122 Responses to Start the Week / End the Year 29th December 2025

  1. Guest Who says:

    https://x.com/snagrope/status/2005766903864910324?s=61
    I didn’t even know the result, but the BBC this morning started with “it’s a match we didn’t need and no-one asked for” and I instantly knew the result.

       2 likes

  2. AsISeeIt says:

    “Restricting her from going online… is abuse…” (HM Government ‘Enough’ End Violence Against Women And Girls campaign)

    Social media ban for under-16s ‘on the table’ in UK… the technology secretary Peter Kyle has told the BBC. (BBC)

    Mixed messages there then.

    To misquote George Peppard in the A-Team : “I love it when a plan falls apart”

       4 likes

  3. The Mouse says:

    I wonder when the BBC described British-Egyptian activist Alaa Abd El Fattah will be given his new years honour?

    PS: I seem to recall many in the BBC had more than just suspicions about Jimmy Savile, Rolf Harris, Hew Edwards, etc, but said and did nothing.

    Never, ever trust the BBC.

       6 likes

  4. harry142857 says:

    New Years Honours

    Keir Starmer might have billed the New Year Honours as a celebration of the ‘best of Britain’.

    But you could be forgiven for mistaking some of the gongs as prizes for ‘services to Woke’, if not ‘services to the Labour Party’ – as rewards for failure have been handed out again.

    Honours have been granted to proponents of decidedly fashionable philosophies applauded largely by those to the Left of the political spectrum.

    The knighthood for the Chief Constable of West Yorkshire Police John Robins ‘for services to policing’ comes after, earlier this year, he was accused of discriminating against white Britons after it emerged his force was delaying job applications from such candidates – while ‘under-represented’ ethnic groups could launch bids to become constables all year round.

    Mr Robins denied ‘positive discrimination’, which is illegal, but is on record as saying ‘legislation should change’ so forces can recruit under-represented minorities.

    Among new damehoods is the former chief executive of NHS England, Amanda Pritchard – whose job came to an end early this year when the Government decided the health service would be improved by entirely abolishing the body she led.

    There is also an honour for the director-general of the National Trust, Hilary McGrady, for ‘services to heritage’, as she is made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire, or CBE.

    The Trust has been embroiled in a series of rows over ‘wokery’ since she took the helm in 2018, not least in October when it emerged that a vegan tampon dispenser had been placed in the male lavatories at Sizergh Castle in the Lake District.

    Another CBE goes to former chief executive of Girlguiding, Angela Salt, for her services to Brownies and Guides.

    Yet while the worldwide Girlguiding movement began in 1909 after Robert Baden-Powell’s first-ever Scout rally was gatecrashed by young women demanding ‘something for the girls’, Ms Salt’s six-year reign was marked by a controversial welcoming of trans girls.

    Many members were concerned that biological boys, and male leaders, were entering a previously all-female space.

    Only after Ms Salt’s departure from the organisation in June did Girlguiding announce earlier this month it would limit membership to ‘girls and young women’, in response to a Supreme Court ruling that biological sex is the key determinant of being a woman.

    Another OBE goes to former House of Commons clerk of legislation Colin Lee, ‘for services to Parliament’.

    Six years ago it was reported that he had been in ‘secret communication’ with Remainers plotting to suspend Britain’s departure from the EU by crafting unprecedented legislation.

    And the chief digital and information officer at HMRC, Daljit Rehal, who three years ago was cited as an example of civil servants being ‘rewarded for failure’ when granted a £40,000 bonus, regardless of delays to the promised digitisation of tax returns, is being made a Companion of the Order of the Bath.

    An OBE also goes to the former BBC chief content officer Charlotte Moore, who announced she was leaving her £475,000-a-year job in February.

    It came amid the fury over a Gaza documentary narrated by a Hamas boss’s son, though her departure was said not to be linked to that scandal.

       8 likes

    • Fedup2 says:

      Harry – I’ve echoed many times that to me the gongs are part of the severance package – whether it be totally useless NHS quangos or corrupt charities – all part of the deal to go quietly …those on the circuit must dream of the Big One – the Peerage – all those family pictures wearing the kit – bungs to become non executive board members …. Free club membership … for life … marvellous ..

         3 likes

  5. Flotsam says:

    British Identity and ethnicity is under debate, surely it’s whether the people under question are Muslims. Islam is aggressively anti Western, Jew, Christian, Hindu and indeed any other religion and I believe incompatible with British and Christian values.
    I will stress that not all Muslims are extremists but it would be true to say that many Muslim religious figures endorse separatism and terrorism. The Quran is completely clear regarding this.

       6 likes

  6. Althepalerp says:

    BBC Verify – no new story for 8 days now.

    BBC Verify, the BBC’s specialized team for in-depth fact-checking and forensic journalism, comprises around 60 journalists and experts, bringing together talent from existing teams like Data & Analysis, Reality Check, and the Disinformation teams to build audience trust through transparent verification.

       6 likes

    • Guest Who says:

      Clearly nothing that ‘needs verification’*

      Seems the BBC has an updated version of ‘not newsworthy’*

      *Pretend it is not there until things blow over.

         2 likes

  7. Fedup2 says:

    So what now for the Egyptian terrorist? He just missed the new year honours – but 2026 has gotta look bright for him . Does he keep working for 77 brigade ? Or get recruited by the Corbyn party or even become a TTK Spad ? Maybe a guest on ‘have I got …’ or that Irish queer talk show ?strictly ? His agent must be lining up mosque openings …?

       3 likes

  8. JonathanR says:

    To dilute Britishness? This could only be the reason

       3 likes

  9. Eddy Booth says:

    “Russia’s losses in Ukraine rise faster than ever as US pushes for peace deal”

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c62n922dnw7o

    Deep verify tier level analysis from the BBC on deaths…
    Somehow totally ignoring the exchange of fallen soldiers count.
    You could argue that Russia doing the advancing come into possession of the dead, so it’s skews the figures but still sloppy of the BBC experts to avoid it…

    Google search :

    “Most Recent Exchange (December 19, 2025): Russia returned 1,003 Ukrainian soldier remains, while Ukraine handed over 26 Russian soldier remains.
    The exchange was confirmed by Russian aide Vladimir Medinsky and Ukrainian authorities, with the Red Cross monitoring the process.

    In August, Russia handed over 1,000 Ukrainian bodies, receiving 19 Russian remains in return.

    In September, Russia returned 1,000 Ukrainian bodies, while Ukraine returned 24 Russian bodies.”

       1 likes

  10. tomo says:

       5 likes

  11. Fedup2 says:

    Once upon a time the office of PM carried a lot of Respect with it – irrespective of the post holder – but do you notice how devalued it has become …? Leading to a new ‘low’ with TTK personally endorsing an enemy and ‘getting him home ‘…?

    I suppose boris Johnson led the way – being a buffoon clown dolt able to charm voters but preside of destruction of country and party ….
    The challenge for TTK is take his office even lower – it won’t be the 3 remand pretty boys – that will be fixed – something else please ….

       5 likes

    • Guest Who says:

      One of my favourite movies is a RomCom called ‘Dave’, about a lookalike roped in as sub for scummy pol.

      A poignant moment is a tough, old school close protection officer, who was rigid in seeing the office not the man, saying to the fake: “I’d take a bullet for you”.

      Long ago I tried to imagine Ed as a squad leader rallying the troops over the top, and a not a one budging.

      Must be hard for any now not to contemplate the Vietnam option.

         0 likes

  12. tomo says:

    When are the Labour Party going to adjust the Union Jack?

       2 likes

  13. Fedup2 says:

    You know that when a story takes a long time to come out after the initial report you instinctively sniff ‘cover up ‘?( see Cardiff choirboy ) ….
    ….. well what about the Thetford shooting – where plod have killed a man armed with a handgun – unusual -eh – handgun …. No victim name yet ….

    The thing may be an annual Christmas domestic gone bad … but an unusual place for it …

       2 likes

    • atlas_shrugged says:

      The armed plod that shot ‘the criminal’ must be hoping like hell that he was not a Traveller.

      The last person that shot a criminal Traveller dead in Norfolk was prosecuted for murder. That was the innocent farmer Tony Martin who happened not to want his house burgled in the middle of the night by two travellers for the umpteenth time.

         3 likes

  14. tomo says:

    When you are confident your client media won’t report what you’re saying….

       1 likes

  15. Eddy Booth says:

    “Naan: How the ‘world’s best bread’ travelled from Islamic courts to our plates”
    Cherylann Mollan

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0mp7lr0nn4o

    “The naan tells a story of plurality; of cross-cultural identities co-existing in harmony,”

    f7387680-dfb6-11f0-95b0-35d25df8e999-jpg.webp

    Wonder if there’s going to be a similarily flowery written part 2 tomorrow :

    “How the world’s most disgustingly greasy, late night munchie boxes travelled from royal Islamic kebab shops to our tables”

    1767050095529978.jpg

       0 likes

  16. BRISSLES says:

    TORVILL & DEAN – why has it taken so long ? They’ve entertained and worked hard at their sport for over 50 years, giving a lot of joy to audiences ! Remained an unassuming couple and genuinely nice people – unlike certain brown nosed chavvy footballers.

    Can’t understand the knighthood of Elba – only famous for one tv series I think and being DJ at Harrys nuptials. but hey ho there’s a quota to be filled clearly .

       2 likes

  17. Althepalerp says:

    Rory Mcllory – no gong despite a great year of golfing.. .

    Punished for playing a round with Trump.

       0 likes

  18. harry142857 says:

    Bored at work !!!

    BBC to year end 2024.

    Staff costs – £1662 million
    Employees – 21918.

    That is £75,828 each, so average salaries north of £65k, this is absolute madness.

    Good news is they lost £132million, but have £11 billion in pension funds, presumably paid from licence payers over the years.

    Click to access bbc-annual-report-and-accounts-24-25.pdf

       0 likes

  19. tomo says:

    That’s the way to do it

       0 likes

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