Heading back from Lib Dem conference. Fewer non-party attendees and fringes than I expected but guess a lot of organisations saving their public affairs budgets for Labour at this stage of the electoral cycle.

The English Devolution Bill is probably one of the most consequential bills from this government (at least for planning, housing, local economic development & transport). I've updated a short 8 page note on the main clauses for those who may be interested: www.linkedin.com/posts/richar...

Shift in net zero target date from 2045 to 2050 now covered in Politico www.politico.eu/article/lib-...

The decision to grant Gatwick’s expansion goes against the government’s own planning inspectors. It fails on climate, and will create extra air + noise pollution for thousands of people surrounding the airport. 1/5 www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

My comments @britishfuture.bsky.social on proposals to revoke settlement and abolish indefinite leave to remain from Nigel Farage's Reform Party this morning www.britishfuture.org/reform-attac...

The juxtaposition this morning of a report showing planned fossil fuel production through to 2030 is far in excess of that needed to stop warming spiralling above 2C and the UK government approving Gatwick expansion is quite the thing.

Hope all civil society organisations stand in solidarity with those in refugee sector targeted by far right. www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

So now Gatwick’s 2nd Runway is approved, does this nullify the 2015 Airports Commission report that favoured LHR 3rd Runway over Gatwick 2? UK needs a national airport strategy that considers the impact yet more SE capacity growth has in the regions & their airports www.gov.uk/government/p...

Good to see this focus on climate & nature at Lib Dem conference today. Though green groups having to quit their venue this evening to make space for Nick Clegg to talk about AI and data centres is perhaps not the best metaphor for the state of environmental politics right now.

Junk food & gambling ads right outside the @libdems.org.uk conference shows why we're here talking to councillors about policies to restrict harmful ads to protect #publichealth & #nature🌿 @ldnc-uk.bsky.social @assoclibdemcllrs.bsky.social @libdemlocalgov.bsky.social

The Lib Dems are debating a new climate policy today at conference. It's a pretty comprehensive & ambitious set of policies covering whole economy rather than just focusing on, say, short-term electricity generation targets. www.libdems.org.uk/conference/p...

“It’s time for our town and city centres to be rediscovered as places where people get together, socialise and feel part of something. This is about more than just Oxford Street and London. It’s about people saying they want more from their streets than them just being corridors for traffic.”

To Bournemouth for Lib Dem conference. Looking forward to being cheered by the eternal sunny optimism of the Lib Dems. Civilisation could be collapsing all around us & they would be passing a motion on how STV, land value taxation & a new Office for Saving the World would make everything all right.

I read the new Lib Dem policy paper on climate change last week*, and it is genuinely excellent. The proposals are credible and ambitious, and clearly informed by good quality research. www.libdems.org.uk/conference/p...

I've put up on LinkedIn a doc with key commitments and next steps from Ministers from the Lords committee stage of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill: www.linkedin.com/posts/richar...

MHCLG trying to take over Environment Agency & force them to wave through planning applications is ridiculous. Nature is not the problem. The mitigation hierarchy will still apply to all energy projects even after the Planning bill. Why is it so hard to build 🏡 www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Does this look familiar? Every week we'll share the worst pavement parking pics we get from supporters. Add your photos to our interactive map and help us find pavement parking hotspots in England 📍 act.livingstreets.org.uk/page/176767/...

As I wrote back in Feb, the government's focus on building homes with no apparent strategy beyond "planning reform" is dangerous and their ongoing failure to hit their stupid 1.5m target makes is more likely they'll be stuck with only the bad options to choose from. builtplace.com/still-search...

Slight Potemkin village vibes from the Minister: "Since I became a Minister, I have visited literally dozens of construction sites across the country...There is certainly not a lack of regard for design, biodiversity or zero carbon...I have seen some excellent examples."

An outlier polling company so...But lots of Labour voters are getting used to the idea of not voting Labour (see also Conservatives).

"We have apparently spent 60 hours in the Chamber debating the Bill and covered 650 amendments." Planning and Infrastructure Bill has completed its Lords committee stage with Report stage to come over four days in late October.

From Wired a few weeks ago. A lot of the people who I was told for years were the adults in the room are being asked how they want to be remembered, and that answer is very clearly "cowards." www.wired.com/story/uncann...

Here we go again. Another round of planning reform (creating uncertainty and undermining long-term sustainable development) to try and persuade the OBR to up short-term GDP forecasts.

After a week of not being a DfT minister, Lilian Greenwood is back again as DfT minister. But also a whip for some reason that must make sense to someone www.gov.uk/government/n...

Listened to most of the sessions today on the Bill. I am concluding that there would be much to gain from a return to publishing bills in draft for scrutiny first.

Revealed: Sewage overflows twice as bad inside national parks Exclusive: @campaign4parks.bsky.social attack ‘outrageous’ situation, saying waters in protected areas should be cleanest Story by me www.theguardian.com/environment/...

National Parks encompass some of the most biodiverse and important rivers in the country💧 Yet even in precious #NationalParks, freshwaters have been ignored by successive governments, companies & regulators 📉 It's time to recue our rivers 👉 www.cnp.org.uk/support/camp...

"I've never actually watched Eurovision, confesses BBC boss Tim Davie"

People are voting Reform because we're not sacking adequate civil servants, a la Netflix. Hmm. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

I'm giving evidence to the English Devo Bill committee tomorrow. As ever, I'm knee deep in reading of submissions, research reports, briefings, select committee transcripts - all for 20 minutes when most of this will go unused. Anyway, this is us* tomorrow: committees.parliament.uk/event/25168/...

“I think Ed Miliband is the most dangerous man in Britain”, says Claire Coutinho. Wow! That's some statement to make on the weekend a racist thug led a big march in London. Of course, the there's not a word in the interview on what to do about climate change... www.express.co.uk/news/politic...

The @commonseac.parliament.uk has accepted letter from me to their housing & sustainability inquiry. committees.parliament.uk/writtenevide... (1/3)

The Budget is coming up. HMT needs OBR to up their growth forecasts. A weakened Chancellor wants to boost her standing. So we get... www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...

Lib Dem leader Ed Davey on BBC R4’s Today: “We represent traditional British values: things like the rule of law, things like working with other countries… If you hold to those liberal beliefs that have made our country great, I think that’s true patriotism.”

Comments like this do not help when it comes to consideration of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill. While Government concessions to date have been substantial, problems remain. The Governments own impact assessment show nature is not a blockage to growth.

Stand Up to Racism mailing list - scroll to bottom of the page standuptoracism.org.uk

My colleague @thejohnsimpson.bsky.social has done a terrific deep dive into the financial links between US tech billionaires and Tommy Robinson Well worth a read observer.co.uk/news/nationa...

Standing up to racism (in the rain)

This is a good balanced piece on solar farms - these quotes from Professor Dave Chadwick particularly. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

"The great political contest, ever since the dawn of the thing we call democracy, is between the public interest and the power of money." www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Can we build 1.5 million homes without blowing the UK’s carbon budget? If we keep doing things the same way, the answer is no. Libby Peake, senior fellow, explores how we can change course in our latest blog. 🔗

The NHS regional integrated care board geographies are being aligned with the new regional (or city-region) strategic authorities. Yesterday, DHSC announced the first revised "footprints" to align with SAs (see below). New governance in England is slowly taking shape.

World Suicide Prevention Day is a chance for us to come together, raise awareness, and take meaningful steps towards preventing suicide and supporting those who may be struggling to cope. Visit the Samaritans website https://www.samaritans.org/support-us/campaign/world-suicide-prevention-day/ #WSPD

"The House adjourned at 3.41am on Wednesday 10 September" Government whips kept peers (average age 70) up all night going through amendments to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill. Doesn't seem like the best way to run a legislature. lordsbusiness.parliament.uk/ItemOfBusine...

Call for evidence from the Commons Committee scrutinising the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill: www.parliament.uk/business/new...

Stand Up to Racism Demo this Saturday standuptoracism.org.uk/social-media...

The oldest trick in the climate delay playbook: 1. Rule out all other measures as unnecessary and counterproductive because we will introduce CO2 pricing 2. Then rule out CO2 pricing because it would make things unaffordable 3. Checkmate

'The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation said it relies on "people from all backgrounds" to provide aid in Gaza' www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

A textbook case of how not to report polls. '50%? Oh my god!' 'Oh, you mean a 9-point increase'?

In July, London TravelWatch celebrated its 25th anniversary, and London Bus Alliance member Julian Bell took a look back at the evolution of the London bus in this time. https://www.londontravelwatch.org.uk/news/the-enduring-pulse-how-buses-forged-londons-social-conscience/' #CTBM25 #LoveTheBus