Mark Calvert

@ZackPolanski This is great news. We must remember how much oil goes into plastics, roads and so many things around it. It's not just fuel.

A huge betrayal. Won't lower bills. Won't give us more energy security. Won't insulate from price shocks. And sends a clear message to the world that we are backing new oil and gas drilling.

@afneil I remember this, it was brilliant

It was a late night political talk show which didn’t take itself too seriously. And aspired to a sense of humour (needed after Question Time). I didn’t aspire to run the country. Or sit in parliament. So your analogy is pathetic. But thanks for reminding us all what a fun show it was.

@KingBobIIV I did have to check this wasn't a parody.

She voted against a National Rape Gang Enquiry, and thinks Snooker is more important than the safety of women and girls on the streets of the country. Fking idiot.

@DaleVince @KemiBadenoch Gas is bought locally, so producing it in the UK would reduce our gas prices.

.@KemiBadenoch displays her total lack of understanding of the energy sector. She argues for more drilling in the North Sea to protect us from this energy crisis - seemingly oblivious to two very important facts. The first is we don't set the price of our north sea oil and gas - we let global markets do that. So in a crisis where global prices sky rocket, how can the answer can be to produce more globally priced oil here - it’s (energy market) illiterate to say so. The answer is to take control of our own energy pricing, starting with our own North Sea, as we have already with retail energy bills. Impose a price and profit cap. If we do this as part of an entire sector move - capping all wholesale prices, then we can combat this crisis and those that are coming next. The second very important fact Kemi seems unaware of is that it will take up to five years to produce anything new from our North Sea. So even if that could help us, it can’t help us with anything soon. And it won’t help us for long because our North Sea is all but empty, there’s 10% left. Our North Sea has been in decline for 30 years, shedding jobs and production capacity - because it’s running out - this has been going on for far longer than green energy has been a thing - to blame green energy for the decline of the North Sea is ignorant (of the facts). And Global markets have been filling the gap between what we make and what we use for decades now - Kemi seems not to know this either. As for energy bills, Badenoch seems unaware that the ‘green taxes’ we have on our energy bills were added by previous Tory governments. She seems also unaware that we spend vast sums subsiding fossils fuels - £17 billion a year at the last count. She operates in a fantasy environment, or would have us do - where green taxes have ruined the country and our oil and gas industry and all we need to do is drill more - it’s delusional. It’s straight out of the mouth of Trump.

@afneil I found the Spectator a great help during that time, and following, mostly because it had sensible well thought out and reasonable articles, from both sides of the debate. Alas, no longer a subscriber, yours and Fraser Nelson's work was first class.

Fraser was indeed something of a reluctant Brexiteer. Many of his most prominent columnists were Remainers. He liked The Spectator to have a variety of views. My job as Chairman was to give him the protection to make up his own mind, without interference, including from the proprietors, who I knew were bonkers Brexiteers. Which he did. Without any pressure from me. At no stage did I ever express an opinion. I don’t understand why this is grounds for criticising my role. It’s surely what to expect of a proper Chairman.

@HouseofCommons I really think this needs a new name, I've watched it the past few weeks and I don't believe our PM has actually answered a single question. I might try this at home. Wife: did you put the dishwasher on? Me: That is irrelevant and your position on the Middle East is wrong.

Today Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer faced questions from MPs in @houseofcommons.

@Keir_Starmer Then why refuse permission for a coal mine. British Steel needs British Coal.

Last year, the future of British Steel was on the line. Scunthorpe’s steel furnaces were hours away from shutting down. I couldn’t let thousands of people lose their jobs. So we saved British Steel. Time and again, people want to write off Britain’s workers. The Tories did it again and again. My Labour government will never leave workers behind. We’re investing in British steelmaking across our country – so we can make more of our own steel here at home.

@Ajarncom Shocking!!!!

There wasn't a sitcom I hated more. It was always the Sunday night before a new week at school ... and you hadn't done your French homework. 50 years later, even the theme tune makes me want to burst into tears. You could write the scripts. The three old boys find two planks of wood and four old pram wheels behind a hedge. The rest you can guess. It was utter shite.

@leejrosier @PeopleOfTheInt My first thought too!!

@PeopleOfTheInt A bullet from a shotgun?

The shot was too perfect 😳

@zarahsultana Are you ever just happy with life? Must everything be a problem? It's not my cup of tea here but it looks nice enough.

The optics of MPs doing Strictly Come Dancing in Parliament while the world teeters on the brink of World War Three is completely inappropriate. It says all you need to know about Westminster.

@ZoeJardiniere @Jamie_Dagg Or maybe she just likes the coat? Must we have a conspiracy theory for everything.

@Jamie_Dagg the simplest explanation is often the right one. this is exactly how they want to appear.

@mark395625 @DavidHorne @LNER I didn't drink the coffee, but thankfully they had Yorkshire tea, which was the only saving grace.

@Mark_Calvert @DavidHorne @LNER Maxpax coffee that stayed hot for months and was like treacle?

Millions of @LNER customers reap benefit of more choice, more comfort, and more great value fares More than 3.7 million journeys were made in the first two months following the introduction of our new timetable, providing nearly 10,000 additional services per year and more than 60,000 extra seats every week Featured prices on the LNER website now:

@RichardBurgon Why not drop the 'we are the only people to beat Reform ' approach and start sharing a vision for a better country? Give people a reason to lend you thier votes

Blame for Labour’s defeat lies squarely with Keir Starmer and his clique. They put factional interests over having the candidate best placed to win, Andy Burnham. If Labour is to be the “Stop Reform” party, then the leadership must stop treating progressive voters with contempt - and start appealing to them. That means a return to real Labour values - through policies like a Wealth Tax, public ownership of energy and water, and an ethical foreign policy that are all popular with the public. And it means ditching the approach of trying to ape Reform and kicking the left, that has alienated so many people who have voted Labour previously.

@Alishacmlewis Here here, wise words indeed. I frustrated me that we cannot debate without so many insults being thrown about.

The Gorton & Denton by-election was one of the dirtiest and most degrading episodes in recent British political history. Filthy habits, blatant sectarianism, literature not worth the paper it was printed on. If we can’t conduct democracy with better taste, we’re all in trouble.

@zatzi @therealhostman Skoda owner here, similar situation - can also recommend this option.

@therealhostman Thanks! I’ll take a look

I’m considering replacing my ‘18 plate car. I only ever buy second hand, drive c18k miles a year, live very rurally (4 wheel drive a preferred) but have to go to London, have three children, three dogs and a husband (and being able to tow a trailer would be a massive plus). I do not want a flash car - I want one that is cost effective to buy and to run. Should I consider electric at all? 🙏

@YoungBobRB Great democracy in action 🙄 Don't confront people in thier way to vote, it's not very British. Many will just want to go in, mark the box, and go out without being harassed or questioned and let them go on their merry way.

The train is booked, and we are ready. Gorton and Denton at 9am. We're going to be confronting Reform and Green Party, despite the fact that Reform have already blocked us from engaging with their canvassers. It should be interesting. If you won't debate with us, if you won't let us interview you, you will be confronted.

@kevinhollinrake @Conservatives As an engineer and manager, this is a subject I've long had an interest in. I do feel there is a much better option compared to spending £47 billion. I know what my next few evenings will be reading!

👇🏻 @Conservatives will conserve the heritage and history of Parliament’s Palace of Westminster and cut the cost of restoration

I watch this and really fancy a visit to Beamish. Not sure on the content but the historical accuracy of the decoration is spot on. I wonder what the hidden message is

@Miss_Snuffy I suspect these two are not like for like. I've got my kids reading all sorts, including some books on strategy! Sometimes it's just about being read to and reading, for the joy of it the subject doesn't matter. Let them enjoy it and then they will start to read anything

And that fart book isn’t that bad! There is far far worse. The publishing industry is responsible for so much of the harm done to children. Parents trying to do the right thing and getting their children to read but WHAT they read is yet another hurdle to overcome.