I'll be honest: I'd buy this a lot more if his main outlet wasn't abusively attacking opposition politicians via AI slop in ways which obviously nod to other forms of prejudice.

Mark Wallace@wallaceme.bsky.social · 7h ago

ConservativeHome has always been a critical friend of the Conservative Party, and a place for all of its wings and views to debate and discuss. So in addition to the above editorial, Bonehill-Paine is also in today’s Comment section making his own case conservativehome.com/2026/08/05/j...

My interview today with @yvettecooper-mp.bsky.social - Women should not feel pressurised into experiencing an “ideal birth”, the new health secretary says, promising a root-and-branch reform of standards after several damning maternity scandals. www.theguardian.com/society/2026...

Women must not feel pressure to have ‘ideal birth’, says Yvette Cooper

Exclusive: New health secretary promises root-and-branch reform after damning maternity scandals

theguardian.com

That Joshua Bonehill-Paine is a suitable Tory candidate but Grant Shapps and Gavin Barwell have been excluded is quite a good indicator of how many seats the Tories will realistically regain at the next election.

We are in the third drought in five years. We have the National Trust and NFU - those radical types - sounding the alarm on unprecedented temperatures. But so little from any single figure in politics talking about the climate crisis.

The Leeds timeline yesterday

Hear me out… Keir Starmer for president of FIFA

Jenrick tells the Reform UK press conference this morning an official will come to your dying mother's bedroom to tot up her jewellery, confiscate her brooches and itemise her coats under Andy Burnham's new tax. Is there not a danger of just sounding so alarmist that you sound unhinged?

Lauren Edwards will press on with her assisted dying private members bill - emphasising the four year implementation

Suspect that Burnham's view on assisted dying will be pretty crucial. He is not taking a neutral position -he is saying don't proceed until changes made to social care. With the vote on the next PMB in September set to be quite tight, it will definitely give wavering MPs pause.

Burnham intervenes to condemn FIFA’s share plans - all starting to feel very European Super League…

This is a proper proper jaw dropper www.thetimes.com/sport/footba...

Gianni Infantino’s plan to sell stakes in the World Cup

Fifa president could become ‘commissioner’ of new company in plan discussed with Trump’s administration, but critics fear it’ll be a ‘nuclear bomb’ for the game

thetimes.com

I have to admit some sympathy with Burnham here. It wasn’t ever their policy. This report has been doing rounds for at least 18 months, journalists have written it up at different junctures as its authors have Labour MPs backing it. It’s been punted out at budgets, reshuffles, to lots of outlets.

David Higham@oldtrotter.bsky.social · last wk.

One of the criticisms made of AB when he was Mayor was that he didn’t always pay enough attention to the detail of announcements. That didn’t matter all that much in GM, but it does as PM. This is a worrying straw in the wind for his doubters.

not sure what has been harder on the nerves this summer, the World Cup or the Trafford transfer…

Andy Burnham seeks cross-party agreement on future of social care But senior Lib Dems and Labour cast private doubt on whether Tories serious about cooperation. www.theguardian.com/society/2026...

Andy Burnham seeks cross-party agreement on future of social care

PM promises lasting solution for England but Tories rule out backing changes funded by tax rises or borrowing

theguardian.com

Do think there is a definite world where the next election ends up a pretty straight Labour-Tory fight again

Election Maps UK@electionmaps.uk · last wk.

Westminster Voting Intention: LAB: 28% (+4) RFM: 24% (-2) CON: 22% (=) LDM: 12% (+1) GRN: 8% (-3) SNP: 2% (=) Via @moreincommonuk.bsky.social, 24-27 Jul. Changes w/ 21-22 Jul.

I do worry the cult of the NHS has gone too far: covid messaging was "protect the NHS" not "protect your neighbour", now social care pitch rolling is "protect the NHS", not "you and your loved ones deserve peace of mind over the end of your lives".

Mirror Politics@politics.mirror.co.uk · last wk.

Andy Burnham has warned the NHS faces collapse unless the social care system is finally sorted after years of promises.

I note with interest that Britain now has the level of state capacity at which "actually doing something" is seen as inherently suspicious.

James O'Malley@jamesomalley.co.uk · 2w ago

New mad conspiracy theory just dropped. (Answers: It's a GCHQ building, and I presume black paint and doors are available at B&Q.)

Ok one post from holiday… Today’s appointments make it clear no one knew Burnham’s mind for cabinet appointments. There were plenty of people going round Westminster claiming to know, claiming to be inner circle but they were not. Only three people actually knew - as I wrote in this piece 👇

Jessica Elgot@jessicaelgot.bsky.social · 3w ago

Burnham and “the black box” How the intense secrecy of Burnham’s plans for cabinet and government is fuelling rumour and paranoia www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Quite a nice spot to be vaguely aware of a new PM entering office (my 7th in the job) If I post this week, tell me off!

Finally a bit of justice

What exactly is the problem with this goal?

Football’s all about love isn’t it? Just peace and love, not watching the bloody game.

Burnham and “the black box” How the intense secrecy of Burnham’s plans for cabinet and government is fuelling rumour and paranoia www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Burnham’s ‘black box’ plans for cabinet send Westminster into hysteria

Few know who will get top jobs when new PM enters No 10 and the vacuum of information has its downsides

theguardian.com

My 6 year old son who has only just suddenly developed an obsessive football interest is upset that we are travelling on Saturday over the third place game - so it’s fair to say he’s still got a lot to learn.

REOPEN NOMINATIONS

Politics UK@politicsuk.com · 3w ago

🚨 WATCH: Andy Burnham reveals he puts milk in his tea before water "It softens the tea bag a bit and makes it stronger"

Wow. The Department for Education has just published new projections which estimate that the number of pupils in state-funded schools in England will plummet by more than 9% by 2031 amid falling birth rates And yet this issue receives probably 1,000th of the coverage the immigration debate receives

Anyway the World Cup final between these two…. Quite a thing.

Great team, great tournament, performed frankly beyond my expectations, wonderful entertaining football, just tactics and coordination not good enough today

Tactics just wrong unfortunately

Can’t sit this deep for 30 minutes