Kevin Gopal

Only just.

Stay safe

Curtice: worst ever Cons by-election result

Woolas's campaign manager then was one Peter Mandelson IIRC

OLAF promises to fast-track investigation and deliver verdict by 2035... 😅

macOS Big Sur 11.7.11 Update Released Years After Retirement - Mr. Macintosh In a surprise move, Apple released just released macOS Big Sur 11.7.11 (20G1443) Update to fix multiple certificate issues.

New OS for my 11yo MacBook is a bit of a surprise. Does it make any odds? mrmacintosh.com/macos-big-su...

Can he hang on until after the Gorton byelection?

Guaranteeing the essentials: How Britain could end crisis-level poverty With millions struggling to afford food, utilities and essentials, a protected minimum floor for benefits could provide a lifeline and reduce reliance on food banks.

With millions struggling to afford food, utilities and essentials, a protected minimum floor for benefits could provide a lifeline and reduce reliance on food banks - @kevingopal.bsky.social speaks to those who need it most

national.thelead.uk/p/child-pove...

A protected minimum floor, preventing people having their Universal Credit cut beyond a certain level, is a stepping stone to ensuring benefits cover the cost of essentials. Me in @theleaduk.bsky.social.

Bit hopeful on his part - 'we request', we 'remind

What's the blue thing in the background?

Exclusive: Reform UK just broke electoral law in Gorton and Denton People across the constituency thought they were getting a letter from a concerned pensioner, they didn’t know she was working for Reform

Leaflet wars just stepped up a gear: Mill reveal Reform UK have broken electoral law manchestermill.co.uk/exclusive-re...

We are running 3 free training sessions for front line staff, managers, and decision makers in local authorities - ‘Children in care- citizenship and immigration training’ which you can sign up to here:

gmiau.org/settlement-a...

🚨 BREAKING | Hannah Spencer, a local councillor and plumber, has been nominated as the Green Party candidate for the Gorton and Denton by-election.

Spencer endorsed Zack Polanski in the leader election. She won the selection with ~80% of ballots.

(Via @tomorrowsmps)

Ban politicians from using football analogies.

And possibly bequeathing the GM mayoralty to Reform - not a great look.

The Lead Untangles: Facial recognition technology - surveillance state or crucial police tool? An invasion of privacy or a much-needed way to keep people safe at major events? As the Home Office consults on the use by police forces we explore the history and current usage

The Home Office is consulting on facial recognition technology, aiming to significantly increase its use. But questions remain over accuracy and a tendency to “incorrectly include some demographic groups in search results”. Me for The Lead Untangles: national.thelead.uk/p/the-lead-u...

Consultation is open until 12 Feb.

The Lead Untangles: Facial recognition technology - surveillance state or crucial police tool? An invasion of privacy or a much-needed way to keep people safe at major events? As the Home Office consults on the use by police forces we explore the history and current usage

An invasion of privacy or a much-needed way to keep people safe at major events? As the Home Office consults on police use of facial recognition technology, we explore the the pitfalls and the promise of better security

@kevingopal.bsky.social

national.thelead.uk/p/the-lead-u...

Harry Stopes | Police Violence in Berlin In the last six months human rights officials at both the Council of Europe and the United Nations have written to the...

For more than 2 years, police in Berlin - encouraged by city and national politicians - have systematically used excessive violence in an attempt to beat the Palestine solidarity movement into silence.

I wrote about this phenomenon for the @lrb.co.uk

Pleased to have been able to add some northern perspectives to The Lead's comprehensive coverage of child poverty. Ultimately, children are poor because adults are poor, and lifting the two-child cap is necessary but not sufficient to end it.

I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.

They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1

The Lead in Conversation: "Kids are in poverty because adults are in poverty" Former editor of The Big Issue in the north discusses the shameful crisis of child poverty and the regional disparities that are being driven by inequality and deprivation.

Former editor of The Big Issue in the North @kevingopal.bsky.social discusses the shameful crisis of child poverty and the regional disparities that are being driven by inequality and deprivation with @nmozz.bsky.social

Child poverty is at an all-time high in the UK according to official statistics - but it's important to look beyond the figures to who it really impacts. Last week, @kevingopal.bsky.social spoke with Sophie, a student who grew up skipping meals in Newcastle, because she saw her mum doing it.

My fave bit is "did it work?" 🤣

Touch flat footed, Zak #Ashes

“When you’re younger and you’re in it it feels normal. Where I’m from everyone was in the same boat. It’s not just my mam who was in poverty – it’s generations before that." Sophie, from Newcastle.

The pointless, performative cruelty of Jack Straw replacing cash for asylum seekers with Sodexo vouchers was so bad even Blunkett felt he had to scrap it - but there was a campaign against it too - news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/1916...

Kevin Gopal (@kevingopal) As this week’s flip-flopping on income tax shows nothing is an entirely done deal - me for The Lead this week on child poverty in the North and the lifting of the two child benefit cap.

As this week's flip-flopping on income tax shows, nothing is an entirely done deal - me for @theleaduk on child poverty in the North and the prospect of the end of the two child benefit cap - substack.com/@kevingopal/...