As I mentioned yesterday morning, I was in London yesterday recording a podcast with Zack Polanski, the leader of the Green Party in England and Wales.
This picture was taken by my son, Tom, who came to watch how someone else manages such processes.
Zack's podcast can be found here. He is attracting a good range of guests.
I will publish a video summarising our discussion later today.
Meanwhile, this picture was Zack's idea:
I can summarise that image like this: Zack seems to be embracing a lot of my thinking.
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That’s a really lovely photo. Two people from very different backgrounds who clearly found a connection and mutual respect. We need more of this in British politics and I’m really pleased that Zack reached out to you. Looking forward to hearing more and seeing the podcast. I suspect many who listen/watch it will be less familiar with you and your ideas. And I think the new leadership will try and steer the formation of Green party policy so that a small minority is not able to push policy that is less informed/robust. Hopefully Zack’s invitation will extend to your giving some input to future policy development?
Sorry to interrupt, but this seems an appropriate place to do so. Tony Blair to run Gaza? I’m off to walk the dog. It’s all my heart can do.
It is so grim it hardly bears thinking about
Can I borrow your dog?
That’s all the Palestinians need on top of the horrors inflicted on them so far – a greedy war criminal Blair (+ Mango Mussolini) stealing their considerable natural resources.
That’s almost amusing!
Well done, a lot to smile about. See
‘Zack seems to be embracing a lot of my thinking.’
God I hope so.
Yes, Zack’s new podcast is an excellent new venture in spreading left progressive ideas and thinking. (A really good previous episode is the excellent Zoe Gardner on the need for immigration.)
Meanwhile we have the Starmer government introducing the new “BritCard” digital ID. More authoritarian nonsense (and we’ve been here before), and a civil liberties nightmare.
This is the Mike Small’s take from Bella Caledonia:
https://bellacaledonia.org.uk/2025/09/26/can-we-see-your-papers/
The last bit from Mike is excellent (emphasising the ‘muscular unionism’ of UK government – who cares if you are Scottish, Welsh or Irish but certainly not British):
“The digital ID is all about integrated surveillance, but it’s also a political provocation. This is the Anglo-normative world in which the Prime Minister yesterday announces that the results of the Scottish Parliament elections won’t matter. Whatever the result there will be no referendum on independence and the very next day announces a mandatory card that declares your British. This is a disaster waiting to happen. If Palestine was Starmer’s Iraq, the BritCard is Starmer’s Poll Tax. I’m not British so I won’t be carrying such a card.”
We have just made a video on the new ID card…out soon
The Guardian attack has begun on Andy Burnham soon it will switch to Zack Polanski!
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/sep/25/andy-burnham-alarms-city-call-end-uk-dependence-foreign-lenders
What “guardian” of the country flogging rich people’s propaganda?
Agreed
I must make a video on this.
What an extraordinarily biased piece from the Guardian!
Like Cliff above 9.05 I want to flag up something. Hegseth the Secretary for Defence ( now War) has summoned all Generals and Admirals early next week to a meeting in Virginia. It is not known why.
Some speculation is that they will be used to reinforce the immigration polices.
My darker speculation is that he will tell them there is a nationwide leftist plot and he has to take action. James Comey has been charged and George Soros is said to be next. The midterms are just over a year away and his ratings are not the best ever despite what he said at the UN. Ivan Horrocks who makes, IMHO, valuable contributions here is sure the elections will not go ahead.
It could well be a loyalty test and at worst, something like the German Enabling Bill of 1933.
I hope I am wrong.
I hope you are wrong.
But you may not be.
I can say with confidence that they will not get enough of the US Military on board. They will have to gut it, essentially destroying its experience, expertise, and its ability to project force, its whole reason for its existence. The US Military is already a cult, and its focus is the Constitution. It’s admirals, generals, career military through and through, who are all embedded in an institution outside the US government, funded by the military industrial complex, who will not allow the US military to be reduced to a militia to control the domestic population. They will comply with certain things, blowing up suspected drug cartels at sea, for example, but they won’t bend the knee to someone as weak, useless, and incompetent as Trump. If I’m wrong, I would be very surprised.
the top ranks are usually well read and aware despite the stereotypes. They often tend to be realistic about the world. it helps people stay alive. For example in the1990s British General Mike Jackson refused US General Wesley Clarke’s order to take an airfield in the Balkans. It had been occupied by Russian paratroopers.
An American friend recently out of the US Army tells me there is considerable resentment about the way Trump treated former Chief of Staff Gen. Milley. When Trump lost the election he discussed a strike on Iran. Milley went round all the officers in charge of nuclear weapons to make sure they only took orders from him. The Intelligence services picked up that the Chinese had detected things which looked like threats so he asked the Admiral of the Pacific Fleet to cancel a planned exercise and telephoned the Head of the People’s liberation Army. ( Covered in Bob Woodward’s book -and elsewhere)
When Trump re-entered the white House this years he ordered Milley’s portrait to be removed from the Pentagon and also removed his security clearance and protection.
However, he has some support in the forces.
Thanks
Some US political podcasters are suggesting that the elections will go ahead but that any unfavourable results, ie, Republican losses, will be deemed invalid. That’s what the DoJ’s demand for voter registration data from the states, which it has no right to, is all about, they suspect. Trump is determined to stop mail-in voting
That’s clearly possible
Nice pic though looks like you could do with losing a few pounds Richard..
I have lost 12kg this year. BMI now 27. What are you?
Congratulations. What’s your secret?
I’ve gained 7kg due in part I think to medication and other health issues making exercising more painful.
A keto diet.
Almost no carbs.
More fat.
Discipline.
Honest to goodness if that’s all you’ve got to contribute then please don’t bother.
I am inclined to agree.
And so am I , especially as Richards sems to be wearing my shirt.
Do you want it back?