Majority of voters would rather rejoin the EU than compromise on deal Nation Cymru tells us that a recent report has found that voters are more likely to support openly advocating for the UK to rejoin the EU t...

New blogpost: Majority of voters would rather rejoin the EU than compromise on deal
peterblack.blogspot.com/2026/04/majo...

The church at the centre of Swansea and the devil that haunted it Swansea Minster, formerly St Mary's Church, is an Anglican church in the centre of Swansea, Wales. It is considered the civic church of Swan...

New blogpost: The church at the centre of Swansea and the devil that haunted it
peterblack.blogspot.com/2026/04/the-...

Labour civil war? The Independent reports that Wes Streeting has become the first senior cabinet minister to appear to suggest that increased defence spendin...

New blogpost: Labour civil war? peterblack.blogspot.com/2026/04/labo...

Call for ban on ‘abusive’ lawsuits against media outlets to be in King’s Speech Nation Cymru reports that MPs from across the Commons have called for “robust” legislation to tackle unscrupulous lawsuits aimed at silenci...

New blogpost: Call for ban on ‘abusive’ lawsuits against media outlets to be in King’s Speech
peterblack.blogspot.com/2026/04/call...

UK reaps consequences of brexit as steel exports to EU at risk The Guardian reports that the EU is to go ahead with plans to double tariffs and halve quotas on imports of steel from July, in a move desi...

New blogpost: UK reaps consequences of brexit as steel exports to EU at risk
peterblack.blogspot.com/2026/04/uk-r...

S.106 contributions are a common factor in planning but are governed by strict affordability rules. If a developer is required to provide a GP surgery it may be at the expense of affordable housing, road safety improvements or school enhancements. This announcement will of course be England-only

New blogpost: Founder of Starmer's legal chambers spells out opposition to plan to abolish jury trials
peterblack.blogspot.com/2026/04/foun...

Is the UK moving closer to the EU? The Guardian reports that Ministers are planning to fundamentally reshape Britain’s relationship with the European Union, with new legislat...

New blogpost: Is the UK moving closer to the EU?
peterblack.blogspot.com/2026/04/is-u...

Police review Reform UK energy prize draw Nation Cymru reports that police are reviewing a complaint about Reform UK’s offer to pay the energy bills of an entire street for a year a...

New blogpost: Police review Reform UK energy prize draw
peterblack.blogspot.com/2026/04/poli...

Basque refugees in Swansea I think it is commonly known that a large number of people left the UK, and South Wales in particular, to fight the fascists in the Spanish ...

New blogspot: Basque refugees in Swansea
peterblack.blogspot.com/2026/04/basq...

The bleak prospects for our future cost of living The Independent reports on warnings by a senior MP that Britons could face higher household bills for years to come – even if the fragile c...

New blogpost: The bleak prospects for our future cost of living
peterblack.blogspot.com/2026/04/the-...

New blogpost: Another leading Reform politician quits party
peterblack.blogspot.com/2026/04/anot...

Is Starmer facing another row with Labour rebels? The Independent reports that one of Sir Keir Starmer’s top allies has paved the way for another fight with MPs over benefits cuts, calling ...

New blogspot: Is Starmer facing another row with Labour rebels? peterblack.blogspot.com/2026/04/is-s...

Do they know that it's illegal to pay canvassers in an election.

Brexit continues to impact businesses The Independent reports that the number of haulage companies going insolvent has almost doubled in the five years since Brexit, sparking fe...

New blogpost: Brexit continues to impact businesses
peterblack.blogspot.com/2026/04/brex...

The reality of Reform in power The Mirror reports that they have been told that Reform UK is running a “horror show” at Kent County Council, with an aggressive atmosphere...

New blogpost: The reality of Reform in power
peterblack.blogspot.com/2026/04/the-...

The North Sea myth The Guardian reports on research that has found that opening major new fields in the North Sea would make almost no difference to the UK’s ...

New blogpost: The North Sea myth peterblack.blogspot.com/2026/04/the-...

The Kardomah Gang The Kardomah Gang, Kardomah Boys, or Kardomah Group was a group of bohemian friends – artists, musicians, poets and writers – who, in the 19...

New blogpost: The Kardomah Gang peterblack.blogspot.com/2026/04/the-...

Ex -Welsh Reform candidate issues warning about his former party Nation Cymru reports on the continuing disintegration of Reform's campaign for the Welsh Senedd, saying that one of the party's former cand...

New blogpost: Ex -Welsh Reform candidate issues warning about his former party
peterblack.blogspot.com/2026/04/ex-w...

Trump's illegal war in Iran is already hitting families with higher prices at the pump.

Half-measures and long-term policies won't cut it. We need to slash fuel duty now.

Today we have launched our plan to keep Britain moving - including a 10% cut in fuel duty.

How Labour government policies are hitting the hospitality sector The Guardian reports that two-thirds of hospitality businesses are planning to cut jobs as a result of “suffocating” costs imposed by gover...

New blogpost: How Labour government policies are hitting the hospitality sector
peterblack.blogspot.com/2026/04/how-...

UK faces existential energy shock from Iran war The Independent reports on warnings by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that the UK is facing one of the largest shocks from the confl...

New blogpost: UK faces existential energy shock from Iran war
peterblack.blogspot.com/2026/04/uk-f...

Reform's disastrous vetting process Nation Cymru reports that a Reform UK whistleblower has described the “expensive, flawed and unprofessional vetting process” used by the pa...

New blogpost: Reform's disastrous vetting process
peterblack.blogspot.com/2026/03/refo...

Are the Tories seeking to undermine the UK's energy security? The Mirror reports that Kemi Badenoch has been accused of trying to “outsource” Britain’s energy security to fossil fuel markets. The pap...

New blogpost: Are the Tories seeking to undermine the UK's energy security? peterblack.blogspot.com/2026/03/are-...

Our version of Trump's ICE under fire Anybody who thinks that the USA's Immigration Compliance and Enforcement officers is unique to that country should take note of the UK's equ...

New blogpost: Our version of Trump's ICE under fire
peterblack.blogspot.com/2026/03/our-...

Post now updated following more Reform candidate resignations

Swansea's Albert Hall If you want a bite to eat in Swansea, then one of the many alternatives is the food hall in the newly refurbished Albert Hall. It is the lat...

New blogpost: Swansea's Albert Hall
peterblack.blogspot.com/2026/03/swan...

Reform's Senedd campaign in chaos Nation Cymru reports that members of Reform UK have warned of growing “chaos” behind the scenes in Wales as infighting erupts over candidat...

New blogpost: Reform's Senedd campaign in chaos
peterblack.blogspot.com/2026/03/refo...

Overseas political funding to be capped and crypo banned at last The Guardian reports that political donations from British citizens living abroad are to be capped at £100,000 a year from Wednesday, in a ...

New blogpost: Overseas political funding to be capped and crypo banned at last
peterblack.blogspot.com/2026/03/over...

Was the cones hotline an innovation before its time? Stephen Bush, in his newsletter on the Financial Times website , makes an interesting point, suggesting that John Major’s much-maligned 1990...

New blogpost: Was the cones hotline an innovation before its time?
peterblack.blogspot.com/2026/03/was-...