Tree of the year contender

Big scoop by my colleagues, this:

📣 Very excited to say that I’m joining The Independent’s brilliant Lobby team next week I can’t wait to get started!

Exhausting, loud, a DJ blasting ‘Things Can Only Get Better’ at full volume But enough about my Sunday, how’s Labour conference?

A pun in the top line and a sheep called Kevin www.stalbansreview.co.uk/news/nationa...

Good evening from The Oval

The explosion in support for women’s football has been one of my greatest joys in the last five years I love this team and I love Sarina Wiegman

I ADORE SPORT

I don’t like sport

The explosion in support for women’s football has been one of my greatest joys in the last five years I love this team and I love Sarina Wiegman

Mel Stride earlier today insisted Kemi Badenoch would 'get better through time', just like Margaret Thatcher did.

Reform has already received cryptocurrency donations as it announces plans to cut taxes on Bitcoin (interestingly, party chair Zia Yusuf admitted he doesn't own any crypto himself) www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...

Sir Keir Starmer was pulled away from the second half of his beloved Arsenal’s semi-final to firm up the final details of the US trade deal with Donald Trump. www.standard.co.uk/news/politic...

Sir Keir Starmer was pulled away from the second half of his beloved Arsenal’s semi-final to firm up the final details of the US trade deal with Donald Trump. www.standard.co.uk/news/politic...

filling time on air until the new pope is announced is known as "pontiffication"

Trump sends No 10 into disarray on trade deal, but Starmer will be thrilled with the result (unlike Arsenal) 💂‍♂️ UK scrambling to announce deal on VE Day 🏭Reporters sent to the wrong factory ☎️Weird speakerphone press conference ✅But major win for PM

You think running a marathon is hard? Try being in your late-20s and trying to keep track of everyone you know when London and Manchester are on the same day

🕰️🌅

The Prime Minister will deliver a statement on defence in Downing Street at 5pm this afternoon after pledging to raise defence spending from its current 2.3% to 2.5% of GDP

BREAKING: Tulip Siddiq has resigned She says she would be a 'distraction' to the govt if she stayed in post Independent ethics adviser found she did not breach ministerial code

Insider secret about Downing Street for the bluesky lads. It is the coldest street in Britain. It could be 30C on Whitehall and you’d need a woolly hat here.

Sir Keir Starmer has accused the Conservatives of prioritising winning support on Elon Musk’s social media site over protecting children by pushing for a vote on a new nationwide child grooming investigation. uk.news.yahoo.com/starmer-hits...

Half an hour later and I’m still bleary-eyed about Smithy waiting for Mick

Decisions were made here

Father Christmas doesn’t just travel by sleigh 🎄🎅🏻 He’s also taking his chances on the UK rail network tonight: www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-n...

You all laughed at me for not putting Haaland in my fantasy team…

Another thing I’m moved by: MPs making interventions when they can see the person speaking - who often isn’t from their own party - getting so overwhelmed with emotion they are struggling to speak, to give them a moment to breathe and compose themselves before continuing. Parliament at its best

Parliamentary petition for all tube stations to have a giant Christmas tree right outside

NEW: Smoking ban bill, which means anyone born after 1 January 2009 will be prevented from legally smoking by gradually raising tobacco purchase age, passes first Commons hurdle. Tory leader Kemi Badenoch among those voting against.

The way proposed legislation on assisted dying is set to go through Parliament is “utterly inadequate” an MP has said, after she put her name to a bid to halt the plans going through the Commons www.expressandstar.com/uk-news/2024...

Always pro positive changes to the work place but whoever suggested “improving ventilation” must not have worked in Parliament through winter when I can assure you it is very well ventilated indeed…

A truly wonderful opening paragraph from PA News.

From the PM’s trip to Brazil this week, about this place: www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...

Did a little double take to check which app I was on when I saw the front pages in my feed

I’ve made a starter pack of lobby (ish) journos - those reporting on UK politics Give me a nudge if you think you should be on it and I missed you! go.bsky.app/H3jDVJb

Big news from Guardian Towers this morning... The Guardian has announced it will no longer post content on Elon Musk’s X from official accounts. (I'm staying put - for now - as feel it's important to at least try to retain some balance there). www.theguardian.com/media/2024/n...

Tonight on BlueSky:

I’m on a week off, so probably very little politics from me for the next few days But I went to Highgate Cemetery today for the first time after more than 7 years in London

I’m not sure what I did, but I went out for the afternoon and gained 800 followers here…

Pro-farms graffiti on a bus stop in N15

NEW: A shed for bats that is costing more than £100 million is the “tip of the iceberg” in the “failure” of HS2’s delivery, Transport Secretary Louise Haigh has said. www.kentonline.co.uk/news/nationa...

Your starter pack for all the current UK MPs on Bluesky so far ✅

The best account on Twitter is also on BlueSky

Goodness me, there’s a lot of people arriving over here again

The best account on Twitter is also on BlueSky

They’re running short and the snacks are good www.blood.co.uk

Is there any reason why followers/engagement seem to come in waves over here? I'll go for hours with no notifications and then suddenly get 25 followers+ in the space of a couple of minutes

I've updated and filled my UK-based journalists starter pack #2. Am indebted to @aloner.bsky.social @tomirwin.bsky.social @catneilan.bsky.social who also have great starter packs and/or v useful following lists 👇👇 go.bsky.app/SRXaz4q

Do people do this here yet? I’m not sure. Anyway: