I mean, if anything deserves a face palm, it's this.

Good news. Step by step, month by month, we are renewing Southport. More to come too. www.placenorthwest.co.uk/vinci-to-del...

The best city region in the world.

🔑 Key takeaways: 📊💥 Record political fragmentation has broken First Past The Post 📉 Public distrust is driving the public towards populist parties ‼️ FPTP may now harm Labour and the Conservatives 🗳️ Westminster needs a National Commission on Electoral Reform www.fairelections.uk/national-com...

Can First Past the Post cope with multi-party politics? 🗒️ The APPG was delighted to host a private briefing in Parliament today with… 🗣️ Professor Sir John Curtice of @unistrathclyde.bsky.social 🗣️ Dr David Klemperer of @uniofbath.bsky.social 🪑 Emma Harrison of @makevotesmatter.bsky.social

Big Onion praised in Parliament for excellent role in helping hundreds of young people into work. standupforsouthport.com/big-onion-pr...

‘Holocaust Memorial Day reminds us where prejudice can lead and how language, stereotypes and division can cause harm’ standupforsouthport.com/holocaust-me...

Volare in Southport thrilled to win "UK’s Best Restaurant" title at UK SBA Small Business Awards standupforsouthport.com/volare-in-so...

Making Energy Greener welcomes Warm Homes Plan as vital step to more energy efficient and affordable homes standupforsouthport.com/making-energ...

World would be a ‘better place’ if US took over Greenland, says Nigel Farage. www.theguardian.com/business/202...

‘Britain’s coastal towns are the front line of national renewal’ labourlist.org/2026/01/brit...

Up to 250,000 more people with health conditions will receive support to stay in or return to work www.gov.uk/government/n...

I’m supporting Less Survivable Cancers Awareness Week. These cancers receive just 19% of research funding despite causing 40% of all cancer related deaths. This is unacceptable. We need to #CloseTheResearchGap. To learn more about Less Survivable Cancers, visit: lesssurvivablecancers.org.uk

The stats are clear. We're calling for change. It's time to close #CloseTheResearchGap. lesssurvivablecancers.org.uk/awarenessweek/

a decade is a long time in politics

Reform are simply becoming a second home for Conservative Politicians. Nigel Farage is filling his ranks with ex-Conservative Ministers while no doubt telling everyone that he will fix all the mistakes caused by these same politicians!

Reform proving - once again - that they’re just a harbour for washed-up, failed Conservatives. There’s nothing new on offer. Only Labour offers a change from the failed experiments of the last Tory government.

EXCLUSIVE: Ex-Marine who put life in politicians' hands makes Nigel Farage prediction www.mirror.co.uk/news/politic...

X is paying Reform UK MPs while its AI produces sexually explicit images of children and women, the public deserves answers. Will they return the money they’ve earned from the platform? 1/6

Green light for new padel facility at Victoria Park in Southport with revamped tennis courts and new coffee kiosk. standupforsouthport.com/green-light-...

New Council Tax exemption for Sefton households affected by terminal illness. www.sefton.gov.uk/mysefton-new...

All welcome at Sefton Holocaust Memorial Service in Southport with theme of ‘Bridging Generations’ standupforsouthport.com/all-welcome-...

Political editor @jamesrball.com explains how Elon Musk's AI tool Grok has become a destabilising force, and if the UK and Europe don’t act now, they never will. 🔗 Read the full piece: buff.ly/Z1EP5ct

The golden age of vaccine development - The first vaccine was a lucky accident. Now we can design new vaccines in weeks, atom by atom. open.substack.com/pub/worksinp...

21 new Southport developments we’re excited to see in 2026 as town enjoys investment boom standupforsouthport.com/21-new-south...

I’m still figuring out if this is the right policy, but this ad is definitely persuasive. www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6uf...

Thank you @patrickhurley.bsky.social for sharing his own personal experiences and for highlighting the devastating impact of #lesssurvivablecancers on individuals and their loved ones in Parliament yesterday. These cancers must be a priority in the National Cancer Plan to transform survival.

"How to start an advance market commitment. Advance Market Commitments allow us to buy technology from the future to support its development: vaccines, carbon capture technology, and even spacecraft. Here’s how you can start your own." worksinprogress.co/issue/how-to...

Now this is an interesting article, link in next tweet. I wonder if Advance Market Commitments could be used more for non-tech purposes like high street renovations, arts and culture ecosystems and training programmes.

Cancer survival in England has improved significantly, but earlier diagnosis remains key to saving more lives. Unlocking the power of earlier cancer diagnosis: setting the right ambitions to deliver longer, better lives news.cancerresearchuk.org/2025/10/15/u...

Zero tolerance for AI sexualising images of children ❌ It’s been sickening to hear reports of AI tools on social media platforms being used to create sexualised images of children. Today in Parliament I pressed Ministers to refuse to tolerate vile practise.

There is, to my mind, no justification for the continued use by the UK Government of X as a platform for official comms. There hasn't been for some time, in fact, but if the latest developments around AI-generated image abuse and CSAM don't change the policy I really don't know what will.

Grok + X now seems to be awash with images undressing women, without consent. It is an issue with the potential for a very very broad coalition - across political divides - to insist the Musk platform gets back within the law, on all fronts, not just this example. www.cnbctv18.com/technology/g...

Representing Roman Abramovich - a sanctioned Russian oligarch - while serving as Conservative shadow Attorney-General risks a huge conflict of interest. Kemi Badenoch needs to make a choice. Either Lord Wolfson continues as shadow AG or advises Abramovich. He can’t do both.

🎆 New Year's Resolution idea: Join the Co-operative Party 💪 2025 saw what co-operation in power can achieve. Build a fairer Britain with us in 2025. party.coop/join

Fury from Ukrainian campaigners at top Tory working for Roman Abramovich whilst serving in the Shadow Cabinet. Silence from senior Tory figures 48 hours into this news reaching the public. www.mirror.co.uk/news/politic...

Every pollster and focus group will tell you that high street decline and broken down buildings are a key part of our political malaise. I'd love to see government pick a fight with derelict property owners. howtorunacountry.substack.com/p/how-do-you...

Labour MP @patrickhurley.bsky.social sets out how a Housing First approach can help tackle homelessness and rough sleeping

People of Bluesky, we've had an event cancel in our basement on Thursday 18 Dec. Last minute Christmas party anyone? ✉️ [email protected] Xx

NEW: A major boost for mutuals and co-operatives across the UK as package of support to grow the sector is announced. We've long called for regulators to play a greater role in enabling growth. Today's big news is another promising step on our journey to doubling the co-operative and mutual sector📈

MP urges Northern Rail to improve reliability and quality of trains on Southport to Manchester line standupforsouthport.com/mp-urges-nor...

New Forget Me Not Cafe opening in Southport as a friendly space for people with dementia and their carers standupforsouthport.com/new-forget-m...

‘We need to speak collectively’: can parliament solve the problem of ‘deprivation bingo’ in the UK’s seaside towns? www.theguardian.com/environment/...

👉 Read the essay on our website: buff.ly/FwPHqLP 👉 Download the full collection: buff.ly/P316yCW

Deeply committed to Liverpool’s regional economic identity as a purpose-led business hotspot, Patrick reflects on some of the region’s exemplar community businesses and what’s up for grabs if the govt makes good on its promise. • Economic growth • Civic renewal • Social inclusion • Empowerment

To wrap up Budget week - which saw direct mention of cooperative business in the Chancellor's statement - we are spotlighting a brad new new essay from @patrickhurley.bsky.social, MP for Southport and Chair of the APPG for The Social Cooperative and Community Economy. Link below 👇

❌ "Brexit has made touring the EU almost impossible and grassroots venues are continuing to close." "Does she recognise that without meaningful action, we risk creating a music industry where only the privileged and rich can afford to build a career?"

The new Office for the Impact Economy will bring investors together with people doing good work in their local communities to help unlock investment. I recently saw how this type of investment delivered new nurseries - making a difference to local families and their children.