David O'Connell

House of Lords should strip Mandelson of peerage, says Starmer PM believes ex-Labour minister should not be member of House of Lords or use title, No 10 spokesperson says

House of Lords should strip Mandelson of peerage, says Starmer.

That alone won't do. Mandelson leaked sensitive govt info. How many times did he do so? Who benefited from the leaks?

Mandelson advised Starmer. Starmer made him US ambassador. What did Starmer know?

New Epstein emails show Peter Mandelson secretly advising JPMorgan’s CEO on how to fight Labour’s 2009 bankers’ bonus tax - even suggesting he “mildly threaten” the Chancellor.

Mandelson was Business Secretary at the time.

A year later, he was seeking work with JPM.

Can lawyers trust AI? What do you tell the clients? And what do clients tell their lawyers?

This year will be a tipping point in which the majority of the legal industry will be AI-powered, a leading solicitor said this week. But what does that mean? Is artificial intelligence going to take over from the real thing? Will lawyers no longer be needed?
rozenberg.substack.com/p/can-lawyer...

‘Not so clever after all’: how Robert Jenrick was ejected before he defected Kemi Badenoch praised for sacking Jenrick before he could announce he was ditching Tories for Reform

And he couldn't even find the stairs up to the press conference. Robert jenrick was the worst of all the Tory ministers who dealt with #GrenfellTower

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

'The word terrorism is being used to remove empathy': Natasha Walter on how language dehumanises the Palestine Action hunger strikers Hunger striker Heba Muraisi has never been charged, tried or convicted of terrorism. But she and the other strikers have been stripped of humanity by how the government has labelled them. The repercus...

The remaining three hunger strikers have ended their strike. A good moment to reflect on how falsely labelling them as terrorists dehumanises the prisoners. Thought-provoking piece for the Nerve by @natashawalter.bsky.social

www.thenerve.news/p/palestine-...

Principled and pragmatic Incoming barristers’ leader summarises bar’s opposition to jury reform

Reducing the availability of jury trial is neither principled nor pragmatic, the incoming chair of the bar argued last night. In her inaugural address, Kirsty Brimelow KC said her first priority was to lead the Bar Council’s opposition to government reforms.

rozenberg.substack.com/p/principled...

Conflicts of interest run through the Tories. Just look closer to home. RBKC with council officers with 2nd jobs from contractors, council employees running RAs and sitting on the memorial commission. To the Grenfell tower fire they caused

The flat-owners facing £60k bills to upgrade communal boilers Nearly a million leaseholders may be forced to pay thousands to improve heat networks, which are often unreliable and wasteful

Here on Lancaster West, where Grenfell still stands we are facing an increase of 2x-4x in the standing charge 'to cover costs' as well as the bill for the works.

www.thetimes.com/article/d81f...

BRENNAN: What are you going to do to force DOJ to comply?

MASSIE: The quickest way and most expeditious way to get justice for these victims is to bring inherent contempt against Pam Bondi. That doesn't require going through the courts. We're drafting that right now.

Again: Beware These Two Oligarchic Bubbles They may already be bursting

open.substack.com/pub/robertre...

Get a grip Justice secretary has two chances today to sell his jury plans to MPs. And then?

Today is David Lammy’s big day. The justice secretary has two opportunities to persuade MPs — and the public at large — to support his jury reforms. This morning, he answers MPs' questions. And this afternoon he gives evidence to the Commons justice committee.

rozenberg.substack.com/p/get-a-grip

Why did Rachel Reeves drop plans to raise income tax? The chancellor may not have to break Labour’s manifesto pledges with a totemic income tax rise — but she still faces a massive task to balance the books

The chancellor may not have to break Labour’s manifesto pledges with a totemic income tax rise — but she still faces a massive task to balance the books ⬇️

For someone who is supposed to be a PR genius. Turning a bit of backbench speculation into a full-blown crisis certainly shows a great talent for something...

IT IS A COUP This is what should be on every front page in 150 point banner headlines. All I have is this Substack but I lay it beneath your feet and pray to a higher power that I'm wrong.

This is what should be on every front page right now. What's happening in the US right now is an illegal power grab by a private citizen. IT'S A COUP.

It's a digital coup. It's Musk who's leading it. The consequences are terrifying. And it's coming for us next.
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open.substack.com/pub/broligar...

Roman Abramovich tax dodge must be probed, HMRC urged A group of MPs is urging an investigation into £1bn that could be owed by Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich.

As chair of The APPG on Anti-Corruption and Responsible Tax, I’ve written to HMRC calling on them to urgently investigate the Abramovich case and recover what is owed following reports of a £1bn tax dodge by the sanctioned oligarch

Read more: www.bbc.com/news/article...

Damning PAC report finds no clear homelessness strategy, no logic to LHA rates and calls on MHCLG to set affordable housing target A Public Accounts Committee report has chastised the government’s homelessness strategy, said LHA rates have no logic, and called for an affordable homes target.

Build more social rent homes?

"...there seems to be no desire to move away from an unsatisfactory short-term system, leaving local authorities attempting to save a sinking ship with a little more than a leaky bucket."

www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/damning...

Digital Barbecues Podcast Episode · Sergei & the Westminster Spy Ring · EP3 · 37m

NEW: Episode 3 of Sergei & the Westminster Spy Ring is out today: Digital Barbecues.

This one features @lukeharding1968.bsky.social & the story of how he & Sergei bust Conservative Friends of Russia wide open

podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/s...

This week, we’re highlighting a key figure in UK media: the notorious "Fake Sheikh," Mazher Mahmood. A convicted criminal, Mahmood exemplifies the dark side of tabloid journalism, from celebrity entrapments to the exploitation of society’s most vulnerable.

Russia shot down Azerbaijan Airlines jet, attempted cover-up, Azerbaijan president charges The downing was an accident, but “some circles” in Russia tried to cover it up, Ilham Aliyev said.

"Unfortunately, for the first three days, we heard nothing from Russia except for some absurd theories,"

www.politico.eu/article/russ...

Finally the truth about the corrupt culture of the Murdoch press is starting to come out. How they destroyed lives and reputations. From from the murder of Daniel Morgan to the sleazy stings of Mazher Mahmood
@alastairmorgan.bsky.social

Revealed: Thames Water diverted ‘cash for clean-ups’ to help pay bonuses Exclusive: UK’s biggest water company assessed risks before cutting back on cost of environmental work, investigation shows

"Thames Water intentionally diverted millions of pounds pledged for environmental clean-ups towards other costs including bonuses and dividends"

A culture of always paying bosses bonuses while deliberately failing to stop pollution

www.theguardian.com/business/202...

🇮🇷 Parastoo Ahmadi live-streamed the concert on YouTube. There has been outrage over her arrest as women continue to defy regime’s harsh laws

Romanian president: Court's annulment of election must be respected The Romanian Constitutional Court annulled the presidential election results due to foreign meddling, prompting President Klaus Iohannis to assure the country, the EU, and NATO of its continued stability on Friday evening.

Banned too late in the US? it seems tiktok is bad for democracy

www.euronews.com/2024/12/06/c...

Can France say no Fucking Way?

So Greg Wallace gets fired from Master Chef. Good riddance Wallace… you humiliated my wife when she was on the show but you cut that bit out didn’t you? You’re a tubby, bald-headed, ill mannered bully. Karma got ya. Sir Rod Stewart.

Sir Rod Stewart has just shared this about Gregg Wallace on Instagram

Allison Pearson claimed police accused her of a “non-crime hate incident” after a tweet misidentifying a protest photo. Essex Police say that never happened, releasing footage to prove it. Pearson now says she might have “misheard” – but not before the Telegraph ran three front pages on the claim.

Thanks Colin!

Revealed: Saudi Arabia accused of modifying official Cop29 negotiating text Exclusive: News of changes to usually non-editable document ‘risks placing climate summit in jeopardy'

So Cop29, supposedly dedicated to combating climate change, held in petrostate Azerbaijan and #1 oil producer Saudi Arabia is writing the script. And people are walking out 🤔

www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Indeed- and while we are
on the subject of “grassroots” organisations… maybe broadcasters and newspapers might like to stop quoting people from supposed “think tanks” that refuse to say who funds them.
What are they hiding? I have no idea. And that’s the point… who funds them and why?

LET'S FUCKING GO!!!!

International criminal Court issues arrest warrant for Netanyahu!