It was a pleasure to speak at the arrival in Brussels today of the Rejoin Ramblers, who hiked there all the way from London

💥 NEW: B-SIDE & Labour’s tricky second album 💥 We chat with @christabelcoops.bsky.social about her latest research: 🌹Who is Lab for? 📈 How can they win? ⚖️ Back to values Plus a Chalamet inspired GASI 🎭 🍏 podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/q... 🎧 open.spotify.com/episode/6m63...

Delivering those things isn't easy (or it would already have been done) and will require politically difficult trade offs. Which is why we need political leadership which isn't guided by short-term public opinion, but is prepared to make an argument for longer-term objectives.

Meanwhile, those voters lost to the right, don't want to hear harsh rhetoric about immigration (which they find inauthentic from Labour), mostly they want to see small boats numbers brought down and to feel their living standards are going in the right direction.

Expecting left-leaning liberals to vote Labour (however reluctantly) to keep Reform out is a poor strategy when the locals and the Gorton by-election show they have other options. Labour *has* done progressive things in government, but rarely frames them through a consistent values-based narrative.

Was a pleasure to chat to @pimlicat.bsky.social and @sturdyalex.bsky.social about my report "Who Is Labour For?", which argues that Labour has treated its values-based voters transactionally, and attempted to appeal to right-leaning transactional voters on the basis of values. This hasn't worked.

Always listen to the best and you will be well informed!

We don't have to be part of a divisive society where everyone can only gain if somebody else loses.

I love the nuanced discussion you get on @quietriotpod.bsky.social, especially in the new B-SIDE episodes. This is one of the most enlightening discussions about the relationship between parties and voters that I have heard. Well worth your time!

My debut on Quiet Riot discussing the tragic Henry Nowak case. Seems clear that the far right Restore party is doing to Reform, what Reform did to the Tories, ie pushing them further right, hence Farage's awful language in this case. But this simultaneously puts at risk their more moderate voters.

We have had SUCH an extraordinary response to this episode. It's genuinely heart warming just how many of you now say - on this, as on other difficult topics - "yours is the only conversation that made sense of it". We really do love each and every one of our QR Tribe.

From the vagueness of Labour's 2024 offering, to its conundrum about chasing votes on the right, we had much to dissect Enjoy! 🎧👇

@sturdyalex.bsky.social @pimlicat.bsky.social as always step up to the task - Alex’s unflinching rendition of the facts as they are. Henry Nowak a life cut short & the cynical use of this by Farage & cohorts, was moving & calming and much needed, an antidote to the dark place Farage is leading us to

Just spent a rather pleasant hour listening to this while walking my two hounds. Once again, Naomi and Alex quietly, but effectively, take apart Farage's faux rage and explain why he feels he has to act in such a despicable and some mighty say, desperate manner. Have a listen if you're able.

France and Germany have written a joint paper advocating for a new EU accession model that is less bureaucratic, with more gradual integration. Potentially very handy for future reference... 🇬🇧🇪🇺 www.politico.eu/article/fran...

Listened to this twice already 🔂⬇️

Listen out for our brand new feature ... God! Less America! Because the US is such a bizarre place these days, some of the maddest stuff goes unreported. Well, not any more…

Since this doesn't seem to have been noted as much as it should... A founder of Raise the Colours, the flag-obsessed ‘patriot’ group, currently faces a murder charge. RTC members were present at last night's Southampton protest, where the far right crassly sought to recruit over Nowak's murder.

Pro tip: Listen all the way to the post credit roll on this one… 🎧👇

🚨For the latest from Ukraine, I spoke to @euanmacdonald.bsky.social who joined me from Kyiv. Have a listen!🚨 podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/b...

Let’s just say we don’t go easy on him…. 🎧👇

🆕 The Rage in Farage @sturdyalex.bsky.social, @pimlicat.bsky.social, & guest @christabelcoops.bsky.social discuss the exploitation of Henry Nowak’s murder, as Farage invites disorder for the third summer in a row. 🎧 open.spotify.com/episode/4elm... 🍏 podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/q...

@pimlicat.bsky.social: “It’s long overdue for the UK to take Trump at face value, and recognise it's time we fully align with our friends in Europe, which our polling and economic research has shown can help shield our economy from continued assault from the US, like no other policy lever.”

Don't think people realise quite how deeply split by age current voting intention is. This is the latest YouGov for under-50s: Green: 26% Lab: 18% Reform: 14% Tories: 12% LD: 11% And over 50s: Reform: 36% Tory: 22% Lab: 16% LD: 12% Greens: 9%

Henry Nowak's father told the nation that "We do not want his death to be used to create further division, hatred or tension. We want his story to help make our streets safer for everyone". Here's how Nigel Farage responded

Politics in a nutshell! - Well done - Thank you! - Let's talk - I've been fired.

Liverpool can't sign players because of... 🥁... Brexit. www.3addedminutes.com/sport/footba...

🆕 Sunday School: No jobs for the boys (or girls) 📑 Milburn report on youth exclusion 🇵🇱 UK’s historic defence pact with Poland 🏜️ Tips for surviving hot weather 💅🏽 Drag names @sturdyalex.bsky.social & @pimlicat.bsky.social 🎧 open.spotify.com/episode/43vd... 🍏 podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/q...

🚨 BREAKING 🚨 Carol Vorderman brands Reform candidate 'little coward' in a letter delivered by HOPE not hate, to 6,000 women in Makerfield. www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater...

It is a banger - and I hope you’re proud of the army of nerds you’ve created. We wait for podcast drops like sneakerheads wait for new releases.

Really good episode. One of the best parts about Quiet Riot is it gives proper space to the other nations in episodes like this where other podcasts don't.

Working through Tony Blair’s essay (on the TBI website) on the challenges facing UK/Labour, and the responses from Wes Streeting (Guardian) Keir Starmer (Substack) and Andy Burnham (Times), to produce a TLDR. Only one of these four mentions climate crisis and only in passing.

💽 QUIET RIOT B-SIDE With @willhaycardiff.bsky.social: 🦄 Can the Rhunicorn deliver quickly enough? 🥀What next for Welsh Labour? 🫠 Reform MSPs - functioning opposition or dangerous blockers? 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿- Cymru’s top places to live 🎧 open.spotify.com/episode/5Or8... 🍏 podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/q...

Banger of a new show from us. This time with the superb @willhaycardiff.bsky.social back again for another 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 special. Enjoy! 🎧👇

Mini-scoop: Reform hasn't reported its alleged Russian hack to the Information Commissioner's Office. Any significant breach of personal data must be disclosed. Reform hasn't done so, nor have they explained why they don't think it needed doing. www.thenewworld.co.uk/james-ball-e...

🚨 @pimlicat.bsky.social: "Our country cannot afford to continue missing out on the vital economic opportunities and growth that only full EU membership can provide, and our negotiators must assess the real-world benefits of joining the world’s largest trading bloc, sooner rather than later.”

🎙️NEW EPISODE! Alex, Naomi & Kenny discuss: 📖 - Blair’s latest tome 🥊 - Jenrick v Yusuf 💰- Sunak’s math ✋🏽- DUP woes And *much* more: 🎧 open.spotify.com/episode/314a... 🍏 podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/q...

NEW: UK membership of the EU ticks over the 100K mark meaning it will now be considered for a parliamentary debate petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...

I go to Cyprus most years. I adore it. So much so that I got married there. So I was very sad to see how well the ultra far right did in their elections at the weekend. Handy write up here by our very own Josh Edwicker www.bestforbritain.org/cyprus_the_r...

2026 Me: Hey 1996 me, in 30 years time you'll be furious at everything Tony Blair says and think John Major makes some pretty sensible points 1996 Me: Fuck, so I'm doomed to become more conservative as I get older 2026 Me: Well not exactly

It's interesting that getting rid of the triple lock has become the defining example of a sensible grown-up policy while at the same time it's widely accepted that trying to means-test the winter fuel allowance was a disaster for Labour.

"If a football club can stay united in hope through 22 years of frustration, then perhaps a country can do the same." open.substack.com/pub/bestforb...

With more and more odd bits of Europe now territories of indeterminate status, often as a result of Russia’s political and territorial disputes, I spoke to the brilliant @hannahluci.bsky.social about her book Hinterlands and Europe’s unfinished frontiers. podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/b...

🔴 Reform-Run Council Cuts Opposition Time to ‘Make Way’ for Lord’s Prayer and National Anthem Christian Nationalism in action: “Prayers and songs prioritised over a water catastrophe” claim opposition councillors bylinetimes.com/2026/05/26/r...

We built these water refill points for days like today... London now has over 4,000 free water refill points across the capital. Find your closest here: www.london.gov.uk/programmes-s...

🔒🌭Release the sausages!🌭🔒 Charles Baughan, managing director of Westaway Sausages in Newton Abbot, said Brexit has cost his business £250,000 so far. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Perfect timing for my bedtime story 🎧👇

History rarely repeats but often rhymes. What could we *possibly* learn about a womanising Prince who brought shame on his elder brother the King? 👑 Find out in this incredible episode by the brilliant @snellarthur.bsky.social

“You can't have a proper discussion about immigration without the trade-offs being understood; when the only side being presented is that immigration is bad and if we cut it, everything will be great. Because then, when you cut it and everything is not great, people just turn on the next group.”