Longtime followers across multiple platforms will know that my hatred of mythbusting (and disdain for those that engage in this ineffective communications practice that strengthens the myth rather than the bust) far far predates me being in my current job

Great to see colleagues taking the fight to Reform. Keeping our children safe online is worth doing - and worth a small inconvenience to adults. This is what it means to live in a society.

The end point of a highly speculative housing system is lower quality of working life in construction. Yet another reason for a more strategic approach to housebuilding, including an expanded state sector- to help create more stable career paths in construction. www.theguardian.com/business/202...

Taking the fight to Reform. They don’t care about women’s safety.

Rayner says Farage ‘failing young women’ with plan to scrap Online Safety Act

I am so proud of what our PM is doing and the role he plays on the world stage

"Anyone who wants to protest against the catastrophic humanitarian situation and crimes against humanity in Gaza, to oppose Israel's military offensive, or to criticise the actions of any and every government, including our own, has the freedom to do so [...] to claim otherwise is nonsense"

Love recess. This week have visited an AMAZING world-leading demonstrator for turning waste into sustainable aviation fuel and other fuels, which will go to operations this autumn with 40 (40!) jobs incl apprenticeships, supported by a £4m government grant - and it’s in central Wednesbury 😍

Absolutely no need for anyone to pay any attention to Lord Glasman. No, this isn’t a Blue Labour government, and no, he isn’t some sort of guru to No 10. Thanks.

Lots of food for thought in this note about the risk of scrapping BTECs (a policy decision that doesn't get discussed enough imo). It includes this great stat: a quarter of students now enter university with BTEC qualifications rather than A Levels etc! www.sixthformcolleges.org/380/news-and...

This team. This manager. 💙❤️

MATS!!! BOOM

Sam allowed a told-you-so moment as he explains why the VAT changes did not lead to a collapse in the private education sector and what other pressure groups might learn from the experience. samf.substack.com/p/the-great-...

We should be so proud to have an education secretary whose purpose shines through everything she does, who remembers the free school meals kid she was, who believes every child matters, and who acts on it

These kids would quietly have been written off, and it would have blighted their lives. But they haven’t been. Thanks to ministers and teachers and parents who didn’t give up on them.

Together we’re turning the tide on the absence crisis among our kids. Five million more days in school is the biggest improvement in a decade. I want to thank not just the parents but the school leaders, teachers & support staff who’ve made this happen. www.gov.uk/government/n...

One of the best things about this job is getting to call up a manufacturing biz and just ask to come in and see what they make and how they make it and ask 1001 questions (here with Nirmal at Bodill Parker in Tipton looking at their brass and steel eyelets and washers)

I’ll take a bet on this. The hollowing out of direct employment in so many sectors in favour of so-called self employment cannot be allowed to stand in terms of worker security and tax take as well as illegal working

Every second child in my constituency. Every second child.

30 hours of government-funded childcare from September, saving parents up to £7,500 a year. opening a new wave of school-based nursery provision this autumn two million breakfasts in new free breakfast clubs, lifting 100,000 children out of poverty. Better with Labour 👍

Jess Phillips intervenes to protect families from mass shootings in domestic violence situations. www.mirror.co.uk/news/politic...

“It may turn out that liberalism needed some restraints to survive” @j-amesmarriott.bsky.social www.thetimes.com/comment/colu...

3) First car models approved for £1,500 discount to turbocharge the move to electric

2) Discriminatory age bands to be removed as new Low Pay Commission remit delivers progress towards a single wage rate for adults.

What should I read next? I know I want to re-read Labour’s Churchill and Citizen Clem this summer, and I have a history of Mass Observation in the 30s from the library too. (As @duncanweldon.bsky.social liked this I should say my last book was his ace Blood and Treasure, read it if you haven’t!)

It must be recess - just finished this in just over ten days, not a reading speed I manage when Parliament is sitting!

If you have not already bought @edconway.bsky.social Material world then do so today - one day kindle offer, £1.99 - a steal www.amazon.co.uk/Material-Wor...

The shared conviction of everyone running election night coverage that no one staying up all night to watch the election could really actually be interested in the, y'know, election is one of the mysteries of senior TV management.

Hope for Crooked House pub remains two years after fire

Our IVF costs are still ongoing. I think it’s £32,000 so far. Considering 1 in 7 couples struggle to conceive, NHS care is literally a post code lottery and more and more people have to go private to get any care at all, I think Kinnock is talking pure insanity.

I had never seen election night coverage - always volunteering at a count - til 2019 (6mo baby) and 2024 (before my own declaration) - I thought it would be results from around the country but it really wasn’t, they were just scrolling across the base of the screen while people argued

I love my job and will always be proud and grateful to do it … but it does take some resilience to deal with being called a nonce and someone who covers for nonces fifteen times before lunch (I defended the online safety act on my FB)

Always has been and always will be a red herring, and a convenient fig leaf for people who don’t want to appear to be Nimbys, while actually being Nimbys

Dr Mary-Ann Stephenson has been confirmed as the next Chair of the EHRC. This is an excellent appointment. Dr Stephenson's significant experience and leadership in equality and human rights is *exactly* what the EHRC needs right now @bphillipsonmp.bsky.social www.gov.uk/government/n...

Very happy with the small biz strategy today. Most businesses in Tipton, Wednesbury and Coseley are SMEs - I have almost no employers larger than that - loads in manufacturing, metals, logistics. Particularly pleased to see more help for businesses to set up shop and financial backing to grow

Time with my office team today, a meeting with the Richardsons (big Midlands business investors), visit to the residents and businesses affected by the massive fire in Great Bridge at the weekend, bit of housing casework, meeting with Sandwell council and Homes England about Friar Park…

Our statement in response to the UK Government's announcement of Palestinian state recognition 👇

Very helpful blog from the TUC’s @timsharp.bsky.social on the changes the Lords made to the employment rights bill. No, we don’t want a “right to request” nicely not to be on a zero hours contract. And the manifesto said day one protection from unfair dismissal, not day six months

Into day three of Blueskyers calling much needed new housing estates for the people of my constituency "slums" Once again: with 21,000 families on the waiting list and record numbers in temporary accommodation round my way, excuse me for prioritising building homes over other things

Re-upping in case you too want to yell at me for prioritising building homes for people on the council waiting list over other things

Today, we welcome Joanne Thomas as Usdaw’s new General Secretary - the first woman to hold this position in our Union’s history 🙌 Watch our video to learn about Joanne's story so far and her vision for Usdaw 👏 📲 You can follow Joanne on Facebook, Instagram, X and Bluesky: @JoanneGSUsdaw

Do the Lords really think the government will abandon our promises to ban zero hours contracts and end the right of bosses to sack workers for their first *two years* in a job with no process and no need for a good reason?!

Completely right. Build FGS. Yes, developers are often poor humans. Yes, it would be nice to have full community amenities. But ask someone who is languishing temp accommodation or trapped in bad rented and the answer will be v clear. No more the best being the enemy of the good

In planning or delivered: 450 in Coseley new village (none affordable cos Dudley council). 30 on Carrington Road (all council). 60 in Tipton town (all council). 600-650 at Friar Park (25% affordable, fighting to get it to 50%) I will consistently be clear the priority is homes.

People disagreeing with Antonia here just aren't getting the terrible position we're in on housing. So many don't have homes and it massively holds back the economy. I too would like lovely planned communities and a bunch of other public policy ponies but right now we just need more houses.

Oh my god oh my god 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

Shirt on, beer in hand, lucky 2023 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿flag up, nerves nerves nerves … Come on Lionesses! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

Really agree with this. Most important thing is that houses get built. Yes, we need services to go alongside them, but we shouldn't be using relevant infrastructure not being built as a reason to not build houses.

Apropos that Guardian article: I’ll happily take estates with no community facilities or shops if it means the 21k on the waiting list in my ends have a home. These articles make me want to weep: numbers of homes is what matters. I don’t want affordable housing funds abstracted to other stuff!