Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Tom Copley @tomcopley.bsky.social · 16h

It was a real pleasure to celebrate the completion of the first of 275 new homes at Calverley Close in Beckenham.

These 20 houses, delivered by Riverside and Vistry, are at social rent levels and part-funded by the Mayor of @london.gov.uk following a ballot of existing estate residents.

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Tom Copley @tomcopley.bsky.social · 5d

Today I visited 106 brand new council homes at Randall Close built by Wandsworth Council and part-funded by the Mayor of @london.gov.uk.

The scheme includes improvements to the public realm, benefiting existing estate residents, and public art reflecting the history of tile making in the area.

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Tom Copley @tomcopley.bsky.social · 5d

“The first day I met her she said, 'I'm a radical feminist lesbian'; I thought what would the Queen Mum do?

“So I just smiled and said, 'We shall have fog by teatime’.”

RIP Dame Patricia

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Tom Copley @tomcopley.bsky.social · 5d

Dame Patricia Routledge had an extraordinary life. A few years ago I saw her “in conversation” in London looking back over her remarkable career from the West End to Broadway to television.

And, of course, she brought to life one of the greatest comedy sketch characters: Kitty.

The Guardian @theguardian.com · 5d

Keeping Up Appearances actor Patricia Routledge dies aged 96

The actor was best known for her role as the pretentious housewife Hyacinth Bucket, and for the series Hetty Wainthropp Investigates Patricia Routledge, the stage and screen actor best known for starring as Hyacinth Bucket in the BBC sitcom Keeping Up Appearances and Henrietta “Hetty” Wainthropp in the television series Hetty Wainthropp Investigates, has died at the age of 96. Routledge was born in Birkenhead, Cheshire, in 1929 and attended the University of Liverpool and the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. She began her career in theatre and musical theatre in 1952, later making her Broadway debut in 1966 in How’s the World Treating You. Routledge would go on to win a Tony award and an Olivier for her stage work, and was a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company for several years, appearing in productions including Richard III, alongside Antony Sher. Continue reading...

www.theguardian.com

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Tom Copley @tomcopley.bsky.social · 5d

Tooth pain is always horrible. But imagine having tooth pain and living on the streets.

I was delighted to help launch Smile for Change, Change Please’s new CQC-certified mobile dental clinic on a transformed bus, providing free dental care to people experiencing homelessness.

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Reposted by Tom Copley

Ben Twomey @bentwomeyuk.bsky.social · 9d

Pleased to be part of so many conversations around housing at #LabourConference.

This morning I’ve asked questions of MPs @lukemurphy.bsky.social, @florenceeshalomi.bsky.social, Joe Powell and Londons Deputy Mayor @tomcopley.bsky.social about renters’ rights and the cost of renting.

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Tom Copley @tomcopley.bsky.social · 9d

Looking forward to joining the panel at Centre for London’s discussion on tackling the housing crisis this morning.

London homebuilding was hit hardest by the toxic legacy of the last government, but the Mayor of @london.gov.uk is working with ministers to turn the tide.

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Tom Copley @tomcopley.bsky.social · 10d

I’m delighted that London has been chosen as the location of two new towns: Crews Hill and Chase Park in Enfield, and Thamesmead Waterfront in Greenwich.

With the right infrastructure these sites could deliver tens of thousands of homes between them. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Plan to build 12 new towns in England to be unveiled at Labour conference

Housing secretary is set to announce initiative modelled on Clement Attlee’s postwar ‘housing boom’

www.theguardian.com

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Tom Copley @tomcopley.bsky.social · 12d

The Women’s Census, which is supported by the Mayor of @london.gov.uk, aims to collect more comprehensive data on women who sleep rough.

In his Rough Sleeping Plan of Action, the Mayor has also committed to a target of ending verification for City Hall’s rough sleeping services by 2028.

Tom Copley @tomcopley.bsky.social · 12d

This morning I attended an outreach shift with members of the Women’s Rough Sleeping Census team.

Women who sleep rough are much more likely to be hidden, and may not be counted as “verified” rough sleepers (ie be seen bedded down), which is a barrier to them accessing services.

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Tom Copley @tomcopley.bsky.social · 12d

Prevention and early intervention are at the heart of the Mayor’s Rough Sleeping Plan of Action.

Cllr @graciemaew.bsky.social and I joined a panel at the Centre for Homelessness Impact’s Impact Forum to discuss how we are working together to drive prevention and tackle all forms of homelessness.

Reposted by Tom Copley

Andrew Copson @andrewcopson.bsky.social · 14d

Born #OnThisDay: Liverpool’s 1st woman MP Bessie Bradock (elected 1945): a trade union activist & politician who devoted her remarkable life to improving the lives of others. One of the early members of the All Party Parliamentary Humanist Group, formed 1960s! heritage.humanists.uk/bessie-bradd...

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Tom Copley @tomcopley.bsky.social · 14d

“We are the greatest city in the world. One of the reasons why record numbers of Americans are coming to live in London… I think I’ve got squatters rights the amount of time I spend rent free inside Donald Trump’s head.” - @sadiqkhanlondon.bsky.social

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Tom Copley @tomcopley.bsky.social · 16d

Just spotted one of the brand new DLR trains being tested at Canning Town.

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Tom Copley @tomcopley.bsky.social · 16d

It’s right that the UK, Canada and Australia have joined the majority of countries and recognised the State of Palestine.

But unless maximum pressure is put on Israel to stop its genocide in Gaza and ethnic cleansing in the West Bank there will be no viable state left to recognise.

The Guardian @theguardian.com · 17d

UK recognises Palestine as an independent state

Deeply symbolic move comes seven decades after end of UK mandate in Palestine and formation of state of Israel The UK has formally recognised Palestine as an independent state, Keir Starmer has announced. The deeply symbolic move comes seven decades after the end of the UK mandate in Palestine and the formation of the state of Israel. It comes in concert with Canada and Australia, who also made their own formal declarations on Sunday. Continue reading...

www.theguardian.com

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Tom Copley @tomcopley.bsky.social · 17d

Just been walking this guy (with his very sharp fresh haircut) and listening to the first episode of the excellent new @empirepoduk.bsky.social series on the history of Gaza.

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Tom Copley @tomcopley.bsky.social · 19d

Great to be out in sunny Barking Riverside today for a Barking Riverside Ltd board meeting.

We also had a look at some of the work taking place on site, including works on the foreshore to protect ecology in advance of improvements to flood defences, drainage and access taking place.

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Tom Copley @tomcopley.bsky.social · 20d

Great to join @metecoban92.bsky.social @perayahmet.bsky.social Cllr Shreya Nanda and Lewis Baston at the London Transport Museum for a panel discussion with TfL and Places for London teams, reflecting on some of the challenges and opportunities for housing in London in the year ahead.

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Tom Copley @tomcopley.bsky.social · 20d

It was great to hear from the new Chair of the Building Safety Regulator, Andy Roe, at #LREF25 about the steps he’s taking to reform the regulator and improve and speed up the application process.

A well functioning BSR is crucial if we are to deliver the safe homes we need.

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Reposted by Tom Copley

Kenan Malik @kenanmalik.bsky.social · 21d

As straightforward a case as you can find of being cancelled not because of spewing hate or celebrating murder but because the most powerful political figures in the land did not like being criticised: news.sky.com/story/jimmy-...

Trump celebrates as Jimmy Kimmel taken off air over Charlie Kirk comments

Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance are among those to cite "left-wing extremism" as a factor in Charlie Kirk's killing - and Jimmy Kimmel used his show to call out perceived hypocrisy among MAGA...

news.sky.com

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Tom Copley @tomcopley.bsky.social · 21d

This is state censorship by the Trump administration. www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio...

Jimmy Kimmel Live! suspended indefinitely after host’s Charlie Kirk comments

ABC says late-night show will not air for foreseeable future after Kimmel accused Republicans of ‘doing everything they can to score political points’ from Kirk’s killing

www.theguardian.com

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Tom Copley @tomcopley.bsky.social · 21d

Sadiq: “What’s happening in Gaza is a genocide.”

Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan @london.gov.uk · 21d

What’s happening in Gaza is a genocide.

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Reposted by Tom Copley

Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan @london.gov.uk · 21d

What’s happening in Gaza is a genocide.

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Tom Copley @tomcopley.bsky.social · 21d

We’re in White City for People’s Question Time this evening, where the Mayor of London and the London Assembly answer questions from Londoners. Topics include transport, environment, housing, policing and London’s economy. #PQT

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Tom Copley @tomcopley.bsky.social · 21d

It was great to speak at #LREF25 about how London can deliver its share of 1.5 million homes.

The Mayor of @london.gov.uk is taking bold action by exploring building on the green belt, committing to a streamlined new London Plan, and making greater use of call-in powers.

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