Jasper Jolly

Hello, I am writing about Zipcar again today for the Guardian. Would you be up for discussing your experience with me briefly? Please DM me if so

Now if you can show me that non-repayable money was received directly by another club such as Everton, and it was not accurately disclosed, that is a good story that I would write. But all the reference to grants I have seen in Everton's case refer to transport links, not money direct to the club

I'm afraid I don't think that's true. Those clubs may have benefited from government investment in nearby infrastructure, but those grants do not go to the club directly. Otherwise they would be disclosed as state aid. Wrexham has had special treatment, if the state aid data is accurate

It's about the conditions attached. Wrexham is getting the money via direct non-repayable grants. The records do not show anything like that for other clubs, so it appears Wrexham has had special treatment

I'm genuinely interested in this. Do you not see why every other club in Britain might think it's unfair?

A picture of Aston Martin senior independent director Nigel Boardman

The archetypal non-exec on Aston Martin's board:

Weakening of UK EV sales rules ‘likely to result in significantly more carbon emissions’ Analysis suggests there could be 500,000 additional plug-in hybrid electric cars on Britain’s roads by 2030

This is a crucial piece by @jasperjolly.bsky.social

In the wake of Trump tariffs, ministers looked at what policy they could act on immediately

But unfortunately these changes had little to do with tariffs but will now have real world emissions consequences 👇

www.theguardian.com/business/202...

Charlie, the leader of a white nationalist group, leaned over the sticky pub table. He pointed a big finger at me and locked eyes. “You better not turn out to be an infiltrator for Hope Not Hate,” he said. I froze. Flanked by several of his lieutenants, Charlie watched, waiting for my response. His face softened into a smile. He started laughing and yanked down his collar, pretending to talk into a hidden microphone. “Abort! Abort!” he shouted. I played along, lifting up my wrist like there was a wire stashed in my cuff. “Get me out of here!” I yelled into my sleeve. “They’ve discovered me!” Charlie was right to be suspicious of me. I was, in fact, an infiltrator for the anti-fascist organisation Hope Not Hate. The only thing he got wrong was the location of my microphone: it wasn’t in my collar but strapped to my chest.

Most reporters can only dream of getting a colour intro this strong...
www.theguardian.com/news/2025/ap...

Norfolk woman refuses to hand over 16th-century Italian painting identified as stolen Exclusive: Barbara De Dozsa’s husband bought Madonna and Child by Antonio Solario in 1973 after it was stolen from a museum

"He believes there is a moral argument for De Dozsa to return the painting – particularly as he has understood from her that she does not even like it enough to hang it on her walls."

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

James Harrison, blood donor, 1936-2025 The railway worker who found his mission and saved the lives of more than 2mn babies

A really lovely story:
www.ft.com/content/8e8f...

3. Miliband blamed for Ineos and PetroChina cutting jobs (announced in 2023)

UK-based British pharma GSK pauses diversity work citing Trump orders London-based FTSE 100 firm is reviewing its policies saying it is obliged to comply because US government is its No1 customer

Depressing story by @jasperjolly.bsky.social this -https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/feb/28/uk-based-british-pharma-gsk-pauses-diversity-work-citing-trump-orders

Late financier Evelyn de Rothschild accused of abuse during banking career Exclusive: Several women claim City grandee exploited his position to harass or sexually assault them in the 1990s One of the world’s most celebrated financiers, Sir Evelyn de Rothschild, has been accused of exploiting his position at the storied bank to…

Late financier Evelyn de Rothschild accused of abuse during banking career

2. Telegraph blames Miliband for BP and Shell merging (which is not happening)

Revealed: how Roman Abramovich dodged taxes on cost of running his fleet of superyachts Cyprus Confidential files suggest offshore scheme was used to evade tens of millions in VAT on long list of expenses

New: How Roman Abramovich's aides created an elaborate tax-dodging scheme to pretend his superyachts were being used for commercial purposes when in fact the billionaire was using them for pleasure. Experts say it could amount to illegal tax evasion.

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...

Two hundred UK companies sign up for permanent four-day working week More than 5,000 workers to benefit from reduced hours with no loss of pay

The latest update from the 4 Day Week Campaign: 200 companies have officially made it permanent. Huge interest in this from readers (and reporters!) www.theguardian.com/money/2025/j...

If they have dedicated parking I don't think it's a specific problem as I think they'll eventually be forced to install chargers. Otherwise they'll just be on street as well

We don't tend to add to articles after publication in that way. I don't come across battery replacement as a criticism of EVs very often either!

A thread I will update every time I see the Telegraph blame Ed Miliband for something.

1. BP cutting jobs - "Will those about to lose their livelihoods forgive the politicians whose eco-zealotry cost them their jobs?"

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/01...

Apparently weather causes delays and makes everything more difficult. Much easier if you can get stuff under a roof

Damn I was wondering if I needed to explain it. Built on site rather than prefab: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stick-b...

Labour’s net-zero push ‘hands power to Beijing’ Former MI6 chief and party’s own MPs warn of threat to security in ‘ideologically driven’ push to expand renewable energy

One of the worst criticisms of a policy is that it's "ideologically driven". Right, so you think that you are above ideology? This one is from the former head of MI6, of all people www.thetimes.com/uk/environme...

British AI startup with government ties is developing tech for military drones Exclusive: Concerns raised over role of Faculty AI, which has worked with NHS and government safety body

This is a pretty striking mix for one (very influential) company: AI safety and AI on military drones. Faculty AI has “experience developing and deploying AI models on to UAVs”, or unmanned aerial vehicles.
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...

Britain could be looking at a three-fold increase in demand for its steel from offshore wind…but only if it gets its incentives right

UK public electric car chargers rose by a third in 2024 to more than 70,000 Number hits record level but rate of growth slows as installers face delays to government funding

A sign of how quickly public electric car chargers are being installed in the UK: the increase in charger numbers in 2024 nearly matched the total ever installed by the end of 2020. (But there are some problems slowing the rollout)
www.theguardian.com/environment/...

New images show Brazil’s uncontacted people are thriving – but with success comes a new threat Under the government’s hands-off policy isolated community numbers are growing in Indigenous territories, as is the risk of ‘catastrophic’ contact

“The principle strategy for invaders and anyone with an interest in the lands where isolated peoples live is to deny they exist.”

Second of two, this one on the culture of the Massaco & also the importance of demarcating and protecting intact Indigenous lands.

www.theguardian.com/global-devel...

Exclusive: photographs reveal first glimpse of uncontacted Amazon community Automatic cameras in the Brazilian rainforest show images of the Massaco people, who are flourishing despite environmental threats

"These peoples have a right to live, to their land & chosen lifestyles, but respecting the rights of isolated Indigenous peoples is also fundamental to preserving tropical forests."

First of two fascinating pieces on uncontacted Amazon tribes & land preservation.
www.theguardian.com/global-devel...

Bank of England expected to leave interest rates on hold today; household water bills to rise 36% by 2030 – business live Regulator Ofwat rules that bills in England and Wales will increase by an average of £31 per year from 2025 to 2030

Feargal Sharkey calls for the end of privatisation of the British water industry
www.theguardian.com/business/liv...

Tbf given Blair's consultancy record since leaving office, it's probably the man himself