Important documentary ‘Strike - An Uncivil War’ on Netflix from Wed 18 Sept. Hear directly from the miners & others about the preplanned state & police violence at #Orgreave Read our latest report here: otjc.org.uk/orgreave-truth… #OrgreaveJustice #OrgreaveInquiry #MinersStrike

Starmer said a few weeks ago that the government must be prepared to be unpopular. Making a virtue if it. He is succeeding....as his personal popularity plummets. theguardian.com/politics/2024/…

English city region devolution doesnt really distribute power or empower communities. It narrows power into Combined Authorities/Mayors and in turn locks them into more deals with Treasury.

Osborne devised English City Regionalism (except London) and Mayors were never really about strengthening democracy, it was about a streamlined democratic point of contact for investors.

Devil in detail, but #planningpassports look like a gimmick- a recipe for more house building in lucrative hotposts, high rise, more rentierism, gentrification and wealth extraction. Housing crisis needs subsidy and activist planning strategy theguardian.com/business/2024/…

Uk Government is inexperienced and unprepared for office. It is light on policy and has got carried away with its parliamentary majority, trappings of office and its own hype. It is now shooting itself in the foot. And its past allies in the UK press have turned on them.

The idea that more mayors, more devolution deals and #localgrowthplans will solve the north side divide is pie in the sky, embarrassing and ludicrous. 100 years of divides wont be addressed with these sort of tepid tinkerings.

'It was a hard one to turn down... one of my children was keen to go' Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson explains why she accepted free Taylor Swift tickets earlier this year Bridget Phillipson is in Liverpool for the The Labour Party party conference

Regrettable admission that the company "deliberately skated on thin ice" in the interest of nature restoration. Stability for local communities priced out of the equation? Highlands Rewilding land goes on sale for £10m to pay back bank loan used to buy it scotsman.com/hays-way/highl…

Another Labour MP defends taking Taylor Swift tickets by mentioning their children #GMB

'The UK in 2024 demonstrates to the world what living with high inequality means in a once affluent country.' From declining heights to more children going hungry, Prof Danny Dorling News explains how kids are becoming poorer in the UK – more so than in other countries ➡️

The UK's outsized financial sector focusses hugely on intra sector dealings, mortgages and real estate, rather than needs of the rest of the economy and country. This is a huge issue for growth, productivity, jobs, inequality and north south divide.

The New Labour government was successful with media 'spin' but you appreciated that there was also some substance, policy detail, a mission and plan. We live in different times, but this UK government is currently unsuccessful with its soundbites/spin and looks light on substance

Small donations to political Parties is the donor believing in aims of party and its policies. Large donations and/or funding to senior politicians from wealthy and powerful people is a different thing. This can be about direct influence over policy/personal/corporate gain.

In world of huge crises and huge global inertias, progressive political parties and national governments must consider using protest. Protest is not opposite of change it can be a useful tactic. Take climate change. Governments could protest against inaction of others.

We head into the abyss. International political response is falling terrifyingly short. Many of the wealthy and powerful seem prepared to ignore or are hoping to insulate themselves from horrors to come. theguardian.com/environment/20…

Spot on. £12m?

Singapore’s former transport minister Subramaniam Iswaran faces a fine or up to two years in jail for each charge after accepting £234,900 worth of “freebies” including flights, hotel stays, musicals and Grand Prix tickets. In the UK, are we too lenient? bbc.co.uk/news/articles/…

Crofting adds £588 million GVA/year to the Scottish economy and supports around 30,385 jobs. ➡️Every £1 of economic impact directly added by crofting generates £19 in indirect benefits. ➡️Every £1 of public money invested in crofting generates £13 GVA for the Scottish economy

✨📢 Delighted to be welcoming dear friends & colleagues to our Annual National Conference today #CDASConf24 & keynote speakers Ivan McKee MSP & Neil McInroy Coffee ready for you all!! 📢