I understand the reticence to replace Starmer - do we really want the Tory model of revolving door leadership to be the precedent? - but somebody needs to be properly selling a vision. Maybe his cabinet should just focus on telling us what Labour is actually doing, and why they’re doing it?

Now that Shabana Mahmood has publicly called on Starmer to exit, does that mean he can sack her.....please? Even if he ultimately goes anway. BBC News - www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c1... Keir Starmer to face cabinet meeting as over 70 Labour MPs call on him to quit - follow live - BBC News

Really interesting discussions on Tim Miller's @thebulwark.com podcast yesterday, and I'm not American or in the US. Well worth the time. A fascinating insight into an Iranian's perspective, and an unexpectedly uplifting interview with Jodi Kantor.

Excellent, if depressingly inevitable, piece. Why can’t people see it?

So disappointing to see Reform gain seats in the Scottish elections. Why anyone up here would vote for what is essentially an English nationalist Brexit party is beyond me, but I guess disgruntled and disillusioned Tories needed a home to go to (and the Lib Dems were too far to the left for them).

Flyer arrives through the post for the forthcoming Scottish local elections- posted from Feltham, Middx (in England for int’l readers) telling me they will “put Scottish People first”. So, can’t even be bothered to have a Scottish address? Quelle surprise - it’s from Reform. Tossers Binned

JD showing excellent political and diplomatic foreign affairs skills this weekend. I mean,who wouldn’t want him to be the next US President… www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c2...

Are we seeing, in real time, what happens when a wannabe authoritarian regime faces up to a real authoritarian regime? Both utterly mad, but one is a theocratic zealot and the other a bumbling idiot. www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cn...

Where is the US Democratic leader who stands up, and makes the speech that says “Blood on your hands”? The President The Vice President The Administration The Republican Senators The Republican Congress reps THEIR actions, THEIR lies, THEIR silence. THEY are responsible for every. single.drop.

Take one part Patel, two parts Braverman, a dash of red food colouring and a year’s supply of powercraze, and that should get you the perfect recipe for not just any Home Secretary, but a Home Secretary who is apparently in a Labour government. www.bbc.com/news/article...

Watching the US descend into the abyss on a daily basis is so depressing, but surely if there was a reason not to vote for Reform and their ‘Trump-lite’ leader, this has to be up there with sirens and red flashing lights for a political health warning? We cannot become a Trumpian UK. Can we?

In essence, does the whole premise of the Trump/Putin ‘negotiations’ on Ukraine just boil down to the Russians having a bigger set of Epstein Files than the DOJ does? They must have something on him for him to let Putin make him look that subservient on his own patch.

It's no wonder the BBC is accused of a love-in with Reform. After you've lost the will to read further, it does consider the immigrants' perspective, but the first half reads like a Reform campaign starter. Ms. Minihane is hardly your average woman off the street. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Voting Reform isn’t much different to voting for Brexit. There might be some ideas that appeal, but the moment those ideas touch reality, the wheels come off. www.thelondoneconomic.com/lifestyle/re...

A cautionary tale for Lutnick, Vance , Bessent, Rubio et al: this is how it always ends, particularly if you have an ego (and you all do). It is just a matter of time, and 2028 is a long way off in Trump terms. Everyone can see the bus coming, but you will still end up under it.

I'm thinking that maybe EVERY country in the world should place a ban on travelling to the USA, until such a time as they don't have a TACO Tyrant who is as welcoming as a fart in a lift. Boycotts for the Olympics and the World Cup should be obligatory. www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cv...

"Trump Always Chickens Out (Taco Song)" Wanna turn an orange sour? Say taco when Trump's Around T, A, C and O! T, A, C and O! Put 'em together, here we go! Hope you enjoy this... www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQZr...

How odd it is that Canada, Australia and countries across Europe expected to move to the right are rejecting Trumpian politics and voting in left of centre or centrists parties, but the UK, which has a supposedly centre-left party already in Government, seems to be quite happy to pursue them.

Dear God, help us all. So because solving this might extend beyond the attention span and abilities of a narcissist man-baby and his cohort of incompetents, the US is getting bored of it all and is just going to "move on"? www.bbc.com/news/article...

I would urge people not to sneer at or deride anyone who voted for Trump and go on to have cause to openly regret it. If all you have left to save your country and your democracy is mass public dissent, you will need these people to stand with you. Embrace them.

There is something of an irony in a wannabe authoritarian ruler who hasn't made it yet trying to strong arm an actual authoritarian ruler who has been doing it for years.

Kind of surprised nobody has drawn comparisons with The Apprentice, and whether the team that came up with the method of calculating the tariffs would be the winning one in this episode. If was a betting man, I’d be looking for odds that the Project Manager on this one might be getting fired….

From what little I know, I think Mark Carney has the right idea. Recognise Trump’s existence as a threat, and then steadfastly ignore him. Americans can’t; he’s systematically destroying their country, but the rest of the world? No more appeasement. Times will be tough, but we’ll live through it

Calls for US Gang Members to be Deported There are growing calls for members of a gang known as Trump de Argumenta to be deported to El Salvador for criminal incompetence, dishonesty and threatening US National Security. Reliable sources suggest members are senior personnel in the US Government

Is Reform UK Ltd about to split into Farage’s Refublican Party and Lowe’s Deportocrats? Mind you, if they continue like this there will be the Leevers Party, The Spliced/Oakshitt Alliance Party and some other bloke wandering around wondering which party he belongs to (if indeed he does).

It would appear Putin’s desire to expand his empire is seeing fruition; he now has the greatest prize of them all, and without a single shot being fired. He always decried the fall of the USSR, but now he has the US(A)SR.

The USA soiled itself today, live on TV. Possibly the most geopolitically depressing day in my lifetime. Actually making America great again is one hell of an uphill struggle for anyone who lives in the reality that exists outside the White House.

Has the other place stopped people from deactivating their accounts? Finally trying to kill off mine, and every time I try it says “oops, something went wrong. Please try again later”. I keep trying and It. Won’t. Go. Away.

A potential positive (and they are hard to find) of the US selling us out is that it might just give rise to WWII type patriotism, and sweep away Reform’s twisted version, as we realise the real threat to our country is not from immigrants, but from white, male, rich, autocratic, power junkies.

‘Special relationship’ blah blah blah. It’s dead, for at least the next 4 years. Who wants to be in a relationship where the other partner constantly berates you and tells you how shit you are? It’s not even like we’re cohabiting, never mind married. Dump them by text, and find a better partner.

Well, if there is any silver lining to be had in any of it for the UK, it could be that Farage’s close ties to Trump could end up being the single biggest threat to his popularity, and therefore to Reform’s.

A global song for our times. Apologies for the expletives, but sometimes there is no more appropriate way to express how you feel…. youtu.be/ac4E_UsmB1g?...

Dear God. Trump is just a deranged estate agent who thinks buying a country and putting a golf course on it will end all the world’s suffering. The world’s additional suffering has only just begun, and there are just under 4 years for it all to get considerably worse.

How can a man so devoid of empathy, humanity, kindness, respect, diplomacy, integrity, <insert more failings here> become the ‘Leader of the Free World’? Actually, skip that last statement, he isn’t the Leader of the Free World. He is just the president of a country that doesn’t want the title.

Whether it was intended to be a nazi salute , Roman salute, frisbee exercise or nervous tic, it was still undoubtedly and bewilderingly WEIRD. Hey, the crackpots have been given power (wealth already ticked off the list), so now the whole world has to suffer the consequences. Thank you, America.

Is it time we started a new movement in the UK? MEGA - Make Elon Go Away.

Musk’s relentless attacks on UK politics is so bloody tiresome. Why can’t he be US isolationist, just like the GOP he allegedly supports? The inability of anyone to do anything about him is such a sad indictment of where we are; all we seem to have left is to collectively tell him to eff off.

@thetrawl.bsky.social Listened to show 204 (I'm a newbie) and Marina asking why can't Musk just "fuck off" captures perfectly, if you are a Brit, the level of discussion and attention he deserves. Then in the same episode, Jemma tells Fartage to do the same. That's me a regular listener. 😁

Is Musk's 'role' just to make Trump appear normal? The ultimate fall guy? I've just seen the narrative he's pushing about bluesky, and all it informs you of is his mental state. He's just a political klutz who happens to be very rich and, for the moment, in favour. Ends in tears? Place your bets.

A wee bit snow to brighten the day.

Back at Arkham, I see Reform supporters drawing parallels with the Trump result and a Reform GE win in 2029. The Trump presidency will have ended by then, and that experience might just give the greatest incentive of all NOT to follow the same path. Time will tell, but my fingers are crossed.

Already seeing posts like 'its so boring here', or 'can't find a post I want to comment on' 1. You can tell the X type they are. 2. I'm delighted that's what they think, as hopefully they just give up here and return to Arkham. 3. If they are just trying to start an argument, it ain't working.

There is nothing like a flat cap, Hunters, and a Barbour to say,'I'm down with my farming bros'. Most of the real farmers I've seen wear boiler suits and wellies and look like they, you know, actually work the land. I'm not sure having the landed gentry as your flag bearers really helps the cause

I just took a little excursion back into X (as if I didn't know coming here was the right decision). I left a comment encouraging someone to come here, but it really made me realise most of the people who made me mad were really not worth it. They trade in rage and lies, making engagement pointless

I never really posted on Twitter; just read digested and commented (fool that I was). I had the princely sum of 70 followers, most of whom were probably bots. I might have a better go at social on bsky. I have a new name, and here feels like a good place for a fresh start. Let's see where it goes

There may come a time when this may not always be a place of joyful exuberance, but whilst it is, I'm going to post a picture of my dog. Whatever life throws at me, I'll throw him a ball.

I just wanted to mark how nice it is to have broken away from the relentless negativity, anger, dishonesty, polarity and madness that X has become. I’m sure this platform will change over time, and whether it is just another echo chamber or not, it is currently a very welcome alternative.