.social · 3d agoSo it's farewell to the History subject area at the University of Hertfordshire, not the first nor the last to go. One of the best departments in the country, just extinguished like a snap of the fingers. Think of the waste. (1/2)
Today's question: what is this animal? Spotted in Surrey today, at a distance, so not a great photo Seems too round-eared to be a fox? (And certainly not a cougar, Google Lens...)
Not particularly surprising, but keeps the story bubbling along www.thetimes.com/article/9221...
Nigel Farage struck Reform comeback deal long before election
Supervised by the convicted fraudster George Cottrell, the agreement undermines Farage’s claim about when he decided to return to politics
thetimes.com
It's publication day for the 5th edition of the European Union Law textbook edited by Catherine Barnard and me! Thanks as always to my co-editor, the brilliant contributors and the OUP production team global.oup.com/ukhe/product...
Great @pmdfoster.bsky.social piece implicitly raises Q of the UK-EU Customs Union option, much inferior for the UK to SM but could facilitate economic security alignment. On the other hand M.Sandbu in FT Free Lunch Jul 9 argues that "Europe's 'China shock panic is ill informed".
Jacob Öberg@profjacob.bsky.social · last wk.🚨🚨"Brexit ‘reset’ could constrain UK’s freedom of movement on trade". @pmdfoster.bsky.social stands in for @alanbeattie.bsky.social with a great trade secrets newsletter. Key points here: www.ft.com/content/0e84...
It’s not out for another six months or so, but *Electoral Realignment: How Brexit Reshaped British Voting Behaviour*, my book with Ed Fieldhouse, @profjanegreen.bsky.social , Geoff Evans, @jack-bailey.co.uk and @jonmellon.bsky.social, is up on the OUP website! global.oup.com/academic/pro...
Remains to be seen what impact moving control of EU relations out of the Cabinet Office will have on intergovernmental relations, esp vis-à-vis any decision-shaping on the UK's part in areas of devolved competence. In 3rd countries like Switzerland, EU+IGR are necessarily intertwined.
Simon Usherwood@simonusherwood.bsky.social · last wk.More important UK-EU news today 'Greater role' covers a very wide range, given previously minimal involvement under LAB but given coming wave of dynamic alignment will FCDO be the right people to manage line depts?
More important UK-EU news today 'Greater role' covers a very wide range, given previously minimal involvement under LAB but given coming wave of dynamic alignment will FCDO be the right people to manage line depts?
This week's trial balloon: split the difference on fees Still not really getting the vibe of imminent agreement www.politico.eu/article/eu-p...
EU proposes Brexit reset tuition fees compromise
Negotiations between London and Brussels are continuing ahead of a summit, which has yet to be rescheduled after Britain’s change of government.
politico.eu
We've been here before, which begs Q of whether it is forestallable France raises questions over UK participation in EU’s €5bn tech start-up fund - giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...
France raises questions over UK participation in EU’s €5bn tech start-up fund
Debate over British role shows strained relations during UK-EU ‘reset’ negotiations
giftarticle.ft.com
This will also have repercussions on the European level - Morawiecki, who has just been expelled, is the head of the European Conservative and Reformer (ECR) party, the party that brings together PiS, Meloni's FdI and other national conversatives across the EU.
Interesting, but let's see what the psephologists have to say www.theguardian.com/politics/ng-...
How could Britain look under proportional representation? See the results for your area
These visualisations from exclusive polling modelling show how the UK parliament could change under different voting systems
theguardian.com
An excellent piece by colleagues pooled for redundancy at Exeter
What universities count – and what they cannot afford to ignore - HEPI
This blog was kindly authored by Anna Zimdars, Christopher Playford, Eve Worth, Luke Graham, Joanna Merrett and Joseph Crawford, members of the Centre for Social Mobility, University of Exeter. He tha...
hepi.ac.uk
Right, let's have a look at the new UK line-up for EU relations tl;dr complete clear-out of senior politicians and reduced weight in Cabinet 1/
Georg von Harrach@georgvh.com · 2w agoUK's new EU negotiator looks to be Hamish Falconer who Andy Burnham has appointed Minister for Intergovernmental Relations & European Relations
Back from holidays in Canada, where I can tell you that cowboys appear to be running out of first names
Very sad to be sharing this news: Research Professional News to discontinue publication at end of 2026. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-o...
Research Professional News to discontinue publication at end of 2026 - Research Professional News
A message for readers about the publication’s closure and continued community access to past reporting
researchprofessionalnews.com
