I’m not a game theory nerd, but the endgame on #celebritytraitors almost makes me want to go and start compiling logic trees. SURELY it’s obvious you have nothing to lose by banishing again when you’re down to three?! Made for some superb telly though. They couldn’t have scripted that better.

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And just like that... Andrew Mountbatten Windsor is no longer a Prince. The King issued Letters Patent on Monday declaring that his brother 'shall no longer be entitled to hold and enjoy the style, title or attribute of “Royal Highness” and the titular dignity of “Prince”.'

That feeling when you just put your feet up at lunchtime for five minutes to reply to some emails, and someone decides you’re not permitted to get up again to go back to work.

Is there a scientific way of working out if Christmas marketing really is getting earlier each year? On Saturday, ALL the Christmas ads started on television and are now constant. And Christmas trees and decor popping up in the shops. It’s NOVEMBER, people! Not even past Guy Fawkes night.

Bluesky tonight is like being in the library studying and suddenly hearing cheering and raucous laughter from the Students Union (Threads). “What’s going on over there?” Dolly. That’s what.

Trick or treat? On this week's #OppositionCast Nigel and Sarah discuss Kemi's PMQs "gotcha", Rachel Reeves' problems, a Welsh by-election - and the 75th anniversary of the House of Commons chamber reopening. Listen wherever you get your podcasts from via: pod.link/oppositionca...

The morning after… Joined @afuathescot.bsky.social on BBC News just now to discuss the significance of the King banishing his brother from Royal status, and the difficulty of separating family from Monarchy. youtu.be/ToFYkaTO_TI?...

How do you fire a Prince? That was the question I asked back in January. Then, it was mostly hypothetical. Now, I think every sanction I envisaged for Andrew is being taken. Extraordinary. open.substack.com/pub/nigelfle...

Boom. This is pretty drastic action from The King on Andrew. Sounds like Letters Patent will remove his Princely titles and HRH, there *might* be legislation on his peerages, and presumably he’ll be struck from the orders of chivalry he still holds. Brutal, but most will agree, quite right.

Internet problems at home have forced me from my cosy study at home in search of decent wifi- so I find myself in Westminster on a rather nice sunny day. The political attack ads from the Conservatives provide a useful prompt for this afternoon’s #OppositionCast recording…

So the BBC is producing a #DoctorWho Christmas special for 2026, which needs to enter production reasonably soon in the New Year, without an incumbent Doctor, and no clear idea when or quite how the subsequent series will follow. I think we now have a standard drill for this…

Finally, some good news- the BBC confirms #DoctorWho will return… despite Disney pulling out. www.doctorwho.tv/news-and-fea...

Pleased to be quoted in The i Paper on this, which has picked up the story I posted yesterday. inews.co.uk/news/politic...

NEW: Contrary to most reports, Prince Andrew CAN effectively renounce his title of Duke of York and associated peerages without the need for new legislation or any further action by Parliament or The King. Here's how: nigelfletcher.substack.com/p/prince-and...

NEW: Contrary to most reports, Prince Andrew CAN effectively renounce his title of Duke of York and associated peerages without the need for new legislation or any further action by Parliament or The King. Here's how: nigelfletcher.substack.com/p/prince-and...

Me, reading yet another confused and inaccurate media story about Prince Andrew and the status of his titles… STOP GETTING LETTERS PATENT WRONG!

After a weekend of seeing misleading and inaccurate reporting of Prince Andrew and his titles, I have been provoked into writing something... Is it now time ACTUALLY to remove his titles and constitutional position? And how would that work? nigelfletcher.substack.com/p/prince-and...

After a weekend of seeing misleading and inaccurate reporting of Prince Andrew and his titles, I have been provoked into writing something... Is it now time ACTUALLY to remove his titles and constitutional position? And how would that work? nigelfletcher.substack.com/p/prince-and...

How it started… how it’s going. Slightly alarmed to see my big old face featuring in the promo trailer for tonight’s Channel 5 royal documentary “Royal Heirs and Spares”. Recorded it back in the summer, so I can’t remember what I actually said - tune in at 8.35pm and we can find out together!

Well I guess this, which I wrote at the start of the year, is rather topical again: How do you fire a prince? open.substack.com/pub/nigelfle...

Margaret Thatcher at 100: The latest #OppositionCast marks the former PM's centenary and the 50th anniversary of her first conference speech as Opposition Leader, with contributions from David Willetts, Emily Hickey (@dremilystacey.bsky.social) and Sir Adam Ridley. pod.link/oppositionca...

Some more #Thatcher100 from the Fletcher archive: In 2007 I organised an exhibition in Parliament to mark 30 years since Mrs Thatcher was the first Leader of the Opposition to use the current Shadow Cabinet Room. It was quite the event - with all the (then) Conservative Leaders of the Opposition.

Some more #Thatcher100 from the Fletcher archive: In 2007 I organised an exhibition in Parliament to mark 30 years since Mrs Thatcher was the first Leader of the Opposition to use the current Shadow Cabinet Room. It was quite the event - with all the (then) Conservative Leaders of the Opposition.

As today is the centenary of Margaret Thatcher’s birth, I think it’s obligatory to treat you to a succession of anecdotes about her. Here goes: #Thatcher100

Latest episode of the pod is out- find out what Sarah and I got up to at the Conservative Party conference… It’s a good one- do give it a listen and leave a good review!

In my part of north Kent, Trottiscliffe is near Wrotham and Meopham. Try getting the pronunciation of all those right without looking them up.

The Conservative conference has been wrapped up- and so have Margaret Thatcher’s outfits… Punchy speech from Kemi Badenoch, with some genuine policy rabbits from the hat, received enthusiastically in the hall. But will it change the political weather? 🎩 🐇 👏 #CPC25

Did a last broadcast interview for Times Radio before leaving the Conference- and am now heading back home, after stopping for some rather apt refreshment en route… #cpc25

Well, that was great fun, if a bit surreal- joining Lord Willetts and Salma Shah in talking to @mattchorley.bsky.social on @bbc5live.bsky.social about Margaret Thatcher and whether I want to smell like Coco Pops… (Just listen back, it’ll make sense. Probably.) www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

Delighted to catch up with Peter Just (@expremiers.bsky.social) during the book signing for his fascinating new book “Margaret Thatcher- life after Downing Street” here at #CPC25 in Manchester. The conference has a strong Thatcher theme, marking the centenary of the former PM’s birth this month.

Team #OppositionCast has assembled! For the first time on my autumn political safari I’ve been joined by my co-host: @sarahsouthern.bsky.social and I hit the party circuit at the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester, where we spoke to a former Prime Minister at a party celebrating another…

Back on the party conference road trip again - having been to Birmingham for Reform and Bournemouth for the Lib Dems, I skipped Labour in Liverpool this year, but am now on my way to Manchester for the Conservatives. Challenging times for them, but fascinating times to be studying opposition!

Lovely #Parkrun this morning for my local one’s superhero-themed 10th anniversary. Including a guest appearance from Parkrun founder Paul Sinton-Hewitt! The sun shone, the wind didn’t blow us into the lake, and there was cake at the finish. A perfect morning.

The sadness at losing the great Patricia Routledge is mixed with the joy of seeing so much love and appreciation for all her work. Having an excuse to watch clips like this will put a smile on your face amid all the gloom. youtu.be/wisQQueMPxM?...

Oh no! 😢 Farewell Kitty, Hyacinth and Hetty. An absolute legend.

The latest #OppositionCast is out, looking back at the Labour Party Conference: did Andy Burnham's interventions backfire? And who had their credentials withdrawn? We also discuss security for politicians and look ahead to the Conservative Party conference: pod.link/oppositionca...

Thoughts with the victims and all those affected, which includes all Jewish people in Manchester and across the country. Can only imagine how they will be feeling. It really is more important than ever that violence doesn’t succeed in dividing us.

Hideous, grim news from Manchester. Just absolutely dreadful.

In food history, we notice how super-refined foods--gelatin, vienna sausage, white bread--lose class and become horrifying once they become industrialized. Suddenly, fingermarks in bread dough demonstrate skill, not clumsiness. Post-chatGPT, I'm feeling this about writing. Smoothness feels gross.

The Elves have done it! We made it round the Vitality London 10k, in aid of @meresearchuk.bsky.social, and in memory of our beautiful friend Emily. Thank you to all who sponsored us- but it’s not too late to do so! And now- CAKE! 🏃‍♂️ 🍰 2025vitalitylondon10000.enthuse.com/pf/emilys-el...

I've been continuing my party conference safari with a trip to the sunny south coast - and a chat with @eddavey.libdems.org.uk (in between his media stunts). We talked Reform UK, opposition and reform of our political system. Do take a listen: pod.link/oppositionca... #LibDems #PartyConferences

I've been continuing my party conference safari with a trip to the sunny south coast - and a chat with @eddavey.libdems.org.uk (in between his media stunts). We talked Reform UK, opposition and reform of our political system. Do take a listen: pod.link/oppositionca... #LibDems #PartyConferences

Been writing all day and only just surfaced to catch up on news. It’s just so draining, isn’t it? The sheer “Oh God, what now?”of it all.

Big attendance for Sir Nick Clegg’s return to the #LibDem conference after 10 years, speaking at an @instituteforgovernment.org.uk fringe meeting. He says it’s good to be back, though it risks giving him PTSD…

EXCLUSIVE: Lib Dem conference reeling following unexpected landslide. #LibDemConf

My #OppositionCast autumn political safari continues with a visit to the sunny seaside in Bournemouth, for the @libdems.org.uk conference. Have had my first sighting of @eddavey.libdems.org.uk - sadly not parachuting onto the platform for his Q&A session.

OK, I hate being *that* person, but I’ve just spammed my contacts on WhatsApp, so in for a penny… Next Sunday we unsporty 40-somethings are doing a 10k in a very good cause and want to raise as much as we can in memory of our friend. Please help! 2025vitalitylondon10000.enthuse.com/pf/emilys-el...

Latest OppositionCast is another cracker - delighted to be joined by a former party leader for our special on the Green Party, plus the ever-excellent Tim Bale on party membership. Please do have a listen!

Pleased to have a chapter in this alongside some splendid writers: my chapter is on the Greenwich by-election, an historic contest held just before the 1987 General Election. As well as the political dramas, discover how two birthday cakes (one belonging to Freddie Mercury) impacted on the campaign…