Mrs Bilbo Baggins

www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/pres...

Former political prisoner Nasrin Parvaz reads a letter to Keir Starmer signed by more than 100 pro-democracy, pro-justice and anti-war British-Iranians, including other former Evin detainees Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Aras Amiri. Full list of signatories is at togetherforiran.org

Reimagining the Northern Powerhouse: why the North East matters For more than a decade, the idea of the Northern Powerhouse has shaped the conversation about economic growth in the north of England

Reimagining the Northern Powerhouse: why the North East matters
For more than a decade, the idea of the Northern Powerhouse has shaped the conversation about economic growth in the north of England

northeastbylines.co.uk/business/eco...

The Scottish leader of Reform UK, Malcolm Offord, has said he has 'lost friends' over his decision to join Nigel Farage’s party

Read here: www.thenational.scot/news/2...

Rachel Reeves issues stern 'exploitation' warning to fuel firms amid price hikes Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Energy Secretary Ed Miliband will meet fuel industry bosses for Downing Street roundtable in wake of the Middle East fall-out which has seen fuel costs soar

Rachel Reeves to warn fuel firms Iran war profiteering will 'not be tolerated'

www.mirror.co.uk/news/politic...

Also on 7 May: Join us at the National Galleries of Scotland for a Live Music Now Spotlight on European Composers, performed by the Vienna Duo Winter-Djurdjevic. More details: festivalofeuropescotland.org/event/live-m...

7 May: Find out about the ambitious plans for exhibition of Polish photography at Dalkeith Palace in 2027. Its starting point is the influence of Surrealism on Polish photographers in the 1930s, through to contemporary Polish artists. Details & to book places: events.humanitix.com/focus-on-pol...

Great news for all fans of Interrail 🎉🎉🎉 Beat the cost of living crisis with this offer, and explore Europe! @euraileu.bsky.social

👇

What can be done if a single government seeks to paralyse the EU? The ultimate fall-back solution What if the government of one Member State deliberately seeks to block or sabotage the Union?  Some might say that we are already in such a scenario, or close to it, but it could get…

Hungary’s Orban and Slovakia’s Fico force the question of what can be done if one government seeks to completely paralyse the EU?
My take on the limited options available … and an ultimate fall-back solution:
encompass-europe.com/comment/what...

INTERRAIL SALE NOW ON: 15% off most interrail passes until the morning of 31 March (be aware that promo passes become non-refundable 7 days after buying).
Buy passes and check sale T&Cs at prf.hn/click/camref...
How do Interrail passes work?https://www.seat61.com/how-to-use-an-interrail-pass.htm

European Sleeper confirms that their new Paris-Berlin sleeper will also stop at Aulnoye, Mons & Liège, see www.seat61.com/trains-and-r....
All being well, I'll be attending the launch event in Paris and riding the first departure from Paris on 26 March. Tune in for live updates! 🥳

Children killed, a school turned into a graveyard: even in wartime, we can’t accept this | Gordon Brown There are rules and world leaders must insist they are honoured in practice and in spirit. After this atrocity in Iran, a more effective tribunal for crimes against children is essential, says former prime minister Gordon Brown

Children killed, a school turned into a graveyard: even in wartime, we can’t accept this | Gordon Brown

President Macron making the case for renewables in light of the US-Israeli attack on Iran,

"Everything we do to move towards transition is also about reducing our dependence and therefore our exposure to geopolitical risks"

United Kingdom to join the Creative Europe programme from 2027 - Online petition This is a Europe-wide petition calling on the UK Government to formally declare the United Kingdom's interest in fully participating in the EU's Creative Europe programme (https://culture.ec.europa.eu...

Please sign and share widely. "United Kingdom to join the Creative Europe programme from 2027": openpetition.org/uk/ukjoince

UK energy prices are soaring – and propagandists want to sell you a false reason why | George Monbiot The war on Iran has put fossil-fuel prices centre stage, but don’t believe those who tout ‘maximising the North Sea’ as our salvation, says Guardian columnist George Monbiot

If it's sometimes hard to tell the difference between fossil-fuel lobbyists and the billionaire press, that's because there isn’t one.
My column on the politicians, journalists and junktanks using the Iran crisis as an excuse to extract our remaining gas and oil.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Protesters outside Nigel Farage event say 'Swindon is an anti-racist town' Protesters outside Nigel Farage's Reform UK rally in Swindon have shared why they think Swindon is an 'anti-racist town.

"Multiculturalism should be celebrated."

Protesters sent a strong message to Farage and Reform UK in Swindon. Well done 👏

https://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/25932733.protesters-outside-farage-event-say-swindon-anti-racist/

Reform voters… be warned.

Politicians who promise you prejudice will always make sure you pay for it.

Rachel Reeves to make new push for greater single-market access Some member states, led by France, expect the UK to pay into the EU budget in return

“Reeves has been ratcheting up the rhetoric on closer EU relations which she described as the “biggest prize” in trade”

If only we’d acknowledged this BEFORE we threw it away in a fit of arrogant prejudice. Getting back in the room is far harder than flouncing off
giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...

Europe Day – European Comedy Short Films screening - Institut français · Écosse Join us to celebrate Europe Day exploring humor from different European countries!  The event will feature a selection of comedy short films from Germany, Ireland, Italy, Poland, Romania, Spain and Fr...

What's funny in different Europe cultures? Find out at this festivalofeuropescotland.org event exploring humour from different European countries!  At French Institute, Edinburgh, 7 pm, 8 May. For details, and to book tickets:  www.ifecosse.org.uk/events-agend... www.ifecosse.org.uk/events-agend...

Refugees a poem by Brian Bilston. They have no need of our help So do not tell me These haggard faces could belong to you or me Should life have dealt a different hand We need to see them for who they really are Chancers and scroungers Layabouts and loungers With bombs up their sleeves Cut-throats and thieves They are not Welcome here We should make them Go back to where they came from They cannot Share our food Share our homes Share our countries Instead let us Build a wall to keep them out It is not okay to say These are people just like us A place should only belong to those who are born there Do not be so stupid to think that The world can be looked at another way (now read from bottom to top)

The current news reminded me of 'Refugees' a poem by Brian Bilston

Please read all the way down, including the note at the bottom of the page...

Boom!

Captain Haddock slaps Oakeshite round the chops!

She's so awful.

*** Live ***

Here's UAE immigrant Isabel Oakeshott imagining herself to be a modern day Edward R. Murrow reporting on the Blitz in 1940/41

Labour must stop channelling Reform and unite with progressives. That’s the lesson from Gorton and Denton | Sadiq Khan The threat to the party in some parts of our country is now existential. But we can progress, as we have in London, by being bold and strong in our core beliefs, says London mayor Sadiq Khan

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

If I had to choose anyone to lead the UK. It would be Sadiq Khan. I think he’s an exceptional politician and an even more exceptional human.

Brian Bilston's Poem "How much I dislike the Daily Mail"

Should you ever be tempted to read or believe the headlines in The Daily Mail
Remember the wise & true words of fantastic Poet Brian Bilston

(He is here on Blue Sky but I deliberately did not tag him, I suspect others will remember this poem too)

Suella Braverman Handed Brutal Reality Check By Leader Of Gibraltar Fabian Picardo pointed out she even got his job title wrong.

It was their stupid Brexit that caused this and she’s talking nonsense

Suella Braverman has been handed a brutal reality check after she hit out at the post-Brexit deal between UK and EU over Gibraltar.
The former Tory who defected to Reform in January, said the Rock was “now British in name only”

A useful record of Farage’s failure and his inability to cope with it. A cheat and a very bad loser who would happily trash democracy to get the result he wants. And then remove our rights to stop us holding him to account.
Such a corrupt, egomaniacal liar should have no hope of getting power.