Monday 24 August

My MP Keir Mathers has forwarded a reply from Minister for Roads Justin Madders in response to an email I had sent him regarding proposals for alternatives to driving – better public transport, safe walking and cycling routes etc. I couldn’t share the response because it contains my full postal address and I was unable to redact it, but I’ve summarised the response and will share it next week. It’s encouraging to know that my MP, for whom I didn’t vote, is conveying my concerns to the appropriate person to deal with it.

Wednesday 26 August

A satirical replica of Mount Rushmore has been revealed in a shopping mall in Thailand, Trump doesn’t like it. He wants to be on the real one, which ain’t gonna happen!

Another has gone on display in Ireland ahead of his visit there next month.

Thursday 27 August

The Deputy Mayor of Jerusalem, has been refused entry into Canada. A welcome change from opponents of genocide, such as Yanis Varoufakis, being denied entry into countries such as Germany.

X is getting increasingly useless! If I stumble across an article that looks interesting I can’t open it in my browser unless I first sign into Bluesky and share it 🙄

A recent poll, published ahead of a parliamentary debate on alternatives to FPTP on September 2, found that 53% of MPs are in favour of establishing a national commission on electoral reform.

Friday 28 August

Trumps latest narcissistic act is to sign an Executive Order renaming Lake Ontario as Lake America (just like the Gulf of Mexico). He ignored the fact that the US/Canada border runs through the middle as he has a grandiose ambition to absorb Canada into the USA.

Palestine Action spray painted Trump’s Turnberry golf course in Scotland, before the group was banned. This action is now being treated as an ‘act of terrorism’, and the accused face being sentenced as terrorists. Via Hudda Ammori on X

Saturday 29 August

After resigning as Defence Secretary in Starmer’s government for what he saw as insufficient funding ambitions for the military, Chancellor of the Exchequer John Healey is “putting on pause” his plans for increasing military spending until after the next election – when he will hopefully be out of a job.

Sunday 30 August

Another petition I’m promoting has kicked off today, this one is about shark finning in Mexico.

I just unfollowed and muted someone who commented on a video I shared without having watched it. He said that nothing I said would change his mind, so what’s the point of arguing?

I’m still having a problem with comrades on X being unable to see the original posts of my blog, so I’ld be grateful if anyone reading this would share it with others on X who might miss out. There are some folk who genuinely appreciate my blogs but have difficulty receiving them. I’ve figured out how to enable readers to subscribe to my blogs, see bottom of this blog 👇

Monday 31 August

Zionists now have Barbra Streisand in the crosshairs because her foundation funds anti-Israel activism.

Tuesday September 1

Nicolle Wallace, a political analyst for MS NOW and NBC News who served as the White House Communications Director under George W. Bush, has announced that her network will no longer broadcast Trump’s White House briefings live as they could spread unchecked false information and misinformation. Her channel will first fact-check his statements and will only broadcast them after providing the appropriate context.

Andy Burnham has appointed Anas Sarwar, the outgoing leader of the Scottish Labour Party, to the House of Lords so he can serve as a Minister for Trade. Consequently, Sarwar will vacate his seat in Holyrood to serve in Westminster where was not elected! There is no suggestion that Sarwar lacks enough experience to serve in government, but a Ministerial job is temporary, they can last months or years, but a peerage lasts a lifetime. Both Burnham and Sarwar have previously supported reform of the House of Lords, could they use this appointment to increase the number of peers willing to vote for reform? 🤔

Cur Starmer is standing down as MP for Holborn and St Pancras. The Guardian is speculating that Zack Polanski might stand but I’ll await confirmation from the Green Party. Andrew Feinstein is a constituent who would be formidable challenger, he came close to beating Starmer last time but second place doesn’t count under FPTP. One to watch!

In other news, Sir James Stupidly as resigning from the Shadow Cabinet to stand for Mayor of London 🙄

Wednesday 2 September

Uganda’s parliament has authorized the deployment of Ugandan soldiers to Gaza as part of an international force proposed by Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’. The Ugandan government has offered no clear explanation of what role its soldiers would play, or what Kampala expects in return. Opposition parliamentarian Hassan Kirumira asked during the debate, “On which side is our army going to fight?’ Via Dropsite News

The one good thing [about Starmer] is that no one listens to him or Blair. They’re the two worst sales people imaginable. The Andy Burnhams of this world can be more dangerous, because they seem genuinely nice, but often go along with the same crap.

Ricky at Council Estate Media

The USA has accepted a multimillion dollar of Argentinian beef that was rejected by China because it contained prohibited antibiotics, undercutting domestic beef. Yet he expects the UK to buy his chlorine washed chicken, he doesn’t care about food hygiene if he can keep the price down!

Thursday 3 September

Zack Polanski has announced that he will stand as a candidate in the Holborn and St Pancras by-election if selected by local Green members, which is not expected to be a major hurdle.

On Wednesday, Parliament returned to debate the Representation of the People Bill. Before the Bill even reached the chamber, the amendment calling for a National Commission on electoral reform was ruled out. When the Democracy Minister was pressed about the PM’s commitment to electoral reform and to a National Commission, she said:

The government’s priority is a politics that works for all people in all places, not some people in some places. The Prime Minister remains committed to electoral reform as a way of supporting that objective… I would be very happy to meet with many members from across the house to hear the views and look at how we can work on a strong proposal and look at next steps.

Friday 4 September

A federal prosecutor in Minnesota who was investigating an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer for possible civil rights crimes has been fired. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Evans was investigating ICE officer Christian Castro over the shooting of a Venezuelan immigrant earlier this year. The Justice Department ultimately charged Castro with making false statements about the incident, but the indictment remains sealed. Via CBS News

The US National Debt is now more than $40 trillion dollars. Instead of taxing billionaires to reduce the debt, the Trump is paying them interest on loans that will never be paid off. Other nations won’t invest in US Treasury Bonds because they don’t trust the Government not to default!

Donald Trump’s Justice Department has issued a new legal opinion declaring that welfare and food assistance will be withheld from poor families in states that don’t comply with the president’s immigration agenda. Under the new guidance, states are being ordered to report anyone who is believed to be in the country illegally to the Trump administration or risk losing the money. The administration is not threatening to cut off benefits to people here illegally; it can’t, because they don’t receive any. Instead, they’re literally threatening to take food away from American children in any state whose governor refuses to become an ICE informant.

Maureen Lippywoman has previously refused to work with Maxine Peake and Miriam Margolyes for supporting Palestine. She’s now moaning about actor Gerard McCarthy who has quit a play when she joined the cast because of her support for Israel 🙄

Zack Polanski’s bid for the Holborn & St Pancras constituency in the forthcoming by-election has the personal backing of independent pro-Palestine campaigner Andrew Feinstein, who slashed Sir Keir’s majority in the 2024 general election.

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