I love the book, didn’t enjoy the play and have mixed feelings about the film. The fact the film has a different structure & tone to the book was a problem for me but might be a positive for you. Yes Buckley & Mescal along with the depiction of 16th C England, are the best things about about it.
January 27, 2026 at 4:14 PM
I love the book, didn’t enjoy the play and have mixed feelings about the film. The fact the film has a different structure & tone to the book was a problem for me but might be a positive for you. Yes Buckley & Mescal along with the depiction of 16th C England, are the best things about about it.
Arrogance = exaggerated sense of one’s own importance or abilities!
January 25, 2026 at 6:07 PM
Arrogance = exaggerated sense of one’s own importance or abilities!
Which is what happened … 1 vote for, 8 votes against
January 25, 2026 at 6:00 PM
Which is what happened … 1 vote for, 8 votes against
No it was right for Manchester, the Labour party, the country & ultimately for Burnham too. I don’t think he’ll ever be leader or PM but now is not the time to be on manoeuvres.
January 25, 2026 at 5:55 PM
No it was right for Manchester, the Labour party, the country & ultimately for Burnham too. I don’t think he’ll ever be leader or PM but now is not the time to be on manoeuvres.
Wow the arrogance of the man!
January 25, 2026 at 5:49 PM
Wow the arrogance of the man!
This is why I’ve been confused Claire because you sometimes write as if the party & leadership are betraying you personally when largely they are implementing the manifesto they were elected on & you didn’t vote for it anyway. Similarly, by your rallying for leadership change/Burnham/Lewis/Miliband.
January 7, 2026 at 11:07 PM
This is why I’ve been confused Claire because you sometimes write as if the party & leadership are betraying you personally when largely they are implementing the manifesto they were elected on & you didn’t vote for it anyway. Similarly, by your rallying for leadership change/Burnham/Lewis/Miliband.
You say here you wanted a Labour government Claire but you didn’t actually vote Labour as you’ve acknowledged on this site; indeed you’ve said you’re proud not to have voted Labour. You also take every opportunity to attack the government & rarely acknowledge its achievements, so I’m confused.
January 7, 2026 at 8:26 PM
You say here you wanted a Labour government Claire but you didn’t actually vote Labour as you’ve acknowledged on this site; indeed you’ve said you’re proud not to have voted Labour. You also take every opportunity to attack the government & rarely acknowledge its achievements, so I’m confused.
He can and he’s working quietly but surely towards implementing it.
January 6, 2026 at 8:57 PM
He can and he’s working quietly but surely towards implementing it.
He has spoken up.
A petition you say?!
Student politics has its place because it keeps the adults on their toes but when the world order is facing an existential crisis we need calm measured & unified EU wide diplomacy of the sort we’ve seen today.
Knee jerk cowboy diplomacy puts us all at risk.
A petition you say?!
Student politics has its place because it keeps the adults on their toes but when the world order is facing an existential crisis we need calm measured & unified EU wide diplomacy of the sort we’ve seen today.
Knee jerk cowboy diplomacy puts us all at risk.
January 6, 2026 at 6:55 PM
He has spoken up.
A petition you say?!
Student politics has its place because it keeps the adults on their toes but when the world order is facing an existential crisis we need calm measured & unified EU wide diplomacy of the sort we’ve seen today.
Knee jerk cowboy diplomacy puts us all at risk.
A petition you say?!
Student politics has its place because it keeps the adults on their toes but when the world order is facing an existential crisis we need calm measured & unified EU wide diplomacy of the sort we’ve seen today.
Knee jerk cowboy diplomacy puts us all at risk.
Hhmmm & the countries number 1 polling company You Gov was co-founded by Nadhim Zahawi, ex Tory minister & Chair!
And the pollsters have been consistently wrong over the past decade from Brexit onwards.
And the pollsters have been consistently wrong over the past decade from Brexit onwards.
January 6, 2026 at 4:26 PM
Hhmmm & the countries number 1 polling company You Gov was co-founded by Nadhim Zahawi, ex Tory minister & Chair!
And the pollsters have been consistently wrong over the past decade from Brexit onwards.
And the pollsters have been consistently wrong over the past decade from Brexit onwards.
The same media who attack Starmer & his hardworking, delivery focused government at every opportunity.
The pollsters like the news media are only interested in stirring the pot & clicks. Be careful what you wish for.
Starmer is doing just fine, rebuilding the country & relations with the EU.
The pollsters like the news media are only interested in stirring the pot & clicks. Be careful what you wish for.
Starmer is doing just fine, rebuilding the country & relations with the EU.
January 6, 2026 at 12:05 AM
The same media who attack Starmer & his hardworking, delivery focused government at every opportunity.
The pollsters like the news media are only interested in stirring the pot & clicks. Be careful what you wish for.
Starmer is doing just fine, rebuilding the country & relations with the EU.
The pollsters like the news media are only interested in stirring the pot & clicks. Be careful what you wish for.
Starmer is doing just fine, rebuilding the country & relations with the EU.
The same (contrarian) Sir Simon Jenkins who said Brexit would be a huge success and that the housing crisis is a myth?!
January 2, 2026 at 4:50 PM
The same (contrarian) Sir Simon Jenkins who said Brexit would be a huge success and that the housing crisis is a myth?!
Just ridiculous … surely anyone with any awareness or self-respect would just say “thanks but no thanks” (like David Bowie did).
December 29, 2025 at 10:59 PM
Just ridiculous … surely anyone with any awareness or self-respect would just say “thanks but no thanks” (like David Bowie did).
Just ridiculous … surely anyone with any awareness or self respect would just say “thanks but no thanks” (like David Bowie did).
December 29, 2025 at 10:54 PM
Just ridiculous … surely anyone with any awareness or self respect would just say “thanks but no thanks” (like David Bowie did).
As an NHS employee since 1986 believe me when I say colleagues & I feel & see improvement already - reduced waiting lists are more than an impression - but of course real change doesn’t happen in 18 months. It took 10 yrs from 1997 but by 2007 patient & staff satisfaction were the highest ever
December 27, 2025 at 4:17 PM
As an NHS employee since 1986 believe me when I say colleagues & I feel & see improvement already - reduced waiting lists are more than an impression - but of course real change doesn’t happen in 18 months. It took 10 yrs from 1997 but by 2007 patient & staff satisfaction were the highest ever
They’re doing a great job in power though aren’t they, particularly in turning around the NHS after 14 yrs of neglect. As someone who has worked in the NHS since 1986 & who witnessed the turnaround from the 2000 NHS Plan & has started to see it repeated in 2025, it is such a relief.
December 27, 2025 at 3:38 PM
They’re doing a great job in power though aren’t they, particularly in turning around the NHS after 14 yrs of neglect. As someone who has worked in the NHS since 1986 & who witnessed the turnaround from the 2000 NHS Plan & has started to see it repeated in 2025, it is such a relief.
As a Labour voter in 2024 I can say that it all feels very different from 2010 to 2024 to me, and for that I feel grateful every day and I remain hopeful and confident
December 22, 2025 at 10:32 PM
As a Labour voter in 2024 I can say that it all feels very different from 2010 to 2024 to me, and for that I feel grateful every day and I remain hopeful and confident
There is more redistribution going on than the left acknowledge (the r/w media & billionaires see it) & I’m confident Labour’s next manifesto will include renewing ties with the EU. I agree the Govt needs to tell a better story but the far left rock the boat at the peril of the poor & vulnerable.
December 5, 2025 at 12:05 PM
There is more redistribution going on than the left acknowledge (the r/w media & billionaires see it) & I’m confident Labour’s next manifesto will include renewing ties with the EU. I agree the Govt needs to tell a better story but the far left rock the boat at the peril of the poor & vulnerable.