Rupert Lowe is Reform’s latest headache, but is it enough to halt the rolling Reform wagon? medium.com/@noahbr/rupe...

Been told that George Finch, the infamous 19-year-old Reform leader of Warwickshire Council, has been out and about in Gorton & Denton today So far he’s been heard calling the Greens anti-Semitic, denying the genocide in Gaza and accusing Green campaigners of “smoking crack all day”…

It really does feel this Labour government is beginning to crumble before our eyes now. Everything today is pointing to Starmer being the fall guy, but this ignores the degraded Mandelson-built pillars this govt stands on. May be rotten to the core in 10 but feels likely it’s McSweeney first.

Back as a council reporter at SalfordNow today! NEW: Salford City Council has been cleared of a ‘cover-up’ after a review found no deliberate suppression of a misconduct complaint, but admitted poor communication “undermined trust” among councillors. Full story 👇

“Unelected, unaccountable bureaucrats… I think it’s disgraceful” I went to Your Party’s Greater Manchester branch meeting where Zarah Sultana hit out at the leadership after failing to run a candidate in Gorton & Denton - before breaking with her own faction to back the Greens. Full story 👇

GEORGE GALLOWAY IS STEPPING ASIDE FOR THE GREENS IN GORTON & DENTON After lots of speculation surrounding a Workers Party candidate potentially splitting the Muslim vote in the constituency, they will now not run a candidate. Could be huge based on current data.

I’m on Sunday with Alfie Mulcahy on Shock Radio this week for the Paper Review! From 1pm we’re discussing: - Fallout from the Epstein Files release - Assisted dying bill ‘filibustering’ in the Lords - Spanish PM Pedro Sanchez LISTEN: www.shockradio.co.uk/listen-live

🟢 Been sent this this morning - big turnout as the Green Party kick off their campaign with their first weekend of leafleting and door knocking. Host of Green figures there today including Zack Polanski, Caroline Lucas, Rachel Millward and lots of local councillors

🔴 Andy Burnham criticises Labour MPs briefing media, saying there is a “culture where people, behind their hands, to journalists, think they can just lie” Read my feature this week on Labour’s briefing culture problem in the link below this post.

🟢 CONFIRMED: Hannah Spencer is the Green Party candidate for Gorton & Denton. She said: “The party are going to throw the kitchen sink at this by-election, so we’re going to need a plumber.”

Positive responses to candidates for MP at tonight’s Green Party hustings and vote. Text I received: I think I speak for a lot of people when I say that all three, based off of their performances, would be great MP candidates and therefore great MPs. We’ll find out the results tomorrow morning.

Update on Gorton & Denton by-election candidates: - Labour: Shortlist interviews happened on Tuesday, selection meeting happening on Saturday - Reform: Selected GB News presenter Matt Goodwin - Greens: Local hustings tonight, candidate announced at event tomorrow morning - Tories: Nothing yet

Report now up from my trip to meet members and hear speeches at Your Party’s Salford launch rally on Salford Now! Local councillor John Warmisham is leading the charge for Your Party in Greater Manchester and was the keynote speaker at the event. www.salfordnow.co.uk/2026/01/28/h...

Polanski was in Manchester today for an unofficial kickoff party, but not in Gorton & Denton. The enthusiasm and momentum around the election seems to have brought things forward. Moved forward to this Thursday, they are running online hustings for local members to see the potential candidates.

Back in Salford reporting today! New pieces up on HMO consultation raising major concerns in the council, and council tax rises in tow despite income increase and GMCA investment PLUS defect councillor launches Your Party Salford with big promises for local campaigns Links in replies.

NEW: Zack Polanski is visiting Gorton & Denton this Saturday. Green sources say he’s expected to provide plans for the Green by-election candidate list and kick the campaign into gear. Deputy Leader Mothin Ali is expected on the candidate shortlist - but locals may back more local option.

NEW: Tory HQ has withdrawn its claim that mental health was a factor in Suella Braverman’s decision to join Reform UK. It has sent a revised statement to journalists, omitting the reference to Braverman’s mental health, saying the original version was “a draft” that was “sent out in error”.

“It allows for plotting at any time of day” — Labour have a briefing culture problem My full piece here 👇 medium.com/@noahbr/it-a...

NEW: Tories say Braverman’s ‘mental health’ a factor in her defection to Reform Spokesperson: “It was always a matter of when, not if, Suella would defect. The Conservatives did all we could to look after Suella’s mental health, but she was clearly very unhappy.”

BREAKING: Suella Braverman, the former Conservative home secretary, defects to Reform UK

BREAKING: Andy Burnham blocked from byelection race by Labour ruling committee, as per The Guardian. “Of the 10-strong “officers’ group” of the NEC, the vote went eight to one against Burnham, a Labour source said. The chair, the home secretary, Shabana Mahmood, abstained.”

I guarantee this Trump ‘framework’ is just for more defence presence, a build up of bases and troops in Greenland, and establishment of dominance/control over the trade corridor. What’s crazy? They could’ve done all that anyway.

Zelensky: Trump will host another meeting with me and possible European leaders in January. Also noted the two sides had agreed on American security guarantees for Ukraine.

💰BUDGET THREAD: The Times have revealed some key points set to appear in Rachel Reeves Budget tomorrow – these are my keynotes from it Notably lots of concessions to left of the party, lots of immediate impact on cost of living, but a ton of taxes that come with it… Let’s have a look

most normal headline out of america atm

📆 My key takeaways from Starmer’s day 1 at the G20: - On Trump Ukraine plan - It “requires additional work”, particularly regarding caps on military - Successful first meeting with new Japan PM Takaichi - aims to deepen partnership - As domestic concerns loom, is Starmer travelling too much?

for journalism nerds this AP stream having sound on while all the press chat and exchange info is absolutely 10/10 content

Trump on whether he’d be comfortable living in Mamdani’s New York: "Yes, I would…” “I really would, especially after the meeting. Absolutely."

Mamdani seems to have charmed without capitulation to the President, handled the tricky questions very well… Reporter: Are you reaffirming you believe Trump is a fascist? Mamdani: Well… Trump: You can just say it, it’s easier

Quite stunning events in DC as the Republican majority in the senate agree to Chuck Schumer’s manoeuvre to automatically pass the Epstein bill to Trump’s desk. This comes despite Speaker Johnson’s appeal to Thune to “take the time” and “amend” the bill. Could be signed by Trump as soon as tonight.

NEW: THE UK GOVT ARE BANNING LIVE EVENT TICKET SALES OVER FACE VALUE This is one of the most severe measures to cut down on ticket touts anywhere in the world - only really replicated in parts of Canada and Australia. Very intrigued to see the big players respond.

still hilarious that even on an absolute layup of a question like this reform still get trauma reflexes to their vetting scandal

Bizarre scenes in the Commons as Shabana Mahmood snuggles up to Conservative MPs while throwing every previous ally - whether Lib Dems, Greens or anyone else - right under the wheels of this rolling Labour party bus. Really can’t tell whether this is going to work out for them.

Home Sec. Shabana Mahmood tells #BBCLauraK that the week has been “horribly embarrassing and deeply mortifying” for the government. When asked if she would go for the top job as PM, she refused to “indulge in hypotheticals”, affirming that Starmer’s leadership is not in question.

Bluesky completely purged my account for some reason but I am back! Go read my piece on the renewed push to scrap the two-child benefit and what one of the worst affected areas thinks about it 👇 salfordnow.co.uk/2025/11/13/s...