Trust in news hits a new low, research suggests bbc.in/4uFL0Zz

Today there was a failure of policing in Edgware. The Jewish community deserves protection. Instead @metpoliceuk proved there is two-tier policing. open.substack.com/pub/gillle…

Makerfield: Reform and its media supporters argue a Burnham victory in Makerfield would be disastrous and that they are the only ones who can stop him. A few points in that: 1) Regardless of why they did it, Reform, in fact, created the conditions in which Starmer got his huge majority in 2024. That is the reason Starmer has been able to do so much harm and, indeed, why we may end up with Burnham as PM. 2) it’s also the reason - despite what Reform tell you - there will not be an early general election. No Labour leader would be so stupid as to call one now with such a massive majority. That majority would get slashed or they’d lose. 3) Reform fought the local elections on “Vote Reform, get Starmer out!” Now Reform, in effect, is saying “Vote Reform, stop Burnham, keep Starmer in!” 4) What would actually be the difference between a Starmer government and a Burnham government? - Starmer governs like a timid senior barrister managing wondering what is defensible. - Burnham thinks like a local politician trying to build legitimacy and public support. - In practice, the two governments would sound and present quite differently, but policies wouldn’t be much different. So, does it much matter if Burnham wins or loses in Makerfield? No, not much. We’ll still have a Labour government with a massive majority in the HoC and its policies will not change significantly, albeit the presentation will be quite different. 5) Is Restore Britain splitting the vote? I guess you can argue it is, but only if some voters prefer Restore to any other party. Surely that’s their choice. What Reform and those saying that Restore should stand down are effectively arguing is that those voters should not be offered that choice. Is that democratic? I think not. 6) Are Reform the only ones who can win and stop Burnham? No. Even if you still think it makes any difference to the country if Burnham wins or loses - which it won’t - Reform is not the only party that can win. The party that gets the most votes will win. So if you want that party to be the Monster Raving Looney Party, vote for them. 7) THE MAIN POINT: You’ve been told all these things and, frankly misled by Reform’s leadership because they want your vote. Nothing more, nothing less. First they said “Vote for us and destroy the Tories (and incidentally give Starmer a huge majority)” which many of you did. Then they said “Vote for us, get Starmer out” which many of you did”. Now they tell you “Vote for us, stop Burnham (and keep Starmer)” And tell me… what in all that time has improved for the country. SUGGESTION Make history in Makerfield. Break the model of manipulation. Don’t vote tactically because a manipulative politician tells you it’s your only option - it is not. Don’t vote against a party or to stop a particular candidate. Vote for the party you actually would like to win.

Shameful: over 200 shadow fleet tankers have reportedly passed UK shores since March (when our government FINALLY announced these vessels would be challenged). Yet it took his own political crisis for Starmer to act.

David Cameron’s A List caused the wrong peopled to be Conservative MPs at the worst possible time. If Kemi selects the right people, why should she be held accountable for past errors? From Ted Heath in 1974 to Margaret Thatcher in 1979. If voters in the 70s refused to see beyond Heath’s uber-wetism, we would never have had the most transformative government of the 20th century. Kemi hasn’t earned the right to be compared to Thatcher but she’s certainly no Heath.

UK has intercepted Russian shadow fleet oil tanker attempting to go through English Channel, says PM Keir Starmer bbc.in/4vsOgc5

Gut wrenching to see four young people jailed for direct action against an arms supplier to Israel. Years in prison for protesting to save lives in Gaza, with 'terrorism' used despite no jury convicting them of it. A truly dangerous attack on the right to protest.

Gut wrenching to see four young people jailed for direct action against an arms supplier to Israel. Years in prison for protesting to save lives in Gaza, with 'terrorism' used despite no jury convicting them of it. A truly dangerous attack on the right to protest.

I condemn any attempt to sell property in the settlements in the West Bank, be that in London or anywhere else in the world. aljazeera.com/news/2026/6/12…

Charlotte Head - 6 years Ellie Kamio - 6 years Fatima Zeinab - 5 years 8 months Samuel Corner - 8 years Head and Corner are particularly deserving of these long sentences. Let the hunger strikes begin! #PalestineAction