The end of the cruel two child benefit cap is incredibly welcome, the single biggest measure the Government could have taken to reduce child poverty, enabling more of Britain’s children to get a decent start in life. A moment to cheer.

Entirely right for Keir Starmer to call out Sarah Pochin’s blatantly racist comments. The fact that Nigel Farage hasn’t removed her whip, nor accepted the racist core of her comments, tells us all we need to know about him and his failure to lead. www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...

This is welcome - and correct. Brexit caused huge harm to the economy, and more to our global standing, and our ability to collaborate with the EU on defence, policing, climate and more. www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...

Horrific mews. If Trump and alliés really want peace they need to commit to ongoing, painstakimg action. This cannot go on. www.theguardian.com/world/live/2...

Lord Stern was right in 2006 and he’s right now - investing to prevent climate chaos is the only viable growth story of the 21st century, and a far cheaper way to power our économies due to lower upfront costs and the saved cost of avoided harms. www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Trump campaign to block global shipping emissions deal falters Unequivocally good news - and testament to the limits of Trump’s anti-climate agenda on.ft.com/47wjMv1

‘If we act now, we still have time to shape our future, and positively impact national security, national health, economic growth and climate change. If we do not, change will be forced on us by crisis.’ www.theguardian.com/environment/...

It’s been a long time coming. With an honest debate about the all too real harms caused by Brexit we can finally move on and talk about how to fix them. The opportunities this could open - for the economy, trade, defence and culture - are huge. www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/202...

For all today’s real and justified relief a huge task remains. The path to peace must include a recognition of harms committed and true justice.

There is much to be hoped for, an grateful for, in news coming from Gaza and negotiations between the US, Israel, Hamas and Gulf States The tragedy is that these discussions and decisions are happening now, and not at any other point in the last 2 years www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...

Huge thanks to Nick Thomas-Symonds MP, Stephen Doughty MP, Sam Peacock (SSE), Karen Northey (The IA), Sara Hyde (Fabian Society), Chris Hayward (City of London) & @mdbuckley.bsky.social for co-hosting and contributing to our panel on UK-EU security - climate, energy, defence and economy - at #Lab25

Full room at the @chrleft.bsky.social church service at #Lab25 - great to hear from @annadixonmp.bsky.social and many more.

This is both incredibly welcome and - sadly - insufficient to end the carnage in Gaza or prevent further settlements and violence in the West Bank. All credit to Keir and his team, but this step has to be built on, and soon. www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

Very glad to see this - it needed to be said loud and clear. ‘Jesus calls us to love both our neighbours and our enemies and to welcome the stranger. Any co-opting or corrupting of the Christian faith to exclude others is unacceptable’ www.mirror.co.uk/news/politic...

‘By our commitment to social justice, our country can reaffirm that we will never lose sight of our moral compass.’ Well said Gordon Brown - a call to action. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

I am running to be Deputy Leader of the Labour Party. As a proud working-class woman from the North East, I have come from a tough council street all the way to the Cabinet. I will be a strong voice to unite our Party, take the fight to Reform, and deliver for our country.

This is incredibly positive www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2...

“So long as safe and legal routes for asylum seekers are inadequate we collude in illegal systems which create communities for whose safety and integration govt is unable to plan, who are trapped in a situation dehumanising for them, challenging for localities” www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

We know disaster awaits unless we act, swiftly, to cut emissions deeply and permanently, yet still our collective action isn’t coming close to the ambition required. With the US absent it’s up to the UK, EU and other willing nations to step up. www.theguardian.com/environment/...

The Office, but in the Oval Office

“Child poverty has incalculably long effects, disabling whole generations from becoming the active and grateful givers they could be, binding us all more tightly into patterns of anxiety, hostility and isolation. It is time to face this honestly, and ask why we tolerate it.” on.ft.com/4583SXH

Sadly true - and it’s now worse given we have multiple TV / radio channels which spread lies and panic about migration to boost viewer numbers and build support for extremist parties. The public deserve far better from politicians and journalists; OFCOM also needs to enforce impartiality.

Limited, qualified, uncertain good news - but welcome nonetheless. Leaders need to ensure this becomes a full ceasefire and end to the war, and the first step toward rebuilding and safety. on.ft.com/3H5uGyj

If ‘the West’ doesn’t act soon there won’t be any Gazans left to save. The fact there are no easy solutions does not excuse us from finding one, and from finding it now. www.theguardian.com/world/live/2...

Aid is supposed to sustain life in conflict and disaster. In Gaza it is used as a tool of violence and death. Where the UN ran 400 distribution points in the last ceasefire today there is one, for 2 million people. Those who approach it risk death, injury. www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...

“MPs should take time to consider the fundamental flaws in the bill that have been exposed during the debates of recent months.” Well said ⁦‪Gordon Brown‬⁩ www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Great result from @scottishlabour.bsky.social - congratulations to @anassarwar.bsky.social and team on.ft.com/3ZSYtQZ

“If we abandon Gaza . . . we kill our own credibility,” Macron said today. Humanitarian need alone should be more than enough justification to act - but he’s not wrong that the credibility of the US, Europe and ‘the West’ hangs on this moment. on.ft.com/450ABhW

Excellent analysis on Brexit aftermath & Starmer’s EU deal with Adrian Goldberg, @adambienkov.bsky.social and @mdbuckley.bsky.social Do follow @bylinepodcast.bsky.social

🔴How the British press got it wrong about Keir Starmer's Brexit reset. Join us for a live video chat with @adambienkov.bsky.social @mdbuckley.bsky.social and @goldbergradio.bsky.social at 3PM here open.substack.com/live-stream/...

I'll be talking anout Starmer's Brexit deal with the Director of the Independent Commission of UK-EU Relations @mdbuckley.bsky.social and @goldbergradio.bsky.social at 3PM here open.substack.com/live-stream/...

“There is still lots to be done to repair the damage caused by Brexit. But that shouldn’t detract from a package of measures that goes significantly further than many – both in Brussels and the UK – expected even weeks ago.” Me for @bylinetimes.bsky.social bylinetimes.com/2025/05/20/k...

There is a lot to welcome in the EU reset. Commitments on defence, energy, agricultural products, police databases and Erasmus+ are particularly good news, and together will make a real difference to British lives and companies. www.theguardian.com/uk

What to expect at Monday’s Summit From @ukeucommission.bsky.social www.ukeucommission.org/commentary/s...

‘Put bluntly, this Assisted Dying Bill gives too much unchecked power to future Governments and Health Secretaries to erode the principles of the NHS.’ Well said Siobhain McDonagh MP labourlist.org/2025/05/assi...

Both the Royal College of Psychiatrists and the Royal College of Physicians find the assisted suicide bill deficient and will not support it. www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

We remember with pride the defeat of fascism. To the trade unionists who resisted. We thank you. We remember you. We pledge to carry your fight forward.

On VE Day we remember all those who gave their lives, who showed courage, who fought for freedom from tyranny. May we honour them by living with the same courage in the face of today’s challenges at home, in Ukraine, the Middle East and beyond. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

“While States debate terminology - is it or is it not genocide? - Israel continues its relentless destruction of life in Gaza, through attacks by land, air and sea, displacing and massacring the surviving population with impunity,” the experts said. www.ohchr.org/en/press-rel...

Brilliant day campaigning with some great teams for Karen Shore to become the next @teamlabouruk.bsky.social MP for #RuncornandHelsby 🌹

Our @moreincommonuk.bsky.social polling for @channel4news.bsky.social on those who say they will vote in this week’s local elections finds Reform and the Conservatives likely to receive the most votes. ➡️ REF UK 26% 🌳 CON 25% 🌹 LAB 18% 🔶 LIB DEM 17% 🌍 GREEN 8% ⬜️ IND 6%

Great job here at the @london.gov.uk office working on children and young people’s policy www.london.gov.uk/take-part/wo...

Closer collaboration between the UK and EU in energy and climate policy can bring down bills for consumers and industry - and speed the energy transition Read more in our new report www.ukeucommission.org/reports/ener...

I am saddened to hear of the death of Pope Francis, a man and leader who understood that kindness, service and humility are still of deep value. He earned respect in and out of the Church, no mean feat. Rest in Peace.

If Trump's approval ratings maintain his current rate of decline he'll be on net -50 by January 2026. *graph via @gelliottmorris.com

‘During the interview, Witkoff repeated various Russian arguments, including that Ukraine was "a false country" and asked when the world would recognise occupied Ukrainian territory as Russian.’ Truly, this man is no friend of Ukraine. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Some welcome news www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Incredibly welcome that the US has resumed intelligence sharing and military aid with Ukraine. But in truth it should never have ceased. news.sky.com/story/amp/ze...

This is welcome, but it seems mad that we haven’t been doing this for decades. on.ft.com/4kGd4In