Daniel

'In early 1973, the Architectural Review submitted a proposal to convert Albert Bridge into a landscaped public park and pedestrian footpath across the river. The proposal proved very popular with the area's residents, a campaign raised a petition for the bridge to be permanently closed to traffic.'

1. Many here seem bemused by the anger and disappointment this government attracts. Please bear with me while I try to explain it.
Let’s begin with Gaza. Starmer’s complicity is one of the major reasons so many people are disillusioned.
rethinkingsecurityorguk.wpcomstaging.com/2025/10/07/i...
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Albert Bridge closes to traffic as 'precaution' after inspection Concerns were raised about the 150-year-old crossing following a routine maintenance inspection.

An unplanned and emergency closure of Tower Bridge would be chaotic, bad for buses, and embarrassing. Far better to plan a permanent closure of Tower Bridge to all vehicles but buses and emergency vehicles forthwith.

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

One by one, old father time is gonna make all our Victorian bridges walking and cycling only. and I gotta say: hell yeah

In her defence of Starmer Bridget Phillipson mentions scrapping the 2 child benefit cap.

That is happening in spite of Starmer, her & the rest, not because of them. Imagine what else could be achieved if the whole rotten lot of 'em were cast aside.

the whole outfit needs burying. bsky.app/profile/avde...

I also note he says that he decided to "resign from the government."

I wasn't aware that political appointees in No. 10 were members of the government...

Morgan McSweeney resigns as Downing Street chief of staff Exit of Mandelson protégé comes as Sir Keir Starmer seeks to stave off leadership speculation

The idea that Starmer was unaware Mandleson was dodgy because his protege forgot to mention it is pathetic.

www.ft.com/content/af75...

Keir Starmer's chief of staff Morgan McSweeney resigns PM's top aide faced mounting criticism from Labour MPs over his part in appointing Peter Mandelson as US ambassador

Advisers advise, politicians decide.

It might be the right decision, but it won't ease the pressure on Keir Starmer
inews.co.uk/news/politic...

Morgan McSweeney resigns as Keir Starmer’s chief of staff Longtime aide who masterminded landslide 2024 election win departs Downing Street after Mandelson revelations

Morgan McSweeney’s resignation is the right measure but let’s remember the old adage: Advisers advise but ministers decide. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

If as @lucympowell.bsky.social claims Labour is so concerned about Reform winning, they could consider:

1. Running their most popular candidate
2. Sack everyone connected to Mandelson
3. Stop copying Reform's policies
4. Address voters problems
5. Introduce PR

Otherwise see you at the count.

Quite funny that Starmer's allies are waking up to this point now …

Cuts to Winter Fuel… not in the manifesto
Disability benefit cuts… not in there either
Cutting jury trials… also not there
Digital ID… no mention
Raising employers NI… nope
Freezing tax threholds… nah
Contracts with Palantir… no

yup

To have a huge, HUGE scandal around Mandelson and then decide the next leader should be someone who resigned over dodgy financial stuff and still isn't straight with the taxman seems... eccentric.

Labour’s leadership brought Mandelson in and clung to him because of a shared political project. The Mandelson crisis is a crisis of that project.

By me:
modernleft.substack.com/p/the-mandel...

Traffic signals are motor traffic engineering devices for managing motor traffic.

They have no value for human-powered and human scale transport.

This is why some Dutch cities pull them out when they clear out the motor traffic!

Palestine Action protesters not guilty of defence firm burglary The group are cleared of aggravated burglary over a raid at an Elbit Systems warehouse.

Not even burglars, let alone terrorists.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

BREAKING: NO CONVICTIONS AS VERDICTS COME IN FOR FILTON24 TRIAL

After 8 days of deliberation, the jury have not convicted Charlotte Head, Samuel Corner, Ellie (Leona) Kamio, Fatema Zainab Rajwani, Zoe Rogers and Jordan Devlin on any charge.

Defend Our Juries comment to follow.

and no I haven't put the Mandelson-Epstein-Reinaldo scoop on twitter

we journalists *can* make Bluesky the place to break news

A woman and a man sitting on chairs angled towards each other in a room. They are doing an interview and a camera is angled towards them. There are plants around them on the floor and on the small table between them.

We are deeply saddened by the passing of Councillor Waseem Zaffar. A stalwart advocate for clean air, social justice and children’s health, Waseem was a true supporter of us and our Birmingham work with Kirsten and Maya. Our thoughts are with his wife, children and family.

If you take a breath of Birmingham's air today, give a thought to Waseem Zaffar, an all too rare example of a local politician willing to tackle the problem of car dominance.

Our city is greatly diminished by Councillor Zaffar’s shocking passing.

Just how much more appalling news needs to come out about Peter Mandelson before the Labour leadership finally kicks him out of the party?

and i’m sure Attlee said somewhere making Morrison Foreign Sec was one of his biggest mistakes. Reviewing political history I agree!

You had Peter Mandelson on one side, and Jeremy Corbyn on the other. It was as simple as that.

Oh, and
4. Despite the demand for proportional representation from Labour members, Starmer won't change
our ridiculous First Past the Post system. So he's in no position to blame anyone for "splitting the vote".
share.google/buxD1tZ5BfKk...

Awful government

Is this the same Steve Reed who was the council leader of Lambeth and resigned that position three days after entering the Commons in a by-election?

The problem is not capacity. The problem is who gets the capacity. TfL increasingly seem unable to understand that giving 20% more signal capacity to buses mixed in with other traffic doesn't mean 20% faster buses, but 20% more people driving. They have to do much more to separate modes...

all the best for the future Ann.