Give him a chance. He's going out with a bang!

A bloviating man with short hair and a furrowed brow in a tie speaks in front of a microphone while a bald bearded man in front of a wood-panelled wall behind him claps his hand over his face

Jenrick speaks on Mandelson's vetting to bring up small boats and

OMFG I had to go and check that this ACTUALLY happened.

Since when does the BBC ever do chyrons with a political party's branding, rather than their own? Not to mention this is during a pre-election campaign purdah.

(h/t @iainsol.bsky.social)

As we're in purdah in the run up to local elections, the BBC have to treat all parties equally. Surely they must therefore use party branding for all parties.

Three authoritarian parties.

Latest YouGov Westminster voting intention, 19-20 April 2026

Reform UK: 27% (+3 from 12-13 April)
Greens: 17% (-1)
Conservatives: 17% (-2)
Labour: 16% (-1)
Lib Dems: 14% (+1)
Restore Britain: 3% (-1)
SNP: 3% (=)
Plaid Cymru: 1% (=)
Your Party: 0% (=)

yougov.com/en-gb/articl...

It has to be Rayner. Though she comes with the inconvenience of an as yet unresolved financial indiscretion. She is a consummate perform. A gutsy politician. Left enough to attract people back to the party but not too left to frighten others away. The more Starmer delays, the more she is in play.

Some more than others of course. Our political system is designed that way, especially our parliament. Our media is designed that way. Local councils are that way. Local politicians come prepared for a performance. It may be backed up with genuine intentions but its all about their performance.

I fear you may have missed the joke in your haste. What's the definition of performative?

Oh yes it is.

So you agree, its performative? More so with some than others of course. Our political system is designed that way, especially our parliament. Our media is designed that way.

Is it a party political thing?

I suspect we've already seen that in action in the last budget.

Esher and Walton MP condemns graffiti on properties with Lib Dem posters From Monica Harding MP Esher and Walton “I have reported to the police a series of incidents over the last week in Long Ditton and Thames Ditton, where Liberal Democrat campaign boards, and in some…

"The graffiti includes a St George’s cross and an ‘R’ and arrow, which suggests those responsible associate themselves with Reform UK."

Independents are strong in some local authorities but not so much at County level.

Is he cross with Ed again?

Politics is performative? Who knew!

Confusing having the colours swapped.

That assumes the Cons will be the beneficiary of their collapse rather than the Will Not Vote pile?

They should be a statutory requirement for councils to maintain.

Why only three party leaders?

We're going to have to get used to coalition government and parties working together.

What a stunner.

No more or less translatable than headline VI or previous results, or anything else parties use. But much more than betting odds.

Plaid + Labour ?

bsky.app/profile/elec...

There's no misuse of data. All the information is right there in the graphic. The opinion polls aren't a league table. They're a representative sample of how people say they would vote in a General Election if it were held today.

It was stunning. Fantastic views from the tops.

Saturday in the Black Mountains.

It won't help their name recognition that they're barely putting up any candidates in the locals.