Sophie Church
banner
sophiealichurch.bsky.social
Sophie Church
@sophiealichurch.bsky.social
Reposted by Sophie Church
The Green Party is set to discuss a policy of abolishing landlords at its conference in Bournemouth

Backers say “many members are still uncomfortable with the bold and decisive tone” of the proposal, but are confident it'll be adopted if put to a debate, reports @sophiealichurch.bsky.social
Green Party Set To Debate Policy Of Abolishing Landlords
The Green Party is set to discuss a policy of abolishing landlords at its conference in Bournemouth.
www.politicshome.com
October 3, 2025 at 9:47 AM
Reposted by Sophie Church
British politics is "moving into" a contest between the Greens and Reform, the former's leader Zack Polanski told PolHome

He said he was "very open" to “progressive, particularly left-wing" about defecting to the Greens

@sophiealichurch.bsky.social reports from the party's Bournemouth conference
British Politics Is Already Greens vs Reform, Says Green Leader Zack Polanski
The Green Party is already on its way to being the main opposition to Reform, leader Zack Polanski claimed in an interview with PoliticsHome at the...
www.politicshome.com
October 5, 2025 at 8:01 AM
Reposted by Sophie Church
🍫 KitKat rewards for MPs
🏏 Cricket bat photo ops
🐢 A ‘more tortoise than hare’ strategy

@sophiealichurch.bsky.social looks inside the Lib Dems' evolving media tactics, and who exactly the party's 'jam and Jerusalem' strategy is targeting
Jam and Jerusalem: Inside the Lib Dems' media strategy
While MPs have voiced concerns over their party’s strategy, the Lib Dem media team tell Sophie Church they are sticking with the programme. Illustr...
www.politicshome.com
September 13, 2025 at 8:35 AM
Reposted by Sophie Church
Exclusive by my colleague @sophiealichurch.bsky.social picked up by the nationals today

The Home Office has launched an investigation after @politicshome.bsky.social revealed that asylum seekers across the UK have been using taxpayer-funded payment cards for gambling
Asylum Seekers Using Taxpayer-Funded Payment Cards To Gamble
The Home Office has launched an investigation after PoliticsHome revealed that asylum seekers across the UK have been using taxpayer-funded payment...
www.politicshome.com
July 24, 2025 at 7:28 AM
Reposted by Sophie Church
Brilliant scoop from the always excellent @sophiealichurch.bsky.social at @politicshome.bsky.social: The QEII Centre *finally* agreed as the decant location for the Lords during Restoration and Renewal www.politicshome.com/news/article... #WestminsterRR
House of Lords To Move To QEII Centre While Parliament Restored
The House of Lords is set to move to the QEII Centre while Parliament is restored, no matter which option for the estate’s restoration is eventuall...
www.politicshome.com
July 3, 2025 at 6:29 PM
Reposted by Sophie Church
🚨 OUT NOW 🚨 Green Party at a crossroads

♻️ Green Party leadership candidate @zackpolanski.bsky.social, More in Common's @sophiestowers.bsky.social & @sophiealichurch.bsky.social join @alaintolhurst.bsky.social to discuss what the Greens can do to build on their success

🎧 Listen now: pod.fo/e/2e99f0
June 20, 2025 at 11:58 AM
Reposted by Sophie Church
It has been derided as the Frankenstein’s monster of Whitehall. So, is DCMS really up for the chop?

@siennarodgers.bsky.social and @sophiealichurch.bsky.social explore why the department and its head Lisa Nandy are being briefed against, and what is likely to happen next
The Frankenstein's Monster Of Whitehall: Will Labour Really Abolish DCMS?
As briefings against DCMS and Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy abound, Sophie Church and Sienna Rodgers explore why the department is so embattled and ...
www.politicshome.com
June 3, 2025 at 11:31 AM
Reposted by Sophie Church
The best thing you'll read on the battle for future of the Greens, by colleagues @siennarodgers.bsky.social and @sophiealichurch.bsky.social

A disaffected urban Corbynista takeover, or will Countryfile Tories seize the keys?
As a leadership contest nears, the Greens are at a crossroads:

The Corbyn-style, eco-populism of Zack Polanski, or more environmentally focused, socially conservative Adrian Ramsay & Ellie Chowns

@siennarodgers.bsky.social & @sophiealichurch.bsky.social go inside the battle for the party's future
The Other Insurgent Party: Should The Greens Turn Left With Eco-Populism?
The Greens find themselves at a crossroads: red-green eco-populism with a Corbyn-style radical from outside Parliament – or two rural MPs serving a...
www.politicshome.com
May 17, 2025 at 9:03 AM
Reposted by Sophie Church
"If you’re in a meeting with Michael, he will be quiet and listen, and then he’ll say one or two things, and you think: ‘Yes, that sounds right.'"

Friends & ex-colleagues describe Michael Ellam, the man chosen by Keir Starmer to reset the UK’s EU relationship

“I don’t think we ever caught him out"
Michael Ellam: The EU Sherpa Resetting The UK-EU Relationship
Having served under Gordon Brown and George Osborne, Michael Ellam is now Keir Starmer’s ‘EU sherpa’, tasked with resetting the UK’s relationship w...
www.politicshome.com
May 9, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Reposted by Sophie Church
A few hours before Russian tanks entered Ukraine in February 2022, hackers disconnected thousands of satellite modems in Ukraine. This moment unveiled space as warfare’s new frontier.

As a new global space race begins, can the UK lead? @sophiealichurch.bsky.social reports
Space Is A Growing Battlefield. Can The UK Lead The Way?
To the anguish of the space industry, UK is the only country to have successfully developed, and then abandoned, a satellite launch capability. Tha...
www.politicshome.com
April 21, 2025 at 9:04 AM
Reposted by Sophie Church
“You could see in his [Starmer's] eyes that he gets it"

Louis Mosley, UK chief of tech firm Palantir, talks to @sophiealichurch.bsky.social about how his company is using AI to help make the NHS, MoD & HS2 more efficient

"We are just at the beginning," says Louis, grandson of Oswald, nephew of Max
Palantir Boss Louis Mosley: Keir Starmer 'Gets' AI, 'You Could See In His Eyes'
In a bid to boost growth, Labour has thrown open government’s doors to controversial US tech firm Palantir. In his first ever sit-down interview, P...
www.politicshome.com
April 5, 2025 at 9:07 AM
Reposted by Sophie Church
Every year 100s of people die preventable deaths because it's no-one's job to make sure recommendations from inquests & inquiries happen. I put forward a bill to change this - v glad to hear govt is considering taking this matter forward @inquest-org.bsky.social
www.politicshome.com/news/article...
Ministers Poised To Demand Inquiry Recommendations Are Enforced
The government is considering introducing a new oversight body to ensure the recommendations of public inquiries are implemented, PoliticsHome unde...
www.politicshome.com
March 21, 2025 at 9:26 AM
Reposted by Sophie Church
The government is considering introducing a new oversight body to ensure the recommendations of public inquiries are implemented, PolHome understands

Ministers are looking at announcing the new mechanism alongside the Hillsborough Law

@sophiealichurch.bsky.social reports
Ministers Poised To Demand Inquiry Recommendations Are Enforced
The government is considering introducing a new oversight body to ensure the recommendations of public inquiries are implemented, PoliticsHome unde...
www.politicshome.com
March 21, 2025 at 8:23 AM
Reposted by Sophie Church
A poll suggests a split between the Lib Dem leadership and party members ahead of a vote on proposed changes to their self-identification policy

Three-quarters of members surveyed by YouGov said the process for obtaining a gender recognition certificate is “about right” or “not demanding enough”
Lib Dems At Odds With Party Members Over Gender Self-ID, Poll Suggests
A new poll suggests a split between the Liberal Democrat leadership and party members as they prepare to vote on changing gender self-identificatio...
www.politicshome.com
March 18, 2025 at 6:10 PM
Reposted by Sophie Church
Colleague @sophiealichurch.bsky.social reports a row over Jonathan Powell's refusal to face questions from the committee tasked with scrutinising him

Committee chair Labour MP Matt Western has complained to the PM about it, telling us that the government position “appears to depart from convention”
The government has backed its national security adviser in his refusal to appear before the committee responsible for scrutinising him

Pat McFadden said it isn't "appropriate" for Jonathan Powell to face the committee as he's an adviser

Committee chair Labour MP Matt Western "does not agree"
Government Says It's Not 'Appropriate' For Committee To Scrutinise Security Adviser
The government has backed national security adviser Jonathan Powell in his refusal to appear before the parliamentary committee responsible for dir...
www.politicshome.com
March 10, 2025 at 12:54 PM
Reposted by Sophie Church
And finally, the brilliant @sophiealichurch.bsky.social has reported on growing - and understandable - frustration within the R&R Programme Board about the slow pace of the project www.politicshome.com/news/article... #WestminsterRR
Growing Frustration Within Team Restoring Parliament Over Slow Progress
There is an increasing sense of frustration at the highest levels of the Restoration and Renewal (R&R) programme leadership, as the project faces y...
www.politicshome.com
February 27, 2025 at 3:39 PM
Reposted by Sophie Church
There is growing frustration within the team looking at how to restore Parliament over the slow progress so far

The vote on which of the options MPs prefer is thought to be scheduled for May, but insiders fear it will now not happen before the end of the year

@sophiealichurch.bsky.social reports
Growing Frustration Within Team Restoring Parliament Over Slow Progress
There is an increasing sense of frustration at the highest levels of the Restoration and Renewal (R&R) programme leadership, as the project faces y...
www.politicshome.com
February 25, 2025 at 6:46 PM
Reposted by Sophie Church
I spoke to PoliticsHome / The House magazine about Prevent and the Home Office's ongoing failure to address continuing legislative, strategic and operational gaps in counter extremism - all of which I evidenced to them years ago. I hope the current Home Secretary addresses these urgent gaps.
"I genuinely don't know what the role of Prevent is anymore," the former counter extremism tsar has said

In a candid interview with @sophiealichurch.bsky.social, Dame Sara Khan said the UK's counter-radicalisation programme is "so confused" and that the Home Office is particularly to blame
'I Genuinely Don't Know What The Role Of Prevent Is Anymore', Says Former Counter-Extremism Tsar
Britain’s counter-radicalisation programme Prevent is mired in confusion, a former government advisor who was once among its most prominent support...
www.politicshome.com
February 12, 2025 at 8:10 PM
Reposted by Sophie Church
"I genuinely don't know what the role of Prevent is anymore," the former counter extremism tsar has said

In a candid interview with @sophiealichurch.bsky.social, Dame Sara Khan said the UK's counter-radicalisation programme is "so confused" and that the Home Office is particularly to blame
'I Genuinely Don't Know What The Role Of Prevent Is Anymore', Says Former Counter-Extremism Tsar
Britain’s counter-radicalisation programme Prevent is mired in confusion, a former government advisor who was once among its most prominent support...
www.politicshome.com
February 12, 2025 at 6:09 PM
🤝NEW: TUC general secretary Paul Nowak says "pressure points" exist between the union and Energy Secretary Ed Miliband

But while Labour's ERB faces delays, he is "confident that the bill is going to be delivered and delivered in full"
www.politicshome.com/thehouse/art...
''Employment Rights Bill Lite' won't cut it': Paul Nowak
The Employment Rights Bill is facing further delays, yet TUC general secretary Paul Nowak tells Sophie Church he expects it to be delivered in full...
www.politicshome.com
February 12, 2025 at 5:29 PM
Reposted by Sophie Church
A Labour MP has called for CCTV in Parliament's bars following a recent alleged spiking

Rachel Blake, MP for the Cities of London and Westminster, said it'd bring the bars used by MPs, journalists and staffers in line with other premises in her constituency

@sophiealichurch.bsky.social reports
Westminster MP Calls For CCTV In Parliament’s Bars
Labour’s Westminster MP has said she supports CCTV being installed in Parliament’s bars after a woman’s drink was allegedly spiked on the parliamen...
www.politicshome.com
February 11, 2025 at 11:56 AM
Reposted by Sophie Church
Following @sophiealichurch.bsky.social’s exclusive the other day, my @inews.co.uk column today is on the damage done by delays to the Strategic Defence Review. Uncertainty today hurts Ukraine tomorrow, and weakens the U.K. and NATO’s capacity for any future inews.co.uk/opinion/brit...
Britain’s delay on defence will cost us tomorrow
The truth is that we have struggled to increase capacity anything like fast enough
inews.co.uk
January 28, 2025 at 9:51 AM