Tom Watson

Jenny Evans and the cost of institutional cowardice The inside story of how corruption thrives when power is unchecked

Powerful review of #DontLetitBreakYouHoney @onejen.bsky.social @hachetteuk.bsky.social by former MP @tomwatsonofficial.bsky.social

tomwatsonofficial.substack.com/p/jenny-evan...

Angela Rayner's second act Why the country still needs her voice and why Labour no longer needs a deputy leader.

Lovely and wise words from @tomwatsonofficial.bsky.social about Angela Rayner
open.substack.com/pub/tomwatso...

substack.com/@tomwatsonof...

Make UK Industrial Strategy Skills Commission Report 2025

A big moment in tackling the UK’s skills crisis.

@MakeUK_ has published Skills for Success—a blueprint to fix apprenticeships and secure our economic future.

Read the full report: www.makeuk.org/make-uk-indu...
#UKmfg #IndustrialStrategySkills

I’ve always liked it.

Bit choked by Gavin and Stacey.

BBC Radio 4 - Archive on 4, ABBA: Inside the Music Exploring ABBA's songwriting and craft on the 50th anniversary of their Eurovision win.

Iain Archer presenting on Radio 4 right now. It’s wonderful. www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

Love this.

Welcome to the House of Lords on here.

Abba Voyage gives £1.4bn economic boost - and may stay in London 'forever' Executive producer Michael Bolingbroke said the Swedish pop group ‘chose the UK when they could have gone anywhere else’

ABBA Voyage is proving to be more than just a show—it's an economic powerhouse, bringing millions to Stratford and boosting jobs. A shining example of how our support for culture and creativity drives growth across London.

Uma is doing great work here.

This could work, but it also needs a psychologist involved, as it touches on themes of trauma and sacrifice.

No tyrant lasts for ever.

If you’ve not heard Mark Steel on desert island discs, you should. It’s about the most revealing episode I’ve ever heard. www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

The Guardian have missed the essential fact we need in this story. What’s on the other side of the window? Are they on the ground floor?

And also - they should be on Blue Sky!

Happy 90th birthday to the British Council, who open minds, doors and borders and promote human flourishing.

I’m happy with this.

Profile - Kim Leadbeater - BBC Sounds The MP behind a bid to legalise assisted dying in England and Wales.

A lovely profile of @kimleadbeatermp.bsky.social

www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

I remember that book. It also amuses me to see MPs fall apart when they have free choice. (Only joking). (Half joking).

Passenger rail services bill returns to the Lords Members consider Commons amendments in 'ping pong'.

And also, to her credit, her rail nationalisation legislation came into law yesterday. www.parliament.uk/business/new...

She’s achieved more in five months than many MPs in a lifetime!

🙌🏼

I’m very sad to see Louise Haigh resign. She was a highly able minister who brought energy and clarity to the transport brief. Her contributions will be missed.

Mishal Husain to leave BBC

Possibly the best interviewer the BBC Today programme has ever had. The corporation will regret letting her go. www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/...

You’re in my heart, you’re in my soul.

This fella - Richard Dawson - has today released a brilliant cynical stab at the Xmas market… and I’m playing it TONIGHT! Of course I am! 👊💥 #rileyandcoe ⭐️

This first ten years of multiplex with kids are the hardest.

I know I once had beef with jay over his utter contempt for Black Country chefs but I’m going to miss him in the Observer. I’d actually follow him to a new publication.

Brace yourselves. MPs will soon unveil their Christmas cards, featuring designs from local school competitions. The all-time winner? Former MP Michael Dugher’s entrant: an avant-garde kid who drew Santa nailed to a cross. Forget sleigh bells, that one rang alarm bells.

There’s something almost transcendent about sitting in a 90-degree sauna, the gales whistling around the corners of your wooden box, as you gaze out at the snow.