On the whole, I think Count Binface should withdraw.

Another point - is attacking the press and implicitly threatening Leveson II a good idea? Particularly if they already scent blood?

Binface should be careful what he wishes for. In a direct 1 v 1 match-up he is very unlikely to win in what passes for the ordinary course of events but it is not impossible that something could happen that completely tanks Farage.

Obviously the funniest result is Farage losing. However, there are real risks with a competitive campaign - him winning it will help him claim a mandate. What we really want is a campaign everyone assumes is a dead cert win and then he somehow loses it in a result that's a genuine shock.

Really important to note that Farage would not be doing this if he thought Reform were in a good place nationally. This is a is a desperate move that he'd really really rather not have to do.

Hadn't seen it was the front page of the Times. This is such shoddy alarmist reporting!

As always the best way to "reform the welfare system" is to treat people for their issues whatever they may be. To properly fund things and tackle them at the root cause. Austerity is another thing not mentioned that's had a huge effect

The article does not make it clear that PIP is intended as a top up, to level the playing field between those with a disability and those without. It's not enough to live on alone. Many recipients who receive it and are not in work will have a requirement to look for work attached to other benefits.

LRP - If I recall correctly the government in the early C20 actually funded the creation of better pubs. They wanted them to be community spaces, essentially so that families could go there together, which reduced the social problem of men going and drinking alone.

universal basic coffee/pub

One problem I'd love to see an incoming government tackle is what I'd call zero-sumism. The assumption that if someone who doesn't need something - like welfare, but also legal rights - but gets it anyway, that this takes something away from those who do. 1/

This feels right - and creates political inertia. If you have a funding stream that's dependent on maintaining your stance, it's much harder to change your stance when presented with new data. Funding people locks them into a position for longer.

Can I surprise you, I’m in favour of the Texas State Legislature plan to make every school child in Texas read The Bible, because literally every single Evangelical Christian I know who ever actually read it rather than get the Fanfic version from their pastor left the religion and became a leftist

All children deserve to eat for free at school. ALL OF THEM. I don’t care if their parent is a millionaire. Free lunch.

Haha, nice one @privateeyenews.bsky.social !

Bought a load of icelollies for my fencing class tonight. Should probably have checked if anyone was going to show up first. But as the situation is now that I have a freezer full of lollies and a free evening, I'm not really complaining.

A really hard question might be: who would the average person say was the first Prime Minister? - Churchill - Gladstone - Disraeli - Walpole - Cromwell Would be easier if a 'they admit they don't know' option was included.

It would be interesting to see what Reform do when they're under pressure from the left. Do they double down on populist grievances or focus on carving out their niche on the Right. At some point they would need to decide if they're still playing for first place at the next election.

Well, yes.

The unusual thing about last night's thunderstorm is that it usually comes after a heatwave, not before. "Three fine days and a thunderstorm" Nothing like it before in London in several decades.

For anyone else woken by the violent thunderstorm in London and the South East, it all just got very “Two Cathedrals” out there. Like Westminster needed any more West Wing overtones right now. I could almost hear Dire Straits playing. ⚡️

Just heard my partner's daughter's classroom was 35 degrees yesterday but @lb-southwark.bsky.social have told them they have to stay open. They can pick kids up at 1.30 - but is walking home in the hottest part of the day a good idea? This seems very dangerous to me.

Really of course, this Storm should have happened yesterday morning while Starmer stamps around St Paul's cursing God in in untranslated Latin.

YASS

A special 4am good morning only to everyone who has been awake through a massive insane electrical storm in London for the last two hours

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Choosing to believe that if Burnham had travelled by Helicopter, Sky News would have gotten a shot of it from the train.

This is you’re increasingly regular reminder that when it is too hot, it is in fact TOO HOT. Too hot to go for a walk. Sit in a park. Go to the beach. Leave the house, unless it’s to somewhere with aircon. Do not fall into the “what a nice day, must make the most of it” trap. Be. More. Cat.

Generally you only make your biggest rival Chancellor if they've got a lot of allies and you need them inside the tent. If you just want to make sure they don't cause trouble you send them to the FCDO. If you really hate them you make them Home Sec.

I swear this is how 'ancient' customs start. In 20 years, tour guides will be talking about how the Keeper of the King's Podium plays a key ceremonial role in the UK's unwritten constitution, and it's unclear from where the role emerged but it's believed to trace its origins back to Henry VI, etc

Of this, incidentally, the bit I'm most confident about is people starting to say that they always liked Starmer and didn't think he should resign.

don't forget: if you have a new PM starting, then get the New Starter form in at least two weeks before to make sure they have a user account ready for day one.

Ok hear me out, how's this for a potential course of events from here: - A narrative develops in the press that Starmer didn't really deserve this - The narrative continues that Burnham is awful for stabbing him in the back (well, front) - Burnham's popularity slumps 1/

Heard this from several people this morning of different political colours (admittedly some of them not furious with Starmer). Someone needs to find a way to govern effectively - and it'll mean creating a new relationship with both the media and parliament.

been furious with Starmer for long enough that this is genuinely coming as a surprise to me, but I'm feeling a bit.......sad this morning? not really about him per se but about the waste of time, I guess, and the end of yet another political failure when Britain really couldn't afford another one

This is a very very good idea. Works with any sort of tea. I like to do it with mint tea.

The case for Ed Miliband as Chancellor.

The theory that “electable” means “work to appease right-wing bigots under the assumption that majorities agree with them, at least partially, and they prioritize it when voting” has been tried. It has failed. Try something else.

In addition, one for the “banning anonymity would make social media less toxic” crowd to ponder. These are all adults posting under their own names!

I understand Starmer's unpopularity on the left and the hard right. But I am surprised it's enough to take him out. It seems to me that for some reason Starmer's unpopularity with those groups makes him unpopular with centrists - who are essentially people pleasers who want to be loved by everyone.

Text of my letter to the editor of @economist.com here.

It is worth pausing for a moment to consider whether the Sunday Times would have published this is if the the word ‘trans’ there had been replaced by that of some other minority group.

Making a party electable doesn't give you a right to be PM. Ask Neil Kinnock.

I worry that the issue is similar to inflation. Inflation decreasing is not the same as prices coming down. If wages don't rise it doesn't matter that inflation drops to a normal level, people still feel poorer. With immigration, the number of immigrants in the country is still rising. 1/

Yesterday was my late mother's birthday. 30th July is mine. Choosing to see this as a good omen.

It is extremely important that Labour understands that the movement of voters between Lab and Ref was not the crucial factor, it was consolidation of the anti-Ref vote and Lab voters turning out in droves. Otherwise Burnham will make the same mistakes as Starmer in targeting only one set of voters.

Personal experience of an adult zoomer using this is that they know it is antisemitic and are in fact fine with that because they have other antisemitic opinions that they're quite open about. They weren't any more furtive than someone would have been ten years ago telling me they voted Brexit.

Still making my mind up on Burnham, and I seriously doubt he'd go for an early election - he's not going to be in the same position as Johnson was in 2019 with a minority government, but I do love it when the Telegraph threatens me with a good time. www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/06...

I've occasionally thought about this as cargo cult politics. Starting with half-remembered and wholly misunderstood appearances that correlated with past success. The same sentiment lies behind people thinking education would be better with rows of desks and blackboards. 1/