Carl Benjamin: Conversely it also demonstrates…
Conversely it also demonstrates how massively overrepresented Muslims are in British public life. It is certainly more than 6%, but even so it will likely not be more than 10%, so why do we hear about them all the time?
Daniel Lacalle: Gasoline prices reach $7.15 per gallon…
Gasoline prices reach $7.15 per gallon on average in the European Union. Gasoline is 68% more expensive than in the US. Diesel is 59% more expensive. The average salary in the US is 35-40% higher than in the EU. No EU country has cheaper gasoline prices than the most expensive US state (California) For years, progressives in the US have demanded the same taxes for gasoline as in Europe. Imagine if it had happened.
Liz Webster: There’s an uncomfortable point in this debate…
😣 There’s an uncomfortable point in this debate. @matthewsyed argues that modern politics is increasingly shaped by those willing to bend systems, not just follow them. 🔥 And that’s exactly the concern here in Brexitannia 🇬🇧 Bc what we’re seeing isn’t just a controversial Mandelson appointment, it’s a pattern that began with Blair’s Iraq decision. Decisions driven from the top processes stretched or overridden and outcomes justified after the fact. And now all of it in the context of a shift towards closer alignment with the US model.
Ben Judah: Reflecting on the State Visit to Washington…
Reflecting on the State Visit to Washington, there are only really two interesting things left to say about it. The first is to note the Royal Family’s rising importance in our diplomacy since the death of Elizabeth II. This is because of the rise of two sets of politicians: Gulf monarchs who view a relationship with the Royal family as part of their identity and pedigree and Trump and his acolytes. In all these encounters the King genuinely matters diplomatically. This has only increased as the political carousel has spun out of control with annual foreign secretaries and biennale Prime Ministers. The second is to note the extraordinary and rising power the King’s Private Secretary has — effectively the King in Whitehall — on all such matters and how these encounters are shaped. Truly the apex of Civil Service power and anonymity that role — entirely beyond Foreign Office influence, let alone an elected official’s scrutiny. I think those roles, with their curious heritage allowances, are by far the most desirable left in the system.
Andy Ngo: The man accused of the White House…
The man accused of the White House Correspondents' Dinner shooting has a long social media history showing leftist, liberal and anti-Trump posts. Cole Allen also recently attended a "No Kings" protest. Many Democrats have been welcoming a culture of political assassinations.
Aaron Bastani: Starmer saying he’ll stay on…
Starmer saying he’ll stay on - and win - genuinely feels like he’s lost his mind. You can find provincial Reform councillors with a much bigger FB footprint than most of the cabinet right now. A tsunami is coming!
Andrew Bridgen: European anti-fraud office opens investigation…
European anti-fraud office opens investigation into Peter Mandelson. Peter Mandelson served as an EU commissioner for Trade 2004-2008. On his return to London in 2008 he was made a life peer and he acquired a London property for cash (no mortgage) for a sum of money which he had never received or declared the income to be able to afford ??? How do you think he was able to buy the London property in 2008 ? Does Mandelson need to be subject to an ‘unexplained wealth order’ ? What do you think ? Perhaps we could put one on his old friend Keith Vaz also ?? Mysteriously wealthy ?
Alex Wickham: NEW: Bloomberg Saturday read…
NEW: Bloomberg Saturday read — Will Keir Starmer survive? His rivals say it’ll take a perfect storm of disastrous events happening in quick succession for the PM to be ousted next month: more Mandelson revelations, an “emotional” response by MPs to the locals, and a cabinet revolt. — The first seems possible. Philip Barton is expected to back up Olly Robbins on Tuesday. The key is if he can produce evidence No10 did pressure the foreign office. Then Starmer will be accused of misleading parliament. In theory he could be called to the privileges committee. — Some in govt also suspect there is more to emerge about how Mandelson conducted himself as ambassador that could come out either in leaks to the media or humble address disclosures. Starmer is so badly wounded that any further revelations could take him into resignation territory. — The second factor his opponents say is needed is what they call an “emotional” reaction by MPs after the local elections. It is priced in that Labour will lose upwards of 2,000 councillors. A sober response might see MPs say local election results are not a reason to change a PM, or at least wait until an obvious successor emerges. A more emotional one, triggered by the sight of so many lifelong local colleagues losing their jobs, could see MPs beyond the usual suspects come out and call for Starmer to go. If that coincided with more Mandelson revelations, momentum may build in the days after May 7. — If it really builds, it could spread to the cabinet. That’s the third factor seen as required to oust the PM. Most think it will ultimately fall on cabinet ministers to tell him his time is up. If one-by-one enough do, not just one or two but enough that Starmer finds it impossible to form a government, he’d have to agree to step down pending the result of a leadership contest. — While rival camps are gaming all this out, for most MPs who spoke to Bloomberg this week it is not their base case. Most still seem to think the lack of a credible plan to replace Starmer means he will get through May. — The issues are well-versed. The left don’t like Wes Streeting. The right don’t like Angela Rayner, whose tax issues are ongoing. Neither has a policy platform. Neither poll well. A contest between them would be deeply divisive and whoever wins will have no mandate from the public. Farage’s calls for an early general election would be hard to argue against. Voters will see Labour as the Tories 2.0. — Some on the left want to wait for Andy Burnham. They think he will make clear in the aftermath of May 7 that he wants to stand for parliament again and that Starmer won’t be able to block him this time. He at least polls better than the others. But some say he isn’t as popular with MPs as people think. And who knows how long it’ll take him to make it to Westminster. — That all leads many MPs to conclude the most likely scenario is still that Starmer muddles on through May. But it leaves Labour in a bleak position of their own making: stuck with a PM few really back, who they brief against constantly, but they don’t have a plan to replace. @Joe_MayesLiz Webster: RishiSunak calling it straight in today’s Times…
RishiSunak calling it straight in today’s Times. He is right to say the Mandelson appointment wasn’t a failure of process but a failure of political judgment. The responsibility absolutely sits squarely with the Prime Minister. Sunak: “The responsibility for the decision rests with the prime minister.” “Process is no substitute for judgment.” Time to cut through all the deflection and endless reviews, the sacking of Olly Robbins, the whataboutery claims that “I wasn’t told”. 😈 You can add more bureaucracy. You can sack more officials. You can hide behind process. But the decision to appoint Mandelson, despite the red flags, despite the vetting failure, despite the Epstein links, was political. And that decision belongs 💯 to Keir Starmer, even if McSwindle made it for him. This is the same PM who publicly defended the appointment, claimed full process was followed, and then claimed he was kept in the dark. Sunak’s point lands hard: own the call. The gremlin project wasn’t derailed by bad process. It was driven by bad judgment at the top. And now even the man Starmer replaced is saying what everyone can see: accountability starts with the Prime Minister. #MandelsonEpstein
Sue Diamond: Trump accused Black South Africans…
Trump accused Black South Africans of killing white citizens, an allegation that South African leaders & communities rejected. At the same time, South Africa has faced recurring episodes of violence from black South Africans directed at foreign nationals from other African countries. These events make it difficult for anyone to believe that there is no targeted genocide against white South Africans & foreign Africans!Andy Ngo: Portland leftists will be protesting…
Portland leftists will be protesting the city council meeting on April 30 because they feel the proposed ICE mask ban does not go far enough. The proposed ordinance would require Portland Police to verify the authority of ICE and federal officers. ICE agents would have to remove their masks and confirm their identity if police "observe behavior that would be unlawful for a civilian," or potentially face detention. Antifa and open-border activists have doxxed ICE and federal officers’ addresses, protested at their homes, and published photos of and threats against their families.Andrew Bridgen: Former Labour MP calls for Starmer…
Former Labour MP calls for Starmer to face Commons committee over Mandelson vetting Karl Turner the former Labour MP has written to the Speaker of the House of Commons asking the PM to be investigated over the Mandelson vetting scandal. Well done !
Anthony Costello: Trump has to cancel Pakistan…
Trump has to cancel Pakistan envoy trip as Iran refuses to meet. Yet again. Trump is losing, the East Asian economy is in deep trouble, and the global economy will soon be too. Trump has unleashed a catastrophe because he didn’t listen to military advice.
Pat McGinnis: We’re currently in a housing crisis…
We’re currently in a housing crisis yet Labour still want door kept wide open for world’s refugees. We have a candidate in Clerkenwell ward, Islington with, NATIONAL HOUSING PARTY NO MORE REFUGEES description on the ballot paper. Could be an interesting result to look out for.
David Icke: The audience never mattered Chay…
The audience never mattered Chay. When Twitter was bought by Musk and a host of the usual suspects it was the Cult transferring ownership from itself to itself to scam the people into thinking Musk is one of them and believes in 'freedom of speech'. It was a gigantic scam from the start as I said at the time and now it is becoming plain to see what the game was all along. Plus Musk could use it to get Cult gofer Trump elected, as he did, and to sell the AI dystopia.
Howard Beckett: In the last two days alone 17 Palestinians…
In the last two days alone 17 Palestinians 🇵🇸 have been murdered by Israel 🇮🇱 in Gaza 🇵🇸 Palestinians in Gaza 🇵🇸 are: Living amongst rubble Denied essential supplies Targeted & murdered There is no Gaza 🇵🇸 ‘ceasefire’ It’s a genocide.Liz Webster: This 👇 Mandelson development just changed the game…
This 👇 Mandelson development just changed the game. The EU’s anti-fraud office (OLAF) is now investigating possible misconduct during his time as European Trade Commissioner. This is no longer just a UK political story. It internationalises the scandal. Suddenly we have an independent European body with its own powers, evidence thresholds, and access to documents from outside direct UK government or parliamentary control. That means: 💥 Less exposure to No.10 pressure 💥 Different scrutiny and timelines 💥 The story can’t be fully managed or contained domestically. Even if Whitehall withholds files, OLAF can request them. This is an investigation, not a conviction. It focuses on his EU commissioner years (2004–2008), including alleged favouritism and leaks. But the timing couldn’t be worse for Starmer. The gremlin project was always about elite networking across borders. Now that networking is coming under external investigation both here (Met Police) and in Europe (OLAF).
Pouria Zeraati: Important/ It was predictable…
Important/ It was predictable; Trump has for now backed off from negotiations: 'I just canceled my representatives' trip to Islamabad to meet with the Iranians. Too much time would be spent on travel, there's a lot of work to do! On top of that, there's severe infighting and confusion within their "leadership." No one knows who's in charge, not even themselves. The winning cards are in our hands, they've got nothing! If they want to talk, the only thing they need to do is pick up the phone!'Andrew Bridgen: I have believed that Europe is planning and pushing…
I have believed that Europe is planning and pushing for a war with Russia for the last 3 years. Below is the Russian assessment of the current situation. I think it’s accurate. ❗️ Lavrov: Europe Prepares for War, Uses Ukraine as the "Spearhead" In an annual "reality check" with Russian NGO leaders in Moscow (April 24, 2026), Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov delivered his most sobering assessment yet. The era of "proxy hybridity" is over—the masks are off. Key Takeaways from the Briefing: ⚔️ ated bluntly that the EU is mobilizing for a direct military confrontation with Russia. In this strategy, Ukraine is being used as a "battering ram" to bleed Russia dry and buy Europe the time it needs to fully rearm its industrial base over the next few years. 🛰 Direct Warfare: The Minister emphasized that without NATO satellite intelligence and Western officers on the ground, Kiev would be paralyzed. This is no longer a "proxy" conflict; it is an open war against Russia. 🛡 NGOs as the "Counter-Offensive": As the world undergoes a "geopolitical break," Russian civil society is being tasked as a primary "soft power" force. MFA promises to support projects in Asia and Africa. Lavrov's Quote: "An open war has been declared against us. The Kiev regime is merely the 'spearhead' being used to buy them time. They couldn't be any more obvious." The Bottom Line: The Russian diplomatic corps has shifted from a "negotiation" posture to a "mobilization" one. Moscow is signaling that it is preparing for a long-term, high-stakes endurance match with a militarized Europe. @AussieCossackCarl Benjamin: Every single "refugee" rape…
Every single "refugee" rape and assault of a white woman or girl is racially aggravated, and yet they do not get life sentences. Some of them only get 7 or 9 years, which will be halved for good behaviour.
'Just f***ing approve it'
'Just f***ing approve it'. That is how #Mandelson became our man in Washington, despite failing security vetting. Olly Robbins did not create this culture, but he embodies it. Labour slipperiness laid bare. A must read on @TheConWom from Julian Mann.Liz Webster: Tetchy Trump snaps at yet another female journalist…
Tetchy Trump snaps at yet another female journalist asking a straightforward question about how long Iran talks will take. “Don’t rush me… You’re such a disgrace!” Lists Vietnam, Iraq & WWII while admitting he’s only been working on it for six weeks.
Andrew Feinstein: Please come to hustings for local election…
Please come to hustings for local election candidates in Somers Town, Camden - Starmer’s constituency. The Camden People’s Alliance has 3 great local candidates representing the politics of my campaign against Starmer: no to austerity, no to constantly increasing defence spending; yes to affordable properly maintained social & council housing, more for the NHS, our schools & care homes. No to benefits for corporations & the super rich; yes to benefits increasing in line with inflation. No to cosy relationships with billionaire donors & corporations, yes to serving the community’s real needs. No support for genocide! Let’s get rid of Starmer’s LabourAndy Ngo: On April 24, the Trump administration directed the Federal Bureau…
On April 24, the Trump administration directed the Federal Bureau of Prisons to expand federal execution protocols to include the firing squad for death-sentenced inmates who have exhausted all appeals. The directive will also streamline and expedite death penalty cases.Andrew Bridgen: Apparently the UK based 'Center 4 Countering Digital Hate'…
Apparently the UK based 'Center 4 Countering Digital Hate' (CCDH) founded by Keir Starmer’s top advisor Morgan McSweeney is officially listed as a partner in 'Change the Terms coalition' with Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC). Who I posted about earlier this week and who @Kash_Patel just busted for funding the KKK and other neo-Nazi groups. That will take a bit of explaining !
Diane Abbott: When a reliable ally turns out to be neither…
When a reliable ally turns out to be neither, it is time for a major reorientation of British foregn policy. Carrying on in the same way is too costly. Trump says he will probably put a big tariff on the UK if it doesn't drop the digital services tax
Ayesha Ijaz Khan: Let’s see. Trump is unpredictable…
Let’s see. Trump is unpredictable. As is Netanyahu. Difficult to say anything with certainty. The cost to the American taxpayer of all this military build up in the region is substantial. I doubt it’s for GCC. Trump made no effort to protect GCC in the last round - doubt he cares about that.David Icke: He's the elephant on the sofa…
He's the elephant on the sofa, but his gutless cabinet and a gutless majority on Capitol Hill look on and do nothing while the US is (at least officially) headed by a deranged mind that dismantles by the hour with potentially catastrophic consequences for humanity. Biden followed by Trump should tell you that the Cult can put anyone into office that it wants - like two demented presidents of different parties one after the other. But don't worry. A few people can't control the world. It's not possible. Right?
24, April
The Spectre of the Habsburgs Haunts a Decaying EU
Hungary’s new leader, Péter Magyar, has openly declared his intention to strengthen ties with Austria and has spoken of creating a new bloc of Central European nations. The European Union has long since and irreversibly discredited itself, so the Hungarian Prime Minister’s initiative has found strong support across social media.Read more