Josh Self
@josh.politics.co.uk
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📥 1581
📝 1388
Editor of Politics.co.uk ✍️ Subscribe to my free newsletter 👇
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reposted by
Josh Self
Politics.co.uk
12 days ago
“By dismissing the socially conservative streak of the movement as an aberration, we risk alienating the very heartlands we should aspire to represent”, writes
@connornaismithmp.bsky.social
🗣️ Why Blue Labour is a key component of True Labour
www.politics.co.uk/mp-comment/2...
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Connor Naismith MP: ‘Why Blue Labour is a key component of True Labour’ - Politics.co.uk
The Gorton and Denton By-election has rightly prompted much soul searching for the Labour Party. One particular piece of analysis arising from the catastrophic defeat is that “Blue Labour”, the party’...
https://www.politics.co.uk/mp-comment/2026/03/09/connor-naismith-why-blue-labour-is-a-key-component-of-true-labour
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[email protected]
with the rebuttal: “Blue Labour isn’t a Tory-lite infiltration. It is a reminder that work is a vocation, not just a contract, that relationships matter more than abstract rights and that patriotism is a valid expression of solidarity”
add a skeleton here at some point
12 days ago
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Not insignificant. Johnson was elected in 2000 as among the first Green MLAs. He stood as the Green London mayoral candidate in 2000 & 2004 He was also the Green male principal speaker from 2001-2003, before backing the current leadership model in the Green 2007 internal referendum
add a skeleton here at some point
18 days ago
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reposted by
Josh Self
Politics.co.uk
18 days ago
“The lesson of 2001 is clear. Disease does not respect borders. Complacency carries a cost measured in billions”, writes Labour MP
@bengoldsborough.bsky.social
🗣️ Biosecurity must be placed at the heart of our national security strategy
www.politics.co.uk/mp-comment/2...
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Ben Goldsborough: ‘Biosecurity must be placed at the heart of our national security strategy’ - Politics.co.uk
This year marks 25 years since the devastating 2001 foot and mouth outbreak. For many, it is a distant memory. For our farmers, it is not. It is a reminder of how quickly disease can bring rural Brita...
https://www.politics.co.uk/mp-comment/2026/03/03/ben-goldsborough-biosecurity-must-be-placed-at-the-heart-of-our-national-security-strategy/
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reposted by
Josh Self
Politics.co.uk
19 days ago
“Treating our democracy as a bargaining chip in an age of populist anti-democratic movements would be an act of reckless complacency”, write Labour MPs
@timrocamp.bsky.social
and
@drbeccycoopermp.bsky.social
✍️ Labour must not bind Britain’s fate to the failing electoral system
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Labour must not bind Britain's fate to the failing electoral system - Politics.co.uk
It’s fair to say that British democracy is in ill health. Labour has inherited rock bottom public trust in politics and a state wracked by austerity. We are working to show that government can deliver...
https://www.politics.co.uk/mp-comment/2026/03/02/labour-must-not-bind-our-fate-to-the-failing-electoral-system/
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reposted by
Josh Self
Scott Gray
20 days ago
Very good piece. The media has spent a lot of time on Labour and Reform's defeats in Gorton & Denton, but the real story is the rise of the Greens.
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“If the Gorton and Denton by-election reflects the state of Labour under Starmer, it is equally a testament to the transformation of the Green Party under Zack Polanski’s leadership.”
www.politics.co.uk/news-feature...
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The Green surge is coming for Keir Starmer - Politics.co.uk
The Gorton and Denton by-election is historic by any measure. The result marks the first time that the Green Party of England and Wales, which has existed in one form or another since 1973, has won a ...
https://www.politics.co.uk/news-feature/2026/02/28/the-green-surge-is-coming-for-keir-starmer/
20 days ago
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Compare and contrast. Wes Streeting’s response to Gorton and Denton (left), via
@pronouncedalva.bsky.social
on X, and Keir Starmer’s (right) Difficult not to read Streeting’s speech as directly responding to the position taken by Starmer
20 days ago
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🚨BREAKING: Josh Simons resigns as a Cabinet Office minister over Labour Together scandal The Labour MP says he had become a “distraction”
21 days ago
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“The contest represents the first by-election in Great Britain since the 1945 Combined Scottish Universities election in which neither of the two best-performing candidates came from the Conservative Party, Labour, or Liberal Democrats…”
www.politics.co.uk/news-feature...
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The Green surge is coming for Keir Starmer - Politics.co.uk
The Gorton and Denton by-election is historic by any measure. The result marks the first time that the Green Party of England and Wales, which has existed in one form or another since 1973, has won a ...
https://www.politics.co.uk/news-feature/2026/02/28/the-green-surge-is-coming-for-keir-starmer/
21 days ago
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The Green surge is coming for Keir Starmer
www.politics.co.uk/news-feature...
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The Green surge is coming for Keir Starmer - Politics.co.uk
The Gorton and Denton by-election is historic by any measure. The result marks the first time that the Green Party of England and Wales, which has existed in one form or another since 1973, has won a ...
https://www.politics.co.uk/news-feature/2026/02/28/the-green-surge-is-coming-for-keir-starmer/
21 days ago
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Only reasonable that Advance UK should now merge into the Monster Raving Loony Party
add a skeleton here at some point
22 days ago
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reposted by
Josh Self
Politics.co.uk
23 days ago
“This diagnosis is false and the proposed cure is a recipe for division rather than unity”, writes
@andrewcopson.bsky.social
of
@humanists.uk
✍️ Governing by nostalgia: Reform’s crusade for ‘Christian values’ offers false comfort
www.politics.co.uk/opinion/2026...
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Reform’s crusade for ‘Christian values’ offers false comfort
The announcement by Reform UK that they will “restore Britain’s Christian heritage” and that the nation must “uphold its Christian values” captures the contradictory essence of modern populist politic...
https://www.politics.co.uk/opinion/2026/02/26/governing-by-nostalgia-reforms-crusade-for-christian-values-offers-false-comfort/
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reposted by
Josh Self
Politics.co.uk
about 1 month ago
“To ensure that climate denialism does not take root in our politics, the benefits of addressing climate change and biodiversity loss must be tangible”, writes Labour MP Olivia Blake Can climate adaptation strengthen UK national security?
www.politics.co.uk/mp-comment/2...
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Olivia Blake: ‘Can climate adaptation strengthen UK national security?’ - Politics.co.uk
We are at a critical juncture marked by growing global uncertainty. The institutions and mechanisms that once sustained the post war era are being weakened or dismantled, with consequences that are no...
https://www.politics.co.uk/mp-comment/2026/02/17/olivia-blake-can-climate-adaptation-strengthen-uk-national-security/
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Predictably, the Reform exiles are fighting over who should join/merge with whose party
about 1 month ago
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Starter for 10: The first manifesto of a forerunner to which modern political party proposed a mass emigration scheme, withdrawal from the EEC and a “compulsory national part-time militia”?
about 1 month ago
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To think Osborne was Starmer’s pick for US ambassador. Impossible to reconcile this with his anti-austerity rage at PMQs yesterday PM told Ed Davey to “take accountability and take responsibility for what he has inflicted on this country.” Points once again to Starmer’s lack of politics
add a skeleton here at some point
about 1 month ago
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Keir Starmer to Ed Davey: “People in this country, millions of people have been let down for years and years, and one of the reasons was austerity which his party supported. "He should take accountability and take responsibility for what he has inflicted on this country.”
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about 1 month ago
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From No 10: Starmer told political cabinet this morning that “the whole of the Labour Party wants Anas Sarwar to become First Minister and will fight for a Labour government in Scotland.”
about 1 month ago
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Reaction to Sarwar suggests Labour isn’t ready to depose Starmer Some thoughts for
@politics.co.uk
as Sarwar’s intervention fails to ignite a leadership putsch at Westminster 👇
www.politics.co.uk/news-feature...
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Reaction to Sarwar suggests Labour isn’t ready to depose Starmer - Politics.co.uk
The leader of the Scottish Labour Party, Anas Sarwar, has moved first. Declaring that he had to do “what is right for my country”, Sarwar called on the prime minister to resign in a scathing statement...
https://www.politics.co.uk/news-feature/2026/02/09/reaction-to-sarwar-suggests-labour-isnt-ready-to-depose-starmer/
about 1 month ago
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🚨 Anas Sarwar: "I have to do what is right for my country, Scotland. "It is not easy and not without pain, but my first priority and first loyalty is to my country... "The distraction has to end and the leadership in Downing Street has to change."
about 1 month ago
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Silence over the last 24 hours from the cabinet is getting more and more difficult to ignore. Not sure we've heard from a senior minister since McFadden backed McSweeney on Sunday morning
about 1 month ago
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reposted by
Josh Self
Politics.co.uk
about 1 month ago
‘We go forward from here’, Starmer declares after two top aides resign in 24 hours
www.politics.co.uk/news/2026/02...
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‘We go forward from here’, Starmer declares after two top aides resign in 24 hours - Politics.co.uk
Keir Starmer has vowed to fight on as prime minister following the resignations of two top aides. Morgan McSweeney, one of the prime minister’s longest-serving and closest lieutenants, resigned as Do...
https://www.politics.co.uk/news/2026/02/09/we-go-forward-from-here-starmer-declares-after-two-top-aides-resign-in-24-hours/
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Tim Allan had been planning for a “strong start in January”. He has now resigned after only five months as Starmer's director of communications
about 1 month ago
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“Labour lacks its own in-house assassination bureau; there is no reliable production line of ‘men in grey suits’ who can coordinate a lethal visitation while an incumbent remains in place.”
www.politics.co.uk/news-feature...
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Starmer leadership crisis will test the Labour herd - Politics.co.uk
Keir Starmer has entered the stay of execution phase of his premiership. On Wednesday, the prime minister instructed Labour MPs to support a government amendment to a humble address tabled by Kemi Ba...
https://www.politics.co.uk/news-feature/2026/02/08/starmer-leadership-crisis-will-test-the-labour-herd/
about 1 month ago
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“The bottom line is that Starmer’s position is terminally vulnerable, but protected by a combination of process and political circumstance… “The length of Starmer’s stay of execution lies with the Labour herd. The prime minister is only in a position to endure.”
www.politics.co.uk/news-feature...
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Starmer leadership crisis will test the Labour herd - Politics.co.uk
Keir Starmer has entered the stay of execution phase of his premiership. On Wednesday, the prime minister instructed Labour MPs to support a government amendment to a humble address tabled by Kemi Ba...
https://www.politics.co.uk/news-feature/2026/02/08/starmer-leadership-crisis-will-test-the-labour-herd/
about 1 month ago
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Starmer leadership crisis will test the Labour herd Starmer has entered the stay of execution phase of his premiership. But removing a Labour PM is more complicated than simply waiting for the “herd” to move Latest for
@politics.co.uk
👇
www.politics.co.uk/news-feature...
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Starmer leadership crisis will test the Labour herd - Politics.co.uk
Keir Starmer has entered the stay of execution phase of his premiership. On Wednesday, the prime minister instructed Labour MPs to support a government amendment to a humble address tabled by Kemi Ba...
https://www.politics.co.uk/news-feature/2026/02/08/starmer-leadership-crisis-will-test-the-labour-herd/
about 1 month ago
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A Hilary Benn resignation speech from the backbenches would absolutely be enough to finish Starmer off. No question
about 1 month ago
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Lots of ramifications from a frantic day in politics – not all of them will be apparent now. Yet I can't help but feel that the most striking takeaway is the political savvy displayed by Angela Rayner No 10 surely hers if she wants it
about 1 month ago
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🚨 Keir Starmer told cabinet today: – Mandelson's alleged passing on of confidential emails was "disgraceful" – He was "not reassured that the totality of the information had yet emerged" – Mandelson "had let his country down."
about 2 months ago
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“I want to contribute ideas that enable Britain to strengthen and to work for all, in every part of the country." Quote from Mandelson in this Times interview is utterly shameless “The smell that won’t go away” indeed
www.thetimes.com/article/22e6...
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Peter Mandelson: Epstein is like dog muck; the smell won’t go away
Peter Mandelson was sacked as ambassador to the US because of his links to Jeffrey Epstein. Now, he has resigned from the Labour Party. Is this the end for him?
https://www.thetimes.com/article/22e676b1-3121-4bb9-99cd-e8facf76f5b7?shareToken=5ab2250585bd84a84b502666fb01fb98
about 2 months ago
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Lib Dems call for Peter Mandelson to be stripped of his peerage
about 2 months ago
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“The poll of 143 voters in Gorton and Denton…” Basically as useful as a vox pop
www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/202...
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about 2 months ago
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Labour deputy leader
@lucympowell.bsky.social
responds to Matt Goodwin being selected as Reform’s candidate for the Gorton and Denton by-election:
about 2 months ago
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Suella Braverman -> Reform UK
about 2 months ago
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“The Labour Party’s factions are mostly speaking with one voice – that should scare Starmer far more than the prospect of a Burnham comeback.”
www.politics.co.uk/news-feature...
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Blocking Burnham will not stop the psychodrama - Politics.co.uk
There are at least two ostensible explanations for the Labour national executive committee’s decision to block Andy Burnham from standing in the Gorton and Denton by-election. The official narrative w...
https://www.politics.co.uk/news-feature/2026/01/25/blocking-burnham-will-not-stop-the-psychodrama/
about 2 months ago
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“Starmer – in a crowning moment of centralised control-freakery – has chosen to keep Labour’s prince across the water in the relative wilderness. “Critics will argue that this culture of control is now crowding out assets in the battle against Nigel Farage.”
www.politics.co.uk/news-feature...
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Blocking Burnham will not stop the psychodrama - Politics.co.uk
There are at least two ostensible explanations for the Labour national executive committee’s decision to block Andy Burnham from standing in the Gorton and Denton by-election. The official narrative w...
https://www.politics.co.uk/news-feature/2026/01/25/blocking-burnham-will-not-stop-the-psychodrama/
about 2 months ago
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Burnham responding to the Starmerite line: “I'm not sure losing a by-election does us any good either, Tom.”
about 2 months ago
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Blocking Burnham will not stop the psychodrama There will come a time when Starmer runs out of procedural solutions to his political problems Thoughts for
@politics.co.uk
on today's developments 👇
www.politics.co.uk/news-feature...
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Blocking Burnham will not stop the psychodrama - Politics.co.uk
There are at least two ostensible explanations for the Labour national executive committee’s decision to block Andy Burnham from standing in the Gorton and Denton by-election. The official narrative w...
https://www.politics.co.uk/news-feature/2026/01/25/blocking-burnham-will-not-stop-the-psychodrama/
about 2 months ago
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Labour statement on Burnham: “Although the Party would be confident of retaining the mayoralty, the NEC could not put Labour’s control of Greater Manchester at any risk.”
about 2 months ago
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Burnham blocked. Politics of this very questionable from the Labour leadership. First impression is Starmer has overestimated his strength. Set ups row now, and if Labour are bested at the by-election. Wounding battles before Starmer’s moment of maximum danger (May elections)
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about 2 months ago
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Hague appointing Portillo as shadow chancellor serves as a reasonable playbook for dealing with pretenders who make their way back to parliament via by-election
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about 2 months ago
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Right decision from Burnham’s perspective - Get blocked, and his standing as ‘Prince across the water’ is strengthened. Not sure the Labour leadership is strong enough to weather the backlash in this scenario - Get selected, stands a good chance of winning, prove ability to beat Reform…
about 2 months ago
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I wonder if Gorton & Denton contest sparks a serious debate about FPTP and possible reform If speculation is true, we could see serious candidates from Labour, Reform (Yusuf), Conservative, Lib Dem, Green (Polanski), Workers Party (Galloway) all standing Belfast South (2015) on steroids 1/...
about 2 months ago
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reposted by
Josh Self
Politics.co.uk
2 months ago
“Reform is assembling a collection of grievances, grudges and contradictions, united less by conviction than by convenience”, writes Mario Creatura 🗣️ Reform isn’t building a party of government. It’s building a retirement home
www.politics.co.uk/comment/2026...
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Reform isn’t building a party of government. It’s building a retirement home - Politics.co.uk
Reform’s decision to welcome Robert Jenrick tells us far more about what kind of political project it really is than any speech, slogan or rally ever could. This is not the behaviour of a serious insu...
https://www.politics.co.uk/comment/2026/01/19/reform-isnt-building-a-party-of-government-its-building-a-retirement-home/
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Jenrick accuses Mel Stride of presiding over “the explosion of the welfare bill” Priti Patel “created the very migration system that enabled 5 million migrants to come here - the greatest failure of any British government in the post-war period”
2 months ago
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And there it is... Robert Jenrick defects
2 months ago
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Badenoch looks to capitalise on her improved standing by sacking Jenrick *and* removing the Tory whip from him Move has big implications for the fight for dominance on the right. If Jenrick jumps, an outcome this action all but seals, does he take allies with him?
2 months ago
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“Zahawi's defection strengthens the argument that Reform is increasingly functioning as a refuge for Conservative flotsam and jetsam.”
www.politics.co.uk/news-feature...
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Nadhim Zahawi and the pitfalls in Farage’s defection strategy - Politics.co.uk
The first reaction to Nadhim Zahawi’s defection to Reform UK revolves around the political baggage he brings with him. The former chancellor’s political career was inextricably intertwined with the Co...
https://www.politics.co.uk/news-feature/2026/01/12/nadhim-zahawi-and-the-pitfalls-in-farages-defection-strategy/
2 months ago
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13 November 1947: Clement Attlee accepts Hugh Dalton's resignation as chancellor after he leaked details of his budget to a lobby journalist The leaks, reported by the Star newspaper, were published 15 minutes before Dalton began reading his budget speech
www.nytimes.com/1947/11/14/a...
4 months ago
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