I can’t imagine why JD Vance attended a performance of Petrushka, the story of a hapless Russian puppet. theguardian.com/world/2025/mar…

The disgrace of ACE thecritic.co.uk/the-disgrace-o…

End of an era… Thank you Petroc Trelawny for making so many mornings brighter on BBC Radio 3. Truly one of the greats & every show a masterclass in morning radio. A brilliant successor to look forward to in Tom McKinney. #R3Breakfast

Note to the Brontë Museum: he is a fictional character. telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/04/0…

It’s not often that Shrewsbury gets a mention in the national press - let alone the lead article in the The Spectator. The loss of the Shrewsbury Flower Show is a great shame, especially to those of us who live here.

A tiny amendment to the government’s Planning and Infrastructure Bill could save one of our most loved British birds: The Swift. It’s not clear why Ministers are resisting the “Swift Bricks” amendment. Even the Big House Builders support it.

It's such a simple positive step for nature – a £35 hollow brick in every new home for endangered cavity-nesting birds, especially marvellous swifts. Builders in favour too. All Labour MPs have to do is vote for a Labour MP's amendment to make it happen. theguardian.com/environment/20…

All the talk is that Leo XIV’s choice of name aligns him with Leo XIII, the socially conscious pope of the turn of the 19th century. But might he not be identifying himself with Leo I, the Great, who spoke truth to power, turning Attila the Hun back from invading Italy?

In the UK, 38% of our domestic waters are meant to be protected - but only 8% are protected from bottom trawling - the most destructive of fishing practices. Please watch & share this devastating clip from Sir David Attenborough’s OCEAN. The film also reveals a powerful truth:

Great to hear Catherine Ennis playing today’s play-lister. BBC Radio 3 What a fabulous organist she was.

Labour are backtracking on a plan to help save birds: by blocking a new rule that would make developers put a £35 nest brick in every new home. They think it'll help win them votes - we need to show it would do the opposite. Sign the petition 38d.gs/pa9y

I absolutely love this, Mary Bevan and 𝐍𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐲 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞! ❤️

From the BBC report, words of Judge Breyer on the legality or otherwise of President Trump deploying the National Guard in California. King George III and his loyal subjects in 1776 would be startled to hear that he was not a constitutional monarch with very limited powers.

Here’s the latest article about why swifts need help and how we can help them personally and politically theguardian.com/environment/20… Zac Goldsmith Patrick Barkham

26 nations are at last beginning to call a spade a spade, but words will have to be supported by our actions. Our descendants will look back with horror on the way in which the world has stood by and watched this genocide happening.

James Dornan SNP However, Police Scotland managed to apprehend a radical terrorist from the fundamentalist "Plasticine Action" ensuring the safety of some of our most vulnerable plasticine figures

This remains the very best performance of Leroy Anderson’s Type Writer - featuring the wonderful South African marimbist, Magdalena de Vries. BBC Radio 3 youtu.be/2uBq0UQHTsI?si…

"Donald Trump is arguably the most deplorable president in American history, who has brought shame on the U.S." We haven't invited Trump to the UK because anyone likes or respects him. It's because we're scared of what he might do, says historian and journalist Max Hastings.

Hard not to enjoy the #Rydercup. The Europeans like one another, laugh a lot, play beautiful golf. The Americans have a witless crowd, boring chants, no team spirit and offer nothing but just a bit of shouty jingoism.