Lucy Powell was reportedly Andy Burnham's third choice for Education Secretary after Rachel Reeves and David Miliband turned it down – and judging from her recent intervention in the education debate, it's not hard to see why. Her claim that a million young people are not in education, employment or training (Neets) as a result of Michael Gove's 'one-size-fits-all' education reforms is almost comically misinformed. ✍️ Toby Young Article | | @toadmeister

Rod Liddle, The Spectator's associate editor, has died at the age of 66. Michael Gove, The Spectator’s editor, said: "Rod Liddle was a journalist of genius. In the tradition of Swift, Cobbett and Orwell, he was a satirist who found society’s most sensitive spots and made merciless fun of our follies. "He was always fearless, could be achingly funny and while he had an adamantine core of principle he could also surprise. Because he was original – he thought for himself and never wanted anyone’s approval – he was special and brave. "In person, Rod was kind and gentle. He was an indulgent boss and brilliantly creative editor at the BBC and an always steadfast and generous colleague. He had a deep love of England, of its culture and in particular the common sense of its working class. "He was also a master of the written word. He was very much loved by those who knew him. And no words we can summon can capture our loss." Article |

Are congratulations in order for Sacha Baron Cohen? The more I read about Jason Arday, the Cambridge sociology professor and DEI poster boy caught up in a plagiarism row, the more convinced I am he's the comedian’s greatest creation. First, there’s the over-the-top back story. He claimed to have been totally mute until the age of 11 – having been diagnosed with autism – and unable to read or write until he was 18. Yet in spite of these disadvantages, he earned a PhD by the time he was 30 – which he managed to complete while suffering from a brain tumour! ✍️ Toby Young Article | | @toadmeister

I was robbed in Tokyo recently, an experience as unexpected as it was distressing. Despite long years in London, plus decades of rough and ready globetrotting to some of the sketchiest places on earth, I have never been a victim in any of these notorious crime hotspots (I feel snubbed especially by London), but this was the second such experience in supposedly the safest city in the world. What are the odds? The first time I dropped my wallet in a branch of the bargain bucket Don Quijote store and later received a phone call from the staff saying they had it, with ID cards intact but 50,000 yen gone. This time there was no phone call, it's all gone, a similar amount of cash but far more worryingly, my entire suite of credit and ID cards. ✍️ Philip Patrick Article |