Lenin at Oktyabrskaya is a commanding Lenin. He stands with feet planted firmly atop a column. Rather than on a plinth somewhat accessible to the viewer, here he is significantly above figures of the army below, who march resolutely forward, urged onward by the Motherland.

Venya’s starting point in Moscow-Petushki

Guardian:

Blair argued for the government to crack down on welfare spending, abandon restrictions on oil and gas and smooth relations with Donald Trump.

Blair called for closer ties with Trump’s White House. Photograph: Yoan Valat/Reuters

His essay, a highly unusual intervention for a past Labour prime minister, is likely to draw a furious response from across the party, where Blair’s legacy remains highly contentious. On Tuesday, one senior source accused him of abandoning social democratic values to embrace an agenda that had “no answers”.