James Maxwell

Moldova voters choose pro-EU government over Moscow-leaning alliance – Europe live President Maia Sandu had accused Russia of using underhand tactics in attempt to sway voters Speaking at the same event, French Europe minister Benjamin Haddad says that Moldovans “gave us a great lesson in democracy” despite attempted interference with the democratic process. Asked on whether the French public would support EU enlargement, he says that “for a long time, there was a form of scepticism about enlargement in France,” but “there’s been a shift in the last few years,” as people realise that extending the bloc’s influence further to Ukraine, Moldova and western Balkans “is a geopolitical necessity.” “We all need good news, and I’m very, very happy that my people delivered the good news and demonstrated resilience in the face of very aggressive hybrid attacks. We [faced] massive disinformation campaigns, … corruption of voters, … very organised interference in the diaspora, … cyber-attacks so the entire host MD domain yesterday was closed because of that, and [yet] we have a clear result.” “Of course, the fight is not over. Of course, we are very determined to carry out the reforms with all the challenges and capacity constraints and so on. But today we celebrate.” Continue reading...

Moldova voters choose pro-EU government over Moscow-leaning alliance – Europe live

Farage folds the moment he’s challenged. A charlatan through and through. Credit to @bethrigby.bsky.social for doing what so much of the media won’t – actually holding him to account

So Hitler shooting himself in a bunker was a myth?

Keir Starmer condemns Israel's plan to take over Gaza City The PM urges Israel to reconsider immediately its decision to "escalate" the offensive in Gaza.

Keir Starmer condemns Israel's plan to take over Gaza City

Caseworker.mp and other software allows casework loads to be managed quite effectively. Issue is that MPs don't want to make full use of IPSA allowances – i.e., to hire more staff – as it looks bad with costs classed as 'expenses'

‘It’s a strength’: female business leaders back Reeves’ tearful moment Displaying emotion is part of ‘our humanity’ says CBI chief

‘It’s a strength’: female business leaders back Reeves’ tearful moment https://on.ft.com/40hfnJn

I’m still digesting the detail.

But let one thing remain clear:

The removal of jury trial from thousands of accused people is being proposed not from principle. Nor necessity.

But because successive governments - of all parties - chose to take a chainsaw to the justice system.

All these cases are flipping though 🤨

More people on the left need to make the moral case for these reforms. It’s not socially right that we starve working class communities of potential, leaving opportunity only for the privileged few. These concessions are welcome for a fairer system.

Comms around the Industrial Strategy have been a bit odd to say the least, almost like it's deliberately been hidden.

No central press release, weak Sunday briefing, and PM's op-ed remains unpublished on Gov website. Labour digital channels are still promoting last week's news.

Experts say there is no evidence Iran has decided to build a nuclear bomb. Its recent advances mean though that it has become a 'threshold state' — a nation with technical expertise and capacity to weaponise its nuclear programme if it chooses. https://on.ft.com/4ni8W2K

Rachel Reeves to unveils £39bn housing boost in spending review shake-up Chancellor promises biggest investment in social and affordable homes in a generation to hit 1.5m target Rachel Reeves will raise government spending on affordable housing by nearly double on Wednesday, providing a major boost to the housebuilding sector and bringing the government’s housing targets a step closer. The chancellor will announce nearly £40bn worth of grants to be spent over 10 years for local authorities, private developers and housing associations – a major increase on the previous programme. Continue reading...

Rachel Reeves to unveils £39bn housing boost in spending review shake-up

Reeves’s winter fuel U-turn is a mistake Having already angered older voters with their winter fuel cuts, Labour has now achieved a generational symmetry by angering younger voters.

Pensioners are being unfairly prioritised over those in far greater need.

✍️ James Hanson
buff.ly/0wnZ1c9

Genuinely welcome - it'll make a tangible difference to half a million kids, which is obv the most important bit, but suspect will also be a relief to a lot of Labour voters worried about where this govt was heading

The approach of McSweeney compared to Blair in a nut shell. Only one is proven to work.

It is remarkable how little effort Starmer has put into making the case for his renegotiation. No “Bloomberg” speech, no policy papers. An interview three days before deal day is the first outing of substance. If his pro-EU coalition gives him no credit for it, it’s because hes asked for none.

Minister accused of being too close to big tech after rise in meetings Exclusive: Technology secretary Peter Kyle had 28 meetings with people in or close to tech sector in six months

Minister accused of doing his job.

www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Net zero is popular and essential. Labour must take the fight to Badenoch and Farage Evidence shows that rolling back our climate ambitions would do nothing to win back voters from Reform, but instead risk losing crucial votes to th...

Evidence shows that rolling back our climate ambitions would do nothing to win back voters from Reform, but instead risk losing crucial votes to the Liberal Democrats and Greens.

Net zero is popular and essential. Labour must take the fight to Badenoch and Farage, writes @lukemurphy.bsky.social

It is in meltdown, so why are we wasting time and energy tinkering with this sort of stuff?

Western leaders head to Kyiv to demand Putin agrees ceasefire Starmer, Macron, Tusk and Merz join Donald Trump’s call for a 30-day Ukraine war truce.

The leaders of the U.K., Germany, France and Poland are to visit Ukraine today in an attempt to pile pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin to agree a 30-day ceasefire and open meaningful peace talks after three years of war.

Some tapering could help with the cliff edge, but the cut was designed to be crude and arbitrary to not overly complicate its implementation.

Good. Would be a step backwards. There are far more progressive things you can do with £1.5bn a year - with pensioner earnings already being protected - like scrapping the two child benefit cap or reinstating Sure Start.

'We know people want change. Labour needs to make it' - LabourList Labour is in power nationally, and unlike other parties can deliver change nationally, writes Morgan Jones.

"Making the country better on the terms it set out less than a year ago is what Labour needs to concentrate on."

Morgan Jones on how why Labour should keep calm and keep to its agenda:

labourlist.org/2025/05/jone...

‘We can’t just talk to the right’: what will Labour do now? Focus on Reform or reassure the left – Keir Starmer’s next move could define his premiership

I’ve got the Saturday read in today’s Guardian.

What can Labour do now?

Expect a massive push for a change of economic strategy in the coming days.

“Why are we not picking the fights we can pick on our own turf?” one minister asks.

www.theguardian.com/news/ng-inte...

Okay. So I've finally realised why ChatGPT is so crap. Because it's designed to be used for chatting (I have friends thanks) and content generation (who cares).

Perplexity is game changing for research and factual answers, and Claude is great for everything else.

Football too expensive for working class fans, says Merseyside MP Liverpool West Derby MP Ian Byrne claims young and working class fans are priced out of big matches.

Football too expensive for working class fans, says Merseyside MP

We need to crack down on music on public transport Hold the front page, sound the alarm, remember where you were – the Lib Dems have come up with a good idea for once. Reinforcing the old adage that even a stopped clock is right twice a day, Ed…

Even smoking crack on the Victoria Line barely raises an eyebrow. Against this backdrop, is it any wonder that people don’t feel the need to keep their musical tastes and personal phone conversations to themselves?

✍️ James Hanson www.spectator.co.uk/article/we-n...

Deaths from drinking are at a record high: does England need a new alcohol strategy? Bea Taylor looks at the latest trends in drinking and alcohol-related harm, and explores whether the last unified national alcohol strategy needs to be updated.

🆕 Our latest analysis from Bea Taylor looks at the trends in drinking and alcohol-related harm, and explores whether the last unified national alcohol strategy needs to be updated.

Part of our #QualityWatch programme with @healthfoundation.bsky.social 📊
www.nuffieldtrust.org.uk/news-item/de...

London nightlife to open later as Khan gets new powers to help pubs and clubs The scheme could be expanded to other parts of the country if it proves a success.

Government looking to give @london.gov.uk the power to overrule NIMBY councils who force bars and pubs to close early in the capital uk.news.yahoo.com/london-night...

The US president has told confidants that Elon Musk’s position as head of the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) could be terminated early, according to a report by Politico. www.ft.com/content/6e97...