Hello Bluesky. I haven’t been posting much because it’s been a difficult few months. My husband and I are fundraising for Sands, the baby loss charity. Any donations will be very gratefully received: justgiving.com/page/gandmfu...

My wife and I are fundraising for @sandscharity.bsky.social following the stillbirth of our son Henio in January. Needless to say we are devastated but the charity funds much needed research. Any contributions, no matter how small, will be greatly appreciated. justgiving.com/page/gandmfu...

A victory for common sense www.theguardian.com/uk-news/live...

🔴‘Peter Mandelson’s Fixing of Keir Starmer’s Visit to Spytech Firm Palantir Raises Serious Questions’ Palantir was represented by a lobbying firm founded by Mandelson, Iain Overton and Max Colbert report bylinetimes.com/2025/04/25/p...

Huge story in @theipaper.com "[Mandelson] was very involved in all the details; I think he enjoyed it. He was involved in all the personalities and the mechanics including asking the question of who do we want in which seat" Probably a breach of GDPR laws too ... inews.co.uk/news/politic...

Solidarity ✊🇵🇸

Starmer knew who he was appointing as ambassador to the United States. And for that decision, he should go.

Peter Mandelson is telling the truth on one thing: the idea he was bought for a $4k “bursary” or a $75k gift is ridiculous The real incentive was a post-government payday - one so big he *rejected* a $3–5m-a-year offer And Epstein enabled that payday Here’s the evidence. 🧵

”There are cathedrals everywhere for those with the eyes to see” - my reaction on visiting the combined Esso-Subway-Pret-Londis opposite Lewisham Hospital.

Auschwitz was at the end of a process. We must remember that it did not start from gas chambers. This hatred gradually developed: from ideas, words, stereotypes & prejudice through legal exclusion, dehumanization & escalating violence... to systematic and industrial murder. Auschwitz took time.

Pension scheme administration is "boring". Until it isn't. 400+ members (from just 4 civil service branches!) registered for a webinar about scheme administration problems tomorrow. I wonder why: prospect.org.uk/news/shamefu...

Not convinced that referring to the workers you need to implement your reforms as ”sludge” will get you off to the best start… www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

🔴How Neo-Nazis Posing as ‘Ordinary Parents’ Embedded Themselves in Anti-Immigrant Protests A year long investigation by Katherine Denkinson exposes the Neo-Nazi and far-right extremists operating openly inside anti-immigration protests bylinetimes.com/2026/01/19/h...

Trump accepting Machado's Nobel Peace Prize is a great insult to the FIFA Peace Prize committee

BBC report at a headline level that Grok will now not make sexually exploitative images any more. An actual reporter comes on and explains that it will do no such thing, and will just make the images invisible in the UK. These are two very, very different things.

While purporting to care deeply about the funding of other organisations and the importance of free speech, Lord Young's FSU won't reveal who funds the er ... Free Speech Union Excellent work from @petergeoghegan.bsky.social democracyforsale.substack.com/p/who-funds-...

There should be grave national concern about one of Britain’s leading economic sectors and chief export earners shedding tens of thousands of often skilled relatively well paid jobs. Universities are also key to local and regional economies across the country.

🧵 The autoworker at the Dearborn Truck Plant is a proud member of a strong and fighting union—the UAW. He believes in freedom of speech, a principle we wholeheartedly embrace, and we stand with our membership in protecting their voice on the job.

We urge David Lammy to immediately authorise a senior official to meet with the legal representatives of Heba Muraisi & Kamran Ahmed - both on prolonged hunger strike & at extreme risk of death. Their representatives have repeatedly requested this meeting & it is now critical to prevent a tragedy.

I wonder what Londoners know that the rest of the country don’t?

So the US is ruled by a child whose tantrums change the course of history 👍

Unc (1958) - dir. Jacques Tati

first as tragedy then as farce. then as farce again. then farce one more time. a little more farce after that. then some farce. and then another farce and more farce after

The bombing of Venezuela is an act of aggression: unprovoked, unjustified and unjustifiable.

Better shelter for Marah chuffed.org/project/1615...

When those who hate trans people win - or pretend to win, cf Sandie Peggie - it's all over the media, even if it's just a tribunal decision. But when they lose, even in the Court of Appeal, it's absolute bloody tumbleweed. So here's our blog about Allison Bailey latest loss. goodlaw.social/3uyd

Nigel Farage said that the 'Raise the Colours' campaign was a "grassroots movement driven by ordinary people”. Kemi Badenoch said they should be "welcomed" as a symbol of "unity" Now the campaign has pivoted to racially abusing migrants and intimidating charity workers on the beaches of France

If we are banning cell phones for kids we need to be talking about banning chatbots for boomers www.persuasion.community/p/my-chatgpt...

17-12-1970 POLAND: In Gdynia, Poland soldiers fire at workers emerging from trains, killing dozens. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decembe...

UK: Grand Theft Auto game creator sacked us for trying to unionise www.bbc.com/news/article...

British Library staff asked for a decent pay. Instead they got ‘a few money-saving present ideas’, such as ‘consider not giving presents this holiday season’. They are on strike this week. I wrote about it for @lrb.co.uk. www.lrb.co.uk/blog/2025/de...

Decision in the Sandie Peggie case. She was not directly or indirectly discriminated against, her claim of victimisation fails entirely, her claim of harassment fails largely and her claim against Beth Upton fails entirely. www.judiciary.uk/judgments/sa...

Here is a list of reasons why some of my hearings and trials this year have been delayed and kicked off into the long grass, stuck in our record court backlog. Serious allegations which will now be tried *years* after the event. 🧵👇

In matching, brilliant blue suits, David Byrne and his band squeeze behind the Desk to perform four songs, including Talking Heads' "Life During Wartime." n.pr/4pFYoun

Good morning to Brazilian reporter Manuela Borges, who’s been waiting eleven years for this petty moment. ❤️ 🇧🇷

Alf Dubs is a 92 year old man who spent his life fighting for refugees, and in particular for refugee children. He fought the Tories tooth and nail during their last three terms, only to see Labour adopt far-right policies on immigration. “But to use children as a weapon ... I’m lost for words.”

Large parts of Reform’s coalition could be reached through a fair economy, decent services and a sense that politicians are listening again. These voters are not lost. They want stability and a future where things work. hopenothate.org.uk/new-who-supp...

The largest trade union for BBC workers has demanded the removal of 'Conservative crony' Robbie Gibb from the broadcaster's board

Yes, absolutely there is an impartiality crisis at the BBC. But it's not the one the billionaire media insists it is. novaramedia.com/2025/06/16/b...

To be clear: deportations to increase cultural homogeneity is the text book definition of ethnic cleansing. Demands that come even close to this are so far outside any democratic norm and the rule of law. What has happened to a country when this is not condemned in the strongest possible terms?

At least 135 mutilated bodies of Palestinians had been held at notorious Israeli jail, say Gaza officials

News | Strikes loom at national institutions – @britishlibrary.bsky.social and Tate workers plan walkouts as industrial action continues at National Coal Mining Museum (@ncmme.bsky.social) @pcsunion.bsky.social @unison.org.uk

Nigel Farage accuses teachers of "poisoning our kids" on race issues. Here's a reminder of what teachers and fellow pupils at Farage's own school remember of his own views on that subject. www.adambienkov.co.uk/p/nigel-fara...

More water bills rises announced today, on top of those already planned. Privatisation without competition, arguably the worst of both worlds

👩‍💻👨‍💻 Tech workers: we need your voice!

The ZA/UM Workers' Alliance - a new union set up to represent a subset of UK-based employees at the company - discusses how it wants to help staff feel safe and comfortable in their jobs www.gamesindustry.biz/after-layoff...

Here's another policy, see also public ownership of water, where Labour is worse than Reform.

I feel like I post about this every year, but it would be useful if the media explained that it is not, in fact, easy to immigrate to this country, to get a national insurance number, to get indefinite leave to remain, to get citizenship. It is, in fact, already very difficult.

Thousands of Londoners have indefinite leave to remain. They have legal rights and are our friends, neighbours and colleagues, contributing hugely to our city. Threatening to deport people living and working here legally is unacceptable.