235 Responses to Start the Week 20th July 2026

  1. Fedup2 says:

    From Guido – for the record

    Stephen Kinnock MP as Secretary of State for Wales.
    Sir Chris Bryant MP as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.
    Rt Hon Ellie Reeves KC MP as Attorney General. She will attend Cabinet.
    Rt Hon Emma Reynolds MP as Chief Secretary to the Treasury. She will attend Cabinet.
    Kanishka Narayan MP as Minister of State (Minister for Artificial Intelligence) jointly in the Cabinet Office and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. He will attend Cabinet.
    Hamish Falconer MP as Minister of State (Minister for Intergovernmental Relations and European Relations) jointly in the Cabinet Office and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. He will attend Cabinet.
    Rt Hon Heidi Alexander MP will remain as Secretary of State for Transport.
    Rt Hon Douglas Alexander MP will remain as Secretary of State for Scotland.
    Rt Hon Sir Alan Campbell MP will remain as Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons.
    Rt Hon Baroness Smith of Basildon will remain as Lord Privy Seal and Leader of the House of Lords.
    Matthew Pennycook MP will remain as Minister of State in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. He will attend Cabinet.
    Alex Norris as Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice
    Angela Eagle as Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
    Miatta Fahnbulleh as Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero
    Wes Streeting gets defence.
    Lisa Nandy stays at DCMS.
    Yvette Cooper gets Health.
    Angela Rayner MP as Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government
    Jonathan Reynolds MP as Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade
    Lucy Powell MP as Secretary of State for Education
    Anneliese Midgley MP as Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury (Chief Whip). She will be a member of Cabinet
    Bridget Phillipson demoted to Women & Equalities
    Louise Haigh appointed First Secretary of State, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office.
    Ed Miliband appointed Foreign Secretary.
    John Healey appointed Chancellor.
    Nick Thomas Symonds out of government.
    Jenny Chapman and Hilary Benn are out as well.
    Miliband, Mahmood, and Healey in No10 now.
    Darren Jones also sacked as Chief Secretary to the PM.
    Jo Stevens out as Wales Secretary.
    Liz Kendall out as Technology Secretary.

    …. Bryant at Northern Ireland – and streeting at Defence ? Should impress the queers …

       4 likes

    • Guest Who says:

      And another forensic on brief solicitor is back to duel with the BBC’s finest interrogation squad on @rse vs. elbow issues.

      https://fb.watch/IuWOSfJH3H/?

         2 likes

    • MarkyMark says:

      ChatGPT….

      Cabinet member Role Business / private-sector experience

      John Healey Chancellor
      Minimal. Career politician. Worked for the Trades Union Congress (TUC) and campaigning organisations before entering Parliament in 1997. No significant commercial executive experience.

      Shabana Mahmood Home Secretary
      Legal profession. Qualified barrister specialising in professional negligence and commercial law before becoming an MP. Strong professional services
      background but not corporate management.

      Ed Miliband Foreign Secretary
      Very limited. Academic and political adviser. Worked as an economist and Treasury adviser rather than in business.

      Yvette Cooper Health Secretary Limited.
      Worked as an economic journalist at The Independent and researcher before politics. No senior commercial management experience.

      Wes Streeting Defence Secretary
      Some charity/sector experience. Worked for the National Union of Students and in public affairs. No major private-sector executive career.

      Jonathan Reynolds Business Secretary
      Most substantial business background in cabinet. Solicitor specialising in corporate/commercial law before Parliament. Has also built strong relationships with UK industry during previous time as Business Secretary.

      Miatta Fahnbulleh Energy Secretary
      Think tank and economic policy. Former Chief Executive of the New Economics Foundation. Public policy and non-profit leadership rather than private business.

      Angela Rayner Housing Secretary
      None in corporate sector. Former care worker and UNISON trade union representative.

      Louise Haigh First Secretary of State / Cabinet Office
      Financial services. Worked for Aviva in fraud investigation before politics, alongside union work.

      Question “Can you list Andrew Burnham’s cabinet and list their business experience please?”

         4 likes

    • Fedup2 says:

      Note ‘Hamish falconer ‘ – son of the Blair friend … nice to keep it in the family – never had a real job – like the rest …

         1 likes

  2. MarkyMark says:

    “Why Nothing Changed After the Culture War | Eric Weinstein [ARC 2026]”
    Alliance for Responsible Citizenship and Eric Weinstein

       3 likes

  3. Althepalerp says:

    The original work phone Louise Haigh reported stolen was a BlackBerry. According to official court documents from her conviction, her employer, Aviva, issued her a new Apple iPhone 5 as its replacement. The fraud charge specifically noted that the false report resulted in her receiving the upgraded iPhone

       5 likes

  4. vlad says:

    The REAL plot against Ann Widdecombe and the BOGUS plot against an Islamic gathering… it all gets stranger and stranger. Distraction? Diversion?

       4 likes

  5. Thatcherrevolutionary says:

    Last time we had a Chancellor called Healy we ended up with an IMF bailout.

    ‘Bodybags’ seems a strange nickname.

    I prefer ‘Andy Bumhole’

       4 likes

  6. Philip_2 says:

    Switching off (the BBC)

    The TaxPayers’ Alliance calling out the licence fee is hardly breaking news. It’s been six years since we launched our Axe the Tax campaign, calling for the outdated licence fee to be abolished. While the telly tax remains, Aunty’s annual report released this week had some eye-opening figures. 

    Half a million fewer people shelled out for a tv licence last year, meaning the number of people paying for the Beeb is now at its lowest level since 1999. Despite the fall in licence fee payers, the BBC still raked in a whopping £3.88 billion from it, up £36 million on the previous year, thanks to the licence now costing £180 a year.

    PIC
    de4bf706a494478d8aa4cb0d73a42931.png

    This perhaps explains why they felt able to pay yet more enormous salaries to their so-called ‘top talent’. While households were switching off from our scandal-hit state broadcaster, BBC stars will have been popping the champagne corks. Scott Mills, the former Radio 2 host who was dismissed earlier this year, topped the table taking home between £745,000 and £749,999. Greg Mills, another DJ came in second getting between £440,000 and £444,999, while Stephen Nolan, a presenter on Northern Irish radio rounded out the top three with between £425,000 and £429,999. Naturally John O’Connell was more than happy to speak up for hard working Brits, telling the Telegraph: “Failing public trust, repeated scandals and six-figure salaries for star presenters make it harder than ever to justify this outdated and hated TV tax.”

    To make matters worse, rather than face up to the fact people are switching off the BBC due to bias or poor content, there are now calls to force people using streaming services to cough up for the licence fee too. John was bang on when he told Mail readers “Forcing streaming service subscribers to pay the licence fee would be an outrageous expansion of an already deeply unpopular tax” while telling the Sun it was “one of the most bonkers ideas ever concocted.”

    VIDEO GB News

    Before long, William Yarwood popped up in the GB News studio, speaking with Jacob Rees-Mogg and he certainly didn’t mince his words: “I think if the BBC wants to prove itself as a proper broadcaster for the modern age, it should move away from the licence fee, towards a subscription model and act in the same way as many of the streaming services do… politicians in parliament could do this quite quickly but the issue is there is no courage or will to do so.”

    It’s high time the anachronistic licence fee was consigned to the dust bin of history where it belongs. You can check out our full proposals for abolishing the TV tax here.
    https://taxpayersalliance.com/switching-off-bbc-and-channel-4/?ref=weekly-bulletin-newsletter

    My Comment:
    But we all know we have been here before. As long as Lisa Nandy Minister for Culture & Sports who is about to consider to award the BBC another five years BBC Charter and yet another ‘approval’ for a TV license increase, they may decide to TAX ‘other’ online broadcasters through a new bill claiming the BBC is ‘The Most Trusted News Broadcaster’ and must be placed at the top of any Google Search/ Social Media and feature prominatly on YouTube with an alert to pay your TV License (use hidden tracking on your mobile phone and web page). This is the GREEN paper to BOOST BBC ratings…
    https://www.gov.uk/government/news/plans-for-prominence-of-trusted-news-sources-on-social-media-alongside-measures-to-reform-public-service-media-in-the-uk

    This sadly appears to be the future of the BBC. An EAST GERMAN copycat state News channel.
    Even if the TV license disappears, it will be put on local taxation and ‘other broadcasters’ via a new social media tax proposed in the GREEN paper.

    AXE THE TAX Campaign continues: We shall win, but this new governemnt has James Purnell advising Andy Burnham on MEDIA management and STRATEGY!! He left the BBC to heada Media company As you do as a ex Labour MP.
    https://everything.explained.today/%5C/James_Purnell/

       7 likes

  7. vlad says:

    Just another day in Clown World…

    743336977_2219679565240803_7263576984547909868_n.png?stp=dst-jpg_tt6&cstp=mx929x1079&ctp=s590x590&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=833d8c&_nc_ohc=8jiG7z2gzycQ7kNvwGoCju2&_nc_oc=Adp2mApVC1VVqyI3vaaVhXSfzxq-JYWv46YBwXXgwmpVqGjFnw1JzFvCPefIXMex_fs&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent.flhr10-2.fna&_nc_gid=z3lbenmc38gztywGpeK9ww&_nc_ss=7b2a8&oh=00_AQC-ebctXkCG4MLhrIt-czmxfrJraxGtmuOTXyuY-kW9WA&oe=6A65151E

       5 likes

  8. MarkyMark says:

    “Cabinet Office Permanent Secretary Cat Little has told staff this morning that the Digital ID policy isn’t totally dead after all. Instead, it lives on within DCMS. She even apologised for the confusion given the briefings to the opposite effect. Not to mention the fact that Burnham’s spokesman said over the weekend that the “time and resource that was going to be spent on a national ID scheme will go instead to where it’s most needed, such as helping with the cost of living“. The cracks already appearing. Darren Jones is having a fantastic 24 hours post-sacking…”

    https://order-order.com/2026/07/21/cabinet-office-chief-claims-digital-id-policy-not-dead-after-all/

    She even apologised for the confusion given the briefings to the opposite effect. = being found out.

       1 likes

  9. Sluff says:

    OMG.
    Not BBC.
    I watched a bit of Peston on ITV. Dawn Butler was on.
    She is the natural successor to Dianne Abbott.
    A race-baiting black Labour MP with a slow speech delivery reeking of brain cell deficiency.
    With ‘talent’ like that in the House of Commons, not to mention the likes of ginger Ange, no wonder they had to choose an outsider to take over from TTK.

       5 likes

  10. MarkyMark says:

    “Fake (AFFORABLE) kits worth £18m seized by police during World Cup”
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c0rdgrkx552o
    One raid involved 1,618 fake strips being taken from a warehouse in Birmingham, including replicas of star players such as France’s Kylian Mbappe and Norway’s Erling Haaland.

    Birmingham, City of UK Culture.

       1 likes

  11. MarkyMark says:

    Statement: Signature of the UK-EU Treaty in respect of Gibraltar
    Statement: Local government reorganisation
    Oral questions: Visitor levy on the cost of domestic travel and holidays in the UK

    Lord Sharpe of Epsom (Conservative)
    https://www.parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/020de255-0eb7-4d66-bf70-096b7c925cd8

       1 likes

  12. Fedup2 says:

    Ok anorak time …. I’ve just realised – that ‘Dan Jarvis ‘ who soiled himself and his military experience – has been fired from the Dee fence – and replaced with little … streeting ….

    Poor Dan . Only in office for a month ? Working for TTK and for ever tarnished …. lol

       3 likes

    • MarkyMark says:

      If we sell our defence to China we can spend the money on the NHS?

      images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSsRpUj7vjmZa8NQIs9dMdJkzwP_Dp3WV_81pJxDurrRN4RWui33s8uTu4s&s=10

         2 likes

      • digg says:

        I have often wondered what exactly persuaded Corbyn to put his support behind one of the most bloodthirsty, West-hating, misogenistic, barbaric races to inhabit the planet, maybe he just likes wearing a tea-towel round his neck?

           1 likes

  13. Fedup2 says:

    The mail is continuing to discuss the BBC advert on the BBC during the World Cup … and raises the cost – as well as the mindset of the BBC type who thought it was a good idea .

    Those appearing were paid – apparently …

    Then genuinely believe that people care enough about it to continue being forced to pay for it …

       5 likes

    • MarkyMark says:

      What did the BBC do for my? Pay me tax payers money! HA HHA HAH AHA AH HA!

      Gender Disproportion: Approximately 73% of all TV licence prosecutions are taken against women.

      HA H AHA!
      GENDER TV LICENCE NOT PAID GAP!
      HA HA AHA HAH AHAH!

         1 likes

  14. andyjsnape says:

    Starmer ally takes swipe at Burnham’s first big policy, reports the bbc and goes onto say

    “Whenever there is a reshuffle at the top of government, it is worth keeping an eye and an ear on the dislodged, demoted and rejected former ministers”

    There’s me thinking the bbc has just nearly slandered someone

    biased?

       2 likes

  15. Fedup2 says:

    There’s a ‘thing ‘ about the 5% vat cut – if I recall it was introduced by one John major in that famous ‘lie’ – when he said in PMQs that ‘there are no plans to introduce vat on fuel at the Moment ‘ which tarnished any trust in him ….

    The daily charge is more important … and that’s green crap

       3 likes

  16. MarkyMark says:

    Live from Downing Street as Burnham hosts first cabinet meeting

    N87NZmrHTk4lBXP0hGZ6KD62aVY1tYng9HLIu6Us.jpg

       1 likes

  17. Fedup2 says:

    Darren jones – a Starmer clone who was fired yesterday – has already started attacks on bodybags – with an accusation that the vat cut is ‘unfunded ‘ – it is – of course – because all government spending is unfunded because we are in debt …

    The vat cut will be neutralised by increased fuel costs in October ….just in time for winter …

       5 likes

  18. tomo says:

    Labour family dynasties refer to multi-generational or sibling political families in the UK Labour Party, where relatives (parents/children, siblings, spouses) have held prominent roles as MPs, ministers, or party figures.

       1 likes

  19. digg says:

    Cause of Ann Widdecimes death not yet established report the BBC…

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cq89q0yyqz4o

    Can’t be that the powers that be might deduce she tripped over the cat and landed heavily just as the suspect pulled over outside her house to check his tyre pressures or something?

       2 likes

  20. Fedup2 says:

    Cover up continues – bet he pleads guilty or prosecution offers no evidence to conceal the truth …. In 2028 ….

       0 likes

  21. Flotsam says:

    On an earlier thread I was critical of Burham’s rogue’sgallery of newly appointed Ministers. Specifically very critical of Louise Haigh’s appointment:

    “Louise Haigh, who has a grubby insurance fraud conviction, probably the worst offender of the bunch. Something very low and deliberate about making a false insurance claim, not a spur of the moment error, A drink driving conviction would be more acceptable in my opinion.”

    A forum contributor, ‘G’ took issue with this in the following terms:

    ‘”I know very little of Louise Haigh but her conviction was > 10years ago and for the record, the 10 probably exceeds the 7 required by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. The length of time is relative to the level of offence she was guilty of.

    Just sayin.”

    To my mind the elapsed time is irrelevant, we have a window into the character of Louise, she might (or might not) be a totally reformed person but we are talking about her being appointed to an important office of State. We have to view her and this appointment in the context of the other defective appointments that this dishonest and corrupt Goverment is making. We are paying the price for this farrago.

       2 likes

    • Fedup2 says:

      If she had an honour she’d have withdrawn from political life . I know my sense of honour is a bit on the high side for 2026 …that applies to any politician subject to the legal process it is their job to draught….

         0 likes

  22. tomo says:

    Excellent from Francis Foster and Dominic Frisbee

    The UK is channeling Venezuela.

    It’s all well and good burying gold in the garden – but last time I looked it wouldn’t actually buy any food or fuel…. Our societies depend on people being rational and respecting the infrastructure we have – currency has to function and retain value, it’s the responsibility of those we elect to govern / serve to ensure things like that work. I’ve been to Venezuela a number of times and seen destitution and desperation on a scale that most Brits can perhaps imagine – but seeing people in rags and hungry with their lives obviously disintegrating around them is sobering in the extreme. The whispering thing … yes… seen that – but the light only went on with the context described here. 20-25% of Venezuela’s population now live abroad – that would be ca. 17 million leaving the UK. I wish people would think about it in those terms…

    Venezuela’s dystopian descent into penury and chaos was facilitated by ideologically driven ignorant larcenous goons (bandits even!)- that’s what we’ve got underway in the UK. I hope we don’t get to do the full Venezuelan thing.

       0 likes

  23. MarkyMark says:

    “Ann Widdecombe died after being hit on the head with a hammer 21 times at her Devon home as she ate lunch, prosecutors have told Westminster Magistrates’ Court.”
    21 July 2026, 14:25 BST | Updated 35 minutes ago

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cj03r77n07jo

    28bd8a30-850f-11f1-a08a-6d526d664753.jpg.webp

       0 likes

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