Marking Time

Mon 1 June 2026

We (in the UK) are in a curious moment. After years in which the pace of events both local and global appears to be accelerating we are in a brief lull, becalmed.  Trump recycles endless “peace plans” searching fruitlessly for a viable exit strategy from the “war” with Iran.  The issue of Labour Party leadership is suspended whilst Andy Burnham seeks election to Parliament in the Makerfield by-election.  Reform Leader Nigel Farage is suddenly camera shy, following revelations of a £5m personal gift from Christopher Harborne, a cryptocurrency investor, who lives in Thailand and is a major funder of the Reform Party, making the largest ever single donation by a living person to a British political party.  Even green leader, Zak Polansky has, unusually, gone fairly quiet.  Perhaps this is why the celebrations surrounding Arsenal’s winning of the Premier League Championship has been filling the papers.