Basit Mahmood

To those who say politics doesn't matter, or who think that it doesn't matter who you vote for, 'everyone's the same', watch this video of Gordon Brown list the last Labour government's achievements. Labour in power transforms the lives of those most in need.

61% of internships completed by university graduates aged 21-19 are unpaid or underpaid, research by Sutton Trust has found. Delighted to see the govt is taking steps to ban unpaid internships which act to lock out those from working class and underrepresented backgrounds.

A fantastic Labour East fundraising dinner last night with a keynote speech from Secretary of State for Education Bridget Phillipson!

If you’re in a position of privilege or power, always lower the ladder down to help others climb up, rather than pulling it up. Some in positions of authority/power won't do that because they perceive the talent of others as a 'threat', but that's a sign of weakness not strength.

If we’re to restore the trust of working class communities in our political institutions then that means listening to them. Not sneering at them, patronising them or speaking on their behalf, but listening, acknowledging where we’ve got it wrong and working to put things right.

Populism in a nutshell. Deny the complexity of a problem and just shout out simplistic slogans as solutions. The problem with that of course is when put under a bit of a scrutiny, it all falls apart.

This is Nigel Farage and populism in a nutshell. Asked about how they would actually solve issues, they’ve ‘no idea’ as populism at its heart is the denial of complexity, in favour of slogans. When put under scrutiny it all falls apart.

As I’ve always said. When it comes to the populist right you need only ask one question: how? Turns out they have “no idea”.

The Conservative Party’s opposition to a definition of Islamophobia isn’t surprising. This is a party whose members have called for Muslims to be thrown off bridges, quietly reinstated cllrs who compared Asians to dogs and whose MPs have retweeted Tommy Robinson.

Isn't it interesting how Reform likes to portray itself as taking a patriotic Britain-first approach, while at the same time it pours scorn on renewable energy and wants the UK to remain reliant on imported natural gas?

This week, me and my colleagues have been delivering our ward newsletter, highlighting work we’ve done over the last year. This includes road repairs, a new walking and running path around chaul end lane, and a doubling of lighting and cutting back the overgrowth on Challney Path

Simply shouting slogans and engaging in social media outrage, which for some has become an end in itself, doesn't lead to positive change. Tangible change comes through public service, working with communities on the ground to deliver better outcomes.

This is a great appointment. Congratulations, Mark. This is good news for Luton, @lutoncouncil and Bedfordshire. I look forward to working with Mark as we strengthen the @lutoncouncil @bedspolice @BedsPCC partnership for the benefit of the town.

Always trying to convince me she hasn’t had enough food!

Some powerful words from Beds PCC @JohnTizard tonight at a meeting. Communities are not ‘hard to reach’, the onus is on those in power to do their utmost to restore trust and seek out those from underrepresented backgrounds rather than implying they don’t want to be reached. 👏

The BMA Resident Doctors Committee still refuses to meet me. After a 28.9% pay rise, they say another 29% is “non-negotiable.” This is not the way a reasonable trade union behaves.