CNN: “It’s a blowout… not even close… Pope Leo absolutely crushing Trump when it comes to how popular they are.”

A fittingly robust and detailed obit by @maevesther13.bsky.social on Sir Neil - good to read.

Sir Neil Cossons obituary Science Museum director and chair of English Heritage determined to impress the value of Britain’s history, architecture and culture on politicians

Sir Neil Cossons | 1939-2026

Sir Neil Cossons, heritage giant who fought to protect England’s monuments and historic buildings He deftly handled New Labour, and likened the role of English Heritage to a ‘brand in a marketplace – just like Avis and Hertz’

Radio 4 Last Word tinyurl.com/3sn9mt3r skipped over Sir Neil Cossons significant time as Chair of English Heritage which inc trying to manage what can best be described as a complex relationship with New Labour. Telegraph obit far better on this tinyurl.com/2n4pdst3

BREAKING: We're taking the government to court over Palantir Peter Thiel's surveillance firm is embedded in the NHS. Wes Streeting won't show us the briefings - so we have launched a legal challenge.

BREAKING: We’re taking the government to court over Palantir.

The government is refusing to hand over important briefings given to Wes Streeting about the £330m NHS data contract with Peter Thiel’s surveillance firm

So we’re taking legal action.

democracyforsale.substack.com/p/breaking-w...

If one of my party's recent prime ministers had redecorated the Number 10 flat in a way that ended up involving TWO separate inquiries and a Wikipedia page, I would simply not have put out a press release confirming that the current prime minister had spent less than the allowance he was given.

Trump’s Humiliation in Orbán Defeat Stunner Is Only Just Beginning For Viktor Orbán’s epic loss in Hungary to have real meaning in America, Democrats and liberals need to proclaim themselves part of the global anti-authoritarian movement.

The massive Orban defeat should prompt Dems to align themselves more firmly with anti-fascist and pro-democracy forces abroad. There's a powerful link to be drawn between the celebrations in Budapest and the confrontations with ICE in Minneapolis. 1/

(new piece)
newrepublic.com/article/2090...

It's not as high profile as all the other failings of the last government, but the total collapse of the court system thanks to Chris Grayling is one of the most damning.

Christ, did not know these existed. Keith Joseph latte anyone? Nasty aftertaste a certainty.

The vibes at the Scruton Cafes* in Budapest must be at an all-time low.

*A chain of cafe/bars inspired by British conservative philosopher Roger Scruton. Est by the Hungarian govt-backed Batthyány Lajos Fnd to help the Orbanist right connect with the youth. They have not succeeded

(My pics, 2025)

People will be closely studying how Hungary's opposition pulled off their win in such a pro-incumbent system. Important to note that the theme was corruption. Democrats need to get much better at calling out Trump's corruption.

Péter Magyar victory speech:

"We want to make a country where no one is persecuted because they think differently or because someone loves in a different way to others."

He may not have campaigned as a liberal. But this is a huge change of direction and rhetoric from Orbán’s anti-LGBTQ+ crusade.

Opposition leader Péter Magyar at a rally.

Orbán's electoral crushing is a far greater achievement than most people outside Hungary realise.

He systemically consolidated power for 16 years, fixed the electoral map, abused govt power for political purposes & censored media.

The hurdles that Hungarians overcame for this moment were immense.

I've decided I want to be buried with my HP 12C financial calculator. I've had it since 1982, which is longer than I've had my family. It has never failed me, annoyed me, or put demands on me. It is my friend, and I don't want it going to the trash once I'm gone.

What do I know but I dont think there is a challenge for him; he appears to see things very clearly and speaks accordingly.

Really? How so? Same President. Son of the ayatollah is the new ayatollah.

The cover of JD Vance's forthcoming book Communion: Finding My Way Back to Faith. The photo used for the dust jacket depicts a very pretty church in an Appalachian setting, with woods in the background and what looks like the beginnings of a sunrise over distant hills. One look at it and you'd probably think, "That is definitely a Protestant church," and you'd be right

Great item today from @cheetah.bsky.social on JD Vance's forthcoming conversion memoir. TL;DR: Although Vance is Catholic, the cover photo for his book depicts a (very photogenic) Methodist church. www.thebulwark.com/i/192730409/...

'or if we are in Essex or not' (insert exasperated voice).

The Daily Telegraph's April Fools story is somewhat revealing about the newspaper's personal and relentless obsession with Ed Miliband

Vintage mid century matchbox label. Illustration of a tree in a city.

Protect the parks - they are the lungs of the city, Czechoslovakia 🌲🌳

New print from our vintage matchbox label collection. Available now. Shipping wordlwide. matchbloc.com/products/pro...

Two opportunities to join the fantastic @grindrod.bsky.social this week (Edinburgh, 24th, & Glasgow, 25th), in conversation about his latest book, Tales of the Suburbs: LGBTQ+ Lives Behind Net Curtains. For more info and booking www.johngrindrod.co.uk/events.

Lawks. If that's his new thing, seems a real possibility that Honest Bob will do a 'Hallelujah, Christ has risen' Easter tweet a la Jacob Rees-Mogg this year. Good times.

Attleeton? oh my. this is upsetting.

Inside Richard Murphy’s Unusual Home in Edinburgh YouTube video by NOSTALGIA

www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UJf...
RM admits his Hart Street home is perhaps overdesigned (and why not?), but this is a very soothing watch...
@Nostalgia.Corporation

1989: Reviewing the BBC's Architectural Heritage | The Late Show | BBC Archive YouTube video by BBC Archive

Finally watched Meades on BBC buildings from The Late Show in 1989. I probably saw it at the time, I was a Late Show junkie. Two years later I’d be working in one of them (Bush House) for almost 20 years.

Trump's messin' with the order. His greatest crime yet.

Ah, how I missed the Trump 1 era "sources close to Jared and Ivanka..." obviously planted by the subject stories.

Two super cool older guys holding a copy of Tales of the Suburbs

The same two super cool guys photographed 41 years ago, the photo featured on the cover of Tales of the Suburbs

MEET THE COVER STARS! In a week of crazy things around Tales of the Suburbs it was a joy to meet Chuck and Dave, who were photographed in 1985 by Sunil Gupta and are still going strong!

Three tower blocks shown in open space

Tower blocks and street

Tower blocks in estate

Tower blocks in estate

How Birmingham's torrid love affair with high-rise ended in tears. My concluding post looks at how and why the city's obsession with high-rise housing came to fail:
municipaldreams.substack.com/p/post-war-h...