Anti-apartheid campaigner and Labour peer Lord Peter Hain: "If you start labelling people willy-nilly as terrorists right across the board, you're going down a very very dangerous route." PA's actions are often already illegal - criminal damage, and it is going through the courts, he says

Unsung hero of WWII

Our NHS is not for sale. Trade talks with Trump must not open the door to US healthcare companies profiting from our NHS. Keir Starmer must protect our NHS by keeping it off the table during negotiations. Join me by adding your name to 38 Degrees’ petition: 38d.gs/fztr

To those who still call fox hunting a ‘tradition’: it’s nothing but barbaric cruelty. Real tradition is respecting nature, not destroying it. Time to enforce the ban and end the excuses!

Sir Nicholas Hytner “There are kids not introduced to drama, not introduced to music, and not introduced to art. The private education sector continues to pour money and resources into arts and sports. That has been progressively withdrawn from the state sector. That needs to change. It hasn’t yet."

Opera UpClose, an excellent track record of taking opera to children. Pl support their excellent work. With Big Give, every donation is doubled. www.operaupclose.com/discover/the... Whatever help you can give will be appreciated, however small, and will do a great deal of good. #operaupclose

You are going to be hearing a lot about this book.

Opera appg's Dec event, our young Opera stars!  St Josph's Primary School, Chelsea, recently in ENO's La Boheme, proving children deserve an arts education! Thank you ENO. Thanks too to exceptional soprano Lesley Garrett for her insights into the power of music plus a mini master class.

StreetWise Opera needs our support to continue. They use music and creativity as a tool to empower and inspire people affected by homelessness . Til noon on 12 Dec, donations to The Big Give will be doubled.  Please send a donation, however small. donate.biggive.org/campaign/a05...

Streetwise Opera transforms the lives and hopes of homeless people. Their popular carol concert hosted by Simon Callow and friends is London – Friday 13 December; and a free Christmas Extravaganza Manchester – Sunday 14 December streetwiseopera.org/whats-on/

Don't you just love ENO. Their mission is to share with all of us the wonderful music - and the drama - that is Opera. There is nothing so arresting as being surrounded with music and singing. Thank you #ENO

In the UK, let's know the value of the NHS and understand how an insurance based system works in the US - and recognise the difference.

Lovely to see the pure joy and excitement here for pop-up opera. How we all adore delightful surprises of this quality x.com/HoaiNguyenJ7...

The Opera appg's next event offers empirical evidence how children benefit from engaging in the arts and music, and why children should have an arts education. Our children are the country’s greatest asset.  We must nurture them, and never underestimate their capabilities. STEAM not STEM.

Keir Starmer's promise to state schools: "As Prime Minister I am determined to put creativity at the heart of our school curriculum and ensure that every young person has access to music and all the arts." slippedisc.com/2024/09/sir-...

Last night's opening of ENO's Elixir of Love yet another reminder of the crassness of ACE to pull funding. Very clever setting and staging, and marvellous performances. Hugely enjoyable. Do go and see this funny opera. Free for under 21s. Tickets from £10. www.eno.org/whats-on/the...