Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Sandy Martin @sandyofipswich.bsky.social · 2h

Just reading Nick Cohen’s latest Writing from London - [email protected] - I’d urge you to subscribe. Your enemy’s enemy is very often not your friend. Netanyahu’s government is an international disgrace- but that doesn’t excuse Hamas or the Iranian government - murderous, sexist and homophobic

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Sandy Martin @sandyofipswich.bsky.social · 6h

Robin Cook quote of the day: “Political parties do not achieve renewal by reshuffling staff in their leader’s office, but by changing the culture, priorities and direction of the organisation.”

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Labour Unions @labourunionsuk.bsky.social · 19h

Labour's New Deal for Working People should be delivered in full so we can end exploitative zero hours contracts, limit the use of fire and rehire, and do so much more to improve the lives of working people @stevewitherdenmp.bsky.social 🔥✊🌹

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Sandy Martin @sandyofipswich.bsky.social · 17h

To be fair, large elements of the so-called mainstream media have entrenched political agendas which have more to do with their owners interests than with the truth. We need media access- but we also need a media that is independent not only of governments but of multinational multimillionaires too

Unlock Democracy @unlockdemocracy.bsky.social · 18h

A free press is a vital part of a functioning democracy.

That means all sides accommodating critical voices.

Even the appearance of Labour and the Conservatives trying to stifle dissent at their party conferences sets us on a dangerous path.

bylinetimes.com/2025/10/08/c...

Conservatives Accused of ‘Trumpian’ Tactics After Barring Second Byline Times Journalist From Conference

Veteran award-winning investigative journalist David Hencke has attended Conservative party conference since 1987 but is now hundreds of pounds out of pocket after being blocked from attending

bylinetimes.com

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Unlock Democracy @unlockdemocracy.bsky.social · 18h

A free press is a vital part of a functioning democracy.

That means all sides accommodating critical voices.

Even the appearance of Labour and the Conservatives trying to stifle dissent at their party conferences sets us on a dangerous path.

bylinetimes.com/2025/10/08/c...

Conservatives Accused of ‘Trumpian’ Tactics After Barring Second Byline Times Journalist From Conference

Veteran award-winning investigative journalist David Hencke has attended Conservative party conference since 1987 but is now hundreds of pounds out of pocket after being blocked from attending

bylinetimes.com

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Peter Stefanovic @peterstefanovic.bsky.social · 21h

Let’s also remember that the ECHR has protected British people from abuses of power by its own government.

We must protect the ECHR, not leave it

Peter Stefanovic @peterstefanovic.bsky.social · 3d

When the Tories were last in office - according to international Human Rights Watch - UK was on course to make list of countries that abuse rather than protect human rights. Is it any wonder they want us to join Russia & Belarus as only European countries outside the ECHR
youtu.be/ceukUFLBrFo?...

🚨UK will leave the ECHR if Tories win next election Kemi Badenoch has announced

YouTube video by Peter Stefanovic

youtu.be

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Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan @london.gov.uk · 2d

My statement on the second anniversary of the 7 October attacks.

Two years on from the horrific terrorist attack on Israel on October 7, we remember all the innocent victims whose lives were cruelly stolen by Hamas.

Our thoughts are also with the families whose loved ones were callously murdered, as well as with the hostages who disgracefully remain in captivity and must be released immediately.

October 7 was the single deadliest day for the Jewish people since the Holocaust and a profoundly painful experience for London’s Jewish communities. We must never forget this atrocity, nor the deep distress and grief it has caused many Londoners.

As the vile terrorist attack on Heaton Park synagogue in Manchester last Thursday demonstrated, we still have far more to do to tackle the poison of antisemitism and drive it out of our society.

Our Jewish communities must be able to live, work and worship freely – without the fear of harassment, discrimination, intimidation or violence. The fact they are currently unable to shows we must work much harder to stamp out antisemitism wherever it rears its ugly head.

We must never allow conflict overseas to divide us at home. As Mayor, I will continue my work to promote inter-faith dialogue and build bridges between our different religious communities. Whether it’s antisemitism or any other form of bigotry, London has no place for those who seek to sow the seeds of hate.

On this solemn anniversary, we must also acknowledge the suffering and trauma since 7 October 2023. Like so many others, my heart aches for the tens of thousands of innocent civilians in Gaza who have been killed and the families who have been torn apart.

Today, more than ever, I pray that the cycle of terror, killing and bloodshed that has engulfed the region can soon be brought to an end; that the surviving hostages can be set free; that vital humanitarian aid can flow into Gaza; and that Israelis and Palestinians can one day live side-by-side in two states and in peace.

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Alex Sobel MP @alexsobel.co.uk · 8d

Report: www.nus.org.uk/commission-o...

APPG for Students launches their Commission on Students in Higher Education with input from SUs

The report identifies the urgent challenges facing universities today, as well as proposing solutions based on over 30 written submissions from students’ unions, universities, sector bodies, and indiv...

www.nus.org.uk

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Alex Sobel MP @alexsobel.co.uk · 8d

I have been a longstanding advocate for the reintroduction of student maintenance grants, so I am thrilled that Labour have today announced they will be bringing back the grants.

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Sandy Martin @sandyofipswich.bsky.social · 2d

NEW: @mainstreamlabour.bsky.social endorses Lucy Powell for Deputy Leader of the Labour Party.In a special ballot, 82.2% of Mainstream members voted to endorse Lucy.Labour’s Mainstream wants the party and government to be reset in line with pluralist, democratic socialist values.

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Sandy Martin @sandyofipswich.bsky.social · 6d

Farage couldn’t win control of the House of Commons under a proportional representation system, but he could under First-Past-the-Post. What more needs to be said?

East Anglia Bylines @eastangliabylines.co.uk · 6d

Britain’s electoral system can now give a majority to a party backed by only a third of voters.

In the Netherlands, their proportional system limits power to a true majority.

Time we learned a lesson?

Stephen McNair reflects

The Dutch can tell us something about managing extremism

The UK and Netherlands have similar politics, but very different ways of managing it. What might we learn from across the North Sea?

eastangliabylines.co.uk

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East Anglia Bylines @eastangliabylines.co.uk · 6d

Britain’s electoral system can now give a majority to a party backed by only a third of voters.

In the Netherlands, their proportional system limits power to a true majority.

Time we learned a lesson?

Stephen McNair reflects

The Dutch can tell us something about managing extremism

The UK and Netherlands have similar politics, but very different ways of managing it. What might we learn from across the North Sea?

eastangliabylines.co.uk

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Sandy Martin @sandyofipswich.bsky.social · 6d

The Tory announcement about the climate crisis makes it absolutely clear- they don’t give a toss. Every constructive measure to mitigate climate change is rubbished. Every commitment to a more sustainable future is dropped. Every check on fossil fuels is ditched. The planet isn’t safe in their hands

The Guardian @theguardian.com · 6d

As Tories vow to scrap ‘failed targets’, how do their climate claims stack up?

We fact check Kemi Badenoch and her party after she promised to repeal Climate Change Act if they win power

www.theguardian.com

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Sandy Martin @sandyofipswich.bsky.social · 6d

What is it? 🤣

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Sandy Martin @sandyofipswich.bsky.social · 7d

Where London has led, all the other UK towns and cities can and must follow. Manchester already on the way. We need a national drive for greener transport and cleaner air

Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan @london.gov.uk · 7d

For the first time ever, London has met legal limits for nitrogen dioxide.

When I became Mayor, we were told it would take 193 years. We did it 184 years earlier than expected.

Cleaner air means a healthier city and big savings for the NHS.

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Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan @london.gov.uk · 7d

For the first time ever, London has met legal limits for nitrogen dioxide.

When I became Mayor, we were told it would take 193 years. We did it 184 years earlier than expected.

Cleaner air means a healthier city and big savings for the NHS.

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Reform Party UK Exposed @reformexposed.bsky.social · 7d

Calls for New Inquiry Into Russian Interference After Reform’s Former Welsh Leader Pleads Guilty to Bribery

bylinetimes.com/2025/10/01/c...

Calls for New Inquiry Into Russian Interference After Reform’s Former Welsh Leader Pleads Guilty to Bribery

As the Kremlin steps up its political interference efforts in the West, is it time for a new Russia Report?

bylinetimes.com

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Electoral Reform Society @electoralreform.bsky.social · 8d

The government must restore the independence of the Electoral Commission

UK government urged to restore Electoral Commission’s independence to protect democracy

Oversight of watchdog could be abused by a future authoritarian government, report warns

buff.ly

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Mike Galsworthy @mikegalsworthy.bsky.social · 9d

Well done Moldova - you've won a bright European future!

Lucky bastards!

Love,
Brexit Britain

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Labour4PR 🌹🗳️ @labour4pr.bsky.social · 9d

“The APPG for Fair Elections is now the biggest in Parliament and we really want to support the Government in building consensus about the way forward.”

💬 @alexzurclark.bsky.social of @labour4pr.bsky.social speaking at our fringe event with @thefabians.bsky.social and @appgfairelections.bsky.social

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APPG for Fair Elections @appgfairelections.bsky.social · 9d

Hugely encouraging enthusiasm, expertise & optimism from our panel this afternoon

Many thanks @thefabians.bsky.social & @labour4pr.bsky.social & to our chair @drsarahyde.bsky.social

When MPs return to Parliament, we'll be stepping up the campaign for a National Commission on Electoral Reform

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Labour4PR 🌹🗳️ @labour4pr.bsky.social · 10d

Speaking to members at our #Lab25 stall, it's clear as ever that electoral reform has the overwhelming support of:

🌹 Labour members
🛠️ Affiliated trade unions
📍 Constituency Labour Parties
🎪 Annual conference
🏦 Parliament's biggest APPG

It's time for fair votes #Labour4PR

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Labour4PR 🌹🗳️ @labour4pr.bsky.social · 10d

⚠️ "In our fragmented politics and with our electoral system, 31% could be enough"

💬 John Curtice on the possibility of Farage winning a majority on a historic low share of the vote

🌹 #Labour4PR

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GlenPB 🇬🇧🇪🇺 @glenpbarnes.bsky.social · 10d

THIS!!!!

The country is split and fighting itself.
Governments ruling with minority support only add fuel to that discontent.

The world has moved on, Labour policy needs to catch up!

If Reform sweeps to power with a 30% vote share we only have ourselves to blame.

Talk is cheap, action now!

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Graham Simpson @grahambs.bsky.social · 10d

The time will come when the Labour leadership accept that the era of two big parties which take their turn in governing is over. Starmer actually admitted that this morning in a TV interview.

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