Alison McGovern
@allymcgovern.bsky.social
Labour MP for Birkenhead, Minister of State for Local Government and homelessness.
#anorthernwoman
#anorthernwoman
Reposted by Alison McGovern
Egan Road, Birkenhead, Merseyside, 1970s, photo by Tom Wood.
January 6, 2026 at 8:27 AM
Egan Road, Birkenhead, Merseyside, 1970s, photo by Tom Wood.
Reposted by Alison McGovern
Tax and benefit measures announced this Parliament so far benefit children the most.
This is due to the abolition of the two-child limit, the expansion of Free School Meals to children in families receiving UC in England, and the above-inflation increases to the UC standard allowance.
This is due to the abolition of the two-child limit, the expansion of Free School Meals to children in families receiving UC in England, and the above-inflation increases to the UC standard allowance.
January 5, 2026 at 9:00 PM
Tax and benefit measures announced this Parliament so far benefit children the most.
This is due to the abolition of the two-child limit, the expansion of Free School Meals to children in families receiving UC in England, and the above-inflation increases to the UC standard allowance.
This is due to the abolition of the two-child limit, the expansion of Free School Meals to children in families receiving UC in England, and the above-inflation increases to the UC standard allowance.
Many things about this season are not the fault of Arne Slot. Substitutions, and their timings, are in his gift.
January 4, 2026 at 5:22 PM
Many things about this season are not the fault of Arne Slot. Substitutions, and their timings, are in his gift.
Goodness. This is brave and honest. And very true about all that had to be carried. If you haven't seen Asif's film yet, do watch it. Even if you think you know what happened, you'll see it in a different way.
January 3, 2026 at 10:28 AM
Goodness. This is brave and honest. And very true about all that had to be carried. If you haven't seen Asif's film yet, do watch it. Even if you think you know what happened, you'll see it in a different way.
To all those who also celebrate birthdays between Christmas and New Year, hope you also had or are having a day of hoovering up left over chocolate, watching the bits of Christmas telly you missed, and the football. Truly the best time of year.
December 30, 2025 at 10:14 AM
To all those who also celebrate birthdays between Christmas and New Year, hope you also had or are having a day of hoovering up left over chocolate, watching the bits of Christmas telly you missed, and the football. Truly the best time of year.
Reposted by Alison McGovern
Marvellous, moving and wise column by @martinsandbu.ft.com:
Why your AI companion is not your friend
First, tech companies usurped the meaning of ‘friends’ and ‘connection’ — now they are coming for ‘companionship’
www.ft.com
December 28, 2025 at 12:59 PM
Marvellous, moving and wise column by @martinsandbu.ft.com:
Karen Carney
Karen Carney
KAREN CARNEY 👏👏👏
Karen Carney
KAREN CARNEY 👏👏👏
December 20, 2025 at 9:09 PM
Karen Carney
Karen Carney
KAREN CARNEY 👏👏👏
Karen Carney
KAREN CARNEY 👏👏👏
More Daniel Sturridge on the telly please.
December 20, 2025 at 7:39 PM
More Daniel Sturridge on the telly please.
I mean this time we won, but still.
Argh
Petition to end games at 90 minutes
December 20, 2025 at 7:34 PM
I mean this time we won, but still.
Reposted by Alison McGovern
Even by my low expectations for Kemi Badenoch ‘violence against women and girls is something done by immigrants and nobody else’ has shocked me.
Dog-whistle and factually incorrect. Ladies, raise your hand if you were sexually assaulted by a boy at school? I’d wager this or a family member is most women’s first experience of sexual violence
December 18, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Even by my low expectations for Kemi Badenoch ‘violence against women and girls is something done by immigrants and nobody else’ has shocked me.
Reposted by Alison McGovern
Jess Phillips says the government is treating violence and women and girls as a ‘national emergency’ as she launches strategy - UK politics live
Jess Phillips says the government is treating violence and women and girls as a ‘national emergency’ as she launches strategy - UK politics live
Safeguarding minister tells MPs the government is investing £20m to stop misogyny in schools
Richard Adams is the Guardian’s education editor.
The British public supports the government’s decision to rejoin the Erasmus youth education and work experience programme, according to snap polling released by YouGov. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
December 18, 2025 at 1:07 PM
Jess Phillips says the government is treating violence and women and girls as a ‘national emergency’ as she launches strategy - UK politics live
Reposted by Alison McGovern
Please do go out and buy a copy of the @bigissue.com from your local vendor this Christmas. It’s a great paper and every issue sold supports your local vendor directly🎄
December 18, 2025 at 11:12 AM
Please do go out and buy a copy of the @bigissue.com from your local vendor this Christmas. It’s a great paper and every issue sold supports your local vendor directly🎄
Reposted by Alison McGovern
‘Conservative MP Andrew Snowden attempted to channel Dickens as he described the awful scenes taking place across the country. Unfortunately, the second one he chose was “children hugging each other as their independent school closes.”‘
Christmas Prime Minister's Questions is the Prime Minister's Questions with the worst jokes. My SKETCH. thecritic.co.uk/stan...
December 17, 2025 at 7:28 PM
‘Conservative MP Andrew Snowden attempted to channel Dickens as he described the awful scenes taking place across the country. Unfortunately, the second one he chose was “children hugging each other as their independent school closes.”‘
Reposted by Alison McGovern
The value of money is debated openly as well as dramatised in Austen’s novels—she rarely introduces a major character without also enumerating their finances
How Jane Austen revealed the economic basis of society
Some unacknowledged truths about money
econ.st
December 17, 2025 at 8:20 PM
The value of money is debated openly as well as dramatised in Austen’s novels—she rarely introduces a major character without also enumerating their finances
Reposted by Alison McGovern
Some of England’s most-deprived councils to receive funding boost in new deal
Some of England’s most-deprived councils to receive funding boost in new deal
Manchester, Bradford and outer London boroughs among those to receive increases that ministers hope will ‘restore pride’
*
Which councils are the winners and losers – and will tax bills go up?
Some of England’s most-deprived councils will receive a funding boost under a new three-year local government deal which prioritises urban areas with high social needs at the expense of affluent places in the leafy south-east.
Manchester, Birmingham, Luton, Bradford, Coventry, Derby and outer London boroughs such as Haringey and Enfield will receive big spending power increases under what ministers have described as a fairer system that will “restore pride and opportunity in left-behind places”. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
December 17, 2025 at 7:43 PM
Some of England’s most-deprived councils to receive funding boost in new deal
Please someone anyone write some better Christmas jokes for parliamentarians
December 17, 2025 at 12:31 PM
Please someone anyone write some better Christmas jokes for parliamentarians
Reposted by Alison McGovern
NEW - The Employment Rights bill has finally passed, after a tortured time in the Lords.
Christmas cheer for ministers and trade unions
Christmas cheer for ministers and trade unions
December 16, 2025 at 4:28 PM
NEW - The Employment Rights bill has finally passed, after a tortured time in the Lords.
Christmas cheer for ministers and trade unions
Christmas cheer for ministers and trade unions
Reposted by Alison McGovern
My kids woke up so excited this morning for the first night of Hannukah and now yet again we have a festival where I’m very conflicted about whether it’s safe to take them to synagogue to celebrate. Communities shouldn’t have to live like this.
December 14, 2025 at 12:50 PM
My kids woke up so excited this morning for the first night of Hannukah and now yet again we have a festival where I’m very conflicted about whether it’s safe to take them to synagogue to celebrate. Communities shouldn’t have to live like this.
Reposted by Alison McGovern
Australian PM Anthony Albanese: “an attack on a jewish Australian, is an attack on every Australian, there is no place for this hate in our nation- let me be clear, we will eradicate it.”
December 14, 2025 at 11:18 AM
Australian PM Anthony Albanese: “an attack on a jewish Australian, is an attack on every Australian, there is no place for this hate in our nation- let me be clear, we will eradicate it.”
Thank you @bigissue.com for all they do, week in, week out to help people earn, no matter what. Glad to write for you on last week's child poverty strategy...
www.bigissue.com/opinion/home...
www.bigissue.com/opinion/home...
Homelessness minister Alison McGovern: 'We will stop kids growing up in B&Bs'
As Labour publishes its child poverty strategy, homelessness minister Alison McGovern explains how the strategy will help homeless kids.
www.bigissue.com
December 11, 2025 at 2:18 PM
Thank you @bigissue.com for all they do, week in, week out to help people earn, no matter what. Glad to write for you on last week's child poverty strategy...
www.bigissue.com/opinion/home...
www.bigissue.com/opinion/home...
Reposted by Alison McGovern
On reading with my toddler, and proportionate universalism - my column for the @newstatesman1913.bsky.social's books special issue:
What baby books taught me about the British state
The Bookstart scheme, which gives books to newborns, is a remnant from a more beneficent political era
www.newstatesman.com
December 8, 2025 at 12:08 PM
On reading with my toddler, and proportionate universalism - my column for the @newstatesman1913.bsky.social's books special issue:
Devastating news. His unique viewpoint changed the world of photography for good.
That the Wirral was a central part of the story he told made me proud, even if that story was a difficult one.
No one like him. Martin Parr.
www.theguardian.com/artanddesign...
That the Wirral was a central part of the story he told made me proud, even if that story was a difficult one.
No one like him. Martin Parr.
www.theguardian.com/artanddesign...
Martin Parr, photographer acclaimed for observations of British life, dies aged 73
From sunbathers to Conservative clubs, Parr’s images were often in vivid colour with more than a dash of humour
www.theguardian.com
December 7, 2025 at 3:17 PM
Devastating news. His unique viewpoint changed the world of photography for good.
That the Wirral was a central part of the story he told made me proud, even if that story was a difficult one.
No one like him. Martin Parr.
www.theguardian.com/artanddesign...
That the Wirral was a central part of the story he told made me proud, even if that story was a difficult one.
No one like him. Martin Parr.
www.theguardian.com/artanddesign...
Reposted by Alison McGovern
Young unemployed to be offered work in construction and hospitality in UK
Young unemployed to be offered work in construction and hospitality in UK
About 350,000 new places to be offered to ‘neets’ with ‘sanctions’ levied for those who do not engage, says DWP
Young unemployed people will be offered training or job opportunities in construction, care and hospitality as part of a UK government scheme, but could have their benefits cut if they do not take up offers.
Pat McFadden, the work and pensions secretary, announced on Sunday that 350,000 new training or workplace opportunities would be offered to young people on universal credit, but added there would be “sanctions” for claimants who did not engage. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
December 7, 2025 at 12:40 PM
Young unemployed to be offered work in construction and hospitality in UK