Chris Whiteside's Blog

Distinguished pollster Lord Kellner has published an interesting piece on the way the ratings of Britain's political leaders vary according to which pollster is asking and what question they ask and how those ratings are changing over time. You can read the whole thing  here . But there are some key takeaways. The first is that, although different companies asking different questions show different results, all of them show a consistent improvement, typically in the range 20 to 25 percentage points,  in Kemi's ratings in the ten months from October 2025 to this month. At the time Sir Keir Starmer announced his resignation, Kemi Badenoch's approval ratings were well ahead of his or of those of Nigel Farage or Zack Polanski. Andy Burnham is currently enjoying a honeymoon period and is in the lead, but Kemi's ratings have held steady and she remains well ahead of Farage and Polanski. Most interesting are the ratings for "PM in Waiting." Kellner writes: " You...

Just announced: new shadow chancellor Andrew Griffith, Claire Coutinho and Richard Fuller will form the new Conservative Economic Unit. Together, they’ll be focused on one thing: building a stronger economy.

Continuing my series of music by British born composers who were working between the death of Henry Purcell in 1695 and "the rise of Elgar," which I am defining as starting with the date of his first public composition, 1889. Sir Arthur Sullivan was born in Lambeth in 1842 (so 147 years after the death of Henry Purcell.) His father Thomas Sullivan was based from 1845 to 1857 at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, where he was the bandmaster and taught music privately to supplement his income. Young Arthur became proficient with many of the instruments in the band and composed an anthem, "By the Waters of Babylon", when he was eight. He later recalled: " I was intensely interested in all that the band did, and learned to play every wind instrument, with which I formed not merely a passing acquaintance, but a real, life-long, intimate friendship. I gradually learned the peculiarities of each ... what it could do and what it was unable to do. I learned in the b...

 

Continuing my series of music by British born composers who were working between the death of Henry Purcell in 1695 and "the rise of Elgar," which I am defining as starting with the date of his first public composition, 1889. Sir John Goss was born in Fareham in 1800 (so 105 years after the death of Henry Purcell) and died in 1880 (Nine years before Elgar's first published work. He was organist at St Paul's Cathedral from 1838 to 1872, knighted in 1872 by Queen Victoria, and taught as Professor of harmony at the Royal Academy of Music (1827–1874) where his pupils included notable composers like Arthur Sullivan and John Stainer (both of whom were also knighted by Queen Victoria). Hymn tunes composed by John Goss still sung today include those to which  "Praise, my soul, the King of heaven" and "See, amid the winter's snow" are most often sung, but my favourite John Goss piece of music is the anthem "O Saviour of the world" -

 

Former PM Boris Johnson was interviewed at the ET World Leaders Forum 2026 by Executive Editor of The Economic Times Sruthijith KK, August 22,2026. Here is a short extract from the interview: you can read the whole transcript at Transcript of Boris Johnson Interview: ET World Leaders Forum 2026 – The Singju Post SRUTHIJITH KK : (00:26:07 – 00:26:32): In April this year, you went to the front lines of the war in Ukraine. You have since spoken out about the impact of drone warfare. Yes. How are drones changing the— I mean, firstly, take us through your thoughts on the war and where it’s going, and especially how are drones changing the equations on the ground? BORIS JOHNSON : (00:26:32 – 00:32:30): Yeah, well, SK, I mean, it’s a brilliant point. I mean, I don’t know whether anybody has been to Ukraine or talked to the Ukrainians about what’s happened, or to the Russians, but the drone thing is really terrifying. You can be blapped, you’ve zapped, blipped at any time, and miles f...

I published a good recording of Sir John Stainer's Trinity Sunday anthem "I saw the Lord," earlier today, then found this one by The Sixteen which is even better.

James Cleverly is resigning from the Shadow Cabinet to seek the Conservative nomination o be mayor of London. James would be a fantastic mayor. I hope he wins.

Sir John Stainer was born in Southwark, London in 1840 (145 years after the death of Henry Purcell) and was already a prolific composer when he was appointed organist of Magdalen College Oxford at the age of 20 (29 years before Elgar's first published work.)  He was knighted by Queen Victoria in  1888 for his services to music and his other honours included being invited to be a juror at the French Exhibition in Paris in 1878, an  adjudicator at the Welsh Eisteddfod at Caernarvon in 1880. He was also made a Chevalier of the Legion of Honour by France in in 1879. The piece for which he is perhaps best remembered and which is most often heard today is his major work "The Crucifixion" but my favourite piece by Stainer, also still performed, especially for Trinity Sunday, is the anthem "I saw the Lord"  

 

"Rule Britannia by London born composer Thomas Arne was the finale of the patriotic opera "Alfred" which was, obviously, about Alfred the Great, and was first performed in August 1740 (55 years after the death of Henry Purcell.) The rest of the opera is rarely performed today, which is rather a shame as it contained some rather great music, but "Rule Britannia" soon became and has remained one of Britain's favourite and most stirring patriotic songs.

 “Government's first duty is to protect the people, not run their lives.” — Ronald Reagan

William Boyce was born in London in 1711, (so sixteen years after the death of Henry Purcell.) He was one of the most famouss composers of the 18th century. This piece is an ode to the year 1772: interesting concept, but it is a lovely bit of music.

Sir Charles Villiers Stanford was born to a prominent Anglo-Irish family in Dublin in 1852. At the age of 29 he became one of he founding professors at the Royal College of Music in London, where he taught composition for the rest of his life. Some very distinguished composers including Gustav Holst, Herbert Howells and Ralph Vaughn-Williams were among his pupils. He had a particularly enormous influence on English church music, and this setting of the canticles for evening prayer is still frequently sung in English cathedrals and churches, and indeed others round the world, today.

"It is bad enough that so many people believe things without any evidence. What is worse is that some people have no conception of evidence and regard facts as just someone else's opinion." — Thomas Sowell

Samuel Wesley (24 February 1766 – 11 October 1837) was one of three members of the prolific and talented Wesley family with that Christian name, and was an English organist and composer in the late Georgian period. His grandfather, also called Samuel Wesley, was a famous poet: his uncle was John Wesley, the founder of Methodism. Wesley was a contemporary of Mozart (1756–1791) and was called by some of his admirers "the English Mozart", but he had a son, Samuel Sebastian Wesley (1810 - 1876) who went on to be an even more famous composer than he was. Sadly the Samuel Wesley who wrote the piece below lived before the existence of recording devices, so itis impossible to compare his playing of the organ with those who lived in other centuries, but if half of what was said of his playing by his contemporaries is true he must have been one of the best organists who ever lived. Unfortunately many of his compositions do not survive, but here is one which does.

 National Highways have confirmed that they are proposing to cut the speed limit on the section of the A595 through Bigrigg in West Cumbria from 40mph to 30mph. The speed limit would be enforced by average speed limit cameras. There will be a public consultation before a final decision is taken. If approved the reduced speed limit would come into effect next year (2027.)

"Hope is no basis for a defence policy." Margaret Thatcher

Sir Hubert Parry was born in Bournemouth in 1840,  145 years after the death of Henry Purcell, and his first published major compositions appeared in 1880, nine years before Elgar's first published work. This piece, " Blest Pair Of Sirens, " was first performed on 17th May 1887, at St James's Hall, London.  

 

Politics ends at the waters' edge. Today is Ukrainian Independence day. The Chancellor, John Healey, posted the following: "For as long as it takes, Britain will stand with Ukraine in their fight against Putin's illegal invasion.  On their Independence Day today, we salute the Ukrainian people for their bravery, and fearless determination to fight for their future. Slava Ukraini"

Maurice Green was born in London in 1696, the year after Henry Purcell died. I have often posted his anthem " Lord, let me know mine end " but for a change, here is a lovely little baritone solo called " His name shall endure for ever. " (It comes from a collection called "Hearken unto me, ye holy children.")

 

 

For the avoidance of doubt, in reposting the tweet below by Peter North I am not endorsing every word of it and nor do I endorse many of the other things Peter has said in the past. Nevertheless, I think his post today on why someone who was a harsh critic of the previous Conservative government is coming round to the possibility that he might vote for Kemi's Conservatives at the next election is extremely interesting. I have published the whole thing below, leaving in a few bits which I personally disagree with - memo to the candidates' department, you don't need to purge me for not supporting Kemi on ECHR because I do support her - so that it will be clear that I am not using the all-too-common tactic of selective quotation. This is what Peter North had to say today. "There's a fact that many on the right, myself included, will not like at all. Though with caveats,  @KemiBadenoch 's Conservative Party is the party of the right most capable of forming a viab...

English organist and composer Samuel Sebastian Wesley lived from August 14, 1810, (115 years after the death of Purcell) to April 19, 1876 (13 years before the publication of Elgar's first published piece.) This lovely anthem was pulished in 1853.

I had pre-planned this post before my decision yesterday that for the next fortnight I will be publishing a daily music spot from British-born composers writing between 1695 and 1889. (after some nitwit on X seriously annoyed me by suggesting that there was a dearth of significant British born composers between the death of Purcell and the rise of Elgar.) Thomas Tallis died 110 years before Henry Purcell, so this one doesn't count, and I shall publish a second Sunday Music post today which will.

Kemi Badenoch, the leader of the Conservative Party, has described the prospect of a coalition government with Reform UK as “monstrous”. Again ruling out the prospect of a deal between the two parties, she said any agreement would “put off” as many voters as it would attract. Badenoch: Tory deal with Reform would be ‘monstrous’

"Change all laws and treaties that thwart robust border control. Detain those arriving. Sign return agreements with nations amenable to them. All the rest: deport to Rwanda or other nations willing to do a deal." Matthew Syed in today's Sunday Times on how to stop the boats:-

Today someone suggested on X that there were few British native born composers of any significance between the death of Henry Purcell and the emergence of Elgar. I strongly disagree. Granted the most distinguished composer working in Britain in that era, Handel, was German born, but he moved to London to work in Britain - and he would never in a million years have done that if the place was a musical desert. And apart from Handel some of my other favourite composers were British born and working between the death of Purcell and the rise of Elgar. So for the next two weeks I shall be publishing a music spot every day and the vast majority will be pieces which flowed from the pens of native-born Brits who were composing between 1695 and 1889 (the publication date of Edward Elgar's first published work, "Salut d'Amour.") I will include works by Thomas Arne, William Boyce, Maurice Greene, both Samuel and Samuel Sebastian Wesley, Sir Charles Villiers Stanford and others. ...

I am not the most enormous fan of Elon Musk, and particularly not of his impact on social media, but there is one contribution he has made to social media which has worked far better than I had dared hope and has to be put down as a positive. No fact-checking system is perfect, but the overwhelming majority of community notes I have seen on X, whether I generally agree with the position of the tweet to which the note was appended or not, have been accurate, and even where I generally agree with the point being made the community notes which qualified that position were generally balanced, fair and reasonable. Which makes some research published this week on X by a Conservative poster who uses the handle "Vodka & Selena" all the more interesting. (Hereafter I shall refer to him as "V&S") HIs thread starts  HERE . Now I've told you up front his admitted bias, and there will be some people who don't like what he says who will see that as enough reason t...

"You can tell the greatness of a man by what makes him angry." ( Abraham Lincoln )

"I need a hero" (the version sung by Jennifer Saunders in Shrek II) with video from Luke Skywalker's hallway scene from the climax of "The Mandalorian" season II   

"That some achieve great success is proof to all that others can achieve it as well."  ( Abraham Lincoln. )  

Alex Massie has a good piece in The Times today in response to those who would regulate the press. Here are some extracts. "Free speech is universal or it’s worth nothing Those who want to police the press appear to like the idea of freedom of expression for themselves but not for others." Alex Massie "Anyone wishing to catch the last of the summer vibes could do very much worse than keep an eye on Zack Polanski. Earlier this week the Green Party leader objected that “once again, parts of our media are failing at the most basic part of their job — reporting the truth”. In this instance, the failure was to link wildfires in Britain with climate change at every opportunity. Last Saturday, on the other hand, Polanski was busy condemning Andy Burnham’s “spineless response” to the Jason Arday affair on the grounds that the prime minister fails to appreciate this is an opportunity “to tackle the press”. Notwithstanding the tragedy of the Arday story — for such it is, despite i...

"When the people slagging off the media for doing their job include Zack Polanski, Jolyon Maugham, Zara Sultana, Jeremy Corbyn, Hacked Off, Labour MPs who want Leveson 2, That Islamist with his lists of erring hacks, Zia Yusuf and Nigel Farage  - and those slagged off include the Times, the Telegraph, the Mail and the Guardian -  it is possible to conclude that the media is indeed doing its job properly." Tim Shipman  on X today  ( Tim Shipman on X: "When the people slagging off the media for doing their job include Zack Polanski, Jolyon Maugham, Zara Sultana, Jeremy Corbyn, Hacked Off, Labour MPs who want Leveson 2, That Islamist with his lists of erring hacks, Zia Yusuf and Nigel Farage - and those slagged off include the" / X )

“Sogno di Volare” ("The Dream of Flight") Composed by Christopher Tin Lyrics by Leonardo da Vinci, adapted by Chiara Cortez Theme from the game "Civilisation VI

As per my article yesterday: many years ago I heard a speech by Councillor Eric Pickles, then the leader of Bradford Council, later the Rt Hon Eric Pickles, MP for Brentwood and Ongar and holder of various government offices including Conservative Chiarman. He had been asked to talk about the press, and his speech included this line: "If the press is drinking in the last-chance saloon, a wise government will think long and hard before calling time."

The award winning theme from the computer strategy game "Civilisation IV" - for anyone not already aware of this, the lyrics are the words of the Lord's Prayer in Swahili

I would be the first to agree that Britain's newspapers and broadcasters often get it wrong and have a great deal to answer for. However, the last people on earth who can be trusted with authority to address this are politicians or political activists with a grievance about how a cause dear to their heart has been reported. Periodically misbehaviour by the press this leads to calls for tougher regulation, and this reached its' peak after the phone hacking scandal with the Leveson inquiry. The latest political group to call for government regulation of the media are the Green Party, whose leader Zack Polanski called this week for the government to "sort out" the press. The Greens have circulated a petition calling for all newspapers to be forced to join a government-approved regulator. This is an extremely bad idea. Would you trust a government-controlled press to have broken the story of the post office horizon computer failure which resulted in hundreds of innocent s...

 

 

 

"It has been widely pointed out that the joke candidate in Clacton got more votes than any other joke candidate in British electoral history - twenty-two thousand." (From X this morning)

From the Times (editorial yesterday) "Ms Widdecombe was held in high regard by many who vehemently disliked her social conservatism. That was because the same devout Christianity that underpinned her ethical absolutism taught her to treat adversaries as well as allies with equal respect, good manners, dignity and ­often, touching personal kindness."

"Ghost Joggers in the Sky" was featured on the 1983 comedy album Russ Abbot's Madhouse tied to his popular television series, Obviously the song is a humorous fitness-craze parody of the classic country and western song " Ghost Riders in the Sky ". While Abbot hosted the show and performed many of the tracks on the accompanying LP under various character pseudonyms (such as Vince Prince or Julio Doubleglazius), "Ghost Joggers in the Sky" was credited directly to "Joggers Inc." within the album's track listing.

"Congratulations to everyone getting their results today 🎉 If you’re heading to university, this should be an exciting time. You should be optimistic about your future, not worrying about student loan repayments following you for decades. Conservatives want young people who work hard for a better life to keep more of what they earn. That’s why we’re starting by scrapping the unfair interest on Plan 2 student loans 👇 Kemi Badenoch describes Conservative proposals on Student Loans / X Kemi Badenoch Leader of the Conservative party

“Equality of rights does not mean equality of results. I can have all the equal treatment in the world on a golf course and I will not finish within shouting distance of Tiger Woods.” — Thomas Sowell

Of course I seriously considered posting "Total Eclipse" with the late great Bonnie Tyler as my midweek music spot for this evening: but that would be far too obvious and it was only a partial eclipse anyway. So here instead is Fran Jeffries' fantastic performance from the first Pink Panther film of "It had better be tonight" (or Meglio Stasera.) What is particularly spellbinding about this performance is the way in which, while singing the actual superbly and bringing it to life, while dancing in a way which grabs the attention of everyone in the room, Fran manages to interact with so many of them individually, from the film's nominal central character, the jewel thief played by the suave and sophisticated David Niven, to Peter Sellers as the bumbling police inspector who steals the show with his ridiculous antics.    A great performance from a truly classic film.

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

A once in a generation opportunity to watch a solar eclipse in the UK takes place tomorrow (Wednesday 12th August 2026 If watching,  DO NOT LOOK DIRECTLY AT THE SUN WITHOUT EYE PROTECTION SUCH AS CERTIFIED ECLIPSE GLASSES! Across the UK, the Moon will cover roughly 90% to 95% of the Sun in the late afternoon and early evening. The event begins around 6:08 PM to 6:18 PM BST and ends near 8:00 PM to 8:10 PM BST, varying slightly depending where exactly in the UK you are. Regional Eclipse Timings (British Summer Time) Edinburgh & Glasgow: Begins at 6:08 PM; maximum coverage (approx. 91%) at 7:05 PM; ends at 8:00 PM. Manchester & Liverpool: Begins at 6:13 PM; maximum coverage (approx. 91-92%) at 7:10 PM; ends at 8:03 PM. Birmingham: Begins at 6:15 PM; maximum coverage (approx. 92%) at 7:11 PM; ends at 8:04 PM. London, Bristol & Cardiff: Begins at 6:16–6:17 PM; maximum coverage (approx. 91-93%) at 7:12–7:13 PM; ends at 8:06–8:07 PM. Truro, Cornwall: Begins at 6:18 PM; maxim...

  "Economic policies need to be analyzed in terms of the incentives they create, rather than the hopes that inspired them."" Thomas Sowell

Out delivering Mayoral surveys in Millom this morning and early afternoon. Friends of mine were out today campaigning in places from Carlisle to Selby and throughout the country. And for everyone who's just finished pounding the streets, here's something to relax to: Bach's "Gloria in Excelsis Deo."

Kemi Badenoch : "Simon Levy’s victims paid the price for a system that failed to impose consequences. No more women should have to pay that price. Law and order are the first duty of government. The Conservative Party is ready to enforce them again. Read more in my piece in the Daily Mail👇" Failure after failure left Simon Levy free to prey on women at will. This madness MUST stop, writes Tory leader KEMI BADENOCH | Daily Mail Online

I know I have already used this a few times this year, but there are few better ways to relax on a hot summer evening than to listen to a piece of music like Binge's Elizabethan serenade while looking at beautiful pictures which seem to have the heat pouring off them.

I bet they didn't sing the anti-Jacobite verse, (the one with the ending which might give reasonable offence to Scottish people) though!  

 “I prefer true but imperfect knowledge, even if it leaves much undetermined and unpredictable, to a pretense of exact knowledge that is likely to be false.” — Friedrich Hayek

 92% of reported crimes go unsolved. That must change. Crime must have consequences.

Not very often that I agree with former UKIP leader Henry Bolton, but his reply yesterday to Richard Tice in respect of Reform UK's utterly unworkable "Operation Fortress" plan is dead on. He wrote: " Richard (@TiceRichard) I’ve explained to you in the past, very clearly, why this is particular approach is unworkable.  My fear is not that you’d try to do this, should you ever have the opportunity, it’s that the last thing the nation wants or needs are yet more promises that will not survive contact with legal, operational or practical reality. This may be a catchy headline that you deploy to distract from other issues, but it will fail as a policy, and fail badly. " ( Henry Bolton OBE 🇬🇧 on X: "Richard @TiceRichard I’ve explained to you in the past, very clearly, why this is particular approach is unworkable. My fear is not that you’d try to do this, should you ever have the opportunity, it’s that the last thing the nation wants or needs are yet more prom...

Reform UK's latest "Ladybird guide to politics" announcement is to say they will send the navy to ensure no passengers in small boats crossing the channel make it to Britain. They call this "Operation Fortress." Exactly which ships they are going to use to do this and what orders they will be given is not spelled out. Ex para Andrew Fox has given an explanation on X of why this isn't a serious practical policy. His tweet reads as follows. "Someone has to do it, so I will. This policy is holed below the waterline before it begins. Zia Yusuf wants Britain’s warships to push migrant boats back to France. There are only three small problems: the law, the French and the Royal Navy. Operation Fortress will be “the largest military operation in the English Channel since World War Two”. Nigel Farage will grandiosely order “his Majesty’s Royal Navy” to intercept every unauthorised vessel crossing the Channel and return its occupants to France. No one arriving il...

Rod Liddle, the outspoken and irrepressable newspaper columnist and former broadcaster has died aged 66 after a short illness. Liddle's children paid tribute to their father, who they described as their guide "on how to live an extraordinary life", while Rebekah Brooks, the Chief Executive CEO of News UK, called him "an inimitable journalistic force." Brooks added that "he challenged conventional thinking and left an indelible mark on British journalism." Liddle first made his mark as editor of BBC Radio 4's flagship "Today" programme, but after leaving the programme he wrote for various publications including the Sunday Times and the Sun. He also had a weekly column in the Spectator, as well as a show on Times Radio. Rod Liddle died at The James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough on Sunday evening. His children, Wilder, Tyler and Emmy, said: "We're all very saddened and shocked at the sudden passing of our wonderful fathe...

"This isn’t pacifism. It's someone who wanted to be Home Secretary repeating the Kremlin's and Beijing's propaganda. She’s wrong and she’s a throwback to the 70s, siding with tyrants who murdered millions. Starmer fought the cranks in Labour. Burnham's welcoming them back." Tom Tugendhat MP (Conservative) on the so-called "Peace conference" at which Diane Abbott referred to Putin's invasion of Ukraine as 'NATO's campaign against Russia. ( Tom Tugendhat on X: "This isn’t pacifism. It's someone who wanted to be Home Secretary repeating the Kremlin's and Beijing's propaganda. She’s wrong and she’s a throwback to the 70s, siding with tyrants who murdered millions. Starmer fought the cranks in Labour. Burnham's welcoming them back." / X )

Nick Cohen has a powerful piece on substack, "Why Westerners hate the West" inspired by the decision to re-admit Diane Abbot to the parliamentary Labour party. He notes some of the extraordinary things she has said about international affairs. As someone who used to be on the far left himself, he explains the mindset of those who hate the West so much that they will defend almost any action, no matter how evil, from those who are the West's enemies. Cohen also notes that a surprising proportion of people on the far right of politics in various countries - he gives Trump and the MAGA Republicans in the USA and Orban in Hungary as examples but also criticises the stance taken by some Reform K members in this country - are dangerously soft on some of our country's enemies, particularly Putin. (For anyone not familiar with the expression "The horseshoe" in politics, it's the suggestion the left-to-right axis o politics bends round like a horseshoe so that so...