Happy Birthday, Virgil van Dijk 🙌

I am very sad to learn that George Howarth, previously MP for Knowsley has died. He was a great mentor to the Merseyside MPs elected in 2010 and helped me so many times. I'll always think of him playing Liverpool folk songs on a guitar at the MPs' christmas do...

Bellingham got to be up there with Olise, Messi, Mbappe and Haaland as one of players of the tournament.

The road to truth is paved with over-excited discoveries and declarations that may well need to be modified. We’re not always good at getting the balance right between reverence for innovations and remembering that everything can be subject to revision. www.theguardian.com/society/2026...

Hello @thebluecoat.bsky.social garden

London and other cities’s economic trajectory doesn’t have to be a zero-sum game either. True that there r trade-offs in where to put money. But the cities’ challenges r different enough for there to be a meaning offer for both.

The long & tired history of commenters telling cities outside London not to want things continues... www.ft.com/content/2a04...

Did you know❓ We're using smart sensors for fewer delays in the summer. 🌡️ They help us accurately and more frequently track the temperature of rails in hot weather, so we can respond faster - and keep you moving: 👉 https://bit.ly/3PHg9gO #HotRailway #HotWeather #Summer

This is a very good piece

The 2010-2024 period belies this point of view, especially real wage growth. Not much asking why happening on the right.

Fyi the 'doesn't all this need a bit more detail' commenters this morning

One thing I’ve picked up in a few Burnham speeches which has been good to hear is a focus on local councils and the fact they have been essentially dismantled to the point where they can do very little beyond their ballooning social care budgets. I’ve been reporting on local government for years..

This isn't new. British politics has an insider culture...

A Netherlands mural, featuring Virgil Van Dijk, has appeared in Deep Ellum in Dallas

One of the most beloved paintings on Earth began at an asylum window. Van Gogh had been painting only nine years and his health was collapsing, but he didn't stop. Here is the story of how a man turned pain into immortal beauty. 🧵👇 #artbots #vangogh

The purpose for all progressives is changing who has power by upending traditional hierarchies. Devolution has shown that we can reshape markets & the state to this end. Which is why progressives should support Andy Burnham's leadership to go further... labourlist.org/2026/06/prog...

Kemi lost her head at PMQs - and afterwards too. It's not the first time. She's compared me to a Gestapo officer. I wonder what it is about a working class woman driving record investment in state schools by ending private schools' tax breaks that the Tories hate so much.

To win all kinds of progressive voters we need to make progressive arguments and do more progressive things. Andy has shown how we can beat Reform by fighting for togetherness and an inclusive plan that lifts us all. We really need him, and his plan, to succeed... labourlist.org/2026/06/prog...

Also Stormzy being interviewed pitchside. A joy.

I am sorry that the Prime Minister has resigned as Labour leader. I would like to recognise also what a challenging time this must be for his family. Politicians are human, and sometimes that's forgotten.

Listening to @guillem-balague.bsky.social talk about spanish football is one of life's joys is it not

Devastating. My heart is with all those grieving and helping those who are hurt. www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...

Congratulations @andyburnham.bsky.social ❤️ what a win 👏👏👏 (Who are these babies?!)

Step count joy ❤️

Yay science www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Mbappe….wow

10 years since our friend Jo Cox was murdered whilst serving her constituents. There is a lot to be said & do to build the kind of country she fought for. I was glad to speak on behalf of the Government in the House of Commons on Jo's legacy last week: hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2026...

Incredible light over the Mersey this evening

Important news for the brilliant team at Cammell Lairds, and especially for their work getting young people from Birkenhead into industry, all massively important for our future. giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...

I’m biased, but this is a great speech by @allymcgovern.bsky.social, and sets out a clear policy blueprint for how to grow cities outside London. Good jobs in tradable sectors; being open and attractive to new people; more and better investment; more local control (via gradual fiscal devolution)

In 1929 a middle-aged working-class woman became Britain's first female cabinet minister. Thanks to @ruthfox.bsky.social and Mark D'Arcy for inviting me onto the @hansardsociety.bsky.social podcast to talk about how Margaret Bondfield got there and why we have since almost forgotten her.

Good discussion here, focusing on the key driver of economic growth in cities: tradeable knowledge services.

I was very proud to give the State of the City address for Liverpool on friday, invited by Cllr Liam Robinson & Liverpool City Council... medium.com/@Alison_McGo...

DfE pupil data is out today and shows that the number of private school pupils has dropped 5.6% since VAT was introduced. Not 25% like the independent schools council predicted. Or the 50% we saw in some right-wing papers. 5.6%.

@mrjohncrace.bsky.social at his excoriating best this morning - and rightly so. 🤬

The other side of the river 🌸

Top trolling, superb stuff www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

More chat about the future of the left today 👀 Glad that we are now on ideas and beliefs, not just the horserace/soap opera... Some principles:

There was a post here a couple of years ago arguing that the desire for authenticity is fundamentally “the desire to be confronted with a stereotype” and while that was specifically about tourism I think it applies to a lot more than that

River Mersey is breezy and choppy today and it is a delight

'They leave as Liverpool greats. Genuine contenders for all time XI’s.' 'More than all that though - they shared the journey with us and they understood it is in it all being together, a collective journey, that it is special.' ✍️ @knoxharrington.bsky.social’s review: mailchi.mp/theanfieldwr...

If Mo Salah was the soul of Liverpool, Andy Robertson was the lungs. Two legends say goodbye 👋

A nice man stopped me at Birkenhead parkrun to say his MP had done a great job helping him. But the MP was @matthewpatrick.bsky.social

‘A lot happened in my 50s’ – Daniela Nardini played Anna in This Life. Now she’s a therapist

It's a work of absolute genius

Hello from Leeds bluesky