Happy New Year! May 2026 bring you every happiness. Χρόνια Πολλά

Less than a third of Britons think that Brexit was the right decision www.economist.com/leaders/2025...

A wonderful, moving extended BBC interview with Reed boss James Reed on the career and legacy of his father Sir Alec Reed, who died this month. It’s a privilege for Soho Comms to work with @biggive.bsky.social, the charity Sir Alec founded, and on the PhilCo movement. www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p...

The best story you’ll read this Christmas. www.bbc.com/news/article...

If you’re sick of overplayed Christmas chart tunes and fancy something alternative, give my annual festive indie playlist a spin. This year featuring Sufjan Stevens, Tori Amos, Phoebe Bridgers, Thea Gilmore, The Lemon Twigs, Bright Eyes, Lumineers. Happy Christmas! open.spotify.com/playlist/6IA...

As I’ve said before, the omertà may finally be broken but the UK’s main parties are way, way behind the electorate on the disaster of Brexit. Given it is the single “achievement” of Farage’s career, it also represents the best line of attack against Reform.

It’s that time of year: here’s my annual indie Christmas playlist for those who crave some alternative festive tunes. Featuring @theagilmore.bsky.social @toriamos.bsky.social Sufjan Stevens @thelumineersmusic.bsky.social Phoebe Bridgers and more. Happy Christmas! open.spotify.com/playlist/6IA...

There is now an estimated majority of 8.1 million among the British electorate for rejoining the EU. Tick tock. www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/ex-pol...

@biggive.bsky.social's Christmas Challenge has raised an incredible, record-breaking £57.4m in seven days, making it the UK's biggest public fundraiser for the second year running. Everyone at Soho Comms has loved playing a part in spreading the word about the power of match funding.

Pleased to share some personal news: I'm delighted to have been appointed as CEO of Soho Comms. www.prweek.co.uk/article/1942...

There is just over an hour left of this year's @biggive.bsky.social Christmas Challenge, which has grown to become the UK's biggest fundraiser. You can choose any of 1,589 charities to support and have your money DOUBLED. Please consider supporting the campaign if you haven't yet. www.biggive.org

My first time seeing Thea Gilmore, a singer I’ve loved for years, live tonight at St Pancras Old Church, a magical venue for her folk tunes. Her voice was even more special live than on record. Rise was my favourite song; there was also a great Cohen cover @theagilmore.bsky.social

WOW! @biggive.bsky.social's Christmas Challenge has raised £10m in less than 4 hours today. Soho Comms is thrilled to be part of this amazing campaign - now the UK's biggest public fundraiser. Donate by Dec 9 to any of 1,589 charities taking part and have your money doubled. www.biggive.org

@biggive.bsky.social's Christmas Challenge has grown to be the UK's biggest fundraiser. As ever, it's a privilege to be involved in spreading the word. From noon today, and for the following 7 days, you can give to any of 1,589 charities and have your money DOUBLED fundraising.co.uk/2025/12/02/b...

Boris Johnson described HMT's “doom-laden” predictions as a “hoax” and “just not credible”. Farage attacked Cameron and Osborne for feeding the public “a constant diet of lies". In fact, it transpires, HMT's Brexit forecasts weren't nearly negative enough. yorkshirebylines.co.uk/opinion/brex...

This is the most alarming story I’ve read today. Giving up the fight before it’s started

Introduce yourself with five concerts you've seen: Tori Amos Fleetwood Mac Father John Misty Kate Bush Sufjan Stevens

Brexit is now costing the UK £90bn a year in lost tax revenue. Analysis by the House of Commons library also shows the average Brit has seen a hit of between £2,700 and £3,700. That's why taxes are at an all-time high. Brexit is simply untenable. www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...

One-off injection ‘gives heart failure patients their life back’: great to work with the Heart Cells Foundation and St Barrholomew’s Hospital in London to spread the word of this incredible British medical breakthrough. www.thetimes.com/uk/healthcar...

EVERY SINGLE PERSON IN CONGRESS should be pressed about Trump calling for their colleagues to be killed

A Trump supporter started murdering his way through an assassination list of Democratic law makers FIVE MONTHS AGO. He murdered my colleague Melissa Hortman, and her husband Mark — and attempted to assassinate my dear friend John Hoffman and his wife Yvette. I was also on the hit list. WTF

Good to work with DG of @nationaltrust.org.uk Hilary McGrady on this piece pushing back on the exhausting anti-nature rhetoric which has entered the political mainstream. Hilary will be on Times Radio shortly to discuss it further. www.thetimes.com/comment/colu...

Sir John Major: “Brexiteers predicted other countries would follow their lead and leave the EU. None have. All saw only too clearly that Brexit was packed with disadvantages. As we meet nine further nations now wish to join, which is an apt comment on how the world saw Britain's decision.

We’ve heard lots about the impact of inheritance tax changes on family farms, but not the bigger hit to family firms which make up 90% of UK businesses. Many warn if they go ahead as planned, firms will be broken up and sold off to PE or foreign owners. www.cnbc.com/video/2025/1...

Read 'em and weep. (www.nber.org/system/files...)

Tori Amos Kate Bush Karen Carpenter Stevie Nicks Aimee Mann

Conservative Shadow Culture Secretary Nigel Huddleston tells GB News that the BBC should "grovel" to Trump. Amazing how many British 'patriots' are spending their time telling our national broadcaster to prostrate itself before a hostile foreign leader

Glad that someone has finally taken responsibility for the appalling assault on democracy that was the Jan. 6 insurrection. Slightly confused that it's the Director-General of the BBC, but what do I know?

Name 10 current female artists you love: Tori Amos Aimee Mann Kate Bush Phoebe Bridgers Bjork Fiona Apple Rosalia Sharon Van Etten Anna von Hausswolff Imogen Heap

Not a flicker.

Good to work with ⁦James Reed⁩ and other leading figures in business and philanthropy on this open letter to @spearsmagazine.bsky.social. It’s about a new way of doing business: karma capitalism, embodied by the PhilCo, at least 10% owned by charity. spearswms.com/impact-phila...

The president of the AA, who should know better, has suggested proposals for a pay-by-the-mile scheme for electric car drivers could become a 'poll tax on wheels'. I've written on why it's a sensible and necessary move as the fuel duty tax base collapses. www.linkedin.com/posts/james-...

The Huntingdon train hero has been named this afternoon as Samir Zitouni, reportedly born in Algeria. Thoughts and prayers with all the right-wing rabble rousers who tried to weaponise this horrible incident.

The police continue to investigate the motive for last night's stabbings. Their initial statement is they don't have grounds to believe it was a terrorist motivated attack Elected Reform Durham county councillor Darren Grimes posted this political attack on the assumption it was an Islamist attack

So, both alleged attackers in the dreadful Huntingdon incident are British and nothing to suggest any terrorist motivation, police say. There is palpable disappointment in large parts of the other site.

My gig of the year tonight: @gregoryalanisakov.bsky.social at the Apollo. An incredible band with violin, double bass, banjo, piano, guitar, drums and harmonica. And best of all, that voice. I left a fan for life.

The result overnight in Caerphilly is immensely cheering, as it shows that Reform might lead the polls but are sufficiently disliked by the rest of the electorate that people are prepared to vote tactically and ruthlessly to keep them out of power.

Brexit will hurt the economy for ‘foreseeable future’, the Governor of the Bank of England confirms. It’s years late, but much more of this Brexit truth-telling and the Government might actually have to do something about it. www.telegraph.co.uk/business/202...

"There is no doubting that the impact of Brexit is severe and long-lasting,' says Rachel Reeves. At last, a senior figure in a government of any sort admits what's been plain to the rest of us for years. So what are we going to do about it? www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/rachel...

Good to work with Cherie Blair KC and her charity 50:50 Parliament on this piece for @thetimes.com. The charity is one of those taking part in @biggive.bsky.social’s women & girls campaign and all donations before Wednesday at midday will be doubled. www.thetimes.com/comment/colu...

Ok, it doesn’t look very appealing, but that’s part of the point and it takes a few seconds to discover that it’s temporary, stick-on graffiti which will soon be gone. Can we please stop being permanently outraged by everything? #CanterburyCathedral

But the great thing about Robert Jenrick is that wherever he goes, he increases the number of white faces by two.

Why is Starmer becoming more confident criticising Brexit? Because quietly, without any great drama, a consensus has been reached. It's a disaster inews.co.uk/opinion/brex...

Not sure the man responsible for this poster is best placed to lecture anyone else on taking politics “into the gutter”.

Andy Burnham has called for the UK to rejoin the EU at the Labour Party conference. Now things are getting interesting.

Just 11% of Brits now see Brexit as a success. This is Farage’s one “achievement” - indeed he vowed to leave the country if it failed. What is he still doing here and why isn’t he asked about the disaster or Brexit in every interview? www.thelondoneconomic.com/politics/how...

Sir Menzies Campbell was a fine public servant and a deeply honourable man. I remember him telling me over lunch the best thing about his life was its three stages: Olympic athlete, lawyer, politician. He advised me to do the same so I did: journalist, govt adviser now PR. RIP.

Farage. Corbyn. Lowe. All the right people are cross about ID cards. In an age of NHS apps and HMRC digital logins, what’s the problem? Sign me up.

This is essentially the end, at least for now, of the US government as a credible source of health information. That’s bad in any circumstances, but…if we get hit with another pandemic in the near future, god help us all.

Politically, you’d think kicking Truss out would be a free hit for Badenoch: terrible reputation with the public, easy way of signalling you’ve learned lessons, she’s not going to be nice about the party anyway, Reform won’t take her (and even if they did you’d be delighted). And yet?