Reminder that the Tories believe any non-British person who commits more than a minor parking or traffic offence should be automatically deported. They “believe in second chances”, apparently, but only for literal Nazis.

Kemi Badenoch defends selection of man jailed for harassing Jewish MP in council election – as it happened

Conservative leader tells press she stands by decision to select Joshua Bonehill-Paine as a candidate for local election in Somerset

theguardian.com

I've had some disappointing experiences with the Met Police over the years, so a shout-out today. We witnessed a non-violent crime affecting a vulnerable person. Filled in the 101 form. Within hours, 2 friendly, polite officers turned up, asked lots of questions and are going to take further action.

Burnham faces criticism AND PRAISE over plans for mayors to get share of income tax www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Burnham faces criticism over plans for mayors to get share of income tax

Tory mayor Lord Houchen wants to offer a rebate, but the prime minister says it should be reinvested in communities.

bbc.co.uk

It’s possible that Andy Burnham is (as accused) highly ambitious, focused on short-term gimmicks and social media videos - and also motivated by fixing the country’s longstanding problems. If so, this is actually a very good combination in a Prime Minister.

I love the way everyone was so down on Keir Starmer because he absolutely refused to do things that politicians should do. And now everyone is down on Andy Burnham for doing them. Could somebody clarify for me what precisely they would like from a Prime Minister?

I’m 7 journeys in to my History of Europe in 75 train journeys. Today’s journey is the classic European train rides for Brits: from London to Paris on Eurostar, but taken in 2006 and exploring the fall of Napoleon and the run-up to the battle of Waterloo (International).

Journey 7: London to Paris

Chapter 29: Waterloo and the Demise of Napoleon

open.substack.com

Gladstone had been an MP for 1/4 of a century before he even joined the party he'd go on to lead. If his political career had been as short as Starmer's, he'd be remembered as a "stern unbending Tory" not a great reforming Liberal. If we want better politicians, we have to let them learn & change.

This is why the "B..but he stood for leader before and lost! Twice!" discourse was so dumb. Maybe people staying in politics when they lose or fail & sticking at it makes them...better? If we applied today's norms on when you're meant to leave politics, Churchill would've been gone after Gallipoli

Chris Dillow@chrisdillow.bsky.social · 2w ago

I don't remember Burnham having this relaxed communication manner in his 2010 or 2015 Labour leadership contests. Which shows he can learn - & if he can learn this he can learn other things too. This alone elevates him above his recent predecessors.

My take on "Manchesterism" as part of a newly-published post on the Oxford-Cambridge Corridor. www.freewheeling.info/blog/oxford-...

I’m 7 journeys in to my History of Europe in 75 train journeys. Today’s journey is the classic European train rides for Brits: from London to Paris on Eurostar, but taken in 2006 and exploring the fall of Napoleon and the run-up to the battle of Waterloo (International).

Journey 7: London to Paris

Chapter 29: Waterloo and the Demise of Napoleon

open.substack.com

Ummm - isn’t this just what married couples do?

Mark Pack@markpackuk.bsky.social · 2w ago

The headline is fascinating: two people, earning different amounts, pool money and each take same amount to spend on themselves, so higher earner is subsidising lower earner. But the headline makes it sound like it's the higher earner who is getting the better deal... www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

My friend tried to stand for Parliament. She was likely to win the local Labour party selection for her winnable seat. So the Labour party organised a stitch-up to stop her. She would have been a great MP but wasn't a Labour party insider. The main parties not welcoming newbies is a problem.

Why Was No MP Capable of Being Prime Minister? — Freewheeling

Why, without Andy Burnham, did Labour seem doomed? How can a party with 403 MPs not have a single person deemed capable of becoming Prime Minister. I would argue that this is a flaw in institutional ...

freewheeling.info

The government will take a £12 billion hit on the public finances if/when it belatedly reduces the current [unrealistically high] OBR projection of net migration averaging 235k for next 3 years to about 130-150k. (But it could double that cost if it wants to stay closer to zero net migration).

Ian Dunt@iandunt.bsky.social · 2w ago

It's funny how no-one ever asks where the money is coming from when you announce a cut in immigration.

The two most consequential PMs of the post war period were Attlee, whose agenda was a reaction to the unemployment of the inter war period, and Thatcher, a reaction to high inflation and overstating TUs. What Burnham represents is a reaction to the atomisation of society that Thatcher accelerated.

Burnham: “I’d like you to remain as Culture Secretary.” Nandy: “I’m Culture Secretary?”

That is a rather silly quote, in my opinion. Some did, some didn’t. Government has an invaluable role maintaining a society in which achievement can flourish. In different environments and with different products, that will require more or less intervention.

Cato Institute@cato.org · 3w ago

"The great achievements of civilization have not come from government bureaus." — Milton Friedman. They were driven by individual liberty and free markets. And they always will be.

Major fire near where I live. Our local church and mosque are working together to collect food and supplies for people who've been evacuated. That's the reality of Islam in London. Could you pass that on to the American midwesterners for me, @dlknowles.bsky.social...

At Euston. Drenched in sweat, everything late, no announcements, no information. But there’s a reason to be cheerful! Andy Burnham is the first prime minister since Harold Wilson to represent a West Coast mainline constituency. He will actually “get” why we can’t go on like this. Sunak didn’t!

Does the public transport sector take young people for granted? If so, what should we do about it? Here's my "Freewheeling Manifesto for Youth" www.freewheeling.info/blog/young-p...

How to get More Young people onto Public Transport — Freewheeling

The public transport industry takes young people for granted. That’s dangerous and needs to stop. Here’s how.

freewheeling.info

Conversation in the cafe next to me: "Anne Widdecombe and Bonnie Tyler just died! There'll be a third. It always happens in threes". Other than 'being female', what is the category that they both fit into??

As a politics-mad teenager, it was always very exciting when I got to meet a famous politician. By the time I was 16, I'd met Anne Widdecombe, John Redwood and Kate Hoey. God seemed to want me a Brexiteer... www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Former Tory minister Ann Widdecombe dies at 78

Ann Widdecombe became a dominant pro-Brexit voice later in her career.

bbc.co.uk

There’s a lot of confusion around the words “Public control” at the moment. Liverpool here using it to mean public ownership, whereas Burnham uses it to mean the public sector decides and specifies. By the Burnham definition, Merseyrail is already under Public control.

CLondoner92@clondoner92.bsky.social · 4w ago

Liverpool City Region plans to bring Merseyrail into public control when the current concession ends in 2028. The move aims to better integrate transport, improve connections, reinvest in services and give the region greater control. www.liverpoolcityregion-ca.gov.uk/news/mayor-s...

Ah, but the spectacle of pompous, uptight men getting angrier and angrier with something slightly silly is extremely funny. Roderick Spode. Basil Fawlty. The entire comment section of the Daily Telegraph

Tom Irwin@tomirwin.bsky.social · 4w ago

The official arbiters of comedy have spoken

A lot of people saying in the comments that this will be impossible to achieve. Maybe. But it’s even harder to achieve if you don’t try.

Jessica Elgot@jessicaelgot.bsky.social · 4w ago

NEW - Andy Burnham has written a long letter to all Labour MPs tonight - promising a major overhaul of whipping and engagement on legislation, as well as a “broad church” cabinet where ministers routinely engage MPs & select committees. Comes as nominations open for leadership. Letter here 👇

Chris Mason should just go on and work for GB News now His hero worship for Nigel Farage is now just an open joke

Nigel Farage vs "the establishment" He went to private school, worked as a stockbroker, has been a professional politician for 31 years, has his own TV show, is a brand ambassador for gold, is mates with POTUS, accepted a secret £5m gift, and owns five houses bought outright with cash What a rebel

Nothing says 'man of the people' quite like a politician calling a by-election at public expense on the issue of whether or not he should have the right to secretly take donations from Thai-based crypto billionaires and a convicted fraudster

Frankly, I am disappointed. It's just not the behaviour you would expect from a holder of the FIFA Peace Prize.

I really like this idea. As Brian says, a great way to achieve the political objective with taking branding decisions that tie the hands of the the future GBR CEO and risk poor customer outcomes (for all the reasons I describe in today's post)

Brian Robson@brianrobson.bsky.social · last mo.

I kinda feel there's too much branding but also not enough? 2/3 now in public hands but little evidence. A 21st century equivalent of this in every carriage might have achieved the political/comms goal and created time to think through the issues you identify.

Agree entirely, ‘autobesity’ is out of control, cars and SUVs are dangerously oversized, especially in a city such as Paris. Get these luxury tanks off the road.

The rise of 'autobesity'

Nobody has ever browsed garage forecourts, tape-measure in hand, trying to buy the biggest vehicle to occupy the most road space. Is this enlargement epidemic really the consumer's fault?

spectator.com