Watching todays State Opening of Parliament (I love how well we do ceremonial!) I was thinking what a nightmare it must all be for our police and security services. A slow moving horse drawn carriage through London streets with thousands of (not necessarily all supportive) people crowding the pavements. Then I thought if the complete Horlicks of the Trump shooting at at that Pennsylvania rally which has raised serious questions about the security failures that enabled the attack.
While there was significant Secret Service presence as well as local law enforcement on the scene, a gunman was able to get onto the roof of a building about 150 meters away from Trump and fire at both him and members of the crowd. That development has prompted concerns about missteps made by the Secret Service and gaps in the coverage provided for the former president at the event
I had lunch with a friend at the weekend whose son is an armed protection officer with the Met, and spent much of the GE on duties protecting Starmer and she told me how much effort goes into the preparation of such protection- advance intel, undercover officers,etc, the physical presence being almost the least of it.
Lessons need to be learned in the US don’t they? .
Good Morning Wednesday 6th May 2026
Multi-save offers on fresh food in supermarkets
Last letters make new words - Series 3
A drop in the ocean in the great schemes of things....but replicated by how many more
