Martin Warne
@martinwarne.net
Spurs fan, digital consultant. Labour & Co-op Party member. Fabian. Labour Movement for Europe. SERA. Republic. UTAW (CWU). Occasional MAMIL 🚴♂️
Pinned
Martin Warne
@martinwarne.net
· Nov 17
Used to have this argument with fellow Cons and, ultimately, unless and until I am a member of the Cabinet, I'm undo no obligation not to publicly oppose dumb things my party does.
Labour is going to introduce safe routes for those claiming refugee status while everybody here is talking about ‘jewellery theft’ proposals. I strongly suspect the latter was meant to divert Sun readers’ attention from clocking the former while you are meant to be welcoming the former. 🫤
“Until I am [bound by some form of collective responsibility], I'm under no obligation not to publicly oppose dumb things my party does.”
I am adopting this as my position regarding the Labour Party.
I am adopting this as my position regarding the Labour Party.
He doesn’t look well (even accounting for who he’s standing next to)
February 16, 2026 at 7:56 AM
He doesn’t look well (even accounting for who he’s standing next to)
Reposted by Martin Warne
Immunise your children.
February 14, 2026 at 7:52 PM
Immunise your children.
MMR uptake (both doses) is a worryingly low 68% in #Newham. To put it another way, almost a third of children are at risk.
This matters because London has among the lowest vaccination rates for measles in England - there are many pockets of unvaccinated communities that could be at significant risk from a runaway outbreak:
🚨 EXCLUSIVE: Health officials are racing to contain a growing measles outbreak in London, which has struck down dozens of young children and affected 7 schools and a nursery.
UKHSA has warned an outbreak across London could see 40,000 - 160,000 cases:
www.thetimes.com/uk/healthcar...
UKHSA has warned an outbreak across London could see 40,000 - 160,000 cases:
www.thetimes.com/uk/healthcar...
February 14, 2026 at 8:06 PM
MMR uptake (both doses) is a worryingly low 68% in #Newham. To put it another way, almost a third of children are at risk.
Reposted by Martin Warne
Just checking, it's now ok to flee your homeland, because you're afraid for your safety, and seek refuge in another Country?
Glad we've cleared that up. Let's hear no more about immigration and refugees then.
Glad we've cleared that up. Let's hear no more about immigration and refugees then.
February 14, 2026 at 7:55 AM
Just checking, it's now ok to flee your homeland, because you're afraid for your safety, and seek refuge in another Country?
Glad we've cleared that up. Let's hear no more about immigration and refugees then.
Glad we've cleared that up. Let's hear no more about immigration and refugees then.
Not just viral videos. Right wing politicians and their client media too. London isn’t perfect, but it is a great place to live. open.substack.com/pub/londonce...
Londoners are sick of viral videos telling lies about their city
Plus: Victoria Park battle over All Points East, the Hackney school war that wasn't, the AI-generated parking appeal mess, and wild swimming in the River Thames.
open.substack.com
February 14, 2026 at 10:07 AM
Not just viral videos. Right wing politicians and their client media too. London isn’t perfect, but it is a great place to live. open.substack.com/pub/londonce...
First past the post once again giving us a councillor rejected by 70% of voters. We will see this repeated hundreds, maybe thousands of times in May. This is not democracy, it’s a lottery.
Fletton & Woodston (Peterborough) Council By-Election Result:
➡️ RFM: 29.4% (New)
🌍 GRN: 27.6% (+16.2)
🌳 CON: 21.8% (-11.8)
🌹 LAB: 16.8% (-31.2)
🔶 LDM: 4.4% (-0.7)
No TUSC (-1.9) as previous.
Reform GAIN from Labour.
Changes w/ 2024.
➡️ RFM: 29.4% (New)
🌍 GRN: 27.6% (+16.2)
🌳 CON: 21.8% (-11.8)
🌹 LAB: 16.8% (-31.2)
🔶 LDM: 4.4% (-0.7)
No TUSC (-1.9) as previous.
Reform GAIN from Labour.
Changes w/ 2024.
February 14, 2026 at 8:27 AM
First past the post once again giving us a councillor rejected by 70% of voters. We will see this repeated hundreds, maybe thousands of times in May. This is not democracy, it’s a lottery.
Reposted by Martin Warne
⚠️ Ministers must engage with UK voting system risks, say election experts
📈 Distortions of First Past the Post now “likely to be amplified to an unprecedented extent”
🧑🏫 50 leading academics warn the electoral system is “creating new risks for Britain”
📈 Distortions of First Past the Post now “likely to be amplified to an unprecedented extent”
🧑🏫 50 leading academics warn the electoral system is “creating new risks for Britain”
Over 50 Academics Warn That Voting System Is Not Fit For Multi-Party Politics
Dozens of academics have written to the government to warn that the current voting system risks producing distorted results on an 'unprecedented' s...
www.politicshome.com
February 14, 2026 at 7:09 AM
⚠️ Ministers must engage with UK voting system risks, say election experts
📈 Distortions of First Past the Post now “likely to be amplified to an unprecedented extent”
🧑🏫 50 leading academics warn the electoral system is “creating new risks for Britain”
📈 Distortions of First Past the Post now “likely to be amplified to an unprecedented extent”
🧑🏫 50 leading academics warn the electoral system is “creating new risks for Britain”
Connections
Puzzle #978
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Puzzle #978
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February 13, 2026 at 9:21 AM
Connections
Puzzle #978
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Puzzle #978
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Here’s a thing I wrote 12 years ago (!) about how one-party state councils eventually collapse. Back then I said #Newham was at stage 3. Now it’s stage 5 and moving rapidly towards 6. forestgate.net/2014/05/07/e...
Eight stages of loss
Yesterday I blogged about the need for electoral reform in local government and mentioned an Electoral Reform Society paper, Towards One Nation: the Labour Case for Electoral Reform. That features …
forestgate.net
February 12, 2026 at 8:16 AM
Here’s a thing I wrote 12 years ago (!) about how one-party state councils eventually collapse. Back then I said #Newham was at stage 3. Now it’s stage 5 and moving rapidly towards 6. forestgate.net/2014/05/07/e...
12 days until our next game. Sack Frank now and whoever takes over has time to work with the players. This is the moment. If the board don’t take it we might as well resign ourselves to the drop. #COYS
February 10, 2026 at 9:39 PM
12 days until our next game. Sack Frank now and whoever takes over has time to work with the players. This is the moment. If the board don’t take it we might as well resign ourselves to the drop. #COYS
Last season, despite our rank league form, I was never worried about relegation. But I am now. If we lose this Frank surely has to go. #COYS
February 10, 2026 at 8:30 PM
Last season, despite our rank league form, I was never worried about relegation. But I am now. If we lose this Frank surely has to go. #COYS
Reposted by Martin Warne
Chris Mason and Sam Coates love the Westminster tittle tattle. Far easier and more enjoyable than, say, going to a new breakfast club at a Primary School in Middlesbrough and talking to parents.
The last few days have demonstrated the depth of the piss poor BBC and Sky political coverage.
The last few days have demonstrated the depth of the piss poor BBC and Sky political coverage.
February 10, 2026 at 4:07 PM
Chris Mason and Sam Coates love the Westminster tittle tattle. Far easier and more enjoyable than, say, going to a new breakfast club at a Primary School in Middlesbrough and talking to parents.
The last few days have demonstrated the depth of the piss poor BBC and Sky political coverage.
The last few days have demonstrated the depth of the piss poor BBC and Sky political coverage.
Includes some #Newham talk. So definitely worth a listen!
NEW POD EPISODE! 🚨 2026: the Journey so Far. @adamtranter.bsky.social @nedboulting.bsky.social and @lauralaker.bsky.social discuss local politics in the run up to the May elections, Ned's trip to India, and learnings from New York mayor Zohran Mamdani (& other mayors) shows.acast.com/streets-ahea...
2026: The Journey So Far | Streets Ahead
Free Parking, “Stalinist” Cities, and India’s First UCI Stage Race
shows.acast.com
February 10, 2026 at 9:50 AM
Includes some #Newham talk. So definitely worth a listen!
More confusion/fragmentation in the streaming market with HBO Max launching in the UK next month. The existing TNT Sports bundle will move across from Discovery+ and be available either in combination with an HBO package or as a standalone.
February 9, 2026 at 3:13 PM
More confusion/fragmentation in the streaming market with HBO Max launching in the UK next month. The existing TNT Sports bundle will move across from Discovery+ and be available either in combination with an HBO package or as a standalone.
“Uber-woke, net-zeroist, rejoinerism” sounds good to me. Where do I sign up?
February 9, 2026 at 7:25 AM
“Uber-woke, net-zeroist, rejoinerism” sounds good to me. Where do I sign up?
February 8, 2026 at 6:32 PM
Betteridge’s Law applies.
Will Keir Starmer use his nuclear option to try to head off a leadership challenge? www.independent.co.uk/voices/keir-...
Will Keir Starmer use his nuclear option to try to head off a leadership challenge?
The prime minister’s allies have hinted that he will call a general election, says John Rentoul
www.independent.co.uk
February 7, 2026 at 5:03 PM
Betteridge’s Law applies.
Reposted by Martin Warne
Last night there was a vigil for the first cycling fatality of the year on London's streets. I was there. Here are some thoughts (no paywall).
If this strikes a chord with you, please comment on the post and share.
open.substack.com/pub/nedboult...
If this strikes a chord with you, please comment on the post and share.
open.substack.com/pub/nedboult...
February 7, 2026 at 10:20 AM
Last night there was a vigil for the first cycling fatality of the year on London's streets. I was there. Here are some thoughts (no paywall).
If this strikes a chord with you, please comment on the post and share.
open.substack.com/pub/nedboult...
If this strikes a chord with you, please comment on the post and share.
open.substack.com/pub/nedboult...
Reposted by Martin Warne
Connections
Puzzle #972
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Puzzle #972
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February 7, 2026 at 8:53 AM
Connections
Puzzle #972
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Absolute hero. www.the-londoner.co.uk/jeremy-vine-...
Jeremy Vine loves him, motorists hate him. Is Cycling Mikey London’s most controversial cyclist?
How Cycling Mikey's quest for road safety divided London
www.the-londoner.co.uk
February 7, 2026 at 7:41 AM
Absolute hero. www.the-londoner.co.uk/jeremy-vine-...