Nicola Thomas

Interesting.

Tory friend jokes "you're a Tory now?!" re: post about VAT rates. Wanting small independent hosp businesses (mostly training/employing young people for hospitality) to thrive over corporate chains shouldn't exactly be seen as non-Labour! Apparently they're all about growth...?

@DPJHodges A statement will be released saying the fuel tracker app has been updated and producers have been spoken to very firmly.

What is the one guaranteed outcome of Keir Starmer publicly announcing he is holding an emergency COBRA meeting about fuel shortages...

When asked to pick up to 3 top issues facing the country, 'cost of living' comes top among the public, at 53% Yet asked what they think each party sees as the top issues, only 9-15% choose 'cost of living' for any party

"Is there anybody else you know in your life who has had 28.9% over the last three years?" @bbcnickrobinson presses Dr Jack Fletcher, from the BMA, on previous pay increases and the planned industrial action by resident doctors over a pay dispute with the government.

This week the NHS will undergo one of the most radical – and scandalous - changes in its history. From 1st April (the public are the fools in this), GPs will be contractually obliged to seek remote, electronic “advice and guidance” from hospital ‘clinicians’ (note, not necessarily doctors), making it even harder for patients to see a hospital specialist. Does this sound part of a plan to genuinely ‘fix’ the NHS, as Wes Streeting vowed he would do so effusively when taking up office - or more like a tactic to ration hospital care by overriding GPs in order to massage the waiting list figures? It is, of course, the latter, an extra layer of bureaucracy that at best will delay patients’ access to the specialist treatment they need, at worse sacrifice those patients on the altar of fake news about “falling” waiting lists. You don’t need me to point out the patient safety risks it potentially entails. We all know that time, in medicine, can be everything. The Royal College of GPs has been crystal clear: “The use of advice and guidance should not be mandated in any area… We have heard reports of risks of delays, with tests being required before any referral, lost messages and staff without appropriate senior clinical oversight handling requests.” The aim, says the Times, is to reduce the number of hospital outpatient appointments by 30 million annually. And the government, in a really quite breathtaking example of political spin, is presenting this as “good” for patients - as though all those people who’ve been waiting years months or even years for the first Rheumatology, Neurology or Orthopaedics appointment they so desperately need are just, you know, malingering. (I recently spoke to a patient with a new diagnosis of multiple sclerosis who’d been waiting over six months to see a neurologist for the first time – simply scandalous.) I believe this is a national health scandal from a government that apparently cares more about good spin than it does about good patient care. If you feel the same, please – please – write to your MP or the Secretary of State and tell them why. Please shout about this online, in the press, anywhere you can. Don’t let this slide. Thank you.

I am sure leaders in the Middle East don’t want a long war. I am sure they seek peace. Their focus is on the economy, finance, business, technology, and, of course, tourism. All of this requires peace. But this, in turn, depends on several things. First, what the United States will do and what it wants. Second, what the Iranians want. Third, the actions of Israel. And fourth, whether Russia wants a long war. As of today, I am sure Russia wants a long war. They benefit from it. The United States is focusing on the Middle East, which means it will decrease military support to Ukraine. Furthermore, sanctions have been lifted – partially, but still lifted – and Russia is beginning to experience economic growth. I see only benefits for Russia, because they are not thinking about people's lives, especially when they are not Russian lives. From an interview with Axios (2/3).

📽️ WHY are diesel prices rising so fast? Well, partly because this is the worst oil supply shock in modern history. And partly because of an obscure decision taken by politicians decades ago. My latest mega primer on the economic consequences of war in the Gulf👇

On today's Coffee House Shots podcast: Patrick Maguire, chief political writer at The Times , sits down with Tim Shipman for a reflection on Labour’s odd year so far. From potential leadership challengers, like Wes Streeting and Angela Rayner, to cabinet heavyweights, like Yvette Cooper and Ed Miliband – where does power in this Labour government really lie? What does Keir Starmer’s interview style and response to the Iran war reveal about him? And what are the implications of the local elections in just over a month – in what could be a historically disastrous night for the Party. @patrickkmaguire | @ShippersUnbound Listen | spectator.com/podcast/where-…

BREAK @GBNEWS: The national grooming gangs inquiry WILL investigate how ethnicity, culture, or religion influenced the abuse. This is a big shift. Previously the inquiry was only going to look at how those factors influenced institutional responses and failures.

A multinational consortium will run the Strait of Hormuz under plans put forward by the Trump administration. Sources told The Telegraph that Marco Rubio, the US secretary of state, presented the idea last week at a meeting of G7 foreign ministers ⤵️ telegraph.co.uk/us/politics/20…

“The private sector have seen their pay keep up with inflation.” “No, private sector pay increases are lower than they are in the public sector.” @KateEMcCann asks the BMA’s Dr Jack Fletcher whether their position is morally justifiable.

Britain’s Green Party is supposed to be the progressive environmental party. Instead, it is now facing a scandal over an activist linked to the party allegedly calling Jews “an abomination to this planet.” @EstherCKrakue reports.

Starmer’s plan is over. The Chagos Islands are now inhabited and have the right to self-determination. How long before the government accepts the inevitable and backs official resettlement? independent.co.uk/news/uk/politi…

Tensions are escalating dramatically in the final stretch of Hungary’s election race as political rivals trade accusations of vote-buying in rural constituencies, illegal wiretapping and interference from Moscow and Kyiv. politico.eu/article/tensio…

Most in Britain believe McSweeney staged his phone theft to help hide Mandelson messages - according to @Moreincommon_ polling, reported here by @POLITICOEurope. People realise Starmer is a liar and that he's worried this scandal is going to finish him off.

🗣️ 'Why on earth would you not support your own industries?' Chief Executive of Offshore Energies UK, David Whitehouse, talks to @AnnaJonesSky & @WilfredFrost about the North Sea and says it can produce at least half of our demand for the next 25 years.

Obviously things could change. But after a minor initial uptick, it's clear there's no Starmer bounce because of the war. The "Love Actually Moment" was just No.10 spin. politico.eu/europe-poll-of…

It was a pleasure welcoming to London @UnderSecE Jacob Helberg and @USCTO47 U.S. Chief Technology Officer Ethan Klein.  We focused our discussion on the U.S. - UK coordination regarding AI, quantum technology, and critical minerals. Ensuring our countries are closely aligned on future technologies is vital for international security and safety.

Minimise. Warn. Distract. Downing Street's three-pronged strategy to shore up Keir Starmer after potentially catastrophic May election results - by @jessicaelgot & me theguardian.com/politics/2026/…

‘A national scandal’: trawlers scour seabeds of ‘protected’ UK waters. Didn’t the PM promise Sir David Attenborough that he would put a stop to this last year? We don’t need to allow this, it’s a choice, and a very bad one. theguardian.com/environment/20…