'Binface, Count..24,260...'

Sometimes, you gotta love this country.
Gave Susan Hall a run for her money..

Andy Street’s knife edge shows that national party labels still dog Mayors, however hard they try to establish an independent brand.

It’s time to review the experiment with Mayors and PCCs - especially with such low turnouts

⁦Financial Times⁩
on.ft.com/44zKykc

Rishi Sunak chose the terms, the closing arguments and the policy platform for these election. His chosen battleground turned out to be a killing field for Tory councillors. My analysis in today’s FT: ft.com/content/a35a63…

“Gaza still has tremendous potential to damage President Biden in the ways I’ve outlined: by dampening Muslim turnout in swing states like Michigan, by suppressing turnout of would-be Biden voters who care deeply about the issue more broadly, especially among the young, and by…

Excellent column by camilla cavendish on the missing princess and what it reveals about the UK's royal bargain: ft.com/content/f38327…

This is an important angle on the Post Office story which also shows how easily one voice can be drowned out in government.

Aw shucks - thank you

Public inquiries are one of Britain’s only growth industries.

The Covid inquiry is just the latest example of a gravy train for lawyers which may not serve either victims or taxpayers well.

My latest ⁦Financial Times⁩
on.ft.com/47Lhhnl

“Houmous not hate” was best poster I saw on today’s march against antisemitism. A heartwarming afternoon

This chart from @frasernelson shows just how hard it will be to curb welfare costs

NI cut from January means Tories are still clinging to the possibility of going in May. Will all depends on how the polls look in March.

camilla cavendish observation highlights a critical concern – the pressing need for effective regulation in various domains, including #AI . It's a reminder that we face complex challenges in ensuring the safety and responsible use of technology.

Amidst all the outrage, good questions

Watching the Covid inquiry this week, having worked in government, I fear the focus on lurid revelations is preventing more important questions being asked.

Clues in Dominic Cummings statement need airing. Financial Times⁩ Dominic Cummings⁩ #covidinquiry on.ft.com/3SsvjFB

Great piece camilla cavendish highlighting importance of Covid enquiry & raising fundamental 🎯 question ‘Does he really imagine that today’s bloated cabinets of almost 30 people are anything more than a Potemkin structure?” Leadership matters Financial Times
on.ft.com/40soOom

Thank you for watching!

Looking forward to being on BBC Question Time with Board of Deputies President Jeremy Quin MP Mustafa Suleyman and Nick Thomas-Symonds MP

Boris Johnson did not believe Covid-19 was a “big deal” in March 2020 and thought “his main danger [was] talking [the] economy into a slump”, according to WhatsApp messages sent by Lee Cain, the ex-UK prime minister’s former communications chief. ft.com/content/de6c2c…

A humane, historical must read on Israel-Palestine and the pitfalls of ideology by S Sebag Montefiore

Why ⁦Keir Starmer⁩ is right to hold firm against a ceasefire in Gaza: my latest ⁦FT Weekend⁩ on.ft.com/3s9iTaY