Mel Dawkins

Privatisation broke our water system.

@labourslewis.bsky.social has a people-first, evidence-based alternative, and I’m backing it.

Add your name to the People’s Plan for Water: ​https://actionnetwork.org/forms/water-belongs-to-all-of-us-back-the-peoples-plan-for-water?source=bluesky&​

Get involved | Mainstream Labour Mainstream is the home for Labour’s radical realists - united by values, driven by change

To transform the country and take on the populist right, Labour must heed the voices of its radical realists - and build a principled, practical, popular left alternative.

Join @mainstreamlabour.bsky.social and together we can bring that alternative to life.

www.mainstreamlabour.org/get-involved

Labour MPs poised to rebel over planning bill amid concerns for nature Ministers understood to be drawing up amendments to bill to try to head off threatened rebellion by two dozen MPs

Developers have exploited weak rules for years—landbanking, delaying builds. Time for #useitorloseit policies to break the cycle & fix the backlog.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

#HousingCrisis #PlanningReform #SocialHousing
#SpendingReview

Positive move from Labour to boost investment in social & affordable housing.
But unless we stop Part 3 of the Planning Bill, we risk gutting vital environmental protections.

#KentCountyCouncil

Also what has Farage and Yusuf got to do with Kent council? Don't remember him being voted in. It's a farce.

This is a total waste of time and money. Money that we have paid for. In the meantime officers continue to deliver the services as best they can for SEN , education and all reviews that have been in process are left on hold because Reform have cancelled all the meetings.

All local government information is subject to Freedom of Information and officers are bound to the highest level of accountability ensuring that all procurement, data and financial affairs are done in the most transparent way possible.

The whole DOGE means handing over residents personal information that will breach GDPR regulations and ultimately not find out anything more than we already know and have access too.
voted in?

American style processed used by Musk on a DOGE procedure that the council already do through the meetings they are cancelling, such as the Governance and Audit committee.

Not only has Reform cancelled numerous meetings where operations of the councils work is scrutinised by opposition councillors , they are spending millions of taxpayers money on an

It’s not a rich list – it’s gone far beyond that. We need to talk about ‘extreme wealth’ | Dhananjayan Sriskandarajah We recognise extreme poverty as ruinous, but this turbo-charged affluence is deeply damaging too. Treat it as such, says Dhananjayan Sriskandarajah of the New Economics Foundation

“The man who dies thus rich dies disgraced"
No one needs that much money! Quality of Life should be available to everyone and allowing extreme wealth to prosper in society, tips the balance pushing more in to extreme poverty. #drawalineunderextremewealth
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

'This thing has hijacked my mind': Woman reveals devastating impact of little-known disorder A charity is calling for action on severe hormone-based mood disorder premenstrual dysphoric disorder, after research showed around a third of women with the condition have attempted to take their own...

"It is totally unacceptable that women are not getting the care they need & that their voices are not being heard. This has got to change." Here's hoping the reform in women's healthcare has the impact it so desperately needs, for so many woman!! #womenshealth
news.sky.com/story/this-t...

Launch of Three Cultures exhibition at the @beaney.bsky.social with Gypskazz #music #dance

Microplastics hinder plant photosynthesis, study finds, threatening millions with starvation Researchers say problem could increase number of people at risk of starvation by 400m in next two decades

www.theguardian.com/environment/...

UK scientist wins prize for invention that could help avert ‘phosphogeddon’ Phosphate, key to food production, is choking waterways, but a new sponge-like material returns it to the soil for crops

Bit of a game-changer in the journey to decrease the amount of phosphate in our rivers.Ideally we need to find a way for no pollution in our waters& rivers at all! But this is certainly a good mitigation to clean up our rivers. #cleanrivers #safewater www.theguardian.com/science/2025...

Positive day at the @thefabians.bsky.social annual conference. Politics for real change and not false hope. Progressives politics is to deliver for the many , not the few
Good to bump in to some fellow Fabians whilst there.
#hope

Spiralling demand and shrinking budgets: why England’s Send system is buckling No quick fix for a system that is failing children and parents and pushing councils into insolvency

SENd needs huge overall. Golden tix comment from Kemi Badenoch rather than addressing fact UK has a rise in demand for children with SEN is not helpful. Ive worked in SEN,the provision for children with autism must develop exponentially to meet need. www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024... #asd

The right technology and smart thinking is definitely the way to reach net zero whilst keeping people’s bills down too. #netzero
#climate

So far so good #onhere

Very buzzin night in Canterbury with turning on of the Xmas lights, then the “No Limits street band” playing all brass. #canterbury #brass #livemusic

Will give it a shot !

Fantastic to attend Riverfest talk last night on Plant life & Mammals of River Stour. Hallie Bryant Rounthwaite, Ethnobotanist, Franciscan Gardens & Hazel Ryan Wildwood
Trust.Very interested to learn about common plants such as Water Cress, was an important part of the districts history.

Hanging out with @shishi_coco_444 in Canterbury. #canterbury #canterburycathedral @cburycathedral #friendship

Great night catching up with @fabianwomennetwork women who stood for MP in non target seats. Very inspiring evening, sharing stories, experiences.