Cannot believe I am saying this, but IDS managing to accurately get to the real, underlying point. We all knew this about Mandelson. We knew he had links to Epstein, to Russia, we knew he'd resigned twice, we knew he was paid by foreign governments, the procedure almost doesn't matter.

Lee Anderson gets his Facebook video clip sorted nice and early.

Welsh Senedd, Scottish assembly and massive local elections two weeks on Thursday. What a run-up Keir's giving for those.

The problem with Starmer's argument (well one of them) is that it depends on an assertion that he wouldn't have appointment Mandelson if he'd known he'd failed vetting. But he appointed him before vetting was complete.

That’s it for me. Right there. Everything else he says is distraction and blame transference.

I can't believe that Kemi Badenoch - KEMI BADENOCH! - will bring down Starmer. Good grief.

It would be weird for a good man to let himself get in this deep

Noel’s House Party, anyone?

It's amazing that RFK is not the most insane person in the US cabinet. Perhaps not even top three. nypost.com/2026/04/15/u...

Little 🧵 on vetting: There’s been a certain amount of chest-puffing from former holders of DV clearance about how rigorous and exacting the vetting process is and how rare for it to be overruled. The latter is definitely true. Never heard of it happening, ever. 1

The stretcher bearers absolutely got me! Makes me wonder if this China's version of RedBull flugtag or something?

The number of people crossing by small boat this year compared to last year. The fall is very real and not seasonal. Little difference in numbers during the winter but since numbers increased in spring, half as many people are coming as this time last year. This is mainly because of European trends.

As it happens, there is a severe crisis hitting Germany's automotive industries. Yet it's less with the front end brands like VW, but rather is hitting the firms down the supply chain with full force as VW ditches old parts partners wedded to ICE for more flexible suppliers that can transition to EV

Though notably not in 1533. He was in the bath.

This is an impressive line to take in that a) it might well be a lie, b) even if it's true it still sounds like it's a lie, and c) any possible circumstance in which it is true would actually be more damning than the alternative

How the fuck has Starmer turned out to be so shit as to give *Kemi Badenoch* a genuinely compelling argument against him. How. How.

Does rather feel like the Bluesky infrastructure is crumbling down around us in real time.

Bread, milk, cheese. Eggs, rice, chicken. An SNP government will be tough on bowel movements, and tough on the causes of bowel movements.

⚠️ “Ahmed Shihab-Eldin’s arrest comes as part of a wider crackdown on online speech in Kuwait and other Gulf countries during the Iran war.” Known as @ASE on Twitter, his account on that platform has been disappeared as well. He and I had been mutuals for 15 years.

I've seen two positive examples round my way in the past couple of years in fact. First my practice was moved out of its Edwardian semi into a purpose built space in a new development. And a sprawling low-rise health centre was torn down, replaced by a 5+ storey flats with a GP on the ground floor.

Why is Ed Miliband so unbothered at having his head go on fire?

* U.S. JUDGE DISMISSES DONALD TRUMP'S DEFAMATION LAWSUIT AGAINST WALL STREET JOURNAL OVER EPSTEIN STORY -- COURT RECORDS @reuters.com

On April 10, a dozen people were killed at a picnic area in Western Afghanistan. On Saturday, the Nigerian Air Force struck a crowded market in Yobe, killing over 100 people. These are just two stories that have been lost in the news cycle.

Average GOP Congressman: We err...uhhh...don't uh need uh...oversight of the DoD because uh...we trust the President to decide what's best Donald Trump: I AM JESUS CHRIST RETURNED TO EARTH THE POPE ISN'T MAGA AND HE'S WEAK ON NUCLEAR WEAPONS I AM GOING TO BUILD A HOTEL ON THE MOON

My favourite Samuel Beckett fact: Beckett used to drive André René Roussimoff aka Andre the Giant, who played Fezzick in The Princess Bride, to school, and they talked about cricket on the way.

Do you think he thinks Leo is not tough on crime because he watched that episode of QI where they trotted out the old stat that there was a 100% crime rate in the Vatican? Also, amused by the idea that a pope COULDN'T be political.

Like putting a hat on a hat. But with thousands of deaths and the immiseration of millions.

Global health is the victim.

Hall of fame FT correction

Like Chernobyl 🤦

Re the Hegseth/Caine presser and the lists of numbers they emphasized: The Pentagon presented outputs, not outcomes. This is reminiscent of how the Pentagon handled its comms during the Vietnam War. It’s what the Pentagon does when there are tactical achievements but no strategic advancement.

The new VERY hagriographic Michael Jackson biopic starring MJ's nephew is out at the end of the month. But back in 2004 an unauthorised and EQUALLY flattering biopic was made in Canada. Here is a clip and I promise you have NO idea where it's going. I haven't done a single edit here.

Armageddon is terrible, but our only other option was diversity trainings at work.

Looking for someone who is house hunting to chat to the team at Money Box. Maybe you have a mortgage in principle or you’re upsizing and need a new mortgage. We want to ask how you’re finding it - and if the current uncertainty is putting you off. Email me please - [email protected]

The Garden of Earthly Delights (detail), by Hieronymus Bosch, 1480-1505, 📸 by @alexbrandon

On Sir Keir Starmer's speech this morning: acknowledging the damage done and the clear setting of a new direction is important. The pendulum is swinging back. Complaining that not every step is being taken immediately is rather missing the point. It's going to be a long journey.

It’s actually possible to write headlines that don’t obscure who did what. Thanks, AP.

I know it's not really much of a thing these days but have just seen a link to a post on the Mirror's website putting a clickbaiting headline on a story of a teenage boy's suicide. Grim.

This. The dream of the 90s is dead. Cheap rent enables every kind of creative work and nothing else can substitute for it.

Stryker restores most manufacturing after cyberattack www.cybersecuritydive.com/news/stryker...

It's my own fault for using ChatGPT as a search tool, but this really made me laugh. "...with an important nuance..." is sublime 🤌

The white outline is the proposed development site and I've marked in red ALL THE BLOODY GREENBELT THAT WON'T BE BUILT ON

"I need a picture to sum up how the country feels about Keir Starmer" "step right this way"

what’s the best taunt to shout when you start a fight? A. prepare to die! B. you fight like a baby, and I’ve fought many babies! C. dukes up, compadre D. ready to get fisted?! E. my fist are wild, dangerous, and they seek the supple resistance of your cheekbones F. the battle begins

*US MARITIME ADMINISTRATION ISSUES NEW WARNING AFTER IRAN THREAT *US WARNS SHIPS OF HOUTHI RISK IN BAB EL MANDEB STRAIT *HOUTHI CHIEF: TO RESPOND MILITARILY IF DEVELOPMENTS REQUIRE IT

In fact slave owners *were* compensated in the UK when slavery was abolished, and in some other places too white supremacists are as ignorant as they are vile

The BMA has accused the government of "“chang[ing] the goalposts on the pay element of the offer at the 11th hour”. Resident drs committee chair Jack Fletcher told members the overall package for pay “was reduced and stretched in the last two weeks” of negotiations.

War of words as NHS boss accuses BMA of timing strikes to cause "maximum harm" Glen Burley also said he was "really shocked" the govt offer had not been put to resident doctors for a vote, and said a planned expansion of 1,000 training posts would now not go ahead.