Ed Wilson
@eddwilson.bsky.social
Lefty liberal by temperament, exasperated by experience.
Not strictly qualified for most arguments, but I do read a lot.
Stockport, UK
Not strictly qualified for most arguments, but I do read a lot.
Stockport, UK
SpaceX shifts focus from something that it will never do on Mars to something it will never do on the Moon.
February 9, 2026 at 7:23 AM
Emily Thornberry joins in: Starmer's a decent man who takes bad decisions unless he has good advisers.
#R4Today
#R4Today
Karl Turner MP attempted to defend Starmer on Thursday, by blaming advisers - Morgan McSweeney - but he ended up protesting that Starmer keeps *taking* bad advice.
The prime minister will not be thanking him for that one.
#R4Today
The prime minister will not be thanking him for that one.
#R4Today
February 9, 2026 at 7:16 AM
Emily Thornberry joins in: Starmer's a decent man who takes bad decisions unless he has good advisers.
#R4Today
#R4Today
Yes, god help we risk a floundering government that feels like no one is in charge.
February 9, 2026 at 7:12 AM
Epstein was in and out of Russia every few months according to his travel documents, but Mandelson was partying in nightclubs in St Petersburg and regularly in Moscow.
How did our intelligence services fail to pick this up? Or were their reports and investigations suppressed?
How did our intelligence services fail to pick this up? Or were their reports and investigations suppressed?
February 9, 2026 at 7:03 AM
February 9, 2026 at 7:02 AM
Kudelka from when Gillard's portrait was unveiled
(sorry, no alt text.)
(sorry, no alt text.)
February 9, 2026 at 7:01 AM
R.I.P Jon Kudelka @kudelka.bsky.social
“If I did a sequel it would probably involve a scientist swearing a great deal”
allouryesterdays.info/2025/04/28/i... @allouryesterdays.bsky.social
“If I did a sequel it would probably involve a scientist swearing a great deal”
allouryesterdays.info/2025/04/28/i... @allouryesterdays.bsky.social
February 9, 2026 at 6:41 AM
It would be rash of David Lammy to assume that Lord Justice Warby will not be throwing his wig into the ring, I wrote a week ago. Two of Warby’s predecessors had left the Judicial Appointments Commission early to seek a more senior judicial post. Now Warby?
rozenberg.substack.com/publish/post...
rozenberg.substack.com/publish/post...
JAC: another departure
This time, the acting chair steps down. But who needs judges?
rozenberg.substack.com
February 9, 2026 at 6:36 AM
Politics North West confuses two candidates for the Gorton and Denton byelecton.
The real Nick Buckley (on the right) is campaigning on yet another public inquiry into grooming gangs.
#R4Today
The real Nick Buckley (on the right) is campaigning on yet another public inquiry into grooming gangs.
#R4Today
February 9, 2026 at 6:19 AM
Politics North West confuses two candidates for the Gorton and Denton byelecton.
The real Nick Buckley (on the right) is campaigning on yet another public inquiry into grooming gangs.
#R4Today
The real Nick Buckley (on the right) is campaigning on yet another public inquiry into grooming gangs.
#R4Today
Politics North West confuses two candidates for the Gorton and Denton byelecton.
The real Nick Buckley (on the right) is campaigning on yet another public inquiry into grooming gangs.
#BBCPNW
The real Nick Buckley (on the right) is campaigning on yet another public inquiry into grooming gangs.
#BBCPNW
February 9, 2026 at 6:15 AM
February 9, 2026 at 6:14 AM
"Too much responsibility and expectation is placed on the senior official whose principal function is the direct support of the Prime Minister."
(from Sue Gray's first report on dysfunction Johnson's No 10)
(from Sue Gray's first report on dysfunction Johnson's No 10)
How can Steve Barclay be No 10 chief of staff and remain a minister? - UK in a changing Europe
In this article, originally published in the New Statesman, Jill Rutter analyses the appointment of Steve Barclay as chief of staff.
ukandeu.ac.uk
February 9, 2026 at 6:13 AM
February 9, 2026 at 6:09 AM
Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee
Housing Conditions in the Social Rented Sector
committees.parliament.uk/publications...
#R4Today
Housing Conditions in the Social Rented Sector
committees.parliament.uk/publications...
#R4Today
February 9, 2026 at 6:07 AM
Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee
Housing Conditions in the Social Rented Sector
committees.parliament.uk/publications...
#R4Today
Housing Conditions in the Social Rented Sector
committees.parliament.uk/publications...
#R4Today
The US embassy in London is preventing top-level business executives from travelling to America over minor criminal offences, as Donald Trump’s (who has 34 felony convictions and 90 pending felony charges) clampdown on immigration extends to the UK. www.ft.com/content/a38d...
US embassy in London denies visas to executives over minor offences
Immigration lawyers say top-level corporate figures and tech leaders among those barred from visiting America
www.ft.com
February 9, 2026 at 6:04 AM
Reposted by Ed Wilson
This report implies that 'Andrew' may have broken the Official Secrets Acts (& I wonder if the same could be possible of Mandelson?) and if so I wonder whether that, rather than 'Misconduct in Public Office' might, in both cases, form the basis of a prosecution?
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Andrew shared confidential information with Epstein as trade envoy, files suggest
Under official guidance, trade envoys have a duty of confidentiality over sensitive, commercial, or political information.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 8, 2026 at 6:33 PM
This report implies that 'Andrew' may have broken the Official Secrets Acts (& I wonder if the same could be possible of Mandelson?) and if so I wonder whether that, rather than 'Misconduct in Public Office' might, in both cases, form the basis of a prosecution?
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Ed Wilson
ethics professor here, can confirm
"should the government kidnap 5 year olds and deport them? We asked seventeen ethics professors and they all just screamed"
February 8, 2026 at 5:59 PM
ethics professor here, can confirm
Reposted by Ed Wilson
Very good piece. At home, Starmer was pressured by McSweeney into behaving like somebody that he isn't; on trips abroad, Powell stands in the background, supports him & allows him to be himself (& impress other foreign leaders).
“The pescatarian forced to eat dog meat” - why Morgan McSweeney’s real fault was to force Keir Starmer to be something he is not - my piece for @theobserveruk.bsky.social observer.co.uk/news/politic...
‘A pescatarian forced to eat dog meat’: the Starmer-McSwe...
Starmer's former aide Morgan McSweeney saw the prime minister as his creation. Now that McSweeney is gone, so too has the imbalanced relationship between chief of staff and PM
observer.co.uk
February 8, 2026 at 6:47 PM
Very good piece. At home, Starmer was pressured by McSweeney into behaving like somebody that he isn't; on trips abroad, Powell stands in the background, supports him & allows him to be himself (& impress other foreign leaders).
Reposted by Ed Wilson
Let God get this straight.
- In 2019 the Trump admin created a press release for Epstein’s death the day before he died.
- He allegedly died the next day.
- In 2026 the Trump admin released this info from the Epstein files.
Could it be any more obvious?
- In 2019 the Trump admin created a press release for Epstein’s death the day before he died.
- He allegedly died the next day.
- In 2026 the Trump admin released this info from the Epstein files.
Could it be any more obvious?
February 8, 2026 at 5:17 PM
Let God get this straight.
- In 2019 the Trump admin created a press release for Epstein’s death the day before he died.
- He allegedly died the next day.
- In 2026 the Trump admin released this info from the Epstein files.
Could it be any more obvious?
- In 2019 the Trump admin created a press release for Epstein’s death the day before he died.
- He allegedly died the next day.
- In 2026 the Trump admin released this info from the Epstein files.
Could it be any more obvious?
"If this were Great Britain, he’d already be gone."
Massie accused Lutnick of being in business with Epstein “many years after” his conviction in 2008.
Massie Calls For Lutnick To Resign Over Epstein Connection
Massie accused Lutnick of being in business with Epstein “many years after” his conviction in 2008.
www.forbes.com
February 8, 2026 at 7:27 PM
"If this were Great Britain, he’d already be gone."
More news about Citizen Andrew - 8 February 2026 and much longer ago
"Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor appears to have knowingly shared confidential information with Jeffrey Epstein from his official work as trade envoy in 2010 and 2011..."
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
"Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor appears to have knowingly shared confidential information with Jeffrey Epstein from his official work as trade envoy in 2010 and 2011..."
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
21 July 2011
Duke of York to step down as the UK trade envoy... friendship with US tycoon Jeffrey Epstein... lunching at Buckingham Palace with a "notorious" member of former Tunisian regime... taking a holiday with a Libyan gun smuggler... used an official trip to try to find a buyer for his home
Duke of York to step down as the UK trade envoy... friendship with US tycoon Jeffrey Epstein... lunching at Buckingham Palace with a "notorious" member of former Tunisian regime... taking a holiday with a Libyan gun smuggler... used an official trip to try to find a buyer for his home
Prince Andrew: Envoy career plagued with controversy
The Duke of York is to stand down as UK trade envoy, the BBC understands, ending a controversial time in the role after sustained criticism over his friendship with a US tycoon who was jailed for sex ...
www.bbc.co.uk
February 8, 2026 at 7:25 PM
More news about Citizen Andrew - 8 February 2026 and much longer ago
"Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor appears to have knowingly shared confidential information with Jeffrey Epstein from his official work as trade envoy in 2010 and 2011..."
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
"Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor appears to have knowingly shared confidential information with Jeffrey Epstein from his official work as trade envoy in 2010 and 2011..."
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Ed Wilson
This is what Hess said: “It brings up mixed emotions to represent the US right now. I think it’s a little hard. There’s obviously a lot going on that I’m not the biggest fan of. Just because I wear the flag doesn't mean I represent everything that's going on in the US.”
February 8, 2026 at 4:54 PM
This is what Hess said: “It brings up mixed emotions to represent the US right now. I think it’s a little hard. There’s obviously a lot going on that I’m not the biggest fan of. Just because I wear the flag doesn't mean I represent everything that's going on in the US.”
Reposted by Ed Wilson
There's a lot of commentary on the Epstein files, to say the least, but this, by @mattcarr.substack.com, is well worth your time: mattcarr.substack.com/p/the-damp-s...
Epsteinland
When Patriarchy Meets Oligarchy
mattcarr.substack.com
February 8, 2026 at 5:57 PM
There's a lot of commentary on the Epstein files, to say the least, but this, by @mattcarr.substack.com, is well worth your time: mattcarr.substack.com/p/the-damp-s...
"Acting" is better than it might have been.
NEW: An email has just gone round No 10 staff confirming that the PM has asked Jill Cuthbertson and Vidhya Alakeson to be acting chiefs of staff, with immediate effect.
February 8, 2026 at 5:59 PM
"Acting" is better than it might have been.