Are you, like me, a dual national living in the UK with both British and EU passports?

I predict travelling to the EU will become much more annoying in a few years time, and that we'll be prevented from checking in online.

Unless we pay for something we don't need.

Thread 🧵 Once both the UK and the EU have introduced their travel authorisation systems, then unless airlines change their systems fundamentally I think we won’t be able to check in online for one leg of the journey.

Unless we pay extra.

Let me try to explain.

What democracy looks like: (short thread)

I just voted in Dutch general elections. I voted for one of the parties that wasn't VVD (sorry Mark Rutte).

If the Dutch used First Past the Post, Mark would've been able to rule the Netherlands however he wants - just look at this map However, despite the fact that his party was the largest party in most councils, his party only actually got around 22 or 23% of the total vote.

So - his job now is to find other parties so that between them, they represent over 50% of the country's vote.

Which is fab - why?

The @the3million letter writing campaign to your MPs has been amazing this week! We thought the House of Lords letter writing was awesome but almost three times as many of you have written to MPs so far.

A few reflections so far…

deniedmybackup.org/contact-your-mp First and most important, it is working!

Whatever happens in the House of Commons debate (and we can take a guess, given how the Govt whips MPs to vote), the message IS getting through and MPs ARE beginning to question the digital-only status.

We are winning the argument.

While I welcome the promises in this article towards those who don't apply for status under the EU settlement scheme, because they are considered to have a "reasonable grounds" (it mentions example of 8-yr old 'looked-after' child), I am very confused. 1/
theguardian.com/politics/2020/… In the article, @AlbertoCostaMP says that "the minister [@kevin_j_foster] has assured parliament that EU nationals who fail to apply by the grace period deadline of 30 June will remain legally here if they have a reasonable excuse".

I would be overjoyed if that were true. 2/

EU citizens will have to rely on a digital-only status to prove their rights after June next year.

To me, it is sheer common sense that a physical backup is needed, because digital - while lovely when it works - doesn't always work.

I've been arguing this from... ... first principles for almost two years now.

We know large computer systems often fail - in general.

But recently, the list of just Government IT failures have been staggering.

Let me list a few, then tell me that EU citizens don't need a physical backup of their status.

My lovely (widowed) mum lives in the Netherlands. If she needs my help in future, I want to be able to move and look after her.

If I had JUST UNTIL MARCH 2022 to be able to make that move and bring my British husband, I would be in a total panic.

Luckily, the Dutch government.. .. recognises how unfair that would be, given that I moved to the UK under EU free movement.

So they've clearly stated that I will keep that right (to bring my British husband to NL) for my lifetime.

The UK government on the other hand, is not being so kind to its own citizens.

Except I can't watch it live because Parliament TV has had a glitch.

If that doesn't prove individuals need to have a physical backup proof of settled status I don't know what does.

Digital is great - WHEN IT WORKS.
A backup is needed - FOR WHEN IT DOESN'T

#DeniedMyBackup

https://twitter.com/the3million/status/1305585129646153728

@SarahLudford @oatesjonny

I feel this otherwise excellent article misses the point entirely when it says "One of the strengths of the Westminster parliamentary system is that it occasionally produces governments with real power to effect change, should they try to enact it." 1/ theatlantic.com/international/… This is hoping for two things to come along at once - a party with a good majority and a uniquely talented leader.

And at the same time expecting that party to act in the UK's long term interest, whereas the UK's parliamentary system uniquely rewards short termism. 2/

Why does the #DeniedMyVote legal challenge still matter, and why are we sincerely urging you to help reach our crowdfunder target?

Let me connect some very important and highly relevant dots.

crowdjustice.com/case/discrimin… TLDR:

"You are our friends, neighbours and colleagues, and we want you to stay"

Except we'll make your life difficult, chuck extra obstacles in your way, will give you settled status but will keep checking other stuff so you don't feel toooo settled.

This case can HELP.

I was invited yesterday to have a Covid-19 PCR test (I am not a keyworker, but as a volunteer using the COVID Symptom Tracker).

I thought I'd just set out my experience of the testing process. Firstly, I was impressed with the smoothness of the test booking process.

The self-test kits to be sent home were no longer available for my chosen day.

But I'm lucky that I can drive, and I was given a choice of test sites near me, and there were spaces available.

There's a lot of really good points in this thread. Asking everyone apply for status with difficult criteria is fraught with problems, and I fully appreciate the fear that many people have, especially in the context of the current hostile environment. 1/

https://twitter.com/minnierahman/status/1256228357399883779

I agree that a suspension of the hostile environment is essential, and absolutely as soon as possible. 2/

Wonderful surprise on my dog walk this morning. "Although it might be tuff
and these days are getting ruff
Just be tuff and smell clean air
Have you noticed it's spring out there"

Thank you lovely person who hung this up to decorate this little corner of the woods.

I can't help feeling very nervous about this being for sale on Amazon.

Shouldn't these tests be reserved exclusively for key workers?

Hasn't recent buying behaviour taught us anything?

UK coronavirus mass home testing to be made available 'within days'
theguardian.com/world/2020/mar… Also, won't you then stay getting loads more people out on the streets, saying "I'm fine I've got antibodies".

This is surely bound to result in reduced compliance with the "stay at home" message.

Please reserve these tests for key workers, don't stick them on Amazon...

This article terrifyingly sums up the UK's response to #covid19UK.

"The British government did not listen. We had two months to get prepared for large-scale tests in the population, contact tracing and quarantine, to be like Guangzhou rather than Wuhan."

newstatesman.com/politics/stagg… "Yet the advisory committee, comprising clinical knights of the realm, virologists, mathematical modellers, and behavioural scientists led by a former director of David Cameron's Behavioural Nudge Unit, decided British science knew best."

Our Great British democracy:

2016: 48% vote remain.

The people have spoken, we will leave.

2019: 52% vote for parties supporting a referendum to check back with the people.

The people have spoken, we have a people's government, we will leave on hardest terms possible. Winner takes all, at every level.

Referendum narrowly won 52-48 but treated all the way through as 100-0.

Polls soon showed consistent reversal, no wonder they wouldn't allow confirmatory referendum.

Instead, FPTP election in which winner (48%) takes ALL.

Again. Totally.

HOW BLOODY DARE YOU.

You've been happy to take my taxes for over 30 years.

Your country's citizens have been happy to have me as their (genuine) friend, (genuine) neighbour & (genuine) colleague.

One of them has been happy to have me as his wife.

Two of them as their mother.

https://twitter.com/thetimes/status/1203922486968147969

If anyone is willing to support @the3million in their Christmas appeal, it would be massively appreciated.

the3million.org.uk/christmas-appe…

I'd absolutely LOVE for the UK to be governed by a coalition of these 5 parties. #C4Debate

Get them to argue, justify and thrash out all their differences to get the best of all their policies.

The hope I would feel for our future!

@MakeVotesMatter - Coalitions are fab.

https://twitter.com/monlouhawk/status/1203759425078599681?s=19

A short but really important thread about musicians, free movement, and the Swiss border.

I went canvassing today in my local constituency, and was very honoured to be warmly welcomed into the home of @Organjosh from @ProcolHarumband. @Organjosh @ProcolHarumband (I was only three when Procol Harum's 'A Whiter Shade of Pale' became one of the best selling singles in history. But I have vivid memories of it being played by my parents during my childhood).

See end of thread for some exciting news.

Attending the launch of "In the Shadow of Brexit"

Collection of portraits and stories of the impact of Brexit on families with EU citizens.

blurb.com/b/9674575-in-t… What is an EU family? What is home? Often not such an obvious answer.

You may not know, but @the3million EU citizens who have to apply for (pre-)settled status (to be graciously given permission by the government to stay in their own homes 🤬), don't get any kind of physical proof of that status. So we have to trust a Govt digital system. So.... @the3million ...do I trust Government digital systems?

No.

My mum in NL just received a letter from DWP which was addressed to her correct first name and address but to an utterly random surname.

I rang DWP and a lovely lady told me they were aware, there'd been a glitch. Nothing to worry.

In the FAST-FWD replay of Brexit we're now approaching December 2017.

By tomorrow we're hoping to reach November 2018, by Saturday we'll be at January 2019, and less than 2 weeks after that we'll be hurtling to 29 March 2019 (remember that date?)

I wonder if the ending changes. Yes I think we've now reached the replay of Monday 4th December 2017 where DUP said no...

Will we get to Friday 8th Dec 2017 where DUP said yes after a last minute fudge? If so when - by lunchtime today?

news.sky.com/story/boris-jo…