At this point I struggle to see why the U.K. shouldn’t just do an Italy and appoint a technocrat who actually believes in making choices and fixing stuff. We are led by a PM whose only North Star is a rapidly increasing poll deficit.
November 14, 2025 at 9:17 AM
At this point I struggle to see why the U.K. shouldn’t just do an Italy and appoint a technocrat who actually believes in making choices and fixing stuff. We are led by a PM whose only North Star is a rapidly increasing poll deficit.
My take is that politically tax rises will be more unpopular and damaging than a lot of people on here think and tax rises are always unpopular but Labour cannot sort out living standards and public services without reaching for the big levers
November 13, 2025 at 11:17 PM
My take is that politically tax rises will be more unpopular and damaging than a lot of people on here think and tax rises are always unpopular but Labour cannot sort out living standards and public services without reaching for the big levers
Great news. They were a Cameronite gimmick which made no sense and just confused people about who is responsible for policing.
Police and crime commissioners to be abolished, government to announce
Police and crime commissioners to be abolished, government to announce
System introduced in 2012 across England and Wales has faced criticism from police chiefs
*
UK politics live – latest updates
The controversial system of police and crime commissioners is to be abolished by the government, the Guardian has learned.
Under the system, introduced under the Conservatives, all 43 police forces covering local areas across England and Wales had to answer to an elected official. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
November 13, 2025 at 12:05 PM
Great news. They were a Cameronite gimmick which made no sense and just confused people about who is responsible for policing.
This is a classic ‘the person you hate the most is doing a bid to get rid of the leader… please support us’- Mays team did it by claiming Grant Shapps was leading a coup! There’s a reason they’re talking up Wes.
Exc - Downing Street has launched an extraordinary operation to protect Keir Starmer amid fears among the prime minister’s closest allies that he is vulnerable to a leadership challenge in the wake of the budget.
From @pippacrerar.bsky.social
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
From @pippacrerar.bsky.social
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Starmer allies say ousting PM would be ‘reckless’ as fears grow over leadership challenge
Exclusive: No 10 said to be in ‘full bunker mode’ over fears of challenge after this month’s budget or May local elections
www.theguardian.com
November 11, 2025 at 7:58 PM
This is a classic ‘the person you hate the most is doing a bid to get rid of the leader… please support us’- Mays team did it by claiming Grant Shapps was leading a coup! There’s a reason they’re talking up Wes.
Really enjoying @alanallport.bsky.social new book on Britain in WW2- enjoyed this lament from Alan Brooke about ‘woke soft Britain’… in 1942!
November 11, 2025 at 9:31 AM
Really enjoying @alanallport.bsky.social new book on Britain in WW2- enjoyed this lament from Alan Brooke about ‘woke soft Britain’… in 1942!
Reposted by Altreik
The BBC will fuck things up from time to time. Lots of major news organisations do; just look at The Times having to memoryhole several fake news stories in a matter of weeks.
No one is calling for the abolition of The Times, however.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
No one is calling for the abolition of The Times, however.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
UK newspaper editor calls Bill de Blasio fake interview blunder ‘humiliating’
A Times associate editor reportedly addressed situation in an email to staff, saying: ‘We should have been on our guard’
www.theguardian.com
November 10, 2025 at 9:53 AM
The BBC will fuck things up from time to time. Lots of major news organisations do; just look at The Times having to memoryhole several fake news stories in a matter of weeks.
No one is calling for the abolition of The Times, however.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
No one is calling for the abolition of The Times, however.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Reposted by Altreik
FYI, I've fleshed out some recent comments on Tesco bashing into a blog... 🤔✍️
julianhjessop.substack.com/p/its-time-t...
julianhjessop.substack.com/p/its-time-t...
November 3, 2025 at 10:04 AM
FYI, I've fleshed out some recent comments on Tesco bashing into a blog... 🤔✍️
julianhjessop.substack.com/p/its-time-t...
julianhjessop.substack.com/p/its-time-t...
Reposted by Altreik
Asylum seekers, housed in hotels in Manchester, are reaching out in their own words to address the concerns of the local community.
Please take a minute to read their letter, & share it with the people in your life who need to hear the truth about the people they are protesting.
Please take a minute to read their letter, & share it with the people in your life who need to hear the truth about the people they are protesting.
October 27, 2025 at 11:41 AM
Asylum seekers, housed in hotels in Manchester, are reaching out in their own words to address the concerns of the local community.
Please take a minute to read their letter, & share it with the people in your life who need to hear the truth about the people they are protesting.
Please take a minute to read their letter, & share it with the people in your life who need to hear the truth about the people they are protesting.
It is low turnout but that is including the huge number of trade union affiliates who never vote.
BREAKING: Lucy Powell is elected Labour’s deputy leader
October 25, 2025 at 9:22 AM
It is low turnout but that is including the huge number of trade union affiliates who never vote.
No surprise given the political and editorial bent of both the Times and Sunday Times. Increasingly it’s becoming no different in its ideology to the Telegraph.
Former prime minister Rishi Sunak is joining The Sunday Times as a columnist, starting 26 October. He will contribute a weekly column to the Business section on subjects including business, technology, politics and the economy
October 21, 2025 at 9:33 AM
No surprise given the political and editorial bent of both the Times and Sunday Times. Increasingly it’s becoming no different in its ideology to the Telegraph.
A lot of coverage about Labour doing badly fails to to say that they do not have a single retail (pardon the pun) policy on this- it’s a complex issue but still hard to expect people to vote for the governing party when 500g of 5% mince costs £5 from cheaper supermarkets
👀"Butter, milk, beef, chocolate and coffee accounted for about 40 per cent of the increase in food prices over the past year. Prices for these items rose by an average of 15.6 per cent in the year to August, compared with 2.8 per cent for other foods."
Five staples fuelling UK food inflation as climate risks rise, study finds
Findings challenge narrative that food price growth is being driven by higher taxes and wage costs
www.ft.com
October 21, 2025 at 7:00 AM
A lot of coverage about Labour doing badly fails to to say that they do not have a single retail (pardon the pun) policy on this- it’s a complex issue but still hard to expect people to vote for the governing party when 500g of 5% mince costs £5 from cheaper supermarkets
Reposted by Altreik
A really good thread and this does matter- it’s the same reason why assisted dying became unpopular and why the bill was a mess.
1/ Whatever you think of digital ID, the process matters.
And in 2025, this is still how we make big public policy. 👇
And in 2025, this is still how we make big public policy. 👇
September 26, 2025 at 4:48 PM
A really good thread and this does matter- it’s the same reason why assisted dying became unpopular and why the bill was a mess.
Reposted by Altreik
🌹 BREAKING: exclusive @survation.bsky.social and LabourList polling shows Lucy Powell leads Bridget Phillipson in the race to be Labour deputy leader by 17 points. labourlist.org/2025/09/excl...
Labour deputy leader election: Powell leads by over 15 points in exclusive member poll - LabourList
Lucy Powell has taken a decisive early lead over Bridget Phillipson in our exclusive polling of Labour members done by Survation.
labourlist.org
September 15, 2025 at 8:00 PM
🌹 BREAKING: exclusive @survation.bsky.social and LabourList polling shows Lucy Powell leads Bridget Phillipson in the race to be Labour deputy leader by 17 points. labourlist.org/2025/09/excl...
This is so important; in particular Heath knew what he was doing was unpopular but he did it because he had seen the horrors of fascism and detested ‘racialism’. Powellism is back in a New form
September 15, 2025 at 6:22 PM
This is so important; in particular Heath knew what he was doing was unpopular but he did it because he had seen the horrors of fascism and detested ‘racialism’. Powellism is back in a New form
Labour NEC have announced the deputy leader timetable- only two days to get nominations from MPs, and two weeks for CLPs to nominate.
Quite obviously an attempt to make it a one person contest.
Quite obviously an attempt to make it a one person contest.
September 8, 2025 at 1:45 PM
Labour NEC have announced the deputy leader timetable- only two days to get nominations from MPs, and two weeks for CLPs to nominate.
Quite obviously an attempt to make it a one person contest.
Quite obviously an attempt to make it a one person contest.
I really am not surprised that a group of people who struggled to run the Labour Party are now desperately struggling to launch a new party.
I really do not understand why they don’t just fold into the greens.
I really do not understand why they don’t just fold into the greens.
Here’s a characteristically well sourced @siennarodgers.bsky.social feature on the founding of Corbyn’s new party www.politicshome.com/news/article...
Inside The Founding Of Jeremy Corbyn's New Party: 'End This Horrible Power Struggle'
The trials and tribulations of founding a new party on the left. Can they unite? What challenges lie ahead? Sienna Rodgers reports
www.politicshome.com
September 6, 2025 at 10:59 AM
I really am not surprised that a group of people who struggled to run the Labour Party are now desperately struggling to launch a new party.
I really do not understand why they don’t just fold into the greens.
I really do not understand why they don’t just fold into the greens.
Reposted by Altreik
Here’s a characteristically well sourced @siennarodgers.bsky.social feature on the founding of Corbyn’s new party www.politicshome.com/news/article...
Inside The Founding Of Jeremy Corbyn's New Party: 'End This Horrible Power Struggle'
The trials and tribulations of founding a new party on the left. Can they unite? What challenges lie ahead? Sienna Rodgers reports
www.politicshome.com
September 6, 2025 at 7:04 AM
Here’s a characteristically well sourced @siennarodgers.bsky.social feature on the founding of Corbyn’s new party www.politicshome.com/news/article...
Being a former council leader will help but I can’t say I have seen anything over the past year (or beyond) that suggests SR will be a radical SoS
Wonder if former London councillor Steve Reed might be a friendly ear for London councils concerned about the impact of the proposed new local government funding formula
September 5, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Being a former council leader will help but I can’t say I have seen anything over the past year (or beyond) that suggests SR will be a radical SoS
Reposted by Altreik
"There have been no counter narratives from Labour. There have been no attempts to fact check some of this stuff."
Rylan's TV rant about migrant hotels was packed full of right-wing misinformation – and our government have done nothing to stop its spread
Rylan's TV rant about migrant hotels was packed full of right-wing misinformation – and our government have done nothing to stop its spread
Rylan’s migrant rant: Why Labour’s failures led us here | The News Agents
TV host Rylan Clark is facing criticism for sharing misinformation about migrants, and echoing right-wing lies, on ITV’s This Morning. Does this prove how far this dangerous rhetoric has spread?
www.thenewsagents.co.uk
August 29, 2025 at 6:30 AM
"There have been no counter narratives from Labour. There have been no attempts to fact check some of this stuff."
Rylan's TV rant about migrant hotels was packed full of right-wing misinformation – and our government have done nothing to stop its spread
Rylan's TV rant about migrant hotels was packed full of right-wing misinformation – and our government have done nothing to stop its spread
Reposted by Altreik
It is easier to fight Farage on Brexit - an acknowledged disaster - than immigration - which is a nebulous problem where Farage can move the goalposts.
If he bring up immigration, point out that migrants can be sent back to Europe when you're a member, but Farage argued to give up that facility.
7
If he bring up immigration, point out that migrants can be sent back to Europe when you're a member, but Farage argued to give up that facility.
7
August 10, 2025 at 1:57 PM
It is easier to fight Farage on Brexit - an acknowledged disaster - than immigration - which is a nebulous problem where Farage can move the goalposts.
If he bring up immigration, point out that migrants can be sent back to Europe when you're a member, but Farage argued to give up that facility.
7
If he bring up immigration, point out that migrants can be sent back to Europe when you're a member, but Farage argued to give up that facility.
7
Reposted by Altreik
that "VPN ban" story - I'd probably want better sourcing than the King of Reach (derogatory), James Rodger, content editor of Birmingham Live
especially since, after saying that "Labour could ban the use of Virtual Private Networks", the article doesn't include any govt source suggesting it
especially since, after saying that "Labour could ban the use of Virtual Private Networks", the article doesn't include any govt source suggesting it
July 28, 2025 at 7:55 PM
that "VPN ban" story - I'd probably want better sourcing than the King of Reach (derogatory), James Rodger, content editor of Birmingham Live
especially since, after saying that "Labour could ban the use of Virtual Private Networks", the article doesn't include any govt source suggesting it
especially since, after saying that "Labour could ban the use of Virtual Private Networks", the article doesn't include any govt source suggesting it
Reposted by Altreik
My new Constitution Society report on compulsory voting has now been published.
I argue that low turnout has left the UK with an unrepresentative electorate. This is creating warped incentives for politicians, and contributing to low growth, high inequality, and rising democratic discontent.
I argue that low turnout has left the UK with an unrepresentative electorate. This is creating warped incentives for politicians, and contributing to low growth, high inequality, and rising democratic discontent.
Universal Suffrage? The problem of low and unequal turnout and the case for compulsory voting - The Constitution Society
An authoritative new report from Dr David Klemperer advocates for the introduction of compulsory voting at UK general elections.
consoc.org.uk
July 10, 2025 at 7:51 AM
My new Constitution Society report on compulsory voting has now been published.
I argue that low turnout has left the UK with an unrepresentative electorate. This is creating warped incentives for politicians, and contributing to low growth, high inequality, and rising democratic discontent.
I argue that low turnout has left the UK with an unrepresentative electorate. This is creating warped incentives for politicians, and contributing to low growth, high inequality, and rising democratic discontent.
I wonder how much praise this will get from the right wing YIMBY cohort- it’s great news!
The biggest nuclear programme in a generation will “get Britain off the fossil fuel rollercoaster”, the energy secretary, Ed Miliband, has said, announcing £14.2bn to build a new nuclear power station and a drive to build small modular reactors.
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Sizewell C power station to be built as part of UK’s £14bn nuclear investment
Ed Miliband promises to ‘get Britain off the fossil fuel rollercoaster’ with new plant expected to create 10,000 jobs
www.theguardian.com
June 10, 2025 at 6:56 AM
I wonder how much praise this will get from the right wing YIMBY cohort- it’s great news!