Billy Whelk

"The problem does not lie with the voters" Actually, a lot of it does. The voters throw a tantrum any time a politician even hints at small reforms to pensions, welfare, planning or the NHS, all of which are unsustainable in their current state.

incredible how the french have truly *perfected* the art of striking

Keir Starmer’s speech was sad to watch. With so many resets, even his reset button needs a reset. But I do not take pleasure in watching the Prime Minister flounder. The country needs leadership, not another speech from a man who clearly knows something has gone badly wrong, but still can't explain why. This is Labour’s real problem. It is not just Starmer - all the pretenders jostling for his job do not have the answers either, because they all believe the same things: more welfare, more state control, more borrowing, more regulation. They are busy arguing over who should drive the car, but the truth is they are all heading in the wrong direction. They have no vision for the future. What we need is to get Britain working again. That is why I have proposed an alternative King’s Speech with a a clear plan to reward effort, cut the cost of government, secure our borders, rebuild industry and back families who do the right thing. If Labour are serious about fixing the country they could do all of this tomorrow. Whether they have the bravery or the common sense to do that is a different matter.

Meet the new deputy mayor of Hackney UK. He wants to ban landlords earning profit.

Never stop saying "dozen" and "half dozen". Never stop using the word you read in an old novella. Never stop using your regional jargon. Don't succumb to an internationalized English stripped of its whimsy and romanticism in the name of streamlining global commerce.

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🚨 NEW: Keir Starmer has just emailed all Civil Servants thanking them for their service Dear Colleagues, One of my first actions as Prime Minister was to record a message to all of you. In it, I said that as public servants, you have my confidence, my support and, importantly, my respect. Since that day, I have seen that respect justified time and again. Whether it is the DWP official helping a family get the support they need, the prison officer keeping us safe, or the policy professional solving the most complex challenges of the age - your work is the backbone of this country. I know that for some of you, particularly those in roles in central government, the events of the last recent weeks have felt unsettling. For many more of you, these headlines might feel a world away from your daily work. But wherever you serve, I want to be clear: these events do not define the Civil Service. At the Cabinet meeting a fortnight ago, I spoke with my colleagues about the vital importance of the partnership between politicians and officials. We are one team. My Government’s priorities - from tackling the cost of living to rebuilding the NHS and making our streets safer - cannot be delivered by ministers alone. They require your expertise, your challenge, and your dedication. I know that the Cabinet Secretary is focused on delivering these priorities working with all of you to serve the public in the best interests of our country. To those who feel exposed by recent scrutiny, let me say this: I value the "speaking truth to power" that is the hallmark of our system. I want a culture where information flows freely, where risks are flagged early, and where we work together to solve problems before they become crises. The relationship between a minister and their officials relies on a bedrock of total transparency. Without that trust, the partnership that sits at the heart of our constitution cannot function. We are fixing the processes that have failed, but we are not changing the fundamental value we place on your role. My ask of you is to continue acting with the pride and professionalism that brought you into public service. Continue to provide the honest, rigorous advice that makes our government better. The service you give this country matters. My confidence in the integrity and dedication of the Civil Service remains absolute. We have a huge job to do for the British people, and we will do it together. Sir Keir Starmer Prime Minister