Hicksy

Slowly abandoning this place to @H1cksy.bsky.social

I can confirm that I will be requesting the permission of the NEC to stand in the Makerfield by-election. I grew up in this area and have lived here for 25 years. I care deeply about it and its people. I know they have been let down by national politics. Ten years ago, I decided to leave Westminster. Why? Because, after 16 years, I came to the conclusion that our national political system does not work for areas like ours. I learnt this fighting its failure to invest in the Wigan borough, for justice for the Hillsborough families and against its treatment of Greater Manchester during the pandemic. Over the last decade, I have been challenging this failure from the outside and building a new and better way of doing politics. We have built Greater Manchester into the fastest-growing city-region in the UK and put buses back under public control, introducing a £2 fare cap to help people with cost-of-living pressures. However, there is only so much that can be done from Greater Manchester. Much bigger change is needed at a national level if everyday life is to be made more affordable again. This is why I now seek people’s support to return to Parliament: to bring the change we have brought to Greater Manchester to the whole of the UK and make politics work properly for people. Millions are struggling and they need the Labour Government to succeed. It has already made changes to make life better for them in its first two years. After this week, we owe it to people to come back together as a Labour movement, giving the Prime Minister and the Government the space and stability they need as the by-election takes place. I want to recognise the difficult decision taken by Josh Simons and the sacrifice he and his family are making. I have worked closely with him as Mayor on issues like flooding and illegal waste dumping and have seen first-hand how effective he has been. He has put the communities of Makerfield first, made a real difference for them and should take great pride in that. Finally, I truly do not take a single vote for granted and will work hard to regain the trust of people in the Makerfield constituency, many of whom have long supported our party but lost faith in recent times. We will change Labour for the better and make it a party you can believe in again. ENDS

EXCL: Andy Burnham has credible plan to return to Westminster “within weeks” with GM mayor expected to use a byelection fight to set out new agenda for government, allies say. Burnham, who was blocked by NEC from running in Gorton & Denton, has identified several seats where MPs are prepared to step aside for his leadership bid. In a sign that his campaign is more progressed than previously thought, Burnham’s team is understood to have lined up an “impressive” candidate to replace him as Greater Manchester mayor. Allies said he planned to outline a “radical rewiring” of the state in coming weeks – including changes to electoral system and a 10-year growth plan. By @jessicaelgot & @JoshHalliday theguardian.com/politics/2026/…

@TherosadocsUK Keep it up lads. Mega to see how far you’ve come

We sold out the biggest headline of our career so far on Friday night. Almost 2000 of you singing along together. These past few months have been incredible. We cannot wait for what comes next🤍🩶

@Love2shop_UK Ta

@H1cksy Hi Hicksy, Our website will be back up and running at approximately 6pm. Thanks, Emma :)

@Love2shop_UK how long will the site be down today please? Can’t see as you’ve announced this downtime on socials as you usually do?

@MartinSLewis @LaraLewington This is shocking. Eff me

@AXChristoforou Hmmm. He’s a bit deluded isn’t he. All they have to do (Iran that is) is bomb the desalination plants of the Emirates countries and the world’s fucked. If I know that I’m sure Ayatollah so and so does. Ffs

The man who complains non-stop about rigged 2020 elections is now openly talking about choosing the person to run a country that he is currently bombing on behalf of another country.

Master class in interview technique by Craig Ward, the Leader of the Reform group at Doncaster Council. Preparation is everything – always ensure you are pissed and haven’t a fucking clue what you are talking about.

@MartinSLewis We’re probably quite an outlier on finances. We both have pretty decent jobs. I’ve lived in her house for 9 years. She pays mortgage (her bricks). I fund “things” and general lifestyle. Neither really knows what the other earns but neither of us struggle so it doesn’t cause probs

TELL US: Couples, how do you manage money between you? Do you have kitchen table finance meetings – how often? Do you have joint or separate accounts and why? Please reply here, like your faves, and pod producer Simon will collate some to read out.

Awesome

@brianmoore666 Good point. I’ve been watching it on 5 but it’s also on Sky isn’t it. Turned over!

I made the mistake of watching five minutes of the Channel 5 NFL coverage. I have no idea what they are trying to create.

@LozzaFox It didn’t you prick. You’re such a fucking moaning loser

I’m so sick of trying to find meat in the United Kingdom which hasn’t been prayed over and non stun slaughtered. Why is everything halal?

If anyone needs a spare ticket for Barnsley at Bradford City, I have one #barnsleyfc

Meh 🥹

@elonmusk Reading the shit you post I’m not surprised. Who’d want to bring kids into the kind of hate ridden world you seem to want

White people are a rapidly diminishing minority of global population

@JeremyClarkson Thought you were leaving the country?

I am longing to see our adenoidal leader explaining his way out of this one.

A message from the 1980s: “You know the 80s miss you, right?”

This week @dovesmusicblog will headline @tkmaxx_uk presents Live at The Piece Hall This epic show is with special guests @castofficial who have been supporting the mighty @oasis on their highly anticipated reunion tour plus Yorkshires own @appolojunction FINAL tickets are available now: thepiecehall.co.uk/event/doves/

@sean29772912 @PippaCrerar Thanks for your valued political input Sean bunch of numbers

@PippaCrerar He says yes to everything but does sod all unless you are a foreigner

Keir Starmer is asked whether there will be a Department of Culture, Media and Sport after the next reshuffle. He replies: "Yes".