Tom Belger

With my colleague Tom Wilson at WPI Strategy, Scarlett Maguire of Merlin Strategy, and @anooshc.bsky.social Chakelian of the @newstatesman1913.bsky.social.

Sign up by email to rsvp@wpi-strategy.com.

GORTON AND DENTON UNPACKED - ONLINE PANEL TODAY at 11AM:

Really looking forward to this discussion of the by-election - not just locally but nationally, and not just now but for the coming years in British politics and policy.

Join to share what you're thinking and wondering about it all...

Is Donald Trump a foreign policy dove? If only | Mehdi Hasan Trump is surrounding himself with hawks so you can be assured that his will be a very hawkish administration

I think this piece of mine from November 2024 sadly aged well:

‘Diversionary war’: Trump wants to distract Americans from scandals at home | Christopher S Chivvis Iran strikes are attempt to hijack the global narrative and drown out Epstein and tariffs with the thunder of cruise missiles

“The outcome of the war is less important to Trump than…the performative use of US power.”

Everything Trump does is about showing he’s top dog on any given day. That’s it.

Everything else is collateral damage, and it’s for everyone else to pick up pieces.

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Starmer wouldn’t be in the seat if senior figures didn’t think Labour has a serious chance of winning.

Is victory possible from the jaws of defeat?

Hats off to the 100s of activists braving rain today…and @jtibbittsjourno.bsky.social and colleagues covering it all for @labourlist.bsky.social

🌹 Bolsover MP Natalie Fleet has been out on the doorstep in Gorton and Denton – there is still time to volunteer to help secure a Labour win

Starmer's approval ratings are the highest in six months...still very, very low but public opinion as ever more complex than you might think!

1m+ workers lose pay when sick.

Labour's fixing that in April.

11m renters live at risk of eviction for no reason.

@teamlabouruk.bsky.social ends that in May.

Great to highlight on #BBCNews how transformative Labour's agenda is - but how it's drowned out by controversy, challenges, caution.

1m+ workers lose pay when sick.

Labour's fixing that in April.

11m renters live at risk of eviction for no reason.

@teamlabouruk.bsky.social ends that in May.

Great to highlight on #BBCNews how transformative Labour's agenda is - but how it's drowned out by controversy, challenges, caution.

Thanks to @ecasalicchio.bsky.social and @politico.eu for covering today.

I should say they are still planning to beef up existing law to force firms to do genuine consultation with staff.

Big Q is how and whether that works in practice…

NEW: @unitetheunion.bsky.social has forced Labour to withdraw “grossly offensive” comments about restaurant, bar and cafe workers.

Govt had said giving them direct control of tips could see staff discriminate against each other under a ‘tyranny of the majority’.

labourlist.org/2026/01/unit...

A really great piece - well worth a read.

How has your local high street changed since 2019? Check your postcode The makeup of Great Britain’s high streets has changed dramatically. See what the data says about where you live

I've found it baffling for years the state of high streets isn't a bigger national political issue.

When I was a local reporter, it came up again and again and again.

Hats off to @theguardian.com's Anna Leach @michaelgoodier.bsky.social for top journalism:

www.theguardian.com/business/ng-...

Tom Belger column: 'Union revolt as U-turn revealed on workers’ tips' - LabourList A quiet U-turn on workers’ tips has ignited a union revolt. Tom Belger reveals what changed, who’s angry, and why it matters now.

NEW: Labour pledged pre-election to let “workers decide how tips are allocated”, via the employment rights act.

But I've just discovered it's quietly decided workers can’t be trusted to decide how tips are allocated.

More in my first @labourlist.bsky.social column:

labourlist.org/2026/01/utur...

Worth flagging - Labour is still proposing reforms to boost genuine consultation which are still a big step forward for workers.

And government’s right to note there are some potential challenges around fully democratic decision-making within workforces, whether you back it or not.

@unitetheunion.bsky.social GS @unitesharon.bsky.social attacked the government's criticism of direct worker control (DBT said it enables the 'tyranny of the majority').

She warns it's “wrong-headed and offensive”.

Unite's now issued a full statement too:

www.unitetheunion.org/news-events/...

Tom Belger column: 'Union revolt as U-turn revealed on workers’ tips' - LabourList A quiet U-turn on workers’ tips has ignited a union revolt. Tom Belger reveals what changed, who’s angry, and why it matters now.

NEW: Labour pledged pre-election to let “workers decide how tips are allocated”, via the employment rights act.

But I've just discovered it's quietly decided workers can’t be trusted to decide how tips are allocated.

More in my first @labourlist.bsky.social column:

labourlist.org/2026/01/utur...

Councils fear exclusion from pay negotiations | LocalGov Council chiefs are calling for a formal role in negotiations on the Government’s proposed Fair Pay Agreement for care workers.

They fear providers + unions may agree a 3% pay deal, exceeding the £500m vowed by government - and that government would expect them to plug a £353m gap, LocalGov.uk says.

Can't see government reply to that big claim, though (not clear they've been asked).

www.localgov.co.uk/Councils-fea...

New update on this - councils have stepped up their battle to be more involved in new pay negotiations for adult social care workers, as the key funders.

Just being 'spectators' would be 'incomprehensible', says the County Councils Network.

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It’s notable also that the most longstanding voice of the soft left on the NEC said this about Burnham:

‘My chief concern would have been the risk of losing Manchester to Reform in the unavoidable mayoral by-election, but there were no good options.’

Pep Guardiola heard about this and knew what he had to do

Ann Black (@annblack.bsky.social) Member, Labour Party NEC, owner(?) of Monty. Best contacted at annblack50@btinternet.com

annblack.bsky.social has just announced she won’t seek re-election to Labour’s ruling body after 24 years.

Hats off to her for such long, dedicated, selfless service - she’s been a dogged members’ champion.

A tough pair of boots to fill.

There’s a visceral need for change….people are impatient for it.

That’s created space for the populist right, she says.

A Reform win would be unconscionable.

We need to show people politics works for them.

Trickle down economics isn’t working, she suggests.

Devolution is key, she says.

@miattafahnbulleh.bsky.social is up now.

She says labour movement has the ideas needed - that gives her hope.

We inherited an economy not working for a long time.

It’s staggering, unprecedented living standards weren’t better than when Tories came into power.

Plus - huge cuts to local govt.

Transport investment announced recently reflects this - with infrastructure over the country.

The point is couples like her parents shouldn’t have to leave areas to find work.

Active govt also means ‘stepping in’ - like in British Steel, H&W, whereas Reform would ‘let British industry decline’.

The challenge is ‘gargantuan’ - but we’re doing it, says Rigby.

Industrial strategy is no longer a ‘dirty word’ that’s ‘beyond the pale’, she says, echoing Kyle recently.

We believe in an active, strategic state - when the last government dithered or weren’t on the pitch.

Economic secretary to the Treasury @lucyrigby.bsky.social says talents evenly distributed, opportunity isn’t - denying people opportunity to fulfil their potential.

Unlocking that’s only way to restore balanced growth - and faith in the state and politics itself.

Now a session on renewing regional economies is getting underway with @lucyrigby.bsky.social @miattafahnbulleh.bsky.social @kiranstacey.bsky.social and @lukeraikes.bsky.social.

Luke of @thefabians.bsky.social highlights how this government’s abandoned past ‘fatalistic’ attitudes towards many areas

I’m a ‘believer in having the best players in the team’, says @sadiqkhanlondon.bsky.social when asked about Andy Burnham.

But he says Keir transformed Labour’s fortunes after the worst defeat since the 1930s.