I came across “Aspiring for Change: A Theory of Middle Class Activism” and wanted to clear the physical version out from my cupboard and so made this note. Others may find it interesting.
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World Democracy Indices
I was pulled to return democraciness by some comments on the UK and the Copenhagen Criteria. I replied in this blog article, where I returned to Economist Intelligence Unit’s index and gave a nod to https://www.v-dem.net/ and Polity IV. See also https://davelevy.info/how-democratic-is-the-uk/ 2018. On quora I was pointed at some further indices that I had…
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Maastricht Convergence Criteria
Despite claiming to be an expert, I had not heard of the Maastricht Convergence Criteria which define a readiness to join the Euro. I asked google gemini to summarise its role. These include Price stability, Sound public finances, to ensure they are sustainable, Exchange-rate stability, to demonstrate that a Member State can manage its economy…
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More on Defence
James Schneider writes on defence in the ‘Statesman in an article entitled in the magazine, The Great British defence con, but within the URL as “britains defence budget must get more bang for its buck”, and interesting metaphor given that one of the criticisms of the current SDR is the amount of dollars it proposes…
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Brexit Reset – Spring 2026
The Government has announced it plans to introduce a Bill to allow the Government to “dynamically align” with the European Union‘s single market. This comes at the end of a series of events over the last four and half months, since I wrote, https://davelevy.info/wiki/brexit-reset-winter-2025-26/ I comment on these at https://davelevy.info/labours-brexit-tanker-is-turning/, since then What’s disappointing is…
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Gibraltar & immigration
A treaty has been signed between the three parties. The headline is that Gibraltar is to become part of Schengen land.
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Military Air Transport in European NATO
I was thinking about how Europe might ensure its capability should the US reduce its commitment to NATO in Europe. In Pressing Reset, a Fabian pamphlet, Calvin Bailey MP, one of Labour’s ex-military MPs wrote in an article, “Defence Co-operation” that the UK had superior offerings in maritime capability, medical capability and logistics. The last…
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Electoral finance reform
Have the Labour Government finally decided to put a stop to foreign donations? The Guardian reports in an article entitled “Overseas political funding capped and crypto donations blocked in blow to Reform UK”. It’s an important issue but caps are needed for domestic donation too.
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Reeves – Mais 2026
I had a look at Reeves’ Mais Lecture 2026. Here are my notes and links, I have not read all the links yet and so have not drawn conclusions. …
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From Here On, We Must Go Alone
I was sent an English [machine] translation of a speech by Jürgen Habermas together with a prequel summary. … I am sharing below the new speech by 96-year-old Jürgen Habermas, titled “From Here On, We Must Go Alone,” which he gave at the Siemens Foundation in Munich. It is about the future of Europe and…
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The Law and Free Speech
A lengthy post on “Free Speech/Free Expresion” by Graham Smith on linkein caused me to pick up my copy of “Prohibiting incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence”, published by article 19 in December 2012 which reviews the conflicts between the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on civil and political rights. The…
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Two speed E.U.
One of the reform proposals at the end of the last EU mandate, was a multi-speed Europe. I reported on the most explicit initiative https://davelevy.info/wiki/sailing-the-high-seas-reforming-and-enlarging-the-eu/ . Has the time come again to look at this as an answer to the EU’s sclerosis. The challenges are clear, with the federalists or federalist adjacent players looking at…
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Brexit ‘reset’ Winter 2025/26
Meetings have occurred in monitoring and managing the Withdrawal Agreement and Trade & Co-operation agreement, over the last month, but what did they say and agree. I’d say, not very much. As ever, links and notes …
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Cyber Security and Resilience (NIS) Bil
My notes and links
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Imprisonment for Public Protection
My notes, once known as “At her/his majesty’s pleasure.
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