X is suddenly full of Maga defences of Trump's disgraceful betrayal of Ukraine. Surely no coincidence.

So the BBC is recruiting civil servants to help write its stories. That doesn't say much for the quality of its journalists. Another example of the ubiquitous presence of the Blob. One bit helps another to impose a left-wing culture.

Hearing Emmanuel Macron's familiar platitudes about calm and order as many parts of his country burn reminds me that he launched his campaign to be President 10 years ago. Macron promised a new politics for France. For a while the French believed him and flocked to his banner, temporarily banishing the old traditional parties, But the old order returned soon enough. Riots in the streets amid the stubborn refusal of the French to accept even mild much-needed reforms are as much part of the Fifth Republic as they ever were. And like occupants of the Elysée Palace before him, a lame duck President finds Walter Mitty-like refuge in foreign affairs, pretending that he leads a world power.

Given the clubs' respective starts to the season 1-1 wasn't a bad result for Manchester United. But they're still not looking like a Premier League team. It's as if they've been progressively hollowed out since the Glazers took over while the state of the club has worsened since Ineos arrived. United are like a team of zombies. Too many third-rate signings while good players like Elliot Anderson prefer to take their talents elsewhere.

When will Trump formally announce that he supports Putin ? He should because he's doing everything he can to help the Russian tyrant. He should admit it. He won't of course because he's a consummate liar. Let's hope American voters give Trump the electoral thrashing he deserves in the mid-terms. Hopefully we can then look forward to another attempt to impeach him.

Donald Trump has an obsessive and irrational hatred of Volodymyr Zelensky. Trump is now accusing the Ukrainian leader of destroying his own country. Let's be clear about one thing. If Ukraine loses the war with Russia it will be more Trump's fault than Zelensky's. The US President should accept that cutting diesel prices at the pump in America is not Zelensky's concern. He is fighting for his country's survival, not Trump's control of Congress.

Britain is collectively getting its knickers in a huge twist over referendums. Andy Burnham hasn't ruled out a second vote on EU membership but he's saying definitely no ( at least he is today ! ) to another referendum on independence for Scotland. How he differentiates between the two cases beats me but that's Burnham for you. But why have referendums at all ? The concept is alien to British constitutional tradition: the first nationwide referendum was held as recently as 1975. Edward Heath actually took us into the then EEC on the strength of a commitment in the Conservative election manifesto in 1970. He won so we joined. Seemple. Let's go back to being a representative democracy and leave referendumitis to the Swiss.

Elon Musk is reported to have ordered restrictions on the use of Starlink devices by Ukraine. Trump and co are racheting up the bullying of Kyiv by the day. America is fast becoming Russia's best buddy. Shame on the ' Land of the Free'!

NIgel Farage says if he becomes Prime Minister he'll do a deal with Donald Trump. Hand him the Chagos Islands in return for his silence over the Falklands. In other words give Trump something for nothing. I've always regarded Nige as a bit of a spiv but he's clearly a pretty useless one.

More than 600 more prisoners have been released early today from jails in England and Wales. A similar number were freed two weeks ago but already dozens of those inmates have been recalled to prison for reoffending or breaching the terms of their release licence. The Labour government's policy is barmy. If prisons are overcrowded build more. And cut the welfare budget to pay for them.

Can Andy Burnham say anything without putting his foot in it ? A radio station I worked at for some years had the following invocation etched in large letters on a studio wall : " Engage brain before opening mouth ! " No doubt the same thought occurs to hapless Downing Street spokesmen every time they have to clear up Burnham's mess.

Russia has bombed a power plant in Ukraine hours after Donald Trump claimed to have brokered a truce to halt attacks on energy infrastructure. Can Trump be trusted with anything ? The Russians are running rings around him. It's pathetic.

Liverpool 0 Manchester Cheaty 3. An impressive win but was there a neutral anywhere supporting City today ?

An excellent and measured esponse by President Zelensky of Ukraine to Donald Trump's announcement that Ukraine and Russia have agreed to halt attacks on each other's energy infrastructure. Zelensky said the deal was news to him but Ukraine would accept it if Moscow did. Plus he said he was waiting for the details of the ' agreement ' from the White House. I don't suppose Zelensky's grasp of English extends to the phrase ' playing with a straight bat ' but his reaction is exactly that.

The Oracle of Truth Social has spoken. Donald Trump wants Volodymyr Zelensky kicked out as President of Ukraine. Why ? Because Zelensky refused to halt the highly successful Ukranian attacks on Russian oil refineries. For Trump all that matters is getting his hands on hundreds of thousands of tons of Russian diesel to help the Republicans avoid a heavy defeat in the mid-term elections. For the US President there has to be a deal to end to the war at any price. Even if that means forcing Ukraine to make a humiliating climb down.

So #Trump decided to buy huge amounts of diesel from #Putin because #Zelensky refused to stop attacking Russian refineries. How very Trumpian to expect #Ukraine to stop using its most effective weapon in its battle for survival just because he wants to save himself from a hiding in the mid-term elections. Once again you have to ask whose side Trump is on ?