C John Hughes

‘We didn’t think Back to the Future sounded plausible – or good’: Huey Lewis and the News on The Power of Love ‘I told the producers I didn’t know how to do a song for a film – and added that, frankly, I didn’t fancy writing one called Back to the Future. They said, “No problem, just give us one of your songs”...

My daughter and I went to see "Back to the future" on its first release and came away as Huey Lewis and The News fans.

www.theguardian.com/culture/2025...

Keir Starmer expected to award 25 new Labour peerages Exclusive: Former union bosses and Labour staffers on list as prime minister aims to balance chamber

I can see the need to rebalance the Lords, but it goes against the grain to see Labour adding more peerages.

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

Farage and the Tory right will unite because they want power. Will the left just stand by? | Neal Lawson It’s time for a harsh reality check. A progressive bloc of parties refusing to see a common threat risks disaster, says Neal Lawson of Compass

Personally, I think the left, especially the Labour government, will just stand by and watch these two "parties" disintegrate when their truths are fully exposed by their inaction and bland statements.

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

@pguythompson.bsky.social
I so like your nature photography.

Europe is holding the line against Trump’s and Putin’s plans for Ukraine. But it won’t be able to for ever | Martin Kettle In the 21st-century imbalance of power, Europe and Nato have neither the arms nor the wealth to impel Russia or the US to take its peace settlement seriously, says Guardian columnist Martin Kettle

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

German chancellor warns leaders that decisions they make now on Ukraine will ‘decide the future of Europe’ – live Intervention from Merz comes as Putin says peace talks are ‘difficult work’ but Trump insists Russian president does want a deal

The German Chancellor is absolutely right. It's taken time for European leaders to take on their responsibility in supporting Ukraine to the hilt and now they have to turn to the whole European context that Putin has basically challenged.

www.theguardian.com/world/live/2...

Little Richard’s film career on the big and small screen Leaping from jukebox star to rocking at the movies, Vintage Rock celebrates Little Richard’s film career on the big and small screen

His film career was short but he made up for it with many TV appearances where he was a favoured guest. Best film "The girl can't help it", with his road band. Talking to Charles Connor, the drummer, he told me he got to kiss Jayne Mansfield on the set!

www.vintagerockmag.com/2025/11/litt...

Ben Jennings on migration and the hard right – cartoon Net migration to the UK has fallen by 69%, says the ONS, with the lowest level recorded in the year to June since 2021

The Guardian has some good news about migration, together with a clever cartoon about a Peruvian immigrant!

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Why it’s silly to focus on Labour’s manifesto pledges | Letter Letter: Manifestos are not binding contracts – good politics is about being able to react to circumstances, says Tony Wright

Manifestos are there to lay the groundwork to come, but when that groundwork is affected by real events, things have to change, and this letter hits the nail on the head, when others hit their thumbs instead:

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

It’s under fire from left and right – but Labour’s workers' rights bill is a huge achievement | Polly Toynbee It makes no sense for union leaders to cry betrayal when it will be their members who benefit from these sorely needed reforms, says Guardian columnist Polly Toynbee

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Angela Rayner to lay amendment to speed up workers’ rights bill Exclusive: Former deputy PM understood to have accepted compromise on day-one rights, after ‘considerable anger’ over Lords intervention

Surely the next PM if Labour gets a second term?

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

Thanks for the clarification. It sounded, when I read it, more serious.

The money just keeps rolling in good to have a loca authority that keep tabs on financial funding options and then bids.

www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/gcc-news/new...

How do I respond to someone who says ‘I’m not racist, but ... ’? | Leading questions It’s important to express your disagreement: for their sake as much as yours, writes advice columnist Eleanor Gordon-Smith. But first decide on what you aim to accomplish

@notoracism.bsky.social

Here is question I have an answer to How do I respond to "I'm not a racist, but":

My own response would be "I don't have a racist butt"

www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...

Talks for UK to join EU defence fund collapse in blow to Starmer’s bid to reset relations UK had been pushing to join €150bn Safe fund, a loan scheme that is part of bloc’s drive to rearm Europe

I think the EU will ultimately regret this decision in the context of the illegal Russian invasion of Ukraine and the continuing war:

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...

JD Vance, Trump Jr, DeSantis? Possible Republican contenders for 2028 run Next nominee faces enormous task of leading a party that has been entirely re-oriented around Trump

God help the USA:

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

Jeremy Corbyn and Zara Sultana’s Your Party reveals shortlist for official name Leftwing party asks members to pick between Your Party, Our Party, Popular Alliance and For The Many

The farce continues. I have my own suggestion for this "party"'s name:
"Not a party, more a Talking Shop, whose lease is running out"

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

The Climate Breakdown Could Be More Intense Than We Think 1. Understanding Climate Breakdown 1. Understanding Climate Breakdown (image credits: pixabay) Climate breakdown isn’t just a buzzword—it’s a reality that’s unfolding faster than many expected. Accord...

"Climate breakdown" sounds more serious than "Climate change"

It does sound more serious:

climatecosmos.com/climate-news...

Britain’s wealthy must shoulder burden of rebuilding ‘creaky’ public services, Rachel Reeves says Exclusive: Chancellor says she made ‘fair and necessary choices’ in budget, and was unwilling to make cuts

Quite right too!

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

My granddaughter's was expensive enough, and she has access to all the Uni instruments, but she might be jealous of you Mustang!

Let's hope that local budgeting is less controversial than Central Government's!

www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/gcc-news/new...

Much needed to avoid unnecessary duplication and therefore savings to be made. Can't wait as the last round of Local Government Reorganisation was in 1974!

www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/gcc-news/new...

Electric buses coming soon: excellent news!

www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/gcc-news/new...

@siobhansarelle.com
My granddaughter is also a musician and singer, studying music production at Cardiff Uni. She's also getting a Fender bass guitar for Christmas, having been taught the basics by her uncle and played bass and sang at a local event she managed.

@siobhansarelle.com
I do like strong political views, even if I don't always agree with some of them. That's the reason I've decided to follow you.

Ben Jennings on Kemi Badenoch’s reaction to the lifting of the two-child benefit cap – cartoon Rachel Reeves’s decision to reverse the Tory policy will lift an estimated 450,000 children out of poverty

I love this (Badenoch on the two child cap):

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

‘We had six MPs and four factions’: inside Your Party’s toxic power struggles Some say Jeremy Corbyn is too non-committal for project to work, while others blame Zarah Sultana’s combative nature

Your Party will never be My Party, nor anyone else's I suspect. It has less gravitas than Reform UK and that's saying something:

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

Labour MPs attack Starmer U-turn over workers’ rights as ‘complete betrayal’ Former minister says ditching plan for day-one protection against unfair dismissal ‘definitely is a manifesto breach’

It amazes me how many storms in teacups The Guardian and others are prepared to develop against the Labour government. Reading the responses from Labour ministers puts these attacks in an appropriate context. But these battles will continue.

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

Trump says he will ‘permanently pause’ migration from ‘third world countries’ after national guard shooting In a social media post sent late on Thanksgiving, US president said he would ‘end all federal benefits and subsidies to noncitizens’ following Washington DC shooting

Trump is destroying everything else so he may as well destroy the English language: "permanently pause" immigration from third world countries is a senseless phrase. And, acting like a third world dictator himself is the height of self-deceit:

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

Can Europe prevent an unjust ‘peace’ in Ukraine – and what is at stake if it fails? Seizing Moscow’s money to bail out Kyiv may be all that stands between a fair outcome and a ‘deal’ that brings war in the rest of Europe a step closer

European leaders can and should ensure a just peace for Ukraine:

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...