Daniel Badzire-Smith

BSc Manchester Business School Graduate 2012, UNC-Kenan Flagler BSBA Exchange Class 2011, and (as a result) international hockey player

[Daniel Badzire-Smith @DTBSmith]

@AlistairCarns Cross the floor to the @Conservatives

[Esther McVey @EstherMcVey1]

Is Andy Burnham living in the same world as the rest of us? His speech today was a vacuous set of gloopy ‘hope in every heart’ phrases whilst ignoring the biggest issues facing the country - defence, crime, immigration & the economy.
In fact today the IMF warned the U.K. was nearly £3trillion in debt & it was growing at £650m a day. Burnham has no answers to any of those issues but don’t worry he was able to tell us he puts milk in his tea first ….so that’s alright then!

[Mike Pompeo @mikepompeo]

Within hours of being announced as the nominee to be the U.S. Director of the CIA, I received a hand-delivered message on MI6 stationery congratulating me on my nomination. It was signed simply "C" in green ink. Legendary. I shared it with my son and even he thought I was now cool!

More than that, this note, from Sir Alex Younger, Chief of the Secret Intelligence Service of the United Kingdom, confirmed what I already believed: the work that the CIA and MI6 did together mattered, that the partnership was critical, and that two leaders focused on the mission could save lives and provide tools for our nations to deter our adversaries.

Alex's passing this week brought back so many memories of our time in service together. He flew to Langley to see me the day I was confirmed. We brought our two senior teams together in the UK to plan and coordinate and build in the first several weeks of my time on duty: making clear to them all that this relationship was more than special - it was critical for the security of our two countries.

Alex was a remarkable intelligence partner. When we needed help, it wasn't "let me see;" it was "this matters to you and America we'll get it done." And he and his team always did. I think he knew we would do the same for him and his team and his nation. Many Americans are alive today because of his leadership of MI6, I never knew how to thank him enough.

Alex became a friend as well. In the years since we both left office we would see each other from time to time. He was always so kind, so thoughtful, so smart. His deep love of his country was surpassed only by his deep commitment and love of his family. Decent and proper - and funny as hell - Alex was "C." As espionage requires, he was quiet, not attention seeking. He knew what evil was and he was ruthless in his efforts to crush it with every legal tool at his command. And he knew who his friends were and committed himself to supporting them.

I miss Sir Alex Younger. He was a role model for me and a man with whom every minute I spent was valued and savored. Blessings to you Alex. Praying for you and for your family. Well done and may you rest in peace in His hands.

[Queen Natalie 👑 @TheNorfolkLion]

A priest is out in Notting Hill this Ash Wednesday, marking foreheads with the cross and starting Lent right in the middle of London streets. ✝️

People stopping, receiving the ashes, smiling, pure heartwarming tradition.

I'm not religious myself, but seeing this gives me hope.

Britain is still a Christian country at heart 🇬🇧✝️

@patallerton keep doing what you're doing 🙏

#AshWednesday #Lent

[No Farmers, No Food @NoFarmsNoFoods]

No farmers, no pancakes.

#PancakeDay

[Nick Robinson @bbcnickrobinson]

For once the words “awesome” and “unbelievable” feel almost appropriate

[Daniel Badzire-Smith @DTBSmith]

@LouiseMensch @jk_rowling genius 👌🏽

[Anthony Boutall @anthonyboutall]

A moving image from Trafalgar Square.

[BBC Radio 4 PM @BBCPM]

"It upsets the markets, it effects confidence, people start trying to make money."

Lord Clarke, former Chancellor under John Major, thinks trailing the Budget has brought 'an air of gloom' over the whole economy this year, telling #BBCPM this act was career ending 'in my day'.

[Andrew Griffith MP @griffitha]

"Public services now need to live within their means because I'm really clear, I'm not coming back with more borrowing or more taxes." [Labour’s Rachel Reeves to CBI, November 2024]

Please share this widely…just in case she is tempted to forget…

[. @jdpoc]

it’s a 2 minute radio program, never repeated, broadcast 18 times a week.

Bigger audience than Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Kimmel, and Jimmy Fallon … combined.

Millions listen, with no need for the information it gives. Just to listen.

The BBC Shipping Forecast is 100 years old.

[Daniel Badzire-Smith @DTBSmith]

@ShitChester curiosity

[Daniel Badzire-Smith @DTBSmith]

@razzlededazzle @RupertLowe10

[Daniel Badzire-Smith @DTBSmith]

@ShitChester what about this honorary doorman (my wife), does she get the nod?

[Daniel Badzire-Smith @DTBSmith]

@ShitChester was this the new cinema?

[Daniel Badzire-Smith @DTBSmith]

@DrJPGannon @SCP_Hughes The Wirral

[Daniel Badzire-Smith @DTBSmith]

@racingblogger its more a half english, they didn’t get the memo rationing is no longer in effecr

[Daniel Badzire-Smith @DTBSmith]

@ShitChester they should make it a @sohohouse

[Daniel Badzire-Smith @DTBSmith]

@ShitChester not a place but a vibe; “free after 3”