Julian Gibbs

We must turn Labour around, deputy leadership frontrunner warns Starmer Exclusive: Lucy Powell takes aim at PM over ‘missteps and mistakes’, saying she was sacked for opposing cuts and that the party must reconnect with lost voters – but not by copying Reform

We need Labour to get back on track and that means making changes to the way we do things, re-connecting with our communities.

That’s what I will do as Deputy Leader.

Voting closes noon Thursday.

The Co-operative Party is pleased to support Labour and Co-operative MP Lucy Powell @lucympowell.bsky.social for Deputy Leader of the Labour Party.

The religion of Ronald Blythe The writer’s holy communion with the natural world was—is—an inspiration for believers and nonbelievers alike

Who has more to say to wavering and would-be churchgoers?

The Anglican hierarchy? Or a “gay aesthete and naturalist born in dire poverty and sustained by a web of close friends”?

Boyd Tonkin makes the case for Ronald Blythe: www.prospectmagazine...

Labour must hear and heed the voice of its Mainstream.

We're honoured to have Mayor of Manchester @andyburnham.bsky.social join us to help unlock the transformative potential of the Labour Party.

More here: www.mainstreamlabour.org/about

Vaccine warning for England as one in five children start school unprotected Experts say country needs ‘wake up call’ with levels far below those needed for herd immunity

This is sadly not surprising and should not be separated from the rise of extremism, distrust and misinformation across a range of social media platforms (as well as in some legacy media outlets) since the COVID-19 pandemic.

UK MPs voice alarm at rise in online abuse over immigration debate After further demonstrations at hotels housing asylum seekers, MPs say harassment is worse than during Brexit

The rise of hate and extremism online should have been addressed by government and parliament a year ago in the aftermath of the riots. There is complacency across the political spectrum, and remarkably most MPs remain on X despite the way its owner and algorithm operate. Wake up!

Framed abstract artworks displayed on a dark blue wall, each with a light wooden frame and white mount. The top left piece features a bold magenta block with black linear details and the title “Salute” in black text beneath. Below it, another composition combines vivid magenta with dark grey and black shapes in a layered, textured style. Two additional partial artworks are visible to the right, one with yellow and black, the other with orange and black. “COLOUR SHAPE PATTERN” and the Christchurch Mansion logo appear in white at the bottom left.

Make a date with modern art.

Your ticket to Colour Shape Pattern includes access to the rest of Christchurch Mansion, so you can see Constable and ceramics too: ipswich.cimuseums.org.uk/colour-shape...

'Californian Morning' (mid 20thc) by US printmaker Emmy Lou Packard (1914-1998), close friend of Frida Kahlo's #WomensArt #Sunday

Looking forward to this, Emma. Good luck.

My new album, “The Resurrection Game” is out on September 12 on Tiny Ghost Records 💜

This record was made with love, care, exquisite longing, and an excess of 21st century romantic angst.☀️

Limited edition vinyl + pre-save link for streaming is here:

linktr.ee/emmaswiftsin...

Brian Wilson, visionary creative spirit for the Beach Boys, dies aged 82 Musician, who suffered from mental health problems, wrote and produced the 1966 album Pet Sounds – seen by many as the greatest album of all time Brian Wilson, the Beach Boys musician, songwriter and producer who created some of history’s most purely beautiful pop music, has died aged 82. In a post shared on Instagram on Wednesday, Wilson’s family wrote: “We are heartbroken to announce that our beloved father Brian Wilson has passed away. We are at a loss for words right now. Please respect our privacy at this time as our family is grieving. We realize that we are sharing our grief with the world. Love & Mercy.” Continue reading...

Brian Wilson, visionary creative spirit for the Beach Boys, dies aged 82

Our Labour Government's expansion of Free School Meals will mean 6,500 more children in Ipswich will benefit from a free nutritious meal every school day.

It will save families £500 a year, and help lift children out of poverty.

Link to my East Anglian Daily Times / Ipswich Star column below 👇

Happy Pride Month from all of us at the Co-operative Party!

This Pride Month, and every month, we celebrate our LGBTQ+ Co-operators and stand with LGBTQ+ communities across the UK. 🏳️‍🌈✊

Make this weekend count. Here’s three things you can do to help protect abortion access in England and Wales before Monday - please share to spread the word and let’s do this!

Find the 38 degrees petition here you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/de...

Happy Birthday to David Byrne, lead singer and guitarist of the Talking Heads, born on this day in 1952, Dumbarton, Scotland

Talking Heads - Psycho Killer (Earliest Live Video, Live at CBGB's,1975)

#punkrock #postpunk #newwave #davidbyrne #talkingheads #history #otd

There is growing support for the recognition of a Palestinian state amongst parliamentarians.

Alongside Labour colleagues I have written to the government urging them to support recognition at the UN conference in June as a first step towards a durable peace and negotiations.

Don’t let a man who is hardly at his own desk make you an absent parent or carer.

Flexible working means more people can balance caring and career commitments - research consistently shows it makes a workforce happier, healthier and crucially there’s no loss of productivity.

Our future. Not his.

Screenshot. Disappointing but not unexpected that Farage thinks he can immediately threaten local government workers in the councils Reform will control. Think again - this isn’t the USA - we have laws that protect workers - a Labour government strengthening those laws, that Reform ALWAYS vote against in parliament, and most importantly strong unions that will ALWAYS stand up for their members. We love a challenge in UNISON. Think again Nige - not a good idea!!

Christina McAnea: Disappointing but not unexpected that Farage thinks he can immediately threaten local government workers in the councils Reform will control.

Think again - this isn’t the USA - we have laws that protect workers strong unions that will ALWAYS stand up for their members.

Barry Blitt’s cover for this week’s issue, “The First Hundred Days.” #NewYorkerCovers nyer.cm/ysrCZ47

Vote Adele Cook @ipswichlabour.bsky.social @coopparty.party.coop today for #Suffolk CC St John’s by-election #VoteLabour #Ipswich

Adele will be in your corner, working for you.

On the 1st of May, voters across the country will have the opportunity to vote for Co-operative candidates like Anna Smith.

Our candidates are standing up for communities, championing local ownership, and delivering real change from the ground up. Vote Labour & Co-operative on Thursday 1st of May.

Painting of a pink full moon in a dusky blue sky over the sea

#PinkMoon Over Water"
by Georgia O'Keeffe. 1923 #WomensArt #FullMoon #SuperMoon

At least Dylan has stayed in ‘fashion’ - always on his own terms.

Michael Longley, our Confucian sage One of the finest poets of the English language died recently. Here is the verse by which you can know him

A letter from a murdered ice-cream seller’s mother meant more to Michael Longley than “all the good reviews I’ve ever had”.

Meet the self-described “sentimental atheist” whose poetry touched lives across sectarian divides: www.prospectmagazine...

OPINION: Breakfast clubs will boost outcomes for children in Ipswich In his opinion column this week, Jack Abbott discusses the news that 15 schools in Suffolk will be among the first to offer free, daily breakfast…

Labour's new breakfast clubs will be transformational, boosting educational outcomes and life chances for children, and easing the cost of living for parents.

I'm delighted that schools in Ipswich and Suffolk will benefit from the first phase.

My East Anglian Daily Times / Ipswich Star column 👇

Thanks, John. Wonderful music. Be not so Fearful.

Bill Fay 1943-2025 In memory of the great singer-songwriter Bill Fay, who has died

I've quickly written something for @mojomagazine.bsky.social about wonderful Bill Fay. www.mojo4music.com/articles/sto...

Pleasing to hear @zaytouncic.bsky.social referred to as a great social business to support.

Great to hear #cooperative values referenced by #Peterborough MP @andrewpakes.bsky.social at @coopparty.party.coop East /South East Conference as a bulwark to the current global news.

‘End the dental desert’: Plans for 15,000 emergency dental appointments welcomed by MP Plans for more than 15,000 dental appointments have been welcomed by an MP.

🦷 15,500 desperately needed dental appointments for our area, delivering on the promise we made.

Combined with the important work being undertaken at the University of Suffolk Dental CIC, I hope we will soon be able to put an end to our county’s dental desert.