In 1964 Smethwick was the scene of the most racist election in British history. Tory MP Peter Griffiths was elected on the slogan "If you want a n***** for a neighbour, vote Labour." Last year, 60 yrs on Labour's Gurinder Singh Josan became the first person of colour to be elected MP for Smethwick.

EXCLUSIVE: 'Reform is creating hatred again after racist election was held where I live' We visit a town 10 miles away where multicultural Britain is thriving – but voters fear a return to the past. www.mirror.co.uk/news/politic...

This week I spoke to Adrian Hyde. He sadly lost his young son to sepsis before being told he’ll be downgraded and have a £6k pay cut in his job as a bin worker in Birmingham. Adrian says: “It could put me and my family out on the street”. In today’s @mirror.co.uk www.mirror.co.uk/news/politic...

Bin workers have been on full-strike action since March. Adrian told @journomaryamq.bsky.social “I broke down in tears with my gaffer saying I couldn’t make a decision. I couldn't even think straight, my mind was not in any fit state." @unitetheunion.bsky.social @roswynnejones.bsky.social

After just five week's of losing his son to sepsis, bin worker Adrian Hyde opened a letter from employer Birmingham City Council saying he'd lose £6k from his wages. "It could put me and my family out on the street." #REALBRITIAN www.mirror.co.uk/news/politic...

A #windrush hero from #Nottingham who worked hard to build back Britain after the war, was rushed to hospital for an emergency pacemaker. Due to be discharged the following day, Stanford ‘Sonny’ Francis ended up being in hospital for six weeks! www.mirror.co.uk/news/health/...

Daughter Coleen told @journomaryamq.bsky.social there was a lack of internal communication at Nottingham City Hospital & failures by social services: "The whole system is so bad.They just kept saying he needed to go into a care home, but dad was adamant he didn’t want to." @roswynnejones.bsky.social

For #RealBritain we spoke to Stanford Francis who was admitted for an emergency pacemaker & was still in hospital 6 weeks later. The Windrush hero is one of 30,000 patients experiencing delayed discharge. Now the Gov promises to get back half a million beds. www.mirror.co.uk/news/health/...

For #RealBritain this week I spoke to Simon and Helen whose daughter Ruby-Mae has severe complex needs. They say without Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice, which faces rising costs, that life would be 'apocalyptic'. www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news...

For #RealBritain I spoke to a bunch of amazing young people who are calling on the Government to end child poverty, after experience austerity firsthand. They’ll head to Parliament tomorrow to hand deliver an open letter to @bphillipsonmp.bsky.social & Liz Kendall. www.mirror.co.uk/news/politic...

When @floodmary.bsky.social’s home was severely flooded by sewage in the great floods of 2000, her 3-year-old son had just been diagnosed with autism. It took 9 long months to repair. Since then she’s dedicated her life to helping others. www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news...

I visited Salaam Shalom Kitchen - a fantastic & inspiring project run by Muslims & Jews together in #Nottingham. It turns 10 years old this week, at a time when divisions between the two communities are under immense strain from events in the Middle East. www.mirror.co.uk/news/politic...

Despite a national rise in antisemitism & Islamophobia linked to the war in Gaza & Oct 7 attacks, the project has kept going. "We couldn't shy away, because people felt so different about things. But we came together & we united on humanity. What we’re doing here is what counts"- co-chair Ferzana.

It began as a community meal for 30, now serves weekly dinner for over 100 people, 700 takeaway meals are handed out & 500 bags of groceries given monthly. @journomaryamq.bsky.social visited the #Nottingham project, which was set up to bring their communities together, @roswynnejones.bsky.social

#REALBRITAIN 'My kitchen feeds Jews with Muslims - Prince Harry's support has left me gobsmacked' Salaam Shalom Kitchen turns 10 yrs old, at a time when divisions between the two communities are under immense strain from events in the Middle East @mirror.co.uk www.mirror.co.uk/news/politic...

Delighted the 2 newsletters run by our tiny @mirrortogether.bsky.social team (@journomaryamq.bsky.social @clairedonmedia.bsky.social & Hedi Mehrez), shortlisted for Publisher Newsletter Awards. Sign up here! Mirror Together tinyurl.com/4m3v8urp & Untold Stories: tinyurl.com/56hh8593

So much chat about how young people don't want to work... not enough about how zero hours & exploitative practices affect young people, young women most of all. Me + @journomaryamq.bsky.social worked with @youngwomenstrust.bsky.social to uncover some grim tales. mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news...

#EidMubarak2025 and just like that #Ramadan is over in a blink of an eye. Have a joyful Eid to all celebrating! ⭐️🌙

Magpies fans from different communities across Nottingham shared an iftar meal at Notts County – as a a tannoy usually used for celebrating goals played the call to prayer. #HopeNotHate

For this week's #RealBritain, @journomaryamq.bsky.social went to break her Ramadan fast at an iftar with a difference – at Notts County FC. Part of a Muslim Hands initiative feeding struggling people across all Nottingham's communities every day of the year. www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news...

We also headed to the Open Kitchen Nottingham run by Muslim Hands UK. They feed 130 people daily, 365 days a year! The service is a lifeline to many in the city. This Ramadan they are also hosting weekly Iftars for all. In today's @mirror.co.uk @roswynnejones.bsky.social & @journomaryamq.bsky.social

This Ramadan our reporter @journomaryamq.bsky.social headed to the Notts County ground for a special Iftar hosted by Muslim Hands UK & Notts County Foundation to bring "all four corners of Nottingham together". www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news...

Former finance specialist David has a benign bone cancer & has bipolar disorder, anxiety & depression. "I’ve had to miss meals, so my son eats. This winter I went over a month without heating – you could see vapour when I talked. I only put the heating on when my son comes." In today's @mirror.co.uk

REAL BRITAIN: As Rachel Reeves is set to announce huge disability cuts, @roswynnejones.bsky.social and @journomaryamq.bsky.social speak to disabled people who have already been cut to the bone after 14 years of Tory Austerity and have nothing left to give. www.mirror.co.uk/news/politic...

Ramadan Mubarak, may the month be peaceful and full of blessings ⭐️🌙

For #RealBritain I spoke to Ukrainian families living in the UK who face huge issues with housing & employment. Hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian nationals who were given sanctuary in 2022 will now need to apply for a visa extension. @roswynnejones.bsky.social www.mirror.co.uk/news/im-ukra...

As Keir Starmer pledges support for Ukraine on world stage, Ukrainians in UK call on PM to look closer to home. "Our temporary visas are running out. Mentally, it is killing us. I feel like we’re not wanted here." Me & @journomaryamq.bsky.social for #RealBritain. www.mirror.co.uk/news/im-ukra...

This week @journomaryamq.bsky.social & @roswynnejones.bsky.social spoke to three Ukrainian families who risk losing their homes and employment if their visas are not extended in time. "Mentally, it is killing us. I feel like we’re not wanted here", says Olga. In today's @mirror.co.uk

'I'm a Ukrainian refugee but visa rule means I could be sent back to hell' Olga fled to the UK when war broke out in Ukraine 3 years ago, but now her future & safety hangs in the balance due to a visa rule that affects many in her position. #RealBritain www.mirror.co.uk/news/im-ukra...

📢 We're delighted to announce our #Yr9No10 project has been shortlisted at the PressAwards UK 👏👏👏 @roswynnejones.bsky.social @clairedonmedia.bsky.social @journomaryamq.bsky.social @photographphilco.bsky.social @mirror.co.uk

Delighted to be shortlisted with Phil Coburn, @clairedonmedia.bsky.social, @journomaryamq.bsky.social & #ReachStudio at @PressAwardsuk for our #Yr9No10 project with Generation Austerity. Covering the election from perspective of young working class people was a privilege.

I headed to Weston-Super-Mare to visit Bournville Primary School to meet bagel queen aka Michelle, other staff & kids to go behind the scenes to see how their ‘magical’ breakfast club works, ahead of Labour’s pilot project. www.mirror.co.uk/community/qu...

#RealBritain Our reporter @journomaryamq.bsky.social went behind the scenes at a school in Weston-super-mare where a breakfast club is proving to be a lifeline. "If we didn’t have the school breakfast club, there would be some children coming to school hungry". www.mirror.co.uk/community/qu...

Labour’s plan to charge VAT on private school fees (affecting 6.5% of UK) hogs the headlines. But the cash will go to breakfast clubs feeding kids too hungry to learn. #RealBritain goes BTS at 'magical' breakfast club at Bournville Primary with Bagel Queen Michelle www.mirror.co.uk/community/qu...

There are now almost 500 spaces as part of the “Warm Welcome” scheme, which was launched by Gordon Brown as part of the @mirror.co.uk Christmas Appeal 2022. These spaces are a lifeline as people continue to struggle with the cost of living crisis. This week's #RealBritain @roswynnejones.bsky.social

As temperatures hit a bitter minus 11C this week @clairedonmedia.bsky.social & @journomaryamq.bsky.social have been visiting communities where kind-hearted people have opened their doors and spaces to keep residents warm. www.mirror.co.uk/community/te...

Last year as part of our new project #Yr9No10, I visited Divine's home in Enfield. Her home was full of leaks & mould. She lives there with her disabled brother who couldn’t use the stair lift. Now her portrait taken by Phil Coburn for #Yr9No10 is a winner of the British Journal of Photography 👏🏻

1/12 As we start wrapping up an eventful 2024 and find our feet on Bluesky, the @MirrorTogether team is looking back over the year. With UK + US elections, several brand-new projects and, frankly, no let up on the social justice beat, it’s been a busy year… Here are our 12 Tweets of Christmas🎅🎄

10/ DEC: Over 100 human stories later, our #PeopleMove insta project goes from strength to strength. @journomaryamq.bsky.social spoke to remarkable 98-year-old Francisco ‘Paco’ Robles, one of 3,500 Basque children sent to UK to escape the Spanish Civil War. www.instagram.com/p/DDpItH9oEt...

Well, that's been quite a busy old year! Some highlights from our various @mirror.co.uk projects including #RealBritain #PeopleMove #BritainTalks #Yr9No10. All impossible without help of @clairedonmedia.bsky.social @journomaryamq.bsky.social, Phil Coburn and you all. Merry Christmas & thank you!

For #RealBritain this week, I spoke to a great bunch of dads from Dad La Soul, a network of over 3,500 men across the globe, who are working together to tackle men's #mentalhealth alongside having fun with their kids. In today’s @mirror.co.uk www.mirror.co.uk/news/politic...

#intropost Hi everyone, I’m Maryam, a journalist at the @mirror.co.uk, absolutely love my job. Everyone has a story to tell! 📰 🗞️ Born & bred in #Notts, half #Pakistani 🇵🇰 & half #Bahraini 🇧🇭 Addicted to travelling ✈️, the sun ☀️, handbags 👜, tea 🫖 and crisps 😁