Reeves and UK government called an uneccessary emergency press conference before the budget - political theatre for their own disgruntled backbenchers and public. It was misleading, and now government on back foot, appearing shifty and looking like inept bunglers. www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c4...

I'm at Scottish towns Conference #stc25. Listening to opening speeches, reminded of issue for towns across the world is the circulation of wealth. Negative issues can be sourced back to wealth extraction through narrow ownership of wealth and assets. #communitywealthbuilding

At opening session of #stc25 reminded that great and resilient towns are an effective confluence/blend of public, social, cultural environmental and commercial functionality. And many towns suffer from a wealth extracting financialisation.

The King of the UK, should serve the vicitims and compel his brother to attend and tell congress and the world what he knows. Otherwise it looks like King is protecting him.

Inadequate. We need a deeper inquiry into exactly what Royal Family has known and crucially the giuffre civil sexual assault lawsuit filed against Prince Andrew and whether queen paid £10M to settle. www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cv... Prince Andrew gives up royal titles including Duke of York.

Support for the monarchy has dropped below 50%, according to a new poll 👑❌ Get the details: www.thenational.scot/news/2...

This sordid murkiness gets darker and darker. We need clarity into whether the late queen paid £10M in settling the civil sexual assault lawsuit brought against Andrew. Its appaling if she did and what did she know? The British people demand answers from Royal Family. www.bbc.com/news/article...

This sordid murkiness gets darker and darker. We need clarity into whether the late queen paid £10M in settling the civil sexual assault lawsuit brought against Andrew. Its appaling if she did and what did she know? The British people demand answers from Royal Family. www.bbc.com/news/article...

Inadequate. We need a deeper inquiry into exactly what Royal Family has known and crucially the giuffre civil sexual assault lawsuit filed against Prince Andrew and whether queen paid £10M to settle. www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cv... Prince Andrew gives up royal titles including Duke of York.

1st "official" government communication I've read that basically says "we're headed for 2 degrees and we are not prepared for this" But startlingly, doesn't rule out 4 degrees either, and I'm not sure we really understand just how catastrophic that will be. www.theguardian.com/environment/...

We have had two years of record breaking poor harvests. Flood one year, drought the next. Hundreds of excess deaths this summer because of a heat wave, the possibility of which are going to double in the next few years. Climate change is with us. We need to double down on net zero and adapt.

To become a member of the House of Lords means you accept establishment power and cronism over genuine democracy.

I have taken the view that anyone who has decided to join the House of Lords and become a Peer, have absented themselves from having anything useful to say.

What can the King do about Prince Andrew scandals? He should be completely cut adrift. We also need a full inquiry into what royal family knows. After all the queen paid £10 million to settle a serial abuse lawsuit with victoria giuffre - preventing a public trial. www.bbc.com/news/article...

More murkiness- Tony Blair met Jeffrey Epstein while prime minister - teed up by Mandelson and facilitated by UK civil servants. It also reveals how wealth is enough for high level UK civil service and government to decide access to PM. www.bbc.com/news/article...

More murkiness- Tony Blair met Jeffrey Epstein while prime minister - teed up by Mandelson and facilitated by UK civil servants. It also reveals how wealth is enough for high level UK civil service and government to decide access to PM. www.bbc.com/news/article...

Sordid revelations grow. King Charles III as head of UK state is supporting this fella. This is scandalous. The King must cut Prince Andrew loose. Prince Andrew named in new Epstein files www.bbc.com/news/article...

‘A sticking plaster’: Labour’s levelling up offer leaves Blackpool voters unmoved

Whatever one thinks of a mandatory ID, there is an issue with this being a 'brit card'. Many citizens of UK dont identify themselves as 'Brits'. Including me. I'm a Scot. That is not a moot point for me and many others in Wales, Northern Ireland and England. www.the-independent.com/news/uk/poli...

After years of austerity and rising poverty, this ‘plan for change’ simply recycles New Labour’s 2001 Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy—then worth £10 billion in today’s terms, double what’s on offer now. www.gov.uk/government/n...

Wont do any harm, but wont work. Unlike Scotland, England and Starmer seems averse to #communitywealthbuilding. Clearly he prefers throwing sweeties at poor and keeping his economics neoliberal. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

More descriptive simplicities and adolescent analysis from BBC political correspondent- Chris Mason. Mason gets paid over £250K a year. Punchy Lib Dems use Reform UK as call to action www.bbc.com/news/article...

Deary me! Lib Dems and Davey gave lots of promises in 2010- no tuition fees, no austerity etc.. They and he ended up joining Tory government and doing reverse. Their deep centrism means they buckle to extremes. We'll stop Farage turning UK into Trump's America. www.bbc.com/news/article...

It was late. Demonstrating a trend. Starmer dithers. Why Starmer decided the time was right to recognise a Palestinian state www.bbc.com/news/article...

Deary me! The British Monarchy and its various hangers on have had some seriously questionable relationships and attitudes toward convicted child sex offender- Epstein. Now its ex wife of epstein's good pal- Prince Andrew. Duchess of York called Epstein 'supreme friend'. www.bbc.com/news/article...

Weak centrist politicians avoid bold principled decisions by making progressive change contingent on doing sommat else. Means they are probably unprincipled, indecisive and cant be trusted to ever make the change.

Lets be frank- he looks like a prat! But its serious...Lib dems put tories in government in 2010. Now they have moved up a right wing notch. They are looking to get pally with Reform. Farron drapes himself in flag as Lib Dems seek to reclaim patriotism www.bbc.com/news/article...

More descriptive lightweight nothing from BBC political correspondent- Chris Mason. Is it BBC policy to dumb down politics. Delight and relief in government after state visit www.bbc.com/news/article...

I'm here!

The BBC political editor is good at saying the bleeding obvious. He dumbs down politics, has no insight and makes it boring. He is lightweight. Reform UK amplifies jitters for Labour and Conservatives www.bbc.com/news/article...

Kruger's work on 'social covenant' is liked by centrists. Akin to #BigSociety and #communitypower - masking corporate power and hollowing out of welfare state - it sees to shift burden of public services onto communities, especially poor, under the guise of empowerment. www.bbc.com/news/article...

Many Labour MPs now saying that Lord Mandelson should not have been appointed in first place. Correct. However, shame those same MPs were not speaking out in February, when Mandelson was appointed.

Manchester city centre has become overly dense due to land speculation and rentierism. This new plan is a corrective measure—that wouldn’t have been necessary if city had embraced a distributed model of development, reflecting its character as city of many town centres. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

If Starmer and government thought Mandelson was a good idea and 'singular talent' for US ambassador, then we can surmise one thing-they have a serious and worrying lack of judgement.

Kyle defends the indefensible on Mandelson appointment. Saying he was a 'singular talent'!!! Mandelson has been a liability for years. Made untouchable by his known very long friendship with Epstein www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cy... Business secretary Peter Kyle quizzed after Mandelson sacking

Of course! She is correct. Starmer and his advisers made a huge call, and wrong one. Also far too many MPs gave the initial appointment an easy ride. BBC News - Mandelson should never have been ambassador, says Epstein victim's family www.bbc.com/news/article...

When Starmer conveyed to parliament that he backed Lord Mandelson with confidence'- No 10 already new about damaging emails. Either Starmer lied, or he is running an appallingly bad no 10 office. Officials knew about Epstein emails, BBC understands - BBC News www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

An easy assumption. Labour MP says Starmer not 'up to the job' as Mandelson backlash grows - BBC News www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

The chaos continues. Mandelson should lose his Peerage/Labour whip. And Starmer needs to look at his advisors. BBC News - Labour MPs' growing fury over Mandelson appointment www.bbc.com/news/article...

Labour are wanting to move on from Mandelson and Rayner chaos. However, this will rumble on for as long as Lord Mandelson remains a Labour Peer. All peers need to adhere to Nolan standards. Including integrity and openness. www.bbc.com/news/article...

So the vote for Labour Party members is between a centrist starmerite cabinet member- V - centre right, starmerite ex cabinet member. A political party with a rich tradition of ideas and debate is now engaged in a hobsons choice! www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

So Mandelson can't be a UK ambassador, because of his close association with Epstein but he can be a peer in House of Lords?

While the Prime Minister may have been unaware of the specific contents of the emails between Mandelson and Epstein, it was already widely known by that they had maintained a long-standing friendship for years. That association alone meant that Starmer should never have appointed him to the role.

Lord Mandelson is part of UK establishment. A peer with numerous connections and associations including honorary positions in prestigious academic institutions. They should be looking at his continued role.

In 14 months, the UK Labour government has faced missteps, ministerial sackings, resignations, reshuffles, and repeated resets. While these are undeniably challenging times, it’s hard to escape the conclusion that the government — and the Prime Minister — are simply not up to the task.

Lord Mandelson was wholly unsuited to being US ambassador. Appalling judgement by UK Prime Minister to have appointed him. His position as a Peer in House of Lords should now be looked at. www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cz... Peter Mandelson sacked as US ambassador by Keir Starmer

He needs to stripped of his peerage alongside losing his USA ambassador role. He is a national disgrace.

Keir Starmer says Peter Mandelson "has repeatedly expressed his deep regret for his association with" Jeffrey Epstein. When asked about Epstein by the Financial Times in February, Mandelson said: "It’s an FT obsession and frankly you can all fuck off. OK?”

Is Lord Mandelson even fit to sit in House of Lords? Let alone be the UK ambassador to USA. He is a national embarrassment. He should have no role in public life.

The UK Prime Minister has expressed "confidence" in the UK ambassador to the United States—a misjudged and controversial appointment by Keir Starmer that may come back to haunt him - as there are further embarrassing Epstein/Mandelson related revelations expected. www.bbc.com/news/article...