Chris Whiteside's Blog

 

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. 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 told parliament and the country that the vetting procedures had all been followed is just not credible.  

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