Mandelson and Robbins both urging the deleting of things.

Mandelson will not be familiar with the Nolan Principles, believes Corin Robertson. 😂

Mandelson to McSweeney. “I’ve just had this exchange with*** by whatsapp. I don’t know why Karen decided to email everyone last night… Please ignore – and if you can do it discreetly, delete!”

13-03-25. From Ailsa Terry to Mandelson and McSweeney. “Thank you Peter. On the back of the email you mention, Olly has been clear about the need to delete all traffic on this.”

References to Palantir have been redacted from the Mandelson files on the grounds that they would be "prejudicial to UK national security or international relations"

'But I got away with "hand of history". They'll love "less as a rupture than a reckoning". Put it in.'

Pronunciations heard in last 24 hours: 'Mackerfield', 'Mekkerfield', 'Makefield'.

Resulting from an IRL conversation with @crumpsalljamie.bsky.social earlier today

Shabana Mahmood’s special advisor threatened us with an injunction and two different lawsuits last night in an attempt to block this story linking her to a notorious vote rigging case. I think it’s strongly in the public interest. So here it is. www.birminghamdispatch.co.uk/exclusive-sh...

Sad news that Beverley Martyn has died - johnmartyn.com/news/beverley/

If I was Starmer it would be getting me through the day. In tough meetings I would be thinking "at least I've got the Mandelson compromat file to read this weekend". What kind of person has that kind of document and doesn't read it? No friend of mine for sure.

Hall of fame FT correction

Be good if he agreed to eat his book again but this time no one watched.

GMP finds 'no evidence of any intent to influence or refrain any person from voting' in the Gorton and Denton by-election - www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater...

A few weeks ago oil was about $70 a barrel and Iran was mostly selling at an often steep discount to China. The US Treasury will now let them sell at $110 a barrel on the open market for a few weeks at least. I’ve read quite a lot about the history of economic warfare. This is quite new.

"would otherwise receive immediate access to welfare and social housing" is BS. Correct: "after 5 years working in a care home, would be eligible to apply for welfare and social housing on the same basis as the rest of us." www.theguardian.com/commentisfre... Deliberately misleading/disingenous.

Trump Wins $60 On Kalshi Betting He’ll Bomb Iran

abandon the Syrian Kurds; activate the Iranian Kurds www.itv.com/news/2026-03...

Only just.

Curtice: worst ever Cons by-election result

Woolas's campaign manager then was one Peter Mandelson IIRC

OLAF promises to fast-track investigation and deliver verdict by 2035... 😅

New OS for my 11yo MacBook is a bit of a surprise. Does it make any odds? mrmacintosh.com/macos-big-su...

Can he hang on until after the Gorton byelection?

With millions struggling to afford food, utilities and essentials, a protected minimum floor for benefits could provide a lifeline and reduce reliance on food banks - @kevingopal.bsky.social speaks to those who need it most national.thelead.uk/p/child-pove...

A protected minimum floor, preventing people having their Universal Credit cut beyond a certain level, is a stepping stone to ensuring benefits cover the cost of essentials. Me in @theleaduk.bsky.social.

Bit hopeful on his part - 'we request', we 'remind

Leaflet wars just stepped up a gear: Mill reveal Reform UK have broken electoral law manchestermill.co.uk/exclusive-re...

We are running 3 free training sessions for front line staff, managers, and decision makers in local authorities - ‘Children in care- citizenship and immigration training’ which you can sign up to here: gmiau.org/settlement-a...

🚨 BREAKING | Hannah Spencer, a local councillor and plumber, has been nominated as the Green Party candidate for the Gorton and Denton by-election. Spencer endorsed Zack Polanski in the leader election. She won the selection with ~80% of ballots. (Via @tomorrowsmps)

Ban politicians from using football analogies.

The Home Office is consulting on facial recognition technology, aiming to significantly increase its use. But questions remain over accuracy and a tendency to “incorrectly include some demographic groups in search results”. Me for The Lead Untangles: national.thelead.uk/p/the-lead-u...

Consultation is open until 12 Feb.

An invasion of privacy or a much-needed way to keep people safe at major events? As the Home Office consults on police use of facial recognition technology, we explore the the pitfalls and the promise of better security @kevingopal.bsky.social national.thelead.uk/p/the-lead-u...

For more than 2 years, police in Berlin - encouraged by city and national politicians - have systematically used excessive violence in an attempt to beat the Palestine solidarity movement into silence. I wrote about this phenomenon for the @lrb.co.uk

Pleased to have been able to add some northern perspectives to The Lead's comprehensive coverage of child poverty. Ultimately, children are poor because adults are poor, and lifting the two-child cap is necessary but not sufficient to end it.

I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture. They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1

Former editor of The Big Issue in the North @kevingopal.bsky.social discusses the shameful crisis of child poverty and the regional disparities that are being driven by inequality and deprivation with @nmozz.bsky.social

Child poverty is at an all-time high in the UK according to official statistics - but it's important to look beyond the figures to who it really impacts. Last week, @kevingopal.bsky.social spoke with Sophie, a student who grew up skipping meals in Newcastle, because she saw her mum doing it.

My fave bit is "did it work?" 🤣

Touch flat footed, Zak #Ashes

“When you’re younger and you’re in it it feels normal. Where I’m from everyone was in the same boat. It’s not just my mam who was in poverty – it’s generations before that." Sophie, from Newcastle.

As this week's flip-flopping on income tax shows, nothing is an entirely done deal - me for @theleaduk on child poverty in the North and the prospect of the end of the two child benefit cap - substack.com/@kevingopal/...

This contribution to the volume of human misery is yet another policy from Labour based on a false premise, in this case that refugees are overly attracted to Britain. It will increase bureaucratic limbo, thus making worse the problem of "cohesion" it purports to solve. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

If it quacks like a duck, and walks like a duck ... Jaw dropping letter to investors confirms 79th Group could be UK's biggest ever Ponzi scheme www.thebusinessdesk.com/northwest/ne...

If Shaheen is an activist, then Goodwin, whose whole twitter feed is extreme and inaccurate far right nonsense, is definitely an activist. If Goodwin is an academic, then Shaheen, who has done more recent and more credible academic work, is an academic.

lmao david byrne showed the video of the ice agents tripping over themselves while trying to run after a biker on wacker drive during the “life during wartime” segment of his chicago show tonight

Asylum seekers, housed in hotels in Manchester, are reaching out in their own words to address the concerns of the local community. Please take a minute to read their letter, & share it with the people in your life who need to hear the truth about the people they are protesting.

Ah, right.