A curious tale from yours truly & @bengartside.bsky.social Tens of thousands have joined pro-Restore Britain FB groups being run by people who appear to be based in Pakistan & Bangladesh Some of these groups are later turned into vessels for selling firesticks, download codes & tech support

A curious tale from yours truly & @bengartside.bsky.social Tens of thousands have joined pro-Restore Britain FB groups being run by people who appear to be based in Pakistan & Bangladesh Some of these groups are later turned into vessels for selling firesticks, download codes & tech support

I sat down with Caroline Lucas earlier this month. We discussed: 🟢The party’s new direction under Zack Polanski 🟢Why the Zionism is racism debate is "not helpful" 🟢How the party needs to find better ways of handling its differences internally 🟢Why she is wary of a progressive alliance

Exc: A senior Lib Dem has told @matildamartin.bsky.social that they and colleagues are "astonished" & "pissed off" after it emerged that Lord Rennard had the whip restored by the party amid an investigation into claims he sexually harassed female members "I'm incandescent that we have done this"

*Exclusive* A senior Liberal Democrat has told PoliticsHome that they and their colleagues are "astonished" and "pissed off" after news emerged that Lord Chris Rennard has had the whip restored while an investigation into claims he sexually harassed female members is still ongoing

Now seems like a good time to reshare this exclusive interview I did with Andy Burnham on SEND reform: -“Start from a principle about nothing being taken away” -Backs "move away from" EHCPs, but in way that doesn't "destabilise/frighten" -“Whole school, not individual child funding model”

A decade+ since I was inadvertently invited to a Downing Street room with Facebook/Google/etc and Cameron walked in and asked everyone what they'd do to boost youth referendum turnout and a grand woman shouted "WE NEED GRIME ARTISTES, DOES ANYONE KNOW ANY GRIME ARTISTES" and I began to doubt Remain.

With all eyes on the PM, what is Burnham planning to do on arrival in Westminster? We report Burnham is expected to meet with Labour MPs today as he prepares a bid to enter No 10 He is understood to be prioritising MPs with whom he does not have strong relationships, like those elected in 2024

Reform council leader Sean Matthews is being investigated **by his own council** after telling the Reform Party podcast he asked Zia Yusuf for advice regarding a local authority contract and sent him the documents in 2025

I spent some time today speaking to former Green Party leader Caroline Lucas She told me the Greens "will be throwing everything" at the contest to replace Burnham as Greater Manchester mayor and she will be up there "to do what I can to help" Full interview in The House mag later this month

“Farage's whole political strategy was pulling parties to the right. Lowe is now using the same strategy against Farage” @robfordmancs.bsky.social says Reform pitching right could hurt Farage by "motivating anti-Reform voters" to do whatever it takes to stop him winning

“Farage's whole political strategy was pulling parties to the right. Lowe is now using the same strategy against Farage” @robfordmancs.bsky.social says Reform pitching right could hurt Farage by "motivating anti-Reform voters" to do whatever it takes to stop him winning

As I was trying to get my infant into the shower just now he threw his t shirt out of the 1st floor window into the garden and I watched as one of the chickens waddled over and pooped on it. I asked him why he did that and he said “double effort makes double expert” 🤷‍♂️

I spent some time today speaking to former Green Party leader Caroline Lucas She told me the Greens "will be throwing everything" at the contest to replace Burnham as Greater Manchester mayor and she will be up there "to do what I can to help" Full interview in The House mag later this month

Reform council leader Sean Matthews is being investigated **by his own council** after telling the Reform Party podcast he asked Zia Yusuf for advice regarding a local authority contract and sent him the documents in 2025

The leader of Reform-run Lincolnshire is being investigated by his own council after revealing that he shared details of an internal contract with Zia Yusuf, reports PolHome's @matildamartin.bsky.social

“Reform has got to win up of 300 seats to form the next government" - @robfordmancs.bsky.social The scale of Burnham's win meant that Reform would have lost regardless of Restore Britain. However, the 7% won by Lowe's party demonstrates the headache facing Farage, writes @matildamartin.bsky.social

“Reform has got to win up of 300 seats to form the next government. They really would like to be able to say X and Y seats are in the bag. Restore Britain adds this additional element of uncertainty." Who is voting Restore Britain? The answer is not as straightforward as you might think

Burnham is set to meet Labour MPs on Monday as he prepares his No 10 push The meetings are focused on Labour MPs with whom he does not have strong relationships, like the 2024 intake "there's a whole bunch of people he doesn't know" report @matildamartin.bsky.social & @adampayne26.bsky.social

In PMQs, Lib Dem deputy leader Daisy Cooper urged government to "rip up" its Brexit red lines after her party called on the UK to re-join the single market This month, PolHome's @matildamartin.bsky.social & @zoecrowther.bsky.social revealed that bolder EU policy was part of a Lib Dem strategy reset

blocked from X, banned from bluesky, britain's teenagers turn in desperation to the last social microblogging site left. the renaissance of the matt hancock app is upon us

Keir Starmer has said he is hopeful a ban on social media for under-16s will come into effect by spring 2027 The PM said the Australia-style ban is "not something I do lightly" and isn't "cost-free", however he is "not prepared to compromise on the safety and happiness of our children"

Former Labour defence secretary Lord Hutton tells me Starmer's credibility "will be shot" if he doesn't rethink military spending plans in the wake of Healey's resignation Resignation is a "colossal failure of govt" +UK should be "ashamed" + Govt should increase borrowing to fund defence spending

Resharing this piece I wrote over a year ago, in which defence figures, including former ministers, told me the UK is not currently capable of defending itself from attack....

Healey resignation: "Without a DIP (Defence Investment Plan) that meets the moment in this way, I am being forced to make decisions that would reduce the readiness of our Forces and increase the risk to personnel on operations, and could make the country less safe."

Lib Dem deep dive with @zoecrowther.bsky.social 💥strategy "rethink" underway at top of the party 💥acceptance among senior Lib Dems that it is time to look at changing the approach 💥party undergoing policy overhaul- key areas of discussion include the economy, welfare, and a bolder stance on the EU

Wes Streeting has said Reform response to Henry Nowak's murder “has echoes of the 1930s” “To weaponise it against their political opponents, and to stoke rage, and to incite rage is really dangerous, and it's not too dramatic to say this has echoes of the 1930s," he told a reception on Wednesday

On the week of the govt’s U-turn over winter fuel payments, McFadden told Mandelson the situation "doesn't feel good for Keir". Speaking about conversations with Labour MPs, McFadden said: "Every meeting I have is 'who can we tax in order to pay benefits to others'. They're asking the wrong qs"👇

York Uni's Restore Britain society is the first to be ratified at a Russell Group Its president talks to @matildamartin.bsky.social about Rupert Lowe, why "the cultural decline of England and its native people" is for him the biggest issue, and why Napoleon is his favourite historical figure

My alma mater has become the first Russell Group uni to have a ratified Restore Britain student society I spoke to the group's president about hopes to campaign in Makerfield, why Musk's support could be a "double-edged sword", and why his favourite historical figure is the (not British) Napoleon

My alma mater has become the first Russell Group uni to have a ratified Restore Britain student society I spoke to the group's president about hopes to campaign in Makerfield, why Musk's support could be a "double-edged sword", and why his favourite historical figure is the (not British) Napoleon

Exclusive🚨 In the latest example of @zackpolanski.bsky.social bid to develop ties with unions, he is expected to tell UCU govt should stop treating uni students like customers + expected to warn that academics nationwide are facing "shattered morale, crushing workloads, and stifled innovation"

Exclusive🚨 In the latest example of @zackpolanski.bsky.social bid to develop ties with unions, he is expected to tell UCU govt should stop treating uni students like customers + expected to warn that academics nationwide are facing "shattered morale, crushing workloads, and stifled innovation"

Green deputy mayor of West of England Tony Dyer tells me: ➡️Green Party’s vetting system “needs improvement”, amid reports of anti-semitism ➡️Bin-scandal hit Bristol council will soon be offering training and support to new Green councils nationwide

Green deputy mayor of West of England Tony Dyer tells me: ➡️Green Party’s vetting system “needs improvement”, amid reports of anti-semitism ➡️Bin-scandal hit Bristol council will soon be offering training and support to new Green councils nationwide

“I was having a conversation with [ChatGPT] and asking questions, and it told me I might have anxiety or depression. It’s made me start thinking that I might?” The above is a snapshot of a 12-year-old girl’s call to Childline, shared with The House magazine, after she had spoken to an AI chatbot

Female Labour MPs tell @politicshome.bsky.social they are “disappointed” by the prospect of a man replacing Keir Starmer, with the Labour Party not having had a permanent female leader in its 120-year history “It’s depressing,” said one female Labour MP who has called for the PM to go 1/4

Is Labour overdue a female leader? One Labour MP said it is: “frustrating” that the current leadership “haven’t fostered a culture” where a female leader emerging is “likely” + there is a “wider societal misogyny that comes gunning for strong Labour women with viciousness you don’t see elsewhere”

Beyond thrilled to have been named a winner alongside so many incredible journalists in the #30ToWatch Journalism Awards 2026 I still have to pinch myself that I get to do this job every day and can't wait to see what the next few years bring! www.mhpgroup.com/winners-of-t...

The drama isn't just happening in WM... Worcestershire County Council was run by Reform until its leader was suspended from the party last month Greens & Tories then formed a coalition & overthrew Reform But now Spectator reports that the Tory party has suspended the Tory group leader as a result

NEW: Wes Streeting resigns as Health Secretary In a letter sent to the Prime Minister on Thursday, Streeting said: "As you know from our conversation earlier this week, having lost confidence in your leadership, I have concluded that it would be dishonourable and unprincipled to do so"

Amid leadership turmoil one Labour MP texts in to suggest football pundit Alan Shearer as their ideal pick for next Labour leader...

Exclusive: Labour mayor Helen Godwin on leadership race + Manchester mayor Andy Burnham "should not be blocked" from returning to Westminster + She "wouldn't dislike the idea" of Burnham being Prime Minister if Starmer steps down

Exclusive: Labour mayor Helen Godwin on leadership race + Manchester mayor Andy Burnham "should not be blocked" from returning to Westminster + She "wouldn't dislike the idea" of Burnham being Prime Minister if Starmer steps down

Time is running out for the UK to make a clear decision on where in the AI stack we can compete. Great to talk to @matildamartin.bsky.social for this piece on what comes next.

Exclusive from @siennarodgers.bsky.social Darren Jones has sparked suspicion among colleagues that he is quietly sounding out support for a future leadership bid of his own, PoliticsHome understands

The last government was more than happy to hand over our tech sector to the US. That attitude is now a threat to our sovereignty & security Great piece by @matildamartin.bsky.social www.politicshome.com/news/article...

Pleased to be quoted in @politicshome.bsky.social today on tech sovereignty. Really good piece by @matildamartin.bsky.social, asking whether Britain has left it too late, and I think the answer is that we're behind but not out. www.politicshome.com/news/article...

Catherine West MP will *NOT* launch a bid for leadership "A lot of people might not have envisaged yours truly as walking into No 10 and I'm therefore happy to do something more vague" She does not have a particular leadership candidate in mind: "I genuinely want to keep it as open as possible"

The public despise him,” one London Labour MP told PoliticsHome, when reflecting on the Prime Minister’s role in this week’s losses + London Labour MP Catherine West tells PolHome if no one else had put themselves forward for the leadership bid on Monday, she would be putting herself forward