Pragmatic realism, is what I’m going for !!

Thank you! Love that you always love it

Anti-semitism is clearly out of control in the UK Podcast Episode · Planet Normal · 26 March · 1hr 2min

What is the impact of the economic crisis on the UK government? I answer this from 27 mins into the Planet Normal podcast (maybe not many listeners on this platform but hey)

podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/p...

Maureen! Blast from the past. Great image

This is excellent from @niesrorg.bsky.social

On how central banks should respond to inflation shock

niesr.ac.uk/blog/how-sho...

I would so love it if it was!! Both that I were a fearless explorer AND with that beautiful doggie!!

The oil crisis isn't just financial, it's physical Disruption in the Strait of Hormuz isn't just an economic shock, it's harming the physical infrastructure that underpins global markets

www.cityam.com/the-oil-cris...

if you're a labour member and you dont like zac polanski then you should turn that anger at the people in your party making him relevant. and if you conclude that nothing you can do will make labour listen to you, maybe you shouldnt be a labour member (said with no anger).

White House considers waiving shipping rules in bid to ease energy prices The White House is considering waiving a 1920 law that requires goods transported between U.S. ports be carried on U.S.-owned ships as global shipping disruptions continue due to Iran war.

The White House is considering temporarily waiving a century-old shipping law to allow more ships to deliver at U.S. ports as global shipping disruptions continue due to the Iran invasion.

A £2 Billion Bond Fund Shuns Green Gilt Sale Over Nuclear Risk The UK’s decision to use the proceeds of its upcoming green gilt sale on nuclear energy has emerged as a dealbreaker for Rathbones Asset Management’s flagship bond fund.

The UK’s decision to use the proceeds of its upcoming green gilt sale on nuclear energy is a dealbreaker for one bond fund.

Note German military assets in Jordan

Purely defensive? Trying to figure this one out

Trump calls on Kurds to aid U.S. effort in Iran, offers support In calls to Kurdish minority leaders in Iran and neighboring Iraq, President Donald Trump offered U.S. support to insurgent efforts against Tehran.

Breaking news: In calls to Kurdish minority leaders in Iran and Iraq, President Trump offered “extensive U.S. aircover” and other backing for anti-regime Iranian Kurds to take over portions of western Iran, according to multiple people.

And if any of these right wing commentators thinks it is somehow untoward or strange that Starmer is discussing a question of war with his cabinet, much less discussing it with his chancellor & foreign secretary, they really need to pick up a history book.

end

Pentagon eyes Ukrainian interceptor drones to counter Iran Kyiv has pioneered cheap and mass-produced machines to battle Russian versions of the Shahed attack drone

Vv interesting development

Ukraine not only important for European security. But US security too

www.ft.com/content/d077...

I'll have more to say on Reform's proposals to scrap ILR at some point but for now I'll just note this - anyone telling you this is a popular idea doesn't know the polling. Overwhelming majority of public back giving people who work and pay taxes most or all rights after 5 years or less

Azerbaijan just closed airspace "in the south of the country" per Bloomberg macro squawk. Losing that link would have a massive impact on Europe-Asia (incl the Indian subcontinent and ANZ) air travel.

Polling from More in Common shows that Greens and Reform win a higher share of voters who struggle to make ends meet, while Labour and the Conservatives win those who are most financially comfortable

Reform UK and the Greens are hoovering up financially insecure voters. My piece this week looks at the return of Britain's class politics (with a twist) www.economist.com/britain/2026...

China’s economic hurdles increase:
Having lost access to Venezuelan oil, Beijing is now seeing a second source of cost-effective energy,Iran,falter.
This as the 2025 strategy of propping up growth through global export expansion to offset dwindling US shipments looks increasingly difficult to repeat

The timing on this one was just remarkable!

The Trump family’s media group is weighing plans to spin off the Truth Social social media platform that is extensively used by Donald Trump, as it seeks to reposition itself as a major player in nuclear energy.

You can have no idea where this sentence is going as.ft.com/r/4860d9c4-7...

A consistent recurring theme of Farage byelection losses over a decade - Oldham 2015 with Ukip, Peterborough 2019 with Brexit Party, Gorton & Denton 2026 - is to talk loudly about electoral challenges about minority voters. But never to actually put the case to authorities. Media should spot pattern

On the back of @stevepeers.bsky.social excellent thread, a graphic of the border arrangements under the Gibraltar Agt

PDF: bit.ly/UshGraphic145
@ukandeu.bsky.social @davidheniguk.bsky.social

Morgan McSweeney sits in his house in Lanarkshire, reading Keir Starmer's letter to Labour MPs. A single tear rolls down his cheek. All his teaching paid off. Keir had it in him all along. When you love someone you have to set them free.

Britain’s civil service has a new leader Sir Keir Starmer hitches his fate to Antonia Romeo

“Focus intensely on getting stuff done, taking the initiative, and achieving outcomes... Remove barriers, don’t create them…Be clear on objectives, what success looks like, and relentless in scrutinising performance.” Antonia Romeo's first memo to mandarins

www.economist.com/britain/2026...

Labour's swing toward racism is perhaps the biggest unforced error in British political history; burnt their base to ashes and won them not a single vote on the right.

The mistake is to think that pro-Brexit voting means that people are specifically interested in "doing more Brexit", rather than wanting to be seen and understood and taken seriously and even loved by the politicians who represent them, who they rightly feel now actually despise/are scared of them.

The Green victory in Denton is the result which will have the biggest effect on Labour, far more so than a Reform win.

The blithe assumption progressives have nowhere else to go has been proved catastrophically wrong.

Can’t help thinking of this quote from a Labour minister, a year ago…