Dyane6

"No, I don't subscribe to this 'kindness' - I'll tell the truth instead." I spoke at the Cambridge Union last night about LGBs, children's safety and women's rights. Full video here:

@VinnieSull1van @Lost___London @PubHistoryTours ...and it was Lord Palumbo (also then Chairman of the Arts Council of Great Britain and a trustee of the Tate) who is responsible for this mess. I don't know who he nobbled to demolish a Grade 1 listed building, but it has always smelt bad.

The architectural decline of London: The Victorian Mappin & Webb building, a Grade II listed neo-Gothic structure at 1-2 Poultry near Bank station designed by John Belcher in 1870 was demolished in 1994 following a lengthy legal battle to make way for the Postmodernist "No 1 Poultry" building. It wasn't falling down, it hadn't been hit by bombs, it was simply in the way of those who wanted it gone.

@afneil Interest rates - base rates are down (but BoE control this, not government). However, 5 & 10 year fixed rates are through the roof (higher than Liz Truss etc) and this is because of government policy.

Some corrections: You inherited 2% inflation. It doubled in 12 months after you became Chancellor. It is still 50% above the rate you inherited and 50% above target. It should fall to target 2% this summer. So two years to get back to where you started! What’s to boast about that? Interest rates have been falling everywhere. UK cuts, which you don’t control, have been fewer and smaller because of your inflation record. We still have highest interest rate in G7. The Bank has made some cuts for the simple reason the economy is flat on its back. Well done. Borrowing is slowly falling from a very high base. Almost six years after the pandemic-induced recession, we’re still borrowing around 4% GDP. And borrowing costs are the highest in the G7. Retail sales are up in recent months. We’ll see how long that’s sustained. But the hospitality and construction industries are in crisis. Plus our massive services sector is stagnant. UK fastest G7 economy? That’s simply a bare-faced lie. We grew by 0.1% in Q3 2025; and another 0.1% in Q4. End of.

In two to three years time, when Starmer and his government are no doubt deeply unpopular, I hope we in the media will ask ourselves: "Why were we so supine during the long 2024 election; why didn't we hold Labour properly to account while we could, and ask more probing questions, and explore their records, rather than give them such an easy ride?".

The Green Party summed up. A sectarian Muslim stood by a bloke in female clothing.

@MalcolmGrimston @tomhfh Happy Birthday Malcolm - may all your wishes come true!! I guess this doesn't happen often so enjoy, and do the best you can for the people of Wandsworth. Good luck.

@tomhfh Not sure I 'm a 'very powerful politician' but certainly people suddenly want to talk to me!

Wandsworth wasn't on many people's expectations for the Tories to take back control of yesterday. But it looks like they've done it. With the whole council declared: Tory: 29 Labour:28 Ind: 1 (reportedly ex tory - and now a very powerful politician)

@rcolvile @michaelgove Central Cee is one of my secret pleasures! His relationship with a fashionable bi girlfriend led to lyrics such as: “How can I be homophobic? My bitch is gay?” Sound logic…it’s a cracking tune (“Doja”if you want to listen). Pissed off all the right people too.

Excellent piece by @michaelgove on Starmergeddon, except for this sentence which I had to run through Google Translate spectator.com/article/starme…

Whoever coined the nickname “Walter Titty” for Zack Polanski deserves a Pulitzer

Our high streets are full of businesses with “links to organised crime” but what does that mean? I asked a gangster, and wrote about it for @TheCriticMag (Link below)

@johngreenstree4 @Chackdubdub "Hereditary Peers are an affront to democracy" - yes, but, the Hereditaries were the only members elected (by their peers) to the HoL's. Rather ironic really.

@Chackdubdub IMHO, Hereditary Peers are an affront to democracy.

So proud of my Dad for his spontaneous valedictory Speech, following removal of Hereditary Peers from House of Lords. If they won't give you a slot...make one!

The Green Party has complained about this cartoon of Zack Polanski by the The Times. They’re deeply unhappy with it. Whatever you do, do not repost!

@richardpbacon Have you ever sat down, had a quiet moment of introspection, and asked yourself: "Am I wrong...?" Now may be a good time.

Why does the British Government never stand up to the Israeli Government? Why does the world just watch?

@truemagic68 My first job was at 30 Watling Street - good days!!

The country is in despair, but at least City workers know how to celebrate Thursday night - the big night or maybe it’s a chance just to drown their sorrows and commiserate!

@genocidalgirl Execution by cannon is part of British Indian history (and only British Indian history) because we learnt it from the locals... It had a notable deterrent effect for religious reasons.

Part of our history

@OS_Architects I find it interesting because it is a small block of only seven flats (eight including the caretaker's); yet they are premium apartments of c 2,500 sq ft (and c 13 ft high ceilings!).

@Dyane__6 They are impressive. We looked at them and other good examples in S.Kensington 2 weeks ago as part of a study research trip.

We are developing some proposals for a modern mansion block with taller ceilings, more windows, better communal areas and a private garden. We’ve been researching Albert Hall Mansions and Richard Norman Shaw who is credited with making flats desirable to the aspiring Victorian middle classes @archi_tradition @Aesthetic_City @createstreets

@DannyTyler1118 We all know that Leyton House financially failed, but I wonder what happened to that Adrian Newey chap after they fired him... 😕

1990年 F1 フランスGP ニューウェイを更迭したばかりのレイトンハウスは改良車CG901Bを投入 タイヤ無交換作戦でカペリとグージェルミンがワンツー体制を確立 以降カペリはマシンのフラットなコースへの適正も相まって、45周に渡りトップを走る 残り3周、プロストがカペリをパス。惜しくも2位に終わった

@BeastmodeBox @DavidDPaxton Yup - it will be Faf de Klerk‘s doing; it always is…

@DavidDPaxton Great hit, maybe the best I've ever seen in a woman's match. Can't help but feel a typically annoying scrum-half instigated this though.

Glorious.

@kitmalthouse Please leave the Tory party - you never have been a Conservative. Many thanks.

The House of Lords has disgraced parliament. Their existence is based on trust, now roundly abused by a small group of unelected zealots. Time for a serious look at who these people are, and how they are allowed to govern us. The X trolls will be jubilant, but we will be back.

@Erosmacvyas @RossLydall @se1 Because they pretend this rubbish is sustainable etc... It's the hypocrisy of the whole thing that grates so badly.

@RossLydall @se1 Not sure why everyone is complaining! It’s been vacant for years and now it’s being redeveloped so it can be occupied by new tenants. What’s the issue? People love to complain about nothing!

Quite extraordinary to see what has become of the “old” City Hall. Opened by the Queen in 2002. Vacated by London mayor Sir Sadiq Khan in 2021.