‘Things could go backwards’: Kezia Dugdale on safety, LGBTQ+ rights and the future of Stonewall Exclusive: Former Scottish Labour leader says she feels more scared as a lesbian today and calls for a kinder debate on transgender issues

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

A performer dressed in white with a red sash waves a large England flag in Trafalgar Square, with the National Gallery and crowds in the background.

Our St George’s Day celebrations return to Trafalgar Square on Sunday 19 April. Grab some street food, catch a live performance, and celebrate everything brilliant about England.

See what’s on and plan your day: www.london.gov.uk/events/st-ge...

A lilac sticky note pinned to a calendar on Thursday 1 April 2026, reading "Autism Acceptance Month" in bold white text with a dark outline, with the subtext "Awareness tells you something exists. Acceptance means making space for it." The Neurodiversity in Law logo sits in the bottom right corner.

April is Autism Acceptance Month. At Neurodiversity in Law, we are marking the occasion and being intentional about the word "acceptance."

Two large digital screens on the Outernet London building display messages from the Mayor of London with pastel trans‑flag‑coloured line designs. One screen shows the text “MAYOR OF LONDON,” and the other reads: “London stands with the trans community, today and every day.” People walk through the entrance below.

The Outernet London building shows a large digital screen with the message: “On Trans Day of Visibility,” surrounded by looping pastel lines in trans flag colours. Pedestrians walk past the building on the busy street corner.

A large digital screen on the Outernet London building displays a message reading: “You are loved and wanted in our city. #LondonForEveryone.” The screen features pastel lines in the colours of the trans flag. People stand in the public space below the display.

London stands with the trans community, today and every day.

On Trans Day of Visibility, remember you are loved and wanted in our city 🏳️‍⚧️

Alice Augusta Ball found the cure for leprosy at 23.

She died in a mysterious lab accident at 24.

Arthur Dean stole her research, stole it and renamed it from "The Ball Method" to "The Dean Method."

It took 90 years before her original research papers were found and she got the credit due to her.

End the sewage pollution scandal We're sick of it. Sick of the lies, sick of the greed, and sick of a system rigged against us. This is a scandal and this dirty business must end. For more than 30 years water companies have put corpo...

Did you watch Dirty Business? I can't believe how much water companies have gotten away with. They're putting profit before public health - it’s a scandal and the Government MUST take action! Sick of sewage? Add your name to the petition today: you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/pr...

Seen in South London today.

@jessphillipsmp.bsky.social. Sitting at a table with 3 amazing intelligent politically engaged women reflecting on the state of politics here & overseas. Thinking about politicians with genuine passion and integrity - yours was the name all of us came up with first. Thank you for your amazing work.

UN experts urge UK to ensure equal protection for all women and girls and all transgender people GENEVA – The United Kingdom must ensure its ongoing review of statutory guidance under the Equality Act remains compatible with international human rights law and upholds equal protections for all tra...

www.ohchr.org/en/press-rel...

It has been annoying me that I couldn’t find the source of this legislation which doesn’t even seem to be in Megarry & Wade, so I have carried out a better search.

The answer is s.75(1) Mission and Pastoral Measure 2011 which, despite the jargon-tastic title includes this provision.

Since the #Olympics are on, let's repost a classic thread here: a brief history of the practice of "sex verification" in sport.

Content warning: This thread will mention anti-intersex discrimination, FGM practices and body shaming.

Sir Guenter Treitel came to the UK on the Kindertransport. He became the foremost authority on English contract law.
Famously, he held the Rolling Stones to their contract to play the Magdalen Ball in 1964 for £100 - they had suddenly become superstars after being booked as unknowns in 1963.

🤣

Billable hour Bake Off?

Oh no. Wishing you better an busy soon.

More energy, more passion: The five big tests for Labour in 2026 The government must think bigger and braver than they did in 2025.

I wrote for @theleaduk.bsky.social about Labours five big tests this year: the economy, public services, the rising far-right, Britains place in the world and Starmer’s own authority.

open.substack.com/pub/theleadu...

Portrait of a woman wearing a jeweled headpiece, teardrop earrings, and a detailed lace collar over a patterned red gown with ruffled sleeves, set against a dark green draped background.

She was known as La Señora.

Born Beatriz de Luna, she later lived as Doña Gracia Mendes Nasi. A 16th-century banker, philanthropist, and protector of Jews. Her name rarely shows up, so I think it's important to talk about her now.
1/10

‘Of course he abused pupils’: ex-Dulwich teacher speaks out about Farage racism claims Exclusive: Chloë Deakin tells how she wrote to Dulwich college master to argue against Farage’s nomination as prefect

‘Of course he abused pupils’: ex-Dulwich teacher speaks out about Farage racism claims

The Embassy staff of Germany, France and the United Kingdom sing Schedryk in the Kyiv underground.
Wonderful!

Christmas can be a tough time for many. If you or someone you care about needs mental health support, help is available:

NHS 111: 111.nhs.uk/triage/check...

Samaritans: samaritans.org/how-we-can-h...

Mind Charity: mind.org.uk/information-...

Shout: giveusashout.org

Thanks to our Rainbow Map, we have clear data showing which countries are advancing equality and which are falling behind. Activists use it to hold leaders to account.

Your donations help produce this benchmark and turn data into real rights 👉 https://qrco.de/ilgaeurope2025

The Menorah has returned to Trafalgar Square for Chanukah.

Jewish Londoners and people of all backgrounds came together to reflect and celebrate Chanukah’s timeless message of hope, resilience and the triumph of light over darkness.

Maybe it makes me a geek but it’s really a joy to read and disappear into the topics discussed.

A speaker stands on a stage in front of a large screen reading “Happy Hanukkah,” with a menorah and Star of David graphics displayed behind him at Chanukah on the Square.

A large illuminated menorah stands in Trafalgar Square at night, reflected in a nearby fountain, with people gathered around during Chanukah on the Square.

Deputy mayors and community representatives stand in front of a lit menorah in Trafalgar Square during Chanukah on the Square.

Two people smile at the camera while holding a small dog dressed in a festive outfit, attending Chanukah on the Square at night.

As Jewish families across London came together for the third night of Chanukah, the Menorah was lit on Trafalgar Square - a symbol of hope and resilience in the heart of our city.

Faced with darkness, I urge all Londoners to stand with our Jewish brothers and sisters.

The attack at a Hanukkah celebration in Sydney today was a vile act of antisemitic terror. I mourn those who were murdered and will be keeping their families, the Jewish community, and the Chabad movement in my prayers. May the memories of all those killed be a blessing. While we are still waiting for all the facts to emerge, what we already know is devastating. At least 11 dead, including Rabbi Eli Schlanger, who held deep ties to Crown Heights. At least 29 injured. Another Jewish community plunged into mourning and loss, a holiday of light so painfully reduced to a day of darkness. This attack is merely the latest, most horrifying iteration in a growing pattern of violence targeted at Jewish people across the world. Too many no longer feel safe to be themselves, to express their faith publicly, to worship in their synagogues without armed security stationed outside. What happened at Bondi is what many Jewish people fear will happen in their communities too. On Bondi Beach today, as men with long guns targeted innocents, another man ran towards the gunfire and disarmed a shooter. Tonight, as Jewish New Yorkers light menorahs and usher in a first night of Hanukkah clouded by grief, let us look to his example and confront hatred with the urgency and action it demands. When I am Mayor, I will work every day to keep Jewish New Yorkers safe—on our streets, our subways, at shul, in every moment of every day. Let this be a purpose shared by every New Yorker, and let us banish this horrific violence to the past.

The Organised Dehumanisation of Dr Upton How Rowling Weaponised a Simple Employment Tribunal.

An important read

medium.com/@missfredawa...

Trump DOJ omits data about trans people from prison sexual violence reports The reports exclude any demographic data, days after a memo revealed plans to dismantle prison rape protections for trans and intersex people

Another one from me: The Trump administration has omitted data about trans people from prison sexual violence reports.
prismreports.org/2025/12/11/d...

Merry Christmas All

To all my many friends in social-media-land, Merry Christmas!

I know this will be the last day of work for some taking an extended break.

In lieu of the Christmas card you all deserve but I can’t possibly provide, do have a copy of my Christmas Puzzle which you may care …