Proud to be helping @fairershare.bsky.social's growing campaign for council tax justice. It's mad people in Makerfield can pay literally 2x what people in the same council tax band in Westminster pay. And that we tax homes like property values haven't changed since before Soviet Union fell.

New: @weownit.org.uk's @cathobbs.bsky.social warns talk of 'public control' of services is a 'fudge'. "We have control already via regulation – it’s been failing. We need public ownership – for true accountability and re–investing profits.” Interesting debate on Burnham plans - link below

📣 New: How Labour’s quietly ending decades of Thatcherite outsourcing. ✍️ My LabourList column on how + why unlikely revolutionaries Ward, Jones and Reeves are putting many services back in public hands (beyond trains) - in a bold shift not getting attention it deserves. Link below 👇 1/5

A cap on academy CEO pay is welcome, when many support staff earn a pittance and schools can't afford the basics. Proud to have been part of top @schoolsweek.bsky.social teams investigating high pay for the past decade, taking months of work between us. www.theguardian.com/education/20...

Academy school leaders in England face pay cap to curb ‘banker-style’ salaries

Nearly 100 academy chief executives earn more than £200,000 a year, and at least one more than £500,000

theguardian.com

The Starmer government was one of the most left-leaning we’ve had that was almost never identified as such.

Wow. And so the new dawn begins. Who said Labour struggles to topple its leaders?

Jessica Elgot@jessicaelgot.bsky.social · last mo.

BREAKING - Wes Streeting will not stand in a leadership contest. It's over.

🌹Have you heard of one of Westminster’s fastest growing WhatsApp groups? Great to write for @labourlist.bsky.social on the new Labour Progressive Policy Network, educating parliamentary staff, and ta to @politico.eu @noahkeate.bsky.social for covering. labourlist.org/2026/06/insi...

People in Makerfield pay twice the council tax Westminster residents pay in same band. Momentum's growing, with @jonathanbrashmp.bsky.social, @afzalkhanmcr.bsky.social, @ianbyrnemp.bsky.social, @patrickhurley.bsky.social + more backing change. Great to work with @fairershare.bsky.social on this.

Fairer Share@fairershare.bsky.social · 2mo ago

We asked people in Makerfield what they think about Council Tax and they didn't hold back.🎙️ Unfair. Outdated. Time for change. And @andyburnhamgm.bsky.social agrees. It's time to scrap it. Sign the petition 👉https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/754331

A great loss, Hattersley was a wonderfully articulate and thoughtful politician who made a consistent case for the power of social democracy to spread freedom. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

‘A giant of the Labour movement’: Roy Hattersley, former Labour deputy leader, dies aged 93

Labour grandee was MP for Birmingham Sparkbrook from 1964 until his retirement from the Commons in 1997

theguardian.com

The Arsenal. Your Premier League champions.

Great to see @labourlist.bsky.social's and @plmr.co.uk's freshly updated Labour Tribes Mapped project. It's by far the best tool for understanding different groupings of MPs, and how they do or don't overlap. Check it out here. labourlist.org/labour-tribe...

Labour Tribes Mapped: Interactive guide to Labour's MPs - LabourList

LabourList and leading comms agency PLMR have unveiled the latest version of the Labour Tribes Mapped project, a one-of-a-kind interactive guide to Labour’s 403 MPs.

labourlist.org

Reform mobilising non-voters looks to be a big story from this year’s locals. As so often, non-voters are the “dark matter” of politics - rarely discussed but so numerous they even mobilising a small slice can have big effects. Particularly in low turnout local elections.

Oliver Skånberg-Tippen@oskanberg.bsky.social · 3mo ago

Frustrated with the election pundits talking as if votes only 'swing' from one party to another. I did some analysis of the results, and my modelling (based on votes only, not polls) suggests that the largest movement since 2024 local elections (by a long way) is from 'Did Not Vote' -> Reform

Remember Keir’s central role dragging Jeremy Corbyn’s pained Brexit position towards backing a second referendum. So it wouldn’t be the first time putting internal party popularity above a logical political response to Nigel Farage’s strain of politics.

James Ball@jamesrball.com · 3mo ago

I keep seeing takes saying Starmer will pivot to a closer EU relationship in the wake of these results: 1. He's done that at least four times already 2. He'd be a terrible figurehead for join/rejoin 3. Has anyone tried talking to the EU? They have some clear views and red lines on this stuff.

The UK’s voted as Stevenage does every election since ‘83. Today Stevenage Labour lost 9 of 12 seats up to Reform. Greens were a close 2nd in one. That should sound the alarm when targeting ‘Stevenage Woman’ was key for Keir in ‘24. Link below for what real Stevenage women told me pre-voting…

@labourunionsuk.bsky.social rarely speak out as one like this. They want a ‘fundamental change of direction’. Just look at the 2026 teal vs 2016 red results in St Helens, a former mining town I used to report on. Staggering losses in places that unions once helped found Labour to represent.

You know you’ve spent too long outside your home city when you start reading a guide book for things to do there. #touristinlondon

Tough on profiteering, tough on borders. I’ve written on why the latest version of Starmerism, MiliMoodism, would be the most popular one yet if Keir weren’t damaged goods. And why Burnham would be most likely to sustain it. Full story below 🔗

An empty taxi drew up, and out stepped Keir Starmer. I’ve written about how the old gag about Attlee is far more apt for our PM than the man behind the welfare state. Starmerism’s emptiness helped him become leader then PM, but it’s sabotaged his time in office. labourlist.org/2026/03/tom-...

'Tom Belger column: ‘Starmerism’s officially empty. It’s why he won but may be why he's done’ - LabourList

An empty taxi drew up, and out stepped Keir Starmer. The old gag about Clement Attlee is far…

labourlist.org

LabourList's a vital resource for anyone passionate or curious about Labour - covering internal developments and debates others miss, and the day's big story uniquely through a Labour lense. It's a small non-profit and doesn't have party funding, or a paywall for most content. Help keep it going!

LabourList@labourlist.bsky.social · 5mo ago

🎉 🥳 It's officially here - you can now become a FRIEND of LabourList 🙌 🤔 What is a friend you ask? 🔴 Hit the link to the new page on our website to find out more...👇 labourlist.org/become-a-fri...

❓️What’s the idea behind LabourList Friends? 🔴 Our wonderful Editor Emma Burnell explains why we’re launching it — and why it matters. 👇 Read her piece explaining all here...👇 labourlist.org/2026/03/youv...

You’ve got a friend in LabourList – LabourList

I have now been Editor of LabourList for six months. It's been an incredibly exciting time. In my first week we had a cabinet reshuffle…

labourlist.org

Amused to see more Labour MPs follow, or at least historically followed, @labourlist.bsky.social on X (330) than the official Labour press account (304). Also interesting which cabinet members have the most follows...

‼️ EXCLUSIVE: LabourList has seen a letter addressed to the Prime Minister, written by General Secretary of Labour affiliated union Usdaw Joanne Thomas, that demonstrates concerns the government is 'set to fail to fulfil its manifesto commitment on guaranteed hours'. 👀 Read here 👇 buff.ly/KzbBxb3

March 2026 - LabourList

Requested size:'+d+"x"+e+"

labourlist.org

Yeah you know that body charged with enforcing and advising employers and workers the biggest overhaul in workers' rights in a generation from April? I can reveal its precursor body is struggling to even cover its existing costs, so much so it had to cut spending last year. Doesn't bode well!

Emiliano Mellino@mellino.bsky.social · 5mo ago

"Britain already has fewer inspectors than most similar countries. Last year the current Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority was actually cutting spending,reducing legal, interpreter & other services to curb a budget deficit." Great piece by @tombelger.bsky.social labourlist.org/2026/03/why-...

Why is the party of labour fuelling labour exploitation? Immigration reform means workers face up to 10 yrs more tied to employers on sponsored visas before they can seek settled status. Experts are clear - that dependency stops workers challenging poor conditions. Link below for my column👇

GORTON AND DENTON UNPACKED - ONLINE PANEL TODAY at 11AM: Really looking forward to this discussion of the by-election - not just locally but nationally, and not just now but for the coming years in British politics and policy. Join to share what you're thinking and wondering about it all...

I think this piece of mine from November 2024 sadly aged well:

Is Donald Trump a foreign policy dove? If only | Mehdi Hasan

Trump is surrounding himself with hawks so you can be assured that his will be a very hawkish administration

theguardian.com

“The outcome of the war is less important to Trump than…the performative use of US power.” Everything Trump does is about showing he’s top dog on any given day. That’s it. Everything else is collateral damage, and it’s for everyone else to pick up pieces. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

‘Diversionary war’: Trump wants to distract Americans from scandals at home | Christopher S Chivvis

Iran strikes are attempt to hijack the global narrative and drown out Epstein and tariffs with the thunder of cruise missiles

theguardian.com

Starmer wouldn’t be in the seat if senior figures didn’t think Labour has a serious chance of winning. Is victory possible from the jaws of defeat? Hats off to the 100s of activists braving rain today…and @jtibbittsjourno.bsky.social and colleagues covering it all for @labourlist.bsky.social

Peter Stefanovic@peterstefanovic.bsky.social · 5mo ago

BREAKING: Keir Starmer makes surprise visit to Gorton and Denton days before by-election The Prime Minister said the by-election came down to a ‘choice between unity and division, between hope and hostility’.