One of the consequences of the UK rotating through six (soon likely seven) PMs in about a decade is that the country has been peppered with shoddy legacy-building legislation that PMs circling the drain were desperate to get over the line

David Hockney’s lifelong battle with the dreary, joyless nanny state - me for Spiked. spiked-online.com/2026/06/15…

More than half back cigarette-style warnings on ham and bacon 🙄 mirror.co.uk/news/health/mor…

“Pubs aren’t health clubs!” youtu.be/2_XVG-Mub5g

From a (somewhat chaotic!) photo op we organised in Brighton when David Hockney arrived to speak at a fringe meeting hosted by Forest at the 2005 Labour Party conference. Great day. David Hockney, 1937-2026. RIP. Photo: Alamy

BBC: “What advice did David Hockney give to you?” BBC Guest: “Enjoy life and fuck everyone.”

Remembering David Hockney, he was kind and always had a sparkle in his eye. He never stopped experimenting and is one of the finest painters of our generation.

David Hockney, 1937-2026 — Taking Liberties taking-liberties.uk/home/202…

We've lost one of the greats. Not only as an iconic artist of huge originality, but also a public figure with the courage to be a dissident. I once had the honour of chairing David Hockney on a panel. Yes, it was about the excessive Nanny statism about smoking. He made an eloquent case for choice & liberty. I was excessively star-struck. He was excessively modest. Ahh. Such a loss.

David Hockney, 1937-2026 ‘An avid smoker all his life, Hockney maintained that cigarettes had been beneficial to his mental health. Writing in the Guardian 2007 he called the UK’s imminent smoking ban “the most grotesque piece of social engineering”. theguardian.com/artanddesign…

Did you know the Rolling Stones recorded a Rice Krispies jingle in 1964? Just found out today... 😜

Tom Tugendhat, who ran against her in the 2022 and 2024 leadership elections, says: ‘If I’d known she was this good, I wouldn’t have stood.’ new-app.spectator.co.uk/arti…

BTS footage of Siskel & Ebert recording a tv spot for an upcoming episode 😂 The petty annoyance between these two is really what made them so special

I wrote about the World Cup from 1966 to 2022. Unfortunately, the older I get the less I remember! Is it age or something else? taking-liberties.uk/home/202…

A reminder that this was a ‘friendly’! 🤣

As lapdogs go, the one Ian Hislop actually evokes is “Tricki Woo”, the pampered and obese Pekinese belonging to Mrs. Pumphrey in All Creatures Great and Small.

What next? A generational ban?

Norman Balon, notoriously rude landlord of the Coach and Horses in Soho. RIP. telegraph.co.uk/obituaries/2…

Lovely footage of Bobby Tambling, #CFC's Youngest Ever Captain, giving interview in 1962.

It is with the heaviest of hearts that Crosshaven AFC announce the passing of our dear friend and former manager, Bobby Tambling — a true Chelsea legend and an even more wonderful human being. Bobby came to Cork in the 1970s after his time at Crystal Palace, and he fell deeply in love with the place. But it was Crosshaven that truly captured his heart. In the 1980s he settled here and made it his home. He became Cork City’s very first manager before taking the reins of our senior team in 1985, guiding us with pride and passion to our one and only appearance in the FAI Senior Cup the following year. His sons Gary and Glenn featured locally for a while as did his partner Val’s son Jamie now of course Senior Team assistant coach. For the next thirty years, on and off, Bobby was never far from our club with Val by his side. Even when his health was failing, he still wanted to be on the sidelines — coaching, encouraging, and sharing his endless love for the game. His passion for football was absolutely infectious. Whether he was talking tactics, working on set pieces, or telling stories from his playing days (sometimes for the tenth time), you couldn’t help but hang on every word. You didn’t mind hearing the same tale again, because it was Bobby telling it. His final game managing Crosshaven was a fitting one as some of the greatest local players he ever coached took on a Republic of Ireland Masters team in 2015 that included Packie Bonner, Ronnie Whelan & Ray Houghton in Camden. Crosshaven players adored him. They respected him, responded to him, and would have run through brick walls for him. From time to time, old friends from his Chelsea days would visit — Barry Bridges, Chopper Harris, Paddy Mulligan and others — reminding us all of the giant he was in the game. In London, Bobby was a superstar. 202 goals for his beloved Chelsea — a record that stood for decades until Frank Lampard came along. He loved returning to the Bridge, where he was worshipped. Seeing his “Tambling 202” banner proudly displayed and having a suite named in his honour always filled him with quiet pride. He cherished hearing the fans sing his name one more time and feeling the electric buzz of match day, which brought back so many beautiful memories of victories, friendships, and goals. But no matter how much he loved Chelsea, Crosshaven was always home with his beloved Val. Walking the dogs, enjoying dinners with family and friends, having a flutter at the bookies, and being part of the local football community — these were the simple things that made him happiest. Bobby leaves an enormous hole in all our lives. We are all better, kinder, and richer for having known him. His warmth, his wisdom, his humour and his love will stay with us forever. To his loving family, his close friends, and his adoring Chelsea family — we send our deepest, most heartfelt condolences. We have all lost a true legend, and a very special man. To Valerie, despite his battle with Alzheimer’s, I clearly remember Bobby in a moment of clarity saying “she’s the best, I’d be lost without her” you cried but he was right. The dedication you showed to him was absolutely incredible. Rest in peace, Bobby. You will never be forgotten.