Almost certainly so. Their very generous remuneration depends on it.

No they haven’t. Just because you lost the argument, no reason to spread lies. Blocked for pushing fake news. Bye.

THE UK FISCAL POSITION A WEEK BEFORE THE BUDGET. So we learned this morning inflation has jumped up, with the 1st Burnham-Healey Budget now a week away. But we also got the latest fiscal backdrop this morning. It’s not great. The government borrowed another £24.5bn in September — £1.8bn more than last Sept and £1.9bn above both the OBR's March forecast. In cash terms it's the second-highest Sept on record, behind only Covid year 2020. Year-to-date government borrowing is just shy of £98bn. That's over £4bn less than YTD 2025 but £6bn more than the OBR forecast. Why? Not because of a revenue shortfall. Tax receipts are £5.8bn ahead of forecast for the year so far (helped by inflation). At £90bn, September tax receipts were up 5.2% on a year earlier. Spending is the problem, especially debt interest, which was almost £11bn in September — UP 16.6% ON A YEAR AGO, £2bn above OBR forecast and the highest September since records began in 1997. Overall, YTD spending is almost £9bn above forecast. Debt interest accounts for £3.8bn of that and welfare benefits for £2.5bn. The Labour government’s two Achilles Heels. ALSO — net national debt has passed £3 trillion — 94.0% of GDP (over 100% on IMF measure, which allows for international comparisons). So the UK fiscal position is being undermined by inflation and debt interest. The latest OBR forecast, out with the Budget, will be driven by both these factors. Could make for some dismal reading.

A week before the first Burnham-Healey Budget and the UK inflation rose to 3.5% in the year to September, from 3.1% for the year to August. Third successive increase. Two takeaways: It’s heading towards 4%. Interest rates will continue to rise and remain elevated for the foreseeable future.

Thank heaven for small mercies. The UK government has — at last — granted consent for gas to be produced from the Jackdaw gas field. Now, what about Rosebank?

Since I wrote and filed this last night Fintan Slye, who’s remuneration is almost £1m/year to run state-owned Neso, the organisation responsible for managing Britain’s power system, told staff he was “disappointed” in himself and “should have fixed” the problems before an independent report raised them. There’s still a widespread feeling in Neso that he puts carrying out the government’s net zero wishes/obsessions way above the concerns of his staff.

Indeed it can hence my ‘as things stand’!!

ANDREW NEIL: The British Government’s relentless and costly pursuit of net zero is a recipe for blackouts. dailymail.com/debate/article…

I don’t. SO bog off with your nonsense drivel.

As I wrote in my column in yesterday’s Mail, whoever Le Pen is up against in round two, she wins. Saturday’s ‘événements’ make her unstoppable (as things stand). And against Mélenchon she wins by a landslide.

I live in France. I’ve never seen an orgy of violence like this | Andrew... youtu.be/efLy21KPj24?si=8nYr…

Kremlin still paying well, I see. Remuneration by Putin talking point you spew out? Or a flat fee for minimum number of pro-Putin Tweets? I guess if you’re a bot you don’t get paid at all. ‘Bots of the world, unite!’