Ros McMullen

That was a good speech from the PM today 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

Lovely Fountains Abbey

Trump has fanned the flames of divisive politics around the world, says Sadiq Khan Exclusive: London mayor says US president has ‘perhaps done the most’ to encourage far right

Exclusive: Sadiq Khan has accused Donald Trump of doing more than anyone else to encourage the intolerant far right across the globe as the US president arrives in the UK.

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

I simply do not understand the wall-to-wall coverage of this Charlie Kirk 🤷‍♀️

Kids and teachers in schools get shot in USA and our media report briefly and move on - to me that seems far worse.

I find this worrying.

If you are capable of epic levels in suspension of disbelief, I recommend’Hostage’ on Netflix 🤣

BBC apologises after Robert Jenrick accused of xenophobia A contributor to Radio 4's Thought for the Day slot made the remark about the shadow justice secretary.

'Honest Bob' Jenrick, a politician obviously & deliberately embracing xenophobia, does some weapons grade xenophobia & the BBC *apologises* for a Thought For The Day contributor calling it xenophobic. Licence fee payers need to know who makes these decisions & why. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

I wonder if this will hit the news headlines

The open secret of Jenrick's utterly cynical and made-up National Populism should not be shrugged off like the open secrets of what Boris Johnson and Liz Truss are really like. We can't keep doing this.

I am shocked. SHOCKED, I tell ya.

For me, the BBC’s image choice here is reprehensible…

…it glorifies these thugs who were intimidating refugees - makes them look like they are protesting for some sort of freedom… rather than the targeted harassment of the vulnerable.

I am just back in UK after 4 weeks in mainland Europe, and after managing the laundry etc will be off to Edinburgh - what do you all recommend I catch up there this year?

Aah - this should get you to the post I’ve incompetently tried to share with you!

Comment is Freed | Sam Freedman | Substack Politics, policy analysis, and foreign affairs from Sam and Lawrence Freedman. Click to read Comment is Freed, a Substack publication with tens of thousands of subscribers.

I’m hoping that this link below takes you to @samfr.bsky.social post exploding the nonsense talked about VAT on private school fees. It is an excellent post (so if I haven’t managed it, search for it!)
samf.substack.com?utm_source=n...

I'm then heading to @edfringe.bsky.social at the end of the month and there are still tickets available for all shows there - although do book early if you can as some shows are starting to look busy already... edinburgh.justthetonic.com/event/88:4930/

Matt Green: Work in Progress - Camden Fringe Online political comedy star Matt returns with new jokes about politics, the news and himself. Matt has moved house and the world is in chaos. But we can still laugh about it - right?Is selling a flat...

Had a really fun show last night in Tufnell Park and looking forward to another one tonight. Very much still tickets available for all shows so if you fancy a laugh then come along... camdenfringe.com/events/matt-... @camdenfringe.bsky.social

Really proud of this show, I think it’s the best show I’ve done and it’s free in Edinburgh!

Only taken me 20 years of stand up to feel like I’m actually good at it. Feeling myself on stage for the first time ever.

I’ve not got a comedy agent or PR, so would appreciate any help in sharing.

Extraordinarily dim politician

As someone said to me immediately after the dreadful Brexit vote “Bad people have been emboldened”.

I definitely don't think the DfE should be on Twitter anymore. I know a lot of people on here don't look at it anymore but I watch from afar and it really has become a place of radicalisation, full of fake accounts formenting hate through lies. If it was a child we'd have to refer it to prevent.

The gambling industry is a licence to print money. Tax it properly – and turbocharge the fight against child poverty | Gordon Brown New thinking is urgent now. I have not seen such deep poverty since I grew up in a mining and textiles town blighted by unemployment, says former prime minister Gordon Brown

As the Chancellor casts around for ways to plug the fiscal hole, former PM Gordon Brown writes in the Guardian that she should raise gambling taxes to raise £3bn to end child poverty. [Thread]

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

2.45pm show at The Gilded Ballroom today. I’m in Lyon, not Edinburgh. Will happily email to anyone who can use them…….

I mistakenly bought 2 tickets for @matt-forde.bsky.social tomorrow in Edinburgh when we won’t be there. Anyone want them?

Now on our return via France and in Aix-en-Provence. As usual Himself in a gallery while I sit in cafe again frustrated by this inexplicable inability of the French to make tea. Ordered Earl Grey thinking the fact it was on the menu was a good sign, but oh no a pot of hot water and a teabag! 🤷‍♀️

Resting the knee more today so lots of coffee being drunk and lots of cards being played.

Some beautiful pics here of #ApuanAlps #Garfagnana #Toscana
My new knee is working great on climbs up, but coming down is agony 😬

Lovely lazy day in Tuscany

My early morning reading corner for the next 2 weeks #Tuscany

I’ve been protecting my mental health by not following too much news recently! However just heard that there is a furore about giving 16yr and 17yr olds the vote; apparently coming from those who literally stole their futures and freedoms from them with their damaging Brexit!

On our long drive to Tuscany and stopping off for a couple of nights in Colmar. Lovely place and they even seem to share my obsession with sheep!