In 1974 I started work as research assistant to Maurice Macmillan who had served in Heath’s cabinet and was MP for SW Surrey. Like many MPs he had a part time secretary. I was one of 6 full time researchers for MPs. @mbarnfield.bsky.social describes a completely different world… /2
Tim Bale@timbale.bsky.social · yesterdayGreat short by @mbarnfield.bsky.social on the distress suffered by MPs's staff!
The Conservative debacle in Greater Manchester - doing worse than Restore - was caused by a near total collapse in party organisation across the North West. If this cannot be fixed then Conservatives can never win a working majority. Here is data to prove it. open.substack.com/pub/jegerton...
The Conservative demise in the North West
The debacle in Greater Manchester with the Conservative beaten by both Reform and Restore was the inevitable consequence of the disappearance of any effective organisation in the North West.
open.substack.com
The great Conservative debacle in Greater Manchester has attracted comment by @timbale.bsky.social , @dylandifford.bsky.social , @robertsaunders.bsky.social @stephenkb.bsky.social and others. Electoral Commission data shows the Party's organisational disintegration open.substack.com/pub/jegerton...
The Conservative demise in the North West
The debacle in Greater Manchester with the Conservative beaten by both Reform and Restore was the inevitable consequence of the disappearance of any effective organisation in the North West.
open.substack.com
Further reason to stop Prime Ministers having uncontrolled powers to create peers. Julian HawHaw BraZier a man censured by ACOBA has joined Reform. Doubtless a desperate gamble to get a peerage. BraZier told us that we should vote Leave because the nasty EU was upsetting the nice Mr Putin. ../2
Here it is. My manifesto for the 2026 Clacton By-Election. It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Join me, clean up Clacton and let's make 13th August Bin Day! #VoteBinface #VoteyMcVoteface #YesWeTinCan
My new substack on why that image of a guillotine really tells us something sinister about the Greens open.substack.com/pub/jegerton...
Polanski, Farage and the guillotine
Or the Vindication of Sir John Major
open.substack.com
Implicit in @robertsaunders.bsky.social ordering of these 2 paragraphs is that the salience of an issue may be a function of the coverage it gets. The problem must be made worse by social media.
Robert Saunders@robertsaunders.bsky.social · last wk.It's noticeable, too, that there wasn't a single question on the climate, at a time when Europe is experiencing catastrophic wild-fires & record-breaking heat. It's astonishing how low down the political agenda this remains in Britain, when all the environmental indicators are signalling disaster.
Comment is Freed - the substack of @ldfreedman.bsky.social and @samfr.bsky.social - is very good value. Informed, literate, historically aware and invariably stimulating.
Lawrence Freedman@ldfreedman.bsky.social · 2w agoLatest post looks at why when war going better for Ukraine defence minister and commander-in-chief clashed, so that both replaced. I assess the potential impact of the changes, noting that rows are not unusual at the top when countries are at war. (£/free trial) samf.substack.com/p/turmoil-at...
Prayers in Canterbury Cathedral for safe return of @joxley.jmoxley.co.uk and convoy of rescue vehicles to Ukraine - here at 41:20 www.youtube.com/live/I0DbaHT...
Choral Evensong with visiting choir - Wednesday 22 July 2026 | Canterbury Cathedral
YouTube video by Canterbury Cathedral
youtube.com
@stephenkb.bsky.social undoubtedly right on fundamental need to invest in energy. But reducing 5% VAT on electricity less pernicious than Reeves changes because so easily reversed if/when prices fall. Cut in rate explicitly temporary.
James O'Malley@jamesomalley.co.uk · 2w ago🎯 @stephenkb.bsky.social nails it on bus fare subsidies / VAT cuts. www.ft.com/content/31f4...
@jillongovt.bsky.social makes a really important point, especially applicable at constituency and ward level, e.g. ignoring water or other pollution produces a surge in Green votes - witness distribution of Green wards in Hastings, Oxford, Canterbury… which matters in close run general election.
Jill Rutter@jillongovt.bsky.social · 2w agoI think you need an intensity index.. so what are your top issues and how much do you care about them.. to catch issues which affect relatively few people but they care a huge amount.. how about it @ipsosintheuk.bsky.social
A dignified and elegant statement which even those who disagreed with @richardhermer.bsky.social should recognise qualifies him to serve his country in some future role.
Richard Hermer@richardhermer.bsky.social · 2w agoIt has been the privilege of my life to serve my country as Attorney General over the last two years. I’ve been so lucky to be a part of Keir’s team, as he delivered for the public at home while rebuilding the UK’s reputation abroad, in particular on the rule of law.
@stephenkb.bsky.social quotes from the fascinating Macmillan diaries which should be required reading for all aspiring politicians. (The War Diaries are especially good - a magnificent work)
Stephen Bush@stephenkb.bsky.social · 2w agoMacmillan reflects on the formation of his first government. Then, as now, had to balance the left, right, centre of the party, contain different schools of thought on contentious issues, and, after a fashion, ensure a 'diverse' government:
Anyone who doubts that CountBinface would not make an invaluable contribution to Westminster should read this spectator.com/article/chri...
Christopher Nolan’s Odyssey is a triumph
Nolan’s 2006 movie The Prestige, about a pair of quarreling magicians is in spirit arguably more Odyssean than his Odyssey
spectator.com
Taken last week. Only just noticed. Salisbury Cathedral by night - and apparently in motion!
When the people realise that Count Binface stands for making these people swim in their pollution, there is a serious danger that England will make him dictator. Farage will probably blame his defeat on Thames Water’s offensive announcement. #I’mbackingCountBinface
Jim Pickard@pickardje.bsky.social · 3w agolooks like Thames Water has given a 14% pay rise to its chief executive and a 26% rise to its finance director
Chris Patten who was party chair in 1992 the only election when the Conservatives won over 14m votes said “I am no ornithologist but I believe a bird flies better when it has a left and a right wing” - a principle Margaret Thatcher always adhered to.
Tim Bale@timbale.bsky.social · 3w agoMadness. Utter madness. Badenoch is quietly turning what used to be a broad church into an even narrower sect.
Ann Widdecombe was a Kent MP for many years. To see (and perhaps join in) the simple, moving prayer given by Canon Precentor Linday Yates in Canterbury Cathedral for the repose of Ann’s soul, www.youtube.com/watch?v=FlVk... starting at 37.10.
Choral Evensong - Saturday 11 July 2026 | Canterbury Cathedral
YouTube video by Canterbury Cathedral
youtube.com
On Sir Olly's JR claim: following posts by @stephenkb.bsky.social @samfr.bsky.social @davidallengreen.bsky.social & others I have done a note on how JR works & why every public sector employee threatened with dismissal or demotion may benefit from Sir Olly's action open.substack.com/pub/jegerton...
On the Olly Robbins JR
A note on (1) how JR works and (2) why anyone working for a public body should look at Sir Olly's claim
open.substack.com
This is so enjoyable. How can we keep it going? Fake some dossier that "proves" binface is funded by EU grants? Or that the bins in refugee charity offices have been given little capes in solidarity?
Adam Bienkov@adambienkov.bsky.social · 4w agoI don't think I've ever seen a group of people take a joke quite as badly to heart as this lot have this week
If you're not following the always-fascinating @joeegg.bsky.social, what are you waiting for?
Joe Egerton@joeegg.bsky.social · 4w agoMonty was nearly sent home from the BEF in France in 1940 after he ordered his officers to tell their men to use condoms if they went with French girls. The problem was not the medially supervised brothels in Lille - it was amateur competition... After WWII during conscription some bishops.../2
So Count Binface is to Farage as Zelenskyy is to Putin….
Lucibee@lucibee.bsky.social · 4w agoFor those who may not be aware, Count Binface is actually a serious comedian and historian, Jon Harvey, who did a very interesting series on BBC Radio 4 about the origins of democracy a few years ago. www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
@samfr.bsky.social is always an excellent read and usually right. But I think he may be wrong this time adn teh best bet for us all is a determined and widely based campaign to elect Count Binface. open.substack.com/pub/jegerton...
KICKING FARAGE OUT FOR GOOD
A vigorous non (or all) party campaign really could see the end of Farage, of Reform and for some years the far-right populist threat. Is COUNT BINFACE the candidate to kick Farage out?
open.substack.com
Sam Freedman@samfr.bsky.social · 4w agoNew post: "Farage's Folly" Yesterday's gambit was a desperate move from a man in trouble. I look at the likelihood of him quitting or being thrown out after a standards investigation. And what that would mean for Reform and British politics. (£/free trial) open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/f...
Can FARAGE be kept out of Parliament? Might he be defeated in the byelection? Is COUNT BINFACE the candidate all decent people should support? Could a credible campaign be run in Clacton? Here's my analysis jegerton.substack.com/api/v1/press...
jegerton.substack.com
I have just posted on my SUBSTACK analysis of why there will not be a second byelection at Clacton if Farage wins this time round even if he is investigated by the Standards Commissioner again open.substack.com/pub/jegerton...
A note on any future Standards Investigation of Farage
Commentators have correctly pointed out that Farage’s resignation does not end the possibility of the Standards Committee reporting on current complaints or starting a new investigation if he is retur...
open.substack.com
@stephenkb.bsky.social missed a trick in his newsletter on a No 10 operation in Manchester. The great Marquess of Salisbury regularly worked at Hatfield. And he had an empire covering 1/3 of the earth to run. Andy Burnham should find running England from Manchester a doddle.