Covid Inquiry: Too little, too late - too many lives lost Many will conclude what they knew already: the government acted too little, too late, there was chaos and toxicity, and later decisions were not backed by data, writes Krishnan Guru-Murthy.

🗣️ Many will conclude what they knew already: the government acted too little, too late, there was chaos and toxicity, and later decisions were not backed by data.

@krishgm.bsky.social writes in the latest edition of our weekly long read newsletter, InDepth

The Government’s backing of the DLR extension to Thamesmead is huge news for London.

This project will mean easier travel, new jobs and unlock tens of thousands of homes. A major boost for opportunity, growth and the future of our city.

Labour bans ticket touting to protect fans from rip-off prices

Labour is making it illegal to resell tickets for live events above the original cost, this will protect fans from rip-off inflated prices.

#Labour

Teenage knife deaths 11 year low in London

I'm sure the Londinistan guys will be delighted to read this... really good news... they'll be talking about something else altogether now... sure of it... because they were genuinely concerned weren't they

West End stores launch private security patrol for Christmas Partnership of 600 businesses in central London funds deployment of officers over fears theft and phone-snatching is deterring visitors

🔺EXCLUSIVE : Partnership of 600 businesses in central London funds deployment of officers over fears theft and phone-snatching is deterring visitors

Times front page. Photo of Trump in front of a load of gold stuff clasping hands with Saudi’s Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Headlines; Rachel Johnson “I don't feel rich” Children born in UK could be deported after asylum reforms Trump: Prince knew nothing about murder MI5 alert over Chinese spies

Sometimes, a front page can sum up quite a lot that’s wrong with the world. Including the paper itself which has been so complicit in getting us to a place where children born to refugees could be deported, Trump celebrates despotic wealth and Boris Johnson’s sister moans about not being rich. Ugh.

So good to see The Guardian turn their investigative attention to Farage at last. I hope they keep it up!

The radical measures are part of a much-publicised reform of the asylum system, billed by the government as "the most sweeping reforms in modern times", as Labour looks to see off the threat of Reform UK and Nigel Farage. But critics have hit out at the proposals, warning any move to alter how the UK interprets the rules will drive asylum seekers underground and leave them vulnerable to exploitation. Sile Reynolds, the head of asylum advocacy at Freedom from Torture, said the changes "will punish people who've already lost everything".

Ms Reynolds, of Freedom from Torture, added: "Every day we see the trauma of people who have survived torture in countries like Syria, Eritrea and Sudan for standing up for the same freedoms we cherish in Britain. Instead of offering safety, political parties are locked in a race to the bottom - trying to outdo one another in cruelty towards refugees. "These proposals will punish people who've already lost everything, cutting them off from safety and hope. But either we all have human rights, or none of us do. Stripping away protections that prevent people being sent back to their torturers is not who we are as a country. This is a cynical attempt to scapegoat vulnerable people to win political points. We can and must do better."

Labour concocts more ugly measures to punish asylum seekers and the right immediately demands worse… howling to leave the ECHR.
This scapegoating of migrants must stop. It is failure - morally and practically.
“Either we all have human rights or none of us do.”

app.independent.co.uk/edition/uk.c...

Interesting to see so many great British patriots right now begging an American president to bankrupt one of Britain’s last remaining truly national institutions.

World still on track for catastrophic 2.6C temperature rise, report finds Fossil fuel emissions have hit a record high while many nations have done too little to avert deadly global heating

How many more warnings will it take before we wake up and finally act on climate change?

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/nov/13/world-still-on-track-for-catastrophic-26c-temperature-rise-report-finds

Keir Starmer could do worse than listening to Ken Clarke today on #bbcqt He speaks with experience , conviction and humanity.

Honestly, I think I could do a better job running Downing St communications and the BBC as a job share. Am available.

Keir Starmer says any No 10 briefings against ministers ‘unacceptable’ Starmer defends Wes Streeting at PMQs but dodges question on his chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney

www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Surely it’s time for McSweeny to go. This briefing strategy has backfired spectacularly #wato #theguardian #pmqs

Platforming this 🤡 certainly refutes accusations of leftwing bias #wato

Can't believe there are conversations about ending the BBC. This is like listening to a family calmly discussing whether to shoot it's dog, or burn down the house.

NHS staff who visit patients at home say St George’s flags can mean ‘no-go zones’ Black and Asian staff left feeling ‘deliberately intimidated’, according to chief executive of one NHS trust

“A sustained campaign of anti-migrant rhetoric is fuelling a growing cesspool of racism, including against international and ethnic minority nursing staff, without whom our health and care system would simply cease to function.”

How disgraceful.

www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

Trump's White House & fawning hacks here don't really care about the 0.001% that the BBC gets wrong. They care about all the stuff it gets right.

Discussed this with my husband (Barrister) last evening. A UK court would not allow this to proceed.
There is no reputational damage as he has no reputation to damage. His many convictions and history of being a vexatious litigant weigh against him. He is an extortionist, not be countentanced.

When I met Craig he was 13 and homeless. I still thought his life might turn around. I was tragically wrong The long read: I knew he was running away from something. It wasn’t until many years later that I discovered the truth

www.theguardian.com/news/2025/no...
The Long Read today is a real gem. It’s deeply distressing and moving and shines a light on the shocking injustices in our society.

All’s Fair review – Kim Kardashian’s divorce drama is fascinatingly, existentially terrible Not even Glenn Close can save this Ryan Murphy disaster from its dismal plots, clueless characters – and the worst kissing scenes ever filmed

www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio...
I’ve never read such a damning review for a tv show… kind of makes me want to watch 🫣

Say what you like about ‘Sadiq Khan’s no-go hellscape’ – Britain’s cities prove the rightwing agitators wrong | Jonathan Liew To rightwing populists, places of fluidity and freedom will always be the enemy, says Guardian columnist Jonathan Liew

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Completely agree with Jonathan Liew in The Guardian this morning; a beautifully written piece

Hannan and Frost in the Telegraph.
Sunak in the Times.
Kwasi Kwarteng in the iPaper.
Johnson in the Mail.
Gove editing the Spectator.
Farage everywhere.
All of them shamelessly honking out their ‘Listen to me!’ garbage, as the country flails around in the unbelievable mess they’ve made.
Nauseating.

This morning on #r4today a govt minister has to wade through:

1. the Rachel Reeves licence non story
2. Andrew Paedophile Windsor

before Nick Robinson deigns to ask him about govt policy. Make it stop.

Unbelievable thread.
(You should be following Emma btw.)

Opinion | London’s sad decline is a warning to New Yorkers In three terms as mayor, Sadiq Khan has crushed the economic life out of Britain’s capital.

We now have a stream of garbage in US newspapers, like this one in @washingtonpost.com denigrating London, all coded attacks on @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social
Well, I live in London, love it, and am delighted to have Sadiq Khan @london.gov.uk as my mayor.

www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...

People are seeing their mortgages fall, 1st above inflation pay rises in 14 years, breakfasts and lunches for their kids and cheaper school uniforms.
Labour is working.

Retail sales rose by 0.5% in Sept but were expected to shrink by 0.2%, so 0.7 points better than expected!

This marks four months in a row they have increased & are now the highest since July 2022.

Growing retail sales suggests economic growth is likely.

#Labour

Kwasi Kwarteng Wealth taxes will make the UK poorer Labour's logic appears sensible but it defies economic reality

Sorry @theipaper.com but WHY is this guy talking to us about what will make the UK poorer? He was happy to grenade our economy twice…
Brexit and then his batshit budget with Truss.
He should be in political oblivion for the mess he made and the price we all have to pay for his party’s failures.

Caerphilly by-election polls open to choose Senedd member - BBC News Voters head to the polls in a by-election to choose a member of the Senedd.

Voters in Caerphilly head to the polls in a by-election to choose a new member of the Senedd

Reform candidate Llŷr Powell has removed 3,207 of his social media posts inc online interactions with former boss Nathan Gill, according to nation.cymru

It’s almost as if there’s something he must hide 🤔

Justin Webb determined to politicize this interview with the child sexual abuse representative. She is explaining that this is a societal problem that we are under reacting to. Not sure the British public is ready or able to do the self reflection required. Politics is easier. #R4Today