I wish that more of our elected politicians would voice this opinion.

And - following Thatcher, Brexit and Johnson - the English electorate heading to impose on Scotland Farage and ECHR withdrawal.

Botham would some years later during the Brexit campaign share the stunning insight that we should “always remember that England is an island”. He was then ennobled by Johnson. What an advert for the House of Lords.

Interesting analysis as ever, Richard.

'Jocky'? Nice attitude.

I have no desire to lecture you, nor to make families from rUK foreigners. I'm unhappy with any individual's being labelled a 'foreigner' - and think that the Labour Party ought to share this view.

I don't know - but I can't see how Starmer's allusion to his fear of "an island of strangers" will help matters.

This sounds to me like the "get them Poles out of England" position which resulted in Scotland being torn out of the EU against its will. I can only speak for myself: I like living in multicultural Edinburgh and am happy to see more immigrants come here.

For putting our care homes at risk of a staffing shortage. Also for justifying this in terms reminiscent of Enoch Powell.

Shame on Starmer.

The spelling here is wrong: “rail fares”. Is this an official Labour publication?

This is one problem with Pascal’s Wager: one may believe in the wrong god and seriously annoy the one that really exists. Other problem: how exactly can Dawkins make himself believe in something for which he can see no evidence? Could Pascal control his beliefs in this way?

That is the only plausible explanation. The whole world is now just thought of in terms of resources or real estate. Best of luck in resisting him: I really wish you success.

I don’t understand MAGA logic here. Surely if Canada becomes the 51st state and so has free trade with the rest of the US, then the same purchases of Canadian goods will obtain, with the same impact on current US firms (and the same Fentanyl trade, now facilitated by the absence of US customs)?

Suppose Canada agrees to become the 51st state, and Trump’s tariffs are dropped so that normal trade is resumed. How will the fact of Canada being now American remedy the fact of the other 50 states “subsidizing” Canada?

Thanks, Mark. It’s good to get away from X/Twitter.

Presumably England also?

Starmer refers to them as 'The Elgin Marbles', which is not propitious. It reminds me of the old classicists' joke: why are there pyramids in Egypt? Because they were too heavy for the British to steal.

I wonder how he will interpret US govt agencies' rounding up of Hispanics, separating children from their parents, and enforcing their deportation?