Michele Grant

"I never have been in despair about the world. Enraged. I've been enraged by the world, but never despair. I cannot afford despair. You can't tell the children that there is no hope."
~James Baldwin

One reason why the government should have moved off X is that X shapes commissioning choices at our most important broadcaster, the BBC, because producers spend time there. You see this with the Online Safety Act, which whatever one thinks of its effectiveness is a popular measure.

I think, like Enoch Powell in the 1970s, GBNEWS
has mistaken its own anti-immigrant sentiment - its own institutional racism, we could say - for majority opinion. Its presenters - some of whom have links with the far right - are working hard to make the two align, under the nose of Ofcom.

More than fifty private schools shut since Labour put VAT on fees Department for Education defends ending tax breaks for independent institutions, after parents lost a legal battle at the High Court this year — view map

The headline here should say:

"Number of private schools increases by 35 - showing fears of an exodus to be unfounded".

(The increase is mentioned way down the article.)

www.thetimes.com/article/19ef...

Could This Be a Moment of Opportunity in Gaza? That will require a statesmanship hitherto in short supply

open.substack.com/pub/markurba...

Time to pay up: Toughest crackdown on late payments in a generation unveiled in plan to back small businesses UK Government unveils its Small Business Plan to support SMEs across the country

Bit more than a promise www.gov.uk/government/n....

Excellent.

📌 We are looking for a new Director of Journalist Programmes

The successful candidate will lead on the delivery, strategic development, and long-term financial sustainability of all Journalist Programmes at the Institute.

Apply by Mon 1 Sept, noon (UK time)
More info: buff.ly/FTCNDd1

Despite the popularity of The Rest Is Politics I learn a hell of a lot more from this one.

A reminder that a senior Tory MP, and former colleague of Jenkyns, described her to me as "the stupidest person he'd ever met".

Our Broken Culture of Secrecy And how control freakery makes it all worse

"Ultimately it’s these attempts by government to control so much that undermine understanding of what the forces or intelligence agencies do, and therefore public support. That’s important at a time when we’re committed to spending a lot more on defence."
open.substack.com/pub/markurba...

Neo-Nazis and black extremists ‘forming antisemitic alliances’ White and black nationalists are finding common ground over their hatred of Jewish people, research has warned, forming a new threat to UK security

So depressing

www.thetimes.com/article/c614...

Age checks for online safety – what you need to know as a user As of 25 July 2025, all sites and apps that allow pornography will need to have strong age checks in place, to make sure children can’t access that or other harmful content.

www.ofcom.org.uk/online-safet...

Thank you to all the #Arsenal supporters who have given this important petition such a boost since yesterday. Keep it up. As a lifelong #LFC supporter respect to you! And whichever team you support, you're invited.

@arseblog.com please consider sharing ..

Petition: Increase funding for people with Parkinson’s and implement the "Parky Charter" We want the government to take the decisive five steps set out in the Movers and Shakers' "Parky Charter" and to fulfil the Health Secretary’s promises.

Kudos to @arsenalfc.bsky.social for its brilliant walking football programme for people with Parkinson's. If you're an #Arsenal fan (and even if you're not) please sign this petition
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/71...

Broadcasting legend John Stapleton who’s living with #parkinsons has signed the #parkypetition100K and wants you to join him petition.parliament.uk/petitions/71...

Petition: Increase funding for people with Parkinson’s and implement the "Parky Charter" We want the government to take the decisive five steps set out in the Movers and Shakers' "Parky Charter" and to fulfil the Health Secretary’s promises.

petition.parliament.uk/petitions/71... What do you mean, you haven't signed the Parky Charter petition calling for better Parkinson's care?? We Parkies have an excuse - one of the symptoms of PD is apathy. But as for the rest of you, jump to it! (pretty please..)

Petition: Increase funding for people with Parkinson’s and implement the "Parky Charter" We want the government to take the decisive five steps set out in the Movers and Shakers' "Parky Charter" and to fulfil the Health Secretary’s promises.

You know all those petitions that feel a bit pointless? This isn't one of them. Please sign. And share.

petition.parliament.uk/petitions/71...

Petition: Increase funding for people with Parkinson’s and implement the "Parky Charter" We want the government to take the decisive five steps set out in the Movers and Shakers' "Parky Charter" and to fulfil the Health Secretary’s promises.

You know all those petitions that feel a bit pointless? This isn't one of them. Please sign. And share.

petition.parliament.uk/petitions/71...

Thank you

Petition: Increase funding for people with Parkinson’s and implement the "Parky Charter" We want the government to take the decisive five steps set out in the Movers and Shakers' "Parky Charter" and to fulfil the Health Secretary’s promises.

Please sign this. Just do it. Thank you.

Increase funding for people with Parkinson’s and implement the "Parky Charter" - Petitions share.google/kg43omN9oitf...

Just published. With a scene-setting chapter from @municipaldreams.bsky.social

amzn.eu/d/1W5BLEw

Top quality analysis this morning of what to expect this week in the Gaza ceasefire talks from @markurban.bsky.social. All the right questions from @hugorifkind.bsky.social; all the answers succinct and knowledgable in return.
@listentotimesradio.bsky.social

One-stop family hubs to be opened in all English council areas Government announces £500m project to provide single-point of access for health, education and wellbeing services

Genuinely good news - a first step towards repairing some of the damage of the last 15 years.

www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

Texts show Team Corbyn opposed new party minutes after launch A left-wing collective, headed by Jeremy Corbyn, wants to take on Labour — but can it? Its founders are already battling each other on WhatsApp

It is so weirdly satisfying when people double down on the cliché. "Some Reform councillors don't actually want to administrate!"; "some Tories just interested in enriching themselves!"; "some on the hard left would rather plot and out-procedure each other than.. oh well than anything really!"

Award-worthy old school journalism

It was the illness that made me suspicious.

The only thing that surprises me, having read the book when it first came out is how long it took for a journalist to investigate.

The real Salt Path: how the couple behind a bestseller le... Penniless and homeless, the Winns found fame and fortune with the story of their 630-mile walk to salvation. We can reveal it was far from the truth

Couple of con artists observer.co.uk/news/nationa...