Julian Gibbs

🚨 NEW: As announced today in the Budget, the Government has published its call for evidence for co-op growth.

Launching this investigation on the day of the Budget sends a clear message: this government is committed to growing the co-operative economy.

GB News urged to cut ties with contributor accused of racism Rightwing activist claimed Commons deputy speaker Nusrat Ghani should be barred because she was born in Pakistan GB News is facing calls to cut ties with a regular contributor who has been accused of racism after claiming that the House of Commons deputy speaker, Nusrat Ghani, should not be allowed in the house because she was born in Pakistan. The comments by Lucy White, a rightwing activist, have drawn criticism from across the political spectrum amid warnings that explicitly racist language is becoming increasingly normalised in British life. Continue reading...

GB News urged to cut ties with contributor accused of racism

Good to hear the Chancellor identify the legacy of Brexit as one of the reasons our economy needs investment - the damage it has done is stark.

To offer any chance of salvaging British businesses and jobs affected, this budget shows we need to go further in the EU reset

‘The budget give Labour an opportunity to unleash grassroots growth through co-operation’ – LabourList In his speech to this year’s Labour Conference, the Prime Minister spoke of the need to “grow our economy from the grassroots”. He was clear…

With the right support, co-operatives, credit unions and thriving high streets will be key to community-led growth argues @jimmcmahon.co.uk

'Winter Trees.' (1890) Benjamin Haughton had a remarkable facility for painting woodland. Here, he's pictured a segment of a copse with exquisitely rendered detail which brings with it the stillness and mystery that characterizes his best landscapes.

I sometimes stop and remember that all of this is because we had one Black president, and then two women ran, and this mystical convergence opened the Hellmouth.

Reform MP’s remarks about TV adverts were ‘racist’, says Wes Streeting Health secretary hardens Labour line after Sarah Pochin said advertising ‘doesn’t reflect your average white family’ Wes Streeting has accused the Reform UK MP Sarah Pochin of making “racist” remarks after she said seeing adverts full of black and Asian people “drives her mad”. The health secretary said Pochin was “only sorry she’s been caught and called out”, adding she had “said the quiet bit loud” as he warned of a return to “1970s, 1980s-style racism”. Continue reading...

Reform MP’s remarks about TV adverts were ‘racist’, says Wes Streeting

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.