Review of the Year 2024 It’s that time again…Time for the Review of the Year!   It has been a turbulent year around the world, with some startling changes of governments, but I hope that you had some personal highlights.  Selections from the blogs, as usual, for those of you who like to review the year…As […]

Categories: News

John Prescott (1938 – 2024) “I relied on him many times: when in difficulty, under attack; and less well known when I needed someone whose gut instinct I trusted better than my own.” ~ Tony Blair Deputy Prime Minister of the Blair years, John Prescott, died aged 86 this week, a year after being diagnosed […]

Categories: News · Obituary

Rachel Reeves “To every young woman and girl… to every young woman and girl watching this: let today show that there should be no ceilings on your ambitions, your hopes or your dreams.” ~ Rachel Reeves, July 2024 Two glass ceilings broken this week: the first female U.K. Chancellor Rachel Reeves delivered her first budget, […]

Categories: News

The Tory Leadership Contest Some of the candidates in the Tory Leadership Contest this week set out their stalls.  Priti Patel was eliminated, leaving 5 contenders.  Here is a snapshot of the candidates, starting with the front runner, Robert Jenryck. Robert Jenryck Robert Jenryck leads at the moment, with endorsement by 28 MPs, being 23% […]

Categories: News

Tim Walz A major poll has shown Kamala Harris now pulling ahead of Donald Trump in three key swing states.  Only two weeks ago, I was writing about Kamala Harris, now she has picked a running mate as prospective Vice President.  So I am looking at this new arrival on the scene, and updating the […]

Categories: News

Kamala Harris “There are some people who think we should be a country of chaos, of fear, of hate…We choose freedom” ~ Kamala Harris Last Sunday, Joe Biden finally resigned from the candidacy for the Democrat leadership, but vowed to stay on as President until after the election.  In regard to the Full Moon at […]

Categories: News

James Timpson “Thanks to everyone for their kind words about my appointment as the new government’s Prisons, Probation and Parole Minister. It’s a real privilege and I’m looking forward to improving the system for hard-working staff, turning more lives around and cutting crime.” ~ James Timpson This is my first blog in the new era […]

Categories: News

Wes Streeting “One Boy, Two Bills and a Fry Up” – Hodder & Stoughton 2023 This is a blog about the Shadow Health Secretary, who in a few weeks’ time may become the actual Health Secretary.  I was given his autobiography for Christmas, and recently got round to reading it.  It impressed me in various […]

Categories: Book Review · News

Diane Abbott – Part 2 “Reading his [Hester’s] remarks I was upset but not surprised.  This is partly because I am hardened to racist abuse  I receive hundreds of abusive emails, phone calls and  letters monthly, and the numbers shoot up whenever I am in the media.” ~ Diane Abbott, March 2024 This is the […]

Categories: News

Michael Gove In a week where Rishi Sunak called a surprise General Election (on the Sun/Pluto trine), there have been more Tory MPs announcing they are standing down.  None more prominent than Michael Gove, often regarded as an Architect of the Tory Party in the last 14 years, despite two unsuccessful leadership bids.  Regarded as […]

Categories: News