Home We believe in a society and economy driven by values, not profits. We are the party of the UK’s co-operative movement.

More information about the Co-operative Party for those who have been asking (I’ve had interesting conversations in lifts and on station concourses since I announced I was standing!): party.coop

If you’re both a Co-operative Party member AND a member of their LGBT+ network, then check your inbox as ballots have just dropped! The online ballot contains more information about why I’m standing 🐝

Niche post: I’m standing for the vacant position on the Co-operative Party’s National Executive Committee from the LGBT+ network.

‘Reimagining matter’: Nobel laureate invents machine that harvests water from dry air Omar Yaghi’s invention uses ambient thermal energy and can generate up to 1,000 litres of clean water every day

In “ tech for lefties” news…

www.theguardian.com/environment/...

“Tories broke Britain” - Couldn’t agree more!

Having done jury service three times now, this is overdue, sensible and proportionate. Trial by jury must remain, but not for a year-long trial for complex fraud involving cryptocurrency, nor is it appropriate and proportionate for the theft of a Mars bar.

Second anti-immigration protest takes place outside children’s home An anti-immigration rally over accommodation being used to house young asylum seekers was met with a counter-protest.

I was at an anti-racist protest outside a children’s home in my ward earlier today where we outnumbered the far right by 3-1. Thanks to @kentonline.co.uk for giving it the coverage it needed. Canterbury is a lovely, hospitable place, but not for extremists.

www.kentonline.co.uk/canterbury/n...

The Telegraph Rayner tax scandal - £40k tax dodge - Statement Angela Rayner dodges £40,000 stamp duty Deputy Prime Minister reduces tax bill for Hove flat by declaring it as her main residence [Photo: Angela Rayner pictured at the weekend in Hove, where she has just bought a flat Credit: Dan Charity/The Sun on Sunday] Robert Mendick Chief Reporter. Amy Gibbons Political Correspondent 29 August 2025 8:57am BST

The Telegraph Money > Property > Second homes How to avoid tax on your second home From stamp duty to council tax, shield your wealth from Labour's tightening net [Photo of houses around a bay - Areas such as Cornwall have added a premium to council tax bills for second homes Credit: iStockphoto] Fran Ivens Senior Money Writer 29 August 2025 1:21pm BST

On the same day in the Telegraph:

I’m hiring a reporter for London Centric, looking for someone smart who can use a phone, knock on doors and wants to cause trouble. Don’t care if you’ve got qualifications, just want evidence of caring about news. Initial six month contract, pay above national rates. www.londoncentric.media/p/jobs

Back Pup and Tiger—Canterbury Needs This Space www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/pup-and-ti...

No problem, and I’ll do everything I can to spread the word 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

June is Pride Month. Let's call out companies who show support for LGBTQ+ people while also advertising on GB News, a channel that pumps out LGBTQ+ hate. Tell these companies to pick a side - hate or Pride: action.goodlawproject.org/pick-side-ha...

We're opening a queer-led art space + café in Canterbury! A home for bold queer art (local + beyond), warm brews, and radical joy. Help us bring it to life 💥

🌈 Support the crowdfund: www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/pup-and-ti...

#PupAndTiger #QueerArt #SupportQueerSpaces #Canterbury

Please, if you can, donate to this much needed cause in Canterbury. At the moment there’s nothing like it in terms of queer spaces. I love what @pupandtiger.bsky.social are planning.

I’m interested in speaking with any of the bus campaign groups in the north of England that have worked to secure bus franchising and public control of routes - now being rolled out or planned to be. Manchester, Yorkshire, Merseyside? Grateful for any thoughts and useful contacts people might have.

…proportional system is not a substitute for effective delivery of manifesto promises or getting policy right. I personally think we have reached that moment where the door is suitably ajar for electoral reform.

I’m optimistic, after all, Labour conference voted for many years running to bring the railways back into full public ownership, and it is now government policy that is being enacted. Nobody should be in any doubt about the lack of proportionality in these latest election results but a more…

Young need a “moral re-education”, says party led by a man who posts photos of himself with rapists.

This just isn’t where voters are. Net zero policies are entirely ‘rational’ and supported by Labour, Tory, Lib-Dem and even many Reform voters, let alone Greens. You just need to bring people with you along the journey and ensure that the transition is just and fair.

Nigel Farage is a political fraud ‘cosplaying’ as working-class champion, TUC chief says Exclusive: Paul Nowak acknowledges voters’ frustrations but says Reform UK hasn’t got the answers, and urges Keir Starmer to resist any move to the right

“He and his party have never run anything – a local council, a parish council. He’s spent a lifetime doing what he accuses others of doing, which is riding the political gravy train”

Farage will take your votes and then take the piss. Don’t give him that chance.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Plus, I can’t see where the track exists linking HS1 to the Midland Main Line north of St Pancras…

I’m more interested in if they’re working hard for their constituents - and interested in their constituents’ lives.

On the other, there are good examples of MPs putting in shifts in professions that they did before they were elected, such as doctors in the NHS.

Some British MPs spending equivalent of a day a week doing second jobs Guardian analysis finds seven MPs have worked at least 300 hours since July in outside employment

On one hand, when so many people are struggling even to put food on the table, £91,000 is more than enough to live on, is it not?

www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Doing our regular councillor surgery at lunchtime today with @feistywomankent.bsky.social and Pat. Always nice to drop by Spring Lane Neighbourhood Centre!

One of the most fascinating days out I’ve ever had - an awesome experience.

I had an incredibly surreal and delightful afternoon there with @paulprentice.bsky.social and @mrtimdunn.bsky.social who was greeted like a god by the gentlemen who ran the trains. And was left in awe by the scale of the operation.

Among many geopolitical arguments for saving British Steel there’s also the fine volunteers who will let you spend an afternoon in Scunthorpe driving a train around the active steel works on a massive private railway past vats of molten metal.

"You will be judged by what you succeed at gentlemen, not by what you attempt."

Clem Attlee, to his cabinet, on the first day of the 1945 Labour government.

The funniest thing about this proposal is the idea that buses would only go in one direction at peak times, as if people’s lives and work fit into neat patterns that match the aspirations of this bizarre transport-based NIMBYism (they don’t like HS2 either, surprise!)