Labour's Sagal Abdi-Wali is the clear favourite to win the by-election in Keir Starmer's old MP seat this week. But speaking to current and former colleagues, @petercarlyon.bsky.social found many who questioned her much-publicised track record at Camden council and as a local charity worker.

Sagal Abdi-Wali is favourite to beat Zack Polanski. Does her track record stack up?

It’s been a meteoric rise for Labour’s by-election hopeful. But local opinions on her credentials are mixed

the-londoner.co.uk

🔐 UNLOCKED: This article is now free to read

The Londoner@the-londoner.bsky.social · 2w ago

In April 2025, the businesses of Gabriel’s Wharf were told 2026 would be their last year of trading. Since then, the relationship between tenants and landlords has fallen apart. So why is a community non-profit bulldozing this artsy South Bank market? www.the-londoner.co.uk/gabriels-wha...

I'm SO late to this (*sends apologetic glance to my inbox full of unread newsletters*) but this was a 10/10 read

The Londoner@the-londoner.bsky.social · 3w ago

It's the most sought-after spot for a London food business. So who gets to stay in Borough Market? And who should have to go? www.the-londoner.co.uk/bread-ahead-...

We're giving away free subscriptions to 16-25 year olds! But there are only about 50 left. Know a young Londoner who would love to access in-depth journalism about the capital? Send them the link below. 🔗 www.the-londoner.co.uk/postcode-lot...

Claim your free membership

Postcode Lottery is funding a free one-year membership of The Londoner for readers aged 16 to 25, as part of their commitment to strengthening communities and supporting local journalism. Verify your ...

the-londoner.co.uk

In April 2025, the businesses of Gabriel’s Wharf were told 2026 would be their last year of trading. Since then, the relationship between tenants and landlords has fallen apart. So why is a community non-profit bulldozing this artsy South Bank market? www.the-londoner.co.uk/gabriels-wha...

Why is a community non-profit bulldozing this artsy South Bank market?

How things fell apart between a social enterprise landlord and the businesses of Gabriel’s Wharf

the-londoner.co.uk

It's the most sought-after spot for a London food business. So who gets to stay in Borough Market? And who should have to go? www.the-londoner.co.uk/bread-ahead-...

London’s most-hyped bakery faces off against London’s most-hyped market

Who is ‘too successful’ to sell their wares at Borough Market?

the-londoner.co.uk

The Guardian’s data centre reporting is needlessly hysterical (FREE TO READ!) takes.jamesomalley.co.uk/p/the-guardi...

The Guardian’s data centre reporting is needlessly hysterical

Less talk, more context.

takes.jamesomalley.co.uk

Some news from me: I've joined @millmedia.bsky.social as editor of @londonermag.bsky.social I'll be editing, commissioning and writing great stories from across the capital. If there's something you think we should be digging into, get in touch editor@the-londoner.co.uk

My theory about where people will accept increasing automation (as long as the branding is good), as seen through the lens of Blank Street Coffee uk20.substack.com/p/a-blank-st...

A Blank Street theory of automation

Everyday robotics will be about branding and little luxuries

uk20.substack.com

I wrote a short history of a now defunct government department. "Perhaps the legacy of DSIT will be made or lost in whether the machinery of government can repeat its occasional magic tricks of empowering capable people to deliver projects quickly." uk20.substack.com/p/a-short-hi...

Wrote this week about the rollout of digital planning tools and the possible significance for startups, planning pros, and the general public. uk20.substack.com/p/best-laid-...

Best laid plans

New planning tools are rolling out to local authorities. It's a big test of AI for government.

uk20.substack.com

Bluesky is "the best place for crunchy policy debates". That's according to @georgeeaton.bsky.social in the first edition of a new interview series I'm editing for the Centre for British Progress. Out today! britishprogress.substack.com/p/pen-portra...

Pen Portrait: George Eaton on food, film, and the discourse

An interview with the journalist and Arguably co-founder

britishprogress.substack.com

My little pod, The Ned Ludd Radio Hour, will be weekly for the next couple of months. This week's episode is with @alys.bsky.social talking about London's anti-AI protests and whether the movement is ever going to go global...

Inside the Anti-AI Protests

open.spotify.com

fun piece by @alys.bsky.social about "Londonmaxxing" I was doing it before it was cool. 🤣

The long life of Londonmaxxing

The cringedom, the power, and the glory

uk20.substack.com

This week, I spoke to @cesifoti.bsky.social about knowledge, the perpetual rebuilding of a Japanese shrine, and how he would turn $1bn into a sustainable national innovation strategy uk20.substack.com/p/cesar-hida...

Mapping the geography of knowledge with César Hidalgo

The author explains what policy-makers can learn from the 'rules of knowledge'

uk20.substack.com

This week I interviewed the chief medical officer of Heidi AI about how usage of the app spread quickly through NHS clinicians. Bottom-up adoption is often seen as a good thing in AI. Can it work in a medical setting?

I put together a bunch of recommendations from cool people that should see you through to the end of the summer uk20.substack.com/p/the-uk-20-...

The UK 2.0 summer reading list

Books on technology and politics, history and the future, and everything in-between

uk20.substack.com

Yaccarino was the only one of those Lindas I knew. Not sure whether to be proud or ashamed #OnlyConnect

The news is out: UK 2.0 is going independent. But I need your help! Rebooting this newsletter about UK tech policy, progress and growth means rebuilding the mailing list from scratch. Sign up via the link below and please share it with anyone who might be interested. uk20.substack.com

In which I implore you to please be nice to the machines digitalfrontier.com/articles/pol...

This was pretty good. Intriguing, innovative sentence-making. The denouement felt a bit unimaginative.

This was a sweet read. It also made me think a lot about the role podcasts can play in our lives as a stand-in for conversation with friends. www.nytimes.com/2025/05/25/m...

Where Have All My Deep Male Friendships Gone?

nytimes.com

Thinking about the sweet dog who I used to see sitting calmly outside the stationery shop in Brussels today. The owners had a little sign saying "le chien de la papeterie" so people would know she wasn't lost.

I wrote about my favourite session at SXSW London: a solo talk from Mubi founder Efe Çakarel. He spoke about algorithms, AI dubbing and the future of cinemas digitalfrontier.com/articles/mub...

💫 We’re launching the Centre for British Progress Our founding essay: Rediscovering British Progress is a case for growth that drives shared progress, rooted in Britain's values and industrial heritage. It all starts with a postcard from 1870 👇 britishprogress.org/articles/red...

My full interview with Cory Doctorow, including why he won't join Bluesky despite trusting the team implicitly digitalfrontier.com/articles/cor...

We need to reinforce a bit of strictness on the buzzing here. You can't come in to stop the timer then turn and ask your teammates "what do you think"? #OnlyConnect

Feel sad for whoever wrote that video game round, cut off so abruptly. Sounded like it was going to be interesting. #UniversityChallenge

This year I've only seen 1/10 Best Picture nominees. Hoping I can rectify that by the time of the awards, keeping track on this thread🧵