I can't help thinking that Trump has painted himself into a corner on this ridiculous trade war he initiated with Canada. The world is going to watch how Trump reacts and if he missteps now, it could result in the world taking the lead from Canada.

POLITICO Europe@politico.eu · 2d ago

Canadian PM Mark Carney called for pro-trade democracies to resist great-power coercion together. Seven months later, he is largely fighting Donald Trump alone. 🔗 www.politico.eu/article/trad...

I’m not necessarily against water companies having surge pricing in times of drought…. *BUT* Water companies should also be forced to reduce charges when they dump raw sewage into rivers, especially in times of drought.

There is a group of presenters on TV that should be particularly worried about the hot weather. I’m finding the heat is making me increasingly intolerant of condescending mediocrity. Or maybe it’s just me.

Can't help but think that this is the equivalent of the Chairman of the Club telling reporters that the club manager has the total support of the board. Infantino will be gone before the next home game. www.bbc.co.uk/sport/footba...

US President Donald Trump issues backing for under-pressure Fifa chief Gianni Infantino

US President Donald Trump says it would be a "terrible mistake" if under-pressure Fifa president Gianni Infantino was ousted.

bbc.co.uk

Yes. Very noble. This public that the PM is going to reconnect with, would they happen to be selected very carefully by his spin doctors and the consultations be made handily presented to the media in meticulously choreographed vox pops?

When a lender lends money, they are supposed to do a risk analysis that considers the likelihood of getting their money back. Lending the money means they accept the risk. Now the risk has manifested, they cannot cry foul. Suck it up. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Thames Water lenders offer 'golden share' to head off nationalisation

The water supplier's lenders are trying to prevent the company from being taken over by the Burnham government

bbc.co.uk

In the perfect world, none of the major parties would put up candidates for the upcoming Clacton by-election. The ideal result would be for Farage to be beaten into a distant second place by Count Binface.

Extremely good sketch by @mrjohncrace.bsky.social from yesterday's PMQs, particularly this bit. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

A year after the Armistice, on the night of 11th - 12th of November, a "Great Victory Ball" was held at the Royal Albert Hall and this massive hedonistic booze up lasted until 5 am the following morning. Check out the costumes. youtube.com/watch?v=iPdB...

The Great Victory Ball (1914-1918)

YouTube video by British Pathé

youtube.com

When I voted Labour in the last election, I did so tactically to avoid extending the 14 years of austere Tory buffoonery that brought our public services to breaking point. I didn't expect an overnight turnaround, just competent, boring incremental steps. *1*

A guess a lot people will be spending a lot of today checking some slowly changing numbers on a BBC webpage. If you enjoy that sort of thing and want it to be a more than annual occurrence - can I recommend getting into county cricket?

At a No 10 briefing today we heard about the government's commitment to "a whole-of-society response to antisemitism”. Asked if this might involve the government leaving X, where antisemitism is not only rife but monetlised, were were told it is "something we always keep under review." So: no.

Oh Please! The rate that governments keep raising the retirement age, you will NEVER reach retirement age.

The i Paper @theipaper.com · 4mo ago

A reader is falling behind on their pension after starting to save late – now they are planning to catch-up with their peers trib.al/ghPuJna

Steven Beschloss wrote: “This is an actual post. This is not funny. This is beyond desperate. This is a deeply unwell man who doesn’t belong anywhere near the levers of power. Every member of his cabinet and Congress is complicit in not demanding his removal now.” open.substack.com/pub/heatherc...

April 5, 2026

At 8:03 this morning, Easter Sunday, President Donald J.

open.substack.com

Translation: "I started something I can't finish and broke something I can't fix so I'm going to walk away and pretend it's your fault"

I remember opposing the invasion of Iraq saying that it is no good using force to impose regime change. The US knew how to win the war, but had no plan to win the peace. Now Trump is repeating the mistake.

Probably not what Andrew Mountbatten Windsor had planned to celebrate his 66th Birthday.

Got all nostalgic watching #BBCbreakfast. An interview with a Prim Minister where the questions were answered. Where no attempt was made to deflect and procrastinate by #KierStamer and actually, he came across well. Good interview by #NagaMunchetty.

Some estimate that Jim Ratcliffe saves £4 billion a year in tax by being resident in Monaco for tax purposes. If he really wants to see money spent to boost manufacturing and skills in the UK, perhaps he would be better served by paying UK tax rather than call for welfare to be cut.

"If Mandelson's links to Jeffrey Epstein disqualifies him from holding power, why does the company controlled by Epstein's business partner and co-owner retain access to the UK's most sensitive national security infrastructure?" Peter Thiel. Jeffrey Epstein. Palantir. The UK Government.

Jeffrey Epstein Co-Owned Venture Fund with Palantir Founder as it Entered UK Government

The Russian connected convicted sex trafficker co-owned a fund with Peter Thiel, now embedded in Britain’s most critical infrastructure with the help of Peter Mandelson

bylinetimes.com

I'm hearing Liz Truss has defected to Benidorm by accident

Amazing isn’t it? All these Tories jumping ship and yelling how bad the Tories were when they were at the heart of government decision making for 14 years. Now they want us to believe that their decision making will improve now they wear a Reform rosette.

It seems strange that a Labour chancellor continues to focus on trying to wring more cash out of the areas of the economy where the cash isn't and ignore looking at where the cash really is.

Nigel Farage is in the news again about his school days again. I don't understand why the media are reacting with such surprise and not pushing back harder against his excuses, especially the BBC. This isn't a new story. See this report from Channel 4 in 2013. www.channel4.com/news/nigel-f...

Nigel Farage schooldays letter reveals concerns over fascism

Channel 4 News obtains a letter about Ukip leader Nigel Farage, from his days as a schoolboy, in which teachers are quoted as accusing him of being "racist" and "fascist".

channel4.com

Utah Governor Spencer Cox addresses young people and says: "You are inheriting a country where politics feels like rage is the only option." Golly, no shit Sherlock? Do you want to address why?

It cannot be underestimated how important the Donbas region of Ukraine would be to the European defence industry. The Donbas has many of the minerals that the European defence industry currently sources from China.

To be fair, all they caught was a 6oz turd, half a dozen wet wipes and a couple of used condoms.

The Guardian@theguardian.com · last yr.

Lammy refers himself to watchdog after fishing illegally with JD Vance

The announcement will be accompanied by the CCHQ string quartet and entertainment will be provided by the award winning Tory Formation Deckchair Rearrangement Team. There will be a raffle for places in the rowboat scenic Thames tour that will follow the announcement.

Victoria Derbyshire@vicderbyshire.bsky.social · last yr.

Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch is set to reshuffle her top team of shadow ministers later today

Well, BBCMedia City in Salford is going to soon be an empty white elephant unless the BBC ca find staff who have never lost their temper, become frustrated, never swore, fornicated, touched strong drink or eaten the last Malteeser.

So, the Tories are happy to sign up, sight unseen to a plan? An open ended war? Without knowing the goals, without knowing the peace plan. Has all sanity and morality deserted them? www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Priti Patel calls on the government to repatriate Britons in Israel

The UK's shadow foreign secretary says the government needs to do more to ensure Britons can return home from Israel.

bbc.co.uk