Ben Foley

While at @wheelsforwellbeing.org.uk we want cycles used by Disabled ppl to be recognised as mobility aids, we are not keen on the idea that they'd be _regulated_ under class 3 in the Government consultation. This graphic might give you a clue about why...
For more info wheelsforwellbeing.org.uk/ejeo

Coloured bar chart. Headline: Greens 2nd place and highest ever vote share. REFUK: 29% (-3) Green: 19% (+2) LAB: 17% (+3) CON: 17% (-1) LDM: 11% (-) changes from 21 January. Source Find Out Now 28 January. Graphic from Green Elects.

This is quite something. The Green Party on a record 19%, in second place in a national opinion poll, and with the gap behind RefUK smaller than in any previous poll where Greens have been second, as RefUK share down sharply, and Greens up. #GreenParty #OpinionPoll

Worrying lack of recognition that tipping is _safety_ issue for #Disabled #cycling - many of us (but not me) ride 3+ wheelers that are more likely to tip. Humps massively increase tipping risks, especially if, as illustrated they adjoin horizontal deflection of the cycle track. #MyCycleMyMobilityAid

RNIB have some really sensible people, but NFBUK stridency (particularly Sarah Gayton - not all in NFBUK) and fellow-feeling among the community of VI people is meaning the tail is wagging the dog.

If you are interested in the Government consultation about mobility aids, these free webinars are for you...

Campaigning for inclusive cycling, Wheels for Wellbeing Wheels for Wellbeing is an award-winning charity supporting disabled people of all ages and abilities to enjoy the benefits of cycling.

To support the DfT’s consultation into modernising the law for powered mobility devices in achieving the best possible outcome for Disabled people, we will be launching explainer information resources, webinars and carrying out consultation sessions.

Such a good morning's work! Thanks to @whizzkidz.bsky.social for the event and the campaigning!

Just love this year's Christmas "card" from work...

I push my manual wheelchair up slopes with ease, I regularly swim 2.5km 💪. Its only hope would be turning round and seeing if it can go faster than me (and I'm not sure their design top speed will enable that).

If I come across one on a narrow path like that when I’m using my ♿️, one of us will end up in the road. And it won’t be me.

It's because the Conservatives are more bothered about stopping the #EastWestRail route (originally proposed by Tories) going through the farmland of north Bedfordshire that they refuse to investigate how to effectively stop people's homes being demolished.

3/3

My successful motion also commits #Bedford Borough council "To investigate options for the #railway and construction that will similarly obviate the need to demolish homes in the Poets estate". The Tories, on the other hand, voted AGAINST helping residents threatened with demolition by #EWR!

Screenshot of a social media post from Bedford & Kempston Conservatives. The main item is a green-coloured montage, with text "Tell your residents the truth - you voted for it!" "Green Party voted for East West Rail 'Route E' Demolishing homes and businesses." "Facts cannot lie". On it is a photo of Ben Foley and buildings that look similar to some buildings in Ashburnham Road.

The Tories should look at my feed. I've been clear what I voted for. My successful motion commits the council to "investigate designs for Bedford station that will provide the most convincing case that ...there is no need to demolish homes."
Facts cannot lie, but Conservatives do all the time.

Montage of three leaflets with titles "Castle and Newnham Green" "Kempston News" and "Greyfriars Green". While each has a different design, each of them features prominently on the front page a story about saying "no". Accompanying text visible includes "Council want to make the poorest pay" and "Overspending by the Tory-run council has left it in financial trouble. Now to balance the books they want to cut council tax support for the poorest. They're consulting on council tax support changes. These changes will mean everybody who qualifies for council tax support will pay hundreds of pounds..."

#Bedford council has rejected Tory proposals on council tax support. So, Bedford & Kempston's poorest households saved from bills of £100s next yr. @greenparty.org.uk took key role w/ other opposition cllrs. Greens delivered 10,000 leaflets, successfully urging rejection of proposal in consultation.

Motion makes clear to maximise the chances of making a case that will be listened to by a Government committed to building #EastWestRail, that any response to planning consultation about EWR on behalf of Bedford council shouldn't oppose the route, but should oppose all demolition of homes. 2/2

Photo of Bedford's four Green councillors, with at the top, a Green Party logo and at the bottom the words "Green Win" and "Bedford Council vote to oppose EWR demolitions". The four councillors are all middle aged and wearing coats with Green Party badges, three of the councillors are white. On the left, one who is masc presenting, wearing a trilby hat and specs, next one femme presenting with light coloured hair, then one masc presenting with dark hair and 'salt and pepper' facial hair, finally one femme presenting with grey hair and a handbag. They are in sunlight with autumnal trees behind them.

Last night's meeting of #Bedford Council included passing @greenparty.org.uk motion, committing to defend all residents whose homes are threatened w/ demolition for #EWR, investigating designs for Bedford station (& options for #railway nth of station) to make sure there's no need to demolish homes.

Reform UK's Zia Yusuf calls Nathan Gill 'ancient history' The party's head of policy says he has never met Nathan Gill, who served as the leader of Reform UK in Wales in 2021.

According to Zia Yusuf, Reform UK's former leader in Wales being convicted of taking money to undermine British national interest in favour of Russia is "ancient history". 😂🤣😂

He was sent down for ten years three days ago. Three. Days. Ago. ~AA

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

The claimed excuse for a cap on #Cycle2Work doesn't hold water & will be harmful for Disabled ppl.
If Govt was bothered abt rich ppl benefitting from Govt tax breaks for things rich people use for leisure, they'd tax aviation fuel, when air travel is disproportionately used by richest (by LONG way).

If you're trans or non-binary and struggling, please ring 116 123 to go through to Samaritans 24/7. You can also reach out to Switchboard: switchboard.lgbt

Photo of five white envelopes, four with the words "private and confidential", three with windows visible. One has "Overdue" printed in red on the envelope, a second "Final notice" and a third has a red exclamation mark and obscured other parts in red.

Result of Bedford's council tax consultation yesterday. More people gave right answer than wrong answer on question 5 😀.
But signs are it's being ignored 🤬.
So: petition calling on council to respect the outcome. *Please sign & share* actionnetwork.org/petitions/bedford-council-respect-the-decision

Developers met ministers dozens of times over planning bill while ecologists were shut out Exclusive: Leading ecologists say warnings over threat to wildlife have been ignored in drive to build 1.5m new homes

Labour took money from building developers before the last election so it is no great surprise that their policies do more for developers than for those who need affordable houses.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

I'm appalled to find Beds Police seem to have no notion of what a legal Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycle is, or of a legal, licenced an insured e-motorbike. If they are quite so ignorant of the law, how can they be trusted to enforce it? @roadcc.bsky.social www.facebook.com/share/p/1BNH...

@emilykerr36.bsky.social @saskiaheijltjes.bsky.social Thanks so much for standing up for what is right. 🏳️‍⚧️ 💚

Graphic saying "Former Labour Councillor Defects to Green Party in Bedford" with Green Party logo. Then picture of Caroline. Caroline is wearing a Green Party badge on her black coat. Caroline is white and middle aged with fairly short grey hair, and her specs are up on the top of her head. Overlaid, "Cllr Caroline White, Kempston Central and East, Bedford Borough Council". In the background, grass with trees with autumnal leaves and a brick/stone building as the backdrop.

💚 Great news for Bedford! 💚

Welcome to the Greens, Cllr Caroline White (Kempston Cent&E) a hardworking former Labour cllr who’s always stood up for fairness & local people.

Bedford Borough @greenparty.org.uk Group up to 4. The politics of hope keeps growing here in Bedford.
join.greenparty.org.uk

This is, also, the second poll with Greens on our highest ever poll rating, both coming within the last 8 polls - that period has also included (most recently before this one) a 16%, the only time Greens in this country have polled that number, and two on 15%, the previous record Green poll rating.

Screenshot of social media post from Election Maps UK, 30 Oct 2025. Westminster voting intention: RefUK: 32% (=) Green: 17% (+2) Con: 16% (-1) Lab: 16% (=) LibDem: 12% (=) SNP: 2% (=) Via @FindOutNowUK, 29 Oct. Changes compared with 22 Oct.

This is quite something. An opinion poll with Greens ahead of LibDems, Conservatives AND Labour. One more to go (and fortunately at least RefUK seems to have stopped going up).

join.greenparty.org.uk

I've regularly come across "bike" being used to mean "motorbike" (eg "I like to go out on my bike", "watch out for bikes").
"Cycle", by contrast, never gets confused for "motorbike".

Would've been good 2 talk more/2 more ppl abt how those of us who use mobility aids need space to store & charge our mobility aids in our homes (& not face rules that ban us), but even with limited opportunities to do that, it was a really worthwhile day. #MyCycleMyMobilityAid #MyWheelsMyMobilityAid

Selfie. In the foreground, Ben, white, masc-presenting, clean shaven, wearing a trilby hat and specs, In the background a display showing the words "...up and closing", with below them in smaller writing and largely obscured text from the live captions "have to rush for the train... ...look forward to it..." Between, a small huddle of people near the stage

Unusually I was at work for @wheelsforwellbeing.org.uk on Sat. I was at the "Homes for Us" Summit - back in Westminster for the 2nd time in a week, but mingling with activists rather than politicians.
A productive & creative day looking at housing crisis & how it affects minoritised communities.

Wow. Last time Ashcroft published a poll, it had the Greens at 13%, & _that_ was a record high. *This has just smashed the record again* (there had been three polls from other pollsters with Greens on 15% in the mean time). There's a way of countering hate. Turning to hope. join.greenparty.org.uk