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Mark Carney (yes, that Mark Carney) opens as 6/5 favourite to replace Justin Trudeau as Liberal Party Leaderhttps://t.co/DIiC9EqRU8 pic.twitter.com/Kyli4i1kId — Ladbrokes Politics (@LadPolitics) January 7, 2025 My knowledge about Canadian politics is somewhat limited but I am not sure an ex banker, even an excellent one like Mark Carney, is best placed to win an election. Those more knowledgable about Canadian politics could proffer some value in this market. For puntastic potential I hope the Liberals choose François-Philippe Champagne. TSE

The screen grab above is from yesterday’s Sunday Times, like most of Starmer’s inner circle I think this is a bananas ideas for several reasons. Let us say that Badenoch proves to be a disappointment and is replaced, a new leader might experience a new leader bounce which would be sub-optimal for Labour’s chances. The memories of Gordon Brown & Theresa May and snaps elections (hyped but not held and not hyped but held) will also focus minds. Also, having…

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This is what I wrote in a header in July 2021 about the Online Safety Bill – now the Online Safety Act 2023. This introduces the novel and alarming principle that internet companies should have a “duty of care” to remove content which “may” cause “psychological harm”. Not will cause. Not content which is criminal. Not a “harm” which is clearly defined. But this vague catch-all which treats the public as little babies to be coddled rather than as sentient…

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Many years ago the late Charles Stallard, father of the current Bishop of Llandaff and much the wisest man I have ever known, said to me that while a loyal Liberal Democrat he would probably vote for any party that agreed to do nothing in education or health for ten years. His logic was that every time you meddle, you create work, waste time and lose money. It would be better to have a prolonged period of calm to allow…

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It pains me to have to write so many threads relating to Elon Musk but this is the world we live in but I don’t think this intervention from Elon Musk will damage Farage at all. Siding with Tommy Robinson would see Reform’s support at very low levels which is why Farage in his past parties has been wise to avoid ex BNP types from his parties. If Donald Trump also renounces Farage then that would also be a benefit…

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With all the demands for yet another inquiry, let’s look at the history of previous ones. Five days after the Aberfan tragedy, a Tribunal was set up. It sat for 76 days – the longest inquiry for its type until then and, as its report tartly observed: “much of the time …. could have been saved if …. the National Coal Board had not stubbornly resisted every attempt to lay the blame where it so clearly must rest – at…

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Picture – Matthaeus Loder – The Card Layer – Germanisches Nationalmuseum, Nuremberg Last year’s PB Predictions Competition proved to be somewhat like Winston Churchill: popular but very difficult.  In true Churchillian ‘never-say-die’ spirit we thought you might like to come back for more punishment. To enter you simply need to post your answers to the following 14 questions before the end of January 2025.  If you can put the word ‘competition’ in your post it will help me to collate…

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Given the dark history of the Royal Family when it comes to coups (King Edward VIII would have been installed as King if the Nazis had invaded and Lord Mountbatten (the current King’s mentor) was touted to become PM if a coup against Harold Wilson succeeded, or Queen Elizabeth II’s disgraceful role in the sacking of Gough Whitlam I can understand why Elon Musk has tweeted this. I do not expect King Charles III to heed Elon Musk’s advice as…

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