And a spoiled ballot paper doesn't directly elect anyone!

"Devolution plans strengthen case for written UK constitution, says Burnham" Been saying this for years. Thing is, actual proper regional devolution - not this dodgy version - pretty much NEEDS a written constitution. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Devolution plans strengthen case for written UK constitution, says Burnham

PM argues for codified model of decentralisation that would fundamentally change centuries-old workings of state

theguardian.com

Burnham has got one job; to introduce the dippet British to the joys of devolution. Good to see him start of with that but let's not forget the subject was also Starmer's first big policy speech and here we are. Some notes:

Burnham is correct.

"That a European country’s central government should consider itself responsible for every hole in every road in its largest constituent nation was a reduction to absurdity of Britain’s obsessive centralisation." Are any of you actually listening to this? www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Potholes – that’s what voters care about. But you wouldn’t know it from the local elections coverage | Simon Jenkins

As I bounced dangerously around a Sussex road, I was reminded of the parlous state of our highways – and the serious neglect of local issues, says Guardian columnist Simon Jenkins

theguardian.com

A very valid critique of proportional representation; the correct mitigation to these problems is to focus on regional devolution and federal reform. Then we'll get PR pretty much with little drama and it will work as good as it does in Germany. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Nobody wants to defend Britain’s voting system any more – but here’s why I will | Gaby Hinsliff

The nail-biting Gorton and Denton byelection has shown the cracks in first past the post. I still don’t think proportional representation is the answer, says Guardian columnist Gaby Hinsliff

theguardian.com

"Police/Crime Commissioners did not have enough power so let's reduce their power even further..." www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

Police and crime commissioners to be abolished

Home secretary says PCCs, in England and Wales, were ‘failed experiment’ – and scrapping them will save £100m over this parliament

theguardian.com

I always thought "pride" was one of the seven sins. My old mum was telling me no one was proud of anything back in the day. That was frowned upon, like showing off and thinking you're better, was where being proud led you. Funny how culture changes.

Option 1: Two state solution (will require a neutral force to secure, manage and deliver guarantees to both sides).

I don't get it; UK will recognise Palestine unless Israel recognises Palestine first. Huh?

Absolutely the sane Western leaders should push forward with recognizing the state of Palestine and talking about what is required for a viable two state solution (a neutral force to secure those borders and enforce the peace). And they should be telling Iran this.

Answer: something like a federation of around 12 regions and nations. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

The UK risks falling apart. Keir Starmer can mend it now – but he doesn’t have much time | Martin Kettle

The PM has little choice. Unless he brings the fractured nations together, none can move forward, and neither can he, says Guardian columnist Martin Kettle

theguardian.com

The best way to stop Hamas stealing food aid is to flood Gaza with more food aid. The best way to encourage Hamas to steal food aid is to only allow a trickle of food aid into Gaza.

EU's Costa: "Serbia is fully committed with the European accession procedure and Serbia knows that for this we need to have a full alignment in our common foreign and security policy." Huh? That's not true is it? EU does not have such full alignment and couldn't be part of accession, no?

People feel cut off, distant from, political decision-making, feeling disenfranchised with little control. These feelings are amplified in England and France where there's only one parliament and government to do real politics for such a massive population. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

The Tories have shown Labour exactly how not to fight Farage | Rafael Behr

As local elections loom, it’s clear that years of agreeing with the Reform leader have failed to discourage people from voting for him, says Guardian columnist Rafael Behr

theguardian.com

Theroux should have been asking what the Jewish extremists thought about the Israeli Arabs; if they should be forced to leave, forced to live under Jewish control - or if, since there has not been much violence from the Israeli Arabs, that is an example of Jews and Arabs living together as equals.

The irony is that Labour are doing most - and are in a position to do much more - to limit and contain the rise of Faragism. That is, to address the lack of control for the English regions.

I have been trying to explain to the Remoaners that it will need to be capped somehow. Given UK kids have to choose then stick to one EU country from 27, maybe it should be one in and one out of the 12 UK nations and regions. Could call it "taking back control", maybe.

Apparently, this is a "devolved" matter so would apply to all of England *at the same time*; which is only 55 million people and zillions of cities, councils and counties. That's the real story here. The lack of control for the English especially. Addressing that is the key to defeating Faragism.

re: the ruling about gender and biological sex. AFAIK, someone born a man, can have the surgery, hormonal work, change birth certificate and change passport. So how do service providers determine they are not a woman and thus can be lawfully denied services?

Why is it bad that China has access to NHS patient data?

Why isn't all this tariff nonsense seen as an opportunity for countries around the world to seek out new markets? Even the "Canada-EU" collusion has been wafer thin.

Beginning to make sense now!

Personally I blame the Europeans. I mean, didn't they tell Zelensky to just smile and wave while the toddlers were in the room? I feel for the guy I really do. A true hero - but he handed Trump an excuse to do nothing and only Putin wins this round.

genau das. trump erzeugte bei nord korea den eindruck, dass er nachgeben werde und die alles bekommen, während das nicht der fall war. danach wurde die gesamte verhandlungsdelegation gekillt.

Alexander Clarkson@aphclarkson.bsky.social · 2y ago

For all the justified anxiety, it is also possible that this ends up like Trump's meeting with Kim Jong Un where a lot of loud talk followed by Trumpian chaos and incompetence ends up with outcomes that were a loud nothing

Is funny, I was just thinking this today about NATO. Just halve the amount of military spend for USA then it's the same as NATO average. Sorted. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

Trump proposes nuclear deal with Russia and China to halve defense budgets

‘We’re all spending a lot of money that we could be spending on other things,’ the US president said

theguardian.com

I mean, the gulfy bit of the gulf is obviously closer to Mexico.

Belgium has become the first country in Europe where more young people (15-34) speak English than any of the national languages. English has become the means of communication between young Flemings and Walloons - particularly in Brussels. Proficiency: English 60.5% Dutch 57.1% French 56.3%

English now most widely-spoken language among young Belgians

Belgium is the only country in Europe where the most spoken language among its youth is not (one of) its official language(s).

brusselstimes.com