Tristan Grayford

A bunch of 20-somethings whose entire current existence is spent on twitter and childhoods on reddit/chan boards

I think that love of conformity and limited world view also fit into my theory - they're comfort for someone who is actually a very small and scared man.

I think this theory explains everything from the Mandelson debacle, to the staying power of Sweeney, to the lack of central purpose or direction of his Government, to his incredibly maliable policy and value positions.

It's my universal Starmer theory.

So that key belief - I think the "forensic Keir Starmer" line was a PR invention both to play on his stoic public image (which is actually the look of a deer in headlights) and to cover up that the lack of this ability is actually his biggest weakness.

He outsources the responsibility of decision making to people who he has decided to trust.

A decision so absolute, to protect that outsourced responsibility, that he is obsessively loyal to those chosen to trust (a decision process he is also bad at).

He then clings to that advice like a safety blanket, avoiding having to make the decision himself and outsourcing it competely.

It's why he always U-turns too late. It's why he isn't a check on the worst instincts of anyone around him.

Everything about Starmer so far leads me to one key belief about him.

The very opposite of a forensic mind, I think he's panicked by high stress and simply chooses the path of least resistance, generally to agree with any trusted advisor or minister currently speaking to him.

Ed Davey joining the culture war on the side of pub da's

We've never gotten enough power from the panels for batteries to make sense but we live a lot further north.

Also planning on a heat pump down the line.

I know you're absolutely going to Hobbiton but go to Hobbiton.

Also go to Nin's Bin for Crayfish. Careful of the seagulls.

Two very different recommendations from our trip.

Great news! The Devil is hiring an advocate and their first choice is you!

Reaching net zero by 2050 ‘cheaper for UK than one fossil fuel crisis’ Climate change committee finds move to renewable energy would also bring health, economic and security benefits

Our dependency on fossil fuels makes us vulnerable. Wars across the world are pushing up prices for households in the UK.

Why keep waiting for the next crisis? We need to transition to clean power as fast as we can to protect people and our economy.

www.theguardian.com/environment/...

A special prize to anyone who protests about animals on banknotes *WHILE USING AN ANIMAL TO REPRESENT THE MYTHICAL GREATNESS OF THE NATIONAL CHARACTER*

Vape shops need to be licensed and better controlled.

This #NoSmokingDay I’m calling for more action to tackle vaping.

@scottishgreens.org have been clear when it comes to vapes.

The Scottish Government must introduce a robust licensing scheme!

Trump calling Khamenei II a “lightweight” is another display of how he isn't actually very good at insults and he's just a school bully with limited imagination

everyone has to wear the emperor's new clothes that's the rule

NHS Lothian Sick Kids dept. are like no one else.

Between them and the maternity department I don't think I've ever seen such empathetic and effective healthcare.

Legends simply doing fantastic work.

NEW - Mandelson was offered a "higher tiers" briefing on January 6, before his developed vetting was confirmed on January 29, emails appear to show.

This mean he was offered highly classified briefing from the FCDO as US ambassador before he finished the formal vetting process

I can on this case specifically

Good.

Long past time the Union movement as a whole ended the illusion that the Labour Party is an extension of their movement and that there are no other equivalent or better party vehicles for workers' rights.

💥This is significant: Peter Mandelson was offered a highly classified security briefing *before* the formal vetting process was completed. Good spot from @jessicaelgot.bsky.social

What is London’s al-Quds Day march and why has the event been banned? Annual demonstration in support of Palestinian rights especially sensitive in light of US-Israel war on Iran

40 years of peaceful protest ended because Shabana Mahmood has an itchy trigger finger for authoritarianism and Starmer couldn't rein in a minister if they were openly gunning people down in Whitehall

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...

DPP loses appeal of the decision to throw out case against Kneecap’s Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh.

The DPP threw a lot at this appeal.

Cabs can still access via the radial and parallel roads which are petty close together

Evidence Grows That Google's AI Overviews Have Eviscerated the Media Industry Google's AI overviews have eviscerated the media landscape, with some top publications losing up to 97 percent of their web traffic.

Welp. The internet had a nice run.

Some outlets have lost over 90% of their traffic since the "AI" summaries rolled out.

"...the four worst-hit publications [now] get less monthly web traffic combined than the r/ChatGPT subreddit gets on its own."

A big reason that the war will continue dividing the Trump coalition is that MAGA's weird "Western civilizational emergency" rhetoric is like white noise to most ordinary people. You see this on both the Iran war and immigration. 5/

(Commenting on Douthat's latest)

newrepublic.com/article/2076...

Trump's invasion is the most unpopular war in modern US history. That matters. It shows the public is not reflexively pro war even at moments of intense propaganda bombardment.

It's really tanking with groups Trump made inroads among. Look at the numbers below! 2/

newrepublic.com/article/2076...

Shabana Mahmood MP ~ @ShabanaMahmood X.com I have approved the Metropolitan Police's request to ban the Al Quds march. I am satisfied doing so is necessary to prevent serious public disorder, due to the scale of the protest and multiple counter-protests, in the context of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Should a stationary demonstration proceed, the police will be able to apply strict conditions. I expect to see the full force of the law applied to anyone spreading hatred and division instead of exercising their right to peaceful protest.

Gentlemen, you can’t protest against the war here! There’s a war going on!

*Bretons

A culture that long had far closer ties to the Welsh than the French

*2014