Prof Colin Talbot

Is it time for a new Cabinet Secretary? - The Constitution Society Colin Talbot analysis the latest changes in the role of Cabinet Secretary and asks what we can expect from the new appointee.

Me, for the Constitution Society

consoc.org.uk/time-for-a-n...

The Reality Show?

The Reality Show?

The real threat to democracy doesn't come from 'family voting'. It comes from the losing side refusing go accept they've lost

I know, I know. I literally fought Leeds/National Front supporters back in the 70s. 😂

Right now I am supporting two Premier League teams.

Arsenal

And whoever is playing Man City.

Even, holding my nose, Leeds🙄

Man who said he wouldn’t get involved in foreign wars starts foreign war over nuclear capability he claimed was totally obliterated a few months ago In a bold display of consistency that experts are already describing as “technically impressive in its audacity,” the man who built his political brand on “no more foreign wars” has officially star…

NEWS! Man who said he wouldn't get involved in foreign wars starts foreign war over nuclear capability he claimed was totally obliterated a few months ago newsthump.com/2026/02/28/m...

We've entered the stage of the news cycle where the clear initial information has been reported, fresh reporting is hours or days away, and the gap in between is full of talking heads either constantly re-stating the bleeding obvious and/or speculating wildly based on nothing.

My god. Did these people ever leave middle school?

Farage makes 'cheating' claim as 'family voting' concerns raised in Gorton and Denton Concerns were raised about people forcing family members to vote in a certain way during the contest in Manchester

Given Nigel Farage‘s Reform UK has modelled itself on Trump’s MAGA movement, it’s perhaps unsurprising that it’s now blaming its defeat in Gorton & Denton on “cheating”.

Echoes of Trump’s hare-brained attempts to overturn the 2020 US election result with false claims of electoral fraud?? 🤔

Viktor Orban is a pro-Putin authoritarian thug and the fact that Trump, Vance & Rubio have openly campaigned for him against freedom-loving Hungarians who want him finally out of power is disgusting, dishonorable & disgraceful. But typical of them because that is what they are.

Not all Jews are “white”. Jews originated in the Middle East and like other inhabitants were dark skinned. Many remained there and some moved to North Africa. If you go to Israel you’d see that immediately.

Given his convictions Robinson would not normally be allowed into the USA.

People are being rounded up by ICE and deported for far less. But they are brown.

Today's by-election is another illustration of the problems with FPTP.

The result may tell us less about what voters want to happen than whether they can game the system effectively to stop a result most *don't* want.

The electoral system should not be an obstacle that voters have to work around.

Presumably as these speeches are a public service Goodwin does them for free or just a very modest fee + expenses so he doesn’t become “elite” himself? 😂

Question: does Goodwin regard University Professors as part of his “elite class”?

Whatever their origins?

(BTW I knew Goodwin at Manchester U. He was very definitely middle-class by origin. I wasn’t. I have a highly developed class spidey-sense 😃)

Don’t give him ideas

Reform UK's Matt Goodwin Advised the Wealthiest 1% While Claiming to Stand Against ‘The Elite' Goodwin's definition of “the elite” includes university professors and civil servants while seemingly excluding the investment bankers, asset managers and global real estate executives who pay him

🧵Reform's Matt Goodwin has said he is “not part of the establishment”, and criticised the “elite class”. But we found that his definition of “the elite” excludes the bankers, asset managers and global real estate executives who pay him /1 bylinetimes.com/2026/02/25/r...

Thanks James. Is that an opinion based on experience or something else? Not criticising - just want to be clear.

This guy gets it.
Seriously though, this feels like a moment of transition from the post-911 era into something darker, more Torrian, and more focused on policing American citizens

Interesting (genuine) question: does saturating by-elections with ‘outside’ campaigners really work?

Is there any research? Cos my hunch would be in some places/for some people it would be a turn-off?

What a good idea.
I generally tell them to take a hike, but turning the tables on them is sweeter.

I once got a call about having been in an accident. I went on a long and drawn out spiel about how a massive dog had gone out in front of me and I hit it only to have finally gotten out to look and there was a naked man lying unconscious. "Then I looked up and saw there was a full moon!"
Hung up.

SCAM JAM

Just had a call from “BT” about our internet connection.

We don’t, and can’t, have BT on our estate.

I started to say that “all my calls are routinely recorded for legal and security purposes….”

And they hung up.

ICYMI: our new podcast (and YouTube cast)

YouTube video by Co-op News Growing co-ops and global shifts

youtu.be/fe7VzVR4WFM

YouTube video by Co-op News Growing co-ops and global shifts

youtu.be/fe7VzVR4WFM

A reminder that 50 of Britain's leading election experts have warned Ministers that First Past the Post is now a risk to political stability:

“The collision of a multi-party electorate with a voting system designed for just two parties is creating new risks for Britain.”

"THEY APPEALED TO A VERY PARTICULAR SORT OF FELLOW . . . "

"AUTHORITARIAN CURIOUS QUISLING MEDIOCRITIES . . . "

FIRST AS TRAGEDY
SECOND AS FARCE

MADE IN USA 1941
ANOTHER SUMMER

CHURLISH CHEKIST CLOWNS POSSE CON-SEQUENCES #CCCP

harpers.org/archive/1941...

It’s a fantastic resource. Every town should have one!