Zooming out again on how big this is the insurgent parties came first and second and got 69.4(!)% of the vote between them, the two traditional main parties got just 27.3%. Politics has fragmented & the parties that promise the greatest change from the status quo are benefitting

Labour’s membership want Proportional Representation, but Starmer says no. He’s happy for them to knock on doors and deliver leaflets, but is dismissive of their grassroots thinking. PR would give members and voters, the voice that Starmer just doesn’t want to hear! Know your place!

Biggest learning to take away from the by-election by far.

Everything that is wrong with First Past the Post is on show in Gorton & Denton. It's time for a change. actionnetwork.org/petitions/th...

"We will not defeat poisonous, exclusionary movements by ostracising their voters; we will defeat them by building a politics that listens, represents, and dilutes the incentives for hate." @elliechowns.bsky.social for @bestforbritain.org on how a fair voting system can help protect UK democracy 👇

Did I ever get punished for my parents beliefs? Try going to Maggie Thatcher's old school and one of your parents was a trade union organiser. @mrjamesob.bsky.social

We need to change our voting system. Not to keep anyone out, but for the public who are fed up with their votes not counting.

They are right - And any National Commission should be given a rapid timetable to come to a conclusion because the arguments have been obvious for years. Decades.

‘Representation of the People’ without Proportional representation is a joke. And not a funny one 😤 Let us at least have the ‘National Commission’ looking into upgrading our election system. #ElectionBill

Does this whole 'ming vase' thing work for anyone under 50?

Interesting how co- chiefs are nearly always women. More men should share power.

Parallel giant slalom is my new fave. #milanocortina2026

Hiroto smiling even though he crashed out. And that's why I love the Olympics

If you're not watching this Big Air final you're missing out. #MilanoCortina2026

Really love the multi destination #openingceremony #milanCortina2026

Those Czechia outfits are something else #MilanoCortina2026

The Olympics always fills me with hope and joy. Global unity and the passion to be the best we can be #MilanoCortina2026

So high fashion #MilanoCortina2026

Cute cameo by Valentino Rossi, a family fave due to his amazing motorcycling #OpeningCeremony #MilanoCortina2026

Soz Mariah but that was a damp squib #OpeningCeremony #MilanoCortina2026

Someone needs to get into the sound engineer. Poor Mariah #MilanoCortina2026

Delightfully bonkers as all #OpeningCeremony should be #MilanoCortina2026

I already love everything about this #MilanoCortina2026 #OpeningCeremony

If only I'd been born into the kind of family that could afford skiing. I'm pretty sure I'd have been ace at it #MilanoCortina26

EXCLUSIVE: Reform UK just broke electoral law in Gorton and Denton. The party confirmed they sent out campaign materials without proper party imprint, something it insists was a mistake.

I already love this Winter Olympics. Venues across the beautiful Country that is Italy. #MilanoCortina26

Once again, bravo to Ali, Bridget and Alison.

This man talking at James O'Brien on @lbc.co.uk is so arrogant he might get his own show on GBeebies

Keir Starmer has said Nigel Farage was wrong about Brexit and said the "botched deal" created by the previous government "has caused damage to our economy" www.itv.com/news/2026-02...

Charity shops are not there to source cheap items to resell. They are about making money for their orgs. Reselling is the problem. www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/real-li...

Can First Past the Post cope with multi-party politics? 🗒️ The APPG was delighted to host a private briefing in Parliament today with… 🗣️ Professor Sir John Curtice of @unistrathclyde.bsky.social 🗣️ Dr David Klemperer of @uniofbath.bsky.social 🪑 Emma Harrison of @makevotesmatter.bsky.social

Everything I read about Alex Pretti indicates what a kind, thoughtful person he was. ICE murdered him for standing up for others. Is that what you voted for, Americans?

🇪🇺56% of Brits say their country shouldn't have left the EU. Facing the unraveling Western alliance, Starmer has shifted tactics, recognising the need to find allies. https://www.lemonde.fr/en/opinion/article/2026/01/17/brexit-s-unpopularity-reignites-debate-in-uk-over-eu-ties_6749520_23.html

People who don't believe that Reform can form the next government on 30% of the vote don't understand our voting system. #2029 #Voting

WTF is Fartage doing in Davos? He's a back bench MP FGS

He's not the Messiah, he's a very naughty boy. #WEF #Davos

I'm sure the EU leaders WhatsApp group is blowing up with memes right now. #WEF #Davos

His approval rating is through the floor. Not going to mention that is he? #WEF #Trump

Listening to Trump's lies at Davos. The attempt to gaslight the entire world population is quite something else. #Davos #WEF

Trump will feel vindicated by the Europeans funding more defence in the Arctic. Because he sees everything as a personal victory. #r4today

How did we get here, a world where a rambling narcissist has near total power?! #r4today

Badenoch just sacked Jenrick, removed the whip and suspended his party membership. She said: "I was presented with clear, irrefutable evidence that he was plotting in secret to defect in a way designed to be as damaging as possible to his shadow cabinet colleagues and the wider Conservative Party.

BREAKING: Explosive new poll for ITV Cymru Wales puts Plaid Cymru surging ahead of Reform UK in May’s Welsh elections. Plaid 37% Reform 23% Greens 13% Labour 10% Tories 10% Lib Dems 5% Plaid could form majority with Greens on this basis, with Labour out of govt for first time since devolution.

An 'amusing' exchange with Cooperative Business Bank who refused a form because my signature looked different (they insist on a wet signature for EVERYTHING): me "yeah, I have chronic arthritis sometimes my writing gets wobbly"; them: "we need the signatures to match". Me: good luck....

I wish more people listened to More or Less, it's such a good data fact checker and in the AI world we really need human reflection www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

Harriet Harman's idea about technical oversight is all well and good until you get an authoritarian government #r4today

I feel sorry for Heidi Alexander. Trying to talk about levelling up without mentioning that toxic phrase #R4Today

Andy Burnham has called for proportional representation to be used for he Commons and the Lords to be replaced with a senate of the nations and regions. Told @instituteforgovernment.org.uk that the only way to rewire the state is electoral and constitutional reform

Amazingly, Zahawi only got round to deleting the below after the press conference announcing his defection to Reform.

My doggie had a small lump on his head which developed when abroad. Belgian vet flicked it and said 'don't worry'. fast forward two weeks back in the UK. Getting annual jabs, the vet said 'We must operate urgently', OH said he'd talk to me, the next day the lump fell off. @mrjamesob.bsky.social