Jack Blackburn 🇺🇦

Diary Editor and History Correspondent of @TheTimes. Political gossip, historical discoveries, variable jokes - [email protected]

[Robert Hutton @RobDotHutton]

Please don't listen to my new podcast, it's not for you. Unless you're the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

[alexmassie @alexmassie]

People won't want to hear this coming from Cameron but, nevertheless, he makes a lot of sense here.
Brexit was a mistake, imho, but there is a case to be made that one of the most damaging things about it was the opportunity cost it imposed.
That is, years were spent arguing about Brexit to the exclusion of the many things that needed to be fixed before they had deteriorated to the weary, unhappy, state they are in now.

[Jack Blackburn 🇺🇦 @HackBlackburn]

@DavidHeadViews

[Jack Blackburn 🇺🇦 @HackBlackburn]

Very pleased to see that my piece on Athelstan and England 1100 has provoked the correct response

[Neil O'Brien @NeilDotObrien]

Athelstan on the fourth plinth - let's make it happen!

[Jack Blackburn 🇺🇦 @HackBlackburn]

A curious year for Reigate Grammar School

Firstly, one of their old boys was booted out of No 10

Now, perhaps their most famous Reigatian - David Walliams - is mired in scandal

At least they still have John Healey flying the flag

And Romesh Ranganathan won Celebrity Traitors

[Jack Blackburn 🇺🇦 @HackBlackburn]

@BpdLion 1. That is what Remembrance Sunday is for, specifically to allow MPs to attend memorials locally on the weekend

2. There were plenty of MPs who were in parliament today who were not in PMQs

3. Lots of MPs left during the session - it was not compelling viewing

[Jack Blackburn 🇺🇦 @HackBlackburn]

Impressive. Born 10 years after he foiled Dr No.

Though that does mean Honey Ryder has some questions to answer

[James Bond @007]

Celebrating Bond’s birthday today as seen in his passport in SKYFALL.

[Jack Blackburn 🇺🇦 @HackBlackburn]

@mrsteedUK So did I, but looks like he did two years between 12 and 14

https://t.co/E42muUpEio

[Jack Blackburn 🇺🇦 @HackBlackburn]

A curious year for Reigate Grammar School

Firstly, one of their old boys was booted out of No 10

Now, perhaps their most famous Reigatian - David Walliams - is mired in scandal

At least they still have John Healey flying the flag

And Romesh Ranganathan won Celebrity Traitors

[Jack Blackburn 🇺🇦 @HackBlackburn]

@emmamrevell @LauraRWeldon My niche conspiracy theory is that the deep state is real, but they’re a company who make hi-vis jackets and they are trying to drive sales

[Jack Blackburn 🇺🇦 @HackBlackburn]

The sketch writers are mutinous. One declares the session “pretty much unsketchable”

[Jack Blackburn 🇺🇦 @HackBlackburn]

There are empty seats in the Commons. Energy is low. Andy Burnham’s #PMQs performances are not box office - he’ll be happy to have charmingly bored the Commons into submission.

[Jack Blackburn 🇺🇦 @HackBlackburn]

@McChris85 They’re behind the Athelred stans, but those guys said they need more time to prepare

[Jack Blackburn 🇺🇦 @HackBlackburn]

@DavidJa51216245 I’m wondering which idiots are flushing plastic cups down the loo! Who raised them?

[Jack Blackburn 🇺🇦 @HackBlackburn]

I have questions

[Al Murray 🇺🇦 @almurray]

@HackBlackburn Laws are only ever written after the event

[Jack Blackburn 🇺🇦 @HackBlackburn]

@mrsteedUK Turns out the bad plumbing might not be the fault of the Victorians

[Jack Blackburn 🇺🇦 @HackBlackburn]

@RhonddaBryant Briefly thought this was a line from Are You Being Served?

[Jack Blackburn 🇺🇦 @HackBlackburn]

@HasanHussain777 I’m here most weeks and government benches are usually packed. Not today

[Jack Blackburn 🇺🇦 @HackBlackburn]

There are empty seats in the Commons. Energy is low. Andy Burnham’s #PMQs performances are not box office - he’ll be happy to have charmingly bored the Commons into submission.

[Jack Blackburn 🇺🇦 @HackBlackburn]

@HasanHussain777 Doesn’t explain why there are so many gaps on the Labour benches