I’m doing the last councillors’ surgery at the Stowe Centre. Thanks to PDT for hosting us for the past 10 years. From next week we will be at Maida Vale Library - same time, 11 am on Saturday

Delegates and visitors for @teamlabouruk.bsky.social Conference 2025 are being sorted out but here's a link to the unofficial conference report for 2023: drive.google.com/file/d/14xBx... And for last year's conference: drive.google.com/file/d/1lkxv...

Credit to @adamhug.bsky.social @carasanquest.bsky.social and Westminster colleagues for reinvesting in Children’s Centres locally after a decade of cuts and closures. This is how to make a difference

From the Hundred of Ossulston, wishing everyone in the county a very happy #MiddlesexDay

I've no vote, but the ten I'd put through are: Albania #ALB Azerbaijan #AZE Belgium #BEL Cyprus #CYP Netherlands #NED Norway #NOR Poland #POL San Marino #SMR Sweden #SWE Ukraine #UKR #Eurovision #Eurovision2025 #ESC2025

Whoever decided to do it, using 25pSF (film effect) on #Eurovision2025 is awful. It makes it look like a recording, not live television. Bring back 50fps interlaced

Interesting opening from @davehillonlondon.bsky.social in the OnLondon extra, about religion in London. One thing the Census does is allow you to look at cross-tab data, and dataset RM031 on Ethnic Group by Religion is quite interesting in London www.ons.gov.uk/datasets/RM0...

Good news today that the British Newspaper Archive has added almost the entire run (1861-1891) of 'The National Reformer', Charles Bradlaugh's secularist newspaper which takes in his many battles for freedom and liberty www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/titles/natio...

If Labour members didn't stay, fight to remove antisemitism, the party could've been lost. If Trade Unions left thinking Labour didn't want them, there would be no Employment Rights Bill. Loyalty to party, even if disappointing or doing profoundly disagreeable things, is underappreciated, admirable

For Americans who didn’t get the joy of living through the Truss/Kwarteng budget, this is the point where the government starts to call the stock market left-wing and/or woke.

‘Buddha did it earlier than Jesus — and did it better.’ Strongly recommend this review of Tom Holland's "Dominion" by Nicholas E. Meyer in @thefreethinkermag.bsky.social freethinker.co.uk/2025/03/do-a...

Very impressed by @deirdrecostiganmp.bsky.social on BBC Politics London explaining what Labour is doing to help people out of poverty, while Chris Philp boorishly repeats stale Tory gibes and shouts over her

It is International #AtheistDay on 23 March, and a day to be thankful of freedom of thought, liberation from repressive doctrines, and a hearty affirmation that this existence is all there is

Northern Ireland’s blasphemy laws are out of step with the European Convention on #HumanRights, says the @natsecsoc.bsky.social 👇 🔗 www.secularism.org.uk/news/2025/03... #FreeSpeech #ECHR

We're increasing affordable housing through regeneration projects like Ebury Bridge in Belgravia. Phase 1 is complete, with over 90 families back in their new homes. An additional 133 homes for social rent will follow. Read our Fairer Westminster Delivery Plan 👇https://bit.ly/4kShprW

Excellent news that Grand Junction, at St Mary Magdalene's Church, has got a grant from MHCLG for National Windrush Day on 22 June

The joys of British legislation - clause 94 of the recently introduced Planning and Infrastructure Bill:

Labour-led Westminster is delivering for local residents whilst keeping council tax low. Our budget delivers more support for adult social care; temporary accommodation; tackling rough sleeping; rent support & £2m on dealing with ASB inc 200 CCTV cameras.

Last night, at Full Council, we were delighted to announce that our Fairer Westminster Delivery Plan for April 2025 – March 2026 has been approved. This is our vision for how we are going to combine delivering effective services with creating a more equitable city. www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJ_2...

Location discovery: "The Crunch" by Nigel Kneale (ATV, TX 19.1.64) was made at Hazlewood Crescent, Kensal Town. The 'Makang Embassy' was 50 Hazlewood Crescent. Most of the street is long since demolished but Our Lady of the Holy Souls RC Church survives

Today's C1 judgment for Westminster Housing is a great achievement for @begumliza.bsky.social and her the whole team. Managing social housing is really difficult, not getting easier, but pulling WCC Housing out of a rut and pointing it in the right direction is outstanding www.gov.uk/government/n...

I see the Iranian dictatorship’s practice of taking innocent Britons hostage on fabricated espionage allegations is continuing

Good to see this Early Day Motion from Neil Duncan-Jordan. Hope every MP signs. edm.parliament.uk/early-day-mo...

Our budget invests more in tackling ASB problems, providing care, supporting vulnerable families and helping people find homes - and saves money delivering services so we keep tax low. www.westminster.gov.uk/news/safer-s...

Great news for Paddington and all Londoners. The design and planning of St Mary's Hospital redevelopment can continue. This is the biggest ever investment in the new St Mary's project, marking a huge step forward after years of uncertainty. www.rachelblake.org.uk/stmaryshospi...

The sacred and the profane are one and the same.

@labourlist.bsky.social Interested in a verbatim report from Labour Party conference?

The (unofficial) Labour Party Conference report 2024 is now available: www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/fg7xs... The 2023 conference report is also available here: www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/ominp...

Important, impassioned and interesting piece by Joani Reid - I think many Labour MPs will share her 'puzzlement' at the small number of their colleagues floating the idea Reeves might have to go in the media.

(Sgt Wilson voice) I say, do you think that's awfully wise?

It’s with a heavy heart that I’ve been forced to write to Claire Coutinho again.

Big announcement today. Labour-run Westminster making residents safer www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMR5...

Surprise bit of local election ephemera found in today's National Archives release of MI5 files (KV 2/4742). A friend thought Kim Philby might be amused by this flyer for Conservative candidates in Prince's ward, Lambeth in 1964

The man in the automated message on the Manchester Civil Justice Centre phone number genuinely sounds unhinged. It only gets worse the longer you listen. Just wait for the bit about bailiffs. Who approved this???

I know we in Labour are against one-word Ofsted judgments but it appears they had only one word for children's services in Labour-run Westminster City Council

Brian plainly doesn't know the first thing about Bridge - but isn't it strange Miranda has never mentioned her interest to him given they've been going out for ten months now? #TheArchers

Justin to support Operation Beaver, mainly because it'll annoy Miranda and/or Brian. Guarantee it. #TheArchers

Hello and welcome to Friday night’s “Four people all talking over each other”. We decided our old programme name of ‘Newsnight’ wasn’t appropriate any more

We’ve warned the Government’s new civil society covenant must keep public services free from religious extremism, proselytisation and discrimination. www.secularism.org.uk/news/2025/01...

A typically ludicrous write-up, but if it's true that new Labour MPs want to stop the appalling practice of holding christian prayers to begin every sitting of Parliament, then good. It's not about modernisation because prayers have never been acceptable. www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article...

First councillor’s surgery of 2025 is open for anyone in Westbourne and north Paddington

Pretty sure the story about Neil Carter being a foundling has not been mentioned on air from the time he first appeared in 1973 until 2025 #TheArchers

Gratified to read that others are concerned about all these laws given pet names of victims. No disrespect to the campaigners but I think the naming is mawkish and infantile, and I'm not convinced it's a good way of legislating either www.thetimes.com/article/708b...

The mysterious Rochelle! Are we going to get an explanation now? #TheArchers

Since the general election there have been 73 divisions (roll call votes) in the House of Commons, and only one MP has participated in every single one of them: @drscottarthurmp.bsky.social (Edinburgh South West). I think he deserves some recognition @hansardsociety.bsky.social

Official: no blasphemy laws

For fans of the 1968 Jonathan Miller version of 'Whistle and I'll Come to You', here's the actual book which Professor Parkin (Michael Hordern) reads to try to comfort his mind at about 35 minutes in. (That's the actual book used in filming, not just another copy)

Important research here providing a proper empirical assessment of the electoral impacts of the new voter ID requirements (tl;dr - small, but real, important and with a clear partisan skew)

Gavin Moss's first appearance in four years or so? #TheArchers