Sunday 25 January

The UK government has imposed postponements of some English local council elections, in both 2025 and 2026. In East Sussex, Norfolk, Suffolk and West Sussex county council elections have been postponed in both years – which means that voters will not have had an opportunity to renew the mandates of their upper tier (county) councillors for at least six years. A standard term for English councillors is four years, which means that in some authorities councillors will serve a term and a half, possibly longer, without facing voters.

Monday 26 January

 On January 20th the Palestinian Embassy in Syria confirmed that Palestinian travel document holders are now barred from entering the country without prior authorization. This policy effectively nullifies Law No. 260, passed in 1956. For 70 years, this landmark legislation made Syria the only Arab nation to grant Palestinians rights equal to those of its own citizens. Via Richard Medhurst

The House of Representatives voted 215–215 on a resolution aimed at blocking further attacks on Venezuela. Under House rules, a tied vote is a defeat. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La) held the poll open until Rep. Wesley Hunt (R-Texas) arrived in the chamber to cast the decisive vote against the measure. Two Republicans crossed the aisle to vote with Democrats who were unanimous in support.

Tuesday 27 January

“If you are the CEO of Capital One, you are legally obligated to make the most money for your shareholders, whether it’s through hiking credit card rates or giving a loan to a weapons manufacturer.” The name of the CEO is, ironically Rich Fairbank.

Craig Murray has got a judicial review of the legality in Scots law of the proscription of Palestine Action in Scotland. Full judicial review 17 to 18 March at the Court of Session in Edinburgh.

Willie Nelson has donated $1 million to the family of Renée Good 👍

Scotland has committed to a tax on private jets, it’s now up to Westminster to follow suit. For most of us it’s cheaper to fly between London and Edinburgh than to catch a train, which might take longer but is less polluting.

Wednesday 28 January

I put the blog I was working aside for now, possibly permanently as plenty of people are saying more eloquently what I was trying to say. But I’ve just published a new blog and will have another one out by the time you read this. I intend to continue with this diary but how often it will be published depends on what else I have write about 😀

I’ve just had a response from my MP to an email I sent regarding the postponement to local government elections and replied explaining why I was dissatisfied with his response. I hope to present both emails in a blog before long.

I just read a blog by a comrade I hadn’t heard from for some time, although I subscribe to her blog, who described being diagnosed with ADHD at a mature age. It struck a chord with me as I find myself distracted while writing a blog and thinking about another one I want to write. At present I’m working on two at once, at other times I don’t know what to write about. The purpose of this diary is to fill the gaps.

Thursday 29 January

The more I see of Zack Polanski the more I incline towards Greens. Your Party offered hope but are unable to deliver with all the infighting that persists despite the best efforts of Jeremy and Zara. I try to remain open minded but I can’t see this project going anyway, well-intentioned as it undoubtedly is.

Friday 30 January

I’ve just received notification of an action I can take locally. In the last 20 years the village where I live has become a town, but without the infrastructure of a town. The built up area has doubled in size while shops have closed and our public transport has deteriorated. Yet more housing is planned across the district, which is no bloody use to homeless families in London. My MP read this blog, but it doesn’t appear to have made an impression 😠 Homelessness and Housing https://thephilosophicalmuse.blog/2025/06/06/homelessness-and-housing-2/

Saturday 31 January

DOJ spokesperson said: “It turns out that carting off vicars, pensioners and military veterans into police vans for alleged terrorism offence not only tramples over our fundamental rights … it is also soaking up huge amounts of public resources. The total costs of policing Lift The Ban actions is likely to be in the tens of millions of pounds. And that’s just the start… It’s time for the Home Secretary to lift this ludicrous ban and bring an end to this scandalous waste of public money.” Via Morning Star

Julio Herrera Velutini is a Venezuelan banker who gave more than £500,000 to the Conservative Party. Last year he pleaded guilty to a corruption charge in the US but was pardoned by Donald Trump – after his daughter donated $3.5 million to a pro-Trump political action committee. A White House official told CBS News that the pardon and the donation were unrelated. Yeah, sure, and I’ve got a bridge for sale 🙄 Via Democracy For Sale

Sunday 1 February

“By last September, 12% of 2024 Labour voters had defected to Reform, and 10% to the Greens; now the Greens are picking up 15% of former Labour voters, while Reform’s share dwindles to 8%.” Byline Supplement

Monday 2 February

The Workers Party and Your Party have decided not to stand in the Gorton by-election. Labour and Reform must lose.

Tuesday 3 February

Last week at York Magistrates’ Court, a former gamekeeper pleaded guilty to conspiracy to kill a Hen Harrier on a grouse moor in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Covert RSPB footage caught him and two armed accomplices in the act. This is the first ever successful prosecution in England relating to Hen Harriers. Via Chris Packham.

I just came across an article with the headline Europe gets ‘green energy.’ These Southern towns get dirty air. The quotes are important in avoiding the headline being self-contradictory – the article proves that biomass is not green so it’s not true that Europe benefits from ‘green energy’ at the cost of others. I have a friend in British Columbia, the source of the timber, the article is focused on mills in the USA where the timber is converted into pellets to burned at Drax Power Station in the district where I live. We all have an interest in it being shut down!

18 Republican Senators have broken ranks to join Democrats in advancing the impeachment process against Donald Trump on the grounds that he allegedly betrayed the Oath of Office by trading classified US national security secrets for private business deals.

The motion passed by one vote. The procedure could take months but, if successful, will be the first time a president has been removed by impeachment (Nixon resigned before he could be impeached). It will take 67 Senate votes for Trump to be removed from office.

Rumours are going around that Trump will resign so JD Vance can pardon him for all the felonies of which he’s already been convicted.

Wednesday 4 February

Six pro-Palestine activists linked to Palestine Action have been found NOT GUILTY for breaking into an Elbit Systems factory.

Parliament will debate Gaza genocide tomorrow. “Despite widespread international consensus that a genocide has been committed, substantial evidence and a UN Independent Commission finding of genocide, the UK government has continued to refuse to even accept there is risk of genocide having been committed.” Amnesty International

In a packed Westminster Hall debate on extending the time for legal migrants to achieve Indefinite Leave to Remain in the U.K. was the most oversubscribed anyone can remember, every single MP spoke against the proposals except the Tory Shadow Minister!! Via Barry Gardiner MP.

An old comrade is trying to persuade me to join Your Party to vote for Jeremy’s slate rather than Zarah’s. It’s this factionalism in a party that is not yet properly established that puts me off joining!

Sunday 8 February

“The British government must exercise its own sovereignty and demand respect for international law, the UN Charter, and the right to self-determination. They must demand the immediate end to the extraterritorial application of US sanctions which punish British banks and companies for trading with Cuba.”  Fidel Antonio Castro Smirnov

I don’t believe that the 2nd Amendment to the US Constitution prohibits regulation of the ownership of guns. It doesn’t permit “law enforcement officers” to disarm a legal gun owner and shoot him in the back multiple times 😠

So Starmer has pushed McSweeney under the bus in a desperate attempt to save his career! Who’s next?

Monday 9 February

I’ve been in touch with the candidate I voted for in the last general election to inform her that I’ve joined the Green Party! She won’t be standing next time but, even on a short acquaintance, she thinks I have skills that would be useful – I just have to discover what they are. I’ve also been encouraged by a comrade to work on an essay I wrote in my final year at university on Education & Politics. I needed the encouragement as it will take time – I first need to dictate the manuscript into my iPad to give me a document I can work with.

Starmer is getting desperate, he has all his loyal MPs busily tweeting about his nonexistent achievements as Prime Minister.

I’ve been contacted by two of the editorial team of an online magazine I used to write for, they appear to have gone their separate ways. I have yet to decide how to respond, I’m content with what I’m doing for now and this Diary is proving to be quite popular.

Tuesday 10 February

I was invited to attend an event in York on How can North Yorkshire make the Good Society? I replied that I couldn’t attend as I was reliant on public transport, and taking buses into public ownership would be a good start. I’ve had an acknowledgment of my response which encourages me to believe it will be raised at the event even if I’m not able to be present.

Friday 13 February

Excellent news! Following a successful Judicial Review brought by Huda Ammori, the ban on Palestine Action has been ruled unlawful in the courts. The government is likely to appeal and you still cannot support Palestine Action until the appeals process is complete.

Saturday 14 February

I’ve been incapacitated for a couple of days with limited use of my right hand. It’s better now and the weather is improving, which is a help, but I have a lot of work to catch up on – which includes thinking of something to write about for next #SocialistSunday.