Economics
UK Autumn Budget 2025 Summary
Tax and spend, tax and spend, tax and spend. © Swiss Bob 2025
Blog
History
Postcard From Northumbria, Part Two
The second half of our trip into Northumberland started with a drive into the countryside to the village of Heatherslaw which is the home of the furthest north narrow-gauge steam railway in England. The Heatherslaw [more…]
Authoritarianism
Why Courage — Not Convenience — Is the Foundation of Free Speech
In an age obsessed with stability, optimisation, and institutional authority, we are losing sight of the simplest truth: freedom of speech is the core condition for national and international security. Not because speech itself is [more…]
Culture
A View From The Sofa; Ennui And Pain
I’ve hardly been out of the house since I got out of hospital. I’m sure some of you will know what it’s like, believing you’re fifty four when you’re actually twenty years older than that [more…]
Economics
“Sometimes, the only winning move is not to play”
This was the conclusion of the assessment of legendary investor Michael Burry regarding the current market conditions. To be precise, his take as recently posted on X, in full, was “Sometimes, we see bubbles. Sometimes, there [more…]
Labour
Safe Routes
We never stop hearing about safe routes for migrants as opposed to paying some dodgy Albanian or Afghan, jumping in a dinghy and braving the waves for a few hundred metres to a waiting taxi [more…]
Literature
Words, Part Five
Above the portico a flag-staff, bearing the Union Jack, remained fluttering in the flames for some time, but ultimately when it fell the crowds rent the air with shouts, and seemed to see significance in [more…]
Animals
Larry’s Diary, Week Three Hundred And Six
Monday Good morning my friends, a horrible grey and wet morning today. It makes a change not to be reporting Legohead’s problems this morning but instead taking about the BBC. It is rudderless this morning, [more…]
Biography
Shabana Mahmood. Avoid.
As only the third female Lord Chancellor since Eleanor of Provence in 1253, upon being elevated to the role 771 years later present Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, eulogised during her acceptance speech. “I must say [more…]