Tory leader Kemi Badenoch's defence of former neo-Nazi Joshua Bonehill-Paine is breathtaking. Neo-Nazis are not alright as Tory MPs but fine as your local Tory councillors. And to add to the shambles he has now resigned as a Tory candidate.

The #BurnhamBounce continues. It is real but it is fragile. As is support for all the five main UK-wide political parties. Farage is struggling & getting more unpopular; while the limits of the Keminaissance are obvious to everyone bar Badenoch. HT @luketryl.bsky.social

A few differences between Rod Liddle and George Orwell. Orwell was not a racist, sexist, xenophobic shit pissing on poor & vulnerable people. He was a principled anti-imperialist, wrote two of the defining novels of the 20th and did not assault his pregnant partner.

Mic Wright@brokenbottleboy.bsky.social · 2d ago

Fraser Nelson reckons Rod Liddle was “the greatest satirist since Swift” while Michael Gove is comparing him to not just Swift but Orwell. Amazing the comparisons you can get if you’ll pump out exactly the racist opinions even they are too squeamish to commit to print.

A few differences between Rod Liddle and George Orwell. Orwell was not a racist, sexist, xenophobic shit pissing on poor & vulnerable people. He was a principled anti-imperialist, wrote two of the defining novels of the 20th and did not assault his pregnant partner.

Mic Wright@brokenbottleboy.bsky.social · 2d ago

Fraser Nelson reckons Rod Liddle was “the greatest satirist since Swift” while Michael Gove is comparing him to not just Swift but Orwell. Amazing the comparisons you can get if you’ll pump out exactly the racist opinions even they are too squeamish to commit to print.

The joke is not funny anymore. What portion of MAGA die-hard fanatics buy this BS from Trump?

Donald Trump is a terrible US President. He is a debased & amoral person. He is an appalling golfer who openly cheats & pretends he is good at the game. His serial cheating at golf show his lack of the most basic principles of decency.

Reactions to Rod Liddle's death have been revealing. To a whole section of the British media not exclusively on the right repeated sexism, racism, Islamophobia, homophobia & contempt for poor people are all fine. The reasoning: 'he is a nice guy'; 'he had me on his show' & did bigotry with a smile.

How about the post-British Isles? Or does that still assume a centrality of British identity even if it is in the rear-view mirror?

sarah jeong@sarahjeong.bsky.social · yesterday

around brexit, when americans were struggling with the difference between britain / uk / british isles, someone on twitter suggested to me (somewhat tongue in cheek) that "the british isles" is unacceptable and that the politically correct term is "these isles"; or "those isles" if you're american

The UK has existed as a state since 1801. The current borders of the UK have been in place since 1922. Do Reform UK politicians NOT know the basics of UK history?

The Daily Mail loves to spread hate, cynicism and sexism. The latter including trying to belittle and shame senior women in political and public life. The Daily Mail damages British public life & regularly reading the paper should carry a health warning.

Where are the SFA? The English & Welsh FA have publicly called for the resignation of FIFA head Gianni Infantino. But one week into the FIFA crisis no such announcement from the SFA. Could it per chance be related to the role of the SFA's Mike Mulraney as chair of the FIFA finance committee?

Where are the SFA? The English & Welsh FA have publicly called for the resignation of FIFA head Gianni Infantino. But one week into the FIFA crisis no such announcement from the SFA. Could it per chance be related to the role of the SFA's Mike Mulraney as chair of the FIFA finance committee?

Richard 'Tricky Dicky' Tice clearly does not like answering questions about the dodgy, dark funding of Reform. www.gbnews.com/politics/ric...

Richard Tice fumes he is ‘absolutely raging angry’ over ‘establishment' standards probe

A Reform source described the investigation as 'baffling'

gbnews.com

Kemi Badenoch doubles down as she usually does and defends having a neo-Nazi selected as a Tory candidate. Have Badenoch and her Tory gang zero political intelligence and nous?

Tom Roberts@tpgroberts.bsky.social · yesterday

Absolutely crackers, extremely self serving as a defence as there is absolutely no chance she'd extend this same benefit of the doubt elsewhere, which becomes obvious in the, factually incorrect, statement on early release she can't resist tagging on at the end.

The normalisation of Rupert Lowe's extreme right-wing micro-party goes on in the mainstream right-wing media. Any 'deal" between Lowe's tiny racist, authoritarian entity and Reform will harm Farage more than helps. And would be the death of any Reform project for power. unherd.com/2026/08/why-...

Why Farage will vanquish Lowe

unherd.com

The #BurnhamBounce is real. It has turned up at the polls. But it is weak and shallow. And it will not be enough on its own for Labour to turn around its fortunes.

YouGov@yougov.co.uk · 2d ago

Latest YouGov Westminster voting intention, 2-3 August 2026 Reform UK: 23% (+1 from 26-27 Jul) Labour: 22% (=) Conservatives: 19% (-2) Greens: 13% (=) Lib Dems: 12% (+1) Restore Britain: 4% (=) SNP: 3% (+1) Plaid Cymru: 1% (=) Your Party: 0% (-1) yougov.com/en-gb/articl...

100%. Where are the Rod Liddle-esque comments on Rod Liddle? Where are the contrarian takes beyond the 'he was a great guy' & 'I don't care he was convicted of assault as I had a great time on his show'? Is misogyny, sexism, racism, islamophobia & hating poor people all just fine for some folk?

Zoe Williams@zoesqwilliams.bsky.social · 2d ago

If Rod Liddle, RIP, were editing this Today obituary about himself, he would say 'what the fuck are you thinking, having two bros agree what a great guy I was? You're not even going to include a voice that mildly objected to me? Have you forgotten that my life's work was as a contrarian?'

Could it be that Kemi Badenoch, Nigel Farage and Rupert Lowe are all swimming in the same cesspit looking for candidates?

Funny isn't it how misogyny and actual violence towards women can be overlooked by some folk who claim they are 'champions of women'?

The #UniversityChallenge summary of the most famous sons & daughters who have studied at institutions competing misses one of Guildhall School of Music and Drama's most famous and innovative graduates: George Martin, the producer of the Beatles & more.

The age of political satire reaches new heights with Nigel Farage & Zia Yusuf desperately trying to replay their greatest hits: 'small boats' and remix it with the cover of the Royal Navy, good old-fashioned nostalgia & some Francophobia. Desperate times for Farage & Reform.

Liddle's caution for assaulting his girlfriend is the sort of behaviour that does not seem to bother successive editors of The Spectator. Witness the continued promotion and platforming of Taki, convicted of attempted rape.

Ian Fraser@ianfraser.bsky.social · 2d ago

There are many who have struggled to take former Spectator associate editor Rod Liddle at all seriously after he was cautioned for assaulting his then pregnant girlfriend, Alicia Monckton, on 5 May 2005.

Former Spectator editor Fraser Nelson writes: “Rod Liddle was the greatest satirist since Swift." Think in both literary and political terms that is extremely questionable. And instead reflects the narrow echo chambers of the right. spectator.com/article/rod-...

Rod Liddle, 1960-2026

Rod Liddle, The Spectator’s associate editor, has died at the age of 66.  Rod, who was also a columnist for the Sunday Times of London and Sun, died at the James Cook University hospital in Middlesbro...

spectator.com

So much for Trump and 'the Art of the Deal.' A book he did not write a single word of but which all added to his hyper-self-mythologising of himself.

Republicans Against Trumpism@rpsagainsttrump.bsky.social · 2d ago

LOL. Less than a day after claiming he thinks “there’s a deal,” Trump is now accusing Iran of lying about the talks and demanding either a deal or Iran’s “total surrender” Trump is either a pathological liar trying to manipulate the markets, or he’s being played for a fool by the Iranians Or both

100%. The economic illiteracy of the loudest and most certain voices talking about the UK economy: "government as a household" and the magic money tree of MMT (modern monetary theory).

Chris Giles@chrisgiles.ft.com · 2d ago

Oh my lord....there is a lot of space between "government is a household" and MMT. This might come as a surprise, but many people who don't sign up to the latter, also don't believe in the former.

Nigel Farage confirms he is open to a "deal" with the extreme right-wing Restore Britain led by Rupert Lowe and backed by Elon Musk. A desperate act by Farage born of political weakness which must reduce his chances of ever winning a UK general election.

Politics UK@politicsuk.com · 2d ago

🚨 BREAKING: Nigel Farage confirms he is open to a deal with Rupert Lowe and Restore Britain "You could see a situation where Restore... could do us great harm. If it was the offer of a deal, it came in a very unusual way. I have responded with an open mind"

Trump loyalists still cling to the delusion that Trump is 'the greatest President in the history of the USA.' That is a denial of reality. He is a vile, debased, ego-driven, serial liar lacking any empathy or decent principles unfit for the lowest public office.

Hardly the ringing endorsement for Farage as he only faces opposition from a bin! First Clacton by-election poll: Nigel Farage: 73% (+27%) Count Binface: 20% (+20) +/- compared to 2024. Head-to-head: Farage 69% Binface 31%. Via Survation for The Times 2nd August.

A wee trip to the picturesque town of Garlieston in Wigtownshire. It is beautiful, charming, has a great cafe (Hive Cafe) & fantastic pub: The Harbour Inn with fab food. And history with Wigtown Bay being where D-Day preparations with the Mulberry Harbours took place.

A life-affirming afternoon watching 'Tomatoes Tried to Kill Me But Banjos Saved My Life' by Keith Alessi. Featuring the healing power of music, banjos & the story of Keith with humour, insight, growth and a few lessons about life. At the wonderful Swallow Theatre in D&G; coming to Edinburgh.