A list of the bird calls identified by the Merlin Bird ID app, with a stock photo of each species alongside.

A list of the bird calls identified by the Merlin Bird ID app, with a stock photo of each species alongside.

A list of the bird calls identified by the Merlin Bird ID app, with a stock photo of each species alongside.

🐦‍⬛🎶 The 19 birds whose calls I heard early this morning (April 22nd) by the river Tees.
🐦 A wide variety of birds were calling today, including the Curlew and the Oystercatcher.

Looking upstream from Yarm Wharf towards Yarm Bridge. Blue skies with white clouds overhead and the water below rippling in the breeze.

🌬️🌤️ It’s a lovely morning by the river Tees, but with a very cold breeze.
🐦‍⬛🎶 Lots of birds are out calling and twittering today …

As the PM’s fate lay in doubt, Labour MPs plotted the party’s future direction Former ministers rounded on government’s fiscal rules and called for new policies on tax and the economy

ANALYSIS: As the PM’s fate lay in doubt, Labour MPs plotted the party’s future direction - @jessicaelgot.bsky.social @alethaadu.bsky.social

(One thing all the chatter about Labour leadership misses is what any potential successor would actually *do* on policy)

www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Two good pods so far this morning and more to come! Recommend ‘The state of it’ from Times and Sunday Times journos and @thenewsagents.co.uk which has an interview with @emilythornberry.bsky.social at the end. 🎙️

It’s a nightmare on Downing Street: Starmer has no one left to blame for this Mandelson horror show | Marina Hyde Olly Robbins’s testimony will have been painful for the PM. The No 10 omnishambles was publicly laid bare – and Keir’s fresh out of scapegoats, says Guardian columnist Marina Hyde

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Starmer still faces more questions than answers after Olly Robbins’ quietly damning defence | John Crace Sacked civil servant told Commons committee there was pressure from No 10 to approve appointment of Mandelson

www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

The Guardian view on Starmer and Mandelson: when process follows power | Editorial Editorial: Olly Robbins exposed a deeper failure: when the prime minister’s decision came first, security vetting was left to catch up after the fact

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Morning Bluesky . Woke up a bit later than I hoped, but enjoyed the sleep. A bit troubled by some of the stuff I’ve seen on here in the last couple of days - standing by to unfollow/block. ☕️📰🎙️📻

Back on @lbc.co.uk from 10pm-1am in for @benkentish.bsky.social this week

Today:
- Starmer
- Smoking
- Shoplifting
- Squirrels

Crackers.

Well I’ve now changed some of my opinions as a result of Robbins’ evidence. Now also seeing Sue Gray sacking as part of this fight between the McSweeney gang and the Civil Service. Starmer increasingly sounds like a bystander.

It gets worse: No 10 also tried to get Matthew Doyle - a close friend of Mandelson - a job working for him in DC.

Remember - Doyle was asked by PM to investigate Mandelson's responses about links to Jeffrey Epstein & concluded he was "satisfied".

A *clear* conflict of interests.

🔥Oliver Robbins reveals that No 10 tried to get Matthew Doyle, Keir Starmer's former aide, a posting as an ambo in March 25.

He was under "strict instruction" not to discuss with then foreign sec.

Lord Doyle, awarded peerage by Starmer, was suspended after he publicly supported a sex offender.

Extraordinary testimony from Olly Robbins to foreign affairs committee:

- he was subject to “constant pressure” from No 10 when at foreign office to get Peter Mandelson in post asap.

- fcdo was urged to allow Mandelson’s appointment as ambo *without* usual vetting process - but dept pushed back

A list of the bird calls identified by the Merlin Bird ID app, with a stock photo of each species alongside.

A list of the bird calls identified by the Merlin Bird ID app, with a stock photo of each species alongside.

A list of the bird calls identified by the Merlin Bird ID app, with a stock photo of each species alongside.

A list of the bird calls identified by the Merlin Bird ID app, with a stock photo of each species alongside.

🐦‍⬛🎶 The 20 birds whose calls I heard early this morning (April 21st) by the river Tees.
🐦 A wide variety of birds were calling today, including my first Barn Swallow of the year!

Looking across the river Tees from Yarm Wharf towards Egglescliffe village. Blue skies with white clouds above and lots of greenery on the opposite bank, reflected in the water below.

🌤️ It’s a beautiful morning by the river Tees.
🐦‍⬛🎶 Lots of birds were out calling today, including my first Barn Swallow of the year …

Did I mishear or did he really say at the end that Ed Miliband had made his points ‘and made them badly’?

What the hell is the matter with Nick Robinson? I should think the average listener learnt absolutely nothing from that interview #r4today

Interestingly Emily Maitlis in the News Agents pod raised Emily Thornberry’s contriibution yesterday, and Pippa Crerar pointed out in ‘Politics Weekly’ that she was chair of the Foreign Affairs Cttee - today could be interesting!

Listened to @thenewsagents.co.uk and the @theguardian.com ‘Politics Weekly’. I also heard Dotun Adebayo and his take on the front pages - switched off I was so incensed! @bbc5live.bsky.social

Keep changing my mind about Starmer. I don’t believe he’s the lying, hypocritical whatever theTories would like to paint him. I still feel he’s not a politician and has left too much to Morgan McSweeney. Today will be interesting!

Reform’s Richard Tice posts picture with telltale signs of AI manipulation, say experts Deputy leader’s image on X was almost certainly generated or altered using AI, according to Peryton Intelligence

www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Starmer the Incurious asks no questions and sees no Mandy-shaped red flags Appointing an amoral narcissist was the PM’s biggest crime, but he was keen to prosecute others in his Commons statement

www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Peter Mandelson: a timeline of his appointment as UK ambassador to US Keir Starmer details vetting procedure overruled by the FCDO and culminated in his decision to appoint Mandelson

This is useful for anybody still listening …

Morning Bluesky. I seem to have met peak puzzle result time in my feed, so on to the Guardian with my morning tea and back a little later!

Tony: You dont like me do you

Liz: No I dont

Tony: Thank you very much, took you long enough to find out didnt it. You 'ad a dance, a fish supper and ride home, what more do you want?

Liz: It wasn't much was it, I've 'ad better nights

Tony: You've seen better days too, dear!

Well, everyone will have their own view, and perhaps Olly Robbins testimony tomorrow will change the narrative again. But, listening to HoC debate, imo Starmer’s put up a plausible defense - and by admitting upfront the misjudgment in appointing Mandelson, partly neutralized that line of attack.

Me too. Starmer’s mistake was not keeping him in check

The Mandelson affair, obv. I’m dreading the upcoming drama in H of C, as everyone parades faux outrage. The appointment was a complete cock-up. No-one emerges well. It’s possible rules were followed, AND bad decisions taken, AND this is not the end of all days. I dread Badenoch’s posturing most.