Had the great pleasure of being able to watch the Pride flag being raised outside the Civic today. Small things can have a big impact when it comes to making people feel welcome, loved and represented here in Newcastle. #Pride #Newcastle #LGBTQ

I was excited to be invited to #Life this evening to join them for a showing of Life: the greatest story. This award-winning immersive show, produced by Life & narrated by actor Alex Kingston, tells the story of the origins of life on Earth& explores the question - does life exist on other planets?

Aspirational yes. Funded. Probably not. And if so, not to the tune it needs to be.

I just had a really great conversation with Work and Thrive Newcastle, learning more about the work they are doing with groups across the city. A group of passionate people working hard to support people get good jobs, learn new skills or just get some advice on #career options. #Newcastle #LibDem

None of these tax dodging, foreign-based crypto billionaires and moneymen give a single shit about our country or democracy. They’re buying Farage power so he’ll remove our rights and protections to maximise their profits. It really is that simple and that corrupt. www.mirror.co.uk/news/politic...

Another day, another morning spent logging fly tipping across the ward. 😒 #LibDem #WardCouncillor #FlyTipping

Energy is not a luxury. It is essential. That's why we have a plan to halve energy bills in the long term, and to help make sure everyone can afford their essential energy needs today.

I’m sorry but this is rich coming from the person who has actively wound the clock back on Trans rights, mental health provision and other health services in this country. Yet now he has eyes set on being PM he’s trying to clean the slate. www.lbc.co.uk/article/wes-...

Still doing No Mow May! It’s really lovely watching the grass blow in the wind. Yellow rattle is starting to flower too. Half way down weeding the beds. Got a few more evenings to get back on top of things. #Nature #BioDiversity

A two hour dog walk around the ward today. Crumble enjoyed the sniffing & exploring. I picked up a load of different casework, from fly tipping, to loose kerbstones, to hazardous waste at some flats.

Crumble is excited to go for a walk along the beach this evening! #DogsOfBluesky

Saw a mother walking through town with her kid. He was climbing up and over things. I overheard her say in an exasperated tone ‘why are you always climbing on everything?’ I quipped ‘it’s probably quite difficult hiding the fact you’re Spider-Man’ The smile that crossed her kids face was adorable

The three stages of cake baking having a run around at the weekend. Crumble is the most over baked of the lot 🤣

Got a little tear going here. It's really this simple and there's absolutely no reason this can't be universal.

Ive learned, being a councillor is like detective work. Today's task: investigate a dead tree. A walk with a resident led me to spot multiple other issues that now need sorting. What started as a quick check turned into a productive list of casework just by asking ‘what else can I help with?’

It’s crazy how time passes. X and I were caught up in this, we had just got into London Bridge on the train back from Croydon at the time. I vividly remember sitting at home that evening shaking, watching the TV in horror at what had unfolded around us.

You know what would be a better use of road space? Public transport. Cycle paths, pavements, greenery.

This is what we are up against. A billionaires money making machine which is fuelling people’s shift to the right. This is so scary and something I have personally witnessed talking to residents over the past few months. But how do we break this when governments refuse to legislate?

Just made myself a coffee….and the milk curdled when I poured it in 😭😭😭

Today is the beginning of LGBTQ+ pride month. Pride Month means something different to all of us no matter which part of the queer alphabet you belong to. 🌈 I'm grateful for those who have come before us, those who stand beside us and also to those still finding their way in the world we live in.

Finally managed to finished the front fence by adding the fence cap to it. 💪 That’s another DIY task done. Next up. Finishing the wall by adding the capstones to it

Progressive tragedies: how Reform won so many seats in May – and how they can be beaten in the future There is little argument that Reform UK was the main winner of the 2026 local elections in May northeastbylines.co.uk/news/politic...

As misleading headlines go, that has to be up there with some of the worst! As is the claim that "Immigration is fuelling mass unemployment among under-25s." The "shocking new study" does NOT show that at all 🙄 🧵 1/21

I'm currently in Lille, and the transformation of the City Centre is incredible. A network of cycle lanes, LOTS of planting including SUDs. And the effect is amazing, it's quite quiet, and easy to walk around. And still seems really vibrant, very few empty units. Cont.

Wallaceneuk parkrun done. A difficult one today, not the course but the weather and midgies were the problem. but we managed it. #Parkrun #Wallaceneuk

I am honoured to have been asked to be Cabinet Member for Inclusive Economy and Skills, working to help deliver meaningful change across Newcastle. Supporting local businesses, strengthening our high streets & creating new jobs. Ensuring economic growth is felt in all communities across our city.

www.theguardian.com/politics/202... Blair only cares about his paymasters. He should just quietly leave politics and try to save what little respect he has left.

A hugely exciting and positive day for the future of Newcastle as we agree a deal with the Green Party to move the city forward. It’s now time for Newcastle to really start to shine. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Really saddened to hear at the end of this weeks GQT of the passing of Matt Biggs. 😢

*I blame science fiction dystopias www.tumblr.com/brucesterlin...

It’s a damning reflection of the UK's slide away from being a world leader on LGBTQIA+ rights." From 1st to 22nd in just ten years, UK drops again in ranking of LGBTQIA+ rights ⬇️

This morning’s Parkrun done. Was a tough one because of the heat and not having a great nights sleep (was out at Wylam Brewery last night). But good all the same. Could be a PB but my watch had a flake out early on & I had to restart. Properly threw me because all the lap notifications were wrong

Arthur succinctly and eloquently sums this dehumanising guidance up better than I ever can. His life is being ripped apart and all because some right wing funded bigots decided to break something that was never broken in the first place.

It also means that you can be legally trans on a cruise ship. But not on a submarine which technically is known in the Navy as a boat. I also wonder if the hovercraft clause is there because when drafting this ridiculous guidance they couldn’t decide whether it was a boat wearing a skirt, or not.

So, trans people are going to be punished for what they are rather than what any individual does. It’s a reminder to the rest of us minorities that our rights aren’t necessarily secure and, that if we don’t conform, they could be taken away. Canary in the coal mine, anyone? 🏳️‍⚧️

I’m sat reflecting on the days news. Labour are a husk of their former self. A party which I felt once stood up for human rights, for the LGBT community instead has bowed to well funded right-wing groups and pulled the rug from under Trans people repeatedly. Anger doesn’t even come close.

In @transactualuk.bsky.social's response, they say the EHRC's new code of practice "leaves trans people in the UK today with less rights than they had prior to last year’s Supreme Court ruling." They added it's "weakened protections for the LGBTQ+ community as a whole" Our initial look 👇

This is May. Historically the UK’s hottest months are late July and early August. We need to start thinking longer term for how we adapt and build for a hotter climate. We must push for mitigations to be high on the priority list otherwise many in society will suffer.

www.gov.uk/government/n... From a government who systematically have undermined LGBTQ+ rights. Demonised trans people and allowed the UK to drop down the international rankings for progressive attitudes to LGBT community. 😒🙄

Overheard a group of school girls on the bus comparing phone app usage. 10 hours on TikTok 9 hours on Snapchat 7 hours on Instagram How do we combat this level of phone dependence?

Exactly! We need a new way of thinking. Manifesto commitments are one thing, but just being open and honest with people that the system is broken and the only way to fix it is to push through PR and then instantly calling an election would be better than not.

If this is the case. Then the Lib Dem’s and the Green Party should absolutely run against him.

Ah yes - Farage told the FT back in Feb 25 that his I'm a celeb fee was paid into Thorn in the side. No property purchase was made through Thorn, so the house was purchased with other money. All proved and documented www.ft.com/content/42c5...

This mornings #Parkrun done. Course was slightly short (I believe the start line was too far forwards). Still managed my best time for any parkrun since July 2014! 🤯 though still nowhere close to my PB for this course which stands at 21m 07s #RunningSky

If the Greens and other parties saw sense they would negotiate with Burnham. Get him to agree to abolish FPTP as the first thing he would do if he got in as PM as a conditional of not running against him in this seat. Yes there’s a risk he backtracks. But surely he is better than Starmer?

By every measure, 1 hour cities, built for cars, suck when compared to 15 minute cities built for people. @urbantruth.bsky.social #Urbanism #UrbanTruth

It’s a hard and horrible life this EV charging business. Just driven 200 miles. Now time for a stretch of the legs, a coffee and some lunch. Then onward. #EVLife #ElectrificationWoes

What happens if Burnham lies the by-election to RefUK and the mayoral race also goes to RefUK. Then both Labour and Manchester are f*****

This afternoon was spent at the first of our new councillor inductions. I must admit I really enjoyed getting the opportunity to speak to officers, all of who seemed really passionate about the work that they did. Looking forward to working with them over the coming months.

En route to new Councillor induction. The bus is showing as running five minutes late 😒. Despite this being the first stop on the service. The Stagecoach app instead is showing the bus I want is supposedly already midway to town. Oh and the bus shelters don’t give live bus information.