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Our statement following the publication of the Grenfell criminal investigation timeline today 💚

Yesterday Far Right leader Tommy Robinson and his followers openly called for Islam to be removed from the UK and us Muslims to be remigrated. If he had said this about Jews, quite rightly, there would be a national response. But it has been eerily quiet today.

If this isn't "designed to stir up hatred" against Jews, what is? Why are the Met not arresting them?

#Cambridgeshire folks do come to a nice little occasion tomorrow morning in Swaffham Bulbeck. In particular, a most excellent gardener is donating loads of wonderful garden plants.

New post: "Why do PMs keep failing?" We'll be on our seventh in a decade soon. It's not an impossible job + recent PMs have all been v flawed. But the job is unnecessarily hard because of how it's evolved. Here's how it could be made easier. (£/free trial) open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/w...

So why isn't one of the empowered agencies applying for an unexplained wealth order? share.google/UikQk39uiZrM... share.google/kc0if5ms1eZn...

Interesting story. Aside from the predatory loss-leader approach, shocking that a company with known Russian links given data about Ukrainian refugees #Palantir www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

I’m skeptical.

The Conservatives’ Alternative King’s Speech claimed the welfare bill is higher than income tax receipts “for the first time ever”. We’ve heard this a few times recently, but it’s not true. Welfare spending (including pensions) has been higher for years.

At times like this, we might remember Harold Wilson's comment when facing an alleged leadership challenge in 1969: "I know what is going on. I am going on. Your government is going on.”

Farage now insisting he is “not and has never been a crook”. Lucky there’s no political history of “I am not a crook” as a line of defence coming back to bite anyone.

PSA: @samcoatessky.bsky.social on the pod this morning said a leadership contest would mean government would be restrained on decision making because gov would be 'effectively in government purdah and that principle that big government decisions go on hold'. That isn't accurate.

No scriptwriters needed or any further The Thick of It series...

There is no way we are giving up our seat for Andy Burnham.

Well, that Express headline was always going to raise a few eyebrows!😳 Starmer is responsible for embracing polygamy to appease Muslims, and so he's increasing their benefits?? That's the implication. After all, this "started in April", right? Wrong! 🧵1/25

Interesting that so far it's been female MPs seats that have been suggested for Burnham.

Government had, until now, been saying it would bring forward these reforms to the Right to Buy "when parliamentary time allows" - good to see it's risen up the priority list and was included in today's Kings Speech.

The major down-side of the Greens' proposal for decriminalising personal drug use is that we'll get a lot more of, well.. ⬇️

BURGUM: When the sun goes down, solar produces zero electricity HUFFMAN: I want to enter into the record this amazing new technology that apparently the secretary is unaware of -- it's a battery

A few interesting bits of the Kings Speech for housing: - "Social Housing Renewal Bill" - which includes reforms the Right to Buy. - Leasehold reforms, including capping ground rents - Cladding Remediation Bill assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6a0453...

Stop reporting it as if it's a new series of The Traitors, for God's sake. So tired of this really important stuff being treated as some kind of panto put on for the enjoyment of the political hacks/bloggers/podcasters.

Weird weather. Sharper frost forecast for 10/11 May here than all but a couple of nights last winter. Fortunately most tender plants still in pots.

Not pushing hard enough against right-wing antisemitism makes it harder to deal with it on the left because it gives people on the left an excuse to ignore criticism.

It was wrong when the media did this to Ed Miliband when he was leader and it is wrong to do this to Polanski. Genuinely have no idea how awfulness like this gets past editors… It’s really not that hard to criticise policies or politicians without being antisemitic.

Four-in-ten NEETs are not receiving means-tested benefits. In fact, the share of NEETs claiming means-tested benefits has remained stable in recent years. So, any theory for what is driving up the NEET rate can’t only blame the benefits system. Read the full analysis➡️ buff.ly/gABGpwv

Such a shame this is no longer possible. We would love to visit Egypt if there were a ferry from Piraeus (or maybe Brindisi) to Alexandria.

Sarah Vine books a train on BH Mon from Cornwall to London Decides to get a different train - that is clearly already full. Complains PUBLICLY to her 60K followers, tagging the train company, that there were no seats on the full train she hadn’t booked on to! She is really quite something!😂

How to fix a problem like Whitehall Governments normally rely on the civil service to reform itself - an approach which has not delivered results. Re:State are launching our new 'Plan for government' to fix that. Read more from @charliepickles.bsky.social restate.substack.com/p/how-to-fix...

Ministers hate surprises, so why did Olly Robbins not tell them about Mandelson's vetting? ukcivilservant.substack.com/p/keir-starm...

After Golders Green, this piece by @evawiseman.bsky.social in today’s @theobserveruk.bsky.social helped me to make sense of where I am, and this bit just lifted my heart. FRS is Finchley Reform Synagogue. observer.co.uk/news/nationa...

If the government wants to tackle the "online breeding ground of antisemitism" why on earth are Keir Starmer, the government and @heidialexander.bsky.social still posting on X? www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cw...

A long but insightful read on the purpose of the state. www.theguardian.com/world/2026/a...

Brilliant take down of the latest culture war front, tumble dryers. (Yes, really.) All I would add, on the 'slow' claim, is that ours' built-in hygrometer switches it off when the clothes are dry. So just put the clothes in and get on with your day!

What is even better is that it is part of a 4 mile almost completely vehicle-free route across E and N Cambridge, indeed the energetic can continue a further 14 miles to St Ives. Links also to the Greenway route E out of Cambridge to nearby villages.

NEW: Brilliant to have @matthewpennycookmp.bsky.social keynote speech at IfG this week on leasehold reform Housing regulation has rarely gone... well? Here I set out why I found the approach encouraging, and how govt can keep things on track. www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/leas...

It's the Friday market close peace plan again! Like Charlie Brown and the football every week.

Another day, another piece of evidence that the Telegraph is a comic. The slightly higher price of heat pump dryers is more than offset by lower running costs. Attempted furore a bit like incandescent light bulbs a few years ago.

Majesty and Travesty

One of the most remarkable achievements in modern political history has been the emergence of "anti-establishment, anti-elite, people's army" parties - committed to "bringing back the nation-state" - that are led, directed & financed by the richest, most privileged & most mobile people on the planet

Very odd and unhelpful intervention. Government could justifiably have blown its trumpet far more about the Renters' Rights Act package, whose measures probably reach the limits of what can be done in a free market without risking serious perverse consequences.

If you honestly believe the only reason problems haven’t been solved is because you weren’t in charge, you need a therapist, not a job in Downing Street. Thoughts on civil service reform. howtorunacountry.substack.com/p/going-for-...

None of what she is stating here relates to the Renters' Rights Act, or will be impacted by its introduction. Her issues stem from our collapsing justice system. To be clear - you can still seek possession based on arrears under the RRA. It's no fault evictions that will be stopped.

Subsidising energy consumption in the face of both a short-term supply shock and the long-term need to decarbonise. Bad for the economy, bad for the planet, bad for the world's poor. And *if* you favour a wealth tax (I am sceptical but there's a case) spending it on *this" is just idiotic.

Property developer pleading poverty is an interestng defence www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

By this same logic, Donald Trump bears direct personal responsibility for the murder of Melissa Hortman, the assault on Paul Pelosi, the guy who showed up armed at the Obamas, the attempted pipe bombing of several prominent Democrats, the January 6th rioters who assaulted cops, and many many more.

Everything about the Trump ballroom is fishy, and we deserve better answers than we have. www.doomsdayscenario.co/p/the-troubl...