Jack Blackburn
@hackblackburn.bsky.social
History Correspondent and Deputy Diary Editor for The Times
Reposted by Jack Blackburn
Conversation in Westminster tonight
“There was a point today when it looked like it was about to be over.”
“Well, it is over. They’ve just chosen a slow death.”
“There was a point today when it looked like it was about to be over.”
“Well, it is over. They’ve just chosen a slow death.”
February 9, 2026 at 10:28 PM
Conversation in Westminster tonight
“There was a point today when it looked like it was about to be over.”
“Well, it is over. They’ve just chosen a slow death.”
“There was a point today when it looked like it was about to be over.”
“Well, it is over. They’ve just chosen a slow death.”
Conversation in Westminster tonight
“There was a point today when it looked like it was about to be over.”
“Well, it is over. They’ve just chosen a slow death.”
“There was a point today when it looked like it was about to be over.”
“Well, it is over. They’ve just chosen a slow death.”
February 9, 2026 at 10:28 PM
Conversation in Westminster tonight
“There was a point today when it looked like it was about to be over.”
“Well, it is over. They’ve just chosen a slow death.”
“There was a point today when it looked like it was about to be over.”
“Well, it is over. They’ve just chosen a slow death.”
There was about seven years’ worth of news today
February 9, 2026 at 10:13 PM
There was about seven years’ worth of news today
Reposted by Jack Blackburn
Worst squanderings of a massive election victory*
1. Lord Palmerston (1858) 330 days after winning a majority of 100
2. Earl Grey (1834) 582 days after winning a majority of 224
3. Keir Starmer (????) - currently 584 days after winning a majority of 174
1. Lord Palmerston (1858) 330 days after winning a majority of 100
2. Earl Grey (1834) 582 days after winning a majority of 224
3. Keir Starmer (????) - currently 584 days after winning a majority of 174
February 9, 2026 at 3:47 PM
Worst squanderings of a massive election victory*
1. Lord Palmerston (1858) 330 days after winning a majority of 100
2. Earl Grey (1834) 582 days after winning a majority of 224
3. Keir Starmer (????) - currently 584 days after winning a majority of 174
1. Lord Palmerston (1858) 330 days after winning a majority of 100
2. Earl Grey (1834) 582 days after winning a majority of 224
3. Keir Starmer (????) - currently 584 days after winning a majority of 174
Reposted by Jack Blackburn
So there is precedent for someone to hold the fort during a leadership contest (if a PM decided to break with recent convention and leave before a permanent successor has been chosen).
What there isn’t precedent for is a “Give it to Big Sam til end of the season” arrangement.
What there isn’t precedent for is a “Give it to Big Sam til end of the season” arrangement.
February 9, 2026 at 12:13 PM
So there is precedent for someone to hold the fort during a leadership contest (if a PM decided to break with recent convention and leave before a permanent successor has been chosen).
What there isn’t precedent for is a “Give it to Big Sam til end of the season” arrangement.
What there isn’t precedent for is a “Give it to Big Sam til end of the season” arrangement.
Reposted by Jack Blackburn
The idea of an interim PM is a constitutional nonsense… almost.
The precedent comes from 1834 when Robert Peel was appointed but was in Italy at the time.
It took him three weeks to get back, so the post was held in the interim by the Duke of Wellington.
The precedent comes from 1834 when Robert Peel was appointed but was in Italy at the time.
It took him three weeks to get back, so the post was held in the interim by the Duke of Wellington.
February 9, 2026 at 12:13 PM
The idea of an interim PM is a constitutional nonsense… almost.
The precedent comes from 1834 when Robert Peel was appointed but was in Italy at the time.
It took him three weeks to get back, so the post was held in the interim by the Duke of Wellington.
The precedent comes from 1834 when Robert Peel was appointed but was in Italy at the time.
It took him three weeks to get back, so the post was held in the interim by the Duke of Wellington.
Worst squanderings of a massive election victory*
1. Lord Palmerston (1858) 330 days after winning a majority of 100
2. Earl Grey (1834) 582 days after winning a majority of 224
3. Keir Starmer (????) - currently 584 days after winning a majority of 174
1. Lord Palmerston (1858) 330 days after winning a majority of 100
2. Earl Grey (1834) 582 days after winning a majority of 224
3. Keir Starmer (????) - currently 584 days after winning a majority of 174
February 9, 2026 at 3:47 PM
Worst squanderings of a massive election victory*
1. Lord Palmerston (1858) 330 days after winning a majority of 100
2. Earl Grey (1834) 582 days after winning a majority of 224
3. Keir Starmer (????) - currently 584 days after winning a majority of 174
1. Lord Palmerston (1858) 330 days after winning a majority of 100
2. Earl Grey (1834) 582 days after winning a majority of 224
3. Keir Starmer (????) - currently 584 days after winning a majority of 174
Has Andy Burnham tweeted that he has full confidence in Keir Starmer yet?
February 9, 2026 at 3:47 PM
Has Andy Burnham tweeted that he has full confidence in Keir Starmer yet?
As a colleague said this morning, it all feels like the last days of Boris Johnson - a scandal has brewed amid long-term dissatisfaction. Just waiting for the touch paper to be lit.
Huge breaking news. Anas Sarwar is going to call for Sir Keir Starmer to quit. Emergency press conference at 2.30pm. Follow @heraldscotland.bsky.social live blog here www.heraldscotland.com/news/2583840...
Anas Sarwar to call for Keir Starmer to stand down as Prime Minister
Anas Sarwar is set to address reporters in Glasgow city centre this afternoon.
www.heraldscotland.com
February 9, 2026 at 1:34 PM
As a colleague said this morning, it all feels like the last days of Boris Johnson - a scandal has brewed amid long-term dissatisfaction. Just waiting for the touch paper to be lit.
The idea of an interim PM is a constitutional nonsense… almost.
The precedent comes from 1834 when Robert Peel was appointed but was in Italy at the time.
It took him three weeks to get back, so the post was held in the interim by the Duke of Wellington.
The precedent comes from 1834 when Robert Peel was appointed but was in Italy at the time.
It took him three weeks to get back, so the post was held in the interim by the Duke of Wellington.
February 9, 2026 at 12:13 PM
The idea of an interim PM is a constitutional nonsense… almost.
The precedent comes from 1834 when Robert Peel was appointed but was in Italy at the time.
It took him three weeks to get back, so the post was held in the interim by the Duke of Wellington.
The precedent comes from 1834 when Robert Peel was appointed but was in Italy at the time.
It took him three weeks to get back, so the post was held in the interim by the Duke of Wellington.
Have to love figure skating. How can something be simultaneously so spectacularly impressive and so completely, utterly laughable? #WinterOlympics
February 8, 2026 at 9:17 PM
Have to love figure skating. How can something be simultaneously so spectacularly impressive and so completely, utterly laughable? #WinterOlympics
Cannot compliment Knight of the Seven Kingdoms enough on doing a truly magnificent thing in television: 30 minute episodes
February 8, 2026 at 8:30 PM
Cannot compliment Knight of the Seven Kingdoms enough on doing a truly magnificent thing in television: 30 minute episodes
What an exhausting job
February 8, 2026 at 6:07 PM
What an exhausting job
Reposted by Jack Blackburn
We watched #sinners last night and it is great and made with bravura style
Don’t get me wrong - I loved it - but… 16 Oscar nominations?
We don’t get to the cinema at all these days so I have to ask… how slow a year has it been?
Don’t get me wrong - I loved it - but… 16 Oscar nominations?
We don’t get to the cinema at all these days so I have to ask… how slow a year has it been?
February 7, 2026 at 8:21 AM
We watched #sinners last night and it is great and made with bravura style
Don’t get me wrong - I loved it - but… 16 Oscar nominations?
We don’t get to the cinema at all these days so I have to ask… how slow a year has it been?
Don’t get me wrong - I loved it - but… 16 Oscar nominations?
We don’t get to the cinema at all these days so I have to ask… how slow a year has it been?
We watched #sinners last night and it is great and made with bravura style
Don’t get me wrong - I loved it - but… 16 Oscar nominations?
We don’t get to the cinema at all these days so I have to ask… how slow a year has it been?
Don’t get me wrong - I loved it - but… 16 Oscar nominations?
We don’t get to the cinema at all these days so I have to ask… how slow a year has it been?
February 7, 2026 at 8:21 AM
We watched #sinners last night and it is great and made with bravura style
Don’t get me wrong - I loved it - but… 16 Oscar nominations?
We don’t get to the cinema at all these days so I have to ask… how slow a year has it been?
Don’t get me wrong - I loved it - but… 16 Oscar nominations?
We don’t get to the cinema at all these days so I have to ask… how slow a year has it been?
Reposted by Jack Blackburn
Lindsay Hoyle will be watching Heated Rivalry… just for the hockey scenes
This, Bertie Ahern on Peter Mandelson and more in today’s @timesdiary
www.thetimes.com/article/8b03...
This, Bertie Ahern on Peter Mandelson and more in today’s @timesdiary
www.thetimes.com/article/8b03...
February 6, 2026 at 11:20 AM
Lindsay Hoyle will be watching Heated Rivalry… just for the hockey scenes
This, Bertie Ahern on Peter Mandelson and more in today’s @timesdiary
www.thetimes.com/article/8b03...
This, Bertie Ahern on Peter Mandelson and more in today’s @timesdiary
www.thetimes.com/article/8b03...
Reposted by Jack Blackburn
Lovely write up of our next exhibition at The London Archives, opens March 9th…
If you think London’s streets are more dangerous than ever, you’re clearly not a duck
Me in @thetimes.com on the London Archives’ new (free) exhibition on the history of London’s lawbreakers
www.thetimes.com/article/499d...
Me in @thetimes.com on the London Archives’ new (free) exhibition on the history of London’s lawbreakers
www.thetimes.com/article/499d...
From duck theft to Dick Turpin: the history of London’s lawbreakers
An exhibition at the London Archives reveals peculiar crimes and shows how the capital’s legal landscape has evolved
www.thetimes.com
February 5, 2026 at 10:21 PM
Lovely write up of our next exhibition at The London Archives, opens March 9th…
If you think London’s streets are more dangerous than ever, you’re clearly not a duck
Me in @thetimes.com on the London Archives’ new (free) exhibition on the history of London’s lawbreakers
www.thetimes.com/article/499d...
Me in @thetimes.com on the London Archives’ new (free) exhibition on the history of London’s lawbreakers
www.thetimes.com/article/499d...
From duck theft to Dick Turpin: the history of London’s lawbreakers
An exhibition at the London Archives reveals peculiar crimes and shows how the capital’s legal landscape has evolved
www.thetimes.com
February 5, 2026 at 11:24 AM
If you think London’s streets are more dangerous than ever, you’re clearly not a duck
Me in @thetimes.com on the London Archives’ new (free) exhibition on the history of London’s lawbreakers
www.thetimes.com/article/499d...
Me in @thetimes.com on the London Archives’ new (free) exhibition on the history of London’s lawbreakers
www.thetimes.com/article/499d...
“But FA, we spent so much money!” is not the argument I’d be making if I had 115 charges.
February 5, 2026 at 6:52 AM
“But FA, we spent so much money!” is not the argument I’d be making if I had 115 charges.
Purely anecdotal but have mentioned the Mandelson crisis to friends and family today and a fair number of them either didn’t know what I was on about or couldn’t work out why that was a problem for Starmer
February 4, 2026 at 9:33 PM
Purely anecdotal but have mentioned the Mandelson crisis to friends and family today and a fair number of them either didn’t know what I was on about or couldn’t work out why that was a problem for Starmer
Reposted by Jack Blackburn
Weird and almost universal revisionism today. Even at the time, it was pretty clear that Mandelson wasn't appointed *despite* his dodgy links but *because* of them. Trump's Washington is a dirty swamp. Mandelson was deemed a man able to swim in it. This wasn't a secret. Everybody said it out loud.
February 4, 2026 at 8:55 PM
Weird and almost universal revisionism today. Even at the time, it was pretty clear that Mandelson wasn't appointed *despite* his dodgy links but *because* of them. Trump's Washington is a dirty swamp. Mandelson was deemed a man able to swim in it. This wasn't a secret. Everybody said it out loud.
Reposted by Jack Blackburn
He'll be relieved.
One piece of good news for Mandelson this week...
I can reveal the council is NOT taking any enforcement action against him for pissing in the street, due to a "lack of evidence"
I can reveal the council is NOT taking any enforcement action against him for pissing in the street, due to a "lack of evidence"
EXC: Kensington and Chelsea Council is investigating whether Lord Peter Mandelson committed an offence when he publicly urinated in the street last week
February 4, 2026 at 4:39 PM
He'll be relieved.
Reposted by Jack Blackburn
Jeremy Corbyn confirms to the Commons that Mandelson played no role in his Labour leadership
Good to finally end the ambiguity on that one
Good to finally end the ambiguity on that one
February 4, 2026 at 3:57 PM
Jeremy Corbyn confirms to the Commons that Mandelson played no role in his Labour leadership
Good to finally end the ambiguity on that one
Good to finally end the ambiguity on that one