www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
The Government needs to redraft the BoEs terms of reference to ensure the Banks activities support the fiscal and monetary policies of the Government rather than those of the City of London
The Government needs to redraft the BoEs terms of reference to ensure the Banks activities support the fiscal and monetary policies of the Government rather than those of the City of London
The Guardian view on the Bank of England’s £120bn bill: power without accountability | Editorial
Editorial: Quantitative tightening has blurred the line between monetary and fiscal policy, leaving ministers accountable for decisions they cannot directly control
www.theguardian.com
September 16, 2026 at 2:11 PM
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
The Government needs to redraft the BoEs terms of reference to ensure the Banks activities support the fiscal and monetary policies of the Government rather than those of the City of London
The Government needs to redraft the BoEs terms of reference to ensure the Banks activities support the fiscal and monetary policies of the Government rather than those of the City of London
Very disappointing speech by Healy. Sounding very much like Rachel Reeves 2. He resigned as Defence minister then has nothing to say about the Defence Investment plan or anything else of significance or substance. £150 million is chicken feed given the scale of investment needed.
September 7, 2026 at 8:59 PM
Very disappointing speech by Healy. Sounding very much like Rachel Reeves 2. He resigned as Defence minister then has nothing to say about the Defence Investment plan or anything else of significance or substance. £150 million is chicken feed given the scale of investment needed.
Was in Argentina a few years back. Did not get any sense that Las Malvinas was a major priority for people. Seems to me the issue gets trotted out when the politicians want to beat the ruling nationalist drum. But could be the recent discovery of significant oil is seen as an economic life saver
Going to Argentina is great. Imagine going to a friend's house and they have pictures all over of your wheelbarrow and they speak about how "la carretilla" is crucial to their identity and fashion and their relatives died trying to sneak into your garden to take it, but you forgot you had one.
"The Falklands have long been core to Argentine identity, appearing on posters and graffiti across the country." - deeply odd country
September 4, 2026 at 1:27 PM
Was in Argentina a few years back. Did not get any sense that Las Malvinas was a major priority for people. Seems to me the issue gets trotted out when the politicians want to beat the ruling nationalist drum. But could be the recent discovery of significant oil is seen as an economic life saver
If Labour allow the Treasury to behave in their normal manner, I think they will live to very much regret it.
Could be wrong but really don't get the impression the groundwork's being done in Treasury for that kind of budget - feels much more like, steady as she goes, fill the gaps in the DIP and postpone big decisions until the Spring.
September 4, 2026 at 1:16 PM
If Labour allow the Treasury to behave in their normal manner, I think they will live to very much regret it.
‘The broken criminal justice system and the need for radical end-to-end reforms’ labourlist.org/2026/08/the-... – via LabourList
'The broken criminal justice system and the need for radical end-to-end reforms' - LabourList
Without a strategy to reduce demand, improve rehabilitation and strengthen every stage of the system, the justice system will fail again.
labourlist.org
August 19, 2026 at 2:47 PM
‘The broken criminal justice system and the need for radical end-to-end reforms’ labourlist.org/2026/08/the-... – via LabourList
If Starmer had really understood what a Mission was and had really got behind the five Missions that Labour espoused, he might have still been sitting in Downing Street.
I'm afraid it was clear pretty quickly that missions couldn't be a basis for national government delivery, and were indeed just another thing to announce.
August 14, 2026 at 9:05 AM
If Starmer had really understood what a Mission was and had really got behind the five Missions that Labour espoused, he might have still been sitting in Downing Street.
Tim Nice but Dim ?
You'd need to be in zero gravity for the penny to drop slower than it does with Tim.
Farage “winsome happy warrior of olde”
August 14, 2026 at 8:45 AM
Tim Nice but Dim ?
Huge quantities of olive oil were shipped in amphora from Southern Spain to ancient Rome.
The amphora could not be reused and the broken remains formed Monte Testaccio in Rome
The amphora could not be reused and the broken remains formed Monte Testaccio in Rome
Why were all these ships carrying vases?
What happened to transporting gold coins?
What happened to transporting gold coins?
August 10, 2026 at 2:24 PM
Huge quantities of olive oil were shipped in amphora from Southern Spain to ancient Rome.
The amphora could not be reused and the broken remains formed Monte Testaccio in Rome
The amphora could not be reused and the broken remains formed Monte Testaccio in Rome
Time for a new windfall tax.
These oil giants are part of the reckless lobby pushing the fantasy that more drilling in the North Sea will bring our bills down - when all it will do is fatten the bank accounts of big oil corporations like BP, while households in the UK agonise over rising energy bills. 1/2
Major oil firms make $93bn profits in just 3 months amid war and climate crisis.
They shift profits, dodge taxes, fuel poverty and inflation.
They don't bear the social cost of their business.
Forever holding people/govts to ransom.
Polluters must pay. Need windfall tax now.
They shift profits, dodge taxes, fuel poverty and inflation.
They don't bear the social cost of their business.
Forever holding people/govts to ransom.
Polluters must pay. Need windfall tax now.
August 5, 2026 at 2:18 PM
Time for a new windfall tax.
One just despairs about the behaviour of the Home Office.
This will play really well in Europe when we come to discuss resetting the relationship
www.theguardian./politics/202...
This will play really well in Europe when we come to discuss resetting the relationship
www.theguardian./politics/202...
EU citizens in UK get letters telling them post-Brexit residency rights were given ‘in error’
After years of building lives in UK, potentially thousands of EU citizens could be told they have no right to remain
www.theguardian.com
August 2, 2026 at 7:39 PM
One just despairs about the behaviour of the Home Office.
This will play really well in Europe when we come to discuss resetting the relationship
www.theguardian./politics/202...
This will play really well in Europe when we come to discuss resetting the relationship
www.theguardian./politics/202...
My Father was with him in Colditz and that was his opinion.
I challenge anyone to watch this film and not think Bader an arrogant arse.
The classic story of Douglas Bader. #KennethMore in REACH FOR THE SKY (1956) 3:45pm with #MurielPavlow #LyndonBrook Biopic directed by #LewisGilbert #TPTVsubtitles
August 1, 2026 at 6:49 PM
My Father was with him in Colditz and that was his opinion.
Back in the 80s Thatcher decided to allow council house tenants to buy their rented homes BUT she also stopped local government from building replacements. So, today the forecast spend on Housing benefit is over £37 billion. Time to get local government building again.
July 31, 2026 at 10:36 AM
Back in the 80s Thatcher decided to allow council house tenants to buy their rented homes BUT she also stopped local government from building replacements. So, today the forecast spend on Housing benefit is over £37 billion. Time to get local government building again.
Devolution of financial control to the regions is long overdue but brings with it obvious risks. The job of the Treasury is not to oppose it but to ensure that there are systems and procedures in place that prevent corruption.
Very good from @jenwilliamsft.bsky.social on how devolution of power also needs a local press with capability of scrutiny. Will this rebuild over time in conjunction with devolution (same as eg skills in local government) or is it on an entirely separate rhythm?
www.ft.com/content/26da...
www.ft.com/content/26da...
Mayoral scrutiny is a pressing issue
As Burnham devolves power, remember much of the country lacks Manchester’s media ecosystem
www.ft.com
July 31, 2026 at 10:25 AM
Devolution of financial control to the regions is long overdue but brings with it obvious risks. The job of the Treasury is not to oppose it but to ensure that there are systems and procedures in place that prevent corruption.
Voters should remember this.
Braverman is Home Sec from Sept 2022 to Nov 2023. She inherited highest flows, does get returns to Albania. By replacing temp protection with a ban on processing, she is the major architect of asylum hotels fiasco. (Pursues Rwanda & fails: law + operations. It may have taken 1% 300-500 of 30k-50k!)
July 31, 2026 at 9:49 AM
Voters should remember this.
A political consensus on aged care is certainly worth trying to achieve. The people who suffer most when a new government rips up the policies of its predecessor are the elderly and those who care for them.
the other question is whether political consensus is a necessary precondition for reform. Its easy to see why @andyburnham.bsky.social wants this - he was burned by the death tax accusations in 2009-10 and May's reform attempt was nixed by the "dementia tax".
Cross-party talks are fine-and might be part of a process to sort out social care
But Burnham can’t sidestep politics
Deciding how to spend billions (or not), & who should win or lose, is the essence of politics
From @stuarthoddinott.bsky.social
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/article/comm...
But Burnham can’t sidestep politics
Deciding how to spend billions (or not), & who should win or lose, is the essence of politics
From @stuarthoddinott.bsky.social
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/article/comm...
July 30, 2026 at 2:10 PM
A political consensus on aged care is certainly worth trying to achieve. The people who suffer most when a new government rips up the policies of its predecessor are the elderly and those who care for them.
If Burnham wants to develop a national consensus about Social Care via the Casey Report he would be very ill advised to see it in terms of Party Political advantage.
This could create a strong logic to a Spring 2028 election (rather than Spring/Summer 2029, nor earlier eg Spring/Summer/Autumn 2027) if there would be Autumn 2027 proposals that require a different funding model, going outside the 2024 manifesto pledges on tax, to proceed beyond a General Election.
July 29, 2026 at 11:02 AM
If Burnham wants to develop a national consensus about Social Care via the Casey Report he would be very ill advised to see it in terms of Party Political advantage.
So in practice you don’t really believe in giving Burnham a chance
July 21, 2026 at 9:38 PM
So in practice you don’t really believe in giving Burnham a chance
Time to implement Levison
As Ed Miliband leaves his post as energy and net-zero secretary, a final tally:
There have been an incredible 251 newspaper editorials attacking him and his approach to net-zero since the start of 2024
That amounts to two editorials a week, mainly in the Sun, Daily Mail, Times and Daily Telegraph.
There have been an incredible 251 newspaper editorials attacking him and his approach to net-zero since the start of 2024
That amounts to two editorials a week, mainly in the Sun, Daily Mail, Times and Daily Telegraph.
July 21, 2026 at 9:36 PM
Time to implement Levison
Reposted by Michael Bruce
Anyone trying to work out what ‘reindustrialisation’ means (including which sectors) and how the skills system and devolution might support it, should read this speech from Andy Burnham a few months ago (given while still GM Mayor).
www.greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk/news/mayor-s...
www.greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk/news/mayor-s...
Home
Devolving control of skills and technical education can unleash the economic potential of the North
www.greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk
July 19, 2026 at 8:26 AM
Anyone trying to work out what ‘reindustrialisation’ means (including which sectors) and how the skills system and devolution might support it, should read this speech from Andy Burnham a few months ago (given while still GM Mayor).
www.greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk/news/mayor-s...
www.greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk/news/mayor-s...
Reposted by Michael Bruce
Shrewsbury station...Does it have to look like this? It wouldn't cost much to clean it up and put in a few flowerbeds
July 19, 2026 at 12:02 PM
Shrewsbury station...Does it have to look like this? It wouldn't cost much to clean it up and put in a few flowerbeds
www.hansardsociety.org.uk/events/lord-...
The problem with Forsyth’s speech is that he can’t bring himself to accept that for the second chamber to be properly democratic, it must be elected. He needs to start from that point. Let’s hope Burnham does.
The problem with Forsyth’s speech is that he can’t bring himself to accept that for the second chamber to be properly democratic, it must be elected. He needs to start from that point. Let’s hope Burnham does.
Rewiring politics: The danger of ill-considered House of Lords reform blowing a constitutional fuse - a speech by the Lord Speaker, Lord Forsyth of Drumlean
On 16 July 2026, Lord Forsyth of Drumlean delivered his first major public speech since being elected Lord Speaker. At an event hosted by the Hansard Society, Lord Forsyth said that anyone advocating ...
www.hansardsociety.org.uk
July 19, 2026 at 10:01 AM
www.hansardsociety.org.uk/events/lord-...
The problem with Forsyth’s speech is that he can’t bring himself to accept that for the second chamber to be properly democratic, it must be elected. He needs to start from that point. Let’s hope Burnham does.
The problem with Forsyth’s speech is that he can’t bring himself to accept that for the second chamber to be properly democratic, it must be elected. He needs to start from that point. Let’s hope Burnham does.
Good to know that the British tradition of the Amateur is alive and well. On today’s BBC ‘ World at One’ the presenter was told that no knowledge of economics was necessary to be Chancellor. I am thinking of offering my poodle for the job.
July 16, 2026 at 8:17 PM
Good to know that the British tradition of the Amateur is alive and well. On today’s BBC ‘ World at One’ the presenter was told that no knowledge of economics was necessary to be Chancellor. I am thinking of offering my poodle for the job.
Reposted by Michael Bruce
I have a student son Henry Nowak’s age & I can’t imagine what it took for his family to respond outside court with the grace they did, asking that their son’s death not be used for division and hate. That Reform & Restore chose to throw that back in their faces makes me feel sick.
June 2, 2026 at 4:25 PM
I have a student son Henry Nowak’s age & I can’t imagine what it took for his family to respond outside court with the grace they did, asking that their son’s death not be used for division and hate. That Reform & Restore chose to throw that back in their faces makes me feel sick.
Labour's response to the local elections reflects the way it has governed; cautious incrementalism. Let's not rock the boat too much. Let's not get rid of a PM who is not up to the job.A man who accepts no personal responsibility for the results and talks of another electoral term in office.
May 10, 2026 at 6:11 PM
Labour's response to the local elections reflects the way it has governed; cautious incrementalism. Let's not rock the boat too much. Let's not get rid of a PM who is not up to the job.A man who accepts no personal responsibility for the results and talks of another electoral term in office.