My partner & I just realised it was our 20th anniversary last week! (We’re not married so date it from the club night we first met at & got together.) 20 years!!!! 😮😮😮

The younger teenager has been tempted to join us to watch Bake Off. (We told her they laugh at rude things and she agreed to give it a go.) She’s one of us now. #GBBO

Can we have a 1 in 1 out policy for political podcasts?

Rumours swirling that Government may try to avoid fully scrapping 2 child limit by changing it to a 3 child limit, only lifting it for some groups or giving lower support to 3rd and subsequent children. Helpfully @resfoundation.bsky.social already crunched the numbers, finding that...1/4

How did the Prime Minister do? He spoke about reducing child poverty and giving children the best start in life. But warm words don’t pay the bills or put food on the table. The government must lift the two child limit, or see child poverty rise even further on their watch.

Has the PM finished talking about child poverty? Really? Right to celebrate the steps so far - extending free school meals, childcare investment etc. But he will be a Prime Minister presiding over rising child poverty this Parliament unless he steps up and lifts the cruel 2 child limit.

PM says childcare investment gives every child the best start in life. Children growing up in families forced into hunger & hardship by the 2 child limit - driven to the doors of food banks - are definitively not getting the best start in life. #LabourPartyConference

Seeing all the flags in the conference hall for the PM’s speech, as at Lib Dem conference. Big Flag having a serious moment. #LabourPartyConference

New vlog👇The hottest topic at #LabourPartyConference is whether the PM will announce scrapping the cruel & counterproductive 2 child limit in his speech today. Here’s why he should ⬇️ @trusselluk.bsky.social

Future Jobs Fund impact: 2 years after the programme, participants were 11 ppts more likely to be in unsubsidised work. 7 ppts less likely to be on benefits. An 'unqualified success' Cost £1 billion. Useful @NIESRorg blog: niesr.ac.uk/blog/future-...

The Future Jobs Fund is back! Overall, positive announcement from Chancellor on guaranteed job placements for young people. Questions on resources, design & support. 1 big difference - far more young people face hunger & hardship today than back then. 1/2 www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Pleased to see the Government funding work placements for long-term NEETs, like Future Jobs Fund. As I say in Times, q’s on detail re eligibility (should be open on voluntary basis to young UC health claimants) & placements (how long, which employers, what support). www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...

If you get so bored on a train that you feel the need to constantly whistle and tap the table...BRING A BOOK.

Really important analysis: - Reform doesn't threaten Labour because it's taking Labour voters (very few would consider them) - But because they threaten Labour *areas*. By uniting the right & getting non-voters - And because Labour voters are splintering in multiple directions. (But rarely ➡️Reform)

In the current climate surely all donkey fields should have a flag flying above them.

Didn't we have an attempt at 'Donkey-gate' a couple of years ago? And it melted away because he did just buy a field for his mum's donkeys?

You can tell when a teenager's watched a lot of #StrictlyComeDancing My teenager - 'He's got a surprisingly good frame'

When Anton starts talking about energy you know the dancing was really bad. #StrictlyComeDancing

To kill a mockingbird at @LeedsPlayhouse was excellent last night! As with the book though, I’m always uncomfortable with how silent & 2 dimensional Tom Robinson is. He’s the fulcrum around which the story turns, but has very little voice or personality.

Great from Meg Hillier on why it's urgent, right & realistic to lift two child limit: “In a country where life chances vary so starkly, lifting the two-child cap is the quickest, smartest and most effective to enable every child to fulfil their potential... 1/2 www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...

I'm broadly relaxed about digital IDs. But I tried using Gov.ukOneLogin app to prove identity. Wouldn't let me sign in, agent couldn't fix it, told me to use someone else's phone. Fine for that but didn't build confidence about a future version that's necessary for lots of stuff?

Great that gov isn't setting up yet another pot of money that councils have to bid for. Much more efficient to allocate money & let councils and local people decide how to spend it. Community power to buy assets & decide what the high street looks like is also positive. www.gov.uk/government/n...

Andy Burnham's going to start hosting Have I got News for You isn't he?

Report out on tax options for the Budget. 2p income tax rise alongside 2p national insurance cut would mean no tax rise for an employee whose income comes from a job. With employment overtaxed at the moment, workers pay packets should be protected and distortions in the tax system removed.

There's no point publishing a child poverty strategy that doesn't include lifting the 2 child limit. It's the single biggest driver of child poverty, which will continue to rise as long as it's in place. All the other good stuff can't counter such a strong driver.

Child Poverty Task Force will recommend scrapping the two child limit according to The Times. But publication is being delayed and no clarity over whether Government will accept the recommendation even though it's coming from two cabinet ministers. www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...

Superb news showcasing the wonder of medical science. Huntingdon's is a brutal terminal disease. This new gene therapy slows the disease's advance by 75%. One medically retired patient has now returned to work. Others, expected to need wheelchairs, are walking. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Just to be clear: - Paracetamol does not cause autism. - Sadiq Khan is not introducing Sharia law in the UK - We do not have a massive free speech problem here. - Britain is not on the verge of civil war. These are not controversial subjects or contested, they're just not true.

In every couple there is one person who thinks the wheelie bin is full, and one who knows you can get another bag in if you just give it a good shove. Which are you? (I'm definitely a shover)

I really appreciated the @trusselluk.bsky.social @jrf-uk.bsky.social fringe #LDConf about how we lift families out of poverty. Thank you @helenbarnard.bsky.social and @stevedarlingmp.bsky.social for your passion. I was glad I could reference our research @childrenssociety.bsky.social #LDConf

Welfare *Reform* is vital. Providing personalised, voluntary support for people to build confidence and get into the right work is exactly right. Brutal cuts do nothing but drive up hunger & hardship. Reform actually helps people improve their lives. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Susan goes to bible study? Since when?? #TheArchers

If sustained growth is the aim, the UK has to lift more children out of poverty Better grades in school will lead to higher wages, more tax revenue and less welfare spending for the next generation. @timleunig.bsky.social https://bit.ly/3KySGew

Caught up with harvest festival service: much as I dislike Justin, Brian definitely started the argument and kept it going. Totally his fault. #TheArchers

Why do the police need to record my height and hair colour when I report a crime? (I'm fine, just had my bag stolen). I don't particularly mind, it just seems like odd information to ask.

I’m just a girl Standing in front of a party conference Begging it to just consider Happening somewhere that doesn’t involve a 6 hour journey from the middle of the country.

Lovely sunny day to be heading to the Lib Dem conference in Bournemouth! However, it's against the natural order that I'm going into conference season with a cold already. (And sorry to other conference goers).

What’s the value of interviews with delayed passengers? Presenter: “Many people have been delayed. Now we can speak to John who was caught up in the chaos. John, tell us about your experience.” John: “I was delayed.” Presenter: “Thank you. Now for the weather…”

Significant & encouraging to see candidates for Labour's deputy leadership so strong on this. 2 child limit pushes families to food banks & stops children getting a fair start in life. Scrapping it would bring significant economic and fiscal benefits. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Feel like we should bring back the old twitter follow friday to boost good people on here who maybe didn't get an initial boost from the starter packs. So follow @psurridge.bsky.social and @profjanegreen.bsky.social - two excellent and thoughtful political scientists.

You know what I hate? Every time you buy something online they make you click through screens suggesting you buy other stuff too, before they let you pay!! The Tesco app makes you click through *3* screens every time you add anything to the shop. 😡

Powerful article from @trusselluk.bsky.social's Emma Revie in @newstatesman.com laying out the stark reality of hunger stalking families across the UK & why it's so vital the government scraps the 2 child limit this Autumn. www.newstatesman.com/spotlight/po...

Hang on. How are *doughnuts* the technical in BREAD week???! Clue’s in the name: if I buy a cheese sandwich I’m not expecting it to be sweet, fried and glazed. 😡 #Gbbo

On the train home after a long day & just remembered there’s a couple of left over beef slices in the fridge, and a tomato. So I can have a really nice sandwich when I finally get home. 😊

Fantastic column by @stephenkb.bsky.social "Racism in the UK remains the preserve of an extreme minority — but one that is emboldened and growing louder. It is the result of a year in which neither the government nor the opposition have been willing to draw red lines." www.ft.com/content/fbbd...

The latest OBR forecasts suggest the average family may end the current parliament financially worse off than they were at the start. That's unlikely to be a survivable record to defend at the ballot box, but there may be a way to turn it around. New piece from me for Political Quarterly.

Kings Cross station wifi seems to be down. :(

This feels like a big one and one that’ll spook Tory MPs. Former Cameron speech writer, ran Jenrick’s leadership campaign, and the first sitting Tory — and shadow minister — to defect to Reform. It bursts Badenoch’s bubble after her boost last week, as well.

This is a brave puppy. She's scared of the ironing board, but I insist on standing near it. So she's going to lie by me and make sure it doesn't try anything.

Tom really is a petulant child. #thearchers