Does anyone else long for the days when political journalism was about reportage and analysis rather than endless tittle-tattle and trying to shift public opinion?

Student loans need to be interest-free, don’t they? Pay back only what you borrowed, at a reasonable rate, when you reach an appropriate earnings threshold. The current system is so counter-productive to the long-term prosperity of the country it’s untrue.

For a party that opportunistically points fingers at every misstep that the Labour, and formerly Conservative, government makes and promises that only they can do better, ReformUK don’t half make a lot of fuck-ups. #TrimmingError

Despite a 72-hour onslaught from almost the entire media, Starmer is still in post. Perhaps they no longer have the power they once did? And that would be a very good thing.

Hounding out Starmer, and ultimately a Labour government that appear to be on the fringe of a global crime and corruption scandal, only ushers in a Reform or Conservative government that both appear to be at the very heart of it. Be careful what you wish for.

There’s a v cynical media and political blindspot in the Epstein shitshow. A feeding frenzy to get rid of Starmer while red-carpeting Farage into No10. Who is named in the files. As is Candy, Reform’s treasurer. With Bannon. And Brexit. Don’t cry about abuses of power and then do nothing about him.

Am I the only person that’s absolutely sick to death of the incessant “this must be the end of Starmer” narrative being rammed down our throats? It’s been constant almost since the GE, no matter how trivial the issue. And, if he does go, the next Labour PM will face exactly the same. It’s mental.

So, main party wise, we have a choice of Labour, who seem to have been criminally idiotic about Mandelson, The Conservatives who seem to have actively colluded with disaster capitalists, or Reform who appear to be in deeper than the Tories. Time for an investigation and major reset of UK politics.

Pubs may be closing, but padel courts are opening. Perhaps the way people like to spend time together is just changing. Why does the narrative always have to be about decline?

For 'commentator' read 'unprincipled twat prepared to say anything for the highest bidder'.

We’ve reached the ‘executing people in the street’ stage. Are we allowed to call it fascism yet?

It's only a matter of time before thousands of thugs, crying like babies, are pleading that 'orders were orders'. #ICE #Minnesota

I’m not saying this for effect, but I literally cannot understand the concept of patriotism. I’m aware how privileged I am to have been born on one bit of the planet versus most others, but that piece of good fortune doesn’t make us better than anyone else. Why is our luck something to be proud of?

Does the world really need AI? Or are the costs, both to the planet and to society, simply too great? I appreciate this is the same argument that would have been made about The Industrial Revolution, but that was before we understood as much about climate change and societal collapse.

Hey America. It's our turn to throw your products in the sea. #Greenland #BostonTeaParty

The same forces that weakened both the UK and EU through Brexit now seek to break NATO through the threatened annexation of Greenland. It’s long past time to wake up and do something rather more effective than shrugging shoulders or tutting loudly.

Britain needs three rational conversations to get out if its economic malaise: 1. What is our future ‘industrial’ strategy and what skills will we need? 2. Why are so many working people still in poverty and how do we fix it? 3. What is the true impact of being out of the EU?

It might be the supply chain geek in me, but I think the introduction of customs charges on small parcel is a really significant change and it remains to be seen how that impacts both methods of fulfilment and prices for consumers.

Unpopular take: If everybody is a little bit upset, it’s probably a good #budget.

They really can’t handle ANY scrutiny, can they. Yusuf getting super tetchy on LBC and then running away. Deeply, deeply unserious.

Until he proves otherwise, we should probably assume Farage’s house was bought by Russia.

For a bit of sport on a wet Saturday morning I thought I’d engage with a Neil Oliver post regarding ‘the Covid hoax’ over on the other place. I regret to tell you that, based on the profoundly dumb and illiterate responses I received from the assembled masses, we’re fucked as a species.

Didn’t care much for a pandemic under Johnson? Imagine one under Farage. #CovidInquiry

can't believe the BBC edited Donald Trump's posts to make it seem like he threatened violence against members of Congress

Listening to the radio today, this whole immigration debate is so frightening. Solutions are being created that address the toxic perceptions of the current situation rather than the facts. Yes, there is a problem and something does need to be done, but it must address the facts not the rhetoric.

Hey @teamlabouruk.bsky.social. Remember when the Conservatives danced to Nigel Farage’s tune in an attempt to safeguard their own future? How did that work out for them?

There’s a very real risk that Nigel Farage will get all of the policy outcomes he desires without ever having to take on the accountability of delivering them.

I am SO fed up with the current narrative around this government. They inherited scorched earth, and every single step they take to put things right, no matter the direction, they are absolutely slammed. They are being allowed neither to cut services, nor raise taxes, nor shift focus. It’s pathetic.

The whole issue at the #BBC can easily be resolved. Simply change the word ‘impartial’ for ‘factual’. Rather than an obligation to report the news IMPARTIALLY, which leaves room for giving facts and opinion equal merit and open to accusation of bias, have an obligation to report the news FACTUALLY.

I bet Lisa Nandy is a literal champagne socialist this evening! #BBC

Good riddance to Davie and Turness. I just hope the positions are filled with people true to the BBC’s ethos and less likely to kowtow to political interference.

Given the typical literacy of most Reform voters, I'm not convinced that it's not the Ewok agenda that they're really unhappy about.

To Trump, insider trading would simply be a perk, or possibly even the whole point, of being President.

As I was saying…

Dear people who make radio and TV adverts, Please stop putting mobile phone notification sounds in them!! Not only is it fucking annoying, we all go and look at our phones and consequently have no idea what you were advertising in the first place. Love and kisses, Everyone

Trump couldn’t care one iota about domestic job losses or economic damage right around the globe, his tariffs have given him an opportunity to short the market and make himself and his cronies a fortune. Oh and Putin is pretty happy too. Nothing else matters.

Who can explain how the press refer to recent PMs: May (Surname) Boris (Forename) Liz Truss (Both, briefly) Rishi (Sunak) Starmer (Surname) I get that Boris and Rishi are relatively uncommon, whilst Theresa and, particularly, Liz could easily be confused. There’s not many Keirs around though.

It should be a legal requirement that before being allowed to vote for the first time, every young person has to play a game of Monopoly where one person starts with £10,000 and everyone else starts with nothing. We’ll see how people feel about inheritance and wealth taxes then.

I can’t believe @LBC platforming Shanker Singham as if he’s some kind of impartial, erudite economist to speak on the state of the UK bond market. What was his diagnosis I hear you ask? Apparently we need to deregulate and scrap our net zero plans. And we wonder why the country’s fucked.

I don't have what it takes to lead ReformUK either. And for that I will be eternally grateful.

Until we have a (print and broadcast) media that does not rely on platforming ever more extreme views to create an audience and therefore generate revenue, countries like the UK are in extreme peril. I don’t know what the answer is, but it certainly isn’t the status quo.

He's making a list He's checking it twice We're gonna found out Who's been grifted by Farage and Tice. #ReformMembership

The fact that millions of Britons without a pot to piss in come out in favour of multi-millionaire landowners shows just how far the UK still is from its ‘French Revolution’ moment. And the media will do its damnedest to keep it that way. #FarmersProtest