Happy #HumanRightsDay! Starmer has chosen to mark it by... kicking off negotiations on how to water down our human rights 🤯 www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... The ECHR protects all of us, so we should all be worried about changes that amount to "human rights... except for those people"

Sweet Jesus Starmer’s here to make the headlines about immigration again. The actual worst politician I’ve ever seen 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️ Today - are foreigners really human? Should they REALLY enjoy human rights protections like the rest of us? #r4today

How many times do we need to point this out? By appeasing the far right, you do not weaken it. You strengthen it. While weakening your own position. There's a vast amount of academic research showing this. But Labour will not listen. www.theguardian.com/law/2025/dec...

It's shocking to hear that in 2025 any British politician could offer up a proposal that risks sending survivors back into the hands of torturers. If the govt takes any steps that chip away at protections against torture, it risks triggering a domino effect around the world. Add your voice now.

A reminder during budget week of the lasting damage caused by austerity. Dean Conway in @centralbylines.co.uk

Thankyou Judy Copage for everything you have done for us over your time as Central Bylines Editor in Chief, but today we welcome our new EiC Gemma Gould. Judy remains an ever valuable part of our editors team and indeed our editor training programme. @copagej.bsky.social @gemmagould.bsky.social

Such an inspiring and vital initiative #brumunited #fightracism #noplaceforhate

Here's my plea to the government, media and everyone else to stop treating NHS administrators as a problem to be eliminated, rather than the glue which holds the whole organisation together.

Asylum hotels and military barracks are awful places to live for people fleeing torture. We didn’t rely on them to house asylum seekers five years ago – so why is our government using them now? It’s time to change this and take action on asylum accommodation.

And the best first step to take action? Get informed. Together, we can tackle harmful misinformation. Read our new guide, Asylum Housing: How to Change the Conversation: stories.freedomfromtorture.org/changing-the...

🌍 The new Climate and Nature Crisis Caucus has launched in Parliament! The CNCC is calling for a renewed consensus on climate and nature action; giving practical solutions that work for people, the planet, and the economy. To stay updated on the CNCC 👉 thecncc.org

Climate change in the Midlands is a serious local concern Climate change is a global emergency, but its impacts and solutions must also be a local priority for the Midlands | Cliff Mitchell @cliffmitchell.bsky.social @centralbylines.co.uk

In 2017, British citizen Jagtar went to India to get married. 3 weeks after the wedding, he was abducted, tortured, forced to ‘confess’ to trumped up political charges. Jagtar is still locked up under a death penalty threat. The Govt must protect its citizen bring Jagtar home. Agree? Add your name!

How can citizens and journalists hold back authoritarianism, far-right populism and hate? Join our live event with - George Monbiot - Nafeez Ahmed - Yasmin Alibhai-Brown - Nick Lowles Finding hope, protecting democracy. 7 pm, 4 November. Book now: bit.ly/BylinesHope

🚨 URGENT: We're launching a campaign to stop this Government tearing families apart – will you join us? A few weeks ago, the Government suspended refugee family reunion. We can't let this stand. ✍️ Email the Home Secretary NOW: act.safepassage.org.uk/email-home-s...

This is quite a terrifying but must read from inside Trumps' America.... Local leaders and citizens challenge Trump’s ICE in Chicago The politicians of Chicago are joining protest organisers in the battle against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents @dear-starfish.bsky.social

Urgent Call to Action from @right-to-remain.bsky.social - help free Arjeta – a survivor of trafficking served with a deportation order for tomorrow Tuesday 14 October. Sign the petition

The Greens requested an interview on the Laura Kuenssberg Show with Zack Polanski when he was elected leader, but were denied, with a promise to interview him during Green conference instead. This was then scrapped citing the Manchester synagogue attack. Polanski is both Jewish and from Manchester

Across the UK, anti-migrant policies fuelled by the far right are pushing many refugees, asylum seekers and migrants into crisis. This year the funder for the JCWI helpline said they no longer had the money to continue. Support and share the fundraiser to keep the helpline going if you can.

North East Bylines have just published their 5000th article!! 🎉🎉🎉 Congratulations NEB! A very apt way to celebrate too: Love over hate: Newcastle unites at Grey’s Monument "We don’t need to be reminded of where we live, that’s what a football strip is for" northeastbylines.co.uk/news/politic...

1/ Great to see the Bylines Network, and citizen journalism generally, getting a shout-out from George Monbiot in the Guardian @georgemonbiot.bsky.social

It would be good if the only political pushback against Nigel Farage's plans to mass deport hundreds of thousands of our neighbours, friends, family and colleagues didn't just come from a handful of backbench MPs and one regional mayor

Thousands of Londoners have indefinite leave to remain. They have legal rights and are our friends, neighbours and colleagues, contributing hugely to our city. Threatening to deport people living and working here legally is unacceptable.

The true question right now is whether you believe in the moral character of the British public. If you do, you'll want to have the fight with Reform. You'll believe that the public will hate the idea of breaking up families, spying on & deporting people who've worked here for years.

Here’s an important initiative called Brummies United Against Racism and Hate –donations help print and distribute posters to spread a message of unity and hope. If you can, please click the link below to donate or share it with others who might want to help. gofund.me/96036085a

On average, an execution takes place somewhere in the world every 18 hours. Send a message to world leaders everywhere: the death penalty is wrong, in every circumstance. It needs to end. Add your name to the @reprievehq.bsky.social Official Record of Opposition to the Death Penalty now.

The Peak District National Park has deployed a creative solution to moorland fire prevention | Cliff Mitchell

Add your name to call for a cap on donations today: you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/ta...

Good god I hope so

An essential read here from @rfhaviland.bsky.social in @bylines.scot

Everyone wants a life that can move forward. But right now, thousands of people up and down the country are forced to wait 10 years for the right to permanently stay in the place they already call home. Scrap the Barriers. Join me and sign the petition now. act.praxis.org.uk/scrap-the-ba...

Every dog has their day: celebrate your four-legged friends! International Dog Day on 26 August recognises the canine contribution to the human world @centralbylines.co.uk

Wrote my latest substack around a question I get asked a lot at literary events: ‘what can we do?’ It’s about voting better, how we can support refugees, and appraising Labour’s record on immigration one year in. It’s also full of food/film/music/book recs! tawseefkhan.substack.com/p/why-you-di...

The resilience test: is the UK prepared for more heatwaves? As the UK swelters in an ever-increasing number of heatwaves with record temperatures, building resilience to their impact becomes critical | Simon Ferrigno

Something I wrote a couple of years ago for sarcoma awareness month.

Bylines Network Sky Hawkins poetry prize 2025 bylinesnetwork.co.uk/bylines-netw...

"These proposed cuts won’t save money; they’ll lead to greater costs from the resulting damage, along with widespread distress and suffering."

The Prime Minister imitating Enoch Powell’s ‘Rivers of Blood’ speech is sickening. That speech fuelled decades of racism and division. Echoing it today is a disgrace. It adds to anti-migrant rhetoric that puts lives at risk. Shame on you, Keir Starmer.

Starmer is simultaneously detoxifying Reform and toxifying the Labour Party. I ask again, what is he playing at?

Lurching to the right on immigration will never get Reform supporters to vote Labour again but it will push progressive voters towards the Greens and Lib Dems. As well as being morally grotesque, truly baffling Starmer’s team don’t get the electoral maths of today’s speech.

The Climate and Nature Bill is still the best option we have for tackling the climate and nature crisis in a way that follows the science, involves all stakeholders and holds the government to account. The fight to make it law is not over. Here's what we can all do to help ... #CANbill

A reminder: 5️⃣0️⃣ of the world’s richest #billionaires on average produce more carbon through their investments, private jets and yachts in just over 1️⃣ hour and 3️⃣0️⃣ minutes than the average person does in their entire lifetime. 👉 oxfam.org

Me and my uterus part 1: it’s trying to kill me! Too many women suffer in silence – it’s time we talked openly about the pain, stigma, and dismissal of women’s reproductive health | Gemma Gould 1/ 🧵 @gemmagould.bsky.social @centralbylines.co.uk

Happiness: where are you hiding? What is happiness? For me, it's the giggles of my kids, the flow of the moment, and the quiet joy of simply being with those I love @iankirke.bsky.social @centralbylines.co.uk

Happiness: where are you hiding? What is happiness? For me, it's the giggles of my kids, the flow of the moment, and the quiet joy of simply being with those I love @iankirke.bsky.social

David Childs: a life Honouring Prof David Childs (1933-2025), expert on East Germany, prolific writer, and tireless champion of citizen journalism