Today was the first reading of my Bill to lift the limits on fundraising through charity lotteries. Thousands of pounds are distributed to good causes each year through orgs like Postcode Lottery - my law will make it easier and more efficient for them to do this and more.

Booking Hall at Waverley Station, Edinburgh in 1969. Wooden booking office, mosaic floor and glass ceiling. Pic: RCAHMS

Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville has called on the UK Government to scrap the charity lottery sales cap. The cap restricts the amount of money charity lotteries can raise each year, limiting the positive impact they can make for good causes. gov.scot/publications/c…

Nandy urged to make ‘huge difference’ by lifting charity lottery cap standard.co.uk/news/politics/…

The best part of Halloween in our estate is the swiftness by which it ends. Usually by 7.30pm; never later than 8pm. Children put to bed. Grotesque, tacky and unsettling displays packed up by knackered dads before 10pm. Hardly a trace left for the morning school run

An important intervention from the Lotteries Council on the need for Lisa Nandy MP Department for Culture, Media and Sport to deliver on gambling white paper commitment to regulate large-scale commercial prize draws. Such draws sell an unregulated gambling product and return little to charity. igamingbusiness.com/lottery/lotter…

‘Charity tax’ on lotteries will deny good causes £1 million a year, Reeves told The Independent independent.co.uk/news/uk/politi…

independent.co.uk/news/uk/politi…

civilsociety.co.uk/news/lotteries…

The 2005 GE campaign. A cocky young teen high on my newly awakened politics, I was in awe to see John Prescott turn onto Princes Street in a coach, bellowing over a loudspeaker to Vote Labour. I flipped him the V. He flipped it right back and grinned, without missing a beat.

6 years ago today, apparently. First trip to Scottish Parliament with precious girl No.1. Also, an excellent chair.

Dear Kekius Maximus, thanks for your input. We’d love to introduce you to any of the 10,000 people experiencing homelessness that we work with. You’ll be surprised to know that not having a home is a real thing! You’re welcome, any time.

Dreams really do come true, #Rotherham wins £17.4m!! thank you ⁦Postcode Lottery⁩

A great workshop, with a wonderful MP. Many thanks Mims Davies MP and the fantastic good causes from across East Grinstead, Uckfield and the Villages

As per POLITICOEurope London Playbook:

Many thanks to everyone who attended People’s Postcode Lottery Public Affairs annual reception in UK Parliament. A capacity crowd from across government, parliament and the charity sector. Thank you! #freetofund

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Gripping opening panel and excellent point from Joe Kahn of The New York Times: Donald J. Trump feeds off NYT as a foil, but there it is, still on the tables of Mar-A-Lago - he craves validation of his valued 'local' paper and learns things from coverage #sirharrysummit

Superb, balanced and amusing chat, Tina Brown with Atlantic's Jeffrey Goldberg on Trump admin Signal chat storm, while acknowledging invite to The White House , focus on 'attention' and unpredented press access given by current US adminstration. #sirharrysummit

Barnstorming session with former Clinton strategist James Carville on Democrat facilitation of Trump phenomenon, ably steered by ALASTAIR CAMPBELL #SirHarrySummit