Beth Mitchell

The problem with politics is us. It was clear on QT that Winstanley was the best person to represent Makerfield. Remove the rosettes and it was clear. But people vote for the rosette and we end up with terrible MPs.

Thanks to everyone who has been out today in Orrell, Billinge and Longshaw. Listening to residents and talking about their concerns.

The Times's weekend read: * The Labour leadership contest has already begun. In No 10 Starmer is fighting for his political life, putting huge pressure on teh system to bolster his Premiership in face of existential threat posed by Andy Burnham * Expect a frenzy of activity in coming weeks - the defence investment plan, social media restrictions for under 16s, the Brexit reset. Announcements bogged down in months of bitter internal rows will finally come into public view * All the announcements are coming before or shortly after June 18th, the date of the Makerfield by-election. Starmer is trying to send a message to Labour MPs that he can deliver * He isn't the only one. Burnham has began issuing his own national leadership pledges - starting with a £300million cut in business rates for pubs and small businesses * His press release directly attacked Starmer and Reeves, accusing the government of 'undervaluing' their importance to local communities. This is a *Labour* candidate directly criticising a *Labour* government * The lines between the Labour Party and Burnham's campaign are increasingly blurred. Team Burnham now has a lot of the party machinery on his side - press officers, officials etc - and also has most of the cabinet out knocking doors in Makerfield. Power is already moving * Starmer thinks he can fight Burnham, but his allies are unconvinced. One said that he thinks Burnham has behaved 'appallingly'. 'His view is why should he make it easy for him?' * But there is an acknowledgement that Starmer is on borrowed time. That it is a case of when, not if he goes * There are divides in Team Burnham over when he should amke a move if he wins Makerfield. The 'go-now' camp say he must seize the opportunity or it could slip through his hands, using the momentum of the by-election to act decisively * But others think this could be disastrous - that he needs time to build up a proper plan for government and No 10. That if he doesn't he risks repeating Starmer's mistakes all over again * Then there's what's being billed as the 'battle for the soul of Burnham'. There are those on the left - Louise Haigh, Miatta Fahbulleh and others - who favour a radical break from Starmer. Then there are the centrists - Josh Simons, Jim O'Neill - are are said to be emphasising the importance of fiscal credibility. It is potentially a v unwieldy coalition thetimes.com/uk/politics/ar…

Bradford. Again. Yet we have no confirmation Bradford will be included in the rape gangs inquiry. Which raises the question: is it really a national inquiry? Of course Bradford must be included. Just like everywhere that this evil festers. itv.com/news/calendar/…

🚨 This is from Paul Walsh a veteran and Father of "Far Right" rioter 👇🏼 "Just sat in Portsmouth magistrates court and watched my son plead guilty for throwing a traffic cone which was caught on camera from the disturbance at Southampton on Tuesday over the two tied policing and that poor boys death by the hands of the police ....... I don't condone violence towards the police but my son is only 21 and got caught up in the moment, he informs me it didn't even hit them just thrown towards there lines... Firstly it was a kangaroo court, the solicitor informed me before entry that it will be the district Crown court judge that over seen the southport rioters court case presiding and with that he appeared on a big screen once my son came up from the cells... Took his guilty plea then informed him by the video link with it being such a high profile case his guilty plea the sentencing guidelines where between 3-5 years for a guilty. With that he said he's remanding him in to custody and he will be sentenced Wednesday morning at Southampton Crown court at 1000 in front of him personally now take him away 😳 If that's not two tied justice i don't know what is and that's a young 21 year old, white boy full time job never been in trouble before and dealt with that swiftly. 😳 And with those sentencing guidelines Am still in shock 🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤬🤬🤬 — feeling helpless."

Like with Vickrum Dickwa, you mean?

The words “I don’t think you have mate” will haunt UK policing for years and rightly so…

So there is going to be a jury inquest for Henry Nowak. Jury inquests are rare and it’s extremely telling the coroner has granted one.

There's a new initiative in Makerfield to put signs up pointing at places where idiots live.

Suella, it is undeniable that it has been Conservatives, me and @NJ_Timothy , who have led the fight against the Islamophobia definition (if you listen that is the point I make below). This is going to be as bad for policing as the Race Action Plan. It is also undeniable that Kemi has led the charge against Critical Race Theory. She was doing it back when it was hard and unpopular. You know that. Everybody knows it. Nigel is on the record praising her for it. But now you are putting out ads suggesting she supported Black Lives Matter when she led the fight against that movement. It is a despicable lie, it’s beneath you, and you know it.

This small miniature kirpan solves the problem. Just wear it. We don’t need a big one to fulfill our religious beliefs.

As I wrote today, Kemi Badenoch is the one senior politician to show real leadership over this tragedy.

These leaked messages prove that even the Prime Minister’s right hand man doesn’t think the Chancellor is capable of growing the economy. It doesn't matter if it's Starmer or Burnham running the show, the problem is the Labour Party.

Applications for judicial review in immigration and asylum cases are up 105% in one year. Our courts are being weaponised to obstruct deportations. We will leave the ECHR and end this merry-go-round of appeals.

Today I have met Lucy, Mark and Katie, Henry Nowak’s mother, father and stepmother. Their courage is extraordinary. They have endured the most appalling loss, it is a life sentence for them. They have also faced the agonising decision to release the harrowing body-worn camera footage, knowing how painful it would be and how strongly people would react. They did so because they want truth, accountability and change. They have asked that we work across political parties and religions to rebuild trust in the police. That trust has been broken because of what happened, and I agree with them on that. We must also be prepared to examine, carefully and seriously, religious practices or exemptions that permit the carrying of dangerous weapons in public, and other activities that are not conducive to the public good. We also need to examine where the law needs to change. Henry’s family do not want anger to tear communities apart. They are a family who have friends across faith and race, and so did Henry. His family want his memory to help bring our society together. Everyone knows I have strong views about how we should deal with equality under the law. What the family agreed with me on is that we need to bring common sense back, and that is what we should all be fighting for. I promised the family that we will work to ensure there is a positive legacy for Henry out of this tragedy. That is my focus now.

I’ve been reading the judgment in the Henry Nowak case. The judge says the police officers at the scene were misled by lies told to them. Believing Henry was the offender, they arrested and handcuffed him. Moments later they realised he had a serious chest wound and began desperately trying to save his life. As a result the judge concluded that the officers did their best in extremely difficult circumstances. Perhaps. However, Henry was bleeding; he told the officer he’d been stabbed and he was struggling to breathe. Shouldn’t that have prompted a more thorough search for injuries before the handcuffs came out and were snapped onto his wrists? The judge says the wound wasn’t obvious. It was dark and Henry was wearing a dark top. He also pointed out in his judgment that the officers had been given a convincing but false account of what had happened. All of which may be true, but what he is not doing is ruling on whether the police response was correct. That’s for the separate investigations now under way. However, if someone gasps that they’ve been stabbed is it unreasonable to expect that possibility to be investigated first? In those circumstances, should concern for a potentially life-threatening injury take precedence over treating someone as a suspect? Genuine question. It is not the natural order of things for your child to die before you and under such devastating circumstances. My thoughts are with his parents as Henry’s murderer is sentenced to life in prison.

Hi @ZiaYusufUK ...meet @ZiaYusufUK 👇

@ReluctantStokey @thetimes My mum’s care home is over £9k a month and I can see where every penny goes. It’s like living in a 4* hotel with amazing staff. All who are paid above minimum wage. We need a full review especially now we’re all likely to live longer and need the same care ourselves.

@thetimes What is really wrong with all this is the rip off costs of care homes. There is absolutely no justification for the costs they charge. Care workers are some of the worst paid professions , doctors are seldom seen so why the cost? It is pure racketeering !

Families who put their homes into trusts to avoid care fees and inheritance tax are now facing huge bills

This is the article/thread from which Reform have taken the single quote ‘Black lives do matter’ - despite the piece explicitly and bravely arguing against the excesses of peak woke. Its use to smear Kemi as a hypocrite is fundamentally dishonest.

@guynewey @rcolvile I’m old enough not to give a shit. If AI ends up controlling my life support machine I may regret that decision…..

@rcolvile Best to be polite with our future AI overlords is why I am also unfailingly courteous…..

Am I the only one who types ‘Thank you!’ after each successful query?