Disappointing to see the usual knee jerk reaction to the lifting of the 2 child cap. “You shouldn’t have children if you can’t afford it”. Can they not get their heads around the idea that circumstances can change? A breadwinner abandons ship, or suffers unexpected illness, perhaps. Shit happens.

Annunciation. So clean and clear, as Giovanni Bellini is wont to be. Today is his day.

in a nutshell

I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture. They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1

Too many survivors of domestic abuse have nowhere safe to go. Backed by support from MOPAC, a new pilot with Women's Aid and Airbnb will offer survivors and their children free emergency accommodation for up to two weeks.

"Far­age has already changed the UK (for the worse) more than any other liv­ing politi­cian. What might the coun­try look like after a period with him in office?" Martin Wolf, today's FT

A small but significant step: Dutch national broadcaster NOS is leaving X. “The volume of hateful comments and disinformation on X is enormous and flows freely. This also applies under our own posts, meaning we unintentionally contribute to their spread” over.nos.nl/nieuws/nos-p...

"Farage repeatedly... said Hitler was right and 'gas 'em', and that was frequently followed by a 'sssss'... the sound of escaping gas. "He said Farage's words had "hit hard" because his grandparents had escaped Nazi Germany and much of their family had perished in the Holocaust"

Nope Farewell regular flat white. 'Functional' coffees are hitting the high street

"Quiet. Quiet, Piggy.” What the actual hell?

Meanwhile, the likes of Chris Mason and other such British hacks would have people believe Starmer is busy trying to save his job. In fact, he’s actually just getting on with his job, and delivering positive results like this.

Eeek!!!!

Bad news for the right wing extremist 'London has fallen' crowd... London just named Best City in the World for 2026 - making it 11 consecutive years it has had that accolade, including every year that Sadiq Khan has been Mayor. Will that cheer up the saddos?

Ladies and Gentlemen, may I present Karma?

Lincoln cathedral, serene on an autumn day.

Asylum seekers undergoing asylum procedures participating in the labour market will benefit the tight labour market. It also promotes their integration. Work allows people to learn the language more quickly, build a social network, and participate in society. /end

Some very welcome good news this morning. www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

More please. “We’ve got to call time on racism in this country & we’ve got to put that ugly racist sentiment that’s found expression in our country back in its box & once again create a climate in this country where it is not socially acceptable to be racist.” www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

The online baying mob shouting "Vote Reform" after Saturday's train stabbing attack may wish to note that not a single Reform MP has turned up for the Home Secretary's statement on the incident.

YOUNG PEOPLE. LISTEN UP. Today Nigel Farage said the government should cut the minimum wage for young people ...to “raise aspiration” and “boost business" It's £10ph FFS! Lower your pay so you’ll dream bigger DO YOU SEE IT NOW? Spread far & wide. bylinetimes.com/2025/11/03/n...

To give a bit of context as to why Northerners become apoplectic every time the Elizabeth Line is mentioned, this morning the M62 - the only motorway between Liverpool, Manchester, and Leeds - was jammed up already at 6.20am

I would love to ask the new editor of Question Time how booking Goodwin, an extreme racist who openly fosters division and civil unrest, fits into his vision of “community and shared expression”

This man is clearly deranged

I volunteer at a foodbank.(UK) People say to me “These people don’t know how to cook, so they buy expensive ready made things.” “They have 5 children that they can’t afford”. “They spend their money on cigarettes” My answer is always “If people are living with food poverty, they should be fed.”

After just 6 months of a Reform Council in Kent, these voters have had enough & are having their say. #NeverVoteReform #NeverFarage

Happy #Halloween! This Roman miniature skeleton with flexible joints, jumps and dances when shaken. The Romans called these skeletons larva convivalis, meaning banquet ghost, and were handed out to guests at dinner parties to remind them to have fun while they were alive.

I've written a couple of things over the last days about how the government and much of Westminster remaining on X as the platform becomes increasingly toxic is having consequences for our politics...

Oh no, poor Mark! What a shame.

Just for context and Elon Musk’s claim of “widespread slaughter” in Europe. The per capita murder rate is EIGHT TIMES HIGHER in the US

Bloody golf weekend. Is Halloween an appropriate time to wish that Trump is 6 shots over par in perpetuity?

Final reminder for National Trust Members to vote

Well worth scrolling through. 🤣

If you're a member of the National Trust remember to vote for council members by midnight tonight. Use the Quick Vote option. Entryist pressure group Reform Trust is trying to seize control. Stop them Voting is quick and easy if your membership card is at hand secure.cesvotes.com/V3-3-0/nt25/...

No

The “if they wanted to” nonsense The EU could let us keep our citizenship “if they wanted to” Spain could exempt us from taxation “if they wanted to” 🇺🇸 could give all Brits a green card “if they wanted to” My bank could give me a 0% mortgage “if they wanted to” Always someone else to blame

Cummings Lobbied Officials to Hand 'Test and Trace' Contracts to Palantir After Secret Meeting With Peter Thiel Johnson’s senior advisor pushed for Covid contracts to be handed to companies run by Trump-supporting tech billionaires Thiel and Ellison bylinetimes.com/2025/10/31/d...

He’s absolutely right. Feelings are running high this week in Buttercup Close. Mrs Simpkiss from number 5 was very late again removing her recycling bin from the pavement after collection. There will be blood! #elonmusk #civilwar

Nobody had even heard of Katie Lam outside of Westminster until about two weeks ago. Literally all it takes to be considered "brilliant" and a "rising star" on the right of British politics now is just a willingness to say something slightly more racist than all of your competitors

The governments that starved their own people in need were never the good guys. No matter how much you twist yourself in knots to justify cutting SNAP when emergency funds exist, this is an act of evil against our fellow Americans by the Trump Administration and the Republican Doormat Congress.

pass this on...

Something to look forward to.

Pretty sky in Worksop tonight. #clouds #worksopUK

I am unable to understand why the UK government continues to validate the fascist cesspit that is X by putting official posts on there. We are well past the “we need to counter their arguments” stage. If all governments and official bodies left X, the site would be all bots and fascists shouting.

Your daily reminder that the government continues to commercially support an individual who wants to destroy it through fascist violence.

It's 1940, and the British Prime Minister, Cabinet, BBC, War Office, and the Royal Society are all merrily broadcasting on Reichs-Rundfunk-Gesellschaft Because that's "where the conversation is...."

Elon Musk : "Civil war in Britain is inevitable" 5 blokes and a dog during last years #FarageRiots

What percentage of politicians in your country are still relying on this site as a primary means of public communication? It feels slightly maddening that this isn't being treated as an extremely urgent problem.

Superb piece by @jamesbloodworth.bsky.social in this month's @bylinetimes.bsky.social mag: "Britain's Media Has Let Nigel Farage Reshape Political Journalism - Why?" This article alone was worth my annual sub to one of the very few news outlets still doing proper journalism