Tom Watson
banner
tomwatsonofficial.bsky.social
Tom Watson
@tomwatsonofficial.bsky.social
Culture, politics, coffee.
Reposted by Tom Watson
Lovely and wise words from @tomwatsonofficial.bsky.social about Angela Rayner
open.substack.com/pub/tomwatso...
Angela Rayner's second act
Why the country still needs her voice and why Labour no longer needs a deputy leader.
open.substack.com
September 6, 2025 at 8:13 AM
A big moment in tackling the UK’s skills crisis.

@MakeUK_ has published Skills for Success—a blueprint to fix apprenticeships and secure our economic future.

Read the full report: www.makeuk.org/make-uk-indu...
#UKmfg #IndustrialStrategySkills
Make UK Industrial Strategy Skills Commission Report 2025
www.makeuk.org
April 1, 2025 at 8:27 AM
Bit choked by Gavin and Stacey.
December 25, 2024 at 10:36 PM
Iain Archer presenting on Radio 4 right now. It’s wonderful. www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
BBC Radio 4 - Archive on 4, ABBA: Inside the Music
Exploring ABBA's songwriting and craft on the 50th anniversary of their Eurovision win.
www.bbc.co.uk
December 24, 2024 at 12:34 PM
Welcome to the House of Lords on here.
The House of Lords is now on Bluesky. Follow here for updates and content from the UK Parliament’s second chamber.

We will be sharing a range of content about the work of the House and members. If you have feedback or want to tell us what you’d like to see, please get in touch via Chat.
December 10, 2024 at 8:56 PM
Reposted by Tom Watson
ABBA Voyage is proving to be more than just a show—it's an economic powerhouse, bringing millions to Stratford and boosting jobs. A shining example of how our support for culture and creativity drives growth across London.
Abba Voyage gives £1.4bn economic boost - and may stay in London 'forever'
Executive producer Michael Bolingbroke said the Swedish pop group ‘chose the UK when they could have gone anywhere else’
www.standard.co.uk
December 9, 2024 at 1:39 PM
Uma is doing great work here.
BBC World Service reporting from Syria has been incredible - in this volatile world, their work is vital.

We know that when BBC steps aside, Russia is waiting in the wings to broadcast state propaganda

I spoke to Politics Home about the soft power 🇬🇧 holds👇🏾

www.politicshome.com/news/article...
https://www.politicshome.com/news/article/labour-mp-says-bbc-world-service-helped-ukraine-war-russia?previewkey=ee207e8b806fd58db414d1a7eec17a96
t.co
December 9, 2024 at 6:27 AM
This could work, but it also needs a psychologist involved, as it touches on themes of trauma and sacrifice.
I'm once again asking for a show where a librarian, a bookseller, and a carpenter travel around helping people manage their out-of-control book collections. Discuss their sentimental value, their rarity, their histories, then build amazing book nooks and shelves and little libraries to organize them
December 9, 2024 at 6:25 AM
No tyrant lasts for ever.
December 8, 2024 at 3:04 PM
If you’ve not heard Mark Steel on desert island discs, you should. It’s about the most revealing episode I’ve ever heard. www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
www.bbc.co.uk
December 6, 2024 at 11:26 AM
The Guardian have missed the essential fact we need in this story. What’s on the other side of the window? Are they on the ground floor?
December 5, 2024 at 9:19 PM
Happy 90th birthday to the British Council, who open minds, doors and borders and promote human flourishing.
December 5, 2024 at 8:23 AM
I’m happy with this.
December 4, 2024 at 2:53 PM
I’m very sad to see Louise Haigh resign. She was a highly able minister who brought energy and clarity to the transport brief. Her contributions will be missed.
November 29, 2024 at 9:21 AM
Possibly the best interviewer the BBC Today programme has ever had. The corporation will regret letting her go. www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/...
Mishal Husain to leave BBC
www.bbc.co.uk
November 27, 2024 at 3:57 PM
You’re in my heart, you’re in my soul.
November 26, 2024 at 10:00 AM
Reposted by Tom Watson
This fella - Richard Dawson - has today released a brilliant cynical stab at the Xmas market… and I’m playing it TONIGHT! Of course I am! 👊💥 #rileyandcoe ⭐️
November 25, 2024 at 4:18 PM
This first ten years of multiplex with kids are the hardest.
Took the kids to Paddington in Peru today. First family trip to the pictures and the first at all for the youngest. It’s genuinely brilliant going to the pictures. I got an enormous popcorn and they stuffed their faces. Excellent.
November 25, 2024 at 3:40 PM
I know I once had beef with jay over his utter contempt for Black Country chefs but I’m going to miss him in the Observer. I’d actually follow him to a new publication.
This week’s restaurant review: the Martlet inside the beautifully restored Rochdale Town Hall. The menu pays homage to greater Manchester classics with wit and professionalism. (Side note: these reviews will be
In the Observer until February)

www.theguardian.com/food/2024/no...
The Martlet, Rochdale: ‘A victory of professionalism’ – restaurant review
Civic pride meets glorious cooking at a remarkably fair price
www.theguardian.com
November 24, 2024 at 8:43 PM
Brace yourselves. MPs will soon unveil their Christmas cards, featuring designs from local school competitions. The all-time winner? Former MP Michael Dugher’s entrant: an avant-garde kid who drew Santa nailed to a cross. Forget sleigh bells, that one rang alarm bells.
November 24, 2024 at 8:39 PM
There’s something almost transcendent about sitting in a 90-degree sauna, the gales whistling around the corners of your wooden box, as you gaze out at the snow.
November 23, 2024 at 11:30 AM
Reposted by Tom Watson
Sigh - classic fact free nonsense. ‘news’ story here totally fails to mention that Tory plans were for fines of £5k (later reduced to £3k) for each missed heat pump sale. What @Ed_Miliband has done is to reduce that to £500. Headline should read “Miliband slashes Tory boiler tax”
November 22, 2024 at 7:27 AM