Jonty
@jonty24.bsky.social
Retired Civil Servant (UK) with HM Customs & Excise as my favourite department of three over 38 years. Long term mature student at the University of Life. Arsenal fan , enthusiastic traveller (using trains where available) and Duolingo aficionado.🇬🇧🇪🇺🇺🇦
I see Liz Truss got her photo with Trump at Mar-a-Lago. He's right about everything, apparently.......
February 15, 2026 at 7:22 PM
I see Liz Truss got her photo with Trump at Mar-a-Lago. He's right about everything, apparently.......
Poor show from Nottingham Forest. I'm not a particular fan of Sean Dyche. But based on their recent form, he would have likely kept them up this season. 12 games doesn't give his successor much room for error.
February 12, 2026 at 9:47 AM
Poor show from Nottingham Forest. I'm not a particular fan of Sean Dyche. But based on their recent form, he would have likely kept them up this season. 12 games doesn't give his successor much room for error.
So Sir Jim Ratcliffe popped over from Monaco to make unpleasant comments on migration. No doubt considers himself a true patriot.......
February 11, 2026 at 10:21 PM
So Sir Jim Ratcliffe popped over from Monaco to make unpleasant comments on migration. No doubt considers himself a true patriot.......
Watching some clips of Pam Bondi in the Congressional Committee today. My goodness. Utterly repugnant behaviour. And there are more like her in the administration. And these are type of people our government has to try and deal with without losing their sanity. Appalling state of affairs.
February 11, 2026 at 7:43 PM
Watching some clips of Pam Bondi in the Congressional Committee today. My goodness. Utterly repugnant behaviour. And there are more like her in the administration. And these are type of people our government has to try and deal with without losing their sanity. Appalling state of affairs.
Just watching a video of Trump talking about a castle in England, built in England by William the Conquerer. 😀. He's not been educated beyond basic reading, has he! I'm 1500% sure of that.
February 11, 2026 at 11:44 AM
Just watching a video of Trump talking about a castle in England, built in England by William the Conquerer. 😀. He's not been educated beyond basic reading, has he! I'm 1500% sure of that.
Wonder how much extra it costs to have the BBC doing an outside broadcast with John Kaye, outside No10. What is the point?
February 10, 2026 at 9:01 AM
Wonder how much extra it costs to have the BBC doing an outside broadcast with John Kaye, outside No10. What is the point?
Lot of support from the PMs Cabinet. If he does go, wouldn't surprise me if some of the Cabinet members won't serve under a new leader.
February 9, 2026 at 3:00 PM
Lot of support from the PMs Cabinet. If he does go, wouldn't surprise me if some of the Cabinet members won't serve under a new leader.
At this rate, you wonder whether we'll actually end up with an early general election. Seems like too many people want to stir up the drama, rather than calm things down.
February 9, 2026 at 2:54 PM
At this rate, you wonder whether we'll actually end up with an early general election. Seems like too many people want to stir up the drama, rather than calm things down.
I said yesterday that sometimes the lefts worst enemy was sometimes the left itself. Anas Sarwar stepping up to prove the point. Utterly foolish intervention. And if Starmer does go, this type of rubbish means a poison chalice for whoever succeeds him.
February 9, 2026 at 2:43 PM
I said yesterday that sometimes the lefts worst enemy was sometimes the left itself. Anas Sarwar stepping up to prove the point. Utterly foolish intervention. And if Starmer does go, this type of rubbish means a poison chalice for whoever succeeds him.
Rather fed up of TV and Radio having programmes where around 30 or so people are talking heads. Why should we have a small group of people like Camilla Tominey, Kevin McGuire, Carole Malone etc. always popping up to pontificate on issues of the day.
February 9, 2026 at 10:08 AM
Rather fed up of TV and Radio having programmes where around 30 or so people are talking heads. Why should we have a small group of people like Camilla Tominey, Kevin McGuire, Carole Malone etc. always popping up to pontificate on issues of the day.
Do wonder whether, as part of formal education, there should be say 6 weeks of funded travel, so that kids can visit different continents and countries within them. Ignorance of other peoples and their cultures is a big issue and contributes to the hatred and racism. I'm worried about its growth.
February 8, 2026 at 4:16 PM
Do wonder whether, as part of formal education, there should be say 6 weeks of funded travel, so that kids can visit different continents and countries within them. Ignorance of other peoples and their cultures is a big issue and contributes to the hatred and racism. I'm worried about its growth.
I've not watched the programme the BBC has made about Reform. But in comments Laura Keunesberg suggested many people want them to ignore Reform. Er, no. It's more that we want them properly reported on eg Gill, but also with coverage proportionate to a party with just 8 MPs.
February 7, 2026 at 4:42 PM
I've not watched the programme the BBC has made about Reform. But in comments Laura Keunesberg suggested many people want them to ignore Reform. Er, no. It's more that we want them properly reported on eg Gill, but also with coverage proportionate to a party with just 8 MPs.
Adam Bolton has been quite objective in his analysis on the Sky News "Wrap" programme tonight. None of the excited sensationalism I've seen elsewhere tonight.
February 4, 2026 at 11:30 PM
Adam Bolton has been quite objective in his analysis on the Sky News "Wrap" programme tonight. None of the excited sensationalism I've seen elsewhere tonight.
The Mandelson episode is Christmas come early for the PMs detractors. It was an unwise decision to appoint him as US ambassador, when you consider all of the controversy and unpleasantness associated with him.
February 4, 2026 at 9:00 AM
The Mandelson episode is Christmas come early for the PMs detractors. It was an unwise decision to appoint him as US ambassador, when you consider all of the controversy and unpleasantness associated with him.
Thinking about Kemi Badenoch's comments yesterday, you do wonder how far right she will take them. I suspect her plans would take them to a very unpleasant place and past where Reform currently are. Question then is, how do Reform react. Interesting to a degree, but way too dangerous to indulge.
January 29, 2026 at 12:31 PM
Thinking about Kemi Badenoch's comments yesterday, you do wonder how far right she will take them. I suspect her plans would take them to a very unpleasant place and past where Reform currently are. Question then is, how do Reform react. Interesting to a degree, but way too dangerous to indulge.
So, based on Kemi's speech today, we'll no doubt see the Tories lurch further (hard) right. And Reform will no doubt want to outdo her in some, but not all areas. It is going to get really grim unless the centre/left get their act together.
January 28, 2026 at 7:25 PM
So, based on Kemi's speech today, we'll no doubt see the Tories lurch further (hard) right. And Reform will no doubt want to outdo her in some, but not all areas. It is going to get really grim unless the centre/left get their act together.
Will be interesting to see if the Lib Dems benefit from Kemi Badenoch's speech today. Makes it clear that One Nation Toryism is well and truly dead. I suspect most Tories willing to switch to Lib Dems have probably already done so.
January 28, 2026 at 7:07 PM
Will be interesting to see if the Lib Dems benefit from Kemi Badenoch's speech today. Makes it clear that One Nation Toryism is well and truly dead. I suspect most Tories willing to switch to Lib Dems have probably already done so.
Starmer was damned however the Andy Burnham issue played out. But in reality, if someone with designs on getting you out of your house knocked on your door, would you open it and say "come on in, have a seat, I'll put the kettle on"?
January 27, 2026 at 10:21 AM
Starmer was damned however the Andy Burnham issue played out. But in reality, if someone with designs on getting you out of your house knocked on your door, would you open it and say "come on in, have a seat, I'll put the kettle on"?
Wonder what Margaret Thatcher would make of the modern Tories?
January 27, 2026 at 10:16 AM
Wonder what Margaret Thatcher would make of the modern Tories?
Apparently Andy Burnham had given a commitment to complete a full Mayoral term when reelected. Starmer apparently offered him the chance of contesting a seat as his term was coming to an end. Andy Burnham declined. Based on Andy Burnhams commitment, the offer was at least logical.
January 27, 2026 at 9:30 AM
Apparently Andy Burnham had given a commitment to complete a full Mayoral term when reelected. Starmer apparently offered him the chance of contesting a seat as his term was coming to an end. Andy Burnham declined. Based on Andy Burnhams commitment, the offer was at least logical.
The new "Wrap" show on Sky News suggesting that Reform has both Labour and the Tories on the run at the moment. I would think that Jenrick and Braverman defecting to Reform would be seen by Labour as a bit of a win for them.
January 27, 2026 at 12:37 AM
The new "Wrap" show on Sky News suggesting that Reform has both Labour and the Tories on the run at the moment. I would think that Jenrick and Braverman defecting to Reform would be seen by Labour as a bit of a win for them.
So Suella Braverman is sick of the Tories lies and betrayal (me too). But I wonder if she could confirm when the lies and betrayal actually started. I have a pretty good hunch 😃. And of course, she may therefore have played an active part in lying and betraying Brits.
January 26, 2026 at 7:36 PM
So Suella Braverman is sick of the Tories lies and betrayal (me too). But I wonder if she could confirm when the lies and betrayal actually started. I have a pretty good hunch 😃. And of course, she may therefore have played an active part in lying and betraying Brits.
Liz Truss joining Reform by the end of February anyone?
January 26, 2026 at 5:31 PM
Liz Truss joining Reform by the end of February anyone?
Watching Suella Braveman on Sky News at 5. Jesus wept.
January 26, 2026 at 5:22 PM
Watching Suella Braveman on Sky News at 5. Jesus wept.
No surprise seeing Cruella Braverman joining Reform. Another extremist who had to play the game and pretend to be a Tory until she felt emboldened enough to be her true self. And of course, another Tory who helped cause much of the damage leading to "broken" Britain. Utter 🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡
January 26, 2026 at 1:33 PM
No surprise seeing Cruella Braverman joining Reform. Another extremist who had to play the game and pretend to be a Tory until she felt emboldened enough to be her true self. And of course, another Tory who helped cause much of the damage leading to "broken" Britain. Utter 🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡