D-Day for Starmer.

 Can this prime minister, survive today in the House of Commons as he faces down Kemi Badenoch and more importantly his own - back benchers? He has made a ‘pigs ear’ of his dealings with Peter Mandelson. There is general incomprehension regarding his appointment as our ambassador to Washington. It’s was widely known across the political landscape, that Mandelson was a problematic appointment, so why make such a stupid mistake? Starmer, may survive today, but his authority is now completely undermined. He looks like a man ‘clinging to the wreckage’. The consensus is he might be in - office, but he isn’t in power’. In my opinion he will be gone by the time of the party conference in the autumn and John Healey, the defence secretary will take over. 

My ideal Sunday lunch on a hot day.

 There a few if anything - that can compete with an ideal Sunday lunch on a sunny afternoon. First there is a - Waitrose pork and apple pie, but the accompaniment, must be Piccalilli and a good strong cheese, all washed down with a cold beer. Today I had a glass of chilled Guinness. There is something deeply satisfying enjoying such a - stable English lunch. 

The Young Power List 2026.

 It’s breathtaking to think that when the Beatles were just kicking off they were in their early twenties. I remember being in Honolulu in 1964 and they had a - ban the Beatles day, as they were fed up with endlessly playing their music. So I read with interest the current issue of The Sunday Times Magazine - Young Power List. There are so many young people - across the country - that I have never heard of, but are doing extraordinary things. Many are in music, politics and environmental issues. I remember when Amy Winehouse, was producing such iconic songs like: Back to Black; You Know I’m No Good. It’s the 15th anniversary of her tragic death this July. The death of young people is always poignant as they are just starting out on their lives. One particular death was seen at the time as particularly devastating was that of the talented American film actor at 24 James Dean, in 1955 in a car accident. There was of course the talented pop singer Buddy Holly, who was only 22 when he died in a plane crash on 3 February 1959. 

A political blind spot.

 According to Fraser  Nelson in The Times today, when Sue Gray (remember her) was chief of staff to the prime minister. She tried to push information back up to her boss and have him decide. This failed. Her private verdict was because he was “encumbered by indecision”. This in parts accounts for one ‘elephant trap’ after another. This chronic personality trait, means he unconsciously - wants to be kept in the dark. He thereby - can’t be held responsible for any decisions. But when you are prime minister, the - buck stops with you. This ostrich like mentality is now the cause of his likely being defenestrated. 

The ghost of Peter Mandelson.

 It appears according to The Guardian that Lord Peter Mandelson, failed his security vetting process. However this was overruled by senior officials in the Foreign Office, namely Sir Ollie Robbins, the permanent secretary. He has now been sacked by Starmer. The plot thickens however as apparently he was only told on Tuesday that Mandelson had failed his security clearance. There are three interlocked issues: the prime minister is either - incompetent, naïve or a liar? How is it possible that such an important appointment - as our ambassador to the United States, can occur and he not know the details? However in terms of a - duty of care - the credibility of the vetting process is contingent on a - duty not to tell. Otherwise a candidate for a senior role in government - would not be completely candid. As they might fear that such a role might make him or her unsuitable. 

Is America now a rogue state?

 Under president Trump, America is increasingly like a - rogue state. He is congenitally irresponsible, grandiose and narcissistic. From one moment to the next he is - completely unreliable and contradictory. The norms and values that have underpinned the - rules based order since 1945 are no more. He is often texting in the early hours of the morning  Does he manage to get any sleep? In my opinion he is slowly going unhinged and like King Lear going mad. Should the world be governed by a man who is increasingly delusional? 

Home sweet home.

 According to professor Lucy Munro at Kings College, London, William Shakespeare had a property in Blackfriars. The house today would straddle Ireland Yard, Burgeon Street and St Andrew’s Hill. This was a cosmopolitan area at the time with all manner of different people from across London and the continent. Moreover it was close to his place of work at the Blackfriars Theatre. In addition the property was close to the Cockpit tavern - which has stood on the same site for many years. Perhaps Shakespeare drank there with colleagues from the theatre? It brings to life a much discussed period in his later life and what his plans were? I’m reading a brilliant book at the moment by the Shakespeare scholar at Oxford - professor Sir Jonathan Bate, Mad about Shakespeare - this new information only adds to the endless speculation about our greatest writer.