Paul Convery
@paulconvery.bsky.social
Husband; father; Scot; Londoner; social & economic researcher; Islington Councillor; Labour since 1973.
The latest calamity at Tottenham clearly isn't about Thomas Frank's managerial and coaching abilities. The club is in turmoil, the players lack discipline and ambition. The departure of Postecoglu, Levy and now Frank is a pattern not a one-off. www.bbc.co.uk/sport/footba...
Thomas Frank: Inside the Tottenham manager's eight-month struggle
Thomas Frank has been sacked as Tottenham manager after just eight months in charge. BBC Sport's Sami Mokbel takes a closer look at his tenure.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 12, 2026 at 10:07 AM
The latest calamity at Tottenham clearly isn't about Thomas Frank's managerial and coaching abilities. The club is in turmoil, the players lack discipline and ambition. The departure of Postecoglu, Levy and now Frank is a pattern not a one-off. www.bbc.co.uk/sport/footba...
This will never happen but it's lunacy for Starmer's faction to even threaten it.
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 5:14 PM
This will never happen but it's lunacy for Starmer's faction to even threaten it.
Steve Rosenberg reports that Russia says assassination attempt is Ukraine trying to derail Abu Dhabi peace process. But it's equally likely responsibility was someone inside Russia trying that. www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/...
BBC at scene where Russian general was shot in Moscow
Russia editor Steve Rosenberg reports from the outskirts of the Russian capital, where Lt Gen Vladimir Alexeyev was shot and wounded.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 6, 2026 at 6:40 PM
Steve Rosenberg reports that Russia says assassination attempt is Ukraine trying to derail Abu Dhabi peace process. But it's equally likely responsibility was someone inside Russia trying that. www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/...
Another excellent Osley column in today’s Islington Tribune. Another opportunity for me therefore to cosey-up to the editor-in-chief of the CNJ titles.
February 6, 2026 at 12:13 PM
Another excellent Osley column in today’s Islington Tribune. Another opportunity for me therefore to cosey-up to the editor-in-chief of the CNJ titles.
These extraordinary revelations aren't just some kind of Ministerial Code breach, they're surely criminal offences?
There's more.
On 31 March 2010, Lord Mandelson's principal private secretary sent him a note of a meeting between the Chancellor of the Exchequer and Larry Summers, US Treasury Secretary.
Lord Mandelson forwarded it to Jeffrey Epstein five minutes later.
On 31 March 2010, Lord Mandelson's principal private secretary sent him a note of a meeting between the Chancellor of the Exchequer and Larry Summers, US Treasury Secretary.
Lord Mandelson forwarded it to Jeffrey Epstein five minutes later.
February 2, 2026 at 8:38 PM
These extraordinary revelations aren't just some kind of Ministerial Code breach, they're surely criminal offences?
Nominations are open for the 2026 Cally Awards
To celebrate the Cally and our strong community, the first annual Cally Awards ceremony will be held at the end of March. Nominations are now open for anyone to propose a great Cally hero for recognition. We are looking to celebrate individuals,…
To celebrate the Cally and our strong community, the first annual Cally Awards ceremony will be held at the end of March. Nominations are now open for anyone to propose a great Cally hero for recognition. We are looking to celebrate individuals,…
Nominations are open for the 2026 Cally Awards
To celebrate the Cally and our strong community, the first annual Cally Awards ceremony will be held at the end of March. Nominations are now open for anyone to propose a great Cally hero for recognition. We are looking to celebrate individuals, community organisations, and local partners who have made outstanding contributions to the Cally. The Cally Awards will be presented by the Mayor of Islington, the Leader of the Council and Cally Councillors. The following award categories will be featured: 🫶✨ Community Champion – For the everyday heroes who sprinkle kindness everywhere…
callylabourcouncillors.org.uk
February 2, 2026 at 3:13 PM
Nominations are open for the 2026 Cally Awards
To celebrate the Cally and our strong community, the first annual Cally Awards ceremony will be held at the end of March. Nominations are now open for anyone to propose a great Cally hero for recognition. We are looking to celebrate individuals,…
To celebrate the Cally and our strong community, the first annual Cally Awards ceremony will be held at the end of March. Nominations are now open for anyone to propose a great Cally hero for recognition. We are looking to celebrate individuals,…
Cally Councillor, Sara Hyde, makes her first speech as a member of the House of Lords
Cally Councillor Sara Hyde made her first ("maiden") speech in the House of Lords yesterday, Thursday 29th January. Sara gave one of the most memorable first speeches heard in Britain's second legislative…
Cally Councillor Sara Hyde made her first ("maiden") speech in the House of Lords yesterday, Thursday 29th January. Sara gave one of the most memorable first speeches heard in Britain's second legislative…
Cally Councillor, Sara Hyde, makes her first speech as a member of the House of Lords
Cally Councillor Sara Hyde made her first ("maiden") speech in the House of Lords yesterday, Thursday 29th January. Sara gave one of the most memorable first speeches heard in Britain's second legislative chamber. Sara recounted the influences and inspirations in her background, most of all the people of the Cally and Bemerton estate where she lived for many years. She pledged to "always give my very best as I act justly, love mercy and walk humbly" as a member of the House of Lords. In her speech, Sara recounted her 20+ years living and working around Caledonian Road and how she chose the title “Baroness Hyde of Bemerton” so that "I would never, ever forget where I came from nor lose sight of whom I am here to serve and to ensure a functioning democracy for."
callylabourcouncillors.org.uk
January 30, 2026 at 5:04 PM
Cally Councillor, Sara Hyde, makes her first speech as a member of the House of Lords
Cally Councillor Sara Hyde made her first ("maiden") speech in the House of Lords yesterday, Thursday 29th January. Sara gave one of the most memorable first speeches heard in Britain's second legislative…
Cally Councillor Sara Hyde made her first ("maiden") speech in the House of Lords yesterday, Thursday 29th January. Sara gave one of the most memorable first speeches heard in Britain's second legislative…
Labour’s 2026 candidates in Caledonian Ward
Labour's Cally team: Paul, Una and Oliur The three Labour candidates for Caledonian Ward at the May 2026 local elections have now been chosen. Current Councillors Paul Convery and Una O'Halloran are now joined by Oliur Rahman. This follows Cllr Sara Hyde…
Labour's Cally team: Paul, Una and Oliur The three Labour candidates for Caledonian Ward at the May 2026 local elections have now been chosen. Current Councillors Paul Convery and Una O'Halloran are now joined by Oliur Rahman. This follows Cllr Sara Hyde…
Labour’s 2026 candidates in Caledonian Ward
Labour's Cally team: Paul, Una and Oliur The three Labour candidates for Caledonian Ward at the May 2026 local elections have now been chosen. Current Councillors Paul Convery and Una O'Halloran are now joined by Oliur Rahman. This follows Cllr Sara Hyde decision to step-down after 8 years representing the ward. Sara has been appointed to the House of Lords and is already a busy member of Labour's team of "working peers". Oliur says: "I’ve received so many kind messages, calls, and emails from our MP, councillors, officers, and activists. I’m truly grateful for all the support.
callylabourcouncillors.org.uk
January 28, 2026 at 2:09 PM
Labour’s 2026 candidates in Caledonian Ward
Labour's Cally team: Paul, Una and Oliur The three Labour candidates for Caledonian Ward at the May 2026 local elections have now been chosen. Current Councillors Paul Convery and Una O'Halloran are now joined by Oliur Rahman. This follows Cllr Sara Hyde…
Labour's Cally team: Paul, Una and Oliur The three Labour candidates for Caledonian Ward at the May 2026 local elections have now been chosen. Current Councillors Paul Convery and Una O'Halloran are now joined by Oliur Rahman. This follows Cllr Sara Hyde…
This is a very lucid argument. Summarised: The problem "is not environmental regulation itself, but an adversarial planning system that incentivises pre-emptive risk aversion.
Here's the @labourtogether.bsky.social collab, in which I argue that adversarial-judicial structures aren't "planning" in any normal sense, and we could have more output from the same people doing the same job for the same money
www.labourtogether.uk/all-reports/...
www.labourtogether.uk/all-reports/...
Build the rail! Save the snails! — Labour Together
Why does British infrastructure cost so much? This paper, by economist Dan Davies, argues that Britain’s adversarial planning system forces developers to gold-plate solutions to hypothetical problems....
www.labourtogether.uk
January 23, 2026 at 1:19 PM
This is a very lucid argument. Summarised: The problem "is not environmental regulation itself, but an adversarial planning system that incentivises pre-emptive risk aversion.
Text of Trump's ramble in Davos. It's worth reading just to understand how absolutely venal he is. And utterly tone deaf. Claimed USA won WW2 and “without us, you’d all be speaking German.” He said this in Switzerland where the majority language is German. www.weforum.org/stories/2026...
Davos 2026: Special Address by US President Donald J Trump
While speaking at Davos 2026, Trump highlighted his administration's economic achievements, discussed NATO and outlined his vision for Greenland, adding he would not take it with force.
www.weforum.org
January 23, 2026 at 12:55 PM
Text of Trump's ramble in Davos. It's worth reading just to understand how absolutely venal he is. And utterly tone deaf. Claimed USA won WW2 and “without us, you’d all be speaking German.” He said this in Switzerland where the majority language is German. www.weforum.org/stories/2026...
This is a disgusting thing that Trump said. Britain’s forces took 457 deaths from combat in Afghanistan. He has a fucking nerve, go tell the British Army they weren’t on the front line in Kandahar.
Trump on NATO: "I've always said, will they be there if we ever needed them? That's really the ultimate test. I'm not sure of that. We've never needed them. They'll say they sent some troops to Afghanistan and this or that. And they did. They stayed a little back, off the front lines."
January 22, 2026 at 3:02 PM
This is a disgusting thing that Trump said. Britain’s forces took 457 deaths from combat in Afghanistan. He has a fucking nerve, go tell the British Army they weren’t on the front line in Kandahar.
Four very difficult, very salient urgent questions in the Commons today.
I have granted the following urgent questions in the @houseofcommons.parliament.uk today.
From Sir Mel Stride MP to ask Rachel Reeves MP, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make a statement on planned changes to business rates for the retail, hospitality, and leisure sectors.
(1/5)
From Sir Mel Stride MP to ask Rachel Reeves MP, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make a statement on planned changes to business rates for the retail, hospitality, and leisure sectors.
(1/5)
The House of Commons sits from 2.30pm today.
The #OrderPaper is published each sitting day and lists the business of the House.
Business for the coming week is announced on Thursdays but is subject to change.
The #OrderPaper is published each sitting day and lists the business of the House.
Business for the coming week is announced on Thursdays but is subject to change.
January 19, 2026 at 2:20 PM
Four very difficult, very salient urgent questions in the Commons today.
If this is really provably true, then all those people around Trump, the military leadership, the Senate and House, the tech Bros and the corporate titans, just have to say no to him.
(NYT) - President Trump is now claiming that one reason he is pushing to acquire Greenland is that he didn’t win the Nobel Peace Prize, according to a message he sent to Norway’s prime minister over the weekend.
@nytimes.com
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/19/w...
@nytimes.com
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/19/w...
January 19, 2026 at 2:17 PM
If this is really provably true, then all those people around Trump, the military leadership, the Senate and House, the tech Bros and the corporate titans, just have to say no to him.
This is not a "silly" idea at all. Might be a good opportunity for EUFA to demonstrate a bit of backbone too.
It might sound silly, but I mean it: The easiest and most potent way for Europe to hurt Trump this year is to once again use its cultural soft power and to threaten a boycott of the World Cup. It would become a completely meaningless event and would hurt him where he is most vulnerable - his vanity.
January 19, 2026 at 12:55 PM
This is not a "silly" idea at all. Might be a good opportunity for EUFA to demonstrate a bit of backbone too.
As political grovels go, this is off the dial.
January 16, 2026 at 1:26 PM
As political grovels go, this is off the dial.
Of course Jenrick has to say it's not "personal ambition". He also has to say that because he is now clearly someone likely to be a challenge to Farage.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cr...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cr...
Jenrick tells BBC his defection to Reform not about personal ambition and will 'unite the right'
In an exclusive interview with Laura Kuenssberg, he says he made the final decision to defect over Christmas.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 16, 2026 at 1:22 PM
Of course Jenrick has to say it's not "personal ambition". He also has to say that because he is now clearly someone likely to be a challenge to Farage.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cr...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cr...
Liberal Democrat led Boroughs tried to curtail the London Freedom Pass. Labour Boroughs have put a stop to it.
www.standard.co.uk/news/transpo...
www.standard.co.uk/news/transpo...
Freedom pass saved! Labour councils block threat to free travel for older Londoners
The sensational development comes a week after The Standard revealed that a review of the scheme had been requested
www.standard.co.uk
January 14, 2026 at 8:21 PM
Liberal Democrat led Boroughs tried to curtail the London Freedom Pass. Labour Boroughs have put a stop to it.
www.standard.co.uk/news/transpo...
www.standard.co.uk/news/transpo...
Some broadcasters and press in London have reported that the Freedom Pass is under review. It isn’t. Three Lib Dem boroughs tried to trigger a review but Labour Boroughs have repudiated this and committed to protecting the Freedom Pass.
January 14, 2026 at 6:09 PM
Some broadcasters and press in London have reported that the Freedom Pass is under review. It isn’t. Three Lib Dem boroughs tried to trigger a review but Labour Boroughs have repudiated this and committed to protecting the Freedom Pass.
It would be so much better if we did not have Mandelson on TV “explaining”. An extended period of silence preferred. Perhaps this is step 1 in yet another attempt to rehabilitate a reputation that is totally trashed.
Epstein kept me 'separate' from his sexual side because I'm gay, Mandelson tells BBC
Epstein kept me 'separate' from his sexual side because I'm gay, Mandelson tells BBC
Mandelson tells the BBC he won't apologise to Epstein's victims because he was not 'knowledgeable' of the situation.
www.bbc.com
January 11, 2026 at 10:33 AM
It would be so much better if we did not have Mandelson on TV “explaining”. An extended period of silence preferred. Perhaps this is step 1 in yet another attempt to rehabilitate a reputation that is totally trashed.
Kent County Council's Reform Leader says "I would love to say I’ve found a magic way of not putting (Council Tax) up". But that's exactly what she said at the hustings last year. www.politicshome.com/news/article...
Reform Councils Say 'Huge Headwinds' Are Thwarting Plans To Lower Tax
Reform UK-run local authorities are facing “huge headwinds”, one of the party’s cost-saving chiefs has admitted, as Nigel Farage’s party faces crit...
www.politicshome.com
January 8, 2026 at 5:49 PM
Kent County Council's Reform Leader says "I would love to say I’ve found a magic way of not putting (Council Tax) up". But that's exactly what she said at the hustings last year. www.politicshome.com/news/article...
Cinderella at the Hackney Empire, our annual trip. Directed by the irrepressible Clive Rowe but sadly minus his usual lead appearance. As ever, a strong cast, brilliant band and outstanding design and technical stagecraft.
December 28, 2025 at 5:24 PM
Cinderella at the Hackney Empire, our annual trip. Directed by the irrepressible Clive Rowe but sadly minus his usual lead appearance. As ever, a strong cast, brilliant band and outstanding design and technical stagecraft.
In the list of very good reasons for older people to to stay in London (or move here) is healthcare. It's true, everyone, everywhere has NHS services. But London is head and shoulders above the rest of the country with some of the world's best hospitals, life science research and medical staff.
More and more older people are living in the capital. I met some who live in the hip and groovy borough of #camden www.onlondon.co.uk/camden-knowl... #london #truelondon
Camden knowledge, old and new
London's population is getting older. What does that mean for the city?
www.onlondon.co.uk
December 22, 2025 at 2:39 PM
In the list of very good reasons for older people to to stay in London (or move here) is healthcare. It's true, everyone, everywhere has NHS services. But London is head and shoulders above the rest of the country with some of the world's best hospitals, life science research and medical staff.
Richard Osley's sharp, but accurate, Arsenal assessment in this week's Tribune: "all that needs to happen ... is some basic shooting practice ... just kick it in the goal and we’ll all sleep well." www.islingtontribune.co.uk/article/keep...
Keep it simple – kick it into goal
Opinion: The runaway leaders in cliché terms have become just the ‘early pacesetters’
www.islingtontribune.co.uk
December 20, 2025 at 10:47 AM
Richard Osley's sharp, but accurate, Arsenal assessment in this week's Tribune: "all that needs to happen ... is some basic shooting practice ... just kick it in the goal and we’ll all sleep well." www.islingtontribune.co.uk/article/keep...
Strange times. In the UNISON General Secretary election "far left" candidate Andrea Egan has ousted Christina McAnea having secured 60% of the vote. The voting numbers show an extraordinarily low turnout however - just 7% of the eligible membership. www.unison.org.uk/news/2025/12...
Result of UNISON general secretary election announced - UNISON National
Andrea Egan will be the next general secretary
www.unison.org.uk
December 18, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Strange times. In the UNISON General Secretary election "far left" candidate Andrea Egan has ousted Christina McAnea having secured 60% of the vote. The voting numbers show an extraordinarily low turnout however - just 7% of the eligible membership. www.unison.org.uk/news/2025/12...
Cllr Sara Hyde appointed to House of Lords
It has been announced that Cllr Sara Hyde has been appointed by the King as a new member of the House of Lords. A Cally councillor since 2018, Sara will be an active "working peer" fully participating in the Lords legislative and scrutiny functions. She…
It has been announced that Cllr Sara Hyde has been appointed by the King as a new member of the House of Lords. A Cally councillor since 2018, Sara will be an active "working peer" fully participating in the Lords legislative and scrutiny functions. She…
Cllr Sara Hyde appointed to House of Lords
It has been announced that Cllr Sara Hyde has been appointed by the King as a new member of the House of Lords. A Cally councillor since 2018, Sara will be an active "working peer" fully participating in the Lords legislative and scrutiny functions. She will therefore step down as an Islington councillor at the May 2026 elections. Sara has always had a very busy public life in addition to her roles in the Council. She is a prison reform activist and criminal justice policy expert after a first career in theatre.
callylabourcouncillors.org.uk
December 17, 2025 at 4:03 PM
Cllr Sara Hyde appointed to House of Lords
It has been announced that Cllr Sara Hyde has been appointed by the King as a new member of the House of Lords. A Cally councillor since 2018, Sara will be an active "working peer" fully participating in the Lords legislative and scrutiny functions. She…
It has been announced that Cllr Sara Hyde has been appointed by the King as a new member of the House of Lords. A Cally councillor since 2018, Sara will be an active "working peer" fully participating in the Lords legislative and scrutiny functions. She…