Alice Lastname

It is *really* important that people understand the completely different basis and scope of the two bodies of law.

If the HRA goes, the common law really is not riding to the rescue.

/ends

Sorry James, this is just not true. I ran comms at HMT and we *never* briefed out a specific measure weeks before a Budget. It’s a recipe for chaos. Most of these stories are educated guesswork or sometimes briefed by other departments trying to influence the Budget decision making process.

Lovely city, cool bridge and I second those recommending Malmo; great sea swimming there.

A few hours north of Copenhagen by train ride is Helsingor, of Hamlet fame, Beautiful town with fab castle.

Have fun!

Pertinent essay, thank you for writing it.

"Of course it is a paradox of liberal pluralism generally, and one long understood and exploited by illiberal politicians [3], that it gives succour and sustenance to its most implacable enemies." yup.

Great episode, and good to see the authoritarian shades of the brexit debacle aired.

That'd make farage very happy.

Listening to the rather excellent @originstorypodcast.bsky.social episode on the post war Labour government; NHS, NI, council housing, better education etc. It was interesting how unpopular it was and how 'uninspiring' its PM, Atlee was.

Attacks on this government do however feel very 'arranged'

It's not fashionable to say so , but I really miss Claire Byrne, Joe Duffy and Ronan Collins.

Excellent episode @gilesyb.bsky.social was fascinating, as well as the interesting and unusual idea that things could get better.

'have no concept'

Most electors no concept or experience of successful collective action and accountablity so have infantilised/authoritarian trust in 'good leaders' to solve problems.

Three German universities offering post-docs for researchers "who cannot conduct or continue their work in the USA appropriately because of actual political pressure. "
www.uni-konstanz.de/zukunftskoll...

You are doing such a brilliant job @viviane49.bsky.social , but isn't it mad that there's no govt comms person/ site doing this here and across all media.
Thanks though!

Cash

Epping hotel can continue housing asylum seekers, judge rules A council has lost its legal battle with the government in a landmark High Court ruling.

Epping hotel can continue housing asylum seekers, judge rules

YouTube video by dreamhitz The Doobie Brothers - Takin' It To The Streets (1977)

And another one. Not great sound quality but Mc Donald's piano solo is a thing of beauty.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9_e...

I’m just about to delete my Checkatrader app.

This is full of mildly astonishing revelations about right-wing influence at the BBC, but foremost among them is the fact that he was advised that writing for the New Statesman was effectively unacceptable but doing so for the Spectator was fine - indeed, advisable. I am flabbergasted.

"Pluribus" captures the isolation of COVID-awareness in a COVID denialist world For years I've described having Long COVID as living in a horror movie. Now that horror movie (well, prestige Apple TV show) is here.

Living with Long COVID often feels like living in a horror movie. Along with your disease comes a creepy Hive Mind refusal to acknowledge the dangers of COVID infection. In Vince Gilligan's new Apple TV show Pluribus, the Hive Mind comes to life:

www.thegauntlet.news/p/pluribus-c...

Great essay, thanks.
From the intelligence and dedication with which polio, measles, and AIDs have been tackled in the last century, to this 'hive mind' ; it's the creepiest, most anti enlightenment cultural shift.

There was a great art to the building of drystone field walls, since, without mortar, every stone needed to be held in place by gravity.

Construction styles varied according to locality and stone type, and some walls could be 100s or even 1,000s of years old (but with periodic repairs).

Ah yes, thanks.

Was that a wee homage to 'Cal' by Bernard Mc Laverty, when they were commenting on Helen Mirren in the pub? #Trespasses

Was waiting to see if they'd use Van Morrison, and sure enough.... #Trespasses

By this great author. @louisekennedy.bsky.social Happy reading.

It's great. Excellent book, great writer and really good adaptation. Great to see excellent new content being made by terrestial tv station too.

YouTube video by 4 The Drama Trespasses | Official Trailer | 4TheDrama

Trespasses trailer. I can’t believe how good it looks. 🙏

youtu.be/HNJF5No6NU0

Great piece. I was there during the summer of 1981. It was a city of heat, truck drivers having stand up rows in the street and gun shots at night. I learned to walk fast and to pretend I knew where I was going. My New York/Long Island friends then still are some of the best people I've ever known.

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Announcements made in just one week. Stop this nonsense about Labour not having a Plan or wanting to oust Starmer.

Labour are #FixingBritain These are #LabourAchievements