The outgoing Arts Council chair, Nicholas Serota, talks to @rachelsylvester.bsky.social about unmade beds and pickled sharks on a stroll past the London galleries and museums he transformed during his half-century as Britain’s biggest cultural champion. https://bit.ly/3T3rau1

‘Burnham bacc’ offers neat solution to the problem of school dropouts. The Greater Manchester Baccalaureate, introduced by Andy Burnham, could be rolled out across the country in ‘complete rethink’ of education proposed by probable next PM. ✍️ @rachelsylvester.bsky.social https://bit.ly/4eZr6Tt

Andy Burnham is offering a “complete rethink” of education policy. I looked at what that will mean for schools and their pupils observer.co.uk/news/nationa...

How Tessa Jowell taught Andy Burnham that emotional intelligence matters as much as intellectual rigour in politics - my latest newsletter column for @theobserveruk.bsky.social observer.co.uk/news/politic...

David Lammy: ‘I’ve been loyal to every Labour PM – I’ll be loyal to the next’ The deputy PM is supporting longtime colleague Andy Burnham for leadership, writes Rachel Sylvester https://observer.co.uk/news/politics/article/david-lammy-ive-been-loyal-to-every-labour-pm-ill-be-loyal-to-the-next

Age of criminal responsibility should be raised from 10 to 14, Bar Council review recommends observer.co.uk/news/nationa...

David Miliband is ready to serve in Andy Burnham’s Cabinet. Burnham is actively considering appointing him - possibly as foreign secretary with a seat in the Lords. My story for @theobserveruk.bsky.social observer.co.uk/news/politic...

Good news. A skilled operator at the heart of government, might be an idea to find a few more.

Jonathan Powell to stay on as National Security Adviser under Andy Burnham - my latest story for @theobserveruk.bsky.social observer.co.uk/news/politic...

Andy Burnham will spend less time abroad as PM than Keir Starmer. “Strength at home is strength abroad” his allies say. My piece for @theobserveruk.bsky.social newsletter on what a foreign policy that passes the Makerfield test might look like observer.co.uk/news/politic...

Keir Starmer failed because he could never really explain why he wanted to be prime minister - my piece for @theobserveruk.bsky.social as the Labour leader quits observer.co.uk/news/politic...

I think @rachelsylvester.bsky.social absolutely nails it here - and the converse explains why Mamdani is so popular: because he loves his job and he IS authentic. Starmer should have taken the lesson.

Keir Starmer failed because he could never really explain why he wanted to be prime minister - my piece for @theobserveruk.bsky.social as the Labour leader quits observer.co.uk/news/politic...

Michael Heseltine, who famously said “he who wields the knife never wears the crown”, now tells me - “I don’t think it’s true.” This week’s @theobserveruk.bsky.social Walk is a golf cart ride around an arboretum observer.co.uk/news/nationa...

Keir Starmer to set out timetable for his departure - my story for @theobserveruk.bsky.social observer.co.uk/news/politic...

Who would Andy Burnham appoint as his chancellor if he becomes PM? My latest newsletter column for @theobserveruk.bsky.social observer.co.uk/news/politic...

There may be more insight and heart in this piece by @rachelsylvester.bsky.social with Lemn Sissay in Makerfield than in all the other by-election coverage combined observer.co.uk/culture/inte...

The lesson Lemn Sissay learned in childhood was “if you are loved you will be destroyed”. There was so much more to my walk around Makerfield with the poet than the by-election @theobserveruk.bsky.social observer.co.uk/culture/inte...

This reporting by @rachelsylvester.bsky.social for the Observer is excellent. Shows EXACTLY why the 'Two Tier Britain' myth is so insidious. Bravo! More journalism like this please.

“Two tier Britain” is a dangerous myth - my latest newsletter piece for @theobserveruk.bsky.social observer.co.uk/news/politic...

As the government announces plans to force tech companies to stop children sharing nude images this is one mother’s story of discovering her daughter was being groomed by a paedophile in the US, as part of a “pandemic” of online exploitation of kids observer.co.uk/listen/the-s...

Some people shrug off the use of illegal (ghost or cloned) licence plates as low level crime, evading speeding tickets and congestion charges etc But increasingly police are aware of their role in organised crime, and even murder - like that of 21-year-old Kyron Lee observer.co.uk/news/nationa...

“I was told we'd have a Royal Commission in the manifesto. I was told we'd be announcing it during the election campaign. I was told it was going to be the first big announcement. I was being strung along” - @rthonwesstreeting.bsky.social on social care observer.co.uk/news/politic...

“One of the worst things I was ever told was that there is a specific global market for UK children because they wear school uniforms” @jessphillipsmp.bsky.social says. My piece for @theobserveruk.bsky.social on the pandemic of online sexual exploitation observer.co.uk/news/nationa...

Wes Streeting: ‘I don’t want Nigel Farage walking into Downing Street on my conscience’ The ex-health secretary and leadership hopeful tells Rachel Sylvester that Labour must heed voters’ warning on Reform’s surge https://bit.ly/4obTVQT

Elon Musk is a “threat to democracy” - I interviewed @rthonwesstreeting.bsky.social for @theobserveruk.bsky.social observer.co.uk/news/politic...

Every crime in which an ethnic or cultural minority is the perpetrator used to justify repression or worse of minorities. Every crime in which a minority is the victim used to argue for the idea that ethnic diversity is inherently unstable and should be reduced or eradicated.

This is a good assessment of the many challenges facing youth custody, including in providing high quality education to young people who've had very disrupted experiences of school. (And I'm always amazed by the fact that 20% of young people in secure settings went to the same six schools.)

Interesting thread

New York mapped ‘million dollar blocks’ decades ago, identifying areas which resulted in hugely expensive crime & prison, and decided to invest in prevention and localism. It reduced crime and closed prisons. We just repeat our mistakes

I wrote about the shocking state of youth justice: - 2/3 reoffend - 1/5 of kids in YOIs went to same 6 schools - 2/3 grew up in care - 61% have experienced violence in custody - 3/4 have history of persistent absence - YOI costs double Eton but only 20% pass GCSEs observer.co.uk/news/politic...

“The reason I think we’re living through a technological revolution led by AI is not because my institute has been bought off by tech bros but because I’m studying what’s happening and it’s blowing my mind” - Tony Blair hits back in @theobserveruk.bsky.social observer.co.uk/news/opinion...

Introducing: @rachelsylvester.bsky.social on Politics, a new weekly newsletter from our political editor, bringing you sharp insight and exclusive reporting from Westminster, Whitehall, and beyond. Sign up now: https://observer.co.uk/newsletters

Andy Burnham backs proportional representation for Westminster with a Labour manifesto commitment if he becomes leader. He also says he would work with the Greens. My interview for @theobserveruk.bsky.social Walk observer.co.uk/news/nationa...

“Social media is killing our kids” - new podcast about the horrific violence, criminality and radicalisation being promoted to children online for @theobserveruk.bsky.social . Every single person we interviewed backed a ban for under-16. observer.co.uk/listen/the-s...

“Social media is killing our children” - I investigated the criminality and violence being promoted to kids online. It was so shocking and every single police officer, parent, psychologist and doctor I spoke to supported a ban for under-16s observer.co.uk/news/nationa...

Enjoyed recording this with @rachelsylvester.bsky.social to discuss the battle of ideas within Labour - over the economy, the role of the state, and what needs to change. open.spotify.com/episode/6UDV...

I’m honoured to be on the shortlist for @orwellprize.bsky.social Exposing Britain’s Social Evils prize alongside so many brilliant journalists

It’s over for Starmer because he never knew why he wanted to be PM. Now Labour must focus on policy not personality - my piece for @theobserveruk.bsky.social observer.co.uk/news/politic...

First minister to quit the govt, has been on resignation watch for a long time over the handling of immigration and other key topics Seen as v close to many senior figures on the left including Ed Miliband

David Blunkett talking about Rachel's interview on R4 right now - says that talk of a decade in power is entirely unrealistic without wholesale rethink, not tweaks to policy "There is no question at the moment we wouldn't get a second term."

Keir Starmer has told @theobserveruk.bsky.social: “There’s a reason that [Farage] is walking away from interviews where questions are being put to him. He doesn’t want to answer the questions because he knows that those answers are not going to be very good for him.” observer.co.uk/news/politic...

Keir Starmer says he wants a decade in Downing Street and will fight any challengers - my interview for @theobserveruk.bsky.social observer.co.uk/news/politic...

The Observer View: Starmer should stay observer.co.uk/opinion-and-...

Helpful research. The problems highlighted are fundamental and can’t be righted quickly. To suppose that Reform or the Greens have answers is naive. Labour needs to acknowledge that the problems are real and put forward a long term plan to address them.

22 years apart but @moreincommonuk.bsky.social polling today and 2004 ‘The Fairness Code’ so similar! @rachelsylvester.bsky.social As one So’ton voter told me ‘You go to work, pay your taxes, play by the rules, but all the help goes to other people.” 🧵 www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/essays/59007...

‘Underpinning their frustrations was a consistent theme: hard work, doing the right thing, isn’t rewarded’ Rachel Sylvester speaks to the disillusioned Labour voters turning to Reform and Green in the upcoming local elections https://bit.ly/4u6BDCR

Five focus groups in five different areas and among former Labour voters considering switching to Reform or the Greens there was one common theme - a sense that those playing by the rules don’t get rewarded. @theobserveruk.bsky.social @moreincommonuk.bsky.social observer.co.uk/news/politic...

The PM has written for @theobserveruk.bsky.social, promising to use the King's speech to "set out our agenda of radical reform"...

Keir Starmer urges Labour not to “descend into political infighting” as leadership speculation swirls. PM writes for @theobserveruk.bsky.social observer.co.uk/news/opinion...