James Sparrow
@sparklyjed.bsky.social
Reposted by James Sparrow
After some consideration, the synthesis I have settled on is Starmer is bad and cynical for shamelessly pulling strings to block a rival, Burnham is bad and cynical for being ready to risk a Reform mayor in Greater Manchester for his own ambition, and it is time at last for chaos with Ed Miliband.
January 25, 2026 at 2:15 PM
After some consideration, the synthesis I have settled on is Starmer is bad and cynical for shamelessly pulling strings to block a rival, Burnham is bad and cynical for being ready to risk a Reform mayor in Greater Manchester for his own ambition, and it is time at last for chaos with Ed Miliband.
This feels like quite bizarre reasoning. An MP by-election would damage everything we've achieved but a by-election for Manchester mayor wouldn't. Both NEC & you probably have both good and bad reasons. The game of course is to pretend that yours are all good and theirs are all bad.
Tomorrow I will return with full focus to my role as Mayor of Greater Manchester, defending everything we have built in our city-region over many years.
I decided to put myself forward to prevent the divisive politics of Reform damaging that. We are stronger together and let’s stay that way. 💪🏻
2/2
I decided to put myself forward to prevent the divisive politics of Reform damaging that. We are stronger together and let’s stay that way. 💪🏻
2/2
January 25, 2026 at 7:18 PM
This feels like quite bizarre reasoning. An MP by-election would damage everything we've achieved but a by-election for Manchester mayor wouldn't. Both NEC & you probably have both good and bad reasons. The game of course is to pretend that yours are all good and theirs are all bad.
Reposted by James Sparrow
Now that you’ve publicly announced that you no longer want to be the Mayor of Greater Manchester are you going to resign so the public can vote for someone who does want the job?
January 25, 2026 at 5:53 PM
Now that you’ve publicly announced that you no longer want to be the Mayor of Greater Manchester are you going to resign so the public can vote for someone who does want the job?
Reposted by James Sparrow
Andy, luv ,you're not Sir Galahad and you have a very good job in Manchester. You knew what you were doing ....
January 25, 2026 at 5:51 PM
Andy, luv ,you're not Sir Galahad and you have a very good job in Manchester. You knew what you were doing ....
Reposted by James Sparrow
I’m disappointed that you chose personal ambition over everything else Andy
January 25, 2026 at 5:49 PM
I’m disappointed that you chose personal ambition over everything else Andy
Reposted by James Sparrow
Wonder what possibly made him get up one morning and go, I dont want be a Mayor now. I'll go be a MP.
Long sighted he's a plotter. Short sighted he's fickle. You decide
We had 14 years of political opportunists & frankly most of us are bored of it, regardless of what you think about Andy Burnham.
Long sighted he's a plotter. Short sighted he's fickle. You decide
We had 14 years of political opportunists & frankly most of us are bored of it, regardless of what you think about Andy Burnham.
January 25, 2026 at 1:32 PM
Wonder what possibly made him get up one morning and go, I dont want be a Mayor now. I'll go be a MP.
Long sighted he's a plotter. Short sighted he's fickle. You decide
We had 14 years of political opportunists & frankly most of us are bored of it, regardless of what you think about Andy Burnham.
Long sighted he's a plotter. Short sighted he's fickle. You decide
We had 14 years of political opportunists & frankly most of us are bored of it, regardless of what you think about Andy Burnham.
Reposted by James Sparrow
While I think people are entitled to have personal careerist ambitions - I changed jobs a couple of times for precisely that reason - I don’t think Labour is obliged to indulge them at Labour’s expense.
January 25, 2026 at 1:48 PM
While I think people are entitled to have personal careerist ambitions - I changed jobs a couple of times for precisely that reason - I don’t think Labour is obliged to indulge them at Labour’s expense.
Reposted by James Sparrow
I don't think Burnham is the answer. I'm not sure there is one. But if Starmer had even the slightest political antennae, McSweeney would be out of a job tomorrow, if not today. That will not happen, though, and it will seal Starmer's fate. He has tied his leadership to a factional incompetent.
The fact Starmer can look at McSweeney and believe he is doing a good job tells you everything you need to know about Starmer’s political judgement. It’s non-existent. That’s why I expect Burnham’s candidacy to be rejected and Starmer to be gone as PM before the next Labour conference.
January 25, 2026 at 10:20 AM
I don't think Burnham is the answer. I'm not sure there is one. But if Starmer had even the slightest political antennae, McSweeney would be out of a job tomorrow, if not today. That will not happen, though, and it will seal Starmer's fate. He has tied his leadership to a factional incompetent.
Reposted by James Sparrow
January 22, 2026 at 9:12 PM
Reposted by James Sparrow
Reposted by James Sparrow
Why is Donald Trump changing his mind every five minutes and saying completely mad stuff an embarrassment for Keir Starmer? It feels like it should chiefly be seen as an embarrassment for the United States.
January 20, 2026 at 12:23 PM
Why is Donald Trump changing his mind every five minutes and saying completely mad stuff an embarrassment for Keir Starmer? It feels like it should chiefly be seen as an embarrassment for the United States.
Reposted by James Sparrow
Excited to see who the first Tory MP is that Reform reject.
January 18, 2026 at 10:01 PM
Excited to see who the first Tory MP is that Reform reject.
Reposted by James Sparrow
The sequence of events is:
1) Machado tells Hannity she hasn’t spoken to Trump since October, he asks if she’d give him her Nobel and she says yes. www.mediamatters.org/sean-hannity...
2) Hannity asks Trump if he’d accept her Nobel, he says yes
3)
1) Machado tells Hannity she hasn’t spoken to Trump since October, he asks if she’d give him her Nobel and she says yes. www.mediamatters.org/sean-hannity...
2) Hannity asks Trump if he’d accept her Nobel, he says yes
3)
January 15, 2026 at 9:43 PM
The sequence of events is:
1) Machado tells Hannity she hasn’t spoken to Trump since October, he asks if she’d give him her Nobel and she says yes. www.mediamatters.org/sean-hannity...
2) Hannity asks Trump if he’d accept her Nobel, he says yes
3)
1) Machado tells Hannity she hasn’t spoken to Trump since October, he asks if she’d give him her Nobel and she says yes. www.mediamatters.org/sean-hannity...
2) Hannity asks Trump if he’d accept her Nobel, he says yes
3)
Reposted by James Sparrow
The utterly shameless & widely covered "report" out today, claiming net zero will "cost" £9tn is based on:
* Assuming free fossil-fuel energy, free petrol cars, free gas boilers, free gas power plants etc
AND
* Including climate damages in the "cost" of net zero
I kid you not, it is that stupid
* Assuming free fossil-fuel energy, free petrol cars, free gas boilers, free gas power plants etc
AND
* Including climate damages in the "cost" of net zero
I kid you not, it is that stupid
🧵A political/media guide to the "truth" about net-zero
1) Add up costs to install & run a net-zero energy system
2) Pretend fossil-fuelled alternatives wld be free
3) Do say "eco zealots are bankrupting us"
4) Don't say "free cars if we scrap net-zero" cos it sounds ridiculous
5) That's it!
1/10
1) Add up costs to install & run a net-zero energy system
2) Pretend fossil-fuelled alternatives wld be free
3) Do say "eco zealots are bankrupting us"
4) Don't say "free cars if we scrap net-zero" cos it sounds ridiculous
5) That's it!
1/10
January 13, 2026 at 7:37 AM
The utterly shameless & widely covered "report" out today, claiming net zero will "cost" £9tn is based on:
* Assuming free fossil-fuel energy, free petrol cars, free gas boilers, free gas power plants etc
AND
* Including climate damages in the "cost" of net zero
I kid you not, it is that stupid
* Assuming free fossil-fuel energy, free petrol cars, free gas boilers, free gas power plants etc
AND
* Including climate damages in the "cost" of net zero
I kid you not, it is that stupid
Reposted by James Sparrow
Again, the people who seem to be most damaged by social media aren't the kids - who are quite good at navigating it - but the middle-aged, who get caught up in extremism, fooled by misinformation, trapped by scammers, and addicted to porn.
Stop focussing on the kids. Start with the rest of us.
Stop focussing on the kids. Start with the rest of us.
January 11, 2026 at 11:35 AM
Again, the people who seem to be most damaged by social media aren't the kids - who are quite good at navigating it - but the middle-aged, who get caught up in extremism, fooled by misinformation, trapped by scammers, and addicted to porn.
Stop focussing on the kids. Start with the rest of us.
Stop focussing on the kids. Start with the rest of us.
Reposted by James Sparrow
A WSJ visual investigation found that the Minneapolis ICE killing is one of 13 incidents where federal immigration agents have used deadly force against civilians in vehicles since July
www.wsj.com/us-news/vide...
www.wsj.com/us-news/vide...
Videos Show How ICE Vehicle Stops Can Escalate to Shootings
A WSJ visual investigation found that the Minneapolis ICE killing is one of 13 incidents where federal immigration agents have used deadly force against civilians in vehicles since July.
www.wsj.com
January 10, 2026 at 4:09 PM
A WSJ visual investigation found that the Minneapolis ICE killing is one of 13 incidents where federal immigration agents have used deadly force against civilians in vehicles since July
www.wsj.com/us-news/vide...
www.wsj.com/us-news/vide...
Reposted by James Sparrow
These reasonable demands include the UK changing its foreign policy and compromising its defense supply chains.
No, I don't think the govt should give into blackmail and encourage more people to self-harm by negotiating.
No, I don't think the govt should give into blackmail and encourage more people to self-harm by negotiating.
This is an extraordinary human failure from a supposedly progressive government. Jaw dropping www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Let’s be clear: if the Palestine Action hunger strikers die, the government will bear moral responsibility | George Monbiot
The three remaining hunger strikers have been convicted of nothing. Yet with astonishing cruelty, ministers refuse to listen to their reasonable demands, says Guardian columnist George Monbiot
www.theguardian.com
January 7, 2026 at 11:36 AM
These reasonable demands include the UK changing its foreign policy and compromising its defense supply chains.
No, I don't think the govt should give into blackmail and encourage more people to self-harm by negotiating.
No, I don't think the govt should give into blackmail and encourage more people to self-harm by negotiating.
Reposted by James Sparrow
I thought the article was pretty disgraceful and unethical to be honest. Issues with the justice system delaying trials is a real issue of course, and I don’t 100% disagree with the “demands”, but no government can be expected to engage on those terms…
January 7, 2026 at 1:06 PM
I thought the article was pretty disgraceful and unethical to be honest. Issues with the justice system delaying trials is a real issue of course, and I don’t 100% disagree with the “demands”, but no government can be expected to engage on those terms…
Reposted by James Sparrow
Still, I’m sure if you set the precedent “a hunger strike can change government policy”, there will be no downstream effects there, no knock on impacts the next time a Lucy Connolly or Tommy Robinson or what have you go to jail, because it only counts when it’s virtuous hunger strikers, right?
January 7, 2026 at 12:57 PM
Still, I’m sure if you set the precedent “a hunger strike can change government policy”, there will be no downstream effects there, no knock on impacts the next time a Lucy Connolly or Tommy Robinson or what have you go to jail, because it only counts when it’s virtuous hunger strikers, right?
Reposted by James Sparrow
Unpopular opinion this might be on Bluesky, but while the government does bear some responsibility for any potential deaths here (they are, after all, managing the prison system), the greater responsibility lies with journalists and commentators who have egged the hunger strikers along
This is an extraordinary human failure from a supposedly progressive government. Jaw dropping www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Let’s be clear: if the Palestine Action hunger strikers die, the government will bear moral responsibility | George Monbiot
The three remaining hunger strikers have been convicted of nothing. Yet with astonishing cruelty, ministers refuse to listen to their reasonable demands, says Guardian columnist George Monbiot
www.theguardian.com
January 7, 2026 at 12:50 PM
Unpopular opinion this might be on Bluesky, but while the government does bear some responsibility for any potential deaths here (they are, after all, managing the prison system), the greater responsibility lies with journalists and commentators who have egged the hunger strikers along
Reposted by James Sparrow
Smugglers often force people to pilot boats, using threats against them or their families. Prosecuting an Afghan 18 year old seeking asylum for this is twisted and shows how Labour is more interested in playing to Reform than ensuring people are provided with safety.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
First person charged under new small boat Channel crossing law - BBC News
Aman Naseri, 18, denies endangering 46 people during a boat crossing to the UK on 5 January.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 7, 2026 at 9:45 PM
Smugglers often force people to pilot boats, using threats against them or their families. Prosecuting an Afghan 18 year old seeking asylum for this is twisted and shows how Labour is more interested in playing to Reform than ensuring people are provided with safety.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
I struggle to see this as a failure. They don't just want to be released, they want significant changes in Government policy. It feel like one of those classic hostage film lines, 'don't make me kill them, it'll be your fault.'
This is an extraordinary human failure from a supposedly progressive government. Jaw dropping www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Let’s be clear: if the Palestine Action hunger strikers die, the government will bear moral responsibility | George Monbiot
The three remaining hunger strikers have been convicted of nothing. Yet with astonishing cruelty, ministers refuse to listen to their reasonable demands, says Guardian columnist George Monbiot
www.theguardian.com
January 7, 2026 at 3:01 PM
I struggle to see this as a failure. They don't just want to be released, they want significant changes in Government policy. It feel like one of those classic hostage film lines, 'don't make me kill them, it'll be your fault.'
Reposted by James Sparrow
I don't dislike dogs to be clear. But I really really dislike how many dog owners allow their dogs to foul the streets and to yap at people and scare kids and still expect everyone to think their precious little pooch is such a good dog 14/10 whatever
January 1, 2026 at 12:48 PM
I don't dislike dogs to be clear. But I really really dislike how many dog owners allow their dogs to foul the streets and to yap at people and scare kids and still expect everyone to think their precious little pooch is such a good dog 14/10 whatever
Reposted by James Sparrow
BREAKING: A Russian newspaper today — “America no longer sees our country as a threat… The US leader’s philosophy is closer to the values of Russia’s president, not the politicians of the Old World… he sees Europe as a liberal stronghold that must be destroyed…”
Read that again.
Read that again.
December 29, 2025 at 8:10 PM
BREAKING: A Russian newspaper today — “America no longer sees our country as a threat… The US leader’s philosophy is closer to the values of Russia’s president, not the politicians of the Old World… he sees Europe as a liberal stronghold that must be destroyed…”
Read that again.
Read that again.
Reposted by James Sparrow
A quick google informs me that after this surge, Australia provides about 4% of our beef imports, and our beef imports are about 25% of our consumption. So this headline is basically saying “anger as 0.6% becomes 1% of total” and I’m not sure that’s particularly justifiable
December 27, 2025 at 12:31 PM
A quick google informs me that after this surge, Australia provides about 4% of our beef imports, and our beef imports are about 25% of our consumption. So this headline is basically saying “anger as 0.6% becomes 1% of total” and I’m not sure that’s particularly justifiable