Paul Tuohy

They doubled mine. They'll double yours. If you value public transport, value this amazing charity. You know it makes sense!

@djoneswolf @Peston Its fascinating that a bonkers US president can lie daily and pretend to be Jesus unquestioned by his country. Yet one false move here and everyone cries " Resign" !Mandelson's appointment,uquestioned originally, has backfired. Not a resigning issue, unless Reform/Tory.

@Peston The fact Madelson had a too-close relationship with Epstein meant that he should never even been considered for the post in the first place.

This is how Mandelson flunked the vetting but still became US ambassador, and why there are lots of questions for the prime minister. What you need to know is that anyone appointed to a job where they will have access to government secrets, or has the kind of influence potentially valuable to the UK’s enemies, has to undergo what’s called developed vetting before getting the job. This involves being locked in a room with an anonymous official, often an erstwhile spook, and being asked impertinent and embarrassing questions. One former senior official tells me that in his vetting interview he had to reveal the porn websites he uses. Another was grilled on his religious beliefs and said he was asked whether he could be trusted to defend the UK given he spends a good deal of time in France. Both were approved to do their sensitive jobs. They also said that in every case they knew of where UK Security Vetting had advised that an individual should not be passed as fit and proper - where the recommendation was not to grant “Developed Vetting” status in the jargon - the relevant individual was “marched out of the building, never to return.” Not so Peter Mandelson. The government’s vetting experts at UK Security Vetting recommended he should not be granted security clearance for the hugely important and sensitive post of British ambassador in Washington. But they were over-ruled by the Foreign Office’s most senior official, Olly Robbins, the permanent under-secretary, and Mandelson took up the swanky post. Now I am told the foreign office is unusual, probably unique, in being able to ignore the advice of UK Security Vetting. The home office has no such discretion. But the foreign office exploits this power only rarely. Why did Robbins do so? Given that Mandelson resigned in disgrace last September, following revelations of his too-close relationship with the convicted late paedophile billionaire, Jeffrey Epstein, it was plainly a bad decision. Another question is why Robbins didn’t tell either the foreign secretary or the prime minister that Mandelson had been classified as a security risk. The prime minister learned this only days ago, says Downing Street. And the deputy prime minister, who was foreign secretary at the time, David Lammy, was informed only today! A third question is why Robbins didn’t tell Keir Starmer that Mandelson had flunked the vetting test shortly after Starmer held a press conference in Hastings in February this year - because at that press conference Starmer told a lie, albeit unintentionally, that Mandelson had passed the vetting process. Starmer compromised himself, and would have wanted to set the record straight forthwith. Mendacity, albeit accidental, is a terrible look for the head of the government. The leader of the opposition, Kemi Badenoch, thinks he is so compromised that he needs to resign. There is no sign tonight that Starmer is set to take her advice. But if Robbins has embarrassed the prime minister by not telling him in a timely way that Mandelson flunked the vetting, it is difficult to see how he could keep his job. Obviously it would be a wholly different story if Robbins could prove that he did inform Lammy or Starmer. He has been summoned to give evidence to MPs on the foreign affairs select committee next week, so he can reveal all. Whatever happens, Starmer is damaged. Because he knew from an earlier scrutiny assessment, run by the Cabinet Office, that there were concerns about Mandelson’s proximity to Epstein and about his potential conflicts of interest stemming from corporate relationships of the consultancy he created, Global Counsel. Starmer repeatedly says he made a mistake in appointing Mandelson and that it was his fault. It won’t reinforce confidence in him that he didn’t apparently ask whether any concerns about Mandelson had been brought up by UK Security Vetting.

@JakkiPhillips @Peston Its fascinating that a bonkers US president can lie daily and pretend to be Jesus unquestioned by his country. Yet one false move here and everyone cries " Resign" !Mandelson's appointment,uquestioned originally, has backfired. Not a resigning issue, unless Reform/Tory.

@Peston This scenario might just pass muster if it was the first instance in which Starmer’s decision/explanation was questionable. Unfortunately, Starmer has come under scrutiny on several occasions in his short tenure as PM none of which has been satisfactorily explained.

@Peston Its fascinating that a bonkers US president can lie daily and pretend to be Jesus unquestioned by his country. Yet one false move here and everyone cries " Resign" !Mandelson's appointment,uquestioned originally, has backfired. Not a resigning issue, unless Reform/Tory.

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The Channel Tunnel is woefully underused. But could that be about to change? Our CEO Ben Plowden has written this piece for @thertmnews about the great potential of international rail. #TrainNotPlane ow.ly/SHSa50YI5fz

Buses are essential for transporting people to work, as well as to education, healthcare and social activities. We are campaigning for better bus services, more bus lanes and #BetterBusStops.

Such a great idea. Has it been well promoted so more can take up the offer?

Read our blog for the anniversary of the Beeching Report: bettertransport.org.uk/blog/the-beech…

@elonmusk We don't need saving Elon... now go back and play with your cars...

This is the only way to save Britain. There is no other.

@JohnSimpsonNews @keanerthanever1 Everyone report the keanerhanever1 please to have him blocked.

‘Don’t worry you old cunt you haven’t got long left’, @keanerthanever1 tweets to me. He calls someone else ‘you scrounging obese low iq mess’ and a third person ‘another lying spineless cunt’. Elon Musk’s X doesn’t seem to mind…

The Government is changing the rules for rail ticket refunds to help tackle fare evasion. From April, if your plans change on the day of travel and you can't make your journey, you will no longer be entitled to a refund.

@GoodwinMJ Not your fault again Matt......

This is not democracy. This is coercive, sectarian politics dressed up as democracy We are in deep, deep trouble

We have a new campaign launching tomorrow, on a subject close to many passengers' hearts. Sign up to our email list and be sure to receive campaign news and actions: bettertransport.org.uk/support-us/new…

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West Midlands Trains comes into public ownership today - read our full reaction: ow.ly/CYAx50Y6u4f

@GoodwinMJ So sad so many of the British Public, with a vote, think Reform is the answer with no idea what they would actually do as devoid of policies and filling up with failed Conservatives 🙄. Can we just leave it to the kids to vote. They know better...

New polling. Reform 31% Tories 21% Labour 19% Source - More in Common 10-13 January 2026

Never too late.. to donate... the Donkies 🫏 are fine, BetterTransport isn't... you know it makes sense... a brilliant charity we all need.

Warmest thanks to everyone who has donated to our Christmas appeal! If you would like to make a donation, you can still do so at this link, thank you: ow.ly/e6ZS50XN57Q

In our latest blog post, Jess writes: "I live in a village which has just one bus into town each day and one bus back. It's very precious to those of us who use it, but not many people do because it's so infrequent." Read more: bettertransport.org.uk/blog/buses-bri…