But I am waiting for one of my niece's boys, probably the youngest, to phone that May The Fourth Be With You. In the meantime I remind readers that today farmers are denied use of their sheepdogs since it is Ban Collie Day.

This is the title of a fascinating book by David, Lord Owen, who might himself have become prime minister. It is astonishing how leaders suffer from hubris and, of course, the subsequent nemesis. My father who was an expert on the ancient world could not bring himself to I this or I that since he was terrified (do I exaggerate?) by the consequences.

Polanski's win at Gorton and Denton was disturbing. But he has ben inspected ever since and been found wanting. Decca Aitkenhead in today's STimes colour Magazine supplement finishes him off or, perhaps, it might be best stated that any reasonable question put to Polanski gives off a lunatic reply. He is on his way down. Phew!

A longstanding follower of Evil's comments has written to inform me that his father, an RAF Group Captain, was killed during active service in WWII and that, as it happens, his uncle had picked up an MC. The follower's family takes the view that what their fallen did was and remains morally intensely right. It is indeed sobering that a twerp like Hermer might end up cooking up a prosecution for war crimes over Dresden

Would those who want to learn about the physical exercises undertaken by this pair kindly let me know. Written by Simon Cawkwell, April 2026

In or about 1968 my father, an admissions tutor par excellence, was a guest of RA Butler, master of some major Cambridge college and of course formerly a very distinguished politician (for instance the 1944 Education Act) and RAB volunteered the view that "we shall have trouble with that boy". The boy in question was Prince Charles. Well, this week has seen King Charles dominate the affection of his White House audience. This is because people can and do change. People forget

Should you ever think yourself well-informed and quick on associations of ideas think again. Radio4's late night programme Round Britain Quiz's contestants are astonishing. Written by Simon Cawkwell, April 2026

As we now are the Daily Mail is day after day slagging off this and that to the best of its ability. But they are not good at it. For instance the attractive young ladies each paid perhaps £15,000 by Epstein for a few days servicing in London are described as trafficked. But trafficking supposes that the young ladies are forced to come to London when nothing could be further from the truth. They like the money.

Richard kicked off about forty-five years ago and RE. is now quite a substantial company. Of course, time marches on and Richard has announced his retirement which is set for a few weeks' time. He kindly gave me a bell yesterday and left me with a distinct sense of optimism. I am now hoping for a 15p dividend. He is a formidably clever chap and was indeed The Senior Wrangler for his year when at Cambridge. I first met him about twenty-five years ago and feel quite privileged

Kwasi Kwarteng appears very successfully on ITV's Good Morning Britain. It was just his bad luck that he wound up under Liz Truss's umbrella. Surely, the Conservatives can arrange a seat for him. Written by Simon Cawkwell, April 2026

The barefoot general who fought off a coup from his bedroom When Major General Abou Issa woke at 3am one night in December last year to the sound of a crash outside his three-storey house in Cotonou, Benin, he “didn’t register it as a coup”, says Michael Phillips in The Wall Street Journal. But moments later, the commander of the president’s Republican Guard called to warn him that a top general had been kidnapped by plotters, and that he might be next. His wife stepped on to

I heard on the wireless last night that the pre-sales and pre-orders position in relation to the Michael Jackson biopic which has just emerged was enormous or whatever. This amazes me since one has to ask oneself how would know about the existence of a pre-sale or a pre-order.

A bid is coming and it cannot be lower than 7p and it might be considerably higher.

Non-dom status was cancelled after the silly billies, Streeting, Cooper, Rayner and got knows what other ignorant poseurs had got yacking. It is now sinking in at HM Treasury that the yield from income tax is dropping. Non-dom status reflected Britain's subtle and worldwide commercial influencing. But it takes brains and understanding if truth is to prevail. The Labour Party death wish movement soldiers on.

It looks as if the chief twerp, Ed Miliband, has been overridden and that a bid of7p or more is quite possible: do not sell. The next question is whether Jersey Oil and Gas will be allowed to get on with its business and for employment to be generated in Aberdeen. Since JOG stands at around 120p it must surely be a buy.

that it is time to cancel those who so write since the only purpose in writing is to come up with a description/definition of what the writer does or does not want.

I cannot now recite how the rules relating to disclosure of holdings developed. The idea was that the market would be properly informed as to how interest in a quoted stock was developing. However, the reality is that the filing efforts required are now absurd and I know I am right about this contempt for regulators since a chum who was then a partner in Slaughter and May and arguably one of the best corporate lawyers in the country said that he found the disclosure requireme