This terrible case should make every political party and complacent politician reflect on their safeguarding and whistleblowing processes and especially how they deal with complaints which don’t reach criminal threshold or when accusers don’t want to go through criminal proceedings.

I wanted to acknowledge my new follows and the more than 7.5k who liked my post about the Stand up to Racism demo in Edinburgh last Saturday. We are the many and our strength is when we are united.✊✊✊

An amazing turnout and a glorious sunny morning for the rally and march to Holyrood organised by Stand Up To Racism - Edinburgh. It was great to have the opportunity to address the rally as a Labour councillor - we must unite against those who spread hatred.

Along w ward colleague @katrinafaccenda.bsky.social I went on a walk & wheel around the Shore & Kirkgate area this morning w local resident @cm7505.bsky.social to see how completely inaccessible many of our streets are for disabled residents. I have a long list of actions as a result. 1/2

Once again a consultancy used to produce a report which an organisation like CEC should he capable of doing itself. This addiction to the multi-nationals providing so-called expert advice is money that could he better spent on implementation. It is a big con 😡😡

As much of a must read as your timeline is telling you it is www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...

I haven’t commented previously on Anas Sarwar’s call for Starmer to resign. Not because I support Starmer, but the mess the Labour Party has been dragged into is more than one man and any call for Starmer to go has to be coupled with a firm proposal of what should follow him.

Alison and her fellow petitioners have done an outstanding job in standing up for the vulnerable and abused. I will not look away and will continue to give no space to abusers or predators. This is the least we can do for survivors like Holly Alex.

Choose To Fight! Choose To Fight! is a new pamphlet by Scottish Labour Campaign for Socialism Co-Convenor Mike Cowley and the Red Paper Collective’s Vince Mills, which makes the case for socialists to fight for a getter future from within the Labour Party. Re-stating the case for political…

Join us for our conference fringe as we look ahead beyond the election to find out what’s next for the Scottish Labour left! ⏰6PM 🗓️Friday 27th February 📍Rab Ha’s 83 Hutcheson St, Glasgow G1 1SH

Men, always men, only men

You would hope that all those who bow and curtsey to this crowd will now reflect on the nonsense of hereditary titles.

A great call to action from Brian. I would add something else from the Scottish perspective- that Scottish MPs need to be accountable to the Scottish Party and that commitment to devolution includes Scottish Labour being able to make its own decisions and policies.

Cover to the 1956 edition of the Port of Leith Official Handbook giving details of the facilities & charges at "Edinburgh's Gateway to the Sea". An unattributed sketch depicting a busy quayside view of the harbour. @threadinburgh.scot flic.kr/p/2rUTMR1

"He is the logical culmination of the career politician, attracted to government office not because of any commitment to a set of values or public service, but simply for power, position, and profit."

One of the worst aspects of political factionalism is the loss of moral compass, when people see everything through a prism of allegiance, rather than right or wrong, Mandelson is only one example and it is destroying politics and exposing how poorly we are represented.

Thanks to our guests @lezleymarion.bsky.social, Cllr Faccenda, @rosssmckenzie.bsky.social, @qmanivannan.bsky.social and @dastonsnp.bsky.social for joining us for the last session of the workshop, giving gig workers an opportunity to directly speak to elected representatives and candidates.

It’s important in such dark times to remember how many good people there are isn’t it…

Arguably more significant than defections, internal party politics and the Beckhams… In 2024 there were around 3,600 suspected cases of measles. We need to challenge the nonsense spread by anti vaxxers and ensure children are protected. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... news.sky.com/story/uk-los...

The Labour leadership faction has counted on loyalty of party members and our desperation for a Labour government. But their disregard for democracy, decency and core Labour values has caused enormous damage and opened the door to Reform. This cannot continue if our Party is to survive.

Board of Peace - Season 1

I will be speaking in defence of strong local government (amongst other things) on the 5th of February.

We should all be concerned when the rich use donations for a favourable outcome for their businesses, especially when one of their main interests is profiteering from what should be a public service - once again Labour centrists show a short-sighted subservience to big business.

There is something really troubling about a Labour government which consistently puts its elected representatives in a position of breaking the whip to defend basic Labour values and principles. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... Government pulls Hillsborough Law amendment after backlash

Marxist Rosa Luxemburg was murdered on this day in 1919. Her life remains a model of intellectual rigor and unshakable revolutionary faith.

Timely reminder of why passing the FoI Reform Bill matters to so many people in Scotland. @katysclark.bsky.social @unitescotland.bsky.social @cwuscotland.bsky.social @gabymckay.bsky.social www.heraldscotland.com/news/2521506...

It’s no good Governments being slow-footed in response to this. You can’t sit back and wait for the real life consequences. It’s OK to stand powerful against such rotten conduct. And swiftly and fiercely.

The BBC is complicit in allowing this person a platform to justify his turning a blind eye to the predatory behaviour of his rich pal. He needs binned and kicked out the Lords. Victims are rarely gifted a platform like this.

US intervention in South and Central America has historically paved the way for violent far right regimes - the future of Venezuela must be with the Venezuelan people and not at the whim of Trump.

www.corra.scot/human-rights... Read about human rights in action. Cables Wynd House Residents Group are campaigning for decent housing, accountability, respect and dignity for all their community. @corra.scot @edinburghcouncil.bsky.social @katrinafaccenda.bsky.social @regenfuturesfund.bsky.social

LEITH IS BACK ON THE MAP!! After months of anticipation, the barriers are down and The Dock @ Coalie Park is OPEN! 🎉 Leith finally has its first permanent outdoor skate area thanks to @wolct.bsky.social in partnership with The Edinburgh Wheels Project & Odyssey Skateparks.

Solidarity with IWGB members at Rockstar, this type of union-busting should not be tolerated. www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottis...

Solidarity with IWGB members at Rockstar, this type of union-busting should jot he tolerated. www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottis...

Absolutely delighted to have been shortlisted for one of the annual LGIU awards. The work of backbench councillors is often undervalued and overlooked so this is important recognition for the work done by all of us on the bckbenches. lgiu.org/events/cllr-...

Clearly moves are afoot by the carpetbaggers and careerists at the heart of Starmer’s government to roll back on the Employment Rights Bill. The upcoming Deputy Leadership election is a do or die moment for the Labour Left and everyone who wants a Labour Party worthy of its name

📚 Hi there, #Edinburgh! We've finally joined the Blueskyverse. If you don't know us, we're in Leith and we're open 7 days a week 10-4pm - and until 7pm on Thursdays! Come browse (and ideally buy) our books.

🚨 RIGHT NOW opposite Labour Party HQ in London. We’ve turned their street into Jabaliya camp in Gaza. A genocide is happening, but the Labour government is supplying weapons, intelligence and diplomatic cover to the perpetrator. Protesting this is not terrorism.

This is incredible: using the same MO, retailer after retailer opens in the same few premium locations, selling the exact same products, then does a runner, leaving tax unpaid - and no one is responsible, certainly not the billionaire landlord who keeps getting so unlucky with his tenants.

The Birmingham bin strike has descended to a war of words almost as toxic as the piles of rat-infested rubbish residents have been facing in parts of the city. But in the end the strike comes down to stories like Adrian's. www.mirror.co.uk/news/politic...

The whip is no longer an instrument of collective responsibility, it is a shield for the unprincipled and the cowardly. Never has Labour policy been so far from the needs of the poor and vulnerable. Solidarity with Brian and those currently suspended for standing up for their constituent.

It would be unwise for the LP to underestimate the significance of the decision taken by an overwhelming majority of UNITE delegates. It has been a long time coming and too many MPs/MPs/Cllrs take affiliated unions’ support for granted. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

It would be unwise for the LP to underestimate the significance of the decision taken by an overwhelming majority of UNITE delegates. It has been a long time coming and too many MPs/MPs/Cllrs take affiliated unions’ support for granted. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

🚨 For the third year in a row, our data shows that HUNDREDS of child refugees, who come to the UK alone, are continuing to be incorrectly treated as adults after a visual assessment of age at the border. They are placed with strangers in adult accommodation & even adult prisons. 1/2

Universal Credit and (no longer!) PIP Bill goes to a final vote today. Here's our @trusselluk.bsky.social joint briefing with 20 other organisations setting out final analysis of the Bill & priorities for further amendments: www.ucpipbill.co.uk

In August, if you’re taking advantage of the festival season in the centre of town, be sure to stop by our temporary exhibition space at the St James Quarter!

As I said earlier today, breaking the whip isn’t easy. But there are times when as a socialist you must take a stand and today @tracygilbertmp.bsky.social did that, one of only 4 Labour MPs in Scotland to vote against the governments punitive cuts. Well done Tracy. Solidarity✊

What a shambles in the Commons - this is a defining moment for the Labour right’s project to crush Party democracy, rig selections, try to gut the PLP of critical voices and those with political backbone. While disabled people are terrified for their livelihood. Shameful.

It isn’t easy to break the whip but every Labour MP who votes against making the lives of disabled people and their carers worse today is doing the right thing. The Party whip system is outdated, enables bullies and does nothing to improve representation.Politics needs to change.

A tight result, Labour did well but it is clear that only one political party is benefiting from the political arrangement on the council. LibDems have won 3/4 of by-elections since 2022. They win votes from Labour and Conservatives and both parties would be unwise to ignore.

Creating a 2-tier benefit system which penalises future applications without addressing the lack of impact assessment and other criticisms if proposals does not make this legislation fit for purpose and using those people and their carers as bargaining chips to win a vote is wrong.