Pat Ashworth
@thepatashworth.bsky.social
Former Diplomat. Cumbrian. Migration do-gooder. Wokeist. Pro EU, human rights, science; anti racism, homophobia.
The professionals in State will be tearing their hair out and probably face-palming at the same time.
November 23, 2025 at 11:28 AM
The professionals in State will be tearing their hair out and probably face-palming at the same time.
I think a clean slate on the board would be the best idea. But as usual the government won't want to upset anyone - except those inclined to support it.
November 11, 2025 at 12:31 PM
I think a clean slate on the board would be the best idea. But as usual the government won't want to upset anyone - except those inclined to support it.
Yes, with margins so low and paying such high wages, leading to miniscule profits, I'm sure we all sympathise with them.
October 26, 2025 at 8:31 AM
Yes, with margins so low and paying such high wages, leading to miniscule profits, I'm sure we all sympathise with them.
I bet Devo are jealous!
October 14, 2025 at 12:32 PM
I bet Devo are jealous!
Agree 100%. Also doubt if it will.
September 22, 2025 at 7:57 AM
Agree 100%. Also doubt if it will.
OK...except his ineptitude and vacillating wankery the last time he stood cannot be forgotten - and I voted for him! I suspect he might be be Starmer MkII
September 14, 2025 at 8:12 AM
OK...except his ineptitude and vacillating wankery the last time he stood cannot be forgotten - and I voted for him! I suspect he might be be Starmer MkII
I thought it would wait until after the Trump visit, but was inevitable.
September 11, 2025 at 9:56 AM
I thought it would wait until after the Trump visit, but was inevitable.
Surely Mandy will "resign" after the Trump visit: "Don't wish to take focus away from great job being done by government" etc.
September 11, 2025 at 7:24 AM
Surely Mandy will "resign" after the Trump visit: "Don't wish to take focus away from great job being done by government" etc.
The lack of factual pushback is becoming a feature of British media interviews.
September 11, 2025 at 7:21 AM
The lack of factual pushback is becoming a feature of British media interviews.
Discussing this kind of thing in public is counterproductive. Do it quietly. That's why we have diplomats. And are we in a position to "warn" a country like India?
September 9, 2025 at 6:43 AM
Discussing this kind of thing in public is counterproductive. Do it quietly. That's why we have diplomats. And are we in a position to "warn" a country like India?
Sarah Vine is well known for her silence, of course.
August 22, 2025 at 8:09 AM
Sarah Vine is well known for her silence, of course.
Why vote for the tribute band when you have the real thing? Still, I'm sure we are wrong and McSweeney and Glasman have it all under control!
August 22, 2025 at 8:08 AM
Why vote for the tribute band when you have the real thing? Still, I'm sure we are wrong and McSweeney and Glasman have it all under control!
I'm astonished that a Labour MP would immediately bring up hotels for asylum seekers - unprompted - in a discussion about immigration.
August 18, 2025 at 6:08 PM
I'm astonished that a Labour MP would immediately bring up hotels for asylum seekers - unprompted - in a discussion about immigration.
These days........!
July 31, 2025 at 8:56 AM
These days........!
The only thing that rings true in that is the nearly £8 a pint. But there are plenty of places that don't charge anywhere near that much. He should choose his pubs and his drinks more carefully. The rest is bollocks.
June 23, 2025 at 4:02 PM
The only thing that rings true in that is the nearly £8 a pint. But there are plenty of places that don't charge anywhere near that much. He should choose his pubs and his drinks more carefully. The rest is bollocks.
I'm sure that this is a "computer says no" decision which will be overturned.
June 18, 2025 at 8:24 AM
I'm sure that this is a "computer says no" decision which will be overturned.
Yep. Why vote for the tribute band when the originals are on a successful tour?
June 3, 2025 at 6:37 AM
Yep. Why vote for the tribute band when the originals are on a successful tour?
I would have hoped that he'd decided that the party should govern as Labour, not as Tory Lite.
May 25, 2025 at 10:01 AM
I would have hoped that he'd decided that the party should govern as Labour, not as Tory Lite.
He's actually quite shit at politics too, whatever his reputation is amongst journos. Labour's Dominic Cummings.
May 24, 2025 at 6:04 AM
He's actually quite shit at politics too, whatever his reputation is amongst journos. Labour's Dominic Cummings.
But Labour is quite 5h1t at comms. It's bizarre given how great they were at one time.
May 15, 2025 at 8:51 AM
But Labour is quite 5h1t at comms. It's bizarre given how great they were at one time.
They've got themselves into a right mess. Act in haste, repent at leisure.
May 14, 2025 at 5:34 PM
They've got themselves into a right mess. Act in haste, repent at leisure.
Damn those overseas students who kept the sector going. Why we don't celebrate the number of post grads wishing to come to the UK, boast about it and encourage more to do so I will never understand. The crude numbers game is an insult to everyone's intelligence.
May 10, 2025 at 10:14 AM
Damn those overseas students who kept the sector going. Why we don't celebrate the number of post grads wishing to come to the UK, boast about it and encourage more to do so I will never understand. The crude numbers game is an insult to everyone's intelligence.
Surely McSweeney is now a proven failure.
May 2, 2025 at 8:50 AM
Surely McSweeney is now a proven failure.
Billy Connolly to a heckler: They spoiled a perfectly good arse when they put teeth in your mouth.
April 29, 2025 at 10:03 PM
Billy Connolly to a heckler: They spoiled a perfectly good arse when they put teeth in your mouth.