There’ll be lots of debate over the coming months about whether the government has gone far enough on Fair Funding - and I don’t know yet. But nothing makes the argument better for the principle than K&C proposing to take a step they admit 75% of other councils have already had to.

I’ve written a piece on the curious lack of media and political interest in the issues faced by our national @britishlibrary.bsky.social. This is strange given we live in a world where ideas, knowledge and research are a long-term source of innovation and insight www.cityam.com/the-british-...

For what it’s worth, she’s well entitled to the security. Senior politicians need to make their decisions without regard to future threats against themselves and their families. Yes she was a disaster and is bonkers but that’s not a reason to slip into Trump-style permission of violence.

Lord Dubs said he was "lost for words".

Journalists cosying up to Donald Trump should look at how easily he shrugs off the brutal dismemberment of one of their colleagues – an opinion writer for the Washington Post – and reflect on how easily he’d do the same if it was them.

All those Tories who joined Reform so they could hope that the Labour government would bail them out. 🤮

Those irrational libraries preventing Reform from balancing the books.

At this morning’s Cabinet meeting: ✅ Financial inclusion ✅ Plans for Catcliffe flood defences ✅ Safeguarding adults partnership plan ✅ Pride in Place funding for central Rotherham

Knocking on doors? In 1973? 🤔

Before the last election, Labour ridiculed Rishi Sunak for prioritising funding for Tunbridge Wells over more deprived areas. If they’re not careful, ministers could be about to make the same mistake again, as Steve Houghton writes in the Yorkshire Post: www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/opinion...

Bumfuzzled. youtu.be/yQybUl6UdUY?...

2015 Shabana Mahmood really needs to have a word with 2025 Shabana Mahmood

Not the first to make this point. But there is a tyrant in charge of another country who is accused of being heavily linked to a paedophile sex ring - and supposed ‘patriots’ in this country are passionately willing him to take down our national broadcaster. Madness.

The River Rother at Catcliffe seems to be falling again tonight, but earlier on was three metres higher than normal. The council’s drainage team was on site all day operating pumps, but the need for further physical alleviation was very evident once again.

Public service announcement: apparently Christmas is go 🎄

We’re committed to creating hundreds of apprenticeships, giving people opportunities they might not otherwise have. The latest six are working for our housing partners Equans: www.rotherhamadvertiser.co.uk/education/si...

After the terrible flooding in Catcliffe two years ago, we’re pushing on with the development of plans to reduce the risk in the future: www.rotherhamadvertiser.co.uk/news/people/...

The Russiagate and Epstein plot lines suddenly are joined...

Maybe they’ll be banned from going on holiday to Florida.

Sexual abuse 'ringleader' handed further jail term www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Shameful.

Amen.

History can be boring but it's fascinating for context on your own existence. When Harold Wilson took office (an event I consider to be basically contemporary - my parents were both alive) about 5% of the UK still didn't have hot water. Several hundred thousand people still didn't have electricity.

May have stopped off for a Heavenly Dessert…

An honour as always to lay a wreath on behalf of the borough at this morning’s Remembrance Day service in Clifton Park.

Which government has increased investment and NHS spending, increased taxes on inheritance, non doms and capital gains, nationalised the railways, ended the onshore windfarm ban, brought back Sure Start and expanded free schools meals? This one ⬇️ Lots done, more to do as Darren says.

Amen.

Our Energy Crisis Payments are back. More info on my WhatsApp channel: whatsapp.com/channel/0029...

Tesla’s profit fell 37% in the third quarter. It's been in the process of laying off 14,000 workers. It had more cars impacted by recalls than any other brand in 2024. Yet Elon Musk just got a pay package worth $1 trillion. American capitalism is off the rails.

Reclaim the Night walk to honour Kimberley Fuller, 20 years after her murder www.thestar.co.uk/news/people/...

Also possible that he was just having a grumpy day. Social media makes us spend far too much time on this stuff.

I will never understand the people who can look at this and shrug.

The first of our “Pride in Place” areas - the central Rotherham area - will move a little closer at our next Cabinet meeting: www.rotherham.gov.uk/news/article...

One of the many problems with part-funding councils through business rates is that if you lose one big employer, your public services take the hit. Clearly everyone hopes this is a temporary hit. www.thestar.co.uk/news/politic...

Rotherham residents offered up to £250 to help with winter energy bills www.thestar.co.uk/news/politic...

The world’s first trillionaire initiated a move that has left more than half a million people dead, most of whom are children.

“Subject to suitable bids”

Made a very quick journey from Rotherham Central to Swinton today to see the future. It was more exciting than that journey usually is. I’ll tell you more about it later…

An update on Liberty Steel (via RothBiz) www.rothbiz.co.uk/2025/11/news...

How hard is it to put on bonfire night? Well last year 16,000 people rocked up at Clifton Park, so maybe harder than you imagine. This is a great read about the people who make it happen. www.thestar.co.uk/news/people/...

This really is poorly thought through. If you are going to do a per mile charge it should be for all vehicles. Petrol is undercharged in comparison to its negative impacts. And it's a phenomenally bad idea to create additional psychological barriers to owning EVs. on.ft.com/4oxpaFs

“Austerity” = the missing word in all the panic over failing prisons

Long council meeting this afternoon! ✅ Freedom of the borough for an exceptional foster carer ✅ Community Safety Strategy ✅ More inclusive premises licensing ✅ A timeline for our new local plan ✅ Opposing the massive Whitestone solar farm proposal

How is he allowed to show his face in public? Are they paying him to write this nonsense?

Cash boost from the council to help struggling residents keep warm www.rotherhamadvertiser.co.uk/news/people/...

This is quite the story. China academic intimidation claim referred to counter-terrorism police www.bbc.com/news/article...

I mean, we started it a few years ago but ok.

The futility of our politics/media ecosystem means Farage can just spew out widely debunked claims about millionaire flight, spending cuts, the safety of London, immigrants etc and it will get streamed right to your TV screen with no analysis, correction or debate. Scary

Excl: The driver of the train who made the emergency stop in Huntingdon, Andrew Johnson, told ITV News tonight that he was “just doing my job”. But he surely saved lives. He says the member of LNER staff still in hospital with life-threatening injuries “was the brave one”.

Unrelated to anything else, I chaired a panel recently that should have included Solihull Cllr Bob Sleigh (as it happened he couldn’t make it). I googled to see if he’d said anything interesting on the topic that we might talk about - and was surprised to discover that he has my job.