Iy mentions 39 Lab, 16 Lib Dem, 8 Green!

And Labour "losing its overall majority" by "dropping to 39/63". That was more than half when I was at school (in Southwark).

While STV would give a broadly proportional result, and allow voters to show their preferences across parties (including honest representation between SNP and Greens).

1 I don't want to be picky, but that àdds up to 130, not 129.

2 So a supposedly proportional system could give the SNP almost a majority by winning nearly every constituency seat based on 39% of the vote.

I can't believe Kanye West is the lead on the R4 1800, not the US president threatening to commit genocide tonight.

Holywell Hospital to see 7,000 native trees planted in major seven-year green transformation Northern Trust will plant 7,000 native trees at Holywell Hospital over seven years in a major biodiversity and wellbeing project.

“Planting these trees is not just an environmental milestone - it’s an investment in the wellbeing of our service users and staff.”

Holywell Hospital is set for a major transformation as Northern Trust launches a seven-year plan to plant 7,000 native trees across the site.

More below.

A Grey Seal floats blissfully in calm water with its head tipped back, eyes gently closed and whiskers raised. Its expression and posture radiate quiet satisfaction, like it’s savouring a perfectly peaceful moment.

Waking up and remembering it's a Bank Holiday ...

#MondayMotivation

What impact has 20mph had on road safety in Wales? The introduction of a default 20mph speed limit on restricted roads in Wales in September 2023 generated significant public debate. The policy increased the share of roads with a 20mph limit from 2% to 37% as of September 2023.

Latest Senedd Research report has shown that road casualties in Wales dropped significantly after implementing the default 20mph limit when compared to England and Scotland. Another reason to say #20splenty where people are.

GUEST POST To realise the health benefits of nature we must first admit we are part of it Stuart Whomsley reminds us that, though we evolved as a species surrounded by the blue and green stuff, we also have the power to destroy i...

Liberal England: To realise the health benefits of nature we must first admit we are part of it

In a guest post, Stuart Whomsley reminds us that, though we evolved as a species surrounded by the blue and green stuff, we also have the power to destroy it.

It would be so refreshing for the UK government to stop talking about a reset with the EU and ACTUALLY DO IT …. “PM says Iran war means UK needs 'closer co-operation' with EU - Sky News”

I think 6 and 7 seaters would actually be a good thing, using Councils as constituencies.
Maybe we could discuss that tomorrow?

I commented last week on BBC NI negativity.
Tonight, BBC NI's Newsline 22.30 ignored the substance of the debate on Summer Schemes in Special Schools and focused on attacks across the chamber.
It seems to be a case of the BBC saying:
"All you do is squabble, but all we will cover is squabbling."

Join a farm walk and lunch on a #regenerative rapeseed farm. Hear about how innovation & working with nature enables the Kane family to run a profitable business. 🌻

Book now 👉 www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/growing-gold-regenerat...

#NFFNNI

Image of Stormont Parliament Buildings with pictures of Education Minister Paul Givan, and Health Minister Mike Nesbitt. Text reads: Save SEN Summer Schemes. Alliance is recalling the Assembly over East to force the Education and Health Ministers to act on saving SEN summer Schemes.

Once again, vulnerable children are paying the price of inaction and parents are left scrambling for alternatives that don’t exist.

Alliance has submitted a petition to recall the Assembly and ensure the Health and Education Ministers get it fixed.

My comments detailing the excellent report, contrasted with negative report by BBC focusing on drugs.

Congratulations to @niprisons.bsky.social on the excellent inspection report on Magilligan. Top grades across all four areas.
But what a pity that BBCNI is so negative.

Nigel Farage wants you to forget that he has always followed Donald Trump’s foreign policy.

He’s keeping quiet on Iran because he’s nowhere, absolutely nowhere. This clip shows how far back his support for the war goes.

Please share it, expose it.

Re your point on Northern Ireland:
The "few moderates in the middle" hold 18 of 90 Assembly seats and there are significant movements of voters between the "middle" and the two 40% blocks (mostly towards the "middle" recently).

Not necessarily.
"People who cast a vote in Wales" does not mean "Welsh people".
I've seen claims (based on polling) that a Welsh majority voted Remain, but incomers swayed the "votes cast in Wales" total.

Image of pipe pumping sewage into NI waterway. Text reads: We're increasing fines for water pollution.

No polluter should be let off the hook for polluting our rivers, lakes and loughs. 

Alliance Minister @andrewmuirni.bsky.social is taking action:
💧 Ending NI Water's by-ball to pump raw sewage into our waterways
💧 Increasing water pollution fines
💧 Introducing fixed penalty notices

Apparently Trump thinks that he is not dealing with Winston Churchill.
Is that a surprise?
I have a feeling that most of the world thinks they are not dealing with Franklin Roosevelt.

My 6th and last Assembly election, with @allianceparty.bsky.social holding all 8 seats easily (relative term 🙄) - despite reduction in total seats - and coming close in 2 others. The seeds of growth in 2022 were sown in 2017.

The real lesson to take from Gorton and Denton is for the future of UK democracy | Institute for Government Westminster is dangerously underprepared for a multi-party future.

"If casting a vote starts to feel more like participating in a lottery than making a positive and principled decision, then voters are going to become ever more frustrated." First Past the Post needs to go - ask your MP to include it in the new Bill.
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/gort...

Every patriot missile fired against Iranian missiles in the Gulf is one that could have been used to defend Kyiv or Kharkiv.

Dydd Gwyl Dewi hapus!

To my friends in and from Wales and my namesakes wherever they are, whatever language they speak:

Happy St David's Day!

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

19 Feb showed this: 3 Council by-elections, Lab lost all 3.
Reform managed 1 2nd place.
Plaid gained 1.
Green gained 1.
Lib Dem gained 1.
Looks like a lot of tactical voting amongst centre left voters.

See Dublin. 11 constituencies with 'Dublin' in name.

Even I knew that!

Which is worse, Rob: the Greens quoting you out of context or Labour publishing such a dodgy bar chart?

Over 50 Academics Warn That Voting System Is Not Fit For Multi-Party Politics Dozens of academics have written to the government to warn that the current voting system risks producing distorted results on an 'unprecedented' s...

Over the weekend, more than 50 academics urged the government to shift away from first-past-the-post, warning that it is not designed to handle multi-party politics

The letter, shared with PolHome, said it risks electoral "distortions" on an "unprecedented" scale at the next general election

Just wondering ....

Is it now BBC policy to report claims by every arrested person that they "do not believe they have done anything wrong"?

Perhaps it only applies to the "great and good" (sic).