The Democratic Cliff Edge Here's a big reason why Keir Starmer's government is so unpopular and why it's about to get a lot worse From Political Sandbox open.substack.com/pub/politica...

I bet Reform are delighted with this

Just realised that Tom Burke is a dead ringer for Charlie Brooker. Just a more grizzled version of him.

Some news - you can read it all in the alt text www.gailmyerscough.co.uk

Once again: Jo Cox MP was murdered. David Amess MP was murdered.

Andy Burnham is not going to walk it in Makerfield, where last week Reform won seven wards with 50% to Labour’s 26% it’s not inconceivable that he will end up with a humiliating defeat his best hope is tactical voting from supporters of other progressive parties but this could go either way

Makerfield is not an ultra safe seat by any stretch. Simons only had a majority of around 5,400 in 2024 and the polls are much worse for Labour now. There's no guarantee Burnham can win it even if he's allowed to stand.

I covered that march. Here's the first paragraph of the story I wrote about it: www.thenewworld.co.uk/james-ball-t...

Reupping my own meme. I miss the days when #thepolitics was all about traffic cones and being aghast at the thought of John Major and Edwina Currie shagging.

So Wes has jumped. Will he now go for it? I look at his chances in my latest on Political Sandbox. open.substack.com/pub/politica...

Angela Rayner was dragged through every front page for weeks... HMRC's verdict: NOT deliberate. NOT even careless. Farage pockets £5 million and chooses not to declare it So where's the wall-to-wall coverage? Tell me this isn't a rigged game.

Latest from me on Political Sandbox. Why Wes cannot expect a Coronation Street-ing glide path into No 10. open.substack.com/pub/politica...

Bridget Phillipson: "Enjoyed Kemi’s quip about free breakfast clubs being a defining legacy of this Labour government. When the Tories deride breakfast clubs, it shows how out of touch they still are. A £450 saving is a lot for working families. Easing the morning rush makes a big difference."

You would think that everyone would have got the memo after Brexit that voting for some hugely damaging thing in order to kick politicians out of complacency does not end well. But no.

Great piece here about how institutional inertia in large private and public bodies is leading to mistrust and fuelling the rise of populism

we only know about the £5m Harborne donation thanks to journalists at the Guardian, but sure trash the MSM for clicks

Streeting's resigning tomorrow and will trigger a leadership contest

From way back in the Looks Unfamiliar archives, here's the very first one that went unexpectedly viral - me and @markreckons.bsky.social talking about Hanna Barbera's classic horror-themed The Drak Pack, microchip-skewed action series Whiz Kids and more... timworthington.org/2017/09/08/l...

I think Starmer is toast now. Once your Home Secretary is making it publicly known she thinks you should go the writing is on the wall.

The biggest majority in the modern era, and terrified of your own shadow for two years. It beggars belief. I've never known any govt. to have less to lose, and never known a greater need for political honesty than now. But, hey, best stay cautious. You don't want to become unpopular do you?

Starmer's Ming vase rn

Having said all this Starmer really needed to do better today. I could see he was really trying but he just doesn't seem to have it in him to properly connect. He needed something bold to announce today to shake things up properly and seize the narrative. He definitely failed in that respect.

Re Burnham: Too many political commentators get carried away thinking they're in an episode of The West Wing. UK politics runs much more like The Thick Of It. Cock-up is far more likely to drive events than unlikely Machiavellian schemes that require several ducks to be lined up simultaneously.

THIS. Westminster journalism has muted into a dangerous parlour game of "Who should the next leader be?" Whilst the country twists in the wind over and over again. We need something to drop this. A written constitution? Genuine fixed terms? I don't know what the precise answer is but something.

1986 Children's BBC gangland thriller Running Scared was so unrelentingly grim that it used actual authentic 'villain' slang without at any point explaining it. Here's @markreckons.bsky.social on being confused by menacingly-snarled references to 'bins'. timworthington.org/2025/01/30/t...

Watch with @emmaburnell.bsky.social on Grange Hill, @markreckons.bsky.social on Running Scared, @alkennedy.bsky.social on Count Duckula, @whenisbirths.bsky.social on Emu's Broadcasting Company and @gfrancie.bsky.social on Faerie Tale Theatre. timworthington.org/2025/01/30/t...

From the very earliest days of Looks Unfamiliar, @invaderace2000.bsky.social on Food Fighters, @emmaburnell.bsky.social on The Patchwork Monkey, @fil5000.bsky.social on the Platoon computer game, @markreckons.bsky.social on Night Shift and more. timworthington.org/2018/04/03/t...

Mark Thompson (@markreckons.bsky.social) joins me for a chat about Pizzicato Five, Your Party Needs You, Lost In Austen, Society, Shadow Chasers, Tarantulas: The Deadly Cargo, Jasper Carrott's I've Got This Mole and more... timworthington.org/2025/03/18/l...

Latest from me on Political Sandbox. "The Portillo Paradox - A History Lesson for Andy Burnham" open.substack.com/pub/politica...

Highlights from Looks Unfamiliar with @redskyatnight.bsky.social on Fax, @mitchbenn.bsky.social on The Deceivers, @markreckons.bsky.social on Your Party Needs You, @donnarees.bsky.social on The Monty Python Matching Tie And Handkerchief and more! timworthington.org/2025/07/24/t...

I'm back baby. After several years in the political writing wilderness I've decided to dive back in so I've created a Substack "Political Sandbox" where I will be regularly posting my "Evidence-based political analysis". Here's my first piece on The 30% Government. open.substack.com/pub/politica...

Listening to this episode of Louis Theroux's podcast with Adam Buxton from a few years ago. Great to hear two old friends riffing off each other. Worth listening to alone for Adam's off the cuff impression of Ira Glass. He has the voice, cadence and rhythm absolutely bang on. pca.st/episode/b99b...

Oh it's 'orrible being in love when you 're 8 and 'alf. I got yer picture on me wall, got yer name upon me scarf. Oh it's 'orrible being in love, 'orrible being in love when you're 8 and 'alf....

Good piece this www.thenewworld.co.uk/matthew-danc...

Disgusting reporting by BBC using a tiny number of cases to suggest widespread abuse of a system which routinely denies LGBTQIA+ individuals asylum and forces them back into environments of persecution. This article massively distorts the reality of the situation. 1/ www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

I'm so sick of having to think about Trump and what he says or what he might say next. It'll just be a relief when he's gone for him to not be taking up any space in my head.

I bet if Trump had ever lost by this sort of margin he'd still have claimed he had won. Orban's clearly just a lightweight.

Orban is not conceding because he's honourable. He's conceding because his defeat is so comprehensive even he can't pretend he won.

Wow, J.D. really vanced the hell out of the Hungarian presidential election

There's a few editors of conservative magazines out there with a bit of a headache about filling the next issue

😂

So Victor finally told to fuck off

It’s a great night for the Leftist chatterati

Looks like Vance worked his magic then

Highlights from Looks Unfamiliar with @redskyatnight.bsky.social on Fax, @mitchbenn.bsky.social on The Deceivers, @markreckons.bsky.social on Your Party Needs You, @donnarees.bsky.social on The Monty Python Matching Tie And Handkerchief and more! timworthington.org/2025/07/24/t...

That's some nice market calming there Mr President

It brings all the great-grandmothers to the yard

From way back in the Looks Unfamiliar archives, here's the very first one that went unexpectedly viral - me and @markreckons.bsky.social talking about Hanna Barbera's classic horror-themed The Drak Pack, microchip-skewed action series Whiz Kids and more... timworthington.org/2017/09/08/l...

Trump and Hegseth are making statements that legal experts say constitute war crimes. On live television. Without apology.

Excellent piece here from @jamesrball.com where he systematically takes apart the latest literary attempt by MattGPT. The comment from Goodwin at the end in the "right to reply" section couldn't be more perfect in summarising what a thin-skinned individual he is app.thenewworld.co.uk/story/153589...