Mmm. The ECB probably had little choice but to impose a sanction in all the circumstances. But it sticks in the craw somewhat to see Stokes, who has apparently repeatedly turned down the IPL shilling, dropped, […]

I never took to Bob on SOTS. It might have been an illusion, but I always felt that Johnny Walker had a genuine interest in a very wide range of 70s acts. This was reflected in the guest list. Bob’s preferences, […]

I suspect that if curated to appeal to his core support there would be more Country.

Tony Benn would , of course,have been happy to, being great friends with Powell.

You really wouldn’t buy a 20 cd set because you didn’t want the book ?!

I always felt that Tangerine Dream would have been vastly improved by the addition of a washboard player.

Doubtless, but still more punk in terms of attitude than most of the bands on the list.

Was ever thus. Yet I think Rattus and Black and White are tremendous albums. And howsabout this for a run of singles *( and B sides in 77/78) Get a) Grip (On Yourself)” “Peaches” “Go Buddy Go” “Something Better […]

Given the very broad interpretation, I was surprised to see that neither Sonic Youth nor Magazine troubled the scorers. And I would have included the Stranglers in place of the bulk of the UK bands.

Agreed

Re bond rates, it rather depends on your perspective. Current UK 10 year bond rates are 5.17%., higher than after the infamous Truss/ Kwarteng mini budget. That compares with, say, Greece 3.86, Portugal 3.45, […]

In truth, professional ( if they were) actors in a very small theatre shouldn’t need miking up.

House building ? Are you sure ?

Income Tax provides just over 25% of government income.

The Tories came a distant third. Streeting’s closest challenger was a Palestinian activist.

Or a PM whose majority at the last election was 528.

Central funding is an idea worth pursuing. I can see little merit in a National Care Service, given this and any other UK government’s record when it comes to running large operational bodies.

Increasing income tax won’t raise anything like enough for all the things you mention, unless it’s set at a level guaranteed to really have people running to the exit door. A 5% rise would raise circa £40bn p.a. […]

What’s been lacking in most of the noise is what any other potential leader would do differently, particularly in terms of achieving greater growth, without which anything else is pretty much impossible. In […]

It used to be similar at the Scala in King’s Cross. Early(ish) finish and swift turfing out to get the clubbers in.