Mark Thompson

@markreckons.bsky.social

4699 Followers 6422 Following

Politics (mainly UK and a bit of US), comedy and popular culture more generally. Hear me on a radio near you blathering about Burnham or Farage. Probably. Substack Political Sandbox here: https://substack.com/@politicalsandboxmark

Tesco: Warning... in an email preview
Vyvyan, Mike and Neil from The Young Ones all putting their hands as low as they can get them.
The Democratic Cliff Edge Here's a big reason why Keir Starmer's government is so unpopular and why it's about to get a lot worse Political Sandbox POLITICALSANDBOX.SUBSTACK.COM
LIVE UK net migration drops to 171,000 Net migration - the difference between the number of people arriving and those leaving - had been expected to continue to fall.
General election 2024: Makerfield [11] [12] Party Candidate Votes % ±% Labour Josh Simons 18,202 45.2 -0.1 Reform Robert Kenyon 12,803 31.8 +18.7 Conservative Simon Finkelstein 4,379 10.9 -23.4 Liberal Democrats John Skipworth 2,735 6.8 +2.0 Green Maria Deery 1,776 4.4 +1.8
Coronation Street-ing? Is something about to happen that has never happened before in UK politics? Political Sandbox
The Portillo Paradox - A History Lesson for Andy Burnham Why being "The obvious next leader" is often a trap in British politics
LIVE Viktor Orbán concedes with Hungarian opposition on course for landslide election win Hungary's prime minister has been ousted after 16 years in power, with Péter Magyar set to be the country's new leader.
Chart showing oil price spiking during and immediately after Trump's attempt to calm to markets with a speech yesterday
Sir Cliff Richard: My gravy is probably the best in the world Veteran singer causes stir after revealing his recipe includes eight stock cubes and teriyaki sauce ث
Musketeer d'Artagnan's remains believed found under Dutch church S6213HL/GAMMA-RAPHO
The president wrote on Truth Social on Saturday: "I'm glad he's dead. He can no longer hurt innocent people!"
Another "On this day" picture from OneDrive from my archives. Today it has chosen a picture of a block of Cathedral City cheddar
LIVE Trump urges UK and other nations to send ships to help secure Strait of Hormuz after Iranian attacks Meanwhile, sirens are triggered in Jerusalem, with the Israeli military saying it has detected new attacks from Iran.
Ghost Story BBC one BBC One First broadcast: Sat 19th Jul 1975, 23:45 on BBC One London Alter Ego A new film series of present-day tales of the supernatural Tonight starring Helen Hayes The imaginary playmate a lonely boy conjures up across his chess board becomes his evil counterpart-more than a match for a mere human! Introduced by SEBASTIAN CABOT Contributors Unknown: Helen Hayes Introduced By: Sebastian Cabot Miss Gilden: Helen Hayes Jack Cameron: Charles Aidman Davey: Gene Andrusco Molly Cameron: Colin Wilcox-Horne Joan Howard: Phyllis Love Mrs Dillon: Janet Mac Lachlan Robert: Michael-James Wixted Source: Radio Times Ghost Story
Ghost Story BBC one BBC One First broadcast: Sat 19th Jul 1975, 23:45 on BBC One London Alter Ego A new film series of present-day tales of the supernatural Tonight starring Helen Hayes The imaginary playmate a lonely boy conjures up across his chess board becomes his evil counterpart-more than a match for a mere human! Introduced by SEBASTIAN CABOT Contributors Unknown: Helen Hayes Introduced By: Sebastian Cabot Miss Gilden: Helen Hayes Jack Cameron: Charles Aidman Davey: Gene Andrusco Molly Cameron: Colin Wilcox-Horne Joan Howard: Phyllis Love Mrs Dillon: Janet Mac Lachlan Robert: Michael-James Wixted Source: Radio Times Ghost Story
Ghost Story BBC one BBC One First broadcast: Sat 19th Jul 1975, 23:45 on BBC One London Alter Ego A new film series of present-day tales of the supernatural Tonight starring Helen Hayes The imaginary playmate a lonely boy conjures up across his chess board becomes his evil counterpart-more than a match for a mere human! Introduced by SEBASTIAN CABOT Contributors Unknown: Helen Hayes Introduced By: Sebastian Cabot Miss Gilden: Helen Hayes Jack Cameron: Charles Aidman Davey: Gene Andrusco Molly Cameron: Colin Wilcox-Horne Joan Howard: Phyllis Love Mrs Dillon: Janet Mac Lachlan Robert: Michael-James Wixted Source: Radio Times Ghost Story
My latest OneDrive "On this day" image recommendation that is inexplicably a picture of Janet Fielding as Tegan in Doctor Who whilst under the influence of malevolent force The Mara with lit up red eyes.
A picture of Steve Pemberton from The League of Gentlemen playing a very creepy character which has inexplicably been recommended to me by OneDrive as a happy memory of this day in years gone by
We're in our 40s, can we split our house with our two children now to avoid an inheritance tax bill? Money | Mail Online / Mar 1, 2026 at 11:28 AM Could we add our children's names to our deeds and put the house equally in all four of our names now? After seven years, would this gift then be free of inheritance tax?
One of those "On this day" things that show you pictures from this day in years gone by. This one has Tony Blair looking like he's about to attack someone.
AI mock up poster of a film version of Jossy's Giants
The Reverend Jesse Jackson is Dead at 84. I knew him well, long before becoming President. He was a good man, with lots of personality, grit, and "street smarts." He was very gregarious - Someone who truly when no other President would even try; Single handedly pushed and passed long term funding for Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCUs), which Jesse loved, but also, which other Presidents would not do; Responded to Jesse's support for Opportunity Zones, the single most successful economic development package yet approved for Black business men/women, and much more. Jesse was a force of nature like few others before him. He had much to do with the Election, without acknowledgment or credit, of Barack Hussein Obama, a man who Jesse could not stand. He loved his family greatly, and to them I send my deepest sympathies and condolences. Jesse will be missed! President DONALD J. TRUMP
In relation to the allegations against Trump, the DoJ has previously said: "Some docs contain untrue and sensationalist claims against Trump that were submitted to the FBI right before the 2020 election. To be clear the claims are unfounded and false and if they have any shred of credibility they certainly would have been weaponised against Trump already."
My feet with socks on the wrong way around
Andrew facing claim he shared Treasury document with banking contact
Trump revokes landmark ruling that greenhouse gases endanger public health
No signs of any jeopardy for Starmer for now Harry Farley Political correspondent One Labour MP, who is often critical of the prime minister, texts from inside: "If we could bottle this Keir and show it to the country we'll walk [the next general election]."
Trump signals US support for Chagos handover deal
Elon Musk X @elonmusk X.com If I actually wanted to spend my time partying with young women, it would be trivial for me to do so without the help of a creepy loser like Epstein and I would still have 99% of my mind available to think about other things. But I don't.
Tree growing sideways out of a bank but then curving upwards
Me in front of the main pool at the Roman Baths in Bath
Maybe there's a God above But, alll've ever learned from love Was how to shoot somebody who outdrew you?
It is clearly tled by women walking in the streets of your home town with their faces covered or shops with frontages in incomprehen: sible languages But it 1S equally not a feeling likely to have been fermented on the mean streets of Colchester, a pictur- esque market town in Essex. And if Bob's opinions are honest based on his personal experience, rather than spoon-fed headlines about the people most recently arrived in this coun- neither racist nor bard to imagine feeling unset- and try, then he's not going to struggle with my simple questions
Typical 70s living room with hostess trolley, fondue set and everything looking a bit brown. Imagine Abigail's Party.
UK ready to use frozen Russian assets to fund Ukraine war effort Europe 3h
Jenrick defends comments on not seeing 'another white face' in area of Birmingham The shadow justice secretary IS accused of racism after saying the Handsworth area was one ofthe "worst-integrated"
Video of a basic but playable version of Space Invaders
The Terminator opening credits
SINGLES REVIEWED BY SAMANTHA FOX THE FALL: Living Too Late (Beggars Banquet) I didn't like this at all- it's really crappy. And it's got a Duane Eddy guitar bit - you know, what's it called? (Peter Gunn) - ripped off. And he sounds like he's been having yodelling lessons. It seems to me that it's the fashion at the moment to like The Smiths and these sorts of groups, and to me the lyrics are really depressing. I heard one the other while I was in Kensington Market trying on some jeans and it gave me a headache. The Smiths, it was. Singing "oh my God, i can't get a job, what am I going to do?" Ås for this song I listened to the first half and I had to turn it off. THE SMITHS: Panic (Rough Trade) I'm sorry to say but I find them very depressing. The lead singer's yoice sounds like he's in pain -is that Morrissey? It says in they song "hang the D|"- but where vould they be without them? If you don't like D|s, you stll like them because they play your records and that's what sells records. don't think hey'd like to hang Janice Long or John Peel, would they? wouldn't play it, hough-he can't sing and t gives me a headache. In all his interviews he's Mister Nasty too and goes moan moan
St George's themed spider Web spun by a scary looking red eyed black spider. AI generated obvs.
St George's themed spider Web spun by a scary looking red eyed black spider. AI generated obvs.
William and Kate visit museum in first engagement since summer break
Mini-roundabout where someone has attempted to paint the St Georges Cross on it but have got the colours the wrong way round so it looks more like the flag of Switzerland
Trump says no deal but progress made' after Ukraine talks with Putin "We didn't get there," the US president says in a statement to the press after a "productive three- hour meeting with Putin.
Me looking tired up on Exmoor in front of some trees and wind turbines having just completed a 4 mile training run
People returned to live in Pompeii's ruins, archaeologists say 11 hours ago Ben Hatton BBCNews
Rock painted black with ZX SPECTRUM written across it in white with the 4 striped colours the original computer had in the corner.
New: Bake Off: The Professionals It's the semi-final and the teams create Wonka-inspired chocolate bars fit for .V Hollywoog and edible 'floating cities', Who I be floating on cloud nine into the final? (S10 Ep9/10)
Dennis Pennis (Paul Kaye) in front of the Houses of Parliament pulling a silly face
The blokes in the back of the van from the Birdseye Steakhouse Grills advert c1984 including Daniel Peacock bottom left
Wife: Didyou justgo andbuy another Commodore? Me: *A: Itwasanaccident. B: l'vehad that. •C: gootadealonit +D: Youlookvery pretty today. Commodore Amiga Cuties Project
A small fallen tree across a woodland path lined with trees and with grass growing underfoot
Me eating a carrot in my "White Rabbit" costume I wore in our school play of Alice in Wonderland in April 1984 aged 9
Email header that reads: "suport@Microsoft... Yesterday <Microsoft@[Microsoft.u... OX Your Device is Infected... Texte d'origine Évaluez cette
Edward Woodward in The Wicker Man just as he realises his fate saying "Oh, God! Oh, Jesus Christ!"
Me wearing a T-shirt, the front of which reads: You've blown out the candles Turned off the oven Locked the front door Secured the windows Switched off the band saw And hidden your gold. But you've forgotten about the poison sockets...