GORTON & DENTON Just looked at a constituency map and realised I used to live there. In Levenshulme. Early 1970s when I was working as a labourer in an industrial wax factory in east Manchester. Just before I got a place at University of Manchester (1974). As a “mature” student (I was 21).

Well worth reading. Using Geoff Mulgan’s taxonomy, you need a vision and narrative (poetry) coherent policies (prose) and the ability to work the machinery of government (plumbing) to govern successfully. New Labour had all three.

Reminds me of an erudite article I once indexed, written by a respected author and including a wealth of learned and abstruse formulae. Having ploughed through to the end, I concluded the author was basically pointing out that the country with the biggest army was likely to win the war.

I’ve contended for a while now that Chris Mason is basically an entertainment correspondent. Precious little analysis (or even mention) of policies and their effects, it’s now all about the ins and outs of the personality-driven Westminster soap opera. One step away from a gossip column.

I…………what?

I’ve got the aspirational headline. Just need the story. Bondi Beached

More than 50 organisations have signed an open letter published by #renewable #energy #coops apex @rescoop.eu , calling for greater inclusion in the European Commission’s National and Regional Partnership Plans www.thenews.coop/rescoop-must...

Well worth reading. “Better story bias” is an idea to conjure with? historyneverended.substack.com/p/politics-a...

DARWIN DAY “When two tribes of primeval man, living in the same country, came into competition, if (other circumstances being equal) the one tribe included a great number of courageous, sympathetic and faithful members... this tribe would succeed better and conquer the other."

House Votes NO on Canada Tariffs open.substack.com/pub/calltoac...

It’s Darwin Day A celebration to commemorate the birthday of Charles Darwin on 12 February 1809. The day highlights Darwin's contributions to science and to promote science in general. Darwin Day is celebrated around the world.

I was always suspicious (& slightly anti) presidential models, without really being able to put my finger on why. Now we have an example of what can go wrong. The "President" acts like a king & over interprets their mandate. This, despite having been voted for by a minority of the population.

Simplistic I know , but Saxon v Norman style of governance . Less local democracy , less ability to pop down to the local District Council offices . More control from central government. More mayors playing the role of District Commissioners, maybe.

One Mayor To Rule Them All? Me, for the Constitution Society consoc.org.uk/one-mayor-to...

An 11 ppt swing from mortgagers to renters over the 3 decades since 1995 means that 8.6 million people in lower-income families rent from a private landlord. These people spend on average 43 per cent of their total household budget on rent. Read Unsung Britain now ⤵️ buff.ly/7WcqrbQ

What if you threw a coup and nobody came?

Hunter over the allotment today

BREAKING: Morgan McSweeney quits as Keir Starmer's chief of staff amid fall-out from the Mandelson scandal

Lack of a common foe enfeebled Europe — but not any more, says Simon Kuper ft.trib.al/DSHzkRZ

She never fails to impress.

12 Feb is #DarwinDay! Explore the story of our human origins. For a humanist perspective, check out our free classroom resources or invite in a humanist school visitor! understandinghumanism.org.uk/area/human-b...

Agreed. And if the ‘something’ that went wrong was that the appointment was simply waved through by Starmer, with McSweeney’s support, then they both rightly deserve every bad thing that ensues.

I believe it is the way it is so that you can't be blackmailed.

DEVELOPED VETTING I’ve been thru it. High level of security clearance. It is excruciatingly, embarrassingly, thorough, believe me. It’s come up in relation to Peter Mandelson. I cannot believe he was DV’d for the Ambassador job? If he was something went very badly wrong.

Ah yes, I remember them being called PV. A friend announced that he was having to undergo a PV investigation to be able to work at GCHQ. Our medical friends were more than a little suprised, not to say somewhat horrified. To them, a PV investigstion meant Per Vagina...

In a much earlier stage of my life, I used to attend what was known as PV interviews - Positive Vetting, which I assume DV has replaced. I can confirm the level of shock, shame, embarrasment and humiliation inflicted on the interviewees - not all of whom I'm sure mentally survived the experience.

I went through it at under 17 with my parents present. It was brutal.

I got the form once …. No thanks. Similarly, I don’t believe Boris Johnson or Cummings went through it.

DEVELOPED VETTING I’ve been thru it. High level of security clearance. It is excruciatingly, embarrassingly, thorough, believe me. It’s come up in relation to Peter Mandelson. I cannot believe he was DV’d for the Ambassador job? If he was something went very badly wrong.

Looks like I was not wrong two days ago?

Subject to qualified legal opinion, certainly worth considering whether there is possible criminal offending, that plus insider trading plus Bribery Act offences. Having worked under (correctly) exacting rules as an official in market-sensitive roles, all this is astonishing and disturbing.

Paging @davidallengreen.bsky.social

If he survives this unscathed it can only because of the dirt he’s got on other dodgy politicians…

Well done! Shouldn't be that hard, though, should it? Next time try looking at the @frame.work kit. It comes with a screwdriver, and you can get at anything you need to get at.

If this is correct it should be ‘misconduct in public office’ prosecution territory?

TECHNICAL SAVE The tip broke off my Apple Pen. But it left little plastic collar (on the left) inside the tip-end. Which meant you couldn’t for a new tip. So DEAD PEN? Not so fast ….

Very distinct governance culture too, as explained by @governorwalz.mn.gov bsky.app/profile/gove... (I lived and studied there for a year, differences from US really palpable.)

MINNEAPOLIS REBELLION? The Twin Cities (M. & St Paul’s) have a deep radical heritage of trade union and community org. In the 1930s the Teamsters Rebellion was a major event. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minneap...

BEAUTIFUL ARMADAS? Worth remembering that large armada’s (sea born attacks) have not always been successful? 👉🏼Mongol fleets vs Japan (x2) 1200’s 👉🏼Spanish vs England 1588 Just saying

MINNEAPOLIS REBELLION? The Twin Cities (M. & St Paul’s) have a deep radical heritage of trade union and community org. In the 1930s the Teamsters Rebellion was a major event. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minneap...

Absolutely chilling to see the White House boast about the arrest of a journalist using a photo of him reporting (and exercising his first amendment rights). A normalization of the targeting of journalists that we've seen happen globally, coming here to the United States.

Dr T reckons this is the symbol of the 13th/14th century Lionesses? What do we think? @profaliceroberts.bsky.social

Indeed. It's 'toxic leadership' personified.

This is well worth reading btw. Al’s 4 emerging super-states are US, China, India and EU btw. You’re welcome

You think of all the absolute shit that has sprung from the completely phoney Apprentice... Trump... Hopkins and all those ghastly twits on Talk and GB News and still the BBC churns out this nonsense

This is the first FON poll I can remember that has Lab+Green+LibDem ahead of Tory+Reform. Throw in Plaid and the SNP, and even the most right-friendly pollster has a clear centre-left bloc lead.

MUST READ 👇🏽👇🏽👇🏽👇🏽👇🏽🙄 www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

PLOTTING SHED? Neo-Nazi who made explosives in garden shed jailed

"Reform's press release notes he was 'first in his family' to go to university – a ‘fact’ that raised eyebrows given his father, who was awarded a CBE by the Queen for his services to the NHS, acquired a Master’s in Business Administration in the 1980s, and a PhD during Tony Blair’s first term."