'Outside the Twittersphere, how is Musk a joke? He survived a brutal childhood in South Africa, escaped to the US and then made a fortune co-founding what became PayPal.'

✍️ Mary Wakefield

spectator.co.uk/article/in-def…

From The Spectator: The EU’s galactically bad space programme spectator.co.uk/article/the-eu… via The Spectator

No

Bank of England raise base to 3% from 2.25%. Biggest rise in 33 years. But hints that it could be last “big” rate rise. Similar message from US Fed earlier this week. Getting closer to peak of this interest rate cycle.

'Democrats are vulnerable in crucially important toss-up elections in at least four states and serious Republican challengers are rising in a number of others. Yet Biden came to Florida?'

trib.al/QwCeVf8

From The Spectator: Suella Braverman’s critics ignore an uncomfortable truth spectator.co.uk/article/suella… via The Spectator

Finland + Sweden will not ask for preconditions before joining Nato — or object to hosting nuclear bases/weapons. Finnish Soc Dem PM Sanna Marin:'we shouldn't put up any preconditions or shut any doors' before becoming a member of Nato. Sweden's centre-right PM agreed.

Luxury hotel staff win battle over £138,000 worth of withheld tips bbc.in/3SUhbl5

Strong front page from Financial Times

It is quite touching in a way that Glenn Hoddle thinks that the French also let off their fireworks on Bonfire Night #MARTOT

Andrew Neil Back in the day it would have been the final story of the evening unless it was trumped by a squirrel doing an assault course for some peanuts.

He’d have been too out of his mind to care. Fear and Loathing.

If you’re a public service broadcaster like the BBC you’re freed from what the public are most interested in and able to do what’s most important. Otherwise, what’s the point of PSB.

I agree with that. And the public — let’s cut them some slack — attitude to Trump, then Johnson is to blame.

You really think a flagship BBC news programme should lead with Matt Hancock? Is it now BBCSun? Or don’t you mind tabloid news values when it suits your politics? What abuse of power — as opposed to stupidity — does Hancock show?

The ClusterTruss has discombobulated the media as much as it has the Tory party. Also, they think, probably rightly, that Tories in trouble can easily be taken down eg Braverman, for whom I hold no candle.

'The question is: are the Tories just 'ungovernable' — as many said during Liz Truss’s collapse — or now fully addicted to self-destruction?'

✍️ Freddy Gray

spectator.co.uk/article/the-to…

‘In the self-destruct saga of 2020s Conservatism, it is the drama that has become dull.’

✍️ Freddy Gray

spectator.co.uk/article/the-to…

Various long-range weather forecasts suggest mild November, easing demand for energy.