The exam questions for this contemplative position are: 1. How to articulate the political economy of art, culture and heritage? 2. Who needs to know this and why? 3. Why haven’t I made any coffee yet?

A joyful evening of live, beautiful music played wonderfully by #Claptoncollective in, yes, Clapton. Schubert’s “Death and the Maiden” and an encore from “Last Leaf” (Danish String Quartet - wonderful album, go get it). Just beautiful.

If you want the actual headlines about what Labour have are actually doing to turn our country around, then check out my Substack. I try to give details several times a week (every day if I can) of the key events and how it benefits us. Lots of the same stuff I post here, but all in one place.

Last couple of days of the Kerry James Marshall exhibition at @royalacademyarts.bsky.social - well worth cancelling something else to see. An extraordinary, unforgettable and utterly beautiful body of work.

On House of Lords Tv right now - Digital committee hearing on AI and copyright with Secs of State Liz Kendal and Lisa Nandy. #AI #art #music #AIandcopyright www.parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/...

Very much this! www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...

Woke up and found this happened. 👇🏽 “The threat of criminal charges is a consequence of the Federal Reserve setting interest rates based on our best assessment of what will serve the public, rather than following the preferences of the president”.

Can’t write much about what I’m reading till we’re done on the judging of @womensprize.bsky.social for non fiction - but here’s something I wrote on Substack. The process helped me make sense of how much of my reading, and my life, has been shaped. open.substack.com/pub/thangamd...

Not the headline (or the photo) I’d have chosen but this gives a bit of a picture of our plans for UK Opera Association 👇🏽

Oh and this happened! 👇🏽

On Friday in the latest debate on Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill the closing speech from Bill’s sponsor Charlie Falconer makes some arguments for “choice” that can best be described as troubling. Other adjectives are available. 👇🏽 hansard.parliament.uk/lords/2026-0...

On yesterday’s Record Review on BBC Radio 3 the first track is Kurt Weill’s “This Time Next Year”. So poignant and apt, in music and lyrics. www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

Swapping over for good (in both senses of the word).

What do the 2026 #WomensPrizeforNonFiction judges like to read? And what is it that they are looking for in a prize-winning book? Get to know @thangamdebbonaire.bsky.social, Roma Agrawal, Nicola Elliott, Nina Stibbe and Nicola Williams better by watching the below👇

It’s so exciting to be chairing the non-fiction @womensprize.bsky.social 2026 alongside a fantastic group of women - and alongside another fantastic group judging the fiction prize chaired by Julia Gillard! 👇🏽

🧵on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill. Friday’s second reading debate in House of Lords was a demonstration of the second chamber at is best: thoughtful, detailed exploration of specific aspects of the Bill as well as its aims. Respectful tone, focussed on the Bill in front of us. (1)

The podcast in which I discuss migration, budget pressures, why politicians shouldn’t tell arts/culture and media what to make, create or commission, new parties, new Hamlet and more. With @edvaizey.bsky.social and Robin Brant on Times Radio. podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/p...

In Sudan, years of horrific conflict, mass hunger, displacement and sexual violence also urgently need our help: donate.unrefugees.org.uk/~share?cid=5...

As the horrifying, predicted and inevitable human-created famine in Gaza is finally confirmed, please consider donating to pay for aid whenever it is allowed in: t.co/1ZMT96pswG

An impressive set of candidates have put themselves forward to lead Labour Women's Network. Voting is now open! If you're an LWN member, search your inbox for [email protected] for your ballot. #LWNelects25

Honoured to be re-elected chair of @labourwomensnet.bsky.social and congrats to Kiran! LWN members can vote for 4 more exec committee roles before 15th Sept. Fantastic sisters standing - take a look!

“The ecosystem is essential, not optional.” 🎥 In her maiden House of Lords speech, new peer @thangamdebbonaire.bsky.social highlighted the need for a "political case" for the arts, and for treating them as an ecosystem.

Here is the article from the Times this morning covering some of what I said about the statue of Robert Clive. At the very least, it needs accuracy and context. Ideally, it should not be outside the Foreign Office. Just some honesty in general about the impact of British colonialism would be good.

In Edinburgh for weekend of discussion about freedom of expression, especially in the arts. If you are around, come join the event at @edbookfest.bsky.social I’m speaking at - panel on the above topic, tomorrow, 9th August 14.15. www.edbookfest.co.uk/the-festival...

Yesterday, me and Michael Binyon on @edvaizey.bsky.social hosting Politics Unpacked covering online safety, recognition of state of Palestine, doctors’ strikes, and how come I’ve not been to ABBA Voyage and they both have… podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/p...

Sometimes the historical dictionary offers solace through the existence of an obsolete word that is sorely needed now. One of them is ‘respair’, recorded just once, in the 15th century. It means fresh hope, and a recovery from despair.

This was such a wonderful evening - thank you @katherinechibah.bsky.social and our pals Emily and Cathy for making beautiful music. X

The podcast in which I chat to two other musicians about many sorts of music, about joy, about how arts help with grief, what to put on a running playlist, how arts organisations can make a better political case, and more. So yeah. It’s not short! podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t...

The two-minute speech I made in House of Lords on the value of art & culture - my first, but not my last. (Time limited because debate max one hour on state music education and it was over subscribed; broader topic because first speeches allowed more scope). hansard.parliament.uk/Lords/2025-0...

The job of UK Chancellor is one of the toughest in the world and these are the worst of uncertain times. For the last 364 days our @labourwomensnet.bsky.social sister Rachel Reeves has had more to deal with every day than anyone can imagine and we are very proud of her.

Lovely to be able to say I was there! #Glastonbury #Raye www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...

Yeah I’m in the circus tent at #Glastonbury baby.

My Substack on writing a political speech about arts and culture, which I’m doing today for my first speech in the House of Lords (a short one, for a short debate this evening) open.substack.com/pub/thangamd...

Deadline 5pm tonight to apply to be @labourlist.bsky.social editor! 👇🏽

Sill a few tickets left for tomorrow's shortlist event at @foylesforbooks.bsky.social, Charing Cross! 📚 Mishal Husain & @simonparkin.bsky.social will be in conversation with @thangamdebbonaire.bsky.social to discuss their moving, evocative books. 🎟️ Tickets: www.foyles.co.uk/events/orwel...

My first Substack. Why I cant walk past a tiny second-hand bookshop: a romance. open.substack.com/pub/thangamd...

Delighted and honoured to be making my Edinburgh International Book Festival debut this summer, on 9th August, opening Saturday. Topic: freedom of expression. Lots to get stuck into. More details and link to book 👇🏽 www.edbookfest.co.uk/the-festival...

Returning the Marbles to Greece is an opportunity to create new, long-term cultural collaboration between our countries. (£) www.thetimes.com/comment/colu... Good by @thangamdebbonaire.bsky.social & @davidghfrost.bsky.social

Article by me and Lord David Frost: “Why it’s time to return the Parthenon Marbles to Greece”. Because it is. Co-chairing the Parthenon Project with Ed Vaizey, I’ve visited Athens and the Acropolis Museum, discussed the win-win solution and it’s time for this. www.thetimes.com/article/ebf3...

For anyone who needs to hear a robin singing. This is in my mum’s garden this morning and that’s us in the background introducing him. #joy #robin

✍️ Want one of the most interesting jobs in politics and journalism? We're looking for an experienced, politically astute new Editor, as our current Editor is standing down later this year (read more in today's newsletter). Apply here: labourlist.org/2025/05/labo...

Exactly this 👇🏽 thanks @stephenkb.bsky.social for saying it right.

Excited to be chairing the “in conversation” with Mishal Husain (Broken Threads) and @simonparkin.bsky.social (The Forbidden Garden of Leningrad) 7pm 19/6/25 at @foylesforbooks.bsky.social Charing X. Two/eight brilliant @orwellprize.bsky.social finalists. Tickets 👇🏽 www.foyles.co.uk/events/orwel...

A quick reminder: EU touring for UK creatives etc is not only about movement of the people involved, it’s also about carnets, cabotage and customs, which create additional barriers for the movement across internal EU borders of the instruments, kit, set, etc and the trucks to move them.

As so often, @stephenkb.bsky.social puts the case eloquently. The last Labour govt decided, rightly, that child poverty is unacceptable and tackled it. Child poverty is still unacceptable. on.ft.com/3SmI6bn Britain’s two-child benefit cap must go

Also this weekend, the continued creation from scratch of a garden in my new Newport home. I never promised anyone a rose garden, but now I’m making one.

An absolute joy to be at @howthelightgetsin2.bsky.social festival in Hay this last few days, with lively and respectful debates across huge differences, thoughtful and constructive discussion. Topics from identity politics to wealth distribution, “us” and “them” to trust in politics. Thanks all!

Every day I wake up, and I dream that someone a position of influence in the Labour party will just propose putting up the basic rate of income tax.