Given that: 1) the Commonwealth Games have just concluded, yet a good number of people probably didn't even know they were happening 2) there was significant criticism of the last Olympic coverage for how little was shown on the BBC 1/2

Brilliant news! "Solar powers record share of Britain’s electricity mix in July" And hopefully from next month we may be part of this, having our own solar panels installed at home! www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Solar powers record share of Britain’s electricity mix in July

Farms and rooftop panels contribute 14.4% to the grid – and figures reveal a surge in new installations

theguardian.com

Labour National Executive Committee (NEC) elections are talking place. Voting closes noon on Thursday 27th August and ballots will have been/will be emailed to you. I've been asked a few times about my thoughts on the candidates. There are 17 candidates, 9 will be elected - at least 4 women. 1/4

I am really disappointed that after Burnham has announced with great fanfare several spending committments, that we hear this weekend it was actually unfunded and indiidual departments are now being told they must cut back on their other spending to fund it all. This is the wrong way. 1/2

I have long supported the idea of the written constitution for the UK. If done correctly, it is a safeguard of core systems, processes and rights against potential future dangerous governments. But the key questions will always be over what it contains, and how it would be changed or updated. 1/3

Devolution plans strengthen case for written UK constitution, says Burnham

PM argues for codified model of decentralisation that would fundamentally change centuries-old workings of state

theguardian.com

Wishing a very happy Yorkshire Day to everyone! Make sure you do something today to celebrate all things Yorkshire!

Has anyone seen ANY comment from the government about the removal of public funding from the Jodrell Bank Observatory and it's potential closure? Would have hoped for something positive by now...

It would be absolute madness to approve ANY more oil or gas drilling in the North Sea. Labour came to power promising no more (but pragmatically to allow existing licenses to run their course), instead promising more green energy. That must still be the promise today. 1/2

Burnham risks first revolt as PM over apparent support for North Sea drilling

Labour MPs fear No 10 team lack up-to-date energy insight and don’t fully recognise voters’ climate concerns

theguardian.com

Earlier today I posted how the Reform Leader of East Sussex County Council has threatened to report a local business owner, Barry Ashley, of the Grumpy Cook Cafe to the police for calling out Reform for stopping school holiday meal vouchers and... 1/2

This is amazing news! The first people have been given the first experimental vaccine against the Bundibugyo species of Ebola - the species responsible for the current outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo. 1/2

First person gets new experimental vaccine for Bundibugyo species of Ebola

Ed Hunt, 37 and from the UK, voluteered after seeing news reports of the deadly Ebola outbreak in DR Congo.

bbc.co.uk

Reform Council leader is reporting local business owner to the police for telling the truth and feeding hungry kids. Andy Woolley, East Sussex council leader, stopped school holiday meal vouchers on his watch and doesn't like being called out for it. 1/2 www.mirror.co.uk/news/politic...

Reform council chief threatens to report café boss who fed kids for free to cops

EXCLUSIVE: Barry Ashley, who runs the Grumpy Cook café in Hastings, and Labour MP Helena Dollimore have been told by East Sussex County Council chief Andy Woolley that he plans to contact police after...

mirror.co.uk

Unite the Union members - it's election time for General Secretary. This is an opportunity to get rid of Sharon Graham. Please vote for Simon Dubbins. Members will have got an email ballot from 'Civica Election Services' and a paper ballot. Voting closes noon on 11th August.

Estimations put it at costing £4.7m to hold the Manchester Mayoral by-election. Almost enough for 2 years funding for the Observatory.

Warren Oates@warrenoates1.bsky.social · last wk.

#SaveJodrellBank It's been announced that Jodrell Bank Observatory, which houses the UK's largest telescope, will lose it's government funding and could close. This would be absolutely devastating for the 3000 scientists who use it in their work. It will save just £2.8m a year. 1/2

#SaveJodrellBank It's been announced that Jodrell Bank Observatory, which houses the UK's largest telescope, will lose it's government funding and could close. This would be absolutely devastating for the 3000 scientists who use it in their work. It will save just £2.8m a year. 1/2

Jodrell Bank's Lovell telescope faces axe in science cuts, BBC understands

Astronomers warn it would tear the heart out of UK science, and leave a generation untrained.

bbc.co.uk

My view on this: The government ought to try and intervene as much as possible within the law to purchase this company for the country. It could continue to be run as it currently is, but then used as something to develop and expand - encouraging other health services to switch to this system.

Alarm at NHS patient records being put under control of US private equity firm

Doctors and MPs urge more scrutiny of £300m deal for company behind system used by most GPs in England

theguardian.com

Had a great idea this evening for a brilliant new data set and using newly learnt skills at work to collect it and keep it up dated! No details yet, but will be spending the next few weeks working on it!

The single biggest issue I have with Burnham (beyond the coup itself to grab power) is his pushing of this north-south divide. It's wrong. It's dangerous. And completely misrepresents the issues the country faces. 1/2

So far, 35 members of the government under Starmer have left through being sacked or resigning.

Let's get some more signatures for my petition to improve and strengthen the regulation of all our news media! petition.parliament.uk/petitions/76...

Petition: Establish a single, powerful, independent statutory regulator for all news media

The Government must create a single, independent statutory regulator covering print, broadcast, and digital news media. This regulator should have the legal power to enforce truth and factual reportin...

petition.parliament.uk

Interesting to see people crawling out of the woodwork to praise Burnham for his policy on business rates for pubs and live music venues who were silent on all the measures already brought in by Rachel Reeves... And remember, much of the controversy is due to the ending of COVID era relief... 1/3

Interesting approach to afford cutting bus fares from £3 to £2. It's basically being done by reducing the amount spent on international development by converting £400m of climate payments to loans. Which will likely have the effect of switching who gets this money... 1/2

Funding bus fare cap from aid budget will hit world’s poorest, Burnham told

Proposal ‘throws global south countries under the bus’, says ActionAid UK directorr

theguardian.com

The Magnificent Whiskers Award for this Whiskers Wednesday goes to Warren's cat @warrenoates1.bsky.social 😺 #whiskerswednesday #cats #catsofbluesky #catwatching

As more data comes out about the state of the country, it appears Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves have left the country in a very positive place. Latest data shows: Unemployment falling Inflation falling Borrowing falling Will see what more comes out over the next few weeks and months! 1/2

Andy Burnham pledged yesterday to end rough sleeping. But that isn't the only form of homelessness we face as a country, so sad he focused only on a subset. Good thing the Starmer government left Burnham with a National Plan to End Homelessness (not just rough sleeping)... 1/2

A National Plan to End Homelessness

gov.uk

The single biggest 'wtf' moment with yesterday's Cabinet announcements was the replacement of Dan Jarvis as defence secretary. He is a man of integrity, who has served Iraq, Afghanistan and Northern Ireland in our armed forces. 1/2

A warning on this scrapping of VAT on electricity bills. Firstly it will save the average household about £3.75 a month - welcome, but not revolutionary. This also includes the richest and wealthy, who no doubt will save the most. 1/4

Thank you and good night. See you in September.

Some good news, Bridget Phillipson has gone in to No10. Hopefully means she's still got a senior job. Really hope it's still Education!

So, the 4 top jobs in government a PM can appoint all go to people not based on their competency but because they supported and/or involved in Burnham's take over. Also sends a message about Burnham's plans on immigration and asylum. 1/2

This gets worse. Maybe you don't know Nick Thomas-Symonds, but he's just been sacked and returning to the backbenches. He's job at the Cabient Office includes 'European Union Relations'. So this is a bigger loss than it may first seem.

Warren Oates@warrenoates1.bsky.social · 2w ago

Fuck this shit! Darren Jones is actively sacked from government by Burnham. Jo Stevens is sacked too, as Welsh Secretary.