In this week's Guardian Politics Weekly podcast, Labour deputy leadership contender Lucy Powell urges caution & care on Special Educational Needs reform & emphasises the importance of existing rights Listen here (second half) podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/p...

If anyone was starting to wonder why they voted Labour, at long last they've emerged from their bunker with an answer

RIP Danny Thompson. Here's a playlist featuring just some of the hundreds of songs that were graced by his bass playing. Includes Nick Drake, Pentangle, Donovan, John Martyn, Sandy Denny, Marc Bolan, David Sylvian, Kate Bush, Talk Talk, Lilac Time, Julian Cope etc ▶️ open.spotify.com/playlist/4XS...

I find it really interesting that US autism politics has turned into "it's a terrible epidemic and must be eradicated" at the same time as UK (etc) autism politics has turned into "it's mostly overdiagnosed and must be doubted" Of course the end result is the same: no need to figure out support 🙃

“We apologise for any insensitivity or offence caused to the white supremacist community at this time”

Donald Trump's speech today at the UN felt like the sort of thing Muammar Gaddafi used to do

“Your countries are going to hell. I can tell you, I’m really good at this stuff” is a 10/10 United Nations appearance. Just objectively fantastic stuff.

You look at this stuff and think, Where does it go next? Clearly, there will be new depths of mad nastiness as yet unimagined. But here are, deep into a nightmare that we'd have thought was insane satire 20 years ago

Really not sure about the BBC leading U.K. news with Trump's autism crap. Why?

"There are no proven therapies or drugs that ‘cure’ autism. Most autistic people and families want research to focus on better understanding and support." Joint statement from the major UK autism charities: www.ambitiousaboutautism.org.uk/about-us/med...

Please do read and share this thread on @changingrealities.bsky.social parents and carers take on what needs to be in the schools white paper. Echoes much of what @johnharris1969.bsky.social said yesterday, & what thousands of parents are calling for.

#SEND parents will not give up without a fight. #SaveOurChildrensRights www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Not hard to understand the meaning of this for the govt: Don't do it apple.news/AwPM763CyRFy...

After last week, UK ministers should know this: a huge rebellion is coming—we will fight to #SaveOurChildrensRights. In the Guardian, John Harris on the week’s SEND developments. Tomorrow sees the final look at the #SENDinquiry report, about funding. www.theguardian.com/commenti...#SaveOurChildrensRights

Latest from me: last week was a big one for our fight for educational rights. Here's why www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

#Todmorden #BookFestival #TodBookFest25 #TBF2025 #TodmordenBookFestival2025 todmordenbookfestival.co.uk

Yeah realpolitik etc, but laying on bells, whistles and pomp for a head of state who says "immigration destroys countries from within" is, by definition, another step into the void

The Guardian's doing a two-part piece on what this floundering govt might do to improve things. Here's my contribution: build social/council housing, and fast www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

This feels like it's settling into consensus now. I hope the govt listens

In the hereafter, Orwell rotates and vomits

168 SONGS OF HATRED AND FAILURE is officially a Sunday Times bestseller and will be #7 in this weekend’s chart. Huge congratulations @keithcameron2.bsky.social! Thank you to everyone who has bought a copy or come to an event, the record stores and bookshops who have supported this special book…

It’s not dark yet, but it’s getting there.

Standing room only for Westminster Hall debate on SEND, called in response to this petition calling for legal rights to be maintained petition.parliament.uk/petitions/71... Shows the deep concern about upcoming reforms among MPs Watch here: www.parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/...

News! At 4.30pm today, MPs will debate the Save Our Children's Rights petition calling on the Government to retain the legal right to assessment and support in education for children with Special Educational Needs. This matters

Latest from me: on the constant modern spectacle of violence, argument, strife & division... and how it assists the right-wing voices who bang on about imminent civil war... and makes life impossible for incumbent govts www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Anyone heard from the Prime Minister?

This is such a great book. I'm honoured to be in it, but that's hardly the point: it's just brimming with stories & brilliant details... feels like the best PW book I've read

That'll do it son. You tell 'em

Here's my review for @mojomagazine.bsky.social of @keithcameron2.bsky.social's brilliant new Manics book. Hugely recommended www.mojo4music.com/articles/sto...

someone really needs to tell the prick in No 10 that keeps coming up with these quotes that he sounds like Gareth from The Office

And... busy week. We went to Reform's conference in Birmingham and beyond - talking to voters in Longbridge & Weoley (where the flags started) about what it all means podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/p...

Latest from me: The prime minister increasingly looks like a man next to a burning house, offering to buy a new bookcase and rug www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

👀#SEND

We went to Reform UK conference so you don't have to. Special episode of Politics Weekly UK out Sunday

Book promotion klaxon 🚨The Traitors Circle comes out next week - this gives you a flavour of what it’s about, along with some of the early responses. (Sound on) You can get the book here linktr.ee/jonathanfree...

Really honoured to say that on Friday November 7th, I'll be at the Todmorden Book Festival, talking about my book Maybe I'm Amazed, music, autism.... and the Beatles, Kraftwerk, Funkadelic, The Clash... www.ticketsource.co.uk/todmorden-bo...

Yes it's this week's Politics Weekly UK, with me, @gabyhinsliff.bsky.social & @kiranstacey.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/politics/aud...

Glasgow! I'll be talking about my book Maybe I'm Amazed, music, autism & the sheer magic of sound at Aye Write on Saturday November 8th. Tickets here www.glasgowlife.org.uk/event/1/mayb...

Breathtaking.

The Maybe I'm Amazed Substack returns! Latest piece from me is here: a long cold lonely winter for SEND families?... subscriptions are free maybeimamazed.substack.com/p/a-long-col...

Your Labour Home Secretary is here

News! I'm on Jeremy Vine on R2 in 10 minutes, talking about music, autism & my book Maybe I'm Amazed

Cabinet reshuffle latest

It is insane to me that the richest man in the world is using his global megaphone to call for millions of British people to be rounded up and deported (including my family) and somehow this isn’t even news.

The Guardian has today printed the names, and where possible, images, of all the media workers killed in Gaza, as part of an international day of action involving more than 150 media organisations. www.theguardian.com/global-devel...

Doubts cast on Kemi Badenoch’s claim of US medical school offer Stanford University ex-staff and experts raise questions over Tory leader’s claim of place and partial scholarship offered at 16, saying it is an impossible scenario www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

What we're dealing with is the results of collapsing Sure Start, punishing local austerity, an exodus from mainstream schools with no adequate funding of specialist settings, a mental health crisis that ballooned on their watch , and more. Not 'overdiagnosis'. www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...

Dire. The Labour Party is being led by a moral vacuum

There where more Bass players in The Fall