ManBikesDog

Dear Shabana, I notice today that you referred to me in your speech on immigration at the IPPR think tank. You said: “A party leader should not be on the beaches of France encouraging people to make a perilous crossing on small boats.” I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised especially after the hateful Labour campaign in Gorton and Denton, but this is just the latest in a string of lies peddled by a discredited Government who intentionally fan the flames of racism and division. When I went to Calais, I was not there to encourage people to travel to the UK. I was there to see at first hand the suffering your Government and successive Governments have done in demonising migrants in a pathetic bid to pander to the base instincts of Reform and the flawed strategy of Morgan McSweeney. As you will know, if you even bothered to research my visit instead of taking Reform talking points, I was there to witness the brutality of families living in tents in freezing temperatures. I filled water tanks and picked up litter. What that visit did do is confirm my belief that if we are to smash the boat gangs and stop the boats, we need to offer safer and managed routes for migrants to come to this country. Showing compassion as a politician is not a crime. In fact, we need to see much more of it. It reminded me of a young MP who in October 2015 spent three days in Lesbos helping migrants fleeing war-torn Syria. She posted videos on X, talked about handing out water and croissants to refugees and food parcels. When she returned to the UK, she wrote a very moving piece in the New Statesman. She said “we have to work with our European partners and create new, safe, and legal routes for refugees to get to Europe. We cannot abandon them to their fate, left as prey for smugglers whilst risking death on the seas.” She said “maybe we can make ourselves feel better by saying no-one is making them get on the boats. And again, the Home Secretary is not entirely wrong when …

Dear Shabana,

Let's clear some things up around migration and remember we're talking about people's lives.

We’ve not had the volume of snow we normally have, but I’ve mostly missed the clear crisp winter days. It’s just been moist and meh.

Lobbyists send legal threats to councils over anti-wood burner campaigns At least eight councils receive legal threats alleging flyers criticising wood burners are in breach of advertising codes

"Straight from the playbook of tobacco".

The Stove Industry Association has been pressuring councils to tone down their public health campaigns, telling them they were exploring options for potential legal action.

This stinks even more than the burning they promote. #WoodBurning #AirPollution

Screenshot from Telegraph daily newsletter Today we can reveal the source of Sir Keir Starmer's hesitation over Iran. It was Ed Miliband. Tony Diver, our new Political Editor, has the full story.

Just imagine the depths of uselessness and ghastliness this government could achieve if it didn’t have Ed Miliband in it

Zone 2 cardio. Mobility maxxing. There will be no further discussion.

A blue transistor radio with a winding handle to power it.

www.reuk.co.uk/OtherImages/...

You should.
You might also get the sofa to yourself afterwards…

😂

A golden range rover with a hideous body kit on.

That depends…

Have you ever had a puffed pig snout? Our Alfie used to love them.

You’re clinging on really tightly there Obi. Is that your favourite spot? No, let me guess… they’re all your favourite spots?

Handouts to oil and gas firms while people face likely bill hikes.

Reckless and irresponsible at a time when we should be doubling down on renewables not cutting tax to fossil fuel fuel giants.

We need a plan to protect people from the coming price shock.

this sounds like what a plastic action soldier toy would say when you pull the string in its back

… And they add to the patchwork mess that makes up so much of the urban environment in this country.

I think once the novelty has worn off people won’t be bothered to get their hands dirty feeding it in or taking it out. Also subsequent homeowners may not be as concerned with using it properly.
Then they will also add to unevenness of footways for mobility devices - whether now or in the future.

Brilliant by @stephencollins.bsky.social on Dubai

You don’t need to censor twit 😉

Rapper Ghetts jailed over fatal London hit-and-run The grime artist failed to stop after his BMW hit Nepali student Yubin Tamang, 20, in Ilford.

Drunk. More than twice the speed limit. And a coward.

If it were up to me, he would never ever be allowed to drive again.

Driving is a privilege, not a right — and when you abuse it with such reckless disregard for life, I feel you should face permanent consequences.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

When war sends oil prices soaring, the lesson isn’t to suppress the price of petrol. It’s to recognise how exposed we are. Freezing fuel duty again would entrench dependence on imported oil at the very moment we should be reducing it.

@rantyhighwayman.bsky.social Are you able to give a ballpark cost for installing a signalised crossing and one for installing a zebra with Belishas please? Or point to a local authority where the costs are easy to view online? Is it standard across England or highly variable?

'Active travel' in Liverpool City Region 'saves NHS millions' People walking, wheeling and cycling in the Liverpool City Region saves the NHS an estimated £53.8m a year.

Active travel saves the NHS at least £54 million a year just in Liverpool alone.
Other regions especially the north east need to sit up, take note and ramp up their efforts.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Yesterday, Ben Foley, one of our Campaign and Policy leads attended a meeting of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Cycling & Walking on eCycle safety.

Allowing logistics firms to claim relief would do a good job of removing that disingenuous argument trotted out by people all the time, who really just want to selfishly carry on as they are. I’d add bus and coach operators to that list too.

When war pushes up oil prices, freezing fuel duty entrenches dependence, and asks non-drivers to unfairly subsidise drivers.

The Dutch used the 70s oil shocks to cut car-dependent short trips and build a more resilient, locally focused transport system.

We should learn that lesson.

Is there a recording, or transcript, of the presentation available for review?

E-bikes are transforming regional mobility and enabling longer-distance cycling.

Last week, the DCE's Chris Bruntlett explored this topic at “Metropolis of the Future” organised by Bilbao Metropoli 30 and Caminos Euskadi.

buff.ly/qt5gNxD

Fox News report: KIDS ON BIKES

“Will no one stop them” says local curmudgeon

Here’s a seat projection (via @electionmaps.uk) … FPTP still delivering way too many reform seats, but let’s crack on with changing that.

It is. I should start planning rides based around these as destinations and waypoints.

A cross on a stone plinth in a forest clearing with weak sunlight behind it. The dedication reads in Dutch: “Ter herinnering aan hen die tijdens de mei-staking 1943 op deze plaats door de duiters werden gefuisileerd.” (“In memory of those who were shot by the Germans at this location during the May strike of 1943.”)

Also next to this path in the middle of the forest was this poignant memorial to those shot by german troops in May 1943.