Colleagues - we are beginning to get some feedback on these pilot inspections. It is helpful for us to know how things are on the ground in order to support. Please send us any information you you have.

I was chuffed with this autumnal dinner I made. (Too much effort though - bloody pumpkins have way too many seeds!)

That was a good speech from the PM today 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

Lovely Fountains Abbey

Exclusive: Sadiq Khan has accused Donald Trump of doing more than anyone else to encourage the intolerant far right across the globe as the US president arrives in the UK.

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

I simply do not understand the wall-to-wall coverage of this Charlie Kirk 🤷‍♀️

Kids and teachers in schools get shot in USA and our media report briefly and move on - to me that seems far worse.

I find this worrying.

If you are capable of epic levels in suspension of disbelief, I recommend’Hostage’ on Netflix 🤣

'Honest Bob' Jenrick, a politician obviously & deliberately embracing xenophobia, does some weapons grade xenophobia & the BBC *apologises* for a Thought For The Day contributor calling it xenophobic. Licence fee payers need to know who makes these decisions & why. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

I wonder if this will hit the news headlines

The open secret of Jenrick's utterly cynical and made-up National Populism should not be shrugged off like the open secrets of what Boris Johnson and Liz Truss are really like. We can't keep doing this.

I am shocked. SHOCKED, I tell ya.

For me, the BBC’s image choice here is reprehensible…

…it glorifies these thugs who were intimidating refugees - makes them look like they are protesting for some sort of freedom… rather than the targeted harassment of the vulnerable.

I am just back in UK after 4 weeks in mainland Europe, and after managing the laundry etc will be off to Edinburgh - what do you all recommend I catch up there this year?

Aah - this should get you to the post I’ve incompetently tried to share with you!

I’m hoping that this link below takes you to @samfr.bsky.social post exploding the nonsense talked about VAT on private school fees. It is an excellent post (so if I haven’t managed it, search for it!)
samf.substack.com?utm_source=n...

I'm then heading to @edfringe.bsky.social at the end of the month and there are still tickets available for all shows there - although do book early if you can as some shows are starting to look busy already... edinburgh.justthetonic.com/event/88:4930/

Had a really fun show last night in Tufnell Park and looking forward to another one tonight. Very much still tickets available for all shows so if you fancy a laugh then come along... camdenfringe.com/events/matt-... @camdenfringe.bsky.social

Really proud of this show, I think it’s the best show I’ve done and it’s free in Edinburgh!

Only taken me 20 years of stand up to feel like I’m actually good at it. Feeling myself on stage for the first time ever.

I’ve not got a comedy agent or PR, so would appreciate any help in sharing.

Extraordinarily dim politician

As someone said to me immediately after the dreadful Brexit vote “Bad people have been emboldened”.

I definitely don't think the DfE should be on Twitter anymore. I know a lot of people on here don't look at it anymore but I watch from afar and it really has become a place of radicalisation, full of fake accounts formenting hate through lies. If it was a child we'd have to refer it to prevent.

As the Chancellor casts around for ways to plug the fiscal hole, former PM Gordon Brown writes in the Guardian that she should raise gambling taxes to raise £3bn to end child poverty. [Thread]

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

2.45pm show at The Gilded Ballroom today. I’m in Lyon, not Edinburgh. Will happily email to anyone who can use them…….

I mistakenly bought 2 tickets for @matt-forde.bsky.social tomorrow in Edinburgh when we won’t be there. Anyone want them?