"I will never give in" - in other words "we've fucked it. It's over."

Unless loyal Labour voters in Gorton and Denton are comfortable with enabling Reform, they can surely have no objection to this letter.

"The Government risks making Sweden 'Spursy'. That won't do."

"Appearing on Saturday morning kids' TV is not the best cure for a hangover." - Pete Shelley One of my favourite Buzzcocks clips - a slightly surreal performance of the hugely underappreciated 'Are Everything' on the Granada programme Fun Factory, August 1980. www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Xtx...

Move to rename dying 'losing your streak'

Honest to God, these people are preposterous (not Victoria, obvs).

The only time I've ever been to Salford Lads Club is to watch a cracking gig by Frankie & The Heartstrings, late 2010. We were given a full tour of the Smiths room, etc, and it was a great night. There may be a good reason why so few gigs are held there, but I've no idea what that is.

I'm staggered that so many people were not only buying albums at 11, but already had albums that were 'important' to them. By that time, I'd bought a few singles by Bee Gees, Slade, & T.Rex (and of course 'Boys In Blue' by Manchester City F.C.) and that's about it.

This season we will be mostly playing Newcastle United and Real Madrid.

Oh I could squeeze my lemon ’til my blues went away If I had possession over Pancake Day The nation's favourite #PancakeDay song. Enjoy. www.youtube.com/watch?v=1haL...

Looking forward to the video of Sam Heathcote's pupils egging him as he enters the classroom tomorrow morning.

From the archives; an early #HMHB interview from Smash Hits 1986, source of the quote from Nigel that he's always either watching TV or 'listening to me Fall records.' Thanks to Brian McCloskey on Facebook.

Don't say anything, Tony. Resist the urge. It wouldn't reflect well.

It's a good job Nadhim Zahawi isn't in Barcelona airport right now as there are tired-looking people everywhere. Some are even trying to catch forty winks by lying on the floor, using their bags as pillows. Terrifying.

Your poems are shit, and so are your stunts. You shout at hotels, you wife-beating cunts.

It's Valentine's Day, we're in Barcelona, and looking forward to the jangle-ometer being whacked up to full tonight. Hurrah!

Not normally one to post photos of food, but we're in Barcelona and this lamb confit with parmentier of brie cheese and red wine sauce from a place we found in the Rough Guide was spectacular.

You could easily unearth a Goodwin story like this every day until the by-election as the man is an extremist crank. Hopefully, enough of the Gorton and Denton consituency have his card marked already.

Palestine Action have WON their judicial review in the High Court! A massive victory for free speech, freedom of association and the right to protest. A massive defeat for the draconian attempts by Keir Starmer's government to curtail our fundamental rights.

Tonight, William, I'm afraid it's Matthew.

Just going to leave this here

Not only that - United should be deducted ten points every week until he does.

I've never known anyone who was obsessed with immigration who wasn't an out and out loser and an absolute racist bigot. I'm saying it because it's simply not said enough.

Art Brut - Bang Bang Rock & Roll (2005) 'Popular culture no longer applies to me' There aren't too many bands I have more fun watching live than Art Brut and this was a marvellous way to announce themselves #5DebutAlbums0509

Funny bit in the first episode of Betrayal where Shaun Evans' character had to explain to his southern MI5 colleague what 'dibble' means, after they had been captured, interrogated and subsequently released by Stockport gangsters. Is it an exclusively Mancunian slang term?

Alisson's rush of blood was Ederson-esque. Nice to be on the right end of one of those for a change.

Which brings to mind the great Hovis Presley's 'Manchester Olympics' poem.

Can't Get You Out of My Travis Head #KylieCricket

Well I must say, news of Reform UK running an unlawful campaign has come as a complete surprise.

“Poorly injected technique or incorrect dose would cause penile pain, poor cosmesis [disfigurement], deformity, infection, inflammation, sensory change, and sexual dysfunction. In rare instances, infection can spread to cause gangrene and loss of the penis.” Still, a gold medal's a gold medal.

I'm not convinced six words qualifies as a 'long title'. How about a more challenging thirteen? 'I'm in Love with the Girl on the Manchester Virgin Megastore Checkout Desk' (The Freshies)

I don't think it's unreasonable that City have requested the eligibility rules are tweaked for the final. After all, the rules were seemingly changed *during* last season's FA Cup final, to ensure Henderson stayed on the field. Not that I'm still bitter, you understand.

Cherki is pure magic. The one major bright spot of an underwhelming season to date.

Went to Burnage this morning to help out with the leafletting. I've never felt close to being as invested in a by-election as I am in this in one. It's good vs. evil, it's hope vs. hate. It feels like one for the ages.

As you must surely know by now @lucympowell.bsky.social, the only way to keep the Reform scum out of Manchester is by voting for the Green Party. A vote for Labour merely enables them.

Speaking of the cult of #HMHB, hats off to the guy in the Salisbury pre-gig on Friday sporting a customised leather jacket signed thus: 'Best Wishes From your showbiz pal Nigel Blackwell'

"If there's anything better than squeezing into an Eastern European football shirt, driving to a bleak northern outpost, meeting some likeminded souls and watching Britain's greatest group then I don't want to know." Pleased to report Steve confirmed a passing mention for me & usual Biscuit pals :)

If only my copy still looked so good. A single I've played more than any other.

3rd Feb #otd in 1978 The sublime 'What Do I Get?' by @buzzcocks.com was released. This live recording of the song at the Electric Circus from a few months earlier is amazingly good, when Pete says "Tricky guitar solo" your heart will melt. youtu.be/oJL2AVKLP0Q

A fabulous goal by Kevin. If Fulham's fans haven't made up a song for him to the tune of 'My Perfect Cousin', they're missing a trick.

I collected the coupons and sent off for this cassette mainly to acquire the previously unreleased Buzzcocks nuggett 'I Look Alone'. But it introduced me to loads of great stuff, inc Raincoats, Essential Logic & Pere Ubu. There's also a cracking version of Aztec Camera's 'We Could Send Letters'.

There's plenty I like about this photo from 1975 (me aged 12) but what pleases me most is my objection to, and refusal to adhere to club colours. #Bert 1/2

While tonight will be my twentieth or so #HMHB gig, there are a few posters on the halfmanhalfbiscuit.uk site who have attended 200+. Erika (my wife) contends that lacks imagination. Anyway, my 'Cresta' tee is all set for another outing.

On #NationalColinDay, here's my experience of the three or four times I played tennis matches (doubles) against the greatest Colin of them all: Well, his line calling was decidedly dodgy, he was very terse and overall just a bit too miserable. A disappointment if I'm honest.

No need to read on. There's no way the piece can possibly improve on the headline.

Signed him up from Swindon Town Sha la Summerbee Little did we know he was England bound Sha la Summerbee Sha la la la Summerbee Sha la la la Summerbee They don't make 'em up like that anymore.

The vile Goodwin is fully deserving of the kind of Mancunian welcome afforded to Mosley in '62.

Looking forward to a rare #HMHB home fixture on Fri. Last time at the Ritz, we'd reconvened in the Lass O'Gowrie & noticed 1 of our number was missing. After about 30 mins he emerged with signed 12" singles for all 5 of us. No mean feat as they're not a band who hang around the merch stall post-gig.