Robert Neill is MP for Bromley and Chislehurst

Thank you @BBCBreakfast for having Stroke survivor Ian and our CEO @JulietBou on the show this morning. talking about the importance of getting. your blood pressure checked. #SPD25

TfL cannot be allowed to mark their own homework on the botched A20 temporary speed limit at the Sidcup by-pass. Thank you to the @Telegraph for reporting on these issues.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/01/30/tfl-london-sidcup-speed-limit-driving-signs-speeding-fines/

Congratulations to Anthony Rogers on his appointment as Chief Inspector of HMCPSI.

HMCPSI has a key role to play in strengthening the criminal justice system. I look forward to working with him.

From 1 Feb, Christine Agnew KC will be the new joint head of 2BR alongside Brian Altman KC, with Jacqueline Carey as Deputy Head. Jim Sturman KC is stepping down as joint head but will be continuing his busy practice at 2BR. Read more: https://tinyurl.com/4ajut5vb

Classical music, inside and outside academia, needs serious advocacy if it is to gain the financial support it needs to survive. We are more likely to hear it about it being colonial and white supremacist - any wonder that it thus becomes a very low priority for funding?

Class!

Former Barbican artistic director Louise Jeffreys has been appointed interim chair of @E_N_O 👇

Martin Prendergast writes for the FT on why the UK should take a leaf from France’s book when it comes to arts funding. 

Louise Jeffreys has been appointed Interim Chair of English National Opera @E_N_O and the London Coliseum, following the retirement of Harry Brunjes.

We’re thrilled to announce that our Founder and Executive Chairman, @NeilHudgell, has been included in the #TheLawyerHot100.

@TheLawyermag commends Mr Hudgell, saying, ‘More than a quarter of a century on from founding his own firm, he has made a name for himself as a regular… https://x.com/i/web/status/1884227334707765595

Another music department earmarked to go. This is a really big deal. Cardiff's Music department is large, well-resourced, and much esteemed. If Music can go at a Russell Group university like this, then no course is safe.

Chambers is delighted that the Lord Chancellor has approved the appointment of Charles Langley to the rank of King’s Counsel and offers its warmest congratulations to him.  We wish Charles continued success in silk. https://bit.ly/3Co7KYO

💡 JUSTICE launches its AI In Our Justice System report this week! Join us for the launch to discuss how to harness AI's power while guarding against its risks.

📅 This Thurs (30th) @Pinsent_Masons’ London office. DM us here or email events@justice.org.uk to RSVP (essential)

Today on #HolocaustMemorialDay, @DomGibraltar represented #Gibraltar at ceremony addressed by @DavidLammy and @TzipiHotovely to remember the 6 million Jewish people and all those who lost their lives in the Holocaust. Moving testimonial from Janine Webber BEM #NeverAgain

Thrilled to announce that Daniel Feetham KC of Hassans has made history as the first Gibraltar lawyer appointed King’s Counsel in Gibraltar and England and Wales.

Read more here https://www.gibraltarlaw.com/insights/post/102jw6x/daniel-feetham-appointed-kc-in-england-and-wales/

This ROH Jenufa revival is one of the great moments at Covent Garden, the cast and orchestra electric. And it’s going round with an Instagram cheat code! No excuse not to book.

The gruesome anti-Zelensky brigade on Twitter are not only ridiculous, they also have zero concept of war time leaders through history…

I agree with every one of these points. If oil goes down, Putin loses. Simple as that.

Another fab event for the first May Bank holiday!

The first televised debate on 23 January 1985 saw members press government on the economy. Former Prime Minister Harold Macmillan, then Earl of Stockton, spoke without notes for 20 minutes. Lord Stockton was said by commentators to have ‘stolen the show.’

“It’s time for the new govt 2order a retreat from this damaging war on #Opera, clear out the ideological prejudice that regards it as elitist, & 2engage constructively with the profession in bringing new audiences 2 this rich & rewarding artform.” #SaveWNO
https://www.pressreader.com/uk/the-daily-telegraph-review/20241214/281663965601764

Arriving at the BBC to film Politics London.

The flag of the island of Alderney flies over @MoJGovUK HQ to commemorate #HomecomingDay, marking the day the residents returned home after their long wartime evacuation from the island following its occupation by German forces in World War II.

“There is no such person known to the law as the anonymous Judge”
Judges deserve respect and may also need protection.
But the #RuleofLaw demands open justice, and that includes (save, for a limited time, if there’s a clear and credible threat) the identity of the decision-maker.

In the UK, 4 opera companies, excluding Glyndebourne. In Germany, 59 opera companies. Support the arts!

Great to visit McDonald's in Bromley Market Square, where I made my first McMuffin.

Thanks to the franchise owner, Bill, and the team for talking to me about their community work and the impact of Labour's job tax.

“Labour must not let us down in #Wales.”

“Act swiftly, I urge the minister! Do not destroy a tradition which has taken so long to build!”

Rousing words from Lord Thomas of Gresford who took the time to really understand the issues before making his speech on #Opera. #SaveWNO

Great to talk to former UK Ambassador to the US Kim Darroch on what it’s like to work with President Trump and the implications of his return for the future of Ukraine.
Listen to The Story Podcast to hear the full discussion. Produced by @oliviacase1

An extraordinary argument that waiving collective responsibility - the principle of disagreeing in private, united front in public once decision taken - REQUIRED Govt to waive all assessment of bill and wilfully blind itself to "all of the consequences" it's signed up to deliver

Tonight!

⚖️The government must “invest in rehabilitation for prisoners to tackle the courts backlogs” and “help bring down the remand population.”

President Richard Atkinson tells @Independent, as the government announces a new plan to tackle prison overcrowding.

https://ow.ly/Ghpv50UpPFw

I’m protesting, @NLebrecht. Day in, day out. I haven’t stopped for over 8 months now.

But it’s pretty lonely trying to #SaveWNO & get the message out there that the music sector in #Wales is in a state of collapse. Not many are listening.

Soon it will be too late. @PrifWeinidog

I visited the Bromley Delivery Office this morning to thank the 150-strong team for their hard work delivering letters and parcels this Christmas.

I'm delighted to hear that @RoyalMail has recruited more posties to serve our community after postal disruption in previous years.

Excoriating words from @1SVN:

“The govt must take a long, hard look at whether @ace_national is fit for purpose.”

“The govt needs to take responsibility & act. They must step into the #Opera space before ACE ruins it for good.”

@lisanandy we need action! @DCMS #SaveWNO

European security starts with Ukraine.

I met European partners to discuss bolstering our collective security in the face of Russia’s continued aggression.

We will strengthen our security infrastructure, boost our defence & provide Ukraine the support it needs.

🇬🇧🇺🇦🇪🇺🇫🇷🇩🇪🇮🇹🇵🇱🇪🇸

I’ve received a reply from the Attorney General.

It’s striking that a Gov’t which places so much store on the #RuleofLaw seems to regard a legal assessment of the Bill as an optional extra. Suspending collective responsibility doesn’t absolve the Gov’t from such basic duties.

A joyous day for me in becoming a Freeman of the City of London by nomination. I have lived in London all my life and worked in the Temple in the heart of the City from 1980 to entering Parliament and again today. So it was a great pleasure and privilege to be sworn in with… https://x.com/i/web/status/1867336508388049384

The retirement of John Grimmer is a landmark event. I appreciate that the word - legendary - is overused but in this case it is apt

New episode of From the Producer’s Office - with some of the creative team from our upcoming performances of A Christmas Carol @operahollandpk at @SinfoniaSmithSq next week. https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/from-the-producers-office/id1479062329?i=1000680025268

Over the next few days I’ll be tweeting clips from this excellent debate in @UKHouseofLords which shows how @Keir_Starmer should think carefully before making changes. Every one of the speeches was informed, sensible & understood the issues. #SaveWNO https://parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/c054cb7a-ec93-48cb-83bf-7ed7b96bf177?agenda=True