It's worth stressing that we have rules around political funding to protect our entire democracy. The voters of one constituency might be fine with their MP breaking those rules. But they can't release their MP from them, because a single MP on the take is a danger to the whole system.

Imagine writing about sport without having any sense of what makes sport precious. www.nytimes.com/athletic/742...

Your occassional reminder that the Midas touch was a curse, not a blessing.

The problem here is that the big pharma companies (including AZ) have effectively made continued investment in the U.K. contingent on this deal. The problem is the NHS being required to fund the government’s industrial strategy and the answer is to provide more money to the NHS.

Excited to read that AI companies are diversifying from developing ways to allow students to write and submit essays they never actually read themselves into software that allows lecturers to grade essays they have never actually read themselves. A bright future lies ahead.

Calling a by-election over the sovereign right of every MP to take secret gifts from a convicted criminal. What a time to be alive.

I thought the BBC commentary team for Belgium vs US were top notch. Nice not having every moment filled with inane comments.

NEW: Nigel Farage to give statement on “my future in public life” at 2pm

There’s a point in a career when people you taught or mentored come back to you, adults with whole lives, and it’s weird that i’m still 30-years-old. Weird!

Early morning press conference at the Whitehouse.

Continuing in the now well established tradition of poor reporting of issues around “e - bikes” because it’s obviously too difficult to actually look at the relevant law. If you think e-bikes are responsible for the increase in insurance premiums I’ve a bridge to sell you.

The Chairperson of the FIFA disciplinary committee published a statement. Peculiarly, it fails to make an argument and could be summarised as ‚we could have done worse and that would have been legal, too‘. media.fifa.com/en/tournamen...

#OTD #RedDevils #Belgium🇧🇪

It's a good thing Nigel Farage wasn't late on paying £39 on NI on a late P11(d) form for his company or something. He'd be in trouble.

There aren’t “right” or “wrong” choices to be made, there’s just a question of “ok, what tradeoff do you want your local government to be optimised for?”

Tales of the great success for the UK in its US trade deals are wildly exaggerated here - a 10% plus MFN tariff is not too much different to a 15% all in that the EU got. And others like Australia also got 10%. As for the pharma deal... continues to look awful. www.politico.eu/article/varu...

SO MUCH WINNING.

Can’t believe Andy Burnham is creating a constitutional crisis by announcing his Cabinet in the usual way.

I continue to be mildly surprised yet actually horrified that the UK public and the Labour Party isn’t up in arms about this. The NHS a secular religion? Apparently not.

Their decision is that Belgium lost 6-3 to USA in the match they’ll play later today.

Amazing how a whole section of Americans who clearly know nothing about football have suddenly become SoccerBall™ experts just for the purpose of lecturing the rest of us about how it was 100% legit for their crook of a President to pressurise FIFA into unsuspending a player.

Obvs the exact opposite has happened

What you’d call an own goal ?

BlueSky tonight

Part of the explanation for the so called ‘vibecession’ hypothesis has to just be stuff that really should work doesn’t work and it’s teeth gnashingly frustrating to the point where it genuinely damages quality of life for millions of people.

i mean we may as well ask about our red last night

Infantino must go. No matter where it’s held, the World Cup belongs to the fans – not gangsters like Trump. We need someone who’ll finally kick corruption out of FIFA.

Just in case you were looking for something to while away the time before the next reason to become outraged substack.com/@tomwatsonof...

Am I hallucinating?

George Cottrell, a 32-year-old aristocrat nicknamed “Posh George”, is regarded as one of Farage’s closest aides. Earlier this year, he co-wrote a book entitled How to Launder Money: A Guide for Law Enforcement, Prosecutors and Policymakers via @rachel-rees.bsky.social www.ft.com/content/7a0f...

The orange felon blames mail-in voting, immigrants and felons for destroying America, yet he marries immigrants, he votes by mail and he’s a convicted felon. Funny how that bullshit hypocrisy works.

This is getting better and better.

This is an obvious opportunity for Andy Burnham to fulfil his promise to rewire the state. An open goal, if you will.

what now

Being told you’re corrupt by UEFA and Sepp Blatter is like being told you have a few mad ideas by Liz Truss.

1, 2 and 4 good priorities, but I am increasingly unconvinced by '3' - the nature of an effective government is that the Chancellor becomes the obvious successor and that will always add a note of friction.

A very good afternoon to everyone

Wonderwall is going to become the new national anthem and the writings of Tony Wilson part of the national curriculum.

It’s not hard to see why people become cynical about politics and politicians www.theguardian.com/technology/2...

I’m all for burning the planet if AI can generate stuff like this 👍

A song for Andy Burnham’s transition team youtu.be/f8gsUGx6NQc?...

The checklist for Burnham’s choice of Chancellor

I feel sorry for the future CEO of GBR - there are crucial decisions already being made that will make a fundamental difference to their chances of success. One of the most important decisions already being made (or not being made!) is brand strategy. This is why it's so crucial.

👇

Trump’s never seen a rules based system that he doesn’t want to dismantle. FIFA is a disgrace as a governing body.

Conservatives used to believe in the rule of law & in a conventional moral code ("Victorian values"). Their epigones seem to be showing us that these were just tribal bullshit.

I, Jordan Henderson, got a yellow card and a terrible injury in the legendary 2026 match against Mexico at the Azteca While playing, right?