Solidarity with Prospect members at London Museum who are out on strike today in a dispute over pay ✊

This is great stuff, really worth your time. The weird incentives created by the fiscal rules aren't responsible for all of the problems in UK politics, but they are responsible for quite a lot of them! This is a good way forward that I hope people get behind.

This is good stuff. We need to be more curious about the actual barriers to building, rather than just cartoon depictions of regulators as 'blockers'. Dan's full report is worth a read.

There is literally no excuse to get this so wrong. At no point in that clip is Digne anywhere near where he marks the freekick to be taken. It’s just abysmal officiating.

This game is basically an advert for VAR.

For all the complaining about VAR, this is why it exists. Tammy Abraham clearly well offside but goal stands.

This. Lots of people around who have political instincts based on public opinion a few decades ago. Get with the times.

Nigel Farage’s rant against working from home highlights a big problem for Reform: it knows how to pander to retirees but hasn’t the faintest idea how to speak to workers. I discuss Farage’s faux pas over at @thespectator1828.bsky.social.

Some thoughts on events in recent days: medium.com/@Alison_McGo...

I'm fortunate to sit on the advisory board of @persuasionuk.bsky.social, the excellent public opinion outfit headed up by @steveakehurst.bsky.social. They're currently recruiting for a new communications lead - a great opportunity: careers.meliorefoundation.org/postings/a92...

Absolutely scandalous decision. What is the point of VAR?

Sigh. Classic Villa performance, score a lucky banger, sit back and soak up pressure, couple of wonder saves, dangerous on the break. Not much in it, and not a terrible performance, but we desperately need some energy at full back and a bit of craft in midfield. Missed Bruno so much. #nufc

Trippier looks about 45 rather than 35. So slow to close everything down. Delivery also completely gone. We cannot ask him to play multiple games a week. Desperately need reinforcement at full back. Our lack of action this January going to cost us a shot at Europe. #nufc

Interesting decision to deliberately associate yourself with probably the least popular policy of probably the least popular person in the city you want to run. Ok.

Am beyond furious at the BBC bothsiding the latest murder on American streets. There isn't a "war of words" or "finger pointing". Watch the fxxxing videos. One side is fxxxing lying. This is shameful

Would love this for #nufc if he is available. Perfect CB/RB cover. Ideal age profile. Heigh ceiling.

Spurs fans: we just need a midfielder who can pass. Spurs recruitment team: could I interest you in a midfielder who... Can't pass?

if you're still driving a tesla, give your head a wobble

Chelsea bought 4 attackers in the summer for a combined £200m+ But the Athletic says they 'did not spend on a forward' because they didn't also buy Xavi Simons... Make it make sense?

A Yule-turn?

A very, very good day.

First 15mins I thought we were just deliberately trying to kill the atmosphere by playing slow. But it meant we never really got into the game. Disastrous lack of energy in this performance. Howe got it totally wrong. #NUFC

By this logic there would be no need for almost any employment law.

My piece for LabourList setting out how the government can boost working conditions for the self-employed:

New paper out today: How can we provide income security for the self-employed? Pleasure to work with @communityunion.bsky.social @prospectunion.bsky.social @bectu.bsky.social This paper sets out potential solutions for this vital group of people

New paper out today:

Zarah Sultana voted with the Tories in every vote on the Employment Rights Bill last night. That includes voting to keep the Lords' wrecking amendments on strike ballot thresholds and to keep the 2016 Trade Union Act's restrictions on unions' political funds.

Good from @jeevunsandher.bsky.social renewal.org.uk/blog/a-unite...

In response to the government’s amendments to the Employment Rights Bill, we welcome the proposal to lift the cap on unfair dismissal compensation. Too many employers “price in” unfair dismissal knowing the maximum cost. We urge Parliament to pass the amended Bill into law before Christmas.

David Miles (of the OBR) at the Treasury Select Committee: Reeves’ speech was not inconsistent with the OBR’s assessment.

Exactly. What does she think the 'bread' in the phrase 'bread and circuses' is referring to?

'Unions secured stronger rights by returning to the negotiating table — delivering real protections for workers now' says Mike Clancy of @prospectunion.bsky.social

This is a completely pointless thing to poll. You could have put 96% instead of 6% and got broadly similar results.

Is there a clearer example of how broken our politics is than this? Snap polls on Budget leaks that most of the public have not been following. This tells you literally nothing about how popular the govt is going to be in 2029 and even less about what the right choice for the country is.

We’ve written to the Culture Secretary & Chair of the BBC Board, calling for Robbie Gibb’s removal from the board. Many BBC staff are concerned that he is a block to the BBC maintaining its chartered objective of independence. Read more here: bectu.org.uk/news/bectu-c...

NEW: The biggest union in the BBC, Bectu, has written to culture secretary Lisa Nandy and BBC chair Samir Shah, demanding the removal of Robbie Gibb from the BBC Board. They say Gibb, a political appointee, is a “direct block to the BBC maintaining its chartered objective of independence”.

...in which I pull together all the most noteworthy aspects of Sir Robbie Gibb's tangled life at the intersection of politics and journalism.

Cannot wait until we have some real fullbacks back in this team #nufc

🚨 Prospect warns that Reform's plan to shift public sector pensions from defined benefit to defined contribution for new entrants could end up costing taxpayers tens of billions rather than saving money. Read more in @theguardian.com

This would be a good moment for Elanga to step up... #nufc

Hadn’t, in truth, really absorbed the scale of what the Conservatives are proposing on ILR and immigration more broadly until this week’s Sunday Times interviews. Some thoughts on that in today’s note:

The idea that British football in the 1980s was a safe space for Jews (let alone any other minority or, you know, women) is utterly insane.

Also, call me crazy, but I remember a time when Conservatives were somewhat against the 'collapse of the old order'

Has Labour learned anything from Remain? The government actually has to make a case for the things it believes — or risk proving the populists right. ✍️ www.linestotake.com/p/has-labour... My newsletter, out now.

Give it Ange til the end of the... Republic

Doh-ge

At least our freedom wouldn't be compromised by ID cards though...