I wrote for the Mirror about defending workers' rights against Reform UK, Bev Craig's spectacular win in Greater Manchester, Labour's plans to give families a bit of breathing space over the summer holidays and why I think Andy Burnham is off to a flyer as Prime Minister ✍️

Well there we are. Nigel Farage has blown a gaping hole in his excuse for why his secret £5 million ‘gift’ from a crypto billionaire did not need to be declared. Reform are up to their neck in sleaze and they clearly think the rules don’t apply to them. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Farage admits he discussed returning as Reform leader months earlier than previously stated

Admission may undermine Farage’s account of circumstances surrounding £5m gift from crypto billionaire

theguardian.com

Nigel Farage called a by-election against a bin to run away from unanswered questions, but the net is closing in. Grubby pacts, cover-ups, secret gifts, support from a convicted fraudster – it all adds up to a stench of sleaze. The public can smell it. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

‘Stench of sleaze’: Farage struck deal over political return months before 2024 election, reports say

Labour chair accuses Reform of making ‘grubby pacts’ after contradictory reports emerge on timeline of events

theguardian.com

Congrats to Bev, who will do a brilliant job delivering a Greater Manchester that works for all. Thank you to everyone who put their faith in Labour, and the brilliant staff, members and volunteers who have put in a real shift during the largest by-election in British history.

Reform UK are up to their neck in scandal. Serious new information has come to light, opening up yet more questions about donations made by George Cottrell and his associates. Frankly, it stinks. I've written to the Electoral Commission to draw it to their attention.

Frontline organisations like Rape Crisis make an immeasurable contribution to keeping women safe. I sat down with Norah Al-Ani, Director of Cambridge Rape Crisis Centre, to discuss their life-saving work helping survivors of sexual abuse heal.

Nigel Farage needs to urgently explain why he welcomed Glenn Gibbins back into Reform just last month. Throwing this man out of his Party should have been the easiest call possible for Reform – but yet again Farage has proven he’s unfit for office. www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-e...

North East Reform UK councillor Glenn Gibbins charged over social media comments

The councillor was elected to represent the Hylton Castle ward for Reform UK in May

chroniclelive.co.uk

To build a stronger, fairer society, I’ve set out three key priorities as Minister for Women & Equalities: Halving violence against women and girls. Lifting record numbers of children out of poverty. Supporting women in work, by closing the gender pay gap.

Our full team is now in place at the Office of Equality & Opportunity, meet the Ministers! 👋 @simonlightwood.org.uk will lead on LGBT+ policy, including banning conversion practices. @laboursatvir.bsky.social will lead on race equality. Stephen Timms will continue important work on disability.

Honoured to become Chair of the Labour Party. I joined our party as a teenager and saw first hand the difference a Labour government makes. I'll work with members to build the election-winning machine that sees off Reform for good and secures a second Labour term.

The Tories never understood that the things helping young people to get on in life don't just exist within the school gates. If you dismantle Sure Start and push children into poverty, don't be surprised when schools reform doesn't translate to success down the line.

Last week, I delivered a speech on the future of childhood and education. Our childcare rollout has made life easier for parents. But in time to come we must go further. High quality early years education must be there for all our children.

People told me SEND reform couldn't be done, but I've never believed that. We've got a long way to go but by working with MPs and families with experience of the system, we're building a system where every child can achieve and thrive.

With Labour, we've got more people starting apprenticeships in: Engineering Construction Science Maths Health Business Digital Law Care Education Tourism Social science If you want more opportunities to get on, Labour is backing you.

Under Labour, school standards are rising. It's a testament to the dedication of our teachers. School leaders and staff have shown extraordinary professionalism this year – an enormous thank you. My piece for @schoolsweek.bsky.social ✍️ schoolsweek.co.uk/key-stage-2-...

Key stage 2 results are a mark of success for teachers

Schools have a right to be angry about this year’s disruption. But be reassured: the results are accurate

schoolsweek.co.uk

Key Stage 2 results are in... Since we entered government, children’s reading, writing, spelling, punctuation, grammar, maths and science have all improved. School standards, attendance and behaviour are all on the up under Labour.

308,770 people started an apprenticeship in 2025/26. That's 8.7% more than last year. Apprenticeship starts collapsed on the Tories’ watch and young people took the biggest hit. They've never dropped once under this Labour government.

There'd be no Employment Rights Act without people seeing unfair practices at work. There'd be no Child Poverty Strategy without people having grown up around it. Don't underestimate how the Cabinet's background has affected the decisions we've made. It's why we're Labour.

How are our schools getting on after two years of change? 🏫📈

When you're living rent free in the Tories' heads, you're doing something right. You can listen to my full chat with The News Agents wherever you get your podcasts.

Thanks to everyone who has been in touch in recent weeks, seems I'm not the only 'spiteful class warrior' out there – here's my new T-shirt haul. I spoke to The News Agents about why I wear the Tories' jibe with pride. You can listen to that wherever you get your podcasts.

School support staff deserve better. That's why we're bringing back the School Support Staff Negotiating Body, to give them all a seat at the table. www.tes.com/magazine/ana...

Bridget Phillipson: Support body will end staff pay inequality

The education secretary writes for Tes to explain why she hopes new anti-bullying guidance and a negotiating body for support staff will have a real impact for all those in schools

tes.com

Attendance improving, behaviour improving, exclusions decreasing, suspensions decreasing. 👏 The efforts of schools, parents and government are working - tackling the causes of misbehaviour and building a system where every child can achieve and thrive. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

School suspensions fall in England for the first time since Covid

The government says the pandemic left a "pernicious legacy", but that teachers are helping pupils turn a corner.

bbc.co.uk

A new report has shone a light on poor outcomes for white working class children. I've been banging the drum on this and will keep doing so. It shows we need to go even further on driving up attendance, on expanding early years education and on tackling child poverty.

The Equality Act is our quiet guardian. On the side of women, workers and those with disabilities when needed most. We will not let Reform UK turn back the clock on our rights.

Childhood is changing, and so must education. Today I spoke about how in a world transformed, education is what will truly set us free. www.gov.uk/government/s...

Education Secretary's speech at Ruskin College

Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson's, speech at Ruskin College.

gov.uk

50 years ago, Jim Callaghan delivered a speech at Ruskin on the future of education. Today, I'm doing the same. High-quality early years education is how we close the disadvantage gap. Expanding it to those who need is most is the future of education. www.nurseryworld.co.uk/content/news...

Education secretary calls for 30-hour childcare offer to be made universal - Nursery World

The Education secretary, Bridget Phillipson, is to say that she wants the 30 hours of funded early education to be extended to low-income families.

nurseryworld.co.uk

Here's what my speech today is about. Opening school-based nurseries and rolling out 30 hours of government-funded childcare has halved costs for parents. But we need to open up access, so that children who have the most to gain from high-quality early years education get it.

Evidence shows Sure Start improved educational and health outcomes for children. That's why we're bringing it back for the modern day, through Best Start in Life.

Joseph, a local NHS worker, asked why a Reform councillor in Sunderland wanted to melt him down to fill in potholes. The Reform council leader repeatedly failed to apologise to Joseph. Joseph deserves better. Sunderland deserves better. Councillor Gibbins is not fit to represent our city.