There’s a chance that the police know more than Farage does and certainly more than they are saying publicly. The fact that they ruled out terrorism early on says a lot. But Farage has to grift about a tragic murder.

Something I've been thinking about for a while, but haven't mentioned, is Farage's security team. If you look at the close-protection around high-profile figures like the PM or the Home Sec, they try to maintain discretion and will make efforts to keep out of the camera shot wherever possible.

..and that election shalt be contested by a man in a bin, as the law demands.

His best chance is if the Thursday is collection day.

Binface would have won a couple of decades ago before his vote was split between plastics, food waste, cardboard.

So, while it is mathematically possible for someone else to assemble 81 nominations, it does look unlikely. I for one welcome our new Mancunian overlord

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... As a journalist, I collated copy from news agencies for the Birmingham Mail in the aftermath of Dunblane. Hacks can become hardened to tragedy but I was moved to tears by accounts that I read. The lack of knowledge and empathy shown by this staggering oaf is shocking.

Liz Truss believed in the Laffer curve says Therese Coffey on #Newsnight She might as well believe in fairies at the bottom of the garden

“Uzbeckistan”? Dear Points of View….

Obviously, for Farage, any job he has is an office of profit. There's no point in him doing it if he can't grift a bit.

Hope Farage has sorted out the job handover meeting with Stephen Flynn so that nothing slips between the cracks regarding the job as steward and bailiff. I'm sure he'll give it as much focus and dedication as he did for his other public roles.

"The Chancellor of the Exchequer has this day appointed Nigel Paul Farage to be Steward and Bailiff of the Manor of Northstead." Farage is now an ex-MP. Will she now remove him from the post?

Rachel Reeves getting a bit punchy

So we have declared candidates in Farage, Laurence Fox and Count Binface. Rumours that the Monster Raving Loony Party might drop out to keep the field clear for the noble Count. Does Binface have to disclaim his noble status to take his seat in the Commons?

Just a lavender appreciation post. 📷Dave Goacher; Alana Wright ; James Dobson; Chris Davies

If you want to be really devious, the Chancellor could appoint Farage to the Manor of Northstead and then decline his request to be relieved of the office - at least until after nominations close in Clacton.

So, there is a precedent for vetoing an MP's resignation Viscount Chelsea (Henry Cadogan) applied for the Chiltern Hundreds in 1842 The Chancellor (Goulburn) refused because, get this, Cadogan wanted to resign to obstruct an investigation for bribery h/t @fascinatorfun.bsky.social and @gazhay.com

Yeah only problem is that it was George Cottrell's book.

Good of Zack Polanski to promise to pay any council tax he might owe. As he's legally bound to do. #newsnight

"Nigel has done everything by the book" Yeah, right. #Newsnight

Greens not standing either. Looks like there’s only one sane candidate in this world of madness. Binface it is. I look forward to the Count landing his spaceship in Parliament Square, tethering it to the Churchill statue and walking into the chamber to take the oath.

Hydration Break

Come on Egypt. That was a superb goal. 22 mins to go

First they came for people who had secretly taken millions of pounds in cash and gifts from a crypto-billionaire and a convicted criminals then been really twattish about it, but I did not speak up because it sounded like they kind of had it coming.

Rupert Lowe seizing the moral high ground over Reform now. What a time to be alive.

The major parties should just leave him to it. This is a waste of public money and a political stunt. We shouldn't play that game. We'll await the outcome of the investigation by parliamentary standards.

Of course, it would be open to the House to vote against the writ and leave the seat vacant...

Given that we're talking about £5 million in bungs, I think the chances of the Commissioner deciding to walk away from the investigation are about zero.

Farage resigning stops the investigation process, but if he returns to the House, I think it is open to be restarted and he might face sanctions. Meanwhile, he's going to impose costs of over £100k on the public purse for his own political purposes.

Calling a by-election over the sovereign right of every MP to take secret gifts from a convicted criminal. What a time to be alive.

Sir, this is a Nando's

"I did everything I could not to make an event that never happened public"

Steer from Sky is that this is coming out fighting, not surrendering.

"Hey, you know, a dishonest man could make more from losing a by-election than winning one…"

I would give good money to watch Farage make this statement and double it if the media can all keep a straight face while he says it.

You’re all going to be very disappointed when he just announces that he’s going on Strictly.

Farage issuing a statement at 2pm

Cottrell's book has more than a little air of OJ's "If I Did It" in terms of the subtext.

One of the biggest industries on the planet is laundering money. Crypto makes it easy.

The look of a cut-and-shut garage owner being collared by Roger Cook.

I’ve said for some time - a key question that I haven’t heard asked of Farage is “are there any other gifts or benefits that you haven’t declared?” I wonder if the Parliamentary Commissioner has asked that question…

If Farage is floating the idea of a by election in Clacton, that suggests to me that he’s seen a copy of the report from the Standards Commissioner that will go to the committee. To be honest, I don’t see how he can avoid a lengthy suspension and a recall petition. Whether that succeeds…

www.maptap.gg July 1 94🏅 100🎯 70😐 82🌟 80👏 Final score: 820 Canada is just too big.

Russia has used chemical and nuclear materials to kill people on British soil. They invaded Ukraine. Their agents have attacked the Prime Minister's property. There is more than a "plausible threat" from Russia. Putin is a credible and real threat to our national security.

Those strict constructionalists sometimes find a little leeway when reading bits of the Constitution that they don't like.

www.maptap.gg June 30 100🎯 92🏆 96🔥 59😨 99🎯 Final score: 858 Caught out by Siberia

Drop a cop

We’re going to miss that rare player who can bend the direction of a match on his own. They are vanishingly rare beasts, but Stokes was one of them. That goes beyond just talent, focus and ability, but he’s been a magnificent player and leader. This is him at his swashbuckling best.