I once asked defence secretary, Geoff Hoon, how we got suckered into helping to invade Iraq. He replied, 'We didn't realise until too late that Dick Cheney was the president'.

@chrismullinexmp.bsky.social Hi Chris, I picked up your book 'a view from the foothills'. I've not been able to put it down since I got it. Very enjoyable read. Thank you for your years of public service.

It’s more than a worthy successor to the brilliant previous 3 volumes of diaries - definitely recommended reading.

Loads of truth in this @chrismullinexmp.bsky.social piece. It is also quite shocking to see former Chancellor Hunt also being feted as some fiscal guru by some commentators and podcasters when he was a totally irresponsible Chancellor knowing full well his party would not be elected.

Two old codgers at tge Durham book festival this morning. It would all be different if we were in charge...

In the first episode of our new politics series, On Politics, host @piercepenniless.bsky.social speaks to @chrismullinexmp.bsky.social, Andy Beckett and @morganj0nes.bsky.social about the future of the Labour Party. Listen here or wherever you get podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t...

Thank you, Julian please spread the word. This latedt volume is almost a secret compared to those. which preceded it.

My companion on the Central Line across London, from Bethnal Green to White City. Like being in the company of an old friend: wise, sometimes provocative, always thoughtful and humane @chrismullinexmp.bsky.social

‘A large part of their supporter base has defected to Reform. I don't see an easy way out of that for them, and that makes politics very volatile.’ @chrismullinexmp.bsky.social on Labour’s problems, on the podcast: www.lrb.co.uk/podcasts-and...

'Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness'

The idea of replacing Starmer is just utter nonsense. He's just won an election with a huge majority. It would look foolhardy, sel-obssessed, chaotic, insane: classic Tory bollocks.

My plums are good this year.

My garden this evening 1

My garden: harvesting peaches in north Northumberland.

My garden: peaches grown outdoors in north Northumberland.

Not a bad year for peaches in northumberland.

The poppies have taken over .y rose beds, but I haven't the heart to rip them out.

My rambling rose has started to ramble.

My garden this sfternoon.

Callaly: the view from the living room window.

My garden this evening...

My tree peone

Wild garlic at Callaly

My Camassia looking good, despite the drought.

At last, a pope who is younger than me. Now I know the game is nearly up.

Two old codgers at the Hexham Book Festival. Full house -- 360 people.

How serously should we take the rise of Reform in this age of disillusion? Who now remembers the SDP, once alleged to be on the brink of taking power, only to sink without trace after polling less votes than the Monster Raving Loony Party in the Bootle by election?

My garden: apple blossum time.

In Trump's first 100 days, he alienated us from our allies, crashed the stock market, decimated U.S. cancer research, expelled American toddlers, lost the Canadian election by proxy, and threatened your Social Security checks. But at least he focused on the important stuff.

It used to be a newspaper

My garden this evening.

My garden this evening. A bumper crop of fritilleries this year.

A very good piece by @chrismullinexmp.bsky.social

Thanks @treehousebookshop.bskyb.social Please continue to spread the word.

Blossum on my pear tree. What happens nextt is up to the bees.

My article in yesterday's FT on the fall of Saigon, fifty years ago this month. on.ft.com/3EkG8Vs

My fritilleries.

Many thanks, Mark. Please spread tbe word. Unlike the others, this volume is a well-kept secret.

My garden this morning 1:

My garden this morning 3

My garden this morning 2

My garden this morning 1/2

Starting shortly after he swapped the Westminster village for a walled garden in Northumberland, and ending on the day the Queen died, the fourth volume of diaries by @chrismullinexmp.bsky.social is as invaluable as its predecessors in tracking where we are as a nation, and how on earth we got here.

Thank you, Alistair. Please continue to spread the word. The existence of this volume is almost a secret, known only to the most enlightened.

Saturday 1 March, 4.30 pm, Playhouse, Alnwick. I shall be talking about my book on the Birmingham bombings and is impact on our criminal justice system. Please RT.

www.theguardian.com/global-devel... Elon Musk, the world's richrst man has literally declared war on the poorest.

Callaly 3: The seat by the third lake

Callaly 2: The seat by the first lake.