Trump's response: "I'm glad he's dead". Every day Trump sinks lower.

I have no doubt that Trump is a dangerous and stupid man. And the economic effects of his insane war are becoming widely understood. Here's how my invested ISA has crashed. Now it's got personal.

Trump calls his war on Iran a "Military Operation". Is it a "special military operation"? www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cx...

This morning we raised the flag of Ireland over Islington Town Hall. Irish roots run deep in our Borough. Lá Fhéile Pádraig sona daoibh.

"One day, son, this war will be over."

Negotiating with Starmer to keep Farage out of power: Nah. Negotiating with Vladmir Putin: Sure thing. Also Zack Polanski: Starmer shouldn't negotiate with Trump, he isn't to be trusted!

Mandelson wanted £547,000 severance after his sacking as US Ambassador. Turns out was paid off with £75,000. I would have paid him precisely zero. What would he do, go to an employment tribunal? www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...

Times have changed. I remember the Royal Navy's "Armilla patrol" which provided security to shipping in the Gulf continuously from 1980 up until 2011 when it evolved into "Operation Kipion" and then dwindled to nothing. Why? en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armilla...

Fake school violence condemned as ‘malicious clickbait’ Example of disinformation memes that have proliferated online Cally Councillor Paul Convery has condemned the AI-generated claims of "school wars" across London. But he has also urged parents and schools to remain vigilant. The Met Police has…

Sure there's been a spike in oil prices today. But the world economy is much better insulated from oil price shocks than in previous crises. In large part that's because the world economy is less reliant on hydro-carbon energy.

This is utterly foolish. US forces aren’t being used for a “defensive purpose”.

Thames Water boss is blasted by Islington’s Council Leader After the Thames Water pipe burst and catastrophic flood the clean-up continues on Caledonian Road. Islington Council's leader has written to Thames Water's Chief Executive criticising "years of neglect and inaction." Cllr O'Halloran who…

The Green Party in Islington has now repudiated an electoral pact with Islington Community Independents, a Corbyn-leaning fledgling political party. Only months ago they promised not to stand against each other. It was a called a "non-aggression pact". But it's broken down after barely six months.”

There's online memes and TikToks apparently organising and publicising a "war" between schools in Boroughs and even between Boroughs. Naturally, many parents are worried. But it's not real. It's malicious online clickbait. We all need to be calm about this not panicked.

I have always admired the writing style of the Economist. Consistently good for decades. This opening paragraph is a wonderfully pithy summary of the fall of Andrew whats-his-name.

Very sad news. A fantastic actor. Not great at politics. But Latin American philanthropic work was sound. Best performance: with DeNiro in True Confessions (1981).

The latest calamity at Tottenham clearly isn't about Thomas Frank's managerial and coaching abilities. The club is in turmoil, the players lack discipline and ambition. The departure of Postecoglu, Levy and now Frank is a pattern not a one-off. www.bbc.co.uk/sport/footba...

This will never happen but it's lunacy for Starmer's faction to even threaten it.

Steve Rosenberg reports that Russia says assassination attempt is Ukraine trying to derail Abu Dhabi peace process. But it's equally likely responsibility was someone inside Russia trying that. www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/...

Another excellent Osley column in today’s Islington Tribune. Another opportunity for me therefore to cosey-up to the editor-in-chief of the CNJ titles.

These extraordinary revelations aren't just some kind of Ministerial Code breach, they're surely criminal offences?

Nominations are open for the 2026 Cally Awards To celebrate the Cally and our strong community, the first annual Cally Awards ceremony will be held at the end of March. Nominations are now open for anyone to propose a great Cally hero for recognition. We are looking to celebrate individuals,…

Cally Councillor, Sara Hyde, makes her first speech as a member of the House of Lords Cally Councillor Sara Hyde made her first ("maiden") speech in the House of Lords yesterday, Thursday 29th January. Sara gave one of the most memorable first speeches heard in Britain's second legislative…

Labour’s 2026 candidates in Caledonian Ward Labour's Cally team: Paul, Una and Oliur The three Labour candidates for Caledonian Ward at the May 2026 local elections have now been chosen. Current Councillors Paul Convery and Una O'Halloran are now joined by Oliur Rahman. This follows Cllr Sara Hyde…

This is a very lucid argument. Summarised: The problem "is not environmental regulation itself, but an adversarial planning system that incentivises pre-emptive risk aversion.

Text of Trump's ramble in Davos. It's worth reading just to understand how absolutely venal he is. And utterly tone deaf. Claimed USA won WW2 and “without us, you’d all be speaking German.” He said this in Switzerland where the majority language is German. www.weforum.org/stories/2026...

This is a disgusting thing that Trump said. Britain’s forces took 457 deaths from combat in Afghanistan. He has a fucking nerve, go tell the British Army they weren’t on the front line in Kandahar.

Four very difficult, very salient urgent questions in the Commons today.

If this is really provably true, then all those people around Trump, the military leadership, the Senate and House, the tech Bros and the corporate titans, just have to say no to him.

This is not a "silly" idea at all. Might be a good opportunity for EUFA to demonstrate a bit of backbone too.

As political grovels go, this is off the dial.

Of course Jenrick has to say it's not "personal ambition". He also has to say that because he is now clearly someone likely to be a challenge to Farage. www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cr...

Liberal Democrat led Boroughs tried to curtail the London Freedom Pass. Labour Boroughs have put a stop to it. www.standard.co.uk/news/transpo...

Some broadcasters and press in London have reported that the Freedom Pass is under review. It isn’t. Three Lib Dem boroughs tried to trigger a review but Labour Boroughs have repudiated this and committed to protecting the Freedom Pass.

It would be so much better if we did not have Mandelson on TV “explaining”. An extended period of silence preferred. Perhaps this is step 1 in yet another attempt to rehabilitate a reputation that is totally trashed.

Kent County Council's Reform Leader says "I would love to say I’ve found a magic way of not putting (Council Tax) up". But that's exactly what she said at the hustings last year. www.politicshome.com/news/article...

Cinderella at the Hackney Empire, our annual trip. Directed by the irrepressible Clive Rowe but sadly minus his usual lead appearance. As ever, a strong cast, brilliant band and outstanding design and technical stagecraft.

In the list of very good reasons for older people to to stay in London (or move here) is healthcare. It's true, everyone, everywhere has NHS services. But London is head and shoulders above the rest of the country with some of the world's best hospitals, life science research and medical staff.

Richard Osley's sharp, but accurate, Arsenal assessment in this week's Tribune: "all that needs to happen ... is some basic shooting practice ... just kick it in the goal and we’ll all sleep well." www.islingtontribune.co.uk/article/keep...

Strange times. In the UNISON General Secretary election "far left" candidate Andrea Egan has ousted Christina McAnea having secured 60% of the vote. The voting numbers show an extraordinarily low turnout however - just 7% of the eligible membership. www.unison.org.uk/news/2025/12...

Cllr Sara Hyde appointed to House of Lords It has been announced that Cllr Sara Hyde has been appointed by the King as a new member of the House of Lords. A Cally councillor since 2018, Sara will be an active "working peer" fully participating in the Lords legislative and scrutiny functions. She…

It's about time the Council started using this account.

This afternoon there was a stabbing on the Westbourne estate in Islington.

This is not OK messaging.

Yesterday Badenoch said the Chancellor lied about the public finances being in a bad way. So, is Badenoch saying the public finances are actually in great shape then?

Although “profits are reinvested in NHS services” it’s annoying to see UCLH advertising private healthcare for people with health insurance. It’s queue-jumping and it ultimately hollows-out public healthcare.

Cally community activist David Lear has died The Cally community and Councillors have expressed shock and sadness at the sudden death of the local campaigning journalist, David Lear, on Saturday 15th November. David lived on Centurian Close and collapsed whilst recording events outside HMP…

Oooh, he’s upped the damages. Now could be $5 billion. Five billion dollars!Stupid. He has no reputation. BBC should offer $500 charitable cause donation.

BBC gets it right. Calls Trump's bluff. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

The BBC has already said sorry. Should have added “if that programme hurt your feelings”. Thereafter, defend the libel action. Florida defamation bar is set very high (they like free speech). And 1 billion dollars is a laughable damages claim. Failing that offer to settle for $500 to a US charity.