Brett Callacher

FT comments section this morning - saying what everyone else is thinking, right?

Take a bow, @privateeyenews.bsky.social.

It's almost like she hasn't been briefed and doesn't know what she's talking about and doesn't have google

“For all we know, we could be in the middle of Keir Starmer’s finest hour”.

Starmer’s critics say he is imperiling the UK’s special relationship with the US...

But is it Donald Trump who's doing the damage?

Rachel Reeves Launches Her Strongest Attack On Brexit Amid Gloomy Economic Numbers The chancellor vowed to "break down trade barriers" between the UK and EU.

Really noticeable how willing Reeves was to attack Brexit as she vowed to "break down trade barriers and deepen alliances with our European partners".

And said on the Tories: "They opposed closer ties to Europe and backed Brexit. Wrong."

www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/rachel...

Sobering to think that we would have joined a reckless war in the middle east over the weekend had Badenoch or Farage been PM.

And we would be refusing to embrace an energy transition away from reliance on a deeply unstable region.

Starmer's sobriety definitely an asset in the last few days.

£100k childcare cliff edge and 62% marginal rate (71% with student loan) will soon get more attention.

This is a relatively small but significant development, and it's to the good. The governing party should never be able to rewrite the electoral commission's writ on its own.

There is always a tweet.

the US once again sending the message loud and clear: never negotiate, just get nukes. Never compromise, just get nukes. Never give in to sanctions, just get nukes.

what could go wrong

Did anyone think to check it wasn't spelled Bored of Peace?

They said that if I voted for Kamala Harris the president would end free enterprise and folks…

You sound like an unhinged person if you in plain words describe what’s happening, but the Trump admin demanded Anthropic’s AI be able to kill things for it w/out human approval and also do mass surveillance.

Anthropic said no, and now the admin is trying to destroy the company in retaliation.

Trump had no choice but to act. The Iranians were just weeks away from obtaining the missing Epstein files.

That's how prohibition is. You say you'll stop the boats and you end up stopping the nurses.

Rachel Reeves to sign off £1bn Leonardo helicopter contract Chancellor wants to ensure that UK defence spending protects jobs and investment, say Treasury officials

exclusive:

Rachel Reeves will on Friday sign off a £1bn defence contract that will be crucial for the survival of Britain’s last military helicopter manufacturing site in Yeovil

www.ft.com/content/a915...

🇺🇸 The persistent problem with US foreign policy experts is that they think of territory in tradeable, swappable, divestible terms that American history taught them and are happy to waltz into places such as Palestine or Eastern Europe with "yeah, just give up your land, and it'll be fine" talk.

'Labour has forgotten who its voters are. And that's the real story of student loans.'

Characteristically excellent from @lewisgoodall.com

A photo released by the official North Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) shows North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (R) gesturing while his daughter Kim Ju Ae looks on during a military parade to celebrate the ninth congress of the ruling Workers' Party at Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang, North Korea, 25 February 2026 (issued 26 February 2026). Both are wearing black leather trenchcoats. The event marked the conclusion of the week-long Ninth Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) in Pyongyang.

Matching daddy-daughter leather trenchcoats - an interesting addition to the Authoritarian Chic lookbook.

Photo released by the state North Korean Central News Agency (KCNA)

The Guardian view on saving Westminster: parliament should leave London | Editorial Editorial: The long-overdue refurbishment could be an ideal opportunity for Britain to spread power to other parts of the UK, and send a powerful message

Not this tired old riff again. You don't decentralise Britain by relocating central government. You do it by devolving power. Dimwit Guardian still fixated with "north-south divide" and false belief that all of London is rich: www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Those who most loudly assert their patriotism are always the first to sell us down the river. Both Johnson and Nigel Farage were in active discussions with Bannon, for whom Brexit was a major prize. Bannon was feeding intelligence back to Epstein, who also wanted the UK out of the European Union.

I’ve written about the worst of British policing — i.e the Daniel Morgan Murder, but also reported on the best (the Phone Hacking investigations) and written TV dramas inspired by John Alderson and Giovanni Falcone.

Let’s hope the Epstein investigations live up to the best

Even countries at war with each other don’t behave this way. Trump’s Washington has thrown away the diplomacy rule book dating back centuries.

Insightful reporting by David Allen Green at the Financial Times on why Palantir data-analytics defence contracts with UK government should raise concern.

This is absolute gold

Jon Sopel to Robert Jenrick ⬇️

"You were a Remainer when David Cameron was PM. You were a Brexiteer when Boris was."

"When the Tories are languishing in the polls, you’ve gone to the party that is leading in the polls."

Jeffrey Epstein's Really Big Short In addition to his sex crimes, Epstein ran an obscure company that accrued billions in liabilities in the same dicey securities that led to the 2008 financial crisis. Know who bailed him out? You did!

Blimey. Remember how Bannon promoted the Tea Party as a reaction to the bank bailouts in 2008

His pal Jeffery Epstein was give $7bn in bailout money

Socialism for the rich

craigunger.substack.com/p/jeffrey-ep...

Hillsborough Law will 'criminalise lying' by senior ministers, say campaigners It's via a new standalone offence - which will apply to the prime minister - of "misleading the public", punishable by up to two years in jail.

Historic opportunity to extend duty of candour in Hillsborough law to all members of parliament
news.sky.com/story/hillsb... - well done to @fayebrownjourno.bsky.social for covering.

According to Private Eye, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was enthusiastically recommended to Tony Blair for Trade Commissioner by one Peter Mandelson. Prince Charles tried to veto the appointment but Blair overruled him.