🚨"We do risk having an election next time round that is simply indefensible."

The flaws of FPTP are becoming impossible to ignore.

@profsob.bsky.social & @alanrenwick.bsky.social give evidence to the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee as part of its modernising elections inquiry 👇

Chart shows annual heating bills for medium-sized home with an oil boiler (£1,476), an LPG boiler (£1,473) and a heat pump (£784), all at current energy prices. The heat pump is considerably cheaper to run, saving over £650

The UK government has announced £9,000 subsidies for households with oil and LPG boilers to get a heat pump.

This is seriously good deal for rural homes - not only does it lower the upfront cost, a mid-sized home could save over £650 a year by switching from oil to a heat pump at current prices...

The point on the Pennines where Lancashire & Yorkshire meet to dis Derbyshire

Iran going after Bsky is a genuinely funny waste of resources.

@thecidershedpod.bsky.social
#TheArchers forthcoming SL for Bridge Farm 🤔

Iran War Live Updates: Uncertainty Surrounds U.S.-Iran Talks as Cease-Fire Nears End The vice president’s trip to Pakistan is on hold because Tehran failed to respond to American negotiating positions, a U.S. official with direct knowledge of the situation said. But it could be back on at a moment’s notice.

Breaking News: Vice President JD Vance’s Pakistan trip is on hold after Iran failed to respond to American positions, a U.S. official said. Iran said it had not yet decided whether to resume talks with the U.S.

NEW ITV Wales YouGov MRP has Plaid and Reform neck and neck in Senedd vote intention

Impossible to say who would be largest party in terms of seats but neither would be close to majority

Would almost certainly result in Plaid led government as they have more potential allies in the Senedd 🧵👇

Just hours after chairing Olly Robbins’ testimony, Emily Thornberry says she believes the former Foreign Office boss was "bullied".

“The pressure was coming from Morgan McSweeney. He was a protege of Mandelson, he was trying to deliver him the job”.

A small point from the Mandelson/Robbins saga. Refom and many Tories argue for a civil service than can be more easily bent to the will and whims of their elected political masters.

This is precisely what happened here.

Kool'ead down wiv da Yuff

No scenario in latest Mandelson drama makes Keir Starmer look good Something has gone badly wrong in communication between Downing Street and government departments

I think it is plain as day that Starmer did not mislead the House, he is just a passenger in his own government, which of course is not a resigning offence, it's 'just' a 'this guy can't do the job' one.

I go back and forth on this one (literally have changed my mind three times in this debate alone). On the one hand, if the aim is to actually speed up Keir Starmer's resignation, Badenoch and Davey's approach is wrong. If the aim is to degrade his standing further then I think it works fine.

God, it really is Boris Johnson all over again.

Never joke about changes to Pret sandwich range, Henry.

I know which is why Starmer is trying to make it a procedural one and why Robbins is saying that the relevant procedures were followed.

WARREN: That's not my question. Are you refusing to tell us if you have investments in vehicles set up by Jeffrey Epstein?

KEVIN WARSH: Those assets will be sold if I'm confirmed

Horrible threats...

🚨 BREAKING: Olly Robbins says he was asked to find an ambassadorship role for Keir Starmer’s then comms chief Matthew Doyle, who was recently suspended from Labour over links to a paedophile

"I felt quite uncomfortable about it. I kept giving advice that this was very hard... for me to defend"

@mrjamesob.bsky.social
C20th US saying "The 'cover up' is always worse than the crime"

AB Foods to separate Primark in bid to unlock value Associated British Foods will spin off Primark from its food businesses, betting ‌that the fashion retailer will be better positioned to grow as a standalone company with its own board and investors.

AB Foods to separate Primark in bid to unlock value reut.rs/4mRIw83

Cabinet Office believed there was no need to vet Mandelson, Robbins says Evidence comes after PM blamed civil servant for keeping him in the dark over vetting failure

Cabinet Office believed there was no need to vet Lord Mandelson, Sir Olly Robbins said:

“A position taken from the Cabinet Office was that there was no need to vet Mandelson, he was a member of the House of Lords, he was a privy councillor, the risks...were well known"

www.ft.com/content/0699...

Sir Olly Robbins says that when he became FCDO permanent secretary he wasn't "walking into a vacuum":

- due diligence already done on Mandelson
- PM had taken advice on his fitness for office
- name had been given to King
- PM announced the job
- he had access to building and sensitive briefings

True, very true.

Also they have social media in Canada and Carney's doing fine.

They have it in Spain and Sanchez has been PM since 2018.

And in France where Macron's been President since 2017.

A photo of the Porta Nigra, a massive Roman city gate in Trier. Constructed of sandstone blocks, featuring two large cylindrical towers with multiple arched windows and passageways. The weathered structure stands prominently in a modern urban setting, surrounded by buildings. Sunlight casts shadows on the stone facade, highlighting its intricate details and imposing presence.

The Porta Nigra in Trier is the best preserved Roman city gate North of the Alps. It was built around 170 AD and converted into a church in the Middle Ages.
The Porta Nigra was restored to its original state in 1804 at Napoleon's behest.

📷me

🏺

😢