Welcome home, Liam ❤️

Nigel Farage claims that he's fighting the Greens. But for weeks now he's refused to debate me. Reform know Gorton & Denton are ready to vote for the Green Party.

Labour candidate for the Gorton and Denton by-election announced. First elected to Manchester City Council in 2012, Stogia is a councillor for Whalley Range in Manchester.

My article in the Metro. Why the Green Party must beat the Reform extremists in Gorton & Denton. metro.co.uk/2026/01/28/z...

This is what an entire party stepping up looks like. Together, we stop Reform. Together, we win Gorton & Denton. Join.greenparty.org.uk

My girlfriend has kindly agreed to buy Matt Goodwin a house in Gorton & Denton.

The ultimate hidden truth of the world is that it is something that we make, and could just as easily make differently. David Graeber

Rent is an engine of poverty in the UK: foodandsolidarity.org/news/rent-is...

👣 ‘This is a huge first step, but it can't be the only one’ Our conditional scenarios work for #UKPoverty2026 shows the impact of scrapping the two-child limit, with 500k families expected to benefit from April. But a more comprehensive plan is needed, says Lead Analyst @sam-tims.bsky.social 👇

📢 The latest figures from #UKPoverty2026 reveal a picture of poverty hardening, not easing. The average person in poverty in 2021-24 was 29% below the poverty line. This is up from 23% in 1994-97. As people fall further into poverty, the impact on their lives worsens.

Poverty is deepening. 🔎 Our #UKPoverty2026 report was launched this morning. People in very deep poverty now make up the biggest group of people in poverty, at 6.8 million people. This is unacceptable for the fifth richest country in the world, and it has consequences.

Today is #NationalPuzzleDay and DID YOU KNOW that along with an extensive collection of loanable jigsaws we ALSO HAVE FREE ONLINE JIGSAWS you can solve at: jigsawplanet.com/OrkneyLibrary We started publishing them online during lockdown and we now have over 80 puzzles to solve! 🧩

Solidarity is very important, but we need root and branch political commitment, policy and change AND addressing housing and benefit issues @jrf-uk.bsky.social @statspeter.bsky.social #ukpoverty2026

@statspeter.bsky.social @jrf-uk.bsky.social wow over 1000 people at the Launch of JRF Poverty Report now, 6.8 million people in deep poverty in the UK 😭😭

You can probably tell this isn't my natural forte (!), but we wanted to get the message out about how action is needed to lower poverty levels in the UK. If you want to hear more (including from me), join our webinar at 10.30: www.jrf.org.uk/events/uk-po....

❌ ‘The longer we accept this as normal, the greater the damage it does’ Our Chief Analyst @statspeter.bsky.social gives an overview of the numbers in #UKPoverty2026 of children, working-age adults and pensioners living in poverty, and what the lack of progress means for society 🔽

“Anyone who needs me to be their neighbour is my neighbour.” Tune in to Songs of Praise at 1.15pm on BBC One this Sunday to hear from our hosts Andrew and Jane, and how opening their home is a key part of their faith.

ICE just kidnapped a four year old boy from his home in Minnesota.

Please sign and share if you can. We need countries to send a powerful signal that Trump’s aggression and bullying won’t be tolerated. Tell governments, football teams and sponsors to boycott the World Cup. Boycott the World Cup action.eko.org/a/boycott-th...

📅 Happening soon! Next Thursday, we'll be hosting a webinar to discuss the findings of our annual UK Poverty 2026 report. Expect insight and discussion from our analysts and front line practitioners that will lay out the depth and breadth of poverty in the UK. Sign up now: https://bit.ly/459R16V

A brilliant speech by Canada's Mark Carney in Davos: "The old order is not coming back. We should not mourn it. Nostalgia is not a strategy...The powerful have their power. But we have something too — the capacity to stop pretending, to name reality, to build our strength at home & to act together."

“Everything has changed” Nigel Farage defends not holding by-elections for defectors like Robert Jenrick As recently as 2022 he argued defecting MPs should hold by-elections

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. dedicated his life fighting for equity and justice. He taught us that even in the face of intimidation and discrimination, we must never stop working towards a better future – a lesson that feels especially relevant today.

This is depressing. For decades the acceptance of gay people in the USA only increased - but it peaked in 2020 and has dropped dramatically since.

"And we now have María on the line who would like to swap a Nobel Peace Prize for the presidency of Venezuela..."

💚 Defection from the Liberal Democrats to the Green Party! 🙌🏼 Huge welcome to Rachel - our first ever Green Councillor in Poole! www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/2576904...

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026... Dear Labour If you still care about what people in this country think - DO SOMETHING TO STOP THIS NOW !! These are caring people! ❤️ NOT criminals! 🙏🏼

Today (12th January) marks the 50th anniversary of the death of Dame Agatha Christie; mystery writer, playwright, plotting genius, creator of Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple AND THE BESTSELLING NOVELIST OF ALL TIME. If you've never read her, the time is now. #ReadChristie2026

A Black man was killed by ICE (off duty) in Los Angeles on New Year’s Eve. And like Renée Good, he was an American citizen. But most people have not heard about Keith Porter. I need y’all to realize this. Black people experience this lack of visibility all the time when it comes to being victims.

Self Portrait with Necklace, 1933 https://botfrens.com/collections/127/contents/30609

Stromness this afternoon. The sun sets as another snow shower arrives.

Our #Lego display cases are packed full of fabulously festive LEGO models for our MERRY & BRIGHT #OrkneyLibraryLego theme! 🎄🎁 All made by library users using our #Lego collection. Thanks to everyone who made us a #Christmas model! ❤️ Our first theme of 2026 will be SPACE! 🚀🛰☄️

‼️An exciting opportunity. Could you be our next Managing Director? ⚡ We're looking for someone who is energised by, and committed to, our work and values, and who will bring new vision and fresh energy! Find out more about the role & apply here: tinyurl.com/mvyadpue. Closing date: 9am on 12th Jan

Our dedicated and inspirational Managing Director, Naomi, has decided it is time to hand the baton to someone new. 📣 We're looking for our next Managing Director, to build on the work that has come before, and to lead Social Workers Without Borders into our next phase.

You've heard of Elf on the Shelf but how about

How did Mary and Joseph get their groceries delivered? On a Lidl donkey…

Yesterday we had some unusual, festive visitors who stopped off at the library on their way to work! 🦌🦌 This is Aztec and Jelly, the Cairngorm Reindeer, on their way to meet Christmas shoppers at William Shearer's wonderful shop in Kirkwall.

Ahmed al Ahmed, a Lebanese Muslim who owns a Sydney fruit shop, risked his life to disarm one of the Bondi Beach shooters. His courage gives me hope amidst the horror and darkness. Muslims and Jews are not enemies. Our futures, in the Middle East and beyond, are intrinsically bound. A true hero.

Compassion, welcome and solidarity, brought straight to the door of the Home Secretary! ✊ The message is clear: these cruel plans do not represent us. Communities up and down this country stand for #CompassionNotCruelty. It's not too late to change course.

Christmas has arrived at The Greatest Library View In The World™️ #Stromness #LibraryView

Earlier today, I was notified that someone was at my door. This is who it was:

Now Available: Research Handbook on Social Work and Societies edited by Hugh McLaughlin and Barbra Teater Free chapter: doi.org/10.4337/9781... Learn more: www.e-elgar.com/shop/isbn/97... Explore how social work has translated into practice in different countries with different client groups.

Letting people work is one of the most obvious ways to transform asylum in the UK. All parties must see that letting people pay tax and start rebuilding their lives as soon as possible just makes sense. Agree? Tell the Asylum Minister to #LiftTheBan now: bit.ly/LTB-act

It's right to be angry about asylum accommodation. But too often, that anger is directed at people seeking safety - not the broken system that they're forced to navigate. This brilliant guide explains the real issues in asylum accommodation, and how to change the conversation:

The reform party nativity scene. No unmarried mothers. No Middle Eastern people. No refugees. No people seeking emergency accommodation. And not a wise fvcking man in sight…

good progress. Just 790 to go!!

“It actually doesn’t take much to be considered a difficult woman. That’s why there are so many of us.” ― Jane Goodall 💙 RIP to a real one. My childhood hero

Are you able to host in Reading? One of our guests is currently studying a Master’s at the University of Reading and needs a place to stay as soon as possible. He’s 25-years-old, originally from Syria, and speaks fluent English. If you can help, please get in touch ❤️