Sunday 10 May

Reports that Thiago Ávila had been released from prison in Israel were premature and unverified, the Brazilian embassy has had no contact with him whatsoever. This is from Thiago’s X account, which someone else is operating on his behalf.

Downing Street’s planned antisemitism rally is already facing criticism over a guest list many see as politically revealing. Nigel Farage has been invited to stand alongside other party leaders at an event supposedly aimed at confronting hate and intolerance. Green Party leader Zack Polanski, who is Jewish and has spoken publicly about antisemitism, was not invited.

17 year old Iranian tennis player Hana Shabanpour trained her entire life for the the World Tennis Tour but, rather than face an Israeli opponent in the final, she forfeited the title in solidarity with Iranian civilians killed in the war.

The local elections in England clearly demonstrate the need for proportional representation, Greens came 5th in number of seats won but 2nd in vote share. PR would eliminate the need for strategic voting doing a deal which one party to step aside in favour of another candidate, 2nd preference votes for the candidate with the lowest number of 1st preference votes would be redistributed. Only PR will prevent a Reform government!

According to The Observer, Farage faces two possible investigations over the undeclared gift of £5m from Christopher Harborne. A lengthy Commons suspension could lead to a recall petition – and end up costing him his Clacton seat.

Monday 11 May

Francesca Albanese joins Amnesty International in condemning #Eurovision and calls everyone with a conscience not to watch it.

Thiago Avila has arrived in Brazil after being released by Israel, 10 days after he was kidnapped in international waters while heading to break the Israeli blockade on Gaza.

Police allowed Israeli supporters to block the entrance to a church in Euston where Roger Waters and Lowkey were playing.

Tuesday 12 May

Residents in Fayette County, Georgia noticed their water pressure was unusually low, a data center 20 miles away had been drawing 30 million gallons of water in secret through connections the county didn’t know existed.

The Court of Appeal has ruled that Mr Justice Johnson had no jurisdiction to refer Palestine Action barrister Rajiv Menon KC for contempt of court proceedings after he reminded a jury of its absolute right to acquit. Via Declassified UK 👍

Wednesday 13 May

We might have a general election sooner than expected. With Starmer thrown out of Downing Street and no clear successor, we could have a government not only unfit but unable to govern. All it would need would be for parliament to pass a motion of no confidence in the government, not the Prime Minister, but I’m not sure we’re ready for another general election under FPTP

Saturday 16 May

It seems that Caroline Lucas is advocating that Greens should stand aside in the Makerfield by-election to give Andy Burnham a better chance of beating Reform. This is a decision for Makerfield Greens, but IMO they should only step aside if they have a cast iron guarantee that Burnham, should he become our next Prime Minister (which is not assured) introduces Proportional Representation in time for the next general election.

Sunday 17 May

The International Criminal Court (ICC) is pursuing five new arrest warrants for Israeli officials including finance minister Bezalel Smotrich and national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.

Monday 18 May

Dutch activists are blocking the rail lines to the port of Rotterdam to stop military supplies from being shipped to Israel.

I’ve just discovered why I’ve been having trouble posting to X lately. Rather than paying to be verified again, I prefer to restrict my posts to friends and comrades with perhaps an occasional new petition.

Tuesday 19 May

Andy Burnham will not introduce proportional representation for the next general election so there’s no reason for Greens to stand aside. “Greens can’t win” is guaranteed to be true if they don’t have a candidate, but we’ll undoubtedly be blamed if Reform win in Makerfield.

Wednesday 20 May

The United States has made a public offer of $100 million of humanitarian assistance to the people of Cuba, as the island has fully exhausted its fuel reserves due to the oil blockade implemented by the country offering the assistance. Cuba’s acquisition of Iranian drones, in anticipation of a military invasion by the US (which Trump has threatened more than once) is interpreted as a threat to America. According to what passes as logic in Trump’s demented brain, America can attack any country it chooses and any attempt at resistance is an act of aggression against the US which justifies what he intended to do anyway. #VivaCubaLibre 🇨🇺✊

Thursday 21 May

The US just quietly removed UN expert Francesca Albanese from its sanctions list, a week after a federal judge temporarily blocked the measures over free speech violations.

Friday 22 May

Petition: Call a public inquiry into pro-Israel influence on politics & democracy
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/752646
Parliament will debate this petition on 22 June 2026
You’ll be able to watch online on the UK Parliament YouTube channel.

Saturday 23 May

Hard-right Reform candidate Robert Kenyon is expected to be Andy Burnham’s main rival in the Makerfield by-election. The Greens’ Chris Kennedy stood down less than 24 hours after being selected, citing personal reasons, although he allegedly shared a social media post describing an arson attack on Jewish community ambulances earlier this year as a “false flag attack.” Not his own post mind you, but one expressing a suspicion shared by many people. Looking on the bright side, Greens weren’t expected to win and can’t be blamed if Jenrick wins. Burnham wants Labour’s next general election manifesto to commit to proportional representation, but that will be too bloody late! He’ll be pushing shit uphill to deliver the change needed to restore Labour to what it used to be in order to win a general election and with some of his proposals there will be no change whatsoever. We’ve heard it all from Starmer!

Just when you thought the United States couldn’t sink any lower it has imposed sanctions on four activists involved in flotilla missions seeking to break Israel’s 19-year siege on Gaza. Washington accused flotilla organisers, without evidence, of trying to reach the Palestinian territory “in support of Hamas”.

Meanwhile in the UK, the Foreign Office summoned Israel’s top diplomat in the country, the charge d’affaires Daniela Grudsky Ekstein, after video footage showing Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir taunting activists from the Global Sumud Flotilla went viral online.

“This behaviour violates the most basic standards of respect and dignity for people,” the Foreign Office said. But on the day the footage was released UK Security Minister Dan Jarvis delivered a speech over video in which he said: “Together we share a commitment to robust democratic governance, rule of law, and judicial independence … and an unwavering dedication to defending our open societies against security threats.” One has to wonder which planet Jarvis is on, he’s completely out of step with the Foreign Office on this issue!