“If you invest in poverty reduction, in strong institutions, in mitigating and adapting to climate change; these are elements that will help you to stabilise the world.”
- Alexander De Croo, administrator of the UNDP and former prime minister of Belgium

Iran war could plunge 32 million into poverty, says United Nations ‘Development in reverse’ taking place involving rising energy and food costs and weaker economic growth

“Investments in development, to say it in military terms, they are the ultimate pre-emptive strike. Why you do a pre-emptive strike? You do it to avoid a conflict starting. That is what development does."

www.theguardian.com/society/2026...

Incredible - and hope giving - result in Hungary. Among the victories it is a rebuke of JD Vance’s attempt to influence the result. A good day for democracy and for Europe.

www.theguardian.com/world/live/2...

Incredible - and hope giving - result in Hungary. Among the victories it is a rebuke of JD Vance’s attempt to influence the result. A good day for democracy and for Europe.

www.theguardian.com/world/live/2...

Reeves plans to give England’s regional leaders a share of national tax revenues Chancellor seeks ‘genuine break with the past’ in tackling centralised and ‘geographically unequal’ country

Devolving money and tax raising powers is a pivotal move for the UK economy and for regional growth. This, plus clear statements on the EU and trade, make this a welcome and important speech.

www.theguardian.com/business/202...

Lots of support for Labour’s Angeliki Stogia this afternoon in Gorton and Denton 🌹

I’d guess neither you nor the author has spent time talking to voters in the constituency, which I have for some days. Labour’s vote is holding up. Many ‘don’t knows’ or voters leaning Reform or Green are open to Labour’s message, and are coming home to Labour after a doorstep conversation.

Neighbour does not hate neighbour in Gorton and Denton. That’s why Labour will beat Reform | Angeliki Stogia We see Thursday’s byelection as a straight fight between us and Farage’s poisonous politics, says Angeliki Stogia, Labour’s candidate in the Gorton and Denton byelection

“Because beneath the noise, the speculation and the social media spin, this contest has become something very clear: a straight fight between Labour and Reform.”

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

I reposted it with a better version of the photo - no drama

Gorton and Denton | E14001251 The latest forecast for Gorton and Denton

pollingreport.uk/seats/E14001...

Great to be in Gorton and Denton yesterday to campaign for brilliant Labour candidate Angeliki Stogia.

Voters have a choice: a Reform candidate who thinks people born here aren't British, or a Labour candidate bringing communities together.

Vote Labour on Thursday🌹

Great to be in Gorton and Denton today to campaign for brilliant Labour candidate Angeliki Stogia.

Voters have a choice: a Reform candidate who thinks people born here aren't British, or a Labour candidate bringing communities together.

Vote Labour on Thursday🌹

Reform would create ICE-style agency and end leave to remain, Zia Yusuf to say Nigel Farage’s party plans to deport up to 288,000 people a year on five flights a day and expand stop and search

After news of ICE in the US, the killings of Renee Good & Alex Pretti, Reform may find there’s very limited appetite for a tribute act in the UK.
British people don’t want their neighbours deported, or armed police squads in the streets.
This is overreach.

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

It was great to campaign for the brilliant Angeliki Stogia on Saturday in Gorton and Denton.

Also great to see @mayorofgm.bsky.social @sarahsmithlab.bsky.social @lucympowell.bsky.social and many more Labour friends.

A vote for Angeliki is a vote for unity not division 🌹

UK and EU to explore renewed talks on defence cooperation Keir Starmer says he wants to ‘go further’ in relations with Brussels as ministers look to restart stalled negotiations

The UK and EU should swiftly conclude talks on UK membership of SAFE. It’s in both sides’ clear interest, all the more given recent choices in the US administration and ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

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

Tories call EHRC chair’s comments a ‘disgrace’ after she warns ‘demonisation of migrants’ bad for UK – politics live Chris Philp says Mary-Ann Stephenson is dismissing ‘legitimate concerns about mass migration’

www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...

It’s a sad indictment on our politics that these comments from Mary-Ann Stephenson are regarded as controversial or inadmissible by the Tories and Reform.

The migration debate has become needlessly toxic, which harms both migrants and the nation.

We must reduce tensions now.

UK to rejoin EU’s Erasmus student exchange programme Exclusive: British students will be able to participate in EU-wide scheme from January 2027, sources say

Welcome news and a huge boost to young people - glad to see

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/d...

The climate coalition fractured at COP30 – but a new alliance could turn the tide The result was a COP where the foes of ambition were emboldened, its proponents frustrated, and in which countries which could have shown leadership, such as China and India, refused to step up.

The climate coalition fractured at COP30 – but a new alliance could turn the tide

My take on COP30 in @leftfootforward.bsky.social

leftfootforward.org/2025/12/the-...

The end of the cruel two child benefit cap is incredibly welcome, the single biggest measure the Government could have taken to reduce child poverty, enabling more of Britain’s children to get a decent start in life. A moment to cheer.

Starmer condemns Farage for failing to take action against Reform MP’s ‘racist’ comments about black and Asian people – UK politics live Farage repeatedly refuses to call Sarah Pochin’s remarks racist, saying they were ‘ugly, clumsy’ and should be taken in context of ‘DEI madness’

Entirely right for Keir Starmer to call out Sarah Pochin’s blatantly racist comments. The fact that Nigel Farage hasn’t removed her whip, nor accepted the racist core of her comments, tells us all we need to know about him and his failure to lead.

www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...

Impact of Brexit on UK economy even worse than critics predicted, says chancellor – UK politics live Rachel Reeves also highlights austerity and lack of capital spending as key harms to UK economy

This is welcome - and correct. Brexit caused huge harm to the economy, and more to our global standing, and our ability to collaborate with the EU on defence, policing, climate and more.

www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...

Israel suspends aid into Gaza and launches ‘massive wave of attacks’ – Middle East crisis live Ceasefire close to total collapse as Israeli military says it has launched strikes in response to ‘blatant violation’ of agreement by Hamas

Horrific mews. If Trump and alliés really want peace they need to commit to ongoing, painstakimg action. This cannot go on.

www.theguardian.com/world/live/2...

Climate investment is only growth opportunity of 21st century, says leading economist Lord Stern says fossil-fuelled growth is futile as the damage it causes ends in economic self-destruction

Lord Stern was right in 2006 and he’s right now - investing to prevent climate chaos is the only viable growth story of the 21st century, and a far cheaper way to power our économies due to lower upfront costs and the saved cost of avoided harms.

www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Trump campaign to block global shipping emissions deal falters US set to be faced down by industry powers, including China, EU, India and UK

Trump campaign to block global shipping emissions deal falters

Unequivocally good news - and testament to the limits of Trump’s anti-climate agenda

on.ft.com/47wjMv1

‘If we act now, we still have time to shape our future, and positively impact national security, national health, economic growth and climate change. If we do not, change will be forced on us by crisis.’

www.theguardian.com/environment/...

It’s been a long time coming. With an honest debate about the all
too real harms caused by Brexit we can finally move on and talk about how to fix them. The opportunities this could open - for the economy, trade, defence and culture - are huge.

www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/202...

For all today’s real and justified relief a huge task remains. The path to peace must include a recognition of harms committed and true justice.

‘Trump is like a juggernaut’: how the Gaza ceasefire deal was done Sidelines chat at UN was turning point for US president, but others also have right to claim role in end of two-year war

There is much to be hoped for, an grateful for, in news coming from Gaza and negotiations between the US, Israel, Hamas and Gulf States

The tragedy is that these discussions and decisions are happening now, and not at any other point in the last 2 years

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...