I organised an event at County Hall today to remember the 4th Anniversary of the outrageous Russian invasion of Ukraine. We remembered the victims of the war and expressed our hope that Ukraine will win and western countries will continue to support them until they do.

It's a myth that you can't make new friends as you get older. You can literally *make* them.

For any politician, let alone the head of gov/state, to attack judges because he dislikes their judgment in this way is disgraceful. If the SCOTUS has misinterpreted Congress's intent in the Act in question (which I can't see they have) it's open to Congress to amend said Act.

British officials fear that a new 'Made in Europe' initiative will "freeze UK companies out of key supply chains, just as the reset gathers pace". The answer is simple - let's rejoin the Single Market and Customs Union.

I hope you all enjoy a St Valentine's Day that is much happier than it looks to be for the Trumps.

I appeared on this week's Kent Politics Show to talk about Reform's "casino budget". www.dailymotion.com/video/x9zy06m

I was delighted to be elected to the @libdems.org.uk Federal Policy Committee earlier this year. We are launching a new working group to develop policy on 'Empowering Consumers'. Please apply here: www.libdems.org.uk/members/make...

This is a bigger issue since Brexit www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

This doesn't read like "a ban". The student group said "no thanks" to an offer to speak. Freedom of speech is important and so is freedom of association. If I choose not to associate with you, by not wanting to host you that isn't interference with your free speech.

The bickering between progressive parties about which is best placed to stop Reform in Gorton & Denton is tiresome. Reform can win if and only if the progressive vote is split. This underlines the point Labour ought to reform the electoral system for by-elections to give voters more power.

I've used many of my holidays to do political volunteering but I would never tell or suggest to people who work for me that they should. That's not how annual leave is meant to work and MPs who want to be responsible employers should know better.

This would be an excellent way to bring highly skilled, talent people to our country, which generally benefits everyone.

Mandelson traded inside information for future jobs. How can we be sure no other minister has done this? How can we make sure it doesn't happen in future?

Breaking: the head of DOGE in Kent has resigned. My impression of Matthew was that he was a decent man leading a fundamentally ill-conceived project.

🚨 NEW: Ofsted judges Kent County Council's support for care leavers as "POOR." Care leavers are young adults (18+) who grew up in care. Like any parent, the council has a duty to support them as they start adult life. Instead, KCC is failing them—and the Leader’s response is dishonest. 🧵

At the Bath Victorian Gallery's exhibition on posters. This is how you do a political fundraiser: - look at a dolphin - in particular its teeth - a lady plays piano - pay thruppence

Britain Doesn’t Need Trump's Politics | Ed Davey

Kent deserves better than this. www.thetimes.com/article/d64e...

The only home for centrists now is the Liberal Democrats

6 years tonight since Brexit. It was the honour of my life to be part of the last (for now) group of Brtish Lib Dem MEPs. I'm confident that in time a new generation of UK MEPs will restore what has been lost and rebuild what has been broken. Our long-term future really depends on it.

I was on @kentonline.co.uk 's Politics Podcast yesterday talking about LGR, future elections, Reform's failures and some other stuff. share.google/NgPLFTR0xBoU...

Criticising a lawyer for doing their best for their client is wrong and foolish. The rule of law depends on lawyers doing their best. It is for a judge to decide whether their arguments are right and for MPs to make the law.

Its no surprise that centrist, moderate people who once voted Conservative are now supporting the Liberal Democrats. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Rubbish. NATO is a defensive mutual alliance . "Imperialist war machines" invade other countries to seize territory or resources. NATO only acts defensively and has deterred imperialist wars by others.

🎵I think I’ve seen this film before, and I didn’t like the ending…🎶 The people who broke our country are the same people Nigel Farage is now relying on to fix it. It couldn’t be clearer: Reform UK are simply the Conservatives with a new logo.

People should write Trump a list: Things You Could Do To Win One (Or More!) Nobel Peace Prize. As POTUS he has numerous tools to actually do those things. It would genuinely be magnificent for us all.

Newspapers and major news websites ought to be required to have a 10cm box in a corner of page 1 that says: "The principal owners of this newspaper live in [country] and [do/do not] pay tax in the UK]."

"We're the only party showing we want to re-engage with Europe in a serious way." @EdDavey.LibDems.org.uk

Demand better

Reform is fast becoming "Conservatives with a new name and logo." But with the worst aspects of conservativism increased and the more honourable side removed. It's the most facile rebrand since Royal Mail briefly became Consignia in 2001.

I'm glad to have recently joined Bluesky but am not clear yet on how well anything that isn't vaguely political will get answered. But let's see... Any suggestions for non-obvious places in 🇬🇧/🇮🇪 for really good holidays with children (primary aged)?

No Kemi, Trump threatening to invade a NATO ally is not a "second order issue." It’s a direct challenge to Britain’s security and the future of NATO.

🚨 NEW: All of Reform's 12 councils will raise council tax this year despite pledging not to in campaigns Some of the planned rises include: Worcestershire - 10% Derbyshire - 4.99% West Northamptonshire - 4.99% Kent - 3.99% Staffordshire - 3.99% [@thetimes]

Can you trust anything Farage says? Nigel Farage flip flopping again to suit his political agenda.

I tried to test AI's ability to appreciate art tonight. One of my favourite paintings is Large Enclosure (aka Great Enclosure) by Caspar David Friedrich (1831). I asked Gemini to create a photo realistic image based on it. The result was disappointing IMHO.

You can't trust any pledge Reform make, here in Kent or elsewhere. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Reform in May 2025: "Vote for us in the local elections. We'll cut/freeze council tax." Reform in January 2026: "We're putting up your council tax."

'Writing's on the wall' for Reform in Warwickshire say Lib Dems

Between now and March you may (and should) see a lot of discourse about local authority budgets. Please give short shrift to comparisons that politicians like to make between council budgets and a) domestic household budgets or b) the finances of a small or big business.

Another day goes by and still no budget from Reform run Kent County Council

The search goes on for the missing Kent County Council budget. Reform shambles.

Kent's budget was meant to be published today. No sign of it! Reform promised to cut council tax. Tell me what you think they will do..

Do you think Reform will 1️⃣ Cut Kent's Council Tax as they promised 2️⃣ Increase Council Tax 📊 Show results

It's now clear that this was never about the interests of the Venezuelan people or the wider world. This is Trump serving his own interests and ego, making the world far more dangerous in the process. Starmer must convene the UN Security Council to hold Trump to account.

"Key elements" here could mean screws and handles, or clothing. But either way, a shopping trip can be an acceptable date if done right, surely?

I'll strip civil servants of their pensions, but I'm keeping my £73,000 EU pension, despite my attendance record being the 4th worst out of 751 MEPs.

Merry Christmas 🎄

The Liberal Democrats held 82% of seats they defended in Council By-Elections in 2025 #ByElectionsWrapped 1) LDM (82%) 2) GRN (67%) 3) RFM (60%) 4) CON (32%) 5) LAB (28%)

It is surely the output of council services that measures success, not the working patterns of staff?