James Lucas
@whitehalltimes.com
Editor of The Whitehall Times.
We publish at https://whitehalltimes.com
Commentary and opinion on world politics, and more.
We publish at https://whitehalltimes.com
Commentary and opinion on world politics, and more.
Pinned
People who disagree with means testing the state pension must also disagree with means testing other state benefits.
Should the UK grant Universal Credit at the full amount, with its annual uprating, to all who apply?
Child Benefit income thresholds to be scrapped?
Pension contribution limits?
Should the UK grant Universal Credit at the full amount, with its annual uprating, to all who apply?
Child Benefit income thresholds to be scrapped?
Pension contribution limits?
December 20, 2025 at 4:13 PM
A friend has sent me this photo from the website of the Sandringham Estate. That fireplace looks *remarkably* familiar, doesn't it? bsky.app/profile/jame...
December 19, 2025 at 11:01 PM
#EpsteinFiles
Andrew Mountbatten Windsor with Maxwell.
"It was just a straightforward shooting weekend."
"It wasn't a party."
Andrew Mountbatten Windsor with Maxwell.
"It was just a straightforward shooting weekend."
"It wasn't a party."
December 19, 2025 at 10:32 PM
#EpsteinFiles
Andrew Mountbatten Windsor with Maxwell.
"It was just a straightforward shooting weekend."
"It wasn't a party."
Andrew Mountbatten Windsor with Maxwell.
"It was just a straightforward shooting weekend."
"It wasn't a party."
Bondi’s been vibe coding all day (badly)
December 19, 2025 at 9:15 PM
Bondi’s been vibe coding all day (badly)
Taking bets now that JD Vance will have Erika Kirk as his running mate.
Erika Kirk endorses JD Vance for president in 2028: "We are going to get my husband's friend JD Vance elected for 48 in the most resounding way possible."
December 19, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Taking bets now that JD Vance will have Erika Kirk as his running mate.
Contactless fraud was £41.1m in 2024, down 1% on 2023. That’s ~1.3p lost per £100 spent. Contactless is 74% of card transactions but only 7% of card-fraud losses. Perspective matters.
I've always felt uneasy about contactless payment. Really not keen about muggers being told they can benefit even more than before from stealing my card. (Yes there's talk of setting lower individual limits, but the muggers won't know in advance if I've done that) www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
£100 contactless card limit to be lifted from March
Card providers can decide whether to offer unlimited payments on contactless cards.
www.bbc.co.uk
December 19, 2025 at 9:03 AM
Contactless fraud was £41.1m in 2024, down 1% on 2023. That’s ~1.3p lost per £100 spent. Contactless is 74% of card transactions but only 7% of card-fraud losses. Perspective matters.
Trump is seeking to manufacture a legacy because he has been unable to create one legitimately.
He is profoundly unwell.
Breaking news: The board of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts has voted to rename the storied arts institution the “Trump-Kennedy Center,” according to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt.
December 18, 2025 at 7:57 PM
Trump is seeking to manufacture a legacy because he has been unable to create one legitimately.
The way he calls it an “arc”.
Clown show.
Clown show.
December 14, 2025 at 9:46 PM
The way he calls it an “arc”.
Clown show.
Clown show.
Born into a wealthy family in Pretoria, South Africa, Musk emigrated in 1989 to Canada.
He received bachelor's degrees in 1997 from the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, United States, before moving to California to pursue business ventures.
He received bachelor's degrees in 1997 from the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, United States, before moving to California to pursue business ventures.
Elon Musk is furious that people who were not born in America are able to cast a vote in American elections.
I wonder what his attitude is about people who were not born in America but spend billions of dollars influencing American elections.
I wonder what his attitude is about people who were not born in America but spend billions of dollars influencing American elections.
WATCH: Elon Musk is upset that Somalian Americans in Minnesota get to vote.
December 10, 2025 at 6:41 PM
Born into a wealthy family in Pretoria, South Africa, Musk emigrated in 1989 to Canada.
He received bachelor's degrees in 1997 from the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, United States, before moving to California to pursue business ventures.
He received bachelor's degrees in 1997 from the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, United States, before moving to California to pursue business ventures.
So much for House of Lords reform...
December 10, 2025 at 6:37 PM
So much for House of Lords reform...
Tusk speaking sense.
USA needs to wake up.
USA needs to wake up.
Polish PM Donald Tusk to the US: “Dear American friends, Europe is your closest ally, not your problem. We’ve had common enemies for the past 80 years. We must stick to that, it’s the only sensible strategy for our shared security. Unless something has changed.”
December 6, 2025 at 7:42 PM
Tusk speaking sense.
USA needs to wake up.
USA needs to wake up.
An old, grumpy, angry, fascist incel. That's all he is.
He also uses the number "eighty eight per cent" which is linked to "88" - or "HH", "Heil Hitler" - H being the 8th letter of the alphabet.
This man - even in his senility - knows what subliminal messages he's giving out.
He also uses the number "eighty eight per cent" which is linked to "88" - or "HH", "Heil Hitler" - H being the 8th letter of the alphabet.
This man - even in his senility - knows what subliminal messages he's giving out.
December 3, 2025 at 9:21 PM
An old, grumpy, angry, fascist incel. That's all he is.
He also uses the number "eighty eight per cent" which is linked to "88" - or "HH", "Heil Hitler" - H being the 8th letter of the alphabet.
This man - even in his senility - knows what subliminal messages he's giving out.
He also uses the number "eighty eight per cent" which is linked to "88" - or "HH", "Heil Hitler" - H being the 8th letter of the alphabet.
This man - even in his senility - knows what subliminal messages he's giving out.
Sleepy Don is NOT a well man.
Trump had some hefty bandages yesterday on the back of right hand -- the same one that is often discolored
(Chip Somodevilla/Getty)
(Chip Somodevilla/Getty)
December 3, 2025 at 9:16 PM
Sleepy Don is NOT a well man.
Ah - one of the many victims who've been lost to 'the country's broken' mentality.
But they can never explain why they think it's broken, can they.
But they can never explain why they think it's broken, can they.
I asked someone at work why they were so angry about the budget because he just kept complaining about it. He had no idea why. Just that it was a disgrace. Mentioned something about the mansion tax despite living in a 3 bed semi down the street from me. Why has the country lost its marbles??
December 1, 2025 at 9:17 AM
Ah - one of the many victims who've been lost to 'the country's broken' mentality.
But they can never explain why they think it's broken, can they.
But they can never explain why they think it's broken, can they.
People who voted Labour will be please about this, no?
A progressive development in taxation, one that would be expected to happen under a Labour government.
A progressive development in taxation, one that would be expected to happen under a Labour government.
Overall, the combination of tax rises and giveaways since last year’s Budget is progressive.
Incomes for households in the bottom half of the distribution have increased by 1.0 per cent and incomes for households in the top half fell by 0.7 per cent.
Incomes for households in the bottom half of the distribution have increased by 1.0 per cent and incomes for households in the top half fell by 0.7 per cent.
December 1, 2025 at 9:15 AM
People who voted Labour will be please about this, no?
A progressive development in taxation, one that would be expected to happen under a Labour government.
A progressive development in taxation, one that would be expected to happen under a Labour government.
It’s also perhaps the dawning realisation that a vetted immigrant has been even partially radicalised by their opposition to Trump’s administration.
The fundamental thing to understand about this administration is the president is a grumpy retiree. He has no interest in working anymore. Which leads to him being pissed that he is getting asked a question, pissed he has to show up and work, the scheming viziers running the show, etc..
“You’re a stupid person” — Trump lashes out at a reporter who presses him on the fact that the suspected DC shooter was actually thoroughly vetted before he was let in the US from Afghanistan
November 28, 2025 at 11:50 AM
It’s also perhaps the dawning realisation that a vetted immigrant has been even partially radicalised by their opposition to Trump’s administration.
If Labour wanted to fix the UK it would seek to rejoin the EU.
It’s really quite straightforward.
It’d also legislate for constitutional reforms to improve its democracy with an elected upper chamber and threshold rules for referendums so a disaster like Brexit can’t happen again.
It’s really quite straightforward.
It’d also legislate for constitutional reforms to improve its democracy with an elected upper chamber and threshold rules for referendums so a disaster like Brexit can’t happen again.
Labour’s James Murray "The report that the OBR put out alongside the budget shows the impact on productivity from the previous government"
"Austerity, the way Brexit was mishandled" #BBCQT
Labour Brexit right now costs us £90 billion a year in lost tax revenue
"Austerity, the way Brexit was mishandled" #BBCQT
Labour Brexit right now costs us £90 billion a year in lost tax revenue
November 27, 2025 at 11:10 PM
If Labour wanted to fix the UK it would seek to rejoin the EU.
It’s really quite straightforward.
It’d also legislate for constitutional reforms to improve its democracy with an elected upper chamber and threshold rules for referendums so a disaster like Brexit can’t happen again.
It’s really quite straightforward.
It’d also legislate for constitutional reforms to improve its democracy with an elected upper chamber and threshold rules for referendums so a disaster like Brexit can’t happen again.
People who disagree with means testing the state pension must also disagree with means testing other state benefits.
Should the UK grant Universal Credit at the full amount, with its annual uprating, to all who apply?
Child Benefit income thresholds to be scrapped?
Pension contribution limits?
Should the UK grant Universal Credit at the full amount, with its annual uprating, to all who apply?
Child Benefit income thresholds to be scrapped?
Pension contribution limits?
November 27, 2025 at 10:54 PM
People who disagree with means testing the state pension must also disagree with means testing other state benefits.
Should the UK grant Universal Credit at the full amount, with its annual uprating, to all who apply?
Child Benefit income thresholds to be scrapped?
Pension contribution limits?
Should the UK grant Universal Credit at the full amount, with its annual uprating, to all who apply?
Child Benefit income thresholds to be scrapped?
Pension contribution limits?
Has Grandpa released the Epstein Files yet?
November 25, 2025 at 9:54 PM
Has Grandpa released the Epstein Files yet?
CEO’s take millions of pounds home, too. Why? How is their line of work benefitting society?
UK gambling industry made £15.6bn in 2024 (£16.8bn in 2025)
Most companies holed up in Gibraltar & Malta, dodge UK taxes. Some pay corporation tax at the rate of 3%-4%. No VAT on gambling.
Public bears the cost of gambling addiction.
Firms resent paying extra tax to clear their mess.
Tax them.
Most companies holed up in Gibraltar & Malta, dodge UK taxes. Some pay corporation tax at the rate of 3%-4%. No VAT on gambling.
Public bears the cost of gambling addiction.
Firms resent paying extra tax to clear their mess.
Tax them.
UK's Online Gambling Industry: The £3.8 Billion Tax Question Nobody's Answering
UK's online gambling industry generates £15.6bn annually but pays minimal tax. With £3.8bn in receipts, experts say it's time for reform Here's why.
www.thelondoneconomic.com
November 25, 2025 at 6:06 PM
CEO’s take millions of pounds home, too. Why? How is their line of work benefitting society?
The chancellor is in effect retaining a tax cut for the better off in society.
Also she will be encouraging use of ICE vehicles. How does that square with the green agenda?
Also she will be encouraging use of ICE vehicles. How does that square with the green agenda?
When can you declare an emergency over?
The 5p “emergency” petrol tax cut was introduced in March 2022, to offset a spike in prices
They are now about 30p down on that month, & about 50p down on the absolute peak
The 5p “emergency” petrol tax cut was introduced in March 2022, to offset a spike in prices
They are now about 30p down on that month, & about 50p down on the absolute peak
November 25, 2025 at 5:58 PM
The chancellor is in effect retaining a tax cut for the better off in society.
Also she will be encouraging use of ICE vehicles. How does that square with the green agenda?
Also she will be encouraging use of ICE vehicles. How does that square with the green agenda?
The UK Foreign Office seriously needs to update its advice on travel to the US.
ICE arrests, detains British woman with US husband and newborn when she shows up for her green card interview. She’s now in a detention center, separated from her 6-month-old. No criminal record. She had overstayed her visa.
www.lbc.co.uk/article/brit...
www.lbc.co.uk/article/brit...
British mum detained by ICE agents in California as six-month old baby and stunned husband watch on | LBC
Katie Paul, 33, was in the process of applying for a green card when she was ambushed by immigration agents
www.lbc.co.uk
November 25, 2025 at 2:16 PM
The UK Foreign Office seriously needs to update its advice on travel to the US.
One of its early successes in this endeavour?
Brexit.
Brexit.
Russia's feasting on Western polarization like it's a candy store, sowing division through infrastructure hits and election hacks to fracture NATO allies. Unity's the antidote to this cynical ploy. #Russia
November 24, 2025 at 10:09 PM
One of its early successes in this endeavour?
Brexit.
Brexit.
First time in a long while (ever?) I’ve seen Farridge rattled like that. Well done to the reporter.
“I would never ever do it in a hurtful or insulting way”
Nigel Farage responds to allegations of racist behaviour from when he was a teenager at school
@itvnewspolitics.bsky.social
Nigel Farage responds to allegations of racist behaviour from when he was a teenager at school
@itvnewspolitics.bsky.social
November 24, 2025 at 7:25 PM
First time in a long while (ever?) I’ve seen Farridge rattled like that. Well done to the reporter.
Journalists aren’t journalists nowadays, they’re wannabe celebrities.
And, along with politicians, they’re hooked on the scrolling-fuelled 24h instant news machine.
And, along with politicians, they’re hooked on the scrolling-fuelled 24h instant news machine.
journalists asking cabinet ministers why there’s so much chaotic crazed speculation about the Budget might want to question their own role in this
November 24, 2025 at 7:22 PM
Journalists aren’t journalists nowadays, they’re wannabe celebrities.
And, along with politicians, they’re hooked on the scrolling-fuelled 24h instant news machine.
And, along with politicians, they’re hooked on the scrolling-fuelled 24h instant news machine.