We will have to wait until early next week to see what the idiots who govern us will start to come up with. I much prefer a clear exposition as to where we are so that my idea of a policy approach is bordering at least upon QED. However, there seems little chance that Burnham will devise any policy initiatives that can be respected and are the more so because within budgetary constraints. I understand that gilts are off this morning - presumably in the belief that Burnham wil

I tried to open an account yesterday at Fitzdares the West End bookmaker. My bank statement does not show my name and address at the top left. So that's no good. And I then handed over my file to my wife who does not readily lose her temper and told Fitzdares that she would find the relevant papers that constitute proof of ID. She was told that she would need a Power of Attorney. At which point I gave up. Written by Simon Cawkwell, June 2026

“As I hurtled through space, one thought kept crossing my mind: every part of this rocket was supplied by the lowest bidder.” American astronaut John Glenn Written by Simon Cawkwell, June 2026

In the distant past companies/firms carried telegraphic addresses. I considered Corkscrew but turned down this irreversible warning to potential customers. Elsewhere there was a bookmaker trading on southern point to point pitches whose board was headed Rob The Rich. It was of course unclear that this was intended to advise that the bookmaker, Rob, was rich and therefore well able to pay out or whether it was a clear warning as to the intent of the bookie. Finally there was a

is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon. I know this because the BBC cannot refer to Tommy without simultaneously advising what the BBC terms his real name. I doubt if anybody else is so treated. But that is the BBC's brief - although how determined I have no idea. As to the BBC's commentary on current names and events it is quite amazing that events in Belfast are clearly described and explained by the host people on the ground but by the time the news mangling gets back to Broadcasting Ho

Quite how this top referee, a Somali, can be denied entrance to play his agreed part in America and the World Cup is completely beyond me: Anyone got any theories?

People who claim to know when a stock has gone down sufficiently to cause the greedy to feed are usually misleading. But I suspect IES has again become a buy at 35p.

Forty years ago I used to buy salt beef sandwiches from a small shop around the corner from my office. They were cut on the spot from a chunk of meat described by the proprietor as brisket. But I have never encountered brisket in that delicious form since. So I asked around and was informed that the relevant salt was a form of gunpowder and since the IRA were operational it could not be held for use by salt beef sandwich vendors. This seems very unlikely and I expect it is a

David Sullivan is another one of these curious fellows who can be disclosed as interested in sex. The lady who complains has declared that she was propositioned by David Sullivan but declined the offer. What's so amazing about that?

The pottery firm, Denby, is closing down. Perhaps its designs are not appealing. I do not know. But it is certainly true that UK energy costs are much higher than elsewhere around the world. This looks to be another Ed Miliband destruction move.