"France passed a single law and instantly unlocked 11 gigawatts of #solarenergy — without using new land. In 2023, France's government mandated solar canopies over all car parks larger than 80 spaces. The scale was enormous: There are 400,000 parking areas across France #ActOnClimate #Renewables

So no car parks, and electric planes? Sustainable aviation is currently a contradiction in terms.

Steve Chambers@planningtransport.co.uk · 2d ago

Looking forward to reading detailed plans to fully decarbonise surface transport to the airport.

The best systems reward people who can build agreement. Manchester's election gave candidates a reason to appeal beyond their own supporters, and gave voters more confidence that their preferences would still count. That should be normal, not exceptional.

We need to reach 100,000 names by September to make MPs debate a National Commission on Electoral Reform. Have you added your name yet?

Petition: Set up a National Commission on Electoral Reform to review the electoral system

I ask the Government to set up a National Commission on Electoral Reform, as advocated by the All Party Parliamentary Group for Fair Elections. It should be an independent, time limited, expert led…

buff.ly

El Niño could push 50m people into acute hunger before end of next year

El Niño could push 50m people into acute hunger before end of next year

UN forecasters warn of worsening conditions in 45 countries currently experiencing severe food insecurity About 50 million people are likely to be pushed into acute hunger before the end of next year by the rapidly developing El Niño weather system, according to forecasting. This is in addition to the hundreds of millions of people already facing dangerous levels of hunger, owing to years of drought in parts of Africa and pressure on food prices from the war in Iran. Continue reading...

theguardian.com

The Cruel Fantasies of Well-Fed People www.monbiot.com/2023/10/04/t... - in 1 tiny way, I disagree with Monbiot’s conclusion here. We can’t succeed in making the world sustainable by ignoring human passions, and I’m sure he didn’t mean to imply that. We must harness those passions. A cracking read!

The Cruel Fantasies of Well-Fed People

The astonishing story of how a movement’s quest for rural simplicity drifted into a formula for mass death

monbiot.com

On these figures Labour would win 35x as many seats as Greens on 2.5x the votes. More scarily, Labour look to be the largest party by a long chalk in terms of seats, but just 3% less votes and they could be back down to 100 odd seats. The system is a complete lottery - time for a National Commission

Election Maps UK@electionmaps.uk · 19h ago

MRP Poll | Labour 81 Seats Short: LAB: 245 (+138) | 26% RFM: 174 (-112) | 23% CON: 99 (+19) | 21% LDM: 67 (-17) | 11% SNP: 25 (-8) | 2% PLC: 8 (-2) | 1% GRN: 7 (-13) | 10% Via @convergent-opinion.bsky.social, 25-30 Jul. Changes w/ 15 Jun MRP.

Meet Kerry Postlewhite 🌹 Chair of Mainstream, over 40 years in the party, and someone who's never stopped honouring Labour's commitments to trade unions and the wider movement. She brings the experience and dedication Labour needs to reconnect with its purpose. Vote Kerry in the CLP section.

Meet @jowusunepaul.bsky.social 🌹 He stood in Clacton in 2024 - one of the toughest seats on the map - because he believes in a bolder, broader Labour, not a cautious one. That's the fresh thinking we need on the NEC. Vote Jovan in the CLP section.

7. Chronicles of Narnia. 8. The Magician's Nephew 9. Before going to sleep 10. Any Terry Pratchet 11. Engineering screw-ups and why. 12. Animal Farm 13. No 14. No 15. Reviewed Burnham's book here: politicsforthemany.co.uk/what-andy-bu...

What Andy Burnham’s Head North tells us about Britain’s new Prime Minister

We now have a new Prime Minister. Our seventh in ten years, or fifth in four years, depending on how you want to count it.  Andy Burnham, MP for Makerfield has now taken office, and we are all waiting...

politicsforthemany.co.uk

The government has taken steps against foreign interference, including a crypto donation moratorium and limits on overseas donors, but these measures stop short of fixing the core issue: unregulated large donations. Our democracy needs a cap on all donations.

What political finance changes are coming in?

Back in 2015 we published Deal or No Deal which looked at public attitudes to political finance following the failed cross-party talks on implementing the Committee on Standards in Publi

buff.ly

Big news - it looks like we have a new Democracy Minister. Congratulations to Florence Eshalomi MP! She’ll soon face a crucial decision: whether to make the Representation of the People Bill truly transformative for our democracy.

Connected by more than a map. Our future is European.

Regarding Ceuta, it is noticeable that the far-right and their media allies don’t point out that third-country nationals in Ceuta DO NOT get free movement to mainland Spain or the EU or the Schengen area. Ceuta is separated from mainland Spain by the Straits of Gibraltar which they cannot cross.

At every election there is a huge emphasis on registration drives, especially in the lead up to the deadline. Automatically registering people should reduce those pressures and allow for a greater focus on the more important challenge – encouraging people to cast their vote.

Wales becomes the first UK nation to introduce Automatic Voter Registration

Last week, the Welsh Government laid new regulations to introduce Automatic Voter Registration (AVR) across all 22 Welsh local authorities ahead of the 2027 local elections. This marks a

buff.ly

We're asking the government to set up a National Commission on Electoral Reform. It should be an independent review to build consensus for changing the electoral system for the Westminster Parliament. Add your name today: petition.parliament.uk/petitions/76...

“The much-needed new election system coming our way needs to be as good as we can make it. This requires both expert design and public legitimacy. If Andy Burnham is as good as his word, he will set up a National Commission on Electoral Reform, as proposed by the @appgfairelections.bsky.social”

Making proportional representation work in Britain | Letters

Letters: Readers respond to Guardian analysis examining what Britain would look like under an electoral system of PR

theguardian.com

Bridgen says he is considering taking this to the Supreme Court, thus wasting yet more legal time. He is a member of Rupert Lowe’s “Restore Britain” - the fact he was encouraged to join Restore shows what a nasty and delusional party it is. Covid was real. Climate change is real.

Richard Corbett CBE@richardcorbett.bsky.social · 7d ago

Two Tories spend their fortunes wasting the time of the already clogged-up legal system, with a spat about their respective insults and extreme views www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

This demonstrates the absurdity of racist immigration policies. Arguably everyone living outside of the Olduvai Gorge is an nth generation immigrant. USA is a nation of immigrants. Ethnic mixing makes our gene pool and our culture healthier and more vibrant. Racism is not just wrong, it’s stupid.

@judithbolyard.bsky.social · last wk.

WHAT ???

I’ve voted for NEC candidates who believe we need a better electoral system for a better politics: Cat Arnold, Jovan Owusu Nepaul, Kerry Postlewhite - all from Mainstream- and Jane Thomas from Labour to Win

🔴 We've been in Salford today catching up with Bev Craig in the final week of her campaign to become the next Mayor of Greater Manchester. 👉️ Here's what Bev had to say about how the campaign has been so far!

Did you know a barrister is facing jail just for reminding a jury they have the right to vote with their conscience? This historic right has kept trials fair since 1670. We can't let it be silenced now. Add your name to defend fair trials👇 you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/sa...

Sign to protect the right to a fair trial

Imagine being called for jury duty, but advised against using your own common sense. ❗A top barrister is now facing contempt of court proceedings, simply for reminding a jury of their rights. If judg...

you.38degrees.org.uk

Emma Burnell in @labourlist.bsky.social clear about need to address social care funding. But there are 5.8 million unpaid carers - wouldn’t it be a good start to make things easier for them? We have to rely on care at home for the majority- any scheme that incentivises professional care will fail.

💥💥💥 Ballots are arriving today! 💥💥💥 Vote for the Mainstream team to build a new politics rooted in democracy, participation and radical ambition for the communities Labour exists to serve. www.mainstreamlabour.org/2026-nec-and...

There are still people who recognise the existential crisis of our climate yet cling to their support for the Conservative Party - some of them Councillors and even MPs. I urge you, if you’re one of them, for the sake of your grandchildren, jump ship - if not to Labour then to the Lib Dems.

Richard Corbett CBE@richardcorbett.bsky.social · last wk.

Wildfires across Europe on an unprecedented scale, yet Badenoch says she’ll throws out of her party anyone who supports the net zero target (that was introduced by a previous Conservative govt). She’d rather the planet burns than reduce the profits of the fossil fuel companies.

Wildfires across Europe on an unprecedented scale, yet Badenoch says she’ll throws out of her party anyone who supports the net zero target (that was introduced by a previous Conservative govt). She’d rather the planet burns than reduce the profits of the fossil fuel companies.

This is really scary - a “positive feedback” event, not positive in the sense of being good but self-reinforcing. Like the melting of the tundra and the acidification of the oceans, the burning of peat bogs is part of runaway climate catastrophe. And yet we still “don’t look up”.

Dave Vetter@davidrvetter.bsky.social · 2w ago

I join you from the Blaenavon wildfire in Southeast Wales, brought to you by BP, Shell and Equinor. Though it does not look dramatic, the fire has been out of control for days - for a very particular reason. 🧵

A solid majority of Labour members back PR, as do eight of the 11 Labour-affiliated trade unions, and there is a growing caucus of MPs now calling for electoral reform that spans all wings and factions of the party. www.politicshome.com/opinion/arti...

Burnham should take the first steps towards electoral reform in his first 100 days

As Andy Burnham becomes Prime Minister, he does so in a Parliament produced by the most unrepresentative general election result on record.

politicshome.com

The House of Lords Constitution Committee is starting a wide-ranging inquiry into strengthening our constitutional safeguards - as proposed by (Lord) Peter Hennessy. Look East, look West, and see the urgency. Written evidence requested by 28th of September. committees.parliament.uk/committee/17...

The UK’s constitutional safeguards inquiry launched by Lords Constitution Committee - Committees - UK Parliament

The House of Lords Constitution Committee has today published a call for evidence for its inquiry into the UK’s constitutional safeguards. It is inviting interested individuals and organisations...

committees.parliament.uk

Our Chair and NEC candidate, Kerry Postlewhite, is out with Mainstream members campaigning in the Greater Manchester Mayoral Election this weekend! Say hello, and remember to #VoteBevForUs