Nigel Farage registered ‘absent’ from the last 77 votes in Parliament Official Parliamentary figures reveal that Reform leader Nigel Farage hasn't bothered to vote for anything in the last 11 weeks... www.thelondoneconomic.com/politics/whe...

Solar and farming don’t have to compete. France is raising solar panels above farmland so crops can still grow underneath. Some vineyards saw grape yields rise by 60% while water use fell by 40%.

Sir Keir Starmer should drop the pretence that the UK-Europe relationship is only about trade and economics: it’s much deeper than that yorkshirebylines.co.uk/politics/its...

Increasingly it looks as though the contempt for democracy is not accidental but rather the whole point.

"The more striking thing from this is that more current Tory voters voted to Remain than Leave the EU: as they have shed votes to Reform the party is now not only less Leave than 2019 Johnson coalition, but also more Remain voting than those who voted for Cameron in 2015" - Luke Tryl

Exciting new arrivals in Essex! From goldeneye to grey wagtail, 2025 brought some fantastic new records to the Wildlife Trust survey. See the results here ⤵️

The biggest surprise from Reform’s first day in power in Norfolk, writes Stephen McNair, wasn’t about net zero or diversity. It was what happened when councillors voted on local government reorganisation.

"I'm not a scientist, I don't know that." Essex County Council Reform leader Peter Harris admits he doesn't know whether climate change is human-caused. His next move? Scrapping the council's net zero agenda.

A Reform branch account posted insults describing James O’Brien as “sub-human” and “human garbage”. The branch now says it was hacked. O’Brien has one obvious question – and still says he hasn’t received an apology.

UK youth unemployment caused by years of neoliberalism and neglect: Poor healthcare Poor public transport Inequitable distribution of income Brexit - can't work in Europe Hiking state pension age - fewer jobs for the young Demise of manufacturing - loss of skilled jobs. Fewer apprenticeships

I’d forgotten this magnificent story about Roger Moore (which Facebook just reminded me of) so I’m reposting it here for the clicks

Someone has put up an umbrella over the goose nest at the pond round the corner from me to protect it from the heat and I think this is the sweetest thing ever. It’s possibly the pub next to the pond that has done it not sure. I will miss this place when we move 🪿 🐣❤️♥️🥰

Debate in the New Statesman. Once again, this from @carolinelucas.bsky.social , who really gets it, is excellent Community is vital. It's about contributing as well as receiving. And a lot of people in the UK, as elsewhere, will find that persuasive. @mikegalsworthy.bsky.social 1

Spent an hour watering the huge numbers of summer pots l acquired in an optimistic mood. Everything growing inches by the day. Sat in the woodland part of the garden with all the birds doing their thing. 12 species counted & air heavy with bugs. Hope to see the bats enjoying them tonight. #gardens

With a rejoin petition approaching 100,000 signatures, campaigners hope the anniversary creates political momentum | East Anglia Bylines

Farage - 'I've been advised not to hold surgeries for security reasons' - He hadn't. Farage - 'There was an arson attack on my home' - It was an attempted burglary Farage - 'My phone was hacked by Russia' - No report made to the relevant authority. Could there be a pattern here...🤔

Why does Reform UK's Robert Kenyon hate his country so?

At East Anglia Bylines we spent two years exploring EU attitudes to the UK. Given what a pain in the arse we used to be, it is surprising what goodwill to the UK still exists. Phillips is wrong on his sweeping statement, though it is clear British attitudes would have to change.

A map of league 1 for next season (26/27). Plymouth Argyle are going spend some time on a bus.

🗳️ "But if Britain wants to get back into Europe before another 10 years have passed, it is not only our leaders who must become more European in their approach; the way we choose them will need to be more European, too."

Farage now claims Russian spies hacked his phone to obtain details of his controversial £5million gift www.mirror.co.uk/news/politic...

A reminder that Pecksniff is away until 13 June. He is in the Netherlands, studying the works of Hieronymus Bosch...

A reminder that Pecksniff is away until 13 June. He is in the Netherlands, studying the works of Hieronymus Bosch...

T. rex could crush bone with its jaws. But why did evolution leave it with those famously tiny arms? Sarah Collins reports on the science

This is a failure of journalism, on a really basic level, but it is also a failure of political leadership. It was going to fall simply in the basis of what the previous govt did. But Starmer somehow conspired to actively spread the impression it was rising.

"Sir Jake Berry" what an absolute joke

We are in stuck in an affordability crisis with people struggling to pay for food and heating. But MPs think it's funny to drink at a discount on the taxpayer and vote on crucial issues. It's wrong. #DontDrinkandVote

Robert Jenrick's wife was warned that his campaign had accepted an unlawful donation of almost £40,000 from a convicted American fraudster, according to the Times. Police are investigating allegations that Jenrick's campaign illegally funneled the money to his campaign via a UK-based company

Are people just “lower-value human capital”? www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2026/05... The CEO of Standard Chartered Bank thinks so. Do you agree?

The world’s largest sand battery got through Finland’s harshest winter in years. 2,000 tonnes of sand, heated to 500-600°C by cheap power, feeding district heating in Pornainen. And it worked. Result from one install: oil down 100%, emissions down 70%. Industrial process heat is the real prize.

Nicked it off someone on here - although I added an extra vowel…

Has anyone in the press picked up what happened in 2019. As @bylinetimes.bsky.social reported, Farage and Johnson colluding with US based Bannon to topple May. According to Ben Habib, Thailand based Harborne paying Johnson and Farage to stitch up 2019 elections bylinetimes.com/2026/02/16/b...

Pissed up plastic patriots who profess to “luv there cuntry” turning London into a rubbish filled, no go area and costing the British tax payer millions.

Fascinating new poll from YouGov. Reform's numbers jumped by 3 pts immediately after the elections. Did this mean their popularity had also jumped, or the punters were just going for the party who made most headlines? It was the latter. The numbers have dropped back again this week. A lesson here.

Election probe into Reform UK councillor Ryan Coogan

Trump promised prosperity and stability. Instead, many Americans now see rising prices, war tensions and political division. Trump’s support, one US writer argues, may finally be starting to crack. But is that enough? From Guy Anthony Ayres

Reform passed over its most experienced Suffolk councillor for a figure closely tied to the party’s national operation. That choice may prove revealing. Disruption over continuity? Oliver Rouane-Williams reports

Preview of Tim Curtis' film that seeks to shed new light on this enduring wartime mystery from the Suffolk coast. Were there really burning seas? | Jenny Rhodes

BREAKING... David Bull has been relieved of his post as chair of Reform, replaced by Lee Anderson. Is he another to fall out with Nigel Farage? Or let us think... Dr Bull has a TV show which is broadcast from Manchester. Might there be something happening in the news there shortly...?

"It might take our producers five minutes to find 60 economists who feared Brexit and five hours to find a sole voice who espoused it. But by the time we went on air we simply had one of each; we presented this unequal effort to our audience as balance. It wasn't." @maitlis.bsky.social

If you have a Reform representative, why not email them about issues that affect your community. Remember to include your pronouns in your signature, and it's courteous to ask them to clarify their preferred pronouns. If you live in Wales it's your legal right to conduct all communication in welsh

“People feel ignored, looked down on, shut out” Reform speaks to that – even without economic answers See why it matters...

🇪🇺is primarily a Peace project, how+why it was founded by Schuman,Monnet,Spaak,Bech, Galtieri,Spinelli,Adenauer+others. EU nations have learnt the hard way what happens when we don´t respect+make space for each other among nations.And that mutual concessions is a "price"worth paying if we want Peace.

And it's not going to happen

Andy Burnham sets out his 'new path for Britain' ahead of Makerfield by-election Reindustrialisation, council houses and collaboration are at the top of Burnham's agenda www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater...

Trying to explain to your wife how you went out for a beer with your friends on Saturday night and came home on Sunday afternoon.

How to change this debate. " Being outside the EU costs every UK household an average of £8,300 every year. But being inside again would only cost each UK household £38 every year. Do you still think we should stay out? "

"Just a perk?" A £1.1bn Duchy. £138m Sovereign Grant. £150m for Andrew's security. Rent paid to himself. Helicopter flights while hospitals cancel surgery. A perk is free parking. This is a heist with a crown. 👑