Paul Convery
@paulconvery.bsky.social
Husband; father; Scot; Londoner; social & economic researcher; Islington Councillor; Labour since 1973.
A quieter day than most so time for a lunchtime pint and pie in the Crown, Cloudesley Rd
November 6, 2025 at 2:28 PM
A quieter day than most so time for a lunchtime pint and pie in the Crown, Cloudesley Rd
Ashburton Grove, N7. Great expectations were not confounded. Arsenal played some of the best attacking football I’ve seen in a while.
September 13, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Ashburton Grove, N7. Great expectations were not confounded. Arsenal played some of the best attacking football I’ve seen in a while.
BBC Chris Mason desperately abusing statistics here: rate of resignations running at "one per week". Only if you measure it across the last two weeks. He's right these events are extraordinary but he's overdoing the rhetoric here.
September 11, 2025 at 10:09 AM
BBC Chris Mason desperately abusing statistics here: rate of resignations running at "one per week". Only if you measure it across the last two weeks. He's right these events are extraordinary but he's overdoing the rhetoric here.
It has happened.
September 11, 2025 at 9:52 AM
It has happened.
Nearly 40,000 fans at todays’s WSL fixture at Ashburton Grove to watch Arsenal comfortably and confidently win 4-1.
September 6, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Nearly 40,000 fans at todays’s WSL fixture at Ashburton Grove to watch Arsenal comfortably and confidently win 4-1.
There isn't any reason why asylum seekers shouldn't work. Originally the prohibition made sense decisions were taken quite swiftly. Incidentally unemployment isn't at a record high.
September 2, 2025 at 9:32 PM
There isn't any reason why asylum seekers shouldn't work. Originally the prohibition made sense decisions were taken quite swiftly. Incidentally unemployment isn't at a record high.
Almost 25 years after I last had an Economist subscription, this week I paid up for the online and print editions. The magazine arrived this morning. It is a much slimmer product than back then. But that’s seemingly due to the near absence of advertising. No complaints about that.
August 30, 2025 at 2:48 PM
Almost 25 years after I last had an Economist subscription, this week I paid up for the online and print editions. The magazine arrived this morning. It is a much slimmer product than back then. But that’s seemingly due to the near absence of advertising. No complaints about that.
Police have declared a S35 Dispersal Order (Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014) covering part of the Cally. This follows an incident on Saturday night when an Unlicensed Music Event was taking place in Tileyard Road. The S35 order is in place until 07:00 on Tuesday 27th.
August 24, 2025 at 1:39 PM
Police have declared a S35 Dispersal Order (Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014) covering part of the Cally. This follows an incident on Saturday night when an Unlicensed Music Event was taking place in Tileyard Road. The S35 order is in place until 07:00 on Tuesday 27th.
A nice morning at Ashburton Grove (aka Emirates stadium) to see Arsenal's entire squad in an "open" training session. (Almost) all the stars were up close for a crowd of several thousand. Lots of happy kids especially when the top players came forward for autographs.
August 20, 2025 at 12:23 PM
A nice morning at Ashburton Grove (aka Emirates stadium) to see Arsenal's entire squad in an "open" training session. (Almost) all the stars were up close for a crowd of several thousand. Lots of happy kids especially when the top players came forward for autographs.
A statement by Islington Labour Group of councillors.
July 31, 2025 at 1:44 PM
A statement by Islington Labour Group of councillors.
Today I bagged 3 season tickets for Arsenal's 2025-6 season. Not for the Premier League though. We will now be attending all the WSL home fixtures. And enjoying the benefits of Club Level!
July 4, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Today I bagged 3 season tickets for Arsenal's 2025-6 season. Not for the Premier League though. We will now be attending all the WSL home fixtures. And enjoying the benefits of Club Level!
Will Dunn in the New Statesman gets this right. Badenoch is a nasty piece of work.
July 3, 2025 at 10:18 AM
Will Dunn in the New Statesman gets this right. Badenoch is a nasty piece of work.
This is a big policy announcement. The generous “right to buy” discounts are reduced significantly. Will take 10 years to qualify for anything. Max poss discount will be 15%. Total exemption for any properties built since 1990.
July 2, 2025 at 1:19 PM
This is a big policy announcement. The generous “right to buy” discounts are reduced significantly. Will take 10 years to qualify for anything. Max poss discount will be 15%. Total exemption for any properties built since 1990.
The only performance I could enjoy at Glastonbury is musical genius Nile Rodgers. Last night's toppers were dire: Charli xcx performing to a backing track; Neil Young gone grunge. Ugh.
June 29, 2025 at 5:40 PM
The only performance I could enjoy at Glastonbury is musical genius Nile Rodgers. Last night's toppers were dire: Charli xcx performing to a backing track; Neil Young gone grunge. Ugh.
A good crowd of Labour campaigners out today in Arsenal ward, Islington. If Labour is slipping in the polls nationally, there’s not much evidence of this happening here.
June 28, 2025 at 2:57 PM
A good crowd of Labour campaigners out today in Arsenal ward, Islington. If Labour is slipping in the polls nationally, there’s not much evidence of this happening here.
"Scorchio"! OK, I know this is a 30 years old catchphrase but it was always a gem.
June 19, 2025 at 2:52 PM
"Scorchio"! OK, I know this is a 30 years old catchphrase but it was always a gem.
Investment news: 3 weeks ago I decided to transfer some of a cash ISA into a stocks and shares ISA. I picked a couple of Amundi Exchange Traded Funds that track top 600 European (incl UK) firms and with an ESG screen. So far, only losses. Yes I know it's a long term game!
June 19, 2025 at 2:46 PM
Investment news: 3 weeks ago I decided to transfer some of a cash ISA into a stocks and shares ISA. I picked a couple of Amundi Exchange Traded Funds that track top 600 European (incl UK) firms and with an ESG screen. So far, only losses. Yes I know it's a long term game!
Right now 8,000 people are tracking this on Flightradar. It's an RAF mid-air refueling aircraft flying at 28,000 ft over Jordan. Suggests there are RAF fast jets in the vicinity.
June 17, 2025 at 11:38 AM
Right now 8,000 people are tracking this on Flightradar. It's an RAF mid-air refueling aircraft flying at 28,000 ft over Jordan. Suggests there are RAF fast jets in the vicinity.
A music review: I just listened to Van Morrison's new release. It's very reminiscent of his 1980s and 1990s style. Reflective but also optimistic. A relief from the conspiracy theory nuttiness of his last few years.
June 13, 2025 at 10:28 AM
A music review: I just listened to Van Morrison's new release. It's very reminiscent of his 1980s and 1990s style. Reflective but also optimistic. A relief from the conspiracy theory nuttiness of his last few years.
I can hear Tice and Yusuf channeling Caroline Aherne's Mrs Merton: "Let's have a debate".
June 9, 2025 at 12:35 PM
I can hear Tice and Yusuf channeling Caroline Aherne's Mrs Merton: "Let's have a debate".
Islington Council Leader, Una O’Halloran, and Mayor, Jason Jackson, attended today’s Trophy Lift event celebrating Arsenal Women’s team becoming European Champions.
May 26, 2025 at 1:12 PM
Islington Council Leader, Una O’Halloran, and Mayor, Jason Jackson, attended today’s Trophy Lift event celebrating Arsenal Women’s team becoming European Champions.
Many of my constituents ask whether I support the 2 child benefit cap, cancelling the Winter Fuel Allowance or cuts to disability benefits. I do not. They weren't in Labour's 2024 manifesto nor have they been agreed by Party Conference or Policy Forum.
May 24, 2025 at 11:15 AM
Many of my constituents ask whether I support the 2 child benefit cap, cancelling the Winter Fuel Allowance or cuts to disability benefits. I do not. They weren't in Labour's 2024 manifesto nor have they been agreed by Party Conference or Policy Forum.
USA debt is quite something. I always imagined it started with WW2 (it did but not by much). I also thought it was Vietnam (it wasn't). The growth really started during the Reagan years. Now Trump is going to add another $3 trillion.
May 22, 2025 at 2:21 PM
USA debt is quite something. I always imagined it started with WW2 (it did but not by much). I also thought it was Vietnam (it wasn't). The growth really started during the Reagan years. Now Trump is going to add another $3 trillion.
Islington Council's Labour leadership says to Home Secretary "We are deeply troubled by the divisive rhetoric surrounding immigration. Urges government to "end the use of dehumanising language that fuels hostility". I agree.
May 15, 2025 at 3:16 PM
Islington Council's Labour leadership says to Home Secretary "We are deeply troubled by the divisive rhetoric surrounding immigration. Urges government to "end the use of dehumanising language that fuels hostility". I agree.