Andrew Neil

Columnist for Daily Mail UK and MailOnline USA. @TimesRadio anchor. Former Chairman of The Spectator, Editor Sunday Times, BBC TV anchor, Chairman Sky TV

[Andrew Neil @afneil]

It would not have remained popular if the UK had been forced into the violent suppression of independence movements. Nor could we have afforded to fight to retain colonialism on so many fronts. The public would not have worn the cost. Look at France in Vietnam and Algeria. Two disastrous conflicts for France. Democracies cannot retain colonies if those colonised want their independence. What remains of our empire remains because the people in these territories wish it so.

[RumptyTumptyTum @StevenStoppard]

Don't think this is true at all, the empire was highly popular amongst the general public throughout Great Britain right up to the decolonisation period, even if they prioritised other policy areas. It ultimately fell apart because Britain was critically weakened by the War - even then, both Tory and Labour govs tried to hold onto as much as they could until after Suez.

[Iain2eyes @Iain2eyes1]

@afneil @YouTube Totally excellent report. We now realise that “broadcasting” ain’t what it was. This is way better than Newsnight.

[Andrew Neil @afneil]

Brilliant appointment.

[Michael Savage @michaelsavage]

CBS News to hire Sky News presenter Trevor Phillips as global correspondent

British journalist to become one of most prominent appointments made by embattled editor-in-chief Bari Weiss

https://t.co/X4YssobxAH

[Andrew Neil @afneil]

Sometimes you can only shake your head in disbelief at how unserious this government is.

[Saul Staniforth @SaulStaniforth]

Peter Kyle: the plan is great

Naga Munchetty: have you seen the plan?

Kyle: no

Munchetty: So how do you know its great?

Peter Kyle: "Because I have faith in a PM.. to fund the plan & design a plan & lead a plan, of course & he is the PM that is fit for the moment we're in"

[Andrew Neil @afneil]

The British Empire died because Britain became a full-blown democracy in the 20th century and no democracy can retain control of peoples who no longer want to be colonies.

[Nick Cohen @NickCohen4]

How utterly ridiculous. The British empire died because the colonised would not accept colonialism

[Andrew Neil @afneil]

Exactly

[Kate McCann @KateEMcCann]

So much of John Healey’s resignation letter is damning but lines that should really worry those inside government trying to make changes and those outside hoping for them?

That despite a war in Ukraine, a war in Iran, cyber threats, unpredictable allies, the impact of energy and resource insecurity on the U.K., this Prime Minister made promises he knew he could not keep and shut his own well-respected Defence Secretary out of the process to agree funding for the DIP to try and push through something inadequate and save his own political blushes.

In the same week he welcomed Macron, Mertz and Zelensky to Downing Street to stand in front of flags and promise unwavering commitment, knowing the money to pay for it didn’t exist.

[Andrew Neil @afneil]

Let’s pause net zero for a decade and see who cares about putting defence above Ed Miliband’s expensive energy obsessions.

[Malcolm Tucker @gorbalsgoebbels]

Let’s put income tax up by a penny to fund defence.

And then we will see who truly cares about our country.

[Phillip Coop @philterrier]

@afneil https://t.co/XeFJRnlEAX

[Andrew Neil @afneil]

When you launch a new venture it’s only natural to wonder if it will succeed. But after this intervention by a Mr B Butterworth of no fixed abode I’m now convinced we’re on to a winner.
Here’s a link to the podcast
��https://t.co/djD90vygx7 
(this will take Android users to Spotify, iPhone users to Apple

And YouTube:
https://t.co/r6RBTMonRX
Judge for yourselves. Constructive feedback welcome.

Best wishes A ‘Legacy Figure’ 😜

[Benjamin Butterworth @benjaminbutter]

Andrew Neil is hugely capable and well known. But this shows they just don’t get it. Throwing money at legacy figures to do new media almost never justifies the costs.

There are loads of digital native, young journos who instinctively understand the new landscape, would fight to build their own audience and do it at 1/5th of the cost. Stop hiring ‘formers’ and start hiring futures.

[Rambo @Rambo33768293]

@afneil @YouTube Excellent first show. Thank you and as ever one learns something new every day.

[Andrew Neil @afneil]

The Andrew Neil Report — what can we learn from the great financial crashes of 1929 and 2008 to understand if we’re now on the brink of another crash?
https://t.co/ejTP4f8R98 via @YouTube

[Carol Donaldson @canadiancarol1]

@afneil A man who knows his subject and is worth listening to.

[Andrew Neil @afneil]

Gulp

[Al Carns @AlistairCarns]

We owe those who serve the UK the kit to do the job and the loyalty to stand by them when it's done. We are failing on both.

I’ve spent my whole time in government making that case. Number 10 will not listen, so I am resigning as Minister for the Armed Forces.

Letter to the PM below.🫡🫡🫡⬇️⬇️

[Susie Blyth @susieblyth]

@afneil Excellent

[Andrew Neil @afneil]

I’m told you listened to it for 10 minutes. So your IQ is now minus 5.

[samwobot @samwobot]

@afneil One IQ point dropped for every minute you listen to.

[G D @CommonSenseEcon]

@afneil Exciting news.! The best political commentator on Britain in the global context today 👏👏 Good luck and have fun with the pod Andrew.

[mattur @mattur]

@afneil Great Scott! A news programme with serious analysis of world affairs by knowledgeable people! I'm not used to this, I may need to lie-down in a darkened room to recover.

[Suenews @SueWhitake10081]

Just watched Andrew Neil @afneil on BBCNEWS.
“Anyone (Labour MPs) foolish enough to take on that job (Defence Secretary)….”
An excellent interview that sent shivers down my spine (in a good way)
#DefenceSecretary #Starmer

[Andrew Neil @afneil]

The 0.08% rise in defence spending as share of GDP between 2027 and 2030 is all the more unfathomable because Healey reveals the UK intelligence assessment is that Russia could attack a NATO country before 2030. If anything illustrates Starmer is unfit to be PM, it’s that.

[Andrew Neil @afneil]

Perhaps the grimmest part of John Healey’s brutal resignation letter is that defence spending, projected to be 2.6% GDP by 2027, will only reach 2.68% in 2030. A pathetic 0.08% increase over three years after all that Starmer rhetoric about the dangerous times we live in and how UK would lead the way stepping up to the crease. A real leader would have told Reeves to cough up the dosh and ordered Miliband to hand over a big chunk of his net zero budget. But he’s probably too weak to do either.

[Andrew Neil @afneil]

Perhaps the grimmest part of John Healey’s brutal resignation letter is that defence spending, projected to be 2.6% GDP by 2027, will only reach 2.68% in 2030. A pathetic 0.08% increase over three years after all that Starmer rhetoric about the dangerous times we live in and how UK would lead the way stepping up to the crease. A real leader would have told Reeves to cough up the dosh and ordered Miliband to hand over a big chunk of his net zero budget. But he’s probably too weak to do either.