Michael Palin's Iraq is currently on Channel 5, which, not that widely known, is some of his best ever work.
I enjoyed his recent-ish series travelling North Korea too. Quite sensitively done.
Yes. He's getting better and more mature, but ironically not signed up by the BBC any more as a standard-bearer, which sums up the current fear of subtlety and complexity.
Candidate for greatest living Englishman, top ten for definite.
There's a very slow and genteel cage-fight between him, Melvyn Bragg and Ian McKellen. Throw Brian Blessed and Tom Baker in there and it'd be a wild, if rather charming, evening.
Also occurs to me, now that I write them out - the North is very well represented in the national treasure list.
I appreciate Bragg's talent, but he's greasy.
I don't think the UK could embrace a national treasure which didn't have a flaw. The delight in playing old vinyl is the crackle.
The last national treasure was the late Queen and everything seems to have gone pear shaped since her demise under Liz Truss !!!
Michael Palin's Iraq is currently on Channel 5, which, not that widely known, is some of his best ever work.
I enjoyed his recent-ish series travelling North Korea too. Quite sensitively done.
Yes. He's getting better and more mature, but ironically not signed up by the BBC any more as a standard-bearer, which sums up the current fear of subtlety and complexity.
Candidate for greatest living Englishman, top ten for definite.
There's a very slow and genteel cage-fight between him, Melvyn Bragg and Ian McKellen. Throw Brian Blessed and Tom Baker in there and it'd be a wild, if rather charming, evening.
Also occurs to me, now that I write them out - the North is very well represented in the national treasure list.
I appreciate Bragg's talent, but he's greasy.
More oleaginous. If you rubbed him up and down on a long sheet of blue plastic, you could slalom down it without difficulty.
Michael Palin's Iraq is currently on Channel 5, which, not that widely known, is some of his best ever work.
I enjoyed his recent-ish series travelling North Korea too. Quite sensitively done.
Yes. He's getting better and more mature, but ironically not signed up by the BBC any more as a standard-bearer, which sums up the current fear of subtlety and complexity.
"In a 2024 interview with Radio Times, Palin explained his reasoning for parting ways with the BBC was because they wanted more control over his work: "There was the feeling that the BBC wanted to interfere a little more. They wanted to control it a little more.
"They had this new way of presenting shows — which I would get absolutely, desperately frustrated with — where they would show, in the first five minutes, all the great moments of what was to come because this captured viewers. Otherwise, as soon as they see Michael Palin, they’ll switch off.
"The BBC were going in a different direction and presentation was going in a different direction."
This sort of banal programme-making is key to what changed in the BBC from the later 1990's onwards. Many younger people simply have no idea of the quality of documentaries that Brutain used to be famous around the world for, and many which are not online are hard to find.
I have a lot of older BBC (and ITV/regional) documentaries (and one-off drama's) going back to the 60s. It is really quite striking how the decline kicks in the late 80s. I wouldn't like to lay it all at John Birt's door - but he is possibly the 'poster child' for the marked drop in value.
There is also the obsession with music in documentaries now. If you watch Civilisation it’s an intelligent person talking to people like adults. No need for soaring music to indicate to the viewers how they should be feeling.
It’s spread to drama too where the accompanying soundtrack has to inform the viewer they have amazing taste in music, “see, we are so in touch with the era we have the best tunes”, The Gold was great but it felt like there was some arch need to show they got the music and the vibe yet the guys and the times weren’t surrounded by these hip tunes, they had some shitty radio stations that played whatever was on not a playlist of the best of the 80s.
I love music but there seems to be an inability to separate the Spotify world with real life.
I sometimes watch modern documentaries and wonder if they really have outsourced the production to ChatGPT.
"Drone shot, rising over a dramatic, mysterious landscape at dawn"
START THE DRAMATIC AWE-INSPIRING FAINTLY FAMILIAR YET ROYALTY FREE MUSIC JUST SO PEOPLE REALISE.
On 6th February last year whilst in Opposition Angela Rayner tabled and voted for a motion which sought to prevent outgoing ministers from receiving severance pay if they breach the ministerial code
Pleasingly from a next election watching point of view im likely to be moving soon away from boring old Clive Lewis' Norwich South to North Norfolk where a delicious Lib Con rematch is on the cards
Lib v Reform you mean
No, i don't.
I note the Daily Mail is seeking a coming together of Reform and the Conservatives
I don’t see it but I didn't see Rayner resigning this time last week
Nah. If the polls tighten and Reform drop into the mid 20s then an electoral pact is fairly likely even if informally but theres way too much bad blood at the moment
Oh the minus side after the day of the blunt knives you have to think Reeves is safe for quite a while. Even Starmer would realise that losing his Chancellor after today's insanity would be terminal.
Gilt yields have fallen back quite considerably from their highs, which helps matters as well.
Half of that is due to US jobs data, but beggars can't be choosers.
Yep, nothing like a good recession to bring interest rates down.
It’s spread to drama too where the accompanying soundtrack has to inform the viewer they have amazing taste in music, “see, we are so in touch with the era we have the best tunes”, The Gold was great but it felt like there was some arch need to show they got the music and the vibe yet the guys and the times weren’t surrounded by these hip tunes, they had some shitty radio stations that played whatever was on not a playlist of the best of the 80s.
I love music but there seems to be an inability to separate the Spotify world with real life.
I watched the end of Wednesday. There are some some really good choices. Orchestral version of Sweet Dreams are Made of This, but perhaps my favourite is the cello rendition of Don't Fear the Reaper...
Michael Palin's Iraq is currently on Channel 5, which, not that widely known, is some of his best ever work.
I enjoyed his recent-ish series travelling North Korea too. Quite sensitively done.
Yes. He's getting better and more mature, but ironically not signed up by the BBC any more as a standard-bearer, which sums up the current fear of subtlety and complexity.
Candidate for greatest living Englishman, top ten for definite.
There's a very slow and genteel cage-fight between him, Melvyn Bragg and Ian McKellen. Throw Brian Blessed and Tom Baker in there and it'd be a wild, if rather charming, evening.
Also occurs to me, now that I write them out - the North is very well represented in the national treasure list.
I appreciate Bragg's talent, but he's greasy.
I don't think the UK could embrace a national treasure which didn't have a flaw. The delight in playing old vinyl is the crackle.
The last national treasure was the late Queen and everything seems to have gone pear shaped since her demise under Liz Truss !!!
Bowie, Queen Liz and David Lynch. They were the trinity holding it together for us.
Michael Palin's Iraq is currently on Channel 5, which, not that widely known, is some of his best ever work.
I enjoyed his recent-ish series travelling North Korea too. Quite sensitively done.
Yes. He's getting better and more mature, but ironically not signed up by the BBC any more as a standard-bearer, which sums up the current fear of subtlety and complexity.
Candidate for greatest living Englishman, top ten for definite.
There's a very slow and genteel cage-fight between him, Melvyn Bragg and Ian McKellen. Throw Brian Blessed and Tom Baker in there and it'd be a wild, if rather charming, evening.
Also occurs to me, now that I write them out - the North is very well represented in the national treasure list.
I’d chuck in Michael Rosen and Bob Mortimer, possibly even Alexei Sayle. Bit too political in the current climate for two of them, but feck it, it’s Friday night.
Michael Palin's Iraq is currently on Channel 5, which, not that widely known, is some of his best ever work.
I enjoyed his recent-ish series travelling North Korea too. Quite sensitively done.
Yes. He's getting better and more mature, but ironically not signed up by the BBC any more as a standard-bearer, which sums up the current fear of subtlety and complexity.
Candidate for greatest living Englishman, top ten for definite.
There's a very slow and genteel cage-fight between him, Melvyn Bragg and Ian McKellen. Throw Brian Blessed and Tom Baker in there and it'd be a wild, if rather charming, evening.
Also occurs to me, now that I write them out - the North is very well represented in the national treasure list.
I appreciate Bragg's talent, but he's greasy.
I don't think the UK could embrace a national treasure which didn't have a flaw. The delight in playing old vinyl is the crackle.
The last national treasure was the late Queen and everything seems to have gone pear shaped since her demise under Liz Truss !!!
On 6th February last year whilst in Opposition Angela Rayner tabled and voted for a motion which sought to prevent outgoing ministers from receiving severance pay if they breach the ministerial code
It's the problem with constantly being in attack mode going two footed. It's why Kemi is stupid, if something blows up near her she is going to be in a bind. It is why you use people who will never be near the levers of power to do this role.
Michael Palin's Iraq is currently on Channel 5, which, not that widely known, is some of his best ever work.
I enjoyed his recent-ish series travelling North Korea too. Quite sensitively done.
Yes. He's getting better and more mature, but ironically not signed up by the BBC any more as a standard-bearer, which sums up the current fear of subtlety and complexity.
Candidate for greatest living Englishman, top ten for definite.
There's a very slow and genteel cage-fight between him, Melvyn Bragg and Ian McKellen. Throw Brian Blessed and Tom Baker in there and it'd be a wild, if rather charming, evening.
Also occurs to me, now that I write them out - the North is very well represented in the national treasure list.
I appreciate Bragg's talent, but he's greasy.
More oleaginous. If you rubbed him up and down on a long sheet of blue plastic, you could slalom down it without difficulty.
Spinning off in a different direction.
I have 4 funnels and jugs in my garage, marked in permanent marker.
Djokovic playing some amazing tennis . Quite extraordinary for a 38 year old . I’ve not been his biggest fan but you have to respect what he’s achieved .
Oh the minus side after the day of the blunt knives you have to think Reeves is safe for quite a while. Even Starmer would realise that losing his Chancellor after today's insanity would be terminal.
Meantime, incompetent and generally not very bright ministers who were just about getting the beginnings of a grip on their brief can start again. Things can only get better I think the song went.
How much is that because he can't lose her for political reasons and how much is it there isn't really anybody to replace her. Cooper is the only one I can think of.
Possibly Streeting but that would probably be too dangerous for Starmer to contemplate.
Michael Palin's Iraq is currently on Channel 5, which, not that widely known, is some of his best ever work.
I enjoyed his recent-ish series travelling North Korea too. Quite sensitively done.
Yes. He's getting better and more mature, but ironically not signed up by the BBC any more as a standard-bearer, which sums up the current fear of subtlety and complexity.
Candidate for greatest living Englishman, top ten for definite.
There's a very slow and genteel cage-fight between him, Melvyn Bragg and Ian McKellen. Throw Brian Blessed and Tom Baker in there and it'd be a wild, if rather charming, evening.
Also occurs to me, now that I write them out - the North is very well represented in the national treasure list.
I appreciate Bragg's talent, but he's greasy.
More oleaginous. If you rubbed him up and down on a long sheet of blue plastic, you could slalom down it without difficulty.
Spinning off in a different direction.
I have 4 funnels and jugs in my garage, marked in permanent marker.
Pleasingly from a next election watching point of view im likely to be moving soon away from boring old Clive Lewis' Norwich South to North Norfolk where a delicious Lib Con rematch is on the cards
Lib v Reform you mean
No, i don't.
I note the Daily Mail is seeking a coming together of Reform and the Conservatives
I don’t see it but I didn't see Rayner resigning this time last week
Djokovic playing some amazing tennis . Quite extraordinary for a 38 year old . I’ve not been his biggest fan but you have to respect what he’s achieved .
It used to be thought that basically you were ready for the knackers yard in tennis when you hit 30.
Djokovic playing some amazing tennis . Quite extraordinary for a 38 year old . I’ve not been his biggest fan but you have to respect what he’s achieved .
He talks about sportmanship like a boy who bullies you in school then shakes your hand afterwards.
Michael Palin's Iraq is currently on Channel 5, which, not that widely known, is some of his best ever work.
I enjoyed his recent-ish series travelling North Korea too. Quite sensitively done.
Yes. He's getting better and more mature, but ironically not signed up by the BBC any more as a standard-bearer, which sums up the current fear of subtlety and complexity.
"In a 2024 interview with Radio Times, Palin explained his reasoning for parting ways with the BBC was because they wanted more control over his work: "There was the feeling that the BBC wanted to interfere a little more. They wanted to control it a little more.
"They had this new way of presenting shows — which I would get absolutely, desperately frustrated with — where they would show, in the first five minutes, all the great moments of what was to come because this captured viewers. Otherwise, as soon as they see Michael Palin, they’ll switch off.
"The BBC were going in a different direction and presentation was going in a different direction."
This sort of banal programme-making is key to what changed in the BBC from the later 1990's onwards. Many younger people simply have no idea of the quality of documentaries that Brutain used to be famous around the world for, and many which are not online are hard to find.
I have a lot of older BBC (and ITV/regional) documentaries (and one-off drama's) going back to the 60s. It is really quite striking how the decline kicks in the late 80s. I wouldn't like to lay it all at John Birt's door - but he is possibly the 'poster child' for the marked drop in value.
There is also the obsession with music in documentaries now. If you watch Civilisation it’s an intelligent person talking to people like adults. No need for soaring music to indicate to the viewers how they should be feeling.
It’s spread to drama too where the accompanying soundtrack has to inform the viewer they have amazing taste in music, “see, we are so in touch with the era we have the best tunes”, The Gold was great but it felt like there was some arch need to show they got the music and the vibe yet the guys and the times weren’t surrounded by these hip tunes, they had some shitty radio stations that played whatever was on not a playlist of the best of the 80s.
I love music but there seems to be an inability to separate the Spotify world with real life.
I sometimes watch modern documentaries and wonder if they really have outsourced the production to ChatGPT.
"Drone shot, rising over a dramatic, mysterious landscape at dawn"
START THE DRAMATIC AWE-INSPIRING FAINTLY FAMILIAR YET ROYALTY FREE MUSIC JUST SO PEOPLE REALISE.
The drone shots and pseudo-cinematic approach are now ubiquitous. A Hollywoid action-movie aesthetic, complete with crashing music, has basically replaced the European overtones of British documentary-making.
Without wanting to sound too nostalgic, the US at one time also had a thriving output of its own subtle documentary form.
Djokovic playing some amazing tennis . Quite extraordinary for a 38 year old . I’ve not been his biggest fan but you have to respect what he’s achieved .
It used to be thought that basically you were ready for the knackers yard in tennis when you hit 30.
Yes things have really changed there . The new racket technology , better nutrition etc have really helped .
Oh the minus side after the day of the blunt knives you have to think Reeves is safe for quite a while. Even Starmer would realise that losing his Chancellor after today's insanity would be terminal.
Meantime, incompetent and generally not very bright ministers who were just about getting the beginnings of a grip on their brief can start again. Things can only get better I think the song went.
How much is that because he can't lose her for political reasons and how much is it there isn't really anybody to replace her. Cooper is the only one I can think of.
Possibly Streeting but that would probably be too dangerous for Starmer to contemplate.
Would be risky option, absolutely no backgorund or experience in number crunching. He spent 4 years shadowing Health.
Michael Palin's Iraq is currently on Channel 5, which, not that widely known, is some of his best ever work.
I enjoyed his recent-ish series travelling North Korea too. Quite sensitively done.
Yes. He's getting better and more mature, but ironically not signed up by the BBC any more as a standard-bearer, which sums up the current fear of subtlety and complexity.
Candidate for greatest living Englishman, top ten for definite.
There's a very slow and genteel cage-fight between him, Melvyn Bragg and Ian McKellen. Throw Brian Blessed and Tom Baker in there and it'd be a wild, if rather charming, evening.
Also occurs to me, now that I write them out - the North is very well represented in the national treasure list.
I’d chuck in Michael Rosen and Bob Mortimer, possibly even Alexei Sayle. Bit too political in the current climate for two of them, but feck it, it’s Friday night.
I think Bob is a little too ... subversive? Bit like Spike Milligan. Both beloved - but I think too creative? That's not the right word.
God, how I'd loved to have watched a chat show with just Bob and Spike. Possibly a bottle of good rum.
On 6th February last year whilst in Opposition Angela Rayner tabled and voted for a motion which sought to prevent outgoing ministers from receiving severance pay if they breach the ministerial code
It's the problem with constantly being in attack mode going two footed. It's why Kemi is stupid, if something blows up near her she is going to be in a bind. It is why you use people who will never be near the levers of power to do this role.
Kemi was very brave today.
She used potentially litigious language outside the safety zone of Parliamentary Privilege. In fact some words she used were distinctly "unparliamentary" and would have earned a slap from the Speaker.
The Liberal Democrats have criticised Sir Keir's Starmer's ministerial reshuffle.
Sir Ed Davey said: 'If Labour believes that having a reshuffle will solve the deep-rooted problems of this government, they are learning the wrong lessons from the calamity Conservatives before them.'
The Lib Dem leader added: 'Until Keir Starmer is ready to grab the bull by the horns and confront the problems our country really faces, it makes little difference who sits where around the Cabinet table.'
I am pretty sure that we do not allow bulls in the Cabinet room. Bullshit, on the other hand....
Pleasingly from a next election watching point of view im likely to be moving soon away from boring old Clive Lewis' Norwich South to North Norfolk where a delicious Lib Con rematch is on the cards
Lib v Reform you mean
No, i don't.
I note the Daily Mail is seeking a coming together of Reform and the Conservatives
I don’t see it but I didn't see Rayner resigning this time last week
That's fantastic news for you.
The Mail have realised Reform dont have the experience, personnel or ground troops so they think the Tories will just hand over theirs as if Nigel and co havent been doing everything they can to destroy the Tories for a year. Tories have been around for 350 years, Reform havent even dropped their meconium
A movie villain POTUS publicly begging for a Nobel Peace prize, while also publicly boasting of renaming a department under his command the “Department of War,” would be a plot point too stupid to make it thru any script’s first draft.
Oh the minus side after the day of the blunt knives you have to think Reeves is safe for quite a while. Even Starmer would realise that losing his Chancellor after today's insanity would be terminal.
Meantime, incompetent and generally not very bright ministers who were just about getting the beginnings of a grip on their brief can start again. Things can only get better I think the song went.
How much is that because he can't lose her for political reasons and how much is it there isn't really anybody to replace her. Cooper is the only one I can think of.
Possibly Streeting but that would probably be too dangerous for Starmer to contemplate.
Would be risky option, absolutely no backgorund or experience in number crunching. He spent 4 years shadowing Health.
Let's face it, we are not exactly spoilt for choice here. Anyone who has been shadowing and then responsible for Health should at least be able to count and be able to appreciate that Health spending is driving us towards insolvency.
Pleasingly from a next election watching point of view im likely to be moving soon away from boring old Clive Lewis' Norwich South to North Norfolk where a delicious Lib Con rematch is on the cards
Lib v Reform you mean
No, i don't.
I note the Daily Mail is seeking a coming together of Reform and the Conservatives
I don’t see it but I didn't see Rayner resigning this time last week
That's fantastic news for you.
The Mail have realised Reform dont have the experience, personnel or ground troops so they think the Tories will just hand over theirs as if Nigel and co havent been doing everything they can to destroy the Tories for a year. Tories have been around for 350 years, Reform havent even dropped their meconium
HYUFD seems rather keen too, which is why he often adds the Ref and Con percentage numbers together.
You RefCon guys are smashing this out of the park.
On 6th February last year whilst in Opposition Angela Rayner tabled and voted for a motion which sought to prevent outgoing ministers from receiving severance pay if they breach the ministerial code
It's the problem with constantly being in attack mode going two footed. It's why Kemi is stupid, if something blows up near her she is going to be in a bind. It is why you use people who will never be near the levers of power to do this role.
Kemi was very brave today.
She used potentially litigious language outside the safety zone of Parliamentary Privilege. In fact some words she used were distinctly "unparliamentary" and would have earned a slap from the Speaker.
I think she’s had a bad week . And only she could look worse after all the Labour dramas. Once she gets her P45 next May she can go back to obscurity .
Pleasingly from a next election watching point of view im likely to be moving soon away from boring old Clive Lewis' Norwich South to North Norfolk where a delicious Lib Con rematch is on the cards
Lib v Reform you mean
No, i don't.
I note the Daily Mail is seeking a coming together of Reform and the Conservatives
I don’t see it but I didn't see Rayner resigning this time last week
Nah. If the polls tighten and Reform drop into the mid 20s then an electoral pact is fairly likely even if informally but theres way too much bad blood at the moment
The Tory defectors to Reform are pretty much despised by those remaining. With some reason, I might add. Nadine Dorries just about sums it up.
It’s spread to drama too where the accompanying soundtrack has to inform the viewer they have amazing taste in music, “see, we are so in touch with the era we have the best tunes”, The Gold was great but it felt like there was some arch need to show they got the music and the vibe yet the guys and the times weren’t surrounded by these hip tunes, they had some shitty radio stations that played whatever was on not a playlist of the best of the 80s.
I love music but there seems to be an inability to separate the Spotify world with real life.
I watched the end of Wednesday. There are some some really good choices. Orchestral version of Sweet Dreams are Made of This, but perhaps my favourite is the cello rendition of Don't Fear the Reaper...
There are times where great music adds to the programme but to often it seems crowbarred in. I have been helping review a film that’s being made, impartial reviews since before filming. The director made a lot of music videos for big bands but there is a scene where you can see he’s desperately shoving in a music video into the film which doesn’t work and is too removed from the rest of the film but he can’t let go of an idea he has in his head of this scene and the accompanying music. I wonder if so many programme makers have so much music video in their cultural hinterlands that they can’t let go of artistic ideas of the mix of music and image to the detriment of just enjoying the image.
On 6th February last year whilst in Opposition Angela Rayner tabled and voted for a motion which sought to prevent outgoing ministers from receiving severance pay if they breach the ministerial code
Pleasingly from a next election watching point of view im likely to be moving soon away from boring old Clive Lewis' Norwich South to North Norfolk where a delicious Lib Con rematch is on the cards
Lib v Reform you mean
No, i don't.
I note the Daily Mail is seeking a coming together of Reform and the Conservatives
I don’t see it but I didn't see Rayner resigning this time last week
That's fantastic news for you.
The Mail have realised Reform dont have the experience, personnel or ground troops so they think the Tories will just hand over theirs as if Nigel and co havent been doing everything they can to destroy the Tories for a year. Tories have been around for 350 years, Reform havent even dropped their meconium
HYUFD seems rather keen too, which is why he often adds the Ref and Con percentage numbers together.
You RefCon guys are smashing this out of the park.
Reform will be the answer to an obscure pub quiz question before you know it
A movie villain POTUS publicly begging for a Nobel Peace prize, while also publicly boasting of renaming a department under his command the “Department of War,” would be a plot point too stupid to make it thru any script’s first draft.
It would be almost as surreal as trying to create a character who is in charge of a nation’s health who doesn’t believe in proven medicine and science.
I wonder if so many programme makers have so much music video in their cultural hinterlands that they can’t let go of artistic ideas of the mix of music and image to the detriment of just enjoying the image.
Perhaps.
Sometimes it works. I really like Tosca in Quantum of Solace over the fight scene.
Pleasingly from a next election watching point of view im likely to be moving soon away from boring old Clive Lewis' Norwich South to North Norfolk where a delicious Lib Con rematch is on the cards
Lib v Reform you mean
No, i don't.
I note the Daily Mail is seeking a coming together of Reform and the Conservatives
I don’t see it but I didn't see Rayner resigning this time last week
Pleasingly from a next election watching point of view im likely to be moving soon away from boring old Clive Lewis' Norwich South to North Norfolk where a delicious Lib Con rematch is on the cards
Lib v Reform you mean
No, i don't.
I note the Daily Mail is seeking a coming together of Reform and the Conservatives
I don’t see it but I didn't see Rayner resigning this time last week
Nah. If the polls tighten and Reform drop into the mid 20s then an electoral pact is fairly likely even if informally but theres way too much bad blood at the moment
The Tory defectors to Reform are pretty much despised by those remaining. With some reason, I might add. Nadine Dorries just about sums it up.
The Tories have to just get on with it. They are very unpopular, they have a mountain to climb and the sooner they get rid of the entitlement to rule mentality the sooner they can start the road back. And ignore Reform.
This story is WILD. Trump sent Seal Team 6 into North Korea to plant a listening device. The operation went sideways within minutes, when a fishing boat was unexpectedly at the landing site. Seal Team 6 killed everyone on board, sunk the bodies, and fled. Congress was never told.
This story is WILD. Trump sent Seal Team 6 into North Korea to plant a listening device. The operation went sideways within minutes, when a fishing boat was unexpectedly at the landing site. Seal Team 6 killed everyone on board, sunk the bodies, and fled. Congress was never told.
This story is WILD. Trump sent Seal Team 6 into North Korea to plant a listening device. The operation went sideways within minutes, when a fishing boat was unexpectedly at the landing site. Seal Team 6 killed everyone on board, sunk the bodies, and fled. Congress was never told.
Pleasingly from a next election watching point of view im likely to be moving soon away from boring old Clive Lewis' Norwich South to North Norfolk where a delicious Lib Con rematch is on the cards
Lib v Reform you mean
No, i don't.
I note the Daily Mail is seeking a coming together of Reform and the Conservatives
I don’t see it but I didn't see Rayner resigning this time last week
There have been "thinkers" on the right dreaming about that sort of scenario for ages. Basically, a rerun of what happened in Canada; a proper right-wing party knocking over the old wet Conservatives and picking the bones for what remains.
This story is WILD. Trump sent Seal Team 6 into North Korea to plant a listening device. The operation went sideways within minutes, when a fishing boat was unexpectedly at the landing site. Seal Team 6 killed everyone on board, sunk the bodies, and fled. Congress was never told.
This story is WILD. Trump sent Seal Team 6 into North Korea to plant a listening device. The operation went sideways within minutes, when a fishing boat was unexpectedly at the landing site. Seal Team 6 killed everyone on board, sunk the bodies, and fled. Congress was never told.
Pleasingly from a next election watching point of view im likely to be moving soon away from boring old Clive Lewis' Norwich South to North Norfolk where a delicious Lib Con rematch is on the cards
Lib v Reform you mean
No, i don't.
I note the Daily Mail is seeking a coming together of Reform and the Conservatives
I don’t see it but I didn't see Rayner resigning this time last week
That's fantastic news for you.
The Mail have realised Reform dont have the experience, personnel or ground troops so they think the Tories will just hand over theirs as if Nigel and co havent been doing everything they can to destroy the Tories for a year. Tories have been around for 350 years, Reform havent even dropped their meconium
Has to make one wonder about the quality of the Mail's news gathering if they have only just realised that.
Pleasingly from a next election watching point of view im likely to be moving soon away from boring old Clive Lewis' Norwich South to North Norfolk where a delicious Lib Con rematch is on the cards
Lib v Reform you mean
No, i don't.
I note the Daily Mail is seeking a coming together of Reform and the Conservatives
I don’t see it but I didn't see Rayner resigning this time last week
Nah. If the polls tighten and Reform drop into the mid 20s then an electoral pact is fairly likely even if informally but theres way too much bad blood at the moment
The Tory defectors to Reform are pretty much despised by those remaining. With some reason, I might add. Nadine Dorries just about sums it up.
The remainder of the Tory party is probably unelectable but, with the exception of Jenrick, moderately human.
I was in a meeting with the much maligned Mel Stride this week. He was thoughtful, circumspect, and on top of his brief. They will be, if not sorely, then at least wistfully missed.
Michael Palin's Iraq is currently on Channel 5, which, not that widely known, is some of his best ever work.
I enjoyed his recent-ish series travelling North Korea too. Quite sensitively done.
Yes. He's getting better and more mature, but ironically not signed up by the BBC any more as a standard-bearer, which sums up the current fear of subtlety and complexity.
Candidate for greatest living Englishman, top ten for definite.
There's a very slow and genteel cage-fight between him, Melvyn Bragg and Ian McKellen. Throw Brian Blessed and Tom Baker in there and it'd be a wild, if rather charming, evening.
Also occurs to me, now that I write them out - the North is very well represented in the national treasure list.
I appreciate Bragg's talent, but he's greasy.
That spoof South Bank show he did with Harry Enfield was hilarious.
This story is WILD. Trump sent Seal Team 6 into North Korea to plant a listening device. The operation went sideways within minutes, when a fishing boat was unexpectedly at the landing site. Seal Team 6 killed everyone on board, sunk the bodies, and fled. Congress was never told.
Pleasingly from a next election watching point of view im likely to be moving soon away from boring old Clive Lewis' Norwich South to North Norfolk where a delicious Lib Con rematch is on the cards
Lib v Reform you mean
No, i don't.
I note the Daily Mail is seeking a coming together of Reform and the Conservatives
I don’t see it but I didn't see Rayner resigning this time last week
Nah. If the polls tighten and Reform drop into the mid 20s then an electoral pact is fairly likely even if informally but theres way too much bad blood at the moment
The Tory defectors to Reform are pretty much despised by those remaining. With some reason, I might add. Nadine Dorries just about sums it up.
The remainder of the Tory party is probably unelectable but, with the exception of Jenrick, moderately human.
I was in a meeting with the much maligned Mel Stride this week. He was thoughtful, circumspect, and on top of his brief. They will be, if not sorely, then at least wistfully missed.
Stride was very good as Minister for the Today programme in the lead up to the GE. Answered questions, knew the brief, polite and considered. Same with Alex Chalk.
Michael Palin's Iraq is currently on Channel 5, which, not that widely known, is some of his best ever work.
I enjoyed his recent-ish series travelling North Korea too. Quite sensitively done.
Yes. He's getting better and more mature, but ironically not signed up by the BBC any more as a standard-bearer, which sums up the current fear of subtlety and complexity.
Candidate for greatest living Englishman, top ten for definite.
There's a very slow and genteel cage-fight between him, Melvyn Bragg and Ian McKellen. Throw Brian Blessed and Tom Baker in there and it'd be a wild, if rather charming, evening.
Also occurs to me, now that I write them out - the North is very well represented in the national treasure list.
I appreciate Bragg's talent, but he's greasy.
More oleaginous. If you rubbed him up and down on a long sheet of blue plastic, you could slalom down it without difficulty.
Spinning off in a different direction.
I have 4 funnels and jugs in my garage, marked in permanent marker.
Aqueous, Spiritous, Oleaginous and Pretentious
...and one day you'll get this cloning business right.
On 6th February last year whilst in Opposition Angela Rayner tabled and voted for a motion which sought to prevent outgoing ministers from receiving severance pay if they breach the ministerial code
Pleasingly from a next election watching point of view im likely to be moving soon away from boring old Clive Lewis' Norwich South to North Norfolk where a delicious Lib Con rematch is on the cards
Lib v Reform you mean
No, i don't.
I note the Daily Mail is seeking a coming together of Reform and the Conservatives
I don’t see it but I didn't see Rayner resigning this time last week
Nah. If the polls tighten and Reform drop into the mid 20s then an electoral pact is fairly likely even if informally but theres way too much bad blood at the moment
The Tory defectors to Reform are pretty much despised by those remaining. With some reason, I might add. Nadine Dorries just about sums it up.
The remainder of the Tory party is probably unelectable but, with the exception of Jenrick, moderately human.
I was in a meeting with the much maligned Mel Stride this week. He was thoughtful, circumspect, and on top of his brief. They will be, if not sorely, then at least wistfully missed.
Stride was very good as Minister for the Today programme in the lead up to the GE. Answered questions, knew the brief, polite and considered. Same with Alex Chalk.
I think he's a useless fart. Anyone who can face Rachel Reeves and fail to land a single blow should make their excuses and let someone else have a go.
He thinks he's in his position to defend the last Government not attack this one.
He failed to call for Reeves' resignation when challenged repeatedly to do so, but worse, couldn't come up with any other form of words that didn't make him sound like a struggling Government spokesperson sent out to defend her.
He has instead made headlines for attacking Truss, and more recently Badenoch.
As they say, with friends like that, who needs enemas.
Decanting my older child back to uni today. As she’s at St Andrew’s, and has a ton of stuff for the new year in a new house-share, it’s a long tough job. We are overnighting in Lancaster
What an attractive town! I’m v pleasantly surprised. Normally and sadly British towns surprise on the downside these days. But stone-built Lancaster is ruggedly handsome, with a bracing location, and feels actively prosperous (in the centre, at least)
Flag report from 6 hours of driving
A few around London. Basically none from Luton up to Brum. Then a couple. Then a LOT in the north - at one stage almost every bridge had one. More 🇬🇧 than 🏴
On 6th February last year whilst in Opposition Angela Rayner tabled and voted for a motion which sought to prevent outgoing ministers from receiving severance pay if they breach the ministerial code
Pleasingly from a next election watching point of view im likely to be moving soon away from boring old Clive Lewis' Norwich South to North Norfolk where a delicious Lib Con rematch is on the cards
Lib v Reform you mean
No, i don't.
I note the Daily Mail is seeking a coming together of Reform and the Conservatives
I don’t see it but I didn't see Rayner resigning this time last week
Nah. If the polls tighten and Reform drop into the mid 20s then an electoral pact is fairly likely even if informally but theres way too much bad blood at the moment
The Tory defectors to Reform are pretty much despised by those remaining. With some reason, I might add. Nadine Dorries just about sums it up.
The remainder of the Tory party is probably unelectable but, with the exception of Jenrick, moderately human.
I was in a meeting with the much maligned Mel Stride this week. He was thoughtful, circumspect, and on top of his brief. They will be, if not sorely, then at least wistfully missed.
Stride was very good as Minister for the Today programme in the lead up to the GE. Answered questions, knew the brief, polite and considered. Same with Alex Chalk.
I think he's a useless fart. Anyone who can face Rachel Reeves and fail to land a single blow should make their excuses and let someone else have a go.
He thinks he's in his position to defend the last Government not attack this one.
He failed to call for Reeves' resignation when challenged repeatedly to do so, but worse, couldn't come up with any other form of words that didn't make him sound like a struggling Government spokesperson sent out to defend her.
He has instead made headlines for attacking Truss, and more recently Badenoch.
As they say, with friends like that, who needs enemas.
Decanting my older child back to uni today. As she’s at St Andrew’s, and has a ton of stuff for the new year in a new house-share, it’s a long tough job. We are overnighting in Lancaster
What an attractive town! I’m v pleasantly surprised. Normally and sadly British towns surprise on the downside these days. But stone-built Lancaster is ruggedly handsome, with a bracing location, and feels actively prosperous (in the centre, at least)
Flag report from 6 hours of driving
A few around London. Basically none from Luton up to Brum. Then a couple. Then a LOT in the north - at one stage almost every bridge had one. More 🇬🇧 than 🏴
Do you go the M6 route to Scotland because there is no A1(m) past Newcastle?
Decanting my older child back to uni today. As she’s at St Andrew’s, and has a ton of stuff for the new year in a new house-share, it’s a long tough job. We are overnighting in Lancaster
What an attractive town! I’m v pleasantly surprised. Normally and sadly British towns surprise on the downside these days. But stone-built Lancaster is ruggedly handsome, with a bracing location, and feels actively prosperous (in the centre, at least)
Flag report from 6 hours of driving
A few around London. Basically none from Luton up to Brum. Then a couple. Then a LOT in the north - at one stage almost every bridge had one. More 🇬🇧 than 🏴
Do you go the M6 route to Scotland because there is no A1(m) past Newcastle?
I go up one way and come back the other to vary the tedious journeys
Decanting my older child back to uni today. As she’s at St Andrew’s, and has a ton of stuff for the new year in a new house-share, it’s a long tough job. We are overnighting in Lancaster
What an attractive town! I’m v pleasantly surprised. Normally and sadly British towns surprise on the downside these days. But stone-built Lancaster is ruggedly handsome, with a bracing location, and feels actively prosperous (in the centre, at least)
Flag report from 6 hours of driving
A few around London. Basically none from Luton up to Brum. Then a couple. Then a LOT in the north - at one stage almost every bridge had one. More 🇬🇧 than 🏴
Do you go the M6 route to Scotland because there is no A1(m) past Newcastle?
Even when you live a couple of miles from the A1 it is quicker to cross the Pennines to the M6 (though the A66 desperately needs dualing too, and has done for 40 years).
Decanting my older child back to uni today. As she’s at St Andrew’s, and has a ton of stuff for the new year in a new house-share, it’s a long tough job. We are overnighting in Lancaster
What an attractive town! I’m v pleasantly surprised. Normally and sadly British towns surprise on the downside these days. But stone-built Lancaster is ruggedly handsome, with a bracing location, and feels actively prosperous (in the centre, at least)
Flag report from 6 hours of driving
A few around London. Basically none from Luton up to Brum. Then a couple. Then a LOT in the north - at one stage almost every bridge had one. More 🇬🇧 than 🏴
Staying just south of Plymouth for a week. Drive into Plymstock to shop and most mini round a bouts were sporting a natty red cross. But weirdly one of two missing. Job for me if I get bored?
Shabana has the weight of the world on her shoulders now.
Either she solves the small boats or Labour lose in 2029.
Simples.
I think that's impossible. When it was pointed out that there have zero crossings for the last week or so (for weather related reasons), people immediately assumed the numbers were being massaged by Labour.
A movie villain POTUS publicly begging for a Nobel Peace prize, while also publicly boasting of renaming a department under his command the “Department of War,” would be a plot point too stupid to make it thru any script’s first draft.
Next to rename the Department of Health as the Department of Plague and Pestilence?
Decanting my older child back to uni today. As she’s at St Andrew’s, and has a ton of stuff for the new year in a new house-share, it’s a long tough job. We are overnighting in Lancaster
What an attractive town! I’m v pleasantly surprised. Normally and sadly British towns surprise on the downside these days. But stone-built Lancaster is ruggedly handsome, with a bracing location, and feels actively prosperous (in the centre, at least)
Flag report from 6 hours of driving
A few around London. Basically none from Luton up to Brum. Then a couple. Then a LOT in the north - at one stage almost every bridge had one. More 🇬🇧 than 🏴
I'd have just popped my kid in an Uber. No way am I paying the price for her decision to go to University in the middle of nowhere.
A movie villain POTUS publicly begging for a Nobel Peace prize, while also publicly boasting of renaming a department under his command the “Department of War,” would be a plot point too stupid to make it thru any script’s first draft.
Next to rename the Department of Health as the Department of Plague and Pestilence?
They could really fuck with Americans by renaming the Department of Labor the Department of Labour.
Decanting my older child back to uni today. As she’s at St Andrew’s, and has a ton of stuff for the new year in a new house-share, it’s a long tough job. We are overnighting in Lancaster
What an attractive town! I’m v pleasantly surprised. Normally and sadly British towns surprise on the downside these days. But stone-built Lancaster is ruggedly handsome, with a bracing location, and feels actively prosperous (in the centre, at least)
Flag report from 6 hours of driving
A few around London. Basically none from Luton up to Brum. Then a couple. Then a LOT in the north - at one stage almost every bridge had one. More 🇬🇧 than 🏴
Do you go the M6 route to Scotland because there is no A1(m) past Newcastle?
Even when you live a couple of miles from the A1 it is quicker to cross the Pennines to the M6 (though the A66 desperately needs dualing too, and has done for 40 years).
The Edinburgh bypass adds 30 minutes.
+1 - I for anywhere in Scotland (bar south of Edinburgh) it's A66, M6, M74, for Edinburgh it depends where we are going but the only reason for going up the A1 is if going via Barter Books.
And the most direct route to Edinburgh is the A68 which starts about 200 yards from this house..
Decanting my older child back to uni today. As she’s at St Andrew’s, and has a ton of stuff for the new year in a new house-share, it’s a long tough job. We are overnighting in Lancaster
What an attractive town! I’m v pleasantly surprised. Normally and sadly British towns surprise on the downside these days. But stone-built Lancaster is ruggedly handsome, with a bracing location, and feels actively prosperous (in the centre, at least)
Flag report from 6 hours of driving
A few around London. Basically none from Luton up to Brum. Then a couple. Then a LOT in the north - at one stage almost every bridge had one. More 🇬🇧 than 🏴
I'd have just popped my kid in an Uber. No way am I paying the price for her decision to go to University in the middle of nowhere.
Quite right too. Apart from my start of boarding school every time I went for a beginning of a school year or university my trunks and boxes were sent by DHL or similar and then I flew over with my bags. My parents instilled in me a sense of self reliance which I later realised was a sense of they had more fun things to do than deliver their child to educational establishments!
Decanting my older child back to uni today. As she’s at St Andrew’s, and has a ton of stuff for the new year in a new house-share, it’s a long tough job. We are overnighting in Lancaster
What an attractive town! I’m v pleasantly surprised. Normally and sadly British towns surprise on the downside these days. But stone-built Lancaster is ruggedly handsome, with a bracing location, and feels actively prosperous (in the centre, at least)
Flag report from 6 hours of driving
A few around London. Basically none from Luton up to Brum. Then a couple. Then a LOT in the north - at one stage almost every bridge had one. More 🇬🇧 than 🏴
I'd have just popped my kid in an Uber. No way am I paying the price for her decision to go to University in the middle of nowhere.
Quite right too. Apart from my start of boarding school every time I went for a beginning of a school year or university my trunks and boxes were sent by DHL or similar and then I flew over with my bags. My parents instilled in me a sense of self reliance which I later realised was a sense of they had more fun things to do than deliver their child to educational establishments!
On 6th February last year whilst in Opposition Angela Rayner tabled and voted for a motion which sought to prevent outgoing ministers from receiving severance pay if they breach the ministerial code
Decanting my older child back to uni today. As she’s at St Andrew’s, and has a ton of stuff for the new year in a new house-share, it’s a long tough job. We are overnighting in Lancaster
What an attractive town! I’m v pleasantly surprised. Normally and sadly British towns surprise on the downside these days. But stone-built Lancaster is ruggedly handsome, with a bracing location, and feels actively prosperous (in the centre, at least)
Flag report from 6 hours of driving
A few around London. Basically none from Luton up to Brum. Then a couple. Then a LOT in the north - at one stage almost every bridge had one. More 🇬🇧 than 🏴
I'd have just popped my kid in an Uber. No way am I paying the price for her decision to go to University in the middle of nowhere.
Quite right too. Apart from my start of boarding school every time I went for a beginning of a school year or university my trunks and boxes were sent by DHL or similar and then I flew over with my bags. My parents instilled in me a sense of self reliance which I later realised was a sense of they had more fun things to do than deliver their child to educational establishments!
Trunks? Was this 1920?
No, everyone had trunks. Each boarding house had trunk rooms in the basement to store everyone’s. And most of us had small versions too to use as tuck boxes. Hours of fun stuffing junior boys in trunks and leaving them in there to think about their actions.
On our first night at school our trunks were still in our dormitory as we were still unpacking. We had a rather rotund matron at that time who had come in to take our laundry basket. As she was bending over to pick it up in the darkness one of the chaps came in from having a pee and, thinking it was a trunk in the way gave the Matron’s arse a massive slap. Good ice breaker on the first night surrounded by strangers.
A movie villain POTUS publicly begging for a Nobel Peace prize, while also publicly boasting of renaming a department under his command the “Department of War,” would be a plot point too stupid to make it thru any script’s first draft.
Next to rename the Department of Health as the Department of Plague and Pestilence?
And Homeland Security can become simply Thugs Inc.
A movie villain POTUS publicly begging for a Nobel Peace prize, while also publicly boasting of renaming a department under his command the “Department of War,” would be a plot point too stupid to make it thru any script’s first draft.
Next to rename the Department of Health as the Department of Plague and Pestilence?
And Homeland Security can become simply Thugs Inc.
It does keep coming back to my mind that we aren't so much entering a 'fascist' phase - but a 'clockwork orange' phase.
So much cheaper. So much more British.
Bit of Brian Aldiss thrown in, bit of P. D. James. We're a Netflix series in the making.
Decanting my older child back to uni today. As she’s at St Andrew’s, and has a ton of stuff for the new year in a new house-share, it’s a long tough job. We are overnighting in Lancaster
What an attractive town! I’m v pleasantly surprised. Normally and sadly British towns surprise on the downside these days. But stone-built Lancaster is ruggedly handsome, with a bracing location, and feels actively prosperous (in the centre, at least)
Flag report from 6 hours of driving
A few around London. Basically none from Luton up to Brum. Then a couple. Then a LOT in the north - at one stage almost every bridge had one. More 🇬🇧 than 🏴
St Andrews.
Not St Andrew’s. Nor St Andrews’. Not even Saint Andrews. Kindly don’t ask if there should be a full stop after “St”.
The media have made little of the fact that Farage can’t be removed as leader . Will Reform be making changes to become a proper political party or will they effectively be simply a vehicle for Farage .
One would hope these questions might come up in the run up to the next election and the other parties should really push this issue .Not being able to remove the leader should really be a red flag .
Interestingly, I have received a dozen or so texts or Whatsapps from right of centre friends on the subject of @AngelaRayner today. Every one of them said they felt sorry for her. As do I. I may have disagreed with most of what she was doing, but she was one of few cabinet ministers to know how to pull the levers of power. She's a huge loss to the Government.
The media have made little of the fact that Farage can’t be removed as leader . Will Reform be making changes to become a proper political party or will they effectively be simply a vehicle for Farage .
One would hope these questions might come up in the run up to the next election and the other parties should really push this issue .Not being able to remove the leader should really be a red flag .
True, but if/once they are in government, they can change their PM without changing their party leader.
Decanting my older child back to uni today. As she’s at St Andrew’s, and has a ton of stuff for the new year in a new house-share, it’s a long tough job. We are overnighting in Lancaster
What an attractive town! I’m v pleasantly surprised. Normally and sadly British towns surprise on the downside these days. But stone-built Lancaster is ruggedly handsome, with a bracing location, and feels actively prosperous (in the centre, at least)
Flag report from 6 hours of driving
A few around London. Basically none from Luton up to Brum. Then a couple. Then a LOT in the north - at one stage almost every bridge had one. More 🇬🇧 than 🏴
A historic town too with a castle and university and a centre in the War of the Roses
The media have made little of the fact that Farage can’t be removed as leader . Will Reform be making changes to become a proper political party or will they effectively be simply a vehicle for Farage .
One would hope these questions might come up in the run up to the next election and the other parties should really push this issue .Not being able to remove the leader should really be a red flag .
True, but if/once they are in government, they can change their PM without changing their party leader.
I think there are better attack lines on Farage.
Of course but I’m amazed no one in the media has said a word about the structure of Reform . This might be dry subject matter in a world of fluff but is a very serious issue .
Decanting my older child back to uni today. As she’s at St Andrew’s, and has a ton of stuff for the new year in a new house-share, it’s a long tough job. We are overnighting in Lancaster
What an attractive town! I’m v pleasantly surprised. Normally and sadly British towns surprise on the downside these days. But stone-built Lancaster is ruggedly handsome, with a bracing location, and feels actively prosperous (in the centre, at least)
Flag report from 6 hours of driving
A few around London. Basically none from Luton up to Brum. Then a couple. Then a LOT in the north - at one stage almost every bridge had one. More 🇬🇧 than 🏴
I'd have just popped my kid in an Uber. No way am I paying the price for her decision to go to University in the middle of nowhere.
Wonder how the King sent the Prince of Wales to St Andrews? Long drive like Leon or helicopter?
Streeting now overtaken Rayner as Starmer's heir apparent unless Burnham returns to Parliament
On a point of pedantry, you mean heir presumptive, not heir apparent.
Cooper is now heir presumptive.
She has done two of the major offices of state and been around since 1997.
She’s also as dull as dishwater and has zero charisma. I don’t dislike her but she’s just a bit meh and at this point you can’t risk any Labour MP without a big majority in seats where Reform are second . Or where the Your Party and Greens could cause problems which is a problem for Streeting .
Pleasingly from a next election watching point of view im likely to be moving soon away from boring old Clive Lewis' Norwich South to North Norfolk where a delicious Lib Con rematch is on the cards
Lib v Reform you mean
No, i don't.
I note the Daily Mail is seeking a coming together of Reform and the Conservatives
I don’t see it but I didn't see Rayner resigning this time last week
Nah. If the polls tighten and Reform drop into the mid 20s then an electoral pact is fairly likely even if informally but theres way too much bad blood at the moment
The Tory defectors to Reform are pretty much despised by those remaining. With some reason, I might add. Nadine Dorries just about sums it up.
The remainder of the Tory party is probably unelectable but, with the exception of Jenrick, moderately human.
I was in a meeting with the much maligned Mel Stride this week. He was thoughtful, circumspect, and on top of his brief. They will be, if not sorely, then at least wistfully missed.
Stride was very good as Minister for the Today programme in the lead up to the GE. Answered questions, knew the brief, polite and considered. Same with Alex Chalk.
I think he's a useless fart. Anyone who can face Rachel Reeves and fail to land a single blow should make their excuses and let someone else have a go.
He thinks he's in his position to defend the last Government not attack this one.
He failed to call for Reeves' resignation when challenged repeatedly to do so, but worse, couldn't come up with any other form of words that didn't make him sound like a struggling Government spokesperson sent out to defend her.
He has instead made headlines for attacking Truss, and more recently Badenoch.
As they say, with friends like that, who needs enemas.
Stride is a heavyweight and since when did he attack Badenoch?
Pleasingly from a next election watching point of view im likely to be moving soon away from boring old Clive Lewis' Norwich South to North Norfolk where a delicious Lib Con rematch is on the cards
Lib v Reform you mean
No, i don't.
I note the Daily Mail is seeking a coming together of Reform and the Conservatives
I don’t see it but I didn't see Rayner resigning this time last week
Not happening under Kemi, Cleverly and Stride though Jenrick might consider it
Comments
"Drone shot, rising over a dramatic, mysterious landscape at dawn"
START THE DRAMATIC AWE-INSPIRING FAINTLY FAMILIAR YET ROYALTY FREE MUSIC JUST SO PEOPLE REALISE.
Well..
@alexburghart
On 6th February last year whilst in Opposition Angela Rayner tabled and voted for a motion which sought to prevent outgoing ministers from receiving severance pay if they breach the ministerial code
She surely cannot accept that severance pay now
https://x.com/alexburghart/status/1964025267115995535
If the polls tighten and Reform drop into the mid 20s then an electoral pact is fairly likely even if informally but theres way too much bad blood at the moment
I have 4 funnels and jugs in my garage, marked in permanent marker.
Aqueous, Spiritous, Oleaginous and Pretentious
But he's an enormous talent.
Without wanting to sound too nostalgic, the US at one time also had a thriving output of its own subtle documentary form.
God, how I'd loved to have watched a chat show with just Bob and Spike. Possibly a bottle of good rum.
She used potentially litigious language outside the safety zone of Parliamentary Privilege. In fact some words she used were distinctly "unparliamentary" and would have earned a slap from the Speaker.
Tories have been around for 350 years, Reform havent even dropped their meconium
A movie villain POTUS publicly begging for a Nobel Peace prize, while also publicly boasting of renaming a department under his command the “Department of War,” would be a plot point too stupid to make it thru any script’s first draft.
You RefCon guys are smashing this out of the park.
Sometimes it works. I really like Tosca in Quantum of Solace over the fight scene.
https://bsky.app/profile/atrupar.com/post/3ly4jbv3lgw2m
Alistair Darling.
Liz Truss*.
Andrew Mitchell.
Nigel Farage.
Danny Alexander.
* I admit, the expectation of mine she exceeded was not competence
https://x.com/moreperfectus/status/1964011769585660028?s=61&t=LYVEHh2mqFy1oUJAdCfe-Q
This story is WILD. Trump sent Seal Team 6 into North Korea to plant a listening device. The operation went sideways within minutes, when a fishing boat was unexpectedly at the landing site. Seal Team 6 killed everyone on board, sunk the bodies, and fled. Congress was never told.
https://x.com/ReichlinMelnick/status/1963944912119906657
I'm hearing it now for the first time"
2019 mission, approved by Trump, was aimed to eavesdrop on Kim Jong-un but failed after civilian killings.
Hence: Reform.
The ruthless Keir Starmer of the opposition years is back.
Ministerial deadwood has been lopped off with a clean swing of the axe.
Those behind the botched welfare package and struggling small boats plan are moved. Others let go altogether.
It suggests the PM - fiercely competitive - knows the grave political position he’s in with Reform riding high and is willing to act to change it.
https://x.com/benrileysmith/status/1964068631828201870
I was in a meeting with the much maligned Mel Stride this week. He was thoughtful, circumspect, and on top of his brief. They will be, if not sorely, then at least wistfully missed.
Either she solves the small boats or Labour lose in 2029.
Simples.
He thinks he's in his position to defend the last Government not attack this one.
He failed to call for Reeves' resignation when challenged repeatedly to do so, but worse, couldn't come up with any other form of words that didn't make him sound like a struggling Government spokesperson sent out to defend her.
He has instead made headlines for attacking Truss, and more recently Badenoch.
As they say, with friends like that, who needs enemas.
What an attractive town! I’m v pleasantly surprised. Normally and sadly British towns surprise on the downside these days. But stone-built Lancaster is ruggedly handsome, with a bracing location, and feels actively prosperous (in the centre, at least)
Flag report from 6 hours of driving
A few around London. Basically none from Luton up to Brum. Then a couple. Then a LOT in the north - at one stage almost every bridge had one. More 🇬🇧 than 🏴
The Edinburgh bypass adds 30 minutes.
And the most direct route to Edinburgh is the A68 which starts about 200 yards from this house..
On our first night at school our trunks were still in our dormitory as we were still unpacking. We had a rather rotund matron at that time who had come in to take our laundry basket. As she was bending over to pick it up in the darkness one of the chaps came in from having a pee and, thinking it was a trunk in the way gave the Matron’s arse a massive slap. Good ice breaker on the first night surrounded by strangers.
Sam Stein
@samstein
·
29m
It's really official if he changes his Signal handle
https://x.com/samstein/status/1964080673808932931
So much cheaper. So much more British.
Bit of Brian Aldiss thrown in, bit of P. D. James. We're a Netflix series in the making.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3BO6GP9NMY
"The Day Today - WAR!"
We should be told.
Not St Andrew’s. Nor St Andrews’. Not even Saint Andrews. Kindly don’t ask if there should be a full stop after “St”.
One would hope these questions might come up in the run up to the next election and the other parties should really push this issue .Not being able to remove the leader should really be a red flag .
@IainDale
Interestingly, I have received a dozen or so texts or Whatsapps from right of centre friends on the subject of @AngelaRayner
today. Every one of them said they felt sorry for her. As do I. I may have disagreed with most of what she was doing, but she was one of few cabinet ministers to know how to pull the levers of power. She's a huge loss to the Government.
https://x.com/IainDale/status/1964075551779659854
I think there are better attack lines on Farage.
She has done two of the major offices of state and been around since 1997.