Burnham's betrayal on political fundingThe Guardian reports that Andy Burnham has dropped his support for capping political donations, causing anger among activists and Labour MPs who have long campaigned for change to the way parties are funded. The paper says that the prime minister has decided not to back amendments to the elections bill, which would cap the amount a person or an organisation can give in a single donation: The decision comes after a lobbying campaign from Labour's trade union backers, who said amendments to the bill, which returns to parliament for its remaining stages next week, could undermine their ability to donate ... (more) |
The two skills politics forgets to teachThe latest edition of my email newsletter about work in Parliament, A Lord's Eye View, is out and you can also read it in full below. But if you'd like to get future editions emailed direct to you as soon as they are published, sign up now: Welcome to my latest update on work in the House of Lords, this time taking the opportunity offered by recess to talk about something more general than usual. The two key skills politicians need, but aren't taught or talked about [IMG: brown wooden chairs on gray concrete floor] Chairs awaiting the arrival of ... (more) |
Sorry seems to be the hardest wordThe "pens" at Sandhills railway station. (Photo: Morgan Sindell Infrastructure) Apologies for channelling Elton John, but sorry really does seem to be the hardest word. At least it does if you are either Councillors Richard Kemp, Pat Moloney or Carl Cashman. For those not aware of the furore that has broken out in Liverpool, the Liverpool Echo has reported that former Lord Mayor Richard Kemp and Councillor Pat Moloney have made strongly worded criticisms of Labour's transport policy and in particular the conditions around Sandhills railway station near Everton's football ground. The Echo provides background, including the Lib Dem councillors' ... (more) |
A day out at the football...Living in Suffolk, there is only one serious football team locally, the Tractor Boys of Ipswich Town, newly promoted to the Premier League at the end of a season where, whilst they were consistent, they didn't exactly blow anyone away. £150 million spent on new players later, a somewhat unfamiliar side debuted with a home win, something that only happened once the last time they were in the top flight, two years ago. Tickets for league games are hard to come by, so when the second round draw for the Carabao Cup saw League One Leicester City scheduled to visit ... (more) |
26 August 2026 - today's (other) press releasesDunlop: What is the Scottish Government doing to stop care-experienced young people dying prematurely? Harley responds to extension of GP walk-in centres Burnham Wales Visit – Wales doesn't need another Labour listening exercise, Wales needs action Dunlop: What is the Scottish Government doing to stop care-experienced young people dying prematurely? Following a UK Government review into deaths among young people with experience of the care system in England, Scottish Liberal Democrat children spokesperson Duncan Dunlop MSP highlighted that the scale of the tragedy is "no different" in Scotland. An independent UK Government review estimates that young people who are leaving ... (more) |
Listen to Dr Francis Young on the history of fairiesWhere did fairies come from? They are so ubiquitous in our culture that there seems to never be a time when we were without them. But what are fairies exactly? Were they always associated with magic? Are they small? Are they winged? When did the first fairies appear? Who named them the fairies or the fey? Francis Young discusses these questions here and in his book Fairies: A History. (more) |
Will Labour back the reform of parliamentary elections next week?Neal Lawson writes in the Guardian: Next Wednesday, the representation of the people bill will come before parliament for its final stages. An amendment has been tabled to set up a national commission to look at which system of proportional representation (PR), which does match votes to seats, would best suit our country. It has huge backing in the Commons, in the Labour party and among the public. The prime minister, Andy Burnham, is also a longstanding supporter of electoral reform. The political conditions have never been more favourable to begin making changes to the voting system. What, Lawson asks, ... (more) |
Scottish Lib Dems object to huge Scottish Water bonusesWe're used to hearing about bosses of English Water companies getting rewarded for failure, but north of the border, things are just as bad, if not worse. It's particularly egregious to see publicly owned Scottish Water pay out £250,000 in bonuses to senior management when the company's record is far from unblemished. Scottish Lib Dem Leader Alex Cole-Hamilton and Emvironment spokesperson Sanne Dijkstra-Downie have written to John Swinney to ask him how such bonuses could be justified. They said: Dear John, We are writing to you following the publication of Scottish Water's annual report, which included the executive members' renumeration ... (more) |
Ed Davey on "unfair mean and nasty" attacks on Jason ArdayEd Davey has spoken to Politics Home about the death of Jason Arday following an extended period of vicious press coverage. Davey told PoliticsHome that parts of the media had seemed to "focus in on it and attack him in a way which seems awfully disproportionate, unfair, mean, and nasty". What it shows is that we have to push back against this Trump-like attack on liberal values where we embrace everybody equally and respect everybody. "There seems to be a movement, particularly on the right, to move away from the liberal progress I thought we made, where we respect people, ... (more) |
The Joy of Six 1567"Profound isolation contributed to the deaths of more than 100 care leavers in England in a year, with a dramatic drop-off in support from social services at 18 leading to catastrophic consequences, a review has found. A government-commissioned report into the early deaths of young people who left care described the problem as a national tragedy and said many were left on their own 'at the height of vulnerability' before they died."Jessica Murray reports on the continuing scandal of Britain's care system for children. William Lane tells it like it is: "Liberalism in Britain has been and always will be ... (more) |