Stirling Smith
@stirlingsmith.bsky.social
Trade unionist, co-operator, socialist. Husband, father, grandfather. Fascinated by South Asia. Support adult education. Member Labour Party, Co-operative Party, Community trade union. Trustee of THIRST, which works for human rights in tea. All views mine.
A very good reminder of the Christmas message.
“This child has come to find us. To show us our true humanity. To lift us up, and to help us see each other and smile in loving recognition. Oh, come let us adore him.” You can read my Christmas Day sermon from York Minster here 👇
www.archbishopofyork.org/speaking-and...
www.archbishopofyork.org/speaking-and...
Christmas Day sermon at York Minster | The Archbishop of York
Archbishop Stephen gave the sermon during the Festal Eucharist at York Minster on Christmas Day
www.archbishopofyork.org
December 25, 2025 at 12:53 PM
A very good reminder of the Christmas message.
Reposted by Stirling Smith
I have been so disappointed by the lack of urgency and transparency displayed by the universities watchdog.
Allegations of impropriety at the University of Greater Manchester surfaced months ago after @manchestermill.bsky.social reporting, so why has a formal investigation only just been launched?
Allegations of impropriety at the University of Greater Manchester surfaced months ago after @manchestermill.bsky.social reporting, so why has a formal investigation only just been launched?
Regulator ‘asleep at the wheel’ over University of Greater Manchester investigation, MP says
Office for Students accused of ‘glacial’ response to allegations of fraud, bullying and mismanagement
www.theguardian.com
December 22, 2025 at 2:41 PM
I have been so disappointed by the lack of urgency and transparency displayed by the universities watchdog.
Allegations of impropriety at the University of Greater Manchester surfaced months ago after @manchestermill.bsky.social reporting, so why has a formal investigation only just been launched?
Allegations of impropriety at the University of Greater Manchester surfaced months ago after @manchestermill.bsky.social reporting, so why has a formal investigation only just been launched?
Some tough questions here. LabourList Christmas quiz 2025 round 1: Put your party knowledge to the test labourlist.org/2025/12/labo... – via LabourList
LabourList Christmas quiz 2025 round 1: Put your party knowledge to the test - LabourList
If you couldn't make it to our event, test your Labour Party knowledge over Christmas with our annual Christmas quiz
labourlist.org
December 22, 2025 at 12:53 PM
Some tough questions here. LabourList Christmas quiz 2025 round 1: Put your party knowledge to the test labourlist.org/2025/12/labo... – via LabourList
The food was organised and shipped by the Cooperative Wholesale Society, which had its own fleet.
22-12-1913 IRELAND: Over £9000 worth of food arrives in Dublin from the TUC, for families of locked-out workers to survive Christmas.
December 22, 2025 at 11:17 AM
The food was organised and shipped by the Cooperative Wholesale Society, which had its own fleet.
100% correct. No kowtowing to the vile regime in China, Russia’s firm friend. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
China has set a bear trap for Keir Starmer – and our naive PM is walking straight into it | Simon Tisdall
The conviction of Jimmy Lai in Hong Kong is another hostile act. How can Britain ignore Beijing’s provocations and human rights abuses, asks Guardian foreign affairs commentator Simon Tisdall
www.theguardian.com
December 21, 2025 at 9:05 PM
100% correct. No kowtowing to the vile regime in China, Russia’s firm friend. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Stirling Smith
What this piece doesn’t explain is how it’s possible that: (1) a firm set up in May 2020 was awarded more than £200m of government contracts for PPE a month later, (2) it owes the government and HMRC more than £180m; and (3) yet it only has £600k of assets.
That’s the real story.
That’s the real story.
Michelle Mone-linked PPE firm liquidated and unlikely to repay £148m
The firm led by Baroness Mone's husband Douglas Barrowman breached a contract to supply surgical gowns during the Covid pandemic.
www.bbc.co.uk
December 20, 2025 at 10:44 AM
What this piece doesn’t explain is how it’s possible that: (1) a firm set up in May 2020 was awarded more than £200m of government contracts for PPE a month later, (2) it owes the government and HMRC more than £180m; and (3) yet it only has £600k of assets.
That’s the real story.
That’s the real story.
Stella gets my vote for PM, if there’s an election.
Thank you to everyone who has contributed so far as it’s clearly annoyed the right people - this video tells you what donations to my crowdfunder will help me do in 2026. The link to it is here. I really appreciate the support! www.gofundme.com/f/stella-cre...
December 20, 2025 at 9:16 PM
Stella gets my vote for PM, if there’s an election.
Quite right she is doing her job, representing members www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
My warning as the new head of Unison: never again will we prop up politicians hostile to unions | Andrea Egan
I have been appalled by Wes Streeting’s attacks on resident doctors. The destructive right wing of the Labour party should know that this is a new era, says the general secretary-elect of Unison, Andr...
www.theguardian.com
December 20, 2025 at 6:28 PM
Quite right she is doing her job, representing members www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Stirling Smith
🚨Our new analysis reveals that enforcement levels for corporate crime have dropped in 2025🚨
We found drops in enforcement across-
↘️ Labour Market
↘️ Health and Safety
↘️ Fraud
↘️Consumer Protection
↘️ Environment
↘️ Financial
Read more: goodjobsfirst.org/the-state-of...
We found drops in enforcement across-
↘️ Labour Market
↘️ Health and Safety
↘️ Fraud
↘️Consumer Protection
↘️ Environment
↘️ Financial
Read more: goodjobsfirst.org/the-state-of...
The State of UK Regulatory Enforcement in 2025 - Good Jobs First
The State of UK Regulatory Enforcement in 2025 - Good Jobs First
goodjobsfirst.org
December 19, 2025 at 10:21 AM
🚨Our new analysis reveals that enforcement levels for corporate crime have dropped in 2025🚨
We found drops in enforcement across-
↘️ Labour Market
↘️ Health and Safety
↘️ Fraud
↘️Consumer Protection
↘️ Environment
↘️ Financial
Read more: goodjobsfirst.org/the-state-of...
We found drops in enforcement across-
↘️ Labour Market
↘️ Health and Safety
↘️ Fraud
↘️Consumer Protection
↘️ Environment
↘️ Financial
Read more: goodjobsfirst.org/the-state-of...
Labour has achieved a lot. Much more to do, but compared to the Tories, huge achievements.
Deborah Mattinson column: ‘This Christmas we should remember to feel proud of what we have achieved’ labourlist.org/2025/12/labo... – via LabourList
Deborah Mattinson column: ‘This Christmas we should remember to feel proud of what we have achieved’ labourlist.org/2025/12/labo... – via LabourList
Deborah Mattinson column: ‘This Christmas we should remember to feel proud of what we have achieved’ - LabourList
Forget the narrative - Labour members have a lot to celebrate and a lot to look forward to as we end 2025.
labourlist.org
December 19, 2025 at 12:26 PM
Labour has achieved a lot. Much more to do, but compared to the Tories, huge achievements.
Deborah Mattinson column: ‘This Christmas we should remember to feel proud of what we have achieved’ labourlist.org/2025/12/labo... – via LabourList
Deborah Mattinson column: ‘This Christmas we should remember to feel proud of what we have achieved’ labourlist.org/2025/12/labo... – via LabourList
New draft model law on prevention of slavery in UK supply chains. Very necessary. www.business-humanrights.org/en/latest-ne...
UK: Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner publishes model law combining forced labour import ban & corporate due diligence - Business and Human Rights Centre
Check out this page via the Business and Human Rights Centre
www.business-humanrights.org
December 17, 2025 at 2:36 PM
New draft model law on prevention of slavery in UK supply chains. Very necessary. www.business-humanrights.org/en/latest-ne...
Paul Mason on the money here. The left focus on Palestine, and rightly. But ignore Ukraine, where there is genocide. The security establishment here in the UK don’t say anything about Palestine. The difference is: we have agency on defending ourselves from Russia, and supporting Ukraine.
Most politicians remain oblivious to the threat, especially on the left. But they must realise Putin could do to us what he’s done to Ukraine, without firing a shot
✏️ @paulmason.bsky.social
✏️ @paulmason.bsky.social
We are Putin’s next target
Most politicians remain oblivious to the threat, especially on the left. But they must realise Putin could do to us what he’s done to Ukraine, without firing a shot
www.thenewworld.co.uk
December 17, 2025 at 1:42 PM
Paul Mason on the money here. The left focus on Palestine, and rightly. But ignore Ukraine, where there is genocide. The security establishment here in the UK don’t say anything about Palestine. The difference is: we have agency on defending ourselves from Russia, and supporting Ukraine.
This is great news - Tories, Reform and Liberal Democrats tried to derail it, and uncomfortable compromises to get it over the line. A real achievement.
🚨BREAKING: Employment Rights Bill passes in the House of Lords and will become law.
This is an historic day for working people across the country, and the trade unions who represent them.
This is an historic day for working people across the country, and the trade unions who represent them.
December 16, 2025 at 5:22 PM
This is great news - Tories, Reform and Liberal Democrats tried to derail it, and uncomfortable compromises to get it over the line. A real achievement.
Victory Day today in Bangladesh when Pakistan Army surrendered. The end of a colonial genocidal war. Greetings to all my friends in Bangladesh.
December 16, 2025 at 7:48 AM
Victory Day today in Bangladesh when Pakistan Army surrendered. The end of a colonial genocidal war. Greetings to all my friends in Bangladesh.
Reposted by Stirling Smith
A reminder that this is the same man who has just spent the past week calling all the Jewish victims of his own horrific anti-semitic abuse liars
December 14, 2025 at 6:27 PM
A reminder that this is the same man who has just spent the past week calling all the Jewish victims of his own horrific anti-semitic abuse liars
A sobering view of our position. We should find the money for defence and welfare. engelsbergideas.com/notebook/tru...
Trump leaves complacent Europe most vulnerable since 1939
President Trump's new National Security Strategy is incoherent and egotistical. Yet Europe's elites must bear responsibility for leaving their continent in a state of vulnerability comparable to the l...
engelsbergideas.com
December 12, 2025 at 10:54 AM
A sobering view of our position. We should find the money for defence and welfare. engelsbergideas.com/notebook/tru...
Fascinating. Indian foreign policy today echoing that of British India. engelsbergideas.com/essays/the-i...
The imperial past of Indian geopolitics
From diplomacy in the Middle East to security ties with the Persian Gulf, the key to understanding India’s expanding role on the international stage lies in the strategic vision and geopolitical think...
engelsbergideas.com
December 12, 2025 at 10:39 AM
Fascinating. Indian foreign policy today echoing that of British India. engelsbergideas.com/essays/the-i...
Hailsham only applied this theory when Labour was in power. He was unconcerned about elected dictatorship if the Tories were in office. Nevertheless, it’s true we need many more checks and balances. A written constitution would be a start.
I'm not sure that this is an entirely reassuring message. It also requires that you have some coherent policies to deliver your objectives, and it's not clear that Starmer does. See,for example, the negative impact on growth from visa restrictions
December 11, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Hailsham only applied this theory when Labour was in power. He was unconcerned about elected dictatorship if the Tories were in office. Nevertheless, it’s true we need many more checks and balances. A written constitution would be a start.
Of course this good news will be covered by the Mail, Telegraph and the Reform Broadcasting Corporation. Not. www.theguardian.com/business/202...
UK’s higher borrowing costs compared with major countries ‘may be coming to an end’
Thinktank says Rachel Reeves’s budget had started to assure bond markets about fiscal approach
www.theguardian.com
December 10, 2025 at 9:31 AM
Of course this good news will be covered by the Mail, Telegraph and the Reform Broadcasting Corporation. Not. www.theguardian.com/business/202...
He is an intelligent man, hiw can he believe such nonsense? If the ECHR was to disappear tomorrow it wouldn’t dent the far right vote at all. The UK just had a massive decrease in immigration. Did the far right even pause breath for a second? www.theguardian.com/law/2025/dec...
Starmer urges Europe’s leaders to curb ECHR to halt rise of far right
Exclusive: PM calls for members of European convention on human rights to allow tougher action to protect borders
www.theguardian.com
December 9, 2025 at 9:14 PM
He is an intelligent man, hiw can he believe such nonsense? If the ECHR was to disappear tomorrow it wouldn’t dent the far right vote at all. The UK just had a massive decrease in immigration. Did the far right even pause breath for a second? www.theguardian.com/law/2025/dec...
Reform’s defence policy would save a lot of money. A telephone answering machine with the message “we surrender, we are friends of Donald Trump” in Russian.
December 7, 2025 at 11:52 PM
Reform’s defence policy would save a lot of money. A telephone answering machine with the message “we surrender, we are friends of Donald Trump” in Russian.
Reposted by Stirling Smith
Norwegian Institute of International Affairs and Corisk did the math Europe's politicians haven't.
Arm Ukraine to win: €522-838 billion. Let Russia win and rearm Europe: €1.2-1.6 trillion—double the cost. Plus 6-11 million additional refugees.
Arm Ukraine to win: €522-838 billion. Let Russia win and rearm Europe: €1.2-1.6 trillion—double the cost. Plus 6-11 million additional refugees.
December 6, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Norwegian Institute of International Affairs and Corisk did the math Europe's politicians haven't.
Arm Ukraine to win: €522-838 billion. Let Russia win and rearm Europe: €1.2-1.6 trillion—double the cost. Plus 6-11 million additional refugees.
Arm Ukraine to win: €522-838 billion. Let Russia win and rearm Europe: €1.2-1.6 trillion—double the cost. Plus 6-11 million additional refugees.