Sandwell Send parents should be worried too

The wonderful @amardeepsingh.bsky.social has his held his Sandwell council seat on this side of West Brom in my constituency, alongside our fab deputy leader Paul Moore. Commiserations to new candidate Jayne who just missed out

Crystal Palace in a European cup final. I never thought I would see the day. In tears ❤️💙

Tomorrow you COULD wake up to a Reform led council in Sandwell... 😮 Chaos, division and incompetence 👎 Only Labour can beat Reform in Sandwell 🌹 Use all 3 of your votes for Labour to stop Reform right here in Sandwell 🗳️

For too long, renting meant living on edge. No fault evictions. Uncertainty. Families never knowing where they stand. That changes now. Labour’s Renters’ Rights mean more security, fairer rules, and real protection for renters. Because your home should feel like home — not temporary. 🏠❤️

So proud of our 22 Labour candidates across Tipton, Wednesbury and Coseley. Thank you for standing up for what we believe in, for proudly defending our vision for our towns and our neighbours. Polls open in half an hour. Today, vote for hope and for unity Vote Labour 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🌹⛓️

Big day today. Palace in a European semi-final under the lights at Selhurst ❤️💙

Too many homeless families were being placed in B&Bs — often for far longer than the law allows. We set a national target to end the unlawful use of B&Bs for families 📉 Children in B&Bs down 55% 📉 Over the 6-week limit down 63% There’s more to do — but this is real progress.

I’ll help with this one, since the Sandwell suggestions are still pending. If you don’t want Reform in Sandwell, vote Labour in every ward. Lib Dems, Greens, Tories, indies - all out of the running here.

In Sandwell we are fighting Reform. It's just us and them - not complicated. If you have an hour to spare, come join us. I promise fighting the good fight, new friends and plenty of samosas. DM me if you can make it. 25 mins from Birmingham New St on the metro // J9 of the M6.

Love me some industrial heritage

Now covered in the Guardian

Out in Princes End earlier canvassing local residents (including those with four legs minding their own business on the Cracker!) #VoteLabour

Reeves responded angrily by telling Bessent she did not work for him and disliked how he had spoken to her.

Last autumn a local Sikh woman was raped in Sandwell. Here’s how a Reform candidate in Thursday’s election responded to the horrific attack: “Good. Reap it.” Don’t let a party that stands people with these hideous views take power in Sandwell this week.

Iain’s threads on local politics are always worth a read - here’s his thread on the Sandwell local elections One thing is certain: if you don’t want a Reform council, the way to stop them is to vote Labour

This looks on the face of it to be a much better application - ten flats rather than an unmanageable 38 bed HMO

This is a pretty fair piece on where Wednesbury is up to. I am glad they reflected the investment in the town

It's 100 years since the General Strike: the biggest industrial action in UK history. The PM, Stanley Baldwin, claimed Britain was "nearer to civil war than for centuries past". The Times called it "the gravest domestic menace since the fall of the Stuarts". So what was it & why does it matter? 🧵

(I am of course doing exactly what I have criticised others for doing: projecting my current view of industrial relations in 2026 onto events a hundred years ago...)

Liked this piece on the centenary of the general strike. People reacting via their feelings about industrial relations today should remember that in 1926 almost everyone thought the mine owners were greedy, vicious and vindictive - including many ministers.

It's 16 years since Palace stayed up on the final day despite administration, and avoided likely liquidation. How far the club has come since 2010 This piece from 2020 speaking to many of those involved in that incredibly dramatic day and phenomenal achievement Read for free 🔓 #CPFC

You're worried about notice coming out of the blue? Now you know how renters felt until yesterday.

The outright abolition of leasehold overnight is almost certainly impossible and we won’t pretend otherwise. But this Labour government is bringing the feudal leasehold system to an orderly end in this Parliament. My @instituteforgov keynote speech 👇🏻 www.gov.uk/government/s...

A lovely session in Great Bridge talking about our plans for the area - not least spending a million on playareas! - and warning people not to risk it with Reform

Desi breakfast in the House of Chaii in Dudley Port setting me up for a big day talking to residents about why we need a Labour council in Sandwell

A mechanism that, it is worth noticing, had cross party support so the NMW endured and kept rising through the coalition and Tory years The LPC is precious and it would be a disaster to abandon it

15 years ago I joined Shelter to run their campaigns on private renting We didn’t even dream that a day like today could be possible

Today, 1 May 2026, every private renter moved onto a rolling contract. They can give two months’ notice at any time- but their landlord can’t throw them out just cos This is absolutely massive for the 1 in 5 households who rent their home privately

The cause of labour is the hope of the world

“It’s a totally different situation today than it was just yesterday” Watch our Chief Executive, @bentwomeyuk.bsky.social, talk about the Renters’ Rights Act, which comes into force today, on ITV News this afternoon:

🚨BREAKING: RENTERS’ RIGHTS ACT IS IN FORCE TODAY!! 🚨 Today marks a new era for private renters across England. This new law is a vital step towards re-balancing power between renters and landlords and should be celebrated.

Pleased to once again get the chance to make the case for compulsory voting, this time in a report for Labour Together. I set out why compulsory voting would rebalance British democracy towards a more long-termist progressive politics.

What a night! Three fantastic goals and a two-goal lead to take back to Selhurst. 😍 It’s only half-time. There’s a lot of football still be played. Shakhtar are a good side. 🇺🇦 Roll on next Thursday! 🍿 #UECL #CPFC

Out talking to residents in the sunshine of Hateley Heath earlier today with my mate Cllr Paul Moore Sandwell is on the up - don’t risk it with Reform

A European semi-final, for a local club from south London Hard to overstate what it means

5/ £5m. Within 12 months. Not declared. The public, and the people of Clacton, will draw their own conclusions - but Parliament cannot look the other way. Farage needs to explain why he kept this money secret.

Rupert Lowe is no supporter of women. His track record speaks for itself. Only Labour will tackle violence against women and girls.

A thriving local high street does something economists miss: it builds friendships, loyalty, relationships. It's where community actually happens. Walk down a struggling parade and you feel it instantly - boarded-up shops, "closing down" signs nobody took away, the message that nobody's coming.

One detail I hadn't realised about parliament finishing today - today is the last day a hereditary peer will ever sit in the House of Lords.

Whenever I stand to speak on trade union rights, I declare the support I got from the GMB and Aslef unions before my election - gratefully received couple of thousand pounds which I spent on leaflets. Farage got **five million pound**

A really good session, you can find it here www.parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/... Chair asks the right q: "How am I going to judge as chair of this committee whether the industrial strategy has delivered?" (from 16:15). Not sure we get a complete answer Also with @antoniabance.bsky.social

“There’s no light in the kitchen. The family are using a desk lamp in there, and there’s no cooker that works. There’s water running down the walls. We sent blankets home for the kids. But they don’t want to complain…”

Never forget what we were elected to do - and what we are doing

Today the business select committee was scrutinising the industrial strategy ten months in - focussing on industrial energy costs and automotive, and on questioning the industrial strategy council.

Friday marks a massive watershed in renters rights. Was proud to write for Redbrick blog redbrickblog.co.uk/2026/04/no-f...

Last week, I spoke on BBC Politics Live about the real‑world record of Reform‑run councils here in the West Midlands. On 7th May, a vote for Reform risks chaos and division in our communities.

People asking me about this. Proper TUists get the difference between political and industrial theories of change. Mick worked on the industrial side of the labour movement but gets that the best chance for working people is a class-based political party of and for working people and their unions

Good to see this in the Times today