A scandal hit ex-deputy PM who had to resign causes damage to the government by challenging a PM for returning a scandal hit ex-deputy PM to government, possibly opening their way to return to government.
Lots of ramifications from a frantic day in politics – not all of them will be apparent now. Yet I can't help but feel that the most striking takeaway is the political savvy displayed by Angela Rayner
No 10 surely hers if she wants it
No 10 surely hers if she wants it
February 4, 2026 at 10:29 PM
A scandal hit ex-deputy PM who had to resign causes damage to the government by challenging a PM for returning a scandal hit ex-deputy PM to government, possibly opening their way to return to government.
I'd put a bet on that all PMs have an anonymous email address based on the name of an astronomer royal.
NEW: Who was John Pond?
This August 2009 email exchange which was forwarded to Jeffrey Epstein included Mandelson, the PM's PPS Jeremy Heywood, the minister/adviser Shriti Vadera and... John Pond.
Two sources have told the BBC that John Pond was in fact Gordon Brown, then the PM
This August 2009 email exchange which was forwarded to Jeffrey Epstein included Mandelson, the PM's PPS Jeremy Heywood, the minister/adviser Shriti Vadera and... John Pond.
Two sources have told the BBC that John Pond was in fact Gordon Brown, then the PM
February 2, 2026 at 6:29 PM
I'd put a bet on that all PMs have an anonymous email address based on the name of an astronomer royal.
I think that's kind of stretching things.
BREAKING 🚨: UK Government warned Rosebank oil field could break international law over links to illegal Israeli settlements.
New legal advice identifies potential breaches of UK international obligations under the Geneva convention, should Rosebank be approved.
New legal advice identifies potential breaches of UK international obligations under the Geneva convention, should Rosebank be approved.
January 30, 2026 at 10:20 AM
I think that's kind of stretching things.
Blimey. Marjorie Taylor Greene:
January 25, 2026 at 8:06 PM
Blimey. Marjorie Taylor Greene:
This applies to families with teenagers too.
I’m becoming increasingly convinced that everything can be explained by either accounting policy or regulatory failure.
January 24, 2026 at 9:59 AM
This applies to families with teenagers too.
I think I've worked out how to solve the Greenland question, and Climate Change. Instead of Greenland we give Trump sovereignty over the Arctic sea ice.
In one simple move, he will be incentivised to preserve the ice and control climate change or risk losing his asset. Done.
In one simple move, he will be incentivised to preserve the ice and control climate change or risk losing his asset. Done.
January 22, 2026 at 3:21 PM
I think I've worked out how to solve the Greenland question, and Climate Change. Instead of Greenland we give Trump sovereignty over the Arctic sea ice.
In one simple move, he will be incentivised to preserve the ice and control climate change or risk losing his asset. Done.
In one simple move, he will be incentivised to preserve the ice and control climate change or risk losing his asset. Done.
"There was a time, in the early 21st Century, when Great Powers would draw lines on maps and carve up the world, on WhatsApp".
January 20, 2026 at 1:19 PM
"There was a time, in the early 21st Century, when Great Powers would draw lines on maps and carve up the world, on WhatsApp".
The deal: Crimea for Russia. Greenland for US.
As expected:
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov: “Trump said that Greenland is important for the security of the US.
“Crimea is equally important for the security of Russia.”
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov: “Trump said that Greenland is important for the security of the US.
“Crimea is equally important for the security of Russia.”
January 20, 2026 at 10:00 AM
The deal: Crimea for Russia. Greenland for US.
Reposted by St George
Can Keir Starmer bore enough to stop a trade war - or an actual war? My SKETCH of Today In Saving Greenland.
thecritic.co.uk/on-b...
thecritic.co.uk/on-b...
January 19, 2026 at 6:10 PM
Can Keir Starmer bore enough to stop a trade war - or an actual war? My SKETCH of Today In Saving Greenland.
thecritic.co.uk/on-b...
thecritic.co.uk/on-b...
Americans pay for their own tariffs, nobody else. www.kielinstitut.de/publications...
America's own goal: Americans pay almost entirely for Trump’s tariffs
Contrary to US government rhetoric, the cost of US import tariffs are not borne by foreign exporters. Instead, they hit the American economy itself. Importers and consumers in the US bear 96 percent o...
www.kielinstitut.de
January 19, 2026 at 6:24 PM
Americans pay for their own tariffs, nobody else. www.kielinstitut.de/publications...
Reposted by St George
WSJ Editorial Board calling it as it is:
"Tariffs in the cause of bullying imperialism is the wrong way to make a deal"
"China and Russia may be the biggest winners"
"No one should underestimate the shock his Greenland project is producing among allies."
www.wsj.com/opinion/the-...
"Tariffs in the cause of bullying imperialism is the wrong way to make a deal"
"China and Russia may be the biggest winners"
"No one should underestimate the shock his Greenland project is producing among allies."
www.wsj.com/opinion/the-...
Opinion | The Greenland War of 2026
Trump’s lesson in how to turn U.S. allies into China’s friends.
www.wsj.com
January 19, 2026 at 9:39 AM
WSJ Editorial Board calling it as it is:
"Tariffs in the cause of bullying imperialism is the wrong way to make a deal"
"China and Russia may be the biggest winners"
"No one should underestimate the shock his Greenland project is producing among allies."
www.wsj.com/opinion/the-...
"Tariffs in the cause of bullying imperialism is the wrong way to make a deal"
"China and Russia may be the biggest winners"
"No one should underestimate the shock his Greenland project is producing among allies."
www.wsj.com/opinion/the-...
Reposted by St George
“For all its pointless absurdity, Mr Trump’s conflict with Europe over #Greenland may come to be seen as the moment when America’s leadership of the West was profoundly put into doubt.”
My latest for The @economist.com.
economist.com/europe/2026/...
My latest for The @economist.com.
economist.com/europe/2026/...
As divisions over Greenland grow, Europe examines its options
Donald Trump’s tariff threats over Greenland force Europeans to count their arrows
economist.com
January 18, 2026 at 10:07 PM
“For all its pointless absurdity, Mr Trump’s conflict with Europe over #Greenland may come to be seen as the moment when America’s leadership of the West was profoundly put into doubt.”
My latest for The @economist.com.
economist.com/europe/2026/...
My latest for The @economist.com.
economist.com/europe/2026/...
Of all banks Deutsche Bank should know what makes Trump tick.
January 18, 2026 at 7:31 PM
Of all banks Deutsche Bank should know what makes Trump tick.
FAFO
January 17, 2026 at 10:13 PM
FAFO
Trump kicking off a new trade war against the UK + EU over Greenland, which they can't compromise on, could easily escalate politically again. The UK would feel serious pain from a UK-US tariff war outside the EU or its customs union. One unintended consequence may be to drive the EU and UK closer.
January 17, 2026 at 9:23 PM
Trump kicking off a new trade war against the UK + EU over Greenland, which they can't compromise on, could easily escalate politically again. The UK would feel serious pain from a UK-US tariff war outside the EU or its customs union. One unintended consequence may be to drive the EU and UK closer.
Reposted by St George
Brand safety disaster imminent...
January 16, 2026 at 7:37 PM
Brand safety disaster imminent...
TBH we all fear the "wine mums"
“Organized gangs of wine moms”
Ladies you “Zumba-ed” too hard!
January 11, 2026 at 9:24 PM
TBH we all fear the "wine mums"
Reposted by St George
Presented without comment
December 12, 2025 at 11:42 AM
Presented without comment
Reposted by St George
Did you make sure to keep the camera away from the volcano like we discussed?
Yeah, about that…
Yeah, about that…
December 6, 2025 at 8:32 PM
Did you make sure to keep the camera away from the volcano like we discussed?
Yeah, about that…
Yeah, about that…
Turns out I'm an Adrian Quesada super fan. How are you all not listening to this?
open.spotify.com/track/1T27Hw...
open.spotify.com/track/1T27Hw...
December 3, 2025 at 10:01 PM
Turns out I'm an Adrian Quesada super fan. How are you all not listening to this?
open.spotify.com/track/1T27Hw...
open.spotify.com/track/1T27Hw...
Reposted by St George
"Keir, I'm sorry I've written your name down, I hope I'm wrong"
November 12, 2025 at 9:23 AM
"Keir, I'm sorry I've written your name down, I hope I'm wrong"
Stamp duty might not actually be a very good tax...
![The Telegraph
Rayner tax scandal - £40k tax dodge - Statement
Angela Rayner dodges £40,000 stamp duty
Deputy Prime Minister reduces tax bill for Hove flat by declaring it as her main residence
[Photo: Angela Rayner pictured at the weekend in Hove, where she has just bought a flat Credit: Dan Charity/The Sun on Sunday]
Robert Mendick Chief Reporter. Amy Gibbons Political Correspondent
29 August 2025 8:57am BST](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:2kf2qj56o2vq7jfaq4x4ogp6/bafkreihe5mm7nwmwvzhtgadmsafyvsaxhrufuai2d2j2rju5zt6g2lytea@jpeg)
![The Telegraph
Money > Property > Second homes
How to avoid tax on your second home
From stamp duty to council tax, shield your wealth from Labour's tightening net
[Photo of houses around a bay - Areas such as Cornwall have added a premium to council tax bills for second homes Credit: iStockphoto]
Fran Ivens Senior Money Writer
29 August 2025 1:21pm BST](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:2kf2qj56o2vq7jfaq4x4ogp6/bafkreieuwgc2vsmyfcctmf4cnpcqckij2pqdk2gmzajpnihrsqyqmzyr5e@jpeg)
September 5, 2025 at 10:57 AM
Stamp duty might not actually be a very good tax...
"Make me a map of the UK as it looks to a visiting American."
Version 2 is loads better. We have two Norfolks (who knew?), a West Ridingo, Tuhdley Molip and the intriguing Sesex...
August 8, 2025 at 9:06 AM
"Make me a map of the UK as it looks to a visiting American."
This is probably the most cynical attempt in a while to shake money out of reform supporting pensioners. Imagine them, sitting at home, seeing this on Facebook, signing up to Coinbase and burning their savings up on crypto junk. youtu.be/l0bmJlrhRg4?...
Everything Is Fine
YouTube video by Coinbase
youtu.be
August 2, 2025 at 7:39 AM
This is probably the most cynical attempt in a while to shake money out of reform supporting pensioners. Imagine them, sitting at home, seeing this on Facebook, signing up to Coinbase and burning their savings up on crypto junk. youtu.be/l0bmJlrhRg4?...