James McLaughlin
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jjmclaughlin.bsky.social
James McLaughlin
@jjmclaughlin.bsky.social
Humble functionary
#localgov 🏛️
#localdemocracy 🗳️
#dcfc 🐏
Reposted by James McLaughlin
The Poems of Seamus Heaney review – collected works reveal his colossal achievement
The Poems of Seamus Heaney review – collected works reveal his colossal achievement
The complete works, including previously unpublished poems and expert notes, are brought together in one volume for the first time
www.theguardian.com
October 9, 2025 at 8:56 AM
Hard to believe that it is ten years since Ronnie Pickering announced himself in a Picasso in Hull.

youtube.com/watch?v=SXS-...
‘Do You Know Who I am? Ronnie Pickering’ but it’s performed by an Indie Band
YouTube video by Michael Fry (BigDirtyFry)
youtube.com
October 4, 2025 at 8:24 PM
Reposted by James McLaughlin
Hello 👋. We’re the Association of Democratic Services Officers, a community of over 1,500 people who work in local democracy roles in councils and other organisations. We'd love to connect with our members, partner organisations & anyone who is interested in local democracy.
September 29, 2025 at 12:14 PM
This sounds impressive on the face of it. Not sure it is where it claims to be and not sure it would ever come up with verbatim quotes.

If it managed the latter then my memoirs of committee meetings over 20+ plus years and however long I’ve got left become slightly less interesting.
Finding key information shared at council meetings takes time and effort. Today, we've launched a tool that allows you to search verbatim quotes from council meetings in the UK and Ireland, without the need to watch long recordings or sift through extensive notes. council-search.bellingcat.com
Bellingcat Council Meeting Transcript Search
Find verbatim quotes from council meetings in the UK and Ireland using this free open source research tool by Bellingcat.
council-search.bellingcat.com
September 2, 2025 at 8:00 AM
Well, had a great holiday back in Tyrone over this past week. You can’t go wrong with access to creamy pints, peppercorn sauce and tobacco onions wherever you go. These lads just down the road in Glenelly have the right idea during the holidays
August 30, 2025 at 11:09 AM
Nothing is as certain in life as death, taxes and Glenn McGrath’s Ashes prediction

www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricke...
Ashes 2025-26: Glenn McGrath predicts 5-0 win for Australia
As usual, Glenn McGrath predicts Australia will win the 2025-26 Ashes 5-0 - but says Joe Root and Harry Brook are the England players the hosts will fear most.
www.bbc.co.uk
August 7, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Incredible win for the Lions!
July 26, 2025 at 11:51 AM
Happy Black Country Day!

Black Country Day has been celebrated for over a decade to honour and celebrate the heritage, history, culture and uniqueness of the people of the Black Country.

youtu.be/kMR_vF1cAws
July 14, 2025 at 7:59 AM
The highlight of Glastonbury for me.
June 29, 2025 at 8:46 PM
A classy end to Match of the Day from Gary Lineker. He was a decent replacement for Desmond Lynam after all.
May 25, 2025 at 11:13 PM
A new attraction at the home place
April 13, 2025 at 12:14 PM
The City: Where workers get a vote for the council www.bbc.com/news/article...
City of London: Where firms get a vote for 'councillors'
People who work in the City of London but live elsewhere get to vote for City "councillors".
www.bbc.com
April 12, 2025 at 7:18 AM
How London's boroughs were named 60 years ago www.bbc.com/news/article...

Timely content given the present local government reorganisation discussions
Politics: How London's boroughs were named 60 years ago
The 32 new boroughs in London were created on 1 April 1965. How did they get their names?
www.bbc.com
March 30, 2025 at 1:46 PM
Really looking forward to this session - moving to an enabler mindset where councils create conditions for communities to thrive #NotWestminster
February 15, 2025 at 12:08 PM
Great to be in Huddersfield this morning for #NotWestminster

The theme today is Connected by Hope. Looking forward to meeting and hearing from democracy enthusiasts and great people today #localdemocracy
February 15, 2025 at 10:06 AM
Reposted by James McLaughlin
Hello.👋 We have an amazing day of inspiring workshops, lightning talks and activities coming up at #Notwestminster. It’s all about local democracy, citizen power & civic action. Last few free tickets available now. Please share if you can. Thank you 💚
notinwestminster.wordpress.com #ConnectedByHope
February 6, 2025 at 12:37 PM
Omagh bomb dead to be remembered as inquiry opens www.bbc.com/news/article...
Omagh bomb: Victims to be remembered as inquiry opens
Profiles of those killed in the1998 Real IRA attack will be read out at the start of the inquiry.
www.bbc.com
January 28, 2025 at 9:11 AM