The foregrounding of the wedding ring exception to the stealing of asylum seekers' jewelry is expertly Christianity-What-Doesn't-Everyone-Else?-coded, I have to say.

Probably need to write this up a bit more to explain that this is a practical implementation issue, not really one of deep principle.

Been interesting to see this piece taken by centre/centre-left commentators as confirmation of their biases (just raise tax, fund public services) when actually, in terms of critique of Reeves, it appears to say that 'competence' lies only in a more fundamental approach to private/public consumption

Fundamental issue here is that countries are neither safe or unsafe. It is people who are safe or unsafe in countries. Simply declaring a country safe is not logical, at least until we know all people in it will be safe.

A lot of commentators avoiding this, but by far the most logical explanation for UK Labour leadership's current behaviour is that they have been possessed by Satan.

I'm still unclear as to whether the Labour asylum stupidity requires primary legislation or can be rammed through by Statutory Instrument (may be clearer tomorrow). If it does need to go through parliament, it may not even pass, because for Labour backbenchers threat will become opportunity.

Lurchers sure do sleep weird.

1/ Typically excellent from @chrisdillow.bsky.social of course chrisdillow.substack.com/p/on-incompe... but I think if you really want to grasp what he's saying two other pieces of his are handy.

Not a biggie, but for the second report in a row the same BBC reporter has failed to understand what the key issue with the £800k in initial member subs is www.bbc.com/news/article... Zarah Sultana has not transferred £200k of it elsewhere. Another correction forthcoming, I guess.

This does look a bit like the White House wants to sell poor children to cults.

It's actually ok if your brake blocks are more than about 1mm from your wheel rim if that allows a wheel that's a bit bent out of shape to go round without scraping. I man, within limits. You're going down the shops. It's not the Tour de France. You can just pull the brake lever a bit harder.

I'll go out on a limb and say I think Ed Miliband might be the next prime minister: not too New Labour, stuck to the job, clear energy wins on way, ok sense of humour, can work with other parties re: coalition, decent team builder, has learned not to push authenticity, big dog who doesn't do big dog

Not sure I've ever seen a Labour candidate get less than 10 votes before. Eight votes is three less than nominations needed to stand, plus the candidate. Odd thing is that Labour didn't contest this seat at all last time round. I think it must have been for a bet.

Not sure I've ever seen a Labour candidate get less than 10 votes before. Eight votes is three less than nominations needed to stand, plus the candidate. Odd thing is that Labour didn't contest this seat at all last time round. I think it must have been for a bet.

The small but sharp shift of the pound vs the euro reminds me that in not too long I can take out my Irish pension, which I'd pretty well forgotten I had. So the government chaos on income tax is not all bad.

I think perhaps I should state the obvious. Most people were not alive in 1975.

A bit Pollyannaesque, but I do wonder if a narrative for not needing income tax rises might be developed around the real prospect of better access to the single market within the next two years www.politico.eu/article/uk-s... It's probably time to play that card, given lack of other cards.

I'm not sure this transcript is right. I actually think the text he fails to read out might be "Christians and Mormons...." but he stumbles over that and it goes downhill from there. Maybe the text was written by Vance, as part of a mission to officially hive of Mormonism from Christianity....

I actually wonder if the third word written down for him is 'Mormons', with the speech written by someone keen on Trump saying publicly that Christianity an Mormonism are distinct faiths. Hence the stumble and ensuing collapse inot utter incoherence. My theory and I'm sticking to it.

Fifteen years since I invented the primary school bike bus. Glad to see other places ar now catching up.

It quite be quite silly to cut this benefit simply because a few people buy £10k bikes with it, not least because cargo bike growth will be stymied. www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025... But...

As the BBC's under Royal Charter, the obvious thing to do is to send the one previously known as Prince Andrew over to grovel, given he's technically still a royal. He can be sup-poena'd on the Epstein files while he's there, and Fergie can be told to chuck all his stuff in a skip while he's away..

Minor issue really, but I do feel sort of sorry for @lewisgoodall.com, who seems like a decent enough bloke, but who I guess is now going to have to decide if he can ethically continue with the popular News Agents podcast, given the recent content from a co-presenter and justified reaction to it.

This is very good from @cjayanetti.bsky.social and the quotes from the Reform spokesperson actually made me smirk.

From a few years ago. Still mostly stands up, I think. medium.com/@bickerrecor...

I understand US politics even less than I did a week ago, and a week ago I knew nothing about US politics.

Your reminder that people have been complaining about BBC lies since at least 1929. (From Clash, by 'Red' Ellen Wilkinson' set during the 1926 General Strike).

This is a good threaded list of what is needed to make it look like it's all improving now,tho I'd emphasize basic built environment maintanance (weed clearance etc) more. I'd also like to see a time extension on 'balanced budget' requirements of s.114 in 1986 Act, and let local politics do the rest

This is the first mention of reporting on issues related to trans people in the Michael Prescott report. He just calls it "the trans issue". If that feels like it's an assumption that the basic right to be trans is open to question, that's because it is.

Maybe remind Trump that the BBC is allowed to do its stuff only by totally Royal Charter. Trump loves kings. downloads.bbc.co.uk/bbctrust/ass...

1/ Yep, the more I think about this, the more I think one way to tackle this would be to alert users, perhaps on the basis of a test case, that they run the risk of prosecution under the Fraudt Act 2006 for doing so. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Nb. I'm actually serious about this. The wording of the law was not done with AI-based 'crime' in mind, but it fits. I think driving prosecutions under it should be progressive party policy.

This has been an interesting series to date, as you'd expect. John will now turn to his own 'convincing alternative. FWIW, here's my attempt at something similar (more UK specific), from a year or two back medium.com/@bickerrecor... Nobody read it, as you'd expect.

This is ofc v silly by Syed, but what strikes me is the apparent assumption that western history is something other, at least in avowed 'worldview' terms (pace Domenico Losurdo) something other than the shift to liberalism. Has he simply never heard of the Enlightenment?

The whole ballroom construction thing is just a front for getting industrial quantities of paint into the White House to be used for its real purpose.

My instant reaction is that this was a Tiktok video filmed by another group member, and somebody put the drink in on the stop below/above. Also, I'm going to arrange the same tomorrow, although it will be a newly opened can of Special Brew.

My 'new' bike. Early 70's frame, original parts, 5 cog cassette, old style gear shift. Gave a neighbour a tenner (I forced in on him tbh). Great option as the 1980s road bike getting bit much for my dodgy back. Rides like a dream. Neighbour really happy. ps The AED wasn't needed. It was for a job.

Watched Bloom, the 2002 film version of Ulysses. Absolutely superb, but I wonder if it wins the 'most completely unintelligible film if you haven't read the book ever' award. Any other nominations? Lines close at 10pm GMT, or whenever I say. Winner announced tomorrow, or whenever I say.

The ballroom construction is just a front for getting enough paint into the White House for the main presidential purpose.

BREAKING: Blackpool FC have scored a goal.

Actually some good news. Give the ECB that FIFA Peace Prize www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricke...

“To conclude, Donald Trump is dedicated to lawn order. Now, any mower questions?”

Back in 2015, I blagged some tickets for Photograph 51 for a load of year 11 kids at the Skem high school Where I was Chair of Governors. Nicole Kidman played Rosalind, and did a big Q&A with the kids after. One of the girls who went is now a promising physicist. #rosalindfranklin

Fucking Infantino Fails Agaiin www.theguardian.com/football/202...

Oof, didn’t make the cut. I’m going to become a tra…….no, no, only kidding

Anyway, as it's #lammypoppygate time, an old thing I wrote on why my dad, awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal in WWII, probably never wore a poppy medium.com/@bickerrecor...

Easy to jump to conclusions that Greens couldn't field a candidate and/or had a quiet deal with LibDems cos their candidate well-known and liked, but I've also seen enough local elections to know it might just have been a total cock up with nomination papers. Local info needed.

@danhayesjourno.bsky.social As this is getting a tiny bit of interest, here's a letter to Met from few years ago seeking assessment under same law, just really to show I'm not messing with offer medium.com/@bickerrecor... Obv v diff circs. Gimme a shout if interested or if e.g. Olivia Blake is.

This is great local reporting. FWIW, sending "very aggressive" letters of this type may be an offence under s.40 of the Administration of Justice Act 1970 www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1970/3... Happy to draft a letter to police seeking assessment of possible offence if it helps those affected.

This is marvellously Reformy. Even more marvellous when you look up the book. And the back page. And the reviews. And the publisher. Rabbit hole: escaped.