Local conservative candidate came by. Asked who I was voting for, I said I hadn’t decided but it wouldn’t be for him. He replied“vote Green, it’s time for a change”. Our ward is solid labour so he hopes to split the vote. He wished me good luck and said I was rude when I could not wish him the same.

🟨 Print Edition — Welcome to The Fête of Britain As the polls closed in Gorton and Denton on 26 February, a clearly knackered Zack Polanski on BBC Newsnight was asked about a campaign leaflet distributed by the Reform UK candidate Matt Goodwin claiming that “it takes more than a piece of paper…

It is more or less impossible to overstate how unreliable the train service is in this country. I’m currently 90 minutes into a 60 minute journey and we’re stuck at another red signal around 30 minutes or so away from the destination. It is the third similar journey in a week.

Why would someone get up early at around 7am on a bleak Tuesday in January, head off to their local swimming pool and then stand waist high in 1m of water near the edge of the pool for nearly 30 minutes? I'm just curious about what motivates people. Nothing to do with having to navigate an obstacle.

All of these people - Mogg, Farage, Carswell, Jenrick, Hannan and the rest need to be forever reminded of what they backed and supported

#OtD 15 Jan 1919 revolutionary socialists Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht were murdered by the far-right paramilitary Freikorps who were acting on behalf of the Social Democratic government during the events following the 1918 revolution. Learn more: shop.workingclasshistory.com/products/the...

‘Knowledge of Beauty.’ The second film by Jack Hazan shot in County Mayo in the West of Ireland using 35mm film which Jack said made the scenery look more lush than normal. About the 3 films Jack said, ‘I listened to what Kevin had to say and tried to interpret what he wanted. I didn’t betray him.’

‘Listen To This.’ The 3rd film by Jack Hazan. Kevin sang live for this. Extraordinarily powerful. I love how Jack shot the band at the end.

This is only a start- albeit a very welcome one. Musk has dragged the platform formerly known as Twitter into a cesspit.

Nephew, 23, lives and works in Munich, studied across EU, raised in Italy and Senegal. I just explained to him what a food bank is and why we were donating. He'd never encountered anything like it. Not exactly sure what this says about him but it certainly says something about inequality in UK.

This comes out today, & the writing of it has been almost as fascinating as co-creating the shows it deals with - work that emerged from and added to community. Ta to the people @intellectbooks.bsky.social and London Bubble who saw me through - plus all the creators who made and performed the work.

Powerful words from @alexnurse.bsky.social - who simply doesn’t want to be killed while commuting to and from work

Never met Rachel Cooke but I loved her writing. A wonderful eclectic range of interests that often overlapped with mine. She had an exiled northern voice, witty and erudite. I’ll miss her work and this lovely tribute from @timadamswrites.bsky.social explains why.

Our Island Stories by @corinnefowler.bsky.social is a really powerful read. More than a historical exploration of rural Britain, it shows how colonialism haunts our present and interrogates the psychological impact of things too easily taken for granted. Like a good walk - it is best taken slowly.

Listening to the reliably wonderful @gidcoe.bsky.social on 6 music and realised I’d been listening to his musical choices since his time on GLR breakfast show - many moons ago. Still playing great material.

Every word of this.

The Government seems to lack the courage needed to pursue its convictions and this is primarily a leadership issue. Appearing rudderless and behaving in this way invites speculation into a policy void and leaves them open to the continuity Sunk charge.

The BBC and by extension the UK should follow in the footsteps of Spain, Slovenia, the Netherlands and our neighbours in Ireland and boycott Eurovision unless Israel is banned from the competition. Please sign the petition 38d.gs/nd3w

Latest changes to Duolingo are yet another set that make it much poorer. Just not sure how much longer I can be bothered with it. #duolingo

Until the government is willing have an honest discussion about the negative impact of Brexit - Britain’s growth, productivity & living standards will continue to be weighed down by the structural handicap it has inflicted on the country & economy www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

‼️ Please Sign This ‼️ 🚨 Boris Johnson’s secret deals, shady lobbying & cash grabs exposed. Millions in private gigs and still taking £115K of OUR money while under investigation. Suspend his ex-PM allowance now. 38d.gs/yvgb?utm_cam...

Great to see @zoejardiniere.bsky.social repeating a series of sensible points on the disgraceful treatment of asylum seekers. As she says, the language around illegal migration needs to be tackled and - above all - people need to have the right to work

Fantastic to hear @zoejardiniere.bsky.social talk so eloquently and passionately on @bbcnewsnight.bsky.social about the need to treat asylum seekers and migrants with the dignity and respect all vulnerable people require, including the right to earn a living through work.

A few days in Norfolk preceded by @petshopboys.co.uk at Sandringham - we have seen too many gigs to remember them all, but this one was jaw droppingly good, stunning and immediately located in top few over past 40+ years. Pop art at it’s finest.

Found it.

‘I believe that damaging and destroying weapons of war is one way of waging peace: I can only conclude that for the British government, the waging of peace is terrorism.’ Huw Lemmey on the proscription of Palestine Action: www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...

When I was little, the U.S. military came to our home at gunpoint and took me and my family away. We were imprisoned for years in barbed wire camps simply because we were Japanese American. I have spent my life telling that story, hoping it would never be repeated.

Please sign below to demand an end to our broken electoral system and for the government to adopt Proportional Representation in our elections — so that every vote counts equally at every election. actionnetwork.org/petitions/20...

This article on UK unis is a total mess which sounds radical, but then washes its hands of the whole debacle. But it's right about: (1) hyper-competition without planning or controls is driving *both* inefficiencies and cuts; (2) the whole thing has to change. (1/2) www.economist.com/britain/2025...

@lamornaash.bsky.social enjoyed your contact column in @newstatesman.com - busy working my way though backlog caused by late running postal deliveries so this may seem somewhat out of sync. So important to recognise, to celebrate the chance encounters that shape the best in everyday living.

Live Aid at 40 is a compelling watch. Shows an inspirational naive energy that makes a difference, barges it’s way onto a political stage and then grapples with forces that the largely working class catholic boys who started the ball rolling had never dreamt of at the outset. A fascinating journey.

I’m no expert but I would’ve got a person to do it.

Britain *is* broken. Brexit broke Britain. And Nigel Farage is benefitting from the wreckage. This was always my greatest fear with Brexit - that it would bring about stagnant conditions that favour extreme populism. Much like drug addiction causes crashes that make the drug more seductive.

Very perceptive and well informed piece amongst the huge amount published this week to mark the government’s first birthday. Well worth reading if you want to understand disappointment and the dangers facing the government as it starts to move freely in a space where there is no one else to blame.

Watch the full episode: zeteo.com/p/live-from-...

Trans people deserve safety, dignity, and the freedom to be able to participate fully in public life. They deserve to be treated as human beings, not a legal abstract. By @sophiemolly.co.uk northwestbylines.co.uk/news/equalit...

I work in Comms and my strength has always been writing, which I love. Everyone in the team uses AI for it now, which I resisted so I'm getting a rep for not wanting to move with the times. I've been gently told to start using it, so I did today. I'm only 37 and it saps my soul.

No council, or councillor, has the right to "ban" any books. The library service are the only body that makes decisions on stock selection. A councillor, as a member of the public, can *request* books are removed on a title-by-title basis, but the reply should come that under @cilip.bsky.social

Tonight. Share everywhere. 🙏

The loud drumbeat that companies should "embrace AI now or be left behind" has more in common with high-pressure sales techniques than biz strategy. And that's fine - tech firms have something to sell. But the rest of us needn’t confuse it with anything more profound. www.ft.com/content/4688...

While govt is slashing support for disabled people to save £6.7 billion, a #WealthTax on just multi-millionaires and billionaires could raise £24 billion. Great to meet @patmillsuk.bsky.social‬ and @taxjusticeuk.bsky.social‬ to talk about a fairer tax system.

Until a UK Government tackles the fact that Scandinavian level public services can’t be delivered on a US tax base then we’re in for a succession of failed Governments crippled by recurrent fiscal crises. Blue Labour is currently proving itself to be no more than oxymoron. Incredibly disappointing.

Rod Stewart looking like a legendary waxwork version of himself from one of those "guess who it is meant to be" Polish museums that do the social media rounds every now and again.

Brexit was a monumental act of self harm and stupidity. That we have a government allowing it to continue is unforgivable.

Spread the love and acceptance #pridemonth

I ran an experiment, simultaneously posting articles on Bluesky and X, and then testing to see how many people actually clicked and read them. The numbers on Bluesky are higher, both because the X algorithm downranks journalism, and because Bluesky attracts readers, not just shitposters.

🔴‘Keir Starmer’s Timid Refusal to Nationalise Failing Water Companies is a Symptom of a Government Cast Adrift’ Starmer’s administration is proving itself to be “devoid of moral compass or political courage”, argues Labour MP @labourlewis.bsky.social bylinetimes.com/2025/06/06/t...