Mark Wallace
@wallaceme.bsky.social
Chief Executive of Total Politics Group. Writer, broadcaster, media CEO. Publisher of PoliticsHome, The House magazine, Holyrood magazine, The Parliament magazine, Civil Service World, ConservativeHome and more. Columnist for the i paper. Never a dull day.
Reposted by Mark Wallace
Death by turnip remains one of the History's most bizarre reasons for carrying off a member of Parliament.
T in our #1832AtoZ is for Turnip and also for Tiger, both of which had fatal consequences in incidents involving our Victorian MPs. Find out more here: victoriancommons.wordpress.com/2019/12/19/b...
Beware the turnip! Unusual causes of death among Victorian MPs
Our MP of the Month, Sir William Payne Gallwey, died on this day in 1881 after suffering a rather unusual accident… On 19 December 1881 the former Conservative MP for Thirsk, Sir William Payne Gall…
victoriancommons.wordpress.com
December 5, 2025 at 12:05 PM
Death by turnip remains one of the History's most bizarre reasons for carrying off a member of Parliament.
Reposted by Mark Wallace
In case you’re wondering about the state of the coalition talks in the Netherlands…
(pictured the five parties talking and the look on the face of the ‘informateur’ says it all)
(pictured the five parties talking and the look on the face of the ‘informateur’ says it all)
Onze fotograaf Robin Utrecht vangt de status van de kabinetsformatie in 1 beeld:
x.com/robinutrecht...
x.com/robinutrecht...
December 5, 2025 at 10:28 AM
In case you’re wondering about the state of the coalition talks in the Netherlands…
(pictured the five parties talking and the look on the face of the ‘informateur’ says it all)
(pictured the five parties talking and the look on the face of the ‘informateur’ says it all)
Reposted by Mark Wallace
Everyone thinks I'm making this up but I swear it is true; in the village I grew up, in the Welsh nickname style the undertaker was "Jones the Box". His son was a solicitor, who specialised in defending minor criminal charges, hence "Jones Witness Box"
December 4, 2025 at 8:18 PM
Everyone thinks I'm making this up but I swear it is true; in the village I grew up, in the Welsh nickname style the undertaker was "Jones the Box". His son was a solicitor, who specialised in defending minor criminal charges, hence "Jones Witness Box"
“Which UK political party shares its name with the collective noun for moles?”
December 4, 2025 at 7:12 PM
“Which UK political party shares its name with the collective noun for moles?”
Reposted by Mark Wallace
Apropos of nothing, but are they still using CEEFAX?
A shameful list of countries that wouldn’t vote for - and in some cases even voted against - the return of kidnapped Ukrainian children.
December 4, 2025 at 11:36 AM
Apropos of nothing, but are they still using CEEFAX?
A shameful list of countries that wouldn’t vote for - and in some cases even voted against - the return of kidnapped Ukrainian children.
December 4, 2025 at 11:22 AM
A shameful list of countries that wouldn’t vote for - and in some cases even voted against - the return of kidnapped Ukrainian children.
This week’s Spectator writing competition was to compose a Frankenpoem - a mash-up of two well-known poems. I didn’t win but I did enjoy writing my entry, so here it is. ‘Slough’ by John Betjeman meets ‘Composed Upon Westminster Bridge’ by William Wordsworth.
December 4, 2025 at 9:45 AM
This week’s Spectator writing competition was to compose a Frankenpoem - a mash-up of two well-known poems. I didn’t win but I did enjoy writing my entry, so here it is. ‘Slough’ by John Betjeman meets ‘Composed Upon Westminster Bridge’ by William Wordsworth.
🎁🎄 Fab Christmas present for the politico in your life: subscribe to The House magazine and get a free copy of
@philipjcowley.bsky.social's new book! www.tpgroupshop.com/store/produc...
@philipjcowley.bsky.social's new book! www.tpgroupshop.com/store/produc...
The House magazine. Buy online, http://www.tpgroupshop.com/
www.tpgroupshop.com
December 3, 2025 at 6:28 PM
🎁🎄 Fab Christmas present for the politico in your life: subscribe to The House magazine and get a free copy of
@philipjcowley.bsky.social's new book! www.tpgroupshop.com/store/produc...
@philipjcowley.bsky.social's new book! www.tpgroupshop.com/store/produc...
I once asked a bloke directions to the Cerne Abbas giant on a road trip: “Oh, the big fella with the big fella!”
#WellEndowment News
The National Trust has launched an appeal to back up its own contribution of £2.2m from funds, grants and bequests to secure 340 acres (138 hectares) of the sensitive chalk landscape around the famously well endowed Cerne Abbas Giant.
The National Trust has launched an appeal to back up its own contribution of £2.2m from funds, grants and bequests to secure 340 acres (138 hectares) of the sensitive chalk landscape around the famously well endowed Cerne Abbas Giant.
Donate to the Cerne Abbas Nature Appeal
Donate to the Cerne Abbas Appeal so together, we can help restore the land, habitats and species that live there.
www.nationaltrust.org.uk
December 3, 2025 at 1:15 PM
I once asked a bloke directions to the Cerne Abbas giant on a road trip: “Oh, the big fella with the big fella!”
A question that has become all the more intriguing since I wrote it!
Opinion | Is money tight or is there plenty? Reeves's Treasury doesn't seem to know
The only certainty ahead of the Budget is a hefty bill
🖋️ By Mark Wallace
Read here: trib.al/nIUyQNn
The only certainty ahead of the Budget is a hefty bill
🖋️ By Mark Wallace
Read here: trib.al/nIUyQNn
December 3, 2025 at 1:03 PM
A question that has become all the more intriguing since I wrote it!
The piece is parodic - “The Dimbleby is dead. Long live the Dimbleby!” - that’s the point.
December 2, 2025 at 10:45 AM
The piece is parodic - “The Dimbleby is dead. Long live the Dimbleby!” - that’s the point.
Why should resigning as OBR Chair mean that Hughes doesn’t give evidence to the committee today? We still need to know what happened.
December 2, 2025 at 10:43 AM
Why should resigning as OBR Chair mean that Hughes doesn’t give evidence to the committee today? We still need to know what happened.
Reposted by Mark Wallace
December 2, 2025 at 8:48 AM
The idea that because Magna Carta opposes delayed justice therefore its authors would have supported abolishing fair justice to get on with trials faster is, shall we say, unconvincing.
December 2, 2025 at 9:49 AM
The idea that because Magna Carta opposes delayed justice therefore its authors would have supported abolishing fair justice to get on with trials faster is, shall we say, unconvincing.
Farewell to Tom Stoppard. Surely he was the most prominent remaining conservative (even a “timid libertarian” in his own words) in the arts world.
November 30, 2025 at 10:54 PM
Farewell to Tom Stoppard. Surely he was the most prominent remaining conservative (even a “timid libertarian” in his own words) in the arts world.
Quite the headline.
Independent MP Ayoub Khan has told PolHome he was once forced to kill a dog with his hands to save the life of a baby
He spoke to Tom Scotson at Your Party conference in Liverpool
He spoke to Tom Scotson at Your Party conference in Liverpool
Your Party MP Ayoub Khan Killed Dog To Save A Baby's Life
Independent MP Ayoub Khan has told PoliticsHome he once killed a dog with his hands to save a child’s life.
www.politicshome.com
November 29, 2025 at 8:24 PM
Quite the headline.
Er…
Zarah Sultana: "We need a wealth tax, but we also need to nationalise the entire economy."
November 28, 2025 at 10:26 PM
Er…
Reposted by Mark Wallace
We had those in my neighbourhood for a trial and I can confirm that everyone loved them. You do not need to step off the pavement to go round them any more than you would do so to go round another person.
November 28, 2025 at 1:24 PM
We had those in my neighbourhood for a trial and I can confirm that everyone loved them. You do not need to step off the pavement to go round them any more than you would do so to go round another person.
Reposted by Mark Wallace
Hello, I'm Sir Killalot, please tell me the code for your pizza.
November 28, 2025 at 1:20 PM
Hello, I'm Sir Killalot, please tell me the code for your pizza.
Deeply saddened by news that Peter Whittle has died. He was a lovely man. order-order.com/2025/11/28/t...
The New Culture Forum Founder Peter Whittle Dies Aged 64
Peter Whittle, founder and director of The New Culture Forum, has died aged 64. The NCF released the following statement: "It is with deepest sorrow that
order-order.com
November 28, 2025 at 1:37 PM
Deeply saddened by news that Peter Whittle has died. He was a lovely man. order-order.com/2025/11/28/t...
Talk about a low bar for what “inflicts misery on society”. Little robots pootling about doing deliveries seems…basically fine? In the video people are choosing to step off the pavement presumably because it’s unfamiliar. Zero “forcing humans into road traffic”. It’s not Sergeant Bash!
Just as you thought food delivery companies couldn't inflict any more misery on society:
Instead of using lowly-paid gig economy contractors to deliver groceries, they're replacing humans with robots, who, in turn, force humans off the pavement into road traffic.
Instead of using lowly-paid gig economy contractors to deliver groceries, they're replacing humans with robots, who, in turn, force humans off the pavement into road traffic.
November 28, 2025 at 1:07 PM
Talk about a low bar for what “inflicts misery on society”. Little robots pootling about doing deliveries seems…basically fine? In the video people are choosing to step off the pavement presumably because it’s unfamiliar. Zero “forcing humans into road traffic”. It’s not Sergeant Bash!
These were market-moving claims, that now turn out not to have been true…
OBR says Reeves was told well before budget that productivity downgrade didn't mean fiscal rules would be broken - www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...
November 28, 2025 at 1:04 PM
These were market-moving claims, that now turn out not to have been true…
1970s health and safety. (Who thought that finish line was a good idea?!)
November 28, 2025 at 9:41 AM
1970s health and safety. (Who thought that finish line was a good idea?!)
Reposted by Mark Wallace
*rubs temples*
That’s a quadruple lock.
There will be pensioners earning more than me & be more liquid.
I’m a husband, single income father of two.
That’s a quadruple lock.
There will be pensioners earning more than me & be more liquid.
I’m a husband, single income father of two.
Interesting - the Chancellor tells @martinlewis.moneysavingexpert.com that those receiving only the state pension won’t pay income tax even when the pension passes the (frozen) income tax threshold. So in effect the income tax threshold will newly rise by the triple lock, for some not all pensioners
November 28, 2025 at 8:07 AM
*rubs temples*
That’s a quadruple lock.
There will be pensioners earning more than me & be more liquid.
I’m a husband, single income father of two.
That’s a quadruple lock.
There will be pensioners earning more than me & be more liquid.
I’m a husband, single income father of two.
Interesting - the Chancellor tells @martinlewis.moneysavingexpert.com that those receiving only the state pension won’t pay income tax even when the pension passes the (frozen) income tax threshold. So in effect the income tax threshold will newly rise by the triple lock, for some not all pensioners
November 27, 2025 at 11:14 PM
Interesting - the Chancellor tells @martinlewis.moneysavingexpert.com that those receiving only the state pension won’t pay income tax even when the pension passes the (frozen) income tax threshold. So in effect the income tax threshold will newly rise by the triple lock, for some not all pensioners