Catherine Houston

Alongside colleagues I've written to the Minister for Women & Equalities about the appointment of the new EHRC Chair.

We share the concerns that both the JCHR and WEC had during the pre-appointment hearing.

The EHRC urgently needs to rebuild trust with all communities.

🤦🏼‍♀️

One of the strangest ironies of the last ten years has been watching Britain immersing itself as deeply as ever in memories of WW2 while proudly turning its back on the project that emerged from it.

As a German I will forever be grateful to all who fought for the liberation of Europe.

But as a historian I am looking at front pages today and must wonder: What is the point of remembering #VEDay 80 years on, what is the point of our thanks, when we are failing to protect the sacrifices made? 🧵

Independent front page. Jan 2025 Five years on, the true cost of Brexit £30.2bn Cost of Britain's divorce settlement from the EU (HM Treasury) - not counting any ongoing impacts to the economy £27bn Drop in goods exports to EU in 2022 alone due to the introduction of trade barriers since Brexit (LSE) with food, agriculture and fishing among worst-hit sectors 15% Long-term hit to UK trade (OBR) as revealed in Budget forecast £2.8bn Annual decrease in UK food exports to the EU (Centre for Inclusive Trade Policy) 6 in 10 Britons think Brexit has gone badly (YouGov) and 12% believe it has gone well 118,000 Tonnes drop in seafood exports to the EU since 2019 (Marine Management Organisation) 3.6m+ Number of immigrants into UK since the end of BU free movement (ONS) despite claims it would reduce the flow 56% Proportion of dairy producers struggling to find workers (Arla) 1,227,800 EU nationals who left the UK between 2016-21 (ONS) 16,400 Number of businesses that stopped exporting to EU due to Brexit trade rules (LSE) 1/3 Drop in EU students at UK universities 2.3m Net migration since end of free movement

Let’s just remind ourselves about Farage’s big meal ticket idea again. And no, this isn’t about how the Tories did it, this is just Brexit reality. And Farage would make the deal *even worse*. Pariah status, unreliable, ruined UK howling about immigration and moaning that everything is broken.

Another week of being busy bees 🐝 for our councillor team at Guildford Borough Council whether that was engaging with community groups, meeting with regional partners to improve service provision or helping to solve local issues. Working hard all year round is what we do 🧡

Ed Davey bungee jumping. His arms are spread out wide and his mouth is open.

Taking the leap into Bluesky 👋

Yes! My teenage son once stomped off in a huff. He was 14. After a bit we got worried and called the police. He was found at my mother's care home having hot choc and biccies molly-coddled by the staff. He had just wanted a hug from my mum, but we had two hours of fear 🙃

Farage -man of the sheeple

@marina-purkiss.bsky.social nails it

Another week of being busy bees 🐝 for our councillor team at Guildford Borough Council, whether that was engaging with local businesses, helping to smarten up community spaces or helping with flooding and on-street parking issues 🚗.

Working hard all year round is what we do 🧡

Another blow to the elites as billionaire who just sold £175 million flat becomes Reform party treasurer

Proud to be part of this great team 🧡🧡

That's wonderful 😊

We've all been there

🤣🤣

On the day after the Tories at the County Council rejected some of my motion to boost civic pride in Gloucestershire and clean up our area this happens. You couldn’t make it up!

Violence against women and girls is rooted in harmful masculine norms. Starting with men, we must address the attitudes and behaviours that contribute to a fear of violence for women in their day-to-day lives. #WhiteRibbonDay @libdemwomen.bsky.social

Sage words 👏👏👏

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A quote by Helen Morgan MP reading: NHS dentists and other health and care providers must be exempted from the Chancellor's tax increase. Without reversing the hike, the government's plan to rescue our health service is a plan in name only.

The government must exempt dentists from their tax increase, or risk huge cuts in NHS services and staff numbers.

The southeast of England right now - where Thames Water are releasing sewage into our rivers and waterways on an industrial scale…

This has to stop.