Unbelievably satisfying ending. Really, really enjoyed this series #TheTraitors

This is a fantastic speech.

I agree with this. Have completely changed my mind since it was first introduced — I just don't see who the system benefits.

Trained. By a former FBI agent. #TheTraitors

I’m afraid this is the most enjoyable 20 minutes I’ve seen on TV in years #thetraitors

The West Mids Police news today is such a perfect illustration of the redundancy of PCCs — it simply adds another layer of unnecessary (and barely democratically legitimate) deliberation and bureaucracy. The Home Secretary's decision should be sufficient.

Sometimes find it interesting that the most recent liberal philosopher whose ideas are commonly cited in liberal political circles is Rawls, and largely his older work at that. Is it because modern philosophy is less compatible with political practice, or some other issue?

Every platform at Clapham Junction, even the ones where no trains ever go to Waterloo, is currently displaying nothing but this message. All other train information and times removed just for this. Unbelievably annoying.

“When you’ve been the cause of someone else going up for murder, you feel really bad” — The Traitors 2026 or Norman Scott after the Jeremy Thorpe trial in 1979? #TheTraitors

“As a psychologist, I think Ross is stressed” — ingenious deduction, I would never have guessed #TheTraitors

Nobody: Celia Imrie: BUT WHAT IF THEY'RE A TRAITOR?! #CelebrityTraitors

I saw a few commentators describing Davey's exposition of his 'ideal Britain' (county shows, cricket pavilions, fish and chips, etc) earlier as "cringe" or "twee", but I'm not really sure why. It's a very common view, surely. And if their quintessential idea of Britain is not that, then what is it?

For my money, Davey's speech was successful not only in rallying the troops but also in starting to articulate properly what the Lib Dem 'vibe' actually is, which I think is one of the party's biggest tasks ahead. And welcome focus on economy/cost of living too.

Really interesting couple of fringes yesterday with polling on Lib Dem strategy and cost of living policy. I think @luketryl.bsky.social was right to characterise cost of living as the 'uni-issue', and the party needs real answers — especially to counteract Reform's narrative on the issue.

Seeing some of the reactions to Lib Dem conference (which, so far, I think is a comms success for the party) and realising that a lot of people moan "what's the POINT of the Lib Dems?!?!" when they in fact mean "I disagree with the position they have in fact adopted"

I think we can go further — the London Assembly is one of the most powerless bodies in any advanced democracy, and lacks powers which the legislative bodies of almost every other major city has. It shouldn't just be a scrutiny body.

I'm somewhat stunt-skeptic but don't really see much alternative in the current landscape. But the question I find way more interesting (and wish I could ask journalists directly) is *why* there seems to be such disinterest in reporting on the party.

I have no dog in the fight, but Labour not picking Thornberry as Deputy Leader would be a massive mistake imo. She is one of their best media performers, at a time when Labour needs those badly. The mistake would be compounded if they reject her in favour of someone bland like Lucy Powell.

Tiramisu is Italian for 'pick me up'

I am honestly amazed — and slightly in despair — at the senior Conservatives who have been leaning into the 'two-tier justice' argument about the Ricky Jones acquittal today. Baselessly taking potshots at the justice system when Jones was acquitted unanimously *by a jury*. And for what gain?!

Seems to be flying under the radar that the Lib Dems are running 4% ahead of where they were at the last GE (i.e. an extra third on top of their GE24 share), and it's not even in an election period where higher numbers are normally because of increased media exposure.

I love playing Bananagrams with @williamten.ch

Just been to Mahler 2 at the Proms courtesy of @williamten.ch and it was absolutely sublime. Just a sensational piece of music. Full chills when the choir stood and joined in the last movement, and at the bells and organ. Mahler’s genius is unfathomable.

This welfare reform stuff is so, so silly. How on earth are Starmer and Reeves this bad at politics? Who, other than political obsessives, actually understands what on earth they are trying to do? Which actually existing voters voted Labour to perform this exercise in beancounting?

Yet another Ed Davey media interview where the interviewer asks "why are you so invisible!" despite the media itself giving almost no attention to the party. Perhaps I was naive, but I really did think that winning the largest number of Liberal seats in a century would have changed that.

From time to time I remember that Michael Howard was once Leader of the Conservative Party.

And those monsters should have smaller-scale ambitions too. Not every alien race needs to want to destroy time itself — you also want monsters who (e.g.) feed off the excess carbon in the atmosphere, or who notice that humans have an exploitable ability to [X].

I... did not like that at all #DoctorWho

I see we're still doing "get everyone together in a room and then explain everything through exposition" #DoctorWho

Draper absolutely dismantling Fonseca. I really think he is a Slam contender.

This might be an unpopular opinion but I do think it is time for Ed Davey to draw a line under the stunts. They worked for getting him attention during the general election, but my (admittedly anecdotal) view is that they have started to crowd out the other things he does and talks about.

This is hardly a searing insight but with the way the Tories are going I am feeling increasingly certain that the Lib Dems are going to make even more gains at the next election — which, given 72 was beyond anybody's wildest dreams in 2024, is quite something

He looks like a cormorant about to be cleaned by RSPB volunteers.

Listening to Sweeney Todd while working this morning and it has to be up there as one of Sondheim's richest, most musically inventive works. I'm just annoyed I can't ever go and watch it because of how quickly I faint at visual depictions of blood!

I have been dipping in and out of the BBC local elections show over the past couple of hours, and it has been wall to wall Reform. They are clearly the winners, and deserve coverage. But almost *zero* coverage of the Lib Dems doing exceptionally well too.

Mum's funeral is taking place this Thursday in Saltash. For those very generous people who have asked if they can make a donation in her memory, we have set up the link below for donations to be made to the MS Society, whose work really is invaluable. karensamuels.muchloved.com

Well, this is quite the opening to a judgment.

This is interesting. But we can do more than just pavement politics, I think: the demographic coherency of the party's seats means we now have an identifiable group to represent. Need to tailor a national platform with something to say for those people. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Still finding myself de-energised and wiped out almost a month after falling ill with the flu which went round in December. Grim.

Commissioning an MRP projection now, 4.5 years before the next general election, strikes me as a complete waste of money. Utterly meaningless noise.

A friend points out: Imagine how Republicans would react if George Soros were manipulating Obama or Biden and the Democrats the way Musk is manipulating Trump and the Republicans. www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...

Trundling across the South on the train back to Cornwall. Even in the cold and the grey, there is something completely magical about the English countryside.

It's certainly an interesting concept for a sequel to a Stephen Sondheim musical, but I fear the name might be a touch too long.

A mixture of taking time off for my birthday, repeat illness over the past few weeks, and constant pre-Christmas events has completely thrown me off-kilter this month. I know it's meant to be a cosy time of the year, but I loathe December sometimes.

Sense prevails! The Supreme Court unanimously overturns the Court of Appeal’s decision in Hirachand, and holds that success fees are not recoverable as part of a substantive award under the 1975 Act. www.supremecourt.uk/cases/uksc-2...

I don’t think I’ve ever been read so hard in my entire life. #SpotifyWrapped2024

Wicked was absolutely phenomenal and my scepticism was proven completely wrong. Ariana Grande stole the show, the set design (Shiz University in particular) was stunning, and the choreography in the group numbers was perfect. Best musical adaptation since Chicago, I think.

It has gone from being absolutely freezing to being positively balmy in 24 hours. I presume this is something to do with Storm Bert?

Good morning to everyone except the busker in the Victoria to Central interchange tunnel at Oxford Circus, who just seems to shriek tunelessly (with no lyrics at all) while playing the guitar

I viscerally despise restaurants which (i) have websites with so much graphical content and so many pop-ups they take years to load; (ii) have menu pages which do not prominently link to the menu and instead waffle about "ethos"; (iii) have menus which are not in PDF format