I don't understand why people play dumb when they don't like tradition, or claim it's 'not normal'.

Rituals, symbols, orders, and traditions are some of the few truly universal human features, and there are whole libraries written on the role they play in maintaining a society.

I will always remember a wonderful line from Colonel Blimb when Clive is commiserated with about his wife dying on holiday.

Theo: 'It must be terrible to lose someone so dear to you in a foreign country.'

Clive: 'It wasn't a foreign country. It was Jamaica.'

Q: What would a defeated Russia look like?

Professor Timothy Snyder answers.

Skeptical, we've seen this all before:

In January 2015 the Greens peaked at 6.8% in the polling average.
May 2015 GE result: 3.8%

In June 2019 they reached 7.6% in the polling average.
Dec 2019 GE result: 2.8%

In recent months Greens have averaged about ~6%. Pretty average.

Was nearby and went back for a nostalgia trip. Nice to see a bit of community around Kings Cross

Lord Byron died exactly 200 years ago today, after falling ill in Greece while gathering an army to fight the Ottoman Empire.
Raise your game, Simon Armitage.

There is plenty to be said about his death, and you will not struggle to find that.

I, however, want to talk about..

I think the NI cut have been spared for a lot more of this.

You make defence of the realm - something the Tories are actually still trusted on - a bigger issue. But it really does need to be grounded in more than just this one announcement.

Victor Hugo’s story can be understand from many angles. One is that young idealists with passions but no sensible plan, and a naive assumption that everyone agrees with them will end up the victims of their own hubris.

In order, where have you lived?

Loughton, Essex
Exeter
Back to Loughton
King's Cross
Brixton
Back to Loughton
Balham

It’s the end of the world as we know it… from my Times Diary column today

To be fair, this is a reminder of how difficult it actually is to do this. Adding Blair, and you have a list of three-four* from any party since 1900.

* Atlee is my fourth, but whether 1950 counts as a re-election is complicated, because they were out within a year.

This reminds me of that time I went to Oktoberfest between Lab and Tory conference.

Had to fly from Frankfurt to Manchester with one half of my suitcase a suit and pressed shirts, the other half lederhosen.

I do bad life choices well.

The audience reaction here tells you how fringe a position climate denialism has become in the past ten years.

Even among right-leaning voters, it's tiny. Massively over-represented in our media.

I am now highly invested in there NOT being a summer general election.

I am going to only my second ever #Glasto and the thought of trying to do that during a short campaign would really push the limits of human endurance.

Nottingham Council have displayed this beauty on one of its most iconic buildings ahead of St George's Day.

More councils in England should do this and be less shy when it comes to patriotic displays.

Edited my profile bio.

The magic of qualitative research! I’ll wait for Opinium. Understanding emotional views of 2019 Conservative voters who are considering Labour… to help inform our clients and friends. Dream team most accurate political team in 2019 General Election and Referendum. 🪄 🧙 🗳️ 📈

Hard agree. If Labour spent 5 years trying to re-join the EU and not actually implementing some sort of agenda to improve economic growth (probably involving building a decent number of homes) they'll be out in 5 years.

As someone who has done it, surely she can be the main resident and the landlord if her brother is lodging from her? (Or al I mistaken in that self-description be allowed?).

Everyone’s dunking on this, but it’s admirably honest that the alternative to building more is no one having a guest bedroom, a home office, or space for kids they haven’t had yet. And that permanent flat sharing into middle age will be the norm.

Refreshingly straightforward!