Zack Polanski delivers ‘reality check’ to Burnham over ‘biggest crisis since WWII’ after summer of extreme heat

This is surely curtains for Farage's political career. I don't think there's any coming back from it. I hope not, at any rate. Looks like there could be a strong basis for a criminal case as well. 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

Any 16-18 year old posting this stuff about "fight back or die" + white genocide would be on the Prevent radar. But Musk gets a unique pass

It’s always amusing when folks go with the “you’re in a social media bubble” when what they mean is “I’m the only one that sees the world correctly and you’re all wrong”

Dr Negrin's Victory Pills@dr-negrin.bsky.social · 2w ago

You're not really doing much to counter that 'social media bubble' allegation, are you? To do real politics you need to get real power. To get real power you need to get elected to parliament. All the patronising, smart-arse comments in the world won't change that. Deal with the real world.

The climate crisis may have caused the excessive heat, but it is NOT the reason for the hosepipe ban Privatisation is the one true cause of the hosepipe ban Scotland - where water is in public ownership - has not had a hosepipe ban since the great drought of 1995 Public ownership of water NOW

Renewables are now the world's largest source of electricity – and the main source of new supplies

A week to go! Let's elect Geraldine Coggins as the first ever Green Mayor of Greater Manchester.

CND statement responding to Andy Burnham recommitting British bases at Diego Garcia and Fairford for the US to illegally bomb Iran...

The worst heat wave on record for Europe resulted in over 2,700 excess deaths in England and Wales and cost the whole of the UK $1.5 billion My story via @bloomberg.com www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Heat Wave in June Cost the UK Economy $1.5 Billion

Scorching temperatures exposed shortcomings in Britain’s homes, workplaces and public transport.

bloomberg.com

If the price for a bit of mild social progress is more racist crackdowns led by Mahmood, that’s not only a catastrophe for migrants & their families, but also a catastrophe for the chances of all of us of resisting the far right

Andy Burnham vows to ‘bring back hope’ as he unveils his cabinet

New prime minister says government must ‘do better’ to deliver change but promises prudent approach to economy

theguardian.com

Small boats to UK now down 45% year on year to mid-July. The BBC continues to (mistakenly) tend to hypothesise a weather effect. It is neither weather nor UK govt policy. It is a change in EU-wide flows.

Nobel Laureates (husband & wife) support UBI

One day, somebody in government will notice what the net migration level is hesding to. The fiscal forecast (£24 billion) was based on average net 235k to 2026-29 but that is at least 100k too high, costing £13 billion, or double that if want to reduce immigration visas further.

Adam Bienkov@adambienkov.bsky.social · 3w ago

The Times reporting that Andy Burnham succeeded in persuading Shabana Mahmood to become Chancellor because it would give her more control over cutting immigration

Thames Water increased its bonus payouts to £4.1m for senior managers. It has £19.7bn debt, fleeces customers, dumps sewage in rivers, loses billions of litres of water to leaky pipes. Numerous criminal convictions, licence not revoked. But bosses rewarded .. for what? Govt/Ofwat do nothing.

Thames Water increases bonus payments to £4m despite uncertainty over future

Annual results show struggling firm’s net debt has risen to £19.7bn, up from £17.7bn a year earlier

theguardian.com

Starmer should certainly be remembered for the scrapping of the two-child limit - ruthlessly purging the Labour Party of its left wingers who stood up to him when he opposed the scrap, his humiliating U-turn in having to implement it, and then his subsequent boasts of being a ‘real Labour’ action

Duncan Robinson@duncanrobinson.bsky.social · 3w ago

in retrospect, just quite a weird politician www.economist.com/britain/2026...

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

The public is clear what they want to happen with Thames Water MPs are clear too. And they are standing up and demanding that the government take it into special administration. Share this if you agree with them.

Andy Burnham says the Government 'must do more' on Palestine. Here's how he can start: End all arms sales to Israel. Ban all trade with illegal Israeli settlements. Sanction those responsible for the genocide. Palestinians need action - not just apologies.

In case there was any doubt. Restricting access to benefits isn't enough for Conservatives/Badenoch. They want to deport/"remigrate" people who came here on legal work visas, not because of (debunked) claims about benefits/fiscal costs but because they've embraced an openly ethnonationalist agenda

Make oil, coal and gas corporations pay their fair share for the damage they cause. Introduce new taxes or fines on them to help communities at home and around the world rebuild from climate disasters and invest in climate solutions. Add your name: act.gp/4usPymE #MakePollutersPay

Polluters broke it, we're paying for it. Make Polluters Pay

Sign the pact, record your story. Join the global movement to make polluters pay.

act.gp

This point needs to be made over and again: The main purpose of wealth taxes should not be to raise revenue. That's a small and secondary benefit. The main purpose should be to *reduce the fortunes of the ultrarich*. Why? Because those fortunes present a massive threat to democracy and public life.

🌱 HOPE and a PLAN for Greater Manchester 💚

Clearly Rutte has no self-respect

Aaron Rupar@atrupar.com · 4w ago

WOW -- Danish reporter *goes there* with Rutte "You sit next to Trump when he talks about conquering Greenland, lashes out at allies like Spain -- things it doesn't seem like the old Mark Rutte would approve of. Does this have any affect on your self-respect when you sit there and say nothing?"

“if he wants to spend the summer arguing with a bin, I won’t stop him” 😀 #CountBinfaceForClacton

Jessica Elgot@jessicaelgot.bsky.social · 4w ago

NEW - Rachel Reeves said she will "accept Nigel Farage’s request to be appointed Steward and Bailiff of the Manor of Northstead." "It is a farce and a desperate distraction, and the people of Clacton deserve better. "But if he wants to spend the summer arguing with a bin, I won't stop him."

I really hope this means @greenparty.org.uk won’t be standing like the other main parties too - Farage v @countbinface.bsky.social is the fight we want to see

The Green Party of England & Wales@greenparty.org.uk · 4w ago

A stunt to con the public as Nigel Farage tries to avoid scrutiny overs his dodgy donations. He has never been a man of the people, but a representative of the wealthy and the establishment.

In ten days time with your help we can cap how much money anyone can personally give to a political cause and any chance millionaires can buy our politics. If you agree share this and ask your MP to co sign the amendment. It’s time we made sure it’s democracy not donations that define our future.

indeed, because of this absolutist property view of women & children, because of their fetishisation of total power over others & valorisation of violent machismo masculinity, we should **expect** the most committed fascists to be rapists & pedophiles

Labour can threaten a £10k charge on migrants and still it’s never enough for the hard right. Perhaps there’s a lesson here? 🤔

Summary of the Home Office Impact Assessment for Asylum Bill is hilarious (if it weren't so depressing). HO analysts say "basically no evidence to suggest *any* of these policies will work *even on their own terms*" (but will probably cost money). assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6a43e1...