Well let's see how this strategy of telling "white liberals" to "fuck right off" works out in the local elections

If you're into Joni Mitchell, you'll need to get this. The CD of Joni covers is simply brilliant.

Absolutely cracking CD of Joni covers. Just listened to it all the way through. Brilliant.

A brilliant guide.

I'm from Barking originally. I always worry about Barking 🤣

Imagine a world where Sue Gray had won out over McSweeney

Yes, this is one of the most pervasive myths of the whole business, that it was to appease Trump. Total bollocks.

Sir Olly Robbins' Dad is Derek Robbins, Emeritus Professor of International Social Theory and an expert in French social theory (especially Pierre Bourdieu). Cultural capital eh?

So far Olly Robbins has dropped govt in it x 3 - that Cabinet Office suggested Mandelson might not even need vetting, that No 10 pressured him to get on with it, that publicly rejecting M on vetting grounds wd be v awkward - & himself in it on maybe 1 (dsn't sound like he recorded much of this...

The French system is a bit different to your other examples.

V interesting. As I keep saying, economic statistics really matter (& need funding). A state that doesn’t know what’s what (about itself and its oppos) is in trouble.

Let's hope so.

I've put the telly on to watch the big set piece event with Nodrama Starmer. It's currently Education Questions. But the background noise and excitable chatter is so disrespectful. What a shambles of a parliamentary system. Modernise and reform it (with a small r).

Don't know that one. Will listen.

Correct prediction.

A blue sky with clouds. In the foreground is a green Primary Route exit sign for the A140. The destinations given are Ipswich Diss Norwich. It’s a image I took from google Maps as I wasn’t quick enough on the draw with my camera.

In East Anglia they even put their civic/ football beefs on road signs

I'd heard that 'Ripples' by Genesis was becoming a popular choice. One that I endorse.

I know the difference between fiction and non-fiction too, but then I’m not sure that’s ever been Matt’s strong point.

My GP surgery in Portsmouth is currently very good in terms of getting through to reception, speaking to an understanding human being and getting appointments. But it will soon be introducing AI assistants to 'triage' phone calls in the first instance and book appointments. Oh dear 👎

If Dems retake either house, they must launch an investigation into this. There's no easier way to highlight the corruption of this era and to establish that Dems are committed to fighting it.

Pretty sure @wyden.senate.gov and Maxine Waters would be the chairs to do it.

Great. Looking forward to seeing this on 2 May.

Ah I see they still think putting him on tv is a good idea

Are we really going to hold a public inquiry into whether doing the vetting after the prime minister publicly announces the appointment is a bad idea?

this did just give me a blinding flash that there's gonna be a Slow Horses novel about this disaster though and that's gonna be an absolute blast

by no means the main take to be had here (indeed takes 1 to 25 should be along the lines of "fucking hell Keir"), but worth noting just how quickly moral rot can spread - all of this obviously happened because Trump won and the government needed someone morally rotten to step in to help them

fascinated that the PM found out on Tuesday but told neither Cooper nor Jones, who both only found out yesterday it seems? what were no10 doing with the information, if not discussing it with the ministers who oversee the vetting process and the department in question?

Well-played, @zeit.de and Ben Wiseman.

Completely agree with this thread. It's just another example of the contempt Westminster has for local government.

'Is it me you're looking for?'

Thanks for this. I’m glad it was restored.