World Cup Quiz Question 1. Which is the only one of the 48 nations when they line up to sing their National Anthem don't have one of their own to sing? A. @JoeMulhall_ @philbc3

Except, I heard you say, unless they are Irish people killed by the Brits.

Labour needs a leader who actually enjoys the job Andy Burnham might be a “people pleaser” – but what’s wrong with that? Me in @NewStatesman: newstatesman.com/politics/uk… Labour needs a leader who actually enjoys the job - New Statesman

The “return of the state” is both the most compelling case for Andy Burnham and the reason journalists still struggle to understand “Burnhamism”. New Labour’s aversion to nationalisation is now as out of date as Old Labour was in the 1990s. The records of both Margaret Thatcher and Tony Blair show the case for having a clear ideology, and the first two years of this Labour government have tested to destruction the idea that having no guiding political philosophy benefits a government. An activist state with the “Green transition” at its heart, with a commitment to municipal enterprise and council-house building, one that shapes the economy rather than blowing in the wind and earns “royalties” from its investments and the IP it supports, is a break with past decades. And so it should be – Thatcher and Blair were the bookends of the long late seventies. This is the second quarter of the 21st century – we need to make it new. It’s time for a real change. A rejection of the glum politics of “like it or lump it – we’re taking away your Winter Fuel Payment, because!” Time to try a leader who enjoys their job, makes a persuasive case for changes and works to create a coalition to support his actions. The 2029 general election will be as definitional for the country as 1979. The end of neoliberal governance opens a new era – for progressives, one that is resolutely upbeat and optimistic. @Johnmcternan: Labour needs a leader who actually enjoys the job newstatesman.com/politics/uk…

No one who believes that Irish families do not deserve justice should be anywhere near Labour leadership. And disgracefully smearing those families is of a part with the arrogance that made the Brits feel they were untouchable.

"Neither Trump nor Infantino but International Footballism." I am not now, nor have I ever been, a member of the @SWP_Britain. Or their more free-thinking predecessors the International Socialists. But I've always had a sneaking regard for their slogan "Neither Washington nor Moscow but International Socialism"... @MarkPerryman's idiosyncratic critique of World Cup 2026. Here philosophyfootball.com/news.…

"Neither Trump nor Infantino but International Footballism." My idiosyncratic @MarkPerryman critique of World Cup 2026, feat a dash of Trotsky and Marx, of World Cup 2026. Here: philosophyfootball.com/news.… @philbc3 @joecguinan

I recently hosted UNISON care workers in parliament, supporting their Fair Visa campaign. These are people who came to the UK to care for the most vulnerable, but the Government’s proposals risk leaving them in limbo. I’ll continue working with them to secure a fair system that recognises their contribution. @UNISONEastern

Really looking forward to doing an event on 'The Starmer Symptom for Newark Labour this Saturday just 48 hours after the Makerfield by-election. Superb timimg for what promises to be be an excellent discussion. If you're in the area drop in, all welcome. outsavvy.com/event/36434/aut…

We need to get away from this war mindset. Avoiding wars - as when we correctly refused to join the Iran War - is better than fighting them.

Excellent summary of the mainstream Labour critique of the blank cheque the military political complex are demanding. As I told the BBC and Sky - a country has to be worth fighting for.

Don't believe everything you read on right-wing medias, in papers and more. The shirt Hannah Spencer wore at PMQ's is a 15 year old charity shop find, not a £2,000 Gucci purchase like many would want you to believe! 🤥 Why would people spread misinformation about Hannah? Hmm?

Reason #1,000,000,000,000 why we should tax the rich.

LOL. Profoundly unserious political intervention. The cash is in the triple lock - that’s what swells the welfare budget. Also, wondering how cutting AME helps DEL. Let alone capital spend.

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BIG NEWS! We just (soft) launched Zeteo UK, a new standalone publication from Zeteo based in the UK, covering the UK. It's our first international expansion, with big-name contributors and reporters. Check out the trailer below and then subscribe to Zeteo UK (link in reply):

As violent racist pograms occur in Belfast we must make sure we understand the rise of the extreme right. We need to make sure we learn from the past so we can build the organisations we need to push them back. David Renton is a good place to start. 👇 youtu.be/5pl_yzo90c8

The many takes flying around about John Healey, resignation gossip and national security spending miss a fundamental point. In Finland, where people have a strong social safety net and a real sense of shared national purpose, around 80% say they would be prepared to defend their country. In the UK, that figure is closer to 30%. That should tell us something. Until we change the financial architecture of our economy and bring the essentials of life out of the grip of corporate extraction and into public ownership, we will always be told to choose between bombs and butter. But the reality is we need both. Modern hybrid warfare means every public service is part of our national resilience. Energy, water, housing, health, transport, food security and social care are not separate from defence. They are defence. If we want people to defend the country, we have to build a country people believe is worth defending. A thriving state. A fair economy. A society where everyone feels they have a stake. I spoke about this on Peston on Monday night.

Sandy Martin of @Labour4PR is the guest on @LabourHub Labour Left Podcast. We discuss PR in tte wider context of a struggle for democracy, put the socialist case for electoral reform & consider how we can get the job done. Please share. #Labour4PR 1/4

Wow I think nothing could illustrate better that Trump and FIFA don’t completely own football. These pictures illustrate how it is in part the people’s game and we must fight Trump, FIFA & Infantino every inch of the way.