Mark Braund

Great set of photos. Kavus especially seemed so happy to be on stage playing those songs again.

Great night out in Brixton last night in the company of Cardiacs. I was a bit nervous going up on my own but I quickly ended up in a pub before the gig nattering with fellow Cardiacs fans, who are all a great bunch of people. Definitely my tribe. Tequilas may have been consumed.

A much better photo than the ones I managed to get. Cardiacs in Brixton last night. Gig of the year, and it's only March.

Brilliant night at the Electric Brixton last night. Cardiacs on stonking form with a set of new and old material. A lot of very happy people enjoying something we thought we'd never see again.

Cardiacs in Brixton tonight. Remarkable gig from an exceptional group of musicians. And all a bit emotional too. Tim would have loved it, I think.

Civilization on the Brink? Unless we find a way to take back control from the maniacal psychopaths currently running the world, we're in deep trouble.

New post from me prompted by ongoing events in Iran, and the likely consequences for a civilization that is already on rocky ground.

open.substack.com/pub/markbrau...

Anyone else bereft at the end of Call the Midwife? Sunday evenings in January and February will never be the same.

But what a way to end: brilliant writing, great stories, gentle but serious politics and some fine acting.

RIP Sister Monica Joan, a character of truly Dickensian proportions.

Cooper rejects Blair’s call for UK to have backed Trump’s strikes on Iran Foreign secretary hits back at former prime minister, saying Britain had to ‘learn the lessons’ of Iraq war

Surely it's time we packed Blair off to the US, where he can hang out with his mate Trump. And he can take Mandelson with him.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Whatever his shortcomings, Keir Starmer has far more in common with Churchill than Trump does with FDR.

A Hugh Grant / Billy Bob Thornton moment I feel.

When Donald Trump bombs, Keir Starmer obeys America wants regime change in Iran. Why is Britain following them into disaster again?

Excellent piece by James Schneider. The consequences of Trump’s attack on Iran will last for years, bringing greater instability, the immiseration of the lives of millions of people in the region, and further economic decline rich and poor countries alike.

www.newstatesman.com/world/middle...

If Ted Sarandos has anything about him, this could be a turning point. If he capitulates, he'll lose at least one subscriber.

Mandelson accuses police of arresting him over ‘baseless’ claims he planned to flee abroad Former Labour grandee’s arrest over his links to Epstein came after Met police informed he was preparing to fly to British Virgin Islands

I would be inclined to believe most people who have a complaint against the police, but Peter Mandelson, err no.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...

Engaging the Disengaged Decent people everywhere have given up on politics, and that's a disaster

My latest substack post argues that more people need to vote if we're going to save democracy.
markbraund.substack.com/p/engaging-t...

Rawls Reversed We can't allow those who vote in ignorance to destroy civilisation

A new post from me today, this one published at Bearly Politics. Thank you @bearlypolitics.co.uk.

In it I examine the work of the American philosopher John Rawls and its relevance for the world today.

www.bearlypolitics.co.uk/p/rawls-reve...

And, of course, he's never known it, which is part of the reason he's currently shitting on the entire world.

Having said that, gazillions of people survive such neglect without becoming criminal narcissists bent on destroying civilization.

Echo in the Field

It was a privilege to be at @cafeotodalston.bsky.social last night for the launch of Kelly Moran's new album, Don't Trust Mirrors. She is a remarkable pianist and performer.

She opened with this stunning track, Echo in the Field. Eat your heart out, Nils Frahm.

open.spotify.com/track/508XAH...

And it was a brilliant show. Kelly is an exceptional pianist, an original composer and a brilliant performer. The Sakamoto with Lucina to close was sublime.

The Mandelson Scandal is about Wall Street Power and Political Deviance Epstein the paedophile is a sub-plot.

Epstein is the sub- plot... My post. open.substack.com/pub/annpetti...

I have never seen anger like this on the Labour benches in private and in public. This is the kind of territory where things can move very fast.

Jeffrey Bezos is destroying the Washington Post for the same reason Musk destroyed Twitter and Ellison is destroying CBS—oligarchs oppose the free press when if it threatens their wealth and power.

They don’t want normal people to see what is happening in America.

Adding to Starmer’s woes and questions about his judgement, the entire basis for his decision to proscribe Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation has just collapsed. The proscription order should be rescinded at once and the Government should apologise for abusing anti-terror laws.

Time for a New Economic Paradigm Britain's budget reminds us just how powerless politicians have become

Time for a New Economic Paradigm

open.substack.com/pub/markbrau...

Get out of Greenland mode and stand up for yourself, Zelenskyy tells Europe Ukraine president accuses EU leaders of waiting for direction from Donald Trump in blistering speech at Davos

Just make Zelenskyy President of the World and be done with it.
www.theguardian.com/world/2026/j...

Hans Herrmann obituary Grand prix driver who survived spectacular crashes and was victorious at endurance races including Le Mans and Daytona

I’m not sure it would be possible today for anyone to live a life as remarkable as that lived by Hans Hermann. What a story. And a great obituary by Richard Williams.

www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/j...

Surely the economic chickens will come home to roost before the next Presidential election. Oh, assuming there is one.

ActionAid to rethink child sponsorship as part of plan to ‘decolonise’ its work Development charity’s new co-chairs signal shift from controversial sponsor a child scheme launched in 1972 to long-term grassroots funding

We were talking about this more than 30 years ago when I was working in development in Mozambique.

Several NGOs had already stopped 'sponsor a child' schemes even then.

The wheels turn very slowly sometimes.

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

The People have the Power But we can't rely on democracy to protect our freedoms

My latest Substack post, inspired by the words of the great @pattismithh.bsky.social.
markbraund.substack.com/p/the-people...

Peter Mandelson apologises for Epstein association in sudden U-turn Former ambassador to US had earlier declined to give apology for keeping in touch with sex offender after his conviction

For someone who was supposed to be a PR expert, Mandelson seems to be about as self aware as the Andrew formerly known as Prince.

www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Marina Purkiss (@marinapurkiss) No sleep last night… Can’t get that video out of my head Can believe the lies being told to betray her even in death Can’t believe the mindless lemmings that swallow them up America is lost.

All you need to know about yesterday's extra-judicial killing of an innocent American woman by US government agents, courtesy of the estimable @marina-purkiss.bsky.social on the @jeremyvine.bsky.social show.

As Marina says, America is lost.

substack.com/@marinapurki...

Mandelson accuses European leaders of ‘histrionic’ reaction to Trump’s Greenland stance Article by former British ambassador to US is likely to be seen as criticism of Keir Starmer

Mandelson was always teetering, but he's now clearly gone over to the dark side.

And why is @theguardian.com giving him coverage?

Oh I forgot, that the whole point now. Only the words of liars, sycophants, extremists and appeasers are worth reporting.

www.theguardian.com/politics/202...