Did the UK just send the EU a Valentine Card? Is the Right having its 'Ratner' moment? Or has Farage finally stirred up the one 'grumpy vote' that's grumpy about him? Your quieter take on the week's events (and laundry tips too), with @sturdyalex.bsky.social and @pimlicat.bsky.social

🆕 Sunday School: Colonised by Ignorance 🇪🇺 Labour's clearest pivot to Europe ⚽ Ratcliffe's own goal 🖥️ Farage's hissy fit over WFH With @pimlicat.bsky.social & @sturdyalex.bsky.social. 🎧 open.spotify.com/episode/2Tfg... 🍏 podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/q...

Am I supposed to apologise for learning a language with a neutral accent in 1980s Greece? Or Greek-It-Up now, in order to "count" as a migrant? They begin from their conclusion and bulldoze all to get there. A British-Indian is "English", Kenny is not Scottish enough, Naomi is an "NI Briton", etc. 😂

🚨 Over 50 leading academics have sounded the alarm on the UK's voting system ⚠️ In an era of multi-party politics, First Past the Post risks “random and arbitrary” results like never before 🗳️ The experts' letter warn Ministers they must address this to stem growing instability and distrust

This is the speech many have been waiting for Starmer to make. With Trump in the White House it will be a comfort to Brits and Europeans to hear a UK Prime Minister advocate for less reliance on the United States.

“There is no British security without Europe, and no European security without Britain”

“We are not the Britain of the Brexit years anymore” Starmer says - and gets spontaneous applause even he hadn’t planned for. #MSC2026

On Monday I went on Ed James' BBC West Midlands (WM) Radio show and he let me talk about the the divisive outbreaks of flag measles and Raise the Colours for 10 mins! The first 3 mins did cover most of what I wanted to say though:

The production is amazing. The bit about what it means to be British ‘what is your name…James Bond’ was amazing and should be on the next Labour Party Political Broadcast. Chapeau to whoever put that together, it was moving.

The Elections Bill is really very thin on political finance. Some loopholes closed, some warm words, but still unlimited political donations. That's why we're working with @38degrees.bsky.social to call for a cap on donations Please sign and share: you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/ta...

This Elections Bill is progress. But we cannot restore trust in politics while crypto donations - direct or indirect - remain legal. I’m optimistic ministers will act to ban crypto-political donations after the Ryecroft Review. But we’re readying amendments to help make the case….

Robert Peston, "Are you firmly in favour of rejoining the European Union?" Zack Polanski, "Firmly very much in favour" "Brexit has been a disaster under any criteria, under any measure" "Whether its economically, socially, culturally"

Happy #DarwinDay, everyone! Darwin Day, held on 12 February, marks the birthday of Charles Darwin and celebrates his groundbreaking contribution to science – especially his theory of evolution by natural selection, which transformed our understanding of life on Earth. @humanismedu.bsky.social 🧵

What a powerful, courageous message. “I said to myself that fighting against that on an individual level was also fighting for the collective. I said if I could do it, other people could too … My message of hope to all victims is never have shame.”

If pouring one's love into a project matters, you can find pretty much all of mine in this Season 2 opener. From Aeschylus to Blade Runner, Goethe to The Hulk, and Frankenstein to Musk, some stories are simply so cosmic they alter how we actually see the world.

Juicy episode out now. We discussed A LOT. Including the llamas and the menopause. 🎧👇

NEW EPISODE: Keir today, gone tomorrow? What happened this week in 🌹 circles & what’s likely to come next? PLUS 🇬🇧 We talked to @jeevunsandher.bsky.social about BRITISHNESS 🎧 open.spotify.com/episode/6Rud... 🍏 podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/q...

Juicy episode out now. We discussed A LOT. Including the llamas and the menopause. 🎧👇

Proof that when politicians are really good at their job, they’re liked.

Proof that when politicians are really good at their job, they’re liked.

I don't wanna wait, for our lives to be over. Sleep well, Dawson. You were the soundtrack to my teenage life. www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio...

🚨 Brufatto, Director of Policy at Best for Britain: “This is the most significant intervention from the UK government on the prospect of aligning our service sectors with the EU, going beyond just goods. The Chancellor is right to say that “the biggest prize” is a comprehensive deal with the EU."

With UK-EU relations temporarily out of the spotlight my latest article is titled provocatively - "UK trade policy has failed but a Customs Union with the EU is not the answer" - and explains that the UK now has to talk-the-talk if it wants more. bestforbritain.substack.com/p/uk-trade-p...

New post from @ldfreedman.bsky.social Is Ukraine's position improving? What's Russia's breaking point? Is House of Dynamite accurate? Answering your questions - part one Topics covered pictured below. (£/free trial) samf.substack.com/p/is-ukraine...

Why have we tolerated an increasingly regressive taxation system for so long?

🚨 "Nigel Farage cares even less about your local high street than he does about his Clacton constituency, which is a very low bar. Exploiting frustration is easier than fixing its causes. It is also a disturbingly reliable way to make things worse," writes Naomi Smith, CEO of Best for Britain.

But he himself was new

Presumably it will have to be an internal appointment to replace McSweeney because no one will give up an external job to work for a PM so clearly on the edge himself.

Work and Pensions Secretary, Pat McFadden has claimed there would be “no point” in removing Morgan McSweeney “if the Prime Minister stays”. “In fact, I think if the Prime Minister stays there, I don’t think that would make any difference at all,” he said.

Baroness Hazarika, "This has been an absolutely shameful week for the Labour party" "This is a story about male power and a boys club" "Why was the Labour party so seduced by Mandelson?" "To me, it was about a male power structure"

Right, but just to clarify, you did not appoint Peter Mandelson, because you were not Prime Minister.

🔴 BREAKING: Morgan McSweeney resigns as Keir Starmer's chief of staff...

🥊 We must fight against a politics of division and xenophobia. The rise of the far-right is a stain on our society and our responsibility to display a compassionate and rational politics. https://www.economist.com/europe/2026/02/05/how-remigration-is-penetrating-europes-political-mainstream

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That @petergeoghegan.bsky.social is onto something here and he's not letting go of it open.substack.com/pub/democrac...

The One Where Alex Has Not Slept Since Time Began And So Keeps Talking About Willies

New Sunday School: Fash cash splash 💲US money for European far right 😟 Epstein scandal from the victims' side 🍆 Appendage-adjacent Olympic lols With @sturdyalex.bsky.social & @mrkennycampbell.bsky.social 🎧 open.spotify.com/episode/0s0L... 🍏 podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/q...

I’ve written about our high streets, the Gorton and Denton by election, Brexit and how they all knit together, in a piece for LBC www.lbc.co.uk/article/high...

William Bain, Head of Trade Policy at the BCC: “Things started to take a turn for the worse as the trade implications of Brexit became clear in 2018 and they have been in the doldrums ever since." https://www.britishchambers.org.uk/news/2026/01/eu-reset-must-reverse-trade-slump/

I’ve written about our high streets, the Gorton and Denton by election, Brexit and how they all knit together, in a piece for LBC www.lbc.co.uk/article/high...

Very good piece by Gordon Brown. I agree with it but would add proportional voting for the HoC to end safe seats and the cosiness that accompanies them. We have no equality without democratic equality. All votes should matter. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Mamdani: "I speak of Renee Good, whose final words to the man who murdered her were, 'I'm not mad at you.' I speak of Alex Pretti who died as he lived, caring for the stranger. ICE shot him bc he did something they could never fathom ... let us offer a new path: one of defiance through compassion."

Once again, bravo to Ali, Bridget and Alison.

Absolutely lovely shout out for @quietriotpod.bsky.social & @sturdyalex.bsky.social (& by extension @pimlicat.bsky.social too!) on @mrjamesob.bsky.social's Friday LBC show today from nervous caller Rihan. She's a big fan, as am I. Yay for the good guys!

Nearly 70 percent of people that support France’s far-right National Rally say the party’s 30-year-old president, Jordan Bardella, would be a stronger presidential candidate than longtime leader Marine Le Pen, according to a new poll.

Is the monarchy over? www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2026/02... They're just a bunch of ultra-privileged people who have exploited their position and other people for personal gain and gratification. That's been rumbled now. It's time for them to go.

Epstein even helped Mandelson with his speeches... 1/2

May 2012. The height of the Eurozone crisis. Peter Mandelson was very focussed:

Missed you but a really valuable episode. My work provides housing for people with experience of addiction & street homelessness. Those doubting importance of early support for neurodiversity should meet my clients. Early support reduces likelihood of those kids needing services like ours later on