US House adopts war powers resolution requiring Congress authorization of military ops in #Iran 4 Republicans join Democrats in 215-208 vote Measure now goes to Senate, which adopted similar resolution last month - #Trump approval is not required, as step falls under 1973 War Powers Act #IranWar

Rather a good “question” here from @eddavey.libdems.org.uk …

Cannot be said too often.

Famously the BBC never has Farage on Question Time

Cannot be said too often.

“White lives matter too” is a straw man so vertiginous that not only can it be seen from space, its head is up there knocking satellites from orbit. I have never seen anyone suggest that white lives don’t matter. I wish I could say the same about black lives.

We only went and won it!! 🎉🎉🎉 A newsletter has just won the biggest prize in British journalism Absolutely delighted. Huge thanks to Khadija and to all Democracy for Sale’s supporters 😊

How about suggesting Desert Island Disc choices for Nigel? My starter for ten: 1 Go Home 2 Don’t Stand So Close to Me 3 Money Money Money 4 Sailing 5 Row Row Row your Boat 6 Cigarettes and Alcohol 7 The Great Pretender 8 The Invisible Man

How about suggesting Desert Island Disc choices for Nigel? My starter for ten: 1 Go Home 2 Don’t Stand So Close to Me 3 Money Money Money 4 Sailing 5 Row Row Row your Boat 6 Cigarettes and Alcohol 7 The Great Pretender 8 The Invisible Man

This from the man who spent years hectoring us about how crucial it was for 'our own laws to be debated and made in our own sovereign parliament'.

The new, first ever, metro in Bogotá should open in 2028. Construction began in 2020 and uses elevated tracks, often alongside existing roads. Slightly quicker than slow-mo UK. Perhaps, we should also use viaducts, wherever possible, to build faster.

Today’s election result to watch out for. #Colombia www.theguardian.com/world/2026/m...

@bengoldsborough.bsky.social - only a sample of one, but an illustration that the impact of misinformation from weakly-regulated social media and TV stations can be powerful.

The new, first ever, metro in Bogotá should open in 2028. Construction began in 2020 and uses elevated tracks, often alongside existing roads. Slightly quicker than slow-mo UK. Perhaps, we should also use viaducts, wherever possible, to build faster.

Is any CEO ‘pro-nonsense’?

"California’s Democratic field us monotonous and complacent. If this is the best the party can muster, perhaps it deserves a shock." My Swamp Notes with Richard Waters. Free to read. as.ft.com/r/f8f9f8d0-4...

Working through Tony Blair’s essay (on the TBI website) on the challenges facing UK/Labour, and the responses from Wes Streeting (Guardian) Keir Starmer (Substack) and Andy Burnham (Times), to produce a TLDR. Only one of these four mentions climate crisis and only in passing.

I'm speaking in a session chaired by Clare Short on the UK-EU Reset � Starmer's "plan" doesn't offer EU anything it wants - such as Student Mobility. He (or AB?) will have to move further and more enthusiastically. We need to debate (Re-)Join. And Fruit-salading must replace Cherry-picking!

On this day in 1907, Rachel Carson was born. Her 1962 book, Silent Spring, helped launch the global environmental movement. Chemical companies tried to discredit Carson by calling her a Communist and/or a “hysterical” woman. #WeTheMen

A note for early risers: Happy to say that I will be returning to the BBC World Service (after a longer book-writing absence) this coming Sunday morning to co-host the Weekend show with the brilliant Julian Worricker and Patrick Bishop.

Message this morning from the Lewis family about #Spurs and their commitment to invest and rebuild. www.tottenhamhotspur.com/news/1070176...

Richard challenges the ‘they wouldn’t have us back’ assertion and makes a very persuasive political case for rejoining the EU.

Always a faithful reader of @duncanrobinson.bsky.social ‘s column but this one is especially good. British politics are in dire need of dispensing with the old labels. It‘s been 10 years. Time for some new material. (Anywheres? Somewheres? Left behind? Heartlands? Please.🙄)

Richard challenges the ‘they wouldn’t have us back’ assertion and makes a very persuasive political case for rejoining the EU.

The EU could deny new member states the right to veto foreign policy and other decisions requiring unanimity. The no-veto clause could be written into Montenegro's accession treaty, which would serve as a template for others. www.theguardian.com/world/2026/m...

It’s the much-missed Sean Lock’s birthday

Important , essential conversation exploring the tension between supply and demand and finding a solution that is compassionate to humans and animals…

“[40C-plus mid-century heat in the UK is now baked in. …life in the 2050s is going to be very different from today, & [we need to] act now. The sooner we recognise this & begin – as a nation – to prepare & adapt, the better we [can] meet the enormous challenges]” www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

“[40C-plus mid-century heat in the UK is now baked in. …life in the 2050s is going to be very different from today, & [we need to] act now. The sooner we recognise this & begin – as a nation – to prepare & adapt, the better we [can] meet the enormous challenges]” www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Late Night last show, The Beatles played in the same studio on Ed Sullivan in the 1960s.

'Leftwing' does not have to mean fiscally loose. "More open policies on migration and Europe and a fairer tax system would be economically “left” of the present government. But they would improve the public finances and reduce the deficit." Me in @financialtimes.com www.ft.com/content/7235...

By chance, I had a civil chat with a 60-something Reform supporter in the Midlands yesterday. I learnt: 1 views are all emotionally-based 2 it’s Nigel not Farage 3 hate for Starmer is extreme 4 key immigration stat. is gross inflow 5 BBC and other orgs are all woke 6 NHS executives are all trans.

Three ways a new Labour leader could change the politics of growth by @jdportes.bsky.social The UK needs to confront the policies that have made us poorer www.ft.com/content/7235...

Three ways a new Labour leader could change the politics of growth by @jdportes.bsky.social The UK needs to confront the policies that have made us poorer www.ft.com/content/7235...

My friend Robbie went missing in action in Vietnam on October 12, 1972. His body has never been recovered. I think of him every Memorial Day — and what he died fighting for.

@andyburnham.bsky.social glad to see you are posting here on @bsky.app . I appreciate this probably isn’t a top issue in Makerfield but, in due course, would be interested to know to what you would point in reply to my question below. Thanks.

Does AB have the skills that Jess Phillips said Sir Keir Starmer doesn’t? When has AB demonstrated an ability to make an argument, win opponents over, and then stick to his course? We know he's good at responding to the popular mood, but how good is he at sticking to a tough long-term decision?

By chance, I had a civil chat with a 60-something Reform supporter in the Midlands yesterday. I learnt: 1 views are all emotionally-based 2 it’s Nigel not Farage 3 hate for Starmer is extreme 4 key immigration stat. is gross inflow 5 BBC and other orgs are all woke 6 NHS executives are all trans.

Is AB capable of making an argument and winning opponents over, and then sticking with it, as opposed to responding to the popular mood?

The #Rejoin genie may be ‘out of the bottle’ but political consensus needs to be found. ‘João Vale de Almeida, former EU ambassador to the UK, said the bloc would be reluctant to start talks on Britain rejoining unless there was a political consensus in Britain’ @valedealmeidaeu.bsky.social

I'm not going back to X to explain it to Iain, but the way to get through to people like that is to point out this: People are not like goods imports. When they come they also need to eat, look after and entertain themselves. To do that they buy goods and services from people here, creating work.

UK needs ‘national consensus’ over rejoining EU, David Miliband says. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Here's the thing. From a business perspective, rejoining would be much better than the gradual alignment/ next stage. Why? Because every change (rules/regulations) is expensive and a waste of the company's time/money. Even if it's a positive change. www.bbc.com/news/article...

I re-posted this earlier before I'd read the report, and as @davidheniguk.bsky.social says it really is extremely good. From a UK perspective, the proposal for "a systematic, evidence-based review" is crucial. It's actually astonishing there hasn't been one already. 1/3

How to break out of the ‘migration doom loop’….Firstly: “Labour should drop, or at least radically narrow, the proposal to extend the standard route to settlement from five to 10, 15 or even 20 years. A country that wants migrants to contribute should not keep them in prolonged insecurity.”

This is why Vox Pops are an absolute menace. Most people simply don't understand the true picture and yet their opinions continue to feed the narrative.

This is very good and such a detailed understanding of what is a somewhat odd seat it is easy to make silly generalisations about.

NEW The extraordinary ‘settlement’ agreement between Trump and his own government A complex high-value fund is being created without legislation or oversight by a court By me, at @prospectmagazine.co.uk www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/law/th...

Insightful analysis about the realities of Makerfield, particularly useful for southerners with preconceptions. Not a batter scraping in sight - Will Self, please note.

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