Intrigued by your solution!

You’d think the incentive would be being paid but what do I know?

Oh…erm…awkward…

I thought I understood what the solicitors did…I suppose no one expects to have to put the big pressure on - I’ll send the lads round - just to get the searches done in week 10. Or ask: do you maybe need to me complete the money laundering form for this…oh yes you’re right 🙄

House buying seems much less straightforward these days. Why does it take so long? I’ve moved twice in 5 years (annoyingly) and each time it’s as tho the solicitors haven’t done it before, and it’s them who strings it out in my view. Yes, mortgages will get/have got more expensive. A shame for FTB.

I'm just relieved nobody is talking about how I said I bought a house in Clacton, then admitted it was in the name of my girlfriend, Laure Ferrari, even though she couldn't afford £885,000, which conveniently meant I avoided £44,000 in tax.
Please don't share.

Oh no, so sorry to hear this. And especially after so long. I hope you can take time to be livid, upset, bit of grief. It’s no joke. It’s hard not to half move in. We’ll all have to wait for your new pantry plans [weird memory alert]

Covid-19 Risk Assessment: Week Ending 19 April 2026 The BuDS Covid-19 Risk Assessment for the week ending 19 April 2026

Covid infection levels in England have fallen to the lowest levels recorded since the pandemic began. The risk level is now Moderately Low, with 1 in every 1052 people in England infected.

A thread 🧵

buds.org.uk/covid-19-ris...

You’re right I never hear, see or read anything from trans people or their allies on this issue.

I don’t think any of my compadres here work for the IOC/have a say in persuading an international sporting institution to change their minds, unless they’ve been hiding their lights well and truly under a bushel, so I’m unsure it’s a good use of your time. Is there a more direct channel to use?

Women: we want our own sports categories
TRAs: there’s only a tiny number of men in there, it doesn’t matter
Women: why should the fairness of women’s sport be undermined for a tiny number of men?
TRAs: the men will get very sad if they can’t have the thing that doesn’t matter

This applies in all cases for ‘trans inclusive’ including the guides (oh no, let’s not start anyone off on that one).

Agreed. I can never quite believe the responses. Most seem the equivalent of stamping their feet and shouting “it’s not fair, you’re just mean”.

You’re not the boss of me! Etc 😉 Anyway, I’m delighted to announce this has only resulted in an instant block rather than a nice chat.

Yeah what pricks to not share the other comment piece yesterday
bsky.app/profile/theg...

“Trannies”. Wow, how transphobic!

'Overwhelmingly, the IOC decision is what female athletes want. The last time there was a large survey of female athletes was after the Atlanta Games in 1996. Out of a cohort of 928, 82% of women wanted to continue with sex screening ... the authorities then did the opposite.'
Excellent piece.

Oh dear.
Moira Donegan's background in literature & creative writing at the fore in this piece claiming:
'The Olympics’ trans policy polices womanhood'.
No Moira.
The IOC Policy reinstates dedicated female categories in sport.
Remember female people?

Agree with both posts. I’m concerned though at timing and suitable successor. Not withstanding the risk and fragility of a political party where there seems to be no obvious successor, what do you think is the best next step? And the most likely?

Screenshot quote from Helen Puckrose, reads: “Liberals can vary enormously on ethical stances towards gender. They can be socially conservative, gender critical or gender queer. What they are united on is the responsibility to apply this to their own lives and not impose it on other people. Those who value traditional gender roles can build relationships and communities around them, advocate for their value, and still respect the right of others to live differently. Those who are gender critical can organise their lives around rejecting gender roles and stereotypes, while respecting others' freedom to adopt them and limiting their objections to criticism. Those who understand themselves as genderqueer can live and present themselves however they wish, while recognising that others are not obliged to affirm gender identity, are free to criticise it, and that biological sex continues to exist and have significance.”

For each there‘s
-description
-kernel of truth
-departure from reality
-how it’s illiberal

She’s writing from a liberal position, and ends with a note on how liberals can respond.

Of course, as with all writing, I could nit pick with my own position, ideas, beliefs, mindset. It’s a v v good 101.

There Is No Single “Gender Ideology” Mapping three competing gender ideologies and making the case for a liberal approach grounded in reality and freedom

There Is No Single “Gender Ideology”, Helen Pluckrose

Well worth a read. Helen sets out three gender-based ideologies (sets or systems of ideas and beliefs)
-gender conservative
-gender critical
-genderqueer

www.hpluckrose.com/p/there-is-n...

If “Almost 5,000” had signed at 11:08, if there’s only 4,521 at 21:48 does this mean people have removed their signatures?

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)

Great Britain breaks solar generation record Great Britain has broken the maximum solar generation record, producing over 14.4 gigawatts (GW) of electricity.

.
Great Britain breaks solar generation record

Find out more: transportandenergy.com/2026...

#ClimateAction

It is possible to think that this whole undignified Mandelson vetting debacle does not reflect well on the PM at all, while also thinking that another leadership contest is literally the last thing anybody needs right now.

I wasn’t going to write this book. Ever. Dr Jess discusses her new book, and why she never planned to write it.

Dr Jessica Taylor: Click. Stalk. Destroy: Inside the minds of online stalkers and their victims

i've added this to my 'to read' list whatwouldjesssay.substack.com/p/i-wasnt-go...

Sally Wainwright, UK, Why the lesbian intervention was critical to theUK Supreme Court ruling. #WDI YouTube video by Women's Declaration International (WDI)

Sally Wainwright explains why the lesbian intervention was critical to the UK Supreme Court ruling
(WDI Conference, London, 27th July 2025).

"A man cannot be a woman, and definitely cannot be a lesbian".

If I say (because its an authentic reflection of my beliefs) I accept trans people, am OK for people to identify and describe themselves as they want, do not want anyone to face discrimination or harassment because of their GR, and view transmen as transmen and transwomen as transwomen, is that OK?

I did research on antisemitism in Britain in 2024 and early 2025 (before the Manchester attacks), visiting a synagogue and interviewing people working in support groups. Even then the statistics about hate crimes against Jews were really worrying.

’Not all women’

When Angela Rayner underpaid £40,000 in stamp duty, Richard Tice said it was "morally completely indefensible” and she should resign if she had “any moral decency”.

Now we learn he set up four shell companies that let him avoid paying £100,000 he owed in tax and to then transfer the cash to Reform

NEW: Richard Tice failed to pay almost £100,000 in corporation tax, benefiting his investment company which made large donations to Reform UK.

First time Reform's deputy leader's tax affairs can be directly linked to finances of Nigel Farage's party.