Andrew O’Brien ❄️🌱

I’ve only gone and written a book! ‘To Stand and Stare; how to garden while doing next to nothing” is a celebration of what it means to garden with nature as a partner, rather than as force apart from us that needs to be contained, controlled and limited. geni.us/Qs2d

@jonsopel John, re: this evening's @TheNewsAgents – weren't you a Christ's College boy (maybe a few years ahead of me)? I remember a whopping great menorah going up every year in Golders Green, and getting driven round Finchley on top of a car for Hanukkah! No one batted an eye

@lewis_goodall @TheNewsAgents Good grief they need to keep Bell behind his spreadsheets and away from the media rounds. What a catalogue of sophistry, spin and arrogance. Such a disappointment.

NEW: Budget special @TheNewsAgents The analysis- the politics and economics of what was a huge day for this government and for the slow but very real evolution in the way Britain is taxed. Listen now. podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the…

@spectator @michaelgove @Madz_Grant My Victoria sponge was turning to dust in my mouth as @michaelgove talked around the golden age of British crime writing without mentioning P.D. James. Thank heaven for @Madz_Grant who was able to deliver, deliver, deliver.

The Spectator is thrilled to announce the launch of Quite right!, the new podcast hosted by Michael Gove and Madeline Grant. Political insight, cultural commentary and common sense arriving on Wednesday, wherever you get your podcasts. @michaelgove @Madz_Grant

@TheNewsAgents @maitlis what do you call a crazy bike lane? A cycle path!

@katyballs Honestly I think Kemi is toast after this. You just can't get on the wrong side of a sandwich in British politics, ask Ed Milliband. Wishing you much better sarnie experiences for the new year. Warm focaccia, crisp chicken skin, pesto – kind of thing. @KateAndrs has the idea

‘What’s a lunch break?’ An interview with Kemi Badenoch 👇 spectator.co.uk/article/i-will…

@Lucy_Worsley It's canon.

Is it correct to serve bread and butter pudding with custard?

@ellygriffiths Marilyn Monroe in How To Marry a Millionaire. She's hilariously always bumping into things or reading books upside down cos she refuses to wear her specs.

Yesterday I told my kids that there used to be an ad - must have been for contact lenses - with the slogan ‘men never make passes at girls who wear glasses’. They accused me of making it up. Anyone remember it?

@anealla So sorry to hear this Anealla.

These are not normal times. A bunch of white 16 year olds in my usually boring town of Tonbridge see me and my daughters (4 and 6) and start shouting Tommy Tommy Tommy Robinson at us.

@StephenGParker Oh belated happy 21st, Stephen! I hope you had a lovely day! ✨🌱🙏🏼 🍰

I just wanted to say a truly heartfelt thank you for all the messages..phone calls..texts..cards and presents received over the last few days for my birthday yesterday! A truly memorable birthday..finished off with a wonderful party last night..thank you X X

@jackwallington La Niña summer. Woop.

Is this the worst summer weather ever?

@jonsopel you know who tried to do The West Wing? Rishi Sunak. I knew there had to be some half-arsed thought behind his soggy Downing Street speach and suddenly remembered Bartlett announcing he was running again, having been soaked in the pouring rain. Wasn't *quite* the same😬

@RishiSunak Are you still here?

I can’t stress this enough. Labour will take more of your money. Labour will raise your taxes. Don’t surrender your family's finances to Labour.

@jackwallington broadly you're prob not wrong Jack. Since the last election, there's the boundary changes, but a considerable proportion of the Tory core vote will have been disenfranchised owing to being dead. I wonder if those will balance?

My prediction for the General Election is that most people will vote how they always vote making the result less dramatic than press is suggesting. Most talk of a supermajority for Labour is coming from the Conservatives as a rallying cry to their voters. And Farage will win his seat because everyone has made him so famous.

@supertanskiii I think Sunak just said the solution to the "small boats problem" was for people smugglers to get bigger boats. Did I imagine that?

“If you listened to more people in the audience and around the country you might not be so out of touch" Starmer is cooking Sunak here. #BBCDebate

@RishiSunak Are you still here?

Confirmed: Labour’s manifesto would mean the highest taxes in history. If you think they’ll win, start saving.

@RishiSunak You still here?

We will end the unfairness of the child benefit system, cutting taxes for 700,000 families across the UK. We’re ready to take the bold action needed for a secure future for you and your family.

@kennyhiggs Cod sometimes gets the same treatment, doesn't it? Maybe somewhere there's a tuna horse and people didn't want to have to get their mouths round that in a sarnie.

If you’d like to make your garden a better place for wildlife while also making it better for the planet, my book A Greener Life takes you through the practical steps of growing a garden for nature, even tiny spaces like steps, windowsills and balconies jackwallington.com/product/a-gree…

Lots of people asking me where I was when Sunak announced the election. I was inside, because it was raining. Only an idiot would have gone out in that... #GeneralElection

@janeperrone Kind of, yes! But exactly the opposite. Anyway, I thought it was so animals with cloven hooves could flush.