Helen Dennis

Graphic from the Mayor of London reads: "Breaking: the Bakerloop is here and it's free for a week." Includes images of two bus routes, one to Lewisham and one to Waterloo, along with the new Bakerloop bus.

The Bakerloop is here.

A brand-new electric express bus service connecting communities from Waterloo to Lewisham.

Launching on Saturday 27 September, we’re offering one week of free travel on the Bakerloop so Londoners can see for themselves how it could transform their everyday journeys.

Graphic with the headline “London is the greatest city in the world” set against a bright view of the River Thames with the Shard, Tower Bridge and the city skyline. The text celebrates what makes London special: regularly voted the number one city in the world, incredible diversity with over 300 languages spoken, world-class transport, world leader in finance tech and life sciences, best museums and galleries many free to visit, world-leading nightlife, food sport and music for every taste, host to the world’s best sporting events, home to seven Premier League clubs, globally-ranked universities, a city where you can be yourself and love who you love, and a place for everyone.

I’ve said it once, I’ll say it again.

Ignore the haters, London is the 🐐

At LREF yesterday, CLF hosted a panel discussion with @brendadacres.bsky.social, @helendennis.bsky.social & others on the Bakerloo Line Upgrade and Extension.

The panel discussed current progress, funding options and the project’s role in enabling new housing, jobs and growth in Central London.

quote regarding pension divestment from leader of Southwark Council Sarah King

Action to divest the Southwark Pension Fund from conflict and genocide - statement from Southwark Council.

For full details of the four actions the council will take please find out more via the link below.

www.southwark.gov.uk/news/2025/ac...

It's probably time I let people know that I've made the tough decision not to stand again for election in May 2026. It's been a great privilege to serve as Labour & Co-op Cllr for Chaucer Ward for the last 10 years and lots still to get done before May!

Gaza latest: ‘No credible evidence’ slain Al Jazeera journalist was part of Hamas Israel admits to targeting Anas Al-Sharif alleging he was 'posing as journalist'

GAZA LATEST 🔴

▪️ ‘No credible evidence’ Al Jazeera journalist killed in targeted Israeli strike was part of Hamas
▪️ Israel admits to targeting Anas Al-Sharif
▪️ Netanyahu vows to ‘finish the job’ in planned takeover of Gaza
▪️ AJ journalist's final message: 'Israel has succeeded in killing me'

Mass starvation spreading across Gaza, aid agencies warn, as pressure on Israel grows – Middle East crisis live More than 100 aid agencies, including Doctors Without Borders, Save the Children and Oxfam, say ‘our colleagues and those we serve are wasting away’

If ‘the West’ doesn’t act soon there won’t be any Gazans left to save. The fact there are no easy solutions does not excuse us from finding one, and from finding it now.

www.theguardian.com/world/live/2...

An excellent & thought-provoking day today at the Fabian Society Housing Mission Summit. Brilliant sessions on skills, homelessness & long-term housing strategy and caught up with some fantastic London Labour colleagues.

. @rachaelmaskell.bsky.social is one of the best 🌹

Southwark Council has released the following statement following the 15 July planning committee meeting to discuss the Aylesham site in Peckham

Southwark Council has released the following statement following the 15 July planning committee meeting to discuss the Aylesham site in Peckham

www.southwark.gov.uk/news/2025/so...

Israeli plan for forced transfer of Gaza’s population ‘a blueprint for crimes against humanity’ Military ordered to turn ruins of Rafah into ‘humanitarian city’ but experts call the plan an internment camp for all Palestinians in Gaza

A truly chilling report. The Israeli Defence Minister has is asking the IDF to draw up plans to force 600,000 Palestinians in Gaza into a camp on the ruins of Rafah- something he’s calling a “humanitarian city.” Once in they wouldn’t be allowed to leave.

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...

A pleasure to be at the Foreign Office this morning supporting the launch of the UK's approach to Freedom of Religion or Belief, the fruit of work led by David Smith MP. Such an important strand of human rights work with the situation worsening in so many places around the globe.

Well worth reading the whole thread below. Focus for new AHP on social rent homes, exempting new build council homes from Right to Buy for 35 years & allowing councils to combine RtB receipts with grant - game changer...

A Timms Review from the outset on a sensible timetable could have been a fine thing. Listen, co-produce, build consensus. We need to build an effective & sustainable system but welfare reform is far too important to be rushed...

Congratulations to my Cabinet colleague and friend @jamesmcash.bsky.social on his election as Leader of Southwark Labour. He will be our nomination for Leader of the Council next week and I know he will work tirelessly to deliver a fairer & healthier Southwark 👏👏👏

If grant could also be used for significant refurbishment projects (beyond normal major works & where you can deliver sufficient quality) that would make huge difference. If homes would otherwise be demolished I think there's also strong argument for counting them towards the 1.5m.

Brilliant news that Southwark has been rated 3rd best single tier council for climate action in the whole of the UK! And top performer on planning & land use - proud of everyone involved! @johnbatteson.bsky.social

Last week we launched our plan to tackle homelessness through £11m in investment buying back council homes and making homelessness services more accessible to the people that really need them.

www.southwark.gov.uk/news/2025/co...

Last week I visited the new Barratts development on Ilderton Road which delivers new homes as well as storage/logistics space. The scheme delivers 35% affordable housing and I'm delighted that 58 much-needed new social rent homes managed by L&G will soon be occupied by Southwark residents 👏👏👏

Do you live or work around the Old Kent Road? We want your input on how developments can best benefit the area.

The OKR Community Review Panel meets monthly to discuss planning proposals and advise the council on how developments can meet the needs of local people.

oldkentroad.org.uk/crp/

Labour is investing £39bn in the biggest boost to social and affordable housing in a generation.

MPs have personal beliefs, but also solemn duties: that’s why they must reject the assisted dying bill this week | Gordon Brown Our obligations to each other are ill served if laws focus unduly on those who want assisted dying. The priority should be the best palliative care, says former prime minister Gordon Brown

Powerful intervention from Gordon Brown ahead of assisted dying votes later this week. Palliative care must surely be the priority. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

We’re excited for the Bakerloop, but Londoners have said loud and clear that they want the Bakerloo Line Upgrade and Extension

We need your help to tell the government it’s time to #BackTheBakerloo

Take a minute today and pledge your support www.backthebakerloo.org.uk#signup

21-26 is/was £11.5bn, 11-15 was £4.5bn. £39bn over 10 years is a significant boost.

A good week for housing! Rough sleeping finally to be decriminalised and £39bn for new social and affordable housing (mostly social given government's clear focus) will be transformative. Well done @matthewpennycookmp.bsky.social & Angela Rayner 🌹

London Bridge and Borough terror attack memorial

On the 8th anniversary of the terror attacks on London Bridge and Borough, we remember the eight people who tragically lost their lives, and the many more who were affected by the events of that night. We will never forget them.

It has been an absolute pleasure working with Kieron as a member of his Cabinet in Southwark. He steps down with a huge amount to be proud of including his leadership on the Future of Council Housing 👇

A beautiful morning talking to residents this morning on the Tabard Estate with @southwarklabour.bsky.social

I completely missed this @compassoffice.bsky.social conference despite it being in my own borough 🤦‍♀️ Feels like an important moment for the party & great to see @miattafahnbulleh.bsky.social contributing alongside Andy Burnham & Lou Haigh #RadicalRenewal

Loud applause for @andyburnham.bsky.social at our closing plenary calling on Reeves to use the spending review to unlock the biggest council & social house building programme the UK has seen since the 50s.

With Right to Buy, “we are losing more than we are building”.

#RadicalRenewal