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Jack Blackburn @hackblackburn.bsky.social · 17h

No denying it - it’s gone down very well

Jack Blackburn @hackblackburn.bsky.social · 20h

It’s difficult to describe the mood of anticipation at Tory Conference ahead of Badenoch’s speech.

Very difficult.

Electron microscopes would struggle to detect it.

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Jack Blackburn @hackblackburn.bsky.social · 1d

Penny Mordaunt on plans for a comeback: “I’m styling myself as National Treasure and MP on sabbatical”

Jack Blackburn @hackblackburn.bsky.social · 1d

No, no, I think there’s not enough puppetry work in modern political oratory.

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Jack Blackburn @hackblackburn.bsky.social · 1d

Robert Jenrick gets a (gradually) standing ovation and one of the higher attendance figures garnered this week.

Still plenty of seats available…

Jack Blackburn @hackblackburn.bsky.social · 1d

Manchester United get a shout out from Laura Trott at Tory Conference.

A once titanic force which has fallen into mediocrity, a shadow of its former self, harking back to memories of past glories…

Do your own punchline

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Jack Blackburn @hackblackburn.bsky.social · 2d

James Cleverly is a master of spin. Pours a pint (on the second attempt) which is one quarter head - says it’s for Oktoberfest

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Jack Blackburn @hackblackburn.bsky.social · 2d

“Oh, alright,” she says. “If I’m totally honest, the 12th budgerigar has to stand on one leg.”

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Jack Blackburn @hackblackburn.bsky.social · 2d

The conversation goes on and eventually they begin to climb down

The first one says “Actually my husband’s only becoming an archdeacon”

The second one says “Well, to be honest, my husband is only a senior accountant at the Halifax”.

They both look at the third woman….

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Jack Blackburn @hackblackburn.bsky.social · 2d

The first says “My husband is in line to become the next Archbishop of York”

The second says “My husband is in line to become the CEO of Barclays”

And the third says “My husband is so well endowed that, at full mast, 12 budgerigars can stand on it at once”

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Jack Blackburn @hackblackburn.bsky.social · 2d

I have multiple Jilly stories, but one is her favourite joke.

Three upper middle class women meet on a train, get chatting and then start boasting about their husbands…

Jack Blackburn @hackblackburn.bsky.social · 2d

Devastated to hear that Jilly Cooper has died. Even just meeting her in passing, she was just the most wonderful woman.

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Jack Blackburn @hackblackburn.bsky.social · 2d

Devastated to hear that Jilly Cooper has died. Even just meeting her in passing, she was just the most wonderful woman.

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Jack Blackburn @hackblackburn.bsky.social · 2d

Not saying it’s already been a long conference, but James Cleverly is on the Guinness at 10.25am

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Reposted by Jack Blackburn

Stephen Bush @stephenkb.bsky.social · 3d

An astronaut, looking at the Earth: “Wait, it’s all social care obligations?”
Behind them, another astronaut, drawing a gun to shoot them in the back: “Always has been.”

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Jack Blackburn @hackblackburn.bsky.social · 3d

Tories remain top of the props.

Hacks at the party conference have received a goodie bag with Haribo and chocolate and also a fake fat packet with Reform’s manifesto written on it.

Very good, though a hangover cure which depicts someone in blue just clinging on to life might backfire a little

Jack Blackburn @hackblackburn.bsky.social · 8d

Jess Phillips is a sellout… at the conference bookshop at least. There are no copies to be had of her memoir. Wes Streeting’s is selling well. Even a biog of Tony Blair has sold a few.

What isn’t selling? Keir Starmer’s biography.

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Jack Blackburn @hackblackburn.bsky.social · 8d

Jess Phillips is a sellout… at the conference bookshop at least. There are no copies to be had of her memoir. Wes Streeting’s is selling well. Even a biog of Tony Blair has sold a few.

What isn’t selling? Keir Starmer’s biography.

Jack Blackburn @hackblackburn.bsky.social · 8d

Andy Burnham leads in the wrong direction, and Labour remains able to “agree disagreeably”

All in my #LabourConference2025 Diary for @thetimes.com

Burnham’s abortive coup dissolves into thin air

www.thetimes.com/article/07a7...

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Jack Blackburn @hackblackburn.bsky.social · 9d

For those still up…

Farewell to Andy Burnham’s leadership challenge… we hardly knew thee

Burnham’s abortive coup dissolves into thin air

www.thetimes.com/article/07a7...

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Jack Blackburn @hackblackburn.bsky.social · 9d

Khan calls for regional powers to have rent controls

Jack Blackburn @hackblackburn.bsky.social · 9d

Pressure mounts on Starmer’s speech tomorrow to be an absolute, rhetorical barnstormer. Khan criticises Starmer for “campaigning in prose”. He is calling for the need to “tell stories” and says he’s an advocate for “governing in poetry”.

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Jack Blackburn @hackblackburn.bsky.social · 9d

Sadiq Khan takes a little swipe at Andy Burnham

“I’m the Mayor of London. Other Mayors are seeking to expand their empire…”

Jack Blackburn @hackblackburn.bsky.social · 9d

Sadiq Khan very much distancing himself from suggestions that he’s going to stand down at next election

SK: “When I retire in 30 years’ time…”
Fraser Nelson: “Are there term limits for mayors?”
SK; “Thankfully not.”

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Jack Blackburn @hackblackburn.bsky.social · 9d

a man wearing sunglasses and a red striped shirt says i 'm a monster .

ALT: a man wearing sunglasses and a red striped shirt says i 'm a monster .

media.tenor.com

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Jack Blackburn @hackblackburn.bsky.social · 9d

Such a stark contrast at Labour Confernece between the mood with the parliamentary party and the mood with the mayors.

Khan knows what his good stats are and he gets frequent rounds of applause not for trotting out sound bites but celebrating his positive achievements.

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