This was my original story on this, revealing Labour insiders would rely on Reform to vote in Anas Sarwar as first Minister if the numbers stack up.

Mahmood’s migration changes will deliver fraction of claimed savings, data suggests Exclusive: Analysis of government figures indicates public finances will gain £600m not £10bn if migrants’ access to benefits is reduced

The 'earned settlement' changes will only deliver a fraction of claimed savings, according to the Government's own data.

This totally undermines the Gov's own rationale for going ahead with the disastrous plans.

Thanks to a FOI request by @jdportes.bsky.social

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...

Busted.

Anas Sarwar approached Reform’s leader asking to form an alliance against the SNP.

Source: Reform’s leader.

Och, thank you!

💛 Brilliant to have John Swinney at the Barras this morning, especially announcing Scottish Government support for the refurbishment of the People's Palace and Winter Gardens.

Please read this, understand what the govt is doing & take action. Labour's immigration proposals swap integration for segregation, introduce a Dubai-style Kafala system of coercive employer control & drive low-income families into poverty. They're an abomination.

open.substack.com/pub/wewanted...

👇right there in black and white - Labour are relying on people not voting SNP on the list in Glasgow. That’s their path to Bute House.

On 7 May, don’t risk First Minister Sarwar - make it Both VOTES SNP.

Alison wearing a dark teal coat, colourful scarf and yellow top in front of the arch at the John Street entrance to the City Chambers

🗳️ I lodged the paperwork today to stand as the SNP candidate for Glasgow Central.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 In this election, we can put Scotland's future in Scotland's hands. Westminster doesn't work for Scotland - real change comes from the fresh start only independence can offer.

#BothVotesSNP

Relieved that no serious injuries have been reported after the devastating fire in Glasgow.

My thanks to the emergency services and partners for their hard work overnight.

We will support Glasgow’s recovery and work to get the city centre up and running as quickly as possible.

John Swinney: 'I won't rest until child poverty is eradicated in Scotland' In his Daily Record column, First Minister John Swinney says he will today unveil further steps to tackle child poverty.

Scotland has the lowest child poverty rate in the UK, and 90,000 fewer children live in poverty thanks to our policies.

But decisions at Westminster have too often held us back.

I want to fully eradicate child poverty, and Scotland should have the full powers to do it.

‘Treat us fairly’: skilled workers face having their dream of settling in UK snatched away As government mulls doubling requirement to 10 years, the uncertainty is putting many who came to Britain to work under strain

An economically, politically and morally bankrupt strategy.

Bad for individuals, bad for families, bad for businesses, bad for public services, bad for integration and cohesion.

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...

Union of equals, respected partner, not a branch office, etc etc

💛 So grateful for everyone who has donated so far! Absolute stars.

Denton + Gorton

Hannah Spencer (Green) 14,980
Matthew Goodwin (Reform) 10,578
Angelika Stogia (Labour) 9,364

Charlotte Cadden (Cons) 706
Jackie Pearcey (LibDem) 653

Oink A Lot (Loony) 159
Nick Buckley (Advance) 154
O'Meachair (Rejoin) 98
Clarke (Libertarian) 47
Moore (SDP) 46
Wils (Communist) 29

So that's a Green win in Gorton & Denton, with 40.6%.

Reform second on 28.7%.
Labour third on 25.4%.

Not even particularly close.

We agree! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

#ItsScotlandsEnergy

Fall in UK net migration threatens to carve deep hole in public finances Issue is expected to come under the spotlight in chancellor Rachel Reeves’ Spring Statement

The migration doom loop at work: does anyone in government seriously think that a strategy designed to keep out skilled workers and students makes either economic or political sense?

://www.ft.com/content/7408ad00-e4eb-41c7-8849-36061bc0eac1

SNP's Alison Thewliss MP at the Glasgow City Council count at the Emirates Arena, in Glasgow, in the local government elections. Picture date: Friday May 6, 2022 Stock Photo - Alamy Download this stock image: SNP's Alison Thewliss MP at the Glasgow City Council count at the Emirates Arena, in Glasgow, in the local government elections. Picture date: Friday May 6, 2022. - 2J74GJ4 ...

Cannot be doing with watching a count on tv, it's much more stressful. This is me in my element 😅

www.alamy.com/snps-alison-...

As an election geek, all I am asking for is an uninterrupted live feed of the count hall so I can decide for myself whether I should go to bed. These pundits have never seen doubtful ballots being adjudicated.

six pictures of Alison with activists in locations including Govan, Yorkhill, Dalmarnock, Garnethill and Cessnock

💛 I've been working hard with this fab team of volunteers, listening to voters across the Glasgow Central Scottish Parliament constituency.

🙏 I'd be very grateful if you could help us reach more voters by donating to my crowdfunder.

www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/elect-alis...

Labour are absolutely finished.

Building change: McTaggart Construction’s real Living Wage commitment - Living Wage Scotland Blog from McTaggart Construction The construction sector has long been faced with challenges around low pay, particularly for workers in entry-level and support roles. While skilled trades command…

NEW BLOG from McTaggart Construction on why paying a real Living Wage is a commitment to building stronger people, stronger communities, and a stronger industry: bit.ly/4kN63pQ

#LivingWage #FairWork #Construction #Scotland

#Glasgow

#WallyClose #Tenement #Tile #Tiles #Traditional #Staircase #Entrance #ceramics #Architecture #Archive #Heritage #HiddenScotland #UrbanEx #Design #vintage #NaturalLight #TileStyle #Window #Scottish #Scotland #Photography #Photo #Bannister

Bsky post: 13/02/26

There is a lot of convenient amnesia about Peter Mandelson’s New Labour days. Let’s jog some memories | George Monbiot Yes, he betrayed the national interest in his dealings with Jeffrey Epstein – but also in his sanctioned role as enabler of corporate power, says Guardian columnist George Monbiot

It's disturbing to see how Gordon Brown has whitewashed his reasons for reappointing Mandelson, and his own role in eroding democracy. Mandelson's official business was similar to his unauthorised scheming with Epstein. Don't let them rewrite history.
My column.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

our FT story from June 2023 showed:

Mandelson stayed at Epstein’s $77m townhouse in Manhattan in June 2009 while the financier was in prison for soliciting prostitution from minor

in 2010 and 2011 Epstein noted that “Petie” was with him in Paris, where the financier owned a sumptuous apartment

context: Labour had previously pledged £3bn for community green energy schemes

www.ft.com/content/4c00...

It's about time - too many families have struggled and gone without while UK governments resisted doing the right thing.

Proud to have played my part in keeping the fight to scrap the two child limit and the rape clause on the agenda. Well done to everyone who worked on this campaign.

And it’s the usual Labour response. Make a cut, and then say the Scottish Government should mitigate it. Reeves would take the shirt off your back and tell you to ask Swinney to buy you a new one.

New UK fund 'cutting millions of pounds' from range of Glasgow groups A cut in UK Government funding will hit work being carried out by a range of groups in the city.

Over the next 3 years, the Glasgow City Region will get £60.9 million to be distributed between the area’s 8 councils

Out of that, £18.4m is available for revenue spending - over £10m less than Glasgow City Council alone received previously.

www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/news/2581280...

Please read and share - evidence that the proposals in the Pathways to Work Green Paper will increase the disability employment gap @uoyopenres.bsky.social ; @uoy-yorklawschool.bsky.social