Denis MacShane
@DenisMacShane
Followers
20K
Following
8K
Media
1K
Statuses
131K
Ex Europe Minister, Speaker/Writer EU policy, politics. Latest book "Labour takes power. The Denis MacShane Diaries 1997-2001." Contact via Linked In
Joined October 2009
in 2016, only 47 British MPs & Lords held an Irish passport.- by 2021, that figure went up to 227.- in 2022, there are now 321 of them with an Irish passport. Our ruling class seems to have remained in Europe. People next?.
554
8K
21K
Marine Le Pen says she will cut of French military aid to Ukraine - about €100 mn so far. She really is Putin's petite amie.
211
2K
8K
Times has corker of a tale about Chinese "agent" named by MI5 and Patel, Christine Lee, gave £65,000 to Tories after being a fund raiser with Johnson. Tories did not record Chinese "gift" says Times.
111
2K
6K
My fav Tutuism “when the white man came to South Africa we had all the land, they had all the bibles. They said “Fall to your knees and pray to the Lord” When we got up they had all the land and we had all the bibles.”.
34
1K
5K
Can someone explain the difference between Hancock and Ms Colodangelo and Johnson and Ms Arcuri?.
436
1K
5K
Oh dear. First Brexit fib of the day from Michael Gove to @bbcnickrobinson that Brexit allows UK to create free ports. There are free ports all over Europe. UK had them but last one closed in 2012 as they don’t work very well.
85
1K
4K
D Rabb again lies to @bbcnickrobinson that Swiss border offers an example for Ireland. Been through Swiss border 8 times in last 2 months and it has big physical infrastructure, checks, police etc. Why wont Nick challenge him. BBC allowing a provable untruth to be broadcast?.
233
2K
4K
Barnier tells FT, he offered UK special travel rights for journalists, musicians, artists in deal talks but Frost, presumably on orders from Johnson terrified of DTel/Mail/IDS etc turned them down. As NUJ member this is very sad.
77
1K
4K
Friend with hi level contacts said Johnson's arrogance destroyed hopes last night. "BJ went in with all guns blazing, urging VDL to sideline Barnier, claiming that he was an obstacle to a deal. VDL made it very clear to BJ that Barnier’s mandate was solid, she called his bluff.".
126
824
3K
Johnson tells hax on plane to India UK has "massive shortage" of skilled labourers and Indians could get easy access to UK to do jobs done by Europeans expelled by hardline Brexit ideologues. Interesting to see red wall reaction to big new Indian immigration @SebastianEPayne.
159
906
3K
French economy minister orders seizure of all property, flats, luxury objects owned by Putin Oligarchs in France. Johnson should copy but will he? @NikolasBusse @Simon_Nixon @danielrhamilton @Kevin_Maguire.
Bruno Le Maire a demandé à la Direction des finances publiques de recenser tous les biens, appartements, objets de luxe détenus par les personnalités russes sous sanctions européennes pour que les autorités françaises puissent les saisir.
104
832
2K
Spanish universities to close Erasmus scholarships for UK as result of hard Brexit. Anyone care?
444
2K
2K
But there is no reference to "punish" or "punishment" in Castex letter. This has been entirely got up by UK journos who either don't know French or wilfully mistranslated word to create a fake new story. Sadly DTel and even BBC ran with this without any checking at all.
35
523
2K
Official result. Macron 58.2% MLP 41.8 - much better than polls. Huge defeat for European right nationalist populists. Not comfortable for Johnson as Le Pen cited Brexit and "Global Britain" as model to follow. Macron will be top leader in EU now. Big responsibility.
91
318
2K
More great Brexit news. New figures show British exports to the EU dropped 18% in the first half of the year, even as the US and China saw their exports to Europe increasing Looking forward to replies from all true Brexit believers explaining why this just tickety-boo.
42
429
2K
Oh dear. On @BBCr4today top travel expert @SimonCalder says airport chaos in part due to Brexit and disappearance of European workers. Curious that trade union man from GMB nor @MishalHusain mentioned Brexit in earlier reports. The Brexit Omerta is so powerful @campbellclaret.
43
373
2K
Likely next leader of DUP Edwin Poots was asked by BBC how old the Earth is replied “My view on the earth is that it's a young earth. My view is 4,000 BC".
312
515
1K
Brexit again ruining summer holidays as UK hard Brexit rules leading to 3 hour waits to get thru Dover passport controls. Was it really a crime against Britain to travel freely thru Europe without Johnson-Frost red tape, passport checks, bureaucracy
294
482
1K
Johnson and Family arrive Athens Airport on EasyJet presumably to stay with Stanley now a French citizen in his Pelion house. Isn’t there some obligation on ardent anti Europeans to holiday in U.K.?.
181
338
1K
My goodness on Marr Len McLuskey now echoes Johnson in saying we need a Brexit deal which will Unite the nation. Johnson says he can achieve this while Len says Jezza can do it. Look out of window and just saw squadron of pigs flying past.
63
311
1K
OMG Now Johnson says on BBC UK can ban pulse fishing thanks to leaving the EU. Untrue. France and Belgium have banned pulse fishing. Marr tried to correct our fabulator PM but Johnson just kept talking over him. Very unimpressive interview.
29
311
1K
Amazing 73% of Labour voters think it's wrong to quit Europe. But no-one in Lab leadership prepared to speak for them. Most bizarre politics in my life-time.
72
771
1K
New car registrations November 2016/ November 2017.Spain +12.4%.France +10.3%.Germany +9.4%.Italy +6.8%.UK -11.2%.Brexit going spiffingly well isn't it?.
74
1K
1K
Bad news for @DominicRaab The deal is automatically terminated if 🇬🇧 leaves the ECHR. Gov presents this as UK win but good number of ERGers hate ECHR as much as they hate EU. Raab called on UK to leave ECHR. It’s a win for European values, democracy @anandMenon1 @patrickwintour.
45
308
1K
“People now know a lot more about Brexit than we did 3 years ago” On Today Peter Oborne spells out a core truth to a flabbergasted J Humphrys.
28
305
1K
Brussels friend takes kids swimming this morning + bumps into top Barnier aide with his child before starting negos again. He put No Deal at 99%. France, Italy, Spain, Holland, Belgium and Denmark have all told VDL that Johnson's refusal to compromise is unacceptable @Mij_Europe.
49
428
1K
Watch @Channel4News news now. "It's down to Brexit" says horticultural CEO who is losing orders every day because there are no workers to pick his salads or drivers to take the produce in a truck to markets. And still they say "Brexit's been done". UK needs 15,000 drivers from EU.
42
584
1K
Boris Johnson’s passport queues for folk going to Paris on Eurostar. Isn’t Brexit wonderful? @MarionVanR @annettedittert @labour4europe @lisaocarroll @jonhenley
77
476
1K
EU has exported 10 mn doses to UK - I am a beneficiary. But the 2 AZ production facilities in UK have refused to honour their contracts on agreed, paid for shipments across Channel. If Johnson was treated like that he might get cross. I would.
27
366
1K
Absurd @RishiSunak argument on BBC that his recession, nearly 2 x EU average, is because we go out to eat and drink more than Europe. France, Spain, Italy, Germany all have many more bars, restaurants than UK Does he take us for idiots? @faisalislam.
128
363
1K
I registered my children born in🇨🇭 and 🇫🇷 as British when they were born. They have French citizenship via their mother just as I have Irish citizenship via my granny. Now Priti Patel proposes to strip British citizenship from my children by administrative fiat. @JuliaHB1.
64
398
1K
Amazing @Gabriel_Pogrund S Times scoop on Liz Truss insisting taxpayer pays for a working lunch with US gov official at Tory donor private club in Mayfair that was making a loss. 2 bottles of gin, 6 bottles of wine costing £100s. This is sleazier than No 10 parties. @DavidLammy.
19
286
1K
French Interior Minister cancels meeting with Priti Patel after Johnson sends rambling 3 page letter to Macron making comparisons with Lukashenko saying 🇬🇧 should be allowed to send back to 🇫🇷 refugees who arrive in U.K., + British Army to patrol French coast, other DMail demands.
51
293
1K
Normally full meat shelves in Sainsbury’s 3/4 empty. Every other EU country has Covid problems. Only we inflict a damaging ultra hard ideological Brexit which is disrupting commerce
68
222
1K
Nigel Farage told me at time of Queen's Jublilee he had placed a big bet on Zahawi at 25-1. Good to see Nigel's understanding of British politics hasn't deserted him.
13
120
1K
James Rebank our most popular farmer-writer tells @bbcnickrobinson “I wouldn’t buy a second hand car off that man George Eustice” as he lays into the Johnson-Truss deal with Australia that will end key segments of British farming and existing hi food standards set by EU rules.
16
231
1K
There are now 1 mn fewer listeners for @BBCr4today than a year ago - STimes. Anyone surprised ?.
126
378
978
I do love BBC and its iron commitment to Brexit Omerta. Just heard @BBCSimonJack on why there are 1 million fewer workers in UK than before rupture with Europe took full effect. Guess which word was not mentioned? No prizes @pmdfoster @Mij_Europe @lisaocarroll @dsmitheconomics.
35
278
1K
Raab says UK has best vax roll-out in Europe. Not true. Number of Covid deaths under Johnson is highest in Europe. Why won't @amolrajan challenge these lies.
37
243
980
Extraordinary report on World Tonight about Jenrick scandal. If this was about Romania or Malta we would all know what was going on. But idea of corruption at highest level of Tory Party and goverment? Don't be silly. We're the cleanest country in the world.
35
395
871
Nick Robinson blames BBC Radio 4 Today programme’s ratings slump on ‘news avoiders’ Given ~Today had been avoiding any discussion of Brexit for years who is surprised if we go somewhere else for news on nation's future? @pmdfoster @RichardGCorbett.
99
199
850
Just 5 of the richest men in Britain paid for 61% of Leave campaign, Brexit was for the rich, by the rich, of the rich -and a few xenophobes
42
857
824
Satire lives as Steve Baker quotes European Convention of Human Rights on @BBCr4today to promote this attack on public health measures.
9
132
827
No wonder the right keep trashing Prince Harry. He is taking on criminal press activities - first time a royal out there defending democracy and decent journalism.
31
187
877
OMG. After @maitlis breaks BBC Omerta on not criticising Brext now Daily Mail quotes driver stuck in Calais queue for hours: "This Calais car ferry 100’s long long queue 100’s cars stacked waiting for boarding this is result of Brexit." Mail criticise Brexit. Whatever next?.
11
157
806
Oh dear . Sunak comes out with old lie that thanks to Brexit 🇬🇧 can have Freeports. The last U.K. Freeport was closed in 2012. Most economists think they are pointless in modern economies as it’s a very old fashioned concept but permitted in EU. Not challenged by @Marthakearney.
26
277
816
Small scenes Geneva Airport. After passport control for 🇨🇭 there is a special one for Brits with stamp in passport like entering Russia. Maybe I raised half an eyebrow and Swiss functionary shrugged shoulders: “You are no longer part of Europe.” 1/2.
39
180
810
India refuses to support UN resolution backed by 🇬🇧 on Putin assault on Ukraine. Does anyone still believe India under its Extreme nationalist Hindu strongman is the best partner for Brexit Britain?.
57
239
763
Johnson lectures Trudeau and Macron on being strong on Putin while appointing as Chair of Conservative Party, man who did more than any other to open London to Putin oligarchs, KGBers, raise money for Tory Pary from Russians. No other G7 party took so much money from Russkies.
7
242
753
After Swedish Democrats ditch policy of leaving EU, now Swedish Left party - ex Communist - does ditto. Brexit has persuaded all sorts of right and left populists that exiting EU is potty. Remember when Johnson 22.6.16 said 100s of millions European would follow 🇬🇧 example?.
26
362
730
Had good talk with DD - an old walking friend - at Hay. He knows it’s over
Honestly the urge to just file "if the Secretary of State won't take Brexit seriously, why should I?" is pretty strong this morning:
80
534
689
Listening to Liz Truss. Am I alone in feeling I wasn’t hearing some who has what it takes to be our PM?.
88
39
752
Depressed. Popped into fav Soho newsagent to get Le Monde. Told all deliveries of newspapers from continent suspended cos of Johnson Brexit red tape. Don’t know way but this aspect of Tory Brexit isolationism really hurts. @c_ducourtieux @StefanieBolzen @Hugodixon @PickardJE.
42
170
693
Very good explainer in @thetimes on EU/Uk fishing. 80% of catch exported, 60% to EU so UK fishing collapses with No Deal. 5O% of boats foreign owned.
56
341
668
Now that’s what I call a picket line. Paris Opera dancers perform from Swan Lake as part of their strike against Macron’s pension reform ideas.
11
280
673
As coronation hoo ha dies down Prince Harry big on sale in Albanian translation
23
144
671
Interesting. Bumped into someone today who said he thought the @campbellclaret Podcast with @RoryStewartUK was best political podcast around and urged me to listen to it. I don't do podcasts but with this chap's recommendation and your hostility it obviously worth a listen.
I’ve just been told that @campbellclaret - a horrible man - has been rude about me on his dreary podcast. Given how many people he hates, it’s quite an accolade to be name-checked for his special loathing. Badge of pride. /1.
18
63
618
Office for National Statistics says UK had largest number of business closures ever recorded in the first six months of 2022, exceeding 250,000. But don't mention Brexit. Meanwhile Today has lady ranting against growth. Ah these North Londoners on BBC @JustinOnWeb.
16
378
623
Moody’s warns that Frost deal leaves trade w U.K. “heavily skewed” in EU’s favour. Ratings downgrade ahead?.
26
267
622
Biden's new Secretary of State, Tony Blinken,has called Brexit a “total mess” and compared it to Marine Le Pen’s rise in France. Better comparison is with Trump. 2016 saw birth of Brexit-Trump Siamese twin. With Trump gone Brexit looks a very sad runt left-over from 2016 populism.
11
200
616
Polite letter in FT from Edward Mortimer highlighting Churchill's role in great Bengal famine of 1943 when 2-3 million died. There is no entry for "Bengal" or "famine" in index to Johnson's biography of WSC.
15
227
585
@Nigel_Farage Can you put up map of route as thousands will want to line route to ensure you fed and watered and will bring ripe tomatoes, eggs, buckets of water to wish you your way @Andrew_Adonis @mk1969.
22
33
562
Look at Farage’s face at end. No more lies left. It’s over.
28
196
572
Macron spending 3 days in Marseille on city’s drugs, crime, gang killings, poverty problems. We have same in some big cities in 🇬🇧 But can anyone imagine our PM spending 3 minutes of his precious time on solving similar probs in his country.
33
150
591
A million EU schoolchildren visit UK each year on school trips. Patel insisting each child must have passport. On whole children in EU countries don't bother with passports. The school trips will go to countries less hostile to children than Johnson's England @lisaocarroll.
32
195
542
From today UK is less attractive to visit for 400 mn Europeans. Many, especially younger ones, travel on ID cards but from today Priti Patel says they must have full often expensive passports. Not a big deal but bit by bit UK puts up shutters against European tourists, visitors.
41
247
554
85% of 18-24 year olds want to keep EU citizenship rights to live, work, travel in Europe without visas, permits @sundersays @TomMcTague.
41
426
534
In @SebastianEPayne's fascinating new book Johnson tells him that it is only thanks to Brexit that a) UK can have freeports b) UK can vax its people c) European Super League was blocked. All 3 claims are untrue. But is this really the best Johnson can do to convince us on Brexit?.
17
130
508
More great Brexit news - for Ireland as 🇮🇪 gov figures show exports from 🇮🇪 to 🇬🇧 soared in 6 months after Brexit by 20% to €6.7 billion in the first six months of 2021, while imports from Great Britain fell by more than €2.5 billion, or 32% - GDN.
29
235
525
Defeat for two of biggest liars in British politics - Johnson and Galloway. Welcome Kim Leadbetter MP.
16
66
526
One of our biggest chemical plants on Teesside BASF to relocate to France to stay within EU single market. 100s of jobs lost. But they, we, you voted for it
24
306
496
OMG now George Eustice says it’s trade unions that stop Lurpak from opening factory in UK. Surreal @JohnGPeet @pmdfoster @bbcnickrobinson.
44
81
479
Hilarious. Leading Tory anti European Theresa Villers now complaining that free trade in food with US means giving up food standards with UK livestock farmers going under. But that is what Dominic Cummings wants and pro Brexit economists insist is reason for quitting EU.
27
252
476
From D Mail report on Banks: “The Mail understands that in early 2016, the then-Home Secretary Theresa May declined a request by one of the security services to investigate Banks. The topic was simply too explosive in the run up to the referendum.” This is worrying.
26
319
488
At least there is action and full news coverage of Russia links to Lega and Salvini unlike UK where Russian involvement in Brexit, exposed by @carolecadwalla , has been constantly downplayed by establishment.
BREAKING: Milan's public prosecutor has opened an investigation into Lega and Russia after BuzzFeed News released a tape of the Moscow meeting involving a close Salvini aide
38
196
444
Sorry Pan Mularczyk. You will have now time to reflect on why Poland's voters said Goodbye to PiS. Your attack on women, on judicial independence, on free journalism goes against every Polish tradition I know and admire. I hope a sensible party supporting European values emerges.
It is extremely worrying how a former UK Labour Minister of State for Europe @DenisMacShane can defame Law and Justice & Poland in this way & that a media source can allow these defamatory statements to be published. Law & Justice refutes these claims in the strongest possible.
156
91
518
“It may be that from the other end of this century we see Britain rather as we see 20th-century Argentina now: a nation that had once been one of the world’s richest, struggling to come to terms with its relative decline, as populist politics feasts on the decay” M Parris Times.
12
130
465
An @LBC knockabout with Ann Widdicombe in denial on damage Brexit is causing some sectors - all fault of Covid and only reason we're vaxed is cos UK not in EU. Then out of blue she starts a rant about Macron. This Tory obsession w Macron is pathological. Not good for UK interests.
35
43
489
Note from Teesside:”. working at a major logistics hub on Teesside. They manage freight through container shipments by sea and by road. Before Brexit they shipped out 48 containers to 52 coming in. Since Brexit, 2 out to 98 in. Maj of containers go back empty.@pmdfoster.
22
239
435
Banana republic wrong comparison. More like French 4th Republic, or Greece or Italy when corruption linked to politicians was the norm. Civil service, BBC board, ethical commissioners, Scotland Yard - all once pillars of why Britain admired crumbling like tower blocks in Turkey.
Has Sharp resigned yet? Have the police visited Mone yet? Has Johnson been told to pay his own legal fees yet? Have we got to the truth about LebedevJohnson yet? Has Sunak told Johnson and Truss that there will be no resignation honours yet? Or are we happy with BananaRepublic?.
29
112
459
My guess most of nation will agree with Sir K Starmer that King Charles should go to Cop. Bad advice to PM
48
178
431
About same number of Brits in Spain who don’t speak Spanish
Sajid Javid estimates that 770,000 people living in UK speak no (or hardly any) English #today.
22
197
438
If I were Labour I would be flooding Peterborough with leaflets saying 'Vote Brexit, Kill the NHS".
58
140
437
Just seen Tory MP for Sheffield Stocksbridge Miriam Cates on BBC saying she didn’t think a decent rail link between Sheffield and London necessary as she defended today’s broken promise from Johnson . Wonder what voters in Sheffield think? @NancyFelder11.
26
98
443
Good luck to Sir Paul Nurse and @Scientists4EU but @trussliz has already made clear she is content to keep saying No to a compromise over NIP with EU to appease DUP, ERG. This sabotages Horizon and will cause great damage to UK science. But she wants to be PM @sarahmontague.
7
117
435
It was the very quietness and modulated language that was so effective in John Major's indictment. I'd say just about everyone in FCDO would have shivered about his words on UK's bad faith and loss of reputation esp in Washington. 1 stat to recall. Only 29% voted for Tories 2019.
7
78
435
Amazing opening line on @BBCNews that EU is imposing S Market, C Union rules on UK for transition period. It isn't EU that has asked for transition it was Mrs May. Once again BBC spins it into anti-EU line. @BBCkatyaadler was fair but intro revealed yet again BBC bias @CER_Grant.
23
359
425
I know its north of M25, red wall and all that but this statement from S Yorks and Derbyshire bosses "South Yorkshire and Derbyshire bosses brand Brexit deal a 'total disaster' set to cost jobs and close companies" surely merits a mention on national news
11
238
443
Listening to French radio more and more mention of Le Touquet Treaty which placed 🇬🇧 frontier on French soil. If Patel and Johnson continue with French bashing risk Paris will give up and frontier moves back to U.K. soil. Refugees etc will be able to cross Channel with no control.
21
122
416
Very odd statement by Tory MP @DehennaDavison on Marr saying vax passports threaten hospitality industry. In every country in Europe they have saved cafés, restaurants, discotheques as they can stay open and be full customers who just show they have been vaxed. @wesstreeting.
28
123
413
BBC has been a major factor in turning UK against EU especially the John Humphries era Today programme and QT as they boosted Nigel Farage even as he always failed to be elected an MP. Since Brexit BBC has omertà policy on not discussing damage it does to UK.
@DenisMacShane @pmdfoster @RichardGCorbett I'm avoiding the twisted news and it's reporting by the @BBCNews and @BBCr4today by watching @GBNEWS .The BBC is too left wing and promotes rejoin the EU, is pro-illegal immigrants, often only reports the UK in a negative way.
65
159
411
UK productivity 22.7% lower than France, 26.7% lower than Germany & 10% lower than Italy. Yup Europe collapsing and we're the tops.
28
393
398
"Sadly London is money-laundering capital of world" @Billbrowder tells Radio 3. He says peers have taken Russian money to ensure no challenge to Russians using London to park their money, educate their children, enjoy Mayfair life. But Tories depend on oligarch donations.
16
188
403
Goodbye space as UK leaves European Space agency and all work done as part of programme here goes to Europe. Well done, Ukip.
31
502
385
Today 1975, North Vietnamese tanks rolled into Saigon just as Taliban units may soon arrive in Kabul. Has US won a single war since 1945? Have any of its military interventions, huge loss of life helped make US a better country or promoted peace, growth and democracy globally?.
54
47
374
BBC is giving us a new word or concept - "post-Brexit". Used in reports on Dover disaster for British families. There is nothing "post" about this mess. It is present-day Brexit. Created by Johnson who imposed ultra-hard Brexit. @SimonJonesNews @MishalHusain @campbellclaret.
10
55
397
Hilarious. D Mail quotes "senior German politician" saying EU treats UK badly. Turns out to be 77 year old member not of Bundestag but European Parliament elected 2014 on racist far right AfD list. Come on Paul. You can do better @jackwdoyle @campbellclaret @mk1969 @Hugodixon.
42
261
380
KPMG says EU wide 130,000 new taxpayer funded customs bureaucrats will be needed to check all UK goods, vehicles 25,000 in France alone. And we were told Brexit would cut bureaucracy. Ferries, ships, planes, passengers arriving from UK will need full customs check.
48
442
396
Sorry but @DanielJHannan not telling truth on @newsnight The Swiss-French border at all main crossings is staffed 7/24. It is illegal to take 1kg of meat into Switzerland from France. Why won't @EvanHD challenge this fabulator? @nicholaswatt Not true on Turkey either. Or Lab MPs.
24
272
381