so they're closing the West Coast Main Line for a week, huh? the single line connecting London to four of Britain's next five biggest urban conurbations? that's mad, weird that no one's ever thought to build an alternative route, perhaps even one that runs at a high speed, too. crazy

If you’re looking for a guide to the perils of a world in which economic interdependence is being weaponised and countries are striving for greater self-sufficiency in response, allow me to mention that…Exile Economics has JUST come out in paperback! Order here: linktr.ee/exileeconomi...

Glad that he has gone, but this will have caused a lot of pain, both for all affected by Grenfell, and the Lakanal House fire in Camberwell. Very familiar all this from the years of Hillsborough denialism and worse. inews.co.uk/news/grenfel...

The difference a Labour government makes 💪🏼

Getting rid of the 2 child limit is by my calculation worth *£12.5million* per year to Birkenhead's economy. Over £1m extra a month. Not a small thing when you think about where it will be spent (locally) and by who (parents who have struggled to make ends meet). Happy April everyone.

A good thing: www.theguardian.com/society/2026...

I share this warning most years. I just want young journalists to know. On April 1st some PRs publish ‘hilarious’ press releases. In my first year of journalism no one told me there was this magical day where they simply lie. And that is how I came to write an article about condoms for dogs.

Child poverty isn't just bad, it results in an enduring earnings gap. This gap between graduates who grew up in poverty and those who didn't persists even for people who go to the same university, get the same degree and work for the same firm ⤵️ buff.ly/5VfX2Fi

A great thing. And London folks, you are very lucky to have Helen Legg to lead the RA. We will miss her in Liverpool. www.theguardian.com/artanddesign...

In Westminster on Wednesday, - just across the road from the Home Office at the Emmanuel Centre - there was a different kind of conversation about welcoming refugees: Citizens UK held a summit on named community sponsorship of refugees - with ministerial support & home office engagement

Feels like we shouldn't still have to say that all kinds of families are good, but we do. So well done @oliviabailey.bsky.social 👏

Yes! Build her a statue. Ceri Holland incredible to watch and our stand out player in a tough season. Red card a shame but all that matters is the win 👏❤️

Birkenhead's historic Carlton Little Theatre. Needs some investment but what a history 🎭 www.carltonlittletheatre.co.uk

I contributed some thoughts on Mo Salah's first big day in red, alongside the likes of @courtneyeales.bsky.social @ryanpaton.bsky.social and @paulphilbin.bsky.social www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpo...

supreme accidental comic timing in Commons just now during PMQs: Keir Starmer: “there is only one party leader who has shown he will say anything, no matter how divisive, if he is paid to do so” Speaker (calling the next question): “Nigel Farage”

Me on Salah. www.theanfieldwrap.com/2026/03/youl...

Has been a gift to watch Mo Salah play. His ability to play all over, make ludicrous runs, receive impossible passes and thread the eye of a needle to score has been just unreal. And his partnerships too. He's not just a football genius, he is a team maker, a builder of other talents.

Great news all round. Well done Sheffield www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/m...

Speaking at our event @annastansbury.bsky.social says the striking new finding from our research is that two people getting the same grade for the same degree at the same university at the same time still face big earnings gap ten years later just because one of them experienced child poverty.

HOPE not hate stands in solidarity with Jewish communities in Golders Green and around the country after last night's arson attack.

Featuring quotes from me (alongside other people who are doing far more than me!) Art After Dark was such a lovely atmosphere in Birkenhead on Friday, a real showcase of the full depth of just how many amazing creative people are working locally.

Important point for Liverpool, but we could have scored. My general view that the women should be invested in on all fronts unchanged.

My delusions are rational. I have seen my men's football team win everything. The big ones, more than once. Be disappointed if you want to be. There will always be games that don't work out - and it's good to understand why and how. But lose faith in them? Never.

Not meaning to dunk on Arun here, but I do feel like something has gone wrong if you're a Liverpool fan - ever, but especially in 2026 - and jaded. The whole point of us is that we're meant to be delusionally optimistic! In part, because something miraculous happens every other year!

I prefer the Champions League anyway

We’ve got one of the massive illegal waste dumps in my constituency, near Iwade. Lots of smaller scale but just as malign flytipping too. In the country & the towns I’ve spoken to residents, businesses, experts + agencies to work out how to stop it, given it’s been a problem for more than a decade

👏 www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

A lot that's bad in this world. And there is a whole lot more to do so our children have good childhoods. But we can make progress: www.gov.uk/government/n...

Hundreds of thousands of Muslims fought in the world wars. The armies that fought+won the second world war against fascism had an ethnic + faith mix that matches the Britain of 2025 more than that of 1939-45, so arrival of Windrush is the story of black RAF servicemen returning to Britain in 1948

Standing ovation as Salah leaves the field ❤️👏

More anti-Muslim bigotry. We must re-establish the norm on this - it must have no place in our public life.

Not just about the money but also recognising women who survived something horrendous, and their generation who came to help build our country. www.theguardian.com/world/2026/m...

"There are huge gains to be made if we can only close the gap: if we back Manchester, Liverpool, and Leeds to match – and overtake – Stuttgart, Turin, and Lyon." She's correct.

it has occurred to me recently that black snot is no longer a thing in London. It used to be a standard feature of a day in town.

All I wanted for mothers' day was 3 points

Well done @bphillipsonmp.bsky.social As she says, one of my reasons for being in politics is knowing stress about money as a child I only later had the words for. All our children should know this Government is thinking about what they need. And that part of school is learning to have your say.

The only way to protect ourselves from oil and gas price spikes is to get off the rollercoaster of fossil fuel markets and onto clean homegrown power. That’s the mission of this Labour Government. #BBCQT

A second foreword from Steve Reed. "A pride which is hopeful about the future for people’s communities and the country, not pining for some imagined past. Open to all those who call these islands home, regardless of the colour of their skin" www.gov.uk/government/p....

I love politics on 5live in general, and the phone-in specifically, for all the reasons here. You get the time to talk things through. It's more testing, but more rewarding. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Very good news for lovers of live music and/or Birkenhead www.birkenhead.news/future-yard-...

Watching Louise Casey’s speech at @nuffieldtrust.org.uk Health Summit. She traces the history of care from 1948, where Beveridge’s lack of focus on social care was in large part down to lower life expectancies & unpaid care. That’s changed but she says ‘we haven’t looked it in the face’.

Clearly it would have been nice if Palace had beaten them today, but, you know, respect for this.

Daniel Sturridge on the telly 👏👏

Labour is rising to the generational challenge of properly supporting children with SEND. We will set out our vision and ambition for a schools system where every child can achieve and thrive. www.theguardian.com/education/20...

That was a goal dammit. Ridiculous.