Human settlement in Wales
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Today we had Paul Hawksbee & Andy Jacobs for a jam packed episode as football card experts Jake Kirkham and Jordan Gorman give Paul and Andy some football card packs to see if they can find the ultra rare one-of-one Cristiano Ronaldo card! Paddy's Picks provided an unmissable and hilarious part of the episode and the boys are also joined by Christer Evans- author and MP for Caerphilly to remember Armistice Day. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Morse code transcription: vvv vvv Swap crisps for popcorn and other ways to improve gut health Crime network behind UK mini marts is enabling migrants to work illegally Britain sliding into economic crisis over 85bn sickness bill LED mask ads banned over unauthorised acne and rosacea claims What a UK government led by Reform would really look like Mamdani seals remarkable victory but real challenges await Caerphilly crash lorry driver who blamed cough caught out by dashcam Oldest victim of Post Office scandal, 92, receives final payout Tesla says Musk should be paid 1tn will shareholders agree Several critically hurt on Ile dOl ron in France after driver rams into 10 people
Morse code transcription: vvv vvv What a UK government led by Reform would really look like Britain sliding into economic crisis over 85bn sickness bill Oldest victim of Post Office scandal, 92, receives final payout Tesla says Musk should be paid 1tn will shareholders agree Caerphilly crash lorry driver who blamed cough caught out by dashcam Crime network behind UK mini marts is enabling migrants to work illegally Mamdani seals remarkable victory but real challenges await Several critically hurt on Ile dOl ron in France after driver rams into 10 people LED mask ads banned over unauthorised acne and rosacea claims Swap crisps for popcorn and other ways to improve gut health
Morse code transcription: vvv vvv Britain sliding into economic crisis over 85bn sickness bill Crime network behind UK mini marts is enabling migrants to work illegally Several critically hurt on Ile dOl ron in France after driver rams into 10 people Caerphilly crash lorry driver who blamed cough caught out by dashcam Tesla says Musk should be paid 1tn will shareholders agree What a UK government led by Reform would really look like Swap crisps for popcorn and other ways to improve gut health Oldest victim of Post Office scandal, 92, receives final payout Mamdani seals remarkable victory but real challenges await LED mask ads banned over unauthorised acne and rosacea claims
Morse code transcription: vvv vvv Mamdani seals remarkable victory but real challenges await Swap crisps for popcorn and other ways to improve gut health Several critically hurt on Ile dOl ron in France after driver rams into 10 people What a UK government led by Reform would really look like Britain sliding into economic crisis over 85bn sickness bill Oldest victim of Post Office scandal, 92, receives final payout Tesla says Musk should be paid 1tn will shareholders agree Caerphilly crash lorry driver who blamed cough caught out by dashcam Crime network behind UK mini marts is enabling migrants to work illegally LED mask ads banned over unauthorised acne and rosacea claims
Matthew d'Ancona and Matt Kelly again respond to your queries. They discuss whether the Caerphilly by-election shows it's time for Keir Starmer finally to smell the roses on the EU, if opinion polls truly matter and whether Andy Burnham should support Lucy Powell for the Labour leadership. Plus they talk about how the media landscape has changed since the phone-hacking scandal, community tensions over asylum applications and the return of Mr Blobby.OFFER: Get The New World for just £1 for the first month. Head to https://www.thenewworld.co.uk/2matts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Harriet responds to your messages about the Green Party after she went viral for her take on leader Zack Polanski.How does its surge in popularity link up with the result of the Caerphilly by-election? And is the party getting more support because it's not entirely focused on climate change? Plus, rumour has it that the Labour government is planning to raise income tax in next month's budget. It would mean breaking a manifesto promise. So how believable is it? Beth, Ruth and Harriet aren't convinced. They discuss how the government could get itself out of the black hole, and what would happen if it did break its promise on tax. Remember, you can also watch Beth Rigby, Harriet Harman and Ruth Davidson on YouTube.
Our co-pilots, energised from their trip down to earth for the live show at the Battle of Ideas festival last week, are back on the Rocket to try and make sense of a week of madness!They address the growing discontent following a string of high-profile incidents involving illegal migrants, most recently in Uxbridge.The discussion turns into a blistering attack on the Home Office and the entire Civil Service, who the co-pilots argue, are actively stifling political reform and preventing any government—regardless of party—from delivering functioning public services or stopping the boats.Strapping into the rocket this week is Conservative MP Helen Whately, who joins to discuss the urgent need for benefits system reform to encourage young people into work and end their reliance on state support.Meanwhile Allison addresses the historic collapse of Labour in its heartlands in the Caerphilly by-election last week, signalling what could be a death knell for Labour in Wales.Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditorRead Allison ‘The soaring cost of mince signals we're in for a difficult winter'https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/10/29/rising-food-prices-difficult-winter/ |Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ | Read Liam: ‘Britain's national accounts now resemble a Ponzi scheme'https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/l/lf-lj/liam-halligan/ |Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here:https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |For 30 days' free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal | Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Keir Starmer has weathered one of the most brutal weeks of his tenure. The Caerphilly by-election collapse, a divisive Deputy Leadership election, and the mistaken release of a high-risk prisoner have ignited leadership speculation and exposed deep party tensions. Ed Balls and George Osborne debate where it's all gone wrong, and whether Starmer can hold on.The pair then look ahead to the Budget and Rachel Reeves's fiscal black hole. Can she uphold Labour's 'tax lock' manifesto pledge, or will she be forced to raise one of the 'big three' taxes? Ed and George analyse a choice that could be make-or-break for the government.Finally, they dive into Donald Trump's whirlwind Asia tour. Following his major summit with Xi Jinping, they ask: is his tariff doctrine a chaotic madman theory, or is it successfully strong-arming new 'America First' trade deals?Thanks for listening. To get episodes early and ad-free join Political Currency Gold. If you want even more perks including our exclusive newsletter, join our Kitchen Cabinet today:
The dust has settled on the Caerphilly by-election, but the campaigning won't stop there. It's not long to go until the parties will face the ultimate challenge at the Senedd election in May. Politicians from Plaid Cymru, Reform and Labour join Fliss and James to talk about look back at what happened in Caerphilly and discuss what's to come in the next six months. Cardiff University's Dr Jac Larner and Political Correspondent Teleri Glyn Jones also join the programme to look at polls and predictions.
It's a proper shit sandwich this week, Trawlers — a little light snack, a heavy main course and a very hopeful bite to finish. Followed, of course, as ever by a delicious pudding.This episode starts with bad news for snack lovers - Penguin bars are no longer technically chocolate (cheers, climate change). Then, Jemma and Marina bite into the grim meat of it all: the racism notch in British politics. From Reform MP Sarah Pochin's rant about “too many foreigners in adverts” to Katie Lam's calls for “cultural coherence,” it's open season for dog whistles. Marina and Jemma discuss how this stuff stopped being whispered and started being cheered. Though rest assured they've also trawled away and come up with plenty of wonderful clips and takes to offset it all, because it goes without saying, millions of people do not feel the same. Which brings them onto the recent council by- election results and what happened in Caerphilly. Wonderful. Reform's balloon well and truly popped.Details of the charity art auction that Jemma mentioned are as follows - ART AUCTION FOR PALESTINE : BID FOR HOPE auction hosts @wynnesteve & @hanazidek . Join them for a instagram live at @hope_and_play_charity on : SUNDAY 30 NOVEMBER at 7pmThey will showcase the artwork, introduce the artists and give you a chance to have a closer look at the work.There will also be a live Q&A with Emma from Hope and Play. Emma will answer questions about the work they do and provide updates from volunteers in Gaza.The auction is online now and open for bids. Auction closes at 8pm that night (Nov 30th 2025) so you have time to get your bids in. To bid, go to the link visit www.jumblebee/bidforhopeThank you for sharing and do tweet us @MarinaPurkiss @jemmaforte @TheTrawlPodcast Patreonhttps://patreon.com/TheTrawlPodcast Youtubehttps://www.youtube.com/@TheTrawl Twitterhttps://twitter.com/TheTrawlPodcastIf you've even mildly enjoyed The Trawl, you'll love the unfiltered, no-holds-barred extras from Jemma & Marina over on Patreon, including:• Exclusive episodes of The Trawl Goss – where Jemma and Marina spill backstage gossip, dive into their personal lives, and often forget the mic is on• Early access to The Trawl Meets…• Glorious ad-free episodesPlus, there's a bell-free community of over 3,300 legends sparking brilliant chat.And it's your way to support the pod which the ladies pour their hearts, souls (and occasional anxiety) into. All for your listening pleasure and reassurance that through this geopolitical s**tstorm… you're not alone.Come join the fun:https://www.patreon.com/TheTrawlPodcast?utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this half-term special, Gabriel Pogrund and Patrick Maguire tackle the week's heavyweight political stories. Gabriel lifts the lid on a capital S scoop from his morning's round of whatsapping, and Patrick explores what Plaid Cymru's triumph in Caerphilly means for Labour and Reform? And has Keir Starmer really gone woke?Patrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The TimesGabriel Pogrund, Whitehall editor, The Sunday TimesProducer: Euan DawtreyExecutive producer: Molly GuinnessThis podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Donald Trump is declaring his actions in the Caribbean a war on drugs. Democrats are calling it "state-sanctioned murder". What is Trump's game plan for Venezuela? Is it about fentanyl? Oil? Or regime change? Later - the latest YouGov poll has put four major parties all within two points of each other. What does it tell us about the state of UK politics? And what can we learn from Plaid Cymru's success in last week's Caerphilly by-election ?The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal -> https://nordvpn.com/thenewsagents Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee
The Caerphilly by-election proves Reform can be beaten. But is Keir Starmer the man to do it?Last week voters in Caerphilly confounded pundits by electing their first Plaid Cymru Member of the Senedd (MS). Reform UK had expected to be the party to overturn Labour's 100 year dominance in the Welsh seat - but they were wrong.The loss was a disaster for Labour, but came with a glimmer of hope: Reform UK can be beaten.Now the party needs to ask whether their current leader, Keir Starmer, is the man to do it.Back in Westminster, Lucy Powell has been elected deputy leader of the Labour Party - and she's not the winner Keir Starmer had hoped for.In this episode, Harry Clarke-Eziddio and George Eaton join Anoosh Chakelian to analyse what the Caerphilly loss and the new deputy leader mean for the future of the Labour Party.LISTEN NEXT: The death of Welsh LabourLISTEN AD-FREE:
Another week, another immigration crisis. A powerful parliamentary committee has accused the Home Office – for this government and the last – of squandering billions of pounds on asylum accommodation and overseeing a ‘failed, chaotic and expensive' system. The report came days after the barely believable revelation that the convicted sex offender whose case sparked protests at the Bell hotel in Epping was accidentally let out of prison on Friday instead of being deported. He is now back in custody. Pippa Crerar and Eleni Courea discuss the ongoing firefighting at the Home Office and its impact on the public consciousness. Plus, what now for Labour after a crushing defeat in Caerphilly and the election of its new deputy leader, Lucy Powell? Finally, we go back to the China spy row – will this be the week the mystery is cracked open? • Send your thoughts and questions to politicsweeklyuk@theguardian.com. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod
Plaid beat Reform in Caerphilly, Laura spent the morning with Green New Deal Rising, Ireland have elected a socialist president, and Zohran Mamdani is set to win the New York mayoralty next week. All of which is to say, is the Left back? Laura and Seán discuss. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
A bruising weekend for Keir Starmer: Labour loses its stronghold Caerphilly seat to Plaid Cymru in a by-election and faces fallout from the mistaken release and chaotic recapture of a convicted sex offender. Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy unpack what went wrong, as a damning report on the asylum system slams the Home Office. Plus, Lucy Powell makes her debut as Labour's new deputy leader Chancellor Rachel Reeves has left the country to try to push through a Gulf trade deal. Will she be successful?
Nick and John have posted eight Hallmarked Man conversations since its publication last month and, as interesting as their back-and-forth talks have been, South Wales to American Fly Over Country, Lake to Shed, much of the best theorizing and interpreting of Strike 8 has been happening in the comment threads beneath those posts and in email messaging with John. Determined that these insights wouldn't be lost or invisible to Serious Strikers, they chose ten of the most challenging for a fun introduction to the fandom conversations readers not privy to the backchannel moderators network or who neglect the comment threads are missing.In addition, Nick shares the credible speculation that Rowling's weeklong absence from tweeting has been because she is on her Samsara yacht in the South Pacific, circling Bora Bora, believe it or don't. John quizzes Nick, too, about the election in South Wales, Caerphilly to be exact, and the reason the results in that dependably Labour area have the UK buzzing (and why Strike readers might expect the populist party victories will color Strikes 9 and 10).A quick ‘table of contents' for their hasty review, then, followed by links and transcripts! Enjoy — and, yes, have at in the comment threads, please, the locus of Strike fandom conversations.* Ed Shardlow: Gorilla Ryan* Vicky: Boxes and Plush Toys* Sandra Hope: Traditional Symbolism* Justin Clavet: Only Fans Gaffe (Ed Shardlow -- ‘Not Proven' error)* Bora Bora* Justin Clavet: On Manhood* Ed Shardlow: Ickabog Parallel Book Theory* Sandra Hope: Hallmarked Man as Rowling's ‘Greatest Hits' allusion collection* LC - Dorothy Sayers* Kathleen O'Connor -- Alternative Incest* Caerphilly elections -- UK meaning* Ring Composition ProjectPromised Links and Transcripts:* Ed Shardlow's ‘Gorilla Ryan' TheoryThe Ryan the Gorilla theory came to me at the point in the book where Robin has an epiphany following an impulse to look up the meaning of a name. I think this was the Jolanda-Violet realisation, but I thought she'd suddenly realised the full extent of Ryan's dark side, with the significance being the previously noted meaning of his name “Sea King” suggesting a connection between him and Wade King.That theory seemed very flimsy at first, but on further examination it might have some mileage. There are some notable differences between the attack in the Land Rover and the previous ones. Although we imagine the attacker wearing a gorilla mask, there's no mention of it, and in fact it says she can see his face. Also the Land Rover attacker makes no demands that she, “Stop” or, “Leave it”. She hits Wade with the pepper spray, which of course, would be difficult for Ryan to cover up, but she didn't inflict any such injuries on the gorilla attacker. Wade clearly intends to hurt her, whereas the other attacks had no physical violence and look very much like they were just intended to scare her.1) It's hinted that Branfoot knows about Robin's rape, and she says it's on the internet, but we never get any indication that King or Griffiths know about it. Strike and Robin never consider that the attacker might be someone who knows about it because they're close to Robin. That seems like an oversight.2) The gorilla attacker never refers to a specific case. Murphy may be scaring her into quitting the job and getting away from Strike, whereas a suspect would want her to stop investigating their specific case.3) The police don't take the rubber gorilla and dagger for DNA testing. That's pretty strange, unless there's someone on the inside blocking the investigation.There's a bit of an issue with the guy in the green jacket, who presumably Robin can see isn't Ryan when he's on the industrial estate and outside her flat. Presumably that was Wade.So, there would need to be some explanation for how or why Murphy is wearing the same jacket when he accosts her with the ceremonial dagger. But that's not insurmountable.Murphy would have been very surprised to encounter Matthew (sic, he means ‘Martin' -ed.), who he knows from Masham, outside Robin's flat. The narrative very much prompts us to think there's something going on with Murphy, but then we put this down to his work issues and associated relapse, but perhaps that blinds us (and Robin) to another possibility. And if it is the case, then Strike hasn't just let Robin go to dinner with his romantic rival, but she's heading into mortal danger. Were his instincts subconsciously alerting him to the threat? Did he leave it too late to shout, “Brake!” again?Nicola Reed's Objection to ‘Gorilla Ryan' (Sandy Hope, too)Kathleen O'Connor's Cogent Counterpoint to John's Incredulity about No One Noticing How Short Faux-Wright was in the Ramsay Silver footageVicky on the Interpretation of Robin's “Stuffed Toy” DreamBrenna Hill asks ‘Why is the New Ellacott Puppy Named Betty?'Sandra Hope Jumpstarts Conversation about Traditional Symbolism in Hallmarked Man* Masonic Orb Pendant for sale on Etsy ($795)* Jacob's Ladder Mosaic in Masonic Hall, London (Alamy)* The Bohun Swan (‘Chained Swan') (Wikipedia)Justin Clavet: The ‘Only Fans' Gaffe· I commented on the Hogwarts Professor gaffes pillar [Placeholder, ed.] post about the OnlyFans error - that the OnlyFans website was launched in November 2016, but in the book, the murdered Sofia is said to be a prolific OnlyFans poster before her disappearance in June of that same year. The OnlyFans account is only a small point in this large plot, but one that is repeatedly referred to, and Sofia's OnlyFans account is what ultimately brought her to the attention of her killer. For such a meticulous plotter and, as John would say, “OCD” author as Rowling is, does this real-world chronological impossibility give you pause? What other big historical error like this can be found in her books?· Did you notice that the interview with the pornstar occurs in chapter 69? I think Rowling was having a bit of (structural) fun and winking at the observant reader with that one.* Justin Clavet's 3 September ‘Gaffes' posting about ‘Only Fans'The reference to OnlyFans in chapter 33 (p. 269) felt anachronistic to me, as I don't remember ever hearing about the website before the pandemic era. And sure enough, according to Wikipedia (citing a New York Times article), the website didn't launch until November 2016. Therefore, Sofia – who was murdered in June 2016 – could not have been a prolific OnlyFans poster. Sofia's supposed OnlyFans account is referenced several further times throughout the book. Based on data from Google Trends, it seems incredibly unlikely that Strike and Robin would have readily known what OnlyFans was in late 2016/early 2017. So Where is Bora Bora?The Caerphilly 2025 Election: Victories for Left and Right Wing Populist Parties* 2025 Caerphilly Bi-Election (Wikipedia!)* UK's Ruling Labour Suffer Crushing Defeat Against Political Insurgents at Ballot Box (Breitbart)Justin Clavet ‘On Manhood in Hallmarked Man'The biggest thing that struck me in this book was the persistent themes of manhood woven throughout: the responsibilities, relationships, and hardships of men. * The central crime is linked with a secretive fraternal organization. * It opens with the death of Strike's father figure Ted, a “proper man” (p. 38), by whose maxims Strike is newly resolved to live. * We learn that Ted would've murdered (or been murdered by) his father Trevik if he hadn't left home and joined the army (p. 39), just like Strike would have come to blows (or worse) with his step-father Whittaker if he hadn't left home and joined the army. * While he loses the man he called his dad, he has a real meeting with his natural father for the first time. Rokeby shares that, in Strike, he had produced a proper man” (p. 747). * Strike celebrates not having fathered a child (while Robin is distraught in the wake of her own lost child, and devastated that the option to be a mother may no longer be hers to choose).* Richard de Leon says that his brother Danny was made the way he is because of his father's mistreatment. * Strike is bewildered that Danny (who integrates his brother's Christian name into his porn name, Dick de Lion) and Richard could be so close and share so much with each other, contrasting this with his own relationship with Al. * Leda and Rena are both shown to have suffered because of the absence of their more stable brothers. * Strike observes that “men are seen as disposable in certain contexts” (pp. 107f).* Wardle, who is shown to be a caring and dedicated father to his young child, opens up to Strike about his depression and his marriage troubles. * Strike reflects on the shallow friendships he has with other men, and later sees how this kind of friendship can be toxic with the wrong personalities (in Powell, Pratt, and Jones, p. 860). * Strike fears Wardle may be at risk of suicide. Niall is found to have committed suicide after his brother in arms was horrifically executed by Islamist combatants. The public can't be bothered to care about the tragic loss of this man who heroically put his life on the line for his country - preferring instead to lend their attention to the spectacle of another man, Branfoot, who went to extreme lengths to indulge his basest and most perverse desires (p. 873).Like many events in this book, this theme - with characters showing genuine concern and thoughtful consideration of complex men's issues - is a mirror image of one presented in Troubled Blood with the character of Carl Oakden and his cynical men's rights grift.This barely scratches the surface of the notes that I took on this theme, which I saw running deep through the whole book. I wondered if I was just seeing this in the text because of my own perspective as a man, or if it really was there. Indeed, you could find hints of this theme in each of the preceding seven books. But the structural clues left me convinced it was intentional. And when I watched this video (https://robert-galbraith.com/robert-galbraith-discusses-the-case-in-the-hallmarked-man/) the day after finishing the book, there was no doubt.Justin Clavet on the Hallmarked Man Dedication and Rokeby's Gratitude· I connected the book's dedication to Sean and Nadine Harris with Rokeby's statement on p. 748, “Not everyone's got a mate called Leo ‘oo stops ‘em livin' rough” and that he attributes his artistic and financial success to his friend's generosity and charity.Ed Shardlow on The Ickabog as Hallmarked Man's Parallel BookConscious of the links between the first 7 books of the series and the Potter books, and with three books purportedly remaining in the series, I was primed to see a connection between The Hallmarked Man and one of Casual Vacancy, Christmas Pig or the Ickabog. I didn't have any predisposition to it being any of those. Even if Rowling is taking them in some sort of chronological order, there's reason to believe the orders of conception, writing and publishing may differ.At the end of Part One, I thought the Ickabog looked like the best fit based on the fact that the central mystery of who the body in the vault was has a certain similarity to the mystery of the Ickabog itself and whether it was real or a myth. The importance of the truth and the damage done by lies are fundamental to the Ickabog story, and I thought from the start those were major themes in THM.The other correspondences I've spotted:* The police, in various guises, like the royal guard play an important part, largely inept, self-serving, and perpetrators of miscarriages of justice.* The aristocrats - Lord Branfoot, Lady Jenson, Dino Longcaster - lie and deceive to protect their own interests, causing untold damage in the process.* There's terrorism, and terrorism being used to spread fear and division.* Ultimately Rupert and Decima, two sexes but one entity, produce an offspring that may have been defective or corrupted by the state of the world he was born into, but seems to have emerged happy and healthy. Daisy Dovetail having persuaded Rupert the Ickabog that humanity was worth making compromises for.* The main antagonist traps a woman in his house. I thought their names were Esmeralda and Sapphire, but it's Lady Eslanda not Esmeralda… But apparently Eslanda can mean emerald, or VIOLET, or truth… So Eslanda corresponds to both Sapphire and Jolanda!* We visit a feudal state* Ben Liddell – the soldier killed in an incident in a land where there shouldn't have been any military conflict happening and it being covered up by the government* Sandra Hope: The Footprint!Ed Shardlow, I can't wait for your show on the parallels between THM and the Ickabog!!! I just finished rereading both of them and I'm losing my mind! Omg, the footprint: “The Flaw in the Plan (ch32) is that the footprint is hopping (not so much terrifying as ludicrously funny) and Strike noting that the bearer of the footprint in the vault has a limp!! Please let this conversation happen soon!!Sandra Hope: Strike 8 as a ‘Rowling's Greatest Hits Album' of Allusions:Allusions that took my breath away:* Ectopic pregnancy- TB* Schadenfreude- CC* “So many babies”- not just born, but what they're born into- Ickabog borndings* Human trafficking ring- RG* Woman buried in/under concrete- TB* Staged murder involving mutilation- Silkworm* Violent attacks & subsequent PTSD- a Rowling theme in every book, but especially CE & LW* DNA testing & fatherhood- CV, TB* Guys trying to find right time to ask a potential partner a question- GOF lol* Valentine's Day mishaps- CS, TB* Behavior of abandoned mothers-Silkworm (& HBP), specifically Merope, Leonora, Decima (also Leda)* Journalism as a weapon- GOF, OOP, Silkworm, RG* Potential ill usage of mirrors- SSNot a complete list by any means lolLC – Dorothy Sayers Connection?I don't know if there is anything in my seeing parallels between Cormoran and Robin and Peter Wimsey and Harriet Vance (Dorothy Sayers): Peter and Harriet had a very long acquaintance before they finally got engaged, with lots of twists and turns. Peter goes deep undercover in an ad agency in one novel; the feel of it was very similar to Robin going deep undercover in Lethal White. Also, the Sayers novel “Five Red Herrings” also features five men--in this case, five men who could have been the murderer (instead of the victim). Sayers also had very intricate plots that were puzzles--and was a Dante scholar. I believe Jo has mentioned that she admired Sayers. I don't know if these are just interesting parallels that Jo is having fun with or not, but they certainly seem to be more than coincidences. Thanks!Kathleen O'Connor – Alternative Incest Big Twist IdeasI'm impressed by your arguments that we will see some shocking twists – in addition to the shocking twist that Rokeby is actually, in his old age, a good father to his mature son, Cormoran, and not at all the image-focused a*****e we have seen through Strike's eyes up to now. I don't think, however, we will find that Rokeby is not Strike's father. That revelation would dilute Strike's growth in terms of his realizations that he has been mistaken about many things that he has taken for granted in his life. Instead, I think instead we will see a continuation of Robeby's rehabilitation until eventually, like Snape, Rokeby makes some kind of big sacrifice to aid Cormoran or someone/something else important to Cormoran. Also, even though Strike does not physically resemble Rokeby, he does resemble Prudence: * “Seeing them face to face, Robin spotted her partner's resemblance to Jonny Rokeby for the first time. He and his half-sister shared the same defined jaw, the same spacing of the eyes. She wondered – she who had three brothers, all of the same parentage – what it felt like, to make a first acquaintance with a blood relative in your forties. But there was something more there than a faint physical resemblance between brother and sister: they appeared, already, to have established an unspoken understanding.” - The Running Grave And: * “In youth, Strike knew, Rokeby had been exactly as tall as his oldest son, though he was now a little shorter.” - The Hallmarked Man Maybe the big twist and incest plot is connected to either Switch or Whittaker. As we learn from Wikipedia in Career of Evil, Jeff Whittaker never knew who his father was. A strong possibility could be that Patricia Whittaker's own father, Sir Randolph, had gotten her pregnant with Jeff. In that case, keeping that secret – as well as simply keeping the baby away from Leda – could have been the motive for a Whittaker family member to have killed Leda. An even bigger twist might be that Leda did commit suicide, using exactly the method of Krystal Weedon, after she realized that she was Whittaker's sister. Would it be possible for Trevik to have met up with Patricia Whitaker in London and gotten her pregnant? Regardless of the incest angle, I do think we might find that Leda, whose life choices have not allowed her to develop the strength or discipline to face hard truths, may have committed suicide rather than cope with some kind of guilt (maybe she found out what happened to Lucy?). There are multiple examples that foreshadow these possibilities – off the top of my head, there are “naughty boy” wealthy aristos (Freddy Chiswell, Alexander Graves, Will Edensor, Jago Ross) who might parallel Sir Randolph or Jeff Whittaker, and multiple characters who confuse suicide with sacrifice or who simply cannot face what they have done (Cherie Gittins, Krystal Weedon, Yasmin Weatherhead). Rhiannon Winn and Ellie Fancourt both commit suicide because they cannot cope with the shame they feel as a result of others' cruelty.Also, I can think of two points that support your idea that we will find out some bad things about Ted. Number one, the revelations that Dumbledore was extremely flawed are crucial to Harry's story. In fact, I suggest that writing characters who are not merely “gray” but who are simultaneously really good and really bad is a “golden thread” of Rowling's work. And, number two, we hear multiple times that Ted taught Strike, “There's no pride in having what you never worked for” while Rokeby says “I don't wanna die wivvout knowin' ya. You fink I 'aven't got the right to be proud, maybe, but I am. I'm proud of ya.” I don't think it is an accident that Rowling sets up this opposition, and I also think she wants us to admire Rokey's desire to know his son. Get full access to Hogwarts Professor at hogwartsprofessor.substack.com/subscribe
In the aftermath of the Bill Grundy interview, the Sex Pistols became Britain's most notorious band, not for their music, but for the chaos that followed. To some, they were a threat to society itself, and instead of ignoring them, middle England lost its collective mind.Episode 4 of the Rise and Fall of Sex Pistols plunges into the wreckage of that moment: a UK tour collapsing date by date, sackings from two major labels in just six months, and how manager Malcolm McLaren spun outrage into art.From smashed toilets to moral panic, from Caerphilly to Buckingham Palace, this is the story of how doing nothing made the Pistols more famous than ever.Episode 4 features archive interviews from: Johnny Rotten, Steve Jones, Paul Cook, Malcolm McLaren and Sid Vicious alongside a brand-new interview with punk author and historian Chris Sullivan.Presented by Gina Birch and Steve LamacqA BBC Audio Production
Plaid Cymru's Leanne Wood, Professor John Curtice and Labour's Alun Davies MS analyse the Caerphilly by-election result. Ann Davies MP tells us how coal tips are still not safe, 59 years after the Aberfan disaster. And Lord Peter Hain talks about his new book, Liberation and Corruption: Why Freedom Movements Fail.Sam Bennett and Claire Vaughan review the papers.
When the trust vanishes, you're finished, whether you're Labour in Caerphilly or a celebrity in BBC's The Traitors. Alex and Kenny pore over three examples of democracy in action from a hectic week – Plaid Cymru's historic victory in Wales, a new Deputy Leader for Labour in Westminster and ... a bizarre litany of bad voting decisions in The Traitors. All three have involved some measure of chaos but only one of them had both Alex and Kenny fighting for the remote control. Guess which. ***SPONSOR US AT KO-FI.COM/QUIETRIOTPOD*** “Caerphilly is where two trends met. The first is ‘I hate Labour' and the second is a trend for smart, strategic, tactical voting. So, the reason people were looking for a tactical option other than Labour to defeat Reform was unhappiness with the gov't, but the magnitude of the swing implies to me something tactical at work.” “There's a stickiness to politics and my question here would be, how many of the people who lent their vote to Plaid or decided to give another party a try, will stick with that next time - especially, given we are close enough to the Senedd election for it to make a difference.” “The media treat Reform as an entirely new party that had no presence in Wales. I would point to the last European election where the Brexit Party came top with 33% and suggest that Reform are merely the latest iteration of The Farage Party and very much had a presence in Wales.” “One thing we can say from the Caerphilly result is that the next Senedd election will be a realignment, rather than a usual hold-the-line election. Plaid is very well placed to become the largest party - or, if not, a key player.” “The message from Caerphilly is very clear to me: One-third of the vote is not enough to get Reform elected, if the other two-thirds get their act together.” “Intelligent people frequently act stupidly - and, in my experience, the more intelligent the people, the more stupidly they are capable of acting. Because intelligent people have confidence in their views. In a game like The Traitors, confidence can give you a really bum steer.” Buy something from our bookshop here. Email us at quietriotpod@gmail.com. Or visit our website www.quietriotpod.com. With Naomi Smith, Alex Andreou and Kenny Campbell. ***SPONSOR US AT KO-FI.COM/QUIETRIOTPOD*** Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Joe Pike and guests discuss Lucy Powell being elected deputy leader of the Labour Party and the fallout from the Caerphilly by-election. The panel of journalists includes columnist and former Labour adviser, Sonia Sodha; the political editor of the Financial Times and the political editor of GB News Christopher Hope.
On the face of it, the Caerphilly by-election result is a disaster, a drubbing and a humiliation for Keir Starmer's Labour party. A once secure bastion of the Welsh Labour heartlands fell without a squeak from the governing party. Their vote collapsed to a miserable 11 per cent, while Plaid Cymru won with 47 per cent and Reform surged to second place with 36 per cent. The result suggests Labour is on course to surrender a boatload of seats at the 2029 general election, both to Reform and to whatever protest party is best suited to beat the government around the head – be it Plaid, the Greens, the Corbynites, the Islamist independents or the SNP. But is there good news for the PM beyond the headlines? Lucy Dunn speaks to Tim Shipman and James Heale. Produced by Oscar Edmondson.Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to spectator.co.uk/adfree to find out more.For more Spectator podcasts, go to spectator.co.uk/podcasts.Contact us: podcast@spectator.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
It's been confirmed that an asylum seeker who was jailed last month for a year for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl and a woman in Epping has been released from prison by mistake. Also: Plaid Cymru celebrates a decisive victory in the Senedd by-election in Caerphilly, a stronghold for Labour for a century. And one of England's oldest football clubs, Sheffield Wednesday, goes into administration.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves received a rare bit of good news from lower inflation statistics this week, which could reduce government borrowing ahead of the November Budget. But the uphill struggle to improve Labour's standing in the polls continues after a drubbing in Caerphilly, the embarrassing failure of the one-in-one-out migrant policy and the chaotic start to the grooming gang inquiry. Host George Parker is on hand to dissect the week along with deputy political editor Jim Pickard, UK chief political commentator Robert Shrimsley and the FT's northern England correspondent Jennifer Williams. Plus, is the King getting poor advice from the PM over Prince Andrew in the wake of further damaging revelations about the prince's links to Jeffrey Epstein?Follow George on Bluesky or X: @georgewparker.bsky.social, @GeorgeWParker; Robert: @robertshrimsley or @robertshrimsley.bsky.social; Jen on X @JenWilliamsMEN and Jim on X @PickardJEWant more? Labour suffers seismic by-election defeat to Plaid Cymru in CaerphillyUK borrowing costs fall in boost for Rachel ReevesReeves vows to clear way for BoE rate cuts with cost of living pledgeGrooming gang victims call for minister to resignA defining crisis for Britain's royalsBritain's flawed support for Jaguar Land RoverClips from: Sky & Parliament Live TVSign up here for Stephen Bush's morning newsletter Inside Politics for straight-talking insight into the stories that matter, plus puns and tongue (mostly) in cheek. Get 30 days free.Our email address is politicalfix@ft.comPresented by George Parker. Produced by Clare Williamson. The executive producer is Flo Phillips. Audio mix and original music by Breen Turner. The FT's acting head of audio is Manuela Saragosa. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Is Welsh Labour dead?Plaid Cymru won a historic victory in the by-election, trouncing Labour who had been dominant for over 100 years.The "middle child" as Plaid's new MS describes them, also beat Reform, who pollsters expected to win the seat.In this episode, Harry Clarke-Ezzidio reports from Caerphilly to analyse the results of the election. He speaks to Rhun ap Iorwerth, Huw Irranca-Davies, Llyr Powell, and Dan Evans.LISTEN AD-FREE:
After 14 attempts, Lindsay Whittle has won the Caerphilly seat in South Wales for Plaid Cymru. Reform came in second with over a third of the vote, and Labour trailed in third with 11%. A devastating loss for the party.Harry Clarke-Ezzidio is joined by Ben Walker in Caerphilly Leisure Centre.LISTEN AD-FREE:
Plaid Cymru have swept to victory in Caerphilly, taking a Senedd seat that has been held by Labour for a century - will it convince Keir Starmer to change course?Alexis Conran unpacks the politics of the day with Daisy McAndrew and Michael Binyon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
I respond Labour's battering in Caerphilly (and the Tories dismal 2%). I also investigate Farage's flounce out of PMQs and ask whether it's political or performative. The Lib Dems get some flak too, as it turns out they may have been feeding Starmer advance warning of their questions. And then there's the question of the small boats hokey-pokey... CATCH ME ON MY TOUR ‘Basic Bloke 2: There's No Bloke Without Fire'. Book tickets here: https://www.livenation.co.uk/geoff-norcott-tickets-adp1252793 JOIN the Podcast Patreon and receive each episode early, AD-FREE & with bonus content https://www.patreon.com/geoffnorcott?fan_landing=true Join my MAILING LIST for priority Tour booking & special offers https://signup.ymlp.com/xgyueuwbgmgb
Plaid Cymru's Lindsay Whittle has taken a historic Labour stronghold in the Caerphilly by-election. Plus: Ireland goes to the polls to elect a new President, why Zack Polanski's brand of eco-populism is infuriating the right, and we speak to Times Columnist James Marriott about the decline of reading. With: Michael Walker & Aaron Bastani. Support […]
On Nick Ferrari at Breakfast, Plaid Cymru wins Caerphilly by-election as Labour loses seat for first time ever. Nick speaks with Paymaster General & MP for Torfaen, Nick Thomas-Symonds Reports of OCD among under 25s triple in 10 yearsAll this and more on Nick Ferrari: The Whole Show Podcast
James and Fliss discuss Plaid Cymru's victory over Reform and Labour in the Caerphilly by-election. It's been a whirlwind campaign and a long night for James, Gareth and Teleri who join the pod off the back of BBC Wales' live stream coverage of the results. They discuss the night, the winners and losers and what it could all mean for the Senedd election in May.
Labour and the Conservatives together secured only 13 per cent of the vote in the Caerphilly by-election. In what had been a Labour stronghold for a century the governing party was crushed. Does the Plaid Cymru win, with Reform in second place, point to a wider political earthquake? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Special guest Zoe Williams (and young Ruby), discuss the week's big stories with Alex and Kenny. What is it about Zack Polanski that seems to be taking the British left by storm? Has Corbyn and Sultana's 'Your Party' missed the boat? Will the Caerphilly by-election become a test case? AND how is it possible for AI solutions to be both at the fingertips of every minister, to answer all the UK's problems and simultaneously incapable of being regulated? PLUS - regular feature 'Wokey Dokey'. ***SPONSOR US AT KO-FI.COM/QUIETRIOTPOD*** “The fundamental problem is that progressives are drawn towards consensus and the far right is not - they like division. So any attempt to engage in discussion involves us moving further towards them, while they never move towards us. It's as much physics as it is ideology.” “The far right in the UK - and the US - are wishing civil war as a sort of cleansing act. I'm much more scared of that language of cleansing violence than I am of a few guys sticking fireworks up their butts on their way back from the football.” “The thing with Zack is that, even though I really notice his background as a storyteller, the result is more than storytelling. He can make you believe that things are possible. And in the current environment, that is massive.” “Hope is the last vestige of rascals in public life.” ***SPONSOR US AT KO-FI.COM/QUIETRIOTPOD*** Buy something from our bookshop here. Email us at quietriotpod@gmail.com. Or visit our website www.quietriotpod.com. With Naomi Smith, Alex Andreou and Kenny Campbell. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Labour's electoral dominance in Caerphilly, deep in the party's Welsh heartlands, has collapsed while Reform UK and Plaid Cymru have hoovered up votes. On a visit to the south Rhymney Valley ahead of a historic byelection, John Harris finds a polarised community, reminiscent of the final days of the European referendum contest. Kiran Stacey joins him to discuss the significance of the Caerphilly byelection, how it is being fought on the ground and online, and what it tells us about the future of UK politics. Plus, we look at problems facing the grooming gangs inquiry as a fourth survivor quits and the prime minister brings in the trusted trouble-shooter Louise Casey to try to shore up the process. And finally, Labour's deputy leadership contest comes to a close … at last • Send your thoughts and questions to politicsweeklyuk@theguardian.com. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod
A while back we put the world to rights by drunkenly going through all the things we would change to make Wales the country we know it can be. With the very important Caerphilly by-election on the horizon and the Senedd elections coming next year, we thought we'd give our two pence worth all over again.
Labour's century-long dominance in Wales could be about to collapse — with polls showing Reform UK and Plaid Cymru overtaking them in the Caerphilly by-election.In this week's Holyrood Sources, Calum Macdonald, Geoff Aberdein (former Chief of Staff to Alex Salmond) and Andy Maciver (former Scottish Conservative communications director) unpack:
After yesterday's antics, Ava, Ed, and Seán are back to discuss transport costs, the AWS outage, and what's wrong with Labour's comms strategy. From Keir Starmer's disposables to their messaging ahead of a precarious Caerphilly by-election in Wales, nothing seems to be landing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
What is parliament's role in what happens to Prince Andrew from here?With Virginia Giuffre's book released today and new reports that he's not paid rent on the Royal Lodge in Windsor for two decades – Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy discuss how uncomfortable Westminster might be feeling about the former trade envoy. Outside of London, how are the parties feeling about this week's Senedd by-election in Caerphilly? Plus, in our weekly check-in on polling, are the Greens cutting through with the voters and could that be encouraging Keir Starmer to change his plans for the COP summit in Brazil? There's a full list of candidates standing in the Senedd by-election in Caerphilly here: https://www.caerphilly.gov.uk/my-council/voting-and-elections/forthcoming-elections-2025/election-notices/senedd-by-election-caerphilly-constituency
Special guest Plaid Cymru's Liz Saville-Roberts, discusses the week's big stories with Alex, Naomi, and Kenny. Chinese Spy Trial: cock-up, cover up, or nothingburger? Nathan Gill bribe story: why is Farage not being asked difficult questions? Musk funding Yaxley-Lennon: wake up UK. Caerphilly By-Election: Plaid to the rescue? Labour vote collapse in Wales. Senedd elections in a few months. PLUS - regular features 'Wokey Dokey' and 'Grin And Share It'. ***SPONSOR US AT KO-FI.COM/QUIETRIOTPOD*** “The world's richest man funding the UK's most prominent far-right agitator isn't normal and should not be treated as such. This dangerous merging of wealth and power and extremist politics, is made worse when coupled with the media's indifference. If this isn't a wake-up call, I don't know what is.” “When it became apparent that the case against Nathan Gill was going to go to court, it was listed to be heard after the Senedd elections. That he has chosen to plead guilty now, in a way that comes before those elections is extremely interesting.” “Government ministers and departments not leaving X is the political equivalent of failing to evacuate a burning building because the wi-fi is still working.” “Starmer, as an experienced former DPP, will have considered those witness statements quite carefully, before rowing out to precisely a distance that means he gets to have a lovely day fishing, while anyone trying to swim after him risks drowning.” “Badenoch is trying to reestablish herself as leader of her own party. She seems to have pleased her own backbenchers simply by landing a punch.” “Having always had Labour in charge in Cardiff, we haven't really tested what we [Plaid] can do as an ‘awkward' party in relation to Westminster. The SNP, by being difficult, has always secured better concessions for Scotland than we have had in Wales.” “I've been campaigning in Caerphilly. It's neck-and-neck, a two-horse race between Plaid and Reform and I couldn't tell you what will happen. The one thing I am comfortable saying, empirically, is that the Labour vote has collapsed.” “This is part of Labour's problem: they are not prepared to meet parties elsewhere. Collaboration is not their way. And what is really interesting about the change of the electoral system in Wales is that Labour are going to have to learn to work with others.” “I'll speak candidly. I'm not keen on the ‘closed list' system of Proportional Representation. I don't like the idea that elected representatives have more of an eye on what the party thinks of them, as the people who select where they are on the list.” “The Senedd is unlikely to end up with a majority government. So, we are going to have to work together. I think this is a very good thing in politics. The winners, losers, yah-boo adversarial-ness of Westminster does not reflect how we are in real life. There's something immature about it.” CALLS TO ACTION: Find out more about Open Democracy here. Take a ride with the Heritage Railways Association. GRIN AND SHARE IT: Find out about Wicken Fen Nature Reserve. ***SPONSOR US AT KO-FI.COM/QUIETRIOTPOD*** Buy something from our bookshop here. Email us at quietriotpod@gmail.com. Or visit our website www.quietriotpod.com. With Naomi Smith, Alex Andreou and Kenny Campbell. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Felicity Evans, James Williams and guests are in the spin room in the aftermath of BBC Wales' Caerphilly by-election TV debate. What were the key issues raised by the audience of voters? And how did the panel of six candidates deal with their questions and concerns?
Felicity Evans and James Williams pay a visit to the Caerphilly constituency ahead of the approaching Senedd by-election, speaking to voters and to Richard Gurner, editor of the local Caerphilly Observer newspaper, about the issues that are shaping the campaign
Deputy First Minister Huw Irranca-Davies joins us from Labour's conference in Liverpool. Jane Frankland CEO of Knewstart discusses cyber security. Emma Pinchbeck, CEO of the Climate Change Committee explains what went well and what went badly after the last blast furnace closed in Port Talbot. Mark Serwotka joins us to tell us all about new left-leaning 'Your Party' in Wales and Sir Deian Hopkin remembers the 1968 Caerphilly by-election.Tessa Marshall and Karl Davies review the papers.
Morse code transcription: vvv vvv Tool used to assess domestic abuse risk doesnt work, Jess Phillips admits Trump orders removal of Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook Nigel Farage says illegal migration is a scourge Porepunkah shooting Manhunt after two police officers shot dead With Love, Meghan series 2 Who said I love you first, and what Meghan misses about UK Caerphilly politician Hefin David found dead at home inquest Perfect posture is a myth three rules for better back health Council debt 2025 Scale of local authority deficits revealed Three dead and one hurt in Isle of Wight helicopter crash Child sex abuse victim begs Elon Musk to remove links to her images
Morse code transcription: vvv vvv Council debt 2025 Scale of local authority deficits revealed Tool used to assess domestic abuse risk doesnt work, Jess Phillips admits Perfect posture is a myth three rules for better back health Caerphilly politician Hefin David found dead at home inquest Three dead and one hurt in Isle of Wight helicopter crash Trump orders removal of Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook With Love, Meghan series 2 Who said I love you first, and what Meghan misses about UK Porepunkah shooting Manhunt after two police officers shot dead Child sex abuse victim begs Elon Musk to remove links to her images Nigel Farage says illegal migration is a scourge
Morse code transcription: vvv vvv Porepunkah shooting Manhunt after two police officers shot dead Caerphilly politician Hefin David found dead at home inquest Child sex abuse victim begs Elon Musk to remove links to her images Tool used to assess domestic abuse risk doesnt work, Jess Phillips admits Council debt 2025 Scale of local authority deficits revealed Perfect posture is a myth three rules for better back health Trump orders removal of Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook Nigel Farage says illegal migration is a scourge With Love, Meghan series 2 Who said I love you first, and what Meghan misses about UK Three dead and one hurt in Isle of Wight helicopter crash
Morse code transcription: vvv vvv Caerphilly politician Hefin David found dead at home inquest Perfect posture is a myth three rules for better back health Three dead and one hurt in Isle of Wight helicopter crash Tool used to assess domestic abuse risk doesnt work, Jess Phillips admits Child sex abuse victim begs Elon Musk to remove links to her images With Love, Meghan series 2 Who said I love you first, and what Meghan misses about UK Nigel Farage says illegal migration is a scourge Porepunkah shooting Manhunt after two police officers shot dead Council debt 2025 Scale of local authority deficits revealed Trump orders removal of Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook
Morse code transcription: vvv vvv Nuclear powered AI could make Rolls Royce UKs biggest firm, says boss Children charged with murder after man killed on Isle of Sheppey Police given new guidance on releasing suspects nationalities and ethnicities Hefin David, Welsh Labour politician and MS for Caerphilly, dies suddenly Councils blame rising costs for drop in swimming pool temperatures Mortgage rates below 5 for first time since Truss budget The UK car industry is at a crunch point can it be saved Call for free bus travel to help under 22s into work The deadly cancers left behind by 50 years of success George Clarke YouTuber and podcaster added to Strictly line up
Cindy in Caerphilly goes up against Darren in Cambridgeshire for a great quiz match.
This week, you give us the complaints your neighbours have about you, there's your latest dolphin update, and a huge revelations about Dawn on Little Simon's Data Team. Hear Johnny on Radio X every weekday at 4pm across the UK on digital radio, 104.9 FM in London, 97.7 FM in Manchester, on Global Player or via www.radiox.co.uk