Chris Whiteside's Blog

Forty Four years ago today, the Royal Nayy submarine HMS Conqueror sank the Argentinian cruiser ARA General Belgrano. In almost no other country in the world would taking out a powerful enemy unit during a war and making it much easier to win the war be a subject of criticism for the government, but Mrs Thatcher faced years of unfounded criticism about the attack, her motives for allowing the sinking, and whether she had told the truth about it.  It has now been proven beyond reasonable doubt that her motive was indeed to protect the men and women of our armed forces. I believe that her accusers genuinely thought the charges they were making against her were justified. However, given what we now know following the declassification under the 30-year rule of documents about the decision, I don't see that the case stands up either that Mrs Thatcher lied or that she was misguided. I repeat that, as she herself observed, only in Britain could a government face lasting criticism for...

Top pollster Peter Kellner has published an article in "Prospect" magazine in which he makes a very brave attempt to suggest what a good or bad result in the local elections in England would look like for each of the five main political parties. I am using the word "brave" not as "Yes Minister" code for " stark staring mad " but because this is such a difficult thing to do under any circumstances, and particularly now at this very unusual political time. I must admit that my first reaction to some of these was "Do you really think that?" As he himself explains in the article: " More than 5,000 seats will be contested, covering London (1,817), most big cities (1,419), including Birmingham and Newcastle, and some counties (430), districts (781), unitary authorities (405) and new authorities (162). The chart below suggests some yardsticks for judging each party. It looks perverse: if Labour loses 800 seats it will feel triumphant; if...

 

"I was in the chamber at PMQs today, and one thing I noticed was the public gallery laughing at all of Badenoch’s jokes while shaking their heads at Starmer. I remember sitting in that same gallery just after the election, and to say the mood has shifted would be an understatement." ( Ellie Hodges on X, referring to yesterday's PMQs)

I have stood for election in the past on a Conservative manifesto which included replacing the House of Lords with an elected second chamber. That would have been a genuinely democratic reform, but every attempt over decades if not centuries to do something of the kind was defeated by an unholy alliance of those who wanted no change, those who wanted a different kind of reform, and those MPs who don't want the check on their power represented by any second chamber at all. Instead we have had, from two Labour governments, so-called "reforms" which replaced one unelected chamber with a slightly different unelected chamber from which it was easier for them to get what they wanted. Don 't let anyone imagine that the removal of the years of experience and service represented by the remaining hereditary peers who step down today will improve the ability of the House of Lords to perform its' functions. If the Starmer administration had really been interested in real demo...

Whitehaven and Workington Conservatives were out today, asking people for their views on the Conservative plan for Cumbria which our mayoral candidate Mike Starkie is putting together. A big thank you to everyone who has already responded to our online questionnaire. And after an evening's hard work, here is a great piece to relax to:  Domenico Scarlatti's Sonata in a minor performed by Pizzicar Galante: Anna Schivazappa , baroque mandolin Ronald Martin Alonso , viola da gamba Daniel de Morais , baroque guitar Fabio Antonio Falcone , harpsichord

Two people, a man in his seventies and another in his thirties, are recovering in hospital after being stabbed in the street in Golders Green, apparently because they are Jewish. A suspect has been arrested and police have confirmed that the attack has now been declared a “terror incident.” Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, Head of Counter Terrorism Policing, confirmed that his team had taken over the investigation. CCTV footage circulating online shows a man launching two frenzied attacks on bystanders on Golders Green Road.  A Met Police spokesperson said: “ An investigation is underway and a man has been arrested following a stabbing incident in Barnet. " Local officers and armed officers attended, alongside the London Ambulance Service. “ The suspect also attempted to stab police officers, and was Tasered before being arrested. No officers were injured. “ Two men – one in his 70s and one in his 30s – were treated at the scene for stab wounds. They have been taken to hosp...

"To save his own skin, Keir Starmer threatened his MPs with the loss of their jobs unless they helped cover up his misleading statements to Parliament. It is a disgrace that 333 Labour MPs chose to be complicit in that cover up. It is very notable that the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister would not repeat his boss’s exact claim that there “was no pressure whatsoever” from No10 on the appointment of Peter Mandelson, instead trying to 'clarify' what he had meant. This is a government coming apart at the seams. They are more interested in their own survival than the cost of living crisis affecting hardworking families. Labour MPs will rue the day that they voted against this motion, because it is the day that people saw they believe there’s one rule for Labour and another for everyone else." Rt Hon Kemi Badenoch on the defeat of the motion to refer the PM to the committee of Privileges.

 According to Robert Peston, a Labour MP has sent him the following text meessage:  “ Irony of voting shortly to carry over the Hillsborough Law which includes the duty of candour as its central piece, but then being asked to oppose a Privilege Inquiry [into Keir Starmer] is not lost on some …”

Dan Hodges has an excellent piece in the Daily Mail: DAN HODGES reveals the SEVEN times Starmer has misled the House of Commons or broken ministerial code | Daily Mail Online He writes as follows: "MPs will be asked to vote on whether or not Keir Starmer should be referred to Parliament's Privileges Committee on Tuesday on a charge of misleading the House of Commons. Starmer and his allies furiously reject the allegation. On Monday, Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds – in a desperate last-minute attempt to head off a vote – claimed repeatedly on national television that it had been 'categorically proven' the Prime Minister had not lied to or misled anyone. This statement was itself a lie. Keir Starmer has not been exonerated by anyone." "In reality, he has deliberately misled the House, misled the country and breached the Ministerial Code on no fewer than seven separate occasions over the Peter Mandelson affair. Offence 1: On September 10, 2025, Starmer told...

I am sad to learn that Colin Micklethwaite died on Friday in Millom Community Hospital, where he had been receiving end of life care after fighting bravely for some time against prostate cancer. Colin was one of the nicest people I ever met, a kind man who was always cheerful, with a quick wit and a ready smile. He was Mayor's Consort in Millom in 2018-19 when his wife Jane was Mayor of Millom. He will be missed. Condolences to Jane who is a long-standing stalwart of the Millom Community. Rest in Peace

"This is going to be unpopular, but here goes. I believe Sir Keir Starmer. I don’t think he would be so foolish, or so careless, as to lie to Parliament. He is an ultra-cautious man, a creature of procedure. When he says that he did not discover until this month that Peter Mandelson had been denied security clearance as a potential ambassador, I think he is telling the truth. But here’s the thing .  He never allowed the slightest leeway to others in similar circumstances.   As leader of the Opposition, he always assumed the worst, always levelled accusations of lying, always demanded resignations. Boris Johnson was, in my view, also telling the truth as he understood it when he said that he had been “ assured that no Covid rules were broken ”. He plainly took the word “party” to mean a festive congregation of invited guests, not a break for tea among keyworkers. The only actual party in Number 10 was organised by officials while Boris was 40 miles away. Yet Starmer insisted th...

 

"The instinct after a crisis in No10 is always to add more process. But the Mandelson appointment wasn't a failure of process - it was a failure of political judgment. The right response to bad decisions is better decision-making, not process paralysis." Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP.

The app X, formerly twitter, is all too often full of poison, but every so often you get something on X which is so useful, entertaining or fascinating that it rewards putting up with the trash.  I love this crossover table which brilliantly fits together four famous sayings, principles or "thought experiments" - Chekhov's Gun, Schrödinger's Cat, Occam's Razor, and Murphy's law. NB - if you're looking at the top level of the blog, you don't see the bottom of the image with the fourth row of boxes: you have to click on " Read More " to see the whole picture."

The choir of Selby Abbey sang this beautifully aa the Communion anthem this morning. I don't have a recording of their performance, but here is a very good one by the Dolor Consort.

"The economic disasters of socialism and communism come from assuming a blanket superiority of those who want to run a whole economy." Thomas Sowell

"The Falkland Islands are British…no matter what Donald Trump says. We must defend British Sovereign territory, and to do that we must back our armed forces. Only the Conservatives have a plan to reinstate the two child benefit, and use the savings to fund our military." Rt. Hon. Kemi Badenoch, Conservative leader

( From X this week ) Sir Keir Starmer combines the veracity of Boris Johnson with the people skills of Gordon Brown, the charisma of Theresa May, the common touch of Jacob Rees-Mogg and the human empathy of Donald Trump.

"Last week No.10 published a blank vetting form they claimed proved Olly Robinson had misled the Prime Minister. Robbins said he’d never seen any form of that type. No.10 are refusing to publish the original. It’s a farce." ( Dan Hodges on X yesterday) ( Dan Hodges on X: "Last week No.10 published a blank vetting form they claimed proved Olly Robinson had misled the Prime Minister. Robbins said he’d never seen any form of that type. No.10 are refusing to publish the original. It’s a farce." / X )

 

"Happy St George’s Day. Be proud. Fly the flag." (Rt. Hon. Kemi Badenoch , Conservative leader) There is an accompanying video and extended version of the message which you can see and hear by clicking on this link: Kemi Badenoch on X: "Happy St George’s Day. Be proud. Fly the flag 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 https://t.co/VErmHJY0MQ" / X Events to celebrate St George's Day: St. George Events – Happy St. George's Day

Conclusion of an article in the New Statesman ...

Here are three quotes on X today from Dan Hodges . 1) "So I’ve just checked Hansard. And it’s clear that Starmer also misquoted Robbins. He took half a quote to make it look like Robbins had denied pressure had been brought to bear. Where the full quote actually says the opposite." 2) This is the quote that is sparking anxiety inside No.10 this evening. Starmer: “ No pressure existed whatsoever in relation to this case ”. Senior Starmer aides believe that statement is going to come back to bite him in a major way. 3) "I’m told Starmer was simply supposed to stick to quoting Robbins. But by extemporising he made a statement himself that is a provable untruth. Understand they are especially concerned about what Robbins predecessor Sir Phillip Barton will say on the issue." And here are two from Matthew Stadlen making a similar point : 3) "Starmer told the Commons at PMQs: "[Robbins] was asked if any conversations led him to believe that Mandelson needed to ...

Here is a Fantasia on the Yorkshire Anthem ( On Ilkley Moor Bar T'at ) by Simon Mayor, arranged for two mandolins, a mandola, and a mandocello. I must confess that I'd not previously heard of a mandocello, I am reliably informed that this is a plucked string instrument of the mandolin family. It is larger than the mandolin, and is the baritone instrument of the mandolin family. The term does not refer to a type of cello played by Mandalorians as in this picture posted  here on Instagram by the Piano Guys. This is the way ... 

 

"Yeah: Look, it's a fair point, and he shouldn't have been appointed, and that is right." Ed Miliband interviewed about the appointment of Peter Mandelson on ITV yesterday. Here is the interview. Ironically, one of the people interviewing Ed Miliband is Ed Balls, who was of course one of his rivals for the Labour leadership in the 2010 leadership election and who then served as his shadow chancellor. And even Ed Balls is saying that everyone finds the PM's account " not credible " and Miliband has great trouble disagreeing ...

"Now I’m no Prime Minister, but if a guy applied for a job in my institution and he was known by everyone as ‘ the Prince of Darkness ’ I’d make damn sure he passed security vetting before offering him a job." ( Dr Helen Ingram on X yesterday)

This will probably be the one time, in the entire 20 years plus and counting life of this blog, that the quote of the day comes from Diane Abbott MP , but she asked a really good question in the commons yesterday. "It's one thing to say, as he insists on saying, nobody told me, nobody told me anything, nobody told me.  The question is, why didn't the prime minister ask?"

Quoted by  James Heale on X: "Brutal line in Politico https://t.co/Zc4BC19CIi" / X

DUP MP Sammy Wilson "The Prime Minister is fast becoming known as the 'mushroom Prime Minister': kept in the dark and fed - I can't say it..." Mr Speaker "No, you can't."

 Sam Coates at Sky reports on X: "Keir Starmer was advised by the cabinet secretary Simon Case to do security clearance BEFORE appointment but ignored the suggestion. Case said (If you want a political appointment) "you should give us the name of the person you would like to appoint and we will develop a plan for them to acquire the necessary security clearances and do due diligence on any potential Conflicts of Interest or other issues of which you should be aware *before* confirming you choice" Which feels quite material ..... "

Kemi Badenoch's article in the Daily Mail on why the PM should resign. "Why does Sir Keir Starmer want to be Prime Minister? It's very hard to know. But what's certain is that Britain is paying the price of having a PM with no interest in doing the job. Perhaps you think ' all politicians are liars '. Yet the disgraceful appointment of Peter Mandelson points not just to dishonesty, but to a premier too idle to ask basic questions and too weak to face the answers. I have spent hours across the despatch box watching how Starmer operates. He doesn't just refuse to answer questions, he cannot answer questions. He doesn't know how to respond because he's not prepared to do the work. Despite seven months of scandal at the very heart of government, Starmer claims to have made no enquiries, to have seen no documents, or to have heard anything that would have told him Peter Mandelson failed the security vetting. Even by his own defence (fanciful as it is), S...

 

Out today campaigning in the Hensingham area of Whitehaven. Something relaxing to come back to.  

"This is the circle it's impossible for No.10 to square. If, as they have begun claiming, Robbins was indeed precluded from informing them because of the rules, then there were no grounds to sack him. If the rules did not preclude him, then it's inconceivable he didn't tell them." ( Dan Hodges , former Labour and trade union staffer who is now a journalist.) 

This is the front page of the Independent newspaper on 12th September 2025 Right there on the front page of a national newspaper is a report - which we now know was correct - that Peter Mandelson " did not clear vetting " for the role of ambassador to the USA. And this report was actually mentioned in the House of Commons by Rachel Gilmour MP on 16th September 2026. The Prime Minister is now saying that he was not informed until this week of something which had been on the front page of a national newspaper SEVEN MONTHS AGO. It beggars belief that nobody in Number ten would have drawn this to his attention. The idea that nobody in number ten thought to check whether this report might be accurate before the PM and the Foreign Secretary told parliament and the country that the vetting procedures had all been followed is just not credible. If it is true, Starmer is not competent to be Prime Minister. If it is a lie, Starmer has misled parliament and must resign.

Congratulations to our new Councillor, Neil Graham, who won the Cramlington South West by-election from Reform Cramlington South West (Northumberland) Council By-Election Result 16th April 2026: 🌳 CON: 34.2% (+9.0) ➡️ RFM: 26.1% (-13.3) 🌹 LAB: 23.0% (-5.8) 🌍 GRN: 14.3% (New) 🙋 Ind: 1.6% (New) 🔶 LDM: 0.9% (New) No SDP (-6.6) as previous. Conservative GAIN from Reform UK. Changes w/ 2025.  

"When the prime minister’s defence is “I’m not a liar; I’m incompetent” then things are not, on balance, going very well." Alex Massie on X  ( Here .)

 As Kemi Badenoch said today " It is preposterous for Starmer to claim he did not know Mandelson failed security vetting. If the Prime Minister doesn’t know what’s happening in his own office, he shouldn’t be in charge of our country. He should go. " Meanwhile it appears that at a time of huge international danger, the chancellor is holding up resources for our country's defence which the review concluded by a former labour defence secretary and NATO secretary-general says are urgently needed, because the MoD doesn't employ enough women. In honour of both of them, here's a performance of Haydn's " Insane et vanae curae "  A lose translation of the lyrics would begin with "Vain and frantic fears invade our minds;  Again and again they fill our hearts with madness, and deprive us of hope." Just what Starmer and Reeves are doing to the country!

"Today we found out that the PM lied to the House over the Mandelson vetting and the Chancellor won't countenance a vital increase in defence spending because there aren't enough women in the armed forces. A liar and an idiot." ( Stephen Pollard on X)

 “A stronger defense is an investment in peace.” — Ronald Reagan

Words from the latest Labour former defence minister to break ranks and say that the present Labour government should be doing more on defence: Geoff Hoon , quoted by the Independent's chief political correspondent John Rentoul on X today.

 "The former Labour minister who wrote Keir Starmer’s Strategic Defence Review has accused the PM of “ corrosive complacency ” and said “ we cannot defend Britain with an ever-expanding welfare budget ”. I completely agree. It was exactly what I told Starmer in Parliament yesterday and said in my speech to Defence experts at the weekend. We need to get serious. The Conservatives would restore the two child benefit cap and repurpose funds from net zero projects to invest in our military. Meanwhile the government have NO plan and, as Lord Robertson points out, Rachel Reeves had only 40 words on defence in her Budget and none in the Spring Statement. You can’t trust Labour on defence." This is what Kemi Badenoch said today, and she was right. The Financial Times reported that Lord George Robertson, author of the British military review, said that there was a gap between the prime minister’s rhetoric and action on defence — saying Keir Starmer was ‘ not willing to make the neces...

"Everyone in Hungary knows that Ukraine is a victim of this war and no one should tell them under what conditions they should enter a peace or sign a peace treaty. We cannot tell any country to give up their territory. And this is what the Fidesz politicians said. Then I would like to ask them: What would you do if Russia attacked Hungary? Which Hungarian counties would you be willing to give up? Ukraine should receive security guarantees and territorial guarantees that can be observed and kept. Ukraine, under the Budapest Memorandum, gave up its nuclear arsenal for guarantees, but those guarantees were violated repeatedly by Russia." Peter Magyar , PM-elect of Hungary

"If there are no consequences, laws mean nothing. People follow the rules when they know they’ll be enforced. Why doesn’t Starmer get that? We have a funded plan for 10,000 more police officers. It’s time to take back our streets." Rt Hon Kemi Badenoch , Conservative leader.

"Congratulations to @magyarpeterMP and the TISZA party on their resounding victory. It is important when  constructive approach prevails.  Ukraine has always sought good-neighbourly relations with everyone in Europe and we are ready to advance our cooperation with Hungary.  Europe and every European nation must get stronger, and millions of Europeans seek cooperation and stability. We are ready for meetings and joint constructive work for the benefit of both nations, as well as peace, security, and stability in Europe." President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine congratulates Peter Magyar and TISZA on winning the Hungarian elections.

Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orban has called opposition candidate Peter Magyar to concede  defeat in Hungary's general election today and congratulate Magyar's Tizsa party on winning the election. Hungary election: Viktor Orbán concedes. Opposition on course for landslide election win - BBC News

"Our enemies are delighted every time Western bonds weaken." Rt Hon Kemi Badenoch

 

How many BBC reporters does it take to cover an MP’s statement to the media? TWO. One to press “cut” and the other to press “paste.” (Credit: lifted from the "Cumbria Chronic" website.)

"Don't hit at all if it is honorably possible to avoid hitting; but never hit soft." Theodore Roosevelt

"The ceasefire in Iran is welcome, and we support it. But it also brings a clear lesson. Energy security matters, and it needs clear-eyed, rational policy that protects our national interest. If stable oil and gas flows matter globally, they matter at home too. Most of the gas used domestically comes from the North Sea, but Ed Miliband is working to shut down the North Sea. Labour would rather leave billions of barrels of oil and gas under the sea bed, than compromise on their Net Zero ideology. Drilling the North Sea boosts our exports, supports British production and sustains jobs. It would bring in new revenue that Conservatives would use to bring down bills - saving a family £200. The lesson is obvious. Back our own energy and support new North Sea licences. Scrap the Energy Profits Levy and get Britain drilling. That is the Conservative plan to get Britain working again." Rt Hon Kemi Badenoch, Consrvative Leader

Mel Torme's 1969 recording of "Windmills of your mind" as heard at the conclusion of Season 2 of "Severance" in 2025. How good does a performance have to be if the recording is being used at a key point in a major TV series 46 years later? Click on this to find out.

 

"Hungarian history isn't written in Washington or Moscow but by Hungarians, in our villages & towns. We decide our own fate." Péter Magyar , Hungarian opposition leader and Tisza party candidate for PM in Sunday's Hungarian elections.

"Doctors are on strike today for the 15th time since 2023, costing us £3bn in the last 3 years. Starmer promised to sort it, even gave them a 28% pay rise ... it didn't work. Time for serious action. The Conservatives will ban doctors' strikes, like we do for the army and police." Rt Hon Kemi Badenoch on X today

" Each new day is a chance to live with purpose. Easter Monday is not just a continuation of celebration, it is a call to action. Live intentionally and make each moment meaningful." (" Prayerman ," from Inspirational Easter Monday Quotes)

 

Wishing all Christians in the UK and everywhere - and anyone else reading this and celebrating this great festival - a happy and peaceful Easter.

From the late Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster, Basil Hume;

"It is so easy to be wrong-and to persist in being wrong-when the costs of being wrong are paid by others." Thomas Sowell

On 1st April, the UK Defence Journal website published a satirical article claiming that the Royal Navy was building a new supercarrier to be called " HMS Prince Andrew. "  The obviously tongue-in-cheek article said the carrier would be armed with Cold War-era Harriers or “naval Typhoons” launched via six catapults, and cost the taxpayer a modest £987.6 billion. The author of the original joke piece George Allison said  “ As part of our usual April Fools’ Day tradition, we published a clearly satirical piece about a fictional third aircraft carrier —HMS Prince Andrew— complete with absurd details like ‘go faster stripes’ and ‘crayons’. It was meant to be obviously fake, and it was written to make people laugh. ” However, Allison said the intention of the piece was also to see if outlets “ eager to undermine the UK ” would pick up the story without fact checking it. And boy oh boy, didn't they just. Russian state media outlet RT, formerly Russia Today, republished the st...

 Kemi Badenoch: "A 78 per cent tax rate on UK oil and gas is not a strategy. It is economic vandalism. Mark my words, when investment leaves, jobs go with it. And when production falls, we end up at the mercy of foreign suppliers who do not share our values, our standards or our interests. Labour simply do not get it. Their choices weaken Britain and the consequences are unforgivable. Conservatives will scrap this levy, back British workers and protect our energy security with competence and common sense."

The Gesualdo six perform J. S. Bach's " O sacred head, sore wounded. "

‘ God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. ’ Wishing everyone who commemorates today as such a solemn and reflective Good Friday.

 

 

To all who are celebrating the feast of the Passover: Jesus also celebrated Passover just before he was betrayed, and he said of the bread and wine, " Do this as often as you eat it, in remembrance of me. "  May Jesus be with all who celebrate Easter this year. Whether you celebrate Passover, Easter, both or neither, may you have a peaceful and happy time this weekend.

 

There were some very good ones, some a lot better than my little effort. (Yes, of course "Latest U-turns" was an April fool - unfortunately.) I think probably the best one came from Count Binface, who tweeted: " I’m delighted to announce that this morning I have joined Reform UK. Nigel Farage is a principled politician, and his team are ready for government. " A close second was from Brian Spuzuki @BrianSpanner1  who tweeted:· "The office of Prime Minister requires the incumbent to make decisions that must weigh heavily on his conscience. One of the first jobs of every PM is to write a letter to the Captains of the UK nuclear submarine fleet warning them about Joani Reid."

"My message to all British Jews this Passover Why is this year different from all other years? Because in other years we haven’t seen Jews murdered in a synagogue here in the UK. Because in other years we haven’t seen Hatzola ambulances torched in the middle of Golders Green. And because in no other year have I met so many Jews asking me whether it’s safe for them to stay in the UK. This year I can’t write the usual sort of Passover message. I am tired of reading platitudes and warm words, expressions of solidarity which ring hollow when we can all see what is happening around us. I did not learn about Passover from reading the Haggadah or even in church, but from watching The Ten Commandments over and over again. Even as a young child in Nigeria, growing up in a Christian home, the story of liberation from slavery in ancient Egypt – a journey from oppression to freedom, from exile to homeland – was singularly inspiring. It was only as an adult that I learned the deepest message o...