David Lidington

JUST ANNOUNCED: Former Mayor of Wigan @Winstamike has been selected as the Conservative Candidate for the Makerfield by-election.

As a Danish and European politician, I am not accustomed to deliberate public falsehood as a political method. But it is probably something we will have to get used to. Take, for example, Jeff Landry’s blatant falsehood that Donald Trump was the first major politician to truly place Greenland on the world map. If we confine ourselves to this century alone, Colin Powell was co-signatory of the Igaliku Agreement in 2004 while serving as Secretary of State. John Negroponte, then Deputy Secretary of State, represented the United States when the Ilulissat Declaration was signed in 2008. John Kerry visited Greenland in 2016 while serving as Secretary of State. And Antony Blinken visited the island in 2021. Greenland was also visited by Angela Merkel in 2007, when the purpose was to study climate change. And the island has continuously received visits from American politicians who genuinely take an interest in Arctic affairs. The foremost among them is undoubtedly Lisa Murkowski. So Greenland has long been on the world map - partly because of climate change, and partly because of the question of Arctic security. And Greenland has continuously been integrated into Arctic cooperation, not least as a consequence of the Igaliku Agreement. There was a time when I read a great deal of Jürgen Habermas and believed that the norm of truth was an unbreakable norm among civilized people. I believed that, as Habermas put it, the better argument exercised a kind of “forceless force.” What we lack today is a new Habermas for the twenty-first century - someone capable of describing the performative role of the lie. Because the reality is this: to someone who knows nothing about Greenland, Jeff Landry’s statements sound perfectly plausible. But they are simply a fabrication. A good story. Something designed to generate support without any ambition toward truth. Harry Frankfurt argued that this is the very essence of what he called “bullshit.” We no longer merely disagree about values. Increasingly, we disagree about reality itself. Jeff Landry is part of the post-truth culture that permeates American politics. But it is also something we in Europe will increasingly have to adapt to, simply because of the influence the United States possesses. It is difficult to say where this post-truth strategy will lead the Western world. But I will be honest: I have reached an age where I preferred the world shaped by the ideals of the Enlightenment - by truth as a moral norm and obligation. That world is gone. Perhaps permanently. I understand that. But I cannot pretend to admire the replacement.

After 18 months of “standing up to Putin” the Labour govt quietly issued a licence allowing imports of Russian oil refined in third countries. Yesterday Labour MPs voted AGAINST UK oil and gas licences. We are now importing from Russia instead of drilling in the North Sea. Insane.

Last night the government slipped out a discreet notice about the licensing of general processed oil products - licence number GBSAN0004 It looks innocuous enough until you realise the huge political and geopolitical significance - the government is loosening sanctions on jet fuel and diesel derived from Russian oil. The Department for Business and Trade said it will allow the import of ‘relevant processed oil products’ from Wednesday. The US government published a similar statement this week It’s obviously in response to jet fuel shortages and rising living costs caused by the conflict in Iran But it is a big moment. I find the way the government did it - with a discreet, jargon-filled notice on gov.uk - bewildering. Surely a significant shift in our sanctions programme warranted proper explanation? Imagine it will feature prominently at prime minister’s questions today…. Kemi Badenoch has already described it as insane thetimes.com/article/56bc37…

@Steven_Swinford Immoral! x.com/griffitha/stat…

The Government's decision to weaken British sanctions on Russian oil is an appalling betrayal of Ukraine whose civilians are being targeted daily by Russian missiles & drones. This policy shames our country.

Well said @JackieDP

Progressives need to be honest. You have very little of hope of tackling this and saving the welfare state long term without a massively pro-growth — all of the above on YIMBY, planning, etc. — and that is going to have to include a return to the EU Single Market. The biggest lever there is. The alternative is these figures will gradually force you towards is a post-welfare state more American model which is not compatible with voters preferences. Neither on offer from Labour or Reform.

Appalling behaviour which the National Trust attributes to its “sustainable future” programme - laughable when many British people are opting for “staycation” summer due to Iran war, higher inflation etc

SIKORSKI: I see few NATO officers here, they may not like what I'm about to say. Until year or two ago, we imagined it was us who were training Ukrainians. Now, it's we who need to take lessons from them cause they know modern war, there's no substitute for practical experience.

'I am not doing any deal with Nigel Farage or Reform.' Leader of the Conservative Party Kemi Badenoch looks ahead to the Makerfield by-election and refuses to stand their candidate down to help Reform. 📺 Freeview 236, Sky 512, Virgin 604

In these extraordinary times in international relations the demand for our work @ChathamHouse is rising by the day. We are seeking a Director of Fundraising to help us build the financial resources to meet that demand. Please share with your networks 👇 careers.chathamhouse.org/jobs/7501520-d…

“Thank you, Your Majesty, for coming today to Golders Green to bring comfort and encouragement to our Jewish community!”

This is clever in several regards: 1) It's palpably correct about Starmer's leadership ('where we need vision, we have a vacuum') 2) It highlights the PM's disloyalty to his team ('too often that has meant other people falling on their swords 3) By not triggering immediately, he gives time for other ministers to tell Starmer to go and (if he's short) to drum up more votes himself 4) The 'best possible field of candidates' means he's prepared to wait for Burnham to win a by-election Streeting's pitch is that only he can appeal to voters from left and right. He has dodged the notion that he's rushing to bypass Burnham. I doubt he wins but this shows good awareness

Both PMs faced choice about priorities. To prevent Irish Sea border, May was willing to accept a greater measure of UK alignment with EU customs & single market. Johnson took the view that freedom for GB to diverge from EU was more important than integrity of UK internal market

Actually John, Theresa May rejected the idea of trade barriers between NI and GB when the European Commission proposed it. It was Boris Johnson who changed the UK's position & accepted what the Commission wanted. B

This is really positive from Josh. When something good happens in Gvt, I will always support it. We should all work cross party to ensure children’s social care gets the attention it deserves.

Charles Moore is right: the Conservatives will not beat Reform by becoming louder, angrier or less serious. The opportunity is elsewhere. A centre-ground politics that is practical, pro-growth and prepared to make hard choices. Radical where needed. Credible enough to govern. telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/05/1…

Trump misled Ukraine to help Putin. What a shock.

WSJ columnists slowly getting it.