What did you think of the play? I was thinking of going to see that myself.

Exactly. They have made a political choice to raise the taxes most damaging to the economy: those that impose costs on job creation. Not a policy compatible with delivering growth. That was their choice. Nobody […]

The biggest problem with the current government is they believe you can tax your way to growth. I forget who it was described Starmer as an “AI generated geography supply teacher”, but it’s pretty much spot on.

Anybody else remember that tremendously grumpy woman in the Terrapin Trucking Company in Crouch End? I was in love.

Wear your poppy with pride. I always do.

The vinyl edition of Chuck Prophet’s Bobby Fuller Died For Your Sins came with an eponymous badge that never ceases to cause bewilderment whenever I wear it.

I have a Slapp Happy T-shirt. It covers the bruises.

The comments about loudness reminded me that Chris Stamey was in Bob Mould’s band for his first solo tour. He quit after a couple of gigs, telling Mould: “I’ve already lost one ear to Alex Chilton; I’m not losing […]

A close friend of mine’s dad also worked on Blue Streak; and Blue Steel. In his retirement, he and some of his former colleagues were approached by the Americans at the time of Reagan’s “Star Wars” missile defence […]

It killed more German pilots than it ever did Allied ones.

You can’t change the laws of physics, Dai. When it comes to maximum specific impulse, it’s hard to beat LOX/LH2; unless you want to use fluorine in place of oxygen and I think it’s all quite dangerous enough as it is!

Have a look at a list of all the singles His Bobness has released: Turn that into a playlist. Job done.

My dad worked at Pilks for a while. I’m from Ashton-in-Makerfield, a south Lancashire mining town. None of you have ever heard of it and with good reason. Cheer up TL, at least it’s not Skelmersdale.

I was gutted when lockdown cancelled the tour to support this album.

@niallb Remember what I said about zinc supplements — they may help reduce nausea. Ask your consultant about it.

I believe Starmer has today tried to blame the security services for failing to vet Mandelson’s appointment thoroughly. That’s after admitting in Parliament yesterday that the briefings from the security services […]

Not quite true. The government asked councils in 63 areas whether or not they would like to cancel elections in May. “As a turkey, would you like to vote for Christmas?”

I’d be surprised if he makes it as far as the May local elections (the one’s he hasn’t cancelled); if he does, he’ll definitely be toast when those results come in. Oh, and don’t forget the Gorton and Denton […]

Donald Tusk has accused Mandelson of being a Russian agent. I’m sure the latter will take legal action if not true…

Sleazy, but not actual treachery.