I mean I spent 29 years in markets and know that second-guessing them is frequently, even generally, expensive. But the last time I remember this level of refusal to acknowledge disaster would be 2007-08.

I would have significantly more sympathy for the government if they were unpopular *because* they had acknowledged trade offs, levelled with the public about the terrain, and aimed policy at them.

Taps the sign.

Where I agree is that any defenestration has to be accompanied by a proper reckoning with what this Labour government should be for through until 2029. That debate should acknowledge your central point as its anchor point.

Right. But if the incumbent is incapable of internalising the necessary trade offs and unwilling to communicate them to voters, it’s not unreasonable for a party to oust that PM and roll the dice when polling is as terrible as it is.

Temporary accommodation linked to deaths of 104 children in England in six years Calls for ‘urgent, sustained action’ over rising number of children who do not have permanent home

Horrendous - but neccessary - understanding of the impact bad temporary accomodation can have on our children. Linked to the deaths of 104 children over the past 6 years, 76 of them babies.

www.theguardian.com/society/2026...

The 'Starmer appointed Mandelson because he needed someone to manage Trump' - not true. What happened was:

1) From the general election there was a desire in Downing Street for a political appointee
2) There was no question that the US embassy had good Trumpworld links as it was

Eight arrests made by Counter Terrorism Policing London Seven people have been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit arson.

The Metropolitan police have arrested 7 people in connection with arson attacks against Jewish targets. Seems like some of them were planning a new attack.

Also 8th arrest, someone in connection with Israel embassy drone attack.

Predicting every London election result Plus: What's the tube strike ACTUALLY about?

It’s the most Bluesky thing that’s ever happened: Comment is Freed x London Centric local elections prediction collab just dropped. www.londoncentric.media/p/london-loc...

Keir Starmer ‘pressured Foreign Office into Mandelson appointment’ Sir Olly Robbins will use his appearance before the foreign affairs select committee on Tuesday to hit back at the prime minister after he was sacked

Every development in this scandal is just so tedious and predictable:

Honestly, I saw this in The Times last week and thought literally the same thing.

I just think if the government was to become this unpopular this quickly, they might as well have done it by increasing taxes on median+ earners.

Right - but it still seems preferable to
me than “I’m too stupid to live”.

When Diane Abbott and IDS have the better of you on the substance and form of an argument, you’re cooked.

I’m not even saying it would save you, but it has the virtue of being true and making you look far less of an idiot.

This is literally the only line you can take at this point. bsky.app/profile/jwes...

Absolutely convinced that governing is much harder than armchair critics like myself can imagine it being. But it can’t be as hard as they’re making it look.

And in the end, not clever at all. Etc.

I agree with this. “President Trump himself described Washington as a swamp. We thought the Prince of Darkness might be the one to navigate it. In the early days of this administration, that was a decision too clever for its own good.”

Disintegrating before our eyes.

Start of Google review: A group dinner here on Saturday 18 April was nothing short of a fiasco. It is tough to catalogue the many faults across food and service. I will attempt to do so.

I had a terrible restaurant experience in Luxembourg this weekend. But at least penning the Google review was cheaper than therapy. REVIEW: Come à La Maison Italian Beautyfood share.google/CM9UuvFUmEcV...

Agree with that completely.

And rightly so.

I *suspect* the real Andy Burnham probably has now stood up, but he’s been on a journey. He could likely say: I tried placating the right on immigration; I learned it didn’t work and weakened our arguments. I changed. This lot didn’t.

(The very idea of a median voter is a category error when you have 5+ competitive parties.)

a man in a suit and tie stands in a crowd Alt: a man in a suit and tie stands in a crowd

I know this is what you were aiming for, but I’m acknowledging the bit.

US M&A ‘Wild West’ scale race supported by rates equilibrium – Continental Drift Scale-fixated boards saddle up for major deals under Trump Inflation, labor force data balance stabilizes rates outlook Major corporates sprintREAD MORE

Trump’s ‘Wild West’ approach to merger control, boards’ FOMO in the race for scale, and stable interest rates (as labor market risks balance inflation pressures) are fuelling US M&A. My latest column digs into this - and private equity’s challenges. ionanalytics.com/insights/mer...

Systemic risk or BUST? Unfortunate financial acronyms

I launch a calculated attack to destroy anything which remains of my reputation as a serious financial commentator
www.ft.com/content/fcdb...

Cambridge University Netball Team also sadly elided by the varsity players.