Jonathan Walker

The former leader of the Labour group on Dudley council seems to have formed a new party, backed by @jeremycorbyn

In just over 5 hours, more than 80,000 people have signed up to help build a new kind of political party. We believe in democracy — and the establishment are running scared. We’re offering people something very precious: hope. Sign up at yourparty.uk.

An open letter from the Co-Leads of Progressive Judaism

Keir Starmer tells the Commons Liaison Committee there is "lots of housing" that can be used for asylum seekers moved out of hotels

Britain is being left in the dust. Spend five minutes talking to Chinese students and you’ll hear it: yes, they love the old buildings, the quaint charm, the history-soaked streets. But behind the polite compliments, there’s a quiet astonishment. To them, this place feels…

NEW: Government accept changes to the planning bill put forward by MP Chris Hinchliff, after they suspended him on Wednesday Hinchliff had spearheaded a rebellion against the planning bill - with his amendment also supported by the three other suspended MPs 1/3

There’s been debate about the Afghan leak super injunction. But the truth is simple: secrecy saved lives. Afghans who helped us risked execution. Brit Special Forces were exposed. I’d make the same call again in a heartbeat — and do whatever it takes to protect them.

“You're picking people who you believe that you can pick on and that's bullying, that's not discipline.” Starmer suspending MPs is “punishment” for being “prematurely correct” on government policy, says former political secretary for Tony Blair, @JohnMcTernan. @StigAbell

You cannot get married until you are 18 in England as of 2023. The Marriage and Civil Partnership (Minimum Age) Act increased the legal age from 16. That Angela Rayner does not appear to know this is a bit worrying...

Reinstate the Four Suspended Labour MPs actionnetwork.org/petitions/rein…

Labour's @jessphillips defends suspending MPs who opposed disability benefit cuts, saying: "We were elected as a team under a banner and under a manifesto, and we have to seek to work together" Much as I usually admire Jess, I'd point out that PIP cuts were not in the manifesto

I’m disappointed that @RachaelMaskell , @CHinchliffMP, @NeilForPoole and @BrianLeishmanMP have been suspended for acting on conscience and conviction. I stand in solidarity with them and want to see them reinstated as members of our Parliamentary Labour Party. The issues they…

What did @RachaelMaskell do apart from win an argument with the government? So she is being suspended for being right about policy. Makes the Whips Office look like bad losers.

Rachael Maskell on the news now after her suspension as a Labour mp. Says she has been "standing up for disabled people" by spearheading welfare rebellion. Says "people would die - they would take their own lives" if they had their PIP cut.

Rachel Maskell confirms she has lost the whip after “standing up for her constituents over welfare”. She was clearly upset after the meeting with the whips. Asked if she thought it was fair, she told me she doesn’t believe in suspensions.

Work and Pensions Sec @leicesterliz , asked why she didn't consult people with disabilities about PIP cuts, tells @CommonsWorkPen she consulted Parliament (because the measures were in legislation). Which is true but I think misses the point

The growth in the state since the Brexit referendum is eye-watering - funded through higher taxation. Therefore the question shouldn't be which taxes to raise next - it should be how do we trim the state & use that to stimulate business growth to bring the tax burden down.

WeTransfer terms and services now including owning everything we transfer lol.