If houses had been set on fire *by* ethnic minority people, I suspect the BBC would have somehow rediscovered the active voice

Andy Burnham is sounding more and more like Starmer 2.0 - which increases the chances that 81 MPs will decide in the end to back a death or glory leadership challenge. Today's note:

A few people campaigning / focus grouping in Makerfield have told me that even Reform supporters have brought up that Farage going against the wishes of Nowak's family made them uneasy. So these statements are both brave and important.

In the course of today, His Majesty’s Government will do both of the following things: - moan loudly about X and blame it for the grotesque scenes in Belfast; - create huge amounts of content for X to monetise To govern is to choose.

This is the DUP politician Radio 4 interviewed this morning and has on repeat on news bulletins. No wonder we are where we are

One of the most powerful men in the world is deliberately & systematically driving unrest and violence on the streets of the UK & using the social media platform to do it The Prime Minister of the UK continually uses that same platform as his method of messaging to the public It makes zero sense

John Swinney has described the disorder witnessed in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Ayr last night as "unacceptable". The First Minister said: “Racism, hatred and intimidation have no place in Scotland. We must stand against it.”

To all my colleagues still using X: is this not enough evidence that you must stop using it?

Just chatting to a northern irish politician. Had to open their offices last night to help people put out of a loyalist neighbourhood in Belfast This is a city with a long history of ethnic expulsions, but this time we have politicians in the U.K. giving tacit (and not tacit) support

I don't know how Keir Starmer can wake up in the morning, see that pogroms have been taking place under his watch, that they are being fuelled by literal illegal activity on social media, and not make it his entire purpose to stop it. We know you're no politician, but are you not a lawyer?

Shocking interview w/ DUP’s Carla Lockhart on BBC Radio 4 rnow Refuses to describe the violence in Belfast as thuggery, then attacks media for being asked about why she was standing next to masked loyalists the other day. Ends by whipping everything up some more No wonder we’re in such a mess

Burnham saying that we should look at banning the kirpan was further confirmation that the response to Starmer's failure will be 'what if we had the same soft left policies, the same equivocation, but with a more charismatic leader who actually likes and does politics'

A court in Munich declared that Google is liable for their "AI summaries" and all its hallucinations. This brings "AI" slop in line with all other products: "AI" is basically the only product where a provider can deliver unchecked garbage and put all liability on the consumer.

What are the Government, police and security services doing about the people who are quite clearly in the pay of a hostile foreign state, and using their platforms to whip up actual pogroms on our streets? This is a major national security issue and absolutely nothing seems to be happening about it

We need leaders who can spell out what's happening clearly and with force.

Wednesday

"Robinson – who has been issuing calls for his supporters to take to the streets across the UK over a bloody knife attack in Belfast – shared video of his meeting with Errol Musk in Moscow." This is the man whipping up carnage on our streets. Seemingly from Russia.

It’s bad that people don’t feel ashamed of being bigoted anymore.

Ok so SOMEBODY convinced me to make this and it took me absolutely ages when I was supposed to be doing something else so enjoy it! sgtp.lovable.app

It does. But the wilful blindness of the UK's political establishment to the scale of the danger scares me even more.

X and Elon Musk has been a threat to public order for nearly two years. The government has taken no action.

This is brilliant and well worth a watch.

But, but, what about their legitimate concerns?

Elon Musk is promoting Rupert Lowe's suggestion of retrospective criminal prosecution of officials/politicians for past immig policy This authoritarian proposal - almost certainly impossible in practice without abolishing rule of law - is type of approach that can tacitly socialise violence.

Rupert Lowe MP suggests - in a message retweeted by Elon Musk - that removing "those who wish to decapitate children" means "millions & millions need to leave or be made to leave".

Banning under 16s from social media will solve this, so no need to worry.

I swear there was something we used to do with far-right agitators who supported enemy nations. Old British tradition.

What happened in Belfast was abhorrent. How politicians have responded to it has given a free pass to the very worst to wreak havoc on the city in the name of patriotism

See, now that is pure Kemi.

The national flag of East Anglia

“In 2025, we suffered the largest decline in international tourism in over two decades, with four million fewer visitors than 2024 and $8 billion in lost income for American businesses.”

The 3rd World Cup in a row where I feel ethically conflicted about even watching my favourite sport 😞

It's quite something to publish this in the week she comes out against the Equality duty and her home secretary argued that the Police were instutionally racist against white people.

Friends reunited. Just picked up the 2nd Cowboy album to go with the first. Both excellent. The songs to check out if you are unfamiliar Please be with me; Hey there babe; What I want is you Thanks to @andrewmale.bsky.social & @dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social for their shared appreciation & guidance.

Badenoch is not only confused, but profoundly ignorant. The Equality Act *does* have provisions on class - section 1 of the Act! www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/1... However govts - including the govt she was literally the *equalities minister* in!!! - have not applied this provision in England.

My top two mysteries of the moment in British Politics are: 1) Why does a PM as ineffectual & beige as Keir Starmer inspire quite so much genuine hatred? 2) Why are Tory MPs and members so happy with Kemi Badenoch when she hasn't even managed to pull the Party up to the depths it plumbed in 2024?

America does seem easily impressed when it comes to booing and an interviewee asking a follow-up question. Wow, the resistance really is on fire.

Tuesday

Complete the next sentence: "Kemi Badenoch is to Nigel Farage as Nigel Farage is to Rupert...."

How in God’s name can these people be described as “illegal immigrants”? www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Testament of Orpheus, 1960 - the last film by artist Jean Cocteau

I remember this when it was first broadcast. Such a sweet exchange. youtu.be/V01oQ_BsX00?...

Government still posts on a platform that produces and distributed CSAM on industrial scale. Maybe get off that as a first step?

One of the obvious problems with a under-16 social media ban is that it won't work. (60%+ of Australian under-16s are still using these platforms). But it will make people feel like something has been done so they won't tackle the content, which is the real issue.

Disappointing to see even Paul Simon is now promoting this awful technology.

Spent the day in parts of Ashton and Orrell where Labour canvassers are targeting the 16% of undecided voters in Makerfield by-election. A few observations (from a single day) I found surprising - A lot of people who voted Reform just weeks ago say they are prepared to vote for Burnham

M.C. Escher, The Well, 1947 Wood engraving

Go and listen to Fairfield Parlour’s album, From Home to Home. One of the best albums to come out of England in the early 70s and a brilliantly warped masterpiece. Just a cracking “sixties hangover” album.

Monday

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