Diary Editor and History Correspondent of @TheTimes. Political gossip, historical discoveries, variable jokes - jack.blackburn@thetimes.co.uk
London, UK
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Jack Blackburn ๐บ๐ฆ retweeted
Alright, pension IS a benefit
๐จ NEW: John Healey is set to cut energy bills for households on certain benefits at the Budget
[@guardian]
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Jack Blackburn ๐บ๐ฆ retweeted
Often at party conferences there will be some anniversary
Last week Labour did Wilson's landslide in 66. Last year the Tories did Thatcher's centenary.
No sign of anything at Tory Conference this year.
Then you walk into the loos and they're managed by a company called Suez.
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Jack Blackburn ๐บ๐ฆ retweeted
Off peak for your ticket means arriving into Euston after 11am.
Boarded one arriving 11.06, only to be told its peak. When queried, "Its the train manager's discretion"
That is either a lie, or mad. You cannot sell restrictive + expensive tickets but have validity on a whim
Community note
Off peak tickets arriving in Euston need to arrive after 1129, not 1100.
The train manager retains the discretion to waive it in the customer's favour if arriving earlier, as in this example.
avantiwestcoast.co.uk/tickets-and-saโฆ
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Badenoch has completely won over the faithful and is so at ease here
But really have to wonder if she can bring more people into the Tory church
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Badenoch calls Burnham a "Paddington Bear prime minister".
Question is can you do a hard stare with those eyelashes?
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Badenoch saying they weren't sure if they could top last year's conference
A bit like saying you're not sure if your garden party could be jollier than a wake
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John Motson was one of the rare celebrities I met who disappointed in person
But Iโll still have affection for him for this commentary. Itโs superb.
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Jack Blackburn ๐บ๐ฆ retweeted
Very sad news. Feels like the last connection to a distant age.
But sheโll live on in some of the greatest films ever made
Eva Marie Saint, who starred in memorable classic films such as โNorth by Northwestโ and โOn the Waterfront,โ has died at 102.
variety.com/2026/film/news/eโฆ
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Jack Blackburn ๐บ๐ฆ retweeted
Reading off the lineup at a prog rock festival
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James Cleverly says he would not impose a bedroom tax on London hotels and would remove one if it were in place
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James Cleverly: โKemiโs best bet of getting into No 10 is getting me into City Hallโ
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Jack Blackburn ๐บ๐ฆ retweeted
Rejected sequel: Mrs Cromwich Goes to West Bromwich
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What exactly am I supposed to do about the plague outbreak other than worry about it? Seems like ignoring it is the only thing I have agency to do.
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