Spot on. See labourhub.org.uk/2025/12/18/t...

Caligula may be running the USA but there's still the North English limestone countryside. Our first real ramble of the year, along the Ribble, up to Langcliffe & back to pretty Settle & one of the best bakery/cafes I know "The Olde Naked Man" (Not me, I hasten to add)

"If you don't give me the Nobel Peace prize, I'll start a world war." How long can the USA put up with this without sending for the men-in-the-white-coats ? In UK you can be "certified" as being a threat to yourself and others. Surely US law has something similar ?

Domestically Starmer & Reeves has long since proven to be Ramsey MacDonald & Philip Snowden of our age.

I should add that Hamsun was subsequently put on trial in his native Norway and found guilty of treason. His advanced age and international renown as an author was taken into consideration and he was given a token fine. But his shame was real. Norway is still coming to terms with his reputation.

Such "investment" adds nothing to "growth" in real terms.

Please sign and circulate

Good idea which would never work in UK with its pathetic clinging to the myth of a "special relationship" with USA, despite all evidence to the contrary, from Suez to Trump. Still kept alive by endless films, tv series, spy stories.

Stop Press !! BBC internet news ranks headline of Jenrick defects to Reform above European military flies in to show solidarity with Greenland. Or why I don't watch BBC TV news or listen to BBC radio news any more.

A repeat of exiles from McCarthyism & of anti-Vietnam war protestors

If you don't see what's happening, you're a very unenlightened person.

Yesterday I gave a talk on fair trade & fair trade labelling to E Lancs Coop Party. I dug out my report to the UN International Trade Centre & found its pro & cons have changed little, tho' the cost-of-living crisis has affected the household budgets. Copies available from: [email protected]

Let me set the record straight for all you right-wingers getting worked up over the idea of China building an embassy. You seem to have forgotten—or are conveniently ignoring—that Boris Johnson sold the property to China specifically for this purpose. #Chine #RightWing #ShortTermMemory #Grifters

If you can't get into the House of Lords, joining the Reform Company will do.

Why isn't the BBC reporting this ?

Ditto Starmer's government

At times I wish there was a God who could warn Trump and other alleged Christians that He was being briefed about the rising protests in the USA in order to intervene.

As Brussels always said/says, when Brits were in they wanted exemptions, now they're out, they want exemptions.

Old political saying "If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen"

"Starmer’s defence secretary has admitted Britain was involved in Donald Trump’s seizure of a Russian oil tanker. The legality of the seizure is under dispute, as Russia says they had registered the ship, while the US claims it was stateless and being used to break US sanctions."(Declassified #UK)

Indeed he's gone bankrupt several times, but that was then when he didn't have the US military to enforce his "deals"

Deja vue. In January 1975, Secretary of State Kissinger said he would not rule our military action to ensure continuity of oil supply.

At least the Chinese people are exempt from blame, they get no vote, whereas the USA voted for Trump.

"Could" is the operative word. For all his fear of Farage, Starmer's EU policy is dictated by Trump's hostility to Brussels with its regulatory powers over US mega oligarchs. Stand by for KFC chlorinated chicken, it's back on the menu/agenda.

Trump hates Europe & why. See my labourhub.org.uk/2025/12/18/t...

That awful moment when you realize you've offered a seat to the nutty women everyone else in the room has manged to avoid.

A less inspiring figure to rally the faithful is hard to imagine. Ditto the present cabinet.

The French decided long ago that their nukes would be entirely independent. So Macron really has his finger on the button,. whlist everyone knows Starmer doesn't.

Foreign affairs select committee Chair Emily Thornberry says UK and allies should "call out" US for breaking international law. "It is not for the country that is breaking the law to say whether or not it has broken the law. It is for the West surely to stand up and call it as it is" 👏

A major reason for Starmer's unwillingness to Rejoin or even approach the EU is that Musk & other Big Tech oligarchs would fall under EU anti-competition, anti-monopoly regs. That's why Trump is pushing a UK/US trade deal, which opens even wider the UK's door for Musk et al.

Outmanoeuvred by ex Blackburn Rovers left winger & Premiership winner, the much underrated Jason Wilcox, it seems

It was a Labour government, which set up NATO and now a Labour PM can't show solidarity as France is doing. Surely Labour PMs can't put up with Starmer's utterly shameful, spineless grovelling to Trump.

and its NATO allies, considering the UK founded NATO.

Pleased to have made a modest contribution. Ask your local public library to stock, or buy from an independent bookshop and start a discussion group. 2026 is Reboot & Rejoin year.

On a wet, cold Lancashire morning I put this picture of Ahlbeck on the German Baltic coast on my home screen.

Happy New Year open.substack.com/pub/mhindley...

Highlight of the Festive Season was to see the Latvian National Ballet perform "Swan Lake" at the magnificent Teatro Regio, Turin with daughter, granddaughter and wife

Trump Declares Europe ‘Public Enemy Number One’ labourhub.org.uk/2025/12/18/t...

Yes, but he overlooks the fact that Trump is Putin's "useful idiot", in old Kremlin parlance.

Actually the crusaders lost and were thrown out of the Holy Land after their history of rape, pillage.

Trump Declares Europe ‘Public Enemy Number One’ labourhub.org.uk/2025/12/18/t...

In 1945 Britain had a Labour government determined to introduce the welfare state, in 2025 it has a Labour goverment helping dismantle the welfare state.

Under the unwritten UK constitution, but nonetheless legally correct, no Parliament can bind its successor. Call it out, indeed.

Or indeed, what's a whiteman doing in Africa and why does his family's mine belong to white colonials and not the native blacks ?

I'd have thought having studied PPE at Oxford would be sufficient to disqualify anyone for high office.

The appointment of magistrates needs investigating before giving them more power. It seems to be done in some masonic process of whispers, hints, nods and winks.

Of course he knew this and should have said this as soon as he came to power and we'd be in a much better position. But he's still looking over his shoulder at Farage, Rothermere, Murdoch.

Surely Jones is sending her up ?