Steve Whalley

Trump awarded inaugural Fifa peace prize at World Cup draw in Washington US president receives new Fifa honour as scrutiny grows over Infantino’s political alliances and Trump’s disputed record on global conflicts

What a farce. Quite rightly, Trump was not awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. He has made the world a more perilous place. So his mates phone FIFA, that well-known peace organisation, and establish the super dooper FIFA Peace Prize.
www.theguardian.com/football/202...

This is what Farage is all about - not the good people of Clacton or the UK.

First, #Ofgem should be abolished. Second, the UK govt, & Ed Miliband, should do what they claim to be doing: cut household energy bills. Third, nationalise the energy supply industry to staunch the leakage of billions into the investment portfolios of oligarchs. It can be better used elsewhere.

#Ofgem's main duty is to protect consumers. It's doing a damned poor job. It allowed energy bills to unexpectedly rise by 0.2% in January. Now, it's letting them add another £104 for "investment". Energy network companies, have pocketed nearly £4bn in profits over the last 4 years.

#Ofgem's main duty is to protect consumers. It's doing a damned poor job. It allowed energy bills to unexpectedly rise by 0.2% in January. Now, it's letting them add another £104 for "investment". Energy network companies, have pocketed nearly £4bn in profits over the last 4 years.

Earthquakes were felt in #Darwen #Lancashire last night. This is a geologically complex area, so movements on the ancient faultlines are not unexpected.

Main earthquake
03/12/2025 23:23:34.0 GMT Location 54.172N-2.833W
Magnitude 3.3 SILVERDALE,LANCASHIRE

Aftershock
00:54:55.9 GMT
Magnitude 0.8

It's not as if the UK has been immune to miscarriages of justice. Justice is not an area for cutbacks.

End the Royal Mail privatisation experiment now Ofcom is consulting on stamp prices. It is time to demand that they end Royal Mail privatisation.

Royal Mail was sold off under the pretext of keeping stamp prices down. First-class stamp prices have DOUBLED in just the last four years. Ofcom is consulting on stamp pricing. Demand they bring Royal Mail into public ownership. @we_ownit weownit.org.uk/act-now/end-...

With regard to David Dimbleby, absence has made the heart grow unexpectedly fonder. #WhatsTheMonarchyFor? was a balanced and interesting documentary: fascinating at times. Age has not wearied Dimbleby's sharpness. To Ash Sarker, he explained that it was, "inherited talent." Quite probably.

It's a moderately important story whose time has now passed. For dubious reasons, the BBC is reinforcing the agenda of our right-wing MSM, but the government must get its wagons in a circle. They should read up on how the Wilson government survived.

The week ahead in #Darwen #Lancashire: No frosts. Mild but very wet at first, then colder but fine. Showery after midweek...
MON 12°C Blustery heavy rain
TUE 8°C Sunny spells
WED 8°C Sunny spells
THU 8°C Dull→pm rain
FRI 7°C pm Breezy showers
SAT 9°C Chance of light rain
Week after: Mild and wet

Yep.

It's very alarming. It reflects how far our universities have been commercialised too far, and it shouldn't be happening. And do Reform have "key people"?

The Institute of Fiscal Studies is still having plenty to say about the Budget on BBC News. Auntie needs to understand that the IFS is neither independent nor neutral. Its judgements generally favour accounting over social outcomes. Much of its funding is rather opaque. Its word cannot be trusted.

End Ex-PM Benefits For Boris Johnson Following Covid Inquiry Verdict Can you spare a minute to help this campaign?

This "toxic and chaotic" charlatan is owed nothing from the public purse. Following the findings of the Hallett inquiry, any Ex-PM benefits should be ended forthwith.
c.org/98WW6gFdHK

Don't let this one go.

The government lost YOUR rail consultation responses - take action It is crucial for passengers that our voices are heard and that the bill delivers on the hopes and expectations of passengers. But this has not happened.

weownit.org.uk/act-now/rail...

The week ahead in #Darwen #Lancashire: Quite cold at first. Some frost. Milder with rain from late on Wednesday...
MON 7°C Sunny spells
TUE 6°C Frost→Sunny
WED 5°C Feeling cold. Milder with rain later
THU 11°C Rain
FRI 9°C Showers
SAT 8°C Sunshine & showers
Week after: Mild with rain

What Labour and the BBC have in common They still don’t get it...

Thoughts on what Labour and the BBC have in common.
open.substack.com/pub/writesbr...

Last (Wednesday) night's minimum was -1.8°C. We may beat that tonight.

We are experiencing the first sub-zero temperatures of the season in #Darwen #Lancashire. It is currently -0.5°C and likely to approach -3°C before sunrise. That will be the lowest temperature since -4.5°C on 11th January, which was the day after last winter's lowest minimum of -6.1°C.

Exactly one week from the Autumn Budget and spending on education as a share of GDP is the lowest it’s been in 25 years

Some interesting weather in #Darwen #Lancashire in the last few days. 59mm (2.3 in) of rain fell on Friday/Saturday. That's almost half of the average total for November. As #StormClaudia moved away, a northerly Arctic airstream was pulled across the UK. The min temperature so far has been 1.2°C.

I'm surprised to find John Torode presenting #CelebrityMasterchef, 4 months after being sacked by the BBC. I'm also surprised that there are no celebrities on tonight's show, and that Masterchef Professionals has been moved from its regular autumn slot. P.S. Grace Dent is doing a fine job.

Hopefully the beginning of the end of the Trump presidency.

I presume that the Sally Wainwright masterpiece, that is #RiotWomen, will return for a second series. It's been a blast.

Nature not a blocker to housing growth, inquiry finds Commons committee report challenges ‘lazy narrative’ used by ministers that scapegoats wildlife and the environment

The planning & infrastructure bill – soon to be law – rolls back environmental legislation allowing developers to bypass surveys & mitigation on the site of any environmental damage by paying into a central nature recovery fund. This doesn't feel like a good idea.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

The week ahead in #Darwen #Lancashire: Much colder. Some frost. Mixture of sun & some wintry precipitation. Milder/wetter from Friday...
MON 5°C Slight frost→Sunny
TUE 7°C Cloudy→pm rain/sleet
WED 4°C Odd wintry shower
THU 3°C Frost→Sunny spells
FRI 5°C Rain later
SAT 7°C Rain
Week after: Milder

The BBC is far from perfect, but I shall overlook those imperfections until it wins its legal battle against Trump.

There's an acclaimed film on BBC2, and no doubt, on the iPlayer, this afternoon called Judgment at Nuremberg. The film presents an amazing cast of postwar film stars, as well as a number of prewar 'ideas' that Britain and other places should be concerned about right now.