Labour lost three by-elections yesterday - all to different parties mobilising disaffected voters on their liberal left flank: Greens (see below), Lib Dems and Plaid Cymru. Starmer/McSweeney strategy of marginalizing the left flank to go after socially con Reform curious continues to backfire

I wish it were true that "no one is above the law". But while the City of London acts as laundromat for the world's dirty money, as almost all fraud and waste crime go unprosecuted, as no one has gone to jail for the financial crash or the poisoning of our rivers, this is manifestly untrue.

This is what politics should feel like: thoughtful, honest and shaking things up. Hannah Spencer is going to be a brilliant MP for Gorton & Denton. It's time to stop Reform in their tracks: Watch online this Wednesday.

Come rain or shine, the Green Party are there campaigning for you. Great to be out with Gheorghe, Beth and Toby this morning. Very positive response on the doorstep.

First poll Starmer has been ahead in for quite a while. Starmer knew about Mandelson. Now he must resign.

Keir is very sorry for the victims of Jeffrey Epstein. So sorry that he knowingly appointed a close associate of Epstein as Ambassador to the USA. I'm sorry too. Sorry that Keir doesn't have the decency to quit.

"What world are we living in that Derbyshire residents have to campaign against closure of care homes. Which party? Yes you guessed: Reform. How can anyone vote for this vile party." via Progressive Alliance Cornwall - against Reform

'When the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) released a pamphlet last week claiming the transition to net zero could cost the UK more that £9trn or three times the size of the entire economy. Unsurprisingly the IEA’s figures were bollocks.' www.private-eye.co.uk

NEW: Jonathan Ross, the ICE thug who murdered Renee Good, was NOT TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL according to police reports. He was taken to the Federal Building. He was NOT INJURED. www.nytimes.com/live/2026/01...

Quick update for US media: the story is not about Maduro or what’s going on in Venezuela. It’s about the massive rupture in US history where the country now stands for invading and occupying any country it likes. Trump in his press conference made it very clear this is a new age. Did you miss that?

This is basically an annexing of Venezuela. Trump is the most dangerous POS to have ever sat in the Oval Office. And the courtroom that will try Maduro will be a sham of a process. Just watch. On par with any banana republic.

Joyous, upbeat Carol service at Romford @salvationarmyuk.bsky.social this evening.

Happy Winter Solstice! Here's to longer days! youtu.be/6qcPS-J0HTg?...

As usual, I'm late to the party, but I just finished After Life on Netflix. Has to be one of the best and most genuinely emotional "comedies" I've ever watched. Real genius from Ricky Gervais.

Black Grape and Dodgy brought the party to Electric tonight. Another great night with @beatriceklopp.bsky.social

My letter about litter in this week's Romford Recorder.

RIP John Lennon. Taken too soon 45 years ago today. youtu.be/6lFTD9O-XMw?...

My indie kid soul hates me for how much I love this song. youtu.be/rtOvBOTyX00?...

Lovely evening with a friend watching the beautiful David Lynch movie, The Straight Story. Such a beautiful film.

D'you remember Sid - the tagline used by the Conservative government in 1986 to push the idea of privatising gas? Oxford City Councillor Ottino had some home truths for Sid, in a debate on Thames Water. After 40 years, privatisation of public services has failed. It's time for public ownership.

"Mental illness as a capitalist disease: work and exploitation" 'Results published this year by the Mental Health Foundation conclusively demonstrated that a shorter working week, without loss of pay, improved mental wellbeing of 68% of participants ...' morningstaronline.co.uk/article/ment...

End of year Deezer music streaming stats.

Mike Galsworthy on GB News, "Polling shows that Reform UK voters would accept the EU Single Market to boost the economy, and Labour need to get with it"

Great evening at @royalcourt.bsky.social last night watching the incredible Nichola Walker lead a wonderful cast in The Unbelievers. She brings such reality to everything she does. Heartbreaking play.

#ArtistFaveLP #musicchallenge "Rainy Sunday Afternoon"- The Divine Comedy 1. " Invisible Thread " youtu.be/5VXSQQ5YDIU?...

#ArtistFaveLP #musicchallenge "Rainy Sunday Afternoon"- The Divine Comedy 2. " All the pretty lights" youtu.be/bd8tyszMgTk?...

#ArtistFaveLP #musicchallenge "Rainy Sunday Afternoon"- The Divine Comedy 3. " The Heart is a lonely hunter" youtu.be/MfeiBm6jRv8?...

Rachel Reeves seems to have extended the definition of "those with the broadest shoulders" to anyone who has a job.

#ArtistFaveLP #musicchallenge "Rainy Sunday Afternoon"- The Divine Comedy. 4. "Achilles" youtu.be/jJ6N59FZ-6g?...

#ArtistFaveLP #musicchallenge "Rainy Sunday Afternoon"- The Divine Comedy. 5. " The man who turned into a chair" youtu.be/amMjgwV1Q6c?...

#ArtistFaveLP #musicchallenge "Rainy Sunday Afternoon"- The Divine Comedy. 6. "The last time I saw the old man" youtu.be/mu7k2VA7aVM?...

#ArtistFaveLP #musicchallenge "Rainy Sunday Afternoon"- The Divine Comedy. 7. "Rainy Sunday Afternoon " youtu.be/4J_5a_z1Tes?...

#ArtistFaveLP #musicchallenge "Rainy Sunday Afternoon"- The Divine Comedy. 8. "Mar-a-lago by the sea" youtu.be/Ke4dyLbOyyI?...

#ArtistFaveLP #musicchallenge "Rainy Sunday Afternoon"- The Divine Comedy. 9. "I want you". youtu.be/8MPngibSCXU?...

#ArtistFaveLP #musicchallenge In a year where there were great albums a plenty, @divinecomedyhq.bsky.social 's "Rainy Sunday Afternoon " stood tall for me. A masterpiece from Neil Hannon. 10. "Down the Rabbit Hole" youtu.be/wjRikfE9dyk?...

#20SongsByYear #MusicChallenge I chose 1987. Songs are in no particular order,they just say 1987 to me. 20. "Star Trekkin" - Firm youtu.be/FCARADb9asE?...

#20SongsByYear #MusicChallenge I chose 1987. Songs are in no particular order,they just say 1987 to me. 19. "Faith" - George Michael youtu.be/6Cs3Pvmmv0E?...

#20SongsByYear #MusicChallenge I chose 1987. Songs are in no particular order,they just say 1987 to me. 18. "Alone " - Heart youtu.be/1Cw1ng75KP0?...

It's already on its way to becoming one of my favourite Christmas songs. Released today. Beautiful. youtu.be/bd8tyszMgTk?...

#20SongsByYear #MusicChallenge I chose 1987. Songs are in no particular order,they just say 1987 to me. 17. " A rush and a push and the land is ours.# - The Smiths youtu.be/JPz6mm26h74?...

#20SongsByYear #MusicChallenge I chose 1987. Songs are in no particular order,they just say 1987 to me. 16. "Nothing's gonna stop us now" - Starship youtu.be/3wxyN3z9PL4?...

#20SongsByYear #MusicChallenge I chose 1987. Songs are in no particular order,they just say 1987 to me. 15. "Respectable" - Mel and Kim youtu.be/ykDsmAqExH8?...

#20SongsByYear #MusicChallenge I chose 1987. Songs are in no particular order,they just say 1987 to me. 14. " China in your hand" - Tpau youtu.be/T4sV3lqzKqQ?...

#20SongsByYear #MusicChallenge I chose 1987. Songs are in no particular order,they just say 1987 to me. 13. "Who's that girl?" - Madonna youtu.be/r0qDBYiOBrc?...

#20SongsByYear #MusicChallenge I chose 1987. Songs are in no particular order,they just say 1987 to me. 12. " Always on my mind" - Pet Shop Boys youtu.be/bDMCwSP5nf0?...

#20SongsByYear #MusicChallenge I chose 1987. Songs are in no particular order,they just say 1987 to me. 11. " Build" - The Housemartins youtu.be/IMPMiLddsuE?...

#20SongsByYear #MusicChallenge I chose 1987. Songs are in no particular order,they just say 1987 to me. 10. "I wanna dance with somebody (who loves me)" - Whitney Houston youtu.be/eH3giaIzONA?...