How to avoid (successful) accusations of defamation on Twitter. A few thoughts from someone who is NOT a libel lawyer, but does say very critical things about named individuals. 1/

1. Facts are different from opinions. But stating an opinion can imply a fact. https://t.co/1PkiI4olib

2. When I tweet I aim to be sure A. I show the *facts* I am basing my *opinion* on. B. I have good reason to believe the *facts* are true. C. My opinion is reasonable based on the facts.

Here I am calling Arron Banks a racist (opinion). Pointing out this is because he called for mosques to be demolished (fact). 4/

I can prove this fact - and others - about what Banks has said. And I can justify why in my opinion that shows he’s a racist. 5/

Leavers beginning to realise EU states see EU *fundamentally* differently from how Leavers see it. THREAD 1/9

Some Leavers believe UK’s economic/political interests/qualities are fundamentally different from France & Germany. But this is so daft & so close to obvious extreme nationalism it never explained the EU’s existence for them 2/

But if UK isn’t fundamentally different from Germany & France. How to make sense of German / French EU membership? 3/

One Leaver coping strategy was “EU is bad idea for all EU states”, just they haven’t realised yet (not as clever as Brits ssh) and their bad establishments are suppressing bold independence movements 4/

But hoped-for Brexit copycats haven’t arrived. Greece seems determined to stay even as its economy improves. Anti-EU forces don’t win, or win but don’t try and leave. Remember how Hungary & Poland were going to back UK? Anyone? 5/