David Amigoni

Tom Stoppard, playwright of dazzling wit and playful erudition, dies aged 88 A theatrical sensation since the 1960s, whose dramas included Arcadia, The Real Thing and Leopoldstadt, Stoppard also had huge success as a screenwriter

www.theguardian.com/stage/2025/n...

All the president’s millions: how the Trumps are turning the presidency into riches From Vietnam to the Balkans, Donald Trump’s family has launched a global dealmaking blitz since his re-election

www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-i...

Higher education postcard: the University of Hertfordshire This week’s card from Hugh Jones’ postbag takes us to a college with an aeronautical bias This week’s card from Hugh Jones’ postbag takes us to a college with an aeronautical bias

Last week on Wonkhe: This week’s card from Hugh Jones’ postbag takes us to a college with an aeronautical bias

I fear that if Johnson were asked this today, there would be lot of umming & erring, some guff about "the custard of conciliation" & "the tiramisu of time", but he would refuse to answer.

That a US President tried to overthrow an election is now unsayable on the British Right & in much of the media

Hollowed out: can the centre hold? Can the centre hold and resist the far right?

"The oddity of the late 2020s is that the populist right has given the centre and centre-left a lifeline"

Interesting post from Geoff Mulgan on the risks of a hollow centre - and the perhaps temporary respite of a populist 'enemy' to rally against
geoffmulgan.substack.com/p/hollowed-o...

Enjoying some late Autumn sun

Absolutely this👇

A fascinating visit, as with every site in this unique national asset and UNESCO World Heritage site.

I’ve purchased 2nd hand Victorian books where I’ve had to do this

William Wyld (1806-89) - St George’s Hall, Liverpool A watercolour depicting the exterior view of a classical neo-grecian building, with columns at the front and on the side, designed by Harvey Lonsdale Elmes. Figures and carriages are visible in the fo...

Several MPs were among those present when Queen Victoria visited Liverpool #OnThisDay 1851. She commissioned this painting of St. George’s Hall as a souvenir of her visit. www.rct.uk/collection/9...

A great letter, which points to something that should be more widely known - see the work of David Killingray (for one) which David summarises here, with a host of (Kentish) examples:

James Brindley and Josiah Wedgwood made the Potteries a place

#MyBackPages

Well done, fantastic!

👍

Good luck!

Agree it’s time consuming to train! Personally. I liked the Great North Run course. Anything that’s a bit varied without huge challenges (for contrast example, the Potters ‘Arf’ in Stoke-o-T, near where I live (the hill at Milton Road…)

Do more half marathons! It’s a nice distance with the right course

How Luxembourg detects microbes in its water supply before they pose a health risk The small country of Luxembourg acts as a living laboratory where new water monitoring technologies can be tested at scale.

The small country of Luxembourg acts as a living laboratory where new water monitoring technologies can be tested at scale.

William Fox Talbot MP: the inventor of photography The inventor of photography William Fox Talbot died one hundred and thirty-five years ago today. A man of many talents, Talbot made distinguished contributions to maths, physics, botany, archaeolog…

Died #OnThisDay 1877 William Henry Fox Talbot. Best known as the pioneer of photography, he was also briefly MP for Chippenham, 1832-5, but stepped down to concentrate on his scientific interests. There’s more on him in our short article: victoriancommons.wordpress.com/2012/09/17/w...

Irresistible offer!

UK research ‘trying to do too many things’, warns new UKRI leader - Research Professional News Ian Chapman wants funding emphasis on world-leading areas, but experts warn of system “inertia”

UK research ‘trying to do too many things’, warns new UKRI leader.

Ian Chapman wants funding emphasis on world-leading areas, but experts warn of system “inertia”.

www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...

Peter Mandelson was always a high risk appointment – his departure will not end the matter for Keir Starmer Mandelson took the UK’s most important diplomatic post knowing he was sitting on a ticking bomb – and Starmer will pay the price.

Mandelson took the UK’s most important diplomatic post knowing he was sitting on a ticking bomb – and Starmer will pay the price.

Charlie Kirk and the politics of rhetoric and division Russia aggression, and the killing of a US political activist and its implications in the weekly world affairs newsletter.

Russia aggression, and the killing of a US political activist and its implications in the weekly world affairs newsletter.

Momentous decision! There is a LOT of Bennett fiction to read

Had the same experience, also in a shop

As always, Martin, wishing you well despite this deeply worrying turn

The Guardian view on In Our Time: Melvyn Bragg has proved that media can be both serious and popular | Editorial Editorial: After 27 years, the presenter is leaving one of BBC Radio’s finest programmes. He never talked down, and never dumbed down either

Remembering that, aside from Lord Bragg’s distinguished presenting, this has been a great success story for university expertise for the last 27 years www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Peter Kyle is leaving DSIT for business. Wish he could have mentioned that at UUK!

There's also a rumour of a new "growth" department that would include the skills bit of DfE and some stuff from DWP (and, one assumes, business).

Would this also include HE? who knows?

What will Angela Rayner’s resignation mean for Keir Starmer’s government? Expert Q&A The deputy prime minister’s departure has triggered a reshuffle and leaves the government in a weak spot.

The deputy prime minister’s departure has triggered a reshuffle and leaves the government in a weak spot.

How Angela Rayner managed to underpay stamp duty – family trusts and tax avoidance explained Rayner’s case highlights the complexities of a system every UK housebuyer is expected to get to grips with.

Rayner’s case highlights the complexities of a system every UK housebuyer is expected to get to grips with.