Cllr. Helen Thornton

I'm trying out Bluesky - join me. labourhelen.bsky.social

Another privatisation failure: NHS spends record £241m outsourcing scan analysis to private firms. theguardian.com/society/2026/m…

Mileage rate rise from HMRC is a win for workers — won by our members. “UNISON has campaigned hard for this long overdue change,” Andrea Egan, UNISON GS “Workers who use their own cars to do their job have been left thousands of pounds out of pocket for far too many years”.

I’ve signed a letter calling for Andy Burnham to clarify that he backs public ownership of life's essentials - not just public control. Can you sign and share it as well? weownit.org.uk/act-now/sign-o…

Hard‑working families are still feeling the squeeze and too often think they have to hold back. To add to the support we've already put in, we're making sure all children in England can travel free on buses in August.

Wonderful Africa Pop exhibition @VilledeNice Musee D'Art Naif and the collection is amazing as well. My favourite museum in Nice.

In the richest city in the richest country in the history of the world, nobody should be going hungry. That's why we're opening five city-owned grocery stores, one in each borough, starting with The Bronx. Lower Prices. Good food. Publicly owned. Hunts Point next year. Every borough by 2029.

Politics isn’t working for places like ours. I will change that. #AndyBurnham #ForUs

Repost if you’d like me to represent the UK at #Eurovision 2027.

I am getting reports of flags going up on lamp posts on roads off the sea front. This has been reported as a hate crime and the council will remove them. Last summer on BBC News - Removing flags 'cost council same as filling 200 potholes' - BBC News bbc.co.uk/news/articles/…

Today’s Unite the Kingdom rally will most likely be viewed as a disappointment by the organisers. Low turnout, low energy, and lack of high profile speakers raises questions on how Lennon can continue these near-identical demos without losing momentum. hopenothate.org.uk/2026/05/16/big…

#TommyRobinson was humiliated in London today. His dwindling numbers were met by a massive counter demonstration. Read our statement ⬇️ (1/5) #standuptoracism #UTK #UniteTheKingdom

Brilliant.

🚨 Right now, Tommy Robinson is claiming to speak for us. It’s the ultimate distraction from the very real problems we face. But we know the truth: migrants aren’t the problem, far-right billionaires are. ✊ Share this post to make it clear: they don't speak for us.

I hope this isn’t true. There are times when it’s more important to put country before party. This is one of them. Burnham’s longstanding commitment to a fairer voting system could transform our democracy & counter dire threat of a Reform UK government theguardian.com/politics/2026/…

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

North Somerset Labour councillors voted to take a step to change the narrative for the Tropicana – and, some hope, the entire town “‘Build it and they will come’: the hopes new life for former lido will revive Weston-super-Mare apple.news/AjOqfbZbGSZygP…

Tropicana arena will ‘put a spotlight on Weston-super-Mare’ | Somerset Live share.google/h2grxg3IUu8qab…

‘Build it and they will come’: the hopes new life for former lido will revive Weston-super-Mare theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/m…

Councillors approve new operator for Weston's Tropicana thewestonmercury.co.uk/news/26101493.…