Not before time, a symptom of disarray at the top of government. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

My Sunderland at home to mighty Arsenal today. Even scoring a goal would be an achievement. But who knows?

🎶 There may be trouble ahead 🎶

Trump, Johnson, the Telegraph et al just hate the concept of a public service broadcaster. For all its faults we need the BBC.

We switched off.

Destroy local authority provision and create a market with lax regulation - the sad story of adult social care over four decades. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Huh? Chris Philp says the government is not doing enough to clear up the mess his own government left behind. Whatever happened to accountability? www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Tabloid and Tory fury over mistakenly released prisoners lacks context doesn’t it?

Sickening.

My view here👇on six months of Reform in power in Durham - hardly a showcase for the party.

Well, this isn’t a very helpful contribution is it? No to higher revenue-raising but yes to more public spending. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Listening to an Emma Barnett interview on #r4today is hard going isn’t it? She seems determined to portray herself as a latter day John Humphrys, eternally searching for a gotcha moment. We learn little.

Infantino has dragged world football into the gutter hasn’t he? www.theguardian.com/football/202...

Here’s Reform’s cost-cutting in action - shut council-run adult social care, sell off the assets and move people around like pawns on a chess board. And a shameless conflict of interest to boot! www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Trump (unsurprisingly) calls Mamdani a ‘communist’ - but why does #r4today keep referring to him as ‘radical left’ in a pejorative tone? Fair question from @mattwalshjourno.bsky.social. open.substack.com/pub/mattwals...

#PMQs: David Lammy standing in for Starmer. No idea who this is standing in for Badenoch but he’s worse than her - asking the same question on repeat.

Listening to @bphillipsonmp.bsky.social on #r4today defending the curriculum review - Emma Barnett’s objections confidently swatted aside. She’s a much under-estimated politician.

An 18-month expert review, 200 pages, scores of evidenced recommendations - and the Mail dismisses it as ‘dumbing down’. If the changes help kids to critically appraise the Mail they will be very welcome.

Badenoch behaves as if the period between 2010-24 never happened - astonishing level of delusion.

This is heart-sinking isn’t it? www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

Several very good results for Democrats - there’s always hope. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

He sees something on TV and immediately threatens to invade a sovereign country - Trump Diplomacy… youtube.com/watch?v=BDlQ...

Total hero! How many of us would have done the same? www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

HM Government blaming Brexit and trying to ‘reset’ relationships.

What manufactured outrage! Trump’s incitement of violence was obvious and he happily sat in the White House and watched it unleashing.

Shouldn’t it be the five soldiers under arrest, not the person who leaked the video? www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...

What he says 👇

‘Fewer’…! It’s the Express…

Fiscal discipline, no tax cuts, pensioners under threat - Farage sounding much like the current Chancellor… www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

SO much focus (all of it positive) on my Sunderland this season. Here’s a super piece by Louise Taylor. www.theguardian.com/football/202...

No, Sting hasn’t (as far as I know) joined Reform, but scroll down a bit to read my verdict on Reform’s six months in power in Durham… open.substack.com/pub/eyesande...

Win tonight and we go second top! Fantasy Football time for all of us Mackems #SAFC

Beyond bonkers, supremely toxic.

If you’re not terrified by this, you’re not paying attention… www.theguardian.com/technology/2...

Waking to Chris Philp on #r4today being taken to the cleaners by Anna Foster over his demand for stop and search. She quotes evidence, he says he doesn’t accept it - but can’t say why.

The Brexit poison just drips inexorably year after year - but what’s the point in recognising this then doing nothing about it? Good piece by @rjpartington.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/business/202...

We all know the answer to this question don’t we? Farage simultaneously encourages racism while keeping himself at arms length from it. www.thenewsagents.co.uk/article/is-r...

Farage’s claim that flag mania was down to ordinary citizens couldn’t be further from the truth. Brilliant expose via @manchestermill.bsky.social. manchestermill.co.uk/the-men-who-...

Reform claimed local government spending was awash with easy pickings. Now they want children to walk five miles to school. Crazy! schoolsweek.co.uk/reform-counc...

My take here👇on six months of Reform in power in Durham. Do consider subscribing to Eyes & Ears on Substack. open.substack.com/pub/eyesande...

Heart-sinking… www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

‘Average age of a bricklayer is 56…since Brexit a significant drop in skilled workers from Europe’ - but it’s no good blaming Brexit and doing nothing about it. www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

The relentless undermining of truth, reason and evidence eats away… www.theguardian.com/technology/2...

Here in Durham City a prime site development lies rotting for two years. The council, contractors and developers should be locked in a room together until they find a solution… www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/2558298...

Remind me why @rachaelmaskell.bsky.social has lost the Labour whip while Stringer hasn’t…

SO much more to come out isn’t there?

‘Xi stared down Trump and Trump blinked’ - that’s the way to deal with bullies.

The Mail keeps flogging a dead horse. The FT reports the facts.

All over the place aren’t they? Such juvenile politics. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Umm…no thank you!