Thanks to everyone at Rivington PaddleSport Club for such a warm welcome last night. Tremendous views out over towards the Pike and a thoroughly enjoyable hour spent on the water. Ever thought about trying paddle boarding, kayaking or canoeing? Find out more rivingtonpaddlesport.club

Cracking atmosphere at Central Park today! Thanks to the organisers of the Party in the Park festival I thoroughly enjoyed chatting with friends from Westhoughton RBL, The Darren Deady Foundation, Westhoughton Assist Service as well as Westhoughton mayor Sarita Chohan & Bolton Lions

Tremendous result for @bevcraig.bsky.social - the new Mayor of Greater Manchester! 🌹 66% share of the vote across all of the ten boroughs. Focused on regenerating our towns, better public transport, affordable housing costs, safe neighbourhoods & good jobs.

There’s a small circle of crypto billionaires and foreign speculators who look at British politics and see an opportunity to make money. And right now, they're bankrolling Nigel Farage's Reform UK to achieve their commercial ends 👇 www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Revealed: George Cottrell transferred $2m to his mother days before her donations to Reform UK

Exclusive: Sources say Fiona Cottrell told bankers the transfers, received 24-72 hours before her donations to Reform, came from her son

theguardian.com

Before I was a MP, I spent more than 10 years as an anti-corruption specialist @bphillipsonmp.bsky.social is spot on in writing to the Electoral Commission about Reform UK and George Cottrell👇🏻

Bridget Phillipson MP@bphillipsonmp.bsky.social · 6d ago

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.

Today’s the day of the Greater Manchester mayoral by-election. A reminder to go out and vote Bev Craig 🗳️🌹 Find out why 👇🏻

Bev Craig For Greater Manchester Mayor@bevcraig.bsky.social · last wk.

I will fight for you, every single day.

🧵1/ Today's FT, picking up on my recent remarks in Parliament on outside employment for MPs 👇

Tory MPs earn millions from advisory roles that Labour pledged to ban

Former prime minister Rishi Sunak is the highest earner, according to House of Commons register

ft.com

Free bus travel for 11–18-year-olds. More money in your pocket. Pride back in our town centres. @bevcraig.bsky.social has a plan to make Greater Manchester even better. Tomorrow, vote Labour. Vote Bev. bevformayor.co.uk

I’m delighted that @bphillipsonmp.bsky.social is taking on this vital role. She’s a breadth of experience from across the Labour Party and is well-respected across the PLP.

Bridget Phillipson MP@bphillipsonmp.bsky.social · last wk.

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.

Awful news about the attack on people celebrating Berlin Pride. As Secretary of the Germany All Party Parliamentary Group, my thoughts are with everyone in Berlin affected by this horrendous act of violence.

As a former financial crime compliance specialist for more than 10 years, I’ve never heard of a British political party unable to access its banking facilities *during an election* The Times reports this follows SARs being filed with the National Crime Agency. What on earth is going on at Reform?

Reform UK’s bank account was frozen after Cottrell donations

Nigel Farage’s party could not make or receive payments for two weeks during the 2024 general election campaign, Insight can reveal

thetimes.com

In Bolton West I see families squeezed by rising bills, housing costs and tight budgets. As Mayor, Andy backed better jobs, affordable homes, improved transport and local opportunities. Growth must lift every community and fix public finances. Read my column:

'Why Andy Burnham's time as Mayor will make him a good PM'

In his latest column, Phil Brickell backs Andy Burnham's leadership and calls for more local decision-making

theboltonnews.co.uk

The plot thickens... Now Farage's favourite convicted fraudster has written to the National Crime Agency posing as a "long-standing member" of top security think tank RUSI. RUSI's response? He isn't a member. You couldn't make it up - except apparently he can. www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...

George Cottrell falsely claimed think tank membership in banking complaint

The fraudster, who has donated to Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, said he was a member of the Royal United Services Institute, which it denied

thetimes.com

Phil Brickell MP@philbrickellmp.bsky.social · 2w ago

Fake passports. A money laundering conviction. A mystery casino fortune in Montenegro... There's yet more revelations about who Farage chooses to surround himself with. Let’s start with George Cottrell. A man Farage describes as "like a son," and his former chief of staff 👇

Fake passports. A money laundering conviction. A mystery casino fortune in Montenegro... There's yet more revelations about who Farage chooses to surround himself with. Let’s start with George Cottrell. A man Farage describes as "like a son," and his former chief of staff 👇

Offering children's ticket discounts this summer? ☀️ You may be eligible for the Government's Summer Savings Scheme. There's still time to register - help more families enjoy the holidays and showcase your offer. Check eligibility and sign up: register.greatbritishsummersavings.gov.uk

🧵 1/ After another week of reporting on Nigel Farage and Reform UK’s finances, I still have major questions about who is actually funding them, and whether it was properly declared. Farage and his cronies have responded with bluster and mudslinging. So let's look at the actual facts.

What are the latest allegations about Nigel Farage’s funding?

Reform UK leader received financial support from a convicted fraudster for staffing, security and housing

theguardian.com

RIP Kevin Keegan. A true legend. They say never meet your heroes but had the pleasure of meeting King Kev last year and he was as genuine as he seems. Kevin was always supporting causes close to him. Here he was in Parliament supporting former footballers affected by dementia diagnosis.

As Keir Starmer prepares to head to the Palace to hand in his resignation to the King, a few words from me about him and his time as Labour leader and Prime Minister.

An extraordinary end to the World Cup for England! A month ago, I could never have imagined we’d win against France in a 10 goal, third place match. Well done to the entire squad and manager Thomas Tuchel on England’s best performance at a World Cup since 1966. #worldcup #england #ThreeLions

Brilliant atmosphere at Bolton Parkrun with Bev Craig - Labour’s Greater Manchester mayoral candidate! 🏃 Thanks to everyone who came along to Leverhulme Park for a few laps. 😀A superb way to start the day. 👉🏻Find out more www.parkrun.org.uk/bolton/ #parkrun #running #bolton

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.

Delighted to spend a couple of days with 3rd Division on the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme. Very grateful to our brave troops for taking the time to talk through combined arms manoeuvres on Salisbury Plain and spend time in and around a number of our armoured vehicles.

A disappointing result. I remember England against Argentina at the ‘98 World Cup. When Beckham got sent off, but Michael Owen dazzled us with his incredible goal. And we still got knocked out. Sad to see England not going further but well done to the entire squad, manager & back room staff.

Nigel Farage's persistent deflection from proper scrutiny won't work. Whether it's support from George or Fiona Cottrell, Christopher Harborne or Sasan Ghandehari - everyone can see the distraction of the Clacton by-election and Farage's incessant scapegoating for what it is.

The Guardian@theguardian.com · 4w ago

George and Fiona Cottrell understood to have been interviewed under caution by Met police

Just finished my pop-up surgery at the Arena this morning. It’s really important to me that I’m visible across the constituency. If you see my at a future pop-up, come and see me for a chat. Email me at phil.brickell.mp@parliament.uk or call 01204 958 436 if I can help.

It's vital that we all know who is being lobbied at the heart of government. Thanks to @ethicsandintegrity.bsky.social for their review which sets out bold reforms. As @appgonacrt.bsky.social Chair I'll be working to get those recommendations implemented. ➡️https://eic.independent-commission.uk/

APPG on Anti-Corruption and Responsible Tax@appgonacrt.bsky.social · 4w ago

If you've got money, getting politicians to listen is often far easier than if you've just got a vote. That has to change. An independent review has backed reforms to drag lobbying out of the shadows. No more hidden meetings. No more special treatment. No more backroom deals.

Nigel Farage took £5 million from a crypto billionaire. He kept it secret. Then he spent twenty minutes on camera telling you how hard his life is.

My statement on the police announcement of arrests made today as a result of their investigations in alleged fraud and money laundering at the University of Greater Manchester (Bolton)

Nigel Farage can run, but he can't hide. If he thinks that by resigning he can avoid scrutiny, he's wrong. If he thinks he's done nothing wrong, why is he triggering a by-election? And if he is re-elected, the serious questions about his finances are not going away.

Following the newspaper reports over the weekend in to Farage, yesterday I welcomed the review by Sir Philip Rycroft before asking what protections will be put in place to stop individuals with serious convictions or histories of financial crime from funnelling millions of pounds into our democracy.