James
@dune400.bsky.social
Reposted by James
Astute analysis by @steverichards.bsky.social Blocking Burnham is just the latest example of Starmer cutting himself off from new ideas and showing his fear of rivals. Wilson would have put Burnham in the cabinet, used his talents and called his bluff open.spotify.com/episode/111a...
Burnham is blocked - What are the consequences?
open.spotify.com
January 29, 2026 at 4:27 PM
Astute analysis by @steverichards.bsky.social Blocking Burnham is just the latest example of Starmer cutting himself off from new ideas and showing his fear of rivals. Wilson would have put Burnham in the cabinet, used his talents and called his bluff open.spotify.com/episode/111a...
Reposted by James
The dangers of current leaders turning to figures of the past:
www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-...
www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-...
Is this Keir Starmer’s government or Tony Blair’s?
Tim Allan is only the latest Blairite to take up a powerful position at No 10.
www.newstatesman.com
February 2, 2026 at 3:43 PM
The dangers of current leaders turning to figures of the past:
www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-...
www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-...
Reposted by James
I have never seen anything in politics to match Mandelson’s betrayal. He betrayed his colleagues, his party and his country just so he could suck up to Epstein and the bankers who had crashed the world economy.
It’s staggering
Piece here comment.press/o3o2mandy
It’s staggering
Piece here comment.press/o3o2mandy
Peter Mandelson betrayed his colleagues, his party and his country…
… to please the bankers who had wrecked the world
comment.press
February 3, 2026 at 3:20 PM
I have never seen anything in politics to match Mandelson’s betrayal. He betrayed his colleagues, his party and his country just so he could suck up to Epstein and the bankers who had crashed the world economy.
It’s staggering
Piece here comment.press/o3o2mandy
It’s staggering
Piece here comment.press/o3o2mandy
Reposted by James
They got a psychologist to talk to us when we took early retirement, warning of boredom, depression and loss of status. I stayed for about 20 mins, just out of politeness. It’s been the best opportunity I ever had!
February 3, 2026 at 4:25 PM
They got a psychologist to talk to us when we took early retirement, warning of boredom, depression and loss of status. I stayed for about 20 mins, just out of politeness. It’s been the best opportunity I ever had!
Reposted by James
Mother of God but Stephen Bush is turning into/already a complete shit. Having a job sucks, it's soul crushing. You can never speak freely. Your boss is usually a c***. The only thing worse is having no 💰 I don't need help to make good use of my time
Fuck right off Stephen
Fuck right off Stephen
February 3, 2026 at 3:50 PM
Mother of God but Stephen Bush is turning into/already a complete shit. Having a job sucks, it's soul crushing. You can never speak freely. Your boss is usually a c***. The only thing worse is having no 💰 I don't need help to make good use of my time
Fuck right off Stephen
Fuck right off Stephen
Reposted by James
Zelensky is probably not doing Ukraine any favours by insisting on 2027 as the date to join the EU - a prospect almost certain to fail
But the EU should get Ukraine to join in under 5 years
pascallth.substack.com/p/the-eu-sho...
But the EU should get Ukraine to join in under 5 years
pascallth.substack.com/p/the-eu-sho...
The EU shouldn’t treat Ukraine as a normal candidate
Even if Kyiv should admit it won’t join in 2027
pascallth.substack.com
February 3, 2026 at 8:00 AM
Zelensky is probably not doing Ukraine any favours by insisting on 2027 as the date to join the EU - a prospect almost certain to fail
But the EU should get Ukraine to join in under 5 years
pascallth.substack.com/p/the-eu-sho...
But the EU should get Ukraine to join in under 5 years
pascallth.substack.com/p/the-eu-sho...
Reposted by James
Peter Kyle said in September last year it was the responsibility of the press to vet Mandelson and that eventually happened.
February 3, 2026 at 7:47 PM
Peter Kyle said in September last year it was the responsibility of the press to vet Mandelson and that eventually happened.
Reposted by James
yes, but Bower's books are full of lies and inventions, so I would not take that very seriously
February 3, 2026 at 5:30 PM
yes, but Bower's books are full of lies and inventions, so I would not take that very seriously
Reposted by James
👀 it isn’t just McSweeney who was Mandelson’s protegee, but also Streeting… do we think this might be … bad?
February 2, 2026 at 8:22 PM
👀 it isn’t just McSweeney who was Mandelson’s protegee, but also Streeting… do we think this might be … bad?
Reposted by James
These moments will be crucial - not just in establishing who can provide a viable electoral vehicle to progressive voters, but also in aggressively demonstrating to Labour the danger of adopting a Reform position on immigration.
Betting market now suggesting Hannah Spencer, Green, more likely to win Gorton & Denton than not, 51% probability; Matthew Goodwin, Reform, 32%; Angeliki Stogia, Labour, 18% www.oddschecker.com/politics/bri...
February 2, 2026 at 11:09 AM
These moments will be crucial - not just in establishing who can provide a viable electoral vehicle to progressive voters, but also in aggressively demonstrating to Labour the danger of adopting a Reform position on immigration.
Reposted by James
Farage has an EU pension. Maybe they should look into his conduct.
February 3, 2026 at 1:21 PM
Farage has an EU pension. Maybe they should look into his conduct.
Reposted by James
Badenoch’s screaming about kicking Mandelson out of the Lords, but she shuts the hell up about Mone. #UKPolitics
February 3, 2026 at 2:34 PM
Badenoch’s screaming about kicking Mandelson out of the Lords, but she shuts the hell up about Mone. #UKPolitics
Reposted by James
February 3, 2026 at 1:21 PM
Reposted by James
This is one of the reasons why I have always argued for moving Britain's capital to Manchester. The sheer scale, corporatism and magnetic pull of footloose City capital, 20 mins from the centre of British government, just is not healthy:
www.economist.com/bagehots-not...
www.economist.com/bagehots-not...
The pragmatic case for moving Britain’s capital to Manchester
The vast Victorian complex by the Thames is in a dreadful state
www.economist.com
February 2, 2026 at 7:10 PM
This is one of the reasons why I have always argued for moving Britain's capital to Manchester. The sheer scale, corporatism and magnetic pull of footloose City capital, 20 mins from the centre of British government, just is not healthy:
www.economist.com/bagehots-not...
www.economist.com/bagehots-not...
Reposted by James
A quaint, wrong but influential opinion has long circulated in London (and elsewhere): that British capitalism is purer and less "corporatist" than its continental counterparts. The Mandelson scandal ought to be the final nail in that particular coffin.
New Epstein emails show Peter Mandelson secretly advising JPMorgan’s CEO on how to fight Labour’s 2009 bankers’ bonus tax - even suggesting he “mildly threaten” the Chancellor.
Mandelson was Business Secretary at the time.
A year later, he was seeking work with JPM.
Mandelson was Business Secretary at the time.
A year later, he was seeking work with JPM.
February 2, 2026 at 7:05 PM
A quaint, wrong but influential opinion has long circulated in London (and elsewhere): that British capitalism is purer and less "corporatist" than its continental counterparts. The Mandelson scandal ought to be the final nail in that particular coffin.
Reposted by James
A lot of voters are morons and believe any old shite they see on social media. Those who aren't morons feel the need to say something, anything when vox popped so they end up saying things they don't really believe. Ban vox pops!
In Gorton and Denton, I found a long-festering sense of fury that Labour has no idea how to tackle | John Harris
In Gorton and Denton, I found a long-festering sense of fury that Labour has no idea how to tackle | John Harris
The people I met were disconnected and angry at the same time. Even if Labour somehow wins this byelection, how does it arrest the slide into hopelessness, asks Guardian columnist John Harris
www.theguardian.com
February 1, 2026 at 8:49 PM
A lot of voters are morons and believe any old shite they see on social media. Those who aren't morons feel the need to say something, anything when vox popped so they end up saying things they don't really believe. Ban vox pops!
Reposted by James
Someone should tell the PM that he's the PM and not a substacker www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cl...
Starmer believes Mandelson should leave Lords as files suggest he shared government emails with Epstein
Emails released in the Epstein files suggest Lord Mandelson forwarded internal government information to Jeffrey Epstein in 2009.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 2, 2026 at 2:31 PM
Someone should tell the PM that he's the PM and not a substacker www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cl...
Reposted by James
He's deleted this for some reason but it's interesting
February 2, 2026 at 9:38 PM
He's deleted this for some reason but it's interesting
Reposted by James
Interesting, albeit the totals are actually sum up to£122/£202 weekly. £74 a week on food & drink for a couple seems about right. We spend €30 a week on fuel, and €6 a week on water.
MPs will soon debate the annual benefits ‘Uprating Order' on how much benefits rise this year. But shockingly, support has never been set according to any logical calculation, like ensuring Universal Credit covers life's essentials - which @jrf-uk.bsky.social estimates cost £120 a week🧵1/4
February 3, 2026 at 8:16 AM
Interesting, albeit the totals are actually sum up to£122/£202 weekly. £74 a week on food & drink for a couple seems about right. We spend €30 a week on fuel, and €6 a week on water.
Reposted by James
Will the government's relationship with Palantir come under scrutiny in the house,now that Thiel is all over the Epstein files ? My M.P Peter Kyle needs to answer some questions too.
February 3, 2026 at 8:01 AM
Will the government's relationship with Palantir come under scrutiny in the house,now that Thiel is all over the Epstein files ? My M.P Peter Kyle needs to answer some questions too.
Reposted by James
9. So, when his former colleagues, including the sainted Gordon Brown, accuse him of betraying the national interest:
A. They are right.
But
B. This is exactly what he was there to do.
A. They are right.
But
B. This is exactly what he was there to do.
February 3, 2026 at 7:38 AM
9. So, when his former colleagues, including the sainted Gordon Brown, accuse him of betraying the national interest:
A. They are right.
But
B. This is exactly what he was there to do.
A. They are right.
But
B. This is exactly what he was there to do.
Reposted by James
I want to see Starmer cancel every deal he's made with Palantir and get us back into the EU pronto!
February 2, 2026 at 11:54 PM
I want to see Starmer cancel every deal he's made with Palantir and get us back into the EU pronto!
Reposted by James
This also speaks to the government's total inauthenticity: on Trump, on Brexit, on immigration, on plenty more besides, they don't actually believe what they say. They look and sound entirely unconvincing. It's a gift to political opponents on the left and right.
This is too clever by half. In the article not a single Brexit benefit is claimed or identified. What the government is actually doing is mitigating some of the damage the Brexiteers have done. That's it - and that should be the argument. A proper, growth-delivering Brexit does not exist.
This is what a proper Brexit looks like
Prosperity and security will be driven by removing unnecessary barriers that hold businesses back
www.ft.com
February 3, 2026 at 6:18 AM
This also speaks to the government's total inauthenticity: on Trump, on Brexit, on immigration, on plenty more besides, they don't actually believe what they say. They look and sound entirely unconvincing. It's a gift to political opponents on the left and right.
Reposted by James
Gervais was always a twat.
Ricky Gervais calls out Grammy winners for making political acceptance speeches: "You're in no position to lecture the public about anything"
Ricky Gervais calls out Grammy winners for making political acceptance speeches: "You're in no position to lecture the public about anything"
Gervais cited his own 2020 Golden Globes monologue, in which he urged winners not to use their acceptance speeches "as a platform to make a political speech."
decider.com
February 3, 2026 at 6:54 AM
Gervais was always a twat.
Reposted by James
Fintan O'Toole: Tony Blair and Peter Mandelson will go down in history as crawlers and creeps
Fintan O'Toole: Tony Blair and Peter Mandelson will go down in history as crawlers and creeps
If we want to understand why democracy is in such trouble, we can learn plenty from the careers of two men who were once stellar figures in democratic politics
www.irishtimes.com
February 3, 2026 at 6:37 AM
Fintan O'Toole: Tony Blair and Peter Mandelson will go down in history as crawlers and creeps