As a confirmed republican who has long accepted that there won't be change in my lifetime, I'm surprised at the level of hostility to royals that AMW has exposed. This isn't an existential crisis, but clear that their bond with public is not nearly as strong and secure as they'd like it to be

And proportional to sense of entitlement.

It's been fascinating to see coordinated action paving the way for this: William statement, Charles statement, Starmer says 'nobody above law' even as the squad cars are racing up the A149. The firm is ruthless. I don't believe for one second this is about justice tho; it's about brand protection.

The verdict is in and sadly it’s a death sentence for this noble 200 year old oak (on the left). It has acute oak dieback and its decline has been astonishingly quick. Two summers ago it looked completely healthy but it’s not a question of how rather than if it comes down.

We’ve seen this movie before. It ended badly for most of them and worse for the rest of us. #Rehash www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Welcome to a new era of climate science. www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/...

The last two books I’ve read, both very much of their time but similar int he clarity and simplicity of language - fascinating stories, and very readable. 💙📚 #booksky

What a terrific game this has been. #IREvITA

Perfect.

If your view of the NHS is drawn largely through the media then it’s likely that when you visit A&E you’re expecting to see something akin to a field hospital during the Battle of the Somme. Can it really be true? Unfortunately, I went along to find out... bennotinspain.substack.com/p/welcome-to...

Worth keeping in mind that we’re only one youthful accident or illness away from Andrew MW currently being King.

Optimistic pricing strategy in @nationaltrust.org.uk bookshop at Sutton Hoo. Offered to take both off their hands if they gave me £8 to take them away.

Why are Scotland playing in lilac? #ITAvSCO

Book 10 of 2026. A very personal, moving and revealing memoir from Laura Cumming, whose love of art and artists shines though on every page. It’s a tour through 17th Century art with a portrait of ‘nowhere man’ Carel Fabritius, and a tribute to her artist father. A beautiful book. 💙📚 #booksky

France clearly the better side and Ireland look sluggish and one-dimensional. But Karl Dickson only really seems to be reffing one side. Ireland can’t catch a break. #FRAvIRE

Wait, there’s Six Nations on a Thursday? Things are looking up.

I wonder how long it will take for the Epstein crims to decide they’re probably better off in the US, which seems to be a consequence-free zone for those involved.

One of the minor things that’s impressed me about how Americans are fighting back is how brilliantly they’ve taken to swearing. Once a CEO I worked for used minor swear word in presentations and we got loads of complaints all from US. Now every fucker is at it from Senators to janitors. Bravo.

Bernie Gunther and the lessons of history. 1930s Berlin: 'a nation in transition as democracy is suspended, judiciary sidelined, police politicized, media silenced, dissent crushed, minorities oppressed... jailed, murdered or disappeared'. Sound familiar? bennotinspain.substack.com/p/bernie-gun...

It’s useful having all the truly terrible people in one place where you can keep an eye on them.

I just bought pints for £8 and absurdly that feels like a real win.

Hamnet excellent. Beautifully shot, wonderful score and very moving. Paul Mescal and Jessie Buckley brilliant.

In solidarity with today's ICE OUT OF MINNESOTA blackout, MinnMax is donating $1 to the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota for every share of this Bluesky post for the next hour.

Out of my comfort zone.

Pick up the nearest book. Turn to page 42 and post the second sentence. ‘His paintings were loved, and he was so prolific that his art is ubiquitous in the world’s museums; taken for granted, like so much Dutch art, seen but overlooked.’

Greenland, Iceland, Ireland, Narnia - really what's the difference?

This is pathetic of the Times, framing it as all our fault for incontinent social media use while the orange madman gets a free pass

The Tory gene pool isn't much more than a shallow, toxic puddle at this point. And Reform is fishing in the shallow end of that.

Very much enjoying today's battle between mediocre, nasty Tories. And Farage now left to decide whether he wants to accept someone he called out as a 'fraud' just a few months ago.

When your political opponents are doing your work for you. Top work by the LDs. ‘Fraud’, ‘traitor’ etc…

How Madrid taught me to love art and set me off on a quest to see every Velazquez canvass. bennotinspain.substack.com/p/lessons-in...

#OriginalRollCall Wednesday 14th January #ORC A first for me…

Sometimes the books you don't read because you're told you should, really ARE the books you should read. Enjoying them, and eventually loving them, is all about timing. 💙 📚#booksky bennotinspain.substack.com/p/finding-di...

If Reform is now just a platform for discredited Tories, what exactly is it they're reforming?

Marvelling at the fact that the new iron comes with a warning not to press garments - while people are wearing them… 😳

Duran Duran. I was always on their side, but never more than this. ‘But I won't cry for yesterday, there's an ordinary world, Somehow I have to find And, as I try to make my way to the ordinary world, I will learn to survive’.

Book 4 of 2026. Bernie Gunther, Somerset Maugham and Cambridge spies on the Côte d’Azur. What’s not to love?? 💙📚 #booksky

Remembering Europe's forgotten refugee crisis in the French Pays Catalan. In the footsteps of La Retirada... bennotinspain.substack.com/p/in-the-foo...

All those out there demonising immigrants and lobbying for their removal would do well to spend a couple of hours at Moorfields Eye Hospital as I did yesterday afternoon where all but one of the fantastic technicians and staff who looked after me were from beyond these shores. 1/2

It’s indefensible for any public official, government department or MP in the UK to still be using X. They should all be following Louise Haigh’s example. Time to excise that cancer from public life.

Whenever I hear about military action in Greenland, I immediately think of the country's first line of defence.

Good timing for Book 3 of 2026, although our cold snap doesn’t touch the big freeze of 1962/63 which provides the mood music for Andrew Miller’s evocative and engaging The Land in Winter. Not surprised it drew so much Booker love. 💙📚 #booksky

Some of Claire Keegan's brilliant books in the Kindle deals today: www.amazon.co.uk/amz-books/bo...

Book #2 of 2026. The wonderful Elizabeth Strout’s debut novel, Amy and Isabelle. Perhaps not as fluent as later works but all the hallmarks of her greatness are here: dark humour, acute insight and honesty. 💙📚 #booksky

Busy parkrun in the cold. Happy to record my best time of the year.

Book #1 of 2026, a thoughtful and hopeful analysis of a potential future for the UK in a reformed EU. Marina Warner gives a (relatively) even-handed view of the Union’s flaws and the UK’s position although the loaded case against feels a little selective.

Well, alright then.

Better late than never? I finally managed to complete my best of 2025 book list, featuring @laurainparis.bsky.social, @philippullman.bsky.social, Inspector Morse, crazy naval adventures and more... 💙📚 #booksky

Better late than never? I finally managed to complete my best of 2025 book list, featuring @laurainparis.bsky.social, @philippullman.bsky.social, Inspector Morse, crazy naval adventures and more... bennotinspain.substack.com/p/my-favouri...

It turns out the brain cells I’ve been struggling to activate all these years have been busy retaining every single lyric from Crowded House’s Woodface lp which I’m listening to in full for the first time in about 25 years.