Agree, sadism towards migrants isn't going to charm members.

Wouldn't say Burnham is as much an intellectual void as Starmer. He's risen in my estimation on discovering his liking for Tony Harrison.

Feel Polanski is the more dynamic challenge. Corbyn & Sultana struggle to coalesce among themselves, n'er mind be partners in popular front agst Farage.

Is yr take Lab members know Starmer has to go b4 2029, but persuade themselves for now they can defer ?

Curious how she's slipped from contention. Not sure the ambition still burns within herself.

Why would Burnham's vote not surmount Powell's, he's the more substantial figure with clear, alt prospectus ?

What persuades you ?

Mahmood camp's dilemma. Take it as read Burnham's vote, where he able to enter contest, is going to be north of whatever Powell achieves.

Won't the size of Powell's victory force the Right's hand and attempt to install Mahmood before Burnham is able to return to Westminster ?

Expectation is it wld accelerate exodus from the party + risk union disaffiliation/reduction in pol levy.
Tho this may be not undesirable outcome for McSweeney, it wld take on existential character.
Can imagine Right forestalling Burnham by deposing Starmer before he's able to return to Westminster

One omission in thoughtful assessment, was when talking thru the "technical hitch" of Burnham needing a parliamentary seat, consideration wasn't given to response of party membership and union donors if he was to be obstructed by the NEC.

Found myself trying to chair discussion remotely. But then entire prog wld've been projected through lens of Liverpool's distinctive botanic history intertwined with empire : centre of Victorian orchid trade, with botanical garden established by abolitionist with plantation owners among patrons.

Really hope the three of you revisit the many tantalising threads in this episode. Thanks for bolstering my resolve public parks are civic society at play, and socialism thrives in allotment soil.

Now, as park volunteer, find myself resisting the tendency of others to imagine public space in terms of their own garden : neatly-mown lawns, rose beds, and dreaded planters. And as allotmenteer, not adopting the labour-intensive methods and bare soil fanaticism of veteran plot-holders.

Wldn't agree with Nadia that men eschewed flower growing : dahia + chrysants shared the exhibition table with giant veg at childhood mining village's allotment show. Exuberance for nature in men who spent working lives underground extended to foraging + poaching, enjoyed with dog companion.

Enjoyed show, much briefly touched on deserving further exploration : in particular how ownership of private estates passed into public hands (public parks in Liverpool generally former estates of merchants, bankers, and lords). And allotments as reserve of mutualism, where cash exchange frowned on

The burnt-out shell of Spellow Library features conspicuously in the launch of LCC Library Strategy

bsky.app/profile/lpoo...

@harrydoyle.bsky.social

Presumably @patrickhurley.bsky.social wld find a way to justify without coming across as a nihilist

Elsewhere, actual libraries threatened with actual closure.

www.facebook.com/100057729443...

@ianbyrnemp.bsky.social

Fascinating how the image caught alight in the imaginations of commentators, evoking both iconic Nazi book burning, and rioters as illiterate nihilists.

"nothing justifies throwing petrol bombs through the window of a children’s library” – a reference to Spellow Library in Walton that was burned down in the wake of the Southport attack"

Spellow Library not burned down. Fire was limited to foyer. Watched the incident live, don't recall petrol bomb.

Felt at the time FIT reached agreement that they'd taken the then Labour Grp down to the Mersey n washed away their past sins, and re-baptised they emerged as park champions.
Didn't agree that the major parks were selected for first tranche, since these were least vulnerable IMO