just became easier for the Lib Dems to hold on to their new Home Counties seats

Brilliant interview by @bphillipsonmp.bsky.social with Nick Robinson. So refreshing to hear a senior Labour politician reclaim concept of “freedom”for the left. @backbridget.bsky.social

We now have two v prominent advocates of Reform - both Matthew Goodwin and Isabel Oakeshott - arguing that Shabana Mahmood (so Rishi Sunak and Paul Ince) can't be English. That was a settled question long before this match in 1998. This kind of radicalisation by online racists would harm Reform

Can't disagree with Gavin Barwell. It's high time the right in this country cleaned house. They won't though, because this is what the right have become. The likes of Barwell are very much a minority.

By a long mile the best interview I’ve heard Keir Starmer give. He’s found his voice.

hardly anyone will watch Starmer's appearance at Labour conference today but it was probably the best speech he's ever given he clearly signposted what he stands for - a diverse, tolerant, decent Britain - and how be believes progressives are in an existential fight with the populist right

@rentouljohn.bsky.social bsky.app/profile/benb...

Sorry, but Burnham has made himself beneath contempt. He now says he wants to “rejoin the EU in his lifetime”. So do many of us. He did nothing to stop #Brexit, he never criticised Corbyn who helped deliver Brexit & while we were fighting in Parliament for a second referendum he undermined us.

Here’s something that should never disappear…. Nigel Farage (in the company of Nathan Gill), being quizzed by Channel 4’s Matt Frei.

So you think Andy Burnham may be the answer? open.substack.com/pub/davidaar...

The difference having a seat at a Labour Cabinet table can make.

This is an encouraging corrective to some of the recent gloom about #Ukraine, the Putin threat & European security.

Anyone surprised? “Former Welsh leader of Reform has pleaded guilty to bribery charges”. Such a patriot he took money to talk pro-Russian propaganda www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Great news. Thanks @sundersays.bsky.social.

Good to see @bphillipsonmp.bsky.social @backbridget.bsky.social taking the fight straight to Reform on their parroting of Trumpian conspiracy theories.

Totally shambolic opportunism from the Tories’ Helen Whately opposing the Government’s ID card plan a week after the shadow Home Secretary said there was a strong case for one.

Thus isn’t a perfect policy but it is a good thing and definitely better than the status quo. Universal ID offers many benefits.

I’m a campaigner - and I’ll be a campaigning Deputy Leader. This last week I’ve visited every region & nation in Britain - telling Labour’s story. We need to unite, bring change, and defeat Reform to win again.

Me too!

Thank you to @gmb.org.uk for nominating @bphillipsonmp.bsky.social to be the next Deputy Leader of the Labour Party 🎉

Thank you to @unison.org.uk for nominating @bphillipsonmp.bsky.social to be the next Deputy Leader of the Labour Party 🎉

“We’ve got to get beyond this thing of being in hock to the bond markets.” That’s what Liz Truss tried. Feels like all the flattery in the Tory press has gone to Andy’s head.

Delighted my old CLP #Exeter has backed @bphillipsonmp.bsky.social @backbridget.bsky.social for deputy leader. She’s delivered as Education Secretary, will unite the Party, has a great back story, is tough, a great communicator & campaigner & will take the fight to Farage.

Why are the American president's claims about autism the first item on British news bulletins? He's not our president, the advice doesn't apply here and he's not presented any evidence to support his assertions. So why spread these claims? What make this the biggest story in the UK?

What on Earth is this? An "in depth" BBC article about free speech in the UK that only cites examples of right-wing/ 'anti-woke' speech being suppressed. How can you mention Lucy Connolly but completely ignore Palestine Action / Just Stop Oil? Gob-smacking. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

The even more unbelievable crime fact (which I learned relatively recently) is that burglary has fallen by more than 90% since the 1990s. Did anyone notice? Nope. Does anyone believe it? Nope. But is is true? It is!

I hadn’t, till now thought it sensible for the Government to break it’s manifesto pledge on tax, but this is compelling, given the fiscal pressures, global headwinds & the imperative to increase significantly spending on defence.

Farage’s “plan” to deport hundreds of thousands of people who currently live, work & pay taxes in Britain perfectly legally is bonkers, unenforceable, economically illiterate & would collapse our health & social care system in which many of them work.

Kemi Badenoch should throw Liz Truss out of the Tory party. See my letter below 👇

Good sensible stuff from Jack Straw. emea01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com?url=https%3A...

Whenever Ed Davey & the Lib Dems advocate a customs union with the rest of Europe he should be reminded that if he hadn’t whipped his MPs to vote against Ken Clarke’s #Brexit amendment in 2019, we might have got one.

Extraordinary for the Tories to ally themselves over recognising Palestine with Netanyahu, a man bent on destroying the possibility of a two state solution, rather than with Australia, Canada, most of the Commonwealth & the rest of the world.

In which, remarkably, while talking about the fiscal bind, and even after Jeremy Hunt goes on about acting in the interests of the country, no one brings up the TWO NI cuts carried out largely if not solely for narrow party political ends. podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/h...

'Farage's core claim is that he somehow speaks for the British people, that his views reflect the “commonsense” views of the silent majority. It’s not true. On issue after issue, including those that define him, he is out of step with most Britons.' Latest column www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Er, Labour were 121 votes behind the Tories in Exmouth & Exeter East, the Lib Dems more than 3,000 behind. All Davey’s strategy would do is let the Tories or, more likely, Reform, in.

This would be the single most effective & best targeted way to reduce the scandal of child poverty in Britain. Go @bphillipsonmp.bsky.social! @backbridget.bsky.social 🤞

The evil Heritage Foundation are called for the eradication of the trans community. Watch the "progressive'' commentators say nothing🧐 @mollyjongfast.bsky.social @theanthonydavis.bsky.social @michaelcohen212.bsky.social @thedailybeast.bsky.social @meidastouch.com @alastaircampbell2.bsky.social

The Guardian describes the split in the Corbyn/Sultana party as “extraordinary”. Isn’t splitting what fringe left parties always do?

One can *feel* the disappointment & frustration in today’s papers & broadcasts about 1. How well the Trump visit went 2. That the first removals under the deal with France have happened & 3. That the Corbyn/Sultana party is falling apart. Good 48 hours for Labour & the country.

Good letter from UK employers demolishing the updated draft guidance from the @equalityhumanright.bsky.social on denying transgender people access to essential public services.

Sensible advice to Labour MPs from the FT this morning.

The Labour Government delivers another election promise. 👍

Well said @rthonwesstreeting.bsky.social.

The second day with a Corbynite on Today attacking Keir Starmer without the listener being informed that she has never supported the PM 🤷‍♂️

Now they’re coming for same sex parents, just like we’ve seen in other countries.

Extraordinary, but not surprising these days, that the presenter on BBC Radio 4 Today failed to inform their listeners that their interviewee, Corbynite, Richard Burgon, has *never* supported Keir Starmer. 🤷‍♂️

“Anyone on the left who thinks Keir Starmer is the problem, needs their head examined”. Spot on from @paulmason.bsky.social as more than 100,000 fascists call for PM’s assassination & overthrow of our democracy.

A useful corrective from tax expert & Labour member @danneidle.bsky.social to Andy Burnham & others calling for a “wealth tax” from today’s FT.

Excellent speech & Q&A by @bphillipsonmp.bsky.social at the #TUC conference, including a very encouraging answer to a question on defending the human rights of transgender people.

Forward with the Employment Rights Bill in full. No ifs, no buts. Forward. But real change can't stop there...