This Spectator front page eulogising Trump's second term as some kind of "Gilded Age" from a few months ago. This same publication under the same editor: Michael Gove is now with the very same writers who wrote this rot (Freddy Gray being a good example) trying to run from the wreckage of Trumpism.

Politics has to be about more than professional politicians. But Tom Skinner is hardly adding anything to the sum total of human wisdom with his 'I am a bit of a geezer' which he has monetised to punt his right-wing pro-Farage views. #bbcqt

Good to see the loss-making GB News languishing in 21st place & suffering a 15.8% year on year decline in its audience. pressgazette.co.uk/media-audien...

A new Paul McCartney album just weeks before he hits 84. What a joy and cause for celebration; his 27th official post-Beatle album. 'The Boys of Dungeon Lane' is out 29 May and the first track dropped is ‘Days We Left Behind’ going back to Liverpool pre-Beatles. www.youtube.com/watch?v=2n1I...

Scotland's right-wing media are now turning against Reform's Scottish leader Malcolm Offord. He was always a disaster waiting to happen: Farage's man in Scotland with no mandate; too clubland despite his rags to riches story & no populist edge or critique.

Donald Trump has even slipped into negative territory with Reform voters for the first time. Underlying how toxic Trump is with UK public opinion. Farage will now pretend he was never that close to Trump or unconditionally pro-Trump but he will not be able to erase his many quotes.

Malcolm Offord is the Reform leader in Scotland & Nigel Farage's man north of the border. His offensive & homophobic comments on George Michael show he is unfit to hold any public office. Well done to @scotnational.bsky.social for printing his comments. www.thenational.scot/politics/259...

Malcolm Offord is the Reform leader in Scotland & Nigel Farage's man north of the border. His offensive & homophobic comments on George Michael show he is unfit to hold any public office. Well done to @scotnational.bsky.social for printing his comments. www.thenational.scot/politics/259...

Donald Trump and those Iranian talks. From @billbramhall.bsky.social

Keir Starmer & Kemi Badenoch are weak leaders & terrible at leadership: indicative of the decline of their parties & the quality of the UK political classes. But it is this image of Starmer at #PMQs which will have traction showing how clueless he is at leadership.

Plaid Cymru 6% ahead of Reform in Senedd election and five seats short of an overall majority. PLAID: 33% (-4) REF: 27% (+4) LAB: 13% (+3) GRN: 12% (-1) CON: 7% (-3) LDEM: 5% (=) OTH: 4% (+2) Fieldwork 9-18/3/26 Sample: 2,199. Changes compared to Jan. Via YouGov

This horrible story points up a difference between alleged and actual political extremists. Zack Polanski correctly says antisemitism is vile, and has no place here. Nigel Farage, with no evidence yet, whines about migrants, suggesting the attackers came from Iran... www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cz...

Trump's new imperialism is destroying the Trump coalition. Here is Gerard Baker who has been peddling Trumpian propaganda for years now waking up & realising he & the USA has been lied to. Next stop Gerard: an apology for all your Trumpian attack lines.

Robert Jenrick as the saviour of Christianity is close to Trumpian BS & his attempt to pretend he had any knowledge of the Bible. Q: "I’m wondering what one or two of your most favorite Bible verses are and why?" Trump: "I think it’s just incredible, the whole Bible is incredible."

A total treat on my birthday to visit the spot where John Lennon and Paul McCartney first met on 6 July 1957. This is St. Peter's Church Hall in Woolton, Liverpool, where John's band, The Quarrymen, were playing. The first photo points towards the stage they played & where John & Paul first spoke.

Walking about Liverpool waterfront development with its museums, historic buildings, food stalls & refurbished public realm. Achieved by a mix of city council, regional & regeneration agencies & UK Govt. Makes you think why can Glasgow & Scotland not achieve this for the Clyde?

This is an extraordinary saga that Sunder is pursuing indefatigably. The BBC has repeatedly tried to excuse itself from responsibility for allowing Nigel Farage to lie egregiously about immigration without challenge. It is illustrative of a much wider malaise & so very important. Thank you, Sunder.

A memorable day & weekend in Liverpool. Visiting the childhood homes of the Beatles: John, Paul, George & Ringo. Humble homes that nurtured extraordinary talents who changed the face of popular music & culture. Would that be possible in today's Britain?

World Happiness Index: Finland in first place again. Top six all countries with populations under ten million; 5 of 6 the Nordic countries. While the 'Anglosphere' countries so beloved of the UK right has crashed downwards: UK, US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand.

The power of people. Amazing film ! 🔻🔻

The Kenmure Street protest in May 2021 in Pollokshields was a victory against the Home Office, dawn raids & racism. The new film: Everybody to Kenmure Street captures that day & a community coming together. My Bella Caledonia essay with quotes from people there. bellacaledonia.org.uk/2026/03/19/w...

The Kenmure Street protest in May 2021 in Pollokshields was a victory against the Home Office, dawn raids & racism. The new film: Everybody to Kenmure Street captures that day & a community coming together. My Bella Caledonia essay with quotes from people there. bellacaledonia.org.uk/2026/03/19/w...

How the British state views financial compensation. £75k for victims of the Post Office scandal versus £75k for disgraced friend of Jeffrey Epstein: Peter Mandelson. Via #PrivateEye

Britain is sliding into a really, really dark place We seem to look at the US with a ‘could never happen here’ attitude, meantime long accepted tenets of life in a liberal democracy are thrown out in real time Needs concerted pushback now

The below sentiments represent "British values" according to Tory leader Kemi Badenoch. The death of tolerant British Conservatism confirmed.

Trump and Netanyahu's war on Iran: "Hormuz Crisis: Trump in Dire Straits." From #PrivateEye

Another dire set of exchanges between Keir Starmer & Kemi Badenoch. Both weak leaders & poor parliamentarians. Badenoch pursues Starmer on appointing Mandelson & he refuses to answer. Hardly Wilson v Heath, Thatcher v Kinnock or Blair v Cameron. #PMQs

Finnish straight-talking about the damage Brexit did to the UK.

Brutal Scotland is a stunning exhibition at Street Level Printworks in Glasgow & related book by Simon Phipps. Capturing an important period not just in architecture & design in Scotland, but social history & modernity. From an age when people believed they could shape a hopeful future.

Glasgow Riverside Museum is a rare gem in the city. A magnet for the city's citizens to remember the past history of transport in the city, different generations & extended families, as well as tourists. All housed in a stunning structure designed by Zaha Hadid Architects.

Glasgow Riverside Museum earlier today. Introductory leaflets in a variety of languages including Gaelic & Urdu. In today's hostile environment this is proof to the new reactionaries & racists of the right of Reform, Tories & media of some kind of "sectarianism." Go figure!

The Trump diplomacy towards Europe in full: one day insult, bluster, yearning for Greenland; next day demanding everyone pile in on the Netanyahu-Trump war on Iran. Below: Patrick Blower.

Devolution does need challenge. This is questionable. Compares Scotland to Ireland, Denmark, Finland & Norway: all indy. Labour didnt ‘design devolution in the 1990s’; cross-party Convention did; Scot Parl wasnt just abt ‘securing the Union’: SNP campaigned for it 97. spectator.com/article/scot...

Just another day in the despotic, deranged rule of Trump. Now apart from fighting a war at Netanyahu's bequest after campaigning for years to oppose America's forever wars he now calls the domestic media accurately reporting his disastrous war TRAITORS.

Glasgow after the fire & the burnt out remains of Union Corner at the heart of the city centre. Central Station: one of the main travel arteries of the city remains shut as does Union Street & Gordon Street. Lots of different emotions among folk: resilience, optimism & anger.

Glasgow Necropolis is one of the most striking and moving places in the city. A resting place for the rich, powerful & famous but also everyday folk & families. It was established in 1832 and will soon mark its 200th anniversary. First photo Glasgow Cathedral from the Necropolis.

A trip to Sharmanka Kinetic Gallery at Trongate 103. It brings together the genius of sculptor-mechanic Eduard Bersudsky & invites the visitor into a magic, mystical world of his creations. A moving testament to human spirit & imagination & a one-off in Glasgow & Scotland.

Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum: one of my favourite places in the city & a place where Glaswegians of all ages & backgrounds rub along. Every time I go away or take friends I am just blown away by its magnificence, ambition & collections as well as the feel & buzz.

This has always been a fundamental of modern Scottish politics with a built-in advantage for the SNP. 74% of Scottish voters think the SNP is proud to be Scottish; 46% say the same of Scottish Labour; a mere 27% say this of Farage's Reform. Via @luketryl.bsky.social

Having an extended weekend in Glasgow & walking around the city centre. Here is the shell of the Mackintosh building of Glasgow School of Art eight years after the second fire of 2018. Still with no agreed final plan & timescale of when it will be rebuilt. A Glasgow & Scottish scandal.

Glasgow after the fire. A city which has witnessed change for good & bad but which is now failed by the status quo & party politics. Many of the people of the city know this but can politics & public life reflect this? My essay on @bellacaledonia.bsky.social bellacaledonia.org.uk/2026/03/11/g...

Thanks for this thoughtful piece Gerry. It speaks to the shock and sadness we’re all feeling. Let’s have this disaster be a turning point for the City: a wake up call and a call to action. ‘People make Glasgow’ when they’re supported and encouraged in their passion and pride for this great city.

A really thoughtful piece on Glasgow by Gerry Hassan after the recent fire. The incident itself matters hugely, but the wider context about the city and its future is just as important and a reminder of the ambition and resilience that runs through Glasgow. bellacaledonia.org.uk/2026/03/11/g...

Glasgow after the fire. A city which has witnessed change for good & bad but which is now failed by the status quo & party politics. Many of the people of the city know this but can politics & public life reflect this? My essay on @bellacaledonia.bsky.social bellacaledonia.org.uk/2026/03/11/g...

Fossilised Conservatism & reactionary populism seem to be stuck in time. Winston Churchill will always be a landmark UK leader & inspiration for his stand against Nazi Germany in peacetime & war but that does not mean he should be on bank notes forever.

Glasgow after the Fire: What should we do about Scotland’s First City? by Gerry Hassan bellacaledonia.org.uk/2026/03/11/g...

Starmer's judgement is in question after appointing Mandelson & he is on the ropes. Badenoch & Farage's judgement are in tatters after their U-turn on UK involvement in Trump's Iran War. All three are diminished & in an ideal world all three would go: Starmer, Badenoch & Farage.

The myopia & self-obsession of the Palace of Westminster & its client media. Totally fixated on Mandelson and his completely unethical, indefensible behaviour which is important. But totally ignoring the huge story in the Strait of Hormuz as Iran attacks a Thai flagged carrier.

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has conducted a complete U-turn: last week an apologist for Trump's war on Iran & wanting the UK to join him; yesterday she U-turned completely in what Starmer called "the mother of all U-turns." Badenoch has humiliated herself & she should resign. #PMQs

When the hard-right GB News recognise reality and talk about a "Donald Trump problem" for Nigel Farage & Reform UK they really are in major trouble.