Ben Crystall

Dear @lucympowell.bsky.social,

I have enjoyed our exchange of letters about which of our parties is best placed to stop Reform. Hannah Spencer MP and I trust that you agree that this question has now been resolved once and for all.

Thanks,
Zack Polanski

Well at least we can all say Matt Goodwin has proved himself to be the vastly admirable, magnanimous & generous figure in defeat we all suspected him to be under the jokey cosplaying faux Nazi exterior.
A victory for all of us really, and I feel sure democracy’s loss will be academia’s gain. ✌️😊 ☮️

Manchester has seen what hope looks like. If you feel inspired, why not join us in East Herts and help us spread that hope here too… 💚
#Hopenothate

How extreme weather is leaving thousands of homes uninsurable In this week’s newsletter: The climate crisis is making insurance unaffordable for many – and it should worry all of us, even if we think we’re safe from floods, wildfires and hurricanes

How extreme weather is leaving many homes uninsurable

- The #climatecrisis is making insurance unaffordable for many but it should worry us all - it's the 'invisible backbone' of developed economies

By me
www.theguardian.com/environment/...

What's the story? Morning glory!

Care to comment on this @lucympowell.bsky.social?

Make chalk streams an irreplaceable habitat

Chalk streams are irreplaceable, but the Government's National Planning Policy Framework doesn't recognise this.

Please support @the-wildlifetrusts.bsky.social and @hertswildlifetrust.bsky.social in the campaign to get chalk streams better protected.

action.wildlifetrusts.org/page/183198/...

I like the Green Party because it is focused on the future thnking through how to deal with what is coming going forward,unlike other parties who wallow in nostalgia about the past!

The political effects of X’s feed algorithm - Nature Among users initially on a chronological feed, 7 weeks of exposure to X’s algorithmic feed in 2023 shifted political attitudes and account-following behaviour in a more conservative direction compared...

Brainwashing, 2026 edition. This paper shows how X's algorithmic feed shifts people's views rightwards. It's a sophisticated, highly effective form of reorientation. And it is utterly chilling.
If you're still on that platform, unhook yourself now.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Hinkley Point C nuclear plant delayed to 2030 as costs climb to £35bn French utility company EDF says operations in Somerset will start a year later as delay costs firm €2.5bn

Oh Joy. I predict this nuclear facility won't be around long ☢️🔥

Hinkley Point C nuclear plant delayed to 2030 as costs climb to £35bn

French utility company EDF says operations in Somerset will start a year later as delay costs firm €2.5bn

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...

Stoneygate (Leicester) Council By-Election Result:

🌍 GRN: 30.4% (+22.9)
🌹 LAB: 27.7% (-12.8)
🏘️ OL: 16.2% (New)
🙋 Ind: 11.5% (New)
🌳 CON: 8.3% (-15.3)
➡️ RFM: 2.7% (New)
🔶 LDM: 1.6% (-5.9)
🙋 Ind: 1.6% (New)

No Ind (-21.0) as previous.

Green GAIN from Labour.
Changes w/ 2023.

The huge movement in Hackney revolting against LTNs 🤦‍♂️

Tesla Robotaxis Reportedly Crashing at a Rate That's 4x Higher Than Humans The incidents bring the robotaxi service to a total of 14 crashes since launching last summer.

Tesla Robotaxis Reportedly Crashing at a Rate That’s 4x Higher Than Humans. “The incidents bring the robotaxi service to a total of 14 crashes since launching last summer.” Via @gizmodo.com

The second video from @easthertsgreens.bsky.social
This is what a decade of Tory and now Labour austerity has done to our communities

@easthertsgreens.bsky.social has been creating a series of videos to help explain what we care about and why we are so passionate about social and environmental justice…

Thanks to Mihnea Pruna from Broxbourne Council for inviting me to speak about Hertford Energy Now at the Community Energy event in Wormley last night. Great to see local energy stalwarts Sarah Burgess and Kirsty Shanahan (pic) too 💚💚

Quite a contrast between this and the Labour frontbench which is almost all state educated.

Something, something, everything is class

😂 Oops! That did NOT quite go to plan for GB News!

I thought it best to appoint failed Tories to my Shadow Cabinet, as their experience will help us to achieve our aims more quickly. Having already trashed the country once, they should be able to do it even faster next time.

Really appreciated!

Thank you. Let's do this! 💚

Join.greenparty.org.uk

I and millions of Americans believe exactly the same thing Kasparov does.

Too many troops, too many new prisons, too much money not under Congressional supervision.

We're not just witnessing a mass deportation scheme anymore.

This is something significantly bigger and scarier.

NEW ANALYSIS: China's CO2 has now been 'flat or falling' for 21 months

* Down in 2025
* Still below Mar 2024
* Clean energy wave a key factor

If this is China's peak (TBC) it's the climate story of the century so far…

www.carbonbrief.org/...

The will of the rich and powerful: Brexit and the Epstein files The Epstein files reveal the role of Brexit in a global network which stands to gain from undermining democracy itself

The Epstein files show that Brexit was never a “plucky British revolt”. In reality, Brexit was fed, and empowered, by an entire class of oligarchs and autocrats, who thrive on chaos, weak regulation and brittle institutions.

Alt text A bright illustrated poster from Beano for Children’s Mental Health Week about belonging: on the left, a yellow box explains that belonging means being part of something and feeling good, confident, and supported, and that not belonging can feel difficult. Across the poster, cartoon children of different backgrounds and abilities share speech bubbles about where they belong, such as at home with family, at school where teachers believe in them, with friends, in clubs and activity groups, and inside themselves by accepting who they are. The children are smiling, playing, and celebrating together, including a child using a wheelchair and kids playing football. Another section lists things that help people feel they belong, like playing games with friends, doing things they enjoy, talking about feelings, being kind, trying new things, and having a trusted grown-up to talk to. At the bottom, a section called Belonging Basics encourages being yourself.

This week is Children’s Mental Health Week.

Feeling part of something, in school, in friendships and in our communities, plays a huge role in children’s mental health. When children feel listened to and supported, it can make a lasting difference to their wellbeing.

A #sneakpeek at fabulous art being prepared for the first six benches on the #RiverLeaArtTrail from #Hertford to #Ware

Sponsored by easthertscouncil using #UKSFP funds, 2 benches art sponsored by Lea Valley Park Mgmnt with repairs to benches by the incredible #WareMensShed. A real community effort

Thank you to Broxbourne Green Party for the invitation to attend your monthly meeting at The Vine 💚 Lots of new members and a fascinating discussion on LGR - a buzzing group of lovely folk! New members welcome!

Global economy must move past GDP to avoid planetary disaster, warns UN chief Exclusive: António Guterres says world’s accounting systems should place true value on the environment

"When we destroy a forest, we are creating GDP. When we overfish, we are creating GDP"

Head of the UN says the way we measure economic activity needs to change

He's not wrong. The vested interests in keeping things the same are considerable, however

www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Frog in a pond

Two thirds of all freshwater species are supported by ponds, but the number of ponds in the UK plummeted in the 20th century. So garden ponds are vital for biodiversity - and creating one could help frogs, toads, dragonflies, bats, hedgehogs, swifts…
littlegreenspace.org.uk/features/cre...