Friday 28 February: The Imperial War Museum has made a terrible error over its VC gallery

Posted on by Geoff Graham

An unofficial place to discuss the Telegraph letters, established when the DT website turned off its commenting facility (now reinstated, but we prefer ours),
Intelligent, polite, good-humoured debate is welcome, whether on or off topic. Differing opinions are encouraged, but rudeness or personal attacks on other posters will not be tolerated. Posts which – in the opinion of the moderators – make this a less than cordial environment, are likely to be removed, without prior warning.  Persistent offenders will be banned.

Today’s letters (visible only to DT subscribers) are here.

613 thoughts on “Friday 28 February: The Imperial War Museum has made a terrible error over its VC gallery”

  1. Good morning, chums. And thanks for the new site, Geoff. Alas, I failed to solve today's Wordle.

    Wordle 1,350 X/6

    ⬜🟩⬜⬜⬜
    ⬜🟩⬜⬜🟩
    ⬜🟩⬜⬜🟩
    ⬜🟩⬜⬜🟩
    ⬜🟩⬜⬜🟩
    ⬜🟩⬜⬜🟩

    1. I got there in the end. Knocked out pretty well all the alphabet with perfectly good words getting one hit.

    1. I have put sheep wool in my new outbuilding extension.

      The manufacturer says they use a patented moth repellent, and I have also clad the inside with Western Red Cedar boards, which also is supposed to repel moths.

      Millionaire homes prefer plasterboard though, which offers no protection.

      2. Rockfibre or glass fibre are better.
        If you like plasterboard, spend extra and fix plywood or 11mm OSB (oriented strand board) to the studding and then the plasterboard on top. That way you can hang shelves or pictures securely. Moth larvae like wool, and repellents will fade away in time, like the manufacturer's guarantee.

  9. Gotta love the guy!

    Quote of the day

    ‘Did I say that? I can’t believe I said that. Next question.'

    – Donald Trump when asked whether he still thought Volodymyr Zelensky is a 'dictator'.

    1. Zelensky's not the only professional actor and comedian to have been put in place as a world "leader"…

  11. Q- Which political party makes the best pancakes on Shrove Tuesday?

    A- Labour, they always get their battering done early

  13. https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/284ebd0f68a7fd31497649f8e9c8eb35cd4e3a19/0_0_7609_5073/master/7609.jpg?width=700&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=a9994a75c300739df0b80830e40ccfb8 Tidworth, England
    Fusilier Llewelyn II, the regimental goat, joins a soldier from the Tidworth-based 1st Battalion, the Royal Welsh, as they commemorate St David’s Day at Lucknow barracks. The fusiliers parade to honour the patron saint of Wales in a traditional ceremony and receive leeks, a national emblem of Cymru

  14. Morning all! Frosty & sunny here and we've got our view back! Our farmer neighbour has had the hedge cut for the first time in three years!

  15. Morning, all Y'all, and Happy Birthday to Jeremy Morfey and Per! Hope it's the best birthday yet!

    1. Thank you very much Obers . . . I am being taken on a day trip to a north Brittany seaside resort for a birthday treat. I will be back tomorrow.

      1. My favourite line in that film came from the Will Smith character who had just discovered that someone had stolen his blender. When the Hackman character asked why that was so important, Smith's character replied, "Some people work out … I blend!"

      1. Hugo Drax was the villain in 'Moonraker'. In the book he was building a rocket to defend England, based in the south coast. Unbeknownst to Bond and M, Drax is an ex-Nazi working for the Soviets. His Moonraker test flight has a couple of modifications from the original plan to splash down harmlessly in the North Sea; the landing zone is changed to London and he arms it with a nuclear warhead.

        Spoiler alert; Bond and his glamorous sidekick, Gala Brand, foil Drax plans and save the day.

  19. Inside the Texas supermax prison inspiring a revolution in British jails. 28 February 2025.

    Inmates have to earn their freedom through good behaviour at a penitentiary the Justice Secretary sees as a model for UK.

    Also known as a Texas Freebie for Ms Mahmood. This system would actually be a step back for UK prisoners who already enjoy early release automatically on sentence and when room is needed for Hate Speechers.

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/02/28/texas-supermax-prison-estelle-shabana-mahmood/#comment

  20. Could Trump be using a double bluff against Starmer over the Chagos islands deal.
    I bet Starmer was hoping that Trump would put a block on it, to get him off the hook.
    Now he has to go ahead with the mad scheme and look like the worlds worst leader, or climb down himself.
    Trump is always winning, whatever happens.

  21. Yo and God Moaning to you all, from a Warm and Sunny C d S.

    OAT, in the shade, is 15.5 Deg C

    Looke out of the window and Double Checked that I am in Skegland and not Spain.

    Solar panels charging

    3. What's more disgusting is the Tories started this. With the appalling police and crime quango they wanted an easy way to make their numbers up. Such should be shut down and dismantled. It was sheer politicisation of the police force. To use them as the authoritarian wing of the state.

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94veoCPi-y8

      1. He doesn't think he's lying. One of the things you always get from the Left is doublethink. Two Tier Kier steadfastly believes what he has done is righteous. He doesn't understand or care about the common sense view as long as his attitude says it is right.

    2. 402305+ up ticks,

      O2O,
      I believe the president could have shown more of his British heritage
      when handling someone with such an obvious maladjusted mindset.

    3. Thee idea of Two Tier Kier talking about freedom of expression and speech when he's been the most active in destroying it is laughable.

      But I honestly don't think he thinks – or realises what he is doing is wrong. I imagine in his warped mentality he genuinely believes he is righteous by blocking off one side of the argument entirely.

  27. Having lost my mother a fortnight ago, one thing I miss is having someone to grumble at about the world, and particularly about those I have to trust – professionals and governors especially – who turn out to be quite untrustworthy, but happy to charge me for being so. Not that she could do anything about it any more than I could.

    I quite often get the wish to ring her up, but then have to remind myself that she won't answer the phone any more. My sister and my brother are in the same boat. It reminds me of the elephants in Chester Zoo when they lose their matriarch.

    I picked up the remnants of my much-loved 2CV of thirty years, and saw for myself the thoughtless brutality of the workmen as they set about ripping out that old pile of junk, smashing windscreen and number plate, not bothering too much about nuts and bolts that I carefully scavenged and made fit over the years. They knew they could charge me customer prices for new, put it all on the bill and add the VAT, and if I wanted my car back in one piece, I would have to cough up. So I chose instead to have my car back in many pieces, and today's job is to sift through what I can salvage.

    When the transporter lady came to collect it, she stared at the ripped-out shell and asked "is that a car?". I said I drove there in it, which she could hardly believe.

    My stupid fault for trusting people, of course.

    Thanks for the birthday greetings! I am now a position in a sex manual, not that I can do this one alone.

    1. I'm sorry about your Mother, Jeremy. That's really hard. It took me forever to realise that there's no point in calling my Father and telling him something weird or whatever that had happened, or how his grandson was doing, as he died in 1997. There's bugger-all point in calling Mother now, as well, as she's away with the fairies, and often doesn't know who I am. One can, at least, tell NoTTlers and get an intelligent / insulting response.
      I'm sorry about your poor old 2CV, too. Many folk don't realise that cars have a soul, and so to deliberately injure it or treat it with disrespect "hurts" it – and especially when you went to all the effort to preserve the original parts.
      Take care, man. Don't be a stranger.

    3. HB JM, and Many Happy Returns!
      My condolences on the passing of your beloved mother. Did she reach the big round number?
      The clearing up can often hit you months later; when you glance at an old photo, or a scrawled signature on a folded letter, and say out loud, who was that? "But answer came there none."

    4. I keep thinking of things I want to mention to my father too. Nobody else cares about the weather to the same degree – except perhaps on NOTTL!

    5. My mother died in 1989 – it was a long time before I stopped thinking "must tell Mum I saw so & so"…. but I still miss her.

    6. Did you manage to replace the old 2CV with another one? I thought you said the other day you'd found one.

          1. Yes. I picked them up yesterday. Things going on right now are the sun visors, driver’s seat, door pockets, tow bar, roof, boot handle and speakers.

    7. Despite your problems, Jeremy, I hope you have an enjoyable and stress free day.
      Happy birthday.

    8. I'm truly sorry to hear of your mother's death. And to face the sting of the first birthday without her so soon – sympathies.

      I seem to have missed the day itself, so I shall.wish you a year to.come that is more.enjoyable than you fear.

  28. Giving away the islands requires a sensible explanation given their strategic position but the insane additional pay-off defies all logic considering this government's continual bleating about a £22Billion "black hole".

  29. Morning all 🙂😊
    Very frosty start but in bright sunshine.
    Lovely to see the sun again.
    I'm not sure what the terrible error by the Imperial War Museum is or was ?

  30. They have closed the Ashcroft exhibition of over 200 VCs and GCs without telling Lord Ashcroft.

  31. Well I am now back to eating normally. Yesterday was my colonography and largely it went well. But two days of following their strict diet is worth forgetting, together with the horrible elixir I had to drink to clear the works. Breakfast on Wednesday of just a boiled egg and bread and butter, followed by a lunch of salmon steak and more bread and butter – no I could not have an egg as well and, don't tell them, the steak was a bit bigger than their suggested 75gm. How I hate black tea but the Schlurr (wrongly picked a rose coloured one) and especially the two beef stock cubes you recommended helped a lot.

    My mate drove me down to Aldershot to the Centre of Health. It has a huge carpark, partly multi storey, run by one of the carpark companies. Despite being huge we took literally the last space. Camera grabs your registration number on entry then you pay when you exit, just £1.20 for two hours was the good bit. It is a modern building, I wonder if there was another hospital there once as it is on Hospital Hill.

    CT scans done, including the blowing you up with CO2 stuff (ugh) so we now just have to await the results. Straight into their cafe afterwards, a BLT and cuppa filled the hunger pangs nicely. Then bangers, spaghetti and egg when I got home.

    But thanks to all NOTTLers for the clear soup tips.

    1. It's never as bad as you might think it's going to be. Did you watch the adventure on the screen ?

      1. This was a colonography, ie CT scan, not colonoscopy, so no big screen to watch. Yes some lovely nurses, although a slight swear word appeared when she took the gas probe thing out and something else followed it…

    2. Sorry, I missed that, Dave, I had a colonography in December just gone. Vile drink to empty your guts. The only good thing was that it was a young lady who administered the gas and probe thing.

      1. My Dr is a very good-looking young lass, yet I'm terrified of the rubber-glove-and-extended-finger treatment…

    4. I'm glad it went well. Having had similar for ulcerous colitis I can sympathise.

      Eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we are not in hospital!

      1. I would say that both Ramadan and Lent are supposed to be about restraint and self-denial – observation rather than celebration.

  34. It seems to be part of Trump’s style to do this kind of thing in public without attempting to hide it. Thus he escapes being seen as a dishonest worm like the Biden crime family, whilst still being completely dishonest. Another example was the pump-and-dump meme coins issued around the inauguration and another example is making a virtue out of Musk’s antics when there is a colossal conflict of interest between the public sector that Musk’s bringing down, and Musk’s private companies.

  36. Victoria Sponge lives!!! She gets a mention in this report.

    The PM gave off the air of a nerd trying to cosy up to the school bully
    While the PM discussed Andrew Tate, Trump seemed more concerned with Sir Keir’s “beautiful” wife

    Madeline Grant
    PARLIAMENTARY SKETCHWRITER
    27 February 2025 9:37pm GMT

    “Mr Starmer goes to Washington” sounds like a straight-to-video offering you’d only find in the bargain bin at the Middle Temple Christmas Jumble Sale. Still, here we were; with the least predictable leader in the Western world meeting a Prime Minister who gives the impression that he uses a ruler to measure out his toothpaste.

    As Donald emerged from the White House, Starmer looked nervous, in the way that a sea snail might look if its journey across the bottom of the ocean floor were interrupted by an encounter with a Great White. Or in this case, a Great Orange. Trump grabbed his lapel and praised his suit. Over in a Covent Garden penthouse, Lord Alli did a little squeal of delight.

    A fireside chat, of sorts, followed. Actually the fire wasn’t on and they didn’t really chat at all. The PM gave off the air of a nerd trying to cosy up to the school bully. The president’s monologues were occasionally punctuated by rather pathetic squeaks of agreement from Starmer. Bizarrely, the topic on which Sir Keir managed to talk most during the entire bilateral was the fate of Andrew Tate and his brother. It’s an intellectual stretch to imagine Churchill/Roosevelt, Macmillan/JFK, even Blair and Bush discussing a pair of TikTok sex-pests. Not even just the main Tate brother either; Sir Keir had to mention the secondary one too, both Scrappy and Scooby. He looked more like he was passing a gallstone than comment.

    The president began a stream of consciousness about those he did like; Vladimir Putin, the Royal family, even Starmer’s own wife. Not, however, Sir Keir, who he simply reminded people he had met “multiple times”. By contrast King Charles was “a beautiful man, a wonderful man”. The press pack stared in silence as Trump ripped open his formal invitation from His Majesty, like a family watching rapt as a four-year old unwraps their presents on Christmas morning. Trump was enamoured of the monarch’s enormous Sharpie-pen signature, which he declared “very beautiful” before making sure that Sir Keir didn’t take it back home with him.

    Similarly, Trump was “very impressed” with Victoria Starmer, whom he described as a “beautiful, great woman”. There was a momentary sense that because he’d pulled a fittie, Starmer was now allowed to sit on the jock table. But not for long. Even when the subject was his own wife, Sir Keir barely managed a word in edgeways. This was a live action conversational cuckolding.

    US President Donald J Trump shows an invitation from Britain's King Charles inviting Trump to visit the United Kingdom
    The President was particularly impressed with King Charles’ signature, on an invitation to visit the UK Credit: CHRIS KLEPONIS/POOL/EPA-EFE/SHUTTERSTOCK
    That said, the most agonising part of the whole affair was probably when the PM did brave a lame attempt to butt into the conversation. “Whenever necessary we’ve absolutely backed each other up”, insisted Starmer. “Could you take on Russia by yourselves?” chipped in Trump. Starmer let out a startled giggle – doubtless the Kremlin will be terrified.

    It was particularly extraordinary to watch acclaimed Europhile Sir Keir having to genuflect, kiss the ring and nod along gamely as the president slagged off the mysterious organisation he referred to as “E-YU”. Sir Keir adopted the avowedly metrosexual pose of President Macron, perching daintily on the edge of his seat, legs crossed at the knee. He didn’t, however, manage to follow the French president’s lead in contradicting Mr Trump. Instead his interludes grew meeker and milder. When the president spoke of the Ukrainian death toll on the Ukrainian frontlines all we heard was “terrible numbers”, from Sir Database from the sideline.

    Yet, it wasn’t just a humiliation for Sir Keir and his gaggle of useless idiots. There were a few body-blows to the British self-esteem. “Will you be discussing AUKUS?” asked one reporter. “What does that mean?” said Trump. Things got worse when the Donald momentarily handed over to JD Vance, who went straight for the jugular by bemoaning “infringements on free speech” in the UK. “We’ve had free speech for a very, very long time” stuttered the PM. (“Had” being the operative word). Vance, ominously, vowed to discuss this further over lunch.

    Finally came the body-blow that, rather than save Britain from a self-inflicted moment of idiocy over the Chagos, Trump looked likely to “agree” with the deal. To call this a “joint” engagement would be like calling the relationship between Britain and America "special".

    *************************
    I Elliott
    10 hrs ago
    I feel sick, he has reduced the UK to a third rate comic show, Trump made Starmer look like the lackey he is.

    Gilly Holt
    10 hrs ago
    Reply to I Elliott
    Totally agree, embarrassing!

    stuart hay
    9 hrs ago
    I am embarrassed to be a uk national, that meeting today was a total humiliation.

    The way Starmer conducted himself the body language, fidgeting with his fingers, looking away and disinterested and being the eager beaver trying to get a word in edgeways reminds me of an intern just starting out in business, he looked like a total amateur.

    The wife and I were cringing watching it.

    Trump & Vance rubbing their hands going to eat him for breakfast.

    God help us when Vance gets tucked into Lammy.

    William Stewart
    5 hrs ago
    I have dual UK-US citizenship. The British have been brainwashed into believing they have a “special friendship” with the US. During WW2, FDR screwed Britain over Lend Lease and at Bretton Woods in 1944. It was why the UK went bankrupt in 1947 and had rationing until the 1950s. FDR wanted to break up the empire and saw Britain as America’s greatest rival. British PMs have tried to recreate this mythical non-existent friendship. That is the problem with learning history from newspaper hacks, they deal in myth. Starmer is humiliating Britain trying to pretend it is still a major geopolitical player. Those days ended during the Suez Crisis.

    4. Starmer is a weak man in the wrong job. He wants to be dealing with other bureaucrats poring over long boring matters of process and procedure. He's not a leader. He's a tedious middle manager.

  37. Reposted from late last night

    Friday 28th February, 2025

    Jeremy Morfey

    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/a3c54cda6c767bd18c8091c170c930763632625612a3b50e20535b3dc737e7c9.png https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/bffc9115e2d68b2fd8907098bf099c759a217fec2d7c3c0b8af7ed02ea36881f.png https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/d827fa8adcd43546b6d76d7d30aa7e86accd36ada4f968b141e57c1b5b4db3bf.png

    We hope you'll be singing many happy songs today!

    With best wishes,

    Caroline and Rastus.

  38. Good morning all.
    A beautiful bright start to the day but rather frosty despite the minimum overnight temperature recorded by the thermometer not quite going into negative figures! Current temperature was 0.7°C when I checked, but the overnight minimum was 0.1°!

    Not a lot planned for the day other than tidying up the smaller dead ash and overhanging goat willow that I dropped on Wednesday.
    Last day of February, so time to put this up:-
    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/3aa47919eae709ded0c6c08226bf47a6f1b6dc466ebe247f1ae6f2cbf772c825.png

    1. Very frosty here but a beautiful morning and we can see out again across the field. The hedge was so overgrown we couldn't see out at all from this side. All gone now.

  40. 'Happy Ramadan'? Isn't it supposed to be a period of fasting? You wouldn't wish someone a 'Happy Lent' or 'Happy Advent'. 'Happy Christmas' or 'Happy Easter' at the end of those periods, yes. But Ramadan consists of starving oneself during daylight hours and gorging when the sun goes down. That doesn't seem to be very spiritual to me.

    1. It's starve/binge the whole month. They have special food on sale and late night partying.
      Too extreme, too much of a public show of faith.

  41. It seems strange that London slammers have turned ramadan into a celebration. As I understand it, the event is a month of soul searching, devotion, and feeling the pain of the world's poor by fasting during the day. Christmas, for what it is worth these days, is a celebration of the birth of JC and maybe fancy lights are appropriate. In reality, I believe the slammers are trying to out do the Christian celebrations.

    3. Ramadan chocolate calendars for sale in my local shops, meanwhile I have to stop going jogging in the early morning during ramadan because of the number of young men hanging round at that time.

  42. Not really 'celebrating' Lent, as it is a period of fasting and reflection leading up to Easter.

    1. I think that the best day is Shrove Tuesday when we enjoy our pancakes, with syrup or else lemon juice and sugar.

  43. Good Morning!

    If you are not outraged at the blatant two-tier justice on display by the release of the violent left wing thug of an MP after spending only three days in clink, you jolly well ought to be. It’s cold outside, so read Two-tier justice on full display to get your blood boiling, and keep warm by writing an indignant comment or two.

    Thinking of buying an electric car or think you know all about them? Read Iain Hunter’s article You Want to Buy an Electric Car? before you buy or to learn things about them that you probably don’t know.

    Energy watch 07.30: Demand: 37.23 GW. Total UK Production: 32.53 GW from: Hydrocarbons 50.6%; Wind 9.4%; Imports 12.9%; Biomass 8.6; Nuclear 11.6. Solar: 0.3%.

    We are having to import almost 13% of our electricity, mostly from France despite UK having the capacity to produce all of current demand from our own gas powered stations. It’s almost as if there’s a secret deal to take France’s excess capacity.

    freespeechbacklash.com

    1. Imports from France are deemed to be 'nuke' and carbon free whereas using our own CCGT is a naughty source. We pay over the odds so that Ed Millitwat can have some delusional bragging rights at the next conference he attends.

      1. Exactly. But while French imports are classed as low carbon, other imports are classed as ‘other’ and don’t show on the carbon record. We often even import from France while exporting to it. Summat else going on I suspect.

      2. Why then don't we build micro reactors here? Thorium salt mini reactors deployed en masse, offering local residents free energy for siting would be a simple solution.

    2. Notably the imports and windmills are costing us far more than building power stations locally.

      A rational approach would be to build nuclear coal and gas power stations and use gas for home heating (as it's far more efficient and flexible than electrical heating).

    2. Meh, it is just another psyop. First, the alleged list of names has been on the internet for years and secondly it's hardly likely to be truth, more like a list of those who have been cleared to be thrown under the bus! But it distracts the population nicely and keeps alternative media busy.

  45. Are they so self-centred and dumb that they think people do not see what they are up to? No need to answer that!

  51. I'm not particularly a Trump fan, but he has his moments!
    Mind you, Starmer is a target the size of a barn door.

  52. Majority of Labour Cabinet Tried to Block Trump Coming to UK as Starmer Offers State Visit

    Downing Street and the lobby hacks are spinning Starmer’s meeting with Trump in DC as resounding victory. Though as Guido pointed out last night, Trump didn’t rule out UK tariffs, JD Vance clashed with Starmer over free speech and Trump made a joke about whether Britain could defend itself against Russia “on its own”. The President even took a swipe at the PM—cutting him off mid-answer with a blunt “that’s enough”…

    To curry favor with the President, Starmer made much noise about offering Trump a second State visit with the King—something he repeatedly called “unprecedented.” Though back in 2017, Labour’s then-shadow ministers tried to block Trump from speaking in Parliament. The majority of the current Cabinet signed that Early Day Motion:

    David Lammy. He said he would be “on the streets” if Trump ever came to the UK, vowing to chain himself to the door of Number 10 in protest…
    Angela Rayner.
    Yvette Cooper.
    Shabana Mahmood.
    Jonathan Reynolds.
    Peter Kyle.
    Lisa Nandy.
    Hilary Benn.
    Ian Murray.
    Jo Stevens.
    Lucy Powell.
    Wes Streeting.
    Wes Streeting was out on the media round today saying he won’t be blocking Trump’s visit again, though coyly admitted on GB News not everyone “agrees” with it. Co-conspirators will remember Starmer and his top team’s long history of anti-Trump rhetoric. Quite the change of tune now…

    February 28 2025 @ 08:42

    **********************************

    Pookie
    25m
    Anyone who thinks this visit was a triumph is smoking something strong. Trumps repeated condescending comments that Starmer "worked very hard" and "earned his salary" over lunch are condescending and speak of a supplicant desperately trying to suck up.
    Just because Trump said nice things in front of the press does not mean that he will do nice things. He clearly thinks that Starmer is a weak man, and will take full advantage.

    The Lotus Eater
    15m
    I wonder if anyone has pointed out to Keith:

    The reference to your suit was about Lord Alli.

    The reference to your accent was about your voice coach.

    The reference to Churchill was about you removing the portraits.

    The reference to your wife is because she’s left you.

    1. What a real embarrassment that shower are – I thought Reynolds would be gone by now for claiming to be a solicitor? Thanks to the Lotus Eater – I missed that but it seems credible, at the very least!

    1. They do Oberst. Which is why they would rather import than produce by gas, also paying to have gas powered stations on standby – the worst of both worlds.

  54. I will be absent today. I am being taken on a day trip to Perros Guiroc in North Brittany for a birthday treat. I will not be able to acknowledge your felicitations so I will thank you all now. THANK YOU. See you tomorrow.

    8. Excellent. You probably won't notice that I missed your actual birthday, then… 🤣🤣

      Hope.you had a great day.

      Katy x

  55. Starmer is a supplicant. US tariffs on UK goods and services would do incredible harm to our already tax crippled economy. While I doubt Starmer is bothered by this as he makes someone else pay for everything the simple truth is he's desperate to get back in with the EU but Trump has him over a barrel on trade.

    Starmer will, of course make the wrong decision thinking he can outfox the US but economics will out. Markets are already forcing our our energy prices to stratospheric levels. The tax and waste economic policies are doing irreparable harm to jobs – by the end of their term over a million jobs will be lost – not just directly but indirectly as well, further destroying local economies.

    The state will respond as it always does, by hiking taxes. It knows nothing else. It is an immature, petty, petulant and fundamentally stupid system whereby gormless, weak, unintelligent people continue to cause the same problems over and over again and respond to those problems by actively pursuing the same policies that caused them.

    1. "Starmer will, of course make the wrong decision thinking he can outfox the US …"
      Trump will make mincemeat of Starmer; without much effort, he will chew him up and spit him out. Starmer may think he is smart, but …….

  56. Ramadan is starve/binge which is very different from the quiet six week restraint demanded by Lent.

  59. Khan and his ilk are desperately trying to make the UK like the toilet they came from. If he wants to promote a foreign nonsense then he can do that from his own money.

    Sadly though, London is far too heavily muslim – it's a polluted, filthy city. Welfare dependence is rife and Khan the most visible example of that.

  60. When I moved I thought 'I'd like to ask my Dad…' and realised I couldn't. There was no one there to ask what to ask, to tell me what I didn't know. Lots of friends offered to help us move but I'm idiotic and independent and thought to sort it on my own: and we moved during the week so ruled out folk helping.

    On the car – find a proper restorer garage who will care about your car for what it is, because they don't just 'fix' the problem, they actually give a stuff about the character and history of the vehicle.

  62. Another wonderful example of the envy of the world…..

    A neighbour has a problem with his nose/sinuses. He managed to see a GP (wow) who said he needed an operation. Before that, he needed a scan and the GP referred him to the Norwich hospital for scan etc.

    He has not heard anything so rang the hospital. The waiting list for scans is SIXTY WEEKS. Trevor is at week 25…….

    Makes yer proud, eh?

    1. Good grief. that's shocking.
      I am waiting for an appointment for a liver scan. Apparently, I should also get a letter from a 'specialist.' Just over 2 weeks, so I won't hold my breath for any progress. May opt to go private, as I had some discomfort today.

  65. Don't bank on a reply. My useless MP does not respond to letters which he doesn't care for.

  67. SIR – Dr Penny Dash, the incoming chair of NHS England, is quoted as saying: “I’m very well networked in the system. I go back to data – data, data, data” (report, February 27).

    Apart from wondering what that first sentence means, I would like to know if she remembers that all those lovely numbers are actual people.

    Dr Hilary Aitken
    Kilmacolm, Renfrewshire

    Hmmm ,

    Another socialist schill, don't yah think?

    Dr Penny Dash, the Government’s preferred choice for the role, told MPs on Wednesday she was a “strong person” with “lots of ideas” as she was questioned over the direction of the NHS and her plans.

    She appeared before the Commons health and social care committee for scrutiny before the confirmation of her appointment to the role, which has a three-day week and a salary of £63,000 a year.

    A three day week, for £63k a year..

    The NHS doesn't need another part timer on a gross salary

    1. Good morning PM, from a frosty part of Dorset .

      Well , this song is now a dead duck .

      If you're Irish come into the parlor,
      There's a welcome there for you;
      If your name is Timothy or Pat,
      So long as you come from Ireland,
      There's a welcome on the mat,
      If You come from the Mountains of Mourne,
      Or Killarney's lakes so blue,
      We'll sing you a song and we'll make a fuss,
      Whoever you are you are one of us,
      If you're Irish, this is the place for you!

      2. My grandad and uncle used to sing that to me when I were nobbut a sprog.

        As well as countless other WWI songs.

      3. Revived…

        If you're Irish come and meet Allah,
        There's a welcome there for you;
        If your name is Timothy or Pat,
        So long as you come from Ireland,
        There's a welcoming Prayer mat,
        If You come from the Mountains of Mourne,
        Or the Kill army's boys in blue,
        We'll sing you a song and we'll make a fuss,
        Whoever you are you are one of us,
        If you're Irish, this is the place for you!

    2. Absolute disgrace – how can you let unvetted people, many of who probably have no papers, into the police and military!? No idea of who they are, or what they might have done?

    4. It's only a question of time – I'm surprised S Kan hasn't instructed the Met to do the same…..

    5. To be sure, are these Micks so tick as to not realise what is going on?

      A more blatant attempt to appease their WEF masters I've never seen. Meself.

  69. "We are the hollow men" from T.S. Eliot's poem of the same name means that the speaker and those they represent are spiritually empty, devoid of meaning, and lack any substantial identity, essentially describing a state of profound inner emptiness and moral apathy.

    Listening to Wes Streeting ,Starmer, the ginger one , and the thief from no 11, their flat boring voices are empty and hollow .

    Their apathy is telling.

      1. 402305+ up ticks,

        Morning G,
        Not saying a great deal good about the English either, we are in a,I consider, worse state.

    1. I'd just like them to fit in, calmly, quietly. To adopt our laws, mores and customs, not demand special treatment and just behave decently as Britons.

      That means they'd have to throw away the nonsense of muslim.

    2. 402305+ up ticks,
      Morning Bob,
      I see nout wrong with using a touch of the old patter, I do believe it is justifiable to counter high blood pressure.

    4. My next door neighbour's sister died on a plane – she was only 50 – returning from a holiday. Not such a long trip as that one. I didn't ask where they put her body for the rest of the flight.

      1. Thank you for this. So climate change and Net Zero are political figments and have no tangible evidence to support them? So where are our highly paid Government scientists on this? All in Government involved with the climate change scam should be made to read this, as should every Government and local politician.

  78. I would not be surprised – who could live in intimacy with such an odious man? – but is there any evidence that Starmer's wife has actually left him?

  79. So, the hugely profitable and subsidised Drax wood burner might not be such a good idea?? Who'd a thort it??

  82. Where will all these trees be planted? Most of the earth's surface is covered in buildings/concrete/asphalt.
    Where will the water come from? Mostly captured for said buildings & industry. Or, is desert.

    1. "Most of the earth's surface is covered in buildings/concrete/asphalt." is hyperbole of the highest order. Vast expanses of the Earth's surface remain untouched by construction of any kind. Even densely populated England's land area is, by a long way, not mostly covered in buildings/concrete/asphalt.

      https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/06c593ba39788abe705c8aa7951e417178003c1826da73591d8a5d3d0454556c.png
      https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/land-use-in-england-2022/land-use-statistics-england-2022

    2. I think you meant to say, "Big chunks of the developed world are covered in building/concrete/asphalt.", didn't you, Paul?

  83. I think what hit me was when the daughter of my mother’s best friend asked if I had a photo of the two of them together. It seemed to be last week when we visited her in Alvechurch and then went to a restaurant together near Redditch. Turns out this was in 2013. When this friend died, I felt that my mother’s attachment to Worcestershire was drawing to a close, and all my best memories go back to that period. The years in London during and after Lockdown were just marking time, waiting to die, and seem to have vanished from all our lives.

    After my mother was diagnosed with a serious heart condition and said her big farewells to everyone, I took to keeping every message she left on my voicemail in case this was the last. “Hello Jeremy, are you there? I expect you’re out in the garden”.

    I think there was a scene from ‘One Foot in the Grave’ where Margaret’s mother kept leaving messages on voicemail, but by the time the Meldrews picked them up, she was dead. That series ended a quarter of a century ago.

    1. Even if it’s expected the death of your mother always hits hard. I didn’t get on with mine, but even so, I was surprised how much it affected me, despite its being the result of terminal cancer.

  84. Good Moaning.

    "The sun has got his hat on hip-hip-hip hooray
    The sun has got his hat on
    And he's coming out today
    Now we'll all be happy
    Hip-hip-hip hooray
    The sun has got his hat on
    And he's coming out today"

    I won't sing the next verse hip hip hooray.
    It's so unwoke that there'd be hell to pay.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDIpkz6DOi8

  85. Thanks very much for that an excellent read that explains much
    "They" really don't like humanity much do they??

    1. It must have been hard to find enough people with IQ's lower than Lammy's to form a guvunmunt

          1. This presupposes that the majority of the parliamentary Labour Party are even dimmer than Lammy is.🤣

            Let's face it: he managed to acquire a senior governmental post (one of the great offices of state) when the rest failed to.

  88. All a long time ago….we lived in a nice little brick & flint cottage in Appleshaw, just outside Andover for a few months while he was at PD. Rent was £16 per calendar month in 1969. The owner was a LT Col.

  89. Oh dear – predictably the BBC comments on the cringe-worthy performance by TTK in his meeting with President Trump are sycophancy for Keir, tempered by TDS. Much comment on fearing for "our" world class NHS and [have they not been paying attention] the threat to our farmers from any agreement with Trump? How many of our farmers will survive Rachel from complaints' ideas on Inheritance Tax? Much more drivel – quite nauseating.

  90. For some reason the mainstream media appears to be spinning for Starmer over his meeting with Trump, even those that don't usually side with the WEF.
    Not sure what all this gaslighting is for.

    2. The Downing Street Press Lobby like travelling on StarmerJet1 direct from Andrews Air Force Base MD to RAF Northolt. Good in-flight meals and chatting with the twits in HMG. They don't dare dis them or they won't get an invitation for the next trip.

        1. Just look at them, K. When you last see a proper journalist ask a politician a difficult question?

          1. Good point but I still believe a meal and a flight is selling themselves very cheaply. Might typing "selling themselves" give the wrong impression?

          2. On GBNews last night, Patrick Christys was quizzing Christopher Hope who was part of the pack on this trip to the White House. Drippy Hope was obviously star-struck and revealing all sorts of nonsense.

  91. The main threat to our farmers comes from TTK, Reeves and the 'climate catastrophe'. Who's going to buy the US chicken – chlorine washed and stuffed with chemicals?

      1. Does that explain the Obesity epidemic in the states – rare beef steaks pumped full of growth promoters?

  93. Everything in this country is now an industrial scale scam.
    If only we could resurrect Lady Thatcher to put a stop to this nonsense.

  97. Checkmate!…Boris Spassky, who has died aged 88 was among the finest chess players of the 20th century….

  98. I don’t understand how people decide to down vote comments. Last night there was an article on the DT website ‘I literally died laughing – are you guilty of everyday hyperbole.’

    Someone btl made a comment that unique means there is only one, so you can’t say something is quite unique or very unique. One of the meanings of quite is ‘to the utmost or absolute extent’. So I pointed this out and there are five down ticks. How?

    2. Alternative meanings to words are lost/forgotten through everyday usage.

      Take mandate for example, it is now mostly used to mean one is being forced/commanded to do something yet the alternative, which is much less frequently used, is the permission to do something if one chooses meaning .

    3. I don't downvote here as it's not our style. But I have been known to on other sites if I disagree but can't be bothered to say why, especially if others have already voiced my opinion.
      As for unique – that's what it means, so any qualifier is superfluous.

    5. Because someone didn't like you knowing more than they did, for pointing out their ignorance and out of fear, they responded with anger rather than improving.

    7. They probably think it's allowable twisting of the language for effect – can't remember the technical term for that.
      I am generally a fan of being creative with English for effect, but "very unique" does always grate a bit. "Completely unique" sounds OK though, and it means more or less the same thing, so it really is about perception!

  99. Per is a common male first name in Scandinavian countries, it is not abbreviated.
    It is the equivalent of Peter and Pierre.

    1. Things might have been different should he have been sitting in an EV whilst charging it – there might have been some virgins on offer!

    2. If I were less of a git I would argue that it's people blowing themselves up – muslim just gives them an excuse to do it. Yet that's the problem – they have the excuse and they're in this country, they're given everything and they still carry out these atrocities.

      Until they can behave they can't be allowed to be here. That means no more muslim.

  101. Annelise Dodds resigns – (Minister for Foreign Aid, or summat like that)

    All 'her' money will be going to Mauritius as part of Chagos deal so she's got nothing left. Not much brain either.

  102. Copied from F/B

    Why has the King allowed himself to be used by Starmer on the world’s stage in America. So much for impartiality. Very disappointing your Royal Highness. A private invitation would have been sufficient.

    1. Your Majesty.
      Was Chuck expecting Stoma to flourish it in front of the cameras or was that the feeble waving of a political worm?

      1. That vignette was excruciatingly embarrassing. Stoma is totally clueless and crude. Chuck won't openly complain but Camilla will be falling about with laughter.

        I like your phrase 'waving of a political worm'

      2. It would have served Starmer right if Trump had placed the letter in his pocket and said "I'll read it later".

    2. To be precise: as PoW, Charles was Royal Highness. Now, with the loss of his Mother, he has been promoted to His Majesty.

  104. Darren Grimes

    @darrengrimes_
    Starmer just admitted Britain is being taken for a ride—again!

    When Trump was talking about Ukraine, he made it clear: America has been giving away billions and getting nothing in return—but that’s about to change with a minerals deal. Then up pipes Keir Starmer to proudly declare that Britain’s billions were a gift!

    So, let’s get this straight—while others are looking out for their national interests, securing deals, and making sure their money isn’t wasted, Britain is just handing over taxpayer cash with no expectation of anything in return?

    Starmer isn’t negotiating for Britain—he’s grovelling. No wonder our country keeps getting mugged off on the world stage.
    12:18 AM · Feb 28, 2025
    ·
    384.2K

    Maria H-G
    @abparchitects
    ·
    5h
    100% correct.

    #UK 🇬🇧 gets mugged off on the world stage because our politicians like to come across as wonderful, generous and caring and then they come and personally mug us off so they can continue with their virtue signalling.
    Alison Parr
    @Uptotherewithit
    ·
    2h
    Maybe the people of our country should have a gift! How about lower taxes, housing our homeless, giving all Government contracts to UK companies, resurfacing our roads and guarding our borders?

    1. It's reached a point where I can't feel any more loathing for Starmer and his henchmen and, of course, his henchwomen i.e. those born with a cervix.

      1. Oh, I don’t know. He will no doubt dream up something even more vile and you will surprise yourself how much more hatred you can manage.

    2. None of them have worked in the real world. Be better if the Cabinet worked a market stall over summer.
      As student I had about 9 stalls over London. Near Portabello you learned to cream off the takings around five O'clock when the blacks would relieve you of the days' takings.
      "They wouldn't do that.." screams Anneliese Dodds

      1. You are so lucky to to that with your gadget, my phone scares me , it loses power so quickly and the pics are not all that great .

        Your flower photos are lovely .

        Clouding over here , very grey, as I always say sun before seven , rain after eleven .

        1. My phone's a Samsung – the camera is quite good but I'm not too good at using it! I only need to charge the phone every couple of days though as the battery lasts quite well. I've had this one five years now, so it does run down quicker than it used to.

      1. The daffs have only opened in the last day or two. The crocus have been out for some time and a lot have keeled over now.

        2. I bought a bunch of cut daffodils from Aldi a day or so ago and they are coming out beautifully. Unfortunately the ones in my garden are struggling to start because of the cold temperatures.

          1. I find Aldi’s flowers are long-lasting and the prices are reasonable. I like having flowers in the house. I suppose I was brought up with it; my father grew flowers for the house.

  107. These are taken on my little Canon compact which I got in 2012! It got a dunking in our pond and survived!
    I find the phone camera rather hard to focus. It does take good pics though. When I was in Kenya I just let the guides use my phone while I concentrated on using my camera. Quite a few of the ones I've shared on Fb are phone pics – including the cover pic of Umoja the elephant with Kilimanjaro in the background.

    1. I find with camera phone the switch needs a quick dab; any longer and it goes into video mode.

  109. Earlier, Wibbers posted the speech from 'V for Vendetta'. Taken on its own, it's an everyman's speech. Unfortunately, the film's makers had a very particular view of what constitutes state oppression and how it would come about. Wki describes the plot thus:

    In the near future, Britain is ruled by the ultranationalist Norsefire political party, a fascist and totalitarian regime led by High Chancellor Adam Sutler, which controls the populace through propaganda and imprisons or executes those deemed undesirable, including immigrants, homosexuals, and people of alternative religions.

    John Hurt as Adam Sutler, the former Conservative Member of Parliament and Under-Secretary for Defence. High Chancellor Sutler is the founder of Norsefire and is Britain's authoritarian elected leader.

    Today, people are imprisoned for what they say as much as what they do. I wonder if the producers and financiers would dare to produce a film about today's suppression of the people as their once peaceful and stable country rots from the inside.

    Left, right, left, right, left, right…really? What's the difference when we're all regarded as small pieces of crap to be flushed away?

    1. It's a parallel that it's those now who speak out against the promotion and proliferation of [the diversity]. It's a hard left government here, yet V for Vendetta (and other such programming – Robocop, for example) promote that evil is capitalism or such but in the real world oppression is solely, completely Left wing. Right minded folk just don't think that way until it's forced on us.

    1. I found Trump saying 'that's enough' and moving on, utterly hobbling Starmer's dribbling waffle delightful. If Trump respected him he wouldn't have stopped him, or would have engaged. Instead the fascist Lefty was simply silenced.

  114. A chum pointed out that as our customers have similar 'ready by' dates then necessarily they will have failures around the same time.

    We've put more warranty info together to tell people when a box is out of spec and when disks are aging. Otherwise we'll have another 2 months like that last one.

  116. Thinking about it now the Starmer stunt with the Royal letter prop was a brilliant manoeuvre by the King.
    Using Starmer as a Tabellarius was a master stroke.
    Just imagine the cost of posting that letter, the carbon footprint, it saved Charles the expense of the stamp too.

  117. Thinking about it now the Starmer stunt with the Royal letter prop was a brilliant manoeuvre by the King.
    Using Starmer as a Tabellarius was a master stroke.
    Just imagine the cost of posting that letter, the carbon footprint, it saved Charles the expense of the stamp too.

  118. This appalling govt. that we have at present. Whose ministers are riddled from top to bottom by contradiction, by misunderstanding, by wishful thinking, by appalling policies.

    Confused Anneliese Dodds????
    Anneliese Dodds has quit as international development minister over the decision to cut overseas aid to fund a boost to defence spending.

      1. Blower, in the DT, does my favourite cartoon caricature of her. Having said that, she looks even more like a rat in reality than she does in the cartoon.

    3. Whether or not you agree with her stance, her resignation is an honourable one if she profoundly disagrees with either how the boost to defence spending is to be funded or with the boost itself. Some would stay in office and pretend to agree with the policy in public.

  119. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/119c89352a609f3b80916967ac9586362f56ac9a6be7260e5b9fd50f02b63e59.png https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/e233230fb4a365649f6fcbc3e6130841341d263acb7426d7c03e34e4e25eca76.png Where's Philip? Just been to the butcher's to collect an order of pork.

    One large piece of belly pork, 500mm x 260mm [19¾" x 10¼"] weighing 5,174g [11lb–6½oz]. Price: SEK667·40 [£49·27].

    Also three large sheets of pork rind (for crackling), weighing 2,991g [6lb–9½oz]. Price: SEK149·20 [£11·02].

    I didn't have a proper birthday celebration, with guests, last week so it has been postponed for 1 month. I have cut up the lion's share of that pork belly as I intend to roast a porchetta for the party. That piece weighs 3,467g [7lb–10¼oz]. The rest has been cut into two decent sized portions for other meals, anon.

    The pork rind has been cut into 13 portions for making crackling, as and when required. It is now all in the freezer (except for one sheet of rind which will dry out in the fridge for a couple of days before roasting into crackling).

        1. I'm just trying to get a handle on collective Canadian thinking. Maybe they think the Liberals will stand up to Trump while the Conservatives would merely appease him. Just conjecture on my part.

        2. Half of Canadians hate Trump just because he exists, another half are opposed to Trump calling for Canada to become the fifty first state and the final half are completely passed at Trumps interference giving Trudeau and the liberals a lifeline for retaining power.
          All of the ducks were lined up to vote Trudeau out but the 51st state / tariffs clown allowed Trudeau to change the agenda away from their record and redirect everyone towards fighting Trump.

          2. Funny that. You'd almost think the Americans wanted another weak, hardline WEFer as Canadian president.

    2. They are in love with Carney, it is a Trudeau is going swing.

      Some very careful control of media is being done to protect Carney and isolate him from current liberal programs. Several almost viable alternate liberal leaders have been expelled from the liberals leadership competition for very doubtful reasons, the established liberal elite really want him as PM.

      A few big oopsies from Carney are being exposed now and even being discussed in the media.

      1. Do you rate this article in today's DT?

        Mark Carney’s bid to rule Canada was buoyed by Trump – a scandal risks ruining his plans

        Claims of lies by the former Bank of England governor threaten to derail his surging campaign.

        Matt Oliver
        Industry Editor
        28 February 2025 1:00pm GMT
        Matt Oliver

        https://telegraph.co.uk/gift/40bf68a467784205
        (Non-subscribers should be able to open this link)

        1. BTL:

          Andy Thatcher
          1 hr ago
          God help Canada if this charlatan ever becomes PM.

          He is a DAVOS, open borders, NetZero by force, nutcase that will ruin Canada as surely as the traitor Trudeau.

          He was behind the idea for freezing bank accounts for truck drivers who objected to lockdown.

          The threat from these 'liberal fascists' has not gone away at all.

          Ged Hurst
          1 hr ago
          I pity Canada if they end up with this globalist weasel. He’ll be as bad as the present incumbent and that is really bad.

          David Harper
          1 hr ago
          We wouldn't know what Pollievre thinks here in Canada because the MSM only talks about how wonderful Carney is. The CBC needs him if they want to keep their jobs. Carney takes credit for his time as Governor of Bank of Canada but the truth is banking rules saved us. All he did was lower interest rates like every other Governor. Elite and arrogant. Trudeau 2.0.

        2. BTL:

          Andy Thatcher
          1 hr ago
          God help Canada if this charlatan ever becomes PM.

          He is a DAVOS, open borders, NetZero by force, nutcase that will ruin Canada as surely as the traitor Trudeau.

          He was behind the idea for freezing bank accounts for truck drivers who objected to lockdown.

          The threat from these 'liberal fascists' has not gone away at all.

          Ged Hurst
          1 hr ago
          I pity Canada if they end up with this globalist weasel. He’ll be as bad as the present incumbent and that is really bad.

          David Harper
          1 hr ago
          We wouldn't know what Pollievre thinks here in Canada because the MSM only talks about how wonderful Carney is. The CBC needs him if they want to keep their jobs. Carney takes credit for his time as Governor of Bank of Canada but the truth is banking rules saved us. All he did was lower interest rates like every other Governor. Elite and arrogant. Trudeau 2.0.

        3. It is a fairly accurate account of the state of this world. Carney will be blessed as the new liberal leader and he will be PM in a week or two. His standing as a non MP will make it easy to hide him from direct questioning because he will not sit in the house and the media have been well paid to follow the liberal line.

          The liberals have been doing their best to make Poilievre out to be Trump light and at the moment Trump and his tariffs are a very bad association to have . They might be fiscally incompetent but they are very politically astute and have turned Trudeaus brash arguments about Canada being a post nation state with no history into very nationalist mob who are boycotting US made goods. The media have also been very helpful in turning attention away from ongoing scandals – USAID has nothing compared to Canadian spending.

          Not just little porkies about Brookfield, Carney has been caught out for giving completely different statements in Quebec and BC. No doubt more will be uncovered.

          Who knows what will happen when it comes to an election and he finally comes up against hard questions during leaders debates.

          I have been in the US for the past month, people down here might agree with Trumps general approach but they are mighty annoyed at much that is happening and the threat of tariffs really has them worried about prices. We are in a tourist area, the lack of Canadians spending their money down here has been noticed and they realize that it will only get worse as more Canadians are able to cancel holiday trips without penalties.

          Seriously, if by some chance that crew of lefties get back in, I am wondering where to move to.

  121. Afternoon, all. Lovely sunny day here, but cold in the shade. I have managed to remove the old obelisk, cut out the dead wood from the clematis and assemble a new obelisk. It wasn’t cheap, but what a flimsy shoddy item! I can’t see it lasting long.
    What has the IWM done to its VC gallery? Gone woke and removed all those won by whitey?

    1. They are proposing to close the Lord Ashcroft VC Gallery which he donated 5Mn to as well as lending his collection of VC and GCs, I don't know if the loan will continue as the IWM will scatter the collections around other sites in due course.
      Lord Ashcroft is not a happy man

      1. Hopefully if Lord Ashcroft "lent" his collections he can reclaim them and offer them to a museum not staffed by winkers!

  123. Well, it was nice in the garden in the sun – but there is still a chilly edge to the north wind. G & P don't seem to notice it – and have been exploring the garden – and biffing each other!

    Time to sit back and think … not very much.

    1. Fog just rolled in here – very unusual to get fogs at home here. Can't see across the valley, just 2-3 hundred metres.

      2. On an early morning drive to work recently, I came up a hill and out of the pitch black fog, to be greeted by a perfect pre-sunrise sky with a golden cresent moon hanging low down in the south east.

  124. British businesses must be ready to let their people join the Army. 28 February 2025.

    This week’s increase in defence spending is a tacit admission that the size of the stick wielded by the United Kingdom has become smaller than it should have been in recent decades.

    Against a globally uncertain backdrop, and with the transatlantic alliance being tested, it is imperative that the UK does everything within its power to shore up defences at home, too.

    The Prime Minister’s first duty is the security of the nation. As war rages in Europe, it is crystal clear that more must be done, and quickly.

    What indigenous Brit with an ounce of Common Sense would sign up to the UK’s Armed Forces? The Civilian Power hates us all. We are misogynist, racist xenophobes who are beneath contempt. They would sacrifice us without a moment’s hesitation. If we survived we would be prosecuted and vilified for carrying out their orders. Let them find people more agreeable to their tastes. This process has already begun. Let them keep it.

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2025/02/28/businesses-must-be-ready-to-let-their-people-join-the-army/#comment

      1. Especially if you may be dragged through the courts when you are in your seventies and eighties.

    2. At least they are looking at adding more people in the services. In this weeks Canadian liberal leadership debate, one of the candidates suggested that forces salaries should be doubled and that would be enough to take defence spending up to the magical two percent of GDP.

    3. "They would sacrifice us without a moment’s hesitation."

      I'm sure the idea of conscripting young white trash males to be fed into the mincer has crossed the minds of more than one or two in the Cabinet. What better way to send a warning about Southport-style demonstrations…

    4. They'd love to get white working class young men out of the way during any unrest caused by the financial reset.

        1. He has not been outside since he moved here. We live on a fairly busy road so we have decided to keep him in until we can let him out, slowly, in the spring, to get his bearings.
          In his former home he was out whenever he wished to go out but that was a remote farm cottage, in the middle of a field, a good 200 yards from the road.

        1. Indeed he has. If he sees me carrying a cup, or a dish, he begs to be shown what is in it. After a quick sniff he decides it’s not for him and walks off.

  129. Good riddance to Anneliese Dodds, the minister without sense

    In a Government of non-entities, Dodds was perhaps the most invisible of all

    Stephen Pollard
    28 February 2025 2:00pm GMT

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/opinion/2025/02/28/TELEMMGLPICT000414243388_17407503934290_trans_NvBQzQNjv4BqpVlberWd9EgFPZtcLiMQf0Rf_Wk3V23H2268P_XkPxc.jpeg?imwidth=960 Dodds failed to distinguish herself in Government Credit: Lucy North/PA

    It is perhaps unfair to pose of Anneliese Dodds’ resignation as International Development Minister the oft-cited philosophical question: if a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?

    It is a rare thing now for a minister to resign on a matter of principle, all the more so in a Government which appears not to have any principles beyond the occupation of office. In that context, Dodds deserves some credit.

    But in every other context her resignation is of almost no consequence. First, because Dodds is herself of almost no consequence. And second – more importantly – because her reasoning for doing so is completely wrong.

    Anneliese Dodds is one of those MPs in all parties whose rise to the top is almost inexplicable. The story is told that she was appointed shadow Chancellor in Keir Starmer’s first shadow Cabinet 2020 because he had enjoyed talking to her on a long car journey. It was certainly difficult at the time to think of any other credible reason, given her unspectacular political history. Her shadow Chancellorship was quickly taken from her after the party’s poor showing in Hartlepool.

    She then bounced from shadow Secretary of State for Women and Equalities to Minister for International Development upon the party taking power. The move was generally considered a demotion, blamed perhaps on her car-crash performance on Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour where she failed to define womanhood. Emma Barnet, clearly exasperated by her failure to answer what should have been a perfectly simple question, then reminded her that she was the shadow Minister for Women and Equalities.

    Dodds’ sterling determination to ignore reality has brought her some benefits. It was reported this week by the Times that she turned up at the Government’s first Cabinet meeting last July even though she was only a Minister of State. Apparently nobody had the heart to tell her she shouldn’t be there, so she stayed and kept coming.

    Starmer’s apparent decision to keep her in the dark on his new defence priorities show precisely how little weight he placed on the importance of her Government position. As such, her resignation is unlikely to provoke much soul-searching in No. 10. The West faces an existential threat from Russia and China, a threat that exists almost entirely because we have shown ourselves to be unwilling to defend ourselves and our allies. The Prime Minister understands hard decisions will have to be made to ensure our protection. A shame, then, the question was never asked of Dodds: “which department should we cut to fund defence – education or health?”

    ******************

    Mike Routhorn
    56 min ago
    We can't afford foreign aid and spare me the tears about 'soft power'.

    The government borrows billions each month and our pensioners are freezing.

    Priorities.

    Mike Page
    48 min ago
    Reply to Mike Routhorn
    "Foreign aid" is mainly bribes. edited

    2. I have always felt rather sorry for her. After all she cannot help having the face she does have.

    3. Foreign aid is feeding Africans to breed more and more Africans who need feeding on more and more foreign aid, it's the nearest thing to a perpetual motion machine that socialism has discovered.

  131. GB News wins legal battle over Jacob Rees-Mogg show
    Ofcom wrong to accuse former MP of breaking broadcasting code, High Court rules
    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2025/02/28/gb-news-defeats-ofcom-legal-battle-over-jacob-rees-mogg/

    BTL

    Just as Private Eye once set out to be a thorn in the side of the Establishment so GB News pricks the complacency of those with authority who practise mendacity over the truth.

    What a shame then that Mr Hislop has completely lost his satirical edge and is now on the side of the Establishment and against GB News.

    1. He took the BBC shilling with HIGNFY, Rastus. Long long time since PE was any relevance. RIP Paul Foot.

  133. Miraculous, Rene! I thought I was doing well with a bogey after a very lucky guess 4 (I was due some luck) That was a potential killer!

    Wordle 1,350 5/6

    ⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜
    ⬜⬜⬜🟨⬜
    ⬜🟩⬜⬜⬜
    🟩🟩⬜⬜🟩
    🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

          3. You shouldnt have told me!! It will up the stress levels!

            Anyway, I’m not doing it tonight – the bloke across the road (who, to be fair, I like a lot) invited me over for the tasting of his latest ‘Premier Cru’ home brew which was pretty bloody good – we knocked off two bottles and I could have gone on but it seemed a little rude…..

          4. I have to admit I was lucky, normally I make some "expensive" errors, tonight most of the errors resolved fairly quickly.
            Absolute best, I doubt I would be under 15.00
            12 wouldn't get you into the top 100.

          5. Annoying – I’ve just tried to sign on and it’s only showing the next Challenge ‘Two Game Tango Mini’ which begins in 3 hours 30 mins!

  134. Making someone anxious by writing, re-posting, sharing etc. on social media will get you arrested and cuffed. How one is to know what will make someone else anxious is a mystery: and, of course, that is the point. I see this development as the government creating vague rules that they hope will persuade people to self censor, with fear of the unknown as the driver. So much for Starmer's "very proud" of UK's record on free speech. That record is now history as the 'new era' unfolds.

    https://x.com/BGatesIsaPyscho/status/1895431884475449585

    1. Can Harmer Starmer be arrested for making most decent Brits feel extremely anxious with all his lunacy? Can a certain group all be arrested because they make us feel anxious, threatened and intimidated?
      Sorry, I forget it is only we decent Brits (of whatever skin hue or origins) that can be guilty of causing such distress.

      1. The anxiety Starmer is creating is similar to when I was a child and the threat of of being nuked during the Cuban Missile Crisis or worse and worse and worse .

        Anxiety is painful and achingly stomach churning .. It is a wonder we all don't suffer from PTSD.

        1. 100% agree, and I remember being taken in by 'the ice age cometh' agenda of the 1970s.
          I have been absent here for some time for just those reasons (as well as MH being unwell, then me), wanting to completely block out the fear.
          But I miss the camaraderie, and the reassurance that I am not alone.
          I can't remember what it was, but a couple of weeks ago, MH mentioned something, and 'had I heard' – it was something discussed here ages ago (late last year!).

          2. I was referring to the 1960’s re Cuban missile crisis.

            Yes , ‘the ice age cometh’ agenda of the 1970’s complete with terrorism EVERYWHERE and the collapse of African colonialism was very unsettling ..

            Moh was serving in the RN then, flying .. and I remember a ruddy faced Admiral reassuring me that we are an Island and nothing would interfere with our security because our armed services were protecting us from harm( That was when RN Phantom jets roared overhead our home)

            If that Admiral were alive now(I doubt it ) he would turn twice in his grave.

          3. My main clear political/world affairs memory of the 1960s was Kennedy’s assassination.
            Back when the Admiral was speaking, our armed forces were significant in both quality and quantity, and were capable of protecting us.

          4. There's safety in numbers, Mum. We are a close-knit little community (in the proper sense of the word).

        2. Was not the top of my priority list at the time. What was the top of my list? I had just started going out with my future wife, sadly no longer with us. We both concluded that there was nothing either of us could do about Cuba, so we might as well keep calm and carry on.

          1. My father was overseas at that particular point .. my mother 2 sisters , brother and I were children, and my parents house and many others were visited and leafleted by the civil defence .. and told to hide under tables fill the bath full of water, shield your eyes , listen for sirens etc etc

          2. I was stationed in Germany at the time on a squadron of Canberra bombers, nobody was allowed to go off camp (even the married ones) and for my sins I was on QRA for the whole period sleeping under 2 of the bombed up aircraft on the end of the runway knowing if they had taken off it was 'goodbye Vienna' ……..

          4. Snap. MB and I started going out in that same week.
            As you say, the situation was so totally out of our control there was no point in fretting over it.

  136. Live now pay later.
    I drove to the GP practice first thing as I'd run out of one of my important meds.
    The extremely pleasant receptionist in the empty waiting area confirmed she would make sure it would be collectable around 3pm.
    Knee strapped up I managed to walk to the village pick up the item and walk home via the muddy foot paths through fields, along the river and up hill through the allotments. Phew I am now worn out.
    Earlier I also chauffeured my good lady to WGC to carry out the shopping. I squeezed and extra bottle of red in as a reward.
    My knee is very painful now. I've also sent yet another email to NHS (service)? informing them, that's after another 6 months in the six year wait. I'm still waiting.

    1. Sounds like you over-did the exercise. Rest up – helped by a glass or two of the red ! Hope a night's sleep eases the pain.

  138. That's me gone for a useful day. Oh for some real warmth outdoors. The southern sky is clear – so we are hoping to spot the planets that Holst keeps on about! Venus is there. So far so good.

    Have a jolly evening.

    A demain.

  139. Proper plaice and chips tonight with plenty of salt and vinegar
    ( no gravy as only Northerners do that 😉
    Henry Westons Suffolk cider to wash it down.
    Have a good weekend .

    1. Excuse me Kitty, I'm a Northerner and I dont do gravy on fish and chips, nor indeed do any of my friends, family or acquaintances……

        1. Wrong side of t'Pennines lad – you'll be telling me next you have Yokshire puds as a starter!!

          2. Really? My missus makes them all the time and says they're dead easy to make – oops, apologies to Mrs Oberst if I've started something……

    3. I am a northerner and I have never seen — in 74 years — any of my compatriots put gravy on fish!

    4. We had haddock and oven chips with minted peas, defrosted with a slice of butter and sprinkling of sea salt. All very tasty.

  140. He Starmer says he was so proud to see the bust of sir Winston Churchill back in the Oval Office.
    The man has absolutely no principles none whatsoever.
    He is a repulses pathological liar.
    He has had no less than five images of Sir Winston Churchill removed.

  141. I don't think I've ever seen such an explosive exchange.
    Trump and Vance telling Zelensky where to get off.
    Absolutely extraordinary.

    1. US VPs are not usually so high-profile. Glad to see Vance so outspoken so soon. Seems like he's preparing to run in 2028 and beyond.

  146. Last Post. We saw four of the seven planets. With the naked eye. Saturn and Neptune and Mercury too low on the horizon. Well, roll on 2040 for the next occasion…!!

    Bon appetit.

  148. News from the US .
    Donald Trump has just signed an official order designating English as the official language of the US for the first time in history.

    1. With luck, that means us poor US taxpayers won't have to fund producing forms in every language under the sun, which we do at the moment.

      Besides, the reality is if you can't speak or understand English, your job opportunities here are poor, so it makes sense on multiple levels.

      That message should be taken to heart by the Welsh, by the way…

      1. It should be taken to heart by the UK government. Translation services cost a fortune. My NHS stuff is available in about 15 languages (not including Welsh). It's crazy.

    4. That will go down well in all of those states where Spanish is widely spoken by the majority of low paid farm workers.

    6. Good, even though it's been the case, even if not officially, for a couple of hundred years. We just need to make it official now in the UK.

  151. Another slow week at The White House.
    I was watching the tiresome events today at the Oval Office and I noticed how the visitors to the Oval office keep getting shorter and shorter.

    1. Yes, to be honest I thought 'Not Queer' Keir was bigger than the 5'8" I saw quoted today – maybe it's the power of his personality?

  152. Total change of subject re The Planets ..I have been reading the most amazing synopsis of how Holst wrote his melodies .

    Do read the Wiki article .. I thoroughly enjoyed reading how he did it .. goodness me I am always amazed how clever music scores are , and how on earth do composers know the instrument they want to want to insert into the score ..

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Planets

    1. Sorry TB I read that as "how on earth do composers know the instrument they want to want to insert to score …..and the Pink Oboe immediately sprang to mind!….

          1. In this instance, claiming that £5 could have resulted in an experience that even Phizzee might not enjoy.
            Hence my omission.

  153. Not off to bed yet, but breaking off for the rest of the day. Night all……well it is dark out there. 👤👣

  154. Thought for the day:
    Trump has sent so many home with their tails between their legs that I wonder how they will put their "tails" between each other's legs.
    Starmer, Macron, Zelensky.

  155. Breaking news:

    It's alleged that Macron, Starmer and Zelensky have signed up for "OnlyFans"

    They will perform unspeakably disgusting acts with each other if you will pay-per-view.

  156. In between all of his power politics with the international set, he takes time out to wade in and claim that he was responsible for Canadas finance minister Freeland resigning. A totally bogus claim, she resigned after she was told that Carney would be taking her position.

    why cannot Trump stick to what he has done rather than embellish his achievements with obvious falsehoods.

    1. I'm completely split on Trump now.

      At one moment I think he's doing great things and then he does the opposite.

      I console myself that he's offending many people/regimes that need to be put in their place.

    2. Trump has a monstrous ego, and those who have dealt with him label him clinically as a narcissist. He does some good things, then goes completely off the rails and tells giant sized porkies.

  161. Just caught a few minutes of 'Any Questions' on Radio 4. Douglas Alexander (Trade Sec) said: "…if Putin were to win in Ukraine, he won't stop…I was relieved we had a serious figure in the White House yesterday…"

    I turned off…

  162. What's really happening here?

    https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14448273/Trump-slams-disrespectful-Zelensky-blistering-Oval-Office-row-You-gambling-World-War-Three.html

    Something is going to break.
    My take?
    Putin/Russia is going to be offered what they have.
    They will be told that if they encroach over that, all Hell will be let loose.
    America will be "sold/given" mineral and agricultural rights
    Zelensky will be replaced and he will ride off into a very wealthy sunset.
    Europe will be told to enforce the peace and to do so without American military support, but they might, just might, provide fiancial support.

    2. Sounds good to me. "Speak quietly and carry a big stick."

      Trump speaks very loudly and carries a big stick.

    1. Terrifying.

      Why on earth are these people doing this in public like this?

      All that it's doing is encouraging Putin.

      1. It's also showing the world what's actually going on at an international level. Zelensky kept very quiet, but out pf politeness, I doubt.

        1. He was outnumbered and sounded like a petulant child. Vance came across as boorish and Trump was cross because his plans were ruined. A lot of playground shouting.

      3. What is Trump's job?
        He is a professional actor and TV presenter.

        It wouldn't surprise me if that whole scene had been scripted. If they told Zelensky to jump, he would say "how high?" at this point, with his US property and a safe future for him riding on it.

    3. Ouch. That should never have happened in public. If that really was spontaneous, Zelensky is an absolute fool. Stony silence would have been his best bet.
      "We gave you through this stupid President 350 billion dollars"
      "It would have been over in two weeks"
      "The whole thing was a scam."
      "Once we sign the deal you're in a much better position."
      "You're not acting at all thankful and that's not a nice thing"
      Too much truth.

      Also, Zelensky's sniffing doesn't look good.

      Thanks for posting.

      1. Normaly behind closed doors, but there is a first time for everything today. Openess is a good thing, less places for politicians to hide behind.

  164. I think I can repeat my trope, all those squealing for war really should go and try a bit of it first.
    And take their fucking children.

    1. If war breaks our, EVERY member of every politicians' family, over the age of 18, should be sent to the front lines.
      No exceptions.

    1. I'm not a fan of Zelensky, but he was defending his position, so those trying to remove him need to tell us unequivocally what they would have done in his situation,

        1. Indeed not.
          But I return to my position: what else would they do?
          Z is trying to recover what they've lost; he thinks/hopes it is still possible to recover it all, but only if the rest of the world joins in.
          He might be right.
          But from my view?
          It's not worth all the deaths that would result.

          1. He spent years bombarding the Donbass – they're not going to want to come back to Ukraine. He should accept that Russia has won that area and agree to peace on Trump's terms.

  167. Team World Police:

    Spanish PM Sanchez says "Ukraine, Spain stands with you."
    French Foreign Minister Barrot says Putin's Russia is the aggressor, there is one necessity: Europe, now the time for words is over, time for action.
    German Chancellor Scholz says Ukraine can rely on Germany and Europe.
    EU's von der Leyen says "be strong, be brave, be fearless, you are never alone, Dear President Zelensky"
    Lithuanian President says Ukraine will never be alone.
    Portuguese PM says Ukraine can count on us to support it
    Czech Republic President says "We stand with Ukraine more than ever. Time for Europe to step up its efforts."
    EU foreign policy chief Kallas says "Today, it became clear that the free world needs a new leader. It’s up to US, Europeans, to take this challenge."
    Polish PM Tusk posts on X, "Dear Zelensky, dear Ukrainian friends, you are not alone".
    French President Macron says Russia is the aggressor, and Ukraine is the aggressed people. We were all right to help Ukraine and sanction Russia 3 years ago, and to continue to do so.
    Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said "Trump and Vance are doing Putin’s dirty work."
    The Atlantic's David Frum was mega-triggered, writing: "Trump and Vance have revealed to Americans and to America’s allies their alignment with Russia, and their animosity toward Ukraine in general and its president in particular. The truth is ugly, but it’s necessary to face it."

    On the other hand:

    Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation Medvedev posts on X 'The insolent pig finally got a proper slap down in the Oval Office. And Trump is right: The Kiev regime is "gambling with WWIII," adding "For the first time, Trump told the truth to the cocaine clown’s face."
    Hungarian President Vicktor Orbán thanks Trump for standing 'for peace.'
    But perhaps the biggest indicator that Zelensky is fucked came from deep state tentacle Lindsey Graham, who walked out of the White House and said "I have never been more proud of the president. I was very proud of JD Vance standing up for our country.

    Graham then slammed Zelensky, saying "The way he handled the meeting, the way he confronted the president was just over the top," adding "What I saw in the Oval Office was disrespectful. And I don't know if we can ever do business with Zelensky again."

  168. In the latest manifestation of the Trump administration's earnest campaign against divisive Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) programs, the Department of Education on Thursday announced the launch of an internet portal that citizens can use to report DEI-driven wrongdoings in publicly funded K-12 schools. The portal's debut comes as school officials across the country are shrugging off a Trump administration deadline to purge their institutions of DEI under threat of losing federal funding.

    The web page, which has already gone live, is open for use by parents, students, teachers, and anyone else who wants to report destructive DEI practices at schools anywhere across the country. "The U.S. Department of Education is committed to ensuring all students have access to meaningful learning free of divisive ideologies and indoctrination," reads the text atop the portal, which is bluntly named "End DEI."

    The department said it will use the reports to identify potential investigation targets, with the threat of a withdrawal of federal funding. The portal asks tipsters to provide their email address, identify the offending school or school district, and use up to 450 words to detail the DEI-flavored wrongdoing.

    2. It was a shameful bit of boorish ganging-up bullying by Trump and Vance. They have it in for Zelenskyy for campaigning for the other side during the US presidential election last year. It was nasty and disrespectful, made worse by the strong beating down someone who was in a weak negotiating position. The very worse aspect of American behaviour and did no credit to their country.

      It was a pity that Zelenskyy was up there on his own, trying to negotiate with two people who loathe him and cosy up to Putin, far more of an enemy to Zelenskyy than Biden was to Trump. His ambassador should have been up there, not leaving the fellow battling alone against these American loudmouth louts.

      That said, I did notice that in begging for military support, it was all beg and no give. He was taking America for granted, and a little praise wouldn't have been out of place. This Ambassador should have reminded Zelenskyy of this, rather than leaving it to Trump and Vance.

      When the UK reminds America that it had to endure three years of siege from German bombing and U-boats before America joined in, with no threat to their own homeland, Americans come back at the British by reminding them "we saved your ass", and so they did. Hitler would never have been defeated without the Americans. We didn't repay the debt for that until Blair was PM.

      1. Zelensky has destroyed a generation and has attempted to drag Europe into a war alongside Nato. He was emboldened to do so after the overthrow of the Russian leaning government with help from the US and went on to surpress dissent in the Donbas. The talking should have started then but with support from the EU, Zel thought he would play the big man against a super power. He has failed and will soon be scuttling to his bolt hole with his riches. There is no threat of Vlad marching on Nato, its just put out on the media for consumption by the masses. Seeing as the military mission has not been a success against one opponent, Vlad is not going to launch any missions against the 27. I just wish for peace in Europe, I really dont care about how its achieved.

      2. Rather than downvote you I will simply state that I disagree profoundy with your reading and interpretation of the Trump, Vance and Zelensky exchanges.

        Where have you been? Listening to the BBC?

      3. We can't know all of what has been going on behind the scenes in this tragic saga. Therefore, Trump's and Vance's "boorish ganging-up bullying" may have been their last resort to make Zelensky understand that there is a new tough team in play as opposed to Biden's open wallet behaviour.

        Stopping the slaughter is worth any amount of rudeness. Being cruel to be kind in this instance isn't only focused on Zelensky but on the suffering Ukrainian people.

  172. Well, chums, time has caught up with me and it's well past my 11 pm bedtime. So I shall belatedly wish you all a Good Night. Sleep well, and I hope to see you all again next month to give you some Welsh greetings.

  174. Goodnight, all. I went to a Quiz Night tonight which is why I am so late. We won the picture quiz and almost won the wooden spoon on the quiz itself 🙂

    1. I'm hoping to beat you, Eddy. And Minty too, who is waiting in the wings because she has just upvoted your post.

        1. Eddy, you are our current Prime Minister (no spine) and I claim my position on your team as the new Chancellor (plus a five bob postal order) when the post becomes vacant. Lol.

        2. Eddy, you are our current Prime Minister (no spine) and I claim my position on your team as the new Chancellor (plus a five bob postal order) when the post becomes vacant. Lol.

Comments are closed.